Chapter Eighteen

The car ride was silent which was becoming a running theme lately, my head was just worrying and going over what could happen while but also after, I meet with this police officer. He sounded like he already knew somehow we were involved with Markus, so maybe I won't have to tell him much. I just needed to ensure that Austin was kept out of this, he didn't know what he was getting himself into until it was too late. Perhaps after this is all over, he can start getting back to the way he was before this all started. We were soon turning the corner to where my work was located, which only caused the nerves I was feeling to just grow and grow. I take a deep breath in before putting a smile on my face, I can't let Austin see how nervous I am or he'll ask me what's really going on. 'Are you sure you want to do this, you can wait until tomorrow" Austin says which tells me I didn't do a good job at hiding this, probably why I never got into acting. 'If you're worried I can come in with you" he suggests which I knew was really nice of him, but if he did that he'll know what's actually going on. 'No I have to do this and let's be honest, you have to go see Markus or he'll get so mad and look what happened last time that happened" I say pointing at my face, he sighs looking down at the steering wheel. 'I can do this, you just focus on seeing Markus and staying in one piece until I see you again" I smile placing my hand on his arm, he looks over at me sending me a smile. 'If you're sure, but I want you to ring me in an hour to let me know you're okay?" He tells me as I open up my door, I don't know how long this is going to take so I can't really promise I'll call him then, but I don't want him to worry if I don't ring him. 'I'll call you when I get out here, don't worry I'll be okay" I say sending him one last smile before climbing out of the car, he shouts he'll see me later as I walk around the car and head towards the building. I continue towards the back of the restaurant, I didn't want to get in anybody's way or draw more attention to myself. Once I reach the door, I see Austin's car pulling out the carpark and away. If only he knew what I was actually doing for him. I put a smile on my face while opening up the back door, where I come face to face with the officer from yesterday. 'Payton, it's lovely to see you. I'm gonna take a guess and say that's the reason you're willing to talk" he says pointing to my face, I look around hoping no one was around to hear what was being said. 'Don't worry, I spoke to your boss and he made everyone leave here so we can talk in private, he's standing by the door out there so no one comes in" he says pointing towards the door that leads into here from the kitchen and main part of the restaurant. 'Thank you for meeting me, I know I have so much information that will help. But I'm not willing to give that information up until certain things are put into place" I say just getting straight to it, I'm not uttering a word until things are straighten out. 'I love people that just get straight to the point, give me your list of requirements" he says with a smile crossing his arms, he was leaning up against the table while I stood holding my coat in my hands. 'I want to make sure that after you catch Markus, Austin will be kept out of it. I don't want him getting in any trouble due to the things Markus has made him do, trust me he wanted no part to play in any of this" I tell him where he nods his head, but I wasn't finished and he knew that. 'I also want you to make sure nothing happens to me, Austin or anyone I care about after you catch Markus. We all know what he's like and what kind of people he knows, even in prison he'll still be able to hurt us" I say just laying down the law, I'm not prepared to go through what I did last night again. The officer smiles looking down at the table, I was worried he would flat out tell me no and force me to tell him. After being silent for a few seconds he looks up at me, that smile still on his face. 'Okay, I agree to all your terms. Austin will be given complete immunity, both of you and your boyfriend Roman will all be put in witness protection, Markus and no one who shouldn't will be able find you" he says with that same smile, wait how does he know about Roman?! 'How do you know about Roman?" I ask slightly alarmed that he knew all of this, Roman hasn't been in this town for coming up to three weeks! 'I'm a police officer Payton, I have access to all of the public records. I know you two met in school, have dated since and you moved in with him and Austin around three years ago" he smiles while my eyes just go wide at all his information. 'You haven't saw your parents since you moved out, nobody really knows the full reason behind this but you've cut off all contact with them. I look into all the people I come in contact with, call it a protection thing" he says proud of himself that he knows all this, I just wanted him to stop pouring out all of my family secrets. 'I understand that you're a police officer, you don't have to show off" I tell him before he says anything else, this just causes him to let out a laugh. 'I want all this in writing before we start, just so we all know where we stand" I say crossing my arms just like him, this does make smile before pulling out his phone. 'You're smarter than you look, yeah you and I are gonna have fun working together" he smiles clicking a button before holding his phone to his ear. 'I'll call my boss to get all this sorted, take a seat he might take a few minutes" he smiles before he starts speaking on to the person on the phone, okay maybe I won't be able to call Austin in an hour.