Edited by: Waning_Crescents

The next day, Cal sat at his desk and went through the documents Kristian sent him. The case file 242C stated that a group of criminals involved in drug trafficking expanded their territory through influence and money which came from an unknown source. Consequently, the drug market flourished.

Unknown source… Cal knitted his brows. Drug market…

As he read further through the documents it became clear that their business not only consisted of drug trafficking but evolved into a whole cartel. Murderers, human traffickers, everyone who complied with the organization, not only enjoyed financial privileges but also protection. Thus, their network grew rapidly.

Under these circumstances, finding and catching the root of the cartel posed a real challenge to the Conciliators and the CIB. Every time they had a lead, it basically vanished overnight. Even the informants, who provided them with information, either disappeared or got killed. In the end, the risk became too high to rely on such sources. Therefore, the Conciliators resorted to other methods.

Now I understand why everyone’s expression changed during the meeting.

As he skimmed further through the files his gaze fell upon the trademark. 

There it is…

Kristian had summed up the connection between the two cases, so seeing the mark didn’t surprise him. Instead, it excited his curiosity. 

He clicked on the folder from the current case and opened the pictures of the victims who had the mark carved into their foreheads. Then he put both images side by side to compare them directly.

Even if the blood of the victims changed the pattern a bit, it is without a doubt the same.

The trademark consisted of the infinity symbol with the pattern of two snake heads popping out of the middle: one facing left and one facing right.

“The first time, the mark appeared on pills.” Cal narrowed his eyes. “But later on, it became the symbol of the cartel itself, some even wore it as tattoos.”

He glanced at it for a little while before he closed the pictures from the ongoing case file, only leaving the file 242C open. Then he scrolled further downwards where a certain entry caught his attention:

Name: Noah Keaton
Age: 21
Position: Conciliator, Section 2
Status: Deceased. Killed in the line of duty.

Cal’s eyes widened. “That…”

The report only gave a vague recount of what occurred at that time. It only stated that Noah Keaton joined the cartel as an undercover agent, but something went awry. However, his actions and sacrifice made it possible to put an end to the entire cartel.

What could have happened? What went wrong?

He put his index finger on his lips and rested his thumb on his chin.

It only says Section 2, but could he have been Sigal’s partner? Is that the reason why he acts the way he does?

Cal recounted and analyzed his partner’s behavior as memories of their fight from the other day resurfaced.

‘And if you want to get rid of me so badly, wouldn’t it have been easier to just let me die back then and call it collateral damage? That must be not so unusual in that line of work, right?’

He slapped his forehead. “Why did I say that?”

For a few minutes he remained in that posture, ruminating about what he said to his partner. “I better apologize for that later.”

Then he fixed his eyes on the screen again and scrolled back up to the description of the trademark, which still bothered him.

So familiar…why can’t I remember where I have seen that? It might even help the case, and yet I can’t seem to recall…

In the hope that anything written in these files would trigger his memories, he went through the documents over and over again until dusk settled over the city.

Exhausted, Cal leaned backwards into his chair and let out a sigh. It’s no use, huh?

Then he glanced out the window beside his desk. Maybe some fresh air will do the trick.

He rose from his chair, grabbed his jacket, and walked outside.

In front of the Conciliator’s apartment complex, he came to a halt. He closed his eyes, lifted his head, and stretched his arms while the cold evening breeze touched his skin and wafted through his hair. “That feels so good!”

These last couple of days, he never set foot outside as he mainly rested or read through the documents of the case in hope to discover anything useful. Even today he spent half of the day going through case file 242C without taking a break. Therefore, he enjoyed the change of scenery.

He strolled along the streets while observing the people, who either rushed home or walked side by side with their loved ones. Cal’s lips curved upward at the smiling and laughing faces, yet a glimmer of loneliness and sadness reflected in his eyes as if longing for some warmth himself.

In the next moment, someone grabbed him by the wrist, which pulled him out of his thoughts. Startled, he stopped in his tracks and whipped his head around where his eyes met Sigal’s. Stunned by the sudden appearance of his partner he just stared at him in silence as if time stood still, not reacting at all.

“Why are you outside?” Sigal asked with a frown on his face.

“I…” Cal choked on his own words.

His last interaction with Sigal consisted of getting carried into the bedroom by him, thus, unintentionally his mind wandered to this event.

Sigal glanced into the distance before he pulled Cal closer. 

“What…?” Cal’s eyes widened as he stumbled forward, almost bumping into his partner.

“You shouldn’t be outside, especially at this hour!” Sigal grabbed Cal by his shoulders and pressed him against a wall while he nervously scanned the area.

Not comprehending the situation, Cal asked in confusion. “Wha-what’s wrong?”

Sigal, however, just surveyed their surroundings and remained silent.

“What are you doing?”

“Be quiet!” Sigal said in a low tone and covered the young investigator’s mouth with one hand.

Caught by surprise Cal didn’t even resist, he just blinked. What’s wrong with him?

Then he glanced to where his partner’s gaze shifted and tried to spot something himself.

What is he looking for?

As his attention fell back on his partner, he noticed the tensed-up posture of Sigal, along with beads of sweat that formed on his forehead. Something must have highly alerted him, yet Cal couldn’t figure out the cause of it.

What happened? Why is he so agitated? That’s unlike him…

Then his gaze fell upon Sigal’s chest. He narrowed his eyes, raised one hand and moved it closer to feel the other’s heartbeat, but right before his palm made contact, he retracted it. Instead, he grabbed his partner’s hand that covered his mouth and yanked it away. “What is going on?”

“We are going back!” Sigal grabbed Cal’s right wrist and briskly walked into the direction of the Conciliator’s apartment complex.

“Hey, I think you owe me an explanation!” Cal involuntarily followed with rapid steps. “And stop dragging me along like that!”