Chapter 63 - 63: The Hideout

Today was the time when Special Task Force Eagles and Team Alpha Cinco would visit the address of rumored hideout of Catseye base on the intel that Marie got during her undercover in the underground world.

They were divided into two team, 1 van was for the forensic experts and 1 van was for the members of joint forces of Eagles and Alpha.

While on the way, Bryan didn't leave Erick alone. He pestered him all throughout the journey, asking about Elle and him. Before they left the headquarter he made sure to sit beside Erick.

"Chief Lee, how are you? Did you talk to Elle? Have you reconcile already?" Bryan asked Erick in a tone that only both of them could hear.

Bryan had observed that Erick was really in a good mood today unlike yesterday. He wondered if Elle and Erick already made up.

"Why do we need to reconcile? We didn't fight in the first place?" Erick replied to him.

Bryan stared at him with a doubtful look.

'Weh, he is saying that they didn't fight... then what's with his serious face last night while saying to Elle "So this time you are pulling a prank on me and my parents? Hmmp Liar!' Bryan mumbled to himself while raising his right brows.

"What did you say?" Erick asked him as he noticed that Bryan was mumbling something.

"Nothing Chief! hehe I said that you look so handsome today. You are emitting a positive vibes." Bryan lied and just gave him a force smile. Bryan still couldn't believe him.

Erick let out a chuckle and just shook his head. Bryan was using his sweet talking skills again.

'See.... I think they already reconciled. He is back to his normal self. Tsk Tsk... I should commend Elle for that.' Bryan thought to himself.

"Ahem, By the way Chief, how will you deal with your parents. Are you going to tell them the truth between you and Elle true relationship. You looked unhappy last night because Elle pretended to be your girlfriend."

Bryan just whispered to him, making sure that other's couldn't hear them. Luckily they were seating at the back.

Erick paused upon hearing that sudden question from Bryan. He really loved to gossips.

"Nope. We will continue to pretend. It is better this way. I respect Elle's decision. She doesn't want my parents to know her situation and she thought it will be safer for them not to be involved in her personal problem." Erick said to him honestly.

"Hmm, Okay! I understand." Then Bryan suddenly gave him a meaningful smile.

"Why are you smiling foolishly like that?"

"Nothing Chief. I am just happy that finally you find an instant girlfriend. I wonder how both of you will act in front of your parents. I am afraid that they can see through your lies. Hahaha!" Bryan couldn't help but laugh just imagining how awkward they would act in front of his parents.

Erick just looked at him helplessly. Bryan really had a unique way of thinking.

"Ahem... Let's have a bet Chief Lee!"

Erick gave him a questioning look.

"What do you mean?"

"I bet that Uncle Raymond and Aunt Sarah will able to find out that both of you are just pretending in just 5 days. hehehe" Bryan said to him with confidence.

"Hmm is that what you think?" Bryan nodded vigorously while smiling at him. He was certain that he would win the bet if ever Erick accept it.

Erick suddenly hit him on his head.

"Ouch!" Bryan grunted.

"Ok deal. Don't regret it! I will not go easy on you. Remember, you are the one who provoke me first." a smirk appeared on Erick's face.

After one hour of travel, they arrived on Elle's previous hideout. Sign that explosion happened was evident to the place.

Windows shattered, pieces of glass and steel scattered on the place. A huge part of the wall had been taken out of the side and the roof of the house was in wrecked.

They also saw bullets and daggers scattered on the place. There were aslo mark of blood stains which was already dried on the dirt and sand. Forensic experts already collected some blood samples.

Marie, Carl, Jason, Erick and Bryan roamed around the area. They were careful and vigilant. Everyone was hoping that Catseye left behind trace evidence that can be used to identify her identity. They were looking for fingerprints, hairs and fibre, and other trace evidence.

"Chief, what do you think happen here? Is Black Shadow wanted Catseye dead so they blasted this place?"

"I am not sure. But seeing this, I can say that those daggers and bullets were aimed towards the intruders. Catseye installed a sophisticated security system to her place." Erick said as he analyzed every details that he could see right now.

Erick and Bryan were now inside the ruined house, checking everything when Erick noticed a secret passage under the floor.

They tried to open it and they succeeded.

"Wow, there is an underground secret bas.e.m.e.nt!" Bryan gasped in surprise.

" Marie...Carl! Captain Jason! Come here! You need to see this!" Bryan called for them. Marie, Jason and Carl came rushing as they heard Bryan.

The five of them went inside the secret bas.e.m.e.nt. But to their disappointment, the room was already empty.

"We are too late. We can just hope that our forensic team can find something." Captain Jason said while feeling frustrated.

"Catseye....she is really something. I think Catseye was the one who set the bomb to explode. We also brought here one bomb expert. He was now checking what kind of bomb caused explosion here." Marie said to them.

"Tell the forensic team to come here, they might also find something here like Catseye's hair and fingerprints, or anything useful in tracing her using her DNA samples." Captain Jason ordered Carl.

Erick was silently observing the whole room. He was in a deep thought. Seeing Catseye hideout, he could analyze something regarding Catseye ways of thinking and how she worked.

Suddenly, Erick got a phone call. It was from his mother.

"Hello Mom?" Erick said as he answered the phone. A few seconds, Erick's frown.

"Mom...calm down. I can't understand what you are saying. " Erick was now looked confused.

"Hostage?? What do you mean Mom? Calm down first and speak clearly. What's wrong?" Erick started to feel nervous.

Jason, Marie and Bryan were now staring at Erick. Their attention was caught when Erick said the word Hostage.

Then after a while, series of emotions appeared on Erick's expressions. He asked the person on the other line

"Where are you right now Mom?"

Then suddenly, without wasting any more time, Erick came out rushing from the bas.e.m.e.nt with a dark serious expression from his face. Erick left in hurry without saying where he is going.

The three people were puzzled what was happening. It seemed that it was something bad and really serious. That was the first time for Marie and Jason seeing Erick with those expression.

Then they heard a screeching sound of car which was leaving the place in a full speed.