Interrogation

''How did you know?'' Farah Tarnell asked. She was sitting in her chair and leaning back. She didn't offer Jason to sit, so Jason was standing in the middle of the office.

''I beg your pardon?'' Jason said. It had only been a second since he entered the office and the first thing Farah said was 'How did you know?'

''How did you know that the victims were also shape shifters?'' Farah asked again. The silver rings and earrings that Jason guessed were talismans gleamed on her bronze skin. Her army shaved head was emphasizing her sharp features, giving her face a cruel look.

''Ah,'' Jason said, ''So you got their blood tested. According to rumors, shape shifter communities have been nervous lately. It would be naive to think that it had nothing to do with the murders.'' He doesn't want to lie and not lying literally. Since Daniel thought that at least one of the killers was aiming to create commotion, it would be to serve the killer's purpose to reveal what he knew.

Jason took a few steps back and leaned against the wall. Of course, no one was going to attack him right now, but because of the instincts every creature has, he felt safer when his back was not exposed.

''I don't believe it's just a lucky guess,'' Farah said as looking his eyes. ''But since I am confident in your judgment, I will not question it any further. I advise you not to abuse my trust,'' She said. Jason nodded aware of the veiled threat. Then Farah continued, ''Could the source of these rumors be that lovely Panwa priestess you met hours ago?''

Jason saw the touch of a victorious smile on the woman's face, although she was trying to keep her face expressionless. The reason she wouldn't question any more was that she had already asked her questions to someone else. Jason had no option to give different answers or withhold information.

Or Farah was bluffing. Jason thought about it. The temple quarter was exceeding Farah's jurisdiction. Was she authorized to question a priestess? More importantly, would Vivian answer her? Jason didn't think so. The most important question is how did Farah find out about their meeting? Nor did he think the police had a seer.

''Could the temple guards capture the attackers?'' Jason said. He had told the temple guards that they could call both him or the police, and there was no other way Farah had heard of Vivian.

Jason was not able to understand her expression this time. ''Yes, they captured one of the attackers,'' Farah said. Jason waited for her to say something else, but she didn't. Farah liked to test her own men, and although Jason was not her man, the woman was in charge. 'So we'll play this game,' Jason thought.

''Which one did guards captured?'' Jason asked.

''Which one do you think they captured?''

Jason sighed, ''Since they were able to capture just one, he must be the injured one. As they ran away, one was dragging the other.''

Farah nodded, ''You are right. Tell me how he got injured.'' Jason told her what happened. He had nothing to hide about it. When he is done, ''Why did you think they were faking guards? You could get yourself in big trouble. Neither the police nor the hunters have influence the temple district.''

''I came to this conclusion for three reasons, dear Farah. Firstly, their helmets concealed their foreheads. Nyx guards consider it an insult to conceal the goddess's sign in their foreheads. Secondly, they didn't want to check my badge. Lastly, they wanted to disarm me,'' Jason patiently explained.

''What do you think the attackers were motivated by?'' Farah asked. Jason suddenly realized that Farah wasn't using any names. Gary and Nilson had found a body before and now organized such an attack. Gary pretended to know Jason on the dock, in front of Zhou.

Jason inhaled deeply and tried to focus, Gary never took off his helmet and it would be interesting for him to get realized Nilsson, whom he only saw once before. Had he mentioned their names in front of Farah? 'No, I didn't.' Jason sighed in relief.

''I'm not really sure about their motivation. Was it me the target or the priestess? I'm not even sure of that,'' Jason said. 'I didn't tell anyone exactly where I am going, including Daniel. I didn't even know where to go until a few hours ago. To target newbie guards to steal their clothes and set up such a trap, they need to know the guards' schedule.' Jason thought and patted his chin.

'There are more suitable places to trap me than the temple quarter. Also, all the victims so far have been shape shifters. So their target was Vivian,' he thought but he didn't say anything to Farah. First, he had to talk to Vivian again.

Farah was watching Jason without saying a word. 'I wish I could control my face as well as Daniel in such situations.' Hoping that his face was not betraying him, he looked at Farah and cursed Gary in his mind. ''Are the guards questioning the attacker themselves or did they hand him over to us?'' He asked.

''When they learned that Gary was one of our witnesses, they agreed to hand him over to us when they were done with him,'' Farah said and used his name for the first time.

Jason was speechless. How would you react when they gave you information that you should be surprised to learn but already know? ''Ah,'' said Jason. ''Gary, huh?''