Chapter 19 Interrogation

Lieutenant Fain's private office was situated near a major side window of the station’s upper floor where she could overlook most of the city’s scape. Inside was spacious and neatly decorated with file cabinets, desks, chairs, sofa, monitors and computer equipment. The ac unit in the corner kept her office at a soothing cool temperature.

[Swoosh! Whoosh!] The airtight sliding doors of the office slid open, allowing Lieutenant Fain to enter with a despotic air to her mien. Looking around her office, she noticed the obstructive presence of Selene standing at her desk.

Lieutenant Fain gestured to the chair in front of her desk. “Please have a seat, Ms Gomez. You and I have a lot to discuss about the uproar you caused in our town yesterday.” Lieutenant Fain didn’t sit at her main chair, instead, she rested her plump buttocks at the edge of her desk then stared down at the criminal suspect.

“Hm…” From the searing eyes penetrating her soul, Selene felt nervous being in close proximity of Lieutenant Fain. ‘I feel like this lady is more intimidating than that harsh man earlier.’

“Now then…” Lieutenant Fain cupped Selene’s chin with her left hand and roughly turned her head until their eyes met. “You have your father’s eyes. Did you know, Ms Gomez, before your arrival here your father called my office and told me to lighten the burden of your sentence. He also explained to me the version of the story you told him. So what do you think, Ms Gomez? Should I heed your father’s words and let you off with a slap on the wrist or should I punish you just the same as other criminals who passed through here?”

“Ahm…” Selene wasn’t quite sure what to say. Deep down she didn’t want to be punished for her crimes. On the surface, she didn’t want others to think that she had received better treatment due to her family’s background. On the other hand, if she could get out of going to prison with a lighter sentence, she would gladly take that opportunity.

“Hey, are you blank? Answer my question.” Lieutenant Fain urged Selene to hurry and give a reply.

“Sorry, I was just thinking about how unfair it would be if I were to be pardon for my crimes when other people are still atoning for breaking the law just as me. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit, Ms Fain.”

“Ohh, not a shabby answer. However, for allying with the Fahtier rebels your punishment won’t be a child’s choice. You’re looking at up to 14 years of imprisonment.”

“No, that can’t be!” Selene got apprehensive upon hearing this sentiment, she quickly clarified. “You got it wrong! I am not affiliated with those rebels. Yesterday they just showed up out of nowhere and kidnapped me from the authorities.”

“And why would an infamous organisation like theirs go out of their way just to kidnap a well-off rich kid like yourself?” Lieutenant Fain strengthened her tone of speech as she continued speaking. “I don’t believe they lack funding. After all, they are the number one distributor of the world’s most demanding product. By selling Lignum essence alone, Liberal Vista is by far one of the most affluent islands out there.”

“What?”

Lieutenant Fain noticed the queer look of surprised dangling on Selene’s countenance. “By that ridiculous expression showing off on your face, you must be wondering how is it that I know about the Fahtier rebels’ secret headquarters.”

Selene thought internally: ‘Yes, that is exactly what I am wondering.’

“Of course the FPD’s upper echelons are already aware of the rebels’ stronghold. However, that island is out of our jurisdiction of action… for now at least.” Lieutenant Fain scooted closer to Selene’s nervous temperament. “What interests me is why they had their eyes on a girl like you, so much so that they resorted to kidnapping. What is more surprising is how you escaped their grasp. Why don’t you enlighten of that story Ms Gomez? If I don’t like what I hear, prepare to spend the rest of your miserable life in prison.”

[Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!] Selene’s heart started jolted irregularly when Lieutenant Fain slapped her ears with a threatening enquiry. From here onwards, she had to choose her words carefully, otherwise, she might end up rotting away in a lonely cell on Thorn Passion's Island Penitentiary.

[Chatter! Chatter! Chatter!] The large swarm of reporters still crowding outside the police station were waiting on an official statement from the FPD concerning the sudden apprehension of the 22-year-old criminal suspect, Selene Gomez.

An elegant reporter garbed in red had a mic to her moist lips along with a high-resolution camera pointed at her face. “Good afternoon viewers. I’m Dadra Gordon reporting for CN7 News. We’re still waiting outside Upaya’s central FPD station for an update on the Selene Gomez situation. As you can see behind us, they are a lot of people crowding this area waiting for an official statement release from the FPD. A short while ago they sent a notice which states that… ”

[Vrmm! Vrrm!] A dark van suddenly drove past the police station where the swarm of reporters were gathered, it almost bumped into a cameraman during its speeding rush. The reckless driver glanced into his rear-view mirror, staring back at the noisy commotion. “What’s with all those reporters stationed outside the FPD’s stronghold? Did a major incident occurred recently that I’m not aware of?”

“Who cares?” The mysterious man sitting abreast the driver had one leg posed on the dashboard while he screwed on a sound suppressor on his handgun. “The more people that are gathered around this area the better.”

“I suppose so. By the way, John, are you loading that thing with lethal cartridges?” The driver gestured to the mysterious man’s gun.

“Of course I am. I don’t play with kid’s toys. Whenever I strike, someone has to die.”

“But the boss said to use non-lethal due to some experiment thingy.”

“Does it looks like I care about that crap? Hurry up and drive.”

[Screech!] The driver of the suspicious vehicle didn’t ask the mysterious man any further questions, he continued driving ahead until they arrived at their destination. The dark van pulled over near a waterfront couple of blocks away from the central police station. “We’ve made it to the clock tower.”

“Alright, gear up you bastards.” [Bang! Bang!] The man holding the suppressor firearm banged on the windshield behind him as he came out of the vehicle.

[Whoosh!] The side door of the van slid open, clearing the metallic obstacle for 3 criminal figures who were garbed in dark vestment to come out. While stepping out of the vehicle they donned their elite face masks that had Lignum essence (Virulent fumes nullifier) installed. On the back of their outlawed garments was a vertically painted imagery depicting, WET-G (World End Terrorist Group). The person who stepped out ahead of the others was the only female among the shady group of 4 men. She had a slender curvy figure and a face that wreaked danger.

“Boys, don’t forget the important stuff sitting inside the van. The success of our mission depends solely on it.” As the woman reminded the two men who came out behind her, they went back into the van to commence the unloading of a virulent cargo.

[Push! Push!] They lifted out a 2-metre tall canister that had poisonous green liquid swimming around inside. It was so heavy to carry it required their combined strength.

“Careful with that biohazard, boys. If anything breaks just one whiff alone is enough to transform you into a monstrous entity.” The men assented to the woman’s orders and trod more carefully with the unstable canister.