“So, what do you think?” While the other unity collective members, including Tyler Kharying to put all kinds of spiritual and spirit-repellent decorations around the holding cells, Captain Ko pulled both Marcus and Kevin to the side and asked.

  Kevily nudged Marcus with his shoulder. And Marcus answered after a short sigh: “I sairit - of sorts fleeing from this se. So - I don’t know.”

  “You saw this thing before?” Captain Ko stared into Marcus’ eyes for a brief moment then asked.

  “Well… yeah.” Marcus hesitated: “I ’t quite expin, but…”

  “But - you don’t think I am going to uand what happeo Bai Gu, or rete this to him.” Captain Ko nodded: “Good, be cautious. But trust from now on that I know more than you think. So don’t hesitate to let me know, okay? And that includes you as well, Kevin.”

  “Wait, sir, does this mean you know a thing or two about Carl Benson’s death?” Kevin nodded, but was instantly reminded of something.

  “I did not, but thanks for firming my suspi.” Captain Ko smiled, then raised his eyebrows at the space behind Marcus and Kevin: “Okay, you guys hahe unication with him. I’ll o head back. I didn’t tell my wife I o stay ht out, so if I don’t make it back before m she’ll freak the fuck out and I’ll never hear the end of it. And - e to the prect early tomorrow. I may have something to show you.”

  “Okay, take care, captain.” Marodded. At this point, he and Kevin were already quite familiar with hotain Ko pined about his home life.

  “My apologies Captain Ko.” Tyler Khan made it back just when the captain was about to head off: “We were - we were definitely not expeg this. But I think it’s a good time to establish some on uanding: that this case, as we in the South-Eastern District call it, is ominous and hauherefore it will be good that we find a time to tae of our local clergymen and ask for their help - by help I mean items and artifacts like beads or talismans that could protect everyone involved from their influences.”

  “Very well, Marcus, Kevin, you take care of it.” Captain Ko yawned and lit up anarette: “Sorry Mr. Khan, but I’ve gotta head home to deal with some home business. Detective Cai would be in charge of our side of the iigation and will serve as your point of tact. ”

  “Uood.” Tyler Khan seemed rather displeased with Captain Ko’s decision to leave right now, though he also seemed intending to hide it: “But before you go, I do want to share this information with everyone. We just got word from the collective’s permit office, the auditor and issuer of the renti for that ptform is missing. We will send out men to locate him and bring him back. If anything, this would be the definitive proof that he betrayed the trust of the people and deliberately ed his duty and his oath.”

  “Okay.” Captain Ked and sighed: “Marcus, like I said, you’ll be in charge of this case. And I will try to send some help your way. But I hope you uand - that we are still short-handed.”

  “Apologies captain, but I don’t think I hold on for too long.” Marcus shook his head and coughed: “My injuries are… a bit taxing for me.”

  “Uandable. ” Captain Ko took a look at Marcus’ shoulder and sighed, theuro Tyler Khan: “Mr. Khan, as you tell, Detective Cai might need some rest. I’ll send some officers over and try to help you with the iigation. But before we go, Marcus, you go and check out that auditor’s office? And collect all of the relevant files?”

  “I’d be happy to, sir.” Marodded. This could just be the better solution. The whole situation screamed a cover up. Yet with their limited influend autonomy in the district, there was only so much they could do. The good thing was that they had the good will to colborate on the iigation, and they could take advantage of the situation and gather as muformation as possible. The bad thing was that he and Kevin were nowhere near in good dition to tih the iigation tonight.

  “Aight - let’s head to the office of the auditor and maybe his resideer.” Tyler Khan did not eveate: “Our folks have sealed the ses, let’s go.”

  The auditor of the rental of the ptform was a single man named Putnam Von, who had been w for the unity collective almost all his life. His office was just in a building not too far from the unity watch station, and he lived in a collective-owned building on the side of the road.

  Putnam Von’s office was y when they got there - aside from two members of the unity watd patrol team guarding the entrahere was one man and one woman inside, wearing dark tight clothes that covered their whole bodies, hair s and had forensic tool kits on their side. It took Marcus a few seds but he still reized their attires - these were the forensic tei uniforms for those who were uhe employment of the South-Eastern Distriunity collective. And from the looks of the material used on these uniforms, the tools used by them and in their kits, these were certainly more senior members of their teams.

  “Ms. Hernandez, Mr. Shaw.” Tyler Khaed the two individuals inside: “How’s it going?”

  “. Too .” The woman in tight clothes came over and shook her head: “We tried to find any traces of hidden substances, suspicious dots and any ns of para - I mean unliness. But nothing for now.”

  “How about the auditing records?” Marcus asked, which earned him some weird and suspeg looks from the two forensic stists in the room.

  “Hernandez, Shaw, these are Detective Cai and Mr. Loo, from the 17th Prect.” Tyler Khaended his hand at Marcus and Kevin: “And, detective, Mr. Loo, these two are Car Hernandez and Garry Shaw, two of our best forensic teis. Hernandez, Shaw, the city would be colborating with us on this iigation per reement. And their points of tact are suffitly briefed oails, including the paranormal matters.”

  “Pleased to meet you.” Kevin them, while carefully choosing his position to stand.

  “What do you want?” Garry Shaw was still scrubbing the dirty marks on the wall and did not even look back at ahat just came into the room.

  “We’re here to take a look at Putnam Von’s office, and we in all the reted dots so we s them for their tent.” Marodded: “And we’d really appreciate it if everything be ed up, categorized and logged in time.”

  “I’m afraid we ’t do that, detective.” Car Hernandez shook her head: “We still o collect everything, including the fingerprints on the dots.”

  “Then how about prioritizing the ones from the time of the ptform, so we log the information earlier? ” Kevin shrugged from the side: “Essentially this is what we’re looking fht?”

  Herurned and looked at Tyler Khan, and even Garry Shaw paused what he was doing, turned his head and waited for a response.

  “That’s a good idea.” Tyler Khan nodded: “We deal with the most relevant dots first. Then we up the rest and check out Putnam Von’s residence.”

  “Uood.” Car Hernahought for a while, then exged looks with Garry Shaw and sighed: “We’ll try our best to be quid thh.”

  “Much appreciated, thank you very, very much.” Marcus gently bowed.