later," proceeded to interrogate Higgins.

The interrogation lasted almost an hour. In the course of questioning, Higgins confessed having possessed and sold cocaine for Van Cleve and having possessed a small quantity for her own use. Higgins also told Van Gelder that Van Cleve had recently enlisted her to deposit some cocaine in a parked car for storage. Higgins agreed to accompany Van Gelder to the office of a magistrate, in order to secure a search warrant for the car. Higgins subsequently appeared before a magistrate and testified in support of the warrant. In the course of this testimony, Van Gelder asked Higgins if she had been told she was under arrest prior to questioning: "Did I tell you whether you were free to go or not?" Higgins replied,"Yes." Van Gelder further asked, "Okay, what did I tell you?" Higgins responded, "I could leave, that I wasn't under arrest."

Higgins was not arrested that night. Based primarily on her confessions to Van Gelder, however, she was later indicted. Prior to trial, Higgins moved to suppress all evidence resulting from her statements. She contended that Van Gelder had subjected her to custodial interrogation without first reciting the Miranda warnings; she also contended that her statements to Van Gelder were involuntary.

At the hearing on Higgins' suppression motion, Judge Souter listened to testimony from several witnesses, including Higgins and Van Gelder. The judge also listened to tape recordings of the troopers' October 31 entry into Higgins' home, of Van Gelder's interview with Higgins, and of Higgins' ensuing appearance before the