Page 61 of Waste
Half an hour later, Shelley stared at Wilson in disbelief.
“This is what you called me in for?” she questioned incredulously. Damn, she was becoming a good actress.
“You’ve no comment?” Wilson asked, his eyes keen on her.
“On that piece of fiction? I thought you were serious when you claimed you’d provide evidence! Not a fricking horror movie rip-off!”
Wilson held her gaze. “You’re saying that’s not what happened? Because up until whatever that thing is, everything was as you said.”
Shelley watched as Wilson rewound the footage and paused it on the only clear shot of Ghoul. Even so, it remained fuzzy and unclear.
“Someone edited that and put that creature in. That’s why it’s probably taken so long to arrive on your desk. I can’t believe you wasted my time with this farce! Honestly, DI Wilson, do you even take what happened to me seriously? Because this feels like a joke at my expense, and this is so unprofessional!” Shelley allowed her upset to show.
Despite what had happened between her and Drew, she wouldn’t give Ghoul up. That wasn’t in her makeup.
“This is unbelievable. How could you take… oh God,” Shelley gasped. “What happened to me was serious. I nearly died, and a man did die. I don’t remember what happened, but that… fiction, wasn’t it?” Shelley rose to her feet and let some tears escape.
“I trusted you, DI Wilson, and that was a mistake. You will be hearing from my solicitor again,” Shelley threatened and headed for the door.
“What would you say if I told you that it’s been verified, that this footage hasn’t been tampered with?” DI Wilson asked.
Shelley turned around and let him see her devastation. “I stopped believing in monsters a long time ago, Detective Inspector. That was until John Saville attacked me for offering good customer service. Every punch and blow is etched into my memory, as is the bitter taste of the fear I felt. What happened toJohn Saville was wrong, but I can’t say I don’t sleep well at night because I’m safe from a monster like him.
“If you wish to believe that creature is real, you don’t deserve your badge. I can’t believe you. You’re supposed to be the good guy; there is nothing good about what you just pulled. I’ll be filing a complaint and requesting that someone else handle my case. What’s the next thing? You accuse me of tampering with my own brakes and strangling myself?”
“Where was Drew Martin when you were attacked?” Wilson challenged.
“How the hell do I know? I don’t remember him!” Shelley shrieked. Her nerves were grating on her. She hated lying, but there was no other option. If she let slip—she recalled every single thing Drew had done—they would come and kill her and possibly her family. Shelley wasn’t risking that for love or money.
With her head held high, she walked out of the interview room and headed back to her car. Once she was locked inside, she let her tears fall. Shelley was torn. She loathed lying but felt boxed into a corner. She had no choice but to continue denying she remembered Drew or what had happened. Even with the footage, Shelley would be locked up. And she’d no desire to put a target on her back.
She knew the Hunters would come for her, as would Drew’s people. She had to take it one day at a time and hope for the best. Sooner or later, this would all fade, and her life would return to normal. Or so she prayed.
Drew/Ghoul
Drew gnashed his teeth together. Shelley sobbing like that would haunt him forever. He’d watched through the two-waymirror as Wilson interviewed Shelley. What Shelley didn’t know was that behind it was David, her old coffee friend. The Hunter had watched avidly as Shelley broke down and shook his head. Damn. Drew had thought David had left, but clearly he hadn’t.
Wilson looked towards the mirror as Shelley stormed out, and Drew kept watching as Wilson headed into the small room.
“I hope that was worth it and you got your answers. Take that damn footage and leave my station,” Wilson snarled.
“Temper, DI Wilson. Remember, you were ordered to work with me. I needed to check that my initial conclusion was correct. You were tasked with helping me with that. You have done so, and I can now close my case,” David replied.
“What case? You can’t tell me you believe that footage,” Wilson snapped.
“No. But I needed to see Shelley’s reaction to it.”
“Why? If that thing isn’t real, why gauge her reaction?”
Good question, Drew thought. David regarded Wilson as if he were something he’d stepped in.
“That’s above your security clearance, DI Wilson. You investigate your mundane crimes and leave the big ones to my department,” David sneered.
“Which is what? All I was told was that you worked for the Home Office.”
“That’s all you need to know.”
“What threat is Shelley Evans to national security? The girl works in a damn coffee shop and is so sweet you don’t need sugar in your tea,” Wilson retorted.
