Hoping that Tristan had encountered a possible person of interest, Justin had the license plate traced. After talking to the taxi’s owner, he learned that at the time of his phone call with Tristan, a passenger of that taxi asked to be driven to a farmer’s market.

Getting the identity of the passenger was a lot more complicated. All Justin could find out was the passenger was a male in his twenties. He paid in cash so there was no way to trace his identity. 

The next day, the autopsies for the four victims were released. Everyone died of carbon monoxide poisoning, and there were traces of sleeping pills in their system. The forensics analysis of the powder found on the bottom of the cups in the crime scene also came out positive for doses of sleeping pills.

“Something is not right.” Justin said after reading the report. “Why would they mix the sleeping pills on the iced tea? Isn’t it easier if they just ingest it directly? The only time you would mix a drug on a drink is when you don’t want the drinker to know that you’re making them ingest drugs.”

“It does look questionable.” Yvonne agreed. “Do you think someone in the group is an unwilling victim?”

“Maybe.” Justin replied. “Or maybe someone changed their mind and the group wouldn’t let them. We need more evidence to be certain.”

“The suicide victims of the first incident had no connection with the victims of the second incident or whatsoever.” Denver told them. “This second group, though, they all attend a therapy session at New Tomorrow Suicide Help Center.”

“New Tomorrow? Then why was one of our victims have a flyer for Brighter Lives?” Justin asked.

“Brighter Lives and New Tomorrow, these two centers have a bitter rivalry.” Yvonne said. “According to my sources, the president of New Tomorrow is a former psychologist of Brighter Lives. She had a fight with a board member of Brighter Lives and left.” Yvonne continued. “The rivalry between these two centers is quite unhealthy. There are instances in the past where both centers had spread rumors and damaged the integrity and reputation of their rival.”

“Do you think it’s possible that New Tomorrow is trying to pin these mass suicide to Brighter Lives?” Denver asked. 

“It doesn’t seem that simple.” Justin said. “If they really want to frame Brighter Lives, then they wouldn’t let those victims be traced back to them. They would’ve made it look like that the victims had left the center and ended their therapy sessions with them, but they didn’t do that.”

“Then, is Brighter Lives trying to make it look like that New Tomorrow is framing them?” Denver asked again.

“We should investigate both centers.” Chief Helena told them.

“I’ll take Brighter Lives you go to New Tomorrow.” Justin told Yvonne. 

“Denver, we should know more about the president of New Tomorrow and her past issues with Brighter Lives.” Chief Helena added.

“I’ll take care of it.” Denver said.

“Also check everything from forums, websites, and apps that encourages and arranges group suicide. We should make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.” Chief Helena added.

Justin didn’t waste any time and went to Brighter Lives immediately. 

“Detective Justin Richards, what can I do for you?” Brighter Lives president, Carl Acosta, greeted Justin as he entered his office.

“First of all, thank you for agreeing to talk to me.” Justin said as he sat down. “I’ll get straight to the point. I’m here because of the two cases of group suicide that happened in the city.”

“Yes, I heard about it in the news, and it’s very frustrating.” Carl said. “Suicide is the very thing that our center is fighting against, and to know that people are encouraging others and urging them to join in a group suicide, there’s nothing more disappointing, detective.” He said.

“One of the victims in the first case had been attending therapy here. Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary? Was her therapy doing well?”

“Haley was fairly new to our center. Her parents brought her here after her first attempt two months ago. She was doing quite well, she was becoming more lively and more positive.” Carl said. “I can give you her records if it would help.” Carl offered.

“That would be great.” Justin said. “If possible, I would also like to talk to her therapist.” Justin said.

“That wouldn’t be a problem. Everyone here who knew Haley was deeply saddened by the news, and I’m sure they would be more than happy to help.” Carl replied.

“Great.” Justin replied. “If you don’t mind me asking, have you or any of your staff approached patients from New Tomorrow?”

“Is this also related to Haley’s case?” Carl asked him back.

“It might be.” Justin replied. “A flyer for your center was found on the belongings of one of the victims of the latest group suicide case. According to our investigation, they were all patients of New Tomorrow, so it’s kind of baffling why one of them have your flyer.”

“They probably got it in a mall or a hospital. We have weekly drives to raise awareness about suicide and where people could go to get help.” Carl replied.

Justin was well aware of that, but the purpose of his question was to gauge Carl’s reaction, and base on his defensiveness and evasiveness about the issue, it seems that Brighter Lives do have a history of pirating patients from their rival.

“I see, that could explain it.” Justin replied. “Anyway, Mr. Acosta, I think it’s time for me to talk to Haley’s therapist. I’ll call you if I have any more questions. And if you have any useful information, please call me, that would be really helpful.” He added before standing up.

“Dr. Jasper Bradley?” Justin called as he entered the therapist’s office.

The office was spotlessly clean and classical music played in the background. 

“Yes, who might you be?” Dr. Bradley asked as he paused the music and stopped the metronome on top of his desk.

“I’m Det. Justin Richards of Unusual Crimes Division of TCPD. I would like to talk about your patient, Haley.” Justin said.

“We’re all surprised by what happened.” Dr. Bradley began saying. “She was making great progress, she was getting better. She even told me that she made new friends.” Justin looked around the office as Dr. Bradley spoke. It had a calming atmosphere. “I also lost someone because of suicide, that’s why I want to help people with such thoughts.”

The shelves behind Dr. Bradley were filled with books. Justin scanned through them but could only make out the name ‘Milton H. Erickson’ on few of them.

“New friends? When was that?” 

“About two weeks ago?”

“Did she mention where she met them?” Justin asked.

“She said, she met them on a support group online. The last time we talked, she was seemed so excited because they made plans to go watch a movie and then go shopping.” Dr. Bradley recalled.

“One more thing.” Justin then took out the pictures of the four recent suicide victims. “Do you recognize any of them?”

Dr. Bradley examined the pictures closely. “No, I’ve never seen any of them before.” He said. In accordance with the victims ’ families ’ wishes, the identities of the four victims of carbon monoxide poisoning were kept hidden from the public.

“Thank you for your cooperation, I’ll contact you if I have any more questions.” Justin said as he stood up. Dr. Bradley was calm the whole time, maybe even too calm. 

He doesn’t seem too affected by the death of his patient, but maybe that’s just how they were trained; not to be too close and personal with their patients.

Even so, Justin couldn’t fully read what he was thinking, and for a detective, it was greatly concerning.

The only people who could influence Haley to kill herself were the people closest to her. That means aside from her friends and family, and those who she met at the suicide forum, the people in Brighter Lives could be considered a suspect.

Justin interviewed anyone who had a connection with Haley in that center, and everyone said the same thing; Haley was getting better. She was becoming brighter and more optimistic. She didn’t show any signs of a relapse, so it was hard for them to believe what happened.

After hearing what everyone said, especially his therapist, Justin was beginning to think that it wasn’t a simple suicide, there may be a foul play involved. Or maybe she was influenced by the new friends she met, and Justin had a strong feeling that those new friends were also the one who jumped to their deaths with her.

“How did it go?” Yvonne asked when Justin came back to the precinct. He told them everything he found out and Yvonne shook her head disappointed. “This is frustrating.”

“What about in your end?” Justin asked her.

“Those four attended group therapy sessions together, and they were pretty close to each other.” Yvonne explained. “Everyone in New Tomorrow seemed to be pretty surprised about what happened.”

“You guys should hear this.” Denver said. “I did some snooping around and I found out why Melinda Vasquez left Brighter Lives. Apparently, the argument she had with that Brighter Lives’ board member is about a new procedure she wanted to try.”

“What kind of procedure?” Yvonne asked.

“That is still unclear, but you can just directly ask the Brighter Lives board member. His name is Gorden Cortez, I’ll send you his details and schedule.” Denver said.

“You should meet him immediately.” Chief Helena told the team.

At that point, Justin felt like he was in a wild goose chase, going after a non-existent perpetrator. He believed that it would be more fruitful if they focus their energy on preventing another group suicide from happening.

With a lot in his head, Justin went home late that night. He could hear the TV playing as he opened the door, and then saw Tristan on his throne chair, eyes slowly closing as he tries to fight away from his sleepiness.

“If you’re sleepy then go to bed.” Justin told him. By 'bed', he meant the mattress on the floor of the sole bedroom in the apartment.

“I want to finish this.” Tristan said groggily.

“What are you even watching?” Justin asked as he turned to the TV. “Cartoons, really?”

“I like it…” Tristan replied as his eyes closed as his head fell to the sides.

“Come on, Tristan.” Justin said as he shook Tristan’s shoulder to wake him up. “You need to go to bed, don’t you have another interview tomorrow?”

“What’s the use…? I won’t get hired anyway…” Tristan replied. “It’s not like I have any practical skills other than sensing death and coming back to life.” He added sulkily.

“So, what, are you giving up already?” Justin asked him.

Tristan sighed. “I can’t do that either, can I…? I can’t live off of you forever…”

“I know it’s frustrating, but you got to keep on trying.” Justin said reassuringly. “When I face a roadblock in my cases, I take a step back, re-assess the whole thing, and keep myself calm. The more frustrated you become, the cloudier your judgment would be.” Justin said and turned off the TV. “Besides, what’s the rush? I told you, you can stay here as long as you like. Now, go to bed, it’s already late.”

When their father died, Justin became the father figure for his younger brother. He started working to make sure his family would have everything they need. Being away from them made him miss them so much, but having Tristan around made him feel like he was back home.

Even though it was hard, he always liked taking care of his younger brother. When his brother left for college he started missing him, taking care of him. Tristan was giving him that chance again, and it made him feel useful. Though he won’t say it aloud, Justin liked having Tristan around, he likes taking care of him.

That night, Tristan was visited by another mysterious dream. 

It was dark and cold and the only sound he could hear was some sort of ticking that echoed in the dark space. A dim light shone on a table as a figure cloaked in shadows used a dagger to cross out something on the desk. “You’re next.” The figure said and then pressed the tip of the dagger to a picture.

Tristan walked closer a saw book filled with pictures of adolescent people. “You won’t catch me. I’ll make them pay.” The disembodied voice of the shadow-cloaked figure echoed. As the figure closed the book, Tristan noticed the hardcover of the book, but he couldn’t make out the words written on it.

Panting and catching his breath, Tristan woke up in the middle of the night. 

He had a similar dream before. Back when they were at Crowley Hotel, he dreamed about Crowley’s throne chair, the dagger he used in his ritual, and the sound of chains used in binding his victims.

Back then, Tristan ignored it, and it was only after he died for the second time that he remembered what those kinds of dreams meant.

 That’s why he couldn’t just ignore his recent dream. He knew it was trying to tell him something, that it was some sort of a clue to the current case Justin was working on, he just doesn’t know what it really meant.

There was no other choice.

There was no other way.

If he wants to find out what that dream meant, then he should be involved in that case.