Phil gave Dan a list of the names of the other residents in the building. He analyzed each online, searching for criminal records or anything suspicious. Mostly everyone checked out but two men that seemed that they could be of fault.

“Steven Murphy, and Noah Wells,” Dan announced after the research.

“I'd put my bet on Steven.”

“Why?”

“He usually has people over and then locks himself in his flat for hours at a time.”

Dan went back into the video that was sent to him. “Does he look like this?”

“I can't tell,” he said, squinting his eyes through his glasses. “I can't see his face.”

He was right. The man in the video had his face hidden from view behind his black hoodie. But something new caught Dan's usually swift eye – there was a tear in the upper part of the hoodie's arm that caused it to sag, revealing that the culprit had a tattoo of what appeared to be a butterfly on the upper left arm before the shoulder. “Look at that,” he said, pointing it out to Phil. “He's got a tattoo.”

“Oh,” he awed. “That could be useful.”

“Definitely. Who here has tattoos?”

 Phil began to think. “Well I never really see Steven, so I don't know about him. Noah, though; he doesn't have any at all. I've seen him before. A few other people have tattoos here, I think."

"This just got a whole lot easier. All we have to do is find the one with the tattoo!”

“Dan?” Phil asked quietly.

“Yes?”

“Once we figure out who it is, what comes after that?”

 “What do you mean?”

"Well... where will you go."

“Go?” Dan realized what he meant. After a mission, Dan always had to report back to base, where he has his own dorm along with other trainees. He is forbidden to leave the agency until age 25 when he can venture out on his own (but will still be working for them and must report back for duty and such), and most likely would never be asked to go back to the same place unless another crime was committed. “I... don't know, Phil.”

“I don't want you to go.”

Dan had never wanted to stay somewhere other than his dorm. Even after turning 25 when he'd be able to, Dan figured he would stay with the agency forever. Now, he wished to be something he had never been before – free. “Neither do I.” When Phil frowned and looked away, Dan put his hand around his sulking shoulders. “I'll figure something out. For now, I'm not going to let you be taken in for no reason, ok? I just want you to be cleared first. That's all I care about right now.”

“Thank you, Dan.” Phil cleared his throat and removed his glasses. “So, people with tattoos, hmm?”

Dan stared at Phil's clear face. He'd worn his glasses since they met and Dan had never seen him without them. His eyes searched over every little detail on his face, admiring how flawless it was.

“Dan?”

He shook out his head. “Yeah?”

“Are you ok? You were staring at me.”

“Yeah, you're just so... beautiful. I mean, wow.”

He laughed quietly to himself.

“Uh, yes. Tattoos.”

“I really don't know who has a butterfly, to be honest.”

“Well, we'll just have to find out.”

They went back into the list of residents and decided that they'll have to meet every one of them. Dan figured that some may have hidden records that he wouldn't be able to access, so for now, everyone is a suspect.

 On the first day of the hunt, Dan had his things lined up on his belt – phone, cuffs and gun – as they interviewed people on the first floor together. Instead of going undercover, Dan decided on his own terms to simply inspect everyone's left arms in search of the butterfly tattoo. That way he could find and arrest the drug-lord fast enough to protect Phil. He loves me, Dan would think. and I love him. I will protect him.

~~~~~

Hello everyone, me again! Just wanted to thank you for all the reads! You are all amazing! If you can, let me know what you think as the situation begins to heat up. It makes me smile to read your thoughts on it! Love you all! *hugs!* (and for people who don't like to be hugged or touched) *high five*