Néon Raider ♉

Caught

Léon's phone buzzed. He picked it up as he drove straight ahead. He was headed home. That was the only place he could ensure Ivory's safety.

"Danielle." Léon answered the phone.

"What?...No, I'm alright. Yes...sure. I'm...totally fine. Yes... What?...no I'm not hurt, I promise. Yes I will call in case of any...yes thanks. Can I call you later? I'm driving...what...sure...yes. Thanks." Léon breathed. What was Danielle so worried about? She had a vision about him in trouble? How much trouble could he be in? He was going to jail. No magic on earth could reverse that.

"Everything alright?" Ivory asked, leaning on the car seat.

"Perfect. Everything is fine." Léon lied.

"What the..." Léon began as he slowed down his range rover at the driveway, leading to his house. Two police vehicles emerged in front of him and another, behind him, their sirens blaring.

"I wasn't going too fast. Was I? I mean I stayed below speed limit. Why are they tailing me?" Léon slowed and stopped the vehicle. He wanted to make sure he wasn't in some form of a car chase.

"I think maybe they are just passing by. You were below the 120 speed limit." Ivory spoke in a lazy voice, yawning with her arms open wide. It was 11pm. Surely she was tired as heck.

Go on. Léon urged as the police vans approached. He hated confrontations and run ins with the forces of law and order. A criminal was always on the lookout.
His heart stopped in his chest when the police van stopped right behind the Range Rover. I'll be damned. He thought to himself trying to remain calm and collected.

"Léon Parcifal, step out of the vehicle with your hands out." A police officer wailed from a loud speaker.

Ivory jerked gasping for breath.
"Léon," She turned to him, her eyes filled with fear.

"They have guns. What's happening?" She closed her mouth with her hands and tears welled in her eyes.

"Stay in the vehicle." He unlocked his safety belt.

Damn it. He cursed to himself.

Caught. Checkmate. He shook his head silently.

"Everything will be fine. If anything happens to me, call the last number on my phone. And call Monsieur Laurent." Léon dictated, writing his phone password on a piece of paper and shoving in to her hands.

Ivory gazed up at him in shock.
"No, Léon why? What's going on? Talk to me." She pleaded.

"Léon Parcifal, exit the vehicle. This is your last warning. I will shoot into the vehicle." The police officer intimidated.

"Shoot?" Ivory shrieked, her body shuddered and tears fell from her eyes.

"Hey, Ivory. Calm down. Do not be afraid. I promise nothing will happen. Just call the last number alright." He voiced.

"I'm coming out." Léon yelled, opening the car door slowly.

"Don't shoot." Léon held his gaze down and exited the vehicle.

"No, Léon." Ivory yelled opening her own door.

"Hands up." The built officer pointed his gun at him as another came with cuffs. Four more officers pointed their guns at him.

"On your knees." The officers with he cuffs roared.

"OK. OK." Léon complied, getting down on his knees.

"Léon," Ivory sobbed, coming round to the confrontation.

"Hey, hey, hey. On your knees." Officers yelled.

"Leave her out of this. She has nothing to do with this." Léon yelled as a burly officer shoved Ivory face down.

"What is happening." Ivory cried.

"Why are you arresting us? We've done nothing wrong." Ivory sobbed.

"Please, let her go." Léon yelled as the officer cuffed him.

"Léon Parcifal, you are under arrest for murder. Whatever you say will be used against you in the court of law." The officer held him and pushed him inside he van.

"Murder? What... Murder." Ivory wailed.

"No, Ivory. I'm no murderer. Just do what I told you and you'll see that I'm innocent. I am many things, but I'm not a murderer. Please believe..." His voice drowned as the officers shoved him into the van.

"Let the girl go." A senior officer ordered as the officer who'd arrested Ivory, uncuffed her.

"You look like a nice girl. Innocent at that. You should stay away from the likes of Léon. He is a criminal. We've been hunting him for years and now he has murdered someone." The officer smacked his lips.

"You are lucky young lady. You would have been next in his list." The officer advised.
Ivory fell to her knees and sobbed onto her hands.
No. This couldn't be happening. Léon? The Léon a murderer? No. She didn't believe it for one second. Maybe love blinded her, but she had to help him and do as she said.

"Where are you taking him?" Ivory sobbed.

"Commissariat Avenue de Grasse." The police officer announced.

"Can I get my stuff from the vehicle? Just my bag." She cleaned her eyes and stood up from the ground.

"Sure. We are impounding this car for more investigations. If you want, I can drop you off." The police officer offered as Ivory went round to the passenger seat, took her bag, Leon's phone and the number he'd scribbled and responded.

"I'll be fine. I'll just take a taxi." She sniffed.

"Suit yourself. And be safe, mademoiselle." The officer winked, adjusting his oversized pants.

Ivory's feet wobbled as she exited the scene taking a detour from the driveway to the residential area. She had to make it to town or find a pub with people where she could seat and strategize. First, she'd call Monsieur Laurent, then the last call log.

"Hello," She stammered.

"I know it's late sir...yes,its Ivory. Sorry...to wake you...it's important. Léon has been arrested...Avenue de Grasse police station...he said to ca...just now. Please hurry. "She dropped the call.

"Ivory, what are you doing with Léon's phone?" Ivory mimicked
Louis Lauren's voice.

"Out of all the things you could possibly say when your client was arrested and you are interested with what I'm doing with his phone? Asinine." Ivory grumbled, scrolling to the last call log.
Danielle. She whispered. Who was Danielle? She shrugged, calling the number.

Ivory shuddered as a fruity female voice responded. Her voice as clear and mesmerising she felt jealous already.

"Hello, miss. Léon told me to call you. He's been arrested...murder... yes...commissariat Avenue de Grasse...Marseille? Fine...I do not know where I am...yes, I'll look for a pub then I'll call you... Tomorrow? Fine. I will be waiting." Ivory dropped the call and clutched her aching forehead.

She had to look for a pub or somewhere public. Danielle, whoever she was to Léon had shrieked in fright at the news. It seemed she was someone special. She was in Marseille and was on her way to book any available flight to Cannes. She must mean so much to Léon. And she was just a nobody.

Néon Raider will return...