Xander inhaled slowly, his body tense from the moment. Jinx looked like she was seconds away from snapping and hurling the grenade his way.
"Listen," he breathed. "You're not getting out the window or the front door. Too many guards. Jayce's office overlooks the square and they'll be rushing here soon to make sure nothing was damaged."
He gestured toward the manhole with one hand while the other kept the mask close to his face, still unsure if the mask had been what made him bulletproof. What he did know was that this manhole was the same one Heimerdinger had used to sneak in with Ekko in Arcane.
"This service shaft under the grate runs out to an alley a safe distance away. We can use it to escape. Maybe reach the bridge before the Enforcers post guards there too."
"We?" Jinx echoed. "Where's the we in any of this?"
"We have the same—"
"There is no we!" she snapped, cutting him off. "You know names you shouldn't too. I've never even met you!"
She giggled with a sharp, unsteady sound that wavered between fear and bravado.
"Y'know…" she said, her grin twitching, "if I blow you up, they might think I was never here! Just some creepy guy in a creepy mask, doing creepy things… really, really creepy."
The silence that followed was heavy. His eyes flicked toward the anvil she'd stolen the gemstone from.
"Honestly," he said carefully, "I wanted to stop you from stealing the gemstone. It's going to cause problems—"
"Aw~ You're trying to help the Pilties! So classic!"
Her arm lifted, finger twitching on the grenade's pin. Panic edged into his voice.
"But it will save Vi!"
"Stop saying her name!" Jinx screamed, her voice cracking. "She's dead!"
"She's not dead! She's alive in Stillwater Hold! Keep the gemstone! Keep it!"
It'll be easier if Caitlyn released her and we return the gemstone. I know what's coming.
Her expression twisted with anger, doubt, and grief flashing all at once. He could see the storm behind her eyes and knew her mind was flashing painful memories to her.
"You're lying…"
"I'm not, just—" Xander paused, forcing his tone calm. "Look, she'll be free in a few days. She's coming for you with that lady outside."
Immediately, her whole energy shifted. She darted to the window, scanning the streets below while satchel slipped from her shoulder and landed on the table with a heavy thud.
"Huh? What lady?"
"The blue-haired one- darker than yours," Xander called over, watching her hands press against the glass. Her gaze locked onto something below. He didn't need to see to know it was Caitlyn.
Jinx froze. Then, without warning, she turned and her pistol snapped back up toward him.
Xander instinctively slipped the mask back on.
But she didn't fire.
She tilted her head instead, studying him, and dangerous knowing smirk crawled across her lips.
"I think I know your little secret," she whispered, her tone was playful but it held a sharp edge.
Their eyes met. His glowing through the mask, hers shimmering with manic curiosity.
With a giggle, she lowered the gun and pulled a small screwdriver from her belt and tossed it his way.
"Lead the way, freak," she hummed. "I don't trust those glowy, flamey eyes of yours staring at my back."
He caught it, staring down at the tool in his hand as she leaned against the desk, grin widening in the flickering light.
"You're a real piece of work," he muttered under his breath.
"Takes one to know one," she sang back, twirling a strand of blue hair between her fingers.
------------------
"These crimes, they're all connected! And they've overstepped. But that monster…" Caitlyn's voice trailed off, her brow furrowed in thought. "I don't believe that was part of their plan, not based on the rumors I've heard."
She rubbed her chin, standing before a large map spread across the floor. Photographs, colored pins, and strands of string connected dots and crime scenes in a web of impressive deduction.
"It doesn't fit into the puzzle," she murmured.
Beside her, Jayce exhaled a long and weary sigh. "You're right. Something broke out of Dredge Prison."
Caitlyn's eyes widened and she turned sharply toward him. "Really? I thought that was just some baseless rumor the Undercity cooked up."
"No," Jayce said, frowning. "A report was submitted last night. Sheriff Marcus brought it to our attention. But that aside, Caitlyn… if I've learned anything, you'll need more than a theory to prove all these crimes are connected."
"Don't just brush it aside!" Caitlyn snapped, irritation creeping in her tone. "Outside of my investigation, this is serious! People could get hurt. What else do you know?"
Jayce hesitated. "Caitlyn, it's… classified. Only the Council members know."
She arched a skeptical brow. "Really? Then how do you know?"
He rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "Well… I became one this morning."
"What?" Caitlyn's jaw dropped. "Whose genius idea was that?"
Jayce chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Ha-ha. Very funny. But seriously Cait, you could get hurt again."
"Obviously," she shot back dryly. "It's part of the job."
"Not anymore…"
Caitlyn's expression stiffened. She didn't need him to finish she already knew what he was about to say and who was responsible. Jayce sighed heavily, reaching into his coat and handing her a sealed scroll.
"After the attack, your mother spoke to the Sheriff."
She snatched the scroll, unrolling it just long enough to skim the contents before snapping it shut.
"This is a ceremonial position," she said flatly. "No thanks."
"Caitlyn—"
"Get out."
Jayce froze. Her tone left no room for argument.
"Cait—"
"Out."
With a quiet sigh, Jayce turned toward the door. As it closed behind him, Caitlyn's eyes drifted back to the map, her jaw tightening as the candlelight flickered across the tangle of strings and faces.
Caitlyn scribbled on a new note and pinned it completely separate from the others on the Dredge Prison location.
"Monster origin"
From there, she attached a little string that led to the new note detailing yesterday's attack, frowning and tilting her head.