The sun was starting to color the roofs, the streets became more crowded with the sound of horns and the brightness bothered Hellen's eyes. It looked like she had barely slept. She had arrived late after another shift at the pub and knew she was already late for work. Again she would have complaints about the lack of coffee on the boss's table, but she turned over in bed and watched the light coming in through the crack in the curtain. Reluctantly, she stretched with a groan of displeasure before standing up. Her small two-room apartment was getting more and more chaotic. She even stepped over papers scribbled on the floor on his way to the bathroom. Covered her dark circles with makeup after a cold morning shower, and tied her blond hair into a braided bun as she searched a pile of brushes and more stained papers for a pair of shoes. Looked at her brother's portrait and wished him good morning before hurriedly leaving with her bag over her shoulder.

She smiled when read "Animalia" in a graffiti as she walked down the already busy street towards the newspaper. Took the cable car and in a short time she was going up the stairs and across the corridor to the coffee room. She glanced discreetly out the window of Mr. Byrne's office and was relieved he wasn't there. She made coffee and greeted colleagues before heading to the boss's office and leaving the cup on the table. It was then that her eyes caught the words “New disappearances of young…”, but she could barely finish reading as the deep and clearly irritated voice startled her.

- Late again Miss Carrot

She turned around, smiling as gently as her tiredness would allow her before answering.

- Good morning Mr Byrne, your coffee is here on time as usual.

- You think I don't know you're late? How many times will I have to threaten you with dismissal?

- You know I'm an essential part of the company's functioning - she said, smiling seductively in a joking tone - who else could get the coffee right?

Byrne was a big man and of a certain age. His mustache revealed that he had once had hair as black as pitch, but now it turned a dirty gray like a few strands of gray. He sighed with displeasure and sat down before picking up his cup, drinking a good amount and turning his eyes to the girl. He liked her even though a lot of the time he lost his temper with the petulance of youth. With an impatient gesture he sent her out and began to organize the papers scattered on the table. Hellen frowned in an attempt to see the boss's scribbles again as he ordered her, this time rather rudely, to leave.

Closing the office door, she went back to the coffee room so that she could have her breakfast. The room was small like the rest of the place, it had a table with three chairs and a simple counter with few cabinets. She helped herself to steaming coffee and enjoyed the comforting scent of something warm in the morning. Hellen started to search through the cupboards for something to eat, when heard more people approaching. From the excited voices, she can see that it was Frank and Rian, the one responsible for a column on economics and the other sports critic. They walked in laughing and greeted her smiling. She returned the smile and sat down at the table with a piece of cornbread that still looked edible.

- I'm telling you Frank the source is reliable, but after the last few weeks I don't think it's worth it. You know things are tense, it looks like a new Bloody Sunday is going to happen.

- Don't be silly, it looks like you would miss a scoop like that even if it's not your thing.

Hellen brought the cup to her lips and fixed her gaze on the two standing next to the coffee pot. She was sure they were talking about the disappearances herself was investigating. Perhaps fate was smiling at her once more in the same day. Frank caught the girl's gaze and with a thin smile approached the table. He was tall and firm, wearing a fitted suit and a brightly colored tie. He had small eyes and thin lips that twisted in an expression of superiority. Half the women at the paper were already on his way, but Hellen found him despicable with his lame jokes and inappropriate comments. She smelled the strong scent of cologne as he leaned against the table closer to her.

- Byrne looks furious with you again, little bunny, if you want I can intervene on your behalf.

- Very kind Frank, but I think he's just in a bad mood as usual. - She replied smiling kindly, taking another sip of coffee and avoiding looking at him. Frank had been trying to get close to her for days and didn't seem to realize that the more he called her 'bunny' the more she wanted to throw up.

- Are you free today? I have tickets to that movie Ian reviewed last week.

- Thanks for the invite, but tonight I'll be covering one of the girls at Flogging Molly's. - She replied dryly, standing up to leave the room with the cup in hand.

As she made her way to the door Frank held out his arm in front of her barring the exit. She looked up at him with clear displeasure, but still in a gentle tone asked him to get out of the way, but nothing happened.

- What is bunny? You never have time for a little fun. I guarantee you won't regret it.

- Why don't you call Lana or maybe Kelly? I know they loved their last few dates with you. - without disguising her discomfort with the whole situation, she spoke in a firm tone.

Again she tried to go through the door but he remained as stubborn as a mule. Tired and out of patience for his advances, she pretended to bump into him and spilled hot coffee over the bright yellow tie. His protests and curses mingled with Rian's uncontrollable laughter who was now leaning on the counter with his hands on his belly. When Frank went out to try and save his tie from a terrible stain, Hellen breathed a sigh of relief and managed a childish smile of victory, figuring he wouldn't have to deal with the ridicule anytime soon.

- I think he didn't expect this one - said Rian approaching with tears in his eyes.

Unlike Frank, Hellen even liked Rian and didn't understand how the two could be friends. He was slender and already beginning to bald despite being the same age as her. His suit always looked a little bigger than necessary, which made him even thinner. He had dark kind eyes and he always treated her with respect. She saw the opportunity there to get the information she needed.

- You were talking about the disappearances, weren't you? Are you going to ditch the stock market and become a detective? - She said smiling kindly.

- I know what you're thinking miss and no, I'm not going to help you with that.- he replied crossing his arms despite still smiling.

- You know I would never do anything irresponsible, Rian. You know that don't you? It's just some good gossip you could tell me. - She joked with a shrug.

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Rian thought for a few seconds while the girl made a cute face trying to amuse him. Finally he rolled his eyes with a sigh. He knew she wouldn't leave him alone until she heard what she wanted, and he knew this girl was as hungry for news as a wanderer in the desert.

- All right, I'll tell you as long as you promise me you won't go there alone.- he held up her thumb in imitation of a mother trying to catch the attention of a child who is about to do a romp.

- I swear by what is most sacred - she replied making an X over her chest on the left side with her index finger.

- I have a source that says there will be a suspicious shipment tonight on the docks - he said softly, glancing at the open living room door as if hoping someone would soon catch them in the act. - I don't know what will be there, maybe something related to the disappearances of the last few weeks…. - He leaned closer to her and his voice was heavy - Anyway, don't go there alone tonight.

They had to end the conversation because soon more people entered the room and both exchanged only serious looks. Here was her big break, the chance she'd been waiting for to get out of the newspaper office and into fame. Her instincts tinkled with the certainty that she would find the story of the year. She could imagine his name plastered on the front cover of the paper just below the kabbalistic headline.

The day went on without much news, apart from the fact that for the first time Frank was without a ridiculously colored tie parading through the office. By the end of the day, the poles had already started to light the streets. She took the cable car back to the apartament and began preparations for the night. Put a change of clothes and notebook in a bag and sat on the bed soon after. She looked at the smiling boy in the photograph on top of the dresser and smiled back at him. Her chest tightened with a feeling of longing and guilt. Opened the drawer and took out a small pocketknife with the initials 'R.C' carved into the wood in a rustic way. He ran his fingertips over the letters, feeling the groove carefully before tucking it into her boot sock and heading out of the house.

Flogging Molly's was a small but very popular pub in central Dublin. It was one of the few bars that accepted both humans and beasts, and for that reason it often suffered retaliation from both sides. Despite this, the atmosphere was always pleasant and the most popular nights were when amateur bands came to play jazz or blues, musical styles increasingly popular in Europe. Donald, the owner, a burly man with thick blond hair, serious and of few words, was cleaning glasses when Hellen appeared through the door behind the counter, still fastening her apron.

- Aren't you on your day off today? - he said surprised but without taking his eyes from the glass that so eagerly seemed to shine.

- Megan asked me to cover for her today, looks like her dad isn't doing well - she replied as she arranged the chairs and tables.

- Okay… I just thought you'd be tired after yesterday. I must say that your singing with the boys always attracts customers.

She admitted she was tired, but singing was one of the few things that relaxed her, even if it meant losing precious hours of sleep. Soon customers began to arrive and her mind was filled with orders. When it was close to 10 pm, she saw a gray wolf enter and sit next to the bar. He was wearing a long, shabby coat, and Donald quickly poured him a glass of Jameson. Hellen approached him and sat beside him crossing her arms on the counter with a serious look.

- Whiskey? What will Maria say if she catches him drinking again?

The wolf turned black eyes to her and smiled in amusement, and she smiled at him before hugging him tight. She felt how warm he was and the gray fur brought a sense of comfort. They were friends since childhood. Robin, Hellen's older brother, and Thomas were inseparable when they were young. It was thanks to him that she got to know Jazz and together they played at Flogging Molly's when they had the opportunity.

- I hear you're going to the docks today- he said with a certain disapproving tone. The girl couldn't hide her surprise, nor her displeasure.

- And if I go? You know I know how to turn around.

- Hellen… - he sighed, taking his hand to his face before turning his eyes to her - You know very well that I promised your brother not to let you get into trouble…

- You already have yours to take care of, Thomas - she interrupted with clear irritation in her voice - I'm not a child, you know that. I won't do anything more. I go there, I see from afar and I leave.

- We know you won't stay away... - he said with a tired look.

- I promise - she started raising her right hand seriously.

- Well, if that's so… - He sighed, reaching into his inside coat pocket, pulling out a package in dirty rags and passing it to her on the counter.

Helen discreetly opened the package and inside was a small, shiny-barrelled, antique-looking gun. Surprised, she quickly wrapped it in the rags again and looked at Thomas curiously. He didn't say anything, just stared at her and then finished his whiskey in one gulp.

- I hope you don't need to use this, but if you do, just aim and shoot.- She left the package on the counter and hugged him again. A long, tight hug like he hadn't received since that rainy Sunday years ago. He then withdrew from the pub with a discreet wave.

She finished her shift around midnight and after changing into more comfortable clothes and putting on her coat, she left for the harbor. Filled with confidence now that she had the cold of the gun next to her belly stuck in her pants. Upon arriving at the pier, as expected for that hour, everything was silent. She approached the entrance with the greatest care that he could even see a security cabin with a watchman inside who seemed to be dozing carelessly. Crouching and holding her breath, she passed him without a hitch. Calmly she approached the docks, watching for any suspicious movement. When was almost at the end, she noticed in the distance a ship docked. It was relatively small, barely bigger than a fisherman's boat, and with shapes that moved in the pitch black near where it was moored.

As she got closer she saw that the figures were loading the ship with crates. In the darkness her eyes couldn't make out faces or whether the figures were human or beast. Hellen was starting to think of a way to get on the ship without attracting attention and investigate the contents of the crates when one of the porters tripped, spilling the goods onto the dock. She took advantage of the commotion and nimbly entered through an open window on the side of the vessel. When her feet hit the ground he could hear a roar, animalistic and loud as she had never heard before, followed by a lone gunshot. She sat on the cold floor covering her mouth with the shock her imagination supposed had happened. She didn't have time to waste, she'd grab a sample of whatever was in one of those boxes and get out of there as fast as he could and call the police.

The place was poorly lit and full of boxes of different sizes, some were ajar and empty, others closed with nails and, even in the low light, you can see a drawing containing an eagle with open wings painted with blue paint. She tried to pull from her memory if she recognized the symbol when something hugged her from behind and covered her mouth. Panic returned and she struggled until she realized it was Thomas. He released her and with a look of hate scolded her.

- Thomas? But what…

- It is not obvious? Prevent you from doing something crazy, but it looks like you already did! Let's get out of here, don't you know who's out there? Who does this boat belong to? - confused she didn't answer. The wolf put his hand to his clearly annoyed face - William Simons of the Bowery Boys. Fucking William Simons Hellen. Jesus Christ! - he shouted in whispers, taking the girl by the wrist so that they went out the window when it was possible to hear the roar coming again.

Thomas made Hellen back away and, clearly desperate, looked at an open crate and let her into it. She protested but obeyed him. Before closing the lid she asked what he was going to do, and he smiling just said:

- Stay there and only leave when you don't hear anything else, okay? He closed the lid and she was immersed in darkness. - when you arrive look for Hariwald Kludd. - He said leaning his face against the wood.

She could hear Thomas' footsteps coming up the stairs to the deck, and despite the muffled sound, she heard him yell:

- Go to hell William!

The sounds of muffled gunfire filled the girl's chest with a terror she hadn't felt in a long time. Huddled in the crate, she covered her mouth with her hands and even in the dark she closed her eyes tightly until silence came. The cold, terrible sound brought pain and panic. Once again gripped by fear as in the past, all she did was lie cowardly inside the box without moving.