Three days had passed since the discovery at the industrial site. The survivor who was found in still under protection. However, the investigation hadn't moved much.
Aren knew that because there wasn't much chaos, standing outside the station allowed him to hear people gossiping. The Badge Was Taken Away, Not His Instincts. While he was still hiding the conversation with Lucian.
That afternoon he found himself standing across the street from the police station. Everything was quiet yet few things were same. The Building, The Officers. The Petrol Cars coming in. Life was just going forward, and Aren remained where he was: Unemployed.
He went to the tea stall across the station. Holding the tea cup in his hand, but not taken a one sip.
"How is the tea?" Veydrick appeard in his white shirt with first button opened. The familiar voice made Aren glance sideways.
Aren smiled a little and said: "Same as always" Veydrick is a intelligent person, given his ability to solve cases fast. He could understand Aren's sadness.
"Still watching?" Veydrick then asked.
"I wasn't watching." Aren replied. Veydrick, raised an eyebrow said: "Right." Aren again smiled...almost
"Any news?" he asked. Veydrick shooked his head and said: "Nothing Useful" Aren was bothered inside. It meant that the case is stalled, something found but not...
"The new officer?" Aren asked.
"Anirudh?" Aren nodded. Veydrick looked towards the station entrance and said: "He seemed intelligent and capable."
"That's all?"
Veydrick gave a small shrug and said: "Rethan likes him."
Aren felt a tinge of jealousy, as if somebody else will soon take his place in the team.
"What about Mirelle?"
Veydrick's expression became slightly amused.
"She's curious."
Aren frowned and said: "Curious?" Veydrick replied: "Yes, maybe about how his brain."
That sounded more like Mirelle.
After a moment, Veydrick looked at him and said: "You can always stop standing outside and sometimes.." Aren gave a look and interrupted "You know I can't."
"I know." After looking at eachother for seconds, Aren looked down and then back, at the station.
Before leaving, Veydrick added quietly:
"They haven't solved it yet." Aren already knew that. But hearing it aloud made him uneasy. Because...
Inside the station, the mood was no better.
The excitement from finding the survivor had faded.
Now only questions remained. Mirelle was sitting in her desk. With theories spinning in her head. No space in her brain empty. Some filled with thoughts of Anirudh too.
Anirudh stared at the board in silence.
The room had learned something about him over the last few days. If he was quiet, then it means he is thinking.
"If you're seeing something, say it." Rethan sounded tired.
Anirudh looked at the photographs.
Then the map.
Then back again.
"I'm seeing the same thing as everyone else." That answer surprised them.
"You are?" Mirelle asked.
"Yes."
He folded his arms and said: " And I don't like it." Rethan looked more drained, seeing his officer, The intelligent one, having no clue
"Why?" Rethan asked after few seconds.
Anirudh hesitated.
Not because he didn't know.
Because he was choosing his words carefully.
"Because we're looking at what already happened."
"And?" Mirelle asked.
He glanced toward the map.
"What if that's exactly what the killer wants?"
Everyone were just looking at him, with no reactions. While Anirudh thought that because it was a possibility that had never been considered.
While Veydrick and Aren sat outside, quiet. Not outside, but inside their circle. Aren stood up and said to Veydrick: "it is time..the meetings are always held at this time." As he looked at his watch. Veydrick looked up, he smiled faintly and stood up. "Alright then, I must reach my office too." Aren watched him go for almost 5 seconds and walked towards the station. He had to hear the conversation from the back window.
As he approached the side of the building, voices drifted through a partially open window. He recognized Mirelle's voice. Rethan's voice. And then a unfamiliar voice, it seemed calm. Anirudh??
Aren remained where he was. Trying to listen, not spying, even though he knows that it is what it is.
"...we keep focusing on the victims," Anirudh was saying.
"And?"
"They might not matter."
Aren's eyes narrowed slightly. Aren waited more because he knows he can't conclude yet.
Inside the room, Anirudh continued.
"If someone wants us to find a pattern, they'll leave one."
Mirelle looked at him.
"You think the triangle was intentional?"
"I think it was obvious."
That answer made several officers exchange looks. Anirudh noticed and continued.
"The problem with obvious clues," he continued calmly,
"is that everyone stops looking after they find them."
Outside the window, Aren found himself agreeing. That was exactly what had been bothering him. For a brief moment, his gaze shifted through the glass, and landed on Anirudh.
At that exact moment, Anirudh looked up. Their eyes met, only for a second. Aren immediately stepped back. Anirudh suddenly stopped, and the room became quiet. Rethan said: "continue, Anirudh.."
Anirudh realized and continued speaking. He looked at the window again, and the man was gone.
Inside, Mirelle continued speaking. Unaware of what had just happened. For reasons Anirudh couldn't explain but he felt he saw someone important or famous.
Aren walked away, at the road, with his hands on his pockets. He was thinking both what he heard and saw. "Anirudh...he seemed to be on the right track..." Aren sighed.