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Lin ducked beneath the yellow caution tape surrounding the campus lawn and followed Detective Li into the crime scene. A growing crowd of university students and press stood behind the barricades, spinning baseless gossip that would surely become the next morning’s headlines.
Even before she saw the lead crime scene investigator pull a tarp over the body, Lin knew the victim hadn’t made it. There was no rhythm of a pulse, no drum of a heartbeat to be felt—just cold weight like a hunk of platinum where the spark of life had been. A shiver ran through her at the thought, and though she had told herself she wouldn’t several times, she couldn’t help but look away.
“What is she doing here?” Toph grumbled, arms crossed over her chest.
“Shadowing her training officer,” Detective Li replied, completely unperturbed. “Good morning to you, too, chief.”
“She’s barely out of the academy. What will the other rookies think when they see her getting special treatment?”
“Maybe that they should have studied harder for their field exams?” Detective Li said. “Who knows? I don’t concern myself with petty department politics—just solving crimes.”
“Then solve this one,” Toph told Li through gritted teeth, before turning her attention to Lin. “And you, make sure you get back on patrol when you’re through playing pretend. I told you before, there are no shortcuts in my department.”
“Yes, chief,” Lin said with a sigh as her mother stalked away.
Once she was gone, Detective Li crouched down and uncovered the body. Lin followed suit, pencil and notepad in hand.
“What do you notice, Lin?” Detective Li asked.
“The victim is young, male, and based on the quality of his clothes and the site of the attack, he was likely a student,” she said after a moment. “There are multiple stab wounds and the area around the body is blood-soaked, which means he probably bled out.”
“Very good,” Detective Li said with a small smile. “And does this case remind you of anything?”
Lin’s brow furrowed as she thought back to all the case files she’d organized back at the station. “The stab wounds. We saw the same sort of attack with those homicides in the Dragon Flats two weeks ago.”
“Do you think they’re linked somehow?”
She nibbled her lower lip as she considered the possibility. “Patel said the Dragon Flats murders were probably triad related, but it’s unlikely that they’d go after a college kid like him—much less leave the body right on campus. It’s like whoever did this wanted him to be found. Triad hitmen are way more discreet.”
“Which means?”
“The killer wanted to send a message,” Lin said.
“Interesting theory,” Detective Li told her. “Now go prove it. I’m giving you the case.”
Lin’s heart sped up at the prospect, but then reality caught up with her. “The chief would never allow it.”
Detective Li rolled her eyes. “The chief said finish your patrol. As long as you do, a little investigative work on the side won’t hurt. What do you say?”
Lin smiled at her mentor. “I won’t let you down.”
After Detective Li returned to headquarters, Lin tore a page out from her notepad and started drafting a message. Over her months of patrols she’d developed a few trusted contacts, but she knew the owner of the bakery and the man who played his erhu at the park with the fire fountains wouldn’t be able to help her this time.
No, for better or for worse, this matter called for someone with deep knowledge of the criminal underground. And that meant…
Zolt picked up a bouquet of fire lilies from the stand at the corner of Port Street before heading back to his car. It had taken forever for him to extricate himself from the lieutenants meeting over at Smoke and Mirrors—and he knew Linny would walk if he made her wait—but the flowers were important.
He made up time by driving nearly double the speed limit, racing through yellow lights until he was over the bridge connecting Little Caldera to Downtown.
Zolt crossed the threshold of the Oolong Garden teahouse right at the top of the hour. His Linny was already at a table towards the back of the establishment, dressed in plainclothes and scowling at the menu.
“I was wondering when we’d go on our second date,” he said, grinning as he sat down across from her. He took her hand gently and kissed it. Her skin was cool as iron despite the spring weather, and he very much hoped for the chance to warm her up. “You look gorgeous as ever, Linny.”
She rolled her eyes, but he could see a familiar flush creeping up her neck. The telltale redness engulfed her face when he handed her the fire lilies.
“This is not a date, Zoltan,” she said, trying her best to sound stern, even as she sniffed the flowers. “Did you even read my message?”
“Sure, you said you needed to see me and it couldn’t wait.”
“I needed to see you about a case,” Lin said. “Or did you conveniently forget that part?”
“Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad to see that face of yours,” he said. “So tell me what’s happening in the world of the Beifong triad?”
“It’s not a—” She exhaled deeply, and he was half convinced she would swing on him. “You know what? Not important. Do you know anything about the stabbing murders in the Dragon Flats two weeks ago?”
“I know it wasn’t the Kais, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“It’s not,” she said. “And while I look forward to the day when I’ll put the lot of you behind bars, right now I’m looking for a different type of criminal.”
“Don’t say that, Linny. You’ll make me jealous.”
She sucked her teeth. “Focus. Three people are dead.”
Zolt raised an eyebrow. “There were only two bodies in the Flats, right?”
“And another this morning in Roku Plaza. College kid.”
“You think they’re connected?”
“I think there’s a serial killer in Republic City.” Determination burned behind those jewel-like green eyes. “And I want you to help me find them.”
“Now that’s not fair,” Zolt told her, shaking his head. “When you look at me like that, I can’t say no to you.”
“I was counting on that,” she said, and started to stand up. “Now let’s start working your contacts in the Flats.”
“Hold on. It’s still tea time,” he replied, gesturing to the busy restaurant around them.
“Zolt, lives are at stake.”
“No good mystery was ever solved on an empty stomach, and you probably already skipped breakfast to snoop around the university.” He picked up the menu and glanced over it. “Now, how about some sizzle crisps for the table?”
Lin sighed heavily and sat back down. “And the rice noodle rolls. Do you want jasmine tea or oolong?”
Over tea, they talked probending—Zolt ragging on her favorite players just to get a rise out of her. And when she got on her soapbox about why he was wrong, he watched and listened, drinking in her every syllable and microexpression like top shelf liquor. It was easy to forget she was a cop—and a fucking Beifong—when they were together like this.
“Are you even listening to me?” she asked, scowling.
“Of course, baby,” he said. “Toza’s stats from this season are rock solid and I'm an idiot. What else you got?”
“A boulder to drop on you the next time you call me baby.” She shot a steely glare his way, but the blush was back. He’d pay good money to know what was running through her head.
“Not ready for pet names yet?”
She crossed her arms. “‘Yet’ implies there's a chance in the future.”
“The future’s not set in stone. There's gotta be at least one version of it in which I get to call you baby.”
Lin glanced down at her fire lilies, wearing a pensive expression. “Help me solve this case, and then we'll see.”
Merkittty Wed 01 May 2024 04:01AM UTC
Last Edited Wed 01 May 2024 04:02AM UTC
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wishingforatypewriter Sat 04 May 2024 05:35PM UTC
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LinnoraBeifong Wed 01 May 2024 06:18AM UTC
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wishingforatypewriter Sat 04 May 2024 05:40PM UTC
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orange_panic_archive Wed 01 May 2024 03:18PM UTC
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wishingforatypewriter Sat 04 May 2024 05:51PM UTC
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Nyama Thu 02 May 2024 03:24AM UTC
Last Edited Thu 02 May 2024 03:25AM UTC
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wishingforatypewriter Sat 04 May 2024 06:00PM UTC
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oldandirrelevant Sat 04 May 2024 03:45AM UTC
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wishingforatypewriter Sat 04 May 2024 06:02PM UTC
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MarieJosephSanson00 Tue 28 Jan 2025 03:12PM UTC
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