So first off, I just want to say that to those who have been sending me PMs, I have been getting them. I get the email notification and I read and listen to all the opinions and critiques. To those with suggestions for the plot.. I actually have this whole story planned out in an outline and I do not think I will be deviating much. Additionally, thanks for everyone who points out grammar mistakes. I'll take the time to go back and fix them. I mainly type on my tablet, so they do happen more often than I would like. Also, since I do most of my stuff from my tablet, for whatever reason, my phone just does not agree to work with PMs and other stuff similar. So if you've sent me a PM, I've gotten them, read them and appreciated them, but the chance I will reply (unless it's general statements like this AN) is slim since I, for some reason, hate computers and only use them when absolutely necessary. As always thanks for reading and reviews would make my day :)

The small group sat quietly waiting for Saikhan to return. There was movement from any member of the party. Su stared blankly at an unknown space on the wall. Aang closed his eyes and begun to mediate, trying to ease his nerves at they waited for the files to be retrieved. Tenzin fidgeted in his seat, his face tense with worry. Across from them, Ki sat at his desk fumbling through papers of little importance.

After what seemed like an eternity, a small, subtle knock on the door echoed through the room.

"May I come in Sir?" Saikhan's voice called out.

"Yes, yes of course," Ki called out, waving his wrist to bend the metal lock open.

Saikhan entered the room, a small folder in his hand. "I apologize for the weight. This file is nearly ten years old. You asked for me to personally find it, so I didn't ask any of the attendants in our file room. I figured it was the better option. Anyway, here it is." He dropped the folder on the table.

"And the tea attendant?" Su asked.

"Here's where I came across a problem. I can't find him. Anywhere. Heng is gone."

At these words, Tenzin's brow furrowed deeper than before as his frown lines grew more severe. "Do you think he fled because he knew?"

"Of course that's why," Ki said as he took a cup of his tea. "There's no other reason why a minor attending would go missing just days after his boss is poisoned."

"I wonder who he's working for," Aang said. He turned to Tenzin. "Has Lin mentioned anything about Heng ever? Anything noteworthy?"

"No." Tenzin shook his head. "He was a quick, methodical worker who kept to himself and was never late, unorganized or temperamental. Lin liked him because he got the job done without bothering her job. I've never heard her mention anything about him as an individual though."

"I'll look into his background when you leave and let you know if there's anything I find." Ki said. "Now let's open this file."

Aang picked up the folder and placed it on his lap as Saikhan took a seat next to Ki.

"This case is from 10 years ago. Lin was barely a part of the metalbending police squad then."

"She wasn't," chimes in Su. "She was still in the academy."

"I looked this case over after I found it," Saikhan said. "There's no mention of Lin. Toph wasn't even involved until the interrogation stage. This was handled by lower officers and resulted in no arrests."

"Let me see," Tenzin said as he reached for the paper. He quietly say there for a few minutes as his eyes gazed over the report. "A minor public disruption... Five individuals... Taken to custody... Dismissed from all charges..." He looked up and his gaze fell from Saikhan, to Ki, to Aang. "I don't understand."

"It seems," began Ki. "That about ten years ago there was a small protest. It was shut down by some of our cops and the leaders were taken into custody for questioning. After Toph decided that no major laws had been violated, they were released."

"Do we have the names of the leaders?" Su asked.

"Yes, I will have to run these names through our search program for further information."

"Is that all this report says? Really?" Aang said desperately.

"Well, there is a note here that one of the leaders was a healer. This must be important or else it would not be specifically mentioned."

"A healer? As in a water bender?"

"No. A healer as in the kind who specializes in herbs and natural medicines."

"Like poison," Tenzin supped softly under his breath.

"Perhaps," Ki said with a frown. "It's a start."

"We must look into the identities of these individuals at once," Saikhan said from Ki's side. "Even though this case appears to be mundane and routine, it must be important if Lin had personally marked it as noteworthy."

"I agree." Said Ki. He turned to the small party sitting across his desk. "Why don't you three go and get some lunch while I have my own personal staff work on this? You look tired and a hot meal will do you good."

"He's probably right," Aang said, looking at Su and Tenzin. "We should go. We will be back in an hour or so."

The small party stood up and followed the Avatar out of the room as Ki headed to his quarters to start finding the details on the unknown suspects.

Su, Aang and Tenzin headed to a nearby curry restaurant for lunch. While they waited for their food, the three of them spoke very little. As soon as they received their meal, they all realized exactly how hungry and emotionally drained they were. The food slowly began to return what little energy they had left and the mood, though still dim, became considerably lighter.

"This is rotten luck," said Su between mouthfuls of rice. "Our only "lead" is nothing more than routine rally control."

"Don't be so discouraging," Aang said gently. "Ki is looking into not only the suspects, but Lin's personal assistant as well."

"I don't like this," Tenzin said with a frown. "I don't like this at all."

"Who does?" Su said, rolling her eyes. "Also, has anyone heard from Katara about Lin's condition?"

"No, I'll go telephone her right now," Aang said, getting up to go use the payphone at the back of the restaurant.

When he had left, Su turned to Tenzin. "So, do you also not like Ki?"

"What are you talking about? Why wouldn't I like him?"

"Oh come on Tenzin," Su said. "He has motives. Mom chose Lin over him and he worked for her for years."

"That's preposterous Su," Tenzin said sternly. "He is a loyal worker who has served both your mother and your sister loyally for years. Years! Lin has spoken nothing but praise of Ki. Well, at least nothing but Lin's own version of praise. Are you sure your suspicion has nothing to do with personal grudges against him? I know Ki fully sided with Lin back during your… little dispute with the law."

"I'm sure Tez," Su said. She began to angrily stab her chicken curry with a fork. "I just don't like it. He seem too calm for someone whose boss is possibly dying."

"He's a policeman doing his job," Tenzin retorted. "They are trained to be calm in a crisis."

"Or he's hiding something," Su said, her eyes narrowing. "I don't like him."

"Well, unless we have proof otherwise you need to keep your mouth shut," Tenzin barked. "He's being fully cooperative and, let's face it, we need all the cooperation from the police that we can get. Now dad's coming back and I suggest we drop this conversation right now."

Su glared at Tenzin, but did not utter another word. She continued to aggressively eat her lunch, privately brooding on her growing suspicion.