Chapter 2

CYNTHIA CORVILLE

Among the things that Cynthia Corville did not need was the Trinity striking again.

Larson Hotch had called her from his office in Moonfall.

I would've made the drive, he had said, but dealing with all of the protocols for the disease takes time, and that is something we do not have. We needed to have found Felix last week. And I know he hasn't been missing that long, but my point stands. He needs to be found.

He had filled her in on what they knew of Felix Fisk's capture, which wasn't much. And as he spoke, Cynthia felt her stomach sink further and further and further into the ground.

No one knew if Felix was still alive, although the Precincts had some measure of hope since his body had not been found, at least as of yet.

Cynthia had been grateful for the telephone at that moment in time. No one else was in the President's Room as she closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. No one witnessed how her lip quivered and her skin prickled with an icy cold and she shivered. No one would know as she let herself feel the stress for just a moment.

No one saw as she pieced herself back together because a President could never crack or break.

"Well," she started slowly, "no body means he might still be alive."

"True," Larson said. "No body found yet is different from what we know. Ashley Baok's body was found within a few hours, and Alaska Wendell March's body was found even sooner. If Felix Fisk is still alive, he has lived longer than anyone we know of who was taken by the Trinity."

Cynthia didn't want to hope for another body, because then another life had been lost. But hoping for Felix to still be alive in the clutches of a group capable of such horrific crimes didn't feel quite right.

I just want him to be found, she thought.

Felix knew the most out of anyone about the Trinity. Cynthia could understand in some twisted way the why, the motivation that the Trinity would target him. Felix was the witness to Ashley Baok's murder. He had seen it, even if he hadn't seen the Trinity's faces. He had survived seeing the Trinity, and he held more information than most...

And yet the Trinity managed to get to him.

Larson described how Felix had been walking to the Morning Jitters cafe in Corville, the same cafe Cynthia had visited several times to speak with citizens of Waverwell and hear what they had to say and what they wanted for their country.

"He was going to get a coffee or something at the Morning Jitters, and the Trinity got to him," Larson grumbled, voice slightly garbled through the speaker. Cynthia could almost hear him running a hand through his hair, body tense with stress that she could feel too. Larson continued: "I've been working with other detectives and officers, and we can track Felix on cameras up until he's one block from Morning Jitters and then we lose him. They got him one block from where he was going and I don't know how they did it or where they took him." Larson sighed. "I'm sorry for ranting. This isn't what I meant to do. I meant to be far more professional. I apologize."

Cynthia shook her head, although Larson couldn't see the movement. "No, no. No need to apologize, Larson. I can only imagine the stress, and this is an absolutely horrible situation. Whatever you need is yours— just ask and I will make sure you get it. Felix has a sibling, correct?"

"Yes. Felix has a sister. Her name is Freya."

"How is Freya doing?"

Larson paused for a moment. "She hasn't left the Moonfall Precinct in over twenty-four hours. I have an officer trying to get her to go home and eat something and get a change of clothes. I don't blame her for this though; I'd be the same way if I had a sibling missing, much less in this way where there's a..." He trailed off and when he continued, his voice was much softer. "I'd be lying if I said I knew Felix was alive. I mean... Ashley Baok and Alaska Wendell March were both most likely killed within a few hours of when they were abducted, and their bodies were found the following day. We're past that time and Felix's body hasn't been found, but that doesn't mean he's still alive. I hope with everything in me that we can find him alive, but I can't say that. Freya knows what the Trinity being Felix's abductors means even though I haven't told her much."

Cynthia shook her head. She knew what that meant too, and it didn't help Felix in the slightest.

Please just let Felix be found soon and let him survive this, Cynthia asked anyone who might be listening. He doesn't deserve what has happened to him.

Cynthia plucked her official President of Waverwell pen from its holder, twirling it between her fingers. She cast a glance at the melting clock on the corner of her desk. Lunchtime was nearing.

"I hope the next time we meet it will be with better news," Cynthia murmured.

Larson huffed a chuckle that dripped with exhaustion. "I hope so too. I have barely slept since Ashley Baok's body was found. It's been a whirlwind of hunting down every scrap of information I possibly can. But however bad it is for me, Ashley's friends and family have it so much worse. Same with Alaska Wendell March and now Felix Fisk. They're missing a loved one, and I'm missing a citizen I care about but do not personally know. There's a difference. But I signed up to track down those who break the law and hold them accountable. The Trinity will be caught, and we will find out exactly what happened."

"Please don't take this as I do not want the Trinity caught," Cynthia said, "but make sure you are getting enough sleep."

"I know, I know. I'm trying. I can't catch murderers if I pass out from exhaustion."

"Very true," Cynthia replied. "Is there anything I can get you? Is there anything I can do on my end to assist?"

There was a pause as Larson thought. "What would be the very best is for the Trinity to slip up. They know we're tracking them and I'm sure they're feeling the pressure, but if they can just make one mistake I think we'll get a lot of information. I feel like we're one clue away from being able to catch them. I just hope it will be soon enough for Felix if he's still alive."

Cynthia sucked on her teeth as she shook her head. "I would do so without hesitation if it were in my power to do so."

"I know you would."

A somber silence hung in the air, thick and heavy.

"I'm assuming you have heard that Pyr Iskie escaped the Moonfall Prison again?"

Larson's question was rhetorical. Cynthia had seen the email Gabriella sent her that told her as much, and she would know of something like that, even if capturing an escaped prisoner fell to the Precincts to do.

"Yes, I have heard of that." Cynthia pulled her phone closer, gently tugging on the cord, as the clock struck noon. "Do you know what happened? Am I correct to guess that you have not yet found him, considering I haven't received an update?" She kept her voice neutral to avoid judgement.

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"We know the security cameras all went dark, and by the time they came back online, Pyr Iskie was gone. He clearly didn't want to hide his escape and delay guards from finding out that something was wrong. Sedge Valentine is taking the lead position on this investigation, and I am continuing to work alongside Asa and Azrael Smith. He will know every detail, but no, Pyr Iskie has not yet been found. He will be, but... we don't know where he is. The last time he escaped, a prison guard all but walked him out the front gates of the prison. I'd have to double check with Sedge, but I believe either all or almost all of the guards have been cleared. If there are any who haven't, Sedge and those investigating are actively working on clearing them. Something was done differently."

Cynthia heard the scratch of a pen on paper through the speaker as Larson wrote something down. A car honking on the street below cut through the low drone of the bustling roads of Corville. Footsteps clicked down the hallway but no one knocked on the door to the President's Room.

"What can the public know?" Cynthia asked. "What can we tell them about the Trinity and them abducting Felix Fisk? What do they need to know? The same with Pyr Iskie."

Larson remained quiet for several long moments. "I can answer Pyr Iskie easier," he started. "He's dangerous, but his crimes are in the realm of wildlife offenses. The public should obviously be aware and I know the media has picked this story up, but I don't think we need to take any drastic action. That of course could change, and any necessary actions will be taken. I do have an officer notifying the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit and I do have a few officers patrolling the Forest since he has a history of poaching. As for the Trinity and Felix Fisk... that one is hard. There's a line with the public knowing enough so they can make the appropriate decisions, while also not giving so much that panic is created and there are more problems than we started with. Some things don't need to be known for people to understand what happened, and the victims deserve their dignity. And, of course, we want to make sure our case against those responsible cannot be broken."

"What do I need to do? Should I be making any public statements?"

"Sedge will be holding a press conference about Pyr's escape later today." Larson paused. "Not right now. I want the public looking at us, no offense to you, of course."

"None taken." Cynthia wanted the public looking to the Moonfall Precincts as well. They were the ones who had the ability to act far more than she did. All Cynthia could do was move resources around, not actually solve the crime.

"I will keep you updated. I don't think I have to remind you that if you get anything that could possibly be helpful to please send it my way. None of us will care how small it may seem."

"If I hear anything I will let you know."

Cynthia and Larson bid each other goodbye.

The second Larson hung up the phone, Cynthia deflated like a popped balloon, leaned back in her chair, and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and placed her hands on her stomach, feeling how her belly rose and fell with each breath.

I don't know what's going on here, she thought, exhaling slowly. But I will figure it all out. I'm not alone. I have Charlotte with me. Gabriella, too, and the rest of Waverwell government. And I have Larson and Danzig and support from people all around Waverwell who voted for me. I'm not alone and never will be.

xxxx

Lunch started off quiet, a bit of peace from the usual hustle and bustle that had Cynthia pulled in opposite directions all day every day.

She had sat down in the corner of the dining room in the Waverwell government building, and a waiter immediately rushed over to her table from where they had been scrolling on their phone. The dining room was almost empty, and Cynthia only saw one other person eating.

"Hello, Mrs. President Corville," the waiter said as they poured her a glass of water. "What may I get started for you?"

"Surprise me," she replied, too tired to care. Food was all she wanted and she didn't care what. "Please," she added on.

A flash of surprise crossed the waiter's face before they nodded. "Would you like me to offer some options?"

That sounded exhausting listening to the options. Cynthia just wanted a meal to reset herself so she could dive back into work for the rest of the afternoon. So much to do and only so many hours in a day.

"No," Cynthia replied, plastering an impression of a warm smile on her face. "Please just pick something and surprise me."

The waiter hesitated, and Cynthia internally sighed. She would have to offer something.

"Whatever is fastest, please."

They paused. "Alright. How about a salad?"

"That sounds lovely. I will have that, please."

"I will bring it right out."

"Thank you."

A few minutes later, the waiter brought out a salad. Chicken and avocado lined the edge of the plate in neat arrangements that Cynthia would've appreciated at a different time, but right now she was just happy for food.

She picked at it, alternating between bites of carrots and peppers and lettuce.

"Hello, Mrs. President Corville."

Cynthia looked up to see Danzig Sterling sitting down across from her. She had eaten almost half of her salad.

They pushed their glasses up on their nose with a knuckle as they looked at their notebook and flipped to another page. Danzig wore a face mask, and as they moved, their glasses shifted on it and fogged up with each breath.

"Dr. Sterling," Cynthia greeted, starting to hold out a hand out of habit but holding herself back. Not with the disease. But Danzig didn't seem to notice, or at least didn't acknowledge it. "To what do I owe this pleasure? And please, Cynthia. Mrs. President Corville is awfully formal."

"Call me Danzig. I was going to call and schedule an appointment, but I was already near here so I figured this would be easier. I need to speak with you. Something... strange has come up."

So much for a recharging lunch.

But being President meant getting going whenever something came up. Danzig needed to speak with her, and so lunch could wait. She could always get another salad.

"Of course," Cynthia replied, standing up and pushing her chair in. "Would you like me to get the rest of the officials, or just me?"

Danzig tilted their head to the side. "Just you would be faster."

"Very well. Where would you like to meet? I can have a meeting room cleaned and ready within about fifteen or twenty minutes to the current Corville Medical Center protocols, or we can meet in the President's Room. It hasn't been cleaned, although it can be, and has only been me in there today."

"Your room will be fine. The ventilation system is the same throughout the building, right?"

"Yes, it's the same. I couldn't tell you the exact system off the top of my head, but it's been upgraded since the disease was discovered. I can get that information if you would like?"

Danzig waved a hand. "No, it's fine. Let's meet in your room. I'd like to get back to the Corville Medical Center soon, though, to keep working. Every second there is another second closer to figuring out everything about the disease, including how to treat it. But I did want to check in today."

"Very well. Shall we go?" Cynthia started off but paused when Danzig didn't follow. She turned around.

Danzig gestured to her plate. "Did you want to take your salad with you?"

"No," Cynthia said, "it's alright. I can eat later."

"I don't mind. Food is good for you. Take it from a doctor."

"I can eat later. I'd like to fully dedicate my attention to whatever it is you would like to discuss so I can process it all and make the appropriate decisions."

"Very well. Lead the way. I will follow you." Danzig ducked their head and gestured a hand toward the exit of the dining room.

The trip back to the President's Room was quiet. Neither Cynthia nor Danzig offered much conversation, though Cynthia found the silence comfortable. Both were busy and had lots on their mind, and the quiet served as a way to prepare. Danzig scribbled away in their notebook, turning between pages, scratching marks here and there.

When they reached the President's Room, Cynthia held the door for Danzig, who stepped through and gave a soft thanks. They tucked their notebook into a pocket.

"So what did you wish to talk about?" Cynthia asked as she walked around, back to the windows, to stand on her side of her desk. "Am I correct to assume that this is regarding the disease?"

Danzig sat down in the chair opposite Cynthia, twirling their pen. "Yes," they replied. "I am here about the disease."

"What would you like to discuss? I am all ears," Cynthia said. She pulled out a pad of paper to take notes on. "And if you need more funding, just give me a number and it's yours. Money or resources will not be the reason this disease is not brought under control and costs more lives."

Danzig shook their head. "No, no, it's not that. We have plenty of money, and I'm well aware that we can have access to whatever we need. I have two things I wanted to talk about."

Cynthia wrote the date on the corner of the page.

"Firstly," Danzig started, "some general information. I think it will come as no surprise to you —but still a disappointing fact— that the deaths are still rising. We still don't have a cure. It's not good. There's no other way to look at it. However, we are making progress. It's slow and I wish it was faster, but medicine doesn't always move quickly. Slow and steady wins the race, I guess you could say, even when it would be wonderful if fast and steady could do just as good a job."

Cynthia nodded. "Indeed it would be lovely if medicine could move quicker. But it's better to do it right the first time and make sure all necessary testing is done right."

"Very true. Measure twice, cut once," Danzig said before continuing: "Secondly... I can't think of a great way to say this, so I'll just say it. No one has survived the disease thus far, but I heard this rumor from Cloverleaf that there's someone who has. Supposedly someone who works in the mines contracted the disease and lived."