Tori leaned back in the uncomfortable steel chair the officers gave her to sit in. She propped her feet up on the desk right in front of the thick glass in the viewing area. She gazed about the room trying to find something interesting in the empty detention center. Left with nothing to entertain herself, Tori started picking the dirt out from underneath her fingernails.
What could possibly be taking them so long? There was nothing to do in this stupid place! They wouldn't let her bring her sketchbook or anything. Tori grimaced. Things always looked more entertaining on television.
The door on the other side creaked open, and Tori leaned forward to see who it was. Hoping…Hoping… Aha! She spotted Phoenix's unmistakable hairdo. Yes! Tori pumped both fists in the air in excitement. Her joy was short lived as her chair tottered back, and her head hit the floor.
Tori felt the bump that was beginning to rise on the back of her head and set her chair up right. She scrambled back into her seat, pretending nothing ever happened.
"I thought you weren't coming back Mr. Wright." She said between short nervous laughs. "Decided to give up? Didn't find any evidence, eh?"
"Oh, quite on the contrary." Phoenix nodded to Colin who pulled out the packet. "We found this at the crime scene. Do you know what's inside it?" Tori shrugged carelessly. "Drawings." Phoenix answered for her.
"So what? Roy was an artist. Anyone who knew her knew that."
"So are you." Wright pointed out.
"Huh? How'd you know that? I didn't tell you anything to clue you in on that."
"You didn't, but your brother did."
"Huh?" both Tori and Colin stared puzzled at Phoenix.
"I don't remember telling you that!" Colin scratched his head in confusion.
" Okay, you didn't exactly say that she was an artist, but you did say they were competing for a scholarship. Miss Biv was a very accomplished artist for a high school student. I remember reading an article last month about that large art college in California was interested in a young student from around here. I'm pretty sure that was Roy they were talking about. I pretty sure if you were rivals, you would have to be interested in the same thing."
"Fine," Tori huffed, "but that still doesn't prove that I was at the murder scene."
" Colin do you still have that folder?"
"Got it right here, Mr. Wright." Colin pulled the packet out of his bag.
At the sight of the packet, Tori gave a slight gasp. "W-where did you get that?"
"At the murder scene. Would you like to see what's inside?" Phoenix pulled out a drawing and held it up for Tori to see.
"So what? Roy was an artist of course she had artwork at her house." Tori laughed in a strained, and slightly higher pitched voice.
"True, but this style of artwork is different from Roy's." Phoenix tapped the paper with the back of his hand.
"Maybe her roommate drew it. Maybe she's an artist too."
"Oh no, Nick!" Maya whispered in Phoenix's ear. "We didn't think about that!"
" C'mon Tori!" Colin shouted. "Don't be stupid!" He grabbed the paper from Phoenix. "This is your character! I watched you sit and draw this stupid thing for hours!"
Tori flinched and then heaved a heavy sigh. "Alright… Alright… I was there."
"Finally… We can get somewhere!" Maya sighed.
"Help me, please!" Tori said suddenly. " Roy was a huge jerk. Oooh, I hated her so much! I just wanted to punch her in the face so hard! You know, I've never actually been punched in the face before, but I did break my nose once, but that besides that point. I just went over to show off how I had already gotten my profile together… And she was… I didn't kill her! I couldn't kill anyone!"
Phoenix stood up and smiled. "Don't worry I'll do all I can to prove you innocent tomorrow. We've got to go find Roy's roommate, and I promise I'll find out all I can."
Tori smiled weakly, and wiped away the tears that were starting to form in her eyes. She couldn't let him see how weak she was… "Thanks a lot Phoenix… I trust you."