Chapter 10 – The Statement She Withdrew
Police found Sara three streets away outside a petrol station.
She gave a statement that night.
The following morning, her family told a different story.
Sara had become hysterical.
Nobody imprisoned her.
The front door was locked because it was late.
Her passport had been moved because her mother was afraid she would lose it.
The SIM card had fallen out when Murat helped fix the phone.
The broken bowl proved Sara was unstable.
There were no cameras inside the apartment.
No independent witness had seen the beginning of the argument.
There was enough for concern.
Enough for support.
Enough for warnings and documentation.
But the case still depended heavily on Sara.
And three days later, Sara changed parts of her statement.
Giulia stared at her.
“Why?”
Sara looked down.
“My father could lose his job.”
“That doesn’t answer me.”
“My mother isn’t sleeping.”
“Sara.”
“Murat said he could be charged.”
“Possibly.”
“He has a child coming.”
“Your brother’s wife is pregnant?”
Sara nodded.
Giulia sat back.
“Did they ask you to change it?”
“No.”
“Did they tell you what would happen if you didn’t?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Sara whispered:
“Because everything becomes my fault.”
Giulia waited.
Sara wiped her eyes.
“If I keep going, my father’s job, Murat’s baby, my mother’s health, everything…”
She stopped.
Giulia said:
“Those are not things you caused.”
Sara laughed bitterly.
“You don’t understand.”
Maybe Giulia did.
Maybe understanding was not enough.
