"The Deputy Chief was involved in this case?" Tores asked, his tone laced with confusion. The sentiment was echoed in the puzzled expressions of the others. Most of them, having skimmed through the reports, couldn't recall Edward Zahar's name being mentioned in connection to any significant cases.
"Yeah, well," Malvin replied, noting their bewilderment, "the Deputy Chief has specific orders to leave him out of any cases he's a part of."
That only deepened the confusion. "Why?" Jos asked, his brows knitting together. "That doesn't make any sense."
Malvin turned to him with a shrug. "Don't ask me. I have no idea how that man's mind works," he admitted, propping his head on his fist. "Probably has something to do with the whole 'cloak and dagger' thing he's always got going on."
Though it didn't entirely satisfy their curiosity, it was at least something resembling an answer. Aeron, however, rubbed his chin thoughtfully with his metallic right hand. "The Deputy Chief, huh? From what little I know of him, he should be good with a case like this."
"He really was," Malvin said with a sigh. "He pretty much singlehandedly turned this entire case around." His tone grew quieter, a shadow crossing his face as he added, "Even if three more people died after he got involved." The weight of those words lingered in the air for a moment.
Jos tilted his head, clearly considering something, before breaking the silence. "By the way, Captain," he began, his curiosity piqued, "why did you say you usually can't stand the Deputy Chief?"
Malvin hummed in response, but before he could answer, Loreen cut in. "There are plenty of good reasons to not like the Deputy Chief," she said, her voice sharp. Clare nodded in agreement, crossing her arms with an indignant huff. The response left the guys looking even more confused.
"I doubt your reasons for not liking him are the same as mine," Malvin muttered, waving a hand dismissively. "For me, it's because he's a smug prick who acts like he's better than everyone around him and especially me for some reason." His annoyance was written all over his face.
"But... he is your superior, though?" Tores pointed out cautiously, trying to understand.
Malvin scoffed, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "Yeah, I get it—he outranks me. But I mean as a person. He always carries himself like he's two steps ahead of everyone else, and he's constantly got this 'I-know-something-you-don't' attitude. Makes you feel like you're just a pawn in some game only he knows the rules to," he said, his scowl deepening. "That's why I don't like him."
"I kind of get why you don't like him, Captain," Aeron said flatly, his usual deadpan tone carrying a hint of understanding. He then turned to Clare and Loreen, curiosity flickering in his gaze. "But why don't you two like him?"
Clare clicked her tongue sharply, an unexpectedly aggressive gesture from the usually apologetic sergeant. "I don't think any of the women at the station like the Deputy Chief," she said, her voice tight with frustration.
Loreen crossed her arms and nodded in agreement. "He's a pest. A total nuisance who constantly flirts with any of us he can corner."
Clare's glare hardened as she added, "Even when some of us are in relationships."
Malvin chose to stay out of the conversation entirely, leaning back in his chair with an indifferent look, but Aeron, Tores, and Jos exchanged uneasy glances.
"Seriously?" Jos asked, his tone skeptical.
"Yes," Loreen replied curtly, her expression leaving no room for doubt.
"Well, that's… something," Aeron muttered, sounding uncharacteristically baffled. He tilted his head slightly. "But wait—doesn't the Deputy Chief have a wife and kids?"
Tores scratched the back of his head, chiming in with a confused, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I heard that too."
Malvin let out a short, humorless laugh. "I can say with almost absolute certainty—that's a lie."
Jos frowned. "Yeah, didn't he say he was widowed? That his family died in a fire?"
"That's another lie," Malvin replied dryly.
Clare shook her head, her voice dripping with disdain. "Even if either of those stories were true, I wouldn't put it past him to cheat on his wife. He's that kind of man."
The group fell silent for a moment, processing the unexpected layers of deception. Then Aeron broke the silence, turning toward Malvin with a raised eyebrow. "So what's the truth, Captain?"
Malvin exhaled through his nose, clearly reluctant but ultimately deciding to explain. "The Deputy Chief is from a family of merchants from outside the city. Thanks to some connections with the former Deputy Chief and his own genuine intellect, he managed to join the Ironguard and climb his way to his current position."
The room went still for a beat as everyone stared at Malvin, visibly surprised.
"What?" Malvin asked, glancing between them.
"We're just shocked you actually answered," Clare said, speaking for the group as they all nodded in agreement.
Loreen narrowed her eyes in curiosity. "And how do you even know that's true?"
"Yeah," Jos added, leaning forward, "and why did you sound like you were reading off a script?"
Malvin shrugged, unfazed by their reactions. "I heard it directly from the Deputy Chief's sister," he explained, leaning back in his chair again.
That caught them off guard once more. "The Deputy Chief has a sister?" Tores asked, his brow furrowing.
Malvin nodded. "Yep."
Jos tilted his head, intrigued. "What's she like?"
Malvin raised an eyebrow at the question. "If you're asking about her appearance, she's similar to the Deputy Chief—just, you know, a lot more feminine. As for her personality, she's better than her brother, that's for sure. But…" He trailed off for a moment, a faint shiver running through him.
"But?" Aeron prompted, his tone neutral as always.
"But..." Malvin rubbed his arms and grimaced. "I feel like the moment I let my guard down, that woman's going to pounce on me."
The group blinked at him, momentarily distracted by the unexpected admission. However, they quickly remembered the point of the discussion as Clare redirected them. "Anyway, Captain, what happened after the Deputy Chief got involved?"
Malvin shook himself, clearing the discomfort from his mind. "Oh, right." He settled into his chair, straightening his posture as he prepared to continue. "What happened after that was..."