Gone After the Wind

Chapter 26: Condition

It was two months ago when Cara, for first time, saw the station on fire. It was the time where Nelia Rasco's murder came up to their desk and Chief Alman convened a meeting to prevent another one from coming. Everyone was busy as a bee and each department/unit were on fire.

It didn't have any difference to what Cara is seeing now. Police officers from the crime scene had started to gather around the lobby, waiting for the conference room to be opened. They were mumbling to each other and Cara wondered if she's part of their topic. She wouldn't be surprised if they are discussing about it now. What Agent Rose founded at the scene is enough for them to include her as a subject to keep the conversation going on.

Out of the hallway, Faucalt suddenly appeared. His tight expression caught Cara's attention. She stood, hoping she'd be the first one to be called to enter. But judging Faucalt's avoidance to her gaze and mischievous smile playing on his lips, Cara hesitated. And right then, she knew, she wouldn't be joining the group like she should.

"Everyone, in the conference room. Now," announced Faucalt, gesturing the conference room. "Except you, Black. You're staying."

Jaw clenching, she rolled her eyes and glazed her lower lip with her tongue. Hard to not predict that. The moment Alman requested a private audience with Agent Rose and this annoying old man, she knew something up. Something that she wasn't allowed to know yet. Something that made her fit to receive such pretense.

"Alman wants to have a word. With you. Alone," Faucalt added. "After so many painful days, his senses are back. Finally. And he's currently reconsidering the decisions he made within those days. Including your reinstatement, of course, which by far the most stupidest one he did."

"Thanks," Cara replied flatly, refusing to indulge with his another yet nonsensical provoking.

Faucalt smiled. "May your luck be with you always, Black. Because once Senator Meredith makes his move, you'll lose every shred of it."

"I'll try to keep that in mind, Sir," Cara said cooly, ignoring the threat. She ambled past him, casting a glance to the conference room as she fought the impulse to peek inside.

Heading to Alman's office was comparable to walking in a black hole. Imperceptible and brooding with mystery. It was inconceivable that she'd return less than a week for reasons highly unalike to the previous one. Reasons threatening her chance to make up for the past. Reasons that rooted from that single discovery. She knew, eventually, the few information and events she has been withholding would come into light. But why it had come too soon? Why the inevitable arrived at the time she wasn't so much prepared like she planned to?

Biting her knuckles as she paced around the hallway, she tried to deduce what decision did Alman convene to deal with her this time. Was Faucault saying the truth? Is he starting to regret that he granted her a reinstatement?

Cara's shoulder jumped when the door creaked, footsteps resonating the eerie shriek and Agent Rose slammed it shut. Cara stopped pacing at once, staring blankly at the agent, for the first time hesitant to strike a conversation between them. Not that she always in favor to do that, but the indifferent look she was adapting dismissed even the lowest type of greeting and courtesy she could come up with.

"Are you going in?" she asked, stepping back to open the door. Her face was straight up blank as though she was speaking to a wall. Cara noticed that the habitual glee on her voice had gone flattened, and the spark on her eyes had faded like a star that had just died. There was suddenly an invisible wall, and Cara wasn't surprised to gain such reaction. If anything, her civility was even flattering. Others who had learned about her past never looked at her again. Some turned hostile and vile as though her mistakes was as bad as those criminals currently incarcerated. Some instantly gave her the cold shoulder as though her existence had vanished off the face of the earth after knowing what she did.

Fixing a weary smile, she said, "Yeah. May I?"

"Sure." Agent Rose held the door, and she immediately grasped the door knob to stop it from closing. She pressed her another palm on the cold surface of the door, stepping inside but stopped right away when Agent Rose spoke again.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Cara caught her breath, stepping backwards as she wheeled aroud. "Tell you what?" she said, feigning innocence.

"Everything that I should know about." She paused, studying Cara, and pulling an expression that screams authority and demanding a full blown answer. Pocketing both of her palms, she leaned on the wall with feet crossing to another. "Should I snatch away the liberty of specifying it? I'm confident you know what I'm referring to."

Of course, she knew what was all that about. It's a no-brainer that the issue here was nothing but the wonderful features of her past. There's no current interesting subject to be concerned about other than that. What else could there be?

"I do. And I'm genuinely sorry for holding back. I just failed to see its essence to my job as an investigator. Most particularly to the case that fills up the whole backbone of your involvement with us." Cara wetted her drying lips.

"Would have appreciated the honesty, though," Agent Rose argued. She breathed a long sigh before straightening up her back. "I'd like to discuss this with you sometime soon. If you want to close this case just as I do, you need to cooperate, be forthcoming as you can. Because there's no one else reliable that I can fully trust other than you. Make that worthwhile, please." Not waiting for a response, she strode off the hallway, disappearing into the same corridor that Cara had taken.

She pushed the conversation away, not too far but not too near to utmost priority. Once she had done brushing away the remnants of that exchance, she opened the door again, knocked twice before Alman granted the permission to enter.

Sifting through papers, glasses latched on, he gestured the same cushy seat and took the glasses off.

"Chief." Cara nodded.

"Skip the pleasantries and sit down. This is not going to take long," he said, shoving the papers to the other side.

Cara sat silently and no matter how soft the cushion was, it couldn't ease away the prickling sensation of anxiety building up in her gut.

"For years that I supervised you as the Chief, I'm sure you know how I loathed to beat around the bush. I've never been uncomfortable at being straightfoward and that's how I really am," he pointed out that made Cara's heart skipped a beat. "So I'm going to tell you now, Black, very frankly, that everyone is getting pissed with you being on the case. I received so many critics, scathing from several individuals that could force me to pull you out whenever they want. Especially Senator Meredith. You're exceptionally brilliant, Black. I know you know why I'm saying this and where this conversation is headed."

Squirming uncomfortably in her seat, clenching both of her fists, she raised an eyebrow. "I almost heard the 'but' in there, Sir."

Alman sighed heavily, grimacing as he enclasped his hads together. "I like you, Black. You are adept at everything requiring out-of-the box thinking. That's why I had no hesitations nor regrets to call you back, despite the fact that you almost imprisoned a man to death and the higher-ups were indignat with my decision. You're the only one I could count on solving this case. And I'm holding firm to that decision. But I have my limitations. I can't always favor your side. It's not infinite. And I can't keep my mouth shut if you continue to be dishonest with me."

Cara's jaw moved, and not liking the accusatory that she picked up from the last sentence. Sure she had blocked off several things from reaching his radar but that doesn't make her less than deserving of the chance he bestowed upon her. Why does it sound like she was jeopardizing the case by her actions where in fact she just saved it from collapsing?

"I want to know why, of all the thousand of people living in this entire state, your name has turned up in that victim's mouth. I'm not surprised that the killer knew you as he was once been hunted by you in the past. What I can't bring myself to understand is the meaning behind his message, and his intent for sending one. It's uncommon for people like him to communicate to police but when they do, it's always unsettling and often resulting to . So, why? Did you do something to get a response? Or you have come across some information that only both of you could understand."

"To be honest, I have no explicit answer that I can provide to you now, Sir," she said with full honesty. "I'm in the dark just as you are. If you expected me to understand this all, I'm afraid to tell you that I've failed to meet it. Of course, I have some ideas but I don't think you'll like it."

"Liking it or not doesn't matter. I need to hear it."

"He must've wanted to break my suspicion that he's the one who killed Marco as it is being laid in the letter," she conceded. "You see, I already submitted to the fact that they're different, and I'm no longer inclined to propose some conspiracy. And it's baffling for me that he suspected I was struggling to separate them."

"Do you believe him?" His eyes narrowed, all had a hint of scrutiny.

"Why would I not? His methods clearly differed from the way Marco had been handled. I don't see any connection."

"But...?" Alman probed.

"I do... have a strong feeling that he somewhat knew some information about Marco's executioner."

"And that intuition pushed you to hide the assault last night, am I right?"

Cara swallowed hard. "That, I can explain—"

One palm raised, Alman shook his head, urging her to discontinue. "You don't have to. Eric told me everything."

Who would have done that other than him?

"Why, Black? Why would you impede the investigation that aims to bring you good? I've been sitting on this s**t for hours and up until now, I couldn't understand your actions. Why?"

Cara licked her lower lip, suddenly enraged at the pressuring position that their conversation had led her. This is why she never considered telling them about the flower, the shadowy man, and the assault last night, because they'd demand an answer as though every key to the mysteries stems from her mind. Her data isn't yet completed, so many important points were still unknown, how could she supply them all the answers that would suit their curiosity?

Sighing, she finally ended the internal conflict caused by her opposing sides. "Yesterday afternoon, while we were out to interrogate Kyler Santine, I saw a man, surveying the area where Santine lived. I thought he was a spectator, as it was obvious the place wasn't frequently visited by outsiders. I checked the place where I saw him, and I... found something." She paused, shuddering as she recalled the encounter. "A bouquet of red dandelions was dropped several meters away from the set of bootprints. You might think that this is irrelevant but if you'd recall, the same specie of flower that was found in Marco's mouth was a dandelion, too."

Alman's eyebrows leveled, his eyes couldn't focused as panic and shock set in.

Breathing in, Cara continued, "Then when I came home, I found my house completely empty and unlocked. I knew something was wrong. So when I went upstairs, I had my weapon out. It had no use, though, because the perp overpowered me easily the moment his chance struck and I was sent to the floor." Cara winced as the wound stung a bit. "Later on, we found out from the cameras that the culprit was driving a green truck. And surprise, surprise, it was also the same model that stalked Sandy Hupman weeks before she disappeared. And the flower I discovered? Was also the same with the one we found on Florence Sykes mouth."

Alman was still silent like a rock, consuming each and every part of her narrative like a submissive student, not taking any chances to miss it.

"I decided to hide it because I know, and you'll agree with me on this, that if you learned I was visited by the culprit, you'd pull me out from the case. Faucalt will convince Meredith I'm incapable of doing my job, and I'm being delusional. I know not single one of you will believe me if I reveal what was happening. It's not going to be the first time, is it?"

Alman sighed and leaned on his chair. "Considering these conditions, you should've surrendered these information to me. As your boss, I'm entitled to know everything that involves the case and what you're up to. It's my duty to provide protection to you as one of my detectives. You robbed the chance to let me perform that."

Biting back the urge to retort, Cara said quietly, "I understand."

"Where's the bouquet now?"

"I've submitted it to the crime lab before I got in earlier. They've assured that results will be out within the next days or weeks."

"I'll have the case of your assault re-open. Until Agent Rose's departure, Eric will be leading it. The feds extended the period of their alliance, so we'll get the advantage of their resources for a few more days. Meanwhile, I want you to take a two-day break—"

He wasn't even done at the sentence when Cara firmly shook her head, chuckling ruefully. "No, you're not doing this to me."

Alman sniffed violently. His shoulders tensed and his eyes told vigilance, affronted by Cara's early dismissal. "You've been assaulted by a criminal you're chasing. He had broken into your home so easily, you should—"

"This is why I never intended to admit these with you!" Cara barked, losing grip on the control over her raging impulses.

Alman's expression turned grim. "Watch your tone, Black—"

"I'm not going to sulk and sit back while my case is progressing like I've never seen before. You're not going to take that chance away. I look weak and fragile, fine. But if you'll just believe in me, I might not just put an end to this serial murders. I might finally bring the justice to Marco. And you know damn well, Sir, how I've been craving for that for so long."

Silence reigned between them. Cara wanted to say more, demonstrate at Alman how determined she is to put an end to the murders and bring the killer in. She knew what she did two months ago had scarred her image inside their minds. It even broke their trust to her capabilities to continue her journey as a detective. Hard to accept, yes, but no changes can be made to alter the result of the past.

The only thing she craves now was the chance. To reconsider her. To make Alman favor her again. Even if hadn't been direct and frank, she could read through what was lying under his words earlier. Those two-day break he was proposing could very well turn into a week until they've found 'reasons' to kick her out. It's clear as the blue sky that the higher-ups are forcing him to withdrew her from the case, although it has only been almost a week. How could she prove something within such time? It's not only ridiculous but so ideal.

Alman let out a defeated sigh. "It's not going to be that easy. They've been waiting to spot an error from you. Faucault was the eye that spying on you, and he hadn't been patient not to whisper everything to Meredith. I'm going to be transparent to you, Black. The Senator wants you out, and he has the majority backing his whims up. He thinks you're not doing your job by its description. And that it's your fault why his daughter has yet to receive the justice. "

Cara didn't say anything. Her hands balled into fist. So the plot indeed thickens.

"It would only get worse once he got a hold of the information regarding what you found an hour ago," Alman continued. "I'm not saying I'm going to pass it to him. But Faucault... he'll never shut up until Meredith heard it himself. I want you to take a break so I could deal with them myself. Reasoned you out, and throw them off the hook."

Cara couldn't refrain herself from frowning. She couldn't disagree with that. Faucalt is the senator's lap dog and devoted slave. His loyalty has always been with that man.

"But not because they are conniving against you, I'm going to watch and let them drag you down. I'll go by with your resolution. I'll take care of them," Alman said, relieving Cara's worries at last. "I will stand by my decision until you prove to me that it was the righteous thing I did. I called you upon here to warn you about the impending aftermaths of everything had occurred. And I'm already telling you now that no matter what happened, don't give up. You're the only person who could find the light in these dark nightmares, Black. And I believe in you."

"Thank you, Chief," Cara muttered softly, her shoulders relaxing as her breath steadied its pace.

"Don't thank me yet," Alman said. "I simply refused to succumb to their wishes but the final decision will still depend on the results of this case. You're Cara Black, there's no way in hell that you'd let this case go cold."

Cara nodded, appreciating the sudden pour of compliments. Behind the soothing effect of Chief Alman's declaration of faith in her, a growing sense of fear inevitably started to expand within, planting seeds of doubts in her own mind. She knew she can bring the killer in, especially now that they discovered many leads to double up the chance of preventing another murder.

But why does it sound so terrifying for her?

Again, Cara brushed off the praises and only put up a small smile. The void just keeps growing inside her and she doesn't have any idea why she can't prevent it from eating her will. She had never doubted herself. Even before the tragedy happened, it was one of those rare occasions that she had questioned if she could succeed at something.

"As for the protection with you and your family, I'll station Eric and some men to patrol around your neighborhood. The fact that he had gained access to your boiled the possibility that he'd do it again. This could be our ticket on catching him. Be sure to cooperate. And if anything, anything, comes up again, I'll be the first one to know. Understood, Black?"

"Yes, Chief."

Alman stood up, hinting their discussion is done. "I'll do my best to fasten the process of examining those flowers. You took pictures of the bootprints, didn't you? Pass them onto Eric." He gestured the door. "Off you go, Black. Agent Rose is probably waiting for you."

Giving him another small yet grateful smile, she strode off and went to the door, closing it as she slid herself out. All the heightened stress and anxiety that she felt in their discussion hissed out like air coming from a severed balloon. She expected worse, had even pictured herself surrendering her badge again and storming off like what she did months ago. None of those happened. And it turned out rather well than Faucault had envisioned.

Smiling like a lovesick i***t, she straightened up her back and started walking away. It felt reassuring that Alman still on her side. Never doubted her for a moment. But it was one thing to feel that he'd even defend her against those sharks. That only measured how much his faith on her. Thank God Alman was nothing like those men.

When she reached the end of the hallway, Agent Rose was indeed waiting for her, drawn in with a call as she leaned against the wall.

"Mm-hmm. Send me the address. We'll go there once Cara's done with the meeting," she said, glancing up to her. She nodded, and ended the call. "That's Eric. They've just found the scene of the accident, and Florence Syke's car was indeed there."

"There's no time to waste, then."

Agent Rose smiled, pocketing herself. She suddenly threw the keys that Cara snatched right away. "You drive, Sherlock."