The Academy: Detective Stories - Part II

Chapter 6. The Truth from The Underground

The next morning, Jackie stood outside the chief's office, fully prepared for the day ahead. Walter was already inside, receiving instructions. She pressed her ear against the door but couldn't hear anything – the room was likely protected from eavesdropping with a Muting spell. Disappointed, Jackie walked over to the window. Just then, the door swung open, and Walter emerged, holding a folded piece of paper in his hand.

"What's that?" Jackie inquired.

"A search warrant," he replied. "Do you remember that case you worked on with your flame friend?"

She nodded. Since the day she and Theo had scared off the criminals, no one had been able to find any trace of the fighting clubs or drug dealers. It was as if they had vanished from Middle Lake city, leaving everyone to assume they were lying low. Perhaps the dealers were waiting for the right moment to resurface and resume their illegal activities.

Walter pocketed the paper. "We're heading to the new club that just opened at the far end of the city. There was an incident there last night, and it's likely that the owner has information on the criminals we're after."

"I hope I won't mess up this time," Jackie quipped.

Walter shrugged. "Why would you? It's just a routine check, not an undercover operation."

"Fair enough."

They strolled down the corridor. As they reached the exit, Jackie stole a glance back. Trevor stood at the threshold, arms crossed over his chest, his piercing blue eyes sending shivers down her spine. Yesterday, she had promised him to resolve the issue with Walter, and she had kept her word. Moving forward, she knew she had to tread carefully.

* * * * *

The new club appeared bright and spacious, perhaps due to the absence of visitors besides the two of them. Tall, narrow windows allowed sunlight to filter in, while night plants twined up the pillars, their buds tightly closed in slumber. At the far end of the hall, a small stage with a couple of chairs hinted at live performances.

"Look," Walter whispered, nodding towards the kitchen door.

A red-bearded man in a black suit approached them.

"That's the owner," Walter murmured. "Try to read him when the time is right."

"Understood."

The man drew nearer, offering a smile. Jackie sensed he was concealing something, likely erasing any traces that could link back to the criminals. Unbeknownst to him, Jackie possessed the ability to read minds, giving her a unique advantage.

"Detective Mills," Walter introduced himself. "And this is my colleague, Cadet Robinson."

"I've always been terrible with names," the man remarked casually. "Let's keep it simple. Just call me Joe."

"Alright, Joe," Walter acknowledged. "We're here for a quick inspection."

"Why? Your colleagues were here yesterday to handle a minor incident."

Walter retrieved the folded paper from his pocket and handed it to Joe. "Here's the warrant. We suspect this incident may be linked to one of our previous cases."

Joe shrugged. "Feel free to check whatever you need to."

"Excellent." Walter grinned. "Cadet Robinson, where should we start?"

Jackie scanned the room. "Where did the fight take place?"

Joe gave her a tired look. "Haven't your colleagues briefed you? The guy went berserk and assaulted my new waiter at the fifth table." He gestured towards a corner adorned with plush sofas and coffee tables.