PRIEST

THE QUESTIONING

"Where did you go to, Griffin? You got me stucked up in my head suspecting people and wondering who could be a 'you know what' "George hurdled Griffin the minute he walked into the division. 

"I found him". Griffin said with all smiles. 

"You found who?"

"Aaron"

"My gosh! That's huge"George exclaimed before realization struck him. "Did you investigate in this alone? I thought you said you had personal issues" 

"Yeah, I did and all of a sudden, I found him"

"So what are we waiting for? Let's go see him"

"We can't"

"Why? Don't tell me he's dead or something"

"No. The last time we did, the kid panicked. We need someone to bring him over"

"And do you have anyone in mind?"

Griffin nodded his head as Brittany crossed his mind. "I might have". 

Few minutes later, Griffin was pacing to and fro. Was this the right decision? 

"You are calling her not because you want to but because you have to. It's for the case". Griffin told himself numerous times. 

He took in deep breaths before dialing the green button on her name. 

Don't pick up. Griffin silently prayed. 

"Hello?" The feminine voice spoke. 

Hearing her voice suddenly turned his brain to butter. It was as though he could see her. 

"Griffin, are you there?"

"Yes, forgive me"

"What's the matter? You aren't one to call me up so suddenly"

"Why do you think so? You are the one who ended things between us so if any of us need a reason to not call the other, it should be you"

"Did you call to gloat?"

"No. Can we meet? It's related to a recent case of mine"

"Alright, I'll see you in 20". The line went beep as Griff rushed inside the division, gobbled a full cover of mouthwash and dashed outside. 

He got into his car as he headed for the location they'd agreed to meet. 

On getting there, disappointment washed over him as he saw that Brittany had already arrived. 

He wanted to get here before her. When they were dating, she was always waiting for him to arrive. He wanted to do things differently now. 

Don't be mistaken, Griffin. She's not trying to get back together with you. He chided himself. 

Upon noticing his presence, Brittany waved and called him to come closer. 

"You're here early" Griffin said. 

"My office is not far from here"

"I see"

"So, what is the matter?"

"Doug told me about Aaron"

"And?"

"His aunt is a suspect. We think she might be out killer although she has an accomplice"

Brittany gasped in shock. "Oh my gosh!"

"I'm going to need you to bring the kid for questioning. Is that fine by you?"

"Yeah, sure"

"And you should carry along a pepper spray or spray gun when you walk at night. Scary things are happening these days"

"I know. I still have that pepper spray you bought for me on our first date". Brittany said without thinking.

Now she wished that the ground would just open up and swallow her. "Anyways, I'll call grandmother now to bring Aaron" she said eager to change the conversation. 

As she left to make the call, Griffin smiled inwardly. She still had that pepper spray. 

It was nice to know that she hadn't forgotten about him just as he hadn't forgotten about her. 

"Grandma told me to come pick him up. You can have an headstart, we'll meet you at the division". Brittany said. 

"Sure. Bye"

"Bye". Griffin arrived at the division as he prepared the table for the kid's questioning. 

"Where's the kid?" George asked. 

"He'll be here in a few". No sooner had he spoken had Aaron arrived with Brittany by his side. 

Brittany turned to face Aaron. "Now you don't need to be scared. The detective is just going to ask you some few questions, okay?"

"Okay". Aaron clutched onto his stuffed monkey as he entered the questioning room. 

"Nice to meet you, Aaron. I've heard alot of things about you"

"Thank you"

Griffin cut off straight to the point as he showed him Maria's picture. "Do you recognize her?"

"I only saw her in passing"

"You never played with her or spoke with her?"

"No. If I did then fluffy would feel lonely"

"Who is fluffy?"

Aaron raised up his stuffed monkey. "My stuffed monkey"

"That's a cute name". Griffin said unable to hide his disappointment. He got nothing from this kid apart from the name of his stuffed monkey!. 

"What about your aunt, have you heard from her?". 

"Not yet. Is my aunt okay?"

"She will be, buddy"

"By the way, mister where did you get that scar?" Aaron asked pointing at the scar on Griffin's hand. 

"This?" Griffin said finally taking notice of it. "I don't remember". Could it have been when he was rushing out?. "Why do you ask though?"

"It must have hurt alot. Everytime I got hurt, my aunty also took care of me"

"Your aunty sounds pretty nice"

"Right? So you should know that she's not guilty of what you think she did"

Griffin smiled as he patted Aaron's head. "You're pretty smart for your age. We aren't saying your aunt is guilty of anything yet. She just fled and that made her a suspect. We won't take your aunt away from you if she's not guilty"

"Promise?"

"Promise". A soft knock was heard on the door as Brittany walked in. 

"You two are done right? Can I take Aaron home now?"

"Yes". Griffin turned to face Aaron as he handed him a business card. "If you hear from your aunt or remember anything at all, feel free to call me". 

Aaron nodded his head as he took the business card from Griffin's hand and followed Brittany outside. 

"Hope it wasn't to scary for you buddy?" Brittany asked Aaron when they got into the car.  

"It's okay. We have to go through it for aunty's safety"

Brittany ruffled Aaron's hair. "You really are one smart cookie"

"Anyways, I'm not worried. I already know my aunt didn't do what they are accusing her of. Like I said, I saw the killer's face"

"Did you tell that to the detective?"

Aaron shook his head."No"

"Why? That would help speed the process faster"

Aaron looked out the window. "I just have my reasons". 

Brittany nodded her head as she focused on her driving, oblivious to the little boy's hands shaking vehemently.