Chapter 26: Shopping (2)

It was already 10:00 a.m when Erick and Elle arrived at a shopping mall in City Z.

They went directly to the department store and proceeded to the ladies' clothes section. Elle started roaming around and was checking out the clothes.

Erick just stood on the side observing her.

While waiting for Elle, Erick decided to call Captain Jason of the Task Force Eagle. The phone rang for fifteen seconds before it was answered.

"Hello." Jason's hoarse voice could be heard on the other line.

"Hello, Captain. This is me, Erick. Sorry to bother you right now. Just want to inform you that I couldn't report to the office this morning. I have some important matters to do right now. I hope you will understand. I'll come in the afternoon." Erick explained to Jason politely the purpose of calling him.

"It's okay. No worries. By the way... there's still no development so far. The girls are still looking at the CCTV footage by the satellite and we are all hoping that we can accidentally spot them however there's no sign of them." Jason sighed deeply after saying it.

"Yeah, just like what we had expected Captain, this isn't an easy task. Even though we have their photographic sketches but I am sure they have already taken precautionary measures by disguising themselves very well. They were good at hiding their tracks. " Erick shared his thoughts.

"You are right. We've been working on Catseye's case for so many years now but we haven't found anything useful. It was always been our failure. What a shame..." Jason sounded frustrated.

"Don't worry Captain. We might get another clue if we focus on this case. At least we have an assumption now that Catseye is not working alone, he or she had an accomplice who is helping and assisting him or her to commit his or her crime." Erick tried to cheer him up.

"Yeah, that's right. We should not feel discouraged this time. We got some progress. Okay. Take your time. When you arrive this afternoon, I will call a meeting for our team to convene and plan out a new strategy." Jason's determination was back.

"Copy Captain. See you later." They finished their conversation and Erick hung up the phone.

Meanwhile, Elle was able to pick five pairs of her undergarments, and three pieces of female jeans, three maong shorts, three blouses, and three t-shirts.

"I guess these should be enough. I am not planning to stay longer. I will leave as soon as I am completely recovered." she uttered to herself.

Then she decided to go to the counter where Erick was waiting for her.

"Are you already done? You are a little bit too fast. I thought all women take all their time when they go shopping." Erick was amazed by her.

"I don't want to keep you waiting since you have some work to do."

She said but deep inside what she wanted to say to him was 'Well a typical woman will do that but I am different. If you bring me to a shop which is selling different guns and weapons I will surely take my time.'

She gave the items that she picked to the cashier. Erick frowned when he noticed that she only got a few clothes.

He signaled the cashier to wait then he said to Elle "Get a few more sets of clothes."

Elle was about to reject him when he suddenly grabbed her hand before he turned around and pulled her slowly towards the clothes section again.

She was speechless when she saw Erick stopped and picked up a few dresses.

She didn't like wearing dresses except if she was on her mission.

"This set, that one, and this one too. Please wrap it up for us," he said to the sales clerk nearby who was observing them on the side.

He looked so naturally happy while picking clothes for her.

In just a few minutes, Erick had already chosen the things he wanted to buy without asking for her opinion.

''Where is the man who said that he wanted me to choose base on my preferences a while ago?''

Elle was bewildered while she looked at him helplessly. This was also her first time seeing a man who shopped enthusiastically like a woman.

She thought there was no man like that. Therefore he was not a typical guy either. Elle just shook her head.

The sales clerk was slightly envious of her right now and she thought to herself 'This girl is so lucky to have a very handsome and thoughtful boyfriend like him'. The clerk mistook them as a couple.

After fifteen minutes, Erick and Elle finally left the department store with several bags. They also went to the supermarket to buy some groceries and other necessities.

When they reached the car, Erick handed her a rectangular box and said: "This is for you."

Elle glanced at the rectangular box on her hand and her brows furrowed into a knot. She could not help but mutter.

"I am really amazed to find out that a guy like you is a compulsive shopper. I thought all men didn't want to spend their money on shopping."

Erick chuckled upon hearing her. He was amused by her.

He knew that she really emphasized her last sentence to get back at him when he said to her a while ago that he thought all women take their time when they go shopping.

Nonetheless, they just got inside the car and were ready to return home.

"I bought that phone so that we can contact each other especially if I am at work. I will not be at ease leaving you at the house all alone," he explained to her.

Elle paused when she heard him. 'This is great, I can easily contact Charles with this.'

"Thank you. I will surely pay you back for everything." Elle said to him.

He laughed softly and casually said "Alright, don't be so calculative. Jasmine, you are too serious sometimes and also cold most of the time. Just treat me like a friend, a friend who wants to help his friend... Is it okay?.... Can we become friends?"

Elle was dumbfounded. When he didn't get a response from her Erick turned to his side and looked at her intently. He met her questioning gazed. She looked away first and said nothing.

" A friend....?" Elle muttered softly and an indescribable expression appeared on her lovely face. After a while, she did not say anything and just turned to look out of the window.

Erick was puzzled. He didn't know what she was thinking right now.

Did she just ignore him again? Did he say something wrong again that offended her?

He just shrugged and then leaned over to help her fasten her seat belt before silently starting the car.