The Phantom Thief by Snowrabbit (short story to read TXT) 📖

study. Then I heard the sound of furious typing before, just a few minutes later, my sister let out a quiet “Got it!”. A few more clicks and she started talking to me again.
“Okay, thankfully I found him even though your information wasn’t really helpful. His name was, though. Because there is just one ‘Alan’ in the data bases of the police office in this town.” She told me his address and I smiled.
“Great, thanks for going through all that trouble for me Lu, love you!”
I hang up and began walking to Alans home. I guess I’d see for myself if he really was ill.

Just a few minutes later I stood in front of his door. He actually lived pretty near to myself. Interesting coincidence. But anyway, I was still the Sapphire Phantom, so I needed to be a little bit careful around other people, you know? So... I rang the doorbell. Don’t ask me why I did that, but it seemed to be the easiest option to get him to the door.
Well, at least I thought it was, but no one answered. So instead, I chose option number two. Since the corridor was deserted I pulled out one of Lucys toys and started to open the door my way. Lock picking wasn’t that hard with that little tool and a few moments later a soft click was heard and the door quietly swung open. Smiling, I entered the small apartment and looked around curiously.
I wondered if Alan was home and how he lived in general, so I took a peak into every room. Not that there were many, just a bathroom, a kitchen, a bedroom and a living room, but it seemed enough for one person. (And I assumed he lived alone as there was just a single bed in the bedroom)
But the thing that worried me a bit was that he wasn’t home. Because really, he didn’t seem like someone who would fake being ill if he hadn’t a very good reason. Especially as today was a day where I’d steal something. After the first time we met each other - as thief and policeman - he somehow... started to get real serious about catching me. He probably didn’t like that kiss back then as much as I did. I mean, I’m not actually the kind of person who ran around kissing random guys, but in that situation back then it was really helpful. And as I already told him, I really thought he tasted good. Though I guessed he would not appreciate if I did it again. At least not now.
But I had other problems anyway, so I called Lucy again.
“What is it now?”
She didn’t really sound annoyed, but she also definitely wasn’t that pleased that I called her two times in a row for something personal. But I knew that she was the only one I could ask, so whatever.
“Lu, listen, could you please

do me another favor? I know I’m asking a lot of things right now, but I’ll get you some new things if you want or help you otherwise later, okay?”
Again, a sigh.
“Fine... what do you want?”
“I just want to know something... was there any contact information as you looked into Alans profile?”
“Yes, a telephone number. Or in his case, I guess it was his cell phone number. Why?”
“Could you try to locate his cell? He’s not home and I have the feeling that he’s not just out buying some stuff in the middle of the night. His apartment looks like he wasn’t even there today.”
“Okay... I just won’t ask why you need it... but be careful, okay? Alec isn’t there to save your ass if something goes wrong...”
I nodded, though she couldn’t see me. “Alright.” I said, meaning it. Because I really had to be careful, as Alec just helped me with the police while I stole, not afterwards. But still, I waited patiently as she worked to locate Alans cell. And while I was pacing through his kitchen I saw how most of the flowers on the table looked as good as dead... the poor things.
I knew it wasn’t my place to do something about it - hell, it wasn’t even my apartment for god’s sake! - but I didn’t really care, I needed an occupation. So I threw the brown ones away - actually... every single flower was brown, what the hell did he do with these poor things? (And yes, I like gardening. Who do you think grows the blue flowers I always leave when I steal something?) - and replaced them with blue roses. I always had some of them with me, so it wasn’t a problem. Also, I changed the water and put a bit of sugar into it, so that the flowers would stay like that a little longer.
And finally, I heard Lucys voice on the other end of the line again (yes, I still had the phone in my hand) as she told me the location where Alans cell had to be. I thanked her again, promised not to take any unnecessary risks and hang up once more.
After that, I put my cell phone back into my pocket and left the Apartment, heading to the address Lucy told me. Oh yes, I’d definitely find that guy and if there wasn’t a good reason he had suddenly vanished I’d think about something to... get even.


Chapter six (Yuri)

The moment I arrived, I knew something was wrong. One might think it was my intuition, but actually, I just guessed, because why the hell was Alans cell phone in a run-down factory building? It didn’t look like a place you would go for... good things, you know? But why should a goody two shoes guy like Alan do something ‘not good’?
Deciding I needed to find out, I made my way around the building, looking for security cameras, windows and maybe some hidden entrances, but the only thing I found was a window which wasn’t closed properly so I could easily open it. But first, I looked around, fearing that the room was already occupied. But it didn’t look like it, it seemed more like a little storage room or something like that.
So I quietly climbed in and went to the door, which I opened a tad bit to peek into the next room. And I really had to control myself to not let out a gasp as I saw what was happening there.
Well... I found Alan, at least. But it certainly was a... surprising position. And not exactly a positive one for the policeman, because as far as I could see, he was tied to a chair. But I couldn’t really come out and help him, because just as I saw him, two other guys came into the room, grinning meanly at the man, stopping in front of him.
“Ah, looks like our little policeman has awoken from his sleep, huh?”, one of them said, grinning at Alan, who just glared at him - something he could do very well by the way, I got to see that glare often enough myself.
“What do you want? If you got enough information about me to kidnap me, you should know that I don’t have money or anything like that.”
I narrowed my eyes. So he really got kidnapped? Darn, these guys had nerves. Even I wasn’t stupid enough to steal from a police officer and they kidnapped one?
Not that I had much time to think about it, as one of the other guys started to answer.
“Well, what do you think that we want? Of course we know that your finances are low, you’re here for something else. Do you remember Mike Cornwall? That’s one of the guys you arrested a while ago. And he’s one of our buddies. So, the deal’s simple: They have to trade you for Mike, then everything is alright.”, the smaller of the two guys explained, while the taller just watched Alan for a while, before speaking up. He didn’t talk to Alan though, but to his fellow.
“Hey... you know, while we have him... why don’t we have some... fun? I mean, look at him, I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt anyone.” He looked at the policeman. “Well, nearly no one, but whatever.”
The other guy thought about it. “Huh... nice idea. That should teach him a lesson, shouldn’t it?” With that, he started smiling, but it was a cruel and even slightly perverted smile. Creepy...
At least Alan seemed to still be able to fight somehow, because as one of the guys tried to touch his clothes he started kicking and even biting. Nice, but against two people at once it wasn’t very helpful. And finally, it seemed to be too much for the guys so one of them took some cloth from somewhere, pressing it on the mouth and nose of the black haired man, until he stopped struggling.
Chloroform, I guessed. But as they undid the bonds and laid him on the ground, I decided it was enough. I wasn’t sure if I could take both guys down, but I had to, because I sure as hell would not stay here any longer and watch these guys doing... certain things to Alan. I might’ve been a thief, but I actually had a conscience. And letting innocent people suffer definitely wasn’t my style.
So before they could begin taking off any clothes - or doing anything inappropriate at all - I opened the door fully, drawing the gaze of both guys to me.
“Good evening you two. I can assume you know who I am? I’m sorry that I did not send a note beforehand, but I think you have something I want. And I always

get what I want. So... is there any chance that you give up and let me take him” - I pointed at Alan - “with me?”
But of course, it wasn’t that easy.
“Are you crazy? That guy is our friends ticket to freedom, we so aren’t just letting him go. Why should we?”
I shrugged. “Why not? Better letting him go than getting arrested for kidnapping, right?” I pulled out a voice recorder and turned it on, trying to let it stay unnoticed. And it actually worked.
“Do you really think we let him go just because you want us to? We’ve kidnapped him and we’re keeping him here until they let Mike go. We’re professionals, idiot!”
I smiled, turning the thing off again. “Yes, very professional, letting confessions like that getting recorded.” I showed the thing to the guys and their eyes went wide as they understood.
“Give that to us!” One of them held out his hand but the other one - seemingly the one who was more brawns than brains - simply walked to me, probably to get the thing straight from me.
“I don’t think so.” I walked backwards to avoid the guy reaching me while putting the recorder back into my pocket, but I knew I didn’t have much time to think what I should do now, because I was backing off into a corner. Also, the guy took one of the loose iron rods lying on the floor. Not good... I probably wouldn’t get close enough to take him down barehanded without receiving a blow first.
So I did the only other thing I could think about: Taking an iron rod too. Thankfully I had also some training in kendo, so I was able to fend him off for a while.
But already after the first few attacks I knew it wouldn’t last long because I definitely was weaker than my opponent, at least physically. So with his next blow I ducked to dodge, before striking the guy in the chest. I might’ve