Friday 04.11.2016 National Police, Alexandras Avenue, Athens

"Okay, this may take a while. By the way, your Facebook post already has 1157 likes." Mike is in the process of improving the quality of the recording with a special video editing program. We have asked him to analyse the faces for further examination. Marcos and I stand to his left and right and wait for the loading bar to reach its destination.

"That's nice," I remark in response to his unnecessary fact. "You can post that we're looking for Mr. Unknown and a boat." 

The program has finished its process and the video restarts, with more precise contours and a higher colour contrast. Mike adjusts his cap. He's wearing the same casual clothes he wears every day. "What are you going to do when the boat is found, question it?" Without paying attention to his joke, I reply:

"Look for fingerprints, question witnesses and everything else in our power."

"What's wrong with you Tobias? I don't know you like this."

"You've known me for three days. It's nothing." No, actually nothing is alright at the moment. My throat constricts at the sight of the people on the screen. Marcos is also looking at the screen.

"Guys, before you create an official enmity, look at what I see here." Our eyes slide to the same spot. One of the young men looks nervously in all directions, holding a silver pistol in his hand. 

"Damn, where did he get that now?" I had hoped these people would be harmless, but instead I am disappointed. Wherever they got the gun, whether from a local arms dealer, who we should also put a stop to, or from home, is unimportant to me. 

All I know is that we must be on our guard when we meet them. The most important thing is to be prepared, otherwise it could end badly. 

"I'll set up the profiles for the manhunt and you should sit down with the boss to discuss the details of your departure.", Mike offers his help. I wince involuntarily. I really have nothing against Africa, beautiful nature, interesting culture, but I'd still rather stay here.

"Will we get the flight and hotel paid for? And support from our colleagues?" I want to know first. "Of course! The International Police works together all over the world, otherwise it would hardly be called international." I roll my eyes after this understandable explanation.

Marcos suggests we go and finish our preparations before the working day is over. In the meantime, I make a mental packing list. Water ice is a good idea.

For the second time today, we find ourselves in the meeting room. Our boss can't be here because of an appointment, so instead we sit opposite Jannis, Galen and the person in charge of international assignments. 

As far as I know, his job is to organize hotels and travel opportunities. After he introduces himself to Damian Manalis and shakes our hands, we bring the other two up to speed. They are to lead the mission from here while we are away and offer support.

"I'll take care of a flight and hotel. Where do you want to go?" Damian pulls out a tablet and lets his fingers fly over the touchscreen. He has a serious and matter-of-fact appearance, just the right person for our boss to be happy with. 

Marcos looks at me sideways until I remember that I have the notes. Taurus has given me facts about his homeland, including the locations and names of the different villages. The Dogon, an African tribe that immigrated from Burkina Faso, live in the east of Mali. This tribe is divided into several communities, one of the villages is called Banani, where the figures were created, and Taurus was born.

Banani is built against the face of a rock and has a few hundred inhabitants. I suspect that the Dogon are sticking together and denying the theft, besides we don't speak their language.

I tell Damian all this and he nods in agreement, as if he already knows this information. "I'll do my best to find good accommodation. As you are traveling to Africa, I need to know whether you have been vaccinated against yellow fever, hepatitis A, cholera, Ebola, schistosomiasis, dengue fever, tetanus, meningococcus and pneumococcus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, mumps, measles, rubella, influenza and herpes zoster. I can also give you a brochure on hygiene advice."

"I don't have my vaccination card with me," I say. 

"That's no problem, you can send it to me later." He remains silent and starts searching the internet.

Marcos intervenes: "What are we supposed to do if we're not vaccinated against one of these diseases?"

Damian looks up as if Marcos has interrupted him with something particularly important. "Vaccination is too late for many diseases, and if you get infected, the treatment won't be covered by your insurance. It's best to follow the hygiene rules." He turns his gaze back to the tablet.

That doesn't reassure me at all, but we have a case to solve.

"So you know roughly what this is about?" Marcos asks our colleagues, "We'll give you our clues in a moment." Janni's green eyes fix on us intently.

"If I've understood correctly, we're looking for a man who might be involved and a boat." After a moment's hesitation, I reply: "The boat is still within our sphere of action. Nevertheless, you can help us with your advice." 

Then that would also be settled. According to Damian, we should leave as soon as possible, if everything goes smoothly, our flight will leave the next day. 

We make our way to the exit. Word has spread over the days that we are on the case and where the road leads. Encouraging comments come from all sides, even from people I've never met here before. It was a good decision to come here, who knows what would have awaited me elsewhere. I have no problem being the center of attention until we leave the building for good and the fresh afternoon air blows into my face.