This is a fictional account.
*********************************
Thanks to all of you that have written me back on this series. I am glad many of you have liked it and appreciate the kind words. Thanks too to Techsan for helping me edit this story. This is the final chapter for now. I want to try other things but you never know. Maybe one day I will come back to Suzie and Curt. Happy Holidays.
**********************************
The afternoon at school went very fast. Even drama club seemed to go by fast, but Suzie could have done without the lecture from Mrs. Wood about practicing her lines. She had messed up twice and not at difficult parts. She had to spend more time studying or she would screw up the play. Right now though, all she could think about was the trip Mary, Mark and she were going to be making to the police station. Mark and Mary were meeting Suzie after drama club and they were going directly to the station. When the rehearsal was over, she quickly headed out for the parking lot. She found Mary and Mark easily and soon they were on their way in Mark's car.
They arrived at the station just before 4:30. They entered and told the desk officer they were there to see Detective John Peterson and Officer Lisa Banks. The officer had them take a seat but only five minutes later the Detective and Officer Banks appeared. They looked somewhat curiously at the three as they approached.
"Miss Johnson, good of you to come down again," Detective Peterson said. "Are these friends of yours?"
"Yes, they are," Suzie said. Before she could say anything more Mary stood.
"I believe I'm the one you're looking for," Mary said looking quite nervous.
Officer Banks and Detective Peterson looked surprised, but only for a second.
"Is that so," Detective Peterson said. "And why would that be?"
"I believe you have a bra of mine," Mary said.
"What is your name?" Detective Peterson asked.
"Mary Williams," she said.
"Well, Miss Williams, I do in fact want to talk to you very much, right after I talk to Miss Johnson here," he said, then turned to Mark. "And who might you be?"
"I'm Mary's boyfriend," Mark said standing. Mary smiled slightly at the mention of his being her boyfriend.
"Were you at the party in question?" Detective Peterson asked.
"No," Mark said.
"Okay, please wait here with Miss Williams. Miss Johnson, please follow us," he concluded. They walked down the hall to the same room as before.
"Have a seat, Miss Johnson," Detective Peterson said.
"Thanks," Suzie said, sitting in what was probably the same chair as before.
When the officers were seated too, Detective Peterson started asking questions.
"So, Miss Johnson, it seems you left a good bit of the story out of our last meeting," he said, with a wry smile.
"Yes, sir. Mary didn't want to come forward and didn't want her parents to find out. She has just wanted to put the whole thing behind her since it happened," Suzie said.
"Holding information back from the police and possibly lying to us is a serious matter, Miss Johnson," Detective Peterson said.
"I know, sir. You have to know how distraught Mary was. We were afraid what she might do if her dad found out. She thought it would kill him. We worried she might be suicidal," Suzie said.
"Who is we?" Officer Banks asked.
"Janie and I," Suzie said.
"Why don't you explain to us everything you know?" suggested Detective Peterson.
Suzie related the whole story from start to finish this time leaving nothing out.
"So, you were the one that called 911?" Officer Banks asked.
"Yes."
"We knew that. That's why we called you back," Officer Banks said.
"Miss Johnson, would you go get Miss Williams for us and show her to this room. You can then go wait with her boyfriend. I want to talk to Officer Banks a second," Detective Peterson said.
"Okay," Suzie said.
She got Mary and led her to the room and then returned to Mark. Suzie waited with Mark for over an hour before Mary and the two officers came out. Mary looked a little tired, but also much less nervous.
"Miss Johnson, we should charge you for obstructing a police investigation," Detective Peterson said.
Suzie stiffened in the chair and Mary and Mark looked concerned.
"But we're feeling hospitable today given the circumstances and the fact you brought Miss Williams in to talk with us now," he said. "Officer Banks and I feel we will recommend you get off with a stiff warning to never obstruct an investigation again. Can we get that assurance from you?"
"Oh, yes, Detective, thank you," Suzie said. Mary and Mark also said thanks.
"Okay, you three are free to go. Miss Williams, please call me tomorrow as we agreed," he concluded.
"Yes, Detective Peterson."
The three left the police station. In the car, Mary told them what had happened. She had related the whole story as best she could remember. She didn't want to press charges as that would involve a completely new trial on just her case alone, but she did agree to testify at the trial pending with Kathy Walker. She also agreed to tell her parents tonight or the officers would.
"How do you feel?" Suzie asked.
"I feel somewhat relieved," Mary said. "I'm nervous about the trial, but I think you both were right. I needed to face this in order to get it behind me."
"Do you want me to be there when you tell your parents?" Mark asked.
"No, but thanks anyway. I need to do this with them by myself," she concluded.
They were all deep in thought for the rest of the trip back. Mary and Mark dropped Suzie home before heading to her house. Mary thanked Suzie again for standing by her and nearly getting in serious trouble on her behalf.
Suzie had missed dinner, but her parents had a plate made for her. As her mother warmed it, and then she ate, she related the story of what happened at the police station to them both. Her parents were relieved to hear the police would not seek charges against her. They also were happy for Mary, that she was finally facing things and telling her parents. Surprisingly they asked little of the after prom parties. They only asked if she had a good time or not. When she finished eating and helped clean her dishes, she excused herself to study and memorize her lines for the play.