The Academy: Detective Stories - Part II

Chapter 3. A Dealer

Elisa walked down the narrow, paved street. The rain had stopped, and now a heavy mist hung in the warm evening air. At the end of the street, she stopped. A skinny figure of a man stood by the shabby old building, waiting for his first buyers. Today, she was one of them.

Putting the hood of her red cloak on, Elisa approached the man. "Hi."

"Have you gotten lost, girl?" His pale blue eyes gazed at her from under his hat.

Elisa made her voice sound cheerful, hoping he would buy her story. "I was looking for you. I have a birthday party this weekend, and I need a package of your best product."

None of his muscles moved. "Who sent you?"

"Who cares?" Elisa rolled her eyes, playing the role of a spoiled girl. "Do you need money or not?! I can find someone else in an eyeblink."

He chuckled, revealing a golden tooth. "Okay, slow down. I'll help you. Tonight, I have something special for your occasion."

"Great." She revealed her red purse covered with rhinestones. Carelessly, she opened it, demonstrating a bunch of silver coins. "So, how much powder do I need for a dozen students?"

His eyes gleamed as he saw the money. "Depends on the quality. If you're planning something fancy, then I can suggest a new product. Moon Dust."

"Oh, I think I tried that a couple of months ago." Elisa waved her free hand nonchalantly, playing her role. "Right, at Jackie's party. It was a lot of fun!"

"I see." He looked around the empty street and adjusted his hat. "Fine, follow me. It's around the corner."

She closed her purse and put it in her pocket, making sure it made a loud clunk. In silence, she followed the dealer to the other building. Judging by the faded street sign, it used to be a restaurant. Now, the paint on the facade was cracked, and its wide windows were boarded up with wooden planks.

The man led her to the side door and walked into the spacious dining hall. Elisa followed his steps in darkness, resisting the urge to reveal her Light. It was too risky – she had been in Santos for only two months, but all the criminals already knew about the female guardian with the scar on her cheek and a rare silver Light. Even though she covered her scar with a solid layer of powder, she couldn't do anything about the rest. If he had recognized her, this undercover operation would have been over.

Finally, they reached the curtain that separated the main room from the kitchen. The reflection of candlelight and male voices indicated that it was the room where they prepared the drugs. They stepped inside.

Her guess was correct – the kitchen tables were covered with multiple jars filled with dried herb powders and suspicious dark liquids. Two young men sorted the mixtures into small cotton bags using scales. Incapables, Elisa guessed. It was a usual practice to hire Incapables for such a dirty job - they never left magic traces and always kept silent.

"Welcome to the candy shop," the man announced with a wink.

Elisa smiled and fixed her hair lock.

He waved his hand, and the Incapable men left the room without asking any questions. They stood alone, and Elisa's heart raced in a premonition of danger. She had done everything as planned – found a drug dealer and figured out where he prepared his goods. Even though the guardians already knew this information, she had managed to get close enough. Now, she must gather information about his supplier without giving herself away.

She looked around. "What a creepy place."

He ignored her comment. "So, how much money do you have?"

Elisa scoffed. "Enough. Show me what you can suggest first."