(LIBERNA)

Jardin Lore couldn’t move. Blood filled his wide eyes, his lungs, settled in his stomach, and forced bile up his throat. He slapped both hands up to cover his mouth, turning and fleeing from the scene.

Aedan watched him flee, then sighed. He tapped the shoulder of the nearest Lynx, a jittery looking young man surnamed Midi, and said, “follow him. Stop him if he tries to leave or hurt himself. Otherwise just report what he does to me later.” Midi nodded vigorously a few times and ran off after the Lore boy. Aedan watched him scamper off then turned back to the crime scene. The Master bedroom before him was drenched in blood and the body parts of Duke and Duchess Lore and their bodyguards were strewn about seemingly haphazardly but all were within his sight from the moment the door was opened.

“Uhm… Sir?” The Cat Aedan brought with him, Nave, asked, shuffling slightly closer. “Do… do you suspect Jardin?”

Aedan raised an eyebrow, “Why? He a friend of yours?”

Cat Nave shook his head, “No, no. He’s just a… a former classmate.”

“I don’t think Hurricane or Tsunami would be stupid enough to be so… obvious. But still… I also can’t believe they’d leave him alive randomly or as a mistake. He’s probably connected to them in some way. So the question becomes… is he aware of this connection?”

Aedan took a step inside the room, carefully avoiding the blood splatters as well as he could, scanning as he went for anything useful amongst the gore.

The Panther badge around his neck began to glow and beep. He pressed it and Symeon’s face was projected into the air in front of him. “Did you head to the crime scene alone?” He asked, eyebrows pinched together and mouth set in a slight frown.

“I have Midi and Nave.”

“I meant without me.” Symeon sighed.

Aedan shrugged, rubbing the back of his head, “I didn’t want it to get contaminated while waiting for you. What with servants reporting a survivor.”

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“What do you think of the survivor?”

“He’s not Hurricane or Tsunami that’s for damn sure.”

“But you think he’s a lead?”

Aedan nodded.

Symeon ran a hand through his hair, “Alright, just don’t do anything too crazy until I get there. We got another possible lead on my end from the first case. I’ll tell you about it when I get there.” Symeon hung up, his face disappearing before Aedan could ask what he was talking about.

Aedan put his hands on his hips and sighed deeply. “Sir!” Nave called from the hallway

Aedan turned back towards the door. Hovering behind Nave was the Lore boy, pale faced with eyes detached and red-rimmed, “Is there a way I can help?”

*

Joaquin Midi caught up with Jardin Lore just as he ducked into a bathroom. Jardin collapsed to the ground in front of the toilet, puking up the rather liquidy contents of his stomach. Joaquin reeled back, swallowing down his own rising bile. But orders were orders, especially from Panther Aedan Waisar. Joaquin took a deep breath and stepped back into the bathroom.

Jardin leaned against the sink counter, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. With his other hand he scrolled through the menu projected by his glasses. He selected three names in quick succession: The Beast, Chaotic Bastard, and Mom #2. The first one to answer was “Mom #2”. The face of a young man with a rat’s nest of blonde hair appeared in front of Jardin’s face. He rubbed his eyes sleepily, “Is something wrong? You never get up this early after a night out.”

“Hurricane and Tsunami… My parents are…”

“I’m on my way!” He replied, suddenly alert, “Are there any Guardians on the scene yet?” He asked, smoothing down his hair.

Joaquin watched Jardin’s mouth open and close again, his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. Then Jardin nodded, “Dexter and…” his voice cracked and Joaquin would almost say that Jardin looked confused at the tears in his throat constricting his speech.

“I’ll get Dexter and Page too.” ‘Mom #2’ assured, “I’m going to hang up now, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Jardin nodded again and the hologram in front of his face disappeared.

He curled into himself, hiding his face behind his knees. For a while, Joaquin just watched Jardin, but eventually he couldn’t just stand watching the young man cry anymore and stepped forward hand out to offer Jardin comfort. However, Joaquin was startled when Jardin actually leaned into the hand and looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes, “Is your superior still in my parent’s room?”

Joaquin blinked in confusion, taking a good 20 seconds to process what Jardin said, “Uh, I think so.”

Jardin pushed himself to his feet, brushing past Joaquin, leaving him to jog after him.