Chapter 60 - Psycho
Stella's face went blank. She confirmed, "You're saying both of them are at the precinct?"
Helen wiped her sweat. "Yes."
Stella braced herself on the doorframe and said nothing for a long time.
Finally she sighed. "Have the driver get the car ready. I'll go."
Helen was startled.
Counting it up, Stella hadn't gone out in a very long time.
Like a prisoner, her daily range of movement was confined to this mansion.
"Okay, okay. I'll go tell the driver right now." Helen hurried to say.
By the time she got in the car headed for the precinct, ten minutes had passed.
The weather had turned cold lately. She wore a coffee-colored shawl over her shoulders, her hair pinned up casually, a few loose strands falling by her ears. Her skin was the sickly white of someone who never saw the sun.
She was very thin. Her face was very small, which made her eyes look especially large.
Helen sat beside her. Pained and thoughtful at once, she figured that being willing to come out now was a good thing.
-
At the precinct.
Luna was the first to come out of the interrogation room. She took a breath in the hallway.
In her previous life, this had happened a bit later. Only Leo had gone.
He was young and hot-blooded, and at the peak of his feelings for Chloe. Impulsive and reckless.
She didn't know the specifics. She only knew Leo had hurt the man badly. The Harringtons hired many lawyers, but Leo still went in. Two years before he got out. He'd even lost his schooling.
After prison, Leo grew even more silent. He let his hair grow long, covering his brows and eyes, always gloomy.
Like a block of ice that would never thaw. Luna had had nothing to say to him before. After that, they drifted even further apart.
So that two people who were own siblings were less familiar than strangers.
"Officer, this is a misunderstanding."
A commotion came from around the corner, cutting off Luna's tangled thoughts.
She instinctively turned her head.
A young female officer walked in front. A familiar head of green hair followed behind.
As they walked, the green-haired one whined, "Officer, we really didn't fight. We just hadn't seen each other in a while, felt so fond, so we hugged."
The officer was unmoved. "Every time you come in, you've got eight hundred excuses."
Beating someone black and blue, and calling it a friendly spar.
Truly thick-skinned.
Xander scratched his head. Just as he was getting irritated, he sensed someone watching him. He glared over impatiently.
And met a pair of clear, bright eyes.
Xander paused.
Luna raised an eyebrow. This kid's temper was worse than Leo's.
"What are you looking at?" Xander shoved his hands in his pockets, like a street thug, forcing his presence to be known. "I know I'm handsome."
Luna's mouth twitched. "Are you insane..."
Xander was about to say something when the officer pushed open a door and looked at him. "Stop harassing people. Get in."
"...Got it."
Xander answered, displeased.
Luna stared at his back and clicked her tongue.
This guy's brain wasn't quite right.
She was looking out the window, about to breathe some fresh air, when another stir came from around the corner of the hallway.
"Lulu."
It was Helen's voice. Luna turned back in surprise, eyes going wide.
Stella braced her shawl with one hand, face a bit pale, probably unused to being out among people after so long.
Her thin brows were furrowed, only smoothing out when she saw Luna.
"Are you okay?" Her tone was as gentle as ever.
"I'm... fine." Luna stumbled over her words, then shook her head furiously.
Stella looked her up and down. After confirming she was fine, she asked, "Where's your brother?"