Shifters (Feline english version)

Chapter 15

I made the journey to the police station, alone and in a borrowed car, mine being riddled with bullet holes that I would have had a hard time explaining. I was in a rotten mood, probably due to exhaustion and stress. Add to that the fact that I hadn't seen anyone since I woke up, not even Jude, it didn't help my temper. I only found a white, impersonal envelope on the kitchen counter. It contained car keys and directions to find it. A real outcast!

When I thought about how they had treated me... What a fool I was! I thought as I hit the steering wheel. I had put myself in an impossible situation for them and I could only imagine that my life would never be the same again, and all this for what? For people who had voluntarily ignored my existence for nearly thirty years. I really must be a masochist!

My depressing ruminations were put aside when I arrived in view of the horrible building, which was really no better in the daylight. This time, I didn't bother to park away and went straight to the shabby little parking lot of the old dry cleaner. Once in front of the glass doors, I had a moment of hesitation that evaporated almost instantly knowing that I didn't really have a choice. I then took a long breath and went in, ready to play the role of a lifetime. Which was an understatement, because if Gabriel Worth didn't believe me, I was in big trouble. Plus, for some reason, I didn't think the metamorphic community would lift a single little finger to help me. Strange, isn't it?

The same pimpled young man was standing behind the counter. Didn't he ever sleep or what? I didn't have time to reach him that the inspector magically appeared and glared at me. Without even saying a word to me, he turned his back and stepped further into the police station with a raging step, while leaving the door open behind him. I took it as an invitation, or rather as an order to follow him, and so I did.

Resigned, I slowed down near the interrogation room, convinced that that was where he was waiting for me, but I was surprised to find no one there. So I continued on my way to his office. The people I met didn't give me a glance. They all seemed lobotomized, but I guess struggling to bring some semblance of order to a neighbourhood gangered by criminals had to have that effect on everyone in the long run. Everyone except the "super grumpy cop" who was waiting for me sitting behind his desk, a very unpleasant look stuck on his face.

I sat down and stared at my knees, my hands crossed in front of me. My first instinct was to look him in the eye, but I had to be careful not to provoke him. Playing the obedient and contrite little girls wouldn't kill me, but it definitely wasn't in my nature.

- 'Tell me what's stopping me from arresting you right now?' he said angrily, as I was still sensing a hint of astonishment.

I chose not to answer, for fear of making him angrier. So I kept staring at my feet, while squirming in my chair hoping that it would make things more credible.

- 'Why didn't you come yesterday? No... forget it', he interrupted himself, standing up while shaking his head, visibly upset, before leaning with both hands on the desk. 'You're not going to answer me anyway! What surprises me most is that you came back today, and that's the only reason you're in this office and not in a cell. Oh and also quit this little game with me!' he told me, looking me from head to toes with an annoyed expression. 'You're not the least bit sorry or terrified, so let's put our cards on the table and stop taking me for a fool!'

He hadn't raised his voice, but it would have had the same impact on me if he had screamed in my ears. His tone was heavy with anger and confusion as he kept his beautiful green eyes on me, which for the time being were not friendly. He was wrong about one thing: I was terrified. I have been since the beginning of this whole business, even if I refused to admit it.

Once again, I didn't let anything show, I lifted my head and stared straight into his eyes. Trying to bring out all the irony and weariness that this situation inspired in me, I dropped the mask and never mind my little act.