One's own world.
---------------------
CHAPTER2
-----------------------
The alarm clock on the living room table rang shrilly at around half past six in the morning. A groggy David, frowned in his sleep, muttering,
"shuuuutuuup."
CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNG
CRING CRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!!!!
"Shut up for Christ's sake!!!"
CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNG
BLAST….
David stowed away his service revolver hastily in his underwear as the neighbors started to peek their head out from their windows in fright.
"Go back to your works people," David shouted from inside the room. "Its false alarm."
"Bloody mother of….." David kept mumbling as he got out of the sofa. He suddenly realized that there was a warm blanket on top of him that he clearly did not have on last night.
"It must’ve been Ray." David smiled to himself.
Ray had even left breakfast for him and a Tiffin box.
******
Fifty miles away, in Aztec incorp’s Management floor, Ray sneezed.
"Did you catch a cold Ms. Waltz?" Said one of Ray’s fellow colleagues.
"Oh, no!" Ray replied, smiling. "I’m fine. Thanks for your concern though."
"The board room meeting starts in fifteen." Said the colleague. "See you inside."
Ray nodded and headed off towards her chamber.
"Chie, how’s the city hall reception plan coming along?" She asked her assistant.
"This just came for you." Chie told her, pointing at a bouquet.
"To My love-Dave".
Ray colored and Chie grinned.
"Ahem…" Ray Coughed. "What about the…"
"It’s coming along just fine." Replied Chie with an energetic smile. "I’ve arranged the menus, the press and media have separate seats. There’ll be plenty of room for everyone and I’ve also gone to Canisters for special delivery of ivory roses for that perfect cheek you’ve asked for."
"And the secu…" Ray started.
"Already dealt with." Chie said, cutting across her. "Homeland security will be here and so will a portion of the governmental security task force. Leave these petty things for me Ray, you go on ahead to the meeting."
"Okay then, I’m off". Said Ray.
"You forgot this." Chie called to her. She was holding a cup of cappuccino. Ray took it and gave her a grateful nod. Then she hurried out.
*********
"You have a moment?" Kite asked.
Liza was busy showing a worker how to bind a bouquet. She blinked.
Twenty minutes later, they were in a café. Kite ordered his usual Espresso while Liza ordered plain iced tea.
"How are you?" Kite asked to break the very stressful silence.
"Fine." Liza replied, as casually as she could. She was in a daze. Almost a month and a half has gone by without a word from him and then there he was, suddenly, just like that. With an air of "matter-of-factness" that there was no reason for her to be surprised that he came to visit her.
"What’re you doing here Kite?" Liza said after a while.
"What do you mean, what am I doing here?" Kite said, staring at her in surprise.
"I haven’t herd a word a from you in over a month and then you suddenly appear out of nowhere…I…" Liza stopped.
Kite was staring at his espresso.
"I came to see you." He said quietly.
*******
Liza stared at Kite in surprise for a while, her lips slightly parted. Then suddenly she realized what she was doing and quickly closed her mouth, staring at her feet. A hint of blush visibly struck across her face. Kite smiled to himself. She still was as he had remembered her in their four years of knowing each other. The natural air of cuteness around her, the aroma of fresh flowers lingering in her presence and that sunshine radiant smile….
"Kite?" Liza enquired as she saw Kite’s face go out of expression due to his mind going back in reveries.
Kite shook his head, and taking up the cup, drank some of his coffee which was going cold.
********
Back at NWPD (Noahway) headquaters, Waltz was pacing up and down his chamber. His hair sticking out at odd angles due to him running his fingers through them so often. The dull clock hanging up on wall behind his chair smartly ticked 10am as the sun gazed lazy from behind the mass of dark clouds. It seemed as if today would be no different. There was a storm forecast for the evening. A small knock in the half open doorway made Waltz jump back to his senses and look up.
"Chief inspector Cullin," Waltz said courteously. "This is a rare sight. You almost never descend into this part of hell."
"Its not everyday that THIS come out in the papers now does it?" CI Cullin replied coldly, smashing the paper on top of Waltz’s desk.
Waltz stared at the paper, It was a copy of "The Daily Hollers". The headlines read :
TRIAD BATTLES UNDER THE NOSE OF AUTHORITY, CITY IN CHAOS.
A nerve twitched on Waltz’s forehead. He was swearing non-stop under his breath.
"Care to explain yourself Officer?" Cullins Demanded, his face wearing the most annoying air of authority.
"What’s there to explain?" Waltz said shortly. "There’s a little air of unease in the city due to some homicides. You know the Media loves to blow things out of proportions!!!"
"Well, why couldn’t you subdue the chaos in the bud Waltz?!!"
"Why couldn’t you subdue the chaos in the bud Waltz?!!!" mocked David, in his annoyance. "I’m on my temper’s end at trying to crack the case, I’d like some slack Sir."
He added the "Sir" with a hint of sarcasm. It was Cullin’s time to get mad.
"I have every media from NCC to HB up my ASS asking me about the competence of my department waltz and I DEMAND SOME ANSWERS!!!!!"
"When I have some, I’ll give them to you." Waltz replied icily.
Cullins chewed on his tounge for a few seconds and then finally said,
"You have twenty four hours."
He was at the door when he turned and said,
"Aztec incorps have their new board of directors selected. They’re throwing a party at city hall tonight. You’re incharge of security there Waltz."
The door shut itself smartly. It was a good thing because the next two words Waltz uttered about Cullins would have gotten him fired for sure.
**********
Right at the heart of city, amidst all the hustle and bustle of town and night life was the red light district of Noah way. Zena walked across the bars and Love hotels right to the edge of Moonlight hotel. There was a small alley way to its right. She looked around her and then quietly stepped in and walked the length right up to the end. There was a tiny ten dollar shop right there.
A small chinck of bell could be herd somewhere in the depth of the very messy shop.
"Coming." Came a lazy voice from inside.
Zena looked around. There were boxes of every size littered all over the floor and raised in walls right up to the ceilings. Thick cobwebs hung around some; some looked like they were fresh imports. The air was thick with the acrid smell of tobacco and beer.
"Its Romanian blades, fresh imports. Seventy dollar each, no bargains." Came the voice of a woman.
The lady of the shop came out. Zena turned around and grinned as she looked at a very old acquaintance of hers. She was a woman of around Zena’s age. A thick mass of sleek brown hair and eyelashes. She was smoking a pipe.
"You do know that it’s dangerous to smoke in here with all the explosives around you, Julie." Zena said, grinning.
"Honey, in our lifetime, we’ve made a living out of danger don’t you think?" Julie replied back.
Zena laughed out loud at this comment.
"Ahahahaha!!! Yeah, I guess." She chuckled. "You got the things I asked you to?"
Julie nodded in affirmation.
"Come along, I’ll show you." She said to her.
Zena followed Julie through a labyrinth of narrow corridors inside the shop right at the back. Julie pushed aside the black curtain and then got inside the room. Every kind of arms and ammunitions hung around the walls here. Zena remembered the first time she got inside here. She remembered clearly swearing,
"Holly mother of…!!!! You’ve got a whole arsenal in here!!!!"
She grinned to herself briefly before turning to Julie, who was bringing up a sports bag on top of the table.
************
Zena opened the zip of the sports bag and looked inside. Then she shut it up and handed Julie a thick envelop.
"All in ten dollar bills, untraceable." Zena answered Julie’s unasked question.
Julie grinned and offered Zena a smoke. Zena took it and took off. Julie stared at the doorway for a moment and then went back to her cabin. Taking up the phone receiver, she dialed a number.
Kite’s cellphone buzzed in the quite café like a war alarm. Taking it up, he stood up immediately.
"I have to go now." He told Liza shortly. "Enjoy your drink."
He slipped two hundred dollar bills inside the bill book and was gone. The café boy who came to collect the price felt pity as he saw the tearful eyes of Liza.
Out on the road, Kite hurried to catch a cab to Bridge cross, his mind full of the news he just got.
"I have the details." Was all that Julie had said to him.
************
The sun started to make its way towards the western side of the sky. Yet it made no difference in the scene of Melview drive. The quiet, unassuming sight of the suburban residences hardly ever changed due to change of time. A few children could be seen playing skip the loop in the public park. A dog doing it’s business in the bushes by the maple tree. Among the almost identical looking houses was number Eleven. A black Cadillac parked smartly in the driveway. Two voices could be herd from the doorway, thanks to the almost silent nature of Melview drive.
"When will you come by again?" said the wheezy old man who seemed to be withering before the eyes of the onlooker. He must’ve been over eighty. He was sitting in a wheel chair.
"I’ll drop by sometimes Dad, don’t worry." Sam said to him.
The old man smiled at him, and took his hands.
"Take care of yourself."
Sam nodded and left the house. He opened the door and getting inside, smartly shut it. All too soon there was the sound of the start of engine and then the Cadillac backed out of the driveway and within seconds was gone from sight.
A second later, a shadow disappeared from the bushes out looking the driveway.
********
Liberty station was twenty miles east of Melview drive. Sam was to leave the car in the parking lot of the Mall near the station. He got out of the driver’s seat, leaving the keys inside. Then he shut the door and slowly made his tedious way out of P2 to the ground and out in the open.
"Alright Fai, where are you?" He though to himself.
**********
There was an unusual crowd that day at the station, even for a Monday. People were rushing to get themselves a ticket and get as fast as they can to a train. The reason was obvious. It was clouding over real fast and people wanted to make it to their destination before the rain caught up with them.
"WATCH IT!!!!" A guy in trench coat and hat snapped at Sam as he bumped into him.
"Well Soooooooooooory!" Sam said grumpily. He brushed past the oncoming crowd going to platform three. As soon as he got clear ground, he made his way quickly to the escalator going upwards. Jumping through the railings midway down the chute, he blended in with the crowd rushing towards platform seven. He took of his jacket, reversed its sides and put it on, pulling the hood over his head.
"Lost ‘em." Sam thought to himself satisfied.
Up at platform three, two black suited men were looking here and there for a guy in Red pullovers. Sam got out of Liberty station and walked onwards down a small trail leading underneath the Rail bridge.
"You’re going to get me killed one of these days Fai." Sam said, leaning against one of the ginormous iron poles supporting the bridge.
"Don’t worry, I’m not being THAT hard on you." Chuckled Fai from the opposite side.
Sam passed him a chit which Fai took and pocketed quickly.
"I best be off."
"Watch your back man." Fai said grimly.
With his handsign, Sam was soon gone. Inside his car, Fai opened the chit.
"CITY HALL.12:49 GMT."
He started the engine and drove off to catch the freeway. Another shadow moved out into the open. It turned out to be a tramp at first sight. But then he took out a cellphone from his rag and dialed a number.
"Eye on Second bird, Contaminated." He spoke.
"Keep me posted.: Came Zena’s voice from the other side.
**********
"Officer Waltz,sir?" Lutenant Bobby poked his head in through David’s cabin door. "Detective Fluorite is here to see you sir."
"Send him in." Waltz said immediately.
"Too late to grab a bite for lunch with me David?" Fai smiled at him.
David took a look at his watch. It was quarter to three.
"Lets go." He said, grabbing his coat.
Three O’clock saw the two of them sitting in the corner chairs of the Dinner "Deli." Waltz was staring at the note.
"I’m Security incharge there tonight." Waltz was saying grimly. "And Ray will be there too."
"We already knew her company’s head is Triad’s Northern branch head. Fai said, a frown appearing on his forehead.
"Something’s about to happen there tonight. Question is, what?"
"A retaliation from south branch?" Waltz speculated. "But I thought South branch is completely wiped out!"
Silence fell between them. They ate their burger and french-fries quietly.
"There’s just one more thing, David." Fai said after a while. "Its about the body we found at Carmen’s corner last night."
"I can’t close the case on it Fai." Waltz told him. "Collins is up my case bro. Aslong as we don’t get new leads on this case, your friend is still on the list. Even though he is on our side."
Fai went silent. David sighed.
"I’ll stall it as long as I can."
Fai looked up and smiled gratefully.
"I owe you a bunch." He said.
David grinned.
"You sure do." He said.
********
The bell inside Julie’s shop made that familiar chink as Snowblind entered through the door. Minutes went by in silence. Kite rang the front desk bell loudly in impatience. Still no answer! Agitated, Kite rapped on the counter and bellowed,
"ANYONE THERE?"
"Coming, I’m coming." came Julie’s lazy drawl. "Oh, its you!" She said in detest, as she saw Kite.
Kite grinned.
"What’s with the sudden change in mood?" He asked nonchalantly.
"YOU is what happened, you annoying bum!" Julie growled, taking up her shotgun and pointing it at him. "You’re bad for business."
"YIEKS!" Kite exclaimed in mock fear. "You called me here though. I’m guessing it means you have what I want to know?"
He looked enquiringly at her. Julie put her gun down and growled for a bit more. Then she took something out from her pocket. It was the bullet casing Kite had found at Welling’s road.
"A full range of these bullets were bought off from a guy named "Garry oaks" somewhere in seventh street week before last. You’ll get Garry at "Butterflies". He’s there, probably goofing off with girls.."
"That all you have for me?" Kite asked, enquiringly.
Julie sent him a death glare. Then she breathed deep.
"If you weren’t Meg’s little brat I’d have had you buried long time back." She told him. "It only seems like yesterday, Kay was here asking for a shade for a night, with you bleeding like crazy."
Kite’s expression had changed. He was looking deeply sad.
"Meg’s dead." He said quietly. "So is Kay."
Julie looked outraged at this comment.
"Kay’s done whatever she has to keep you safe you ungrateful little!!!!" She howled at him. "If she knew what you just said right now.."
She fell silent.
"She was here, wasn’t she?" Kite asked her quietly.
"What does it matter to you?" Julie said, turning over a crate, "To you, she’s already dead."
"WHAT MATTERS IS SHE’S A CRIMINAL!!" Kite yelled at her. "I can have you arrested for withholding information’s Julie, where is she?"
Julie didn’t look up from her crates when she said,
"Be my guest and try. By the time you get a warrant, it’d be like this shop, this time never even existed. Don’t underestimate our powers." She said coldly. "I’ve told you what you wanted to know, now leave. You’re hampering business."
There was a slam as Kite walked out of the shop, banging the door shut behind him. His head spinning and heart seething in anger. Yes, Kay was dead! He thought fiercely, his sister Kay is dead. To him anyway.
Rain started to fall down heavily again.
To be contd…….
---------------------
CHAPTER2
-----------------------
The alarm clock on the living room table rang shrilly at around half past six in the morning. A groggy David, frowned in his sleep, muttering,
"shuuuutuuup."
CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNG
CRING CRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!!!!
"Shut up for Christ's sake!!!"
CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNG
BLAST….
David stowed away his service revolver hastily in his underwear as the neighbors started to peek their head out from their windows in fright.
"Go back to your works people," David shouted from inside the room. "Its false alarm."
"Bloody mother of….." David kept mumbling as he got out of the sofa. He suddenly realized that there was a warm blanket on top of him that he clearly did not have on last night.
"It must’ve been Ray." David smiled to himself.
Ray had even left breakfast for him and a Tiffin box.
******
Fifty miles away, in Aztec incorp’s Management floor, Ray sneezed.
"Did you catch a cold Ms. Waltz?" Said one of Ray’s fellow colleagues.
"Oh, no!" Ray replied, smiling. "I’m fine. Thanks for your concern though."
"The board room meeting starts in fifteen." Said the colleague. "See you inside."
Ray nodded and headed off towards her chamber.
"Chie, how’s the city hall reception plan coming along?" She asked her assistant.
"This just came for you." Chie told her, pointing at a bouquet.
"To My love-Dave".
Ray colored and Chie grinned.
"Ahem…" Ray Coughed. "What about the…"
"It’s coming along just fine." Replied Chie with an energetic smile. "I’ve arranged the menus, the press and media have separate seats. There’ll be plenty of room for everyone and I’ve also gone to Canisters for special delivery of ivory roses for that perfect cheek you’ve asked for."
"And the secu…" Ray started.
"Already dealt with." Chie said, cutting across her. "Homeland security will be here and so will a portion of the governmental security task force. Leave these petty things for me Ray, you go on ahead to the meeting."
"Okay then, I’m off". Said Ray.
"You forgot this." Chie called to her. She was holding a cup of cappuccino. Ray took it and gave her a grateful nod. Then she hurried out.
*********
"You have a moment?" Kite asked.
Liza was busy showing a worker how to bind a bouquet. She blinked.
Twenty minutes later, they were in a café. Kite ordered his usual Espresso while Liza ordered plain iced tea.
"How are you?" Kite asked to break the very stressful silence.
"Fine." Liza replied, as casually as she could. She was in a daze. Almost a month and a half has gone by without a word from him and then there he was, suddenly, just like that. With an air of "matter-of-factness" that there was no reason for her to be surprised that he came to visit her.
"What’re you doing here Kite?" Liza said after a while.
"What do you mean, what am I doing here?" Kite said, staring at her in surprise.
"I haven’t herd a word a from you in over a month and then you suddenly appear out of nowhere…I…" Liza stopped.
Kite was staring at his espresso.
"I came to see you." He said quietly.
*******
Liza stared at Kite in surprise for a while, her lips slightly parted. Then suddenly she realized what she was doing and quickly closed her mouth, staring at her feet. A hint of blush visibly struck across her face. Kite smiled to himself. She still was as he had remembered her in their four years of knowing each other. The natural air of cuteness around her, the aroma of fresh flowers lingering in her presence and that sunshine radiant smile….
"Kite?" Liza enquired as she saw Kite’s face go out of expression due to his mind going back in reveries.
Kite shook his head, and taking up the cup, drank some of his coffee which was going cold.
********
Back at NWPD (Noahway) headquaters, Waltz was pacing up and down his chamber. His hair sticking out at odd angles due to him running his fingers through them so often. The dull clock hanging up on wall behind his chair smartly ticked 10am as the sun gazed lazy from behind the mass of dark clouds. It seemed as if today would be no different. There was a storm forecast for the evening. A small knock in the half open doorway made Waltz jump back to his senses and look up.
"Chief inspector Cullin," Waltz said courteously. "This is a rare sight. You almost never descend into this part of hell."
"Its not everyday that THIS come out in the papers now does it?" CI Cullin replied coldly, smashing the paper on top of Waltz’s desk.
Waltz stared at the paper, It was a copy of "The Daily Hollers". The headlines read :
TRIAD BATTLES UNDER THE NOSE OF AUTHORITY, CITY IN CHAOS.
A nerve twitched on Waltz’s forehead. He was swearing non-stop under his breath.
"Care to explain yourself Officer?" Cullins Demanded, his face wearing the most annoying air of authority.
"What’s there to explain?" Waltz said shortly. "There’s a little air of unease in the city due to some homicides. You know the Media loves to blow things out of proportions!!!"
"Well, why couldn’t you subdue the chaos in the bud Waltz?!!"
"Why couldn’t you subdue the chaos in the bud Waltz?!!!" mocked David, in his annoyance. "I’m on my temper’s end at trying to crack the case, I’d like some slack Sir."
He added the "Sir" with a hint of sarcasm. It was Cullin’s time to get mad.
"I have every media from NCC to HB up my ASS asking me about the competence of my department waltz and I DEMAND SOME ANSWERS!!!!!"
"When I have some, I’ll give them to you." Waltz replied icily.
Cullins chewed on his tounge for a few seconds and then finally said,
"You have twenty four hours."
He was at the door when he turned and said,
"Aztec incorps have their new board of directors selected. They’re throwing a party at city hall tonight. You’re incharge of security there Waltz."
The door shut itself smartly. It was a good thing because the next two words Waltz uttered about Cullins would have gotten him fired for sure.
**********
Right at the heart of city, amidst all the hustle and bustle of town and night life was the red light district of Noah way. Zena walked across the bars and Love hotels right to the edge of Moonlight hotel. There was a small alley way to its right. She looked around her and then quietly stepped in and walked the length right up to the end. There was a tiny ten dollar shop right there.
A small chinck of bell could be herd somewhere in the depth of the very messy shop.
"Coming." Came a lazy voice from inside.
Zena looked around. There were boxes of every size littered all over the floor and raised in walls right up to the ceilings. Thick cobwebs hung around some; some looked like they were fresh imports. The air was thick with the acrid smell of tobacco and beer.
"Its Romanian blades, fresh imports. Seventy dollar each, no bargains." Came the voice of a woman.
The lady of the shop came out. Zena turned around and grinned as she looked at a very old acquaintance of hers. She was a woman of around Zena’s age. A thick mass of sleek brown hair and eyelashes. She was smoking a pipe.
"You do know that it’s dangerous to smoke in here with all the explosives around you, Julie." Zena said, grinning.
"Honey, in our lifetime, we’ve made a living out of danger don’t you think?" Julie replied back.
Zena laughed out loud at this comment.
"Ahahahaha!!! Yeah, I guess." She chuckled. "You got the things I asked you to?"
Julie nodded in affirmation.
"Come along, I’ll show you." She said to her.
Zena followed Julie through a labyrinth of narrow corridors inside the shop right at the back. Julie pushed aside the black curtain and then got inside the room. Every kind of arms and ammunitions hung around the walls here. Zena remembered the first time she got inside here. She remembered clearly swearing,
"Holly mother of…!!!! You’ve got a whole arsenal in here!!!!"
She grinned to herself briefly before turning to Julie, who was bringing up a sports bag on top of the table.
************
Zena opened the zip of the sports bag and looked inside. Then she shut it up and handed Julie a thick envelop.
"All in ten dollar bills, untraceable." Zena answered Julie’s unasked question.
Julie grinned and offered Zena a smoke. Zena took it and took off. Julie stared at the doorway for a moment and then went back to her cabin. Taking up the phone receiver, she dialed a number.
Kite’s cellphone buzzed in the quite café like a war alarm. Taking it up, he stood up immediately.
"I have to go now." He told Liza shortly. "Enjoy your drink."
He slipped two hundred dollar bills inside the bill book and was gone. The café boy who came to collect the price felt pity as he saw the tearful eyes of Liza.
Out on the road, Kite hurried to catch a cab to Bridge cross, his mind full of the news he just got.
"I have the details." Was all that Julie had said to him.
************
The sun started to make its way towards the western side of the sky. Yet it made no difference in the scene of Melview drive. The quiet, unassuming sight of the suburban residences hardly ever changed due to change of time. A few children could be seen playing skip the loop in the public park. A dog doing it’s business in the bushes by the maple tree. Among the almost identical looking houses was number Eleven. A black Cadillac parked smartly in the driveway. Two voices could be herd from the doorway, thanks to the almost silent nature of Melview drive.
"When will you come by again?" said the wheezy old man who seemed to be withering before the eyes of the onlooker. He must’ve been over eighty. He was sitting in a wheel chair.
"I’ll drop by sometimes Dad, don’t worry." Sam said to him.
The old man smiled at him, and took his hands.
"Take care of yourself."
Sam nodded and left the house. He opened the door and getting inside, smartly shut it. All too soon there was the sound of the start of engine and then the Cadillac backed out of the driveway and within seconds was gone from sight.
A second later, a shadow disappeared from the bushes out looking the driveway.
********
Liberty station was twenty miles east of Melview drive. Sam was to leave the car in the parking lot of the Mall near the station. He got out of the driver’s seat, leaving the keys inside. Then he shut the door and slowly made his tedious way out of P2 to the ground and out in the open.
"Alright Fai, where are you?" He though to himself.
**********
There was an unusual crowd that day at the station, even for a Monday. People were rushing to get themselves a ticket and get as fast as they can to a train. The reason was obvious. It was clouding over real fast and people wanted to make it to their destination before the rain caught up with them.
"WATCH IT!!!!" A guy in trench coat and hat snapped at Sam as he bumped into him.
"Well Soooooooooooory!" Sam said grumpily. He brushed past the oncoming crowd going to platform three. As soon as he got clear ground, he made his way quickly to the escalator going upwards. Jumping through the railings midway down the chute, he blended in with the crowd rushing towards platform seven. He took of his jacket, reversed its sides and put it on, pulling the hood over his head.
"Lost ‘em." Sam thought to himself satisfied.
Up at platform three, two black suited men were looking here and there for a guy in Red pullovers. Sam got out of Liberty station and walked onwards down a small trail leading underneath the Rail bridge.
"You’re going to get me killed one of these days Fai." Sam said, leaning against one of the ginormous iron poles supporting the bridge.
"Don’t worry, I’m not being THAT hard on you." Chuckled Fai from the opposite side.
Sam passed him a chit which Fai took and pocketed quickly.
"I best be off."
"Watch your back man." Fai said grimly.
With his handsign, Sam was soon gone. Inside his car, Fai opened the chit.
"CITY HALL.12:49 GMT."
He started the engine and drove off to catch the freeway. Another shadow moved out into the open. It turned out to be a tramp at first sight. But then he took out a cellphone from his rag and dialed a number.
"Eye on Second bird, Contaminated." He spoke.
"Keep me posted.: Came Zena’s voice from the other side.
**********
"Officer Waltz,sir?" Lutenant Bobby poked his head in through David’s cabin door. "Detective Fluorite is here to see you sir."
"Send him in." Waltz said immediately.
"Too late to grab a bite for lunch with me David?" Fai smiled at him.
David took a look at his watch. It was quarter to three.
"Lets go." He said, grabbing his coat.
Three O’clock saw the two of them sitting in the corner chairs of the Dinner "Deli." Waltz was staring at the note.
"I’m Security incharge there tonight." Waltz was saying grimly. "And Ray will be there too."
"We already knew her company’s head is Triad’s Northern branch head. Fai said, a frown appearing on his forehead.
"Something’s about to happen there tonight. Question is, what?"
"A retaliation from south branch?" Waltz speculated. "But I thought South branch is completely wiped out!"
Silence fell between them. They ate their burger and french-fries quietly.
"There’s just one more thing, David." Fai said after a while. "Its about the body we found at Carmen’s corner last night."
"I can’t close the case on it Fai." Waltz told him. "Collins is up my case bro. Aslong as we don’t get new leads on this case, your friend is still on the list. Even though he is on our side."
Fai went silent. David sighed.
"I’ll stall it as long as I can."
Fai looked up and smiled gratefully.
"I owe you a bunch." He said.
David grinned.
"You sure do." He said.
********
The bell inside Julie’s shop made that familiar chink as Snowblind entered through the door. Minutes went by in silence. Kite rang the front desk bell loudly in impatience. Still no answer! Agitated, Kite rapped on the counter and bellowed,
"ANYONE THERE?"
"Coming, I’m coming." came Julie’s lazy drawl. "Oh, its you!" She said in detest, as she saw Kite.
Kite grinned.
"What’s with the sudden change in mood?" He asked nonchalantly.
"YOU is what happened, you annoying bum!" Julie growled, taking up her shotgun and pointing it at him. "You’re bad for business."
"YIEKS!" Kite exclaimed in mock fear. "You called me here though. I’m guessing it means you have what I want to know?"
He looked enquiringly at her. Julie put her gun down and growled for a bit more. Then she took something out from her pocket. It was the bullet casing Kite had found at Welling’s road.
"A full range of these bullets were bought off from a guy named "Garry oaks" somewhere in seventh street week before last. You’ll get Garry at "Butterflies". He’s there, probably goofing off with girls.."
"That all you have for me?" Kite asked, enquiringly.
Julie sent him a death glare. Then she breathed deep.
"If you weren’t Meg’s little brat I’d have had you buried long time back." She told him. "It only seems like yesterday, Kay was here asking for a shade for a night, with you bleeding like crazy."
Kite’s expression had changed. He was looking deeply sad.
"Meg’s dead." He said quietly. "So is Kay."
Julie looked outraged at this comment.
"Kay’s done whatever she has to keep you safe you ungrateful little!!!!" She howled at him. "If she knew what you just said right now.."
She fell silent.
"She was here, wasn’t she?" Kite asked her quietly.
"What does it matter to you?" Julie said, turning over a crate, "To you, she’s already dead."
"WHAT MATTERS IS SHE’S A CRIMINAL!!" Kite yelled at her. "I can have you arrested for withholding information’s Julie, where is she?"
Julie didn’t look up from her crates when she said,
"Be my guest and try. By the time you get a warrant, it’d be like this shop, this time never even existed. Don’t underestimate our powers." She said coldly. "I’ve told you what you wanted to know, now leave. You’re hampering business."
There was a slam as Kite walked out of the shop, banging the door shut behind him. His head spinning and heart seething in anger. Yes, Kay was dead! He thought fiercely, his sister Kay is dead. To him anyway.
Rain started to fall down heavily again.
To be contd…….
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