Fated Retribution

22 [Target Beta]

16th September, Tuesday, 9:27 am, 2028

I really hated my mind sometimes.

The cup of coffee was warm in my hands as I gave a strained smile to the barista on the counter who had handed me the beverage. I sucked in a breath through my teeth, trying to pry off the suspicions in my mind but they remained, stuck on the walls of my head like some virus, eating every other thought up.

The story Daphne told was convincing, it made sense through and through but was it the whole story?

I didn't think so.

Shoving my way past whiny children and stupid couples in the quaint coffee shop at the edge of Wood's Street, I made my way back to Sharon's place. Daphne's nervous fidgeting and that unfamiliar glint in her eyes while narrating her version of the story had convinced me she was lying about something, missing out on an important detail of the whole event which she wanted to keep concealed because she was ashamed or guilty.

Or both.

I neared the entrance of the house when I spotted Leo, crouched near a flower bed of the garden outside the bungalow, deep in thought as he ran his hand through his unruly mop of curls.

"What's up, officer?" I asked, nearing the young man who was now chewing on his lip, still looking distracted. He looked up at me and opened his mouth to speak but shut it once again, returning to his initial position, "Nothing." He mumbled and I scrunched up my face in confusion.

"You're really not a good liar. Something's on your mind, even a blind guy can see it." I pointed out and he looked up before rising on his feet and folding his hands solemnly in front of him, as if about to deliver some very disturbing news.

"Did you believe the entirety of Mrs. Petrova's version of the story?" He said timidly and my eyes narrowed to slits as his question. I sighed internally in relief, happy in knowing I wasn't the only one who thought there was something fishy going on.

I cleared my throat, looking up at him expectantly, "Elaborate."

Seeing my interest in his theory, Leo straightened up before speaking, "It's just that, the part about the anonymous tip, it just doesn't make sense to me. You see, the whole existence of the term is just something the police department has created to conceal the identity of our informers. We only use the words 'anonymous tip' in code or when the media pressures us too much." He explained and I cocked my head to the side, frowning at him.

"What's your point?" I asked and the boy let out a frustrated huff as he placed his hands on hips, "My point is, Daphne could not have known that Welfner was arrested because of an 'anonymous tip' unless she was the one who was on the giving or the receiving end of it because it wasn't-."

"In the news, so there was no way it could have gone out of the department." I completed his sentence, understanding the point of his suspicions and her nervous behaviour now making sense to me, strengthening my belief that she had indeed been hiding something.

Leo snapped his fingers at my words and nodded, "Exactly."

"So, you're implying Daphne was the one who turned Welfner in?" I asked as Leo shrugged, "I'm not sure but she knows something she's not telling us about and if we're going to help her we deserve to know the complete truth."

He emphasised on the last two words and I couldn't help but agree with him. I knew Daphne wasn't a bad person and if she was hiding something there must be a good reason for it but at the same time, Leo was correct too, if we were out here risking our necks for her and practically doing illegal stuff, we did deserve to know the complete truth.

"Well, then what do you say, we find out the truth?" I asked and his eyes widened, "What makes you think she's going to tell us?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Who says we're going to ask her?" I said as I took a sip of my coffee and turned around, walking towards Leo's car. I heard him shuffle after me, trying to keep up with my pace, "What do you me- why do you have my keys?" He cried incredulously as I signalled him to get in the car.

"Where are we going?" Leo continued to throw questions at me as I downed my coffee and slammed the cup on the dashboard, making him shut up.

"We're going to book a flight to Felwenia."

"What the actual fuck. Why?" I glared at him, surprised at his nerve to ask me another question and Leo seemed to shuffle as far away from me as possible when he caught my eyes.

"Nevermind, flights are nice, I like flying."