Page 73 of Sixty Meters Under

Ryosuke’s eyes popped on stalks.

Lennart proceeded, “Richard’s fingerprints were not found on this object. Only yours. Apart from the cleaning lady whose task is refilling the soap. I’ve discounted her as she wasn’t present at the party. Which means this… this makes you the main suspect in this case.”

“What?” Ryosuke looked at him in shock. “That–That’s impossible! I’m not a murderer!”

“That’s the only evidence we have. And based on this, I have no other option but to put you in detention.”

Ryosuke’s mouth hung open. He couldn’t believe what was happening to him.

I… a murderer? Was I really that drunk to hit her hard enough to kill her? If I did it, that must have been an accident. But I… I would never do that, so how? How is that possible?

“This must be a mistake!” Ryosuke cried out. He didn’t want to end up in a cell.

“I went carefully through all the fingerprints we found in the restroom. There is no mistake. It’s your prints on the murderweapon,” Lennart said calmly and even turned the laptop towards Ryosuke so he could see it for himself.

Ryosuke covered his face with his hands. There was an obvious match, and he struggled to think how his prints ended up there. He put his hands in his lap. “Maybe I grabbed it by accident, so it has my prints?”

“Maybe.”

“Are you really sure there are no fingerprints other than mine and the cleaner’s?”

“Yes, since the dispenser is automatic there’s no need to touch it to get the soap. I guess no one touched it except you two. And, as I already informed you, the cleaning lady was not in the men’s restroom that evening.”

Ryosuke shook his head.If only I could remember all the events from that night. What if someone set it up so I look guilty?

“Well…” Lennart got to his feet. “Until we get the full autopsy report I need to lock you up for the safety of the other residents.”

Ryosuke lowered his head, defeated. “I understand.”

Lennart stood up and Ryosuke could hear the clinking of metal.

“Give me your hands.”

Ryosuke bit the inside of his cheek as he got to his feet. He stretched out his hands and looked down watching Lennart attach handcuffs to his wrists. Lennart pressed and tugged.It was almost an unnoticeable motion, but Ryosuke absorbed every detail of it.

I wish we were roleplaying instead. What if he presses me to the wall, and whispers to my ear that this was all just a joke? And then we start to undress… And… And… Shit, I’m going insane!

Ryosuke gasped out when Lennart made a final pull. Realizing the seriousness of the situation he got in, he was embarrassed to look the man in the face.

“Let’s go.” Lennart squeezed Ryosuke’s forearm a little too hard, and Ryosuke had to suppress a moan.

Damn… I’m really messed up.

Chapter 21

Lennart sat in his study and watched the cameras. From time to time he checked each level, but mostly focused on a specific one.

He took a sip of his coffee when he heard the door buzz.

“Hey, man!” Liam’s always positive face greeted him.

“Liam.” Lennart stepped to the side to let his friend in.

“How are you doing? Still busy with the case, huh?”

“You can say that.” Lennart closed the door and returned to his seat. Liam settled into the chair next to his.

Liam ran his eyes over the screens, and when his eyes landed on the ones that showed the cells, he leaned in. “Is that the Japanese guy?”