The stress Arthur's under is crazy

Not only do we have next to no leads on the Vargas case, but child protective services are threatening to take Peter.

It would suck to have the little dude taken.

Oh! Let me introduce myself!

I'm Alfred F Jones THE HERO!

Now I know what you're thinking, why do I have a different last name to my big bro Matt?

After we were adopted, Arthur let us pick our last names, so to honour our parents Matt took our Mom's maiden name and I took our Dad's last name.

Good idea huh?

It was totally my idea!

Anyway, Arthur and I are on our way to the lab Toby works at, we just got word that the blood testing and stuff was done. Just in time too, the transfer is meant to happen tomorrow.

As I'm driving, I notice just how tired Arthur is. I don't think he slept a wink last night. Without too much thought, I reach for my unopened energy drink and hand it to him, "Here, have a blue cow. You look like you need it."

Without a word, he takes the can from me and opens it. Usually Arthur would argue with me about how bad these things are for you, and I sorta wish he was arguing with me. It would get his mind off the Peter thing going on.

"You're more depressed about this then you probably should be Artie."

I see his face turn into a scowl and I figure I've achieved my goal, "why wouldn't I be depressed about this? Peter is part of the family and he might be taken…. AND I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME ARTIE!"

I chuckle and send a smirk in his direction, "what if I like the name Artie more than Arthur?"

Arthur starts to lecture me on the importance of respect, though I'm not really listening. I'm just glad he's not moping anymore; a yelling Arthur is much more fun.

It's almost perfect timing that I park the car as Arthur finishes his latest rant. Both of us get out of the car and head for Toby's lab.

"Yo! Toby! Got something for us!?"

He turns to us with a tired smile stretching across his face, "Oh, hello Alfred. I thought Arthur was bringing Matthew."

"How do you know I'm not actually Matthew? People get us mixed up all the time."

Arthur rolls his eyes at me before retorting, "Until you open your mouth."

With a small chuckle, Toby hands us a folder, "I was able to find the DNA of a young man who emigrated from Germany, Trier."

"Yes, but who, and where do they live?"

Toby just smiles and points to the folder before turning to work for, probably, another case.

We go back to the car so we can stay out of Toby's way and Arthur opens the folder, "It's a Lutz Schmidt. Says here he's hasn't committed any crimes here, he's just had to pick a man up from holding a couple of times."

I grin as I get the car started, "Alright well, tell me where he lives Artie."

…

Working on a case is a good distraction.

I know I should be more concerned with the lives of this family then my own personal problems while we look for this man's house, but I can't help it.

Have I failed as a brother?

The house the address leads to is slightly out of town. While parking the car, Alfred and I see a chicken coop and three dogs resting on a porch. It's very peaceful, so quiet if you don't mind the sound of chickens.

I'm jealous. To live somewhere this peaceful instead of in town surrounded by people it seems like the life.

As Alfred knocks on the door I begin to wonder about what kind of person we would be dealing with. I'm not shocked as a tall, muscular, blonde man opens the door. A scar runs down his left cheek, just under his striking purple-pink eyes. "Hallo?"

"Hello, Mr. Schmidt I presume?"

He doesn't look surprised. He doesn't look the slightest bit of confused or embarrassed to have two police officers at his front door. Though, he also looks as if he'd be hard to read anyway. "Ja, are we going to talk here or should I call someone to care for my brother?"

The surprise that this man is so cooperative shocks both Alfred and I into silence for a moment. It isn't too long, however, until Alfred finds his voice again, "Um, you're going to have to call someone to care for your brother. Although, we'd also like to call an officer here to keep an eye on both your brother and whoever you call."

He lights a cigarette as he pulls out his phone. Alfred pulls out his own phone and calls Matthew, while I'm left to smoke by the car. Why's the suspect so calm? Were they able to guess what we found at the crime scene?

I'm so confused, I don't notice Alfred until he's smacked the back of my head. "Come on Artie, you shouldn't be smoking on the job"

"You shouldn't be thinking you can tell me what to do. Can Matthew get here?"

Alfred nods and pulls the fag out of my mouth before dropping it onto the ground, "He said he should be here in a few minutes."

I notice a car pull in to the driveway and park behind the cruiser as Alfred finishes his sentence. A blonde young man pulls himself out of it, though something about him seems familiar.

The man walks by us as if we aren't even there before knocking on the front door. "Luuutz! I'm heeeere!"

….

Hey, my name is Jett and I am walking into my little brother's school to give a presentation.

Ok, I'm running.

I slept in this morning and I think Peter's still a little sour about Arthur making him choose me to speak to his class.

I don't see why he's so embarrassed, being an emergency dispatch is really important. Although, I guess it isn't as impressive as detective, forensic scientist or negotiator. Someone like me doesn't go out on the field with a gun or apprehend bad guys. I answer phones all day, usually to pranks from kids like these.

When I get to the classroom, I see a parent doing a speech. I decide to wait outside, I'll knock when they're finished so I don't interrupt them or anything. That's when I notice them wearing a suit, like a full blown grey suit with a black tie.

I look down at my own clothes, black slacks and a blue short sleeved button up shirt with an Emergency symbol on the breast pocket. I don't fit in here, I'm also not a parent. Argh, I'm only 20 and I have to give a speech in front of kids!?

What was I thinking?

As soon as I hear an applause from the kids inside, I knock on the door and make sure a massive grin is stuck to my face. I can't be feeling self-conscious now, I have to have a fair go. I'll make Peter proud of me.

The teacher opens the door and gives me a confused look, "Yes?"

"Um, G'day ma'am. I'm here for the parent career thing."

"Of course sir, and which one's your child?"

I chuckle awkwardly before correcting her, "Actually I'm Peter's older brother."

The teacher smile slightly, "Ah, you must be Arthur Kirkland."

I frown before glancing in Peter's direction, who has his face in his hands. He probably scratched my name out and replaced it with Arthur's, "Actually I'm Jett Kirkland; Arthur has to work on a case."

"Oh, I see, well why don't you go take a seat next to your brother. Don't worry we've only just started."

I take a seat next to Peter, trying to ignore the stares I'm getting from both children and parents alike. The parents don't seem to be wearing their uniforms, if they have one. Did I do this wrong? Was I supposed to turn up in a suit and tie thing?

Woo, it's pretty stuffy in here.

"Peter, why don't you introduce your big brother and his profession to the class?"

Both Peter and I freeze before we get up and walk to the front of the class. When we do get to the front, Peter lowers his head before raising his hand in my direction, "This is my big brother Jett Kirkland. Jett is an emergency dispatch."

Peter walks to his seat, not looking any of his classmates in the eye. They all look at me with disappointment, they were probably hoping that Peter would have one of his police officer brothers come in to talk. They probably want stories of a wild chase, with sirens flashing and tires screeching.

I don't live that life. Well, I don't get paid to.

I don't want to live that life, I'd rather help in a different way.

I suck in a deep breath and give the kids a good grin. They weren't gonna scare me away from doing what I came here to do. Tell them about my good old job in the office.

"G'day, I'm Jett Kirkland. As Peter said I'm not a police officer, but I do work for them. Who here has ever had to call for an emergency?"

No kid raises their hand, and I know at least one of them are lying. Peter has his head down and doesn't seem to want to listen. I'm not sure if the decision I make is a good one, but I'm doing it anyway, "Come on Peter; don't lie."

Before too long, Peter's hesitantly raising his hand. He looks embarrassed, I have no idea why though. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, you needed help. How else are the cops meant to catch the people committing a crime?"

A kid raises his hand and I can't help but chuckle a little bit. I'm not really used to this, "Yeah?"

"Does your job ever get boring?"

My smile becomes slightly solemn, though I try to hide it behind a big grin, "No way, every day we get at least one call. Sometimes we get a call over something very silly, like a teenager being left at home for the first time and thinking they heard something. Though, I'm glad they did call. If someone was in the house and she didn't call the police wouldn't know and wouldn't go to take care of the situation."

Another hand reaches upwards, "Yeah?"

"Do you ever get jealous of the police officers?"

I actually have to think about this one. "Well, I guess I get a little jealous of my big brother sometimes. When I do, I remember that without me Arthur wouldn't able to know those crimes happened. Without emergency dispatch, the people wouldn't have a way to contact the police, the ambulance or the fire department. This job is a way to help people when you can't be a police officer."

"Is that what happened to you?"

A voice from the back of the room. It wasn't a child's, it was a parents. I think they were curious, why else would they ask. When I see their face, I realise what they're doing. They are undermining my career, and I'm not sure how to react.

After a moment of thought, I figure I tell the truth, "Yeah, I couldn't complete the training to become an officer. Both my twin brother and I didn't pass, so we chose to help in a different way. So kids, if you want to be a police officer and it gets tough, remember there's always another way to help out."

"So your career started with a failure?"

I can't say anything mean. It's not in my nature, and I'm in uniform so it'll reflect badly on the emergency services. I'm about to respond when Peter stands and faces the parent, "If it hadn't been for Jett, I wouldn't have been able to get police to stop a burglar. He told the police and stayed on the phone with me while I was really scared that they were going to hurt me! Jet was really brave!"

My eyes widen slightly as Peter runs over to me and hugs my waist. He's sobbing softly, probably afraid he was going to get into trouble for yelling at an adult. I nod at the teacher before taking Peter outside, holding him close.

"Hey, it'll be ok. Stop crying. It's ok"

…..

I'm sitting the Schmidt living room, watching this blonde man make three mugs of coffee.

As soon as I entered the house to keep an eye on the older Schmidt and his caretaker, the blonde had told me to make myself at home. There's something about him that makes me hesitant to trust him.

When he returns, he rests a mug in front of me before knocking on a door softly, "Akbar! Akbar, come out and have some coffee."

The man that leaves the room, has eyes the colour of rubies that had somehow dulled to be a shadow of what they probably were before. His white hair trails past his shoulders, though looks as though it hasn't been washed in a long time. The clothes seem to be what he woke up in that morning, dishevelled and comfortable looking.

"Damn it Akbar, when's the last time you showered? You will take a shower before I give you any coffee."

Akbar seems to focus his gaze on me, raising a whiteboard that I hadn't noticed was in his hands the whole time, "I just want to sleep Flavio"

As soon as the blonde read the board, he shoves Akbar to another door pulling his shirt off him as he reached for the knob, "You. Shower. Now."

Once the door shuts, Flavio sits across from me. His legs are crossed and his hand is open and inviting me to a handshake, "Ciao! My name is Flavio."

I accept the gesture in good faith, "Officer Williams. May I ask why you care for Akbar?"

Flavio rolls his eyes, so I assume he's heard this question before, "His brother is over-protective of him. If Lutz can't take care of him; he makes sure someone can. I don't know why I'm his go to guy, but I guess trying to get Akbar to liven up is a fun little project."

"He's a human being, you shouldn't treat him like a toy."

As soon as I say that, Flavio laughs. It's full of a selfish malice, though it also seems to hint a sadness, "Oh officer, just because someone is human, doesn't mean you can't toy with them."

The playfulness in his voice, it sounds awful. I wish I could arrest this man for how he views the man currently showering, but he's doing nothing illegal. From what I can see, he doesn't verbally or emotionally abuse the man. He seems harmless.

"Why is Lutz protective? Has Akbar done something to warrant the worry?"

Flavio shrugs, his smile gently falling into a neutral frown, "I don't think so. Though, Akbar does get depressed very easily. Maybe Lutz think he'll try something if left alone for too long. I don't think he will while Lutz is alive and needs his big brother."

The way Flavio talks about the relationship between the Schmidts, I begin to understand him a little better. There's envy, he wants what the Schmidts have. "Tell me Flavio, do you have a brother?"

Flavio's face finally falls. I'm not sure how to describe it, his eyes are directed to the floor and his brow is scrunched as though he's troubled, "Si, I have a little brother. We don't really talk unless we have to. We aren't close, and I don't think he gives a shit about me."

I sip the coffee slowly, wondering how that would feel. What if one day Alfred got distant?

I don't think I could handle it.

"Brothers are strange like that. I have 4 younger brothers and each one acts differently."

Akbar leaves the bathroom in only a towel which urges a soft blush across my face. Flavio's reaction, however, was slightly different "Akbar, put some clothes on, you're embarrassing the nice police officer."

Akbar raises his whiteboard, apparently having written on it before leaving the bathroom, 'you didn't let me grab fresh clothes before pushing me into the bathroom.'

Watching the two interact, it's interesting. Flavio definitely has a level of respect for Akbar, and Akbar seems to just be playing along.

It's an interesting mutual respect you would never guess if you just listened to Flavio's side of the relationship.

…

"Mr. Schmidt, please. If you want to leave, all you have to do is explain to us why your blood was at the crime scene."

The blonde man was stubbornly quiet, causing both myself and Alfred to scowl. His blood was at the crime scene, either he give us an explanation or…. That's it. "Well, I guess we have no choice but to arrest you. We'll hold you in contempt until we can find the Vargas'. No private conversations."

With the lack of private calls, the young man's head sprung up, "What!?"

"We can't have you calling someone who helped you commit the crime now can we? Although, if you told us what you were doing, that might get you some privacy with the phone."

After the long, looong questioning session that got nothing, we finally hear, "I was hired to kidnap the two boys and their grandpa. I was told to keep them unharmed, and I did. I took them to an alley near Cyanide cupcake where I left them. I got paid the day after, the money was left at my door."

Alfred pipes up, sitting on the edge of the desk, "So, you don't know who hired you?"

Schmidt shakes his head, "I think it might've been… An old friend."

I lean forward, eyes narrowing in suspicion, "Name?"

The hesitance is written all over his face, maybe he was blackmailed into doing this job. I guess that could explain his loyalty to whoever this man was. Seeming to have realised an advantage to tell us, he responds with, "Luciano Varda, if you want to get in contact with him I have his older brother caring for my brother at my house, Flavio Varda."

I turn to Alfred before demanding him to, "Call Matthew, tell him to bring in Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Varda." Schmidt sat in silence, refusing to look at me or look up at all as we heard Alfred leave the room. I remain in the room to keep an eye on him, "Did they blackmail you Mr. Schmidt?"

The young man doesn't look at me, pondering his answer or whether or not he should answer… "Why?"

"Well, if they did, you might be excused of your crime, did they blackmail you Mr. Schmidt and what with?"

Another silence lingers for a little while before Schmidt sighs, "They said they were going to hurt my brother, and since Flavio watches him when I can't I thought they had easy access to him."

What he says makes sense, and could get him a less severe punishment for the kidnapping. Though, this'll all depend on the cooperation of the older brother at this point.

We wait until Alfred returns to tell me Matthew is on his way. Leaving the young man to deal with himself for a little while, I exit to greet Matthew and update him on what to do.

….

Flavio glares at me. He'd voiced his annoyance with me the whole trip here.

Akbar didn't look too annoyed, it's a shame I had to leave him out in the office under the care of my little brother. Akbar would probably less trouble, since I don't interrogate often I'm a little nervous.

"So, Mr. Varda, where's your little brother Luciano?"

"How should I know Officer Williams? I told you before I don't really talk to him anymore."

A sigh leaves my lips before I can stop it, crossing my arms I wonder what I can say or do to get some sort of answer from him. No one just gives up on their brother right? No one just loses contact with their little brother…. Right?

"Mr. Varda, I highly doubt you don't know anything about your brother. I can doubt you have anything to do with what he's doing but I can't say you don't know where he has been before. Is there any place he went to frequently when you two were talking?"

Flavio just rolls his eyes, pouting like a 5 year old who's try to say he didn't cut his doll's hair with the scissors in his hand, "I haven't spoken to my little brother in years Officer Williams. I don't know anything."

Ok, it looks like I'm not getting anything while just giving him a chance. I pull out the folder Alfred gave me concerning the Varda's, "Mr. Varda, I understand you want to keep your brother out of trouble. But, there's only record of one house with residents under the name Varda in this area. With the information we have, Luciano Varda is in this area. If you tell me what you know now, you might get a lesser punishment then if Officer Kirkland walks in."

Something in the way Flavio's head moves has me believe I'm making progress. Instead of looking down his nose, he's now looking me in the eye. I'd like to believe it's because telling us would be the right thing to do, but I think it has more to do with the fact that he could get a lesser punishment then the brother he claims to have no connection with.

"Alright, you caught me. He tends to be on the phone with someone a lot. He talks about money and a café. Ahhh, what's it called? Oh yeah, Cyanide Cupcake."

The place where the exchange is meant to happen. That must be what Flavio's talking about. Luciano's planning it while on the phone with someone else.

"Let's see, he also said something about disposing of someone if it helps. I don't really know much about what he does while I'm out or working."

Disposing of someone?

I feel my gaze drag down onto the floor as I stand to make my exit. I hope that someone isn't dead as I grab the folder and turn towards the door. "Thank you for your answers Mr. Varda"

…..

As I wake up, I notice the only sound I hear is Feli's crying. I barely remember anything that happened before I slipped out of consciousness, I just know that it hurt.

Before I open my eyes, I feel something brush against my foot which shoots a burning feeling up my leg. I can't help the cry that rips itself from my throat as my eyes fly open.

"A-Ah Fratello! You're awake!"

I ignore him as I slowly use my hands to push myself into a sitting position. The pain that shoots through my chest causes me to cry out again, quickly gritting my teeth to try and stop myself from screaming.

"P-Please lie down Fratello, y-you're too injured to sit up."

I don't want to lie down. I want to stand and run away. "W-Where's Grandpa?"

Feliciano tilts his head, furrowing his brow in thought before answering, "W-What do you mean fratello?"

"Y-You two are playing a joke on me again. Aren't you? He's probably hiding in the garden… right? RIGHT!?"

He wraps his arms around me and holds me close, both of us crying without any control, "Th-That's right fratello. He's hiding, but I can't tell you where. Y-You have to find him y-yourself. That's how the game works."