"Name's Barry Davenport, just here to ask a couple of questions," the gentleman who graciously bursts in the room introduces himself and takes a seat on the chair opposite of mine.
I stay silent.
"Devon, Devon, Devon," he continues after settling down by putting his feet up on the desk. "Why are we here?"
His voice is scratchy and his tone casual. But just looking at the way he scans and observes me, I can tell that he is someone I can't mess with. Normally, I'd be more careful but the way he carries himself brings back the worst memories and it pisses me off.
"I don't know, Mr. Davenport," I reply curtly. "I was hoping that you'll give me an answer."
He laughs. "Finally, someone with some cojones eh? Most criminals that come here shake in their boots."
"Is that what I am? A criminal?"
He pauses and puts down his feet. He then shifts his body forward and stares at me, through me.
"That's what we intend to find out," his lips curl to a wicked smile which sends shivers down my spine. "First off, how long have you worked in Neo's financial department?"
"Can't you find that out just by taking a look at the administrator?" I retort.
He shrugs. "Information is key Mr. Miller. I just want to make sure I get the facts straight."
"Five years," I reply.
"And what exactly do you do?"
"I'm some sort of a consultant. I take a look at their finances along with the team and see if everything is above par."
+
[Scanning detected]
[Scanning blocked]
+
It seems the game has begun. And again, this "feature" is screwing me over.
"Let's move on to the more fun questions shall we?" he says as he stands up and begin to pace around the table. "As you said, we can just take a look at the administrator."
I gulp.
"Where are you from?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" I retort.
"Well, I just want to get to know you. Ya know, 'what makes Devon Miller tick'."
I chuckle. "Are all detectives as forward as you?"
He shrugs and waits for me to answer.
I sigh. "I'm from the 'Outside'."
"Whereabouts?"
"East of here. In Mandolin."
"And what did you do there?"
"Hmmm, let's see... I was an orphan for as far as I remember. Jumped from one foster family to another. Did some odd jobs to feed myself."
As the questioning continues, his face becomes more and more disgruntled. Of course, as a professional, he does his best in hiding it. But I notice that his brow becomes more wrinkled and his eyebrows twitch with every question I answer.
He sighs. "I'm just confused with one itty bitty fact here Devon."
Here we go.
"You say all that but when we looked into your background, guess what we found?"
I stay silent.
"Nothing. Nil. Smoke up our asses. Redacted, redacted, confidential, redacted."
I knew this would come up the moment the police came to my door. I grit my teeth, careful to not show the slightest emotion to this detective.
"I'll give it to you straight. You're our main suspect for the embezzlement scheme at Neo Construction," he continues, shifting his tone an octave higher. "Ed, your accomplice has testified against you. Then, your background shows up like this. The way it's going, you're gonna end up convicted Mr. Miller." He then softens his demeanor and mellows out his tone. "Help me help you. Tell me the truth."
I stay silent as I meet his soft gaze with a hardened gaze of my own. Then, "Lawyer," I whisper harshly.
He sighs and puts up his hands. "Fine, if that's how you wanna play, then let's play kiddo." He waves goodbye and exits as brusquely as he entered. Now, I'm alone with my thoughts again.
*********************************************************************************************************
[Barry POV]
"What the fuck were you trying to pull Davenport?!" this large man who is screaming at me the moment the interrogation door closes is my superior, Captain Mcfatsticks. Oh wait, it's McMahon.
I scratch my head and wince. "Get off my back captain. I was just getting him to lose his nerve."
"Oh he lost his nerve alright!" he shouts at me. His spit flies everywhere. "What are we gonna do now that he's lawyered up? HUH? We can't get shit from Ed because the goddamn criminal is in critical condition and now our only lead won't talk to us anymore."
Damn, I feel like my ear's gonna blow up. "Come on, we have enough evidence to put him behind bars. We're just looking to hang the murder for hire and corporate espionage on him."
"No we don't, you little shithead!" he continues. "All electronic evidence SUGGESTS that he was the culprit but there's actually no hard proof that he did it all. We can't present this shit to the court."
I sigh and put up my hands in surrender. "Fine, fine, fine, you're right. Don't blow up an artery because of this. Believe me, we're gonna get this kid."
He rushes towards me and now his large imposing body is inches from mine. "You better," he growls. "This is Neo Constructions. This case can land us a big promotion."
I nod silently and wait for him to finish making his threat. Eventually, he leaves and waddles to wherever he need to be next.
"Fucking bastard," I murmur.
*********************************************************************************************************
[Eleanor POV]
Finally, after wandering around for god knows how long, I finally found this stupid building. Neo Constructions. It's more pretentious than I remember. Stomping my boots, I march forward, ignoring the security guard who tries to stop me. Inside, holograms everywhere are showing the same bullshit I've been seeing all day.
+
[Tom's image is plastered on the screens. Wearing a glamorous suit and tie. he addresses the multiple microphones and flashing lights before him.]
"In regards to the embezzlement case, the MPD has put their best to work. The main culprit has been apprehended and it is only a matter of time before the mastermind himself is caught."
"Mr. Ashur, Mr. Ashur," a male voice calls from the sea of reporters. "There's a rumor going on that the mastermind in question was your best friend. Can you confirm or deny that?"
[Tom faces the camera with a stoicism that he never shown before.]
"Rumors are rumors. I suggest you don't pry any further for your credibility as a newscaster. This press conference is over."
[At once, Tom leaves the stage while his bodyguards block the oncoming tsunami of reporters screaming questions over each other]
+
I bite my lip and take a deep breath.
"TOM YOU LITERAL PIECE OF SHIT! COME OUT NOW!"
The entire reception area trembles as my voice breaks their oh so important busy work. Multiple guards close in on me but I hold them off with a deadly stare and the crackling of small explosions in my fist. I didn't have to wait for too long because apparently, the fucker is on this floor already.
"Eleanor," Tom appears surrounded by guards and subordinates. He dismisses them with a wave of a hand and stares blankly at me.
"Tom," I growled.
"We store important data here. If you go wild with your Destructive Role, we can charge you with damaging corporate property," he says in an almost monotone voice.
I scoff. "Is that so? Is that what you're all about nowadays huh? Suing your friends?"
He raises an eyebrow. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Stop playing dumb you little shit!" I stomp my foot and an explosion sends shockwaves around me. "Where's Devon?"
"How should I know? Shouldn't you ask the police about that?"
"You-"
"Tell me Eleanor, why are you here? To swear at me? To disturb my company?"
I pause and grit my teeth. In the heat of the moment, I came here to confront him. But now I see that this is a waste of time.
"You were his best friend," I say weakly.
"I thought so too," he replies. "But I guess I was wrong. I guess he's had enough of being poor and wanted to get rich quickly."
I look at him with pity. "Is that what you believe?"
His eyes go wide. "Eleanor that's not what-"
I turn my back on him. "Fuck you Tom. I'll find him myself." I then flip off the entire building and walk out.
*********************************************************************************************************
[Devon's POV]
Hours passed and the lawyer is still not here. During my stay, the police did their best to make sure that this situation becomes the most uncomfortable experience in my life. They gave me food and water though so that's nice. They also allowed bathroom breaks as long as someone's guarding me. My thoughts are swirling. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place so to speak. I wanted to call my friends so bad but I just can't bring myself to get them involved in this. Then there's Tom. I wonder what he thinks about all of this. And the biggest question of all: "who the fuck set me up?" My blood is boiling just thinking about it. But I guess I need to deal with that later because the door swings open to reveal a well-dressed man carrying a stylish leather suitcase. I narrow my eyes.
"Raph?" I exclaim in disbelief. This man in front of me was the same emo-punk I drank with a month ago. His piercings and rings are gone and he's clean-shaven. His hair is also well-kept. "What the fuck happened to you?"
"Sit down Mr. Miller," he gestures. "Tom sent me."
With the mention of his name, all strength leaves my body and I sink to my chair.
"How is he?" I ask.
"He sent me to tie up loose ends and get this matter behind us," he says matter-of -factly.
"He doesn't really think I did it does he?"
He sighs and combs his hair with his hand. "I'm going to be honest with you Devon," he whispers. "This is real bad. There's technically not enough evidence to convict you of anything but Tom wants to eradicate even the smallest percentage of you going to jail and everything getting back to him."
My heart sinks. I know where he's going with this.
"So...." I trail.
He nods. "I'm here to tell you that Tom has taken measures to sweep this under the rug cleanly," he pauses. "But you have to cut ties with everyone you know."
"Wait... everyone!?"
"Neo is one of the most powerful companies outside of Central. If they have any hopes of eventually transferring to the 'Inner Circle', they can't have any dirt, no matter how small, to their name."
I clasp my head and pull on my hair. "And because Tom and I know the same people-"
"Yes," he interjects. "Just me being here is actually risking it but he believes this is the only way for you to avoid this situation. Powerful people are at play here, Devon. Accept the offer."
I pause. The thoughts that were swirling before have now become a raging squall. Then, with gritted teeth, I reply. "Get me out of here."
He nods silently proceeds to head out. Just as he is about to exit, he turns to me and says, "I'm really sorry man. Truly." And the door closes with a thud.