Season of Sunlight

Fifth Month

630 Bulberry Lane

The City of Trylla, The Cronia Region

2325

"You are suspended from duty, effective immediately."

Henri paled, the colour of his skin bleeding out onto the floor. "What?"

Commissioner Valco paced the indigo kitchen of 630 Bulberry Lane, cocking her head to the right. "This is madness, Fraser. The Court of Abaddon is tearing its way through this city, and I need intelligent, assured operatives on the streets, not dead ones."

"Commissioner, whoever you put on this case will be tracked down and killed. We are dealing with sadistic serial killers who will take any chance they get to wipe out the Prophet Society of Trylla."

"Not only them, but it also seems anyone who gets in the way," Valco scowled.

"I can handle this," Henri said. "I have not risen through the ranks of the TDB only to be sidelined because you think I can't properly do my job."

"For goodness sake, listen to yourself!" Valco said. "I have no intention to insult you or deprive you of your honour, but there are times when you must re-evaluate a situation and judge it differently according to new evidence. Put your pride and ego out of the equation. Your constable, who you deliberately ordered to pursue a dangerous target alone, lies in the care of a medical officer after a hit and run with fortunately no severe injuries."

Henri opened his mouth to argue.

"Shut it," Valco warned. "Having a constable isn't just another set of hands to help in a crisis. It is a chance for you to mould a new promising young career. You have to think of another besides yourself. Alone you are used to rushing into things, but maturity and discipline are required when other lives are on the line. This is his third day on the job, Fraser, not his third year."

"With all due respect, Commissioner, Abbott is showing great potential in your department. You don't give him enough credit."

"He's a hatchling, Fraser. They must first learn to fly before soaring out into the wilderness."

"For hatchlings to soar, the mother bird throws them unexpectedly out of the nest. Trial by fire, wouldn't you say?"

Valco furrowed her brows.

Henri swallowed and stiffened. He had taken it too far again.

"Yes, that would help if only the mother bird were there to catch them!"

Valco stepped towards Henri until their noses almost touched, her harsh voice hissing through her teeth. "I have seen plenty of young promising talent go to waste on these streets because of one thing. Ego. Don't let that be the death of you, Henri Fraser."

"Commissioner, I apologize," he said. "I don't know what came over me."

Valco stepped back and crossed her arms. "Fraser, you are one of my best. Watch your tone. I would hate for it to ruin your career."

She walked out of the kitchen.

Henri bowed his head. He took a deep sombre breath and bent his neck back, staring up at the the ceiling. Dammit.

***

Elza sat with her legs curled up to her chest on one of the lounge settees.

A woman with a bright yellow coat walked into the living room, her sharp eyes assessing her.

"Miss Elza Parks?"

"Yes?"

"Commissioner Valco of the Trylla Detective Bureau. I need to ask you some questions," Valco said, sitting across from her on the other settee.

Elza blinked her eyes and swung her legs around to rest her heels on the floor.

"Where is Inspector Fraser? He'll be able to help."

"Detective Inspector Fraser has been suspended from this investigation. I will be taking your statement while finding his temporary replacement."

Elza frowned. "How long will that take? I enlisted his help because you and your other officers were too busy running gambling cases. Your secretaries thoroughly told me this case wasn't worth your time. When faith and religion come into the equation, the bureau tends to look the other way."

Valco chuckled, slouching her back. "That is a crude misassumption. As law officers, we must help everyone, regardless of our personal beliefs or thoughts on the matter."

Elza crossed her legs. "Crude as it may be, this investigation will no doubt be dropped to the bottom of a stack of papers to collect dust for the next decade. When you finally feel ready to solve it, we'll all be dead."

"I am asking you about it now. This is still a murder investigation, Miss Parks," Valco said, "and I believe you're a prime suspect. Why don't we shift the conversation in favour of preventing these killers from taking any more lives? Sound fair?"

"Fine."

Valco interlaced her fingers and dropped her hands into her lap. "How long have you known Henri Fraser?"

"Not even for two days. I read about him previously in the papers, but no contact was made before yesterday at the train station."

"Why did you seek him out?"

Elza laughed. "Come on, Commissioner, enough of this. I've already told you-"

"Please answer the question," Valco said sternly.

"Are you writing this down?"

"I have a good memory."

Elza sighed. "I needed help solving a chain of murders, starting with my family. I did some light investigating on my own, but to make any progress, I required a professional. I read rave reviews about Fraser in the Moonlight Angle and decided to approach him. It was my last hope. He was the only detective available since the rest of you were deep in bed with the chairmen of the casinos."

"Miss Parks," Valco sneered.

"Forgive me," she apologized, smiling sarcastically. "Carry on."

"The papers you were retrieving from your bedroom. Where are they?"

"Papers?"

Valco leaned forward. "I may not be Henri Fraser, but unlike him, I have the power to lock you away forever."

"Alright," Elza said, "I was in the process of getting them, but before I could show them to Inspector Fraser, I was attacked. Constable Abbott bravely chased off the assailant, but when I tried to reclaim the papers, they had vanished."

"What is your connection to this Court of Abaddon?"

"I told you they killed my parents."

Valco smiled. "Miss Parks, it sounds like you have dragged many innocent people into this mess to claim revenge for your family's murders. Hardly a heroic tribute to society, wouldn't you agree?"

"Excuse me?"

"Revenge is dangerous, but if you choose to pursue it, don't risk the lives of others to get it. I see no reason why you should be allowed to help. This is a TDB operation, not some immature game of cat and mouse."

"This isn't about revenge at all!" Elza rebuked. "I want to end my people's suffering. The Prophet Society has been brutally insulted and marginalized for years. Why? It seems many of you paint us as argumentative hate speakers who go around shaming those who do not follow our ways. That, of course, isn't true. I am not in it for revenge but justice, and I thought coming to the law for help would be wiser than setting off alone on my crusade. Or am I wrong?"

Valco remained silent.

"This is why I lost my faith in the justice system. It appears you always tend to make decisions about situations you don't understand or plan to understand. People are people, and when you are trying to stop murders, religion, sex, or political views shouldn't make a difference. By not acting, you are insulting me, yourself, and what you stand for. To protect the innocent." Elza snickered. "Any other questions, Commissioner Valco?"

Valco pressed her lips tightly together. "No, Miss Parks, that is all."

"Good, I have far better things to do."

The front door suddenly burst open and a large stout woman shuffled in. "Goodness!" she exclaimed, her double chin trembling. She wore a long grey gown with a white fedora. "What in Hell's name is this?"

Elza jumped up from the settee. "Aunt Frou Frou, I thought you wouldn't be back for another few hours."

"I finished my errands early," Frou Frou replied, tightening her upper lip. She curled it distastefully. "Mrs. Stanly was kind enough to give me a ride. I certainly didn't expect to find this band of hooligans on my return. What is the TDB doing here? I bloody hope someone didn't drop dead on my petunias."

Commissioner Valco approached the older woman. "Who are you?"

Frou Frou snorted. "I am Frou Frou Simmons and other than being Miss Parks' guardian and aunt, I own this establishment. Now unless you have an extraordinary reason for being here, get off my property!"