Page 28 of Waste (Legendary Shifters #4)

Drew

H e headed offstage after his final encore.

The concert had no tickets left, and he had a second one tomorrow night.

Drew only did a few concerts a year, so the tickets had sold out almost instantly.

He grabbed a towel from an assistant and wiped his face.

He was sweating profusely and gulped the bottle of water offered to him.

It was hotter than usual tonight because it was summer.

“Great concert, Drew!” Clive Jones, his manager, exclaimed, approaching. Clive was practically bouncing with excitement.

“Thanks. I think I went through a crate of water,” Drew replied with a smile.

“You’re trending right now,” Charlotte said, approaching. As his PA, part of her role was to monitor his social media presence. She held up her tablet and showed a picture their photographer had taken. “It’s already got ten thousand likes.”

“Wonderful!” Clive exclaimed. “Women are calling you hotter than Hades.” Clive chuckled.

Drew rolled his eyes. Clive understood that Drew avoided publicity when he could, and Clive did a magnificent job of keeping Drew current while avoiding the disclosure of private details. Clive had been quite bemused that Drew had been linked to Shelley but hadn’t asked questions. He knew better.

“Okay, let’s hit the car. I need a shower,” Drew said as Clive and Charlotte cracked a couple of jokes about the comments.

“I’ll have your meal readied for you,” Charlotte announced when they headed out of the venue.

“Thanks,” Drew replied as his thoughts swapped to Shelley. After tomorrow, it was game on. Drew wanted her back in his life!

Shelley

If my phone hadn’t been expensive, I think I might have thrown it across the room.

An old friend had tagged her friends’ list in a post of Drew.

It cut me to the quick when I saw him. His hair was wet, like someone had poured a bottle of water over it and hung around his handsome face.

He was looking down at his guitar as he played a song clearly.

Drew wore a black button-down shirt and leather trousers.

He had several days’ worth of stubble and looked hot.

What choked Shelley up was what he had around his neck.

She’d bought him a leather necklace, and with his top three buttons undone, you could see it clearly.

It sent a sharp pang through her, and she recognised that she actually missed him.

Even though Drew had played her for a fool and had been spying on her, they’d had some good times.

Shelley put the phone down and wondered what he was doing now. Was he shacked up with some bimbo who’d attended his concert? Was he alone and thinking of her? There were too many questions and no answers.

Drew hadn’t contacted her for a while, and she had no idea if he was still in touch with Charlie. Shelley refused point-blank to ask.

Sighing, Shelley placed her phone down. Life couldn’t get any worse or more tragic.

Two days later.

Shelley headed towards the coffee shop where she worked.

Honestly, she could secure a job working in an office, but she found it dull and boring.

She enjoyed interacting with people, or at least had until John Saville entered her life.

And speaking of the devil, Shelley spotted a car outside the shop that she recognised. DI Wilson. Now what?

As she approached, Wilson got out of the vehicle and smiled briefly.

“Miss Evans.”

“DI Wilson, how are you?” she asked out of politeness.

“I’m well, thank you for asking. Someone has stepped forward with some evidence about your attack. It would be helpful if you could come to the station and review it, please; it might jog your memory,” Wilson said.

“Are you aware I’m suffering from amnesia? I had a head injury, and a lot of things are sketchy for me,” Shelley replied.

“Yes, we are aware. I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you’re recovering.” “I’ve healed from the blow, but unfortunately, some of my memories have not returned. Will I need a solicitor this time?” Shelley asked, getting straight to the point.

“No. This is more an identification than an interview,” Wilson said. He paused and looked as if he wanted to ask something.

“Go on, Detective Inspector, ask,” Shelley urged.

“Why is Drew Martin no longer around?” Wilson asked bluntly.

“Because I can’t recall him.”

“Not at all? That’s strange because you seemed to be becoming close. He even sprang for your solicitor last time,” Wilson challenged.

“He did? That is news to me. But no, I don’t remember a single detail about him. Which, if we were close like you claim, bodes ill for your ID parade,” Shelley pointed out.

“I can’t disagree. However, this is not a parade, just some footage that came to light. It will all make sense when you view it.” “I’ll come after work. I finish at five p.m. today; it’s a short shift,” Shelley offered, and Wilson nodded.

“See you then, Miss Evans.”

◆◆◆

The day flew by, and Shelley grew more nervous as the minutes ticked past. Before she knew it, five o’clock had rolled around.

Shelley considered begging off, but thought it best to get this over and done with.

She left her car at the shop, as the police station was just down the road.

Walking allowed Shelley to gather her thoughts, and she was prepared for what Wilson planned to throw at her.

Half an hour later, Shelley stared at Wilson in disbelief.

“This is what you called me in for?” she questioned incredulously. Damn, she was becoming a good actress.

“You’ve no comment?” Wilson asked, his eyes keen on her.

“On that piece of fiction? I thought you were serious when you claimed you’d provide evidence! Not a fricking horror movie rip-off!”

Wilson held her gaze. “You’re saying that’s not what happened? Because up until whatever that thing is, everything was as you said.”

Shelley watched as Wilson rewound the footage and paused it on the only clear shot of Ghoul. Even so, it remained fuzzy and unclear.

“Someone edited that and put that creature in. That’s why it’s probably taken so long to arrive on your desk.

I can’t believe you wasted my time with this farce!

Honestly, DI Wilson, do you even take what happened to me seriously?

Because this feels like a joke at my expense, and this is so unprofessional! ” Shelley allowed her upset to show.

Despite what had happened between her and Drew, she wouldn’t give Ghoul up. That wasn’t in her makeup.

“This is unbelievable. How could you take… oh God,” Shelley gasped. “What happened to me was serious. I nearly died, and a man did die. I don’t remember what happened, but that… fiction, wasn’t it?” Shelley rose to her feet and let some tears escape.

“I trusted you, DI Wilson, and that was a mistake. You will be hearing from my solicitor again,” Shelley threatened and headed for the door.

“What would you say if I told you that it’s been verified, that this footage hasn’t been tampered with?” DI Wilson asked.

Shelley turned around and let him see her devastation.

“I stopped believing in monsters a long time ago, Detective Inspector. That was until John Saville attacked me for offering good customer service. Every punch and blow is etched into my memory, as is the bitter taste of the fear I felt. What happened to John Saville was wrong, but I can’t say I don’t sleep well at night because I’m safe from a monster like him.

“If you wish to believe that creature is real, you don’t deserve your badge.

I can’t believe you. You’re supposed to be the good guy; there is nothing good about what you just pulled.

I’ll be filing a complaint and requesting that someone else handle my case.

What’s the next thing? You accuse me of tampering with my own brakes and strangling myself? ”

“Where was Drew Martin when you were attacked?” Wilson challenged.

“How the hell do I know? I don’t remember him!

” Shelley shrieked. Her nerves were grating on her.

She hated lying, but there was no other option.

If she let slip—she recalled every single thing Drew had done—they would come and kill her and possibly her family.

Shelley wasn’t risking that for love or money.

With her head held high, she walked out of the interview room and headed back to her car.

Once she was locked inside, she let her tears fall.

Shelley was torn. She loathed lying but felt boxed into a corner.

She had no choice but to continue denying she remembered Drew or what had happened.

Even with the footage, Shelley would be locked up.

And she’d no desire to put a target on her back.

She knew the Hunters would come for her, as would Drew’s people. She had to take it one day at a time and hope for the best. Sooner or later, this would all fade, and her life would return to normal. Or so she prayed.

Drew/Ghoul

Drew gnashed his teeth together. Shelley sobbing like that would haunt him forever.

He’d watched through the two-way mirror as Wilson interviewed Shelley.

What Shelley didn’t know was that behind it was David, her old coffee friend.

The Hunter had watched avidly as Shelley broke down and shook his head.

Damn. Drew had thought David had left, but clearly he hadn’t.

Wilson looked towards the mirror as Shelley stormed out, and Drew kept watching as Wilson headed into the small room.

“I hope that was worth it and you got your answers. Take that damn footage and leave my station,” Wilson snarled.

“Temper, DI Wilson. Remember, you were ordered to work with me. I needed to check that my initial conclusion was correct. You were tasked with helping me with that. You have done so, and I can now close my case,” David replied.

“What case? You can’t tell me you believe that footage,” Wilson snapped.

“No. But I needed to see Shelley’s reaction to it.”

“Why? If that thing isn’t real, why gauge her reaction?”