Page 74 of Ruthless Intent

Ashley Trumont: **Nods without speaking**

Detective Holson: That’s great. Can I get you a drink? A soda, maybe?

Ashley Trumont: I … I want my dad. I … I …

Detective Holson: He’s on his way. Is it okay if I ask you a few questions while we wait for him?

Ashley Trumont: I … I guess so.

Detective Ramsey: Do you think you could tell us what happened tonight?

Ashley Trumont: **sobs**

Detective Holson: Take your time, Ashley. But we need your help to understand what happened.

Ashley Trumont: I don’t know. I don’t know. My brother … Jason … Oh my god … oh my god! **She rocks on her seat, covering her face. Following words are unintelligible.**

Detective Holson: Take a breath, Ashley. You’re safe here. Why did you go to Jason’s house?

Ashley Trumont: I needed to talk to him. I th-thought Mom and Dad were fighting. I w-wanted to ask him if he knew w-what was h-happening.

Detective Holson: It’s late. It couldn’t have waited until tomorrow?

Ashley Trumont: **shakes her head**

Detective Holson: What did you need to know?

Ashley Trumont: M-my mom and dad were t-talking about b-breaking up. I … I wanted to s-see if Jason knew anything about it.

Detective Holson: So, you got to the house, and then what happened? Did you see Zain Ryder there at all?

Ashley Trumont: N-not outside. H-his car was on the d-drive. Th-the front door was o-open. I-I walked in, and called for J-Jason.

Detective Holson: Did you hear anything? Did anyone answer you? Wasn’t the door locked?

Ashley Trumont: **shakes her head**

Detective: Ramsey: So you let yourself into the house? Where did you go first?

Ashley Trumont: The kitchen. B-but it was empty. **She pauses here. Detective Holson hands her a handful of tissues. She wipes her eyes.** I w-walked up the stairs, still calling his name. And then … and then … oh god.

Detective Holson: You walked into the bedroom, and found Zain Ryder standing over their bodies, with a knife.

Ashley Trumont: N-no. He w-was there, b-but I don’t think he was holding anything.

Detective Holson: Are you sure, Ashley? This is important. Your brother and Louisa were murdered, in their beds, by someone with a knife. You found Zain Ryder in there. He must have had the knife.

Ashley Trumont: **shakes her head** I … N-no. I didn’t s-see any knife.

***RECORDING PAUSED WHEN ASHLEY TRUMONT’S FATHER ARRIVED**

Location: Whitstone Station, Interview Room 3

Present: Detective Holson and Detective Ramsey

Witness: Ashley Trumont, accompanied by her father, Bryan Trumont

Starting Timestamp: 01:52 hours