"It doesn't make sense at all. Three cases of disappearance, two of explicit murder. If it was a single person doing it, or a bunch of people led by someone, why would they act so off-beat? In this last case, many people were wandering the streets at this time, mostly workers going out of their respective jobs and going home. It makes me think that they killed these people in public deliberately."
As Tobey talked, everyone stopped what they were doing just to look at him and watch as he reasoned deeply into that matter.
"Deliberately? What do you mean? It is a case of double homicide. Do you think that the people responsible for this would risk themselves to get caught like this with no apparent reason?" Beca asked, crossing her arms under her bust while frowning hard.
Tobey continued looking at that whiteboard while stroking his chin, his mind working at full speed. He walked across the room in slow steps as he took some archives and began to read them, also as asking his teammates about new ones that he just found.
"Yes. Deliberately. No doubt about it. It is common sense that, between five and seven in the afternoon the streets are quite crowded. Many vehicles are passing by as well. The people who did it wanted everyone to see it, particularly the authorities and our department. It's merely a way to divert our attention.
"As I could see in the archives, the weapon chosen to take down the second guy was a bat. He also had bruises caused by something like an iron pipe or something like this. This kind of weapon is mostly used by gangs, robbers, vandals... The first one was killed brutally, but with no weapons. This lack of pattern and the weapons chosen are only a way to divert our attention.
"After all, while we are searching for a gang or a criminal organization promoting violence in public on the streets, we would forget about the main point, which is Case-37 and..."
As he was finishing his line of thought, Tobey let his jaw drop. As he reasoned, he got too absorbed and didn't realize where that path was going.
'Mask, I know we are kind of fighting right now...'
[We are not. Love you, dog.]
'Anyway... leaving this aside, just help me with this matter. I need to know whether I am going crazy or not.'
Mask giggled inside his head.
[Well, I am just as smart as you are. I can see where this is going.]
'Yes. So you noticed as well the possibility that all these three cases might be somehow connected? I am not talking about the eccentric murdering on the streets yesterday and the disappearance of those three guys that was our fault. But, Case-37 is most likely part of it as well!
'All this time, we have been running in circles because there was something we didn't know. And we would probably be running forever and die searching, because all this time we were trying to find paladins and demons in a world of humans! We were targeting the wrong race here!'
[Haha, I noticed it since the day I began to search about this case in your memories. Of course, it would be funnier to see you realizing it on your own.]
'Hmph, that's not a surprise, coming from you. Anyhow, now that I have your agreement, everything is clear!'
"Beca, I am leaving. Say to the marshal to leave these three cases with me!" Tobey said after taking one more look at the three different whiteboards placed in the room; one of them especially to Case-37.
[Wow, you are in a haste, huh?]
'Yes. For two reasons: I feel like I have a clue about one more paladin on the list that the demon said to me. Moreover, I feel like I can finally solve this hellish case that is going on for months. The citizens won't live in fear and hesitation anymore!'
Tobey was about to run out of the department, but someone stopped him.
"Where do you think you are going without your beloved partner, you fool?" someone said. Tobey turned to him immediately, his lips forming a smile.
"Roger!" Tobey greeted his partner, the man with almond eyes and light brown hair. They clasped their hands in a loud high-five.
"I thought I had killed you, man. It seems like I will need some more shoots..."
"Haha! You bastard! You are the only person in the world that would ever be able to say this to me after giving me a shoot in my damn belly!"
"So, are you coming with me? Let's solve this case together?"
"But of course! The vacation is over for the two best detectives of this freaking department. Now, wait for a little, because I will take my cereal bars."
Tobey nodded his head and headed to the exit of the department hastily.
Upon seeing that interaction, the entire department couldn't help but get excited. They felt like history was being made in front of them. After months of fear and anxiety, Case-37 would finally get solved.
They celebrated inwardly, though avoided talking about what they heard. They feared that, if they opened their mouths, everything would start to go wrong. It was better to wait until he was done to say something.
Beca, contrary to the others, sighed internally as she looked at that man. She felt a mix of happiness, admiration, and concern while looking at his wide back.
She entered the marshal's room, being received with a glare.
"Tobey said to leave the three cases to him. He seems to have found out something interesting. Seeing his confidence, I think we are near the finish line," she reported, being as straightforward as possible.
The marshal nodded his head. His expression went from annoyed and pissed off to surprised and curious in a matter of seconds.
Beca was going to leave but hesitated.
"Do you think that he's got this? Aren't we being precipitated?"
"Are you kidding me, Beca? How long are you working here, after all?" he said in a solemn tone. "He is Tobey Foster, remember?"
Beca giggled, shaking her head.
"Yeah, yeah... Sometimes I forget."
****
"So, what are you into?" Roger asked as he entered his car. Tobey was in the driver's seat, taking notes in a black handbook.
"We are going to talk with someone I know very well. However, first of all, I need to go to that orphanage again."
"Case-37's main suspect. Particularly regarding the kidnaps of kids. However, we agreed that that place wasn't the only culprit since adults were disappearing as well, right? Is there something I am not aware of?" Roger inquired.
"No. Nothing new appeared in the department. It's just that I haven't been resting during my time on vacation. You will see once we get there."
Tobey gave a pause as he put his handbook in his pocket and placed his hands on the steering wheel.
"Did you bring your gun?"
"Of course! It's on my holster, at the usual place: my waist. Ready to bang some punks! Did you think I went to my room just to get cereal bars?"
"Haha, surely not! Also, are you still going to the gym?"
"Can't you see just by looking at me?"
"Then, we are ready. Let's go to that orphanage."
****
The duo finally got to the orphanage. It didn't take too long for them to get there. The downtown area was quite big, but Tobey knew very well the shortcuts, which saved them a lot of time.
"You better not shoot at me again, man," Roger mocked. For him, it was ok to make such a joke since they were going to do just some investigation.
Tobey didn't laugh nor reacted to what he said. He just kept looking forward with his usual nonchalant face and cold eyes.
[You look so cool when you are like this, really. I have a bit more respect for you every time you get to act like this.]
'Will you really start to talk right now. You are ruining my mood, and I am already pissed off.'
[Hoho... so you are going to get serious now? I am looking forward to this! If you ever want help, you know that you can count on me, right~? You just need to let go of the wheel...] he said in a dark and serious tone of voice.
'Shut up, Mask.'
Tobey left the car and went straight to the orphanage without sparing a glance to Roger, who followed him with wariness.
Once they opened the door, they were received right away by a woman, who opened a bright smile to them.
"Oh! Visitors! How can I help you?"
Tobey took his pistol from his waist, cocking it and pointing at the woman.
"You can start by answering my questions," he said while narrowing his eyes and placing his finger at the trigger.
[Sh*t! Things escalated quick as hell!]