Raphael looked at the unknown person, revealing that this man was the captain in disguise.
Well, the term 'disguise' was a bit far-fetched.
"Cap'n, you do know that Dream Possession is one of the leading causes of migraines right?"
"Who told you that? It's not that bad. A few pain killers would do the trick"
Raphael sighed, feeling sad for whomever his captain was currently possessing.
Dream Possession was a type of body control ability that allowed one to take over the body and bodily functions of a person.
As long as he or she is asleep.
This was a rare ability that very few and specific Transcendants could use.
Rathcliffe coughed, tapping the breast pocket of his coat and putting his finger into it.
Then he pulled out… nothing.
The man's two fingers held up nothing, as if an air cigar.
Then with his other free hand, he snapped his fingers, before placing his cigar holding hand and taking a deep drag with his fingers on his lips.
Then with a puff, the man blew smoke into the air.
'Smoke? What the actual…'
'How?'
'Since when?'
Raphael, for the first time, looked perplexed.
The man looked at Raphael and nodded.
"Dream smoking… very unhealthy but it doesn't matter. The man smokes anyway"
Raphael shook his head, getting his mind back as he tapped the table and asked.
"Why are you here? To watch over the rookie?"
Rathcliffe didn't say anything, just taking another drag of the invisible cigar.
"The case this time is very special. I got a message a few minutes ago that this case should be upgraded to grade 3"
"Grade 3 huh? That would be tricky"
"Mhmm, it means that you will definitely be dealing with supernatural powers." Rathcliffe said as he grunted and took a sip of tea.
"So… wouldn't it be a bad idea to let the rookie into this case?"
"Not really. This could help in his growth. Just keep your eyes open. At least May said that this would be an easy job"
"Yup, she did say that" Raphael replied.
Then there was silence.
The man before Raphael suddenly coughed as he spat out his beverage.
Raphael knew this was the queue that his captain had lifted his possession.
He instantly stood up and placed some silver coins on his table, before dashing into the crowd.
He would need it for the upcoming migraine he was about to be hit with.
***
Abel stood over the map before him, focused, his eyes darting and calculating each point.
He had push pins on different parts, as well as a list of suspects with pictures in black and white ink.
Currently, he has gotten closer to a probable issue…
The sites of the kidnappings happened too far from each other. In an irregular pattern.
This was definitely done to throw off all clues.
What they didn't expect was that they left a slight trail.
"The children aren't taken underground. They're definitely not in the East end in fact…" he thought out loud.
Suddenly, the door opened, jolting him from his concentration.
General Greg came in, this time with two officers.
A man with short black hair and strong slim eyes walked in first. He looked large and strong, standing about six feet and three inches, a few inches taller than Abel.
Another came in with him. She was a small petite woman, about five feet and nine inches, a small beautiful face and short black hair that reached her neck.
On seeing Abel, they both instantly saluted in respect.
Abel was taken aback for a second before instantly regaining his composure.
He knew these two well.
The man was a rookie in his unit named Private Alberto Di Marco that had started serving the year of the incident.
The woman was an old acquaintance of his; Constable Michelle Crimea.
These two were people he at least knew about. He wasn't too close to them, but he definitely knew of them.
Abel lifted a hand to signify them to be at ease.
"Inspector Lucien, these two here are Constable Alberto and Lieutenant Michelle. They will be your assistants and your escorts in your outing sir"
Abel nodded, keeping up his facade as a calm and collected superior. He looked at both of them and smiled, before speaking.
"Let's be off, we ought to be at the East End in an hour"
"Yes Sir!!!" They both yelled in response.
Then, he looked at Greg, who handed him a police overcoat and badge. He wore them and looked at himself in the mirror, before turning to leave.
Then he walked out the door, reminiscing on the life he had before this. This was hi workplace a part-time ago. Now, he felt like he wouldn't fit into the mold anymore.
***
East End
A hot afternoon in these parts was most likely to give one heat stroke.
The streets were mostly covered with canopies made of rags and rubber coverings.
The streets were busy and noisy, the smells strong and pungent.
Abel, Michelle and Alberto walked through the crowd, doing their best to keep their eyes on the road, whilst trying not to bump into anyone.
The streets of the East were home to street rats and petty thieves. A single bump and one could lose all his possessions.
Soon, they reached an intersection where some police officers stood watch. They seemed to be wearing face masks to stave the smell coming from an alleyway next to them.
On seeing Abel and his subordinates, they saluted nervously before giving way.
'Seems they've been told of my arrival' Abel thought as he bowed and entered into the alleyway that was demarcated with red and yellow caution tapes.
There, he saw the scene of the crime.
"There was definitely a struggle here" Abel said aloud as he saw the footprints that seemed to remain untouched. It seemed as if the case was reported real time.
Abel then turned to his two escorts and signalled for them to begin their search. He turned to the officer at the entrance and asked…
"When did this happen, and who was the one to report?"
"Urhhh! Bout 8pm last nite ser, got a call just a few minutes after da cwime. Came running as fast as I could with me bad legs innit"
Abel nodded, his scousian accent spoken that fast not dissuading his understanding of the current matters.
"And the witness"
"Ah, old man Becowski, he's the one with the bad leg o'er ser" he said, pointing to a beggar who sat crumpled just across the street, begging for alms.
Abel nodded as he crossed over.
The old and haggard man seemed not to notice him, until a few silver coins dropped into his metal plate.
The ringing jolted his attention to the donor, who was a very tall man with dark combed back hair and thin rimmed glasses.
The man's dark eyes glinted slightly, grabbing his attention almost immediately.
The instant he saw the badge, he knew who he was, and what he wanted.
"G'dday officer. I've already told your partner all I know. Nothing more to tell ser"
Abel smiled and squatted to his level.
"Care to reiterate to me again, I want to be sure if some things"
The man nodded and wiggled his cup to Abel.
Abel nodded and put in another coin inside.
"Well I say. The kid, little Ephelyn… we all her Effie round here, she was walking down the street, seems to be running errands for her sick mother. Poor Maryanne" he said with an exaggerated sigh.
Abel listened quietly, nodding.
"Then, I hear someone call her just by that corner, all suspicious like and all. He wore some dark red jacket and a hat to cover his features, but Old Bartholomew knows very well who he was…" then the old man stopped, wiggling his cup again.
Abel was now amused. He grabbed another silver coin, rubbing it at the rim of the cup. Bartholomew's eyes brightened as he gave a greedy smile.
Abel let the coin drop inside, the money was already in his jacket when he left the station.
Seems General Greg understood the East End very well.
"Well, I could'a sworn it was one of the Marcossi brothers. Next thing I know, there was a tussle and all that. I took to me heels and went to report the matter. Yes I did officer" Bartholomew nodded with conviction.
Just then, Michelle walked across the street and whispered something to Abel, making him nod.
"Thank you Mr Bartholomew, you're a big help to this investigation" Abel spoke calmly, reaching for his back pocket.
Bartholomew thought it was more payment and so leaned over with his cup.
Clink!!!
The sound of metal was heard, as Bartholomew found out his wrist was restricted by a metal object.
A handcuff
"What in the Goddess name, what say you officer, what crime did I commit?"
Michelle was also stunned. Wasn't this guy just an innocent bystander who witnessed a crime? Why was he being cuffed?
Abel saw the surprise in both their gazes and laughed in amusement.
Then his face darkened as he whispered a question in a low and cold voice.
"You've lived here for how many years?"
"All my life officer, I know the roads like the back of me hand ser"
"Oh, then you should'a known the rules round here. Like don't go snitching to the Blue coats in the open and all that innit?" Abel replied with a smooth scousian accent, reverting to how he spoke when he grew up here.
"Bollocks!" the man exclaimed in fright, his eyes widening.
Abel turned to Michelle, lifting the now cuffed old man and signalling to another officer standing across.
"This is why you need to be careful with your investigations in the East end. You'll always have those who want to profit from the chaos" Abel said as he handed the man to the officer.
"Keep him locked up for a day for false information… that should teach him"
Michelle stood there, shocked and also curious. Even though she didn't fully understand what was going on.
But in her thoughts, a certain individual came to her mind.
When she was still a rookie officer, they'd caught a thief at Red herring street not too far from here.
Her lieutenant always acted like some bumbling idiot, but he was able to crack the case with just a few words and questions.
She knew him for a brief time, and worked with him for even a shorter time.
But something about this man's way of handling matters was similar to his.
Abel Michaelson…