Chapter 18: The Detective’s Office
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the city below. Jannela and Andres, now accustomed to their roles as invisible investigators, hovered outside a small, dimly lit office building.
“This is the place,” Jannela whispered, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
“The detective’s office. We might find some leads here.”
Andres nodded, his ghostly form blending seamlessly into the night.
“Let’s get in and see what we can find. We have to be quick and quiet.”
They phased through the wall, entering the dark, cluttered office. Filing cabinets lined the walls, and a large wooden desk sat at the center, piled high with papers.
---
“Alright, let’s split up,” Andres suggested, moving towards the desk.
“You check the cabinets, I’ll look through these files.”
Jannela nodded, fluttering over to the nearest cabinet.
“Got it. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”
They began their search, carefully sifting through the detective’s belongings. The silence of the room was broken only by the soft rustle of papers.
---
Andres flipped through the files on the desk, skimming for anything that might relate to his assault.
“There’s a lot of stuff here, but nothing stands out yet.”
Jannela opened a drawer, finding stacks of folders.
“Same here. We need to focus on anything recent, around the time of your attack.”
As she pulled out another folder, a faint noise caught their attention. The door handle rattled, and they froze.
---
“Someone’s coming!” Andres hissed, quickly moving to a shadowy corner.
“We need to hide!”
Jannela joined him, their forms blending into the darkness just as the door creaked open. A middle-aged man with a weary expression entered, flipping on the light.
The detective, named Sam, walked over to his desk, oblivious to the invisible intruders. He muttered to himself, rifling through the papers.
---
“This is bad,” Andres whispered, his eyes on the detective.
“We can’t search while he’s here.”
Jannela’s mind raced. “Maybe we can wait until he leaves or try to distract him somehow.”
Sam sat down, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and pouring himself a drink.
“Long day,” he sighed, taking a sip.
---
They watched in silence, waiting for an opportunity. Minutes passed, feeling like hours, until finally, the detective stood up, grabbing a folder from the desk.
“This has to be the one,” he muttered, heading towards a back room.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Andres and Jannela sprang into action.
---
“Now’s our chance,” Andres said, moving back to the desk. “Let’s find what we need before he comes back.”
Jannela nodded, returning to the cabinets. She opened another drawer, her eyes scanning for anything out of the ordinary.
---
Suddenly, Andres froze, his eyes widening. “Jannela, look at this,” he whispered urgently.
She flew over to him, peering at the paper he held. It was a detailed report, with photos and notes about Andres’ attack.
“This is it,” she breathed, her eyes scanning the document. “It’s got everything—the time, the place, even some potential suspects.”
Andres nodded, a mix of anger and relief washing over him. “Finally, some answers. But who’s behind it?”
---
As they studied the report, a name stood out. “Damian,” Jannela read aloud. “A known criminal with connections to the underworld. He was seen near the locker room the night of your attack.”
Andres clenched his fists. “I knew it wasn’t random. Someone hired him to do this.”
The door to the back room creaked open again, and they quickly retreated to their hiding spot.
---
Sam reentered, the folder in his hand. He sat down, oblivious to the angels’ presence, and began writing notes in the report.
“We need to get that file,” Andres whispered. “It might have more details.”
Jannela nodded. “But how? He’s right there.”
---
An idea struck Andres. “I’ll create a distraction. You grab the file when he’s not looking.”
Jannela looked worried. “Are you sure?”
Andres nodded, his determination clear. “We need that file.”
He floated over to a nearby shelf, nudging a book off the edge. It fell with a loud thud, and Sam jumped, looking around.
---
“What the—?” Sam muttered, standing up to investigate the noise.
As soon as his back was turned, Jannela swooped in, grabbing the file and tucking it under her arm. She quickly flew back to their hiding spot.
Andres rejoined her, his eyes gleaming. “Did you get it?”
Jannela nodded, holding up the file. “Let’s go before he comes back.”
---
They phased through the wall, escaping into the night. Once they were a safe distance away, they opened the file, their hearts pounding.
“It’s all here,” Andres said, his eyes scanning the pages. “Damian, the hired goons, even the motive. Someone wanted me out of the game.”
Jannela placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find out who and why. This is a big step forward.”
---
They spent the rest of the night going through the file, piecing together the puzzle. It was clear that whoever was behind the attack had deep connections and a lot of resources.
“We need to be careful,” Jannela said, her eyes serious. “They won’t be happy when they find out we’re onto them.”
Andres nodded, his determination unwavering. “I’m not backing down. We’re getting closer to the truth.”
---
As the first light of dawn began to break, they finally called it a night. Exhausted but hopeful, they returned to their temporary hideout.
“We did good tonight,” Jannela said, her voice filled with pride.
Andres smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. “Yeah, we did. And we’ll keep doing good until we get to the bottom of this.”
---
They knew the road ahead would be challenging, filled with danger and uncertainty. But they also knew they had each other, and together, they were unstoppable.
As they prepared for the next phase of their investigation, a renewed sense of purpose filled them. They were on the right track, and nothing would stand in their way.
With their spirits high and their bond stronger than ever, they faced the rising sun, ready for whatever the day might bring.