"Have you completely lost your mind?"

Lowe thought it wise not to answer.

"I could not have been clearer that you were on a temporary reinstatement with limited powers beyond the immediate investigation into the murder of Gianna d'Avec. Do you remember her? The fucking High Priestess of Gravalk who was killed a few days ago? I was sort of hoping that might have been at the forefront of your mind, especially considering a second priest of Gravalk was also murdered yesterday! Some people might think that - bearing in mind that particular god is a FIRE DEMON - you would be putting your all into clearing those two little snafus. Just good sense, really. But no, not Jana fucking Lowe. What's he been doing? Well, let me tell you. This chaotic pinball of an investigator is running up to Jewel Town and acting like he's got jurisdiction to put Markian Ulton - yes, that Markian Ulton - under a Red Notice!"

Lowe let this slide by, too. You didn't need to swing for the fences at every ball.

"Oh, but not just any old Red Notice. No, you went big on it! Not only did you imply he was responsible for killing the High Priestess. No, you really wanted to shine today. You decided to really fucking piss on my chips. You suggested he was involved in a shadowy conspiracy around the death of Lord Falyn - a crime that the city has already found someone guilty of and had them executed - and that he is living a criminal lifestyle on illegal earnings. And -" Cenorth had to take a breath here - "you then accused him of funding a series of attacks on a Security Service officer.."

"Just a few points of order, if I may?"

Cenorth waved his arms. "Please, I'm dying to hear what you have to say about all this."

"First of all, I didn't imply he'd killed the High Priestess. I outright stated it."

"Lowe . . ."

"No, no, no. If we're doing this, let's at least be accurate. Neither did I 'suggest' he was involved in the murder of Lord Falyn. The fucker absolutely one hundred per cent did it. He could barely stop himself from admitting it and crowing that I could do nothing about it. Oh, and I do have a witness that his took me out to the woodshed and whacked me with a two-by-four."

"Completely unprovoked?"

"Now you're nit-picking. I guess that largely depends on how stringent we are going to be around the definition of 'breaking and entering.'"

Cenorth slammed his hands down on his desk, scattering scrolls everywhere. "Jana, just stop. I'm not finding you charming right now. Do you have any idea of how badly you have fucked things up?"

Lowe let the echo of his boss's voice fade away before replying. Everyone outside the Commander's office was doubtless enjoying the show.

The fuckers.

"We finished yet, boss?"

Cenorth narrowed his eyes. "No. We absolutely are not finished. Jana, are you trying to make me fire you?"

"Been there, done that, failed to be given any sort of leaving party. I am not sure that's quite the threat you seem to think it is."

"Lowe, you are sailing very close to the line here."

"Look, if I'm going to stand here and take a pasting, can we at least try to make it semantically accurate? I'm either 'sailing close to the wind' or in danger of 'crossing a line.' To do both suggests a familiarity with transport logistics that I'm not sure I have in me."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Lowe, you have to see why what you have done is inappropriate!"

"Why?" Lowe raised his own voice now. "Are you seriously telling me I am way off base here? It appears to be an open secret that Ulton set his brother up for Falyn's murder. Unless you're suggesting whoever investigated that one is so breathtakingly incompetent they never stumbled upon the potential lead that, just maybe, the incredibly rich man living in a house the Mayor would respect, without any obvious way of paying for it, just might have had something to do with it? Boss, Ulton is shady as fuck! Falyn was murdered because he was about to reveal something scandalous about the business community in Soar. There was no reason in the world for Trellen Ulton to be involved in that. He was fucking helping Falyn investigate! Markian Ulton, on the other hand? He's a crime boss who clearly had the High Priestess on his side - oh, and on her back, too. The dude was fucking the High Priestess of Gravalk! At the very least, ignoring everything else, that puts him on the suspect list."

Cenorth tried to interrupt, but Lowe just raised his voice louder.

"Ulton got his lover to wrap up his brother's case as fast as possible. Trellen never even got to offer a defence before she barbecued him. Do you not find that interesting? Noteworthy? Potentially criminal? Oh, and then let's not forget he definitely has tried to have me killed at least once since you gave me the case. You could at least pretend to care that someone's taken a hit out on one of your officers. Just for the sake of office morale. Basically, if I rocked back up to Jewel Town and stuck a dagger in his eye, I reckon I'd instantly clear up a shedload of open cases. And you want me to drop the Red Notice? Get the fuck out of here!"

They stared at each other, both breathing heavily. It was the Commander who broke the silence. "Inspector Lowe, I am formally instructing you to declare that Markian Ulton is no longer a person of interest in the death of Gianna d'Avec."

Lowe shook his head. "Nope. No way. He's obviously involved, boss."

The Council does not concur."

"Since when does the Council direct SSS investigations? They explicitly do not have the oversight. I'm pretty sure there's a whole constitution in a fucking framed picture above the Mayor's desk that makes that abundantly clear."

"Fuck's sake, Lowe! You are not some wide-eyed kid on their first case. Don't pretend you don't understand how this all works. The Council do not wish you to pursue Markian Ulton. Not for Gianna d'Avec's murder. Not for Lord Falyn's. And not for any of the other bollocks you locked into that Red Notice! You will release him from the Restriction Order. Now!"

Lowe stood and carefully pushed his chair under the table. "Sir, I respect that you are in a difficult position here. You've given me a thorough reaming - one of your better ones, I'd say. And we both know I am quite the connoisseur of these things - and I can assure you I am suitably chastened. If it helps, I'll even shed a tear or two when leaving, just so the troops know you have giant cojones."

"Lowe . . ."

"No, I think I've heard quite enough from you now. I am not going to let the Council interfere with an ongoing investigation. I don't have all the answers yet, but I'm telling you something fishy is happening. Look, I'll admit that I could be wrong. Fucking hell, it would hardly be the first time, but putting Markian Ulton on a Red Notice is the right thing to do. I would be failing in my duty if I simply let him slide because he knows the right people's balls to scratch."

Lowe lowered his voice, a note of sincerity creeping in. "I'm doing the right thing here, boss. And do you know what? You're only so immensely pissed off because you know that too, and it's killing you to warn me off. Come on, Yacob. You want to have my back on this. Just give me a few more days, and I'll have it wrapped up for you."

Cenorth stood, not meeting Lowe's eyes. "Inspector Lowe, are you refusing a direct order?"

Lowe's face hardened. "I'm telling you to go fuck yourself. Sir."

Cenorth ground his teeth and dropped his voice to a whisper. "Don't be stupid, Jana. This isn't me coming down hard for no reason. This is the Council telling you to put your dick back in your pants and walk away. Listen to me, you'd earn yourself all sorts of credit in doing so. I hear they'll even look again at your suspension."

"Boss, I've already received one bribe today. That one didn't stick either."

"You're leaving me no choice here. If that Red Notice is not rescinded immediately, that's it. You're done. You will be out - officially this time - and there won't be any coming back. If you thought being Classless was bad, I've been told to inform you that the Council will take special interest in your life moving forward. And it'll be the end of your protection. Think about that for a minute. Some very rich and very powerful people are very pissed with you. You can either make a smart choice and earn a little gratitude, or you can . . . be you and invite a world of hurt."

Cenorth came out from behind his desk and crossed to Lowe, putting a hand on his arm. "As your friend, Jana, I'm telling you to let this go."

Lowe shook his head. "You know I can't do that."

Cenorth paused, then took a deep sigh. "Yes. Yes, I do."