A Billionaire Paradox

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Burkhardt is a productive, and growing town built on a steep hillside that connects to the sea; shops, restaurants, houses and apartments piling on top of each other -- alleyways and narrow streets interlocking and zig-zagging. At nighttime, the lights light up the harbour and the streets. Winter was coming to an end, and the snow that still lightly decorates the ground is slowly melting and thinning out; the season of Winter was slowly transforming into Spring, where all the beautiful plants and flowers are fated to blossom. During this time, people crowded around the markets and in the middle of town, desperately awaiting for the sales and fairs -- Burkhardt becomes more alive than it usually ever is.
The town and its citizens aren't the only ones that are busy, and as lively as ever. The Burkhardt Police Department face plenty of crime during the times of seasonal fairs and parades.

After a few hours on the road, I had finally reached Burkhardt, where I decided to stay in a motel in the middle of town. The Burkhardt Police Department welcomed me graciously, and gave me two weeks before Winter ended to get to know the town. I wouldn't be lying if I said I spent most of that time surviving off of canned soup and noodle cups. "Getting to know the town" was the least of my worries, mostly because, at first glance, this town was as easy to describe as I would have liked. Burkhardt was almost like the Venice of America. It may not be encompassed in water, or restricted to walking, but the welcoming, ancient feeling of this town burned brightly.

Personally, I wasn't really interested in getting to know the town, only because it wasn't my home. It wasn't where I belonged, therefore, what was the point? I planned on working my way back to Brooklyn, solving as many cases as I could. Since leaving, I also planned on keeping Detective Gibbins out of my mind, only to keep me sane. I couldn't stand being in a town without him, but I also didn't want love to guide me through my life.
I wanted who I was to be reflected into the cases I solved -- hopefully, with all my tries, I could find solace back in Brooklyn.

Too quickly than I would have hoped, my short vacation ends; the moment I had been dreading for so long finally become present in my life. Stepping into the office was as dreadful as it was last time.
Rather quickly, at least 5 officers prance towards me -- their names I have not yet bothered to remember -- their freckled faces covered with gleaming eyes and toothy smiles. I felt more welcomed than before, but nonetheless disturbed by their obvious obsession with being as freakily kind and welcoming to newcomers.

"Regina! Regina! How are you, darling?" A doe-eyed woman, mid-fifties, curled her meaty hands around my waist, greeting me with a bone-crushing hug. Stiffly, I pull away, staring uncomfortably back into her large brown eyes. "Are you ready to meet with the Captain?"

"What?! No! We need to introduce ourselves to her first!" A short, thin woman huffs sadly, and glares harshly at the plump woman. Undisturbed, the plump woman shoos the four weirdos away, all the while berating them for their behaviour. Serves them right. She was quick to return - and quick to apologise. "Apologies, my dear. Some people can be too overbearing here. My name is Patricia Langford. I'm the secretary - I wouldn't be lying if I said I completely ran the place." I nod stiffly, my eyes roaming over the vanilla-scented precinct; the floorboards were rustic, stained with old coffee spills; the lights flickered tauntingly - perhaps mocking me in respondence to my current case of misfortune; the office seemed mostly tidy, completely contrasting the homey Brooklyn precinct.

The woman continued to talk to me, despite my uninterested acknowledgments to her peppy conversation. As the seconds turned to minutes, she finally stared at me, squinting her eyes. "Not much of a talker, are you?"

I cross my arms, saying, "Yes, and I'd like to keep it that way. Now, could you kindly show me to my desk?"

She seems a little at lost for words - which, in my opinion, is a better look for her, making her presence suddenly become slightly tolerable. "Well, I - uh - Of course! Just follow me, dear."