"Can I help you?"
The young woman is dressed in smart, sharp, professional-looking attire and a long, flowing trenchcoat, and Judas catches sight of her nametag, and what the letters wrote.
"Carmen Composéd, Special Investigations Unit"
Her eyes are quietly, sharply perceptive, and as you might have guessed, being a Great Grandmaster reader of this novel, she, indeed, conveys the surreal sense of a serene, tranquil lake, calm, and without a ripple, like a picturesque painting of a scene that is perfectly composed, with not a single superfluous artistic decision, or unnecessary brushstroke…
Judas felt an eerie chill, a sense of danger, and dread, even as he said… the words:
"Delivery."
"Oh. Who for?"
"I-I'm… not entirely sure. I think it's someone called Fatteus Slacké... Should I leave it here, or should I take it towards the back?"
The original Jake, at this point, suddenly resurfaced, and for a moment he felt himself forgetting his purpose…!!!
Fortunately, Judas was considerably more… measured - and regained control - he knew that he needed to help his lil' bro, and prevent him from digging himself into a hole…!!!
He was prepared to cut his losses and try again later, rather than be exposed now, as a traitor!!!
There is a moment of silence. Judas feels his breath hold. The young lady, Carmen Composéd, seems to be taking in the scene, considering what this delivery guy might mean…
6.7 seconds. This might not sound like a long time, but [even] for Judas, who is assuredly keeping himself as calm and as relaxed as possible, these moments feel like eternity.
Then. As if taken out of a spell, of time suspended, it seems as though this long *pause* has now ended, and just before we can count to ten, the almost-still Image suddenly begins to play and move once again…!
"Oh."
The young woman gives him a smile.
"Sure. Fatteus Slacké's office is down that way."
"Ah. Thanks." Judas manages to say.
He continues forward as naturally as can be, intending to see, if he can truly proceed with 'taking in' his take-out delivery… 👀✨
*Phew!* The young lady seems to have let him past, and both parties are moving on at last…!?
"Wait."
*!!!*
Judas stiffens, for an almost imperceptible moment, before relaxing and turning back.
"…Yes?"
"Go on past the hall, and then it's the last room on the right, at the end of the corridor…"
"Oh. Thanks. Got it."
Judas gives a nod and continues on through, even as Carmen, appearing to have done all that she is going to… turns to go.
The more you know… She glances back for a brief moment, before turning away, and the Camera zooms out to an aesthetic wide angle, which, in slow motion, shows the two people walking in opposite directions, Judas [delivery guy vers. 🫢✨] going through the hall, deeper into the Police Headquarters, and disappearing into the gloom… of the corridor, heading towards Fatteus' room, whilst Carmen moves towards… the Police Headquarters entrance, out through the doors, and out of sight, striding into the moonlit night…