The commissioner walked into the cell, his presence commanding attention. He was a tall, imposing figure, with a stern expression on his face. He looked at me with a piercing gaze, as if he could see right through me.
"Jackson," he said, his voice firm and authoritative. "I know all about you and what you've been up to. And I know that you're not the one involved in this crime. It's your brother, Liam, who's been playing with fire."
I felt a surge of fear, but I tried to stay calm. I knew I had to protect Liam, no matter what. I couldn't let the commissioner take him away.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I protested, trying to sound confident. "Liam has nothing to do with this."
The commissioner raised an eyebrow. "Don't play dumb, Jackson. We have evidence. We know that Liam was involved in the scheme with Mike and Alex. And we know that he's been trying to cover his tracks."
I felt a sense of panic rising up, but I knew I had to stay strong. I couldn't let the commissioner intimidate me.
"That's not true," I said, trying to sound convincing. "Liam has nothing to do with this. It was all me, Mike, and Alex. We were the ones who...who..."
The commissioner's expression turned skeptical. "Save it, Jackson. We've already spoken to witnesses who place Liam at the scene of the crime. And we have physical evidence that links him to the scheme."
I knew I had to think fast. I couldn't let the commissioner take Liam away. I had to take his place.
"Listen, commissioner," I said, trying to sound calm. "I'll tell you the truth. It was all me. Liam has nothing to do with this. I'm the one who...who..."
The commissioner's expression turned stern. "Jackson, don't do this. You're not helping your brother by taking the fall for him. You're only going to make things worse for yourself."
I shook my head, determination rising up in me. "No, commissioner. I'm not going to let Liam take the blame for something he didn't do. I'm the one who...who... I'm the one who's responsible for this mess."
The commissioner's voice turned warning. "Jackson, stop this. You're not thinking clearly. You're going to regret this in the near future."
But I didn't back down. I continued to argue, trying to convince the commissioner that Liam was innocent.
"Liam doesn't have anything to do with this," I said, my voice growing more desperate. "It was all me, Mike, and Alex. We were the ones who...who... Please, commissioner, you have to believe me."
The commissioner's expression turned cold. "I'm not going to believe you, Jackson. I'm going to believe the evidence. And the evidence says that Liam is guilty."
I felt a sense of despair wash over me, but I knew I couldn't give up. I had to keep fighting, for Liam's sake.
"Please, commissioner," I said, my voice cracking with emotion. "You have to listen to me. Liam is innocent. I'm the one who...who... Please, don't take him away."
The commissioner's expression didn't change. "I'm afraid it's too late for that, Jackson. The wheels are already in motion. Liam will be taken into custody, and he will face the consequences of his actions."
I felt a sense of desperation rising up, but I knew I couldn't give up. I had to keep fighting, for Liam's sake. I had to prove his innocence, no matter what it took.
"Commissioner, please," I said, my voice growing more urgent. "You have to listen to me. Liam is innocent. I'm the one who...who... I'm the one who's responsible for this mess."
The commissioner's expression turned stern. "Jackson, I've already told you. The evidence says that Liam is guilty. And I'm not going to change my mind just because you're trying to take the fall for him."
I felt a sense of frustration rising up, but I knew I couldn't give up. I had to keep fighting, for Liam's sake.
"Commissioner, please," I said, my voice growing more desperate. "You have to listen to me. Liam is innocent. I'm the one who...who... I'm the one who's responsible for this mess. Please, commissioner, you have to believe me."
The commissioner's expression didn't change. "I'm afraid it's too late for that, Jackson. The decision has already been made. Liam will be taken into custody, and he will face the consequences of his actions."
I felt a sense of despair wash over me, but I knew I couldn't give up. I had to keep fighting, for Liam's sake. 
The commissioner looked at me with a stern expression, his eyes piercing through me. "Jackson, you're trying to take the fall for your brother, but do you even know what he's done?" he asked, his voice firm and authoritative.
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The truth was, I didn't know the details of Liam's offense. I had been trying to protect him, but I didn't know what I was protecting him from.
"Explain to me what really happened," the commissioner demanded, his voice firm and commanding.
I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. I had been trying to take the blame for Liam, but I didn't know what I was taking the blame for.
The commissioner sighed, his expression turning from stern to disappointed. "I thought so. You don't even know what your brother's done, do you?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration.
I shook my head, feeling a sense of shame. "No, commissioner. I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
The commissioner nodded, his expression turning serious. "Let me tell you what happened. Liam, Mike, and Alex went to a store to shoplift. They were seen by a nearby officer, who called for backup. When the officers arrived, Liam panicked and shot one of them dead. The others fled the scene, but Mike and Alex were caught trying to retaliate. They were shot down by the police."
I felt a sense of horror wash over me. I had no idea it was that serious. I had been trying to protect Liam, but I didn't know what I was protecting him from. The weight of his crime was crushing, and I felt like I was drowning under the pressure.
The commissioner's expression turned stern again. "Now, Jackson, I'll ask you again. Are you willing to take your brother's place?" he asked, his voice firm and commanding.
Fear gripped me. I had seen the weight of Liam's crime, and I knew it was serious. But I also knew that I had to protect him. I had taken on the responsibility of caring for him after our dad's death, and I couldn't let him down now.
I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself for what was to come. "Yes, commissioner. I'll take his place," I said, my voice firm and resolute.
The commissioner's expression didn't change. "You understand what you're getting yourself into, Jackson? You're taking on a serious crime. You'll be facing serious consequences," he warned, his voice serious and somber.
I nodded, trying to show that I was determined. "I understand, commissioner. But I have to do this. I have to protect my brother," I said, my voice filled with conviction.
The commissioner sighed, his expression turning from stern to almost sympathetic. "I understand, Jackson. Family is important. But you have to understand that this is serious. You're not just taking on a crime, you're taking on a responsibility. You're taking on the responsibility of protecting your brother, and you're taking on the consequences of his actions," he explained, his voice filled with a sense of gravity.
I nodded, feeling a sense of determination rise up in me. "I understand, commissioner. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my brother," I said, my voice firm and resolute.
The commissioner nodded, his expression turning serious again. "Very well, Jackson. You'll be taking your brother's place. But remember, this is serious. You're not just protecting your brother, you're protecting yourself. You're taking on a responsibility that will follow you for the rest of your life," he warned, his voice filled with a sense of gravity.
I felt a sense of fear grip me, but I knew I had to be strong. I had to protect Liam, no matter what. I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself for what was to come.
"I understand, commissioner," I said, trying to sound confident. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect my brother."
The commissioner nodded, his expression turning almost sympathetic. "I hope so, Jackson. I hope so," he said, his voice filled with a sense of concern.
I knew that I had made a decision that would change my life forever. I was taking on a responsibility that would weigh heavily on my shoulders, but I was determined to see it through. I was determined to protect Liam, no matter what.