Chapter 15: Obstacle

It was clear to Lynne that Matthew had staged something much bigger than she had expected. She held her breath as Isobel Darklighter and Zacharias Darklighter arrived at the station in person, handing in a parcel containing a copy of a video announcement which had already been mailed to the three big national TV-stations of the country and seven international ones. They left with a final warning glance at her and Thomas.

"Do we want to see it?" he asked when the Darklighters had left. Lynne threw the parcel at the table and sat down with a heavy sigh.

"I'm afraid he was right," she said and moistened her lips as she looked up at her faithful companion. "I have to send this upstairs." She took the parcel and rose. "And when I do, he's gone in less than twenty-four."

"Not unless you wait," Thomas held her back with a hand on her shoulder. "Call in the psychiatrist. Get the evaluation and then hand it in with the video."

"What would that help? The video is probably already on youtube by now, thanks to some idiot at EEC," Lynne slid her hand through her hair, annoyed with her own lack of progress. "My career comes to an end before I go home."

"Then get the psychiatric evaluation now!" Thomas insisted. Lynne nodded and grabbed the phone as she made the call for the psychiatrist to get down to the station. Few words were needed and she put down the phone and headed out of the cubicle with the parcel.

"Where are you going?" Thomas asked from behind.

"Upstairs, to prevent the disaster," she said and headed out of the workspace and to the escalator which took her up in the complex. She looked through the glass walls and saw the buzzing of people as she ascended. The parcel almost burned her palm and she clutched it tight to her chest, taking as deep breaths as possible when she finally got to the twelfth floor with a perfect view of London's skyline in the distance. The sun shone on the greasy air, enhancing the fact that the city was getting too populated. The Olympics had surely done their job to give the streets a much needed make-over, but the growth was astounding even now, years later, and the budgets had been cut due to the financial crisis worldwide.

In Lynne's opinion, it was all staged by the Darklighters. They probably controlled the free masons and all conspiracies around the globe. Hell, there was no knowing whether her boss, Peter Cunningham, was one of their puppets. She had never backed down from confronting him with the cases she had had, and he had always been willing to take a few steps more than ordinary officials around the country would. However, as she walked down the hallway towards his office at the end, she doubted that he would comply this time. The door opened up and she saw his tall figure emerge in the doorway, framed by the light from his office situated at the corner of the building with two walls consisting of panoramic windows. She bit her lip and shook every remnant of doubt from her shoulders as she approached. She could tell in his dark eyes that he had been expecting her.

"Lynne, just the detective I wanted to see," he said, his voice booming in the quiet hallway. Lynne had always found him rather imposing but somehow there was also something humble under that suit and tie of his.

"Come on in," he gestured for her to step inside and closed the door behind them. She walked to the desk and sat down, putting down the parcel on the tabletop.

"I would have come sooner, but I figured I had your say-so taking the risk in the airport," she said and straightened up as he settled down in front of her. There was seldom a smile on his lips, and now his face expressed sadness as he took the parcel and put it aside. She blinked slightly confused.

"You would have, if you had come to me before acting so recklessly, Lynne," he said and conjured a grave smile as he folded his hands in front and a frown appeared on his forehead. "What were you thinking? In the name of everything good in this world, what were you thinking when you arrested Matthew Darklighter?!" his voice was subtle and kindly uncomprehending. Lynne glanced sideways at the parcel by the keyboard where a small USB-key lay. He had already seen it...

"I acted on instinct and the presumption that he would be back behind that wall of stone and guards in no time when he returned to the country," Lynne replied firmly; her expression resembled that of a determined woman ready to face the consequences of her actions, even if that meant being degraded and sent down the stairs. But she had advanced so far, if this was going to be the case that threw her off the rack, she was prepared to take the blow however forceful it would be.

"But your argument for keeping him here is as good as any ten-year-old's excuse for throwing rocks at windows," Cunningham gritted his teeth. Lynne hadn't seen him this tense since last case on the Darklighters, which had fallen to the ground and given her a warning. He patted the parcel. "This video accuses you of obsessive behaviour towards the Darklighter family and questions the motives of all of your actions ever since the beginning of your first investigation of missing children at their premises." Lynne's lips became a thin line as she stared at the parcel now. "They are expecting your resignation, a full withdrawal of all possible charges and an apology from me and practically everyone else on this floor."

"Give me my forty-eight hours, sir," Lynne pleaded, "and I'll give you what you need to convict that son of a bitch to life - more, if possible."

Cunningham leaned back, the tip of his tongue darting across his lips a bit too accurately in Lynne's opinion. A rush of cold washed over her shortly, feeling exposed and in danger, but it was gone in the blink of an eye.

"Twenty-four," he answered finally and handed her back the parcel. "And you'd better have some substantial evidence by then, or your desk is empty tomorrow before I leave the office."

She could have sprung up and embraced him, but contained herself. A proud smile crossed her lips, and she rose light as a feather with the glee swelling up inside her. She had survived, once more.

"Thank you, sir," she said, clutching the parcel to her chest and left the office. She hurried down the hallway, no longer giving a thought to how many conspiracies the Darklighters were behind. This one had to be exposed and if she did, it would reopen all the other cases and she would have won the biggest victory of all time. If she did.