Disclaimer: Not mine, title's inspired by Tic Toc by Ke$ha

A/N: So I'm heading off on holiday in about a week and unfortunately I'll be gone for about a month and I'm not certain I'll have internet access so I'm going to finish book one (this is going to be a trilogy I think?) before I go, which means that I'll be updating daily because I'd feel terrible leaving without finishing up to that point. And I've already written the final chapters of book one so it's a lovely place to stop. Well you might not agree but I've already written the first two-three chapters of the second book so I promise you it's forthcoming. I think there's about…hmm seven chapters until the end of this one?

Gah this is so long, apologies. However the chapter is also the longest one yet if I'm not mistaken so hopefully that makes up for it! I'll be updating soon! Do review though, I love, love reading your reviews and it'll definitely motivate me to make sure I do finish book one before I go. ;) (That wasn't a bribe, not really…:P )

Enjoy!

-S

Chapter 14: The Police Shut Us Up

"What?" I asked in horror but he just ignored me and pushed me before reaching around to open the door.

Just as I was about to get in, I heard my name being called.

"Kim!" It was Jared. Oh god, of course he'd see me like this, it wasn't enough that I had a few fuzzies for the guy but now it's like the universe was sending me as signal that we were not meant to be. How much more humiliating could this get.

He ran up to us, his face twisted in confusion.

The detective let out an irritated breath of air.

"What're you doing with her? Kim, what's going on?" His questions came rapidly and I saw one of his hands reach out like he wanted to pull my wrists out of the policeman's grasp but he quickly withdrew it at the look that Detective Lucas gave him.

"She's been arrested for breaking and entering."

"She has a key." He replied, his face brightening. I could've hit myself, what was I thinking? That would solve the problem instantly.

"And trespassing." He supplied quickly but I beat him to it.

"No, no, you arrested me initially for breaking and entering, as that's clearly not true, you have to arrest me again for trespassing. You can't just add charges like that."

Suddenly his folksy demeanor vanished and I started to realize why he worked in a city with crime rates as high as Seattle.

"Listen, little girl, this isn't CSI, you need to stop wasting my time, and get in the car before I make you. And add a charge for resisting."

I closed my mouth with a snap and Jared looked a little nervous like he didn't want to tamper with him.

I couldn't agree more.

A thought appeared in my head.

"I get a phone call! Can I call-" I think Detective Lucas would have smacked himself if he had a hand free and if that was appropriate.

"That's once you get to prison. Any more reasons to delay this or can I do my job now?"

"Okay." I guess that's it. I'd have to go down to the station before I could talk to Cecilia.

It wasn't like they could keep me there, I could easily afford bail but I didn't want to have to pay it. Felt like I was giving in when I knew I did nothing wrong.

"Wait, don't you have to tell her parents?" At this Detective Lucas looked surprised. I almost felt proud if I wasn't panicking. I didn't want Jared to find out like this! He would do the whole pity thing and I'd lose any chance of a normal friendship with him.

I didn't think I could handle that right now. I thrust Detective Lucas a desperate look and he seemed to understand because he just shook his head.

"They'll be contacted once we get down to the station."

I let out a breath of relief.

"Oh." Jared changed tactics. He turned to me. "Kim, we're coming with you, we'll meet you at the station."

"Jared, no-"But he'd already spun around and run back to the limo, bending to explain the situation to Frank.

I sighed in disapproval. This wasn't going at all how I wanted it too, but as the detective bent my head into the car and I sat down, there wasn't much I could do about it. Just had to go along for the ride and see where it took me.

We arrived at the police station just as the sun started to sink below the horizon and I saw Detective Lucas take a look at it before turning back sharply and pushing me inside. I resisted for a second until I saw that Frank had pulled up behind us, to my surprise, only Jared emerged and then the limo pulled away.

Where was Nina going?

I decided I didn't really care if it meant that I got more one on one time with Jared. Just as friends, I reminded myself.

He took the steps up to the door two at a time and before I'd fully stepped in; he was behind us.

He gave me a small smile and at my questioning look he mouthed 'later.' I nodded, and tried to give him a thumbs up before remembering that my hands were otherwise occupied.

I shot him a smile instead.

We followed the twisting halls up a short staircase until we got to an open area where several cops were lounging around, the smell of coffee wafting through the air towards me.

I breathed it in. It smelled wonderful right now and as my stomach started to growl, I realized I hadn't eaten anything since this morning.

Jared didn't notice or pretended not to, which I thank him for silently in my head. I didn't really want him to hear that. But I couldn't even rub my stomach to stop it from growling as my hands were still firmly held behind my back.

Jared's jaw was tense. I wondered if this was too much pressure to put on him. He really didn't have to stay with me. But, I didn't exactly ask him to come. I wondered what had gotten him so tense. And then I realized, he wasn't a bad kid, I'd never heard of him getting arrested, this was probably his first time at a police station. It was mine too but my mind was distracted as it was. It was not wonder he was nervous.

Detective Lucas paused at a desk that was two from the back and handed over my charge to an Officer Matthews who looked more interested in his cup of coffee than my wrists. But he took them resignedly and tugged me into the chair across from him while motioning for Jared to sit as well.

"So I've just got to take down some information and as a minor we'll probably let you off easy assuming the charges aren't dropped. Also-"

"Sir, I'm really sorry, but can I have my phone call first?"

Jared looked at me in surprise. He didn't know about Cecilia, I'd have to explain later.

"Ah, yeah, sure." He pushed the phone at his desk towards me but I shook my head.

"Do you think I could have some privacy?" I maintained my gaze away from Jared, I didn't want to risk encouraging him to ask if he could come with me. As much as I would have enjoyed the company, I needed to do this on my own.

Officer Matthews nodded before leading me to one of the back rooms used for interrogation; Jared remained fixed in seat, not even looking up when I left.

I wanted to say something but I was nervous that he'd leave and as much as I liked to pretend that this was fine and that I could handle it, I felt miles better just having him nearby.

He was wonderful. I would find a way to thank him after all this was over, I would.

I sat down on the hard bench and he un-cuffed me before turning on a flickering burnt mustard light and back out of the room. The door was shut completely.

It was amazing to be alone for just a moment, I let my head fall back against the wall and closed my eyes, I needed to center myself. I had to make sure that this call went perfectly and I figured out everything I needed to know. I filed away any anger that was still swirling around in my system.

Pulling the phone towards me, I dialed Cecilia's number and waited for her to pick up.

"Hello?" Her voice came quizzically over the phone and for a moment I felt that anger at her betrayal return and I couldn't quite form words in response. but I shoved it back.

"Hello?" This time her voice was strained and then I heard motion and I assumed she was going to hang up. This jerked me into action.

"Wait, Cecilia?" My voice was quiet, I knew I had to hear her out first.

"Kim! Oh my goodness, thank god you called, I've been sitting here waiting for you all afternoon."

"Cecilia, what's going on?" My voice was terse; I didn't have time for this.

"Kim, I'm so sorry. I just needed to get you to that station. Listen, one of the officers, Matthews was on call the night your parents disappeared and I swear when I was down there trying to get some information he looked like he was going to say something, but Lucas shut him up."

I felt my heart hammering and I could have cried right then I was so thankful. It had been a bigger blow than I realized to have her turn on me but now that I realized what she was doing I wished I could thank her properly.

"Okay." I said. I could trust this, right?

"Kim, I know I should have told you, but as ridiculous as it sounds, I didn't want you involved in my little conspiracy. Thought you'd be more receptive if you were unaware and I didn't have that much time. You have to believe me!" The word time, seemed to tug at my sense and I heard a rapping on the door to confirm that my time was almost up.

"Thanks, I got it, I'll see what I can do." She chuckled at that.

"I have complete faith in you Kim."

"Cecilia?"

"Yeah?"

"The charges?" She laughed heartily at that.

"You sounded just like your father when you say that, Kim." She paused then, and I could feel her calculating whether it was too soon to make references like that but the woman had done amazing things for me today, and I couldn't bare the thought of her worry about something so simple.

I let out a weak chuckle, it was the best I could do right the, but to my relief she seemed to buy it.

"I'll give you an hour, Kim, and then I'll drop them. They can't keep you there after that. Get Matthews to interrogate you, I'm sure you can get something out of him."

"Done."

The door started to open and Officer Matthews stuck his head in, and motioned at his watch.

"I have to go, but thanks again." I said quietly, suddenly wishing I didn't and that I'd have more time with her.

"I'll be in touch sweetie, and remember, if you need anything-"

"I know." I interrupted, before she could finish. I needed to stay focused.

"Bye." Her reply was quiet and I could tell that she wanted to do more, to say more and I felt ashamed that I had so easily lost faith in her.

She was a rather incredible woman, that Cecilia Hartgrove.

I hung up the phone and turned to the officer.

"Would you like to question me now?" He laughed, shaking his head.

"I suppose, if that's okay with you?" He mocked rhetorically before sitting down and setting out some papers in front of him. He clicked on a recording device that he set evenly between us and then asked me to recite my name.

"Kimberley Athena Connweller."

At my last name, he perked up considerably and looked at me before continuing. Good, he remembered the name. That meant weeding out the information would be easier than I thought.

"Age."

"16, tomorrow."

"Happy early-birthday." He responded jovially, and I smiled at him before letting it drop from my face. Time to play dirty, Kim.

He didn't say anything about my sudden shift in mood but continued on.

"Why were you at Mark on the afternoon of Saturday, November 19th?"

"The store belongs to my mother, Lucy Connweller, and I was just taking care of some business for her."

"The store's owner, who I presume, is your mother, reported that you were trespassing."

"No, Cecilia Hartgrove, reported that I was trespassing."

At this he paused, apparently, Officer Matthew didn't rank up high enough to get that little snippet of information.

Wonderful, this was going far easier than I thought it would.

"And she is not your mother." He verified and I nodded.

"How did you get into the store?"

"I had a set of keys."

"Where did you acquire them?"

"From my mother."

"With her permission?" Here I stalled, crap. Obviously he knew I didn't have permission, so lying would get me nowhere.

"Not exactly."

"Please elaborate."

"My mother, as you might have heard, and father have-well, I don't know where they are." My voice dropped, and I paused watching the effect it was having on him but he just nodded grimly.

"Officer Matthews, I'm going to be honest with you, I just went there so that I could see if I could find anything out, no one was telling me anything."

"So you trespassed on an official crime scene." Not so fast.

"There was no tape." I offered innocently and at this he let out a bitter chuckle.

"Not that that would have stopped you." I shook my head.

"I need to know what happened to them, sir. It's not something I can just live with. The unknowing it just rips at me all day long and I feel like if I don't figure it out it's just going to tear me apart." I wasn't even putting on a show, Matthews looked like he wouldn't buy tears anyway, I figured I'd just be honest and tell him what I was going through.

"I don't have any siblings sir, I don't even have any pets, my parents, they're all I've got."

"What about your boyfriend, out there?"

"He's not my- he's not." I stumbled in surprise, but I suppose it did appear that way.

I could have sworn he muttered something along the lines of 'could've fooled me,' but I determinedly ignored it. Jared had a girlfriend. And it certainly wasn't me and besides I promised I wouldn't interfere. No point getting my hopes up.

"Look, I'm sorry about your parents-"

"Do you know what happened to them?" I cut him off, but he didn't seem particularly bothered by it.

"No and this isn't what we're discussing right now." He answered too quickly and I saw him look down before he finished that sentence. I could have danced with joy; he knew. He knew. And there was no way I was leaving until I knew.

"Sir, please? I've been waiting for days to hear something but no one's telling me anything." My voice was breaking at this but I saw him take longer to respond this time.

"Miss Connweller, even if I had something to tell you, I couldn't that case doesn't fall under my jurisdiction, I am legally hindered from telling you anything. I could lose my job."

"I know but-" He looked behind him at the door suddenly, cutting me off, and then muttered something under his breath before turning back to me. I waited.

You know you want to do it, I thought at him hard and I saw his eyes soften.

I looked at him and let my face drop a little.

"Sir, do you have kids?" I had noticed the wedding band on his ring finger when he'd reached over to place the recorder on the table.

"I do, two little girls." He intoned, brows arching at the change in subject.

"And if something happened to you, wouldn't you want them to know? No matter what?" I questioned. He looked at me for a second and I almost thought he looked amused but he sobered up quickly enough.

"My family is not up for discussion." His voice was stern and I backed off, I didn't want to anger him. I just wanted him to understand.

"Please, I need something, just tell me if they're alive or-" Here I had to pause because my voice broke and I cleared my throat. I could do this, they weren't dead I reminded myself, they couldn't be. If they were, they'd have to tell me.

They had to.

"Please." I ended, finally. And then I just watched him; watched him run through the consequences of telling me something in his head and his face turned grim. And for a second I thought he wasn't going to tell me anything but then, he reached forward and clicked off the recorder.

I stayed still, maintaining my composure but my hands were sweating, and my heart was beating so hard it felt like there was a horse in my chest, galloping against my ribs.

"I don't know much, but I know they were put under the care of a physician."

I didn't say anything, just nodded; I didn't want to risk him changing his mind.

"That's all I know, kid." But he had paused too long before saying that.

"What was the physician's name?"

He shook his head but I jumped in to reassure him, I knew what he was thinking.

"I won't tell anyone how I found out, I swear." He looked at me hard again before abruptly rubbing a hand over his face.

He dropped them to the table and reaching one over to the recorder. No, I called out in my head. I was so close!

But he paused just before his finger could press down. He uttered a single word his voice hesitant and low.

"Cullen."