Interrogation

The terrified girl in the oversized coat was shaking at what had just happened. This was obviously not how this was supposed to go for her. Now she had no way out and was cornered in an office with two staff and the security guard who had put her in cuffs.

“What’s your name girl?” Asked Mike, the lead manager. Mike was an ok guy, he knew his stuff around technology and took the time out to train Sapphire on the sales floor.

“Tanya.” The girl wept and a tear streamed down her face and landed on the soft nylon of her coat. She didn’t look up and kept a steady gaze on the floor. Carson leaned against the back wall.

“Take a seat Tanya.” Said Mike. Tanya glanced over and spotted a desk chair and awkwardly sat down on the edge of her seat while still handcuffed. The puffer coat billowed around her as she sat.

“What’s with the coat?” Asked Mike with a hand gesturing at the miserable girl. “It’s not even cold yet.” Not waiting for a reply, he went on, “Is it just something you wear to hide all the merchandise you steal? You destroyed my store and guess who has to fix it?” Mike’s voice was getting more and more irritated, which made Carson step in,

“I think we should call the cops and she should go to jail!” He blurted. Sapphire who had been silent, raised a hand to stop Carson and quickly spoke up,

“Mike? Carson? Can I have a moment alone with Tanya please? The two men looked at each other, then at Sapphire, then at the slumped girl.

“Alright,” said Mike at last, “But make it quick.” Once the men had closed the door behind them, Tanya looked up at Sapphire. The girl was clearly a little relieved.

“Why did you run?” Sapphire asked. The girl’s eyes diverted back to the floor, and for a minute she was silent.

“I didn’t take anything, I swear.” She cried. “I knew I looked suspicious, I just wanted to get out.” She went on, “It….it was just a dumb dare.”

“What kind of dare?” Asked Sapphire intrigued. “What were you dared to do? And who dared you?”

The girl looked up, “My friend…..tricked me to put on this coat and….and walk around in it.”

“Why?”

“Because she knew I would be embarrassed out of my mind…..and because I lost a bet.”

“What bet?”

“Just a stupid bet, on a dumb game.” She went on, “Doesn’t matter, but the point is, that I lost, and she made me wear this coat all day and told me busy places I had to go….so that people would look at me….and laugh.”

“Why not just take the coat off? Asked Sapphire. “Your friend isn’t here is she? How would she know?”

The girl paused before answering. “I…..I can’t.” Came the reply. “I can’t take it off. She locked me in it….or rather, she told me I had to zip it all the way up, and when I did, something happened. It clicked. And it’s locked.” Sapphire stared at the woman in disbelief. This girl had a ridiculous jacket that was locked on her and was powerless to remove it.

“Let me see.” Sapphire stepped forward. The coat’s symbol of a padlock that dangled off the zipper made sense. Upon closer inspection, the collar of the jacket was firm, and fit snuggly around Tanya’s neck. Once zipped up, there was no way to remove the jacket without unzipping it. Sapphire inspected the zipper and held it in her hand. It appeared to be a normal functioning zipper, with the exception that it was oversized much like the coat itself. The length of the zipper began just below Tanya’s waist and perfectly outlined snuggly below Tanya’s chin came up to her bottom lip. Sapphire attempted to unzip the jacket, but to no avail. The zipper did not budge. Sapphire is more than intrigued. The thought of someone else being helpless and embarrassed in public made her feel powerful and turned on.