Chapter 10:interrogation(II)

The fluorescent lights buzzed above the small, windowless room. Derek sat across from two agents, one tall and sharp-eyed, the other younger, fidgeting with a pen.

“You understand why you’re here?” the taller agent began.

“Yes,” Derek replied evenly. “But you’re focusing on the wrong person.”

“You’re Derek Thunder,” the agent said, leaning forward. “Your identity, your fingerprints, your bank activity… it all points to you.”

“I’m telling you—the evidence is manipulated. Someone is impersonating me.” Derek kept his voice calm. “Check the timestamps, the cameras. Compare the transactions. You’ll see the pattern doesn’t match me.”

The younger agent snorted. “You expect us to believe that? You’ve got a lot of nerve.”

Derek leaned back, smirking faintly. “Believe me or not. The facts will speak for themselves.”

The taller agent slammed a folder on the table. “Explain this. Armed robbery at Central Bank. CCTV shows a man identical to you taking cash, threatening staff.”

“I was miles away,” Derek said. “I have witnesses, receipts, and GPS logs. Every move you think I made—someone else did.”

The younger agent laughed. “That’s convenient, isn’t it?”

“Not convenient. True.” Derek’s voice sharpened. “You can check everything. The signatures on the checks, the fingerprints at the scene, the shoes worn in the footage. Tiny details. You’ll see I wasn’t there.”

The agents exchanged skeptical looks.

“You really think you can convince us?” the taller agent asked.

“I know I can,” Derek said confidently. “Start with the simplest. A shoe print from the Central Bank robbery doesn’t match my size. Fingerprints? Not mine. Every piece is a puzzle piece. Put it together, and it won’t point to me.”

The younger agent scribbled notes. “And you know all this because…?”

“Because I’ve been tracking the real culprit,” Derek replied. “This isn’t random. It’s calculated. Every move, every step, every small detail was orchestrated to frame me.”

“You think we’ll believe that without proof?” the taller agent said.

“You will,” Derek said calmly. “Once you check the evidence. Once you see the inconsistencies.”

The room went quiet. Derek noticed a small smirk from the younger agent. “You really think this is just a game?” he asked.

“It’s not a game,” Derek said. “It’s a war of information. And I always win when I have the facts.”

The taller agent leaned back. “Alright. Let’s do a practical test. You say you weren’t at Central Bank. Can anyone vouch for your location?”

“Yes. I was at the rooftop of the old city parking lot at 3:15 PM, sending encrypted messages. Witnesses and CCTV footage there. Time stamps prove it.”

The younger agent tilted his head. “Encrypted messages? What are you, a hacker?”

Derek smiled faintly. “Skills. Call it that.”

“Fine,” the taller agent said. “Next, the homicides. Multiple cases in the past two months. Bodies found with evidence pointing to you. How do you explain that?”

“I didn’t do it,” Derek said firmly. “The DNA samples are tampered. If you check, the labs will show inconsistencies. Whoever did this is meticulous. They’ve planned it to make me look guilty in every way possible.”

The younger agent scoffed. “Sounds like fiction.”

“Then check the facts,” Derek said. “It’s not fiction. Every detail, every report, every timestamp—they don’t match me. But they do match the copycat.”

The taller agent paused, studying him. “Copycat?”

“Someone who’s been living in my shadow. Mimicking me. Using my identity. Doing everything to destroy my life.”

The agents were quiet for a moment, scribbling notes. Derek saw the shift—doubt creeping in.

“You’ll need more than words,” the younger agent said. “We’ll need proof. Evidence. Witnesses. You understand that, right?”

“I do,” Derek said calmly. “And I already have a plan to gather it. But I need your cooperation. Start small. Check the small things first. One detail will unravel the rest.”

The taller agent sighed. “Alright. Let’s say we investigate. You’ll cooperate fully?”

Derek nodded. “Every step. Every document. Every witness. You’ll see the truth.”

The agents glanced at each other. The younger one finally said, “You know, you’re either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.”

“Neither,” Derek said with a smirk. “I’m prepared. That’s the difference.”

Hours passed. Derek answered question after question. Every question, every accusation, he countered with calm logic. He pointed to inconsistencies, flaws, and forged evidence. The agents slowly began to see cracks in the case.

At one point, the taller agent slammed the folder down. “Fine. We’ll verify your claims. But one wrong move, one misstep, and you’re done.”

Derek leaned forward, voice steady. “I’ve never made a misstep. Not once.”

The room grew tense. Every word exchanged was a battle. Derek knew the identity thief was somewhere, watching, calculating. But he also knew that the moment the investigators checked the details, the copycat would be exposed.

“You’re lucky,” the taller agent said. “Most people would break under pressure. Most would crumble.”

Derek shook his head. “Luck has nothing to do with it. Preparation does. Knowledge. Focus. Every detail counts.”

“You really believe that?” the younger agent asked.

“I know it,” Derek said firmly. “And soon, you will too.”

The interrogation stretched through the night. Flashing lights from passing patrol cars illuminated the room. Derek kept his composure. The more questions they asked, the more mistakes they revealed in the copycat’s plan.

By morning, the agents had begun verifying his alibi. CCTV footage, GPS logs, bank statements—all pointing to Derek’s innocence.

Derek leaned back, exhaling. “It’s only a matter of time. The real culprit will slip.”

The taller agent nodded. “We’re starting to see that. But don’t think this is over. You’re far from clear.”

Derek smirked faintly. “I don’t need to be clear to act. I need to be ready. And I am.”

As the sun rose, Derek knew the real hunt was about to begin. The copycat’s identity was still out there, and Derek would not rest until it was exposed.