We chose a quiet cafe nearby for our conversation. It was her suggestion, and considering how beautiful she was, I wasn't about to decline. Not that I'm afraid of talking to girls or anything.
"Why are you shaking?" the policewoman asked suddenly, eyeing me curiously.
I lied. I am afraid of talking to girls. Beautiful women scare me.
"I'm just, uh, tired from fighting," I replied, shakily lifting the cup of hot cocoa she had bought me. Great job on that first impression, John.
She smiled softly, her expression understanding. "Understandable. You soloed a gate at your own rank—quite impressive. You must be confident in your abilities. I like that."
My heart skipped a beat as her gaze lingered on mine. Those deep, alluring blue eyes were weapons aimed directly at my inexperienced heart.
"Tell me," she leaned in slightly, "what's your secret?"
"I... I..." My mind fuzzed over, scrambling for an answer. Was this what love felt like?
"Hey! Isn't that John?" a familiar voice broke through the haze, pulling me abruptly back to reality. I turned around and saw Mira waving enthusiastically, her stepbrother Ronald clinging silently to her side.
"So, you're John," Ronald stated plainly, his voice distant. He had a strange appearance—snow-white hair and eyes a dull shade of gray, giving him an unsettling, ghostly look. He held Mira's shirt tightly, glaring at me like some wary phantom.
"And you must be Ronald," I smiled, trying to ease the tension. "You're exactly as handsome as Mira described. What brings you two here?"
"Ah, well..." Mira laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. "I completely forgot to buy Ronald's birthday cake, so we rushed over here." Her eyes shifted to the policewoman sitting opposite me, and instantly, her expression cooled.
"Hey, Mira, don't be so hard on yourself," I tried reassuring her, but her attention was firmly elsewhere.
"Who's your friend, John?" she asked, her voice edged with unfamiliar ice.
"Oh, um..." I hesitated, realizing I hadn't even asked the officer's name. "Actually, I don't—"
"Sorry," the policewoman interrupted smoothly, flashing her badge. "My name's Elisa. I should've introduced myself earlier. And you are?"
"Mira," she replied tersely.
Was it just me, or did the room suddenly get colder?
"Big sis, I'm hungry," Ronald tugged gently on Mira's shirt, breaking the standoff. Mira quickly softened her expression, smiling down at him warmly.
"Right. I'll see you later, John. We live just a few blocks from here—feel free to visit sometime." She waved goodbye, sparing one last sharp glance at Elisa before leading Ronald away.
As they left, Elisa turned her gaze back to me. "Who was she?"
"Just my coworker. We work at the same convenience store," I explained. Elisa continued staring at me strangely, almost analytically.
"Is something on my face?" I asked nervously, grabbing a napkin to check my mouth.
"No," she replied, seeming genuinely puzzled. A second later, her demeanor reverted to its professional calm.
"Anyway, back to the matter at hand," Elisa continued smoothly. "As you're probably aware, there's been an alarming increase in gate-related deaths over the past few months. I wanted your perspective, especially since you worked directly alongside our prime suspect."
"Kane..." I muttered bitterly.
"Exactly," Elisa confirmed, her voice measured.
"Then why ask me? Shouldn't you be interrogating him?"
"Because he's innocent—at least according to the law," she sighed. "And considering he's a lawyer himself, with a father who owns one of the biggest law firms in the city..."
"And I'm just an ordinary civilian," I finished for her, realization dawning. "Meaning I'm a far easier target to question, right?"
She offered me an apologetic smile. "You make it sound pretty bad. But, essentially—yes."
"Wait," I interrupted her. "Before we continue, just know that I'm not aware of any previous cases. I literally got my hero license today. And second, the only suspicious thing Kane did was smile before abandoning us."
Elisa nodded thoughtfully. "You're the third person who's said he smiled before leaving them behind. But unfortunately, leaving teammates behind isn't a crime—it just damages public perception. Given his background as a lawyer, any accusations get buried under endless lawsuits."
"Someone tried already, didn't they?"
"Yes," Elisa admitted bitterly. "And now that person is sitting in prison for defamation." Her voice carried a note of anger, carefully restrained.
"Is that all you have?" she asked after a moment, clearly hoping I could provide more.
I shook my head regretfully. "Besides his strange failure to detect the giant Spinehound, no. But even then, I can't prove if he genuinely missed it or deliberately withheld the information. Honestly, I'm angry with myself as much as him—I hid my powers too, and that hesitation cost Emma her life."
Elisa exhaled slowly, visibly frustrated. "It fits his usual pattern. He always withholds something crucial and escapes before the real danger strikes. But a pattern alone isn't concrete evidence, especially not against someone with his legal protection." She gathered her belongings and prepared to leave.
Then, abruptly, she froze mid-motion.
"But if it's you…" Elisa murmured, eyes suddenly shining.
Her expression shifted dramatically, brightening with excitement and hope—like a bulb flicking on in her mind.
Wait, I knew that look.
That was exactly how Dave used to look whenever he roped me into another double shift!
"John," she said eagerly, her voice energized, "would you be willing to help me catch him?"
"Yes," I replied hesitantly. Something about her sudden enthusiasm made me uncomfortable.
"Excellent! You probably have a lot of questions," Elisa said quickly, eyes sparkling. "Let's discuss this privately at my place!"
Before I could object, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the café.
Her grip was surprisingly delicate, her fingers soft and warm against mine.
Wait—did she just say, at her place?
As I stumbled after her, one thought hit me belatedly—I hadn't even finished my free cocoa.
--
Unbeknownst to John, back at the café, Mira lingered near the table he'd just left, her eyes quietly fixed on his half-empty cup.
"What are you doing, big sis?" Ronald asked, tugging gently at her sleeve.
She glanced around quickly.
Without explanation, she covered Ronald's eyes, making him even more confused.
When she removed her hand, Ronald might not have noticed, but the cup was now mysteriously empty.