It was a little late in the morning as Ina walked into the station for a second time. The air felt colder than the last time.

The same fluorescent lights flickered faintly over the reception desk, but this time, buzzing in a way that made Ina's skin prickle. The faint sounds of the station filled her ears, making her fidget. She stood just inside the doorway, fingers tangled tightly in the sleeves of her jacket.

River stood beside her, tie in place as usual, hair slicked back and face calm as ever. Jane hovered behind them, silent, eyes red, shawl pulled tight but steady.

"Ina Lones?" Veronica appeared from down the hall, file tucked under her arm. "Thank you for coming."

She could smell the cigarette smoke of her even from that distance, that River's offering of mints failed to cover.

Ina swallowed. "Do I... did I forget something?"

"No," Veronica said kindly. "We just need some clarifications. Come this way, please."

River stepped forward. "I'm coming in with her."

Veronica shook her head. "I'm afraid not this time." Then, softer, she added, "It's just routine, will be over soon. You can wait here."

River looked like he wanted to argue. But Ina's trembling hand brushed his sleeve, and he stopped.

"It's okay," she murmured. He didn't look convinced. After a moment's hesitation, he sighed, "Alright, we will be right here." Ina nodded and followed Veronica.

— —

It was a different room this time. The lights were dimmer, and sunlight was blocked by the fully drawn curtains, making the room smaller than it was.

"Please sit," Veronica said.

Ina obeyed, folding into the chair like someone trying to disappear into it. The moment she sat, her knee began rocking uncontrollably, a small, jittering motion that made the table tremble.

Veronica remained standing for a moment longer than necessary, watching her; not unkind, but with the sharp accuracy of someone reading their movements.

Veronica moved to sit across from her. Soon Victor entered the room, closing the door after him. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, gaze unreadable. Ina did not meet his eyes. She looked like she'd aged since the last time, her hair uncombed, sweater sleeves pulled over her palms, eyes rimmed red. Veronica opened a folder. A recorder clicked on.

"Ina," Veronica began gently, "thank you again for being here. We're going to go over the timeline you gave us. Just to clarify things."

Ina nodded, eyes down.

"You said you left home around 10 a.m.," Veronica continued. "To meet a friend."

"Yes."

"What's the friend's name?"

Ina blinked. "Um... Rui."

"Rui...?"

A pause, "Just...Rui."

Victor lightly cleared his throat.

Veronica didn't push. "Where did you two meet?"

"At her house," Ina said quickly. 

Veronica looked up. "You didn't mention that before. Weren't you at the airport?"

Ina hesitated. "Oh, um, we met at her house and made it to the airport."

"So you went to the airport. Which terminal?"

"I don't remember."

"You were there for several hours," Victor interjected. "You don't remember the terminal?"

"It was... the domestic one. Or international." Ina's breath stuttered. "I'm not sure."

Veronica watched her carefully. "Did you board a flight?"

"No."

"So you were just... there?"

"I—" Ina swallowed. "I went to drop them off."

"Your friend?"

"Y—yeah, she was going somewhere. I walked her in."

"What flight was she on?"

Ina went still.

Victor leaned forward. "We checked airport surveillance," he said casually, deliberately not looking at her. "We couldn't confirm you entering the building."

Ina's heart thudded against her ribs.

"I— I must've been outside," she whispered. "Maybe the cameras didn't catch—"

"We checked outside too," he said.

A silence like a held breath.

Veronica shot Victor a warning glance, not in disagreement, but in caution.
He ignored her warning and turned to Ina.

His tone sharpened. "Rui said you two stayed near the entrance."

Ina blinked. "We— we moved around— I don't— it was chaotic— I don't... remember."

"Did you leave the airport at any point?" he pushed further.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

Ina hesitated. Just a fraction.

"I... I think so."

"You think so?" Victor pressed.

Ina's hands began trembling violently.

"Ina," he said, firmly. "We need exact times."

"I don't know!" she cried, voice cracking. "I don't know what you want me to say. I wasn't thinking about the clock that day!"

Veronica turned around sharply, and this time he listened, leaning back on the wall.

"Ina... you're not in trouble. We just need the truth," Veronica said, her voice softer.

Ina blinked fast, like her eyes were burning. "I am telling the truth."

Veronica nodded slightly. "Okay. Then let's try something else."

She pulled a photo from the file. It was a photo of Sehuj, smiling at a beach, weeks before everything fell apart.

Ina stared at the table, wide-eyed. She pressed her nails into her thigh until her fingers turned white.

"When was the last time you saw him alive?" 

Ina's throat closed. "I told you... I wasn't home."

"Right. But before that? Was your last conversation normal?"

Ina nodded too quickly. "Yes."

"Were you two fighting?"

"No."

"Did he seem stressed? Nervous? Unwell?"

"No."

Veronica studied her long, long enough for the silence to become heavy.

"Ina...we know that Sehuj wanted to propose." Ina's words caught in her throat. Her whole body stilled.

Veronica continued. "... Did you and he break up?"

Ina stiffened. "No."

Veronica glanced at Victor. "We have witness statements that suggest otherwise."

Ina shook her head, breath shortening. "No. We didn't break up."

"Did you argue?"

"No."

"Did he tell you anything unusual?"

"No."

"Anything worrying?"

"No."

"You didn't suspect he was going to see someone that day?"

"No— I don't— why are you asking all this? I told you—"

"Because," Veronica said softly but firmly, "your answers don't match the picture we're seeing."

Something in Ina cracked then. A small sound escaped her, something between a half-sob, half-breath.

"I didn't— I don't know anything," she whispered. "I just wasn't there."

"We're not accusing you," Veronica said, leaning forward now. "We're trying to understand what you know."

Ina shook her head helplessly. "I don't know anything..."

Then softer, so soft, Veronica barely caught it: "I wish I knew."

Her hands were shaking under the table. Veronica exchanged a glance with Victor, not triumphant, but thoughtful, which made him shrug. 

Veronica exhaled softly and nodded. "We're done for today."

Ina wasn't hiding guilt. She was hiding fear. And she didn't even know from what.

— —

When the door finally opened, River nearly sprang to his feet.

Ina stepped out, pale, unfocused, breathing shallowly.

Jane rushed to her first, gently placing a hand on her back. "Ina? Are you okay?"

Ina didn't answer. She just looked at River. And for the first time, he saw something new in her eyes. Not grief. Not exhaustion. Not confusion. Doubt.

Something had cracked open inside her. Something she didn't want to admit. Something she couldn't ignore anymore.

She whispered, almost inaudible, "River... I think something's wrong."

He froze. And Veronica, watching from down the hall, knew the case had just shifted.

𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁