Overdose

59. The Executioner

I went with my mother to the station. I lied to her, telling her I just wanted to spend time with her. I lied to my own mother.

Walking into the station was an odd experience. Some of the officers stared at me like they did when I went in the first time with Nathaniel. I wanted to stare back at them, but I didn't. I didn't know if any of them were working with Xander, and I certainly couldn't ask. I would have to find out on my own, and be very careful about it.

She let me into her office and cleared off a small section of her desk. "You can do your schoolwork there."

Schoolwork was the last thing I was thinking about, but I just thanked her and sat down, pulling out one of my textbooks and doing my best to look busy. Eventually, it was time for lunch. "Do you want me to grab something?"

"No, I'm fine, thanks." I gave her a small smile and watched her walk out of the room.

I stared at my textbook. I knew I had to do what I came for, and so I got to work. Mom had left the keys on her desk, an I picked them up. I started opening the drawers on her desk first, going through papers and looking for something, anything that could indicate she knew or was involved with The Facility, but there was nothing. I then turned to the two large metal filing cabinets behind her desk. Using the keys, I opened up both and started going through those as well.

"Looking for something?" My heart momentarily stopped in my chest when I heard the question. I was almost afraid to turn around and look at who it was, but I did. I didn't recognize him, he wasn't one of the officers in the main lobby of the station. It was a leaner looking man in a suit, holding coffee in one hand. He had a smile on his face, but it was one of those that looked cold, absolutely no warmth or comfort to it. He had an eyebrow raised, and his other hand in a pocket. He had the same air Xander did, smug and hiding something.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Detective Rochester. I work with your mother a lot." He stepped into the office, sitting in one of the seats by the door. "She's a nice lady."

"I agree." I sat down behind her desk. It was a weird setting, almost like our spots should have been the opposite. "So, any big cases you're working on?"

"No, mainly just doing busy work." He smiled. "Are you working on some big cases? That's the only reason I could think of to explain why you're going through your mother's files."

"Um," I tried to think of an answer fast, but nothing was coming up.

"No need to answer. We all have our secrets, don't we?" He stood up and brushed his hands on his pants, then held his left hand out. As I shook it, he looked down at my arm. "Good to know your arms healed well, then. Quite a mess you left behind. Goodbye, Evan." He gave a small wave as he turned and left the room, leaving me standing there in the office, confused, and with a lot on my mind.