Scattering Lilac Ashes

Chapter One Hundred and Three

The door to the interview room burst open with such a strong force that Lila jumped away from it out of instinct. Asher marched out of it, a subdued-looking Gabriel in tow, his face contorted with anger. That didn't seem good.

His eyes met Lila's and in a flash, his expression relaxed. He still seemed, at the very least, annoyed, but his eyes were filled with an ocean of relief, rather than the flickering embers of rage.

"Lila, how'd it go?" he asked, his tone sincere.

"My interview was fine," Lila replied, her eyes darting over his left shoulder. Nick and another man departed quietly, as though trying not to draw attention to themselves.

"Good, good," Asher sighed, running his hands through his hair. "Mine... might as well have not been an interview."

"What does that mean?"

"Asher, I'm not too sure whether you should discuss this here," Gabriel warned, pulling one of their arms each with him as he made his way towards the door to the front desk. "Let's leave."

Asher remained silent, letting Gabriel drag him away without any resistance. Lila followed behind as well, with Gabriel having dropped her arm gently.

Gabriel opened the door for them, which gave a singular beep. The phones seemed to have at least calmed down for the moment – a welcome happenstance that gave Lila space to think. Lila couldn't see her Dad anywhere, though the same uniformed police officer sat behind the counter, looking somewhat bored.

"Where's your Dad?" Asher questioned in a low voice.

"He's off getting some info from the police," Lila shrugged. "He said at most he'd be half an hour, but I'm banking on it being more like one hour."

"I see," Asher replied. Then, he turned to her, energy suddenly flowing through him, his eyes alight with excitement. "That's perfect!"

"Yeah," Lila smiled, "let's do the thing."

"What thing?" Gabriel asked, looking between them both. Asher suddenly looked rather shifty as he averted his eyes from Gabriel.

"I... have to make a report," Asher finally murmured. "About Mum."

"About Tabitha?" Gabriel looked incredibly confused, his eyes resting on Lila as though she would have the answers. Lila squirmed slightly, preferring instead to look towards her shoes.

"Yeah," Asher replied before sighing. "Please don't tell Dad."

"Tell him what?" Gabriel pressed, swivelling his head between them both.

"That I'm going to the police about Mum?" Asher's voice rose in pitch, conveying his apparent perplexion by Gabriel's reaction which, admittedly, confused Lila too.

"Can I help you at all?" the voice of the officer behind the desk floated towards them, slightly warbled by the presence of the Plexiglass. Asher immediately looked at Lila, who nodded comfortingly.

"Y-Yeah, actually," Asher responded, his voice carrying a note of panic. "Uh, I want to file a missing person report?"

Lila caught Gabriel looking absolutely gobsmacked by Asher's request.

"Sorry, mate, you'll have to come closer," the officer requested, gesturing for the trio to do so.

"Sorry," Asher said meekly once they were at the counter. The sudden blare of several phone calls going off simultaneously within the station forced Asher to speak up even louder. "I said I wanted to file a missing person report."

Now that Lila was close enough to the officer, she saw that his name badge read Constable Brad Henderson. He appeared to scrutinise Asher for a moment before nodding. Lila was amazed that he could tone out the noise as if it didn't exist and carry on regardless.