“Blue Envelope Case, Number 1148? Is this right? ” Sue looked up at Gloria and asked.

  “Yes. That sounds like so.” Gloria nodded: “I mean - I’ve heard about it, but - there’s no easy way to get access to it right?”

  “I asked Turner once, he told me our archive only has copies of very old ones. I don’t think they have copies of cases more than 200.” Sue sighed: “And those cases are really, and I mean really, old. Most of them have been resolved already.”

  “So this means - the only way we get access to this information is through someone on the inside.” Gloria nodded as she scratched her jaw: “You know what? I think I know just the one.”

  “That’s too risky.” Sue shook her head: “You know he’s a cht? Your saving him may not mean as mu as it should.”

  “Well, I’ve gotta try. I’ve - ” Gloria shook her head, as she hesitated to openly admit it: “I’ve wasted enough time.”

  Sue sighed after thinking for half a minute : “Okay, do you need backup? I go with you.”

  “I’d appreciate that, thanks. But - not directly with me.” Gloria nodded as she put the manual bato the box: “This is good - and I have the suspi that this - this grimoire was reted to the underground temple. And givehing - it could be ected to everything we’ve seen right now.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Sue looked up at the ceiling, then looked her friend in the eyes: “When do you wanna go?”

  “When I hear back from him.” Gloria chuckled, as she sent the message she just crafted to the number of Detective Marcus Cai: “We o meet in persht now! ” Followed by a detailed address of an i cafe - the same one in which she spent a few hours befoing into the docks area and finding the detective.

  It did not take long before a response was sent: “On my way - 10 minutes.”

  “Shit! He’s closer than we are!”

  It took them 14 mio get to the i cafe, and through the front dloria could already see him sitting in a er, fag the entrance, his face lit up by the cheap puter s.

  Sue went in befloria, and sat in a seat somewhere close to Marcus, o two other female guests. The owner of the i cafe came over with a greasy smile. Just when he was just about to pressure Sue into renting more hours and buying drinks she did not need, Gloria came in and sat in the seat opposite to Marcus, just on Sue’s right side. The owner was instantly de-energized when he saw her, and just left Sue be.

  “So, how do you wanna do it?” Marcus asked with a smile, eyes still fixed on the s in front of him: “It’s kinda loud here.”

  “Sword of Light ahers ONLINE, do you have an at?” Gloria asked.

  “I - I ’t say I have.”

  “Open it, register a quick at, then give me your at number.” Gloria shook her head.

  It took about two minutes for Marcus to pass a small piece of paper with his at number. Gloria logged into her newly created at, added Marcus’ at as friends, then started a voice chat.

  “This is creative. But I’d assume you still ’t say the ‘bad’ stuff here?” Marcus asked.

  “Safety first. Don’t say anything stupid.” Gloria responded: “I’m here to call in the favor.”

  Marcus sat straight in his chair, aurned off his phone: “Okay - what do you need? I’ll do my best. ”

  “Your best wouldn’t be enough. ” Gloria narrowed her eyes and made her voice stern: “And I wouldn’t sider it repaid if it is just your best. Are you a man of your word?”

  “Of course. ” Marodded.

  “I o get access to a Blue - a case. I want to know everything anyone has on it.” Gloria responded, while sending a blue envelope emoji to Marcus via text chat.

  “How do you know about this?”

  “Doesn’t you.”

  “Okay. Do you happen to know the number?” Marcus sighed, then asked: “But, to make it clear. There are things that are off limits to us - in practice, I mean. In theory anyone in our depar - in our , has access to it, but it has beey clear that we shouldn't just piything to look into. ”

  “One, another owo plus two, then two to the power of three.” Gloria responded with a prepared answer.

  Marcus became silent, a froeared on his face. Gloria couldn’t help but try to peek at him from beside the monitor s - it seemed that his facial expression had bee quite stern.

  “What? You’re not gonna do it?” Gloria asked, impatient.

  “I’m afraid I ’t do that.” Marcus sighed: “It’s not that I don’t want to - I ot. There is something critically important going on, lives are at stake. And - what you’re asking is kind of a ndmine, wired to alerts. If you touch it, it will explode and attract hostile - hostile monsters. Even if we don’t get hurt in the process, the savory types that follow will be nothing but trouble. ”

  “I don’t really care. ” Gloria did not eveate: “Let them e.”

  “That’s not up to you, you do not have to care about your own life. But these people are not above - you know what I mean.” Marcus sighed: “And - like I said, people’s lives were at stake here.”

  “So - what you’re saying is, you don’t wanna help?” Gloria narrowed her eyes, her voice became colder.

  “That’s not what I said.” Marcus shook his head and lowered his voice: “It’s - well - it’s more than plicated. But - how do you feel about being a sultant? ”

  “A sultant?”

  “Yes, off the books, if you’d like.” Marodded: “This will let you in on some of the things we know, and when possible, you even exge information and - help us in some of our iigation, and we in turn in the name of iigation look into the information you want. This is just a thought, you don’t o answer right away, but - this would be the best pn I offer yht now.”

  “I don’t have this kind of time.”

  “Well then you’ll have to make time.” Marcus’ voice became stern as well: “Listen, this is big, it ects a bunch of people and groups. You ever wonder why I was there, where you found me? I was looking into simirly, if not more dangerous things.”

  “... fine. I’ll reach out when I have made a decision.” Gloria stood up a.