Chapter 5: Poltergeists

Phil and I left Jessy's flat at about 7:30 on the dot. I had left my bagel and coffee almost untouched. My upcoming testimony was starting to get to me. Especially after I'd put Phil's hot tattooed body out of my mind.

I was in a relationship with Jake, somehow.

In any case, I tried to stay loyal to him.

Even if it meant a lifetime of abstinence.

Phil was also a damn hot distraction...

However, this morning's sibling banter between Jessy and Phil was not.

Anyway, they decided to visit the Aurora tonight. Phil even granted Cleo and Thomas to forgo their house ban this evening.

By my pleading.

I couldn't get rid of the newly imposed drinking ban for both of them. Or rather, I had given up trying after Jessy suggested we had drivers for tonight after all.

This was definitely an argument...

Jessy had also been able to negotiate a free cocktail. After protesting loudly that, as a sister, she didn't even get a family discount. Somehow I wondered why she hadn't negotiated for this much earlier. Phil, after all, had a reputation as a successfully flirtatious bartender. As I had heard it, he often used his position behind the counter to serve a drink to beautiful young women. At least he lived up to his reputation as a womaniser in the way he opened the passenger door for me. Although this knowledge was available, I giggled like an abashed schoolgirl.

Completely to the delight of Phil...

He sat down in the driver's seat while I fastened my seat belt. Actually, I thought I'd take out my mobile phone to read Jake's last words again.

It was self-torturing, I was aware of that...

Considering the situation, however, my testimony was imminent, I had to remind myself once again. Especially when the police chief didn't look favourably on you.

I needed Jake...

Really badly!

Our chat was the only thing I had left though.

The only thing I would ever have...

But I didn't get the chance. Phil put his hand on my thigh. I wasn't sure if this position was intended. After all, it was very close to my private zone. Jake would go crazy if he knew that. Especially if he saw Phil's hand gently stroking across the inside of my thigh.

"I've let my lawyer know," Phil began in a calm tone. I guess his touch wasn't an attempt at flirtation after all. I was probably just reading way too much into his behaviour. Just because I was looking for a reason for Jake to burst with jealousy.

So that he would finally show up...

But how could he, when he was tragically burnt to death two months ago?

He might be more likely to haunt Phil as a poltergeist. But since I didn't have the leading role in the next horror film, the supernatural was rather out of the question.

Although...

Hadn't I spent weeks chasing the legendary figure "The Man Without a Face".

Who knew what was possible in Duskwood...

On the other hand...

Shouldn't Jake use his ghost powers to send me a message instead of torturing Phil...?!

I guess I' d have a reason to be really mad at Jake that way. Perhaps that wouldn't be such a bad thing. If his jealousy means more to him than his love for me, I could use my anger and get over him. Except that it would be relatively amusing after all. An unsuspecting Phil wondering about strange happenings.

Strange creaking floors, objects suddenly disappearing and reappearing in the strangest places.

Spooky messages on his smartphone and computer.

Okay, Jake would definitely use the computer for his haunting.

Every time Phil flirted with me...

I felt Phil tighten his hold on my thigh.

I wonder if he had just seen the first ghostly apparition.

"[MC], were you even listening to me?", Phil asked me in a concerned tone.

"No. Sorry.", I said, trying to suppress my laughter.

I really was stupid...

Did I really just consider the existence of poltergeists?

"It's okay," he replied in a calm tone. Still, I had the feeling he was regarding me with a scowl.

"I have spoken to my lawyer," he repeated. Even though this information wasn't actually new to me, it surprised me. With a frown, I turned to him. "You're quite nervous, aren't you?" he said gently with a subtle smile. I nodded.

It wasn't a lie, in that sense...

I was nervous. Alan's reaction towards me was entirely unknown to me. The way Jessy and Phil sounded, he probably didn't like me. But I was more concerned with other issues.

Jake...

Since I already avoided talking to my best friend, I would certainly not reveal my feelings to her brother.

"Don't worry too much," Phil continued in a soft voice. "If our incompetent police chief makes a fool of you, you'll refuse to testify," his voice sounded much more serious by now. I guess my eyes must have been looking at him in confusion. So he added: "My lawyer said it would be unwise for him to come along in the first place. It's just a testimony. We don't want to upset him unnecessarily. But if he tries to blame you in any way, my lawyer will come right away."

I modestly nodded as a sign I had understood his words. For a moment an uncomfortable silence reigned between us.

"Do you know Nothing but Thieves?" asked Phil enthusiastically, probably hoping to distract me. I shook my head. While looking through his music folder on the display, of the radio, he said, "You might like that band."

He smiled at me.

"Amsterdam - Nothing but Thieves" was on the display.

I listened intently to the music. Phil was right. The song and the band were exactly suited my music taste. I enjoyed the fifteen minute car ride. Above all, we seemed genuinely to like the same kind of music. If I had appreciated what unknown treasures were on his USB stick, I wouldn't have done the My Chemical Romance loop to Jessy.

Concrete Jungleby Bad Omens was one of those treasures. The enthusiasm in his eyes when I responded positively to this song couldn't be described as anything other than sweet.

We stood in the car park of the police station. I would have loved to spend another hour discovering more of the music treasures. But Phil's comment telling me to call as soon as he could pick me up was the politest way of kicking me out.

"I will," I smiled nervously.

For two reasons...

Firstly, of course, there was my upcoming conversation with Alan. Secondly, and more importantly, I didn't know how to say goodbye to Phil. He had taken his chance to flirt with me. I would be lying if I said I hadn't reciprocated. Purely because I had allowed his hand to stroke my thigh.

The whole way...

He had taken it from me just to change gears. I giggled sheepishly, like a prepubescent teenager, at every ambiguous innuendo. Although it was already more than obvious as he said that it was also good music for the sexual act. Along those lines, if my crimson face was left aside, I had agreed.

Somehow...

At least I had mumbled embarrassedly he was right about that.

Oh my God!

Had I agreed to sleep with Phil?

Was that really what I wanted?

Phil was damn attractive. Besides, at least according to his reputation, he seemed to have a wealth of experience.

Or in other words: I would certainly get my rewards when he pushed me across the bed sheet. It would definitely get wild and passionate. Embarrassed, I smacked my lower lip. I had to keep my thoughts clear.

"Sometimes I'd like to know what goes on in that cute head of yours," Phil grinned at me mischievously.

" You better not," it popped into my head. Fortunately, for once, I had thought before I spoke. If it hadn't been for the telltale blush on my cheeks. Phil laughed seductively.

"Good luck.", he said and kissed me on the cheek. My whole body froze. Except for my heart, which didn't let itself be deprived of a leap or two of joy.

"Thank you...",I stammered inarticulately. With an embarrassed look at the floor, I reached for the door opener.

"See you soon, [MC]" he said in a charming tone. Without saying anything in reply, I got out of the car with mechanical movements. As I closed the door behind me, I could still hear Phil's audacious, seductive laugh.

Somehow, inexplicably, the thought arose in me to really get involved with Phil.

After all the crap of the last few months, didn't I deserve some fun?

With just some pampering?

Hadn't I been babysitting the everyone else long enough?

Shouldn't I finally get rewarded for my detective work?

After all, I had gotten Phil out of prison !

And he seemed to want to thank me with some bed sport.

There were two things I wasn't aware of. I was desperately looking for a reason to justify a one-night stand with Mr. Aurora.

This wasn't really like me.

Such fleeting affairs...

I would also like to say bad boys per se. However, I was left with a broken heart many times. Precisely because these kinds of men are usually not interested in someone as inconspicuous as me.

That's exactly what fascinated me about Phil Hawkins.

He was the classic textbook example of a bad boy, a womaniser, and he wanted me! Slowly, I couldn't deny his attempts at flirtation. So obvious and direct in how he went about it.

So very different from Jake...

His flirtations were much more subtle.

It was exactly this kind of flirting that made me fall for this mysterious hacker.

Why I fell in love with him that much...

Well, there was Phil...

He wanted some fun...

I just wanted to...

Not necessarily fall in love again.

Anyway, that was going to be impossible.

A soul mate existed just once. But that didn't have to mean having no fun at all.

Did it?

I entered the police station with my mind made up to have a hot night of love with the even hotter bartender.

My renewed confidence just lasted until I stepped in front of the reception desk. The grim-looking police officer snapped at me, " What?" I got a few crumbs from his bread.

"...an appointment with Mr Bloomgate," I stammered, having swallowed the beginning of the sentence. The plump policeman eyed me contemptuously. "I suppose [MC] " a man in his 40s spoke to me. I nodded. He extended his hand to me in greeting.

"Alan.", he said kindly.

I accepted this gesture uncertainly. Alan didn't seem much like what I had been threatened with. His grey-green eyes and the occasional grey strands in his dark brown hair made a rather kind impression. Even the way he gently put his hand on my back to guide me inside the building was more caring than threatening.

"Frank could you ask Karen to bring us coffee and biscuits in room 102," he said gently to the grim-faced man at the reception. The man replied "Yes" in the same unfriendly tone as he had spoken to me. Alan probably noticed the irritated look on my face.

" Please don't be irritated by Frank. The early duties aren't really his kind of thing. Particularly since his seventeen-year-old daughter's baby has been keeping him up at night," Alan explained to me giving too much information in my opinion. Relieved that Alan had misinterpreted my puzzled expression, I exhaled.

"I'm glad they're finally ready to make a testimony," I was unsure if he just wanted to interrupt the awkward silence or tease against my two months of my silence.

"Excuse me." , I murmured guiltily. "I just wasn't feeling so well."

"Your friend Jessica Hawkins had already told me that you had initially broken off contact with her and the rest of the group as well." I nodded in confirmation. " You must have been very upset by all of this, weren't you?" he spoke almost in a fatherly caring tone.

"Yes. It did. Sort of." My voice was always tinged with nervousness. But the tension in my body gradually eased.

Alan opened the door to room 102. Although he briskly ushered me into the room, I was still able to read the room label.

"Audio Interrogation Room"

Alan directed me to a chair where I could sit down. I immediately did so. The place was so different from my imagination. The walls weren't a cold white or grey, instead they were a warm dark green. The chairs weren't uncomfortable wooden chairs, just soft leather armchairs in black. There was a dictaphone on the mahogany table. More importantly, there was no mirrored glass wall or anything like that. No one could actually watch us.

" Quite different from your imagination, isn't it?" he smiled and I nodded. "So in advance." he said and seated himself opposite me. "I'm about to record your statement on the dictaphone. Don't be surprised that some of what I'm about to say will be repeated in a moment. So we can talk in advance without it being officially recorded."

With a nod, I indicated my understanding.

" It was the hacker from your group, right?"

Shocked, I looked at Alan.

He really expected me to confirm this now?

He didn't really expect me to turn Jake in at this point.

The hell with that!

Well, my appetite for offense was aroused!

"I won't tell you anything about the hacker!", I nagged at him.

"His case clearly exceeds the area of responsibility of such a small police department as ours. I already told him that...!", Alan spoke in a soft, calm tone.

I averted my gaze.

" In the same way as I have already told you that I am interested in why someone like him showed interest in such a relatively small missing persons case," Alan continued speaking after I remained silent.

Just like now!

"If you knew all the things this hacker is involved in, you wouldn't be keeping quiet right now," his voice was still calm.

Unlike mine...

" Oh, I would!" I said in a passive-aggressive tone. "I wouldn't ever betray him."

"You know you're protecting a wanted criminal just now."

"I don't care," I screeched, tears forming in my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was talk to Alan about Jake. I didn't really want to talk to anyone about Jake. There wasn't anyone I could really talk to. The others just mistrusted him all the time. No one had and would ever understand my feelings. Everyone would just pretend to be sympathetic.

" I don't see any reason why you would want to protect him so obsessively," Alan tried to draw me out. Doing so just made me even more stubborn. I was already jumping up and about to leave the room.

"[MC], I specifically asked you about the hacker before our official questioning." Alan achieved his goal with this statement. I stopped abruptly.

"This whole case... I just want to understand it," he said quietly.

"I don't know much about him myself," my gaze lowered to the floor before I turned around.

"He had his reasons for saving Hannah...", I mumbled as my guilt crushed me.

However, even if Alan could probably put this information together himself...

He also knew, in all probability, Jake had been in the mine that night.

"That's all I can get out of you, isn't it?" ,his voice sounded soft.

I nodded.

"No matter how much I assure you that I can't do anything about the hacker."

Again I nodded.

"Then I am going to accept this."

I exhaled with relief and sat back in my seat.

" Well, just in case you change your mind one day, you can also talk to me in a private setting."

He still didn't let up...

"Alan, please!", I pleaded.

"I just thought I'd offer."

"I get it," I sighed.

"Then there is something else I want to tell you before we begin," he continued in a calm tone. "If you are unsure about anything in particular, give me a hand gesture."

Irritated, I looked at him.

" We can then interrupt the interrogation"

" So, you can do that so easily?", I asked sceptically.

" Let me concern myself with this" he smiled kindly at me. "It's definitely easier than having something on tape that will cause you problems afterwards."

Anyone else would probably be lulled into a sense of security right now. However, for me it just aroused further suspicion.

"Why are you being so kind?", I raised an eyebrow.

The next moment, my sceptical expression turned into a confused one. It was Alan who had started laughing out loud.

"I'm curious to hear your explanation," he continued, amused.

"Jessy and Phil said that you weren't very fond of me," I paused for a moment. Alan was going to have a chance to counter that somewhat. As he didn't take that opportunity, I continued speaking. "You threatened Jessy to put me in jail if I didn't show up here. Besides, Phil said you were supposed to have the appointment at six. You know, just to torture me." This time I didn't give Alan a chance to intervene in what I said. He probably wouldn't have wanted me to. He regarded me with amusement for a moment before saying cheerfully, "Well, I admit I lost my temper a little with Ms. Hawkins where you were concerned. However, there has been a misunderstanding about Mr. Hawkins."

I frowned in confusion.

"To Mr. Hawkins I merely said. It would be in both our interests to make the appointment as early as possible. And I would be available from about six o'clock in the morning."

Alan offered me the chance to add something to the conversation this time.

I nodded and some of the confusion lifted from my face.

"I suppose Mr Hawkins can't be blamed for this misunderstanding due to the circumstances," Alan voiced my train of thought.

"And regarding Ms. Hawkins, I should apologise. However, I had made my threat when I didn't know that you hadn't contacted your friends either."

I replied to this statement with an embarrassed look to the side.

"I'm really sorry. It's just that everything-"

"You had already said it was because of your mental state," Alan interrupted me. "Besides, from what your friends told me, it was fairly obvious after all. I subsequently handed Ms. Hawkins your address so she could take care of you."

I blinked in confusion.

"You were worried?" I asked, puzzled, with a few seconds' delay. With a nod he confirmed: "Of course. Even for us officers, such cases aren't always easy to cope with. I could gladly give you the number of the psychological practice that specialises in such cases."

With a shake of my head I declined.

"Thanks a lot, but since Jessy's been here I'm fine again. I guess I was just in shock." The crux of the matter was that I really believed I could handle anything without professional help to deal with my traumatic experiences.

"Are you sure?", Alan echoed with concern.

"Yes, I am," I smiled at him.

"Again, if you change your mind, you could contact me at any time."

"I know"