Rowan revealed himself to have been standing behind them, his hands folded neatly across his lower abdomen as he looked to the two. Deep etches of worry was embedded into the crinkles of his forehead, as his mind was drowning in a torrent of emotions. 

Eden spoke, or at least attempted to as she sputtered out a withering 'what'.

Rowan looked at Eden for what seemed like the longest time, studying her every facial expression. He knew that when it came to emotions she was a ticking time bomb and just one simple word could set her off. After letting out a small breath of air, he spoke again. "John was found dead in his house last night," he stopped yet again, turning back to look at Eden, then to Cameron. "He...he had multiple stab wounds to the chest, the stomach...He was completely manipulated."

Eden began to shake her head. "No...no. It can't be...John, I saw him just last night!" She was becoming frantic. Her strong and demanding voice had quickly vanished and had been in a matter of seconds replaced with a delicate and wavering one. Cameron attempted to comfort her by placing his hand on her back, but Eden immediately pushed him away from doing so in a fit. "T-this can't be!"

"Eden." Cameron started. But when Eden's wild gaze met his, he stopped himself from saying anything else.

She turned back to Rowan who was only looking back at her with pure pity. Pity and remorse if you were to be exact. "There has to be some mistake." She stated firmly. He looked down, letting a lock of jet black hair fall into his line of view before putting it back in line.

"I'm sorry Eden...I know how much John had mean to you an-"

"Rowan, you don't know shit! John and I weren't just 'close' we were family. Rowan, John was like a dad to me. I know you wouldn't understand... you've been a fucking ghost to him!" She sputtered the last words out like a gas pipe sputtering out exhaust. Tears were struggling to escape her eye ducts, and as much as she batted them away, she couldn't help herself after they had finally begun to fall.

Cameron went to comfort her again, but this time, Eden didn't stop him as he enveloped her in a hug.

"I'm extremely sorry for your loss. I wasn't all that much close to John, but I know that you meant a lot to him." He gave her one last saddened gaze and began to walk away, but stopped himself abruptly as he craned his neck back. "The meeting will start in approximately five minutes. I am hoping that you both will show up, regardless of you both knowing the circumstances." His gaze lingered on the two for just a second more before finally going back to the direction he was walking, slipping his car through and walking out of the hallway.

Eden and Cameron stood around for a while longer as they both comforted each other in their time of loss. Cameron's clothes lingered of a woodsy cologne and it somehow made Eden feel more calm and safe. She sniffled, looking up to him. "Should we go then?" She asked him. She more or less croaked this out as her voice sounded thick and broken. But Cameron understood her as he then nodded.

"It's what John would want."

⇼⇼⇼

Rowan had sat across from Cameron and Eden. The room they had been told to go to was spacious, but suffocating as there were absolutely no windows, no natural light able to enter through. Not only that, but it was also quite void of colour, just a pale grey paint smoothly covered all four of the walls. Even apart from that, the room was completely filled with people, around 60 or 70 workers from all the departments were packed together tight, like sardines in a can.

A short and stout man by the name of Robert Grill had been standing in front of the room. Just about everyone recognized him as the main journalist for the Police Department, often writing entries about the reoccurring crimes and felonies that took place, which later would be published in the weekly NOLA. Just as Eden, he was very close to John. With a somber gaze and bloodshot eyes, he scanned over the room for a quick attendance.

She looked over to Rowan again. His face was pale and dismal. He and John had never been very close, everyone knew that. But he looked uncomfortable and it was obvious even he was moved by his murder. 

But who wouldn't be? John was one of the warmest and caring individuals a person could imagine. It's troubling just to think that a person could go by doing such a horrific act. It had to have been done in cold blood.

Robert suddenly cleared his throat gruffly, to get everyone's attention as he painstakingly began. "As some of you may already know, a great tragedy took place last night." He paused for a second, then went on.

"It was around 12 o'clock when the Bureau got a call. There was said to be a disturbance, loud bangs and screaming were reported by the stricken neighbors. Officers on night shift rushed over there as soon as possible, but...it was too late. The victim couldn't be saved." He took a sharp breath as he looked around the room. Besides from the steady hum of the air conditioning, it was completely silent. Him saying what he had to next cut him open like a searing knife. "The victim was John Glesser."

Just hearing another person say it gave Eden a twinge of pain in her chest. The words clawed at her ribs, tormenting the gentle cartilage. Along with her inner chaos, there was a sharp outcry of disbelief from the other members of the bureau. Upon inspecting further she could spot a handful even shedding a few tears, silently mourning John's absence.

"It can't be..." One person who she couldn't recognize by voice silently said.

"Who would do such a thing, what a great man he was!" Another cried out.

It wasn't long before the whole room was filled with the sounds of worried people.  Murmurs and worry some voices mixed together.

Robert looked around disheveled, as he was struggling just to speak. His bottom lip, cracked and dry, trembled slightly as he was on the verge of spilling his tears, but he kept going. "There will be a throughout investigation. We have next to none suspects, but everyone who was close to John will be questioned tomorrow. His body will be further inspected for but a few more days and then his funeral will be held."

"It will be held this Sunday at 7:30 am. Everyone is welcome to come, just say you're from the bureau."

"John was a great man. Everyone loved him, and he loved everyone. It's...it's a real shame that there would be someone sick enough to do this." He allowed himself to show his other side to us, an angry side and he more or less spat the last words out.

Robert stayed like this for a good five seconds before he looked back up again. "But, as we all know, we can't let John's death get in the way of other issues, as he wouldn't want it to. The show must go on." He suddenly held up a hand towards the only door in the room, opening with a metallic screech. "I'd like you all to welcome Dr. Lozue. He will be stating whom will be the upcoming police chief of the New Orleans bureau."

Dr. Lozue was quite the polar opposite of Robert. Eden presumed the man was yet in his early  20's as he was toned and able-bodied. His shoulders rippled with defined muscle. Though he possessed the body of a fully grown man, the area around his nose was dappled with faint, golden freckles, giving him a younger appearance. His hair was a dark brown, and similar to Rowan's, would fall into his line of view with almost every move he made. And, also like Rowan, was quite the charmer.

"Hello, everyone." He said as he strode through the room, a glimmering smile making its appearance on his youthful face. As he shook hands with Rowan he set down a small, black suitcase. It was so small there couldn't possibly be more than a couple pieces of paper inside it.

He looked to the people then, as he slowly began. "I didn't personally know John Glesser," his smile diminished just as fast as it came. "But I do know that his death was a real tragedy. I hope that justice will be served to whoever committed this wretched crime."

He folded his hands to the back of him, his tan skin rippling. "But, things do need to go on. There's a lot of crime that goes on in New Orleans, and crime stops for nothing and nobody." He looked around the teeming room seriously now. He licked his lips nervously, eyes grave. "I have been put to the job to assign a new chief for the department. Since John didn't fully finish completing  his will, we cannot use it - therefore I will choose the most beneficial person to take on the job."

"I want you to be the chief if I pass." John's voice echoed within her head and it was then Eden recalled what John had said to her only a few days before his death. Surely Dr. Lozue would have a bit of knowledge of her and John's past relationship I mean, who else could possibly be the better option? Most of the people who worked in the department weren't even on good terms with John prior to his death. Her face must have given off her uneasiness because Cameron gave her a funny look. She was going to throw him a look of reassurance but Dr. Lozue's voice cut through before she could.

"Being I am a very busy man and have several other cases to deal with; I have already decided who that very person will be." Eden's eyes lit up the second the man said those very words. This is is.

He smiled to all of them ardently, flashing a crystal white grin. Eden was sure that if his teeth were any whiter, they could have burned holes through all of their retinas.

He held up an arm to a section of the table. But it was so crowded, Eden couldn't quite see who he was motioning to. "Ladies and gents, meet your new chief and leader of the bureau: Rowan Mc'Culan!"

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