Trouble

"Tsk .. shit! he was telling the truth .. arghh you idiot" Off groaned, as he placed his face in his palms trying to conceal the audible groaning.

Seeing the detective looking distracted, Namtan sarcastically spoke out, "A Detective who's distracted, jeez it's not like we're a part of the justice system–oh wait we are !"

Flinching at that statement Off quickly put his hands down; "sergeant !" he exclaimed, feeling a bit flustered for getting caught, he quickly got up to show respect to his senior.

Nodding along, Namtan asked "What were you groaning about? Is it your ex-wife? did she do something again? I'm telling you I can find something that I can file again her !",

Shaking his head Off quickly replied, "No no, it's not Silvia...I might have done something stupid this time around ." giving a small smile.

Chuckling Namtan replied, "Doesn't surprise me" she paused crossing her arms in front of her chest before continuing, "so? what did you do?".

Off sighed before responding, "It's nothing .. serge I'll try and fix it... if I can that is,".

Namtan nodded as she decided not to pry more into her junior's life, however, she did have other concerns, she looked around to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation, before saying, "Alright... and what about ... you know," as she raised one of her eyebrows.

"How are you planning on talking to him?" She added and Off groaned.

Shrugging Off responded, "I don't know... I don't think he wants to have anything to do with the police ... plus haven't you seen phi Foei's murder board the man in black doesn't stay in one place for too long he's nomadic ... he'll leave this place soon too so what's the point? ".

Namtan took a deep breath before giving a small acknowledging nod, "That he is but lieutenant Foei has been after him for a while why do you think that Is? I mean if he's just passing through the town ?" She said.

Offs intrigue peaked with what Namtan said, Off said "hmm...Yeah, plus it's not like the man in black has done anything vicious in any of the cities he has only been in it's all praises and how he has helped the people ... to a point that it's clear how the police forces have decided to turn a blind eye to him because all he has done is help them out, so why IS lieutenant Foei so involved with it all? It doesn't make much sense",

Namtan nodded and hummed along with Off before replying, "exactly"; the two stood around for a bit before Namtan asked, "How long does the man in the black stay in every city ?".

"Anywhere between 6 months to a year and a half or two years " Another voice spoke making the other two flinch.

"Inspector First!" Off called out,

Inspector First Reyes, a young inspector standing nearly 5 feet 10 with curly brown hair a cute smile sharp nose and big brown eyes, smiled back with a little apologetic expression on his face, he said: "Sorry, I wasn't eavesdropping I sware! uhm here detective Off here are all the files you asked for, ".

Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Namtan asked, "Did you hear everything ?"

Shaking his head frantically, First quickly replied, "No sergeant! I just heard a little bit, that's it I promise !!".

"So ? How did you know the answer ?" Off asked trying to protect his junior from a wild Seargent.

Slightly sticking his tongue out, First replied "I was curious ", he paused to look around before adding, "Plus it's not like it's a secret that lieutenant Foei is after him so I just looked up a few things myself".

Sighing and shaking her head Namtan replied, "He doesn't want anyone else to be involved but at the same time has gotten everyone involved ", making the other two chuckle.

Feeling curious and confused Off said, "But isn't it weird how he stays longer at some places and shorter in others... isn't it more common that people who have nomadic tendencies tend to have a fixed pattern this way it's easier for them to calculate everything accordingly," and the other two nodded along.

Humming and nodding First replied, "Maybe he was done fighting crimes sooner in some places ?".

Rolling her eyes Namtan replied, "Huh? That's a stupid explanation !", making First pout.

"Maybe crime-fighting is not what they are doing? What if it's just a cover-up or a time pass? Maybe their goal is something completely different ?" Off added.

Namtan and First looked at one another nodding agreeing to Off, before Namtan asked, "That... well that sounds more plausible, but what could that be? Wait when did he first show up here ?".

Excited first replied, "Oh-oh, I know this one ... His first sighting was a few months ago... I think it was about 3 months ago !"

"And has he done anything other than saving people? Or bringing bad guys in ?" asked Off.

Shaking her head Namtan replied, "Nope...nothing that I'm aware of... huh.. what could he be here for? Clearly, it's not just for justice !".

Confused by the new theory, First asked "Why could it not be for justice? I mean... ".

Understanding the confusion, Off replied "That's because if he was doing this just for justice then he wouldn't leave the town behind. Crime doesn't magically stop after six months or even two years if he just cared about protecting people then they wouldn't leave that easily " and Namtan nodded along.

"What if Lieutenant Foei is right? .... What if this man in black is a bad guy and is taking his time to strengthen his roots for something more destructive ?" First asked looking back and forth between his two seniors.

Sighing and nodding along with her junior, Namtan replied, "Well time will tell.. for now, I believe that they're on our side. Something about him... and the way the people he has helped talk about him... that's no bad guy ".

"We shouldn't be bias sergeant," Off replied and Namtan nodded in acknowledgement.

"Where is everyone– ah there you guys are! sergeant Namtan, Detective Off and inspection First! Come on the new captain is here we need to welcome him !" lieutenant Foei announced as he entered, making the three who were just discussing the talk of the town flinch; they quickly nodded and straightened up before walking out behind their senior officer.

Off, Namtan and First all stood in a line behind the lieutenant with their hands behind their back in attention, waiting in front of the elevator door, they soon opened revealing a 6 foot 1, well dressed good looking man in his early forties with short dark brown hair and sharp features.

"Ah, lieutenant Foei! " The good-looking man exclaimed as he walked out.

Lieutenant Foie bowed with respect as he smiled back and replied, "Captain Push, welcome to the 21st precinct", Foie took a step back before adding along, "Please meet our team, sir !".

Namtan took a step forward and introduced herself first, "Good evening Captain, I'm sergeant Namtan of the 21st precinct it's a pleasure to have you !". Followed by Off "I'm senior detective Off Ruiz. It'll be an honour working with you captain !".

A few more detectives introduced themselves before, First got a chance to introduce himself "Inspector First Reyes at your service sir!"

Captain push Smiled, as he asked "Ah the infamous precinct with the young sergeant ..." he smirked turning his attention towards Off, as he asked, "Off doesn't it bother you ?". Making everyone uncomfortable with the line of a question or rather what the question implied.

Off maintained a soft respectful smile as he replied, "sorry? I don't understand you, sir ".

Captain Push smirked before asking again, "Doesn't this bother you? that, someone who's younger than you is your senior ?" while Off blinked.

Off quickly returned to a soft smile as he replied, "Absolutely not sir, sergeant Namtan is one of the most articulate and incomparable with her strategies and her work. It's an honour to work under her ".

Passing a small inaudible scoff, Push replied in a whisper "Just working under her? ".

Confused Off replied, "I'm sorry ?",

"Nothing let me introduce myself as well I'm captain Push Puttichai Kasetsin. I don't like when people slack off so back to work! " Push said clapping his hands before walking past the entire team and into his office.

Taking an annoyed deep bread, Namtan said in a matter-of-fact tone, "I'll say It now I don't like him, "before walking away.

#

Mumbling to himself, Off muttered, "You can do this Off! come on own up to your mistake !" As he took another around in front of the café he was in front of last night. He paused to come to a conclusion to his dilemma, he said "No maybe when Chimon is here next time then–".

"Did you not get your steps in or something detective ?", said Gun as he walked out of his cafe, catching Off, off guard.

Awkwardly looking around Off replied, "what?! Oh ... Gun! Uh," feeling embarrassed after getting caught.

Raising an eyebrow in amusement Gun asked, "Yes? Are you planning on coming in, or? ".

"Oh yeah .. um. Yeah " Off replied making Gun nod along as he walked back into his Cafe and behind the counter, Off followed.

Gun smiled as he asked, "Is there anything I can help you with detective ? Did I do something ?".

Feeling shy Off stuttered, "I–I'm here to apologise". Raising a confused eyebrow, Gun asked "Apologies? For what ?". Bowing down a bit Off replied, "For last night .. that was inappropriate of me " while Gun crossed his arms, as he asked, "So you did your research ?".

Clocking his head to the right, Off asked confused "Research ? Huh ? I don't follow".

"The robbery case? You wouldn't be here detective if you didn't find my name on that whiteness list –"

"It's not like that-"

Chuckling a bit Gun replied shaking his head, "Oh please you're a detective I'd be shocked if you didn't do it".

"Mister Gun-"

Intrigued Gun said "Just call me Gun detective ..." Finding the detective more and more fascinating Gun put his elbows on the table in front with his palms under his chin as he continued "so what else did you read up on me ?", gulping at the sudden and unexpected seductive sight in front Off replied "Uhm. I ..uh... " before looking around. As this was the first time someone has made Off truly out of words.

Seeing the flustered man, Gun straightened up before asking, "Hm... alright then ... do you want me to pack up a chocolate mousse ?".

Confused Off replied, "Huh? Mousse? For who ?"

"Your son who was here yesterday ?" replied Gun innocently, earning a soft smile from Off as he replied, "Oh erm no...that won't be necessary, he's not with me tonight he's with his mother ".

As Gun made an attempt to figure out the situation, he muttered unconsciously"Oh.. so yesterday-"

Still Feeling frustrated at what his Ex-wife had done, Off grumbled "My ex forgot to pick him up from school so I did she was busy getting her roots touched up and nails done " cutting Gun off,

"Oh.. " shocked gun replied at the sudden outburst

Embarrassed Off quickly spoke, "Oh fuck! I'm sorry for rambling ... I'll be out of your hair ... good night Gun !"

Chuckling Gun replied, "It's alright..." he paused for a second before asking "oh uhm detective..."

"Yeah ?" replied Off,

"Why exactly were you lurking last night? It can't be just because I knew your occupation ..." Gun asked,

"Um.. you don't have to worry about it Gun.. uhm can I ask something ?",

"Yeah sure go ahead".

"This café is a rather new one right?" Off asked and Gun looked around giving a small unsure smile before replying, "Yes detective we started about 4 months ago ", as Off hummed along while Gun nodded keeping the smile active till the detective was out of his café and into his car.

Gun quickly pulled out his phone ringing one of the only contacts he had, "We might be in a bit of trouble " he said as soon as the call was connected.