Chapter 37: Suspect

As Nick made his way to the locker room to change into his rented suit he thought of nothing but making this day end as quickly as possible. He immediately saw the look in Caroline's eyes that said too much for him, he expected the girl to try to make the most of this meeting as much as she could. He didn't want to talk too much with the girl, but he had no other choice - he stuck to his plan the whole time, not to be fooled for Caroline. Not having Judy beside him caused him a kind of discomfort that he hadn't experienced before. He had never worked alone before, or with anyone other than Judy, so the feeling of awkwardness was quite a bit greater than he had anticipated. Plus the fact that he would be working with his ex didn't help, it was news that was killing him.

As he put on his white deliakte shirt and navy blue waistcoat he looked at himself in the mirror and at the time even smiled a little seeing his neat figure in the elegant, velvet, dark navy blue outfit. The sleek, dark clothing accentuated his orange and white fur, which in this case contrasted the colours giving them a more vibrant feel. He didn't hide from himself that he liked himself. He turned his shoulders a few times to be able to look at himself from different angles, the stares were interrupted by a rapid call.

"Do you like it?" A female voice sounded from behind Nick's back. Fox turned immediately behind him, he expected to meet Caroline behind him, who must have walked quietly inside the locker room. Nick was a little embarrassed, he didn't know if she saw him changing or just standing dressed by the mirror, but he tried not to show it.

"This is the men's locker room. For women it's on the other side of the corridor," burbled Nick indifferently turning to face the mirror again. He adjusted his navy blue and red tie and waistcoat collar.

"You wore a similar suit when we first met at the party, remember ?" Caroline asked. Nick looked at his reflection in the mirror. He remembered when he had just met Caroline, the vixen he had fallen in love with, at a friend's party a few years ago. He remembered, he was actually dressed in a similar suit to the one he was standing in front of the mirror now. At the time, he could not have predicted how his acquaintance with the seemingly nice vixen would turn out. meanwhile, he glanced at Caroline, who was standing behind him and watching him giving him approval with her mere glance, which distracted him.

"Those were the old days. I don't think they're worth revisiting," chuckled Nick dryly.

"Sure..." Replied Caroline quietly. She looked as if she didn't want to press further on Nick, who wasn't planning on letting go of his attention to her game. He moved away from the mirror and opened the door leading to the corridor avoiding her ponderous gaze.

"I think we're ready and able to move, don't you?" Nick communicated.

"I'm just going to go to the Commandant for a moment to get the papers and we can go" replied Caroline. Together they left the changing room parting in opposite directions.

As Caroline went to the commandant, Nick at the time was waiting for her in the car. He didn't want to wait for her alone in the corridor, Judy's lack of presence made him feel less confident and the morning's taunts towards him made him feel jumpy, he didn't want to engage in conversations that wouldn't be necessary or would make him even more jumpy. He had heard rumours a few times that his relationship with Judy was suspiciously strong, but he didn't worry too much about it, there was plenty of gossip at the police station, most of which he didn't react to. It was enough for him that he got to spend the whole day with his ex-girlfriend, whom he officially didn't like very much after the breakup.

Soon Caroline appeared and in her hands she brought a catalogue with data that would help them in their mission.

"As far as we know, the suspect comes in either during the hours the premises are open or closed. He has never been seen during the hours when there are the most people."

"It seems he doesn't want too many witnesses when he's talking to potential victims."

"Do you think that has something to do with it?"

"Probably. I get the impression he makes appointments beforehand with guests he then talks to" replied Nick.

"Any way you look at it, it's kind of weird...a guy would make an appointment with others over the phone to then talk in person?"

"We don't know what's going on here. We need to focus and make sure we don't miss anything. We don't know if there will be another chance to find him. Now let's go, let's not waste time," Nick replied. Caroline agreed.

For most of the way, they didn't speak to each other, Caroline occasionally trying to tempt Nick to look at her, but he bravely avoided her gaze in the car mirror. In his head he had to admit that the sleek black dress suited the girl, she looked very neat, the outfit accentuated her slim waist which looked even nicer in the dress. However, he knew that if he told her that, she would start her game, which he tried to avoid. All the time he tried to think of something to occupy his head, as long as he didn't react to Caroline's taunts, which were directed towards him these few minutes.

When they arrived at the place, the restaurant was filled with guests who had gathered in the premises to chat or meet each other on the town. As you can see, not everyone was protesting against the authorities, demanding the facts be revealed as to why the residents were disappearing. Nick managed to notice during the interviews that the protesters were mainly middle class people, ordinary working people who spend most of their day doing their jobs. The more wealthy ones showed no interest in this, they just lived their lives not caring who gets kidnapped next time.

Entering the restaurant, Nick culturally let Caroline pass him, who let out an approving look that distracted Nick. Her ponderous gaze managed to distract him, though he tried not to pay attention.

As they entered the room filled with customers, they found a single table for two at the end of the room that looked like it had been specially set up for them. It was the perfect vantage point for the whole room, Nick guessed that from this spot they would be able to watch every table and eavesdrop on the guests without looking around unnecessarily. Nick took Caroline's hand and then moved towards the table, as he walked between the tables he could hear a loud noise that was actually whispers of people talking to each other.

Fox upon reaching the table moved the seat back for Caroline to sit down, when she gracefully sat down, Nick sat down and started looking around at the guests. So far no one looked like they were going to get along with anyone, everyone was sitting at full tables, two people each.

After a while, since they were both sitting across from each other waiting for something interesting to happen, a waiter approached them waiting for one of them to place their order. While Nick didn't look interested, Caroline was looking over the menu card, pondering her choice.

"Actually, we'll..."

"We'll have wine, wine for two" interjected Caroline putting the menu card down on the table.

"I'll bring it in a moment" replied the waiter walking away from the table.

"What are you ordering for? Have you forgotten why we're here?" Asked Nick quietly with irritation.

"Come on Nicki, after all, a little wine won't hurt and anyway...if something happens we have a view of the whole room, we'll be able to see if anyone suspicious is coming" replied Caroline calmly. Although this didn't calm Nick down at all, he was still irritated, he decided not to have an unnecessary discussion. He sighed heavily nodding with a movement of his head. He preferred to concentrate on his mission.

A moment later the waiter returned to them, holding two tall glass glasses and a bottle of red wine on a tray. He set the dishes on both sides of the table and poured the alcohol for the guests. Without saying anything he left.

"So Nick tell me, how did it come about that you helped for Judy in solving the wilderness case?" Caroline asked. She was the first to taste the wine the waiter served them. Although it was quite strong, its velvety and intense taste was very palatable to Caroline. She didn't come into contact with wine very often, maybe that's why this original taste appealed to her so much.

"How do you know I helped?" Nick asked.

"Everyone knows about it. It's been the most talked-about case in recent months. By a suspicious coincidence you, even as a non-police officer were helping for her."

"It's quite a long story..." Replied Nick reluctantly.

"We may have all day" countered Caroline's reply.

"Heh...you haven't changed since..."

"Neither have you...you too" sighed Caroline. Her look made Nick feel confused for a moment, he felt he had come down unnecessarily on the subject of their past.

"Judy wanted information from me about one of the missing men. When I wouldn't reveal anything to her she decided to use my dirt."

"Dirt?"

"She started threatening me...or rather, she offered a deal. If I helped her, I wouldn't go to jail. It was literally an offer I couldn't refuse," Nick countered. He remembered the situation fondly over time, although when he heard his accusations he didn't laugh at all.

"And that's how you became a policeman?" Caroline asked?

"Over time we found that we had a lot of similar qualities, a shared sense of humour, we got along well. And I soon got a contract to become her partner in the police force" replied Nick. Caroline nodded with a movement of her head taking another sip of wine. Her gaze went to Nick's cup, which caught his attention and he knew immediately what she meant.

"I don't drink."

"You have to try it, even just one sip," opined Caroline. Nick looked at the alcohol. After a moment, he decided that one sip altogether would do no harm and tasted the drink. The taste was blunt, distinct, but at the same time delicate and rich and made Nick smile a little. Caroline knew he had tasted it.

"Quite good," Nick commented as he put the cup down.

"So now you tell me...how did a girl of my kind become a Commander?"

"Did you mean to offend me with the term Your Kind?" The girl asked ironically.

"Of course not...I meant..."

"Nick never insults girls, does he? " Caroline asked, to which Nick laughed nodding his head.

"I wouldn't dare," replied Nick.

"Heh...coming back, after our breakup, I decided to change my life a bit. So I decided to go to the police academy, I was hoping to straighten out my life a bit and I guess it was the right choice. After a few years of service, I was promoted to commander and that's how it's stayed to this day."

"I didn't expect such a transformation from you to be honest" replied Nick.

"I know Nick...I know what our relationship was like, but you have to trust me I have changed. I'm not like I was before"

"I wish you had changed before" Nick interrupted her sending her a serious look. Memories of the breakup again made him irritable and irritated, which Caroline could sense.

"I tried, but you know how it was...it's been so many years, it's worth forgetting, isn't it?" The vixen asked. Nick didn't answer. It was quite a difficult question for him. He'd been through the breakup quite a bit, he'd needed Finnick's support, he'd grown to resent Caroline over time after what had happened, but on the other hand she was partly right. Was there any point in bringing up the same thing for several years?

"I don't know..."

As time went on, they descended to more pleasant topics for both of them, which did not annoy either of them. Their conversation became more and more down-to-earth and pleasant, there were even occasional laughs and jokes which enhanced the quality of the conversation. Perhaps the wine was one of the factors as to why the conversation was so enjoyable, although drunk in small amounts it could affect the delicacy of matters. Though the main reason was that Nick was succumbing more and more to Caroline and allowing himself to be drawn closer and closer to her.

"I don't think I've asked this yet, but who is Judy to you?" Caroline asked at one point.

"What do you mean?" Nick asked curiously.

"I've heard that you two see each other a lot and that you go out together all the time..." Replied Caroline.

"That's my girl..."

"She's your girlfriend?" Asked the surprised girl. The man hearing Caroline's question shook himself off and laughed nervously waved his head negatively.

"What the hell, she's my friend, do you seriously think a rabbit and a fox could be together?" Replied Nick ironically. Caroline laughed, and so did Nick, but he felt angry at himself for almost giving himself away. Caroline didn't seem to take it seriously, but the slip of the tongue itself could be bad for him.

'Damn, that was close,' thought Nick. He cast a glance at the vixen's cup, it was half empty. He was quite far back as he had practically the entire cup of drink.

There was a moment of silence between them. Nick at this time turned his attention to a visitor entering, no one had entered the premises since their entrance. A man of medium height, dressed like the rest in a rather elegant outfit with blue eyes and a bright, confident expression walked up to the first table. Nick was looking at him the whole time, which caught Caroline's attention. She leaned back gently and, looking behind her, could see a man sitting at the next table. She turned back to Nick, they both knew what was going on.

"Is that him?" Caroline asked, Nick nodded calmly with a movement of his head. Target moved to the fifth table, directing his conversation to one of the guests, the other not even accosted by a word.

"They're far enough away to hear what they're talking about," Nick said.

"Did you take the recorder? When they're closer you'll record the conversation"

"I have, that's what I'm waiting for" replied the fox.

Soon the guest had sat down at 10 of the 18 tables in the room. It was still too far away to listen to their conversation, but he was at least close enough to get a closer look at his facial features. Although Nick tried to eavesdrop on the conversation discreetly, the noise in the room was too loud to hear anything. Soon the man finished his conversations with table 10 and began to head towards the exit. He paid the bartender then walked out of the establishment.

"We're leaving," Nick announced. He got up quickly from his seat, as did Caroline, they were heading for the exit when they were stopped by a waiter demanding payment.

"Please pay before you leave" the waiter asked.

"Go Caroline, I'll pay" replied Nick. While the vixen left the premises, Nick continued to search for money in his pockets. He soon gave up trying to find the money, took out his police badge and showed it to the employee.

"Police, I'll pay later," Nick announced.

"Ugh... I will pay for you, but please have your money with you next time" the waiter replied reluctantly. Nick smiled, thanked him and joined Caroline.

After leaving the restaurant, he noticed Caroline standing a few dozen metres away behind the restaurant before the intersection, standing inertly looking around as if she was looking for a way in.

"Where is he?" Asked Nick when he had reached her.

"He isn't! Before I left the premises he turned just outside this building and disappeared," replied Caroline. Nick leaned out from behind the building and indeed, there was no one, the street was empty.

"Shit!"