"And..What do you mean by that?", Ralph questioned, almost confusingly.
"Nothing. I just think I don't deserve to get arrested just for being a decoy for this little time!", Lucian put his unlocked hands on his temple, "Just don't arrest me, please. I want to live freely, I made a mistake I admit!"
"Want to live freely, right? I get it. We will not arrest you but you are surely not allowed to live fully free from now on, for obvious reasons. Just answer my last question. What have you done for 'The Ghost' so far?", Ralph asked.
"Me? I just followed his orders most of the time, I have only done one thing for him physically. That was on 16th july. He told me to observe the museum and give him the info. I told him about the details I found on the paintings and stuff. He then delivered a replica of that painting to me, most probably to use me as a pawn. I just couldn't see it at that time", Lucian started crying, "I was being manipulated all this time, he also told me about the wooden mechanisms and stuff. He stole the painting while me and my friends were caught instead. I should have never agreed to his deal."
"I understand it now. But what were the ways you used to communicate with him?", Ralph questioned again.
"Communicate? Only through a phone. But before you came here I tried to call him and found that this number doesn't exist anymore. He just used me and I was dumb.", Lucian wiped his tears.
"No problem. You were useful to us, now we understand how 'The Ghost' uses people as decoys.", Nicolo put his hands on Lucian's shoulders.
"Okay I understand it. Listen to me now, I'll leave Nicolo here with you to observe you all the time. Sorry, but we still can't trust you fully. And you'll also have to give a good amount of money as a fine for supporting and helping a criminal.", Ralph stood up and pointed a finger towards Nicolo, while Lucian looked down with regret.
"So this is it huh. I can feel that this is an act. From the very start he was trying his best to defend himself from the allegations of BEING the ghost. And after being caught, he still had hope because the Ghost still wins, because he isn't the Ghost. All of these feel just way too superficial, considering the possibility that Lucian might actually BE the Ghost and not a decoy, I can not underestimate him. Let me use my final move.", Ralph thought out in a matter of seconds.
Nicolo suddenly put his hands away from Lucian's shoulder and brought out his mobile phone from his own pocket.
"Hey, Ralph. Investigator No.4 is calling, here, have it.", Nicolo handed his phone to Ralph.
"Hello? What happened? Caught something?", Ralph asked on the phone.
"Yes sir! We investigated Elias Blackwood! He didn't expose much details but with the ones he did, Mr.Garrison figured out that Lucian is indeed 'The Ghost'!", a voice came from the phone.
"Really? That's awesome! Now I've confirmed my theory and it's the end, finally!", Ralph quickly pressed a button on the phone and looked towards Lucian.
Wait, what?! How does this guy know about Elias? And why would they even investigate Elias in the first place? How would they even find a connection between him and the ghost? And even if they did, how would they know the ghost is me?
I have so many damn questions on my mind. Everything from the start of the investigation to until now, was all an act I did just to plant info in these investigators, everything went according to me, but now, how the hell does this happen?
Lucian's mind was now a web of complex questions waiting to be answered. He never felt this much pressure in his entire life of 20 years. The amazing part was, his face now was completely neutral and just as it was before. The shock and pressure on his mind was not at all being portrayed by his face.
I'll have to calm down. I'll just have to. There's a possibility that this is just a bluff. Maybe the voice is just recorded and all. I still don't know how Ralph would make a bluff that consists of Elias, as there's no way anyone other than Luther and Aria knows about the connection between the ghost and Elias. But however it is, I'll have to react carefully.
Think Lucian, think! Ralph still distrusts me. How about I make him believe that I'm still loyal to the real ghost and get myself caught as the actual ghost by surrendering? That has to be the only way I can get away. If this is a bluff, then he definitely thought of two ways I would react. One, I would be shocked to hear about Elias from him, as I don't know how he would know about that connection and that will confirm I'm the real ghost.
Two, I would surrender and claim to BE the ghost to make sure I defend the real ghost. The second one is very possible because he most probably thinks all of that crying and regret stuff was acting just to make sure I convey the fact that I do not work for the ghost anymore, and that's how the second one would prove that I'm only a decoy.
Genius plan, Ralph, but I can see through it!
I'm now going to gamble it all. If it really isn't a bluff, then I'm at the end of the story, but if it is, then I still have a chance to get away.
All of these thoughts and reactions went through Lucian's head in a matter of seconds, 2 seconds to be exact. And even in these 2 seconds, he just lifted his head up and looked towards Ralph with tired eyes.
"I give up.", Lucian said, "I am the real ghost. Now, arrest me!"
Lucian seemed extremely tired.
"He did give up! And I didn't see any shock on his face either. Damn it! It was a plan all along! The ghost did set up this decoy for me to arrest this guy as the ghost", as Ralph thought, his disappointed face slowly turned to a smile.
"Don't worry. He wasn't talking about you, it's another Lucian, not Lucian Cole. We were just investigating different people.",Ralph explained, "I guess it's my time to leave now! Nicolo, you are going to stay here from now on, but before that I'll have to talk to you alone."
"Yeah, no problem. I'm coming.", Nicolo said.
Another Lucian? Not me? Yeah, it was obviously a bluff. Nicolo was being shocked with every hidden detail, but this time, he wasn't.
When the guy on the phone said that I'm the Ghost. It was all a setup afterall. I'm pretty sure that wasn't even a phone call, it was just audio playing.
Nicolo followed Ralph through the door as they went out of Lucian's house and stood on the road, from where Lucian can't hear them anymore.
Lucian was still sitting on the sofa.
"You did a great job acting for the plan we did!", Ralph said to Nicolo.
"Thanks, sir! I'm just glad we have progressed somehow", Nicolo smiled.
"Now, you'll have to live with him, probably for a few days or a week or so.", Ralph looked at the windows, seeing Lucian still sitting there.
"I'm down, sir.", Nicolo said.
"Okay. Don't forget to update me from time to time if you notice any minor inconvenience. Well, I'll call you by myself too actually. Anyways, Bye!", Ralph started walking towards the road, while Nicolo went towards Lucian's home.
As Ralph was walking, he took out his phone and called someone.
"Hello, Mr.Loxley? We have something important to deal with now. Ready for it?", Ralph asked with enthusiasm.
"Is it about the Ghost?", the voice from the phone asked.
"Of Course it is!", Ralph said.
"Then I'm coming. Tell me what is a task?", he asked.
"We are going to Barlow Street tomorrow for investigation of this case, you'll be coming with us to get more insider knowledge. You can do that right?", Ralph asked.
"Of Course I can. That's what I'm here for! Just inform me when it's time!", he said.
"Sure!", Ralph cut the call, again looking at the sky..