A new strategy

Elisa grabbed Noel's arm in frustration. "Noel! This is the second time I've found you like this! Starving yourself to death won't help you find them!"

"I don't have time for this." He sighed and yanked his hand away. He looked so tired that he barely had the energy to sound angry.

Elisa frowned and stood in his path, blocking his way. "You haven't eaten the entire day. Take a break already, kid."

Noel inhaled in some air to calm his rage and glared at her. "Let me make something clear. I won't take a break until I find a reliable clue to where in the hell Rai and Anastasia are. I don't care what state I'm in, and you shouldn't either."

Elisa's frown deepened as she stared at him. Finally, her shoulders dropped and she stepped aside. "What are you going to do now?"

"Teach someone a lesson." His face twisted in anger.

Elisa sighed, knowing that he'd end up doing something reckless if no one was there to keep him in check. "I'll come with you."

Noel brushed past her and made his way into the cell where Aleck was locked up. Upon hearing the loud bang of the door slamming open, Aleck quickly looked up at Noel from where he was sitting.

"I hope you've managed to catch the murderer." He smirked.

Noel's face crumpled in anger at the sight of him and he forgot all the promises he made to himself about caging his anger. He bolted in and grabbed him by his collar before punching him hard across his face. Blood dripped down his lips as he cackled like a maniac.

"Let me guess. Mr. Smartass couldn't do anything to save his dear friends." He mocked. "How helpless and pathetic you are."

Noel's face twisted more in anger. "Shh. If your disgusting voice was any louder, I would've blasted off your stomach."

Aleck's smirk faded as he slowly looked down at the revolver pointing at his stomach.

His eyes wavered in fear as he looked back at him. "Scaring me like this won't help."

Elisa stood by the metal door of the cell, watching Noel have his way with him. She didn't stop him because they had no other sources of information about the case.

Noel knew that it only needed a strong threat to make Aleck squeal like a rat when it falls for the bait and gets trapped.

"Now, if you didn't realize it yet, I'm not joking about killing you here. You already know I have enough power to cover up the murder of a nobody like you." His lips curled up into a smile. "So, sit down like a good boy and spill everything you know."

Although he was smiling, his pale grey eyes were cold and menacing.

Aleck didn't move. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he maintained eye contact with him.

Noel's smile faded and he looked away in disbelief, shaking his head. "I wonder why you're trying to be so brave right now..."

And right then, Noel pulled the trigger. The loud bang of the gunshot echoed in the quiet cell.

In a flash, one of Aleck's fingers blew off of his hand and slammed against the wall before dropping down on the ground with a little of blood oozing out of it.

Blood sprayed from where his finger was blown off. Aleck stood there in utter shock. It took him a second to realize what had happened before the stinging pain took over his hand. He screamed in agony as he clutched his bloody hand, looking at it in terror.

Elisa's eyes widened at the brutality and the blood all over the ground but she didn't say a word. It was necessary for this to happen, after all. They had no choice. If fear didn't work, the only thing he could do was turning the fear into a nightmare.

Noel clicked his tongue and looked back at him. "Now look at all of this blood. This is what happens when you underestimate me."

"YOU'RE A MONSTER!" Aleck screamed angrily while blood continued to drip down the half of his finger that was still attached to his hand.

"What did you expect from a serial killer's son?" He smirked.

"Now, will you tell me if you know where Ryan's organization is or do I need to blow off something else?"

Aleck trembled under his threatening gaze. "I-I know where it is."

It took a few more threats for him to actually spill out everything he knew about Ryan Smith. The fact that Aleck feared Ryan more than death disturbed Noel and Elisa. He was ready to do anything but speak about him. It made them wonder what kind of terror Ryan instilled into his men that they would rather die than reveal anything that could give him away. Aleck must've worked with Ryan for a considerable amount of time to be trusted with his information.

Finally, Noel and Elisa left the cell with all the information they discovered from him.

They sat on a bench outside the department and looked at the busy streets and kids giggling and jumping around at the park nearby. A cool breeze blew around them.

Elisa sighed as she sipped her coffee. "Please don't tell me you are planning to sneak into the organization's lab on your own."

Noel chuckled. "You know me well."

He seemed much more calm since he'd gotten a lead on the case.

"This isn't something to laugh about! Do you realize how dangerous and reckless it sounds?"

Noel rolled his eyes. "The cops won't help me and Rai and Anastasia are missing. The least I can do is try. Or do you suggest me to stay here and dig their graves?"

Elisa looked at him with all seriousness. "Then you're not going alone. I'm coming with you."

Noel looked at her and frowned. "Are you out of your mind? Its dangerous." He sighed. "Besides, it's got nothing to do with you. It's something I'm bound to do. I have to stop my father."

Elisa placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "You don't have to do everything on your own. Learn to rely on others sometimes."

Just as they were talking, an officer called out to Elisa. She turned her head around and noticed the officer waving at her with an air of urgency.

"I'll be right back." She nodded before getting up to leave.

Noel leaned back and gazed at the pale blue tiles of the sky. He breathed in the fresh air and closed his eyes.

After a few minutes, Noel's phone rang. He grabbed his phone and picked up the call while gazing at the sky.

"I just got news that there's been a missing person case filed. They're asking me to take care of it." Elisa said in an apologetic tone. "I'll try to finish this off as soon as possible."

"A missing person case isn't simple, Elisa. You don't have to tag along with me. I'll be fine, I promise."

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"I'm not a kid. Don't worry." Noel chuckled.

Elisa sighed. "Alright, but don't forget to contact me anytime you're in danger or when you need help."

"I will fill you in with all the information before I leave." Noel replied. "And good luck with the case."

"You need luck more than me right now." Elisa chuckled. "I'm counting on you, genius."

Noel smiled and ended the call.

That night, Noel packed his bag with all the things that he would need for the journey. He installed a transparent tracker through which Elisa would know his location at any given time. It looked like a usual shirt's button which he attached onto his shirt.

He also wore a watch with three buttons on its screen specialized to alert someone about the situation. The green button symbolized "safe", the red button symbolized "danger" and the blue button was a symbol of "tension", which meant the person had noticed suspicious behaviour around them.

At first glance, the watch looked like just any other regular smart watch with a touch screen. The only difference was that it had an additional feature and was connected to Elisa in the police department.

Noel sighed as he slumped on the couch. He glanced around him. It felt so empty. The atmosphere of the apartment was dull and lifeless without Anastasia bickering with him over the silliest things and Rai laughing while they quarelled like little kids.

He never realized how quickly they became an important part of his life. The corners of his lips raised slightly at the memories of the old days.

"I'll find you both no matter what. I just hope I'm not too late."