Once again, we all sat around the breakfast table the next day. The atmosphere was tense. And we all knew why. Today was the first day of questioning, and in just a few minutes, it would begin. None of us knew what to expect, but all of all of us knew to expect it. We knew it was going to be difficult, but at the same time it needed to happen for Grandad’s murder to be solved.

Detective Figueroa stepped into the room. We had decided that the living room down the corridor would be a good place to hold the interviews, so his associates were waiting in there.

“We would like to start questioning now. Could Belinda please follow me through to the living room?” She stood up and, eyes down at her feet, and followed him through to the room. Half an hour later, she was back and we all followed one by one. Lori, then Grannie Ally, then Betty, then Farran, then mum, then dad, then Luke, then Conrad, then Renuka, then…… me. My parents had both said I was too young but I really wanted to help solve the case, so I had convinced them to let me do it.

I stepped into the room. “Take a seat,”Detective Figueroa said, gesturing to the vast array of furniture. I smiled weakly and sat down in an armchair. I felt so small and insignificant, yet also like they were watching every movement I made. They were just waiting for me to slip up. I promised myself that I wouldn’t. Whatever I was about to say could change someone in my family’s life forever.

“Now, if you don’t mind, we’ll begin. If you are feeling uncomfortable or upset at any point and you want to stop, please tell us and we will. We will also be recording this interview, just to warn you.”he smiled a warm, friendly smile that was only slightly visibly strained. It reassured me. This would be okay. He turned to one of his stern faced colleagues,“Record.” They pressed play on the recording device and the interview began.

“Interview of Sienna Elsie Acton aged 14, David Acton’s granddaughter, on the 6th of August 2021. The time is 2:24pm. So, Sienna, where were you on the 2nd of August?”

“Um, sorry what day was that?” I was so embarrassed.

“Thursday. The day-the day that your Grandad-”

“Oh, yes, sorry about that,”I could feel my cheeks reddening, how could I forget that? This wasn’t getting off to the best start. “I was at-Coral Bay.”

“Were you with anyone?”

“Yes, Renuka and Ellie.”

“Did either of them leave at any point?”

“No, I was with them the whole time.”

“Could you try to remember accurately what times you left and arrived back at the house. It is okay if you don’t know exact times.”

“Well, I think that we left last at around, um, five past ten, but I’m not completely sure. And then I know that we got back at four fifteen.”

“Great. Now, did you see any of the others while you were out?”

My throat tightened. I had seen most of them, all heading in the opposite direction to the house. Apart from my dad. Should I tell him? “Um, yes, almost all of them. At around half ten, we were on the inflatable sofa and I saw my grans in a cafe, um, my Aunt Belinda and my cousin Conrad on the bus, my brother and Luke, Renuka’s boyfriend, going into the arcade and… yeah, that's it.”

“You didn’t see your aunt, Farran, your mum or your dad?”

“No, I-I suppose they were at the ruins already.” I winced. I’d done it. I’d lied to the Detective. I tried desperately to look innocent and not give myself away. I hoped I was doing a good job of it.

“Okay. So, do you know if anyone in the group especially didn’t like your Grandad, or if he didn’t like them very much for some reason?”

“N-no,”I stuttered,”Everyone loves-loved Grandad, and he,” I gulped, “loved all of us.”

“Okay. And do you know who in your family might own a gun?”

I knew that my dad had one from when he was in the police force in America. And that Grandad kept one from his time in the RAF. And maybe Belinda or Conrad. But I didn’t know that, I just knew that guns were legal where they lived. But really that didn’t mean much, anyone could have stolen one or even bought it somewhere dodgy on the island. “Er, no.”

“Okay, that's all the answers we need for now. You can go.” He smiled again. I trusted him. I knew he would solve this case. He didn’t need any information I knew that would probably just be misleading. Probably. I got back onto my feet, stepped outside the door and took a large exhale out. That had been close.