The Key to my Problems

The second I leave the hotel and enter the parking lot, a gust of cold wind hits me, shocking my exposed face and thighs with its icy breath.

In general, New Apollondon has a temperate climate, but also very windy weather. These frequent gusts of wind may be very pleasant in summer, but in the evenings and especially in winter it gets very uncomfortable outside.
I can't help but flinch for a moment before I turn my attention to my actual destination.

The woman watching Silvia's window is standing a few meters in front of me.
Miss Blanc. It's the second time I've met her today. Our first encounter was in Containment Bay on the Elysium space station.

It's a wonder I remembered her name at all: She wasn't in the mood for an exchange of words at that time: she completely ignored me on Elysium and just ran out of the room in a huff.

It's hard for me to imagine that this woman is really a detective. Anyone who acts so impulsively and unprofessionally in their professional environment should not normally be able to achieve such a high rank of detective.

The detective in question immediately notices my presence; however, contrary to my expectations, she smiles at me in a friendly manner as she stands casually leaning against her car.

“Good evening, Miss Vernelle.”

“G-good evening...”
I am so surprised by her friendliness that I have already forgotten what I actually wanted to say to her.

Another breeze blows across the parking lot and ruffles the elf's blonde hair. Despite her bare-belly outfit, the cold wind doesn't seem to bother her, unlike me.

“I-I'm the investigator Vivianne Vernelle!”
I hold my hand out to the elf.

Her gentle smile doesn't leave her face:
“I know that, Miss Vernelle.”

That's right, she's already called me by name. How embarrassing...

She grabs my hand and gives me a firm handshake. Her grip is unexpectedly strong, so much so that my fingers almost threaten to be crushed in her palm.

“I'm Claire Blanc. A detective. But just call me Claire, okay?”

“Hmm...”

Claire reaches into the open window of her car and pulls out two cans:
“Here, have some! I just got these fresh!”

I take one can wordlessly and examine it from all sides.

“Aren't you the type for alcohol?”

“N-not really...” I answer honestly.

Now I've probably ruined the mood...
No, wait! I'm not here to socialize with her!

I slide my index finger along the top edge of my can while Clair takes generous sips from her beer can.
“Claire... may I ask what you're doing here?”

“Huh?” Claire releases her lips from the can and looks at me in surprise, “I'm just here to relax. It's always so nice and quiet in this parking lot...”

I look at her suspiciously. Sometimes a look is enough to get people talking.

Claire giggles briefly and grabs my shoulder with her firm grip.
“Don't worry about it, Vivianne! I have no intention of intervening in your case.”

“How do you know I'm working on a case right now?”

“Well, you're still wearing your work clothes and you were looking out of Silvia's room window. Your dedication is impressive.”

I'm not distracted by her praise:
“How do you know her name is Silvia and she's staying at this hotel?”

Clair smirks and puts her empty can on the roof of the car before getting another one from inside the car:
“I just got myself some information.”

“According to the report, this case is classified.”

“I did the research myself. I was just a little curious.”

“A little curiosity is why you're watching Silvia this late at night?”

Clair clicks her tongue - she seems annoyed.
“Anyway, I always get fresh beer after work and drink it here. I don't think my private life is any of your business, is it?”

Of course, she's absolutely right: her private life is none of my business. Normally I would feel bad about it now, but can I feel bad about someone who lies to me like that?

“Every day?” I ask in confusion.

“That's right!”

“That must be a lot of parking fees that must add up over the year.”
My gaze wanders from the parking machine on the hotel façade to the parking ticket lying on the dashboard of the car.

Claire stares at the parking machine in silence. You can literally hear her mind working to come up with an excuse.

“Well... it's an investment worth making.”

I hold my can out to Claire so that the print on the bottom is visible to her:
“Besides, this beer has been expired for weeks. I don't think you can call that 'fresh'.”

Clair takes the can wordlessly and turns it over in her hands while nervously pressing her lips together.

I could be completely wrong, of course, but it looks to me as if the detective is following Silvia and me. She's had the beer in the car for a while and it spontaneously becomes part of her excuse.

Finally, Claire breaks her silence:
“Tell me, Vivianne...”
Her voice is quiet and sounds a little sad,
“...you've probably heard of 'Frere' before, haven't you?”

“Do you mean the terrorist?”

“Yes, exactly. They're actually a whole group. They're small, but I think that's why they've always been able to escape Giftears' sight and operate from the shadows.”

“Hmm...”
Why is she suddenly starting to talk about terrorists?

“Have you realized the connection yet?”

Before she had even finished her sentence, the realization had caught up with me. Thoughtfully, I grab my chin and try to replicate Claire's assumption:
“So Frere is a group of people who apparently don't exist in Giftear's system and therefore couldn't be convicted so far. Just like...”

“...Like Silvia, yes. There doesn't seem to be any information about her either. Do you understand what I mean?”

I stare at the floor in silence.
Silvia? A terrorist?
Could you really be such a person?
Is her amnesia possibly a lie?
Was her sad look in the shopping street just an act?
What about that man she met at the sports center today?

“I don't know what connection she has to Frere,” Clair continues,
“But she could be the key to my problems.”

“Your problems?”

Claire slides her thumb along the tin she still holds in her hands. A gentle smile graces her face.
“You know... maybe I'm just chasing ghosts of the past, but...”

She takes her eyes off the can and looks at me.
I think this is the first time we've made direct eye contact.
I can now see her up close: The impulsive woman who ignored me at first, then lied to me and finally confronted me with her theories.

“...but if you need help, you can always come to me. Keep in mind, however, that I will help you out of personal motivations.”

That was unexpectedly honest of her.

Wordlessly, I look at the blonde elf as another gust of wind sweeps across the parking lot: up close, she's actually really pretty: Somehow she seems fragile with her fine features, pale skin and thin arms.

“I-I'll think about it, thanks,” I finally say and walk slowly back towards the hotel.

I'm too worried right now that I might be tempted to make the wrong decision. Claire seems nice and kind-hearted and yet she's acting out of selfish interests. There's something wrong with her...

Claire recognizes the signs and grins gently at me:
“I can see: you need to move on.”

With quick steps, the elf makes her way to the driver's door and gets into the car.
She calls out of the passenger window as a farewell:
“Good luck, Vivianne! Keep my offer in mind”

“S-sure.” I reply hesitantly.

Her car starts to move with screeching tires. The numerous cans on the roof of the car fall to the ground with a great jolt - but she doesn't stop.

She has to pick them up at the latest when she realizes that she can't leave the parking lot without a paid parking ticket.