If you recognize them, I don't own them.

Interrogation Time

Morning came. She had a tray of food delivered and once again only picked at the food. She thought supper last night was disgusting, well, this morning was even worse. There was scrambled eggs, cold limp bacon, and two pieces of dry toast with a little packet of butter and a peanut butter on the side. She couldn't even stomach trying to eat that stuff so contented herself with only eating the peanut butter. Oh, for an olive. Once again there was a glass of water.

After the tray was checked and taken away, Stephanie was led out of her cell and taken down the hall to a room. There was a chair and a table in the room. Another chair sat in the corner and it sure looked like one way glass on one wall. She was advised to sit at the table. A few minutes went by.

She looked around at her surroundings. The walls were drab gray. The table was gray, the chairs were gray. The door opened and a woman stepped in. She was holding a folder in her hand. She was dressed in a no-nonsense gray suit with a white shirt. Her shoes were gray. That's about how Stephanie's mood was right about now. Stephanie sat with her elbows on the table and head in her hands waiting.

The lady in gray spoke. "My name is Detective Monica Rayner, Miss Plum. I am here to ask you some questions. As you have been advised, anything you say will be recorded and may be used against you. Do you understand?" She nodded in agreement. Stephanie looked at her and said. "I have no idea what this is about, Detective. I have never done anything that I know of to put me on your radar. I am very confused right now. I hope you will give me some idea what is going on."

Monica stared at her with distain. "In the first place, we do not normally arrest innocent citizens, so you might as well cut the crap here. We have a whole file folder of your family plotting against the United States and we intend to prosecute you to the full extent of the law. I hope you realize that when you are found guilty, there is a death penalty for treason."

Stephanie felt the blood leave her face and felt very light headed. She had enough strength to push her chair back from the table and put her head down by her knees. When she heard the bells stop ringing in her ears, and the black dots recede, she raised her head again.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. I have not done anything to threaten the safety of my country. My father was a solder in the army during Vietnam and my mom and grandma help out on blood drives and clothing drives for the military. I have attended Veterans Day and Memorial Ceremonies since I was able to walk. I work in a business full of ex-military men who have proudly served our country and I count them as my best friends."

Monica laughed. She had flipped open the file. First she handed me a picture of my dad. He was talking to a man in a coffee shop. "Do you know who he is?" she asked. Stephanie shook her head no. She knew a few of dad's poker and cab buddies, but this man was unfamiliar. "He is Yuri Komaniski, one of the most elusive agents for the XXXian Federation. " Stephanie shrugged her shoulders. "I have never seen him before." Next, the detective showed a picture of Grandma Mazur at a casino. She was putting an envelope behind a potted tree. Next, she showed a picture of her mom carrying what looked like electronics into the house. Picture after picture was produced. Stephanie's confusion grew. She could only page through the pictures. She had no idea what was going on.

Monica gathered up all the pictures. Next she put a single sheet of paper in front of Stephanie. It was a bank statement with her name on it. It looked like her handwriting as the account holder. What shocked Stephanie was the bank it was from, the city, and the amount in the account. It had over a million dollars in it. Stephanie looked up in total shock. What was happening here? She could only gulp.

In a strangled voice, she said, "I have no idea what is going on here. I don't have a million dollars. I only have $110 in my checking account at the Trenton Trust, and my rent is due tomorrow, which means if I don't get my body receipt in to Connie at the bond office and the cheque into the bank today, my rent cheque will bounce." Monica laughed as if I had made a real funny. "I don't think you will have to worry about rent for some time, Miss Plum. Where you are going, they provide you with all the necessities you will ever need."

Stephanie's mind was reeling. She had no idea what was going on. She finally strung a thought together and asked, "Can I have a lawyer to help straighten out this mess?" The detective laughed. "In due time you will be assigned one, but it would be much easier if everyone would admit their guilt and just plead guilty".

Stephanie realized with alarm that she made it sound like the whole family was under arrest. She asked."Is my whole family here?" Monica smiled. "Yes, we have you all except for your sister. You will not be allowed to talk and collaborate any of your stories until we get to the bottom of it all. We have all the time in the world. You have basically disappeared off the face of the earth and nothing or nobody can help you in here. I suggest you think about your situation and come to a conclusion really fast."

Stephanie's POV

My confusion grew. How could this happen? Our lives were basically boring as the Burg went. I was the only one causing headlines when I had a bounty hunting mishap. I looked up at the detective. Unconsciously a tear fell. I could only whisper, "I still have no idea what is going on. I hope you believe me. Please call my boss, Ricardo Carlos Manoso, owner of Rangeman Securities in Trenton. I have worked there for four years. They checked me out before hiring me. I am sure they can help you clear up this mess. "

Monica laughed like it was the funniest joke in the world. As she looked at me with almost a form of pity, she dropped a bombshell in my lap. "My dear, he was the one who uncovered the treason your family has been involved in. I would not be asking him for help unless you want him to help with your noose!" My heart, my brain, and I shut down, and I felt myself falling. I did not feel hitting the table with my head on the way to the floor.

Some time later, I opened my eyes. I was back in my cell. I had a raging headache and when I put my hand to my head, I felt a bandage. I winced as I touched the place where my head and the table had met. I sat up slowly. My vision was bleary and I was feeling very dizzy. Slowly, I put my feet on the ground. Sitting quietly, I noticed a guard watching me through the window. As I attempted to stand, he put a phone to his ear. He appeared to be talking to someone. He left and I was trying to collect my thoughts when the door opened and another guard came in the room. Motioning me to come out, we walked down the hall. I was still unsteady on my feet and his pace behind me slowed down and then sped up trying to make me move faster. We arrived back at the same room I had been in before and I was told to take a seat again.

Monica was waiting for me. She asked how I was and I mumbled about my headache. She placed a call and a few minutes later someone knocked on the door and handed her two pills and a bottle of water. She put them on the table in front of me and told me to take them. I recognized them as a name brand pain reliever and popped them in my mouth, washing them down with a big gulp of water.

Monica patiently waited as if letting the medicine take effect. Finally, once again, she sat down with her folder. She started to pull out more pictures of Dad, Mom and Grandma. Picture after picture was placed in front of me. I could only look in puzzlement at them.

Finally, I came to one of me. I was at the fireworks in New York a couple of weeks ago. I was standing with my friend, Nancy, a college friend. She had phoned me and asked if I wanted to do a girls weekend in New York. She was getting married and wanted a last fling. All the close friends from college came and we had a great time. We stayed in the Holiday Inn, drank to excess, partied in the bar, danced with anyone and everyone, and piled into cabs to attend the fireworks. It had been a great weekend and I had grudgingly headed home by train when it was over.

Looking at the man standing close to me, he looked familiar. I pawed through the pictures until I found the picture with Dad and the man she had called Yuri. Putting the two pictures together, I looked at her. "I still have no idea who he is, and why would he be near me? " Monica smiled as if she had finally cracked a puzzle. "Can you honestly sit there and tell me you never saw him before? He is standing right by you. What did you say to him, or what did you give him?"

I thought back to that night. I could not remember anything I had said or done to anyone. I remembered linking my arms with my girlfriends as we watched the show. I did not remember anyone talking to me. I was not wearing a coat and my bag was hung on my shoulder. It looked like I was just there. I shrugged my shoulders. I still could not tell her anything.

Monica looked at me. "I will have you taken back to your cell. I suggest you think about your next actions."

OK, before I get lynched, I had to set it up. Ranger is trying to help, honest. He believes she is innocent!