Page 50 of Catching the Kot'oll Driver

I stand to greet him. He has a deep frown, which... Did I do something wrong? I didn’t run around looking for trouble, though. That alleyway is where a lot of beings go through to get to the parking lot. Even then, those beings attacked us. Grihul and I were just trying to protect ourselves.

He waves for me to come out of the room. Maybe it is something Grihul shouldn’t know. I glance at Grihul. He is still unconscious. I suppose I don’t have to sit right by his side, and he will be fine, regardless.

Outside the room, another colleague is there too. We worked together on the robbery case, which was the one that led me to know Grihul.

We’re in the central security building, so the three of us are the only ones in the corridor. Regardless, we go into a nearby room. There’s an empty bed, the lights aren’t even on. Captain has no plan on turning the lights on either.

My colleague closes the door behind us. It is dark and I don’t like it, but... I guess I have to remain here.

The captain clears his throat. “Look, I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”

Oh, fuck... Now, I’m getting fired even though I did nothing wrong...

He continues, “Took me a bit to make sure we have everything straight before letting you know. We should have involved you, but with what happened, we weren’t sure whether you could focus on it. Not to mention we already had your statement, so we didn’t feel the need to interrupt your examination with the doctors.”

So... What is he trying to say? That after my statement and everything, I’m so not fit as police?

He says, “We checked the one badly injured on the floor. He is one of the ones involved in the bank robbery. We think that the attack may be specific to you, or those of us who are involved in the case.”

“So... A retaliation.”

“Yes, but I’d say you managed to fend for yourself pretty well.”

I sigh. “I only wish Grihul wasn’t involved in that. He was... innocent, even more innocent than me.”

“Well, I’d say he has potential.”

I lift my brows even though he may not see it in the dark. “Because he is a bigger guy?”

“In part. He is brave, too.”

Maybe they think Grihul is even better suited for the job than me, even though I’ve been around for quite some time. I shrug. “So... Is he going to be fine? I think the one he hit on the face is dead.”

“He’ll be fine. It is a very clear case of self-defense. He’ll have to go through the process, but he won’t be charged for anything. When he wakes up, we’ll get his statement, and that’s probably all there is.”

“Is he going to have to stay here for a bit longer?”

The captain shrugs. “It’ll depend on the procedure and how fast the departments can go through the cases before they get to his. The snowstorm has caused a slowdown in things when no one could get to work for a day. But we don’t think it will take long.”

Now I remember how Grihul hit the guy in the face again. I shiver at the force Grihul must have used. I know he’s never going to hit me like that, but it is still scary to know that a big being like him is capable of that.

The captain and the others probably can do that too, including the criminals who are out there hurting other beings.

Maybe... I’m really not that suitable for the job.

The captain says, “Take a rest. I’d advise you not to go outside on your own until we clear what—”

“Why? Because I won’t be able to protect myself? Because I’m such a tiny being that I’m just going to be dead and that I have to—”

He lifts his hand between us. “Look, we need you to control yourself better than this.”

I swallow and try to calm myself, but I hate this. They didn’t let me help Grihul to the spaceship, and now they don’t want me to step out of the building or even be on the street on my own...

He continues, “We are arranging mutual help for everyone until we’re certain that the threat is over, so it’s not just you.”

“Did you tell everyone on the team not to go out on their own?”

“Yes, I did. You’re the last one I’m talking to.”

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