For what is mine, I'll come myself

Part 7

Next morning had been a series of hard work and findings. Following the details of the new report Jason had spent hours working simultaneously for both the new and his old investigations.

The raiders had been in league with the ones Jason had chased before. The two crime makers had broken into a museum and stolen a piece of expensive antique. The item had been made a part of the museum a few days ago and was worth a lot. It had seemed that the two were primarily working for their own gain but Jason had succeeded in concluding that it was being done under orders.
A master mind.
They had been chased all around but in the end only the item had been recovered being left behind in their lair while the two had fled.
Jason noticed there were some similarities regarding both the cases. Then it was a guard at the museum who was left beaten and bleeding trying to stop the robbers now was a scientist found in a similar situation who had tried defending himself which Jason was able to tell that the scientist was not wanted dead.
Just like the guard from before.
Maybe to scare them? If the people had wanted, they would have killed them easily.
Digging deeper into his research there was more he found out.
This pack of criminals, though their identities unknown, had been engaged in several raids and brutal attacks but there was no report of a murder. Which made sense with the fact that, whoever was the captain of this pirate ship didnt want to murder the scientist. 

And Jason had spent all his day at his home brainstorming, searching clues, solving puzzles and answering questions he was being attacked with by his own genius mind. It was around 7pm when he was knocked out of his dreams by a phone call. It had fallen dark already since it were winters and the chill had settled in the room while Jason had forgotten to turn on the radiator and had fallen asleep at his desk with the laptop running and papers pooling around.

Wendy had called and told him that he was needed at the station. He had hurried to the bathroom, changed clothes, put on his hat and rushed out in his car. It was a twenty minutes drive from his home in Greens Block to the station all the way through Orchid Block. He had taken the opportunity to stop by Pearls only to find it closed again.
Jason peered at the little colorful building from the driving seat, seems like they hadn't still returned.

"I tried calling her but her phone has been switched off." He recalled the woman's statement.
He wondered if the owners of Pearl's had tried her phone too. If they were going away they must have thought of informing her. If they had they would also know that her phone was off. Would they have done something or at least thought of something?
Or there wasn't any nee of it?
Then they had gone and werent back yet.
There was suspicion and questions but all he could do for now was to wait for their return.

He drove all the way round the crime scene into street 27th. He had often found himself drawn to crime areas in investigations he was involved with. According to him the real crime always left its mark that nothing could erase and he had learned that through sheer experience. He was known for finding answers which others chose to overlook given hard conditions. The street was lit by the lights as he drove ahead passing the coffee shop looming across the street at the other end. He could see people gathered around tables with coffees and other eatable items, customers going in and coming out, friends and family members. To his surprise he had stopped to observe this natural scene. A man came out of the cafe followed by a little girl, the two of them held hands as they made their way across the path towards a car.
His hand tightened on the steering wheel. Why did he have to see that?

A car rode past slowly and he was almost glad for it but after his view had cleared in again he noticed a figure in black standing outside the shop a few feet away from the entrance.
The only familiar black figure.
He killed the engine.
Another car rode past concealing the person from his view and when gone the person wasn't there. Just then he saw the door of the coffee shop shut after someone's arrival. He got out, locking the door as he hurried across. He didn't know why exactly he was doing this. It wasn't that he had something new to tell her either but anyway he did and entered the shop.
The atmosphere was lit by the light chitter chatter. People were enjoying coffee and conversation with sweet eatables. The shop had a woody texture with graphic coffee posters and moody quotes sticking to the walls. A soft sweet scent was spread across every table. A very few people turned to look him which he guessed might as well know who was here.