Officer Edwards lifts his hands up innocently. “Of course,” he says. “We’re doing our best to paint a clear picture of the events that took place, and we hoped you might be ready to talk now. Allie, is there anything more you can tell me?”

I chew on the inside of my lip, thinking about the nonsensical images my brain has drummed up from that night, and the flashback I had in the hallway this morning. It’s unlikely that any of it is helpful. I’m not sure if it’s even real or if my mind is playing tricks on me.

“Whenever you’re ready,” he encourages.

“Sorry, I can’t think of anything,” I say, shaking my head. It’s not a complete lie, I just don’t want to waste his time.

“That’s a shame,” he says, disappointment darting across his features. “There are some things about that night that just aren’t adding up, and even the tiniest bit of information could help. Open liquor was found in your car, yet none was in your system. What do you think about that?”

Heat floods my cheeks, and I shake my head again. “I—”

“I think that’s enough for today,” Sofia announces, rising to her feet.

“Ms. Castillo,” he says, “we’re just looking into every possibility—”

“And she already told you everything she knows. You can clearly see she’s not mentally fit to be questioned.”

Sofia’s voice is chilling and firm, and the force behind her words makes the hair on the back of my neck rise. Officer Edwards stammers as she ushers him to the door, but she ignores him, locking it once he’s outside. The sight of her scaring off a policeman as if he’s nothing more than a pesky fly is bizarre—and, admittedly, pretty badass—but judging by her clear lack of discomfort, this isn’t the first time. She sighs deeply, shaking her head.

“Useless,” she mutters. “They have nothing better to do. Don’t ever let them talk to you alone, you hear me?”

Feeling baffled, I nod. “Okay.”

“The cops in this town have had it out for you for years,” she admits. Clearly her irritation stretches far beyond today. “It’s getting out of hand. Having a few strikes on your record doesn’t give them the right to interrogate you when you’re the victim of a life-altering accident. I’ve been holding them off, but they’re obviously chomping at the bit.”

“Strikes?”

She realizes she’s said too much. “Don’t worry about that now. You’ve had a long day. Let’s go have some dinner, I’ll order us something to eat.”

With that, she heads into the kitchen, and I wonder whether Officer Edwards’s visit was simply a cop doing his job or if his presence was meant to be a threat.

04 | Elicit