The tall woman keeps her eyes on me as I sit down across her on the sofa. Before I can start speaking, or the sheriff could start questioning me, the girl who I consider as my friend also appears as the doorway.

Her eyes are confused as she takes me in as she comes in hesitant about what this is about.

Well that is only till her eyes land on her mother and her expression.

Nicky Waine is one hell of a girl, add in the guidance of her mother, she is exceedingly observant and this is clear in the present.

Just the single glance at her mother made her pull her shoulders back and tense, almost ready for anything as her face goes blank and unnerving. The face of a police officer when they are about to start an interrogation.

The ticking of the clock marks seconds as all three of us sit in silence, each waiting for the other to break first and speak.

When it is clear that none of us are going to speak, Nicky decides she has had enough of the silence.

"Ashlyn Greene, do you have any specific reason for your disturbance at this time of the day?"

I supress a flinch at her sharpness, internally battling my emotions at the sure outcome this meeting is to have. I am about to lose another very important and special friend.

"Yes," outwardly I straighten up, ready for a business deal, even if I have to use the thug approach.

"As a matter I do have some reason for being her at this time, and it's not for friendly one either."

"Thought as much," Nicky mutters under her breathe, which is audible to the all of us.

"What is it that you can help me with Miss Greene?"

This is the first time Sheriff Waine has spoken to me and I am not sure if I should be surprised at the slight gruffness and the tinge of harshness in her voice. She has, after all, been on force for years and there must have been a lot of use of her voice. Be it interrogating or shouting.

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and weaving my fingers together.

"First, I want to get your word that you will listen to everything I have to say before you will decide what to do."

I wait for a few minutes, letting them contemplate before receiving their nods. I blow out a small sigh before I finally speak.

"I can help you with the Murder of Kane case... I know who the murderer is, and I can and I will give you the evidence if and when you want."

I hear Nicky gasp, but I don't take my eyes of the older woman in the room. From the slight twitch in her eyes, she did not expect this.

Good.

A surprise reaction means that they are more likely to bite what I feed them.

"Who is it?" The sheriff asks.

I see Nicky take a seat on the same sofa as her mother, her eyes still on me in a totally foreign manner. Like she couldn't believe who I am, or whether to trust me or not. Not that I blame her.

Straightening up I speak, "It's me."

This time the sheriff is the one who leans forward while Nicky speaks, "And that was the reason you were my friend? Here I thought you are one of the few decent ones I knew of."

I bite my tongue, not wanting to snap at the girl and hurt her anymore.

"Motive?"

"Huh?" I respond to the sheriff distractedly before shaking my head to focus on her more than her daughter.

"You have no motive Miss Greene. Each crime has one... and one like that where the victim was beaten up before his death? There is bound to be one."

I know I will have to answer her, tell her the reason but the bitterness in my heart makes me snap before I can help myself.

"I wouldn't have to kill him had you people or the town committee had seen him for the man he was. He had been abusing his daughter... his own freaking daughter for lord knows how much time and what did you people do? Nothing!"

"Abused?"

The sheriff looks taken a back, Nicky paling in horror. "What type of abuse?"

I shrug, the gesture a stark opposition to my expression. "I can tell you the ones I know of. It was mental, physical and sexual."

The duo in front of me struggle to comprehend what I told them. They had taken the corner of the room to whisper in hushed voice and come up with what to do next.

A few minutes later, the sheriff leaves the room for a few minutes before coming back with her phone in hand.

"I have sent in a male and a female officer to get this confirmed. Till then, let's talk about what this deal is about."

I nod, letting her take a seat before I speak again.

"See, the point is, you already know the Kane was involved with the gangs, two of them." At the affirmative nods from both of the females, I continue, "I know one of them, which I can assure you is as good and controlled as a gang can go. The other one... not that much."

"Get clear Miss Greene. Things are not in your favour right now, and this is not helping you either."

I curse in my head, my heart beating rapidly at the mention of it having a great rate of back firing.

"What I mean is... What if I help you catch a High level member of one of the gangs involved with Kane?"

She raises one of her eyebrows, nodding slowly as she thinks it over, "Interesting. And where do you think we will find him?"

A smirk almost reaches my lips before I control it as I see the sheriff take the bite. Despite me still being in the eyes of law, and there being a chance that Jayden will lock me up in a room himself, I feel satisfied.

"Right here, in the town."

The naked shock that flashes on the sheriff's face makes me do a little happy dance in my head.

Had this situation not been so life altering, I would have laughed on the sight of it.

I have managed to make the sheriff show expression on her face twice in a matter of half an hour.

"Who is it?"

"That's where things get interesting Sheriff Waine."

I get the file out from the hoodie I hid it in, waving it in air as I tell her what I know, "He has been here in the town for about a month, hiding under another identity. His real name is James, and here he was Professor Nathanial J. Moore."

I toss the file to her, watching as Nicky peeks through it as they read the article about the body of the real professor being found.

"What is with the Professors of Psychology of this town and them being in gangs?" Nicky grumbles, squinting her eyes as she reads through.

I snort at her statement, the girl got it right.

The sheriff turns the page, her brows raising as she finds more of the case files of crimes he committed.

She looks up at me, finally seeming interested in what I have to say.

"What was that deal you were talking about?"

"Well," I bite my lips, working through my idea in my head first before I speak again, "If you capture me, the Kane case will be closed in a matter of minutes and then this man will be gone from you grasp, maybe forever. However, if you let this file fall into your investigation..."

I let my words sink in, watching the faces of the two as they think it over.

"If I let this file fall into my investigation," sheriff straightens up, waving the file in my direction, "I get a higher up in one gang, and he may end up getting me more."

I nod, "Not to mention the promotion and honour you will get."

"And why should I not just grab you? You said you know about one gang here... They will be far easier for me to deal with. Won't have to contact the international agencies for it."

I shrug at the sheriff, "But I won't lead you to them. Ever."

She nods at me, giving me a once over before sighing. Getting up for her recent seat, she motions Nicky to let me to the door while she goes to what I assume to be her office.

I follow her to the door, and once I step out of the threshold, I turn around to find Nicky about to slam the door. I stop it from closing with one hand, "Nic-"

"Don't. Miss Greene, thank you for helping us with the information, but I would like to not be associated with you anymore."

With that, she is gone.

I sigh heavily, smiling sadly at my fate as I lose another friend.

Making my way to the curb I parked my car to, I slid into it. I start the car, pulling into the drive before I make my way back to Jayden.

With what I have just done, the roller coaster of emotions that I have felt, all I want is to curl up in the arms of Jayden and sleep. Or cry. Whatever may end up being the most comforting?

When I sneak back in my room, I find Jayden there, leaning on the headrest with his laptop with him as he types away in it. I stay as I am for a while, just watching him work as I feel half of my worries dissolve into thin air.

He looks up, probably sensing my stare on him, and gives me a confused look beckoning me to himself as he shuts the device off and keeps it on the nightstand.

I pad over to him, taking the place of the laptop as I sit on his thighs, straddling him. His hands immediately go to hold my waist to keep me secure while mine go around his neck as I rest my head on his chest, breathing a lot more easily with him near me.

"What happened? And where did you vanish to?"

"Hush. Just hold me." I whisper back, letting out a satisfied purr when I feel his arms tighten around me.