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cherry-tree-of-life - If you thought that Joe was being creepy toward Alice in the previous two chapters, then you're in a for a surprise in this chapter! But I swear he's not stalking her! He has a very elusive agenda (that's all I'll say).

CookieDecor22 - If you thought Shun's follow up call was somewhat degrading, then you'll be in for a surprise about Alice's job stability in this chapter! You might also find Alice's supervisor acting a bit weird, but the highlight of this chapter is th upcoming debate.

MagicxMusicxMelody - And Shun will only get angrier after you find out what he and the other agents are doing for the senate debate. I hope you won't it repetitive that he keeps complaining about the gunfire from Wardington courthouse and Bayview expo Center.

Sugar Spice Rush - You might be right about Hydron's secret business deals, but the consequences he'll face won't take place until the next chapter. Focus on Shadow first, then Joe! But since Shadow (and Mylene) got arrested, it's up to his associates to complete his unfinished business.

Chapter 10: Surprise Moderator

(finally double digits XD)

Shadow pressed his switchblade harder against Alice's neck frantically. "You two know each other?! Then tell your people to back off immediately!"

"Or what?" Shun mocked while gripping his firearm more tightly. Alice is right. This isn't the first time that she's in a difficult situation with a suspect, and I'm usually with her at the same time or at least the first responder to arrive on the scene. "You're not going anywhere because my colleagues arrested Mylene already. That's what happens when you run off without her."

Unsure of what was happening, the redhead asked, "Shun, why are you here?" Even if I made the situation worse by calling out Shun's name, maybe having a conversation will distract the suspect.

"I thought you'd never ask. This is Shadow Prove, and his rented warehouse on the other side of the lot is where Lync was last seen. We also found fake purses in this guy's warehouse."

"Will you just shut up?!" The silver-haired assailant fired his weapon twice into the air, prompting Shun to dodge behind the hallway corner. "You got nothing on me! I can press charges against you for trespassing on my private property in the first place!"

I can't shoot back while Shadow is literally holding Alice as a shield against me. "That's the least of your concerns when you have a hostage in your hands."

Alice's respiration accelerated as the perpetrator pressed his switchblade ever harder on her neck again. Now there was enough blood flowing for her to feel it trickle down her clavicle. Did Shun just say that Lync was last seen with Shadow? And Shadow's involved with manufacturing and distributing fake goods? It's like what happened with Soon and Chris all over again. "Shadow Prove, how dare you use young children as slave labor to manufacture your knockoff clothing! You also deserve to go to hell because you're Lync Volan's associate!"

With that said, she stepped on Shadow's feet, making him lose balance and cut the former's neck even more deeply. During the painful struggle, the silver-haired perpetrator let go of Alice, who fell to the ground on her knees. Shun seized the opportunity and fired his stun gun at Shadow. "That should do it." Then he kicked the switchblade away and applied both his gloves on Alice's neck wound. "How did we both end up in this kind of situation again?"

"Shun, I'm fine." The redhead gently removed her friend's hands and applied pressure on her wound herself. "You should arrest Shadow first while he's unconscious."

While doing so, the raven-haired agent pressed his earpiece and said, "I just subdued Shadow with my stun gun. Did you two find Mylene?"

"She's arrested too," Dan replied. "I still want to petition for a stun gun!"

"You can tell Marucho that again when we get back." Shun locked the handcuffs on Shadow and asked Alice, "How did you know what Shadow was doing?"

"That snippet of information you told me reminded me of Chris and Soon. I also have experience investigating child labor warehouses in the past. Of course, what really set me off was when you said that Shadow and Lync were last seen with each other here. My trauma... took over... again..."

"You'll overcome it soon." He pulled her closer for a hug, conveniently pressing his neck against the gloves that still covered the latter's neck wound. "Why were you here again?"

"I finally had time to open my grandfather's storage unit, only to end up where we are now."

Dan and Runo later arrived with Mylene trailing behind him. While the three agents debriefed each other, Alice looked around at all the law enforcement and medical personnel that later arrived. Joe must've left immediately once Shadow and Shun arrived. He didn't even stay to help me. As she was about to get off the ground, her hand touched a small but thick piece of paper. This is a business card...for where I currently work?! Did this fly out from Grandfather's storage during the struggle?

"Dan and I will take Mylene and Shadow back to DSP," Runo announced. "It looks like the paramedics already started treating Alice's injuries."

"I'll follow the police and the ambulance with Alice to the hospital," Shun replied. "We need her witness statement since Shadow held her hostage."

"We'll see you at headquarters then!" exclaimed Dan before he and Runo walked off.

After every important task at the hospital was completed, the raven-haired agent waited in the emergency room waiting area until the medical staff released Alice. She zipped her jacket all the way up to cover her neck. "Shun, you're still here."

"I didn't want to leave in case this hospital also has a cosign policy for discharges. We've been through this situation so many times."

Alice giggled slightly, so as to not aggravate her neck wound. "Each time was also at a different hospital, too. Anyway, I'm completely free to go."

"Do you want me to take you home or somewhere else?"

"Home is fine. I didn't drive to the warehouse today. Let's go."

During the car ride, Shun turned the radio on to listen to news instead. "Hey downtown Bayview! Welcome back to JJ Radio Station! This is Jenny!"

"And this is Jewels!"

"It's that time of the day that people are getting off work now. Here's a bit of surprising news. This election season's senatorial candidates will be having a debate soon at our very own city hall!"

"Jenny, are you serious? Bayview isn't even our state capitol!"

"Girl, I'm not kidding at all. The competition between newbie Hydron Lyons and incumbent Jesse Glenn is much fiercer than what we've seen in the past..."

Shun lowered the volume and asked, "Are you allowed to vote in Bayview yet? You've been back for a while now."

"I have no idea... But I can check my eligibility online, right?"

"I think so. I was just curious."

Alice was in the middle of reading emails on her phone when an unidentified text message came through. "Hey, it's Joe. This is Alice, right?"

She flinched at the sight of the unexpected message but replied anyway. "How did you get my phone number?!"

"That's not important, but just remember that I'm always closer than you think. But I'm sorry that I had to leave earlier. I heard you got injured."

"Maybe if you didn't approach me at the warehouse and occupy my time, then I would've finished my errands and not get caught by the perpetrator."

"Again, I'm sorry. I had no idea that someone was nearby. By the way, will you attend the debate?"

The redhead stopped typing and focused on the news report on the radio. I still don't fully understand the social issues in Bayview and all the politics. Making a living comes first. "I might watch the livestream on television. I don't think I have access or credentials to attend physically."

"You should attend in person for the experience. You're a reporter, so you'll definitely get priority to attend because EVERYONE wants news coverage. Your agent friend might be attending as well for security purposes."

That prompted Alice to look up and around. How does Joe know that I'm friends with Shun? Or that Shun's giving me a ride home right now?

"Alice, are you okay?" the raven-haired agent asked. "You still look really pale. Are you sure the hospital said it was okay to discharge you already?"

"I'm fine. I just realized that we're still nowhere near my house yet."

"Well... everyone gets off work at this time, and I also passed by two detour signs, so..."

The redhead sighed and leaned back against her seat. "Whether I attend the debate or not isn't your concern. What's the connection between you and my grandfather?"

After a long delay, Joe replied, "Time will tell. Anyway, I need to finish writing something. Talk later."

With the sandy blond reporter offline, Alice asked Shun, "Are you attending the debate between Hydron and Jesse? Seems like all the news outlets are talking about it."

"I don't see a reason for me to attend if the venue has its own security. I knew there would be a debate but didn't hear about an exact date and time until now. Let me ask Marucho if he plans on—oh, he's calling me now. You're on speaker, Marucho! I'm with Alice."

"Just the two people I need to talk to! Julie and I were listening to Dan and Runo interrogate Mylene and Shadow separately, but neither suspect is giving us any useful information. Alice, any thoughts about what Mylene and Shadow are doing?"

"If they needed a whole warehouse, then they must have a lot of fake items in stock. I agree with Shun about the possibility of a child labor sweatshop somewhere out there. I've seen scams like this before. Do you still have other agents inspecting the warehouse?"

"Yes, they're still at the scene."

Dan, Runo, and Julie joined the call shortly afterwards. "What did we miss, Marucho?" the brunet asked.

"Nothing yet. Are you two on break from interrogation or...?"

"Interviewing Shadow was driving me insane," was Runo's blunt answer.

"The evidence team is still tagging everything at the warehouse," Julie added. "This is taking longer than expected. I have so many unorganized photos on my screen."

Marucho cleared his throat. "I'll have Julie's team cross reference images of the fake goods with all our databases in case Mylene, Shadow, or any other related associates have been found operating the same scam elsewhere. In other news, I'm assigning Dan, Runo, and Shun to assist with security detail at the debate next week."

"Security?!" exclaimed all three agents and Alice.

"It was a special request from city hall staff. That's where the debate will be held, since both candidates are coincidentally Bayview residents."

Dan groaned. "I knew it was too good to be true when they let us park at their parking lot for free that one time."

"Marucho, I don't think our presence will make a difference at all," Shun complained honestly. "Look at Wardington's courthouse and Bayview Expo Center. Both of them ended up with gunfire and human casualties."

"I'm sorry, but I really couldn't say no to city hall. It has nothing to do with the free parking either, Dan. Think of it this way. The consequences could've been worse without you helping last—"

"Hold on, guys!" Julie interrupted. "I just got an anonymous tip! It says... Shadow and Mylene's chain of counterfeit goods originated from... Hydron's mom?!"

"Just exactly how... does someone... even come up with that?" the raven-haired agent commented with deep breaths in between phrases.

Meanwhile, Alice's phone beeped as a text came through from Joe. "Did they read my tip yet?"

"How did you know that I'm with talking my friends right now?! Is that tip what you were trying to finish typing earlier?"

"I told you. I'm closer than you think. I took a look at Shadow's warehouse before I left. Anyway, see you at the debate."

Shun noticed the redhead staring at her phone for a long time and whispered, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I wonder if Hydron's mom kept her maiden name for this reason. Just a guess."

Marucho analyzed the transcript of the anonymous tip that Julie sent him. "The three of you are still attending the debate. Let me confirm the exact details with my city hall colleagues first. Julie, I need you to follow that tip to see if Hydron's mother's fashion company has any outstanding warnings or citations. Anyway, this meeting's adjourned."

Conveniently, Shun arrived in front of Alice's house a couple minutes after the call ended. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Honestly, what I really need is some good luck or karma to save me from another dangerous situation. But thank you for everything you've done, Shun. Just imagine if you never intervened."

"Then I won't. Marucho's right about assigning us for security detail. At least doing something is better than nothing. See you around."

"Thanks again!"

The raven-haired agent watched the redhead unlock her front door and step inside. Something about Alice staring at her phone wasn't right. Before that, she was looking up and around in between typing. Am I just overreacting?

-x-x-x-x-x-

Alice was typing a report at work when Mira gently leaned on top of the former's computer monitor. "I got you an entry pass to tomorrow night's debate at—"

"You scared me again!"

"Are you alright?" The editor-in-chief pulled over a chair to sit in. "This has been happening a lot lately. Are you experiencing headaches or high blood pressure?"

"Mira, it has nothing to do with my health. I had to file a police report but am still waiting for them to call back for follow up. Anyway, you wanted me to attend Hydron and Jesse's debate? For work or for—"

"I want you to attend so you can see what it's like, but I'm not assigning you any work-related tasks. I have a universal entry pass that lets me into a lot of events. I'll be there but mostly in and out. Any other questions for me?"

"Not related to the debate, though... Our anonymous tip line has been overflowing with random submissions lately. Could all this be from the vigilante group? Who's their next target?"

Ace shrugged and began eating pistachios. "More than half of that stuff was useless. I don't even know why Mira opened this tip line. I can find better information on my own."

Alice changed the subject instead. "Mira, do you know Joe Brown personally or have any information on him?"

"I've heard of him from the news but never actually seen him in person. I'm genuinely surprised that he's achieved this far despite being freelance. Why do you ask?"

"I remember seeing him after interviewing Jesse Glenn in front of city hall. He talked to me briefly afterwards, but I found him...quite intimidating, to say the least."

"He was there, and you didn't tell me?!" the mint-haired reporter exclaimed. "I was your cameraman at city hall! But for him to show up at that kind of pop-up Q&A seems out of character for him. He usually spend his time elsewhere...unless he has a lead on something that we have no idea about."

"I certainly hope he has nothing to with the vigilante group."

Their supervisor shuddered at the thought. "I also hope not. That's basically him working multiple full time jobs."

"But what about Hydron?" Alice asked. "I haven't been back for long, but what type of person is he? All I heard is that his father Zenoheld currently works in city hall, but Hydron is a fresh face."

"Honestly, I don't know much about him either other than his father also being a politician and his mother being some high-end fashion designer. How his parents met is beyond me."

"I also have another question. My grandfather had your business card in his belongings. Did you know him back then?"

"Business cards?! I haven't heard that in a long time. I used to give them out when we were more fully staffed. I also participated at a job fair once and handed out several cards there. I can't recall who your grandfather is specifically. Neither has anyone with your last name reached out to our help line in the past, either. Anything else I can help you with before you go home?"

Alice looked at the wall clock and gasped. "Is it that late already? Time sure flies when you're working on something you're enthusiastic about. Thank you both for all your input today. I'll see you tomorrow."

Ace watched the redhead exit the double doors and subsequently burst into laughter. "Job fair? Seriously, Mira...what are you thinking? Forgetting where things came from isn't like you at all."

"That's why I no longer give them out. At least Alice was straightforward and not afraid to ask questions. She's improving."

"So, curiosity is a good thing, now?"

"To the appropriate extent, it won't hurt." Mira's phone rang loudly, prompting her to step into her personal office. "Sorry, give me a moment. Hello?"

An unidentified but gentle male voice asked, "How are things going on your end?"

"Work is fine. All my employees get along nicely. What about you?"

"I need more time to work on my next assignment. I heard that Hydron and Jesse will participate in an upcoming debate at city hall. All of us will be busy then."

"Leave that to me. I'll get the most coverage out of every news outlet out there. See you at the debate."

"I hope I can attend, but farewell for now."

-x-x-x-x-x-

"Alice, are you sure you want to stand in the back with me? Your entry pass says you can take a front row seat."

"I think standing next to you is a much safer option, Shun."

The pair stood toward the back of city hall's main conference room and watched other people enter. "This time, Marucho assigned a lot more agents to assist with security. The debate might take several hours, depending on how Hydron and Jesse respond to the questions."

"What happens if you get fatigued from standing all evening? Will someone switch shifts with you?"

"The goal is to not become tired. Dan will get impatient very quickly. Runo will yell at him to keep him awake. Honestly, I don't think a debate is necessary. It's a waste of time and resources."

"So far, other news outlets make it seem like Hydron is trying to win this election based on his parents' influence. Maybe the purpose of this debate is for Hydron to prove that he can win this election without any special help."

"We'll see what they both have to say soon enough, although I have this bad feeling that tonight's debate might end up like the courthouse and auction again."

"I agree that all three are similar. Marucho assigned you all to assist with security. All three events take place in a large building with a lot of talking and interactions. There were snipers present at the first two events that lead to at least one death. I don't hope for this to happen, but who would you think a sniper would target tonight?"

"Maybe Hydron. Recently, we discovered that the counterfeit goods from Shadow's warehouse might be connected to Hydron's mom's fashion business. I was going to investigate further until Marucho reassigned us to work here tonight at city hall for the debate. If Hydron was involved anyhow and illegally used profits to fund his campaign, then that's a whole other investigation to open."

"Ah, I regret asking..."

"But looking back about what we've been doing, it certainly helps to come up with hypothetical situations so we can prepare in advance... but it hasn't helped at all since I have two unsolved sniper cases to deal with. I really don't want to think about what might happen later."

Suddenly, the lights above the audience dimmed slightly as the lights above the podiums illuminated. A councilmember cleared her throat and assessed the microphone before speaking. "Good evening, everyone! After hearing a lot of feedback from our constituents and fellow politicians, I'm pleased to announce that today's debate between Bayview's two candidates running for senate. I will now have Hydron Lyons and Jesse Glenn step forward to their respective podiums!"

"Feedback? More like peer pressure," Dan refuted.

After the two candidates claimed their podiums, the councilmember made one announcement before retreating to the audience. "I will now hand over the center podium to our debate moderator! It's an honor for us to have him be our special guest tonight!"

"Someone else is moderating the debate?" asked Runo in absolute confusion. "And 'special guest' implies that this was a surprise."

"I was thinking that an actual city hall employee would be moderating," Shun replied. "This entire thing is a last-minute, disorganized mess."

However, nobody expected to see the following individual take on the role of debate moderator tonight. "Good evening to all the ladies and gentlemen watching this broadcast, whether you're sitting live in the audience seats or in front of the television at home! My name is Joe Brown, and I am honored to be your moderator for tonight's senate election debate!"

Dan: This is all bad timing with pointless debates and recent police discoveries.

Me: And all that falls under your job description XD I've been watching too many NCIS + spinoff episodes lately because of the writer-actor strike. If all goes well, then there might be 5-6 more chapters left.

Julie: Next chapter will feature more gunshots! Ballstics, here we go!

Shun: Is she okay?

Me: Not only that, but someone will be kidnapped and taken to the roof. Leave a review on the way out! Happy Mid Autumn Festival to those who celebrate it!