Chapter 161 - Missing Necklace

Erick turned to look at him and said with his stern voice "Bryan, Let go. I should not waste any more time. Elle needs me. I think she is in danger right now. She just pressed the necklace's emergency signal."

Sensing the seriousness and urgency in Erick's voice, Bryan released his hand. Erick rushed to his car and Bryan followed him. He decided to tag along with him.

He also wanted to accompany Erick to give him support and back up. After Erick's life was put in danger, he promised himself that he would do his best to protect his buddy the next time they would encounter dangerous situations again.

Erick was so focused on driving that Bryan did not dare to utter a word. He stepped on the gas to speed up. He rushed through the streets and cut up several vehicles on the road. He was driving too fast that made Bryan's body shuddered from nervousness. 

'Damn... I have never seen Erick do this kind of dangerous driving before! I feel like I am having a heart attack.' Bryan mumbled to himself as he closed his eyes.

On the other hand, Erick's mind was occupied by Elle. The thought of Elle is being in danger was making him lost his mind. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as his heartbeat accelerated rapidly from too much worry and nervousness.

'Elle, please be safe. I'm coming. Wait for me.'

Erick wished that Elle was still safe and sound and he was not yet too late because he did not know what he would do if something bad happened to her.

Sure enough, after fifteen minutes of silent driving with his full speed on the busy streets of City Z, Erick and Bryan arrived at their destination where the location of the emergency signal was coming from.

Erick checked his phone again as he tracked down the location of the emergency signal. Both of them came out rushing of the car.

Erick and Bryan were dumbfounded the moment they saw the familiar building in front of them. Both of them stared with each other, looking so confused. They have the same question in mind.

'What Elle is doing here? This is the main office of Arison Holdings and Mining Corporation, right?'

They were standing in front of the building which was the head office of Arison Holdings and Mining Corporation.

From afar, James was walking towards the exit of the building. He decided to take his lunch outside and drop by again at Falcon Cafe after.

James frowned when he noticed the two familiar figures standing outside the building near the entrance.

"Those two are Chief  Lee and Sergeant Velasquez. What are they doing here?" James mumbled to himself. He decided to approach and greet them.

Meanwhile, James and Bryan were about to enter the building when suddenly Erick's phone started to ring. He stopped on his track when he saw the caller I.D. Elle was the one who was calling him right now.

He immediately answered it. "Elle, where are you!" he said as his voice was filled with worry and concern.

"I should be the one asking you that. Where did the two of you run off?" Elle was referring to Erick and Bryan. Erick was confused when he heard Elle's angry tone.

"I thought both of you are working here at home. Don't tell me that you and Bryan went to the headquarter. I have told you many times that you are not allowed to go to work unless you are fully recovered." Elle started to rant at him.

"Can't you wait for another week Mr. Detective? So eager to work huh. Go home now or else I will not allow you to work for another one month!" Elle threatened him with her stern voice.

It just so happened that Elle went home early today and she brought them lunch. So she felt annoyed when she did not see Erick and Bryan at home. She thought Erick lied to her and went to work today without informing her.

Erick who was confused and puzzled at the same time asked Elle once again. "Where are you, Elle? Please, tell me?"

Sensing the hint of concern and urgency in the voice of Erick, Elle thought that something was wrong.

"I am at home. I brought lunch for the three of us. How about you? Where are you?"

Erick did not answer her question. "Wait for me. I'm coming home now."

Erick hung up the phone and he quickly got inside the car. He wanted to see Elle badly. Bryan who was oblivious of what was happening also entered the car.

James was about to reach them when suddenly the two men rode the car and drove away from the building. 

'I thought they are here to visit us and talk about something related to my father's case.  Why are they leaving in a hurry?' James marveled as he watched the car as it vanished from his sight in just a few seconds.

After the fifteen minutes drives, Erick and Bryan arrived at home. They saw Elle standing in the balcony with her arms folded across her chest.

Erick alighted from the car in a hurried manner and he rushed towards Elle. Bryan just shook his head while watching the couple in front of him.

"What is happening here." He mumbled as he scratched the back of his head.

Meanwhile, Erick was now in front of Elle, looking at her with his mixed emotions. 

Elle was about to scold him but her words died on her lips as she took in the deep worry lines and gaunt features of the man before her.

She had the urge to threw her arms around his neck and kiss away the worry on his face. But before she could do that, Erick's strong arms already engulfed her in a tight hug.

"Ahem... did anything happen?" Elle asked Erick.  She could feel the fast beating of Erick's heart.

"I thought you were in danger." Elle's warmth and her familiar scent calmed his racing heart.

"Hmm... you are overthinking. Are you doing this as an alibi so that I will not reprimand you by leaving the house without telling me?" Her wandering gaze came up to his face. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she flashed her mischievous smile.

Seeing her smile, now Erick was feeling better. He let out a soft chuckle as he pinched her nose.

"You are driving me crazy Elle. Do you know that?" Erick looked at her helplessly.

"Don't worry too much. You taught me how to defend my self, remember?" Elle assured him.

"I know, but still I cannot stop myself from worrying about you. I want to protect you always."

Bryan could not stand to see them like this anymore so he decided to let the couple be aware of his existence.

He cleared his throat to catch their attention before he talked.

"Ahem, is everything alright now? Can we take our lunch now, hehe I am a little bit hungry?" Bryan said as he interrupted the couple.

"Yes, I already prepared the food in the dining room. Come, let's eat." Elle said to the two men.

Bryan entered the house first not waiting for Elle and Erick. Erick remained standing in front of Elle as he held both her shoulders.

His gaze wandered around her face and it fell to her neck. He frowned as soon as he did not see the necklace around her neck.

"Elle, did you remember the necklace I gave you last time? Why are you not wearing it?" He asked her softly.

Elle was taken aback when she heard his question. She unconsciously raised her hand to touch her neck.

She already forgot about it. Her necklace was gone. She did not know where she lost it and when it became missing.

When she found out that the necklace was missing she tried to look for it thinking that she just misplaced it but to her disappointment, she never saw it again.

"I think I lost the necklace. I don't know when and where. I am sorry about that." Elle answered him truthfully. She smiled at him apologetically as she felt guilty for losing the necklace.

"Maybe you lost it during the kidnapping incident last week?" Erick said to her as he was thinking maybe James saw it and took it. James might press the button accidentally that's why when he and Bryan tracked the signal, they arrived at the Arison Holdings.

"Nope. I don't think so. It was already missing before that incident happened." Elle said with a hint of certainty in her voice.

"Did you visit Arison Holdings and Mining Corporation? Are you seeing James behind my back?" Erick asked her seriously.

Elle's eyes widened because of his question. She did not know whether she would laugh or be mad at him.

"Hey... why are you asking me that ridiculous and random questions? And why I sense some jealousy right now?" Elle looked at him with disbelief but Erick was just staring at her intently, anticipating her answer.

"Of course not, I only saw James for the past few days when he went to our Cafe to buy some snacks for their employees." She said honestly but her second statement was a lie. "And where is that Arison Holdings? I have never set foot in that place."

'Except when I gave the Arison Siblings a warning.' She thought to herself.

Erick was put in deep thought after hearing her answer. 'If that's the case, then why is it her missing necklace was inside that building?'

"Hey, why are you asking me this? I should be the one asking you. Where did you and Bryan go?" Elle asked him quizzically.

Erick sighed heavily before he answered her "I thought you were in danger since I received an emergency signal coming from the necklace I gave you. I did not know your necklace was missing."

"I think someone pressed the button accidentally. We tracked the location and the signal brought us in the Arison Holdings." Erick explained to her what happened.

Elle was also surprised by his remarks. 'D*mn, how is that possible?'