Wolf’s Bane

Myron knew exactly who was at the evidence section that day so he was confident that he wouldn’t be questioned. It was quite a surprise for him to hear Constable Sergei Grant, AKA Serg, to actually ask him what his request was for.

“No offence intended, Sir, but you aren’t connected to the team in charge of this case if I remember correctly,” the younger officer said while scratching behind his uniform’s collar.

The Detective’s thoughts: “Ok, he’s not exactly aggressive towards me so that would mean he’s just a little unsure about the consequences of giving in to my request. Not so hard to deal with…”

“Yup, I do admit it. I’m not part of the investigators in this case. However, I have this feeling that there’s an angle here that we can use to finally bring down those bastards.”

“Do you mean the governor’s private army, The Argerlich?”

“Shhh, be careful what you say out loud, Serg. You know that there’s no proof that the governor is indeed the leader of those Argers.”

“Come on, Lieutenant, I don’t believe that you’re actually afraid of that old geezer. Besides, isn’t it an open secret that he really is paying for those mercenary ‘ogres’ to be loyal to him?”

Myron looked at the lower-ranking officer with slight shock and a bit of admiration. Shock, because this youngster seemed to be acting stupidly and naively, especially for someone who had just been assigned here after recently graduating from the police academy. Yet he couldn’t help but admire the youngster’s courage in saying these taboo topics out loud. All of a sudden, the decorated senior officer decided to take this young arrival under his wing.

Hopefully, he could save this brave one’s life by teaching him the ways of survival in this corrupt city of theirs while he got himself an assistant.

Two birds with one stone…

Wait a minute… It could actually be three birds with one stone!

“Serg, how long have you been here at the precinct? Just came in the middle of last year, right?” Myron asked while half sitting/half leaning on the constable’s desk.

“Yes, Sir. I didn’t expect to be sent here, to be honest,” Sergei answered while continuing to go through the tall pile of folders on his desk. “There’s already a lot of great cops here so I don’t think I’ll make a mark at all if I serve here. I’ve always dreamed of being a two-time decorated officer like you so I don’t mind making a big splash in a small pond instead of making a small one in a really big lake.”Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

“What if I tell you, I can help you out with that? I can mentor you on how to be a go-getter like me, because really… you aren’t going to get anywhere if you don’t bend the rules a little. You know, stepping out of your comfort zone and making waves? Because that’s exactly what I did to get all those awards. I know some of the stuff I do can be viewed as underhanded by some, but I do get results and it’s the kind the higher-ups appreciate and reward.”

Serg’s face perked up a little, his curiosity reflecting in his eyes. “You don’t say? Well, that sounds really tempting, Detective. Are you sure you’re okay with having me as your protégé? I mean, why not the others here?”

The Lieutenant smiled the most endearing grin he could manage. “I just so happen to have a heart for newbies, especially the ones who are very driven. And I can see that in you, Sergei… I was just like you back then. So, if I can make it up the ladder, I’m sure you can do so too. Besides, I prefer working with people who are empty cups, the humble ones who are open to guidance. Most of the officers here are already set on their ways and won’t take advice that well.”

“Especially if it’s a young upstart who has a tendency to be an ass-kisser and a bootlicker?” Serg asked with an amused and knowing look, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

Myron’s shocked expression couldn’t be hidden this time. But yes, there was still admiration for this young cop’s brevity.

“Sorry, Sir, but I got good ears. And since I’m just a nobody here, they tend to forget that I’m around when they start talking about the more infamous and famous personalities of the precinct.”

The Detective answered Serg’s naughty smirk with another one of his own. “So, I guess that’s you telling me that you accept my proposal? Or do you really intend to impress me first?”

“Both, since I did say I look up to you, Sir. So, when do we start?”

With a meaningful smile, Myron sat down on one of the chairs that was in front of the Constable’s desk. “We begin immediately when you finally release the case file that I requested from you a while ago, S.”

The slimmer cop’s smirk turned into a full grin. “Just give me a few minutes, Detective, and we’re a go…” ​

+++

Jack was still in front of the mass of lumber workers, slowly coming out of the memories of his last teenage years. Yet, the images didn’t stop, and the ones that came next were not the easiest ones… Not too long after the small argument between Jack and his father after church, he would be sent away to study. His father would have said at the time that it was because he had to continue the family business, and even if that was believable for him, he always kept in the back of his mind that his parents Did that to keep him from thinking about his lost sister. It had only been a few months since he left the village and lived in the city of another country while he graduated from his career in business administration. It would even help make the lie believable… That his sister was now with a guy… A foreigner, happy somewhere else… Even Jack wanted to believe that. But then, the other girls that disappeared from the village, where did they go? It couldn’t have been all fake, since he saw the monster with his own eyes. But then if it was all a fraud as the media said, what really happened back then?