A million questions ran through Matthew's mind as he and Amy were brought to the police station. The first thing he wondered was how the cop knew who he was. Then came the paranoia that they knew he was Shadow The Hedgehog. He asked the cop over and over where they were going, and he only told him they were heading to the WPD. Amy was worried about her car, but he assured her that they would pick it up.
Matthew was squirming in his seat. He felt like a criminal, sitting in the backseat of a police car. Too many emotions were going through his mind for him to think. He wanted to know where Gerald's body was, he wanted to be alone with Amy in her car, he wanted his body to stop itching, he wanted to yell, he wanted to take a shower, he wanted his mom, he wanted to brush his teeth, he wanted something to eat. He wanted to stop wanting so much.
But then he realized that he only wanted to be happy.
Amy held his hand. "It's going to be alright," she told him.
Matthew didn't say anything.
"If it makes you feel any better, son," the cop said, "you're not in any trouble."
"Then what is it?" Amy asked.
The cop hesitated. "Protective custody. For him."
Matthew felt Amy grip his hand tighter. "Why?" she asked.
"Miss, this doesn't really concern you."
"Yes, it does," she snapped.
"Well, you ain't his sister. You two's little make-out session proved that. This pertains to family only."
Matthew spoke up. "She is my family."
Everyone was silent for a moment. Matthew could feel the car warming up with Amy's smile. He kept his eyes on the back of the cop's seat. They were driving through downtown Westopolis now.
They parked outside the PD. The cop escorted the couple through the front door. They walked a ways until they came to the front office.
"Wait here," the cop told them, pointing to some chairs outside the office. They sat down as he went in.
"So you think I'm part of your family?" Amy asked spoonily and flirtatiously.
"Yeah," he said bashfully, keeping his eyes on the floor as she started running her hand along his back.
"Matt," she said, "I want you to know that I'm her for you, okay?"
Matthew nodded. "It's just that… I haven't really been there for you."
Amy kissed his cheek. "That's okay."
"No, I'm really so-"
A suited woman and two other cops walked out the office, interrupting their conversation. She scooted a chair in front of Matthew. "So, you're Matthew Robotnik?" she asked.
He nodded.
"I'm Agent Whitely. FBI," she told him. "I want to start off by saying I'm sorry for your loss."
He nodded.
"We have reasons to believe that the death of Gerald Robotnik and Ivo Robotnik's recent attack on a bank are related."
He nodded.
Agent Whitely turned to Amy. "And who's this? Your sister? Cousin?"
"I'm his girlfriend," she said.
Agent Whitely smiled. "She's very beautiful, Matthew."
His eyes returned to the floor. He couldn't agree more with her.
There was an awkward silence, until Whitely cleared her throat. "Matthew, have you heard of this creature people are calling 'Shadow The Hedgehog?'"
Matthew's heart skipped a beat as dread began to overcome him. "Yeah," he said.
"Some people believe he tried to stop your uncle's attack on the bank, but mist believe he assisted him."
Amy stopped caressing his back. "I didn't know that was your uncle."
"His background explains that he has an extensive knowledge in robot building," explained Whitely. "We've also seen some of the things he's built for the Guardian Units of Nations."
"G.U.N.," said Matthew.
"That's right. And after examining the professor's body, we saw that there were no signs of anything other than slaughter. And he was buried."
"Where's his body?" Matthew asked, trying his best not to sound demanding.
"We can't tell you that yet."
"But he's my grandpa."
Whitely sighed. "Perhaps we should go somewhere private."
The two cops led Matthew, Amy, and Agent Whitely to an interrogation room. The room had no windows, and it was cold. A flatscreen TV hung on the wall. Its remote sat on a table in the middle of the room, with only two chairs. Whitely sat down in one, with the two cops standing behind her. One of them was a balding man with a mustache, and the other was tall and plump. Matthew sat on the other chair, with Amy standing behind him. She put her hand on his shoulders for comfort.
"Matthew," Agent Whitely began, "we've been trying to a hold of your mother, but she won't answer. We can't track her, either."
Matthew remembered the lie he told Amy. "She's dead," he said.
The room became humid with the dark atmosphere setting in.
"She was killed," Amy said, "and Matthew was drugged and left for dead."
Agent Whitely looked at Matthew for awhile, then stood up. "Please excuse me," she said. She and the plump officer left the room.
The cop with the mustache sat in Whitely's seat. He looked at Matthew with kind eyes. "It's going to be alright," she said calmly.
Matthew took a deep breath. "I wish you were right, sir."
The cop chuckled. "Name's Jones. When I was young—say around eight years old—my parents were murdered. Right in front of me. That day, I felt… lost. Confused. And I imagine that's the way you feel right now."
Matthew nodded.
"We're the cops, Matt. We're the good guys. And if there's anything you need—" he took out a slip of paper & a pen and scribbled something—"you just let me know." He slid the paper in front of Matthew. It had Jones's phone number written on it.
Matthew took the slip of paper, folded it, and put in his pocket. "Thank you, sir."
Jones nodded, then got up and left the room.
Amy sat on his lap and gave him a kiss. "When this is all over," she said, "we can be there for each other."
But Matthew knew it would never be over. He snuggled closer to her, then fell asleep.