Ultraviolet

Chapter Thirty-Four: The Verdict

I woke up to Hadeon shaking me awake, self-consciousness taking over as I scooted away. Hopefully he's not looking too closely at the drool on my cheek I wiped away or the birds nest of hair resting atop my head. Something flashed across his eyes, the same emotion that appeared on his face last night, but it was brushed off immediately.

"Adrianna told me to wake you up." He hushed. I looked outside at the greyish blue light of the morning sky, the sun not yet risen.

"What time is it?"

"Doesn't matter," He whispered. "Come on, you gotta check something out."

No further explanation, Hadeon left the room. I quickly pulled on a hoodie and joined him in the living room where the tv was turned on, volume as low as it could go and subtitles on over the early morning breakfast show. Glancing at Hadeon sceptically, I sat down on the couch and tried to focus on the words crossing the screen.

"Wait," I mumbled, recognising the hosts. My grandmother used to turn on this show while she was eating breakfast on early harvest days. "How are we getting this channel?"

"Its a recording." He explained. "Adrianna sent it to me, she wanted you to see it now."

The presenter, Michelle Wall, held her hand to her ear as she nodded, before continuing in her clear newscaster voice. "And we have news regarding the investigation into Sunshine Sherif Station. Federal Agents started looking into reports of gross misuse and abuse of power within the station in Lincoln County a number of days ago, and within that short time it was found that the Sherif, Derrick William Geiger-" My mouth grew dry hearing his name. "- had used his position in the Sherif Station to hide accounts of domestic abuse reported against couple Kyle and Deborah Wilkes. Statements made by multiple foster children who lived with the Wilkes' had been hidden, as well as speculations made by social workers and other police officers. Sherif Geiger has been demoted from his position and has been charged with multiple accounts of destruction of evidence and obstruction of justice. Kyle and Deborah Wilkes are currently being investigated by the Department of Child Protective Services. In light of this investigation, charges placed against a former foster child under the Wilkes' care, one Esme Moore-" My breath hitched hearing my name. "-of grand larceny, attempted assault, and destruction of property placed with no evidence have all been dropped. Now, to Jeremy for the weather."

I laughed, relief spreading over my body. Charges have been dropped.

"How?" I asked. "How did she do it?"

Three days ago I came to Adrianna for help. Three days. Thats all the time it took to take down Geiger and the Wilkes', to free me.

"Adrianna is a powerful woman." He shrugged.

"Thank you!" I cried as I wrapped my arms around Hadeon's neck.

His arms fell around my waist. Warmth spread over my body as his hands pressed against my back, only the thin material of my pyjama shirt in between. I leant back, smiling at him. Hadeon smiled back, wide and happy. I liked him so much more when he was happy and friendly. In this moment, I couldn't imagine him angry or distant.

I wished I could take back whatever happened to him to make abrasive the default.

Hadeon seemed to only now realise our close proximity, and pulled his arms back and scooted away slightly. I ignored the sinking feeling in my gut and turned to face the tv.

"What does Adrianna like?" I asked. "Flowers, candy, jewellery, cars? Whatever she likes, I'm buying her it. I owe her everything."

"I'm sure she was just happy to help." Hadeon sighed, but something in his voice wasn't certain of itself.

A hitch, between "was" and "just happy to help", sent a wave of anxiety over my chest. I tried to brush it off, but it stuck in the corner of my mind.