“Let’s hear it,” Senior Agent Solitaire announced as he entered Stephany’s office. It had been less than a minute since she sent a message that she had updates on the Kinsley case. She closed her mail and brought up the report.

“The team responsible for investigating the Scout building has reported back,” she explained and turned the screen, allowing Agent Solitaire to read it while she explained.

“Most importantly, they found fingerprints matching Martin Schneider Kinsley’s in the building. There were clear signs of a break-in. We believe he spent at least 12 hours inside, during which he slept, ate and searched the building. The team found blood on a bed. In the bathroom, they found blood and pus on tissue papers in the garbage can. There were also signs of recent usage of the medicine cabinet, and we found an empty, discarded box of painkillers.”

“Since there are no signs that point to him getting hurt inside the building, we believe he was wounded prior to entering the premises. This matches with his slow movement speed from the mansion to the cottage. The pus leads us to believe he is running an infection. Samples have been sent to the lab.”

“The team found show prints leaving the building, but the ground was too hard to leave usable tracks on the road. I’m afraid we do not know where he went next.”

“I see,” Agent Solitaire acknowledged.

Stephany brought up a map of the vicinity.

“There are thirteen dirt roads that lead out of the forest. Several of them are too far away to be reached by foot in reasonable time. We are keeping watch of all of them, though it is possible he slipped out before the net was tightened.”

“If he is running an infection, he might be seeking medical attention. We are watching all hospitals in the greater vicinity, as well as all drug stores. In addition, we have an eye on all taxi services.”

She pulled up Mr. Kinsley’s data sheet again.

“We are working on locating all people Mr. Kinsley has been in contact with during the last two years, according to his mail, phone calls, messages and facebook activity. Only three of them are living within a reasonable distance to the forest, and they are all accounted for.”

“I have sent the team to check all roads in the forest in civilian disguise. They will ask any hikers they find. If Mr. Kinsley is hiding or dead somewhere in the forest outside the main paths, it is very unlikely that we can find him. He will probably remain undetected even if he lights up a fire. A helicopter is on standby.”

She stopped, waiting for her boss’ input. Agent Solitaire was silent for a while.

“Add nearby gas stations and convenience stores to the watch list. Send a team to interview all people living in or on the edge of the forest. Keep me updated.”

“Yes, sir,” Stephany nodded.

Agent Solitaire only managed to open the door to her office before he was assaulted by the head of the media department, Crowley.

“Agent Solitaire, good thing I found you. I’m afraid we struggle to control the discussions on social media regarding the event.”

“Let us discuss it in my office,” Agent Solitaire replied, before closing the door behind him.

Stephany would be lying if she said she wasn’t interested in what the discussion was about, but she could make an educated guess. This was the largest cover-up in thirty years. The last time was the Twilight incident, which they officially painted as a gas leak. That time, there had been no social media to consider. There was the mass media, and telephones, and that was about it. Mass media was easy enough to control. Social media? Not so much. Not without shutting down servers and enacting protocols that would tip everyone off that there was something seriously wrong going on. Only autocracies could get away with that.

Not something she needed to concern herself with, though. She just needed to follow orders.