The Envoy of Darkness

Chapter 21 - The Kidnapping Part 2

After their third day in the archive room, Liliana and Amy dragged Max to the station with renewed enthusiasm. However, their excitement was damped by the department's strange atmosphere. The police force bustled with agitation, gathering around a tall man in a suit, their attention on the board behind him covered with notes, newspaper clippings and photographs.

"This is already the twelfth time now, this phantom is making us look like idiots!" The man yelled; his frustrations apparent.

As they stood on the periphery, trying to get a gist of things, Max took advantage of his height to take a good look at the board. Frowning, he immediately remembered the article on the town's wanted criminals. Among the recorded goons, an unidentified kidnapper and presumed serial killer stood out the most with almost a dozen known kidnappings under his name.

Irked, Max quietly returned to the archive room and spent some time going through the files pertaining to this mystery man, 'The Phantom'. The minimal evidence and findings showed no pattern between the kidnappings and assumed killings. Out of the eleven crimes on record, seven were committed in Ironforge while the remaining four were in smaller towns and villages in the vicinity.

In the conference outside, Harry asked, "Sir, isn't it time we take this up with the Earl? If he can pass on the message to the Count, perhaps, we might even get some reinforcements."

"Silence!" The chief berated in a voice of fury, "Do you think I haven't done that already? Why do you think I'm here again?! The Earl has given us a week. If we can't capture this pretentious low-life in time, this entire department will be decommissioned and replaced. We've already been made out to be a laughing stock because of our incompetency. I don't need you to remind me of this stain on our department!"

"But that's not what I was doing..." Harry quietly grumbled and lowered his head in dismay.

Amy seemed more than displeased. The Earl's behavior had earned her disapproval. She couldn't understand why the man hadn't sent out his own reinforcements. The Phantom was targeting people within the Walker territory and the person in charge of this sub-domain seemed to be doing nothing.

While everyone was preoccupied with the possibility of losing their jobs, Laurel interrupted the chief with a hint of anger. "Sir, if we need more people on this case, let me get on it. This isn't the time to let our personal matters get in the way of the bigger picture!"

The chief scowled. "Do you want to be suspended?"

"But -"

"Enough! You heard me! Everyone get out there and get me something credible!"

Shot down again, Laurel quietly cursed and fumed, unable to say anything else. The remaining officers silently stood rooted to their spots. Seeing his subordinates simply standing and exchanging glances, the chief nearly blew his top. He screamed yet again, "The hell are you all waiting for? Go do your god damn jobs!"

Max came out of the archive room just in time to watch the group jolt into action. He saw Laurel give the chief a spiteful glare before she noticed the trio and silently signaled them to meet her inside.

"How much of that did you lot hear?"

Max had heard her appeal and had immediately felt that something was off. Still, he innocently smiled and answered, "Enough."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Liliana earnestly added.

Laurel knit her brows and sighed. "No. This is beyond the scope of your assignment and far too dangerous for kids like you. Just leave this to the pros."

After some serious contemplation, Amy finally joined the conversation. She said, "I don't mean to overstep my bounds, but –"

"Then don't!"