Burned Once, Never Again (Niamh and Castiel)

Castiel had returned along with the police. Seeing Him, Niamh felt a chill in her heart.

He spoke briefly to the officers, who nodded in response, then walked toward her.

"You need to assist with the investigation into Macy's kidnapping," Castiel said calmly.

Niamh looked at him with an emotionless gaze, her silence sharper than any piercing question. Castiel turned his head slightly with his profile tense. "Niamh, I don't want this to involve yo

you.

Niamh snorted. He didn't want it to involve her, yet he didn't believe it didn't.

"Ten years."

"What?"

"Castiel, after ten years between us, there's not even the most basic trust.

They knew each other inside and out after having spent a decade together, but now she couldn't see through him, and he no longer trusted her. Without sparing him another glance, Niamh headed straight for the police car.

"Niamh." Behind her, Castiel's voice wavered.

Niamh stopped but didn't turn around. Castiel stepped closer and pressed his chest against her back with his warm breath at her ear.

Perhaps worried that this might hurt her feelings if she were truly innocent, he tried to reassure her, "It's just routine questioning. Just tell the truth, Niamh pushed his hand away and got into the police car without looking back.

Routine questioning? It sounded simple. If there were no suspicions pointed at her, why would the police come knocking just because she had seen Macy that day?

At the police station, the interrogation seemed less like routine questioning and more like a relentless cross-examination. The questions were repetitive, trying to find inconsistencies.

"In the past six months, there have been rumors about Mr. Jamison's affair with his secretary, Ms. Duncan. What do you think about this?"

Niamh replied, "Yesterday, I was finalizing my divorce with him. We are parting on amicable terms.

She remained clear-headed and articulate. No matter how many times they asked or how they framed the questions, her answers were always the same.

"Did Ms. Duncan ever show you any disrespect? For instance, privately?"

"I've never met her."

As the officer was about to ask the next question, Niamh added, "But there is something I find. strange.

"What's that?"

"My husband's sister, who is adopted by his family, was vehemently opposed to our marriage. Initially, I didn't understand why, but later I learned she had been in love with him for a long time." "And what does this have to do with the case?' the officer asked while continuing to take notes.

Niamh's tone grew serious as she explained, "I heard from a friend that just before Ms. Duncan was kidnapped, she was with Sienna Jamison."

The officer's pen almost broke the paper as she stared at Niamh in shock. Niamh met her gaze calmly, and her eyes showed no hint of deceit.