Adrian and Artemia found themselves navigating the winding roads on the outskirts of the Northern District, en route to the orphanage. Silence weighed heavily upon them throughout the journey, an unspoken unease palpable in the car's interior. Adrian's discomfort spurred him to break the silence and express his gratitude.
"Artemia, I want to thank you for having my back back there," he began, his voice tinged with sincerity. "Without your impassioned speech, I would be a dead man by now."
Artemia stole a brief glance at him, her eyes then returning to the road ahead. "Protecting our own is what we do," she replied, a hint of melancholy in her tone.
Adrian, curious and wanting to alleviate the tension, probed further. "What do you mean?"
She sighed, her grip on the steering wheel tightening. "I lied to the Vipers, told them you were my brother. I lied to our council, convincing them of your usefulness," she confessed, her voice weighed down with a sense of regret. "I lied to you, made you believe I was in danger and needed shelter."
Adrian considered her words and admitted his own faults. "It's not so different for me. I don't always outright lie, but I've been known to omit things from those who care about me," he admitted, his gaze shifting to the misty streets of the Northern District. "And that's pushed them away."
Artemia, sensing there was more to his story, probed gently. "Is there something you want to tell me, Adrian?"
He hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Those few weeks when you lived in my home were perhaps the happiest moments of my life besides…" His voice trailed off, words left unspoken.
"Besides what?" Artemia pressed, urging him to continue.
Adrian, his voice barely above a whisper, revealed, "Besides that moment when the midwife presented me with my daughter."
"You have a daughter?" Artemia inquired, her curiosity piqued. "I did notice that photo in the living room, but I refrained from asking."
Adrian turned away, his gaze distant. "Had. I had a daughter. After they presented me with Katarina, they delivered grim news as well. My wife died during childbirth."
Sorrow washed over Artemia's face as she responded, "I'm deeply sorry to hear that."
Adrian shook his head, attempting to dispel the somber mood. "It's fine now. I've moved on, but at the time, it sent me spiraling into a pit of binge drinking and failed cases in the department. Perhaps I've never truly recovered from it."
As Artemia pulled the car to a stop by a quiet sidewalk, engine still purring, she posed a poignant question, her eyes filled with empathy. "And where is your daughter now?"
Adrian hesitated, his gaze dropping to his fidgeting fingers. "Katarina's aunt took her away, citing my mental state as the reason," he confessed, his voice heavy with sorrow. "And she was right." He raised his eyes, the depth of his grief etched on his face. "Then they vanished. I tried to find them, but the information I received was inconsistent. Some claimed she'd been placed in the Zorkin Orphanage Home for girls in the Eastern slums. Others suggested they were in hiding, always on the move. The last known location was with a lumberjack named Stas Mitrin." A rueful chuckle escaped him. "I was so consumed by the hunt for Johnny Terenkin, or Johan as you all call him, that I never truly pursued Katarina's whereabouts. The moment I attempted to, I was promptly ousted from the department, making the search even more challenging."
Artemia listened attentively, her empathy palpable. Once he finished, she asked, her voice gentle, "What exactly led to your dismissal?"
"I used Lady Juliana's letters as collateral with Tally, hoping she could confirm if Katarina was indeed in the orphanage."
Artemia placed her hand reassuringly on his shoulder and offered comfort. "If we find Tally, she'll tell you all she knows. I've heard she's a compassionate woman."
Adrian, his head gently turned toward her by her fingers, couldn't help but manage a half-smile. "She didn't quite appreciate the fact that I was a cop."
"You're not a cop anymore, Adrian," she reminded him, her fingers guiding his gaze toward her. "Now, cheer up, will you? We don't want Tally to think I've been mistreating you or something." A warm smile graced her lips.
Adrian blew his nose and managed a genuine smile. "You're right. Let's go and see what's going on."
Artemia pressed the gas pedal, and the car resumed its journey toward the orphanage. It didn't take long before Adrian recognized the dark red brick building with its menacing black metal spikes. Artemia parked the car on the opposite side of the street and they both began scanning the area around the building.
"I was right, damn it," Artemia muttered under her breath. "They have armed individuals waiting for us. Look!" She subtly nudged Adrian's shoulder.
Adrian focused his attention and indeed spotted a dozen armed men strategically positioned around the garden and entrance area. He then glanced up at the large, colorful windows of the building, where shadows of patrolling figures danced ominously. "Interesting," he mused, rubbing his chin.
"What's interesting? We need to move before they spot us, Adrian," Artemia urged, preparing to restart the car. However, Adrian halted her by placing his hand on hers.
"They don't look like policemen, and certainly not from the Royal Department," Adrian observed thoughtfully.
Artemia regarded him with skepticism. "You think they might be in disguise?"
"The Royal Department doesn't usually bother with disguises, unless you consider their black attire a form of dressing up. But these individuals look like regular folks."
"What about the police? They might be willing to dress up. After all, you were in disguise when you first came to my bar."
Adrian nodded. "That's true, but there are too many of them. The police department doesn't have the resources to station this many officers to simply stand guard and patrol a building, even if it's an important one."
Artemia leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "So, what's your plan?"
"I'm going to approach them," Adrian declared nonchalantly, preparing to exit the car. "Keep your gun ready, just in case. I might need some backup."
Artemia's eyes widened, and she regarded Adrian as if he had lost his mind. "Are you out of your mind? If you get caught by the police, I won't be coming to your rescue. Two times is more than enough."
"Don't worry about it," Adrian replied, his energy unwavering. "Just keep your aim steady." He reminded her of the importance of her role and then stepped out of the car, ready to confront the figures guarding the orphanage.
Adrian carefully adjusted his hat, brushing his hand over his jacket and pants to rid them of some of the more conspicuous dirt that had accumulated during his stay in the Alderian safehouse. Once he felt presentable, he walked confidently toward the imposing gates of the orphanage. It didn't take long for one of the armed men to notice him and demand, "What do you want?"
"Greetings, sir," Adrian replied smoothly, offering his hand through the gate's opening. "I am Jeffrey Locksbrook from the metalworks factory."
The man hesitated before reluctantly shaking Adrian's hand, his fingers quickly returning to the grip of his rifle. "So what?"
"Oh, I was just wondering if you've received our payment," Adrian said, flashing the broadest smile he could muster, though he felt rather foolish.
"Payment? What payment?" The man seemed genuinely perplexed.
"Oh, they didn't inform you?" Adrian feigned concern. "That's unfortunate. May I speak with your supervisor, then?" He noticed a group of other armed men approaching the gate.
"Hey, Sammy, who's that?" one of the men called out loudly.
"That's, uh, Jeffrey Locksbrook, was it?" the man at the gate mumbled.
Adrian felt the pressure mounting as he repeated, "I'm Jeffrey Locksbrook from the metalworks factory."
"We don't know anyone from the metalworks factory. Get the hell out of here," a tall man growled.
"Unfortunately, I can't do that," Adrian replied, his voice steady.
"What did you say?" The tall man stepped closer to the gate.
"I said I can't leave because we've already made a payment."
"What payment, for God's sake?" the first man snapped in irritation.
"The payment for the orphans, of course!" Adrian responded, his tone suggesting that their confusion was preposterous.
The men exchanged bemused glances before bursting into uproarious laughter. After a few moments, the tall man finally spoke, "You're late, brother."
"Late? We made the payment two weeks ago," Adrian insisted.
"All the orphans are gone; this place belongs to Niko Cliffnail now," the first man declared, his smile revealing some broken teeth. The tall man swatted the back of his head lightly. "This isn't public information yet," he chided before returning his gaze to Adrian. "We didn't tell you, alright, boss?"
Adrian appeared genuinely perplexed and took a moment before responding. "Of course, but what happened to the Zorkin Orphanage Home? What about Mrs. Tally Komash?"
The tall man shrugged. "No idea. Our job is to guard this asset, and Mr. Cliffnail doesn't appreciate questions. So, I suggest you be on your way." He waved Adrian off dismissively. "Tell your boss he'll have to find young slaves somewhere else now." Laughter erupted among the men.
Adrian managed a polite smile and touched the tip of his hat before slowly making his way back to the waiting car, where Artemia observed his return with rapt attention. Adrian removed his hat and quickly settled into the passenger seat.
"Let's go, Artemia," Adrian urged, his voice edged with urgency.
"What did they say? I heard them laughing," Artemia questioned, her eyes scanning Adrian as if checking for hidden wounds.
"I'm fine, Artemia, let's just drive!" Adrian replied, anxiety tinging his words.
"Any information on Tally?" Artemia inquired as she switched on the car's engine.
Adrian shook his head. "No, but today we've opened a Pandora's box."
"What are you talking about? Who were those people?"
"They were Cliffnail's men. And the Royal Department is working with the Clifnail Syndicate."
"That doesn't surprise me," Artemia shrugged.
"It surprises me," Adrian countered. "The PD is corrupt to the core, with officers on the payroll of many different gangs, big and small." He paused, his voice heavy with concern. "But the Royal Department is supposed to be an uncorruptable force. Their operatives are indoctrinated and trained from early childhood to become a personal army and guardians of Imperial rule."
Artemia nodded quietly, absorbing the weight of Adrian's revelation. Then she asked, "Where are we going now? Johan won't be pleased that we still don't know where Tally is."
"There's someone I need to introduce you to. Let me take the wheel," Adrian said, his tone resolute.79Please respect copyright.PENANAQFHvF1GPyh
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