Chapter 24: Convincing Charlie
After everyone left, the family dinner officially came to an end.
“Do you think this will bring everyone back?” Aleina asked quietly.
“I told them what they needed to know,” D replied almost instantly. “And it’s not like they truly want to stay away. I could see it in their eyes — the eagerness… and the hesitation to return to the world stage.”
“By hesitation, you mean they still haven’t realised their kids have powers?” Aleina assumed.
“Isn’t that obvious? I ordered the kids to keep it a secret until the right time,” D explained.
“And is now the right time?” she asked.
“Yes. Now the only thing left… is to convince Charlie.” His expression turned firm.
“Do we really need her?” Aleina said, slightly annoyed.
“If I’m trying this hard to bring her back, doesn’t that answer your question?” D gently held her hand, calming her. “We need her… for what’s coming.”
“Okay, okay, I get it,” Aleina sighed. “She’s the only annoying one.”
“That… I won’t deny.”
They both laughed.
---
For the next few days, D visited Charlie’s house repeatedly, but she was never there. After asking around, he learned she had been buried in work. She had become a robbery-homicide detective — something D found mildly ironic.
On the north side of the city, a jewellery store called Thomson’s Gold, established nearly a century ago by Michael Thompson, had been robbed. It was the third robbery that week. The department assigned the case to their best thief-catcher — Charlie Bernard.
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She never took her husband’s last name.
---
Inside the store, Charlie stood with the Chief of Police, the investigation team, and the current owner — Mike Thompson, third-generation heir of the family business.
“Mr. Thompson,” Charlie said, calm and professional, “can you tell us what is missing from the shop and the vault?”
“Please… call me Mike,” he replied with mild arrogance. “Mr. Thompson is my father. And I need to check the vault before I can say what’s gone.”
“Alright. Please inform us as soon as possible,” Charlie responded politely.
She turned to speak with the tech team when she suddenly heard a voice.
A familiar voice.
Her body stilled.
She slowly turned.
Across the room, she saw a blurred figure speaking with officers. As she stepped closer, the man walked toward the Chief. Something about his presence… felt unmistakable.
Her eyes narrowed.
The Chief approached her quickly, pretending to check documents.
“Mrs. Bernard,” he said in a firm voice, “this is Darwin Tanaka, from one of the founding families of the city. He will be assisting you on this investigation. And I don’t want to hear any complaints.”
“But sir—”
“No buts,” the Chief cut her off. “I’m not here to hear your opinion. The decision has been made. Follow the order, and stay out of trouble. Understood?”
Charlie hesitated.
“…Yes, sir.”
“Good. Go assemble your team.”
She walked away stiffly.
Across the room, D stood smiling — almost amused.
Then his smile faded.
His voice dropped cold and quiet.
“You did well, Hages. Introduce me to the team… and leave. I’ll handle the rest.”
Fear flickered in the Chief’s eyes.
“Yes… sir.”
Chief Hages was known for his integrity. But standing before D… righteousness meant nothing. Survival was all that mattered.
After introducing D to the investigation team, the Chief left.
Charlie watched silently, anger simmering. Finally, she stormed forward, grabbed D by the collar, and dragged him into a corner.
---
“Why are you here?” she demanded. “Why are you doing this?”
“What do you mean why?” D replied calmly. “I’m here to help you solve this case… so you can come back.”
Charlie scoffed.
“This is exactly why I hate you. Have you ever thought about us? About me? You just drag us wherever you want. Do our lives… our feelings… mean anything to you?”
D met her gaze steadily.
“If they didn’t matter… you wouldn’t be standing here as a free person. You’d be a slave.”
His voice softened.
“I value you all more than ever. You are family now. And you know what this family means to me.”
Charlie turned away, jaw tight.
D stepped forward.
“Look at the world, Charlie. This city feels safe — but the world is collapsing. The ones we suppressed… they’re rising again. We were never heroes… but the world was quieter when we stood together.”
His voice grew heavier.
“Yes… it was my fault. I left. I made all of you leave. But I would never raise children in a warzone like the one we grew up in.”
Silence hung between them.
Charlie exhaled slowly.
“You were always good with words,” she muttered coldly. “But I’m still not coming back.”
“I’m not asking you to return to war,” D said gently. “I just want a chance to make things right.”
He paused… then smiled playfully.
“So… we solve this case together… and you give me that chance?”
Charlie rolled her eyes.
“Whatever. I’m not convinced yet.”
“Yeah,” D smiled. “But you listened. That’s progress.”
“Tch. Since when did you become optimistic?” she asked irritably.
“Since I became a parent.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then they walked back toward the team — the tension between them… lighter than before.
