Chapter Seven: The Strange Girl.

*:･°✧*𓆞 𓆝 𓇼 ⋆｡˚ 𓆝 ˚｡⋆ 𓇼𓆟 𓆞*✧*:･°

Wayne’s gaze swept the room. The other desks were empty and even the cells were vacant. It looked like they rarely had cases. Then again, it was a small town in the middle of an island.

“Wayne…” Drew called with a smile. “What brings you here?”

Wayne looked at him. He was dressed in the most casual outfit ever; black shorts and grey t-shirt. He held a rechargeable hand fan in one hand, and wore a cushion around his neck.

He seemed nothing like the man in uniform he’d met last night.

“I was just passing by and wanted to say hi,” Wayne said. “Also, thank you for last night.”

Drew waved a hand. “No need. I was simply doing my job.”

Wayne nodded as he scanned the place one more time. “Speaking of last night,” he continued. “I don’t see the girl.”

“Oh. The other officer took her for a bathroom break. The one here is being repaired.”

“Mmmm,” Wayne rubbed his finger across his chin. “So, found any information about her yet? Where she’s from? Who she is? Her family?”

Drew straightened. “That’s confidential.”

Wayne stiffened. Why did he think he could just waltz in and ask any question? It was still a police station. He parted his lips to apologize, but Drew spoke first.

“I’m playing with you.” He playfully punched Wayne in the side and laughed. “Don’t worry I can tell you.”

“Thanks.” He groaned.

“We checked the records but we couldn’t find a match for her in this town, or any of the towns on the Island. I contacted people on the mainland, but I still couldn’t get anything on her. I was planning to send her there tomorrow.”

Drew gestured for Wayne to take a seat.

“But she’s quite strange.”

“How so?”

“She doesn’t talk, even when we ask questions. And I don’t know if she understands the situation she’s in. At first we thought she might be a foreigner.” Drew scratched his head. “Now that I think about it, she might not know how to speak at all.”

Wayne’s eyes narrowed. For some reason, he wasn’t surprised. He thought about last night. Even in his cabin, she had looked at everything as if it were new to her.

“Speak of the devil.” Drew pointed. Wayne looked up. The female officer walked into the station with the girl beside her.

She looked different from the night before. Her face was clean now, and there was no food smeared across her cheeks or clothes.

She was still barefoot and wearing his Louis Vuitton sweater, and her slightly messy hair fell across her face.

She wasn’t paying attention to Wayne or Drew. She was busy tearing a piece of tissue paper into smaller pieces. Wayne stared at her. She looked fascinated by the tissue.

“What is she doing?” Drew asked.

“I’m sorry, sir,” the officer said. “She wouldn’t let go of it.”

Drew sighed. “Just put her back in the cell.”

Wayne's eyes remained on her. Her legs were bruised, and her feet were covered in countless tiny cuts. Something tugged at his chest. She looked completely oblivious to everything around her, like someone dropped into a place that made no sense. He knew the feeling. He just wasn't going to say so.

What if he was wrong? What if she was just hungry and stumbled upon his cabin by chance?

He exhaled, then turned to Drew. “You said you are taking her to the mainland?”

“Yes, I already called them. Someone should be here to pick her up, first thing in the morning.”

Wayne’s fingers clenched into a fist. Why was he suddenly feeling guilty?

He told himself it wasn't pity. That voice had come from somewhere, and if the mainland took her tomorrow, he would never find out where.

“Can she be released on bail?”

Drew’s brow lifted. “Technically, there is a case on her. But if a relative of hers can be found, then they can post bail.”

“Oh…” He nodded, then lowered his gaze. Two hundred and fifty dollars, that was all he had left.

Even if he wanted to help her, he couldn’t exactly afford to bail her out. And calling his grandmother wasn’t an option either. He’d already caused trouble. It would only make her assume he had done the worst again.

His eyes wandered around the room. Then they landed on a few posters scattered beside Drew’s desk.

One town. One leader. One voice.

Drew’s face plastered all over them. Wayne’s eyes lit up. “I see you are running for town leader.”

Drew quickly gathered up the posters and threw them under his desk. “Oh, that? It’s nothing.”

“Nothing?” Wayne leaned back against the chair, his legs crossed. “I don’t see a better candidate than you.”

Drew paused. “You really think so?”

“Of course. You have the aura of one.”

He laughed and rubbed his neck. “Stop flattering me.”

Wayne smiled. It was almost too easy. Small-town men always melted when someone with polish looked at them like they mattered.

“Who said anything about flattering? I’m just telling you what I observed. The first time I saw you, I knew you were a leader.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

Drew laughed again, even harder this time. Wayne leaned forward. “Actually, what if I help you?”

Drew’s smile faded. “Help me?”

“With your campaign. I know people. I could put in a good word for you.”

Drew studied him for a moment. “That sounds nice, but you’re not doing this for nothing. What do you want?”

Wayne finally smiled.

“Actually, there is something.”

“I knew it.”

“The girl.”

“What about her?”

“Drop the case.”

Drew’s expression changed immediately. “No.”

“Just hear me out.”

“She broke into your home.”

“She didn’t steal anything.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that she did. And that’s illegal.”

“Look at her.” He pointed toward the cell, his eyes still fixed on Drew. “She’s barefoot, injured and clearly doesn’t understand what’s going on.”

“All the more reason she should be kept there. For all I know, she might be mentally unstable.”

Wayne shook his head. “I don’t think she is.”

“Can’t you see what she’s doing?”

They both glanced toward the cell. She was gathering the tiny shreds of tissue off the floor and tossing them into the air, laughing delightedly as they drifted down.

“She might just see the world differently.”

“That’s another way to describe a crazy person. Look, Wayne, I understand you’re trying to help, but I can’t take that risk. Thank you for your offer. I’ll ask you to leave.”

He stood, gesturing to the door. Wayne looked toward the exit and shook his head. He wasn’t going to give up.

He grabbed his arm. “Don’t reject it yet.”

“Wayne–”

“My grandmother has a lot of connections.”

“I know your grandmother.”

“I know people too. A lot of people–”

“Please leave.” Drew pulled his arm from his grip.

“Duncan.”

“Duncan?” Drew paused. “You both are close?”

“Of course.” Wayne straightened. “Why do you think I came to this town?”

Drew stared at him. “That’s not what I heard.”

“Rumors,” he dismissed. “I’m telling you, we’re tight. And I can talk to him. I’ll make sure he supports you.”

Drew went quiet. Wayne could almost see the thoughts forming in his head.

Duncan was well-known and respected around town. If he supported Drew, a lot of people would follow him.

Drew’s gaze darted between the girl in the cell and Wayne. “I don’t know.”

“Think about it.” Wayne held out his hand. “I’ll make sure the case stays quiet. Just let her go with me.”

“And if she causes trouble?”

Wayne hesitated for a second. Then, “I’ll take responsibility.”

The words were out before he could stop them. Him, responsible for someone. He couldn't even keep thirty people from emptying his bank account.

Drew didn’t answer immediately. He sighed, then finally shook his hand. “Don’t make me regret this.”

“You won’t.” Wayne smiled.

Deep down, he wasn’t so sure.

The cell bars opened as Drew gestured for the girl to come out. “You’re a free woman now.” He held out his hand to her.

She cautiously stepped out of the cell, then examined his hand like it was something foreign.

Drew’s brows knitted together as he watched her leave him hanging.

Finally, she took his hand. He gave her a firm shake, then pulled back.

She didn’t let go.

He pulled again. And she pulled back even more. Her grip was extremely strong. She looked at their hands, and copied the firm shake he had given her. Again. Then again. And again. A bright smile spread across her face.

Each shake was more aggressive than the last. Wayne stared as Drew struggled to break free from her grip.

“You need help?” Wayne asked.

“Don’t worry,” Drew breathed. “I can handle it.” His face was already turning red as his veins started to appear.

“That’s enough.” He finally yanked his hand free and rubbed his wrist. He shot Wayne a look. “She’s all yours.” Then he walked back to his seat.

Wayne gave him a quick nod before walking toward the girl. Their eyes met. Her smile gradually faded, but her gaze never left his.

He listened for the voice. Nothing. Only her steady stare, as if she were waiting for him to speak first.

Wayne swallowed and took another step closer.

Somewhere behind him, the clock on the wall ticked toward the end of his lunch break, and Nessa's jeep was parked outside, about to carry a barefoot stranger who had kicked him in the chest.

He should have been panicking, but for some reason, staring into her clear blue eyes, he didn’t feel so unsure about his decision.