Stockholm

‍‍‍‍‍Rue sits in a small interrogation room. There is nothing on the walls only a two-way mirror straight in front of her. She is sure the two detectives are standing behind it watching her. Rue stays completely still in her chair. It is a skill she use to struggle with but has lately mastered. The two men walk into the room.

Detective Nelson: Sorry for the wait Miss Paxton. Do you prefer Rune or Rue?

Rue’s eyes look through the man. The seconds on the clock tick by loudly.  Detective Nelson finally breaks the silence.

Detective Nelson: How about Miss Paxton then?

Rue’s eyes move up slightly, then she gives a single nod of her head.

Detective Nelson: Miss Paxton, I have a picture I would like you to look at. I know it might be hard, but whatever you can tell us will help.

Rue stays still but lets her eyes follow the detective’s movements[4]. He opens the folder and lays a picture on the table in front of Rue. Rue looks down at it but says nothing. 

Detective Nelson: I know it’s difficult looking at a dead body, even in a photograph. 

Rue stares at the brutal photo, for some reason it is in black and white. Effortlessly her mind fills in the red of the blood, the shine, the texture, the stickiness. The phantom aroma fills her nose, and she licks her teeth to enjoy the fantasy flavor. For a few more moments she lets her eyes enjoy the beauty of the photograph.

Rue lifts her head; both the detectives are giving her identical strange looks.

Detective Nelson: Do you recognize the woman in the photo?

Rue cannot help but taking a second glance.

Rue: No.

She lies.

The detective takes the picture back, returning it to the folder.

Detective Nelson: Okay...Thank you Miss Paxton. 

He backs away as if she makes him nervous. Detective Anderson steps up with a puffed chest.

Detective Anderson: Miss Paxton, we have been trying to talk to you for a while now. I think you can be helpful in multiple investigations, Including a missing persons case.

Detective Anderson pulls out a different picture from a separate folder.

Detective Anderson: I know you know this gentleman.

Rue looks at the picture, it is true. It is the smile, that dangerous smile. It is so missed placed in the family photo he is in.

Detective Anderson: Samuel Gustafsson, tell me about him?

Rue: I don’t know him.

Her voice is calm, even, so balanced you could walk on it.

Detective Anderson: That’s strange Miss Paxton because you and he have the same home address listed.

The detective holds up the information sheet they made Rue fill out when she arrived at the police station.

Detective Anderson: I am going to ask you again, how do you know Samuel Gustafsson?

Rue: I don’t know him. I met him the first day I got to Stockholm and never saw him again.

Detective Nelson interrupts.

Detective Nelson: How long have you been in Stockholm?

Rue: Since January.

Detective Nelson: It is May. So, you have been in Sweden for over four months.

Rue: Yes.

Detective Anderson: Your form says your previous employer was a Hollywood film Studio. Doing any movie work up here? It says you were a script writer.

Rues eyes show the first glimpse of emotion, a blink-N-you would miss it, flash of life or hope.

Rue: Not anymore. 

Detective Anderson: So, you do live at the Gustafsson Manor?

Detective Anderson whistles.

Detective Anderson: Fancy place.  

Rue has returned still, straighten back, almost unblinking. She gives a nod.

Detective Anderson: If we needed to reach you again is this your cellphone number?

The detective points at the form.

Rue: No, it is the manor’s number.

Detective Nelson: You don’t have a cellphone Miss Paxton? I mean my ten-year-old daughter has a cellphone.

Rues head turn is so unnatural; it’s like she is a puppet.

Rue: I hear they can make you sick, even start a pandemic. 

Both the detectives look at each other.

Detective Nelson: Thank you for your time Miss Paxton. 

When they both go to leave the room, Rue lets her voice break the air.

Rue: It’s Rue.

She takes a breath like she just emerged from underwater.

Rue: Not Miss Paxton, Rue.