Hot coffee?
She knew about heart-shaped latte art. It was the most basic of beginner skills, a foundation every barista had to master. Ch'en picked it up and examined it. Even such basic latte art had come out crooked and uneven; clearly, the maker was a novice.
"Who was it?"
Of course, she did not dare drink it directly.
"Have the head of the Toxicology Division from the Chemistry Department come to my office."
Ch'en issued the order through the intercom. Before long, the coffee was sent to Toxicology for testing. By the time it was confirmed safe and returned, it had already gone cold, and the latte art on top had been ruined during transit.
Who could it be?
Cold coffee did not taste good, but Ch'en still downed it in one gulp.
The answer came to her easily, though she found it hard to believe.
Kiana had returned?
She would go to the shrine after work and ask. Leaving it unasked made her uneasy.
In theory, someone who could gently hand her a cup of coffee through a spatial gate could also elegantly pull her heart from her chest without damaging the skin. Yet faced with such a dangerous ability, Ch'en realized she did not feel the slightest sense of urgency.
Maybe she had seen too much and grown numb.
She anxiously awaited the end of the workday and finished all her official business before then. When the electronic clock struck six, the officers were astonished to see that their ever-overworked inspector team leader had actually left work on time again.
And the moment she got off work, she ran straight to the shrine.
They had seen this scene many times before. The almost mechanical Team Leader Ch'en only showed a little humanity at times like this.
"Master