TW: Alcohol
Record of Interrogation of Witness
Officer John H. Clark
Start of examination: 03.02
End of examination 03.21
J: Good evening, Mr Smith. Before I ask any questions, I must inform you that our conversation will be recorded and may be used as part of the investigation. Are you willing to provide your testimony?
S: Yes. Of course.
J: This interrogation concerns the possible murder of Mr Morgan at the HQ Dallas bar. You were the one who discovered the body. Correct?
S: Yes.
J: When did you arrive at the bar?
S: Around ten thirty. By cab.
J: How did you come to be there?
S: Figured I’d step out for a bit and hit a bar. You know, some old drinking habits. I always go there when I’m craving their Palomas. They make the best in town. But then the place gets crowded, so I usually leave pretty early.
J: [nods] When did you find the body?
S: Around 12:50. [pause] I called the police immediately afterwards.
J: All right. Can you describe the events leading up to finding the body?
S: Sure. As per usual, I visited the bar at around ten, after supper. I always take my order and sit at the small table in the corner, but this time the table was occupied by [pause] Mr Morgan.
J: The victim.
S: The victim. Yes. So I sat at a nearby table, and did not pay attention to what had happened to him.
J: Can you describe what he was doing when you first saw him occupying your table? Did he look at you? Was he looking around for anything?
S: No, he was asleep. He had a half-finished small glass of whiskey before him, and the ice cube inside the glass wasn’t even slightly melted. He looked like a mess, his shirt was pulled up at the back, his jacket was in a pile on the opposite chair, and his tie was pulled down with his collar half open.
J: Are you sure he was only asleep? And not – something worse?
S: No, sir. He wasn’t dead then. He woke up a while after.
J: What else happened after you sat down? Anything worth raising?
S: [pause] My drink was quite strong today. You must know, I don’t get intoxicated often. But I felt dizzy before I even finished my second shot.
[silence]
S: There has to be something wrong with it.
J: Are you sure it is not just hitting you differently today, or, perhaps, a coincidence?
S: It has never been this way. Sir, there is something wrong.
J: Very well. We will look into it. [flips through notebook] Anything else?
S: [silence]
J: Anything that happened after that?
S: Well, a lady came up to me a short while later and offered to play cards with me.
J: [picks up pen] Well? What did she look like?
S: She’s a fine woman, not really tall. She had blonde hair that was quite short and curled at the end. She smelled strongly of rabbits.
J: What about her clothing?
S: She had this pink bonnet with black lace, and she had a white leather coat with a black top underneath. She wore black laced stockings with pink shoes. I don’t really remember our interaction well.
J: Is that all you know about her? Surely there is something else you remember. Anything about your game? Did she say much?
S: [pause] No, no. I wasn’t sober at that time. I really don’t know more, officer. She didn’t talk much. We just had a silent game of cards.
J: [leans forward slightly] That’s convenient, Mr Smith. A silent game of cards with a woman you don’t remember? Nothing at all stands out?
[silence]
J: What happened after that?
S: I finished the game, took my things, and left.
J: Oh? Why did you leave?
S: I felt very dizzy, so I went downstairs to sober up.
J: What happened then?
S: I had a smoke, and I felt better. Then I went back up. Oh, and when I left, Mr Morgan woke, walked over and took over my spot playing cards. That’s when I last saw him before, you know.
J: I assume you found him when you came up?
S: Well, yes. I came back up and the lady was missing. He was bent over with his head on his hands, so I assumed he had fallen asleep again. But I tried to wake him, and he did not budge. And soon I found out that his pulse was dead. Then I called the police.
J: Why were you so desperate to wake him?
S: Pardon?
J: Why did you need to wake him? Wouldn’t you assume he’s sleeping too soundly and leave him be?
S: [breathing heavily] … I don’t know…
J: You’re getting defensive, Mr Smith. Why? Is it because you recognized her the moment she walked in?
S: [silence] Yes.
J: Have you known the woman before your interaction tonight?
S: No. No…I do not believe so.
J: That doesn’t add up, Mr Smith.
[silence]
S: It was only…It’s not like that, but she reminded me of my ex.
J: Are you sure about that? You didn’t call her by a familiar name? Didn’t think, even for a second, that it might be her?
S: She only reminded me of my ex. She is not my ex. She is not my ex! I don’t know her!
J: Calm down! Young man. I am not implicating anything. And I am certainly not accusing you of anything. That woman at the bar will be subject to interrogation. Further investigation will take place on this matter if needed.
S: …
J: We will find out, Mr Smith. The woman at the bar will be subject to interrogation. If further investigation is needed, which I suspect it will be, you will be notified two days prior.
S: [Silence] Very well, sir.
J: This concludes our interview. Officer Reynold will escort you out. Stay available for further questioning.
Writer – Cynthia Zheng
Editor – Kenneth Gong
Artist – Angela Wang
–April 2025–
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