Chapter 4

Truth Be Told

Claire walked with idle steps, she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as Eve called out for her. Hannah apologised before taking Claire's phone, explaining that they didn't want her contacting Shane in case he 'ran off.' She wanted to scream in frustration, the mere implication that Shane would be involved in anything like this was beyond humorous.

"Claire, I'm sorry," Hannah sighed softly as they got into her squad car. People gathered around, Monica laughed when she saw Eve running after Claire. In fact, the Queen Bitch almost fell over backwards laughing as she filmed Claire getting into the car. Gina and Jennifer high–five, calling out "Lock the Bitch up!"

The moment the car door shut she began to cry into her hands, wondering how everything had gotten so far out of hand. One second she was kissing Shane, lost in his embrace and the feel of his strong arms around her. They were rolling their eyes at Michael and Eve as they routinely argued furiously in the house. Now it was all a distant, fading memory. She ignored Hannah, the apology meant nothing.

A ferocity flared up within her, it began in the pit of her stomach and engulfed into rage when it reached her lips, "Seriously Hannah, did you have to pull me out like that. Do you really, honestly think Shane had anything to do with this?"

Pausing Hannah took her hand off the keys in the ignition and turned around, forcing a smile that seemed warped through the safety glass. "Claire, you know I don't think that."

"Then why?"

"It's routine, I have to follow the rules."

Claire laughed in revulsion, "Follow the rules, here in Morganville. That's a laugh. You know now you're bringing Shane in, if they don't find anyone else they'll blame him."

Hannah sighed, "I know."

"Then couldn't you have turned a blind eye. Just taken it in and spoken to him in private?" Claire could feel her eyes welling up, "We've done so much for you, for this town. How could you?" She spat her words like venom the desperate look that accompanied her venom was enough to break anyones heart.

Hannah shook her head solemnly, "If Amelie found out–"

"Forget it." Claire hissed. Folding her arms against her chest. Closing her eyes she rested her face against the cold glass as the car began to move.

They rode the rest of the way in bitter silence. The Radio came on, notifying Hannah that they arrested Shane at his place of work. That he resisted and is locked in refinement for hitting an officer. They went on in monotonous tones to report that Shane swore he was innocent. Claire squeezed her eyes shut when they said his name, she wanted to fall in a heap and cry. 'How could you Eve?' She whispered.

"What?" Hannah replied.

"Nothing."

"Well, we're here. Are you going to get out of the car nicely or are you going to make a scene?" She paused but didn't wait for Claire to reply, "I know you're angry at me but I swear to you. I'll protect Shane and I know he's innocent."

"Whatever." Claire replied.

Getting out of the car she looked up at the blackened clouds above, they threatened rain and thunder and Claire shuddered in the cold. Turning her head as they walked up the station steps she noted the Coroners truck as it pulled up. They unloaded a gurney and Claire's eyes were riveted on the body bag, she knew what was hidden beneath the tarp and the memories alone stirred the violent need to convulse on the cold concrete. Hannah took her arm and gently ushered her into the station. She was feeling light headed and let Hannah guide her through the large glass doors, ignoring any eyes on her. In this moment, she wished to be invisible.

She squinted her eyes at the fluorescent lights and her eyes widened when she saw a panicked Eve and a furious Michael sitting on chairs to the left of the doors.

"Claire?" It was Michaels voice, he rushed over at impressive speeds to meet them.

"Michael," Claire sighed, happy to see him and tired, very tired.

"Mr Glass, please let me take Claire and talk to her and then she can be released." Hannah looked exhausted too, the lines on her face were obvious under the bright lights.

"No." He was stern. "She didn't do anything wrong, if anything she is a victim and Shane. Why did you bring him in, he hasn't done anything."

"That you know of." Hannah remarked nonchalantly.

"Hannah!" Claire glared at her.

Eve reached out a tentative hand for Claire's arm but she pulled away, "Don't touch me Eve."

Michael looked at her for a moment and then back to Hannah, "Let him go, he didn't do anything. I know he didn't. Things ended badly with Lily but that's–"

"Michael stop." Eve warned him glancing at Claire and then to Hannah. "Shane's innocent."

"That's not what you implied earlier Miss Rosser," Hannah was cold.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Eve was on the brink of hysterical, Michael grabbed her arm.

"Don't Eve," he was stern.

Eve began to shout furiously in Hannah's face, whether she was trying to make it up to Claire or prove her point to Hannah, it wasn't clear. The regal officer that Hannah was stood unfaltering when Eve got in her face. Several other cops walked over to the scene but Hannah held up a hand gesturing she was okay. Michael grabbed a shouting Eve and put a hand over her mouth, a muffled Eve continued. "He didn't do anything," she blurted when he took his hand away.

"I know. Now let me do my job. I'll help him, no matter what. Wont I Claire?" Hannah whispered.

Claire simply nodded.

Michael took his focus off of Hannah and turned to Claire, "Are you okay Claire?"

Her lip quivered and she could feel the tears threatening to erupt again. "Yes." Her voice was small.

Michael pulled her in for a hug before Hannah ushered her off into a separate room. "Go home Mr Glass, this might take a while," she said as they walked away from Claire's friends.

"We'll wait," he responded immediately.

"Just go," Claire begged but Michael shook his head.

She didn't meet Eve's eyes, Michael met hers with a knowing look at nodded, a signal of 'you'll be okay,' but Claire didn't feel that way. She felt imprisoned and confused, like suddenly she was the only one who didn't speak english and everyone was talking to her. Her head throbbed with pain and she ambled on after Hannah, wrapping her arms around herself.

Entering the interrogation room Claire looked around, it was just like every one she had ever seen on television. Bright lights, a table, two chairs and the infamous reflective walls. Hannah sat her down and then smiled, it was a small smile but it helped Claire, even if she wouldn't admit it. "Someone will be with you soon, it'll be okay," she promised.

As Hannah left Claire felt her heart lurch when she heard the shouting that shot through the corridors like a gust of wind, Michael, Eve and of course Shane screaming bloody murder. Claire perked up her ears trying to figure out who was yelling at who and why, it was a wasted effort these rooms were some what soundproof. The notion of soundproofing in here made her a little anxious and she hoped silently a Vamp wasn't going to be in here. It's Morganville Police Station, if anything they are a little lax on protocol, being the undead and all that. Brow furrowed Claire sat with her arms folded and a furious expression on her face, when Hess walked in she brightened up just a little. He slid a bottle of water across the table and smiled at her, "Hey Claire," his voice was tired and deep.

"Hess, how long will I have to be here?"

"I just need to go over a few things with you and then you can go," he sighed as he sat down.

Claire eyed her reflection on the wall. She could hardly recognise herself, dark circles under her eyes and her hair was a mess. She could hear shouting through the wall, it was followed by three loud thuds before silence.

Hess followed her gaze and listened as the shouting subsided, "You know he'll be okay."

Claire looked at him sadly, "I don't know that, neither do you."

"Sometimes Claire, you need to trust us. We're not all bad guys. He'll be okay," he paused waiting for her to smile at him, give him some recognition that she was going to open up. Neither of them said Shane's name, they didn't need to, it was obvious who was screaming in the hall and threatening all sorts of god awful things if they didn't tell him where Claire was.

She wanted to scream back, I'm okay or Shane I'm in here but she didn't.

Hess pulled out some photos and papers, a small crease lining his brow as he scanned the photos, his mouth an obvious grimace from the grotesque nature of the poor girls death. Turning his head to the side he took in the photos and with a long drawn out sigh he looked up at Claire, "Wow."

"Yeah."

"You found this?"

"Unfortunately."

"You okay?"

"What do you think?" she replied.

"I don't know."

"Do you know who it was?"

Hess shook his head. The conversation was more friendly and casual then what she expected.

"Are they filming us?"

"Yeah," he sat up remembering that they weren't alone and a stern expression washed over his rugged features. "Claire Danvers, are you prepared to enlighten me on what happened today?"

Claire rolled her eyes, "I have already told Hannah."

"Claire, please tell me what happened. This is a formal interview, not a tea party."

"Fine." She slumped in her chair glaring at the mirrors, no doubt Amelie or perhaps Oliver were watching her with keen hungry eyes, waiting for a moment to pounce and blame one of the Glass house residents. It was always easier to use those four as the punching bags then to face facts, Bishop was out there, Captian Obvious had an agenda and now theres a murderer on the loose. This is not a good day, Claire realised gazing back at Hess. He watched her intently, tapping his pen and probably wondering what was going on in that mind of hers. She liked not being an open book, she had to be unreadable especially in a place like Morganville. She sighed and when Hess cleared his throat went on in thorough detail to enlighten him, describing the weather and what Monica told her; to the moment she went into the bathroom and made her grizzly discovery. Before Hess could ask her any questions there was a loud slam and blur in the room. Claire jumped with fright, when her eyes adjusted there was a shadow looming over her. She yelped when she focused on Oliver, his face inches from her and his hand pressed on the table, fingernails grinding into the wood.

"Holy Shit Oliver!" Hess was alarmed.

Oliver growled like a wolf and his eyes burned into Claire, "What did you see?"

"I have already told Hannah and Hess, why the hell do I have to tell you?"

"Don't play with me Claire, I really don't have time," his voice was, like always, cool and collected.

Hess stood up, "Oliver what are you doing here?"

"Get out." Oliver hissed.

"No."

With a sharp snap of his head he was glaring straight at Hess, "I wont ask again."

There was a commanding, threat underlying his tone and the way he looked at Hess with those menacing eyes made Claire shudder. There was a brief pause and her eyes darted between the vampire and cop. Vampire won, no surprise and Hess looked at her apologetically before picking up the papers and photos. Claire whimpered as Hess began to leave, she didn't want to be stuck in here, alone, with Oliver.

"Leave them." Oliver said.

Hess hesitated at the door and looked back at Claire, "I'm okay." She said loud enough for him to hear, "Oliver wont hurt me, Amelie would kill him." It was a long shot and a small laugh emanated from Oliver's cold lips.

When the door shut he turned to her with a fierce expression, "Did you know her?"

"What? No, I have never seen her in my–"

"A no would suffice little girl."

"Oliver you are being really creepy, and not just your normal creepy self. This is something way more. Super creepy." She was looking at him with concern and a little bit of unease. Claire began to wonder if she should have fought harder for Hess to stay or even Hannah. How was she, after all, to know Oliver would burst in here like some crazed lunatic.

"Shut up Claire." He hissed, "I don't have time for your teenage hormones."

She laughed.

The piercing glare he gave her was enough to freeze fire. Claire immediately shut up and just gazed at him both afraid and intrigued. Intrigued because for the first time she could remember he truly looked afraid.

"Did you see anyone?"

"No, I would have told them."

"What did the room smell like?"

Claire pulled a face, "I don't really remember."

"How exactly was her hands bound?"

"Umm," she was completely taken aback by his questioning.

"Damnit," Oliver slammed his hand on the table, it splintered and fell to the fall, Claire gasped, always shocked at how strong he really was. "Claire, listen to me if you lie or say you don't know one more time you'll regret it."

"I-"

"Shut up and listen," he closed his eyes breathing deeply and rubbing the ridge of his mouth, now that she looked closer Claire realised just how stressed he looked. Something was going on, something bad. "What did the room smell like?"

"Jesus Oliver I don't know I wasn't really taking any notice."

Grabbing the front of her shirt he pulled her out of her seat, kicking the chair aside he got right in her face, "Did you see anyone? Did it smell like rotten eggs? Sulfur? What was the symbol on her forehead?"

"Oliver, you're hurting me."

"Tell me," he ignored her.

"I don't know okay," she hissed.

In a sudden burst of rage or frustration the hands on her shirt wrapped easily around her fragile neck, he pushed her against the glass wall and she whimpered, her feet dangling off the floor. Claire could hardly breathe, she was gasping for air and his eyes were menacing, piercing into her very being. He was inches from her face.

"What was the symbol?" He repeated again.

"E-eye an eye Oliver I think it was the masonic all see…" she coughed and spluttered.

Her answer had caused him to squeeze harder, a tingling sensation was flooding her face and head, she was feeling lightheaded, Claire couldn't breathe. Her lungs were screaming for oxygen. Her hands began to claw at his, trying to get Oliver to snap out of this, release his firm grip but he didn't budge, her attempts useless.

His eyes were wide, hollow and filled with fear, "Were her pupils dilated? Large?"

"Yes," she gasped.

The door began to thud and slam, there was yelling, one maybe three people on the other side. They could see what he was doing yet somehow the couldn't open the door behind her. Oliver, with his spare hand held the handle, stopping them.

"Open the door Oliver," someone screamed.

Claire gasped, "Let - me…" Darkness swallowed her whole as the lack of oxygen proved too much and the last thing Claire saw was the symbol watching her before she hit the floor with a thud.