Humanoid (Dream Warriors Book 1)

Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

Outside the temporary interview room, I drew myself up and straightened my vest over the band of my shorts. I scanned the length of the room and physically jumped, startled once I spied Raymond and George sat in the far corner.

Alerted to my presence, a sorrowful expression crossed the older man's weather-beaten face. 'Rayne,' he beckoned.

I offered him a discourteous shake of the head. I needed space to analyse recent events, not a lecture from a crotchety old man. George glanced over his shoulder. For a second, a thundercloud consumed his stare but dissipated once he observed my slumped position against the door.

A sob shot from my mouth.

'Please talk to me Rayne, we can sort this out. Please,' Raymond pleaded, concern glistening from his wizened stare. Why should I? He didn't care about me. No one cared what I thought or how I felt. George faced forward, but not before I identified a dejected helplessness in the sag of his shoulders. Another sob escaped, and I permitted self-pity free rein over my emotions.

Using the door panel, I sprang forward by my hands and sprinted diagonally across the room and out through the canteen doors. Humidity slapped my face, faltering my step. I righted myself without stopping and dashed through the forest, nausea weighing heavy in the pit of my stomach.

Mud squelched under my hiking shoes, the earth damp and slippery from the tropical storm. I slid in the mud several times before I broke out of the forest and onto Myall Beach. My heavy shoes sank in damp sand, the weight of my feet replicating the heaviness in my heart.

 I landed on my arse in a dry patch and held my head in my hands. Certain comments from Detective Hope gave me cause for concern. He insinuated Jalun had sexually assaulted someone in the past.

JayJay sat opposite my crumpled form. I gasped, swallowing the scream climbing out of my throat, and slapped his arm. 'You scared the begeebees out of me, you idiot.'

Natural endorphins rushed through my veins and without preamble, I launched myself into his lap, grabbing him around the waist and burying my face in a well-formed pectoral. I wailed like a baby. He stroked my untamed hair and rested his cheek on the crown of my head. A shroud of varying emotions cocooned us in our own private grief. After several minutes, I abandoned the warmth and security of his comfort, determined now was the time to seek answers.

 'What's going on, JayJay? What did Jalun do? Why are the police interested in him?' JayJay harrumphed each time my fist connected with his chest. He arranged me against his solid torso and tenderly stroked his palm up and down my back. He smelled of pure male.

 'A girl was raped and strangled, Rayne. The police are just doing their job.' His response surprised me, considering the authorities believed it involved his brother.

 'Why is Jalun a suspect?' I mumbled. Had Jalun raped and murdered Klara? The police clearly thought so.

 He pushed me from his chest. 'He loves you. You get that, don't you?'

Whilst he stared into my eyes, I concentrated on his Star Wars t-shirt. Did I know anything about Jalun, how he felt or what he... was? It seemed like eons ago since we were together, except for our rampant sexathon, which didn't count. Except today, it counted in the eyes of the police.

 'I've hardly seen Jalun for weeks. He doesn't contact me, doesn't text or call. So what am I supposed to think?'

 'That's because he's been at home this past month, where there's no signal, no outside world.'