Stigma

Game

She entered the office despite the fact that it was a weekend, and drew in to the table opposite the Chief of the investigation.

"Apologies for calling you in during your break," he said. He had a moustache like a brush over his mouth, that quivered as he spoke. It was all she could do not to laugh. "Have I interrupted anything?"

"Not at all. My brother is moving in with me later, but that's about it for today." She smiled, and draped her coat over the back of the chair.

"Good. I have a lead on the Essenville incident, Zwicke."

Any amusement was completely wiped from her face. Her mouth shaped a perfect little 'o'.

"That''s impossible," she said. "I mean, the Essenville incident was twelve years ago, surely we would have spotted a link a long time ago if there was one?"

"Are you alright there?"

"Yeah, it's… it's the sun."

The Chief stood and went around his desk, drawing the blinds shut. They were cut off from the sunny day, and suddenly the office was quite dim, shafts of light falling on his face like something out of an old movie.  He leaned in.

"I have reason to believe the incident was linked to T."

"T? But that's the case I'm on, sir. That's still happening now. I'm trying to shut them down, continuing my father's work. I mean, I've been going through his files …"

"The incident in Essenville, with the criminal known only as Gluttony: we already understand that his string of murders follow the pattern of parents killed, kid survives. Right?"

"I think I of all people would understand that, sir."

"Yes, of course. Zwicke, we've already established the link between Gluttony and six other killers; its the same in every incident, only the child survives. Except that recently, in Sigma, there have been reports of the dead parents logging on and meeting each other. Even though they're … dead."

Zwicke swallowed. She looked down at her knees, and then up at him, tears beading in her dark eyes.

"That's not right, sir. Using illegal faces for meeting strangers is bad enough, but why parents? Why do they want parents?"

"The next step is just that. We're starting a new task force with the sole purpose of finding the connection between Sigma, T and the killers. And I want you to join."

"Me?"

"Yes. And not only you. We want you to contact Sacha, even if you have to use your  brother."

Zwicke bit back her tears. She frowned at him.

"You told me Sacha was a last resort. That we wouldn't get victims involved for their own psychological good."

"The fact that you decided to become a police officer even when your brother was still in therapy tells me you don't really believe that. And we need his talents. Sacha has skills beyond any of our officers, me included. If anybody could spot the link between the murders and the criminal organisation, it would  be him."

Zwicke took a deep breath, processing everything she'd been told.

"Right" she said. "Alright. Is there anything else I should know?"

"I e-mailed you a database of people who believe they spotted Gluttony on a server. That''l be our next lead, to enter the virtual reality and see what we can find. I want you to get yourself familiar with the programme. What do you know about it?"