Chapter 26: New Year Approaching
December 29, 2008 - Evening - Tedd's Apartment
Lorelei's phone call came at six PM, two hours into her first shift back.
"Three residents are gone," she said without preamble.
I set down the case file I'd been reviewing. "Gone how?"
"Transitioned to permanent housing over the holidays, according to Patricia. All three women I'd befriended—Sarah, Michelle, and Diana. Just... gone. No forwarding addresses, no goodbyes, nothing."
The System activated immediately.
[ **ANALYZING: RESIDENT DEPARTURE PATTERN** ]
[ **TIMING: SUSPICIOUS (HOLIDAY WINDOW)** ]
[ **SUBJECTS: ALL LORELEI'S PRIMARY CONTACTS** ]
[ **PROBABILITY: 67% - DEPARTURES UNPLANNED OR INVOLUNTARY** ]
[ **PATTERN CONSISTENT WITH VICTIM REMOVAL** ]
[ **ENERGY: 69/100** ]
"Wagner moved them. Or worse. Right when Lorelei was getting close to them."
"Did you ask for their information?" I asked carefully.
"Patricia said it's confidential. Privacy laws protect former residents." Frustration bled through her voice. "She was apologetic but firm. The women left, they're safe, that's all I need to know."
"That's not how legitimate transitions work. There should be follow-up, resource coordination, at least basic contact info for emergencies."
"I know. But pushing harder would raise suspicions."
I paced my apartment, mind racing. Three women, all Lorelei's contacts, vanishing during the holiday closure when nobody was watching. It was too convenient, too clean.
"What's your next shift?" I asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon. Two to eight."
"I'm coming with you. Waiting outside in the car, monitoring. If anything feels wrong, you text me immediately."
"Tedd—"
"Non-negotiable. Three women disappeared. Wagner's on-site. I'm not letting you go back without backup."
She was silent for a moment. Then: "Okay. I'll feel better knowing you're close."
December 30, 2008 - Afternoon - Safe Harbor Parking Lot
I sat in my car across the street, laptop open, phone fully charged.
The System tracked Lorelei's location through GPS—she'd agreed to keep it active during shifts. A small dot on my screen showed her inside Safe Harbor, moving through the building's floor plan I'd memorized.
My phone buzzed at three-fifteen.
Lorelei: Wagner just arrived. He asked Patricia about me specifically.
My hands tightened on the steering wheel.
Me: What did Patricia say?
Lorelei: That I'm a dedicated volunteer, very helpful with the residents. He's coming over now.
Me: Stay in public areas. Don't go anywhere alone with him.
Lorelei: I know the protocols.
I watched the building's entrance, every nerve on high alert. Wagner was inside, seeking out Lorelei deliberately. This wasn't random consultation—this was targeted interest.
Thirty minutes passed. No updates. I resisted the urge to call, trusting Lorelei to reach out if needed.
Finally, at three-fifty:
Lorelei: Conversation finished. He asked why I volunteer, my background, my personal life. Seemed friendly but questions were probing. Like an interview.
The System analyzed the behavioral pattern.
[ **ANALYZING: WAGNER'S APPROACH** ]
[ **PREDATORY SELECTION BEHAVIOR: CONFIRMED** ]
[ **INTERVIEWING VOLUNTEER, NOT RESIDENTS: UNUSUAL** ]
[ **POSSIBLE RECOGNITION OF INVESTIGATIVE PRESENCE** ]
[ **THREAT LEVEL: ELEVATED TO HIGH** ]
[ **RECOMMEND: IMMEDIATE RISK REASSESSMENT** ]
[ **ENERGY: 65/100** ]
"He knows. Or suspects. Someone asking too many questions, befriending residents who then disappeared. He's investigating the investigator."
Me: What exactly did you tell him?
Lorelei: Cover story. Want to help women in crisis, personal interest in domestic violence issues. Kept it vague.
Me: Did he believe you?
Lorelei: Hard to tell. He smiled, thanked me for my service, said he hoped to see me around more.
The phrasing made my blood run cold. "Hoped to see me around more." Like a predator marking territory, establishing presence.
Me: How much longer is your shift?
Lorelei: Four hours. I'm okay, Tedd. Just felt weird.
Me: Trust the weird feeling. I'll be here the whole time.
I stayed in that car for four hours, eyes never leaving the building's entrance. Wagner left at five-thirty—mid-fifties, gray hair, professional attire, carrying a leather briefcase. He looked like every other respected consultant, indistinguishable from legitimate helpers.
Which was exactly the problem.
December 31, 2008 - Evening - Tedd's Apartment
"We need to talk about pulling you out."
Lorelei set down her wine glass, expression immediately defensive. "No."
"Three residents disappeared. Wagner's focusing on you specifically. This is escalating."
"Which means we're onto something." She stood, pacing. "If we pull out now, we lose everything. All the trust I've built, all the access—"
"Access to what? A predator who's now aware someone's investigating?"
"You don't know that for certain."
I pulled up the System analysis on my laptop, showing her the pattern data. "Three shelters had disappearances during his tenure. He appeared at Safe Harbor the day after you befriended residents. Those women are now gone. And yesterday, he specifically sought you out. That's not coincidence."
She studied the screen, jaw clenched. "So what do you want me to do? Walk away? Let Miranda's case go cold again?"
"I want you alive more than I want the case solved."
The words hung heavy. Lorelei's expression shifted—anger fading to understanding, then something softer.
"We're close," she said quietly. "I can feel it. Wagner's behavior means we're threatening him somehow. If we pull out now, we might never get this chance again."
I stood, moving to her. "And if he decides you're too dangerous? If you end up like those missing residents?"
"Then you find me. You have GPS tracking, the panic button app, you know his identity." She cupped my face. "I trust you to keep me safe. But I need to do this."
The System calculated risk factors.
[ **THREAT ASSESSMENT: DR. WAGNER** ]
[ **DANGER LEVEL: HIGH** ]
[ **LORELEI EXPOSURE: SIGNIFICANT** ]
[ **RISK MITIGATION: POSSIBLE WITH STRICT PROTOCOLS** ]
[ **RECOMMENDATION: CONTINUE WITH ENHANCED SAFETY MEASURES** ]
[ **ENERGY: 67/100** ]
We compromised. Lorelei would continue volunteering, but with stricter protocols: I'd wait outside during every shift. GPS tracking remained active. Panic button app installed on her phone—one press sent location and emergency alert directly to me. Never alone with Wagner under any circumstances. And the moment anything felt threatening, we extracted immediately, investigation be damned.
"Deal?" I asked.
"Deal."
December 31, 2008 - 11:58 PM - Local Bar
The team's New Year's party was loud, crowded, exactly what we needed.
Rigsby had reserved the back room, music pumping, drinks flowing. Van Pelt laughed at something Cho said—rare smile from him suggesting actual enjoyment. Lisbon held court at a corner table, relaxed in ways she never was at headquarters.
And Jane sat alone at the bar, nursing tea, watching the celebration with distant melancholy.
Lorelei squeezed my hand. "Two minutes."
The countdown started. Voices rising, anticipation building. I pulled her close as the room counted down.
"Ten... nine... eight..."
"This year, we find answers," I thought. "And keep her safe doing it."
"Three... two... one... Happy New Year!"
I kissed her as 2008 became 2009, the room erupting in celebration around us. When we pulled apart, she whispered in my ear.
"This year, we find answers."
"This year, I keep you safe."
"Both," she said. "We do both."
Around us, the team celebrated. Jane drank alone, probably thinking of lost family and years hunting Red John. Lisbon watched her people with maternal contentment. Rigsby and Van Pelt danced, their own attraction building into something neither acknowledged yet.
Normal moments amid extraordinary circumstances.
The System chimed softly, text appearing in my peripheral vision.
[ **NEW YEAR TRANSITION: 2009** ]
[ **TIMELINE DIVERGENCE FROM CANON: 43%** ]
[ **BUTTERFLY EFFECTS: ACCELERATING** ]
[ **UNPREDICTABLE OUTCOMES INCREASING** ]
[ **RECOMMENDATION: EXPECT DEVIATION FROM KNOWN EVENTS** ]
The future was unwritten. Canon had become unreliable guide, my meta-knowledge corrupted where it mattered most. We were navigating blind now, creating new timeline with every choice.
Lorelei would return to Safe Harbor in two days. Wagner would be there, watching, evaluating. And I'd be outside, armed with nothing but System capabilities and desperate determination.
2009 would bring answers. Or danger. Or both.
I held Lorelei tighter as the celebration continued, knowing our quiet moment was ending. The investigation resumed in forty-eight hours. And whatever came next would define everything.
MORE POWER STONES And REVIEWS== MORE CHAPTERS
To supporting Me in Pateron .
with exclusive access to more chapters (based on tiers more chapters for each tiers) on my Patreon, you get more chapters if you ask for more (in few days), plus new fanfic every week! Your support starting at just $6/month helps me keep crafting the stories you love across epic universes like [ In The Witcher With Avatar Powers,In The Vikings With Deja Vu System,Stranger Things Demogorgon Tamer ...].
By joining, you're not just getting more chapters—you're helping me bring new worlds, twists, and adventures to life. Every pledge makes a huge difference!
👉 Join now at patreon.com/TheFinex5 and start reading today!