Coldcliff Police Station, September 5, 2:18 p.m.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Thanks for coming to meet with us.
BECK: Well, you made me. It didn’t exactly sound like an invitation.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Beck Rutherford. Is Beck short for something?
BECK: It’s my name. Are you going to arrest me for something, or can I get back to school now?
OFFICER OLDMAN: Don’t lash out at me, son. We just want to ask you a few questions.
BECK: I’m not your son.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Sorry. Beck. We have a few questions we hope you can assist us with in the Mark Forrester case.
BECK: Case? I thought he fell off a cliff.
OFFICER OLDMAN: It’s not that simple. We’re still investigating, and we’d like your help.
BECK: I already told the last guy my statement. I don’t know anything about what happened. I heard about it the same as everyone else.
OFFICER OLDMAN: From your girlfriend, right? Louisa Chamberlain?
BECK: No, I saw it online. I guess she called me, but I didn’t pick up.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Why didn’t you pick up when your girlfriend called?
BECK: She’s not my girlfriend, okay? And do you pick up the phone every time your wife calls? I doubt it.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Where were you the evening Mark Forrester died?
BECK: I was riding my bike. I already told the last guy. Don’t you share notes?
OFFICER OLDMAN: So you were on your motorcycle. Were you alone?
BECK: Yeah, I was alone.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Where do you ride it?
BECK: Just around. Mostly the roads around town. Not a lot of traffic. Don’t worry, I don’t go over the speed limit.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Sounds dangerous, being on your own like that. What if something happened?
BECK: Something doesn’t.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Did you know that Tabitha and Mark were taking a hike that day?
BECK: Why would I know that? Tabitha and I don’t even talk anymore. I really don’t care about her weekend plans.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Anymore. You don’t talk anymore. But you used to. Looks like you used to do more than talk.
BECK: Yeah, we used to hang out. But not now. She has her life. I have mine.
OFFICER OLDMAN: So you weren’t with her the night of Eleanor Ross’s party on August tenth?
BECK: No, I wasn’t with her. I mean, I saw her there, but I also saw a hundred other people. That’s kind of what happens at parties.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Sources say they saw you with Tabitha. We have an account that you left the pool house together.
BECK: Sources. Okay. I seriously doubt it. I wasn’t in the pool house that night.
OFFICER OLDMAN: Another witness puts you in the kitchen the same night. Says that you had your arm around her and stuck something in the pocket of her jeans.
BECK: She wasn’t even wearing jeans. She had a skirt on.
OFFICER OLDMAN: You remember what Tabitha was wearing the night of a party that took place last month?
BECK: (pauses) I have a good memory.
OFFICER OLDMAN: So maybe you can remember what Tabitha told you about her plans with Mark.
BECK: I can’t tell you something I don’t know. Look, am I under arrest, or am I free to go now?