"I'm going to record this interview, is that all right with you?"
I nodded, bringing my hands together on the table in front of me.
"Would you like a cup of coffee or some water before we start?"
"No. Thank you."
He turned to the TV and pressed a button on the remote and then turned back to me.
"Will you state your name, please?"
"Calder Raynes."
"Thank you, Calder. I know you've given a statement to the local police about what happened at Acadia beginning several weeks before and leading up to the murder/suicides that took place there." He looked up at me. "Will you please take us through those steps, beginning with Officer Richter and Officer Owens locating you and bringing you back to Acadia?"
I took a deep breath and went through the details again, beginning with being coerced into Clive's police car, being returned to Acadia, living in that small, dim cell alone for two weeks. I left out my emotions, recounting those weeks as if I was a stranger looking down from above.
The agent asked several questions here and there so that I expounded upon something or cleared something up for him. When I got to the end of the story, and although I'd only gone through the facts, I felt like I'd run a marathon. I was exhausted. I rubbed my palms on my thighs as the agent picked up the remote and clicked off the video recorder.
"That was good. Thank you, Calder." His expression was neutral. "The other reason we wanted to talk with you is because we've been investigating the case against Clive Richter for a little while now. As you know, it was you two coming forward that encouraged his ex-partner, Officer Mike Owens, to seek immunity and offer his testimony. Without that, we wouldn't have the case that we do as far as the drug trafficking and money laundering." He shook his head. "When it comes to dirty cops, he takes the cake."
I let out a breath. "So he'll go away for a long time?"
"For those crimes, I'd bet on yes." He tilted his head. "However, now that Officer Owens is providing testimony against Officer Clive Richter that supports your account of him being at Acadia the day of the flood, Officer Richter is alleging you planned and carried out the deaths at Acadia that day."
I gaped, my body freezing. "What?" I croaked out. My worst fears were being realized. Visions of being carted away to prison as Eden screamed and reached her arms out for me assaulted my brain. Calm down, Calder. Get a grip. My fists clenched and unclenched on my thighs. The very, very worst had happened to me before. Would it happen again now, in a whole new way?
Agent Glenn furrowed his brow. "Officer Richter is claiming he picked Eden up per Hector's request—believing her to be an underage runaway—and that you came along willingly back to Acadia. He claims that on the way there, you were spouting off about killing everyone and leaving with Eden so it looked like you two were dead along with everyone else."
"What?" I croaked out, raking my fingers through my hair, my fight or flight instinct kicking in. "That's a lie!" My eyes flew wildly around the room as I brought my hands into fists on my thighs again. I was trapped in here.
Agent Glenn nodded, his lips coming together for a second. "He says you kicked over the water system once it started raining. He didn't understand at the time what that would do, but he ascertains that since you built it, you did. He says he left, but once everyone took shelter in the cellar, you must have locked the door behind all those people and left with Eden like you threatened."
Cold dread shot through my system. I was sweating. "I did kick over that system," I said. "I told the police. That's true. I did. I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt." Dread shot through my body. Was I going to be culpable for the crime now? Would they believe Clive?
"Am I being charged with something here? Do I need a lawyer?"
He leaned forward and put his hand on my shoulder for a brief moment. "No, we are not charging you with anything. Let me make this clear, son. I've personally met Clive Richter. I've interviewed him. I've assisted in the investigation of the crimes he was involved in—not even half of which have been reported on the news. Between you and me, and I have a feeling you'd agree whole-heartedly, Clive Richter is not only a dirty cop, but he's a lying, conniving, manipulative opportunist. Not only do we not believe his assertions, but Officer Owens is corroborating your story, not his." He studied me for a minute before continuing on, "We haven't released this to the news yet, but we exhumed Hector's body and we found the key. He locked those people in; we know that. Eden's and your stories add up and we believe we can finally close out this case." He paused as I digested the news that Hector's body had been exhumed. Emotions were racing through my body. I didn't know what to think.