Getting Mr. Fernandez Carriedo home was the easy part.

Discussing the note that sat on the table between Alfred and I was a more difficult situation.

The fingers that came with the note have already been sent to Toby to identify whose fingers they are, but Mr. Fernandez-Carriedo has already assured us that they are Lovino Vargas'.

Reading the note gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach,

"Hellooo ;)

I see you've found the fingers of a very special boy :P . He wanted to hold on to them for dear life but we found a way to confiscate them. We really want the money these shits owe us so we thought we'd show you what happens if we didn't get the 4 grand.

If we don't see that money soon, you'll never see his perfect little face again. Take the money to the Cyanide Cupcake café at 2pm in 3 days.

Love ya 3 "

Four thousand dollars?

Why do they want this money?

Who is he?

At least now we have a motive, but we also have a time limit. Alfred spoke up for the first time since we sat down in the Vargas-Carriedo house, "Arthur, are they going to kill a man?"

A part of me wishes I could reassure him and let him know that the note meant something else, but there's no point in lying, "I hope not, but it sounds like they will."

That's when the alarm in my phone screamed.

I stand and make my way to the front door, "You two handle the evidence, I have to go!"

That's when I'm stopped by Mr. Fernandez-Carriedo. His full body used to stop me from going anywhere, "W-Where are you going? Y-You h-have to find them!"

"Sir I have to go, if you need anything you can talk to either Officer Matthew or Alfred."

As I make my way around him, he grabs my arm and pulls me slightly into the house, "You can't leave! You have to find them!"

"I will be back tomorrow, let go of my arm!"

Matthew walks in and gently coaxes his grip off my arm, "Sir, please let Officer Kirkland go"

The grip on my arm lightens, but the emotional man holds a death glare on me as I leave. This man probably thinks I don't care, and I don't…. I don't care about what he thinks, but I will get those boys and their grandfather out of their current situation.

But first, I have to pick Peter up from school.

Because of the interruption, I didn't have time to change out of my uniform. It's very awkward, to stand with a bunch of parents in a full police uniform in a school.

There were whispers amongst themselves and even glances in my direction. I would tell them it's weird for me too, but I'm not really in the mood to deal with them. I'm just here to pick Peter up, then go home.

That's when Peter walks up with the principal in tow. Oh god.

"Hello Mr. Kirkland"

"Miss. Olivia, what a pleasant surprise. Is there anything I can help you with?"

I could see how fake her smile was and how much she didn't like me.

She's let me know in the past she doesn't appreciate me coming to the school in full uniform. Apparently it scares the children, however plenty of children have walked up to me while I'm in uniform. "Mr. Kirkland could you step into my office?"

Oh god.

For fucks sake.

I sit in the office next to Peter, trying not to look overly annoyed as the principal went to get some things. Peter turns to me, seeming to see my annoyance, "I didn't do anything, I swear"

A slight smile ghosts my lips, "I know Peter; I think I'm in trouble this time."

Peter is very smart for a seven year old, and so he knows that if I get in trouble it usually doesn't lead to him getting into trouble. It never helps when the principal calls him in to watch her lecture me.

She walks in with what looks like art paper and sits on the other side of the desk. "Mr. Kirkland, I know your job is very important and that you might bring home work with you some nights."

Something tells me, this is more than me coming to pick up Peter in uniform. "I suppose so, however Peter is not allowed near any of our work."

That's when the pictures are laid out in front of me. Some of corpses, some of me holding a gun and even some of crying women. Each picture is hand drawn with brightly coloured crayons; they were all signed 'Peter' on the bottom. "As you can see Mr. Kirkland, he's somehow heard about your work."

I can't say anything. I had no idea that these things were going on, and I just don't know what to do about them.

I can't stop my hands running through my hair and rubbing my forehead, stressed out. A case is one thing, a child is another.

"Also, he's being picked up by someone by someone that isn't identified as one of the family. This is worrying as we are never able to get in contact with you to ask the identity of this man."

"I can understand your worry Miss. Olivia but I can assure you that I would never send someone Peter doesn't know to pick him up."

"Mr. Kirkland, this is the tenth time this month you've been called in for not only Peter's behaviour but yours as well. You've only recently become a parent, 2 years ago, but that does not excuse the way this boy is raised. He speaks about death and mental illness in a very relaxed manner and that worries staff at the school."

After the principal threatens to call authorities on our household, I take Peter home silently. Peter's head is down the whole trip, probably thinking he's done something wrong. As soon as we get home, I see Francis standing by the front door; he looks like he'd lost his key and is waiting for me to open the door for him.

"Coffee?"

"Ah, you know me well Arthur." Sitting at the table, smoking with Francis always has the uncanny ability to relieve some stress. "Tell me about life Arthur."

Life, his favourite topic, "New ransom note, principal threatening to have Peter taken away…. Nothing new."

As I take a drag from my smoke, his arms wrap around my shoulders gently. "You know, I could help you relax." The heat in my face rose as his lips rested on the top of my head.

"Francis…"

"Oui Arthur?"

"GET OFF ME!"

He laughs as he gets back to his own seat, sipping his coffee and winking at me. He always was suggestive, which is enough to drive me crazy. His advances are always during stressful times, which doesn't improve his chances.

"You should just give in Arthur, we both know you could really use this."

"Francis, I swear to god if you don't stop."

We sit in silence for a while, Francis knowing I'm not going to accept his offer today. Almost as if to save us from the awkward atmosphere, Jett runs in, "Arthur! Is my job important!?"

I frown at him in confusion. Where did this come from? "What? Um, yes it is?"

Peter quickly follows, panting softly and avoiding Jett's smug look. "Ha, I told you my job's important! Arthur said so!"

I stand and cross my arms, "What is going on?"

Peter holds out a note for me, a line on the bottom for a guardian to sign, "They want me to bring a parent to class to talk about their job. My teacher said I could bring in a brother instead."

Jett grins widely and pointed to himself, "So, since you guys are working on a case, I volunteered instead!" his enthusiasm slowly falls as his face contorts into a rare frown, "Though, Peter said my job is boring compared to yours."

"Peter Kirkland! You will take Jett to school to talk about being an emergency dispatch." I ignore the look of disbelief Peter gives me as I sit back down and sign the note. "If this is how you learn how important Jett's job is then so be it."

After Jett and Peter left the room, Jett celebrating his victory, I feel strangely compelled to take Francis' offer.

I mean, why not just once? Francis isn't bad looking and my guess is he's had his experience with men and women.

Before I change my mind, I send a text to Jett, "Take Peter to the movies or something. You'll find some money on the bookcase in a book labelled 'Shakespearian insults'"

I turn to Francis, a single finger standing tall, "Once, and once only"

…..

Standing in front of this café with Francis, I feel like laughing.

"So, this is the café you've been trying to drag me to this whole time?"

The large pink sign above our heads is hard to miss. The blue circles, that I'm guessing are meant to look like pills, decorated the sign in a chaotic beauty. The purple cursive writing is what caught me off guard. Cyanide Cupcake.

"Oui, you will enjoy your time here I swear"

Walking into the establishment, it was even more sickly sweet then the sign. Pastel pink and blue covering the walls in swirls and polka dots. The booths and tables were scattered randomly; each coated with either pink, blue or purple.

A headache grows in my head just from the mere sight of the room. How could anyone find this establishment relaxing?

"Why did you bring me here?"

"Because you don't go out enough Arthur" ,I roll my eyes at hearing that line once again. Francis quickly notices how ridiculous I think he's being, "I'm serious Arthur. You are only 26 and you're dealing with 5 boys in your care. Not to mention work."

I glare as he drags me to a booth near the back. As private as that sounds, it's the most brightly coloured booth in the whole café.

Soon after I take a seat, a man drenched in hot pink skips over. His bright smile claims the bottom half of his face while his light blue eyes cover the rest under hair so blonde it looks almost pink. The mere sight of him leads me to question my sanity; how could this man find his attire pleasant to the eye?

"Hi! Hello! What can I get you? Tea? Coffee? Cakes?"

His chatter. It was horrific, "Tea please, I won't stay too long."

Francis' face falls with obvious disappointment. What was he expecting? Me to enjoy the sickening décor and annoying staff?

At least I can get some work done while I'm here. Talk to the owner about the Vargas boys' fear of him and the exchange that may happen in a few days.

Francis orders a coffee and the man leaves us in an awkward silence. "You don't intend to stay Arthur?"

I roll my eyes and use all my will power to glare significantly less then I feel I should, "Why would I stay? This café is an eyesore and the staff get on my nerves."

"Arthur, you need to calm down"

I can't help as my hands smack down on the table and my body rises to tower over him. I can't help the twitch in my eye from the stress as my voice grows in volume, "calm down!? CALM DOWN!? SOME OF US CAN'T LIVE THE PERFECT 20s LIFESTYLE! SOME OF US PICKED UP RESPONSIBILITIES TOO EARLY AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM! SOME OF US ARE TERRYFIED FOR OTHER PEOPLE!"

Before my rant can continue, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn my head to see a taller man wearing a red plaid shirt and his blonde hair in a careless ponytail. His violent eyes glare down at me dangerously, "Sir, we don't appreciate that behaviour in this café. Families eat here."

I quick survey of the room, I see children and parents stare me horrified. I had forgotten to change and they were seeing a police officer yell at a civilian, not one friend venting their stress to another. With a slow deliberate breath, I sit back down and place me face in my hands. Francis apologizes for me and I hear the man walk away.

"Arthur, no need to cause a scene"

I try to ignore the world, ignore Francis, and ignore the café. Let me just ignore existence before being thrown into it again. Though leaving myself to my thoughts tend to make things worse.

Peter's going to get taken!

Three men are going to die if you don't solve this case!

It's all on you!

If you fail everyone with be miserable!

My wish is granted and no one interferes, until, "Officer, Officer your tea is here"

I look up to find the same wide-smiled, blue eyed pink man from before; He places my tea in front of me while Francis sips his coffee. "Oh, thank you."

"On the house, to thank you for all your hard work."

I'm slightly taken back, "I can pay for it; you don't have to thank me"

The smile turns slightly sad as he leans in slightly, "You are Officer Kirkland, right?" without waiting for an answer he holds an arm closer to his side and looks down slightly, " Mr. Bielschmidt told me about what you're doing about the missing Vargas'. Feliciano and Lovino such nice boys, I hope you find them soon."

I sigh softly and turn to them properly, "Can you tell me where the owner is?"

The confusion on his face is short lived but obvious, "That's me sir"

"Could I ask you how well you know the Vargas family?"

The man stood silently, looking to the ceiling in thought, "I guess I don't know them that well. I know the Grandpa likes my coffee, the older brother refuses to come in because the colour is too bright and the younger thinks this place is haunted."

My brow furrows in confusion at the sudden mention of unreasonable things. Haunted? Fat chance. "How do you know them?"

The smile seems to grow, somehow, "I am a valued customer. A friend of mine doesn't like leaving their house, but they love Vargas wine. Almost as much as they love a good smoke"

I nod and look back at my tea, "Thank you, for your answers… And the tea."

I won't bother with the exchange. We might be able to stop it happening.

The man, satisfied with my response, walks away to help other customers and Francis kicks my shins, "Hey! What was that for!?"

"Working, I brought you here to relax and, as god as my witness, you will relax."

I can't help the smile that crawls across my face or the sigh that leaves my lips. Nothing like physical abuse to help brighten up your day. So I brighten Francis' day using the same method. "Ow! Arthur!"

I laugh softly, which causes Francis to smile. "Arthur, it's been a long time since I've seen you laugh genuinely"

I don't know why, but that sentence never fails to make me feel guilty. I mean, think about it. I'm caring for a seven year old and my oldest friend hasn't seen me happy in years? Did I fuck up my own life?

As I'm stuck in my thoughts, a platinum blonde man walks in. He looks like one of those 'hipsters'. Clothes stylish and face as smug as it can get.

He sits and order his coffee, something about him draws my attention. Everyone's attention is on him, even Francis stares. This man, looks as though there's more to him. But is it the kind of thing you want to get involved with?

…

Francis stayed for tea, which is usually chaos and destruction filled with arguments and laughter. I guess that's life in a house filled with young men and a young boy. Though tonight, it's pleasantly quiet and well-mannered. I think Francis may have talked to the boys at some point, as they're never this well-behaved.

Almost as if to ruin my night, I receive a phone call from a number I don't recognise. I excuse myself from the table and make my way to the living room alone.

"Hello, Arthur Kirkland speaking"

"Good evening Officer, I work with the Child Protection Services. I've called to ask you a few questions"

W-What? Did the Principle really call them? Oh god. But, I care for Peter, I swear I do!

"Officer Kirkland?"

"Oh, um, sorry. What are your questions?"

The questioning went on and on. Asking about Peter, asking about my job, my house, anything! The questions just kept coming, until we finally said our goodbyes. As we did, all the boys had wandered into the room; curious as to what was taking so long.

Matthew was the first to speak, "Who was that Arthur?"

I just sat and stared forward for a moment before answering, "It was no one, nothing important." I look over at Peter who looks as if he's about to fall asleep right there, "Come on Peter, time for bed."

As I help him into bed, he decides to speak up softly, "I'm sorry you got in trouble Arthur."

I'm not sure how to respond. It takes me a moment to think of something before saying, "It's not your fault Peter, but maybe you shouldn't draw anything that has to do with my job. Ok?"

Peter nods groggily before tucking himself in and closing his eyes.

I make my way downstairs, only to get stopped by Jett and Toby. Jett was the first to speak up, "What's going on Arthur?"

Nothing gets past these boys, nothing I do at least. "Let me past and I'll inform everyone." Even though they're my little brothers, they both tower over me slightly which is a little irritating but I learn to live with it.

They all sit and wait for me to explain, but I don't know if I can find the words. We were always aware that this would be a risk, but were never prepared for it.

"I was on the phone with child protection services."

Alfred frowns, confused slightly, "Why? What do they have to do with anything?"

I cross my arms and scowl at the ground. "They deem me an unfit guardian."