"So, what do you have for me?" Tails asked the forensics team.

"We don't have anything concrete," said the head of the team. "But the fingers were definitely not ripped off... they may have been cut off after the body was destroyed by... whatever it was that did it..."

Tails shook his head. "We don't have time to waste. Do you know what did it?"

"We don't, but-"

"Then you're next to useless," said Tails. He reached and took the bag with the fingers still inside it, walking back out to the main hall of the police precinct. "All right," Tails said as he looked around the hall. "I want more security out by those two trees. And someone get me the mortician."

"Whoa, slow down," said Honey.

Tails sighed. "We just got some vital information, and that bastard is back out there toying with us! I can't slow down!"

"Okay, is this just a thing that foxes do?" asked Honey. "First, Marshall stays up way too late on some nights to study, and now you're turning down sleep to catch some masked psychopath?"

Tails shook his head. "If we don't catch the masked psychopath, then more people are going to wind up dead!"

"Well, we don't know that it was the X Killer this time," said Honey. "What evidence do you even have to support this?"

Tails showed the bag with the two fingers in it. "The Killer is probably getting desperate to hide the people that he kills, but he still wanted us to know that he's still around. Looks like that time off that he head was just him coming up with a new plan of attack..."

"Then we need to come up with one too," said Honey. "Come to the break room and have a drink with me, and maybe some food and we'll talk it out, okay?"

The yellow fox nodded. "Yeah."

The cat smiled, and she and Tails turned for the break room. Honey got the drinks prepared, making the one for Tails just how he likes it, and also got some sandwiches as well, and the two took a seat, seeing some other officers clamouring around outside.

"Good thing we're in here," said Honey. "I would not want to be caught up in that right now."

"Then maybe you should leave," Tails chuckled. "I'm probably going to pull you into it."

"Well, you're my partner on the force and someone I can trust," Honey said. "Whatever you're going to be pulling me in to, I'm fine with it. But you need to slow down and take a breath first. And a sip."

Tails seemed a bit confused before smiling sheepishly and drinking some of his coffee. "Mmm... every time."

"Well, you tell me how your wife makes it for you. Is my coffee better than hers?"

"Hers is made with more love, and yours is made with friendship," Tails said.

"What are you, twelve?" Honey laughed, as did Tails. "Seriously, what goes through your head on a day like this?"

"I just worry about Marshall. Since he went to college, neither Espio nor Father Zachary have talked to him. I might try and arrange that this weekend."

Honey nodded. "The stress of college can add a lot of unnecessary weight to someone's shoulders. It'd be good to have him talk to his therapist first, I think."

"They're both kind of therapists," said Tails. "Just that one believes in a higher power."

Honey smiled. "I used to believe that too. Nowadays, seeing what's happening... I'm not so sure."

Tails smiled. "The only reason you started believing was because I helped you get into this place."

Honey giggled. "And that's how we became best friends. The end!"

"And scene," Tails said. "Going back to what you said earlier... I'm not so sure that it's just a fox thing. I've seen Cream working really hard lately too just to keep herself together. She knows what's out there. Putting on that brave of a face and being that strong of a person... that takes hard work."

"Do you think she's nervous? asked Honey.

"I know she is. But we all are." Tails shrugged. "If we weren't, we wouldn't get anywhere."

"Huh..." Honey said. "Maybe that's it."

"What's it?"

"Maybe the 10 Killer or X Killer or whatever... what are we calling him this week?"

Tails chuckled. "It doesn't really matter. X Killer sounds cooler, though."

"Well, whichever one," Honey smiled. "So... maybe he knows that we're waiting it out. He knows that we're trying to play the long game."

"What are you getting at, exactly?"

"We go after him," said Honey. "Whatever tracks and traces we have, whatever leads we've got, we follow them until there's nowhere else to go. And even then, we look for a way to extend that lead, talk to more witnesses, find more evidence, and get more people involved."

Tails smiled. "It's not a half bad plan, but we don't have a lot of places to start."

"Well, you've got new evidence in your pocket," said Honey. "That seems like the best place."

"And what if it leads to nothing?"

"Then we don't quit," said Honey with a shrug and a smirk. "We take what we have and we follow it for as long as we can, just like I said."

Tails smiled. "You have that weird effect on people."

"What? Being right?"

"Let's go with that."

The two laughed a bit, ate their lunch, and finished their drinks, before leaving the break room. They disposed of their trash on the way down to the morgue, where they saw Noam looking at his computer over files of the victims.

"Hey, guys," he said, not turning around to see them.

"Noam," Tails nodded. "What are you up to?"

"Just looking over those files again from Carlita and such," Noam shrugged. "Trying to see if there's more of a connection between them. I ran it through every database I could think of, and they're all clear."

"Well, worry not," Tails said. "We have something you might want to take a look at."

"It had better be a full human body," said Noam. "At least six feet tall too."

"We... don't have that exactly..." said Honey.

Tails got out the bag that he had, showing it to Noam. "These were found at the crime scene of the two trees, where the last victim's blood splatter was found."

Noam looked at the bag. "It's in an X shape... oh, well, that's fucking fantastic. The Killer's back."

"Is... is that sarcasm?" said Tails. "Because last time I checked, if it weren't for dead bodies, you wouldn't really have a job..."

"It's honestly more of a mixed feeling," Noam admitted. "But it stops me from being bored on my ass." He then looked at the bag. "Where'd you get these? I thought forensics were looking at them?"

"That's where I got them from," Tails said. "I trust you more than I trust them."

"Yes, because morgues are the exact same things as forensics rooms," said Noam.

Tails smiled. "They were done with it, anyway."

"He snatched it from them and called them useless," Honey clarified.

Noam smiled. "He's not wrong. You want to deal with the dead, you come to the guy who looks at them for a living. But... a pair of mutilated fingers isn't exactly a fully grown human."

"Can you pick up anything from them? The fingerprints seem to still be there."

Noam opened the bag, putting the fingers on a microscope. After some scans of the fingerprint, the computer went through a large list of people, but then stopped with a message saying "NO AVAILABLE MATCHES" in big red lettering.

"That's... strange..." Noam ran them again, but the same message appeared. "Damn... looks like this victim didn't exist..."

Tails sighed. "Something isn't right..."

Honey put a hand on Tails' shoulder. "Hey, you can't always strike gold. Remember what we said earlier?"

"We take a lead and see it through," the yellow fox nodded.

The cat smiled. "That's right. Let's go around the block, ask around to see if anyone saw anything, and see what we can put together on that board of yours."

Tails chuckled a bit. "We'll do that later. The place is still guarded by others."

"Ah, yeah, they got in another team after the first one was done," said Honey. "That means that Marshall's college day could be done soon. Maybe you should try to arrange for him to see his therapists."

Tails chuckled at that. "Yeah... maybe." He turned to Noam. "Sorry to bug you about this."

"It's no problem," Noam said. "It's what I'm here for. And besides, the fingers will go nicely with the collection of X related symbols that the killer's left behind."

Tails and Honey both took out their phones to take pictures, and the latter spoke. "You're right."

"You're lucky I like you," Noam smiled. "All right, get on out of here."

Tails and Honey nodded, heading to their office room and looking over the fox's board. They had their new pictures printed, as well as more recent clippings and other pieces of evidence, and tried to tie them all together again.

"The hardest part of this is," said Tails, "we don't know who the Killer is working for. He's not associated with any mobsters, drug dealers, traffickers, or anything like that. But some part of me refuses to believe that he operates fully alone."

"Well, nobody's really seen what he looks like," said Honey. "For all we know, it could very well be a network of different people with different motivations. Maybe the victims knew the killers beforehand, and maybe they wronged them somehow, leading to the killers doing what they did."

"But what did Carlita, her brother, and his boyfriend do that was so bad?" asked Tails. "So they caused a bit of noise at their apartment building. So fucking what? Does the killer just not like heavy metal?"

Honey giggled at that. "Maybe he doesn't. But... it is still odd. There's nothing to suggest bigotry, no vendetta against any one of them. If that were the case, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of killing all of them."

"So that leaves the killer covering his tracks," Tails said. "But to what ends? I mean, besides murdering people."

Honey shrugged. "Well, it's not like he's just going to stop and tell us."

Tails nodded. "I guess you're right." He reached for his phone. "Okay, let's take a break and workshop this later. See where we land. I want to talk with Marshall for a bit."

Honey nodded. "You got it. I've got some files that are a bit overdue, so I won't bug you."

"Sure," Tails said. "Oh, and, thanks for your help. I really appreciate it."

"You want to thank me? Make me a coffee," Honey giggled.

Tails smiled and nodded, going to the machine to make Honey a drink. He got himself one as well, giving Honey hers before heading outside into a hallway, his phone in one hand and his drink in the other as he typed in Marshall's number.

Soon, his son picked up. "Hey, dad!"

"Marshall," Tails smiled. "You seem... rather chipper, if anything."

"Yeah, just had a good day at college," Marshall said. "Almost done. It's the second break, and I've got a lot of free time anyway, so I'm all good."

"You up to much?"

"Not really," Marshall said. "Just walking around town and taking a look around. Ooh, hot-dogs..."

Tails chuckled. "I'm glad I caught you in such a good mood, because I've been meaning to ask you something."

"Am... am I in trouble?" Marshall asked. "Oh, extra ketchup, please."

"No, you're not," Tails said. "But I've noticed that you haven't talked much to Espio or Father Zachary. Is this true?"

Marshall sighed. "It... it is. I guess I haven't found much time, and all the free time that I have had I've spent mostly on my own or talking to family."

"Or with that Isaiah fellow, right?"

"Yes, also true," Marshall said. "But he's mostly there to help students in general. I mean, he's not even with me right now, so."

Tails smiled. "Ah, right. So, how about it? Want to see them this weekend?"

Marshall smiled. "I'd like that. It sucks that I haven't found time for therapy."

"Maybe, but it's saved us money for you to go to keep going to a college that isn't technically a college," Tails joked.

"It's a diet college," Marshall said. "No wonder I feel thinner."

Tails smiled. "All right, I'll get right on that."

"Sure. Oh, um, how are things with the investigation?"

"We have something new. But it's not concrete. We're going to try and step it up a notch too," Tails said.

"Good thinking," Marshall said. "I... I really hope you catch that guy. What he's doing is... just wrong..."

"Are... are you okay?" Tails asked.

"Yeah. Just... seeing what he's done... from photos and such, I mean."

"It'll all be okay in the end," said Tails. "You just focus on your college that isn't technically a college, okay?"

Marshall chuckled. "Okay. Love you."

"Love you too."

Tails hanged up, and Honey joined him. "Ready to go ask some questions?"

"Yep."

After Marshall put down his phone, he sighed, sitting down on a bench to enjoy his hot-dogs. "You know, whatever you have to say, you may as well get it over with."

The Director chuckled. "Your performance value only serves to increase. And I'll even give you a pass on your choice of food."

"I was hungry," Marshall said with a shrug. "And besides, an actor can eat what he wants."

"That is true. And your last performance with Marks was fantastic, so you have earned it. But you do need to prepare for the next act. The sequel."

"You know, they say the sequel is never as good as the original, but I disagree," Marshall said. "The How To Train Your Dragon movies, 21 and 22 Jump Street, the John Wick movies... I guess I could make this work somehow."

"You even listed some classic examples of worthy sequels," The Director laughed. "So, you'd best finish your food, then talk to Lola while you can. She takes an early break to... indulge. She'll have about six minutes left by this point."

Marshall smiled, eating his food and drinking a can of soda that he brought with him too. He got rid of the rubbish and headed back to his college with what little time that he had left. He walked up to the building and turned to see the teacher in question stuffing out a cigarette.

"Ah, Miss Rivera. Good to see you."

"Oh, M-Marshall!" Rivera panicked in extinguishing her cigarette. "What... what brings you back here?"

"I still have a week of college to fill out," Marshall chuckled. "I was just about to head inside, but... there's still time for a break. And besides, I don't have to go to a next lesson for the next period if I don't want to."

"I'll be sure to notify Isaiah to give you that free time," The Director said.

Rivera smiled. "Neither do I. I have plenty of free time myself."

"Then why are you trying to put out that smoke like you just set fire to the building?"

"Well, remember when I told you I was trying to quit? I... lied. I can't. I have problems, Marshall. But I'm trying to cope."

"Well, hey, for all I know, your problems could be deadly serious," Marshall said. "I'm not one to judge. I mean, after all..." He reached into his pocket, pulling out the weed. "I still have this."

Rivera shrugged. "I suppose that I can still hold out on going back to work for a little bit longer."

Marshall smiled, rolling up some joints for both himself and the teacher. "Let's go somewhere a bit more secluded."

"Of course."

The two headed to a different part of the outside of the building of which Marshall was not familiar, but as he saw some other students clear out, followed by Rivera telling them to get back to class, he didn't feel as worried about it.

"This is a nice little corner you have here," Marshall aid.

Rivera smiled. "If I wanted to, I could get away with so many drugs. I know that it's wrong, but... I'm a mere slave to my vices. And while I do try to quit on all of it, I can't bring myself too. Something about smoke in my lungs, booze in my liver, a needle in my veins... oh, it feels so good... and I'd give anything for any of it..."

Marshall smiled. "You really are honest about all of this. May I ask why?"

"Because I have to be so straight-laced with everyone else," said the Spanish teacher. "But with a new student like you, a student trying to learn his powers, I feel more... free."

Marshall nodded. "You know... I have been meaning to try other stuff to calm myself down. Weed and sleeping pills just aren't doing it for me. And I even have a guy who can get me what I want. And, if you'd like, what I want could also become what you want."

Rivera blushed. "I'd like that. But... I'd never cheat."

"No, I didn't mean that," the brown fox chuckled. "I just have a friend who can help."

"Oh, I see."

"But, now that you mention it, we would need somewhere secluded. Somewhere that isn't used often."

Lola raised an eyebrow. "Like where?"

"Like, maybe, that old shed? Nobody goes there anyway, and I don't mean to make a false assumption, but since you know where to hide drugs, I'd have to assume that you know how to clean them out before getting caught soon." Marshall smiled. "Is that about right?"

"Yes, it is," Rivera winked. "So, you're sure that your guy can deliver? Maybe... I could meet him?"

"He doesn't stick around one place for long," Marshall said. "I barely even know him, to be honest. But he trusts me, so meeting a new person wouldn't be good. Just let me bring the goods, and meet me let's say... Sunday? About 8:30 pm?"

Rivera nodded. "I've got no trouble with that."

Marshall nodded, and he heard his phone vibrate, so he looked at it. "Shit... I've got to head to my dorm. My prefect is pretty pissed at me."

"I should head back too," said Rivera. "And we barely even got started on these..." She gestured to the joints.

"Hey, don't worry about it. When the times comes, we'll be able to enjoy these as much as we can," Marshall said.

"I guess you're right about that." Lola extended a hand. "To confirm the deal."

Marshall nodded, shaking back, and the two soon headed into the building. Lola made a beeline for her classroom to start her next lesson, only being a few minutes late, while Marshall made it back to his dorm room, opening it to have Isaiah feign scolding him.

"And why are you so late?" Isaiah asked. "What were you doing?"

Marshall looked out of the peephole of his door, giving a thumbs up. "Okay, we're good."

Isaiah chuckled. "How'd it go with her?"

"Pretty much flawless," said Marshall. "Got her to agree to a meeting this weekend at the shed again."

"Hmm... smart choice," said The Director. "However, for your third victim... you should pick a different locale."

"That's if I get to the third one," said Marshall.

"I have faith that you will. And for what I have planned, a different place of work might benefit your performance a bit better."

"Okay..." Marshall said. "Anyway, yeah, meeting at the shed at 8:30 at night. So, I guess that's when the sequel is."

"Ah, and a finer venue couldn't be picked for someone as tricky as her," said The Director.

Marshall chuckled. "I'll need drugs, though. I did promise that. And it doesn't matter what. You can even get booze through, if possible. She's addicted to a lot of stuff, so let's take that and use it against her, just like last time."

"I think you're starting to get more and more into this," said The Director.

"Call it method acting, I guess," the brown fox shrugged. "But, yes. I need whatever I can use, and since she seems to have used everything at least once, then that'll be our weapons of choices."

"You mean yours," said Isaiah.

"Yeah... I guess," Marshall shrugged. "But, yeah, that's the plan."

"I've got no troubles with it," said The Director.

"Me neither," said Isaiah. "Now, I imagine that the main star wants to be left alone?"

"I'd like that," Marshall said. "Let me enjoy the rest of my day. Maybe I could get some power practise in too. Who knows?"

The other two chuckled, leaving him be. As they did, Marshall went to his bathroom, immediately gripping the edge of the sink and looking up at the mirror. He panted to himself, breathing heavily and looking inside the cabinet behind the mirror. He looked at the sleeping pills, and an idea came to his mind.

"Okay... maybe... maybe I can make this one work..." He put them back, going to his bed to get some rest.


And another one be done! So, quick warning, I plan on getting one more chapter of this done, and two more of Love And War before Christmas because... well, I've got some presents in mind for you guys. You'll like them. But that's for the future. As for now, I hope you liked this chapter, and I'll see you in the next one. Take care, and stay tuned.