♫ Religion's in your lips
Even if it's a false god ♫
-- Taylor Swift, False God

Virtual police barriers were placed
around the perimeters of the "Crimson" host club, and Celeste walked through the barrier, his badge registering in the system automatically. He saw Michael running towards him, seemingly excited as he grinned at Celeste.

"Cel, mate! You are finally here!"

"Explain it."

The two of them walked into the host club, where witnesses were being questioned, as well as the staff present.

"Well, it's a simple and clean kill, a bullet to the head. The victim is a staff member here in the host club," Michael explained quickly. "It's best if you see it for yourself."

Celeste nodded, glancing around and he spotted one of the few people being interviewed was the elusive "Haeres" of the host club.

"We are here." Michael stated, standing beside the body as the police officers made way for the detectives.

Celeste looked away from Hebi and Crimson's "Haeres", directing his eyes down to the victim beside them. He crouched down, immediately making his own assessment of the victim, Julian Argo.

He was a red-haired man with a lean build, and had a few tattoos on his arms and legs. There was nothing exceptional about his looks, and it was exactly like what Michael had stated, the victim had died by a simple gunshot to the head. It was clean and simple, and the poor fellow didn't even had time to react to it, since his dark brown eyes were still wide open in shock, a pool of blood around his head.

"No prints were found, neither was there any murder weapon or gun. Cameras weren't working."

"The man was killed by a professional." Celeste muttered, finding it ironic that he was killed in a host club that was secretly managed by a group of exceptional hitmen.

"Yeah, in a club full of hitmen." Michael muttered out.

Celeste looked down further, noticing the piece of paper beside the man's body. It was scribbled with the name "Peach", and her virtual signature was stamped on the paper, a clear indication that she was here.
He picked it up gingerly with his gloved hand, inspecting it closely.

"He was holding that piece of note in his hands when he died, I hadn't stored it for evidence yet, in case you wanted to see it."

Celeste didn't respond, only putting it inside the evidence bag.

"Shell casings weren't present, my guess is that the killer used a revolver. Or he went through the trouble of picking up his shell casing, he had hours to do that since the call only came in four hours after it happened," Michael explained yet again, and Celeste continued his investigation, remaining quiet. "All we are left with is that note, and that's pretty much it."

"Mhmm."

Celeste searched for a while, and no other clues had turned up for him as well. The only clue in this murder was the note left behind, and the main suspect of the murder would no doubt be "Peach".

"So, do you think it's her?"

Celeste and Michael were heading outside, finding the passenger drone meant for duos had been sent over to pick them up.

Celeste shook his head. "Peach has never murdered anyone."

"What about now?"

"Virtual signatures can be forged easily with the right person." Celeste answered curtly.

"So what, someone's framing her? Which was the first thought that came to my mind, I won't lie."

Celeste didn't respond, only settling into the passenger drone. Michael sighed, entering the drone, sitting beside him.

"Detectives, where would you like to go?"

"The precinct?" Michael ordered, but it sounded more like a question as he turned to Celeste.

Celeste nodded silently in response.

"The precinct."

"Understood sir. Please do not forget to wear your seatbelts."

***

The coroner determined the cause of death for Julian Argo easily, and two detectives sat at their desks, going through the witness reports. Nothing conclusive came up, and the only obvious clue was Peach being the main suspect.

"Considering that the young lad was killed in a host club filled with professional hitmen, that could cover their tracks really well," Michael shrugged, leaning back into his seat. "It's pretty obvious that she's being framed."

"We still need to take her into police custody."

Michael then smirked lowly, spinning his chair to face Celeste who was preoccupied with something on his holographic computer. He noticed the strange expression on Michael's face from the corner of his eye, narrowing his eyes at Michael.

"What?"

"I can bet with ya, this will be the fourth time, mate."

Celeste's expression didn't change, and he didn't answer either.

"And then she'll give you a kiss on the cheek, if you save her from being framed," Michael then puckered his lips slightly, mimicking a kiss. "Just like this."

Celeste turned away, wishing there was a bunch of papers on his desk so he could toss it at Michael's face.

A beep was heard from Michael's computer, and he quickly changed his attention to the computer. He brightened up when he saw the contents on the screen, informing Celeste.

"Found it, his address. You tagging along, or am I going alone?" Michael cocked his head to the side.

"Alone, I'm following something else. And he knows me."

"Right, he saw you when you were busy saving and flirting--"

"I'll go first."

Celeste stood up, taking his coat that was draped over his chair and walked away briskly.

"He-hey, Cel!" Michael stood up as well. "Where you going, mate?!"

A few eyes glanced between the two of them, curious.

Celeste sighed, swiping his fingers in the air and marking his destination on the map, sending the location to Michael.

Sending the marked location to Michael Williams...

Successfully sent!

"You know where I'll be, but I won't know where you'll be! That ain't..." Michael trailed off, receiving a notification, accepting the location sharing with Celeste.

Celeste Ashbrand has shared his location with you!

Michael realised that the location Celeste had shared with him was somewhere in the North Pole.

"..."

That ain't partners!

Michael finished the words in his mind.

Meanwhile, Celeste had already exited the precinct, inside his car. He drove off to a single destination in his mind.

A beautiful brunette dressed in a casual outfit strolled into the shop, carrying a small handbag along with her. Maddog who had been engaged with another customer, observed the brunette as she walked in.

It is not often you see a well-groomed lady in this area.

"Sorry, just give me a second."

"Sure."

"Hey miss, how can I..." he trailed off, frowning. Something about the woman's apperance made him bewildered.

He swore he has seen the woman somewhere before, and he suddenly recalled a conversation between him and Peach.

"It means my identity has been compromised in a way."

"So, what would you look like?"

"Like this."

Maddog continued staring at the woman, and she looked back at him with hazel doe eyes, before it strayed towards the man beside Maddog. She instantly recoiled back in horror, her eyes back on Maddog again, disbelief written all over her face.

"Pea--" he quickly stopped himself, turning sharply to the blue-haired man beside him.

"What's wrong, Mekhi?" Celeste asked, using his real name once again. He blinked his eyes at Maddog, his face impassive as he cast a glance at the brunette.

She hastily turned away, heading to the gadgets on the shelves. She started treating them as if they were rare artifacts.

"No-nothing! Nothing at all!" Maddog blurted out, his nervous glance to the brunette didn't go unnoticed by Celeste. "Where was I? So-something about forgery?"

The brunette paused when she heard the last few words, but she didn't look behind.

"Forging of signatures."

"Right. Yes. That."

A second later, Peach as a brunette turned, looking elsewhere but she could tell Maddog was glancing at her from time to time.

Maddoggy, you retard! He's going to find out if you keep looking at me like that!

Peach hissed in her mind, baring her teeth slightly. She adjusted her bag strap uncomfortably.

And the way you are talking right now makes it even worse!

It was from this point on, Peach wholly believed that Maddog was a horrendous liar.

"Is this question something to do with her? And by her I mean Peach, not that I care but I'm just curious--for my client, who is like a friend--uh no, not-not a friend." Maddog rambled on, halting himself when he felt a wrathful presence behind. "I'll shut the fuck up now."

She would be glaring holes into his back, if it weren't for Celeste facing her direction.

"It's more convenient if I clarify it with her first," Celeste responded, his expression still stoic as he gazed at Peach with his piercing eyes. "Peach?"

Peach slapped her palm on her face, and she began to glare at Maddog openly. Maddog just closed his eyes, somehow awaiting for his death.

He clearly knew he screwed up.