Days later Don and Free were back in the GLE building. The vacation time Don had plan Free to keep was behind and first of all it was meant to be like a slow landing back, give Free time to take it easy before he would start working officially. But that short time was more like them sticking together, every hour, taking back their lost time together. Going back to their routines.
Now his comeback was finally happening. This was the first time Free was in their base after coming back from the training. Don himself was still officially in his 'vacation time', hasn't been in weeks but just to show up quickly. Today he was here to escort his ward and open this new case under Milos name. Even on sick leave Don has got every informations as usually and done the necessary paper works. Keeping himself updated. CIDs seventh unit never rest totally even during their time offs. At least he didn't.
The elevator stops on the third floor. When finally the door opens and they were about to step out, people who have gathered around the entrance start suddenly clap and whistle, meeting them with smiles. Free was instantly stunned from this sudden turn, honestly couldn't tell what was going on, so his instinctive defensive move was to hide halfly behind the man next to him. But that man, after realizing what was going on here, felt just annoyed, and of course trying to not show it out that plainly. This kind of welcoming was in some cases pretty normal and as long as no one was bothered here from it Don neither should have reason to complain.
"Free Palenne!" Mark introduces out loud. He was actually standing next to the elevator, smiling toward the young man who was now staring back at him, still not able to say a thing.
Don gently pushs Free forward. "Come on. It's your celebration party," man clears. "Good luck." When people from this floor wanted to party, they act like hyenas, wanting their share. Even when his younger lover here was the hero of the day, Don himself doesn't want to be in the middle of that. Smoothly he escapes aside.
Staring running Don with asking look, Frees mind filled with questions. Where he needs luck? Was this like in the Training? More push ups?? But Nadin comes to his safe when she steps on sight, showing this relaxing gesture Free to walk closer. "Congratulations! We heard you made your unit proud there," she winks and gives Free a glass of celebration champagne. "We wanted to welcome you back with the way you deserve. From now on you are officially part of our group. Let's work hard!"
"To Free!" people calls out while raising their own glasses. Some from other groups rush to shake their hands with Free, giving their well-wishings. Of course most of these people Free has never even actually met. But because he himself was so well-known in this building, mostly because of his famous Boss, he was welcomed like they have all known each other for years.
After most of the hustle calmed down, Free was dragged in the middle of the floor by Milo and Kiho who he was now chatting with. Don stood further, calmly watching people around them. This kind of welcome parties were very rare here. But since Free has made himself popular inside this building, it wasn't too big of a surprise people wanting to show their polite greetings. Work could wait. For now. "Did Milo tell you we were coming?" he calmly asks from the man standing next to him. "Is it appropriate to drink here? In the middle of the day?"
Mark smiles and drinks his glass empty. He knew Don doesn't appreciate this kind of disturbances inside their work building and usually man would have state that out very loud and clear. But using the fact their celebration was about Free, Mark doesn't give mans protest any value. His friend here was way too soft when it comes to this kid. And wouldn't stop them anyway. "They wanted surprise him. Couldn't say no since it's just a quicky. And it's all for him to feel himself welcomed. The weeks in here before he went to the training made him famous. To be honest, people like him more than they like you," older teases. And taps Dons shoulder once. "He is the nicer Palenne. Totally opposite from our humourless Palboss."
"Glad to see you back," Nadin smiles while walking toward them, interrupting oldests banter. This was the second time Nadin sees their youngest member after his accident, so she took her time to carefully eye his condition. Knowing how bad it was just a few weeks ago, it felt like a miracle man was now back here, with only this barely noticeable light scar on the side of his face and that taped wrist reminding what happened. "Can't give you a drink. Painkillers and alcohol ain't good together. How are you feeling?"
"Just fine. I plan to continue today from where I left two months ago," Don notes shortly, already in his work mode. "I have this interesting long-term case still running. Can't stay out too long anymore."
"Don't let Daniel find out. You were suppose to be on sick leave still," Nadin points out, smirking back while turning to look at their hero of the day. "So, Free is going to get his first case? I mean, the first first case, like. The sooner he gets the routines clear the rest comes by itself. Your cutie is smart."
"I would not have brought him here in the first place if I didn't trust his skills," man clears. "He might be young but was a pro of what he did before. Has the same knowledge of drug cases, just from the different perspective. That's one of his strengths."
"So drugs, ha? You ain't giving him mercy here at all. Making him face the ones like he was, right from the start?" now Mark takes part of the conversation.
"Are you doubting him?" Don finally shows a smile, taking that personally. This was his ward they were talking about. And he doesn't choose wrongly.
"No," Mark fastly corrects and also turns to look at Free. "I like him. If we handle him well he will be a pro in the future. We can't do this forever. The younger ones are always welcome."
Nadin starts to laugh. "You are on your forties. Planning to retire in the near future? Speaking like an old man!"
"That's not what I meant," man tsihs back, eyeing the woman grimly.
When these two started argue, Don loses his interest totally and walks pass Nadin toward his desk on the back. "Milo. Ten minutes and I will meet you two in the meeting room," Don speaks with a strong voice what could easily surpass the talking around the floor. He wasn't yelling, but only speaking with louder voice. Still, after hearing him, some on the floor actually quiet down. That is how powerful his voice in this building was when people hardly hear him speaking loudly. When he speaks, you better listen. Or run.
"Yes, sir!" Milo calls back. Then turns to look at Free who was standing next to him, still holding his full glass of champagne on his hand, eyes locked on Don. "Have you prepared yourself? It's your first job as a real rookie here."
"I can't prepare anything before knowing what I'm about to do..?" Free looks Milo, kind of asking rather than answering.
That made Milo laugh a little. "Nice answer. You sounded like Taro just now," he takes the glass from Frees hold and drinks it all. "When we get in, forget what Don is to you," Milo says then quietly, with a more serious voice, and turns his eyes once again on Don who was now standing next to his desk. Free follows his look. "Here he is your boss. The order. We might treat you lightly now, but later we won't accept anything but right working skills. We are his underlings. His words as our absolute, did we like it or not. We answer to him. He answers to the people above him. What we do, he takes full responsibility." Free turns his eyes on Milo again. Older guys serious look changes back to smile. "If you screw up, he screws up," he keeps. "After that you are the one paying him."
Free grins, knowing how scary his Boss could actually be. Especially when it comes to work. "So let's not screw up then.."
- - - -
"Is everything ready?" Don asks from Milo when he sits down on his seat. They were now all three sitting in one of the meeting rooms which hold basically nothing but a round table in the middle, chairs around it, a white board and a TV on the wall. It was very plain, ready to serve different purposes. But this meeting was all about sitting down and going through the case.
"Of course," Milo answers. "There's nothing new here. This kind of cases come and go. Not rare, not so unusual. Unfortunately.."
Don passes one of the document files Milo printed earlier to Free. "Even when Milo will explain the details, it's not a waste read the files yourself. Make sure you have the same knowledge than the rest of your team, from the very begin. This point here is what defines what you will do and where you will aim," he calmly notes, eyeing their youngest. "Do you remember what I told you, a long time ago? Everyone has their own role. Everyone goes alone. But works together."
Free hums. "I remember."
"Now that is the light treatment. Don't get used to it," Milo smiles and gets more relaxed pose to sit while opening his laptop. If this was more like a teaching lesson there was no need to act so serious. And that was just fine to him. "We have drug deaths. Three victims were all from popular school in the Z city. So we are going out..," he shows these three ID files with photos on the board with his connected laptop. "It's been two weeks when this happened. Because this was defined as not urgent case, it took time to get the test results. Coroners point out the party drugs our victims took were diluted with RD. That's poisonous preservative used in manufacturing. Even after days, the amounts were high so their opinion was it was meant to kill. But since the guys before us couldn't find any leads from there, they request CIDs help. Our job is to figure out who bought the drugs, where it's originally from and who dilute the shit. Where they got such amounts of preservatives. Why our victims actually died. You get the picture."
Sitting in here, looking photos from the victims and listening his superior report was just like from some movie which made Free feel quite excited. But of course he would never show it out when he should just behave businesslike. This was reality. The victims were real actual people here. Kids his own age. Was it because Free has seen that woeful side of drugs many times while living in streets, it being so common it felt just norm to him, he couldn't feel too emotionally here. If one decide to take drugs, that was their choice, their problem. One should be ready for the consequences from their own choices. That was the cold reality he knew. Play or be played. Win or lose.
"Today you will come with me to the very school where the victims were from," Milo adds after a short break.
Young man raises his look up. " An actual school??"
"Correct. I will meet the head and get their statement. But what we actually want to do later is figure the way to get more information from the students who knew the victims. That's why I have you. I hope it will be more easier to talk to you, since you are about the same age they are," man explains. "I'm countin' on your acting skills there."
Free couldn't but smile to that. "Make a kid speak to the kids?"
"Make them speak to you without thinking they speak to you," Milo corrects his intents, smiling. Don follows in silence. "When we will know who brought the shit in we will find out where it came from. I have my other jobs waiting me later so let's do this quick today. You can read the whole case info while we drive to the scene. Today is nothing special. Just the start."
"Other jobs?"
"I'm a freelancer here, in CID," man answers, smirking. "Got multiple other things to do as well."
"Yeah, I've heard something like that," Free remembers. "All who works under Don are specialised on their own areas. And when he needs you he calls you."
"Specialized? That I surely am..," Milo turns his asking look to Don. "Is that all you have told him? About our agreement?"
"That I also have you guys to make sure I won't go berserk? Sure I have," Don casually answers. Glaring back.
Milo snorts. And looks Free. He wasn't thinking his Boss here would speak so boldly when usually he pick his words carefully. Guess this kid has already earned Dons undeniable trust man be able to speak this freely in front of him. So mans reguest to look after him felt even more significant, an order what Milo would simple follow. Not just because of the duty. But because it was also interesting. And very alarming. "What ever. We are done here, right?" he calmly says and stands up. "Let's go."
- - - -
Don remain sit in the meeting room, eyeing these same files he has habit to check in time to time, go through everything he knew and what was still unsolved. Frankly, this very case was part of the reason he was injured too. Chasing those guys and catching them was crucial him to proceed, so even when he usually didn't take part of the actual physical run in field, when the case felt personal enough like this one does, he wanted to stand in the front line to witness everything himself. Regardless of his own safety. Or the fact it was incredible challenging to keep his mind in control while exposing himself to uncontrollable distractions.
In the end they could catch those two man. Made them speak. They were part of this unnamed group who transport illegal cargos, like so called fake luxury items and of course drugs, in and out the X city. At this point, they were not count as big matter as some mafia gangs, but if they were able to grow more fame they would get their spot in that list in no time. More contacts mean more power. The bigger business was harder to destroy.
Even when this groups business was still quite fresh and slow, it was a big discovery. Don has known about them for a while already; they have been active almost two years. Gangs around have slowed them down, interrupting, but they always seem to find a way back up. Meanwhile Don has just been following them. There was no need him to act yet. Or more like, if he act now, he might miss his actual target.
What Don has been most curious about was this one detail he found out from nowhere about a year ago, making this case so addictive. There were missing people. A lot of them. People from this group and people just shortly working with them. Just about everytime someone get caught to police and were released on parole, they vanish after. Roughly rating there was almost twenty missing cases so far, from some famous names among the group itself to the unknown randoms. So something was definitely up.
Don learnt one name. Of someone who's been seen with the very group, with their leaders. But there seem not be any rational reason his kind of person having anything to do with the group members he was with so his status in was very questionable. What ever was his business with them, it happened in closed doors. Leaving just more questions about who he was and why he was there. Sakari Ihan. A very outstanding name. No way to not remember. Currently working as a stock broker, been in the same company over twenty years. His work and family history have nothing to do with illegal business his friends here were doing, not even slightly. He was so clean there was nothing interesting to dig from his background; a normal family with wife and two all grown up children, owns a house, has his stable job.. Was even a member of their local church, but like any normal family man could, he too had his own regular bar to visit occasionally. But even all that wasn't enough to distract Don. He trusted his own intuition. Never stop totally keep an eye on him.
When one of the guys they catch told them about the executioner in, the very same name showed up again, finally letting Don clarify his suspicions. His simple theory was the group had someone in who made the trash vanish, systematicly. How, Don does want to know, sure. But what was more interesting was the man himself. Sakari.
How ever Don think of it, this case was something he should never approach himself. It could be too much to him to deal without the idea of crossing the line, go too personal. This interest of his, toward a mind of a possibly real seriel killer, was a grey area. But he couldn't help it. If this target of his was like Don was, kind of enjoying what he was doing, he would like to meet him. If man did his work simple as a professional, he would just catch him, among the others. That was what Don keep repeating to himself. This was just like any case with a little twist. With a slight personal interest in. Nothing more. For this he was totally ready. He has his main suspects name and face, knew his every routines. The way to meet with him was already in his mind, so close to actually happen.
But this very point was where Don really needed to decide how they would proceed from here. The timing wasn't actually suitable for him, he wasn't totally ready to be in the field when he was still recovering from his injures, after this mild setback what delay his original plans. He was still on painkillers which could effect his state of mind and through that the decisions he makes. Still.. The timing to act couldn't be more perfect than this.
Door opens and takes Don back from his thoughts. Kiho closes the door behind him and slowly sits down across Don, staring at him. Don was calmly staring back, first intending to ignore others severe glance. But since man kept his silence, he neither could play ignorant here. After all he knew exactly what man want. He drops the papers down and sighs out, noting others acting was making him somewhat annoyed. "Just say it. What you want?"
"You to back off," Kiho answers frankly. His low voice was as steady as ever, but his eyes backfill what his accent lack. He was dead serious. "From my point of view you are playing with wrong choices here. I do not trust your mind being right here. There is no real reason you to go in yourself. There are many other ways to make him confess and us arrest him from what he has done. Call it off. Now."
Don grows more annoyed after hearing his friends statement, even smirking mockingly once. "I don't need you to point me what I should do. You are here to do as I say."
"Then I will drop out," older calls out immediately, no doubt in him. "This selfish way you see things.. I can not follow you this time. If you insist I will go against you. And stop you. That is my job too."
"I already told you my plan. So what if I have some personal motives here. I would be in a public place. You will be near. I have an eyer in.."
"If your act goes over, there is a change others might start questioning your real state of mind and report you. That will be your doom."
"It's called acting," Don tsihs, not taking others concerns seriously.
"It is not if it is not acting!" this time Kiho actually raises his voice significantly.
Don was sharply staring Kiho, in silence. The least he need was hearing this annoying shit from this very man. Sure, he should listen, since Kiho has been his friend the longest, being the very first one who ever questioned his manners and wasn't scared to talk back. Kiho was the one who teach him open up. Act 'normal'. So Don should value his opinion. But.. "Are you dropping out?" he then asks calmly. "I can always replace you, if that is what you want." Kiho doesn't say anything. He has made his point clear here. And Don knew very well if there was any moment to start negotiate and clean the air, it was right now, right here. Before Kiho would actually do as he threaten. "I can't do this without you," Don sighs, giving up. Not only he need this man to fill his plans, there was no actual change to fight back if Kiho plan to stop him for real. When you were standing as high rank as he, if you start looking down the ones who helped you up there, it would be easy to drag you back down. And that fall would be final. "I have no reason to go further. Just to make a little contact, see how it goes and immediately back off if it looks like it's the best choice."
"I have work with you many years. Known you even longer. When you cross the line there is no coming back!" Kiho yells and stands up. Breathes deeply in and out. "At least I can shoot you myself if you so want."
"Please don't," Don tsihs back. "I'm not going in to kill anyone, you know."
"Really? Everything here smells so!" other keeps loudly. "I do not like this. I am not saying this as your underling, but as your old friend. I do not like the idea of letting you try your limits. You do not give an addicted a change to taste his addiction. Never. It always ends up badly. I know you. You can try and fake all you want but that does not work for me."
"And that's why I have you," Don smiles, already knowing this conversation was over the moment his friend let his anger out. Kiho couldn't but adapt to Dons will. "You are my reminder there. Please don't overthink this."
Kiho sighs. "It will be all on me if things go wrong."
"I'm your Boss. It's all on me," younger clears, keeping his bored eyes locked on others.
Kiho stares back awhile, then finally turns his look away. "I will tell Tinamo about this. I will not be the only one keeping this in."
"Please do that. As long as you are satisfied."
After this last angry glance, Kiho finally leaves, closing the door behind him. Don lows his head and sighs. Smiling to his pitiful win here. If Kiho didn't approve this, then he should really back off..