THIEF OF BREAN (VOL-1)|✓

SCARLET SCREAMS- XXXVII

"That is just ridiculous!" General Payton rammed the sword into the sword rack.

This was not the good time, Carl thought as he stood gaping at the irked General. Carl took a glance Giles. He was fazed. It was his idea to report Payton in person about their progress before taking any further steps. He was probably regretting it now.

Payton had a soft belly that was visible through the taut white tunic. He did not look like he drilled as much he wanted others to believe he did. Carl remembered Rhett calling him a lazy ass once. He could not be more right. It was only few minutes ago that Payton had been showing off his skills with the sword like a fool. And now, he was gnarling like an angry bear.

"And what is this Velibhor?" he snarled again.

"I think we said Mount Lucan, General. That is where this eye-witness, an old shepherded from the valleys-" he tried to cover up the slip from Giles.

"So search the valleys."

"We have done that. The Sentinels have been in guard for the last three days," Giles muttered.

"And you lost him?"

Carl did not understand the need for such flare-up. He had no reason to be up in arms when they were just showing the progress on the case and asking for a permit to search Mount Lucan.

"It seems he is not sheltered in the valleys, or in any susceptible localities in the province, General," he told him tersely.

"So you come up with a reason that a man lives in the Mount. I was not expecting this from you, Detective Lavely."

"Criminals need to hide. Mount Lucan is a perfect hideout."

Payton shot him a dirty look. "First, you say fingerprinting would solve most of the case. Then you make our Majors to roll their prints. You go after the in and out registries of our personnel. You don't get anything to fit your theories, so you start a new one by making one of our Sentinels a prime suspect... and now you are saying me that the killer is staying in the crest of the mount." He threw his hands in the air. "Why should I believe you?"

"I was only doing my job."

"No. You were just gambling, like you have been doing in all cases before this."

Carl clenched his jaws. It was not true. He had worked too hard. For days now, he had been running after the little clues, spent sleepless nights looking for the bits and pieces that would get him closer to the killer. Only an idler like Payton who couldn't even stretch his arms fully at the drills would consider it as gambling.

Just then, a man with a balding hairline and clothed in a white tunic, came in through the door with a towel and a tea cup. Payton rubbed his face and the thinning salt and pepper bristles on his head with the towel fiercely. The bald man looked at Carl in deride and smirked.

Carl skimmed his eyes away from his skunk-like face. "It wouldn't harm to have a look at Mount Lucan, would it?" he said, trying hard to keep his tone polite.

"Unless you cannot." Payton sipped up from the cup and cleared his throat. "You are new here, Detective. I think Major Branners has forgotten to tell you-but Mount Lucan is off limits. Landslides and snow storms affect the region frequently. That makes it a tough place for human to inhabit... which in turn makes me think that your findings are not likely, Detective Lavely. Trekking the mount is strictly banned by the state law. I cannot risk my job by signing you a permit." He took another sip before picking up Giles' progress report on the case.

Carl wanted to spill out Payton about Rhett's beagle information, but Rhett had asked him not to. "Payton will not like it. So don't tell something that may make me lose my rank," he'd said.

Ranks were so crucial. Ranks were everything. Carl had no choice but agree.

"Detective," said Payton. Carl stepped foward. Payton sucked in a breath and closed his eyes, as if to calm himself. "What was the case you were brought here?" he asked. His voice was rigid with renewed anger.

"The murders-"

"And what is this?" He plonked the open sheets to the table and looked daggers at him. "You are after a thief who happened to take a man and his wife... what nonsense is this!"

"We think it is the same person-" Giles began but was cut off by a peeved Payton.

"Do you have anything stronger than thoughts? Ground evidence perhaps?" he continued with Carl.

"The killing pattern-the woman was attempted to murder by slitting her wrist."

Payton glanced at him, thinking. "Alright," he said. "You have two days, Detective Lavely. Do whatever it takes. I need to see a real progress. If you cannot then I am afraid you are in for some trouble."

Carl felt a light tremble in his guts. Returning to the LEA headquarters as an empty-handed was the last thing he wanted. His disappointments would follow him all the way again. He was terrified. This time he would not be able to-

General Payton pointed two fingers in front of his face. "Two days... that is all I give you."