The Devilish Assassin Meets The Angelic Detective

Riding a taxi, Elle was on her way to Erick's place when her phone vibrated along with a beeping sound. She checked it and saw a text message coming from James.

She wondered why James texted her today. She opened the message and read it.

[ "Elle, how are you? Are you sick? I haven't seen you in Falcon Cafe for the past few days. Did you resign? I learned that the Cafe hired a new staff." ]

Elle frowned after reading his message. 'So it is true that James became our regular customer or should I say our Falcon Cafe became a snack supplier of his company.'

"What a funny thing." She mumbled to herself before she typed her reply to his message.

[ "Yes, I got sick but I am fine now. I will come to work tomorrow." ]

Just seconds after she sent her reply, she received another message from James. 'That's so fast. Is he not busy? Hmmmmm it looks like the Chairman of Arison Holdings and Skull Gang leader has nothing to do today.' Elle looked at her phone screen with disbelief.

[ "Yey! That's great! See you tomorrow. I miss you!" ]

James sent his message with a wink emoticon at the end of his message.

Elle just smiled when she read his last message. She could imagine James's c.o.c.ky expression while saying those words to her. Elle just shook her head helplessly.

She did not send another reply instead she leaned back on her seat as she closed her eyes. Her mind was still occupied about the things that happened today. She was still bothered by the words Diego and Carlo had said to them.

She placed her hand on her chest, rubbing it as she could still feel the pain in her heart. She felt suffocated right now. She was trying hard to suppress her cry.

'Did I make the right decision of keeping those two alive? When I saw them, all I wanted to do is to kill them with my own hands.' Elle pondered to herself.

When she reached Erick's place, she entered the house with a heavy heart. She was feeling down. Her mind was in a chaotic state right now.

Erick was leisurely reading a book in the living room when he felt the presence of his beloved woman. A gentle smile flashed on his handsome face the moment he saw her.

But the smile disappeared quickly when he noticed the troubled face of Elle. He closed the book and put it down at the table as he stood up to approach Elle.

Elle gazed up to meet his questioning eyes. Her lips curled up into a half-smile to hide her pain but her eyes betrayed her.

"What's wrong?" Erick softly mumbled to her. His worry towards her resurfaced on his expression.

"I think I just need a hug." Elle simply replied to him.

Erick smiled faintly as he opened his arms for her. "Come! I will give you a super hug!"

Elle gladly complied as she threw herself to his arms. Erick embraced her with so much love and tenderness. She buried herself into his body. Erick's scent and his warmth were enough to comfort her in times like this.

'That's right. What I have done today is the right thing. I should not regret it. I did that because of this man. I want to be worthy of him. I don't need to do more crimes. I got my revenge without killing someone today.'

She clutched at him, afraid that he might disappear if ever she loosens her grip. At the same time, Erick tightened his grip around her, dragging their bodies together. They remained like that for several minutes as silence engulfed their surroundings.

After what it seemed like forever, Erick broke the hug and he pulled her to sit down on the couch. He placed his hand around her shoulder and let her lay her head on his chest."Hmm… now talk. You can tell me anything. I am willing to listen. Share your burdens to me." Erick said to her with his gentle voice.

"If you want to cry, just cry. Don't just keep it in yourself," he added. Erick started to stroke her hair.

Elle was taken aback by his words, wondering if she could really tell him anything. She wanted to, but she was afraid. She was terrified that once he knew the truth about her, he would change towards her.

' Erick, I am sorry. Some things are better left unsaid.' She thought to herself.

"Elle… can't you trust me?" Erick lifted her chin so that she could see his eyes.

Elle was helpless. She heaved a sigh of defeat. This man had a unique way of making her talk. She could see in his dark brown eyes the love and affection he felt towards her, as if telling her to trust him, to trust his love for her.

"It's about... my parents," Elle said to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the same day, Diego de Dios and Carlo Vello were handed over to the police authorities. Phantom's men ensured not to leave any evidence that might lead to them regarding the assault and tortures they had done against those two men.

They cleaned and cleared the crime scene before they left the two men inside the abandoned house. They called the police authorities and informed them about Carlo Vello's whereabouts.

As Elle instructed, criminal activities of Diego de Dio's Lending Company were sent to the press by an anonymous informant. Proof and evidence that de Dios's lending company was a loan shark were revealed to the public.

~~ News Report ~~

[ "Just in: Carlo Vello, the owner of the famous spa which was raided by the police authorities three days ago because of women trafficking and prostitution case was caught in an abandoned house at District of Crown in city Z together with Diego de Dios who owns a lending company which was allegedly a loan shark company." ]

[ "Police and media received a report containing pieces of evidences about the illegal activities of de Dios's lending company." ]

[ "The said company enforced repayment by blackmail and threats of violence to their poor clients using the power of Los Mollasses Gang. They operated outside of local authority and acted against the law." ]

[ "They charge very high-interest rates and hide it with the authority by making their clients to sign a non-disclosure agreement."]

[ "Some victims reported that the said lending company is harassing their clients if they get behind with their repayment. They even pressured their victims into borrowing more from them to repay their debts with another debts." ]

[ "Carlo Vello and Diego de Dios were sent to the hospital after the police found them. According to our source, both of them claimed that they were kidnapped. They suffered from physical abuse and s.e.x.u.a.l assault by several unknown men." ]

[ "The police refused to disclose further information to the media until further investigation is conducted." ]

[ "This is Anna Pearl of TVN News, reporting." ]

Bryan was watching the news report when he received a call from Captain Jason. Today was Sunday, so it was unusual for Captain Jason to call him. It only meant that this might be an urgent matter.

"Hello Bryan, sorry to disturb your rest day. Where are you?" Captain Jason asked him immediately right after he answered his phone.

"It's alright Captain. I'm at home right now. Why?" Bryan asked him curiously.

"Officer Kim just called me a while ago. Did you hear about the news about Carlo Vello and Diego de Dios?" Captain Jason asked him again.

"Yes. I saw the news. Why Captain? Is there something wrong?" Bryan was wondering.

"Please see Officer Kim and visit their precinct to gather more information. He told me that Vello and de Dios's kidnapping incident was related to Catseye. I want you to confirm and investigate further." Captain Jason requested Bryan as he explained to him his reason for this call.

"Huh? Related to Catseye? How is that possible?" Bryan could not believe it.

"I don't know the detail. That's why we need to confirm it. Our joint task force is the one assigned related to Catseye's case so we need to check if their case has something to do with Catseye. I already asked Allen to accompany you in that precinct."

"Okay, Captain. I understand. I'll go now to their precinct." Bryan bade Captain Jason a goodbye and hung up the phone.

Bryan immediately left his place and headed to the said precinct. When he arrived there, he saw Allen, who was waiting for him. Soon, Officer Kim greeted them.

"Sorry officers for ruining your rest day." Officer Kim said to them, apologizing.

"No worries Officer Kim. We are just doing our job here. No need to apologize." Allen politely said to him.

Bryan just chuckled as he patted the shoulder of Officer Kim.

"Yosh! Haha! I am so happy that finally Carlo Vello was caught. Hmm. Chief Lee will be happy to hear it. After all, he is the man behind the syndicate who abducted innocent women, forcing them to engage in prostitution. The worst-case was Elle got involved." Bryan said enthusiastically. He laughed triumphantly.

"So what's the deal here? I heard from Captain Jason that what happened to those two men might be related to Catseye. How is that possible?" Allen asked Officer Kim, direct to the point.

"Actually, we did not see any evidence that might connect this incident to Catseye. However, when we asked those two what happened to them they mentioned that the person who did this to them is the same person who killed Jefferson Gong. They were both certain with their statements. And we all know that Catseye is the one who killed him." Officer Kim explained to them.

"Eh! No way! That's impossible! If Catseye is really responsible for this incident, then how come they are still alive? They shouldn't be in the hospital right now; instead, they should be in the morgue." Bryan overreacted as he couldn't believe it.