Chapter 342 - 342: A Thief in the Night

Despite how devastated he was for everything that happened today, still, Erick went on duty for tonight's surveillance operation. 

Carl didn't know how to approach him. Erick was just sitting quietly inside their service van, watching the computer screen. Their car was parked in the vicinity area of Samuel Sy's compound.

He knew that Erick was still in shock because of the revelation Officer Clint had told them this morning. They were thinking that they finally found Elle's missing body because of the ring. 

He knew how hard it was for Erick, killing the remaining hope he had that Elle was still alive out there. Erick left their office immediately then when he came back his clothes were all wet.

He had no plan of changing his clothes, fortunately, Bryan was there. He brought him extra clothes and urged Erick to change or else he might catch a cold.

But, it looked like Erick's immune system also gave in today. He started sneezing and coughing. Carl glanced at him worriedly.

"Chief Lee, I think you should go home now. You don't look well. Did you take medicine?" Carl could no longer stay silent.

"It's alright… Cough! Cough! I'm just fine." Erick simply stated.

Carl just looked at their stubborn Chief helplessly.

'What is he doing? Trying to kill himself for overworking?'

Carl didn't know how to handle Erick, that's why he called a friend. He had no choice but to disturb Bryan tonight and inform him that Erick was not feeling well yet still insisting on staying.

After half an hour, a car arrived at their location and Bryan alighted from it. He immediately approached Erick's highly tinted service van. He knocked two times before the door was opened.

It was Carl who let him enter. When Erick saw Bryan, his brows were automatically drawn together in a frown.

"What are you doing here, Sergeant Velasquez?" Erick asked him with his hoarse voice.

Bryan was looking at him with a very serious face. "I came to substitute you for tonight's duty. Oh before that, I also came to pick you up and I am planning to drive you home."

Erick was unhappy to hear that. "I said I am just fine." He turned to Carl with his chilly glint.

'[email protected], I am just worried about you, Chief.' Carl was tongue-tied after seeing the cold and grim expression of Erick.

Bryan sighed helplessly. "You need to rest, Chief Lee. You are not in your 100 percent condition to work tonight. If something might happen tonight and everything goes wrong because you are not feeling well then are you still insisting on staying here despite the fact that you might put yourself and your partner's life in jeopardy?"

K.O!

Bryan just hit Erick's soft spot. Even though Erick could be so stubborn sometimes, he was not the kind of person who would let his colleagues be put in danger.

Erick also knew his body well. He could feel it too. He already had a fever but he just tried to endure it or rather he just ignored it.

Having no way to refute Bryan, Erick moved from his seat, stepping out of the car. Carl and Bryan just followed him.

"I'm sorry about this. I'll just take a rest tonight. But tomorrow I'll take over. Bryan, please assist Carl tonight. Report anything unusual to me. Is that clear?" Erick finally agreed on going home.

Bryan: "Yes, Chief!"

Carl: "Noted, Chief!"

The two men felt relieved after they succeeded in convincing Erick to go home and rest.

"Erick, just leave this to us," Bryan said as he tapped his shoulder.

Erick just gave him a nod before turning back going towards Bryan's car. Bryan just told Carl to wait for him. He would just drop Erick to his house.

Unknown to them, Elle was also there, watching over them from a distance. After confronting Sherlock a while ago, she told him to scram. She took his car keys and used his car, without telling him where to go.

Afraid that their Queen might become furious again, he had no choice but to follow her order. Sherlock just made a mental note to inform Supremo that his existence was already discovered by their Queen.

"What's wrong? Why did Erick and Bryan leave Carl? Is he the only one doing the surveillance tonight?" Elle mumbled to herself, wondering.

"I should have planted a spying device on them too."

In order to get some answers, Elle decided to show herself to Carl and just asked him directly. As usual, Carl was surprised to see her.

"Miss Ali, what are you doing here?" Carl blurted out in disbelief.

"I miss some action so I decided to come with you again for this surveillance operation," Elle said as an alibi.

"Oh, I guess you really need a partner tonight. Why are you alone? Where's Chief Lee?" Elle simply asked him.

Carl just scratched his face while smiling awkwardly at her. 'If Chief Lee is here I am sure he won't allow Aliyah to join us. She's still a civilian.'

"I'm sorry, Miss Aliyah. I am afraid this time I can't allow you to join us in this surveillance operation. It is dangerous. You shouldn't be here. Besides, I am not alone. Bryan will be my partner tonight. Chief Lee is not feeling well. I think he has a cold right now."

With that, Elle got the answer she needed. Erick was not feeling well so Bryan came here to fetch him. After dropping him at his place, Bryan would return and accompany Carl for tonight's operation.

"Alright! I think you are right. I shouldn't be here right now." Elle said which made Carl feel grateful. He was glad that Aliyah didn't insist on staying, unlike their stubborn Chief Lee.

'I should go and check on Erick.'

That's what Elle was thinking at that moment. She was worried about him. She believed that he got sick because he was drenched with rain this afternoon.

Elle bade Carl goodbye, leaving the place in a rush. She headed straight to Erick's place. She parked nearby and saw Bryan's car leave.

She just remained in her car while watching Erick's house. Soon, all the lights were turned off. Erick went to sleep.

"[email protected], Elle! What are you thinking by coming here?" she asked herself exasperatedly.

She forgot that she couldn't let Erick see her. But she was worried about him. She wanted to see him and be with him.

Elle was contemplating whether to just leave or go to Erick. After spending an hour of thinking about what to do, her concern for him took over her mind. She didn't care anymore. She wanted to ensure that he was just fine.

She took a deep breath and stepped out of her car. She made up her mind. She would try to sneak into the house and see Erick.

She was thinking that Erick would be sleeping now especially if he took the medicine. Cold-Flu Medicine had some drowsy effects.

"I will just take a peek on him then leave immediately." Elle kept saying that to herself, convincing herself that there's nothing wrong with what she was planning to do as of this moment.

"Just a peek… just a short peek. It will not take long. I will be quick." Elle mumbled, walking towards Erick's house's main door.

'Sh¡t… why do I feel like I am a thief trying to break into someone else's house tonight? Elle… you are really insane, reckless, and crazily in love with this detective!' Elle thought to herself as she carefully and quietly tried to open the locked door.