The address Vera gave us led to the Government District.
Massive buildings. Marble columns.
"This is a terrible idea," Melissa muttered as we approached the Magistrate's office building.
"Probably."
"We don't have an appointment. We don't have authority."
She gazed downwards. "Do I have to mention how we look?!"
"We did get into a fight with a building."
"That's not the point."
I looked down at my coat. Yeah, I looked like shit.
"Wait here," Melissa said. She disappeared into a nearby shop.
Five minutes later she came back with a plain black coat. Cheap, but clean.
"Put this on. Cover the blood."
I switched coats. Better. Still looked rough, but at least I didn't look like a meatloaf.
"Your face is still a mess," she said.
"I was born this way."
"That's not what I meant.."
We continued toward the building.
The entrance had two guards. Stage 3, both of them. They watched us approach with the kind of suspicion that said they dealt with desperate people all day.
"Help you?" One of them asked. His hand rested casually on a baton at his hip.
"We need to speak with Magistrate Cross," I said. "It's urgent."
"You have an appointment?"
"No, but—"
"Then you can make one. Office hours are posted online." He gestured dismissively. "Move along."
I pulled out my detective license. "This is regarding an active investigation. The Veridian Lens theft."
The guard's expression didn't change. "I still need an appointment."
I was about to argue when Melissa stepped forward.
"Tell the Magistrate that Melissa Voss is here. Daughter of Elena Thorne."
The guard's eyebrow raised slightly. "Thorne?"
"Yes. She'll know who I am."
The guards exchanged a look. One of them pulled out a communication crystal, spoke quietly into it.
A moment later, he looked surprised.
"She'll see you. Fifth floor, room 503. You have ten minutes."
I whispered to Melissa. "Blatant nepotism.. Tsk tsk.."
She shot me a murderous look.
Yikes, remind me to stop pissing her off.
The elevator was one of those essence-powered ones that moved smoothly, silently. Expensive.
We rode up in silence.
Fifth floor. The hallway was all polished marble and expensive art.
Room 503 had a nameplate: Magistrate Helena Cross - Civil Litigation Division
I knocked.
"Come in."
We entered.
The office was large. Too large for one person. Windows overlooking the city. Bookshelves filled with legal texts.
Behind the desk sat Magistrate Helena Cross.
She was younger than I expected. Mid-thirties, maybe. Sharp eyes. Professional suit. Her wrist showed a Stage 5 marking with symbols I didn't recognize.
She studied us for a moment.
"Melissa Voss," she said. Her voice was calm, controlled. "You look like your mother."
"You knew her?"
"Briefly. Years ago." Helena's gaze shifted to me. "And you are?"
"Hiroto Takatana. Detective investigating the Veridian Lens theft."
"The fourth one." She folded her hands on her desk. "The others haven't been heard from. I assume you know that."
"I do."
"And yet you're still investigating."
"Someone has to."
She smiled slightly. Not warmly. "Brave. Or stupid. I haven't decided which yet."
Thanks..
I pulled out my notebook. "You attended the private viewing. Eight days ago."
"I did."
"Why?"
"I was invited by Councilman Thorne. As a courtesy. He thought the Lens might have applications in legal proceedings."
"But you left early."
Her expression didn't change. "I had another appointment."
"You seemed nervous, according to witnesses."
"Did I?" She leaned back in her chair. "Or are you reading into things, Detective?"
"My occupation requires me to read into things." I started scribbling into my notebook.
I met her eyes. "You barely looked at the Lens. You left after twenty minutes. And you haven't contacted Regiran since, despite expressing interest in purchasing it."
"I decided against the purchase."
"Why?"
"It's not relevant to your investigation."
"Everything is relevant."
Silence hung between us.
Helena studied me.
"You're afraid," I said.
"I'm cautious. There's a difference." She turned to face us. "The Veridian Lens is dangerous. Not because of what it does, but because of what it reveals. You understand that, don't you?"
"I understand it shows the truth."
"Truth is a weapon, Detective. In the wrong hands, it destroys lives. In the right hands..." She trailed off. "Well. That depends on your definition of right."
Melissa spoke up. "What are you hiding, Magistrate?"
Helena laughed. "Blunt. I like that. Your mother was the same way."
"Don't talk about my mother."
"Why not? She was remarkable. Brave enough to run from the Thornes. Smart enough to disappear." Helena's expression softened slightly. "I admired her."
"You knew her well?"
"Well enough." She walked back to her desk, pulled out a folder. "This is off the record. If anyone asks, this conversation never happened."
She slid the folder across the desk.
I opened it.
Inside were documents. Financial records. Transaction logs. All dated eighteen years ago.
And every single one connected to Gerard Thorne.
"What is this?" I asked.
"Evidence your mother gathered. Before she ran." Helena sat down. "She gave it to me for safekeeping. Said if anything happened to her, I should make sure it saw the light."
I scanned through the documents. Payments. Transfers. All tied to shell companies.
All connected to human trafficking.
"This proves Gerard's involvement," I said quietly.
"It suggests it. But it's not enough for prosecution. The connections are too indirect. The trails too cold." Helena's jaw tightened. "I've been sitting on this for eighteen years. Waiting for something solid. Something undeniable."
"The Veridian Lens," Melissa said. "It could verify these connections. Show the truth directly."
"Exactly. That's why I attended the viewing. I thought..." She paused. "I thought maybe, finally, I could use it. Point it at these documents and see what really happened. Get the evidence needed to bring Gerard down."
"But you left early," I said. "Why?"
Helena was quiet for a moment.
"Because Gerard was there. Watching. And I realized if I showed too much interest, he'd know. He'd figure out that I had Elena's evidence. That I was a threat."
I left. Made it look like the Lens wasn't worth my time." She looked down at the folder. "And then two days later, it was stolen."
"I played smart. I left. Made it look like the Lens wasn't worth my time." She looked down at the folder. "And then two days later, it was stolen."
I activated my Evidence Window, started scanning the documents.
"Who else knows you have these?"
"Just me. And now you two."
"Not even other magistrates?"
"Especially not other magistrates. Half of them are in Gerard's pocket." Her expression hardened.
ANALYSIS COMPLETE:
Gerard Thorne Financial Records - 18 years old
Confirmed Connections:
47 shell companies
23 offshore accounts
89 suspicious transactions
Total value: 500,000+ Gold Argentum
Pattern Match: Human trafficking operation (94% confidence)
Missing Links: Direct evidence of Gerard's personal involvement
Status: Insufficient for prosecution without additional evidence
I looked up from the analysis.
"You need the Lens," I said. "That's why you're talking to us."
Helena nodded slowly. "If you find it, I can help. I have authority to seize it as evidence in a legal proceeding. Gerard couldn't touch it once it's in official custody."
"And if we can't find it?"
"Then we're all dead eventually. Gerard will tie up loose ends. The Archivists will finish their collection. And the truth stays buried." She stood up. "Your ten minutes are almost up. The guards will escort you out."
I closed the folder but didn't hand it back. "I'm keeping these. For evidence."
"I expected you would." She walked to the door, opened it. "Be careful, Detective. You're investigating people who have killed for less. Much less."
We left the office.
The elevator ride down was silent.
My mind was racing, connecting pieces.
Helena had a motive to want the Lens. Evidence she'd been sitting on for eighteen years. The power to finally bring down Gerard Thorne.
But she also had the most to lose if Gerard found out.
"You think she's involved?" Melissa asked as we exited the building.
"I think she's desperate. Desperate people do unpredictable things."
We walked back toward the main street. The sun was higher now, the city fully awake.
People everywhere. Normal people doing normal things.
Must be nice.
"We need food," Melissa said suddenly. "And coffee. I can't think anymore."
Fair. We'd been running on adrenaline for twelve hours.
"There's a place two blocks from here. Decent food."