Chapter 3

3.

"Who? Who messed with my girl?"

The big guy's voice was so loud it made my ears ring.

Lyra saw her backup arrive and immediately lunged into his arms. She started sobbing harder than she had all night.

"Drake! It was him! That creep! He touched me, Drake! He tried to take advantage of me!"

The man, Drake Miller, shot me a look filled with pure violence.

He charged toward me, raising a massive hand to slap me across the face.

The officer was quick. He stepped in and blocked Drake before he could make contact.

"Back off! This is a precinct. You want to go to jail for assault?"

Drake pulled his hand back but kept his finger inches from my nose.

"Fine. I won't touch you while the cops are here. But listen up, kid. Once you walk out those doors, I'm going to end you."

Threatening me?

I've never been the type to back down from a bully.

I looked him dead in the eye. "Is that so? I'd like to see you try."

Drake was clearly surprised by my lack of fear. He blinked, then let out a nasty, jagged laugh.

"Think you're tough, huh? Baby, tell the cops exactly what he did. We don't need the money, but we're going to get justice!"

Now that she had her bodyguard, Lyra acted even more entitled.

"Exactly! He needs to be punished! I was being nice asking for a hundred thousand. Now, I want two hundred thousand! Not a penny less!"

I actually started laughing.

They were treating the police station like a flea market, hiking up the price on the spot.

"This is textbook extortion," I said calmly.

"Extortion?" Drake slammed his hand on the table.

"You touched my girl's legs and tried to ruin her. You owe us! Back in the day, someone would've taken your hand for this!"

The officer barked, "Watch your mouth! Sit down!"

Drake sat down next to Lyra, mumbling insults under his breath.

They whispered to each other, occasionally cutting me with hateful glares.

A few minutes later, the deputy came back with the dashcam. His expression was grim.

"Sergeant, we have a problem."

"What is it?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

"The SD card is corrupted. There's no data on it at all," the deputy said, shaking his head.

My stomach dropped into my shoes.

Corrupted?

How could it be that convenient?

I checked my equipment every single morning.

Lyra lit up like a Christmas tree the second she heard the news.

"I told you! He deleted it! He destroyed the evidence! Officer, you have to help me!"

Drake joined in, shouting, "It's obvious! Only a guilty man deletes the footage. This guy is a pro predator!"

The officer looked at me, and his gaze turned cold and sharp.

"Care to explain why the footage is gone?"

I opened my mouth, but I realized how bad I sounded.

I couldn't just say the device broke on its own. Even I wouldn't believe that excuse.

"I didn't delete anything. Maybe the card is faulty, or..."

"Or what?" the officer interrupted.

"Right now, I have no evidence to clear you. The victim is adamant about the harassment. You're in a very bad spot."

I knew it wasn't just a bad spot.

Without that video, it was my word against hers.

But I still had one ace up my sleeve.