It was already evening.
Streetlights flickered to life as Ariana and her father were on their way to the police department, the city slowly sinking into dusk. And night was about to take the shift.
Vroom… vroom…
Mr. Lockhart gripped the steering wheel firmly, pressing the accelerator as if the years had peeled away and youth had briefly returned to him.
"Dad…" Ariana broke the silence, glancing sideways. "Can I ask you something about the case?".
It seemed like she had something on her mind but...
She hesitated, but still continued, curiosity sharpening her voice.
"Has the Man in the Pink Suit ever shown his face? Even a little…?"
"Huhhh…?"
The question caught Mr. Lockhart off guard. For a second, his expression twisted into pure confusion, as if he were wondering what on earth his daughter was thinking.
"Hahahaha!"
He laughed out loud, so openly that even passersby could probably hear him through the open windows.
"Dad! What are you laughing at?!" Ariana snapped. "Do you think my question is that dumb?!"
"Well…" he replied between chuckles, "you could say that—b-but no!"
He quickly corrected himself. "What I mean is… you were asking about that man, right? Fine. I'll answer."
"Dad, you're trying to change the subject!" Ariana glared.
"No, I'm not!" he protested. "Do you want to listen or not? Because if you keep shouting, my driving skills are going to suffer."
"Humph… fine. Tell me."
She crossed her arms, clearly done with him.
There was a brief pause.
Then came the answer she was waiting for.
"No."
"…What?" Ariana stiffened.
"I said no," Mr. Lockhart repeated calmly.
"What?! Then how are we even supposed to investigate someone so mysterious?!"
Her voice tightened. "Dad, you're telling me you didn't even try to look at him closely? You could've ripped off his mask or something!. What a waste!."
"What are you blabbering about?" he said flatly. "Do you think I'm dumb like you?"
He sighed, then explained, his tone turning into serious.
"That man was covered head to toe in a pink elastic suit. It was skin-tight, almost fused to his body. I was thinking how does they take oxygen from if his face is covered so tightly?"
He flexed his fingers on the steering wheel.
"I did try to grab him. But the moment I touched him, my hands slipped—like he'd coated himself in oil or something."
"…HUH?!"
Ariana's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Even if you were in my place," he continued, "you wouldn't have caught him unless you used dust or chalk. I didn't have anything like that with me. He got lucky. Or luck was leading him the direction. Then how could someone fled so easily?!"
He glanced at her. "Next time, he might change his method. Or his outfit."
"Oh…"
Ariana exhaled slowly. "I see."
Both of them fell silent, frustration hanging heavy between them.
It wasn't really their fault. The man had escaped once, yes—but that only meant they had to be sharper next time. Mr. Lockhart had protected the agency's documents this time. There was no guarantee he'd be able to do it again.
"Well," he said at last to break such chilly atmosphere, deliberately lightening the mood, "let's stop chasing the past and focus on the present."
He nodded ahead. "Oh. We're here."
Screeeeech—
Clack.
The car rolled to a smooth stop.
"Now listen to me, Ari," Mr. Lockhart said, turning serious again. "Whatever the officers ask, answer honestly. Even the smallest detail matters. Alright?"
"Yes, Dad," Ariana replied firmly. "I understand. I won't disappoint you."
He smiled softly.
"You never have. You never will. Even when you make mistakes… you're still my shining star. The one who fills the emptiness in my soul."
Click.
Thud.
They stepped out of the car.
"Dad…" Ariana murmured.
Without another word, they shared a warm, quiet hug—brief, but filled with everything unsaid.
"Let's get going then, Ari." Mr. Lockhart placed his hand on Ariana's shoulder and said gently.
"Yes."
Ariana nodded her head and started to move forward.
The building loomed ahead.
At the department…
Thud… thud…
The inside of the precinct was cold and eerily silent.
Each step they took echoed across the wide corridor, bouncing off the walls as if the building itself were listening.
Thud… thud…
Suddenly, a figure appeared from the front.
An assistant officer.
His uniform crisp, posture straight. The case assigned to Mr. Lockhart rested under his authority.
"Please follow me."
Thud… thud…
They followed him down the corridor.
Creeeak…
A wooden door opened.
Behind the desk sat the officer entrusted with the case.
"Please, enter and have a seat."
Ariana and her father stepped inside the Bureau office.
Scrape...
They settled onto the chairs opposite the desk.
The man cleared his throat.
"Allow me to introduce myself, Mr. Lockhart… and Ariana Lockhart."
He adjusted his glasses.
"I am Albert… Albert Olegama."
"Pfft— Olegama? Really? That's so nonsen—"
Ariana burst out laughing.
Before the sound could fully escape—
"Shh! Ari, don't!"
Her father reacted instantly, cutting her off.
The officer's brows furrowed.
"What was that?" Mr. Olegama snapped. "Your daughter seems to have quite a temper. Laughing at someone's surname is highly inappropriate."
"I apologize on her behalf," Mr. Lockhart said calmly.
"But to be honest… your last name is kind of—"
"What's wrong with my last name?!"
Mr. Olegama slammed his palm lightly on the desk.
"Don't you have one too? Then what exactly is wrong with mine?!"
"Well— no… nothing," Mr. Lockhart replied smoothly, sensing the tension spike.
He straightened.
"Weren't we here for the case, Mr. O–Olegama? Perhaps we should focus on that."
The officer exhaled sharply.
"…Yes. You're right."
He leaned forward.
"Now then. Regarding the suspect. Did you, by any chance, see his face?"
Mr. Lockhart answered without hesitation.
"No, Officer."
He paused briefly, then continued.
"He was wearing a full elastic pink bodysuit. Completely covered. The surface was extremely smooth… slippery, even."
His fingers curled unconsciously.
"When I tried to grab him, even attempted to tear at the facial area, he slipped right out of my hands. Unless I had chalk or something similar, there was no way to restrain him."
"And then?" Mr. Olegama pressed.
"…Then he escaped," Mr. Lockhart admitted, frustration surfacing.
"I managed to protect the agency's documents, but we must be more cautious. Who knows what he'll do next? He may even change his outfit to escape more efficiently."
His jaw tightened.
"If that happens again, I may not be able to keep the documents safe."
He clenched his fist.
"I'm tired of that man in the pink suit."
Mr. Olegama nodded slowly.
"I understand your frustration, Mr. Lockhart. We'll do everything we can from our side."
"I hope so," Mr. Lockhart replied quietly.
The questioning continued for some time...
A hour later...
"Thank you very much for your cooperation, Mr. Lockhart. And you as well, Ariana,"
Mr. Olegama said at last, offering a polite smile.
"Thank you,"
Ariana and her father replied in unison.
Creeak…
They stepped out of the office...
Inside the Bureau office…
Mr. Olegama leaned back in his chair.
"The man in the pink suit…" he muttered.
"Who are you? And why act so mysteriously?"
His fingers tapped the desk.
"Why target the Eclipse Nexus Agency specifically? Why not other, more prominent agencies?"
He frowned deeply.
"…There are missing pieces in this puzzle. Pieces that don't fit."
His gaze hardened.
"But the real question is—"
"WHO is the person behind the Pink Suit…?"
—TO BE CONTINUED —