THE PROFESSIONAL DETECTIVE - PART 1 (Patreon)

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Note: This story is intended for mature audiences (18+) and all characters depicted are 18 years of age or older.

Part 1: Life Is Not Like A Dream

“The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection”. It was the title of the book that I had just put on the table after the hundredth time I had read it. Holmes is the main character in the famous detective novel of the same name by writer Arthur Conan Doyle. I've been a huge fan of detective stories since childhood. Like many people who love detective stories, Holmes is my number one idol. This character is the inspiration for me to follow this career of private detective.

It's been more than 20 years since I first knew Holmes. By now, I had my own private detective office. I used to dream of suspenseful adventures, intense chases, or brilliant case-solving, in which I would be the protagonist, a famous detective who could solve any problem! However, real life is not always like a dream…

Yes, reality is not like a fantasy! In an era when everyone is looking for peace, there are very few mysterious, thrilling and shocking cases like in detective stories. Even if they do exist, it's not something I can interfere with. Any country has a security department dedicated to solving those cases. So, after all, what is the work of a private detective like me?

Adjusting the nameplate of the title on the desk with the words “Detective KACE HAYES” printed in front of me, I once again reminisced about the work that I had done. Basically, I get small requests from clients. Yes, and so far, all I have been entrusted with is finding stray dogs and cats, supervising students (in other words, children of a certain family), supervising employees of a company at the request of their superiors…

At first, I was extremely disappointed with the truth about this career. My career as a private detective is not even recognized as a formal profession, at least in this country. So far, though, I haven't given up. Partly, I am still an unmarried young man, not having to worry about food and money, so the meager money earned from this career is enough for me to live through the day. More than that, I still have hope, that one day, I will be able to participate in a real thriller, so that I can satisfy my childhood passion.

That day finally came, the fateful moment that changed my entire life. One fine morning, while I was reading a book, suddenly a woman opened the door to my office roughly. It's like her husband just left her for another girl! Of course, that's just what crossed my mind when I saw her. Unexpectedly, I was right!

No matter who the client is, whatever the purpose of coming here, with the minimum of courtesy, I still greet her properly. Before I finished my sentence, she immediately slammed the desk in front of me, making me a little startled. I said: “Calm down! If you have something to say, say it slowly. I'll do my best to solve your problem at the best price!”

The woman glared at me and said: “I don't care if the price is good or not! I just need the efficiency of the work! By all means, you have to find the answer for me!” I said: “Yes, of course! What can I do for you?” She sat down in her chair, folded her arms, and looked away: “I suspect my goddamn husband is having an affair! This is a woman's intuition! Don't ask me why I feel this way. All you have to do is find out if he's really having an affair. If you have any results, contact me immediately!”

Ah… turned out to be an infidelity investigation. It's not a very new task either. I've received dozens of requests like this before. The amount of money earned from these tasks is not much and the end result often causes me great disappointment. Most of the time, there are no affairs, it's all because of the jealousy of the husband or wife. Of course, there were also cases where my subjects had real mistresses, but what happened after that was no longer my business.

Although I am not very interested in this, I still want to maintain the attitude of a professional detective. I am willing to accept any requests from clients. Saying that, but more or less my face also showed this boredom and expression that could not pass the eyes of the woman sitting in front of me.

She closed her eyes and said to me: “I know what you're thinking. Tracking infidelity is a big part of your crappy private detective job. However, if you do this well, I will give you a large sum of money, enough for you to smash this shabby office and build a ten-storey building with all the modern amenities.” I immediately retorted: “Please be respectful! Although the profession of detective is not recognized as a formal profession, everything is born with a purpose of existence! Aren't you also looking for a crappy private detective like me?!”

She waved her hand: “Whatever! This amount goes hand in hand with responsibility. Your task will be many times harder than the same task you did before. My husband used to be a notorious gangster. Currently, he has quit his old job, but the intuition of a gangster is not simple. If you're not careful, you won't be able to touch the money, because… I'll use it to pay for your funeral! How do you feel? Do you want to reconsider?”

I replied excitedly: “I will not ask about your terrible background. I don't care about that much money either! But, I'm going to take the case, because I'm a professional detective!” Of course, the main reason I took up this request was because I realized its potential. I vaguely noticed the thrilling details in the novel that were about to enter my life.

The woman nodded: “Good! Sign the contract. I'll give you some money to prepare any equipment you need. Of course, I will not include this money in the bonus.” I immediately agreed. A minute later, the contract between us was in effect. I checked the amount of money that had just been transferred to my account by the woman. For the first time in my life, I felt so amazing! This is even more money than I could make in a year!

The woman didn't hurt at all to transfer such a large amount of money just for me to do the preparation. This raises my suspicions about her identity and the danger of this case. But okay! This is exactly what I expected. About an hour later, we talked about the husband's usual habits and hours of activity. Then the woman left her phone number and disappeared behind the door.

I'm excited once again to take on this case! Locking the office door carefully, I turned the “Open” sign hanging in front of the door to “Close.” Now, I need to go out and prepare some necessary furniture for my work. I know what I need.

Do you know what is one of the great abilities Holmes has besides a sharp brain? That's the disguise! Like Holmes, I am very confident in my ability to disguise. That's what I've been practicing for years. For me, good disguise is the most important thing to say about the professionalism of a detective.

The disguise I was talking about was not simply a baggy coat, a wide-brimmed hat, a pair of dark glasses, a smoking mouth, and a newspaper pretending to read. Isn't that the image that comes to mind when you think of a detective specializing in tracking? I wouldn't be foolish enough to disguise myself that way, because that's like “who makes excuses, myself excuses”. I will consider the situation to disguise appropriately. For example, when I follow a student, I will also disguise myself as a student attending the same school. And now, I'm at a supermarket preparing for my role-playing!

PART 2 >>