Kevin and Keryually decided to go with the captain on their visit to the city cil, while Mick had no choice but to follow them, as there was still no indication that what happeo the pred with Tyler Khan was handled.

  The only thing they be sure of was that Marcus was safe, for he sent Kevin a short and cryptic message saying he was caught in something but was hiding now, and that he would e back as soon as possible. Kevin tried calling, but it appeared that Marcus had turned off his phone. Sht now all he could do was send a coded message to Marcus, telling him to find the captain first.

  A group of cloaked men came to gather the two men that had been cuffed, as well as the dead body already ed in pstic. Keryn grunted as the men in a van drove away - she had somewhat of a theory on who those men were, yet she seemed to be in no pce to say anything.

  “I tell you have your reservations.” Captain Ko shook his head as he drove his pin looking van out of his sed garage from the side, with all three ued guests covered in bs, sungsses and hats.

  “Yeah - those are - they are gang members, aren’t they? They’re fixers and ers from local mafia?” Mick asked, in almost plete disbelief: “You - how you work with them? Captain? How you - you’re a man of the w!”

  “Life’s plicated. And it gets way harder when you’re mixed up with things like ghosts, spirits and questiouals.” Captain Ko sighed as he drove into the main road: “And they are the professional types, all you o do is pay them - ”

  “How much is it? To pay them?” Kevin asked as he looked out the van window - the cars driven by the men who came st night were gone.

  “Not much this time, our invaders brought my payment with them when they came.” Captain Ked.

  “Are they - are they like, actual gangs, or are they like - like Chef Tang’s?” Mick asked, hesitating his phrasing.

  “Well, first, endations to you on knowing how Chef Tang’s is like.” Captain Ko chuckled: “And to answer your question - they’re somewhere iween. Gray areas, if you wanna call it that. I’ve been dealing with the paranormal world for years now, and they have been - instrumental to my gaining the experiend knowledge that I have today.”

  “How many groups like them exist iy?” Keryn asked after some hesitation.

  “ting Chef Tang’s, I’d say at least three of them. This one just happens to operate in the cross se between our distrid the South-Eastern.”

  The city hall was quite busy even at this early m. There were protesters in front of the city hall, holding signs ning the city’s ina against the rising crime rate. They saw a few parents holding up signs of their missing children as well.

  “What are you here for?” Before they could ehe building, the guards stopped them.

  “I am Captain Mathis Ko of the 17th pre South-Western District, I am here with my officers because I have an urgeing with cilman Ding’s office.” Captain Ko answered.

  “Alright, go in then.” The guard pushed the door open for them.

  When they went into the cilman’s office, the cilman was not at his desk - there were no dots or folders on it either. It was clearly a sign that he had not been here for a while.

  “Wait - where’s the cilman?” Keryn asked.

  “He’s on vacation with his family. Lucky for us we’re not here to meet him.” Captain Ko poi the sofas in the far er of the room, a mini waiting or resting area.

  “Alright, what do you need? You know it’s not - not good optics that you just e and barge in like this.” The secretary of the cilman walked in, clearly, visibly displeased.

  “Bri.” Captain Khtened himself, theended his hand at Kevin, Keryn and Mick: “This is Mr. Kevin Loo, our forensic tei, Detective Keryn Land Officer Mick Cramer. They’re all from my prect. And everyohis is Ms. Bri Fung, the secretary of cilman Ding, and the one who actually does most of the work he cims credit for.”

  “Greetings.” Bri Fung the three following Captain Ko, then stared into Captain Ko’s eyes: “Just tell me. What do you want?”

  “You know what I want. I gave you that list st week.”

  “And I told you that I couldn’t just give them to you. Even with my access, there are a lot of checks and hops I o gh. They are cssified as Blue Envelopes, after all.”

  “Bri.” Captain Ko looked back at her: “I his. Please, if you give me those files now, I will owe you a huge favor. Name anything.”

  “It’s not that simple. ” Bri narrowed her eyes as she ghrough the three that followed Captain Ko here: “And to be ho, I don’t think it’s wise to discuss this in front of others - ”

  “Bri, I beg of you.” Captain Ko grabbed Bri Fung by her hands as he leaned in close: “For past times’ sake, and trust me I would never, ever ask this of you if it wasn’t for something dire.”

  Bri Fuated for a moment, theracted her hands: “What’s the situation? What’s so dire about it?”

  “Dire enough that I would suggest you leave the city, as soon as possible, no matter your decision on the files.” Captain Ko sighed.

  “Why? If I don’t do it, or do it slowly and carefully, what’s the risk for me there?”

  “Because those who know. And I mean those who KNOW. Things are ing for them.” Captain Ko sighed: “Last night, when they came to my door tellihat an iigator from the unity collective had led a group of uified men into my prect, I thought something was off and way out of line. But then I made some calls - and I wonder, haven’t you wondered why certain high profile figures in your district had disappeared?”