I can help officer

"Listen I know how important this shit is to you but bringing some unrelated kid will not help you."

Connor almost knocks off vaes from the counter with how hard he swings his hand in gesticulation.

"How is he unrelated? He is the only one who got out alive from whatever they are doing. This must mean something!"

Shadow first sees us in the corridor and stops talking. Connor must not notice us because he asks Shadow

"What? Would you care to be more specific or I have to just accept your hunch?"

"We will talk later. Kids are here."

Connor finally noticed us and turned himself to us so quickly professional ballerinas would be jealous.

"Hey Kids! How long have you been there?"

These don't sound like casual questions but more of accusation.

'But that explains why Shadow wants me to join in. I must be one of the pieces of the puzzle in his latest case. This must be univers way to tell me I should lower my expectations. Case will come to an end and so will our acquaintance. Thanks to the universe I think I got it."

"We just got here. Relax."

Night cool as ever reassured them.

"That's good. Anyway, here's your pizza. Dig in!"

Goofy persona once again made itself known. Not gonna lie, just how easy Shadow can change his entire demeanor is a little scary.

"Yey pizza." Night cheered sarcastically.

~Grubulbul~

My stomach cheered more honestly…I don't even have the energy to be embarrassed after I heard.

I dig in my hawaii pizza and ignore any stares of disgust.

"So Night did you find why the pod frick out with Pipsqueak inside?"

Shadow breaks a somewhat awkward atmosfere with his inquiry.

She took the napkin and very demurely wiped her face before talking.

"Well I did find something but I don't know the full reason."

Futuristic holographic phones materialize in his hand and he writes notes in it.

"I'm a hundred percent sure the pod crashed after taking a blood sample. Unfortunately data analysis wasn't recorded even in the backup disk. All I can say to you is that one automatic command pre-programmed on the pod was triggered."

Shadow stopped typing.

"What command says?"

"Inject and autodestruct. If you didn't make it in time probably the pod would explode with Alex inside. I'm not sure what in the sample triggered this. We have to do more testing the old fashioned way. Pod is out of commission."

'Now I kinda feel bad. It looks like my blood ruined their pod. Doesn't matter if it was found. They probably had a lot of use out of it in doing good by a community.'

"I'm sorry" I say.

Shadow gets up from his already empty pizza box and comes by my side.

"Kid, seriously you did nothing wrong. Stop stressing."

He patted my head with his hand in a brotherly manner. It's nice until I remember he has greasy hands from pizza.

"Did you just wipe your dirty hand in my hair?"

"Who? Me!? No way."

However his shieting grin tells me he in fact did wipe his dirty paws in my hair.

'I will fucking end him.'

Armed with a generous dollop of ketchup I chased this asshole around the place.

Pretty quickly I heard Shadow into the corner.

"Nooo! I swear Kid I didn't do it! Don't do it! I beg you. You know how hard it is to wash this costume. I don't want to be known as the only sloppy hero on the block."

"There must be consequences!"

I say it solemnly but I don't want to go overboard so I smeared ketchup on part of his face not covered by cowl.

It is done. I took a step to the back to behold results of my revenge and immediately erupt in full body laughter.

"Ha ha ha! Oh God! You look like a vampire after a meal but much more uncool! Ha ha ha!"

Shadow instead of getting himself clean this maniac takes off the window curtain and wraps himself in it like its cape.

"Lowly human I am creatures of darkness. If you want to keep your small life, give me your neck and I will spare your life."

I cross my fingers and take another step back.

"Go away you unholy creature!"

"Hissss"

Out of the blue gloved hand wave between us. It's Night watching us with an exasperated look on her face.

"Kids break it off. Playtime is over. We have to make a visit to the families of your kidnappers…victims, I don't know how to call them now. We have to get going."

This right away sobers us from a playful mood. I hate myself for taking pleasure from spending time with my idols while out there the families of victims are going through loss and tragedy. I didn't know I'm so selfish.

"Are you sure I should go with you?"

Night and Shadow grab me by elbow each and drag me to the door leading to the garage.

"Yep, you are the last known person who saw these people alive. You'll be more helpful than you think."

In the garage is parked still the same sedan they drive me in here. Kinda underwhelming for a hero to drive such an ordinary car.

Shadow like he heard my thoughts pulled out his futuristic phone and clicked something.

Then the ground next to the parked sedan parted, revealing a ramp elevating up a slick looking car.

It looked like a Bugatti Divo but modified. On the car doors were painted symbols of Shadow and standard colorful accents were made all black.

'Shit now I'm nervous to get in. What will I do if I break or dirty something inside.'

"Hop in losers. We don't have a whole day!"

Of course Shadow is unbothered by anything. He even slammed his car door after getting in.

'Ahhh! Whatever, If he's not bothered about it, why would I be?'

Night takes a shotgun seat and I sit per tradition in the back seat.

"We will first visit the family of the bridge guy. You know better take on the best lead while it is still hot."

After saying this he inserted his phone from the future into a hole in the car dashboard.

Suddenly on the windscreen showed up an interspace with 3D maps.

"Sofia calculates the road to Richard Brackson house. Pick a less populated route."

On the screen in a second showed a detailed route.

"According to my calculation. You'll be at your destination in half an hour if you decide to drive how you usually do. if you choose to drive in accordance with the traffic rules you should be there in the hour."

'Wait! What!? This difference in time is crazy.'

"What does it mean by driving like you usually do?"

Shadow didn't wait for me to stop talking and fire up the car engine.

He looked back at me at the same time when he was backing out from the garage.

"It means I have my own rules and events then I break them."

After this bold statement he steps on the gas pedal and speeds, possibly breaking the sound barrier.

"Aaaaa! Why did you save me if you were gonna kill me anyway!?"

"Ha ha ha!" Shadows laugh echoed through the whole car ride.

But I might just be imaging stuff after experiencing near death again.

Finally we drove into the suburbs where Shadow significantly slowed down.

"Sofia chenge outer apperance into police car."

"Yes, sir." Sofia answered with this slightly robotic voice.

Couple minutes later we stopped on the curb next to a regular single family house.

On the big tree hangs a swig made from a tire and on the porch are toys scattered about.

Looks like children are in the house.

"Okay, listen up!"

Shadow says loudly and sounds scarily similar to my P.E teacher before his favorite football match.

"I and Pipsqueak are going in to talk with family. Night your job is to scan the whole surrounding for suspicious clues or people. Does everyone understand their roles?"

"Wait? How should I introduce myself if they ask about me?"

This question didn't even faze him. He takes out his phone from the slot and puts it in the pocket.

"Sofia, now I need you to disguise me as a policeman. Best will be if you break into the police database and put on the face of the police man leading this case. "

"One minute, sir."

It says it but not even ten seconds pass and Shadow has a hard boiled face of a detective.

Deep eye bags under his eyes marre his face. Salt and pepper thinning hair sat on his skull. Unkempt stubble must have been growing for days.

Epitome of detective from film noir.

"You only talk when I told you to and about what I told you to. I'll tell you the truth about you being person kidnaped by Richard. I doubt the family will question you being there when a police officer tells them that investigation demands it."

Then without another look back he gets out of he car and confidently stomps to the front door of the victim's house.