"Celine, I need your help. I'm in the police station. I was arrested for attempted murder."
"What? Attempted what? What did you do?" she replied quickly.
"I didn't do anything, babes. I didn't do anything."
"Oh my gosh, you keep getting into trouble,"
Celine said. I didn't try to explain. She had to get me out. You know what's coming in four days.
"Okay, I'll try. Where exactly was the crime scene?"
she asked.
"A few blocks from my office. Opposite Greentown."
"Alright. I'll check around."
She sounded worried.
"You said the CCTV cameras are damaged?"
"Yes. They said the cameras were damaged. See if you can find another camera,one they couldn't reach."
We hung up and I paced, waiting. Minutes later Maya arrived at the police station.
She walked into the interrogation room with bandages on her hand and head, limping like she was really hurt. She headed straight for me.
The guard locked the door and left,I was cuffed
"Hey, murder," she yelled.
I kept my head down. "Look at me," she screamed. "Look at me!"
I raised my head. She started laughing. "I don't know who you think you are, but I'll make you suffer."
I said nothing. I spat in her face.
She screamed, wiped the spit with a towel and threw it at me. Then she ripped at her bandage and showed a spot on her head.
"See? There's nothing here."
She pressed it and laughed.
"Fake blood. Fake."
"When did this start?"
I asked.
"What is this,what kind of setup?"
She laughed again.
"You lost. You should die. That's what I want."
I stared at her, stunned.Her vibranted and I saw a message "i'll send you the rest,you did a good Job,"
I didn't think about that message.
Hours passed. No news. No call from Celine. I walked the room and tried not to think about what comes next. I was doomed.
Then the guard called my name. "Miss Helena, you have a call."
As he led me out,
My heart jumped. "Please let it be Celine," I prayed.
"Helena."
Celine's voice. I laughed out loud, sobbing with relief.
"Oh, thank God. Did you find anything?"
"No," she said. "Everything was destroyed before I got there."
My chest broke. I dropped to my knees and cried.
"Helena, you need to be strong. Fight. You annoy me, but I know you'll get through this,"
she said, and I couldn't believe it was Celine saying the kind words.
The officer came back. "Let's move. I'll take you back to the interrogation room. You'll be taken to a cell later." I said nothing.
Inside the room I started to panic. "I need to see the police in charge," I shouted.
"What's wrong with you?" the guard snapped. He ignored me. I begged to talk to the officer again. This time the man came.
"What now, Miss Confusion?" he said, looking at the CCTV in the corner.
I stared at the camera and smiled because I had an idea. "Maya is pretending to be hurt."
The officer rolled his eyes. "You want me to believe that? Call her over and touch those wounds."
"You would infect her,"
he laughed.
"You expect me to believe you and make a fool of myself?"
"You won't,I promise you"
I said.
"Just check the footage."
He chuckled.
"You just want to buy time. If I go and nothing's there, you won't like what happens next."
He left, slamming the door.
I waited, heart pounding.
What if Maya had done something to the cameras like she had done on the street? What if there really was no footage left?
####
"Miss Helena, follow me."
The guard called out.
For a second, I thought I was being released. Instead, he pulled out the handcuffs and led me straight into a cell.
At least the view was better from here,
I could actually see what was going on.
Ray strolled towards me, laughing. What was he even doing here again?
"Criminal,"
he smirked.
"I'll get you out of here."
He reached to touch my face, but I shifted away, letting his hand fall.
"Sir, you really need to help me,"
I said quickly.
"I didn't do anything. I even told the policeman in charge to check the footage, and as far as I can see, he hasn't done it yet."
Ray leaned closer.
"What footage? They didn't find any."
"Well… Maya came into the interrogation room and confessed she wasn't hurt."
Ray blinked, looking stunned.
"That's foolish of her."
I didn't want to discuss it any further.
"Look, the main thing is they need to hear me out. Please help me."
He bit his lip.
"What would you do for me in return?"
I was desperate.
"I'll do anything,"
I said.
"Anything?"
he asked, just to be sure.
"Yes. Anything."
Immediately, he spun around and left. I heard his voice echoing down the hallway as he shouted at the officers.
"She said you should check the CCTV footage in the interrogation room! Why are you still standing here?"
He pushed past me and into the IT room. Moments later, the guard returned and unlocked my cell.
"We apologize for the inconvenience," the officer muttered.
I was so pissed off.
"You'll all pay for damages,"
Ray said beside me as if he even cared. Who knew what he would make me do now?
"Let's go."
He grabbed my hand and led me out.
He opened the car door. "Get in."
I stared at him.
"Just get in."
I climbed in. "What is this about?"
"You said you'd do anything, right?" he said with a little smile.
"What do you want?" I asked, hugging myself.
"Relax. I don't want your body.you disgust me.
I just want you to pretend to be my girlfriend."
I was still trying to process his words when we saw a crowd gathered on the side of the road.
We both got out to see what was happening.
And then I froze.
Maya's dead body lay on the ground.