TheAccusation
Johnsatanxiouslyinthesmallpoliceinterrogationroom,hisheartpoundinginhischest.Theofficeracrossthetablesternlylookedathimandsaid,"Youarebeingaccusedoftheft.Pleaseremaincalmandcooperatewithusinthisinvestigation."
Astheofficercontinuedtospeak,John'smindraced.Howcouldhebeaccusedofsuchacrime?Hehadneverevenconsidereddoinganythinglikethat.Heknewhehadtostaycomposedanddefendhimself.
"Iunderstandtheseriousnessofthisaccusation,"Johnreplied,tryingtokeephisvoicesteady."ButIassureyou,officer,Iaminnocent.Ihavenomotiveorreasontostealanything."
Theofficer,whohadbeenstudyingJohn'sreaction,pausedforamoment,assessinghissincerity."Wehavereceivedtestimoniesandgatheredevidencethatsuggestsyouwerepresentatthesceneandhadtheopportunitytocommitthistheft.Canyouexplainyourwhereaboutsatthetimeoftheincident?"
Johnhesitated,tryingtorecallwherehehadbeenonthedayinquestion."Iwasatworkthatday,"heresponded."Ihavecoworkerswhocanvouchformypresence.Ihavenoreasontolie."
Theofficerjotteddowntheinformation,clearlyunfazed."Wewillhavetoconfirmyouralibiandinvestigatefurther.Butunderstandthattheevidencedoespointinyourdirection.Canyouexplainanypossibleconnectionyoumayhavetothestolenitems,whichwerefoundinyourpossession?"
Johnfeltasuddenwaveofpanic.Hehadnoideahowthoseitemshadendedupwithhim."Idon'thaveanyknowledgeofthoseitemsorhowtheycameintomypossession.Ican'texplainit."
Theofficerleanedforward,hiseyeslockedontoJohn's."Youneedtounderstandthatweareheretouncoverthetruth.Ifyouareinnocent,wewillfindevidencetosupportyourclaim.Butifyouarelyingorwithholdinginformation,itwillonlymakeyoursituationworse."
John'sheartsank.Hecouldn'tbearthethoughtofbeingwronglyaccusedandfalselyimprisoned.Heknewhehadtobeopenandcooperatefully."Officer,Iambeinghonestwithyou.Ihavenoknowledgeorinvolvementinthistheft.Iamwillingtofullycooperateandassistinanywaypossibletoprovemyinnocence."
TheofficerstudiedJohn'sface,lookingforanysignsofdeception.Afteramoment,herelaxedslightly."Alright,wewillcontinuetoinvestigateandgathermoreevidence.Ifwhatyou'resayingchecksout,thenwewilldoourbesttoclearyourname."
ReliefwashedoverJohn,althoughheknewhestillhadalongbattleaheadofhim.Heunderstoodthatbeingaccusedwasnotthesameasbeingguilty,andhehadfaithinthelegalsystemtouncoverthetruth.
AsJohnlefttheinterrogationroom,heremindedhimselftostaystrongandtrustintheprocess.Heknewitwouldbeachallengingjourneytoprovehisinnocence,buthewasdeterminedtofightforjustice.