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It was a beautiful sunny day, almost cloudless, and a light breeze lifted the white veil, making it dance on the wind. She was wearing a long wedding gown that gracefully accentuated her petite figure. She and her fiancé were standing under an elegant gazebo decorated with pink and white flowers, while birds chirped to celebrate this special occasion.
Tracy glanced at her bridesmaid, Emma, and they both giggled quietly when Lady Truth showed her a thumbs up. Lockheart shifted her gaze back to her soon-to-be-husband, who was giving her his peculiar grin, along with the sweetest and most loving look anyone had ever given her. Paranormal Detective looked very handsome, dressed in a black suit, and his chest was decorated with a flower of forget-me-nots. Who would’ve thought that the man she once confronted at the Crystal Palace, would now become someone she was about to promise the rest of her life together with. Sometimes she didn't want to admit it, but she loved this idiot more than anything.
“I, Luca Balsa, take you, Tracy Reznik, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.” At these words, Tracy's expression softened. A tear sprang into her eye as she began to recite the same vow. They proceeded to exchange rings, which they carefully placed on each other’s fingers. Lockheart couldn't believe her eyes, unable to take her gaze off the gleaming gold ring that now adorned her hand. Then came a gentle kiss, at which both of them couldn't stop the corners of their lips forming into a sincere smile.
At that moment there were cheers and applause, flower petals thrown in the air to celebrate the newlyweds. Emma burst out crying and had to snot into a handkerchief. Both Tracy and Luca weren’t people who liked large crowds so it wasn't some lavish wedding, but rather a small party for the loved ones.
After the successful ceremony, Lockheart found herself hugging Lady Truth - her best and dearest senior, with whom she got along best of the entire detective agency. “I’m so happy for you, Tracy!” Emma said, still very emotional, snuggling into her shoulder.
“Awh come on now, I have a feeling that you’re even more touched than I am.” Lockheart joked and wiped the tears from her senior's eyes. Of course, she was very grateful for someone who supported her this much and shared her happiness.
“Promise me that you’ll take good care of her, Luca! If I see her crying because of you, you’ll have to deal with me!”
The groom who was standing next to them feigned horror on his face. “Woah! Are you sure you can hide the body so well that a certain detective won't find it?” Tracy nudged him with her elbow and they all burst out laughing.
Soon Eli and Aesop approached them, so the newlyweds turned around to greet them. “Congratulations, Tracy, Luca. We’re wishing you a long and happy marriage.” White said in his distinctive gentle tone. At the detective agency Eli always stood out with a warm aura, as well as treating everyone very politely, unlike Aesop, who merely nodded at her. She couldn't unravel what he might have in his mind, but it was still very kind of them both to show up at their wedding. She gratefully accepted their wishes and shook their hands.
At that moment, the well-known detective, aided by a walking cane, approached them along with the actor recognized throughout the whole Golden Rose Theater.
“Mr. Inference! You look great today!" Luca greeted him enthusiastically.
“What are you saying? This is your day, not mine.”
“I agree with him there.” Ronald joined the groom and gave him a friendly hug.
Naib merely shook his head in disbelief. These two will really be the end of him someday. “Whatever. I'm glad you found yourself such a wonderful wife, Balsa. Maybe she’ll make you behave better at work.”
“I feel offended! Thanks to me, we have solved many paranormal mysteries!”
“This I cannot deny. Despite the fact that you have a foul mouth, your skills aren’t just for show. In fact…” Inference took a small box wrapped in a ribbon from his pocket and handed it to the bride and groom. “Congratulations on your marriage. This is my gift for you.” Luca looked questioningly at the box and then at his wife, but Naib hurried them to open it. The groom untied the bow and lifted the lid to find inside...
“A key? Wait, don’t tell me…”
“That’s right. I’m retiring and handing over my detective office to you.”
At these words, both Luca’s and Tracy's jaws dropped. Did they hear it right…? “What?! But how could we possibly-?!”
“I’ve already made a decision. To be honest, I don't think my bones are capable of chasing criminals any longer. You’re young and talented, so I believe you’ll be able to take over the business. When it comes to me…” Naib blushed and looked at his own husband. “I’m moving out to live together with Norton.”
Now it was Luca's turn to shed some tears. They had been working together for so long… He still remembers that day when he got his first request for help from Inference and later got hired by him. It was a little sad that time flew by so quickly with good people around.
“But why us? What about Lady Truth or White?” Tracy asked.
“We all agreed that the agency needs someone young to bring it to life.” Naib said and Lockheart shifted her gaze to Emma. “Is this true?”
“Yes, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Inference was very insistent that it was a surprise.” Naib blushed again at Lady Truth’s words and scratched his cheek with his finger.
Paranormal Detective threw himself around Inference's neck to hug him. “Hey! Didn't I mention my weak bones just now…” He complained, but Tracy soon joined in the hug as well. “Thank you so so much! We certainly won't let you down!”
“You youngsters…” Inference affectionately embraced the two of them. “Well, leave the agency for later, and now have as much fun as you can.”
***
It had been a few days since the wedding and although they were still on their honeymoon, Tracy and Luca decided to visit the detective agency. It was a very familiar place to both of them, since Lockheart decided to return after the Crystal Palace event and also joined the agency, where she worked alongside Luca. It was here that they began to get along so well. Yet this time, the place seemed completely different, filled with an unusual silence. They were already starting to miss the loud Lady Truth, the kind White or the grumpy Inference.
“Hey, I know you're kinda sad too, but I'm sure we'll see them again. Besides, we have each other, right?” Tracy lovingly patted Luca on the back.
Her husband smiled softly and nodded. “Right. Let’s take a look around the head office.”
They made their way up the stairs to where Inference’s room was located. Finally, it was time to use that key they got as a gift. The investigator pulled it from his pocket and inserted it into the lock. Rotating it twice, the door unlocked and the two of them went inside.
Luca sighed; this was the first time he had found the office empty, without the famous detective immediately complaining about something or completely preoccupied over some papers. The Paranormal Detective approached the desk located in the middle and ran his hand over it. The whole room was very tidy, all the items neatly arranged in their places. This reminded him of how Inference always urged everyone to clean up the mess they leave behind, because “they don't work here alone”.
“Hey, check this out! There are records of all previous cases here.” Tracy called him over to the numerous drawers in the corner of the room. Luca curiously stepped closer to take a better look, and noticed that the sections were labeled with letters of the alphabet to make it easier to find the file you were interested in.
“You're right! Hmm, what should we check first…? I know!” A light bulb appeared over Luca's head as he opened the drawer with the letter A . He started rummaging through the folders and soon found a file that interested him, taking it out with a proud Aha!
Lockheart looked at the document and raised an eyebrow. “ Atropos' Ropes ? Oh, If I remember correctly that was the incident where the lead actress died…”
“Yeah, Madame Bella. And I think it’s also the case after which Inference and Ronald got so close.”
“Huuh. They've always been lovebirds, huh?”
“Just like us.”
“Such a sap.” Tracy huffed. “Should I take this key and lock you up here again?”
“That’d be such a déjà vu!"
Lockheart laughed, but soon her face took on a softer expression again. “Should we look for that file then?”
Luca nodded and moved to the drawer labeled with the letter P . He started searching through the folders again, until he found the one called "Phantom of the Crystal Palace".
“Waah! That brings back so many memories." Tracy said enthusiastically and they both looked inside the file. It contained a general summary of the phantom's appearance, a plan of the place or even photos of the exhibits on display at the time. “I can't believe it took you so long to discover that I was the culprit. Now that I think about it, it was pretty obvious.”
“Obvious or not, a detective's investigation is nothing without evidence.”
Lockheart smiled under her breath. It was so nostalgic to remember their first meeting, especially since she was still operating undercover then and they were actually enemies. She couldn't deny that she really enjoyed herself back then, though.
“What actually made you come back, Tracy?”
“Hmm, I wonder. Maybe I just missed Mr. Dickens.”
“Hey!” Luca leaned on Lockheart's shoulder. “You know, I was really hurt when you said it’d be better if we never met again. You helped make my dream a reality…”
“Aww, you big baby… Alright, sorry.” Tracy ruffled his hair and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I'm really glad we met again.” After all, she never meant any harm, and just didn't want to hurt someone with as big a heart as the detective. But that was a conversation for maybe another day.
Luca immediately smiled, lifting his head from her shoulder and joining their lips in a gentle kiss. Lockheart reciprocated it sweetly, both of them now smooching in a playful way, laughing and tickling each other. “What would Inference think if he saw us kissing in his office?”
“I bet he and Ronald did worse things here.”
“Eww.”
***
After reviewing a few more files (after all, both of them were pretty big nerds when it came to paranormal phenomena - the case labeled Melodis Estate caught most of their attention) they decided to take a break. Luca sat down in the chair at the desk in the center of the room - the same chair where Inference could always be found. He sighed leaning back comfortably, and soon Tracy joined him, sitting on his lap. The two of them embraced each other and took a moment to look at the rings on their hands with admiration.
“Do you think Inference keeps some suspicious stuff in his drawers?”
“If he does, I'm sure he's already taken it... But we can still take a look.”
The newlyweds grinned mischievously and looked into the top drawer of the desk. However, what they found inside... made their smiles instantly fade and tears came to their eyes. “No way, they left even that…?”
Inside they found two brooches - one bronze with the number 1 engraved on it, the other gold with the number 2 and decorated with a blue ribbon. These were the same brooches that Inference and Lady Truth always wore on their uniforms, neatly arranged on small cushions, as if they were waiting for their next owners. Tracy was the first to take them in her hands. “Would you like me to help you put it on?”
“I don't know if I'm ready for that.”
“Come on, I'm sure it’ll suit you.” Lockheart carefully pinned the brooch on the detective's collar and adjusted it, casually glancing at his face where their eyes met for a moment. “Done! You look just like Inference 2.0!”
“Very funny, Lady Truth 2.0.” Luca returned the joke, now pinning the brooch on Tracy's jacket.
“It's as if we were exchanging rings again.” Lockheart stared at the brooches and daydreamed for a moment with a soft grin on her lips.
“I can't believe it's all over so quickly, though.” Luca tilted his head and a sad smile appeared on his face, but Tracy immediately lifted his chin.
“It's over? Luca, this is just the beginning.”