The Toxic Wasters

9. How 'Bout a Dance?

As always, trigger warning

-Present Day-

"In the autopsy, there were no signs of Petra being strangled," Erwin stated. He was sitting in Agent Nile Dok's office, an untouched glass of brandy sitting on the oak desk. Dok leaned against the large window in his office, brandy in hand and his head cocked. "Not all tests run perfectly. Sometimes it's the doctors' fault, other times the resources they're provided," Nile explained.

Erwin mulled over Nile's comment. He pushed himself off the window and approached his desk. "The boys have confessed to their crimes and we have a few eyewitnesses," he said before taking a sip of his drink.

"Yes, the eyewitnesses who aren't certain they saw more than one killer. And those who aren't certain they saw a male or female commit the crime," Erwin responded. Nile sat in his leather desk chair, groaning as he did.

"Add that to your argument. But the two confessed immediately, and many facts line up, everyone but you seem to be convinced," another sip of brandy. "I'm not convinced because there have been many contradictions. You're telling me you are not questioning their legitimacy in these crimes based on a forced confession?" Erwin asked.

This drew Nile's brows together. The clink of his glass settling on the table sounded. "Do you see that picture to your left?" he questioned. Erwin looked to a photo hanging on the beige wall. Nile stood by a blonde with two smiling young girls no younger than three and no older than six on their laps. "I want my daughters to grow up in a safe place. I don't care if they have a few contradictions, there is enough evidence stacked against them. There was never a forced confession. Look at the tapes, they both confessed immediately. They are a threat to my family, and they are a threat to yours. This city is already corrupt, but if I can keep these fuckers off the street, I'll be able to sleep at night."

The two sat in silence, Erwin keeping his eyes locked on the picture as he felt Nile's eyes bore into the side of his head. Nile was right, these types of people deserved to be behind bars, but he still held his stance. If these two were innocent there was no reason for them to never walk the streets freely again.

A knock broke the silence. Both heads whipped to the door. "That's an appointment, get out," Nile demanded. Erwin turned back to the angry eyes of Nile's before grabbing his glass and downing his drink. With the taste of alcohol staining the back of his throat Erwin stood and left the room.

A chubby officer stood at the door with a tall inmate by his side. He was blond with a square-shaped face. A cocky smirk lifted the ends of his lips. It was unsettling.

"'Scuse me," Erwin barely whispered. He walked past the two wanting to escape their unwanted gazes.

- -

Erwin opened the door to the interrogation room. Eren sat in the chair quietly with his head down. He approached the reflective table. Eren didn't acknowledge the other man in the room.

The blond shuffled through his papers, grabbing his notebook and yet Eren still did not acknowledge his presence.

"Eren?" he finally asked. The brunet barely moved his head up. Just enough for his irises to dart to Erwin's. He hummed a bit. "Is there something wrong?" he asked. The brunet let out a huff of a laugh and finally sat up straight.

​"A lot is wrong, Erwin. But I'm sure you don't want to hear about my problems," he stated folding his linked hands together.

"On the contrary, I do care," Erwin responded. Eren's eyes darted to the blond with knitted brows. In one quick movement he looked to the window as if he was checking if anyone could see them. He had to know there was always someone behind the glass.