I'm parched. I gesture with my hand to the reflective mirror, and not long after a fuming Noah opens the door.

"Could you bring me a bottle of water and a glass?" I inquire.

"Okay."

Noah returns after a few seconds and sets down a jug of water on the table and a mug to go with it. He turns and exits the room. When the door closes, he finally speaks.

"Well, this is a nice change of scenery".

"This is an interrogation room," I reply.

"I was being sarcastic."

We lock eyes and he just stares at me, his dark hair ruffled, his face a blank wall, and he honestly looks at ease. Impressive for a guy who underwent surgery only three days ago and has his shoulder all bandaged and tied. I sit down opposite him, and he doesn't break his stare. Waiting.

"I don't know where you're from," I say, spreading my files on the table, "but where I'm from, we consider it as rude to stare."

"Can't help it." Everything about the stranger radiates sensual grace and cunning. I'll have to try harder if I want to keep my sanity intact. "For the record, this really does feel like a killing-me kind of room," he gives me a lopsided grin.

"Believe me, when it's time for us to kill you, you'll know it."

"See, now that's some bullshit."

"If you're wise, you'll keep your mouth shut and your ears open, or I'll have to take care of that loose tongue of yours."

"Can't wait."

I ignore him and grab my pen. "State your name," I manage to sound confident. That's a first.

"Just Kai." I start taking notes.

"State your age."

"My real age, or the—" I glare at him. "Thirty-one."

I go still. To hell with interrogation procedures. "What the fuck?" I  shout, immediately springing to my feet. "Are you serious?"

"Afraid so."

How is that even possible? I always thought the life-halting law as a fixed truth, no exceptions, no escape routes. I was convinced that no one was able or lucky enough to avoid it. But here he sits before me, like proof of everything I thought was impossible, to mock me. Now, the question is whether he is the only one, a mere isolated case, random and inconsequential, or he is one out of many living out there even if their clocks have stopped ticking.

I rub my face tiredly. I guess we'll have even more work to do now, and the fact that I am already with one foot in my grave won't be enough alibi. "If you're playing with us, I swear I'm..." I don't finish my sentence.

"Let me know when. I have a tight schedule."

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I can practically feel the others' condescending looks through the mirror glass. I fix my jacket and sit down again. "State the date of your birth."

"Fourty-one years ago."

"Very funny." I give him my most terrifying look, not that would have any effect on him.

"I honestly don't know," he says with a huff of air that could be a bitter laugh. "Does it even matter to you that much?"

Fair enough.

"State your place of birth."

"New York, as far as I can tell."

I roll my eyes at him. At least he's giving us something. "So, Just Kai," I say and lean back in my chair, "why did you break in the station last week? You were searching for something, but the question is what. We don't keep classified files here, so why break in a small police station that has never been a target before. I doubt you came here just to paint that ugly graffiti." He goes to say something, but I continue before he can do so. "Was it a mission to prove your loyalty to your master? Because I don't think you're more than a slave dog, trying to be accepted by the pack, only to fail miserably." Based on my undeniably skilled hunch, I have deduced he doesn't play a leading role in the gang. I mean, come on. With all that sloppy job he did, he can't be more than a newbie.

Kai raises an eyebrow, and for a moment I wonder if he can read my thoughts. "Actually," he says, "this isn't how it's going to go. I want witness protection. Then, I'll consider speaking."

"A witness protection? For what? You were the one snooping around."

"You know what I mean."

I do. I know what he means, but I won't let him walk all over us. "I can't promise that."

"Then you won't get anything valuable out of me," he folds his arms in front of his chest and looks away. 

"I've cut off all your escape routes. Any back up plan to fuck off out of here and crawl back under your rock? Pffft, poof. Fairy dust. It's gone." When I see he doesn't react at all, I go on. "I destroy crooks like you. And I do it for fun. I won't hesitate to break you too."

"I think we're done speaking."

Scaring him isn't working, apparently. What I need is a new approach. I think for a moment, the two of us in dead silence. "All righty, then," I say, nodding.

I stand up and go for the door. I open it and look at the others, asking them for their permission, or more accurately, pretending to ask for their permission. I'm not that crazy to grant him witness protection, but I'll put on a show if that will make him speak. The others just glare at me, and the captain quickly motions for me to go back in, which I do without much delight.

"Your request has been granted," I sit down again.

"Woah, that took you long," he smirks at me.

Remind me why I must tolerate this insufferable man.

"Okay, Just Kai—"

"It's Kai."

I ignore him. "Just Kai it is, then. Let us be done with this already. Tell us the truth. Why were you sent to our station?"

"To prove my worth," his tone is flat.

"Just that?"

"Yep," he says popping the 'p'.

"Let's pretend I'm buying it. Why here, and not anywhere else?"

"I just followed their rules, I didn't ask for the reason."

"Really?" I fold my arms in front of my chest, showing my disbelief. "So, you thought there was no need to know?" He just stares at me. "I asked you a question."

"Yes, I did! Does that make any difference to you?"

"Well," I lay my hand on the cold metal table that separates us, "it doesn't look like we've been getting much of anywhere. Are we, Just Kai?"

"It's time you realised I know nothing of value."

"Nothing, huh? I can respect that. I hope it's worth it." I start to gather my files when a hand suddenly grasps my wrist.

"Wait," he says through gritted teeth. "What happens if I tell you what I know?"

"It depends on the information."

A moment of silence passes before he slumps back in his chair, an expression of defeat overtaking his face. "Okay. Sit down, Andrew," he says, and I do so without protest. He lets out a deep sigh as he runs a hand through his hair. "I can give you very little intel."

"Don't worry. We won't judge."

The seconds trickle by, but I don't speak. I don't want to risk it. Even the tininest little thing can ruin the progress I've made so far. 

"I was painting a graffiti someday a few weeks ago," he begins talking, and I begin to take notes, "when a man came to me and offered me a job. A job that could lead to big money. I accepted."

"Wait, wait, wait. A stranger came to you and offered you a job, and you agreed?"

"Yes?"

"You're crazy."

He scoffs at my reply. "Not everyone has a nice job and an equally nice apartment to go with it."

I tear my eyes off my paper and study his face. "What did he look like?" I ask him suspiciously.

"Medium height, black ethnicity, in his twenties."

When I notice he is waiting for me to scribble down the information, I say, "Go on."

"He took me to one of those abandoned buildings on Daly Avenue. There was a woman there, she gave me the tattoo. Short height, Asian ethnicity. Has a scar running down her cheek."

"And until then, you still didn't think they were sketchy."

"No."

"Either you're lying, or you're too stupid for you own sake. I don't know which one is better."

He glares at me, but I'm too busy writing down the new information to care. "Then, after taking me back, they told me they would contact me and left."

"Where was that? And when exactly."

"Hunt Avenue. Must have been four weeks ago."

"When did they contact you again?"

"A week later. I found a small paper in the back pocket of my pants. I don't know how it ended up there."

"And what did it say?"

"That I had to go to break in the police station and do what I do best. Paint."

We sit quietly for only about half a minute under the fluorescent lights. I am the one to break the silence. "You want to know what I think?"

"Please, do tell," he replies sarcastically.

"I think you are full of bullshit."

"And I think you are a real bastard, you know that?" he huffes a laugh.

"I've been called worse. It's a pity I don't have time to listen to your crap. I don't think the others will be so lenient." I gather my files and stand up. Before opening the door, I turn around and look at him, only to catch him already staring at me. "You should enjoy the last days of your life."

His eyes widen in shock. "I thought you said I would get a witness protection."

"People lie all the time, Just Kai." And with a satisfied smile plastered on my face, I open the door and exit the interrogation room.