Guardian Angels

Chapter 26

As Clara approached Sam for lunch, the weight of her recent work seemed to momentarily lift, replaced by the camaraderie and light-hearted banter that had always characterized their relationship. Spotting Sam's distant gaze, Clara seized the opportunity for a playful jab.

"Sam, you've been miles away all lunch. What's on your mind? Danny, or maybe some handsome guy you've bumped into at Diaz's Crossroads?" Clara teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Sam couldn't help but chuckle at the irony Clara unknowingly stumbled upon, especially the mention of Diaz's Crossroads—a place that had become a significant part of her life, albeit for reasons Clara couldn't fathom. "Diaz's Crossroads, huh? It's a good place," Sam played along, adding, "Actually, you should drop by, let your hair down a bit. Might help with not ending up a spinster," she jibed back, nudging Clara gently.

Clara laughed, brushing off the comment with a wave of her hand. "Oh, please, I've got bigger fish to fry than worrying about my marital status." The conversation then took a more serious turn as Clara leaned in, her expression turning somber. "Speaking of which, I've got a really big fish on the line. We've managed to secure a witness willing to testify against Lorenzo Moretti. There's activity we've been tracking that might finally tie him to some serious charges. It's a big step, but it's going to be a tough battle. Moretti's slippery, and having a witness brave enough to come forward is a game-changer."

Sam's interest was piqued, both professionally and personally, given her own tangled web of activities against the city's criminal elements. "That's impressive, Clara. Looks like your detective division is doing just fine without my input," she replied, genuine admiration in her tone.

Clara leaned in, the satisfaction of her breakthrough mingling with the exhaustion that came with the territory. "Actually, Sam, there's something I've been wracking my brain about, and I could use your detective instincts. It's not about Lorenzo, but about Alex Mason," she began, setting the stage for what she hoped would be a breakthrough in the elusive vigilante's case.

Sam stiffened slightly, a rush of adrenaline coursing through her at the mention of her alter ego. She masked her reaction with a casual sip of her drink, nodding for Clara to continue.

"He's been a ghost. No tangible leads. His mode of transport? Stolen vehicles, discarded at will. His weapon? Customized, with hand-loaded rounds. And his funding seems to come through the dark web and cryptocurrency. But beyond that, it's like he doesn't exist outside of his actions," Clara explained, her frustration evident.

Sam feigned contemplation, allowing Clara's words to sink in as she crafted her response. The irony of the situation wasn't lost on her, knowing full well the answers to the questions Clara pondered. "In my...nightlife, I've heard rumors about Alex Mason showing up here and there. Seems he has a knack for visiting bars randomly." She started casually, "in fact, I hit up a couple of bars Mason's rumored to frequent, thought maybe there was a pattern or something. Came up empty, I'm afraid. Looks like those spots are just part of his random patrol route, and that dust-up with that Rocco was a one-off thing."

Clara couldn't help but laugh, a mixture of surprise and admiration by Sam's attempt at the vigilante. "That's my Sam. I know you cannot resist." Sam, playing her part, feigned contemplation, her mind racing to stay ahead of Clara's deductions. "Mason has his habits. Drinks with his straws, because of his burns." Sam took a sip of her drink, mimicking drinking from a straw.

After a moment's pause, Sam's face lit up with a feigned epiphany. "You know, there might be something you haven't considered," she said, injecting a note of excitement into her voice. "Alex Mason, because of his burns, can only drink with a straw, right? What if he has a habit of biting his straws? Maybe, just maybe, you could find some discarded straws in the garbage the bars he's been known to frequent? Bite marks could be more personal than fingerprints these days."