When I got back to the base-- after I barely avoided getting spotted by the police officers, might I add-- I went to the training room, where the four others were standing, waiting for me.

Taking a deep breath, I quickly scanned the rest of the group, my eyes not failing to catch the trembling lips or quivering fingers here and there. Amanda and Emma were standing next to Sam, trying to calm her down. Mike, on the other hand, was leaning on the door, playing with a random object he picked from the table near him.

Not wanting to disturb the ladies, I headed towards our new-comer.

-"So, what now?" he lifted his head as soon as I approached him.

-"You realize what we saw earlier was nowhere near our expectations, right?" I told him.

-"You've been expecting someone to kill him on the spot," he guessed. "You hoped you'd catch a glimpse of the murderer right then, and identify him later on while searching through your files or whatever documents you guys store back at your agency."

-"That, or we find a way to compromise with the police and get useful or juicy information about our suspect."

-"But now you're not even sure the guys we saw were the culprits or nah," he continued.

-"One thing we're sure of, though, is that they were involved. Be it simply moving the body to Gabriel Avenue, or even assassinating him themselves, there's no doubt they played a part in this crime."

He nodded in understanding.

-"So boys," Emma marched towards us. "Your thoughts?"

-"About what we just saw? We were discussing it right now," I replied.

-"It's quite intriguing, isn't it? He was already dead long before they found him lying on the road."

-'Long before? Maybe not, you know," I corrected. "Who knows when exactly did he die. Our little trip to Avenue Gabriel didn't help. The autopsy Sam told me about wasn't of much help either."

-"That is if they even did one, and not faked it," Mike snorted.

-"True," I commented. "Who knows how controlling the one behind all this is. Chances are, he or she has paid quite the sum to silence this, or turn it to their advantage."

-"But shouldn't the police or governmental institutions refuse bribery?" Emma questioned.

-"Oh, dear," I scoffed. "How innocent are you, precisely?"

-"What do you mean?"

-"Let's just say, hun, that the government isn't the only or most powerful association in the country," Mike explained.

-"I know that already," she answered, offended.

-"Heh," Mike raised an eyebrow, tilting his head. "Your question proved otherwise."

-"Shouldn't we wait for Sam and Amanda to have this conversation?" Emma desperately said, wanting to change the subject.

Exchanging a mischievous look with me and plastering a smug smile on his face, Mike replied: "As you wish, M'lady."

Together, the three of us joined Sam and Amanda on the other side of the room.

-"Who were those guys?" Samantha asked as soon as we got near them.

-"Jonathan Ross's bodyguards," I gulped.

-"Why?" she whispered.

 I shook my head, not knowing what to say.

-"Bob was working for him, right? If that's the case, why would he do that?" she repeated.

-"Those men haven't been in Ross's employ for long. Perhaps they were plotting to kill Bob without Jonathan knowing about it," I suggested.

-"But then, who are they? And why did they start working at your agency?"

-"What if..." Emma started. "What if they were time-travelers?"

-"From the other camp? It's a possibility," Amanda commented.

-"Could they know Bob was the friend and the husband of two members in our society?" Emma pondered.

-"Maybe," I remarked. "But why him? Why Bob, out of all people? Why not an actual time-traveler, and not one of their relatives? Why not me?"

From my left, Sam let out a tired, perfectly audible sigh.

-"Alright, maybe it's better to take a little break, and talk about everything in one of the meeting rooms upstairs in half an hour," Amanda cut in.

-"Great idea," Mike approved. "I wanted to go to a lab anyway."

-"Why would you want a lab?" Emma mocked.

-"Hey, coachie, we do not question a gentleman's motives," I smirked. And turning to Mike, I added: "You need a lab? Follow me, pal."

While leaving the training room, I barely caught the "Gentleman? I see none!" she muttered under her breath.

-"Say that to my face, little coward!" Mike teasingly threw at her.

-"Hey, hey, maybe now's not the best time to do this," I told him.

-"Ah, but there's never a good time for it, mi amigo."

-"Eh, you've got a point, but now's most definitely not a great moment."

-"Right, right. Sorry, mate."

We spent the rest of the way in silence, walking side by side.

Reaching the laboratory, I gripped the handle and pushed the door wide open while Mike switched on the light.

-"Ooo, fancy!" I commented.

-"Is that your first time seeing one like that?"

I nodded, grimacing.

-"What a hard life you've been living then, dude," he patted me on my shoulder. "Oh and, I'm gonna go a bit further, to check that cabin over there, is that alright?"

-"Yeah, yeah, man. Sure. Be comfortable."

And shooting me a quick smile, he turned on his heels and entered the humongous shamble that separated us from the cabin at the end of the lab.

From high-tech gadgets to chemistry flasks passing through various electronic products, the objects present in this room succeeded in making this little passage one hell of a maze for our poor Mike. He slalomed and zigzagged between them, barely avoiding dropping glass utensils or spilling chemical powders and substances everywhere.

While he did that, I nonchalantly scanned the room with my eyes, only to see Mathias working in a corner on a project of his. Next to him, on the table, was a little black fabric. At first, I thought it was a scarf. But then I took a step closer and was able to identify the object.

It was a mask. A black mask.

Just like the ones Jonathan's crew possessed.