Never Judge

Jas grinned as Cedric realized why she was so familiar. Back when he was truly just an assistant, Ian had dragged him and Adrianna over to go on a double date with Jas. All he knew was that they ended up breaking up on good terms and Ian never looked back.

"This is why you didn't tell Nicole." Cedric said.

"Why I didn't tell my wife." Ian corrected.

"Ha! You haven't gotten married yet! That's a whole different challenge." Cedric said with a laugh as he recalled how Nicole said she wouldn't marry Ian just yet, even if she was already pregnant with their child.

"In my head she is my wife. She's the one." Ian said sternly.

"Wow, I've never seen him like this." Damien said as he scratched his head. 

"Don't worry Cedric, what was between us is ancient history." Jas explained.

"You said you had something to tell us?" Ian asked in an attempt to change the topic.

Damien paused to think as if he had forgotten why they had all come out that night. "Ah yes. But wait! Drinks." Damien called over a waiter and ordered some liquor for them.

"Damien, we didn't come here to drink." Ian reminded him.

"It will look suspicious if we don't drink." Jas said with a wink as the waiter returned with their orders.

"Keep it coming." Damien told the waiter as he handed a bill.

"Now will you tell us?" Ian complained as he drank from his glass. 

"Someone is pulling strings from behind." Damien told Ian and Cedric.

"Is this the case about the man that died at Constellations?" Jas asked.

"Yes, he was my cousin-in-law." Cedric said in a sad tone. "Who would want to manipulate his death? Jam wasn't anyone important?" Cedric asked.

"And yet his funeral managed to bring over the most powerful families." Damien explained. "The kid had connections." 

Cedric paused at Damien's words. Jam had only made connections with the princes that night, prior to that he was only a fan. Of course the most important connection would have been that he was the Reyes Heir's cousin-in-law, but that part was a well guarded secret.

"He only met the princes that night." Cedric explained. "They just enjoyed his company so much that they were devastated when he passed." 

"Either way, there seems to be a deeper connection, some reason why he was targeted. And the effort that went into covering this all up, well let's just say that no expense was spared." Damien was clearly unhappy with the corruption in the police force, he had sworn that if he ever became the national police chief he would fix this problem.

"Do you think we could find out who is behind this if Congressman Alexi placed pressure?" Ian asked as he weighed their options.

"I think it would drive the culprit deeper into hiding." Damien explained. "This so-called Mastermind that they sent our way, it was clear that he had some sort of toxins in him, the heart attack was unnatural."

"I thought you had an autopsy report coming out?" Cedric asked Damien.

"We do, but I think the forensic pathologist is already in their payroll." Damien said as he shook his head.

"Is the corruption really that bad?" Jas asked as she placed down her drink.

Damien nodded. "It goes pretty high up. Don't ask the Sebastians to interfere, I'm worried it will put the president at risk. He's actually a good one, there is just so much wrong with the government that he needs to go about things smartly." Damien explained.

"Fu-k this!" Ian cursed.

"Uh-oh." Jas said as she looked at Ian. "He is drunk." 

"What? Ian's never been a lightweight. How can he be drunk?" Damien asked as he looked at Ian who was still drinking.

"He isn't, but I think he was drinking the alcohol as if it were juice." Jas pointed out.

"Damnit Ian, we've been here less than an hour and he gets drunk." Damien said, shaking his head.

"He's under a lot of stress." Cedric explained. "There's work, then all of the side investigations like this one, then he is still trying to buy enough shares in their family's old companies. His personal life isn't quiet either, Nicole just got her position in Saints back and a lot of the older generation in the Chan family are against him and Nicole getting married. I'm sure things aren't easy at home either since pregnant women are not exactly easy to be around."

"Poor Ian." Jas said with a pout. "But I'm glad he found someone he loves." Cedric watched Jas' smile turn into a frown, from her expression it was clear that she still harbored feelings for Ian and had not yet completely gotten over him.

"You'll find someone for you Jas." Damien said as he patted his friend on the back.

"I'll probably have to drive him home and call in sick for him." Cedric said with a shrug.

"I guess we should call it a night." Damien said as he looked at the drunk Ian who was now swinging from side to side.

"What should we do about the conspiracy in the government? I doubt our boss would be happy to hear that someone on the inside manipulated our only witness." Cedric asked, he was definitely pissed that they couldn't do anything and that there were people in the inside who were working to cover things up.

"Tell him I'll figure out who is paying them. Your boss should understand that." Damien said. 

Cedric simply nodded in response. 

"Wait, wasn't Ian supposed to be your ride home?" Damien asked Jas.

"He was, but I guess now he isn't." Jas said with a shrug. "I'll just take a cab."

"No, it's fine, it's dangerous out there especially since you already have alcohol in your system. I'll drop you off." Cedric offered. "Do you live near Ian?" 

"Yeah, I still live with my parents." Jas nodded. "Thanks." She smiled weakly.

"Thanks Cedric." Damien said with a nod. "I'm joining the other cops in a different place to drink, I hope one of them is under the mastermind's payroll."

"You don't need to do this." Cedric said, he felt a little guilty because Damien was risking his job and his life just to find out who was behind everything.

"It's no problem. I'm doing this for the force too, I wanna know who is corrupting it." Damien said with a shrug.

"Help me get this drunk guy out of here?" Cedric asked, pointing at Ian who was now asleep.

Damien laughed and stood up to help.

"I'll settle the bill then meet you in the car." Jas volunteered as she asked the waiter to bring them the bill.

Damien and Cedric managed to get Ian into his car and in the back seat. Luckily Ian wasn't heavy and didn't give the other men a hard time.

"About Jas." Damien said as they waited for the woman to arrive. "I know she might not be over Ian yet, but she means no harm. She's just really friendly and helps out a lot, she's that kind of girl. I know Ian is worried about Nicole finding out that they are still friends, but we've been friends since we were kids, and Jas would never cross that line."

"It's all up to Ian." Cedric said in response. 

Damien simply nodded in reply as he waved at Jas who was walking up to them.

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