Jonathan tried to reason with her, "Uh! Listen honey, we will talk about the past events with the kids..." He took his coat from the corner of the bed and continued, "...once I get back, but right now I urgently need to speak with-" But before he could finish his sentence, Michelle interrupted him again, saying firmly, "You're not going anywhere. Forgot the bet?"
Jonathan lost patience and exclaimed, "Michelle! I don't think it applies with this being an urgent matter."
Michelle stood her ground, "Yes-"
"-It does." Eric showed up at the door just in time to finish Michelle's sentence.
"Thank you, Eric," Michelle said gratefully. Jonathan looked annoyed and announced to Eric, "Tell me one day in advance, just the two of us, for us to rearrange a one-on-one ring match just between us two." But Eric coughed, showing disinterest.
Jonathan tried to reason with Michelle again, "Honey, you don't seem to understand." Michelle responded from the closet where she was busy searching her clothing for work. She said, "I truly don't. And I don't want to understand!" Jonathan tried to lie, saying, "But I have work that I have to attend to."
Michelle reminded him, "Honey, you're on break! You're only coming back to your post after your last twenty-five days of holidays!" With that, Michelle fumingly stormed inside the master bathroom, which seemingly looked like another normal closet next to other normal closets but inside it was a bathroom.
Jonathan, looking exasperated, exclaimed, "She can't be serious right now."
Eric ignored him and called out to Mimi, "Mimi."
"Yes!" She answered with her sweet voice.
"Do you mind knowing where my Aid kit is placed at?" He asked, trying to match her level of cuteness.
Jonathan, clearly irritated, asked Eric, "For what?"
Eric calmly responded, "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?" Jonathan did so and was shocked by his reflection. His left side of the face - forehead, eyes, through the cheek and lips - was severely swollen.
"Yes! It's in Doria's room," Mimi revealed.
"Okay, please go and fetch it for me." Coming back from the sweet talk with Mimi, Eric asked her to fetch it for him.
Later, they gathered in the living room, giving Michelle time to dress herself while Mimi stayed in the bedroom with her. Jonathan sat on a small metallic chair while Eric stood, applying medicine on his swollen face.
Marcus stood by, engrossed in the news on the screen while the twins took over the kitchen, being creative with their food.
Jonathan grabbed a mirror from a nearby couch and stared into it. He muttered to himself, "It's so bad." Eric asked him if he was referring to his wound. "What? You mean your wound?"
Jonathan placed the mirror right back with a saddened sigh. "Everything at this point."
In the heart of Washington DC, a disaster was brewing. Yet, in the midst of the impending chaos, Detective Asher Marley found solace in the grandeur of a luxurious hotel. Asher, a 47-year-old white man with a keen eye for detail, sat comfortably in his chair, surrounded by the trappings of his profession.
His small, rounded table was cluttered with files and papers, each one holding secrets waiting to be unraveled. Amidst this sea of information, a single pink rose stood in a vase, its delicate beauty contrasting with the harsh realities documented in the files. A cup of his favorite tea sat next to him, its comforting warmth a constant companion as he delved into his work.
As he sifted through the papers, his stern gaze never wavered. He took a sip of his tea and exhaled softly, "Ah."
Suddenly, a figure appeared in Asher's living room. Officer Parker, a 44-year-old white man known for his quiet and respectful demeanor, was an easy colleague to work with.
"Excuse me, Sir." Officer Parker said, breaking the silence.
Without lifting his gaze from his files, Asher responded, "Oh yes. Has the Public Guardians Association (PGA) found or said anything?"
"Not yet sir," Officer Parker replied. "They are still looking through."
Asher exhaled quietly again, this time tinged with annoyance. He didn't need to ask to know that the PGA was still fixated on the black pants found at the crime scene.
"PGA and their small intellectual mindsets!" Asher muttered under his breath. "And they wonder why things are not moving as swiftly as one would expect!"
"He returned his focus to his files but not before adding, "The pants found at the crime scene might belong to some random civilian. Tell them not to stress so much about that."
"Yes sir," Officer Parker acknowledged as he prepared to leave. But something stopped him.
"Sorry if I have to ask but... is there something more than just a simple throw-out case?" he asked.
Without lifting his gaze from his papers, Asher asked him back, "Is this your first time working with the PGA?"
"Yes sir! It is my first time. Names Officer Parker. It's both an honor and a responsibility that I don't take this lightly," Officer Parker said, his voice filled with determination.
"I've always admired the work of the PGA, its commitment to justice, and its unwavering dedication to serving the community. It's a privilege to be part of such an esteemed organization. I'm here not just because it's my job, but because I believe in the mission of the PGA. I'm ready to give my all to ensure that we uphold the values that this organization stands for. It's not just about enforcing the law, but about making a difference in people's lives. I assure you it won't be my last. I'm here to serve, and I'm here to stay," he continued, his words echoing his commitment.
Detective Asher Marley abruptly interrupted him, "Have you watched the news for this precise case? The case that happened nine months ago."
"Yes! From last year's case. But not entirely. But it said that they all died from natural death such as-" Officer Parker started to explain but was cut off by Asher.
"Murder." Asher stated simply.
"Murder?" Officer Parker echoed, surprise evident in his voice.
"The pants also found are merely a detour from the real culprit." Asher said, returning his focus back to his files.
"Then?" Officer Parker asked, curiosity piqued.
Asher paused again, lifting his gaze to a front wall. "It's also difficult for random investigators as much for police including FBI to understand what really did happen. As it all happened... In just a blink of a second."
"In just a blink of a second." Asher's voice echoed in the room, his gaze distant as if he was seeing something that Officer Parker couldn't.
A flashback took them to a different scene. The same capital, Washington DC. Important businessmen were gathered in front outside of a luxurious meeting venue with reporters, cameramen, and some random civilians present to watch them.
"Seven swie-like sounds could possibly be described as quick and painful." Asher's voice narrated over the scene. "As people gathered in front outside the meeting venue, not long after, Chief Financial Officer Xavier Tyrell finds himself dead on the cold cement."
The scene shifted back to the luxurious hotel. Officer Parker, now more confident, ventured a guess. "Obviously, gunshot then."
But Asher just stared at him, making Parker uneasy. "Sniper attack?" he tried again.
Asher picked up a paper photo with a designed logo. "Have you ever heard of ARS?" he asked.
"ARS?" Officer Parker's voice echoed.