*THUMP!*
Placing his luggage on the ground, Kazimir takes out his phone to check the time.
*"It's a little after lunchtime, so surprising them this time should go smoothly."*
He hails a taxi and the two young men put their luggage in the trunk before getting in the backseat.
"I haven't been here in a while. Probably since I was 5 years old." Alexei says, looking out of the car window.
"Never been here in my entire life, so you'll probably know the way around here better than me." Kazimir adds, tapping the taxi's driver shoulder to get him to stop.
The young law student chuckles.
"I don't know about that."
Stepping out of the car, the two grab their bags and head onto the porch of the small house.
*Ding Dong!*
"Arf! Arf! Arf!"
"Ah, dammit." Kazimir mutters with a sigh.
Running from the behind the house was Caramel-Strawberry, the quirky little Maltese.
"Hey, girl. How have you been?"
"Arf!" she replies as a good.
Kazimir chuckles.
"I have someone I'd like you to meet. Look, this is Alexei La'rine. Say hi."
Caramel-Strawberry prances over and Alexei squats down to let her get used to his scent.
"That's my parents' dog; her name is Caramel-Strawberry but I just call her Carabelle for short." Kazimir says.
"They're both pretty names." the young law student replies. "Hello there, love. I'm Alexei."
Immediately, the small puppy curls up at the young man's feet and he deeply chuckles.
"Caramel-Strawberry, it's too cold to run out- KAZIMIR?!"
Looking over at the door opening, the two men watch as Mrs. Cizetto quickly makes her way over, hugging her youngest child.
"Kazimirie, you came to visit! Why didn't you tell us you were coming?!"
Kazimir shrugs and slightly smiles.
"Oh, uh, I just wanted to surprise you and dad."
"My goodness, you sure just love surprising us, don't you?!"
Stepping back from the young detective, Mrs. Cizetto looks over Kazimir's shoulder and warmly smiles.
"And who might we have here?"
"Oh, this is Alexei La'rine." Kazimir says, as Alexei makes his way over. "He's a good friend of mine. Alexei, this is my mama, Yuriko Cizetto."
"Oh, you must be one of Khristina-Bella's older brothers!" The woman says, smiling. "It's nice to finally meet you!"
Taking the older woman's hand, Alexei gives it a kiss and she slightly blushes.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, my dear. Yes, I'm her second oldest brother, our eldest is currently watching her. She's a bit tired as of now."
"And I'm sure you both are, too. Come in and I'll show you both your rooms. I just put some peppermint tea on as well."
Kazimir and Alexei walk inside, placing their bags in their respective rooms, before going back into the living room.
"Now, tell me. What brings you two here?" Mrs. Cizetto asks, sitting down.
"Like I said, I just wanted to surprise you, mama. See how well you and dad were fairing." Kazimir says.
"My dear, I'd like to help you and your husband get the proper justice for your late daughter. Once I get my lawyer's license, I'll immediately see to it that your fair trial begins."
Turning to Alexei, Mrs. Cizetto sadly smiles.
"So you must be the brother in law school. I really do thank you a lot but the police department closed our daughter's case years ago. No matter how much we try, they'll just eventually squash us back down like a bug."
"I understand how you must feel, but really, I'd like to try. Your son here has been a big help to me when it came to watching Khristina, so I'd like to return the favor." Alexei says, grabbing her hands.
Mrs. Cizetto sighs and nods.
"Are you sure, Alexei? It's very risky for aspiring lawyers like you to go up against big groups such as the police department."
"I know, my dear. I just think someone has to take the risk and show the others we don't have to live in fear of the corrupt." Alexei replies, giving her a reassuring smile. "I only have one year left of school and I'd like to take that time to carefully go over your daughter's case."
"Well, if you say so. But please be careful, I don't want you losing your life for strangers you barely know. Please pardon me, I need to check the peppermint tea."
The front door opens and in walks Mr. Cizetto.
"You teleported here, son?" the man asks, putting a bag of groceries down. "By the way, who's your friend?"
"Yeah, definitely." Kazimir replies, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, this is Alexei La'rine. He's Khristina's second oldest brother and is planning to take on Camille's case. Alexei, this is my father, Nikolai Cizetto."
Mr. Cizetto gives Alexei a nod and shakes his hand.
"It's nice to meet you. Kazimir here speaks very highly of you."
"Your son is a very intelligent young man himself." Alexei says, shaking the man's hand. "A great impresser."
"You speak Russian, son? I sense that you have a strong accent."
The young law student nods.
"Да, это мой родной язык (Yes, it's my first language)."
Turning to Kazimir, Mr. Cizetto gives him a smile.
"Glad you're finally making friends with smart people, son."
He turns back to Alexei and the two continue a new conversation in Russian.
"The peppermint tea is ready!"
Placing a small tray on the coffee table, Mrs. Cizetto goes around the room, handing each of the men a tea cup.
"Thanks, mama." Kazimir says, almost in a whisper-like way.
The older woman slightly raises a brow.
"Kazimir, is something the matter?"
"No, I'm alright."
"Kazimir." Mrs. Cizetto says in a stern voice, crossing her arms.
The young detective sighs and shrugs.
"Can we speak outside?"
Following his mother to the backyard, Kazimir takes a seat next to her on the bench.
"Mama, I'm worried. Ever since the house fire, I can't shake off this feeling that something's horrible going to happen to you both."
"Honey, what're you talking about?" the older woman says.
"You want me to be honest, don't you?"
Mrs. Cizetto nods and Kazimir shrugs.
"I have a feeling you and dad are going to get killed."
"Now Kazimirie, that's-
"Hold on a minute, mama."
Mrs. Cizetto watches as her son walks back inside the house, before coming back out with a suitcase.
With a thud, he drops it onto the ground, before unzipping it.
"Kazimir Ryushi Cizetto! Where in heaven's name did you get those?! Your father already has one in the house, we don't need anymore!"
Looking down in absolute horror at the machine guns, the woman grips her tea cup softly.
"Mama, please don't ask questions. Listen, the ones that have a red mark on them are extremely high-powered."
She looks down at them, carefully picking one up.
"They don't even make these anymore. Honey, I understand you're a detective, but that doesn't allow you to keep the weapons once you're finished examining them."
"Anyway, I know dad knows how to handle them, so you can just leave it up to him." Kazimir says, zipping the suitcase back up.
"Kazimirie, what in the world has gotten into you? I thought putting you in the mental hospital would've helped a-
"This isn't about me going insane again, mama. You say I should trust you and I do, so I hope you'll do the same."
"Kazimir, I'll listen to you, but I'm starting to agree with your father. I believe it's time for you to think about getting a new job. Something a little less dangerous." Mrs. Cizetto says. "Almost every other day, there's a new death in the Claiza City newspaper online that talks about a law enforcement officer hospitalized and then dying a couple days later. We just want you to be safe, sweetie."
She watches as her son's eyes seemed to turn a deeper shade of red, something she'd never seen before.
"Then you and dad can keep believing, mama."
"Yuriko, put some more of that peppermint tea on!"
Walking up beside his wife, Mr. Cizetto points down at the suitcase.
"What's that? New clothes?"
"Why don't you take a look?" the older woman replies.
Opening up the suitcase, Mr. Cizetto chuckles.
"Who the hell-
"Language, Nikolai."
"Who gave you all of this?"
Mrs. Cizetto turns to Kazimir and the older man laughs.
"With this amount of weapons, it's almost like our son's the one behind the murders."
"Nikolai, don't say that! Our babyboy is just trying to make his mark and show the citizens that 0.001% of the department can be trusted!" the woman says, fluffing Kazimir's hair.
She walks off to go make more peppermint tea and Mr. Cizetto continues to scan the guns.
"Whaddya say, Alexei? Think my son's a potential psychopath?"
"I think Kazimir's doing a great job as a detective. Anything he's focused on results in a quick yet successful completion."
The older man sighs and pats Kazimir's shoulder.
"I'm joking. Yuriko's right, you're a young man just trying to make a change in the place for the better. Now, let's test these new weapons out."
--- 11:48 P.M. ---
"Hmm, ordering a hit on another officer, huh?"
Looking behind him, Kazimir shrugs as Alexei stands beside him.
"Shouldn't you be asleep or something?"
"You sure can fool a lot of people, even your own parents. I have to give it to your father, you really are a psychopath."
"Was that supposed to be a compliment?" Kazimir asks, placing his phone in his pocket.
The young law student warmly chuckles.
"It can be whatever you deem it as, though I'm sure you get off on being called one. Anyway, I took someone's phone from that night and Merderaé is meeting again."
"Where?"
"Las Vegas." Alexei replies, looking up at the night sky. "They're having a little game night. Lots of money will be involved."
"Sounds like the perfect trip for you." Kazimir says.
"And you as well. I'm not always around to get my Khristina whatever she wants, so it's crucial you have the proper funds to support her."
The young detective sighs.
"When is this?"
"Two weeks from today. I understand you need to go back to work soon to continue your mini massacres, but money's on the line, Kazimir." Alexei replies. "Don't blow it."
"Okay, whatever. Is Haruki going to be there?"
"I don't know. If I had to take a guess, I'd probably say so."
The two stand in silence for a few minutes.
"Those weapons. You deal arms, huh?" Kazimir asks, watching as Caramel-Strawberry sleepily made her way over to him.
"I won't go against your claim."
Reaching into his coat, Alexei hands Kazimir a handgun.
"That's all yours for finally catching on. See you in the morning."
Kazimir watches as the young law student walks back in the house, before looking down at Caramel-Strawberry.
"You think I'm a psychopath, too?"