Zoë studied the computer screen in front of her. All she had to do was click one button, and the case of Ma Gasket's murdered boys would be filed away and left to rot. It wasn't justice. Zoë knew that, and she didn't like it. Sometimes, they had to do things that they didn't want to do.
The door across the room opened, and Zoë turned to look at her late partner. Thalia was supposed to be there a half hour ago for them to file this paperwork together. And to talk about Thalia and her antics with the police captain. It wouldn't do any good to make an enemy of him.
A frown came to Zoë's face as she saw the two people in front of her. One was her delayed partner, and the other was that new girl from the bar: Reyna. The problem with this scene was that Reyna's arms were handcuffed behind her back. They were both soaking wet from the rain that had started pouring not too long ago.
"If you want to stop being an asshole, I can have someone tend to your wounds," Thalia spat as she led Reyna through the office. Zoë stood and followed her towards the room where they questioned suspects. She studied the two of them.
Thalia had a scowl painted on her face. Her entire body was soaked, and her hair matted against her face, getting into her eyes. The irritation on her face was clear. Zoë opened the door for her, and Thalia led Reyna towards the table. She took off the handcuffs.
"Last chance," Thalia warned. When no response was given, Thalia shoved Reyna into the chair. Zoë watched the two of them and studied the woman they would be questioning. Thalia had taken off silver handcuffs, which confirmed Zoë's theory.
Reyna remained silent. Her face was pale, and along with her busted nose, she had a few cuts and bruises on her face. The shirt she had been wearing had blood covering the neckline. Reyna didn't even have a jacket on, and she was shivering slightly.
Zoë stepped out of the room and walked toward their supply room. She grabbed two thick towels and made it back into the room. By the time she had, Reyna's hands had been secured to the table with silver handcuffs again. A loop was the only thing attaching the handcuffs to the table, but Zoë wasn't sure if it could withstand a werewolf pulling at it.
Reyna did not look like she was at full strength, though. Every other breath was hitched, and she had bruises forming on her features. Zoë handed a towel off to Thalia, who used it to wipe off her face and dry her hair. Zoë turned towards Reyna.
"May I?" Zoë questioned. Reyna offered a half shrug and looked at the table. Zoë carefully wrapped the towel around her shoulders. Her gaze then moved to her partner. "Thalia, we should talk."
"Yeah," Thalia agreed. She looked at Reyna. "Need a doctor? Water? Anything?"
Reyna made a noise in the back of her throat that sounded like a building growl. Thalia rolled her eyes and stormed out of the room. Zoë followed behind. They only made it down the hallway before Zoë grabbed her partner's arm.
"What happened?" Zoë questioned. Thalia looked back at her and finished wiping the water out of her face.
"Asshole in there is a werewolf, and I'm sure that she killed Ma Gasket's boys. She was also being attacked by a member of Exterminata when I helped save her ass," Thalia replied as she threw the towel onto a random cabinet. Zoë gave her a look, and Thalia shrugged. "I'll get it later."
"Where is the proof you have of her killing the boys?" Zoë prodded. Her partner didn't answer. "Thalia, do not tell me that you arrested her and brought her here without any kind of proof."
"Jason didn't do it, and the evidence doesn't really line up for Lycaon. Why would he save Tyson and tell him those things? Reyna makes sense," Thalia said.
"That isn't evidence that I can file in a report," Zoë stated, crossing her arms. "Lycaon's nail was found at the crime scene. Do we have any DNA from Reyna?"
Thalia remained silent. Zoë chewed the inside of her lip but hid her annoyance well. She trusted most of Thalia's gut instincts, but this was the one time she needed Thalia to turn those instincts off. Footsteps caught her attention and she turned her head.
"Hunters," the police captain greeted. Thalia rolled her eyes and stuffed her hands into her pockets. Zoë turned towards the captain and nodded towards him. This was just getting worse by the second. "I got your call, Grace. Where is this werewolf?"
"I just put her in the interrogation room," Thalia answered as she used her head to motion towards the door they had walked out of. "She's a bit of an asshole."
The police captain grunted like he wasn't amused. Thalia shrugged and continued, "Found her being interrogated by a member of the Exterminata. I couldn't stop them in time, and they got away. I have information on the chick, though. She was dumb enough to call us and try to cut a deal."
"And what information do you have on this person?" the captain questioned.
"Just that her name is Hylla," Thalia said with a shrug. She was looking down at her nails and not paying attention to the police captain in front of her. While the officers next to him didn't say anything, Zoë's focus was solely on him. The police captain's eyes widened slightly before narrowing. It was a small gesture, almost split-second. But, it meant everything.
They always had their suspicions that the police captain worked with or had contacts in Exterminata. His reaction confirmed that he at least knew who Hylla was. How did he know her? Who exactly was this Hylla woman?
Zoë wished that Thalia had given her a warning before telling the police captain to come over. She would have had time to gather her thoughts and find the next best step. Instead, she had to think on her feet, "We don't have any evidence, though."
Thalia gave her an annoyed glance. Zoë continued, "She went off of a gut feeling, but that is not going to hold up in court."
"You don't know that," Thalia argued. Zoë crossed her arms. "If we get a confession-"
"A confession from someone who you have zero evidence on. Someone who is hurt," Zoë corrected. She gave Thalia a knowing look.
"I'll talk to the prisoner," the police captain said. He turned and started to walk. Zoë followed behind him. He grabbed the door and shot her a glare. "Alone."
Zoë remained silent as he walked into the room. She turned toward the adjoining room that had a one-way mirror. Zoë stared through the mirror and looked at Reyna. The supposed werewolf was hunched forward and cradling her side. As the door opened, her eyes flickered up.
Thalia joined Zoë's side, "Thanks for blowing me up in front of captain fat fuck."
"Reyna is innocent," Zoë stated. "Didn't you give her a ride home? And, we already pulled the camera footage from her apartment complex. She entered and didn't leave until the next day as she rushed to go to the bar."
"She climbed out the window!" Thalia rebutted as she threw her arms up in exasperation.
"Isn't her apartment two stories up?"
"You never bust my balls this hard."
"You should have told me about this first. And maybe find some evidence next time," Zoë stated. Thalia sighed angrily. "What about the nail that belongs to Lycaon that was found at the scene?"
"Fuck! Fine!" Thalia snapped. She stormed out of the room. Zoë focused on the police captain. He was staring at Reyna. Zoë flipped the speaker on.
"Did you kill Ma Gasket's boys?" the police captain questioned. Reyna remained silent. "Have a guilty conscience?"
"I didn't do anything," Reyna muttered. "I want a lawyer."
"And, I want a wife that isn't a fat whore," the police captain responded. Reyna shifted and pain swelled in her face. "What's your full name?"
"I want a lawyer," Reyna repeated. The police captain slammed his fist into the table. Reyna didn't flinch. She just raised her chin in defiance. "It's my right."
The police captain suddenly reached across the table and pulled Reyna up by her shirt. Reyna flinched and almost doubled over. Zoë was out of the room in a flash and pushed open the door of the interrogation room.
"Enough!" Zoë shouted as she crossed the room in an instant and shoved the police captain back. He stumbled back, total surprise in his features. Reyna collapsed against the table and then slid down to a sitting position on the ground. A wince came to her face as she tried to move her arms. "Is this how you question suspects?"
"If it gets me answers," the police captain spat back unremorsefully.
"Why don't you get out of here?" Zoë suggested. The police captain scanned her and then looked at Reyna. "Thalia did this without any evidence. What you just did is going to kill the case."
The police captain sneered and looked down at Reyna. For a moment, the sneer turned into a twisted grin. Then, it turned into nothing as he stormed out of the room. Zoë knelt by Reyna and spoke, "Do you need help standing?"
"Leave me alone," Reyna muttered.
"I know that you killed Ma Gasket's boys," Zoë whispered as softly as she could. Reyna's eyes moved towards her, and she opened her mouth. "I told Thalia you didn't."
Reyna closed her mouth, and a look of confusion trickled into her eyes despite her trying to hide it. Zoë continued, "Thalia cannot cast aside her morals, even if it is the best solution. I don't agree with what you did, but I know why you did it."
"If you ever kill again, I will put you behind bars myself," Zoë promised. Reyna stared at her and swallowed painfully. "For now, this goes away. No one is going to know what you did. Now, next time you plant DNA at a crime scene, don't use an old nail."
Zoë stood, "I'm giving you a ride home."
Reyna nodded once. The door opened behind them, and Zoë turned in annoyance. Her partner stood at the door and pointed to the man in a suit behind her, "Lawyer is here."
"We were just letting her go," Zoë stated. She bit the inside of her lip. Reyna was still sitting against the table, and the lawyer was eyeing her closely.
"Did something happen here?" the lawyer questioned as he stepped forward.
"No," Reyna replied, slowly standing up. Zoë unlocked her handcuffs. "I just need some rest."
The lawyer watched them closely. He pulled out a business card and handed it to Reyna. Then, he led her out of the room. Thalia watched them go and spoke to herself, "Fuck me."
Zoë hummed softly as she studied some of the blood left behind on the ground. Her shoe wiped it away. Reyna was hurting, and she needed more than just rest. Zoë would also have to do more research into this Hylla woman. After Thalia told her everything that had happened. Zoë also needed to keep a close eye on the police captain.
It was going to be a long month.