“Sorry about the wait.” A voice broke Bailey of his concentration on the news. He was a bit thankful for it as, yet again, the news was only causing discomfort and sorrow.

Bailey looked back at the officer who was meant to take his statement. He was smiling kindly though his intimidating stature did make Bailey a bit nervous. The officer held out his hand and introduced himself, “I’m Detective Christopher Walker but, please, call me Chris.”

“Chris, nice to meet you,” Bailey said as he took Chris’ hand for a firm handshake. “I’m Bailey Schaefer.”

“Nice to meet you, Bailey. Are you feeling alright? Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?” Chris inquired, taking a seat at his desk while he looked Bailey over who appeared to be mostly all right. He had a few scratches on his face from the glass shattering earlier as well as a light bruise on his cheek but, other than that, he was fine.

Bailey shook his head. He pulled off his glasses in an attempt to wipe some of the dust away then frowned upon seeing the large crack in the glass. Another pair ruined, Bailey was going to run out before the semester ended.

“No, I’m fine, just a bit sore I guess.”

“All right but I would still suggest you check up with a doctor again just to be safe,” Chris said before informing Bailey that he was ready to hear his statement. “Why don’t you start from the beginning?”

Bailey nodded then went over what he remembered. He spoke of meeting with Zane in the grocery store, how he ended up on the ground moments before the explosion then stepping outside to see buildings on fire. Remembering the flames sent a shiver down Bailey’s spine, he squirmed in his seat and shoved his shaking hands into the pockets of his jeans.

He spoke of Boomer being there all of a sudden and it all was such a blur that he wasn’t even sure he was saying everything in the right order. He ended up having to take a moment to try to think it over. His heart raced just remembering it. He had actually never been in such a situation before. In his hometown of Connellsville there was never an attack on such a level. There were a few dumbasses that tried to rob a convenience store but nothing so drastic as what he had gone through. The city was a scary place.

“The driver!” Bailey suddenly shouted at the memory of a car slamming into Boomer right before his eyes. “Is the driver of that car ok? The one that hit Boomer.”

“Driver?” Chris asked trying to recall if any such information had been given to him. “Sorry, Bailey, but we haven’t gotten into the area yet and no one here claims to have hit Boomer with a car.”

Bailey frowned; his assumption earlier was likely correct, they were probably dead. He bit his lip while nodding, keeping his eyes downcast when he felt a twinge of guilt in his chest.

“There’s no need to force yourself to talk about this. Take your time. It was a crazy ordeal so it’s understandable why you would need a moment to think it all over,” Chris spoke reassuringly with that same kind smile he had on since the moment Bailey met him. He reached out to pat Bailey’s shoulder then asked if he needed a drink. The boy nodded since he finally realized how dry his throat had become, so, Chris got up to retrieve him some water.

It was during that time that Bailey finally spotted a familiar face. Just as Chris got Bailey his water, Zane walked out of an interrogation room only to get stopped by Chris at the water fountain. From where he sat Bailey couldn’t hear what they were saying but, it appeared they knew each other. Zane looked relaxed with his hands in his pockets and shoulders down while Chris was jabbing him in the chest with his finger and smiling like he was genuinely pleased to see Zane.

Zane rolled his eyes at something Chris said then Chris reached up to ruffle his hair like a child. Bailey stared wide-eyed at the interaction and wondered how well the two knew each other for Zane to allow Chris to do that. Last time Bailey tried to so much as grab Zane’s wrist he was swatted away in an instant. Chris, on the other hand, was poking him, ruffling his hair then even pulled him in for a hug as he patted his back roughly.

After the encounter, Zane waved then began heading for the exit. Though Bailey could understand why Zane wanted to leave so quickly, he had kind of hoped to speak with him again. Now Bailey owed him even more after what happened. He doubted Zane would want anything more to do with Bailey but hey, Bailey was a sucker for punishment.

Before Zane managed to escape, Bailey shouted after him, “Zane!”

Hearing his name made him stop. He spun his head around to find Bailey looking his way. The man frowned in obvious annoyance and, before Bailey could say another word, placed his headphones in his ears and marched out the door.

Seeing Zane leave caused Bailey to frown then sink back into his seat. He wanted to thank Zane even if he knew it wasn’t going to happen. He also wanted to ask if he was ok. It was so hectic that he didn’t get the chance to, although, Bailey assumed Zane was fine if he was leaving.

That only gave Bailey more reason to believe Zane had some kind of mutation. Not only did he send that thug flying with a single kick but also he had blocked Bailey from that explosion. Bailey wasn’t sure if the heat was from the flames but Zane’s clothes were pretty torn up. He was likely hit with something but he didn’t have a scratch or bruise on him. Healing minor wounds came naturally to mutants but, if Zane was a mutant, why didn’t he use his ability? Or was it something that he felt wouldn’t have helped their situation? Bailey was only getting more and more questions, questions he doubted Zane would agree to answer.

Chris returned to Bailey with that cup of water that he chugged the moment he got it in his grasp. Chris chuckled before sitting back down and went on to ask, “So you knew Zane before this?”

“Yeah, he uh…he’s the custodian at my dorm.”

Chris nodded and left his questions about Zane there but, Bailey swore he saw curiosity in Chris’ gaze. It appeared he wished to ask further questions but he was keeping things professional and went back to questioning Bailey about the attack. He gave whatever details he could remember even things like what it sounded like, if Boomer said anything that could have hinted at something, such simple things that Bailey didn’t fully understand why they were being asked. He wasn’t a detective though so he assumed Chris knew what he was doing.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Bailey,” Chris said after getting what he felt he could out of the boy. He once again held out his hand for Bailey to shake, which he did.

“Sorry, I probably wasn’t much help.” Bailey frowned as he got up along with Chris.

Chris shook his head as he began walking Bailey to the exit. “Any information is helpful, Bailey and, if you remember anything—" Chris held out his card. “Give me a call.”