Chapter 9
"Eddie!" Joe shouted to his companion. "Where were you all this time?"
"I…uh…swam here," Eddie replied.
"Wait a minute…" Joe said, "you were the one wearing that mask just now?"
"Well," Eddie said, "you got me right there. I did wear a mask."
Joe laughed when he heard that.
"Joe," Eddie said, "it is not funny. Not funny at all."
"But you did great," Joe said.
"What do you mean great? I was taken out with a laser, and had to swim back to shore. Now I am wet! Brrr…it is freezing!"
"Oh, I see," Joe said. "Sorry for what happened. Let me help you get home."
"It is okay," Eddie said. "I can go home myself."
"About that mask," Joe said, "are you going to wear it again?"
Eddie looked at his friend and gave a reply. "Hmm…why not?"
"All right," Joe said.
"But no one should know that The Jay was here."
"The Jay?" Joe said, as if he heard something very strange. "Why, is that your secret identity?"
Eddie realised that there were many people around him, and he decided to tell Joe privately about the secret identity he came up with.
The senior detective in the police force assured his friend Joe that he meant well in his actions. He fought as The Jay as means to cover up his identity, and to keep himself safe from recognition. Furthermore, the villains were getting stronger, and probably a costume could scare them off. In fact, Eddie loved some superhero drawings. He was inspired not only by the jay birds, but also comic books.
"Wow!" Joe said.
"That is it," Eddie said.
"So, what happens to Eddie the detective?" Joe asked.
"Eddie the detective?" Eddie said. "Well…I think I am going to discuss this matter…"
Joe's words led to him thinking, where would Eddie, the regular face in the police force, stand when he takes on the role of The Jay? That was something important that he needed to talk to about.
Then, Eddie looked at Joe. He had a larger amount of trust in his companion, who had been with him since, well, school days. Their friendship is strong and it is best to keep it that way. Eddie believed that his friend could keep a secret, but what will happen to the detective role that he used to play?
Suddenly, an idea was brought in by Joe.
"Eddie," he said, "you know that we are supposed to work together, right?"
"We?" Eddie said.
"All of us," Joe said. "The police force, should be a united force, and we can rebuild our strength from time to time."
Eddie was confused. "What are you talking about?" he asked in a slightly raised voice.
"What I am talking about," Joe replied, "is that only the police should know that The Jay is Eddie. Nobody else should know."
"Oh, great," Eddie said, "then information will be leaked, and people will know sooner or later. I do not see how it might help."
But, come to think of it, Joe's idea was okay. Only the police know Eddie is The Jay, but no one else outside the force. Unfortunately, there are fears for information leaks, and espionage, which might cause info to be given away to the enemies. Those sorts of things do happen sometimes.
Joe actually had another plan.
"Look," Joe said, "if you have a problem, you can tell me."
"All right…" Eddie said, but then, he realised something. Since Joe is a very trusted individual, and working together would not be much problem, he decided to make Joe his sidekick. Joe was not really amused.
"Sidekick?" Joe said in shock. "I am no one's sidekick. I am my own man."
Eddie realised he pushed the point too far, but he corrected himself by saying, "Sorry, but what I meant was…we work together, both of us as The Jay."
"Impossible!" Joe replied. "People might get confused later."
"Do you want to fight crime, Joe?" Eddie asked.
"Sure," Joe replied. "I am always prepared to fight crime."
"Then, I suggest we take care of each other, and unite as friends, to defeat the enemies of the city!"
"You are sounding a tad too dramatic."
"Yeah," Eddie said, shaking his head in embarrassment. "So, what now?"
Joe thought for a moment. He eventually made up his mind. He said, "Well…I will be The Jay as well. Maybe I can come up with a different name, but I am not your sidekick!"
"A different name?" Eddie said. "Err…no problem! Good! That way, easy to differentiate between The Jay and…whatever you call yourself."
"Turns out that I am also a crime fighter, and would like to fight crime not as a policeman, but a private detective called…Thugbuster."
Eddie's eyes were wide open, so was his mouth. "What kind of name is that?"
"On second thougts…," Joe added, "…better off to call myself, the costumed McGyver. My name is Buster!"
"Buster…," Eddie said, "that is not bad, but the McGyver part…I do not get it."
Joe picked his pocket, and he brought out a little plastic. What is in a little black plastic, Eddie thought. Joe opened the plastic and took out a little black box.
"What is this?"
As Joe opened the box, he presented to his friend, some of his tools that led him to come up with the name McGyver. Eddie was clueless, again. Joe soon realised he came up with a terrible name.
"Oh, maybe I should just forget it," Joe said. "Whatever, Buster is born today!"
"Great," Eddie said, "but what about the other members in the force?"
"Do not worry," Joe said. "They will not recognise our disappearance."
Suddenly, the Kid Detectives appeared out of nowhere.
"Eh?" Majid said. "I thought I put you to sleep just now."
"Why, you…" Joe said as if he was about to hit that little child.
"Joe," Eddie said as he waved Joe to the side, "please show good example to children."
"What are you two doing here?" Majid asked.
"We are detectives working for the police force," Eddie said.
"Yeah," Joe said. "A-class detectives."
"Err…that is not really true," Eddie said to everyone present, pointing out to his earlier misfortunes.
"Oh," Kairo said, "you both are detectives?"
"I believe we all met them before," Alif said. "Remember the courier meeting in town?"
Kairo and the rest tried to recall. Eventually, they remembered about the three young detectives who helped them out by defeating the illegal couriers that day. Two of them were present in front of them at the moment.
"Where is the other detective?" Alif asked. "I recalled there were three of you."
"Well," Joe said, "he had more important things to do."
"No matter," Kairo said, "we are also detectives."
"What detectives?" Eddie asked.
"Private detectives," Kairo replied firmly, with a smile.
"Wow!" Eddie said. "So, you all work privately, with no assistance by the police force?"
"Like Kairo said," said Majid, "we work privately. Not much police funding, no problem! We got enough in our hands. Now, we have to take care of some Flying Brothers, but I am more interested in eating sandwich tonight."
"Too bad," Kairo said, "I ate part of your sandwich."
"What?" Majid said angrily. "Oh, never mind."
"What is with this long conversation?" Joe said. "Eddie, we should get going now. You kids, see you all next time! Goodbye!" Joe added while waving his hand, with Eddie doing the same beside him. They retreated to the neighborhood they live in.
On their way home, Eddie looked happy. He drove his dated car with a smile on his face. Joe could not help but notice his friend's change in appearance.
"What are you smiling about?" Joe asked Eddie.
"Nothing much," Eddie said, "but I believe I am coming close to a solution."
Joe nodded and left his friend to do the thinking while he drove off at normal speed.