Devil in Disguise

Chapter Three

Alice POV

       Oh God, oh God, oh God. I could just imagine the horror that was taking place in that interrogation room. Devin’s probably twisting up some wild story and putting Chief Todd in some sort of a trance that makes him agree to whatever Devin is saying. Oh no, that’s exactly what he’s doing, isn’t he? Okay, calm down, Alice. Your brain is just on hyper drive. You’re just overreacting. They’re probably having a normal civilized conversation that doesn’t involve any form of voodoo. Hopefully.

       I took deep breaths until I calmed down completely, or at least as calm as I could get. I was on my fifth cup of coffee and buzzing. I couldn’t sit still; I had to move every other second to accommodate to my ADHD state. I paced through the Chief’s office, looking at every random picture in the room. I sat down, tapping my right foot uncontrollably.

       Eventually, after what felt like hours, Chief Todd opened the door. I ambushed him immediately. “What happened? What did he say? What did you say? Oh, hell! Did he hypnotize you?!” I peered closely at his eyes, trying to distinguish whether he was actually with me. Let’s just say he gave me some compromising looks. In other words, he looked at me like I should be put in an insane asylum.

       “Finn, calm yourself down! How much of that coffee have you been drinking?”

       “A couple cups . . .”

       “Which basically means . . .”

       “Okay, more than four, and that’s all you need to know,” I said, looking away.

       "I need you awake, Alice, not hyperactive.”

       “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous.”

       “Well, then you might want to sit down for what I’m about to say next.”

       Oh God. “Why do I have to sit down?”

       He put his hand on my shoulder and guided me to the chair. “Just sit down first.”

       “Please don’t tell me what I think you’re going to say.”

       “I may have made a deal with him . . .”

       I sat there, sinking in what he said. Once it did, I went berserk. “Have you gone mad?” I shook his shoulders.

       “Alice, calm yourself down! I may have to get tranquilizers for you.”

       “What did you do?” I slumped in my chair. “What deal did you make?”

       “I agreed to give him immunity if he gave information –“

       “What?”

       “ –and if he helped with the investigation. Why does everyone have to interrupt me?” He narrowed his eyes.

       I smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, won’t happen again, but wait. You mean if he agrees to this, him and I have to . . . work together?”

       “It may be.”

       “Chief,” I slapped my forehead.

       “Listen, he has a lot of information and if he’s a part of the team, then we have an even greater advantage. We would have a person on the inside working with us. It would make our lives much easier.”

       “But I’d have to work with him! And he’s . . . he’s impossible!”

       “Well, that I can’t help you with. All I can say is that if he agrees, you’re stuck with him.”