Chapter 5: Mentor

                                    

                                          
Caitlin POV
It didn't take long for Caitlyn's position to be finalized. But despite having assured Councilor Bolbok that she was ready for the job, Caitlyn was still relatively inexperienced. Ambessa had offered her services as a mentor to Caitlyn as she got used to her new sheriff duties. At the same time, the Warlord offered her troops to Piltover to fight their war as an ally.
"Every good leader has objectives laid out," Ambessa checked in after a few weeks, "What do you have in mind?"
"I will lead a strike team into Zaun with three objectives," Caitlyn replied, "Locate Jinx, dismantle shimmer, and neutralize any agents still loyal to Silco."
Ambessa considered Caitlin's response for a moment, "It's a good start Sheriff, but I hope you know you'll need to become a bit more aggressive in your approach if you expect your efforts to succeed longterm."
"That's very possible, Warlord Ambessa, thank you for your advice. Have your scouts discovered the source of shimmer?"
Ambessa smiled, "Its manufacturer is a scientist doctor by the name of Singed."
Caitlyn's eyes widened, "Singed?"
Ambessa tilted her head curiously, "You know of him?"
"He used to work with Heimerdinger," Caitlyn explained, "It seems he turned to Silco."
"You should be careful with him then," Ambessa cautioned, "Those who change loyalties quickly  are dangerous and unpredictable."
"Noted."
But those three objectives would prove to be a bit harder than expected. Singed was very crafty. He was sighted a few times, but always managed to slip out from under the watchful eyes of both Noxus and Piltover. The new sheriff wasn't having much luck with Silco's loyalists either. Some allied with Jinx, and others formed their own factions. But Caitlyn wasn't having any luck getting any of them to step out of the war.
Even with the wanted posters everywhere, sightings of Jinx were slim to none. Then again, she'd become somewhat of a hero to the undercity, and they weren't so keen to give her up. But Jinx had enemies too.
On one particular journey to the undercity, Ambessa accompanied Caitlyn to the lanes for some questioning. Noxian forces had just captured Smeech, a chem baron and a Silco loyalist known to be against Jinx. He had a needle contraption on his arm that was being pinned down by Noxian spears, and his limbs were secured behind his back by Sion, Ambessa's personal guard.
"Smeech, how very nice to see you here," Caitlyn teased in a light voice. As far as she was concerned Silco played a large role in driving Jinx into the insanity that killed her mother. She wouldn't tolerate any still loyal to the industrialist.
"So you're the new Sheriff, Miss Kiramman," he sneered.
"Where's Jinx," Caitlyn demanded.
"What makes you think I know where she is?"
"Our reports show that she was last seen with you," Caitlyn responded.
"And why would I give you information, Sheriff?" Smeech mocked.
Ambessa leaned over Caitlyn's right shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Remember what I told you."
Caitlyn stalked forward, leveling her face with Smeech's. With precision, she snapped off one of his needles and pointed it at his neck, "Where. Is. Jinx." she ordered.
Smeech looked warily down at the needle, "You've gotten quite brave, Miss Kiramman, last time I saw you, you were quite the sweetheart."
Caitlyn slashed a thin cut along Smeech's jaw, drawing blood, "Talk."
Smeech looked taken aback, surprised at her boldness. 
His mouth opened slightly before the needle sliced a thin line, slightly deeper, across his cheek.
"I won't ask again," Caitlyn declared firmly, "Where is Jinx?"
Smeech gasped as Caitlyn's boot pressed slightly against his neck, "She....she...escaped with Singed. That's all...all I know."
Caitlyn released her hold on Smeech's neck and dropped the needle to the ground. Smeech was breathing hard, trying to make up for the oxygen loss.
"Take him to Stillwater," she ordered.
"Stillwater doesn't exactly have the best security," Ambessa commented as the group traveled back to Piltover, "You yourself saw how easy it was to forge a councilor's note to free your friend."
Caitlyn felt her chest clench for a moment at the mention of Vi, before returning to the conversation, "What do you propose?"
"Send him to his death," Ambessa suggested.
Caitlyn stopped walking, "What?"
"Kill him now and only one must die. Let him live and you may need to kill thousands."
Caitlyn thought about the other Silco loyalists out there. Each day that they lived was another day they garnered more support for the citizens of the undercity. More people to fight against Piltover. More people to follow Silco's ideology. To follow Jinx.
But she wasn't a killer. It somehow felt wrong to her, even if killing Smeech would increase security for Topside.
"I'll consider it," Caitlyn replied, "In the meantime, we will increase security at Stillwater. Release  orders will now need to be delivered in person by a councilor or sheriff." Ambessa nodded, satisfied for now.
Back at the Kiramman mansion, Caitlyn sat at her desk, trying to reason out how best to go after both Singed and Jinx at the same time. Singed was slippery, and no one knew how he kept evading capture. And Jinx was clever, never giving any clues about her next move.
Singed had to be using his knowledge of the undercity to escape through shortcuts and alleyways that enforcers weren't familiar with. It would explain his sudden disappearances despite heavy security around his hideouts when he was known to be there.
And Jinx was just...well Jinx. She had no patterns, no planning, no known weaknesses. 
Oh actually, she had one. One that very few people knew about. 
Caitlyn wasn't ready to face Vi again. She wasn't sure she could handle it if Vi walked away from her again. She'd learned over the last few months to solidify her heart, closing off the veins to grief and sorrow, converting it into anger and resolve as she threw herself into her work.
And it was working. Caitlyn had gathered much more information through her intimidation tactics than she had with her peaceful tactics for her first conspiracy theory. Any information she'd gotten for that case had come from Vi, and Vi had only helped her because she thought Caitlyn was hot.
..."You're hot Cupcake"...
The memory brought a blush through Caitlyn's cheeks as she remembered that adventure. But Caitlyn's mood soured again as she returned to her dilemma.
She'd only found Jinx because of Vi. She'd only exposed Silco because of Vi. Caitlyn sighed.
It was time to find Vi.