Flaming Heart: A Brothel Thief Mystery

Chapter 8. Candice

The pub was surprisingly bustling for such a small town. Tall, round tables were surrounded by men, their faces illuminated by flickering candlelight. Theo had to navigate through the crowd, using his elbows to squeeze past, in search of Captain Braun.

Finally, he spotted the table tucked away in the corner. His boss sat on a comfortable corner sofa, a half-empty tall beer mug in his hand. Theo took the seat nearby.

"And here you are," Captain Braun said, placing his mug on the table and motioning for a passing waiter. "Make my colleague a special drink."

"A special?" Theo wondered, slightly taken aback. He had been asked to buy a drink for the captain, and now he was being treated like a special guest. It didn't sit well with him.

The waiter returned with two full shots, placing them in front of them. The captain picked up one of the glasses, the thick brown liquid swirling inside, reflecting the candlelight. "How do you like whiskey, rookie?"

Theo savored the aroma of the whiskey, the scent of oak and pine needles filling his senses. He took a sip, relishing the smoothness of the drink. "Why are you treating me like this?"

Captain Braun smiled. "Let's just say today you passed your probation."

"Awesome!" Downing the shot, Theo slammed the glass onto the bar stand. It was a gratifying feeling to know that he was officially a part of the team. He was no longer just a cadet starting his journey, which meant the captain couldn't easily dismiss him for any missteps. And Theo was determined to prove himself by finding the man behind the stolen bag of drugs.

The captain finished his whiskey and gave Theo an encouraging look. "Now, you're in the right condition for your mission."

Theo nodded in agreement. It was crucial to bring this investigation to a close as soon as possible. "What do you want me to do?"

Leaning closer, the captain spoke in a hushed tone, ensuring their conversation remained private. "See that lady in the pink dress?"

Theo shifted his gaze to the red-haired lady at the bar, her light-pink summer dress accentuating her open shoulders. She sipped on a colorful fruit cocktail, exuding an air of elegance.

"What about her?" Theo asked.

The captain's expression turned sly. "She is the other prostitute. Candice."

Theo blinked, taken aback by the revelation. Despite his attentiveness to details, he would have never guessed that this seemingly refined lady was involved in such activities. He turned back to the captain. "Are you sure it's her?"

"Yes, I'm sure." The captain stared at him blankly. "I've been working here for years, rookie."

Theo's frown deepened. He despised the captain's familiarity even more than the assigned special mission. "When will you stop calling me a 'rookie'? You said I passed my probation, so maybe it's time to –"

"Not sure," the captain said curtly. "For me, you'll always be a naive child who's never dealt with the harsh realities of this world."

Theo's frustration simmered beneath the surface, but he knew better than to argue further. To calm down, he took a deep breath, reminding himself of the bigger picture. He had a mission to accomplish, and proving himself to the captain would have to wait.

In the Guardian Academy, Theo learned the importance of actions over words. Proving oneself through deeds was far more effective than empty arguments. Besides, it was advantageous that the captain didn't see him as a threat. It meant that he was less suspicious of Theo's true intentions in solving the case and apprehending the guilty party. It was better to maintain that perception for now, not giving the captain any reason to doubt him.