Shifters (Feline english version)

Chapter 10-2

Time to go.

I don't know why, a strong anxiety seized me as the double doors of the station opened in front of me in a whimper. I entered the hall, clean if not welcoming. The original white walls had turned dirty yellow, as had the faded linoleum that came off in certain spots. To complete the picture, a few plastic chairs were scattered against the walls.

I approached the counter protected by a glass, certainly bulletproof, and addressed the uniformed policeman so focused on his mobile phone that he hadn't heard me come in. He jumped when I gently tapped the window and clumsily tried to hide his mobile, pushing it under a pile of flyers. He straightened up and tried to give a severe and professional look to his youthful face scarred by acne. God, that kid must be barely legal! They were hiring them in the cradle now to be cops?

- 'I would like to report a missing person, please,' I said gently, shaking my head imperceptibly.

- 'Very well. Please fill out this form,' he mechanically told me, handing me a green paper and a pen that had already been chewed by half the city.

I took them with my fingertips and sat down in one of the chairs to comply with the bureaucratic imperatives, while the pimpled young man transferred my request via an old fixed telephone to whomever it might concern, at least I hoped so. When I finished my chore, I took the form and pencil back to the counter, before going back to sit and wait, as I was asked. I was losing patience when a door that I hadn't noticed opened in the back of the room.

A man in his early thirties came out and walked towards me, looking determined. There was nothing remarkable about his face, he was even quite ordinary. His basic brown hair and cheap clothes accentuated this feeling, but his banal look evaporated as soon as I saw his green eyes overflowing with intelligence and insight. Obviously, he had not been recruited for his muscles. I felt like I had been X-rayed, as he looked at me with his penetrating gaze. This might prove to be more difficult than expected. I didn't know why, but I had the unpleasant feeling that it was almost impossible to lie to this man! I got up and we shook hands.

- 'Inspector Gabriel Worth,' he introduced himself with a pleasant bass-like voice, which again did not match his looks. 'What can I do for you?'

- 'Clearly you already know,' I replied with a forced smile while nodding at the form he was holding.

- 'Smart and charming,' he said, smiling a little. 'Why don't we stop this little game, Miss Jones?'

The way he pronounced my name, I knew he thought it was a fake. I couldn't have inherited a more common surname and his rather common reaction didn't shock me. I'd even confessed that it reassured me, because it meant that he hadn't done any in-depth research on me, or at least not yet.

- 'I'm not playing, Inspector,' I answered him dryly. 'My friend has been missing for three days and I'm worried. Very worried, because it's not like her.'

I was uncomfortable under his green gaze.

- 'As for my name, it is unfortunately very authentic. They found nothing better at the orphanage, I'm afraid. It was either that or Smith,' I continued in a self-mockery tone.

He said nothing and continued to observe me, suspicious. After a few seconds, he put on a slight smile followed by a compassionate wince and I knew he was giving me the benefit of the doubt. At least for the time being.

- 'Why don't we continue this conversation somewhere quieter?'

Without giving me time to answer, he turned his heels and redirected himself to the door through which he had arrived.

- 'Come with me, please.'

I followed in his footsteps. As if I had a choice! He led me through a maze of similar corridors, only to enter a small room smelling musty and furnished, in all and for all, with a table and two chairs. As much as I expected it, the view of the interrogation room scared the hell out of me. It was amazing how much this kind of room could make you feel guilty, even when you had nothing to blame yourself for.

- 'Please, have a seat.'

Behind his affable and polite manner, I felt that it would be more of an interrogation than a conversation. Lost was the benefit of the doubt! I complied and tried to be as self-assured as possible, which, given his reaction, was not a success. He sat down, crossed his hands on the table in front of him, stared into my eyes and waited. I held his impassive gaze for barely a minute, before giving in. Let's be frank, I had no future as a criminal.

- 'Why do I feel like I did something wrong?'

- 'Did you?'

- 'That's enough,' I said exasperated. 'What's the point of this little game? My roommate is missing. I came to report it to you so you could do something to find her. Instead, you treat me like I'm a suspect in a murder case, it's crazy!'