Runway to Survival: 6 Hours at the Airport

My family and I were detained in the security office. I was singled out for interrogation.

“Miss Claire White, the surveillance footage showed that you had gone to the washroom twenty-three minutes ago. After you came out of the washroom, the hairpin on your head had disappeared.

“We found the hairpin in a trash can here, in this airport. The lab tests came back with your DNA on it. Besides, the shape of the hairpin is a perfect match to the lethal wound on Joe’s dead body.

“The evidence is apparent. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Of course, I would not admit to things that I had never done.

“Sir, I’ve been framed. Indeed, I saw him in the washroom. He was trying to assault me at that time, and he ran away after I threatened him with my hairpin. However, I did not see him after that.”

The policeman unhappily tapped a finger on the table after hearing my denial.

“Ms. White, if you don’t own up to your crime, your punishment will be even more severe.

“Besides, you bought tickets overseas, but you suddenly refused to check in. We have strong reason to believe this murder was premeditated.”

I shook my head vigorously. Something must have gone wrong somewhere. Someone was pulling strings from behind the scenes.

The motive and time of the crime were aligned with what was shown on the surveillance footage. There was even evidence to prove that I was the murderer. The plan had been well thought out.

Besides, when Joe was running away, it clearly showed that he still had thirty years to live on his head.

If I could not find any evidence to prove my innocence, I would be framed as a murderer.

Wait, evidence! Where did the police get my hairpin?

That was right!

“Sir, after I threatened him with my hairpin, I had placed it back in my bag. How would it appear in a trash can? You can search my bag if you don’t believe me.”

After the police left to check my bag and returned, he shook his head at the policeman who was interrogating me. They exchanged a few words in a low voice.

The police seated in the middle suddenly slammed the table and glared furiously at me.

“You’re still making up excuses! We’ve thoroughly examined your bag, but the hairpin is not there.

“Besides, your act of murder has already been recorded and posted online. Why are you still denying it?”

“Impossible! I really placed the hairpin back into my bag. Before I was captured, I passed my bag to my mother.”

Besides, when Joe tried to assault me, there was certainly no one else around. Otherwise, he would have run away instead of continuing to force himself upon me.

The police passed his phone before me after seeing that I was unwilling to own up to the crime. I could clearly see the video playing on his phone.

In the video, the face of the woman was covered by her hoodie, but from some angles, she did appear to resemble me.

Besides, we were both wearing white hoodies, black pants, and white sneakers. We even wore the same bracelet and earrings.

It showed that the person only had six hours left to live, too.

For a moment, I thought that I might have died in the car accident on the way here.

Was I hallucinating before death when I saw the numbers on everyone’s head? Did I hallucinate killing someone, too?

I sat on the chair, dumbfoundedly, without saying a word.

Just when the police thought that I was about to admit my crime, I suddenly thought of something and said to the police.

“I can admit to the crime, but before this, I want to talk to my parents and my husband separately.”

The number over my head had decreased. I had to try my luck.

Firstly, I met my mother. When I saw her, she advised me to admit to the crime.

“Claire, just admit that you’ve done it. I promise I’ll find the best lawyer to bail you out. I won’t let you stay inside for too long.”

I found her words particularly odd.

She used to be overly protective of me because she had once lost another child.

Why would she ask me to admit to the crime before asking for more details?