Nerium oleander

Wergild

The cold wind was getting harsher, rustling the tree's leaves as it passed. the red lights blinked, turning green as the cars started their run again. Yao frowned, not very keen on walking around with his colleagues, he resorted to pettily slowing down his steps beside them, either to show a slight discomfort or to cause it himself. Unluckily for him, Mathew was attentive enough to slow down his pace as well.

"The quarry stopped working, who knows for how long," A cigarrete's butt lit bright red as Carlos mused, running a hand through his hair. "I think that's rather troubling,"

"Perhaps it is for the better, with that place closed the mayor can focus on solving other kinds of problems here," Matthew said, taking off his glasses. "These last few days the rain has been merciless and I'm just so tired of the traffic jam by the highway, the trees' branches by the roadside keep falling over and blocking it, every single day. That is something the mayor should be more aware of, having to drive on those side paths to get home so late is beginning to take a toll on my poor car but guess which road is well pavemented and has no blockades? The one to the quarry."

"That can't be exactly blamed on the mayor, can it? Traffic is quite difficult at rush hour everywhere, not only here," Yao said, though he understood Matthew's frustration it was rather amusing to rile him up, he shifted on his feet, resisting the urge of lecturing Carlos on his smoking habits as he let out his tobacco smelling breath out.

"You two and your city problems," Carlos chuckled, patting Matthew on the back. "It's because of the rainy season, at least it's better than the dry season, give it a few months and you'll see, driving away from the forest's fires is going to make you complain less."

"Forest fires? I don't remember any last year," Yao said as the cloud of smoke dissipated in the air, he turned his face away, sipping on his cup of coffee. "Besides with you around, Matthew and I are already accustomed to the smell of smoke."

"I'm training you, you two should thank me then," Carlos chuckled, putting off his cigarette and shrugging. "There were some serious fires five years ago, no, perhaps before, it was getting progressively worse, though you are right, it has stopped. If you ask me, I think the fires were intentionally caused, though maybe it's just my internal child speaking. You know how the scouts teach you how to put up tents and start bonfires? We used to do that here too, so it wouldn't be strange to have a fire enthusiast around."

"Arsonist," Yao replies, taking another sip of coffee. "It would make more sense that way."

"This town just keeps on lowering my standards for my next job hunt," Matthew groaned, clearing his throat and looking around. "Let 's head back before I set my mind on quitting. Yao, I've seen your credentials, why do you even stay here?"

"It's not that bad," Yao hummed, finishing his coffee. "This kind of quietness is something you don't have in a big city,"

"That's true, I haven't had a headache in.., no, scratch that, I have, because the traffic is a mess, I hate it." Mathew sighed, as a police car passed by them, the loud sirens resounding before fading out in the distance. "Is it my imagination or a police car drives by and then parks beside our workplace everyday?"

"It does, well not everyday but often, Yao is like a magnet for cops," Carlos chuckled, patting Mathew on the shoulder. "Don't worry, that must be officer Braginsky, sometimes I wonder if he shows up to see Yao or someone else. I could be wrong, Francis did say that a rookie detective was trailing after him in the Vargas manor. The newbie that wants to get into the FBI or something."

"The FBI? Hey Yao, do you mind helping me out there, I could use an acquaintance with contacts there, you know... for the future." Matthew says, though his sheepish smile is barely concealed. "You are a federal agent away from being quite the networking master."