Framed as a Peeping Tom, but I'm Blind

A bright incandescent light shone harshly overhead in the police station's interrogation room. There was also a musty smell in the air.

I sat in an icy steel chair, with Captain Jenkins and a female officer sitting across the table from me. The latter was in charge of recording the process.

"Name."

"Charles Luson."

"Age."

"28."

"Occupation."

"Unemployed."

Captain Jenkins slammed his pen down on the table, the sound ringing in the room.

"Mr. Luson, I suggest you come clean! There's already evidence and a witness to prove your crime! Just how long do you plan on lying about this?"

I turned in his direction and calmly asked, "May I ask who the witness is? And what evidence do you have?"

"The witness is none other than the victim, Rebecca Zangler! As for the evidence…"

Captain Jenkins paused, seemingly realizing that this was a tricky situation.

"We're still searching for the evidence! Don't think that you'll be fine just because you refuse to admit to your crime!"

Then, he spoke in a much sterner voice, as though he were attempting to cow me with his authority.

"Ms. Zangler has already told us everything! You only moved in last week, yet you've harbored intentions toward her right from the start! Every night at eight, you would use your binoculars to peep on her while she showered! You even took photos of her and uploaded them to a shady overseas website to earn money!

"Everything you've done is a serious offense! If you come clean now, then you'll still get a chance to apply for leniency!"

I almost laughed in his face. Everything had been perfectly thought out—the time, location, tools, and motive. If I weren't the person involved, I would've believed that story to be true!

"Captain Jenkins," I began, instantly cutting off his tirade, "Firstly, I don't have binoculars. Secondly, I don't have anything that could commit the latter crime. I already switched my laptop and phone to models suitable for blind people three years ago. None of them has a camera to take photos. Thirdly, and most importantly…"

Pausing for a second, I then put emphasis on my next words. "I'm blind. That means I can't see anything."

Captain Jenkins' breathing grew audibly heavier.

"I already told you to stop using that as an excuse! We'll take you to get an examination to prove whether you truly are blind or not! Before the results of that come out, you're the biggest suspect!"

At that moment, the interrogation room door opened before a young officer stuck his head inside.

"Captain Jenkins, the victim is extremely agitated and keeps crying. She says she's taking this to the higher-ups because she claims we're defending the criminal."

Captain Jenkin's face darkened at the news. "I got it."

Waving a hand to dismiss the young officer, he then turned to glare at me.

Naturally, I couldn't see his glare, but I could hear the sound of his teeth grinding.

"Mr. Luson, do you have any idea how much pressure we're under right now because of you? Ms. Zangler graduated from a prestigious university, so a lot of people are paying attention to this case. If this matter isn't handled properly, our entire precinct is going to suffer criticism!"

In that instant, I understood. Rather than finding out the truth, he was more interested in soothing ruffled feathers.

And the easiest way to do that? Force me into admitting to the crime.