The Devilish Assassin Meets The Angelic Detective

"There is someone tailing your track 16 years ago. Someone is digging the past, my friend." Phantom could hear the seriousness in the voice of the caller.

Scrunching his brows together, he asked the person on the other line. "What do you mean Antoine?" 

Antoine was one of his companions before when he became an assassin. He was someone whom Phantom trusted most. They had been friends for almost thirty years.

Ever since Phantom retired, they seldom see each other nowadays and had not been in contact for the past few years.

So it was indeed a surprise for Phantom to receive a call from him today. He knew that this was not a simple greeting or some kind of I-miss-you message to communicate with an old friend who had not seen or heard each other for a long time.

"Some time ago, I heard from the neighborhood that there was someone going around asking and investigating about your whereabouts," Antoine said to him casually that pique Phantom's interest.

Phantom let out a soft chuckle afterward. "Oh, how many people are looking for me? The Legendary Phantom had already retired a long time ago. I disappeared from the limelight, why bother to search for me? Are they hoping for my comeback?"

Another burst of laughter could be heard from the other line. Antoine was laughing hard because of his remarks. Phantom's frown grew deeper.

"Don't be a conceited fellow my friend. Are you still expecting that someone is hoping for your comeback? Don't get the wrong idea. Haha." Antoine sounded more enthusiastic now, having a conversation with his old friend. He had to admit that he missed him.

"Will you please enlighten me, my friend? I thought you don't want to beat around the bush. Why are you keeping me in suspense? Spill it out, you punk!" Phantom sounded a little bit impatient since he was really curious to know the information from him.

"Alright, I must satisfy your curiosity. Don't worry, there is only one person digging up the past. And do you know what? He is not looking for the legendary assassin, Phantom, but he is searching for someone else."

"Hmm, that's one is truly surprising. Who is that someone else you are referring to, my friend? If he is not looking for me then why are you calling me? How is that related to me?" Phantom was a little bit confused.

"He is looking for a girl named Ma. Belle Elliese Falcon. I call you because I think this case is concerning to your foster daughter, the child you save a long time ago. I thought police declared that she was dead. But now, someone is looking for her." 

Phantom was stunned in a moment when Antoine mentioned Elle. He wondered why someone is looking for her. 

'Is that person a friend or a foe?' this was the first thing that came into his mind.

Since Phantom remained silent, Antoine continued to tell him what he found out regarding that person.

"Remember, you stayed for one month in one apartment together with your foster daughter here at City K. He was going around asking for that child and you. Fortunately, the neighborhood did not know you but they could still remember your daughter's face when she was younger. So in the end, that person confirmed that she was still alive."

"When did that happen?" Phantom asked him.

"Hmm, I am not sure, maybe 3 or 4 months ago. Hehe," Antoine replied.

"Huh? Then why you did not inform me sooner?" There was a hint of irritation in Phantom's voice.

"Sorry, my friend, I can't contact you before since you were overseas. And I lost your number. It took me a while to get your number. Hehe." Antoine let out a soft chuckle, he was feeling guilty after all.

"Did you know the identity of that person? What is his name?" Phantom asked him again, hoping that his friend could give him a satisfying answer.

"What I know as of now, that person is a former policeman. However, I did not know his name. But according to my source, he said to the old lady that he was a friend of her parents." Antoine said with a certainty in his voice.

Phantom became silent for a moment, thinking about what to do with the pieces of information he learned today. After considering all the possibilities, Phantom came out with a decision.

"My friend, how you doing these days?" he asked him.

Antoine frowned as he was puzzled why suddenly Phantom was asking him that. They were in the middle of discussing the person who was searching for his daughter.

"I am doing good with my business. Why did you ask?"

"Hmm, did you miss the old days? Do you want to go into action once again?" Phantom asked him, there was a hint of excitement hidden in his voice.

Antoine was feeling nostalgic when he heard that question coming from Phantom. If Elle had Charles, then looking back, Phantom had Antoine before. They were a partner in crimes before, equivalent to Elle and Charles partnership.

"Oh Buddy, I like that idea. Actually I am bored doing all my daily routine managing my monkey business since the day you retired. I think I need some spice again. What is in your mind right now? Tell me." Antoine was very eager and full of anticipation.

Phantom could not help himself but laugh. As expected to his old friend, he was still missing to do some action. Maybe that was one of the reasons Antoine stopped communicating with him. He might be upset when Phantom suddenly retired at that time.

"I will give you this important mission. Investigate that person who is looking for Elle. Find out if he is a friend or an enemy. We don't know if he is just pretending to be a friend of her parents and he might have an ill intention that is why he is searching for her. I don't want to jeopardize Elle's safety because of that."

"Tsk Tsk. You are already a changed man, my old friend. You really care about someone now. You are very protective of her. I am still upset about you, choosing her over me. Hmmph" Antoine ranted on him.

Phantom just laughed at him. "Moron, I also cared about you. What a jealous man! Come here to City Z next time and visit me. Elle is also a grown-up now, a very beautiful lady. You will like her because I am very proud of her. I want to introduce you to her."

"Okay. The moment I visit you, I will bring you a piece of good news. Probably, I will be done with the mission you gave me. Alright, I won't take you for so long. I have to go and prepare for my mission. See you soon my old friend." 

"Yeah, see you soon," Phantom replied to him before they ended their conversation and bade goodbye to each other. 

He was smiling while looking at his phone. It was good to talk to his old friend and he knew they would see each other soon. He could not wait, he was excited to see him again.

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

Meanwhile, at XXX Crime Investigation Headquarters, members of the Team Alpha Cinco were having a conversation about Catseye's case. Bryan shared with them the information he gathered regarding the case related to Carlo Vello and Diego de Dios.

"What are your thoughts about this Chief Lee? Vello and de Dios were really insisting that the person who kidnapped them is the same person who killed Jefferson Gong. When I interviewed them, it did not seem like they were lying." Bryan said to Erick, asking his opinion.

Erick sat in silence, consumed by his own thought. He was always like this whenever he was thinking and analyzing the things and information presented to him.

"This is undeniably unbelievable. Catseye had kept those two alive. This is so unlikely of her." April also commented.

"So true. Is she playing a hero now? Can't predict what will she do next. But I think it is a good thing that she did not kill those two, letting the law enforcement to handle their case and punish them." Rose mentioned to them the positive sides of what happened.

June nodded as he agreed with Rose's statement. "But Catseye's strategy in handling this case is quite a mystery. Imagine, she even involved other persons and hired them to torture those two. Well, even if we say that they deserve it but it's a fact that Catseye's moves are still brutal and scary."

"Yeah, I agree. I am still having a goosebump just imagining what Diego and Carlo had experienced under those men." Bryan rubbed his face after saying that.

"Revenge." Erick suddenly blurted out that made the person averted their gaze towards his direction.

"I think we can find an answer once we investigate further the relationship between those three persons. Just like what Officer Kim had mentioned to Bryan. Those two seem to hide something." Erick finally spoke up after thinking much.

"Bryan, find out if there is some connection among those three persons in the past," Erick said as he assigned this mission to him.

"Okay Chief. Noted."

"April help Bryan in this mission. I leave it to both of you."

"Copy Chief."

After a while, Erick stood up. "Chief where are you going?" June asked him.

"I have to get the files I left at my study, it's about my analysis at Jefferson Gong's case. I'll be right back." Erick replied.

"Chief, can you bring that favorite book you are reading about criminal minds?" Bryan suddenly said out of the blue.

The other persons gave Bryan a strange look. 'What is he up to this time?' Even Erick was wondering why suddenly Bryan wanted to read some books like that.

"Hey, don't give me that look, guys. I just want to read it since I am curious how Catseye's mind is working. She is really unpredictable. I am just hoping that I can understand her once I read that book." Bryan explained to them.

As a response, Erick just gave him a smile and a nod before he left. Erick headed home and proceeded in his study as soon as he arrived. He picked up the files about Jefferson's case first before he searched for that book which Bryan wanted to borrow.

He was glad that Bryan was really putting his effort to the extent that he wanted to read some books which he didn't do usually do just to understand Catseye's way of thinking.

"Oh, here it is," Erick mumbled when he found the book in the bookshelves.

He was about to put it inside his bag when he noticed something in the book. Erick frowned when he saw that there was a card inserted in between the pages of the book. He did not remember putting something like this in his book.