Thomas was back in the small police station. He really thought after meeting Luna, that his days in this place were over. It seemed the farmer was wrong about a lot of things lately.

Even though it was only four in the morning, the police station was more than awake. A nervous mood filled the room. The Hamilton's were loudly demanding an explanation, all while making a big scene. Officers were restlessly discussing things Thomas couldn't hear.

"Please, calm down everyone!" Connor Richfield, one of the two detectives of the small town, walked through the doors of the station with his hands in the air. "Detective Richfield is in the room now, there is nothing to fear anymore, all problems will be solved in a matter of minutes."

An annoyed grunt echoed through the room. Thomas, who had been waiting next to Mario's office, walked inside the glass bulb that was the young apprentice's work office. The older man sighed tired while he pushed papers aside to free some more space on his messy desk.

"I can't believe that that man is a detective and you aren't," Thomas huffed in disbelief, while still looking at the theatrical ways in which Connor was welcoming himself in the police station.

"That's only because of his father, otherwise that brat wouldn't even be accepted in the police academy." Mario sounded tired, which wasn't surprising considering he had been awake all night.

Thomas saw the irritation towards the detective on the Latino's face grow.

"How's it going with the case? Do you guys finally have a lead on this killer?" As Thomas expected, Mario's attention was immediately diverted from the drama queen that was standing in the middle of the police station to the real problem.

"Not really. This guy is good," Mario sighed before he stood up to stretch his cramped legs.

"How is it possible that he never leaves any kind of trace behind? That's impossible, right?" Thomas was irritated that, again, they didn't have anything. "Why was Perry in the woods in the first place, anyway?"

"Since when are you so invested?" Mario laughed.

"I'm just done with this guy. He keeps slipping through our fingers every single time." Thomas marched frustrated up and down the little office.

"You're not the only one, trust me. A few men and women are preparing a search party right now. They're just as done as you. They're planning to search the woods."

Thomas' body stilled in shock. Search party in the woods? The same woods where Mykayla was all alone lurking around the crime scene?

Oh-oh.

When he realized that he was now standing completely still in the middle of the office, he saw Mario giving him an investigating look.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing, I'm-," Thomas was searching for a believable excuse for his behavior. "I'm just surprised that people actually want to help."

Mario shook his head.

"You always believe in the best of people, since when have you stopped doing that? Since when are you surprised at the goodwill of the people?"

Thomas heaved his shoulders. Perhaps since no one in town seemed to care enough before. Why was Perry different? Esmeralda was a much better person than Perry, she was liked and kind and smart. People had loved her in the short time she had lived here, but they never put a search party together after her death. They had only looked at Thomas with those looks. Looks that made him want to hit it from their faces. Empathy they called it, but he didn't need it, he had needed Esmeralda. Or at least, revenge.

Mr. Hamilton, still dressed in comfortable training, strode out the police station. With his big posture, and the lean Connor Richfield behind him, he looked more like the Sheriff than the principal of the school.

Thomas was already on his way towards the door, ready to follow him and perhaps find a way to help Mykayla out of the tight situation she would soon be into, when a hand stopped him from going.

"Help me out here, Thomas."

Thomas turned around, certain that he must've had a hard look on his face. He felt the tight facial muscles, but he was too stressed to relax. Even with Mario looking him directly in the eyes, the officer went on as if he didn't just take away a big chance to help out. To do something.

"I need some help getting your story straight."

"What?" Thomas almost choked in his own spit.

Mario seemed to only now realize how that sounded, because he laughed it away.

"Sorry, no, that's not what I meant." He waved his hand in the air. "You're not under investigation or anything. I want to hear the story again about how Esmeralda died."

A silence stretched on. Thomas turned cold inside, and even anger rose to the surface. Only after a second or two, did Mario go on explaining what he meant.

"The fresher it is in my head, the bigger the chance that I can connect dots with the new information about this disappearance. Or have you given up on the idea that they might be connected with each other?"

Thomas awkwardly laughed away the negative feelings that were taking over once again. It was harder to breathe again, which made him only realize how light breathing had become in the last 24 hours.

"Of course not."

***

Loud shouting was heard from outside, and Thomas couldn't be more happy for it. He knew Mario meant the best, but reliving his wedding day, that nightmare, was absolute torture. His muscles ached, his head hurt and he simply wished he could crawl back under his blankets and tune out the world. So when the outside world was abruptly shaken awake, Thomas was glad that he could escape his best friend.

People became restless and started to move towards the doors of the police station. All wanted to see what was going on. And so did Thomas. A different kind of nerves settled in his stomach, they were just as bad as the one from before.

"Excuse me, super detective coming through!"

Connor pushed his way through the newformed crowd outside the police station.

"What is going on there?" Eduardo Richfield coughed, apparently even the sheriff couldn't contain his curiosity. Eduardo was a tall and tough looking man. His bald head shone in the fluorescent light of the police station.

"We're on it, sir."

Mario now pushed his way through the crowd as well, Thomas right on his heels. He had a bad feeling about all of this.

Unfortunately his intuition was rather good. In the middle of the crowd, two people were holding a struggling Mykayla. Her arms held on the side while she was pushed to her knees on the ground. Mykayla being Mykayla kept trying to free herself, struggling even if it meant hurting herself. To no avail.

"Detectives, officers, we captured the killer," Karla, the grumpy lean butcher, said with pride.

"Of course, you have. I came up with the idea for the search party." The long stick figure let his hand run through his golden quaff, while he pulled his mouth in that annoyingly proud smirk.

"We'll take it from here, thank you," Mario interrupted. "Richfield junior, how about you interview all of them?" Mario instructed, clearly annoyed at the detective.

The officer walked forward, handcuffs already ready in his hands. Thomas's eyebrows wrinkled in guilt and compassion when the brunette passed him. All he got in return was an angry look thrown his way.

Goodness, she really hated Thomas and his caring heart. And yet, he didn't hate her back he realized. All he felt was guilt and concern.