More free time today =D Now that I' m on break. And, with any luck, I'll actually get all my writing and drawing stuff done before New Year's =D Anyway, here's the next chapter, hope you all like it =D

Chapter 2: Suspicious Minds

Vector examined a photocopy of the odd note; nothing in the note seemed to make sense to him. He had attempted every code he knew and nothing came out making a bit of sense. Though from the group studying it, they had discovered two things; first, slashes separated words. Second, the equals meant the end of a sentence. But decoding the message itself made even Espio's mind spin.

The croc set the paper down and looked at the envelope that the note had been found in. 'why send an encrypted message to the police?' he wondered. Of course, the suicide note had said he was going mad, but Charmy's findings started to show that the two writers were not one in the same. Vector leaned back in this chair and glanced at the door; it was starting to get late, Espio and Kaity hadn't returned from questions their client yet. He couldn't deny he was worried; the victim and their client were chemists, they knew about plenty of dangerous things that neither of the two chameleons were aware of. If their client was maliciously involved somehow, there was a chance he knew exactly how to kill anyone who tried to get something out.

OoOoO

"What's the project ya were tellin' the police Victor was workin' on?" Kaity asked, distracting their client with questions as Espio quietly searched around the house.

"Well...it's a bit...um...top secret." Robby replied, getting a shifty look in his eyes.

"They guy's dead; it doesn't matter anymore." Kaity protested, she sighed when it became obvious Robby wasn't answering questions, "What 'bout that coded message we found? Know anythin' 'bout that?"

The human, a small man with sandy brown hair, shook his head rapidly; "No! I know nothing about that! Victor was a good man, but he was going crazy. Probably some nonsense anyway."

"Yeah, I read 'bout that in 'is note." Kaity replied, glancing Espio over the human's shoulder; the male was holding a few papers and was in the process of hurriedly tucking them away into his gauntlets. "Speakin' of," She turned her attention back to Robby, "What'd that mean? Why'd 'e suddenly go crazy?"

Robby signed sadly, "Victor always had a hard time letting go; be it a feeling, a possession, or a person. A few months before this all happened Victor had broken up with a girl he was deeply in love with."

"I see." Espio said casually, leaning nonchalantly against the wall of the threshold in the room. Robby spun, startled at Espio's voice.

"When did-?"

"I was here the whole time." Espio lied in a level voice, "Pardon me if I tend to blend into my surroundings. Now, about this woman, what happened between her and Victor that forced a break up?"

Robby shook his head; "It wasn't a break up. It was a divorce."

"They were married?" Kaity asked suspiciously, not recalling any indication of a wedding band on their victim's finger.

"Well, not married, per say, they were engaged, but poor Vic acted as though they were getting divorced."

"And what was this woman's name?" Espio questioned.

"Eve. Eve Durly."

"And is she still in the area?"

"She should be...but I don't watch her every move."

"Smart man." Kaity muttered sarcastically, "But ya never told us why they broke up or divorced or whatever."

The chemist grimaced and glanced at the clock, "Um, it's getting late and I need to be up early tomorrow...so, if you please..." He gestured to the door behind Espio.

The detectives nodded slightly and left, wishing their client a good night.

"Who does that guy think he's kiddin'?" Kaity snorted as their walked back to the agency, "'E was holdin' out on us."

"Indeed." Espio nodded, producing the papers he had stashed away earlier; "For example, he definitely knew that code Mr. No'body left behind." The younger chameleon scanned over the page; it was an E-mail conversation made almost entirely out of the unknown code!

"We gotta take this back ta Vector and show 'im." the girl said.

"My thoughts exactly." the older chameleon nodded. "We'll also have to contact Mrs. Eve Durly; perhaps she can shed a bit of light on this situation."

Just a hint I feel I should throw out there; watch for Victor and Robby's screennames in the next chapter X3 They may point you in the right direction for this case.