a personal struggle
Turner felt the weight of the investigation pressing heavily on his shoulders, made even more complicated by the fact that the primary suspect was his own son-in-law. Maintaining professional distance in such circumstances was far from easy. Emotions threatened to interfere with logic, and the tension in the interrogation room only intensified that internal conflict. He reminded himself firmly that procedure and fairness had to guide every decision. “By the book,” he repeated silently, grounding himself in years of training and discipline. Personal loyalty could not override his duty as an officer of the law. If he allowed bias—whether protective or accusatory—to shape his judgment, the integrity of the entire case would be compromised. The situation demanded clarity, restraint, and unwavering objectivity.
pleading innocence
Across the table, his son-in-law continued to insist that he had done nothing wrong, adding more detail to his account in hopes of strengthening his credibility. “You have to believe me, Turner,” he urged again, his voice tight with urgency. He explained that he had encountered the stranger walking alone along the highway, appearing disoriented and frightened. According to him, stopping was simply an act of compassion. Turner listened carefully, paying close attention not just to the content of the explanation but to the tone, timing, and subtle hesitations between sentences. While the desperation in his son-in-law’s voice felt genuine, Turner refused to let emotion replace evidence. Sympathy alone could not validate the story. Every word had to withstand scrutiny, and every detail needed verification before it could be accepted as truth.
