Promise to keep

Daniel and Johnny came out of the prison after gathering the details from Diego.

"Boss, are we going to handle this case?" Johnny asked, uncertain.

"If not us, then who will?" Daniel replied lazily.

"But aren't we busy with the spade card case? Why not pass this one to another team?" Johnny inquired.

Daniel stopped in his tracks and turned to look at his assistant. "Do you think it's a coincidence? Killing Douglas, leaving the spade, involving us in this case, leading us to Diego, and uncovering Gaston's involvement. He wants us in this case."

"It's like walking straight into a trap," Johnny said, his concern evident.

"No harm in posing as a sheep to lure the wolf," Daniel stated calmly.

"But boss, it won't be easy to get to her if she's in Gaston's mansion," Johnny pointed out.

"Who said she's there?" Daniel smirked at him and continued walking.

Johnny stood there, dumbfounded, staring at his boss's retreating back.

His boss was evil!

Daniel knew if he didn't lie to Diego he wouldn't be able to fish anything out of him. He doesn't feel guilty about it, thinking about what Gaston's doing to those children he wants nothing but to smash that old geezer head with the drilling machine. 

Of Course he won't do that, afterall he is a police officer who abides by law.

He went to the orphanage to meet the little girl. Thinking about how to coax the girl to handover the chip, Daniel sighed heavily.

Guided by the caretaker, Daniel made his way to the bustling hall where children played joyfully at its heart. With Hazel's photo etched in his mind from the file his assistant provided, he scanned the area, but she was nowhere in sight.

The caretaker brought him to the large room where a series of beds were placed in the room. As it is daytime almost the room was empty with the blankets scattered messily on every bed and pillows in disarray.

Silently gesturing towards a corner, the caretaker left Daniel alone. He treaded across the room, his footsteps echoing in the hush. There, in the dimness, lay a small figure on a bed, her back turned towards him and facing the wall.

"Hazel," Daniel called softly, his voice a gentle murmur. Observing her tightly curled toes and hunched posture, he sensed her fear of facing others.

"I won't hurt you," he assured, advancing cautiously, mindful not to startle the fragile girl, understanding that any fear could complicate his task of retrieving the chip from her.

As the girl's trembling subsided and she slowly lifted herself from the bed, Daniel caught sight of the scratches and wounds adorning her arms. His gaze darkened with an understanding of Diego's intense fury towards Gaston.

"What is your name?" the girl inquired in a subdued tone.

Daniel remained silent for a moment before responding, "Daniel."

The girl got down from the bed and limped to the table at the side. She took the table clock where the hands of the clock were motionless. She turned it and removed the cover and picked up a small chip from inside where the battery was already discarded.

Daniel was amazed at the little girl's intelligence, but he couldn't understand how the little girl knew he was here for the chip.

After securely holding the chip she limped towards him and held it before him.

"She said you will punish the bad guy if I give it to you. Alice was afraid of that bad guy. Brother Diego is a good man. Will you please punish the bad guy?"

Daniel frowned not knowing who she was referring to but his eyes fell on the hands that held the chip firmly. She was badly hurt but still wanted to save the other girl from getting hurt. His eyes softened as he kneel before her and patted her head. She was too small and skinny for a twelve year old girl.

"Don't worry I will punish the bad guy for you so that he no longer hurt you or your friends" he promised her

"How do you know I was here for the chip? And who told you to give it to me" he asked her softly. Maybe she was an accomplice in the serial murder case, Daniel thought.

Hazel shook her head at him, "I promised her that I won't say to anybody" she limped back to her bed, covered herself with the blanket and closed her eyes.

Daniel stood there for a few minutes wondering who was the one who convinced the little girl to hand over the chip. Before coming here he was not sure how to talk to the girl. Because she got hurt by many people and it is not easy to make her trust him. He already decided that if he is not successful today he may get the help of Diego and let him meet her once to get the chip.

He now saw the chip that fell in his palm without much effort. He gripped the chip in his hand and frowned deeply.

He couldn't understand the murderer's intention at all.