The car was... clean. Really clean. So clean and shiny, it looked fresh out of a dealership's showroom; you'd almost expect it to have that characteristic new car smell, even. The only hint it was in use was... the tree-shaped air freshener and small rosary hanging off the rearview mirror. It was a cheap-looking, red, plastic rosary.

The man took my backpack off of me and strapped me to the backseat. He was really strong. I kicked and punched, but he didn't ease up even a bit; he... didn't seem to feel anything! His skin felt real! Cold and leathery... But he seemed unfazed.

Well, he's very muscular and covered in scars. Probably has quite the past experience with pain and so, a high tolerance to it.

...He's not human.

...Now, Adam, focus. He strapped you to the backseat and then what?

He shut the door, fixed his hat and... this couple approached. The guy seemed ready to throw down and... the lady had a phone in her hand. The scar-man... took something out of his pocket and showed it to them, and they calmed down... It...

It was an ID card.

Yes! I-I can see it! It says... Diego Mateo Parker Flores...

Your father.

But he's not him. He's too tall, too pale, hair too straight, too well shaven, eyes too light, too well dressed. He's nothing like my dad! My dad, he was-- Is a little taller than I am now. He has darker skin, curly hair that covers his ears, a well-trimmed beard that... scratched at your cheeks whenever you greeted him with a hug; he uses gauges... I never saw him wearing anything that wasn't denim or didn't have some DC character on it-- He hated leather...

So, he was walking around with a fake ID with your father's name on it? Matches what witnesses said. He said he was your father, and you were just throwing a tantrum, because your mother recently died in a car crash where he was the driver--

He was not--

We know. One of the CCTV cameras at the orphanage's gate caught his face clear as day; we can all tell he's not your father. His military service could explain the scars, but the rest...

My dad would never hurt my mom. He bought her flowers once a week, made sure she had a warm meal waiting for her when she got back from work, he... he...

Adam, it's fine. No one believes the scar-man is your father, and no one doubts he loved your mother. Okay?

Okay...

Now, focus again. I ID. What can you see on it?

...It has a picture of the man with his hat off. He has short hair, slicked back, buzzed on the sides.

That's good. Anything else?

The birthday on the ID was also my father's; the address was... Conch... Edge something... Edgemare? Mere? Edgemere maybe? I think? It definitely says... Rockaway. Far Rockaway.

Far Rockaway? That place is a ghost town.

Well, it's probably a fake address anyway.

Yes, but... why not simply use your house's address? Or at least one in an actually inhabited area?

...I don't know.

Anyway, anything else?

Sex: male. Height is... It starts with a 6. The guy is really tall, almost big enough to hit his head on the top of a doorway. He weighs... 270-something according to the card.

What else?

The rest are just serial numbers that probably lead nowhere. Not that I can see them clearly anyway.

Very well, what happened after that?

He got in the car and ignored me completely. I asked him a fuckton of questions, kept kicking the seat, even tried to chew through the straps, but couldn't get them in my mouth with my arms strapped in place. He just ignored me and kept on driving with the AC on full blast.

The AC? Was he cold even with gloves and the coat on?

The AC was cold and was blasting directly at me. I think he was trying to exhaust me.

How so?

I get really tired when I'm cold. I just start shivering, it's hard to move, and sometimes I black out. 

Hm. That sounds like something you should talk about with a doctor; that doesn't sound normal.

What are you talking about? Yes, it is; that's why people pass out from the cold constantly. Like, those hikers that go up the mountains, you know? They get cold, they pass out.

Adam, they pass out from hypothermia, and that's something you get at Sub-Zero temperatures, not from a car's AC or a cool autumn breeze.

I just have a lower body fat percentage.

And probably a slew of other issues if you need hand warmers to not pass out from the cold in autumn...

...Can we continue?

Of course. So he strapped you, dismissed passersby's concerns with a fake ID claiming to be your father, and used the AC to make you go to sleep. What happened after?

He took me to the orphanage. Helped me out of the car, put my bag on my shoulders, handed me a thermos with hot water inside, and stood by as I slowly regained my ability to move. Then, as soon as I tried to grab him, he turned around, got in the car, and sped off, telling me to get inside the building and... do my homework?

That's... Hm.

Yeah, back then he told me something similar. He said I'd go to school, pay attention in class, return home, do my homework, and only then could I call the Public Guard...

Hm. Can you see his license plate?

...It looks like a normal license plate. I can... I... 17... NB... V... B? No... R. The last digit was an R.

Noted. What happened after?

I... I then went into the orphanage to see if David was alright, and...

...Did something happen to David?

He… was running a fever. And they gave him some meds and left him all alone in the nurse's office. They must have not paired well with his usual medication, I think? He had an episode and-- Well, it didn't last that long, and he didn't hurt himself or anyone, so... Yeah.

Hm. And then, you called the Public Guard.

Yes.

Very well. Wake up.

*click*

The low-pitched noise coming from the boombox stopped, and Adam opened his eyes, readjusting the chair's back up and stretching.

“Here.” Bones said, extending him a box of tissues.

“...Thanks.” Adam grabbed one and wiped his face dry.

Crying in front of a Jones… Fuck. He probably had a camera hidden somewhere, recording the whole show for Mark's later amusement. Whatever.

“I'll--”

*Brrriiiiiinnngggg*

“I'll look into this, see if it leads anywhere.” The man said, waving the small notebook in the air.

“Okay.” Adam paused. “And then...”

“Well, that will be for you to decide.”

Adam stayed quiet for a while, more than justified doubt creeping around his brain.

“So, not only the guy who hates me more than anything and has been tormenting me for didn't kill my mom... But now his hitman cousin is going to help me catch who did?”

“Like I said. Mark doesn't like the idea of you being outside his reach and control. He wouldn't get rid of your mother, because that would put you in a situation where you could've been adopted and taken away, just like this guy did. And now... for all we know, he's been following you around this whole time. He knows where you live, your father's name and date of birth, and, apparently, also knows about your... weakness to the cold. One day, he might just snatch you up and make you into a missing persons case.” The man explained. “Adam, Mark might be an expert in keeping his composure in public, but he has been pacing back and forth. Do you understand? He wants this guy caught and gone almost as much as you.”

Adam stayed quiet.

“Look. You don't have to believe in Mark or me or anyone. But you want to find this guy, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then, why not... put your eggs in multiple baskets?”

Adam stared at him.

“... I'm severely sleep-deprived and like, five Beasts deep; God forbid I don't nail the landing in my speech!” He pouted, spinning the chair to the side, and chugging his drink.

Adam let out a... chuckle? Why was he smiling at... the guy who killed Alice. A Jones.

...

He was losing it.

“Oh, right. Before you go, there's one more thing we need to address.” 

“What?”

“...Secrecy.”