The Real You

47. Wrong Timing

After spending the night at Drew's, I take a cab to the police station where Sebastian's father works. The dress I wore to the club last night is decent. I wonder if it makes me seem less of a human trafficker's daughter.

I tell the guard I'm here to see detective Hutches and wait for Bast's dad, sitting in a hard chair that squeaks each time I shift a leg. Detective Solano passes me by and throws a kind smile my way. Why, I have no clue. He knows who I am. He can't like me.

"Tara."

Mr. Hutches appears in the waiting room doorway and motions for me to come closer. If he's surprised I'm here, he's good at hiding it.

I stand and walk toward him, wiping my clammy palms on my cherry red dress. "Good morning. I need to talk to you. I hope you don't mind I'm here."

He shakes his head. "Come with me."

We end up in his office, that's as stereotypical as they come. A dirty coffee mug rests atop a stack of papers on a cramped desk, and a map of our area hangs on the wall behind it.

"Please, sit," Mr. Hutches says.

Memories of Christmas at Bast's resurface as I lower myself into a slightly more comfortable chair. I felt good at his house. I even managed to forget about spending holidays on my own since I turned sixteen. Did Sebastian lie to me? Was I just a way to learn things about my joke of a family?

But then again, his dad is a policeman. He might know about my mom. He has access to every secret of ours; that's why deep down, I doubt he needed to use his son.

"What brings you here?" detective Hutches asks.

I look him in the eyes. I might be a criminal's daughter, but I did nothing wrong. "I know the truth about my father," I say. "I just wanted you to confirm he was arrested for being involved in human trafficking. I also need to know if Ian Byrne works for the police because he was the one to tell me everything."

Bast's dad nods. "Ian helped us, yes. I'm sorry you found out the truth from him and not us. There has been an unexpected turn in the investigation. Since you're here, would you mind answering a few questions?"

"Not at all."

Because I'm related to someone who did evil things, and I'd do whatever it takes to help if it means feeling less shame and guilt.

Mr. Hutches stands and strides to the door.

"Santiago," he calls, opening it. "Bring the folder and come here."

The other detective enters the room right on cue, a black folder under his arm. He's also carrying a cup of coffee.

"The truth elixir?" I ask when he places it in front of me.

Both men laugh while I take a sip of the drink. When I rest the cup on the platter, detective Solano puts a picture in the only free spot the desk has.

"Do you recognize this building, Tara?"