Author's Note: I want to thank everyone who is continuing to read this story! This story just reached it 6,000th view sometime last week! I was really shocked and happy when I saw that number on the stats page! I never really imagined that these many people would read one of my works as I don't usually write fanfics.

What do you guys like or not like about the story so far? Please R&R!

Enjoy this chapter!

Last Time on "Indomitable Hope":

"Wait, you said that "possibly Vincent was her attacker", what does that mean? How do you know if or not he is actually the suspect? What evidence do you have?" Tess asked with a suspicious tone. Gabe grimaced a bit as he began to answer them.

"I said "possibly", I have my hunches that it is him. They are just guesses and shouldn't be taken as the absolute truth as we need to do more investigating on the cases. However, as a former beast, I can tell, with ease, what is a vicious animal attack and what isn't. And hopefully, you are thinking on the same page that these attacks were most likely caused by a Muirfield-created beast like Vincent. We have to investigate more, which I believe there might be more clues at the residence of a former sponsor for this monstrous organization. Please understand that the answers will come with time, please wait patiently."

Tess nodded at Gabe's wise words. But, something else was bothering the middle-aged woman that she had to ask for clarification. "Can you tell me why you suddenly care for Cat a lot lately?" She stared fiercely into his amber-colored irises in hopes to coax the truth out him. But, he slowly downcasted his eyes so he could not make direct eye contact with her as he said these words in a sorrowful tone:

"Because when someone rescues you from entering the gates of Hell, you are eternally grateful to them. You would do anything for them to see their happiness entwined with yours."

Tess recounted the conversation in the empty hospital room as she was riding in Gabe's car. The woman was still confused about his ulterior motives as she didn't understand why they were heading to interview Curt Windsor. She just sat there while staring out the window, pondering how in the world did Gabe make a solid connection between Mr. Windsor and Vincent.

"I know you two have lots of questions about this guy," Gabe started to speak in a neutral tone while driving the car towards the Windsor manor on the eastern edge of Long Island, "However, please stick to the list of questions I gave Tess. More details will come forward in due time, just be patient."

With that, Gabe continued to drive in silence. He looked up at his rearview mirror to see that the other passenger in the car, Luke Conrad, was reading that appear noted on the investigation. He then saw from the right side mirror that Tess was not enjoying this secret quest one bit. He knew that Tess was the type of person who wanted answers right away when she felt something suspicious. He could sense that the tall woman didn't want to be patient from her mixed expressions of boredom and frustration.

Just wait a bit more, Tess, Gabe thought as he concentrated on the road ahead of him, Things might change after today if we play our cards right.

Meanwhile, Tess sighed as she took a well-folded piece of paper out from one of the main coat pockets. She unfolded the paper and grumbled at the sight of them as they were so basic and mind-numbing. The detectives would never go anywhere in this investigation if they ask questions like "What was your involvement with the agency Muirfield?", a lukewarm opening to interviewing a former financial supporter to the crooked agency. However, there was little to no questions in the list that was related to the cross-species DNA project.

They arrived at the manor shortly afterward, pulling up the front door casually. Gabe began to instruct while driving near the roundabout that in front of the main door.

"Remember to stick to the questions. Never go off track. Curt Windsor is a type of guy who gets easily suspicious about almost everything. If you even say one word the wrong way, he will overreact and might not answer any future questions. Let's say that his work and life is a well-kept secret. He doesn't know that we are here to investigate. Keep it polite and simple."

Something didn't add up though. The man in the back figured it out faster than Tess and piped up. "How about you, Mr. Lowren. What will you do? I assuming that you are not going to join us for the questioning."

A-ha, that was what was missing, what was Gabe going to while Tess and Luke went out and investigate?

Noticing how the older detective approached the matter with a firm question, Gabe just cooly replied, "You are correct, Mr. Conrad, I am not going to join you for this session. I got some important phone calls I have to make before the day is up. And also, Mr. Windsor and I don't have the best relationship in the world and I would like to avoid him right now."

With that, the car slowly parked in front of the manor's front door.

Something was fishy, Tess thought as the car pulled up to reveal a huge white house with lots of greenery surrounding it. The place seemed well-kept as there weren't any signs of damage or anything overgrown. However, there was an air of mystery hanging over it, something that the woman detective couldn't put her finger on it. She shook the thought off as she started to collect her stuff from the car's floor.

"If you need anything, please call me. And if it's urgent, don't hesitate to keep calling me and leaving messages in my inbox."

Gabe gave his final instructions to the pair as a signal to get out of the car. Taking the hint, Tess and Luke opened the doors on each side of the car and got out. Together, they headed towards the door and rang the doorbell. They noticed that once they closed the car doors, Gabe turned the car back on and drove off as fast as he could.

Tess turned around to face the pavement where the car they rode in was there just moments ago. She was weirded out by the fact that the suave ADA left without any hesitant; like he wasn't going to do what he said he wanted to do. As the tall woman detective pondered over Gabe's future actions, a young voice chimed in through her thoughts.

"Hello, how may I help you?" a young maid greeted with no emotion. She was pretty mousy with her long blond hair placed in a ponytail, short stature, and dressed in the typically white, frilly dress with a bonnet, black shoes, frilly apron, and long white socks.

The older detective eagerly decided that he was the one to response to the maid. "Hello, my name is Luke Conrad and this is my partner Tess Vargas. We would like to talk to Mr. Windsor. Is he here by any chance?"

The maid's face didn't change from the emotionless expression when she first greeted them as she answered. "I'm sorry, Mr. Windsor doesn't take visitors or even speak to anyone. I don't know really how to reach him. I'm sorry".

Starting to get to annoy with the maid, Tess stubbornly took out her badge and placed in front of the maid's eyes. "What my partner is trying to say is that we are from the New York Police Department and we need to talk to Mr. Windsor about one of our investigations. It is not a question of "ifs" or "buts", we need to talk to him now. It's very important and cannot wait for an appointment of some sorts."

The mousy maid was taken back by the brazen approach. "If you could follow me this way into the waiting room, I am sure I can see if Mr. Windsor would like to talk to you guys," the blonde-haired maid softly spoke, afraid of what would Tess do if the maid continued to say no to their requests. She gestured for them to come in and lead them to the said location.

Once the two detectives shut the door, the suave ADA drove off in a hurry to a location that wasn't noticeable. He was praying that it wasn't Curt himself who would open the door and see Gabe. It was a small possibility but he didn't want to chance it. Because if it was indeed Mr. Windsor, everyone involved would be in trouble, especially Gabe. See, what the black-haired ADA knew that Tess and Luke didn't know was that Curt possessed the capacity to transform himself into a beast and he had special abilities. Abilities that Gabe once had and made everyone fear him.

However, Gabe didn't plan to stick around. Unlike his promise to a few detectives who drove in his car earlier, he wasn't going to stay in his car and make some calls. No, he wanted something more. He wanted to do his own investigation in the connection between Curt Windsor and Muirfield's cross-species DNA. The assistant district attorney had heard reports from the mouths of Murifield agents who used to be around him that the former financial sponsor had built a secret lab somewhere in his manor. Although he didn't possess special abilities anymore, he was determined to use his natural-born detective skills to find the lab.

Beast or no beast, Gabe had to get into that lab to find more answers!