How to Start a Fire

CH13 [Generosities in Before a Storm]

"Is it correct that you spent the entire day with Selem Beharry?" One of the officers asked.

They brought me into a small interrogation room together with Liam and the officer who had been guarding us.

"Yes. He is still my friend so I decided to... more or less hang out with him." I responded, playing with my hands to reassure myself.

"So you can confirm that he never left this cell since the beginning of the night?" The officer asked again, frowning at his own clipboard.

"Yes. I have been with him throughout this whole night." I responded calmly, pretending to have no idea what's going on. "Sorry but... what happened while I was in that cell?"

"...We found two more corpses, they were left exactly the same way as the ones before. If he has really been in the cell with you as you said he cannot be the culprit." The officer said, writing something down.

I pretended to look surprised. "So... you mean he really is innocent?" I asked, putting a hand up to my chest. So dramatic.

"I was there too and we played board games, he was in there all the time!" Liam stated excitedly with red cheeks. It has been a good idea to drag him along, he might have been the most trustworthy witness in the room.

"Then... we have to decide. Thanks for your validation." The officer said and got up from his chair. I got up too, we shook hands and I left the room.

I was already heading to the back door leading to the vampire building when one of the officers told me that I should bring the boy to the main entrance so his parents could come to pick him up.

A man was standing by the entrance, talking to a police officer. He was holding a paper cup that was most likely filled with coffee. The man didn't speak very much and when he did he barely opened his mouth, it looked a little weird but I guessed that there was no deeper meaning to something as small as that. Just a tick.

When he saw Liam, who was still walking next to me, he smiled brightly and turned away from the officer who smiled into my direction but as she saw me she made a step away- but the man even walked towards me and reached out with his hand to shake mine.

I took it and he gave me a wider grin for a second when he said "Hello", and I could see fangs for a second. Of course there had to be a straight connection when he left his child with us for an internship.

"And? How was it?" He asked his son, who was grinning brightly.

"We played board games with this guy in jail and it turned out he's innocent. Dad. I was a witness for a case dad... It was cool." Liam said, also grinning at me. "Thank you!"

I shrugged. "No, it's okay. It's all fine."

"You played board games?" The father asked, raising an eyebrow at me. "I thought you guys were chasing down violent vampires to leave everything in peace." He said but he didn't sound as confused as he would if he really meant what he was saying.

I crossed my arms. "There just wasn't that much going on tonight. The big stuff is coming up now, but he should sleep. It's past midnight." I responded calmly. Please, just let me leave again. I finally got Selem out of the cell and I couldn't even be excited about it.

"Well then... see you tomorrow I guess." He said again, smiling at me.

I smiled back. "Yes, see you."

After he left I finally walked back out of the station, ignoring everyone who gave me a weird look, storming through the back door- some smoking officers were startled so badly they almost dropped their cigarettes- and walked back into our building. As soon as the door closed behind me I couldn't stop myself to call for Mamoru. Oh boy, he had to hear this! Everything worked out!