Guardian Angels

Chapter 23

The next day, under the guise of a clear morning sky, Danny sought out Sam at the precinct, his demeanor professional yet tinged with the familiarity of their shared past. Sam, surprised but composed, greeted him. "Sam, I hope it's okay I came to see you. It's purely professional," Danny began, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a hint of the complexity underlying his visit. "I'm working on a column about Alex Mason. I was hoping to get some inside information from the police perspective. You think you could help me out?"

Sam nodded in understanding. The vigilante was the talk of the city, and Danny's journalistic instincts were as sharp as ever. "Sure, Danny. Let me introduce you to Clara. She's actually spearheading the hunt for Mason," Sam replied, leading him to where Lieutenant Clara Mitchell was overseeing the day's operations. Clara looked up as they approach, her expression brightening at the sight of Danny.

Clara greeted Danny with a warm yet teasing smile, aware of the history he shared with Sam. "Danny Chen, the intrepid reporter. It's good to see you. Still chasing shadows, I see. And how's the quest for the truth bringing you back to our Sam here?"

The banter was light, but the subtext was clear, highlighting the complex web of personal and professional ties that bound them. Danny offered a chuckle, deflecting with the ease of one well-accustomed to navigating sensitive topics. "Just following the story, Clara. Mason's become quite the phenomenon. Any insights you could share would be invaluable."

Clara, seizing the opportunity for a little playful prodding, turned her attention to Sam. "And you, Sam? Still keeping this one at arm's length? I'm surprised you two aren't back together yet. The way you both dance around each other, it's like watching a prime-time drama."

Sam, not missing a beat, shot back with a grin, "Actually, Clara, I was thinking of giving Danny up to you if you're so interested. Seems like you need a break from hunting vigilantes to maybe hunting... hearts?"

"Oh, believe me, between chasing down Alex Mason and managing this place, my hands are full." Clara laughed, the sound echoing warmly in the precinct's walls. "But, Danny, if you're looking for information, I might have something that could help your column." Danny gave a shy, grateful, somewhat flustered smile, appreciating the assistance and the momentary lightness despite the underlying tension.

Clara hpulled out two sketches from a folder on her desk, sliding them across to Danny with a sense of solemnity. "These are based on on the intel we have on Mason, combined with my own deductions," Clara explained, her tone reflecting the seriousness of the task. "Since we don't have actual photos of Mason from his time in Afghanistan, these are my best guess at what he might have looked like, before and after the incident with the Taliban."

Danny leaned in, his journalist's curiosity piqued as he examined the stark difference between the two sketches. The first depicted a man with sharp features—strong jawline, clear eyes, and an air of determined confidence, the kind of rugged handsomeness associated with soldiers of fortune. The second sketch showed the same man, but altered dramatically by imagined burns and scars, a representation of the toll taken by a brutal execution and escape.

Sam, leaning in to take a look, offered a flippant comment, "He was quite the looker, huh? Reminds me of the handsome guy I was with last night." Her words were tinged with a playful note, though her heart wasn't in the jest.

Clara caught the fleeting look of discomfort that passed over Danny's face at Sam's remark, a reaction that didn't escape her perceptive gaze. "Well, good look is more than skin deep, they say. And Mason's actions speak to a character that's anything but disfigured," Clara responded, turning the conversation back to the matter at hand, yet subtly acknowledging the unresolved tensions and unspoken words that lingered between Sam and Danny.