The Writers' Circle

A first look at my next attempt. A little bad language--but not too much. 

Sullivan Smith reached for his pack of cigarettes, pulled two, which he put to his lips, lighting both of them.  He offered the other one to the woman sitting across from him, who'd been eyeing them for the first few minutes of their interview.  Detective Nyobi Ducane, a veteran of some 12 years on the force, was more than a little unnerved by the man sitting opposite from him.

   "Cigarette?" He offered.

Nyobi took the Cigarette and took a long drag, hoping it would calm her nerves. It wasn't her usual brand, but it was what she needed right now. In fact, it didn't taste like an American cigarette at all-more like a very mild cigar. 

Sullivan Smith closed his cigarette case, but did not attempt to put it back in his pocket.  He didn't seem nervous in being in the position he was in, which was odd given the circumstances.  Nyobi noted the ease of his demeanor-despite being caught "In flagrante delicto," as it were-he seemed calm and uncharacteristically well mannered.  He'd given his name and identification without incident and actually marveled at the LiveScan electronic fingerprinting system as he was being printed.  Officers had been unnerved at his cheerful disposition, at first.  

"I appreciate being allowed to keep my cigarettes during the interview.  I know you will have to take them when you take me to lockup, but you didn't have to allow me to indulge here. I appreciate the gesture."

"No problem.." Nyobi paused for a minute.  "You do realize that you have been arrested on at least two counts of suspicision of murder? "

"Yes. I do understand this, Detective Ducane." He replied.

"You don't seem disturbed by the circumstances. You were found covered in the blood of at least two different people."

"I'm disturbed, Detective." He said.  "I know how it must seem-but it only seems that way."

"I suppose you're going to tell me that you didn't have anything to do with the two exploded bodies?"

"Oh no, Detective-- I had everything to do with the two exploded corpses you found me with. I watched more than a little TV once upon a time. Forensic science will prove that I was there and a participant. I was there when they exploded. I had been in contact with each of them when they exploded."

"Then you're admitting you killed them?"

"No.  I did not kill either of them."

"But you know what did?"

"I know why they exploded. It was a direct result of what I did. But it was not my intent to kill either of them, though that's the inevitable result. But I do not know how it was done. I remained for you to find me so that this information may become known. Hopefully, if I am cooperative enough-you will not keep that information from me. It will be of great help to know what truly happened."
Nyobi scratched her head. This was truly not what he expected from the big man sitting opposite her.  Sullivan Smith was at least 6'4" tall, and well over 250 lbs. His face was a delicate oval and his features seemed rotund and even-jolly.  He smiled with gentle ease, and were it not for the circumstances, he would have been perceived as harmless by anyone speaking with him.

Nyobi looked back at her partner, Greg Luizar-who continued the questioning: "You killed them, then?"
"I'm sorry. Was that a question?"

Luizar didn't flinch. "Did you kill them?" 

"No."

"But you just said that whatever you did was the cause.  That means you killed them."

"No, it does not, Detective. I said that they exploded because of what I had done. I did not say that I was the cause of the explosion." She noted that Sullivan maintained excellent eye contact when speaking with her partner and with her.  She didn't quite yet know what to make of it.

"Do you know what caused the explosion?"

"I do."

"Then what was it?"

"I don't think you are ready to hear what I have to say, so I will withhold that information till more becomes clear from your investigation of the crime scene."

"Don't play games with us Mr. Smith"

"If I tell you now, then it will only confuse the situation and lower your opinion of my sanity. Once your lab gives you more information on what happened after their investigation-what I have to say will have more weight. I have no desire to color your opinions before you've had a chance to see for yourselves."

"See what?" Nyobi interrupted.

"May I return to my cell?"

"You're here as long as we decide to keep you here." Luizar interjected.

"Then may I be allowed to use the restroom?"

"No," he said, firmly.

"Detective Luizar-I have no desire to be argumentative or refuse to give you the information that you desire to know. I only wish to refrain from telling you pertinent things until you have confirmation from your own investigations to lend credence to what I've to tell you.  You have my word that I fully intend to tell you everything that I know."

"Shit worth of good that does me right now!"

"This is a difficult situation, but I was prepared for that. You are not. I apologize for not being forthcoming. I have been in this room for 45 minutes and spent another 30 minutes in booking. Before that, it took 53 minutes to move from the crime scene to your processing facility, and the entire event that caused me to be here took another 2 and a half hours to come to its conclusion. I need to use the restroom. If you do not take me to suitable facilities, then I will have no choice but to relieve myself here, and I don't think you would want that.  Add to this, I have not asked to speak to an attorney nor tried to be evasive or deny my involvement. In light of this, I would ask that you show me the courtesy of treating me with some human decency.."

Neither detective had been prepared for such a well crafted argument.  Sullivan waited patiently for their answer. It seems that he was not easily intimidated-or was very good at hiding it.

"All right," he relented.