Chapter 13

CYNTHIA CORVILLE

When Cynthia woke up the following morning, the sun had yet to rise. Charlotte had already gotten dressed and was quietly reading a book under the soft light of the lamp on her bedside table.

"You're already up, Char?" Cynthia rolled over, rubbing an eye.

"Yes. Asa and Azrael Smith get here today, and I couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts buzzing around in my head. I thought reading for a while might help."

"I get that. I'm nervous, too. I really hope the team we've put together will be able to figure out who murdered Ashley Baok and why." Cynthia sat up, shifting to her wife's side and leaning her head on Charlotte's shoulder. Charlotte marked her page and set her book beside her, lacing their fingers together and cuddling closer.

"We should probably get up," Cynthia murmured after a few minutes.

"I'm already up."

"You know what I mean."

"We probably should. It's going to be a busy day today."

"It definitely will. We should be there when Asa and Azrael Smith get here to greet them."

"Yeah, we should. What time do they get here?"

Cynthia glanced back at the clock on her bedside table. "In... an hour and a half or so."

"That's enough time to get a quick breakfast and make sure we're ready. It'll be us, them, Gabriella, Linda, Delta, and Harold, right?"

"Yes."

"Let's get going, shall we, wifey dearest?" Charlotte climbed out of bed and offered a hand to Cynthia.

"I'm more partial to Sin than I am wifey dearest." Cynthia followed her wife out of bed.

They were quiet as they got ready. Charlotte returned to her book, sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs by the window. Cynthia got dressed. The sun began to peek over the horizon, casting a fiery blaze over the skyline of Corville, and the sounds of the city began to awaken once again.

Charlotte broke the silence as they made their way down the halls to get breakfast. "Do you think Delta will be on time?"

"I don't know. If he isn't, I'll start the process of getting him removed from Waverwell government. If he is, that'll be a first. For his sake, I hope he's on time, but I honestly doubt he will be."

"Would you like to make a bet?" Charlotte sped up to be a few steps in front of Cynthia and turned to walk at an angle.

"A bet?"

"If Delta is on time to the meeting, I will... buy you ice cream every day for a week. And if Delta is late to the meeting, you will buy me a slice of cheesecake every day for a week." Charlotte stopped and Cynthia followed suit.

"We share our money. What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine."

"That's not the point, Sin. The point is it's a bet and one of us will get dessert hand-delivered by the other for a week."

"A month and you've got a deal."

"A whole month?"

"Go big or go home." Cynthia smiled and stuck out her hand.

"Deal. If Delta is on time, I will buy you ice cream every day for a month, and if Delta is late, you will buy me a slice of cheesecake every day for a month." Charlotte took her hand and gave it a firm shake that Cynthia returned, just like her parents had taught her after she had come home from school one day and proudly announced she would become President of Waverwell. Her parents had said great! and told her that one of the first things she should do was get a good handshake, which they'd practiced for over an hour when she had insisted that they tell her every secret they knew about shaking someone's hand. There was nothing worse than a weak handshake that resembled a floppy, dead fish.

"You do know that if I wind up having to buy you cheesecake every day that I'll be taking a bite before I give it to you, right?"

"I do. Just like I will be snagging a scoop of ice cream before I give it to you, if you win."

"I'm glad we're on the same page."

"Me, too."

Cynthia and Charlotte sat across from each other in the dining room. Light from its tall windows lit up the space, and its high ceiling made it feel huge, despite its relatively compact size. Servers immediately brought out a variety of foods; fruits, pastries, eggs, and bacon, Cynthia's personal favorite. After a quick thank you, they both dug in.

"Do you think Asa and Azrael Smith are going to be able to figure out Ashley Baok's murder with the Moonfall Precinct?"

Cynthia finished chewing before replying, "I do. I mean, I do not know all of the details, obviously, but I do believe they will be able to get to the bottom of Ashley Baok's murder. They're the best detectives in Waverwell. Larson Hotch is very skilled as well, and Asa and Azrael have agreed to work with him. Ashley Baok's murder is believed to be one of the most brutal in Waverwell history, and, being that he was a member of the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit, a government-funded organization, it is very pressing that it is figured out what happened to him and why."

"They definitely are the best," Charlotte said after a bite of melon.

"How long do you think the investigation into Ashley Baok's murder will go on for? I am aware an investigation's length can vary greatly... it's just-," Cynthia paused for a few moments, biting her lip. "I want to know what happened. Ashley Baok didn't deserve that. I helped create the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit, and he was a part of it, and..."

Cynthia couldn't finish the sentence. She pressed her fist to her mouth as she took a deep breath to retain her composure. She was the President of Waverwell. She could show emotion when necessary, but she couldn't lose her composure.

"You feel guilty." It wasn't a question. Charlotte tilted her head to the side.

"A bit, yes," Cynthia replied. "If he hadn't been in the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit, would he still be here?"

"We'll never know. And investigators are still looking for evidence and piecing together a timeline of everything that happened in the weeks leading up to Ashley Baok's murder. I don't know what happened. The reasons behind his murder could be related to him being in the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit, but they also could have nothing to do with that. But we'll never know if he would've still been murdered because we cannot change the past. It sucks, and it sucks big time, I know that. I never got to meet Ashley Baok, but he seemed like an amazing person."

"He was. I wish I'd gotten to know him better. His personality could light up a room. He was one of the kindest people I've ever met." Cynthia smiled weakly. While she had only gotten to meet Ashley Baok a few times, he had always greeted her as if they'd been lifelong friends, treating her with respect and also a bit of normality she no longer got after being elected President of Waverwell. He interacted with her as if she were just another person living in Waverwell, not the President.

"I wish I'd gotten to meet him."

"I didn't know him well, but I feel like the two of you would've been great friends. You both have a pretty good sense of humor. I believe it was the second time I visited the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit's camp, and Charlie pulled a prank on Ashley. Whether or not she knew I would be there, I didn't know, but she pranked him. Apparently, it was Ashley's birthday and he loved caramel apples. After lunch, Charlie brought out what were supposedly caramel apples. However, he bit into one, and immediately started laughing. It wasn't an apple, it was an onion. Charlie was cackling and crying with laughter. She ran away, but Ashley still hit her in the back with the caramel onion. That evening, she got him again with chocolate-covered Brussel sprouts. I'll give it to her, she is very clever with pranks. She had several that were actually chocolate truffles to convince him that she wasn't pranking him. Yet she still did. Ashley laughed it off, playfully tossed a few of the Brussel sprouts at her, told her she'd gotten him good, and then vowed to get her back."

"Wow, that would take some planning on Charlie's part." Charlotte chuckled.

"Ren said she has a notebook filled with pranks she's thought up. They said not to tell her they knew about the journal though since no one was supposed to know. Apparently, the pranks are a regular occurrence, though."

"Do they still get their work done?"

"Yes, they do. As long as they're using their allotted money wisely and, obviously, getting their job done, I don't really care what they do in their free time. Besides, pranks and goofing off would lighten the mood. I've never personally gone after a poacher or removed snares and traps, but I would imagine it can get tedious and dreary at times. Taking time to decompress and have fun with each other would keep things a little lighter."

"Yeah, I would agree with you there."

xxxx

At first glance, Asa and Azrael Smith did not look like siblings. Asa had straight brown hair that fell to just below her shoulders in neat locks, while Azrael's fiery red hair cascaded down her back in unruly clumps. Asa had a soft, quiet confidence that gave her a careful, thoughtful presence. Azrael's loud, brutally honest personality and the way she could instantly turn a room's attention to her reminded Cynthia of Charlie Springs.

Many had doubted Asa and Azrael's abilities as detectives. They were women doing what many had called a man's job, something that felt far too familiar to Cynthia. More than once she had been told to marry a husband and let him become President. But why marry someone she didn't love when she could marry Charlotte, whom she did? Why let someone else become President and when she herself could? Cynthia had little doubt that Asa and Azrael held a similar thought process to the one she had: they wanted to become detectives, so they put in the work and did. Cynthia wanted to become President of Waverwell, so she put in the work and did.

Asa and Azrael Smith wore matching grey suits, and they strolled into the Waverwell government building with an air of confidence that clung to them. Asa held a briefcase in one hand. Cynthia stepped toward them with Charlotte right behind her to greet them. "Hello, Asa and Azrael Smith. Thank you for coming here."

"It's a pleasure," Asa said. "I wish it were under better circumstances, though."

"You don't need to be so formal, President Corville. Call me Az." Cynthia shook Azrael's hand firmly, just like her parents had taught.

"I will do that. And, please, call me Cynthia."

"Alrighty, then. I will, Cynthia." Azrael pulled off her gloves and stuck them in the pocket of her coat.

"Please, right this way. I hope the trip to Corville wasn't too bad?" Charlotte led the group down a hallway toward the meeting room.

"We actually came up yesterday. We had planned a trip to Corville a few months ago. Today's meeting coincided with the trip so we just moved a few things around and took most of yesterday to speak with Larson Hotch and look over what had been discovered in Ashley Baok's murder. Dal is busy like Corville is, but the Corville busy feels less... Dal's bustling, always moving, crawling with packed streets filled with people and cars. Corville is busy, but it doesn't hold the same energy Dal has. The architecture in Corville is gorgeous, though. I always forget how much I enjoy seeing it," Asa said, handing the briefcase to Azrael while she shucked off her overcoat and draped it over an arm.

When they reached the door of the waiting room, Cynthia took a deep breath. Delta Bass better be here already. She held the door as Asa and Azrael filed in after her wife.

Linda was seated at the end of the table, notebook already open and an array of pens lined up beside it. Gabriella gestured with both hands as she spoke with Harold, but fell silent at the sound of the door. Delta didn't look up from his phone, where he tapped away. Azrael narrowed her eyes at him but said nothing.

I owe you ice cream for a month, Charlotte murmured in Cynthia's ear, and she hummed in reply.

"Welcome, Asa and Azrael Smith. Thank you for joining us today. It is a pleasure to meet you both in person." Gabriella stood up and shook hands with the detectives. Her long dress flowed as she moved, silky, colorful fabrics whispering across each other. Gems on her heels glittered, and light glinted off her dangling earrings.

"Gabriella Torres, right?"

"Yes, I am Gabriella. You're Asa, correct?"

"I am. My sister is Azrael."

"You can call me Az. I usually just go by Az. A little more incognito, for when I don't necessarily want people knowing who I really am." Azrael smiled.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Very well. I will remember that, Az." Gabriella nodded.

Cynthia turned around when the door to the room opened abruptly. "I apologize for being late. I thought I left enough time for any traffic, but it would seem I did not. Myway Highway is still blocked off, so I drove down along the Waverwell Trainline. Long story short, I hit a bunch of traffic, and I apologize for being late. I'm here and I'm ready to go, though. Larson Hotch is at the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit camp and is helping in executing the Moonfall Precinct's search warrant, and I am here in his place. I'm Sedge Valentine, assistant lead detective with the Moonfall Precinct, and I use he, him, and his pronouns. And hello, President Corville. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"It is wonderful to meet you as well. Please, call me Cynthia."

Sedge hesitated for a few moments. "Uh, alright, Cynthia. My apologies once again for being late. It will not happen again."

"No worries. The traffic can be pretty bad. You should see the traffic in Dal. Standstill," Azrael replied, a smile playing across her face. "I don't believe we've met before, though. I'm Azrael Smith, though you can call me Az. I use she, her, and hers pronouns. How's it going? We'll be working together to investigate Ashley Baok's case, and I look forward to it."

"It would be a lot better if we knew more about Ashley Baok's murder and had solved it. It's a bizarre one. But I look forward to working with you, too." Sedge set his bag on the table and pulled off his long overcoat, draping it over the back of his chair. Dark brown hair fell in uneven locks over his forehead. He was tall —significantly taller than Cynthia— though he moved with an ease that didn't quite seem to match with his lanky frame.

"From what we have read about it, it certainly does seem unusual. But someone murdered Ashley Baok, whether it was one person or multiple, and so there is information, as well as clues. We just need to find them and piece them together in the right way." Asa shrugged, sitting down in the chair closest to her. Everyone else still standing followed suit.

"Can't you guys just do that?" Delta turned off his phone and set it beside him, looking up with an expression that reminded Cynthia of a petulant child.

"Just piece together what happened to Ashley Baok?" Sedge paused from opening the files and pulling out notes and documents to glance up at Delta.

"Yeah."

"I'm afraid it is not quite that easy. I wish it was, and, in some cases, it is very straightforward to figure out what happened. However, in the murder of Ashley Baok, it does not seem like it will be that way. Of course, we are still only two days into our investigation and are ensuring we are searching scenes thoroughly, documenting every piece of evidence, interviewing everyone who we believe may hold information, and following up on every tip we receive."

"Hm." Delta leaned back in his chair and stretched, placing his hands behind his head. When his phone dinged a few moments later, he picked it up and unlocked it, hunching over with his elbows on the table. Cynthia narrowed her eyes, irritation flickering within her, but she held her tongue: there were far more important things she needed to get done.

Delta could wait for another day.

"So, Az and I were looking through the documents you emailed to us last night. It seems like there are a bunch of holes in everything you've found so far. Did something not send right, or is that the case?" Asa leaned forward, forearms on the edge of the table.

"No, I believe everything sent correctly, though I will have someone look at that just to be sure. There are a lot of holes and things we that are currently confused about but that we will look into and examine until we fully understand. At the scene of Ashley Baok's murder, the land around it was completely bare. We didn't find any footprints, but we did find a tuft of artificial fur on the branch of a nearby tree. However, there were a few overlapping footprints behind a bush about twenty feet away."

"Yeah, we saw that." Azrael furrowed her eyebrows, nodding and mirroring Asa's posture.

"Considering that we found the footprints there but not around where Ashley Baok's body was located, we're thinking that there might've a witness. We're still trying to find them, though, and confirm whether or not there was a witness. The footprints didn't yield anything super helpful. We couldn't get an exact footprint and what we could get from it, it seems the shoes they were wearing are quite common. We're hoping they will come forward and contact us, but we are continuing to search for them as well."

"We'd like to go take a look around the scene and at all of the photographs and documents that you have so far, but from what we've read, I agree, it does seem that way. I'd have to see everything to say for sure, but I'm willing to bet there was a witness to Ashley Baok's murder."

"If I may," Gabriella said. "How would having a witness change things? Is there something we could do as members of the government to aid in your search? We don't have the knowledge or power you have as law enforcement, but we do have resources we can offer." Like Linda, she had a pad of paper out and was taking notes, though Cynthia didn't expect they would be quite as thorough, instead focusing on what Gabriella found important and what she felt she needed to keep track of for her job in Waverwell government.

"A witness means someone saw who murdered Ashley Baok. There wasn't another body, so either they got away or whoever murdered Ashley Baok caught up with them elsewhere and killed them there."

"And there isn't anything as to what the possible witness might've looked like?"

"No. The tire tracks on the gravel beside Myway Highway didn't give us a clear answer on the type of car, and from what we can tell the car is likely a very common one, just like the shoes. From the location and that the tire tracks were relatively fresh, we do believe it was the possible witness, but we cannot be certain that they weren't caused by someone driving who just so happened to stop on the side of the road and is completely unrelated to Ashley Baok's murder."

"Do you think there is a threat to the general public?" Cynthia asked. She hated the feel of the words in her mouth, the meaning behind them. "Are there any public safety measures we in Waverwell government need to implement?"

Linda sat up straighter at Cynthia's question, pen at the ready. Gabriella perked up too.

Asa glanced at Sedge, then at her sister. A silent exchange Cynthia could not follow.

Azrael was the one to speak, and it was clear each of her words were chosen carefully and measured out. "At the moment, the investigation is still so early. The answer to many questions is still I don't know. But no one is going to stop looking and searching. Because there are so many unanswered questions, there is a potential threat, but until we have a better idea of the criminal or criminals we are dealing with and can offer a more exact plan, we cannot currently say. But we will keep you updated."

"Do you think the rest of the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit is in danger, too?" Charlotte asked. She frowned. "I mean, most don't even know they really exist, but those they track down and arrest certainly have a reason to want to hurt them, even if it isn't one we'd agree with. Perhaps one of the poachers sought revenge?"

"It's something we're looking into, Mrs. Waver. But it is currently too early to say. I wish I could tell you right now exactly what happened and what the exact reason behind Ashley Baok's murder was, but I cannot." Sedge gave a tight smile.

Internally, Cynthia's heart clenched, but she kept a neutral expression. Oh, I hope the search of the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit's camp yields useful information. Especially what the motive was behind Ashley Baok's death. Who could've done something so terrible?

Cynthia's gut twisted, and she felt nauseous.

Delta held his phone at arm's length and took a picture.

"Delta, do not send that. We are in a meeting. That is incredibly disrespectful, both to us, and to Ashley Baok," Cynthia snapped.

"Someone wanted to know what I was doing. I need to keep my Muse popularity up." Delta shrugged.

"Do not send that picture. I do not care what you do in your own time, but when you are here, in Waverwell's government building, do not be on your phone. Take another picture or open Muse again during a meeting or any formal event, and you will be removed from office. I cannot believe I am having to say that, but here we are." Cynthia fixed Delta with her coldest glare. Delta didn't reply.

Asa and Azrael exchanged a subtle look, and Sedge's expression spoke of thinly veiled discomfort.

"Ok," Linda said, speaking slowly as if thinking out loud, bringing the focus back to Ashley Baok. "So, you're searching the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit's camp now and are collecting... evidence that'll be helpful for you. But what comes next? Are you going to need funding, Sedge? Asa and Azrael will be assisting you. They have access to every resource at Waverwell government's disposal, but will you need anything else? Because Ashley Baok was a member of the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit, a group that is a part of Waverwell government but is not involved in any decisions not directly related to Silverlight Forest or themselves, his murder will be treated the same as if a Waverwell government official had been murdered. I have Waverwell's law if you would like to take a look." Linda held up a book labeled, in big golden letters, Waverwell Law, Updated Version. A bookmark stuck out from the pages, holding its place about halfway through.

"Yes, we were made aware of that." Sedge nodded. "Of course, every murder is important and absolutely should be solved to give families and loved ones some closure and to hold those responsible accountable for their horrible actions, but we are treating Ashley Baok's murder with more urgency. That is partially because of the fact that he was a member of an organization affiliated with the government and the law requires urgency, but also because of the nature of his murder. We do not know who did it or if they have plans to strike again. Until we know the motive behind Ashley Baok's murder, we cannot say whether or not those responsible will kill again. But I can say with certainty that whoever murdered Ashley Baok has no qualms about torture or murder and no care for human life, and I do believe that, if given the chance, those responsible could and would kill again.

"We will, of course, continue on every other case we have open right now, but Ashley Baok's is one that will be taking priority. With how brutally he was murdered, how much we still do not know, and the fact that he was a member of a government organization, we are considering this a matter of national security. The Moonfall Precinct will be communicating with the other Precincts in Waverwell, and with Asa and Azrael Smith as the team working on Ashley Baok's case."

Linda hummed in reply, eyebrows furrowing slightly. She jotted down a few more notes and then turned to a new page. She brushed a lock of hair that had fallen into her face over her shoulder.

"What do you need?" Guilt curled in the pit of Cynthia's stomach, sitting heavily within her like a lead weight. Would Ashley Baok still be here if the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit had never been created? If I never signed it into existence?

But another question wriggled its way into her mind: Did the lives of the animals saved and the arrests made by the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit somehow make Ashley's murder a little less bad?

Cynthia hated herself for thinking that. For letting the thought cross her mind. A human life was lost, and she was trying to make the murder of a person sound less bad. A little more palatable. Trying to make it sound worth it in some twisted way. How could the cost of a human life really make anything worth it? Whatever was won cost someone a friend, a spouse, a sibling, a cousin, a parent, a child, someone they loved. Someone lost someone they cared about. So how could anything be truly worth it if, at the end of the day, someone's life was still taken?

"As soon as this is over, I'll take Asa and Azrael to Silverlight Forest so they can see the scene in person and go through everything we've figured out so far. I can't say for sure, but I'm guessing we'll need Myway Highway shut down for another few days. Am I correct in assuming you will likely be doing more press conferences to speak with the public?" Sedge turned to face Cynthia.

"Yes, that is correct," she said. "Is there anything I shouldn't say?"

"Yes, most definitely," Sedge replied, nodding. "With a murder that is as big as this one is, it is especially important to keep certain details confidential. I will get you a list of everything you should not say by the end of the day. Most of the publicity surrounding Ashley's Baok murder is that it was one of the most brutal, although many do know a bit about who he was and that he was a member of the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit. We do not want many of the finer details revealed, like the exact way he died. Saying that it was a brutal murder is ok, but the ways in which he was injured and the wounds that were inflicted upon him need to remain unknown to the public, as do the exact location. Anyone who watched Waverwell News or happened to be driving along Myway Highway as we were blocking off the area knows that it was in Silverlight Forest, but the scene cannot be seen from the road. No details have been revealed as to what Ashley Baok had on him or what he was wearing, and we need to keep it that way."

"Understood. I will memorize the list and ensure nothing said to the public, either by me or anyone else, regarding the murder of Ashley Baok conflicts with the list."

"One more thing before we're done: nothing said here today in this meeting leaves this room." Sedge tugged his jacket from the back of his chair as he stood up, meeting everyone's eyes with a hard stare.

"Of course." Charlotte nodded, and Cynthia echoed her statement.

"My lips are sealed," Gabriella said. She gathered the documents Sedge had brought and handed them to him. He offered a quick thanks in response.

"I won't say a word. Thank you for coming here and speaking with us. I hope this will be a straightforward investigation." Harold gave Sedge's hand a firm shake that was returned.

"Thank you," Sedge replied, though the hesitation in his gaze betrayed that he did not fully agree with Harold. The murder of Ashley Baok was not a straightforward case, at least as of where they were at currently. Something could change, but Sedge did not think so.

Cynthia hoped that some piece of evidence would be found, and it would be that piece of the puzzle that made every other one fall into place. Something that would give someone that lightbulb moment and it would be oh, everything makes sense now! I know what happened. But something in her told her no. If one question were answered, more would only take its place.

She hoped with all her heart it wasn't true. It would be a straightforward investigation. Once the Moonfall Precinct —now with Asa and Azrael Smith— searched the locations first on their list, they would work out what happened and why whoever tortured and then murdered Ashley Baok did so, and it would be quick. Kristin Baok could get closure, as could the rest of the Silverlight Forest Protection Unit.

Cynthia took a deep breath. Perhaps once everything was figured out, the guilt gnawing a hole in her chest would subside. Maybe all the what if's hurtling around in her mind would slow.

"Why can't I say anything? Imagine all the favorites and comments I'll get. With a body like mine and my name... and saying that I'm helping out in a murder. I'll get laid every night... multiple chicks a night. The hottest chicks in Waverwell. Imagine everything I could do. Oh, yeah." Delta's gaze turned distant as he played out whatever fantasy he had dreamed up, a smile that Cynthia wanted to smack right off his face spreading like ooze.

Nausea rolled in Cynthia's stomach. Once Ashley Baok's murder had been solved, she would look into getting Delta removed from Waverwell government. She was sure that if she went digging, she would find enough that would more than warrant his removal.

"Helping out in a murder is rather generous," Gabriella muttered. Cynthia held back a snort of laughter. Helping out really was stretching the truth quite far.

"You cannot say anything, Delta, because the information shared in this room during this meeting is confidential. I am happy to go through everything you can and cannot share with the public, though, if you'd like," Sedge offered, before adding: "As for you... getting laid, I do not have a place saying what you can and cannot do with your body, so long as everything remains consensual. But I am sure you can find a willing and eager participant without needing to mention anything about Ashley Baok's murder."

"You know," Azrael said, a hint of sarcasm laced through her words. "I've heard mentioning murder before... getting down and dirty really ruins the mood. There are far better ways one could go about finding a partner."

"Yeah, you're right, it really would. I'll stick with what I know works. Pull the right cards and play the right moves, and they'll just come rolling all in and I'll pick the hottest, sexiest ones."

"Delta?"

"Yes?"

"Please stop talking." Gabriella gave him a tight smile that dripped with false warmth and thinly-veiled disgust.

"I think we're done here." Cynthia clapped her hands, speaking before Delta could open his mouth.

The desire to be anywhere that Delta wasn't grew through every cell in her body like a weed.

xxxx

Cynthia and Charlotte led Sedge, Asa, and Azrael to the entrance of Waverwell's government building. Azrael donned her coat and held onto the sisters' briefcase in a gloved grip.

"Thank you for hosting this meeting, Cynthia. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise, Sedge. If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out. And Myway Highway can remain shut down for as long as you need."

"Understood. I appreciate it. Are you ready to go, Asa and Azrael?"

"Yup," Azrael said. "We'll follow you. Let us know which car you're in, though, so we follow the right one. Myway Highway is a long stretch and I'd really rather not drive it all if I don't have to. Beautiful scenery, but we've got a murder to solve."

"Of course." Sedge nodded, buttoning up his coat.

Cynthia watched as the three of them exited Waverwell's government building. Charlotte took her hand and gave it a tight squeeze that Cynthia returned.

A flicker of hope bloomed in her chest, a ray of light breaking through the darkest of nights. She didn't know if anyone was listening, if anyone had some higher power and the ability to pull the strings of fate, but she silently asked that, if someone did exist, for them to allow the investigation into the murder of Ashley Baok to be a smooth one.

Please, she pleaded. Ashley Baok didn't deserve what happened to him. Let Asa and Azrael Smith and the Moonfall Precinct have as quick an investigation as one into a murder could be.