A LEAGUE ABOVE THE DEVIL | PART 5

“Let me give it to him.” Upon seeing Officer Mesut bringing a tray of food for Sebastian, Zayne met him halfway as he carried the content into the interrogation room instead.

Sebastian felt alive, his eyes alight with the flames whilst showcasing the hope and determination which lingered.

Hope and determination.

He would finally be free. At least the case would lighten up, and he would no longer be the villain behind Sharna’s disappearance.

At least not for now..

“I need to speak to my lawyer.”

Amused by his commanding tone, Zayne placed the tray of food in front of him before taking a seat.

“Police food might not be the best thing to come across, but you’ll survive. And no, I’m not going to remove the handcuffs. You’ll live.”

“I need to speak to my lawyer!” The metallic surface of the handcuffs crashed down onto the table, leaving a deafening sound to show Sebastian was no more in the mood to keep up with Zayne’s attitude.

He needed to go. He had to get out.

“Calm down, calm down.” Entertained by Sebastian’s helplessness, Zayne leisurely placed both his elbows on the table as he went on. “You just missed her by three seconds. I pissed her off.. and I don’t think she’ll set foot in here anytime soon.”

“I have to tell her something. It’s important.”

“Tell me about it, I’ll make sure to relay it to her.”

Prick. Zayne was trying his best to get any information out of Sebastian.

But could Sebastian trust him?

Zayne was a Commissioner, but everyone could turn into a dirty cop with the right amount of money.

Bribes. Sharna could win him any second, just as she emotionally bribed Sebastian when he was just four years old.

“Earth to Sebastian Arslan, or did the aliens take you away? Who knew a spaceship could afford an interrogation room…”

“There is someone.”

This peaked Zayne’s interest. “Who?”

Silence. Both men stared at each other, their minds calculating the next steps.

Could Zayne trust Sebastian or was he planning his next perfect scheme, making Zayne a pawn in his game?

Could Sebastian trust Zayne or would he betray him like everyone else, leaving Sebastian rotting in solitary confinement for a crime he didn’t commit?

The silence grew louder, tension rising before Zayne eventually broke the silence.

“Between the Prosecutor and I, I am your best bet to get out of here. Either you trust me or I ruin you.”

Either you trust me or I ruin you.

Wow. As if Sebastian had any other choice.

“There is someone who might hold information on Sharna. Proof, even.”

“Who would that be?”

“Shelly.”

Silence.

Then..

“How many aunts do you have?” Zayne asked.

Letting out a breath of annoyance, Sebastian leaned back in his chair. His wrists were hurting like hell, and Zayne was proving to be a piece of shit.

“That’s beside the point. Shelly was with Sharna before I came back to the mansion.” And I heard them talk about how Sharna killed my parents. And how she confessed to more things I intend to find out soon.

“And how can I trust you on this?”

“It’s your f—job to find out, Commissioner. Check out the cameras, maybe?”

“Checked. They were broken, and all records have been erased. Seems like we’re dealing with a mastermind.”

The cameras were broken? When did that even happen?

“Shelly is the key to go ahead with the case, Commissioner. This is as cooperative as I can be.”

“You will only be cooperative if you confess to the shooting.”

Oh. Was Zayne playing with Sebastian?

Don’t say a word. 

Cemre’s words again. Silence was gold. Let Zayne assume things on his own.

Sensing Sebastian’s stubbornness, Zayne still wouldn’t let him go.

“Once you confess to the shooting, I will bring Shelly up for questioning.”

—————————

Exiting the interrogation room, millions of questions wandered through Zayne’s mind like the unrecoverable speed of a freight train.

The case was finally going ahead. And surprisingly, it was thanks to Sebastian’s help.

Walking up to his department, Zayne asked an Officer for Shelly’s phone number.

Time was everything. The faster Zayne would get to talk to Shelly and receive her statement, the quicker the case would reach its ending.

Eventually dialling her phone number, he waited for her to pick up.

First ring..

Second ring…

Third ring….

Fourth—

“Hello?”

“Hello, ma’am. This is Commissioner Zayne Berkes from the Organised Crime Department. Are you Shelly Wilson?”

Silence.

Then— “Yes. W—What can I help you with?”

“It is about a case you might be involved in. I would like you to come to the police station right away so I can have your statement.”

Silence again. This time—it was persistent.

Then a sharp sound.

“Hello, ma’am. Are you still here?”

Zayne, by instinct, knew something was wrong. 

Where was Shelly?

Muting the phone call, Zayne asked the Officer to track down Shelly’s phone location.

“Get me her home address too. She might be in danger.”

A few seconds later, Shelly was back on the phone again, yet her shaky voice was betraying her confidence. Zayne, who experienced a lot of calls from victims, knew Shelly was in trouble.

“Yes. I.. will be there in an hour.”

Stall her, Zayne. Stall her.

Unmuting the call, Zayne replied. “In about an hour? Could you make it in thirty minutes, if I’m not imposing?”

More silence.

The computer was loading her current location and home address.

“Where are you right now, ma’am?”

“I’m at home. But I will be right there at once.”

The signals from her current location did not match her home address.

I.. will be there in an hour.

She was too far away. It would take her at least three hours to get to the police station.

Sharna disappeared. Shelly would disappear.

Who was the police dealing with?

“I’ll be waiting.”

Zayne knew she wouldn’t make it in time..

...alive.