Chapter Two: A New Case

The news? An odd request. The International Police are usually ahead of the mainstream media, something huge must have happened. Looker's mind raced with possibilities, a political incident? An act of terrorism? A high profile death? Or something so little as a celebrity scandal?

His interest peaked, Looker followed Anabel's orders and turned on the tiny television in his apartment. He switched the channel onto Kanto's biggest news programme and, oh, look who it is, 'Mr Square Jaw and cheek bones' news anchor. Looker was not a fan of the mainstream media, always twisting stories and telling half-truths. He hid his disgust, if for no other reason than Anabel on the other end of the phone, and he listened to the ever so handsome news anchor deliver a breaking report.

The grandiose tune of the news program blared through his apartment and the reporter started talking. "Our apologies, we interrupt that report as we have some breaking news for you here tonight," Squared Jaw said, "We have just gotten word that a search in underway for a three year old Ralts who has gone missing tonight in the Pastoria area of Sinnoh. Hundreds of people and Pokémon, including Crasher Wake and the trainers of the Pastoria Gym, have been searching for the Ralts, and that search has continuing for the past few hours, when the story was reported to the police at around 10pm. We will try to get you as much information on this as we can." The newsreader then continued onto a different news story and Looker muted the TV.

The report was confusing to Looker. "A missing Pokémon case? Since when do those make mainstream news? We are a long way from Sinnoh." It was strange, missing Pokémon news reports could be common on citywide news stations but for one to break the mainstream news, in a different region no less, this Ralts must be special. Or belong to someone famous, ugh, please tell me they're not giving this kind of coverage to some reality star who lost their pet, Looker thought.

Anabel spoke for the first time since ordering him to watch the TV, "The story is huge, Looker. It's being broadcast all over Sinnoh and all the surrounding regions."

"Including Kanto…" Looker surmised. "So what's so special about this Ralts?" Looker hated to sound harsh, and it wasn't that he lacked compassion, it was just his way of dealing with cases, never get emotionally involved. This was quite new to him however, missing Pokémon cases rarely ever ended up in the hands of the International Police.

"From what's been reported to us," Anabel paused, "The Ralts belongs to a pair of Pokémon Doctors, vacationing in Pastoria."

Not a celebrity then… That made this even stranger, just Pokémon Doctors? "Oh wait, its back on." Looker unmuted the TV when the newsreader started talking again.

The news reporter basically parroted what Anabel just said. "Just to bring you an update on the breaking news we delivered to you, a three years Ralts has gone missing while its trainers were on a holiday from Kanto, it's been confirmed by the foreign office."

The foreign office are involved? There's a lot of manpower behind this case, isn't there? Looker thought.

The report continued. "A small detail on this for you now, The Pastoria City Police Department are investigating the disappearance of a Pokémon from the Pokémon Centre in the city. I think we have a map we can show you here." A map of Pastoria City was shown on screen with the Pastoria City Pokémon Centre and the surrounding area highlighted. "A spokesperson from the Foreign Office has said that he understood that once the Ralts had fallen asleep in the Trainer's room at the Pokémon Centre, the trainers had gone to have dinner at a restaurant across the street. They returned to check on them only to find that their young Pokémon had gone missing. And, um, they reported the Pokémon's disappearance right away and they are being given consulate assistance in Sinnoh but no word as to where the little Pokémon has gone and a considerable effort is being made as to where it has gone. I'm sure that this is an extraordinary difficult time for its parents."

Looker sighed. "It sounds like a simple case, Anabel. The trainers shouldn't have left the Pokémon alone in a hotel room. If they're Doctors they should know better. They gave a potential abductor an open goal. Rookie mistake. The local police will take care of it."

After Looker was done talking Anabel offered another piece of the puzzle. "We have heard that there were two other Pokémon asleep in the same room as the Ralts. A pair of new-born Muchlax."

"Huh… at the same time as the Ralts was taken?" That was interesting, it's usually the younger Pokémon that were higher ticket items.

"Yes, they were all in the same room." Hmm, Munchlax are usually considered rarer, Looker thought to himself. If this was Pokémon thieves at work then logically they would have taken two Muchlax over one single Ralts.

Looker tried to get more information. "And how are the Munchlax? Do they have any injuries or distress?" Why would an abductor leave them?

"No, they are fine."

Looker sighed. "So why did the trainers leave three Pokémon alone? That's terrible form. Who are they? Ten year olds who didn't know what they were doing?"

"No, it was two adult trainers. Two Doctors, a married couple, didn't I tell you that?"

"Oh… Yes, that's right." Lookers mind was still a little foggy, he was relatively proud of himself that Anabel hadn't figure out his inebriated state. That was a close call though, he tried to recover. "Well, that's even worse, they should know better. What were they thinking?"

"We want you to find out, Looker. We are giving this case to you."

Looker almost dropped the phone. Weather it was out of shock or his drunken fumbling he couldn't figure out. "Me? What? Since when do International Police investigate missing Pokémon? We do major crimes, this is a nothing case, the little thing probably just wondered off or something. They'll probably find it by morning."

Anabel heaved a sigh. "I know." That was the first emotion he had picked up from Anabel in this whole conversation. She was annoyed.

Looker continued, missing Pokémon cases never usually landed on his desk. "It seems like a pretty simple case, why aren't Pastoria PD taking this? How did it get to us?"

"Cards on the table, Looker, everything you just said is correct, the Trainers were neglectful and the Pokémon will probably be back by morning. It seems like PCPD has botched this, their original report when they first walked on the scene has left a lot to be desired. That's how it came to us."

Botched it? How could you botch it, Looker thought. Preserve the crime scene, take interviews, organise a search party. Its basic stuff, how could any fully fledged Police Force mess that up? "What happened? What did PCPD do?"

"We have word that the Pastoria PD aren't up to it. They've been botching a lot of cases lately. Rumour has it…" Anabel let her voice trail off.

Looker was confused. "What? Pastoria PD is dirty?" Looker liked to keep tabs on the Sinnoh police force, Pastoria PD had never had any problems before, not that he could remember.

"Either that or inept all together."

"Since when? I haven't heard anything like that. The Sinnoh Police force is as good as it gets." Sinnoh was his home region, where he got his start. He couldn't believe they were falling short lately, even if he himself was.

"We can't be sure what happened, that why I want you to figure all this out. Plus, I thought this case would be good for you."

Lookers wasn't sure about this. "Really? I haven't done a missing Pokémon case since I was a beat cop, over thirty years ago, surely you have officers more qualified."

"Maybe, maybe not. Look, I know you have been having a bad time of it lately," Uh-oh. "A couple of result haven't gone you way, you're losing your confidence."

He was being demoted. "Hey, I know things aren't going my way at the moment, if this is a demotion, just tell me straight." Looker knew the writing was on the wall months ago. Honestly, if he was in charge, he would have fired himself months ago.

Anabel paused. "No, no, of course not."

"I'm a grown man, Anabel. I know the ropes, just retire me. Don't humiliate me with small cases like this."

Anabel's voice perked back up. "No, no, Looker, you have it all wrong. The head of the International Police specifically requested you to take this case. And I agree with him." The head? In all his years at the department Looker had never even met the head. "I thought this would be a good confidence builder for you. Look how much mainstream coverage this thing is getting! For one reason or another this case is front page news." But why?

"Well… I mean…" Looker wasn't sure about this.

Anabel continued. "C'mon, for a man of your talents, this is a walk in the park. Just talk to the press, find the Ralts and you'll be a hero cop. Just like the old days. Plus, Sinnoh is your home region, they're gonna love you for this."

Looker took a moment to think, she was right about that, maybe news of his failures hadn't reached Sinnoh yet, and he hadn't been back home for years. After a pause, Looker acquiesced, "Ok, Anabel, if you say it's not a demotion, I'll trust you on this." He didn't. "And I suppose I could use a nice pallet cleanser after… well, everything."

"Exactly, you're the man for the job, Looker, I know it." Anabel pleaded.

"Ok, then." Looker resigned himself to taking the case. "I'll book a flight to Pastoria City in the morning."

"No, Looker, no." Anabel interrupted. "You're leaving right now. The International Police jet is on its way to you as we speak. Pack your things, you'll be in Sinnoh in hours."

The jet? Wow, he hadn't been on the jet since he took down Team Galactic, his greatest victory. The International Police is throwing everything they have at this. All this for one Ralts?

Well, whatever the circumstances, a missing Pokémon is a missing Pokémon. Looker could do this in is sleep and he knew it. His losing streak would finally be over.

Find the Ralts. What could possibly go wrong?

TO BE CONTINUED…