Chapter 46

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

14 YEARS AGO

Suspect Interview Recording Transcription

Location: Whitstone Station, Interview Room 1

Present: Detective Holson and Detective Ramsey

Suspect: Zain Ryder. Male.

Starting Timestamp: 02:00 hours

Detective Ramsey: I'm sorry we've kept you waiting for so long. Would you like something to drink? You must be thirsty.

Zain Ryder: Where's Jason? Is he … Louisa?

Detective Ramsey: Can we talk about what happened tonight? Is that okay with you?

Zain Ryder: **Nods without speaking. Rubs one hand over his face**

Detective Ramsey: Where were you at ten p.m., Zain?

Zain Ryder: I bought a house today. Afterward, I went shopping for food, went to my mom's, then parked on the beach front, and fell asleep. When I woke up, it was ten-thirty … almost eleven … I'm not sure.

Detective Ramsey: And what did you do then?

Zain Ryder: I went home. I wanted to tell Jason and Lou … I wanted to tell them I had the deeds for the new house.

Detective Ramsey: It was a surprise? They didn't know you were buying somewhere else?

Zain Ryder: They knew. They came with me when I first viewed it. **he rubs his face, and sniffs** They're alive? Right? They didn't die.

Detective Ramsey: Were they angry with you, Zain? Is that why you killed them?

Zain Ryder: What? No! They were … When I got to the house, the door was open. I guess Lou forgot to close it. She does that a lot.

Detective Ramsey: You need to tell us the truth, Zain. Were you jealous? You know why they were out of town today, don't you?

Zain Ryder: Of course I do. I was happy for them! That's why I was moving out. So they could have the house. I was going to give them the house.

Detective Holson: Whose baby was it?

Zain Ryder: What? What do you mean?

Detective Holson: Did you think it was yours, and then found out it was Jason's? Is that why you did it?

Zain Ryder: No! No, I would never?—

Detective Holson: That's what happened, isn't it? They told you that you weren't the father. That it was Jason. You flew into a rage, and killed them.

Zain Ryder: That isn't what happened! I came home. Jason was lying on the floor. He was breathing. He called my name. Louisa was on the bed. Oh god … she wasn't moving … she wasn't fucking moving. But Jason said my name. Asked me to put him beside her. He didn't want her to be alone. Didn't want her to … to …

**He covers his face with his hands, sobbing**

Detective Holson: You stabbed Louisa in a jealous rage, then when Jason tried to stop you, you killed him too. Your best friend, and your girlfriend. You couldn't stand the fact that they were pushing you out.

Zain Ryder: No! No!

Detective Ramsey: We have a witness. Ashley Trumont, Jason's sister, arrived while you were finishing the job, didn't she? She disturbed you.

Zain Ryder: Ashley? No. God, I wish she hadn't seen it. I told her to look away. I told her to call the police.

Detective Holson: You chased her. You would have killed her too, if she hadn't been on the phone to emergency services.

Zain Ryder: That isn't true!

Detective Holson: Here's what I think happened, Zain. You came home and found your girlfriend and best friend in bed together. They told you that Louisa is pregnant, and that they went into the city today to have their first scan. You flew into a rage. You grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and attacked them both.

Zain Ryder: No! I didn't. I wouldn't. They are my friends. I love them. I was happy for them!

Detective Holson: Zain Ryder, we're arresting you on suspicion of murder.