Chapter 2
Rose believed that emotions got in the way of all that is sensible. He hated emotional weak people and people who showed off their emotions. He had people who weren't strict and by the book. Dee Laytner held two of these qualities and Rose had hated him right off the bat.
Ryo McLain on the other hand was someone he could admire. And admiration had turned into caring. He knew that he loved the Asian American cop and he knew that Dee Laytner was no good for him. Sure he had done some things out of line. Such as using his rank to try and split the apart. But it was all for Ryo and Ryo deserved the best. And the best was Berkley Rose.
He stepped into the room that housed his precinct's Special Cases Unit and was shocked at the way it looked. It didn't even look like it belonged in a house office, not at a police department. It seemed that each detective had added his or her own homey touches. It was emotionally attaching. It was something that he hated. Said for detectives were sitting at their own desk waiting for him. He came and sat at the chair they gave him.
"What is the case you are working on?" He asked professionally.
"My guys are working on the Moonshine Case." Stina spoke from the door of office.
"Please join us Chief Lyne. Now. So far. What's happening?" He asked.
Ryo wanted to snort. He was putting his hands where it didn't belong just so he could good. But there was nothing he could do. He blocked out everything and focused on Nazomi's picture of dancing geishas. After a while Rose stood and turned to Ryo.
"I would like to speak to you in private." He spoke.
"Sure." He shrugged his shoulders, why not get molested again?
They stepped inside Stina's office and Rose immediately got to the point.
"You should put in your transfer from this unit." He softly growled.
"Why? You don't like the thought of me with Dee?" Ryo asked innocently.
"I don't want him pawing all over you." Rose almost shouted.
"Dee stopped that a year ago. Catch up with the times Commissioner." Ryo commented.
"How long do you think this unit is going to last? Hm? It's complete and utter nonsense." Rose growled.
"I suggest you leave. I enjoy working here with my team." Ryo added.
"Team. A group of useless detectives and some Japanese immigrant?" Rose asked defiantly.
"I am half Japanese. Watch what you say."
"Maybe I will."
"You know you are out of line." Ryo muttered.
"Are you trying to get me fired?" Rose raised an eyebrow.
"I wouldn't dream of it but right now I have a case to solve with my team and I would like you to leave." Ryo muttered turning for the door.
"Did I say you could leave? This is my building and I am your boss. You are to do as I say." Rose growled grabbing his arm and spinning him around.
"I will do nothing of the sort. You don't control me and like I said I have a case to solve."
"You think this Oiru aoi exists? It's a bunch of folk tales." Rose remarked.
"Folk tales didn't kill those girls. I don't care what you think or believe. Something killed those girls. Something attacked Chen Lu and Lang Wong... They didn't do that to themselves and I intend to find out who is." Ryo whispered.
"Look... I know you want every case to end well. But honestly Randy... It's all fairy tales. There is no way that any of what they are saying is true."
"We'll see Berkley Rose. And until then keep your hands to yourself." Ryo muttered and slammed Stina's door behind him.
"You are nothing more then a fool Ryo McLain. Just like that hot head partner of yours." He muttered.
"What the hell was that about?" Ronda asked as Ryo sat down.
"It's called abuse of rank." Dee muttered taking a long drink of his coffee.
"What?"
"The boss has the hots for our dear Ryo and uses his position for his benefit." Dee replied.
"Sounds like a sleaze bag." Ronda muttered sitting on her desk.
"Sounds... We met him before he became the boss. I'd really like to call IA but that would get my ass in trouble." Dee muttered.
"Sounds about right." Nazomi joined the conversation.
"Well, I can handle Rose... Let's focus on the case. Any news on Wong or Chen Lu?" Ryo asked dropping in his seat.
"Chen Lu is recovering fine but Lang Wong is being stubborn with what she knows. Our witness still leave us at square one."
"Maybe not..." Nazomi whispered, "Maybe not."
"You wanted to speak to me?" Chen Lu asked as she sat on the side of the hospital bed.
"You've lived so far and you are going to be released tomorrow. I want to know if you have somewhere to go." Ryo whispered.
"I don't."
"You told me to tell your mother that you loved her and I did. Why can't you go stay with her?" Ryo asked.
"Because then the Oiru aoi would come after her as well. It is a matter of honor. I will not sunder my mother's honor and put her in danger." Chen whispered.
"Would you like to stay with me Chen Lu?" He asked softly.
"I will not become your mistress." She growled.
"How old are you? Sixteen? Seventeen? I want you to stay with me as my charge not as my mistress."
"Why?" She growled.
"I want to help." Was his reply.
"You can't. You understand nothing." She growled.
"I understand enough. The whispers of Oiru aoi going around the Asian neighborhoods. My mother was full Japanese and her mother killed her and my father because marry a white man was against their value systems. It might not have been Oiru aoi that killed my parents but it was the same hate." Ryo growled.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Restore my honor in myself because I do not believe in the honor of my family." He whispered.
"I think I understand. I will stay with you."
"Good. And don't worry. Bikky and I will take care of you."
"Bikky?" She raised an eyebrow.
"He is my foster son."
"Ah. Well, I am half Japanese, half Chinese."
"Are you related to Johnny Lu?" Ryo asked.
"Yes. Did you arrest him?" She asked softly.
"No. My partner did. I'm sorry about what happened." He whispered.
"Don't be. My Otusan was a deadbeat. He abandon my mother when his gang didn't approve because she was Japanese." She spoke.
"I am sad to hear that."
"I would like to leave now." She whispered.
"Sure. Let's go."
To say Bikky was surprised when he got home form school was an understatement. He'd never head so much rapid Japanese in his life. His foster father, Nazomi and some girl were talking so fast that even what little Ryo had taught him was not catching.
"Who's the goth chick?" He cried after a few minutes.
"Hello Bikky. I'd like you to meet Chen Lu. She's going to be staying with us for a while." Ryo spoke.
"What kind of music do you like?" He asked bluntly.
"Rock, metal, rap." She replied.
"She cool in my book. Cal and I are going to the movies. See ya."
"Wow. I didn't have to pay him this time. He must almost be learning manners." Ryo remarked in English.
"Actually I think he was so confused by us that it slipped." Nazomi laughed.
"You could be right. He knows some Japanese but we were speaking fast, ne?" Roy laughed.
"Yeah."
"I hope Dee will be here soon." Ryo remarked.
"You are like a. how do you say. Mother hen." Nozomi spoke and she and Chen rolled.
"So what if I am?" Ryo laughed back before putting up their tea cups.
Ryo jumped and grabbed the phone as it went off.
"Ryo get to the station quick!" Dee cried.
"Nani? What's wrong? What happened?" Ryo asked fearing the worst."
"It's Lang! It got her. It got her." Dee cried.
"Is it the same MO?" Ryo asked trying to calm himself.
"I don't know. Just get you and Nazomi here now." Dee whispered.
"We'll be there on the double. Try to stay calm Dee." Ryo whispered dropping the phone.
"What is it Ryo?" Nazomi asked standing.
"It's Lang. It came back for her."
"What the hell do you mean 'came back?'" Chen yelled.
"Lang Wong is dead." Ryo deadpanned.
"But... I'm still alive... That doesn't make sense." She whispered.
"Look, Nazomi and I have to go. You can stay here."
"I'm not staying here. I'm going with you."
"Fine..." Ryo gave up grabbing his keys.
"You act like she's your daughter."
"Don't start that on me."
Dee slammed his fist against the door of the office once and again as if physical pain would over take the feelings of helplessness that were washing over him/ How could this guy slip pass their defenses so easily? And why come back for Lang? It was obvious that she wasn't going to talk... It seemed so senseless.
"If you break your hand I'm not taking you to the hospital." A voice spoke behind him.
"Shove it Ronda." He growled slamming his fist again.
"God... You need to get a grip."
"A girl is dead."
"You act as if I don't know. She's one of the seven we are investigating... We're here to find the bad guy Laytner or have you forgotten?" Ronda asked grabbing his fist before he slammed it again.
"What is there to forget? It's sitting out for the world to see. And we aren't any closer to finding the truth!" His voice was tight and loud.
"Get your head out of your ass Laytner! We have a job to do! You can't do it while sitting on your ass and feeling sorry for yourself. Now either get or together or put your transfer into Rose." She growled attempting unsuccessfully to turn his larger form to face her.
"Your right... Women always are... Women and Ryo anyways.." He muttered a little while longer to himself before turning and going to sit at his desk.
"MEN!" Ronda yelled before walking out to the break room.
"I think I agree with her." Chen spoke from the doorway.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"What's it look like? I'm going to help." She growled.
"You are not here to help unless you are going to talk." Ryo said as he came in behind her.
"I can help!" She cried.
"Not until you graduate high school." Ryo remarked.
"Yes Otusan!" She snorted.
"I am not your Otusan!" Ryo yelled back.
"What the hell are they saying?" Dee asked scratching his head.
"It means father." Nazomi spoke with a smile.
"Jeez, he's already adopted her? Hi and his strays." Dee smiled as well.
Ronda stormed back in.
"Let's get to work." She shot a murderous look at Dee.
"Yes, your highness." He nodded back.
Sensing the fight Ryo quickly spot up.
"So what exactly are we looking at?"
"According to the reports it was a slightly altered version of the MO." Dee spoke.
"That being?" Chen asked.
"Slit wrists and marks around the neck with a cord or a rope." Ronda added.
"Let me see." Nazomi whispered dropping down at her desk.
Nazomi poured over the pictures with Chen looking over her shoulder. Ryo looked at Dee.
"Who was guarding Lang?"
"J.J. and Drake."
"And he got right passed them?" He asked eyebrows shooting to his hair line.
J.J. might have been hyper but he was a damn good cop and Drake was one of the best.
"We're in a whole new ballpark." Dee muttered.
"The killer has gotten confident... She was ditched out in the open." Ronda spoke as she nodded towards the pictures.
"Meaning what?" Ryo asked.
"Left her in front of her apartment building in Chinatown."
"Who found her?"
"Some man reported it but didn't hang around." Dee spoke as he stood.
Ryo noted how shaken Dee was, the man wasn't acting anywhere near his usual self and it scared him quite a bit . He stood and walked over to Dee putting a hand on the taller man's shoulder.
"Do you need to leave for a while? There's not much we can do right now." He spoke in even tones.
"I'm fine. No sweat."
Ryo raised his eye skeptically and Dee shrugged him off. Now that hurt more then anything else he'd endured so far. But he backed off. This was after all a hard case.
Megan Nyugen stood on the corner waiting for her aptly described, deadbeat boyfriend Aaron to show up. She tugged at the bottom of her skirt and was ready to march away when she noticed a car slowly rolling up. The car was defiantly Aaron's, missing headlight and dented bumper. She marched over to the car as soon as it stopped. Ripping open the driver's side she prepared to give him an ear full but got a shocking surprise back.
Aaron Vu was dead. His stomach was split open in a way she recognized from the old Japanese movies Aaron liked to watch. It was seppuku, the Japanese tradition of suicide to bring honor back to the family if a male were to dishonor it.
"Oh Kami-sama... IIE!" She shrieked as she dropped down staring at the clean cut lines.
Her cries alerted an elderly old woman out for her nightly walk. And this was how the first male victim of Oiru aoi was found.
"This doesn't make fucking sense! The guy was driving Ryo! Driving! How could he do something that fast?!" Dee shrieked.
"There is no way he could have done it. There is no sword to be found. And still no leads." Ryo added.
"Look.. Dee you need to calm down." Ronda spoke.
"Shove it up your ass Fey." Dee growled.
"Dee.... Really now." Ronda rolled her eyes.
"Don't 'Dee' me." Dee muttered.
Ryo laid his hand on Dee's and the older man turned to face him. Unexpectedly Dee wrapped him in his arms and kissed him. Ryo struggled in his arms for a second before relaxing. He could feel Dee's victory smile against his lips but for the first time he didn't care. He didn't even care that people could see let alone that they were at work. When De pulled back he just stared unsure of what to do.
"Well I be damned. You were telling the truth when you said you were bating for the other team." Chen cried clapping her hands happily.
"You would point that out." Ryo muttered blush beginning to paint his face.
"Oh... Stop being so in the closet. None of us care. Right Nazomi?" Chen asked.
"She's right. I am not... What is the word? Yes, homophobic." Nazomi nodded to herself in conformation.
"That's nice to know..." Ryo whispered willing his blush away.
"Well... Insert awkward silence." Chen whispered.
"Can we please get back to work!" Ronda mock growled.
"Fine."
"Sure."
"Alright."
There was really no way to explain what happened to Aaron Vu, or Lang Wong or the other six victims. Except that the supposed eighth had gotten away. Chen Lu was still alive.
Megan Nyguen stood outside of the doors of the police station. She hesitantly pulled at one of the glass doors and slipped inside. She tittered on the heels of her shoes as she slipped around like a ghost in her pale, pale make up and black clothes. She had no real clue of what she was looking for. But she knew she had to talk to the people. She had to understand what was happening.
"Are you looking for something Miss?" A voice asked behind her.
She jumped with a short scream and spun to find a silver haired man staring at her with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry Miss. I didn't mean to scare you." He replied.
"Y-you didn't." She whispered.
"Sure... Are you looking for someone?" He asked softly.
"H-hai... I'm looking for Detective Laytner... I was told that he worked here." She whispered.
"And you would be right. My names is Detective Adams. Please follow me." He whispered careful not to touch her as if she were glass.
She followed him the straight path to the elevator and upstairs to office of the Special Cases Unit. She tittered behind him as he swung open the door.
"Dee-sempai! There's someone to see you!" His slightly hyper exterior made her jump, he'd seen calmer earlier.
"Yeah, I'm Laytner... Hello? Oh, hi Megan... How may I help you?" He asked dismissing thoughts of J.J. without a glance towards the small man.
"I wanted to know if what they said about Aaron was true." She whispered.
"And what have they been saying?" He asked frightened by what she was going to say.
"They say that Oiru aoi got him. That it was because he'd disobeyed his father." She whispered.
"Well, I haven't heard that."
"He wasn't killed like those girls though." She pressed.
"I really don't know what to tell you Megan. Please go and spen time with you family. If anything comes up as to why this happened to Aaron then I will inform you."
"Do you promise?" Her eyes became large.
"On my honor as a cop."
"If the promise is on your honor then I know you are tell the truth. Thank you Detective Laytner." And then she was gone like a ghost.
"Dee? Who was that?" Ryo asked looking up from what he and Nazomi were working on.
"Megan Nuygen. She wanted to asked about her boyfriend." He replied shutting the door.
"That poor girl. She's all alone now I think." Nazomi whispered.
"Let's jus hope she's not next." Dee muttered softly to himself.
"Come Dee. Let's get more work done."
"Hey, where's Ronda anyway?" Dee asked sitting.
"She went to talk to Lang Wong's father."
Ronda knocked on the door lightly and waited for an answer, a few seconds later a small meek looking woman opened the door.
"May I help you?" She asked softly.
"I am looking for Diana Wong." She replied.
"I am her. Why are you here?" She asked still not opening her door.
"Please Ma'am. It might be best for you to open your door. You might want to be sitting down when you hear this." She whispered.
"Alright." She whispered.
The door was opened and Ronda stepped inside. Diane sat primly on the edge of her seat and Ronda stood at the doorway watching her.
"This is about Lang isn't it? She got mixed up with the wrong people. I knew it was bound to happen one day." She whispered.
"I'm afraid you have the wrong idea Mrs. Wong."
"Oh, I have the right idea. The girl has gone and disgraced our family and then expects us to front the bail money." She replied unfolding and refolding her hands in her lap.
"No Mrs. Wong. Lang Wong is dead." Ronda spoke wanting to end the triad.
"What? My little girl was a little disrespectful but. She wasn't in a gang. How could she be dead?" Diane asked staring at her eyes.
"She was killed by what we only know now as Oiru aoi. She had escaped at first but instead of returning home went back to the streets. She said she did it to protect you." Ronda whispered.
"I have heard the younger girls talk about that. the monster of honor that comes to cut down those who have betrayed their Asian heritage. But I thought it was only an urban myth." She whispered.
"It is just another name for the killer. We will find out who did this Mrs. Wong. Would you like me to keep you posted?" She asked.
"No thank you. You just go do your job. I must go and see my husband." Diane spoke ushering her out the door.
"Poor woman. Though, she seemed a little too calm for what I just told her." Ronda whispered to herself.
"Hello? I need to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Vu." Roy called as he banged on the door again.
"The Vu's don't live here anymore." A man said behind him.
Ryo turned to see a man of about fifty or so leaning out of his door.
"Can you tell me where they moved?" He asked.
"Yeah.to the cemetery. Had a disagreement with their little boy's gang leader and the leader had them all killed. Momma, Papa and the little sister raped and beat to death. Sad, sick sight. The police were talking about if for weeks." Man whispered.
"Oh. Well, when did this happen?" Ryo asked.
"About three years ago."
"Thank you for your time." Ryo whispered walking away.
As he walked he paused, a triple homicide and there was no witness but a man who knew everything? He knew that would puzzle him for a long time.
Chen looked up from the phone she was using. She turned to Dee and Nazomi.
"Looks like Vu's parents have been dead for a while and Wong's mother seemed to know nothing."
"And your parents?" Dee asked softly.
"My father went back to China. My mother is in the hospital with a stroke. And Ryo's already talked to her anyway." She muttered picking at the bottom of her short leather skirt.
"I'm sorry to hear that. So are you enjoying playing secretary?" Dee asked with a sad smile.
"Yeah. I like being here. I feel more alive then I have in years."
"Then go to the Police Academy. It will do you some good."
"But I want to work here." She pouted.
"I'll put in a good word for you." He smiled.
"You'd better." She mock growled.
Nazomi looked up from the photos she was pouring over and smiled. She looked back down and suddenly she noticed something that wasn't there
"Hey Chen. Go get the scanner." She whispered drawing a circle around the spot.
Chen nodded and disappeared out the door. Nazomi began searching through the other pictures and circling each mark she found that resemble what she was looking for. When Chen came back with the scanner she hooked it up and scanned the picture.
"What did you find?" Dee asked leaning over her shoulder.
"Just this. Apparently there was a distinctive mark that we looked over." Nazomi pointed out as she began to enlarge the picture.
"And that is?" Dee asked not quite following.
"A mark that might give us a lead." Nazomi replied while adjusting the monitor.
"I still don't get what are you talking about." Dee muttered.
"It's very simple. See right there. That is a burn mark, and beside it, there is a sentence." Nazomi spoke as she pulled line under the mark up closer.
"Why didn't we pick up on this before?" Dee asked staring.
"It's small, you wouldn't really be able to pick it out on dark skin. Unfortunately Wong has allowed us to find it." Nazomi whispered softly tracing a finger along the sentence.
"Ozaki's Japanese Sushi Bar." Dee read slowly.
"That's a small dive in the lower part of China town." Chen muttered.
"Have you eaten there?" Dee asked.
"Yeah, pretty shitty food if you ask me." She muttered.
"I'm gonna go ask around. Update Ronda and Ryo when they get back.
Ozaki's Japanese Sushi Bar was small, out of the way and filled with the smell of rotting meat. He wrinkled his nose before slowly entering the stifling atmosphere of the dive. He walked over to the bar.
"Please sir. Go to the front and wait to be seated." The man spoke.
"I'm not here for the food." Dee returned.
"Then I suggest you leave."
"I suggest you pay attention to me. NYPD. I'd like to ask you a few questions." Dee gave sly smirk.
"Talk to Kenji, he's in the back." The man spoke and turned back to his customer.
Dee followed the directions and found a small old man with blue eyes, something not very common for a Japanese man.
"May I help you Mr. Detective?" He asked in an oily voice.
"I'd like to ask you a few questions about something." Dee spot sitting down."
"Ask away young man." Kenji spoke.
"Do you sell lighters of any kind?"
"That is an unusual question. But no, we don't."
"Are you sure?"
"Very. Why?"
"A number of girls have been killed by something that on the streets they call Oiru aoi. We found on each girl a brand, so small it's almost not noticeable that says Ozaki's Japanese Sushi Bar." Dee explained.
"Hmm, that is most unusual. I wish I could help more detective."
"It's alright sir. Thank you for you time."
Dee felt more frustrated then before. The mark was a dead end. And yet. Something about Kenji unnerved him. And alerted his sixth sense but he ignored it. He dropped down into his car and stared down at the page Nazomi gave him.
A burn: Ozaki Japanese Sushi Bar
Slit throat
Bound wrists
Non-tradition Asian girls
And none of that shit made any damn sense at least not to his frazzled mind. And yet still, where was the pattern that would identify the killer? There seemed to not be a single flaw, the perfect murder. The perfect killing spree. He growled and started up the car and took off in a flurry of smoke.
Nazomi pulled her hands out from under the sink with a sponge in hand. It was a purely nervous gesture, to clean something. But after hearing from Dee what a bust her find had been had her frazzled. She walked back out into the main office and set to work cleaning the monitors and keyboards. She barely noticed Chen watching her as the clock ticked closer and closer towards six.
At six exactly Ryo burst in with Bikky in tow. Said boy was wearing a smirk that should have split his tan face. He sat with Chen and leaned forward whispering.
"I think I know how you can help." He whispered.
"How?" She whispered back.
"Tell them what you know... Send it in a letter from Lang's address. The killer will never know it's you." He whispered.
"How can you be sure." She hissed back.
"I can't but... They need what you know Chen... Please." He whispered.
"I guess your right... My days are numbered anyways... It will get me again. I might as well do some good." She nodded.
Rose believed that emotions got in the way of all that is sensible. He hated emotional weak people and people who showed off their emotions. He had people who weren't strict and by the book. Dee Laytner held two of these qualities and Rose had hated him right off the bat.
Ryo McLain on the other hand was someone he could admire. And admiration had turned into caring. He knew that he loved the Asian American cop and he knew that Dee Laytner was no good for him. Sure he had done some things out of line. Such as using his rank to try and split the apart. But it was all for Ryo and Ryo deserved the best. And the best was Berkley Rose.
He stepped into the room that housed his precinct's Special Cases Unit and was shocked at the way it looked. It didn't even look like it belonged in a house office, not at a police department. It seemed that each detective had added his or her own homey touches. It was emotionally attaching. It was something that he hated. Said for detectives were sitting at their own desk waiting for him. He came and sat at the chair they gave him.
"What is the case you are working on?" He asked professionally.
"My guys are working on the Moonshine Case." Stina spoke from the door of office.
"Please join us Chief Lyne. Now. So far. What's happening?" He asked.
Ryo wanted to snort. He was putting his hands where it didn't belong just so he could good. But there was nothing he could do. He blocked out everything and focused on Nazomi's picture of dancing geishas. After a while Rose stood and turned to Ryo.
"I would like to speak to you in private." He spoke.
"Sure." He shrugged his shoulders, why not get molested again?
They stepped inside Stina's office and Rose immediately got to the point.
"You should put in your transfer from this unit." He softly growled.
"Why? You don't like the thought of me with Dee?" Ryo asked innocently.
"I don't want him pawing all over you." Rose almost shouted.
"Dee stopped that a year ago. Catch up with the times Commissioner." Ryo commented.
"How long do you think this unit is going to last? Hm? It's complete and utter nonsense." Rose growled.
"I suggest you leave. I enjoy working here with my team." Ryo added.
"Team. A group of useless detectives and some Japanese immigrant?" Rose asked defiantly.
"I am half Japanese. Watch what you say."
"Maybe I will."
"You know you are out of line." Ryo muttered.
"Are you trying to get me fired?" Rose raised an eyebrow.
"I wouldn't dream of it but right now I have a case to solve with my team and I would like you to leave." Ryo muttered turning for the door.
"Did I say you could leave? This is my building and I am your boss. You are to do as I say." Rose growled grabbing his arm and spinning him around.
"I will do nothing of the sort. You don't control me and like I said I have a case to solve."
"You think this Oiru aoi exists? It's a bunch of folk tales." Rose remarked.
"Folk tales didn't kill those girls. I don't care what you think or believe. Something killed those girls. Something attacked Chen Lu and Lang Wong... They didn't do that to themselves and I intend to find out who is." Ryo whispered.
"Look... I know you want every case to end well. But honestly Randy... It's all fairy tales. There is no way that any of what they are saying is true."
"We'll see Berkley Rose. And until then keep your hands to yourself." Ryo muttered and slammed Stina's door behind him.
"You are nothing more then a fool Ryo McLain. Just like that hot head partner of yours." He muttered.
"What the hell was that about?" Ronda asked as Ryo sat down.
"It's called abuse of rank." Dee muttered taking a long drink of his coffee.
"What?"
"The boss has the hots for our dear Ryo and uses his position for his benefit." Dee replied.
"Sounds like a sleaze bag." Ronda muttered sitting on her desk.
"Sounds... We met him before he became the boss. I'd really like to call IA but that would get my ass in trouble." Dee muttered.
"Sounds about right." Nazomi joined the conversation.
"Well, I can handle Rose... Let's focus on the case. Any news on Wong or Chen Lu?" Ryo asked dropping in his seat.
"Chen Lu is recovering fine but Lang Wong is being stubborn with what she knows. Our witness still leave us at square one."
"Maybe not..." Nazomi whispered, "Maybe not."
"You wanted to speak to me?" Chen Lu asked as she sat on the side of the hospital bed.
"You've lived so far and you are going to be released tomorrow. I want to know if you have somewhere to go." Ryo whispered.
"I don't."
"You told me to tell your mother that you loved her and I did. Why can't you go stay with her?" Ryo asked.
"Because then the Oiru aoi would come after her as well. It is a matter of honor. I will not sunder my mother's honor and put her in danger." Chen whispered.
"Would you like to stay with me Chen Lu?" He asked softly.
"I will not become your mistress." She growled.
"How old are you? Sixteen? Seventeen? I want you to stay with me as my charge not as my mistress."
"Why?" She growled.
"I want to help." Was his reply.
"You can't. You understand nothing." She growled.
"I understand enough. The whispers of Oiru aoi going around the Asian neighborhoods. My mother was full Japanese and her mother killed her and my father because marry a white man was against their value systems. It might not have been Oiru aoi that killed my parents but it was the same hate." Ryo growled.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Restore my honor in myself because I do not believe in the honor of my family." He whispered.
"I think I understand. I will stay with you."
"Good. And don't worry. Bikky and I will take care of you."
"Bikky?" She raised an eyebrow.
"He is my foster son."
"Ah. Well, I am half Japanese, half Chinese."
"Are you related to Johnny Lu?" Ryo asked.
"Yes. Did you arrest him?" She asked softly.
"No. My partner did. I'm sorry about what happened." He whispered.
"Don't be. My Otusan was a deadbeat. He abandon my mother when his gang didn't approve because she was Japanese." She spoke.
"I am sad to hear that."
"I would like to leave now." She whispered.
"Sure. Let's go."
To say Bikky was surprised when he got home form school was an understatement. He'd never head so much rapid Japanese in his life. His foster father, Nazomi and some girl were talking so fast that even what little Ryo had taught him was not catching.
"Who's the goth chick?" He cried after a few minutes.
"Hello Bikky. I'd like you to meet Chen Lu. She's going to be staying with us for a while." Ryo spoke.
"What kind of music do you like?" He asked bluntly.
"Rock, metal, rap." She replied.
"She cool in my book. Cal and I are going to the movies. See ya."
"Wow. I didn't have to pay him this time. He must almost be learning manners." Ryo remarked in English.
"Actually I think he was so confused by us that it slipped." Nazomi laughed.
"You could be right. He knows some Japanese but we were speaking fast, ne?" Roy laughed.
"Yeah."
"I hope Dee will be here soon." Ryo remarked.
"You are like a. how do you say. Mother hen." Nozomi spoke and she and Chen rolled.
"So what if I am?" Ryo laughed back before putting up their tea cups.
Ryo jumped and grabbed the phone as it went off.
"Ryo get to the station quick!" Dee cried.
"Nani? What's wrong? What happened?" Ryo asked fearing the worst."
"It's Lang! It got her. It got her." Dee cried.
"Is it the same MO?" Ryo asked trying to calm himself.
"I don't know. Just get you and Nazomi here now." Dee whispered.
"We'll be there on the double. Try to stay calm Dee." Ryo whispered dropping the phone.
"What is it Ryo?" Nazomi asked standing.
"It's Lang. It came back for her."
"What the hell do you mean 'came back?'" Chen yelled.
"Lang Wong is dead." Ryo deadpanned.
"But... I'm still alive... That doesn't make sense." She whispered.
"Look, Nazomi and I have to go. You can stay here."
"I'm not staying here. I'm going with you."
"Fine..." Ryo gave up grabbing his keys.
"You act like she's your daughter."
"Don't start that on me."
Dee slammed his fist against the door of the office once and again as if physical pain would over take the feelings of helplessness that were washing over him/ How could this guy slip pass their defenses so easily? And why come back for Lang? It was obvious that she wasn't going to talk... It seemed so senseless.
"If you break your hand I'm not taking you to the hospital." A voice spoke behind him.
"Shove it Ronda." He growled slamming his fist again.
"God... You need to get a grip."
"A girl is dead."
"You act as if I don't know. She's one of the seven we are investigating... We're here to find the bad guy Laytner or have you forgotten?" Ronda asked grabbing his fist before he slammed it again.
"What is there to forget? It's sitting out for the world to see. And we aren't any closer to finding the truth!" His voice was tight and loud.
"Get your head out of your ass Laytner! We have a job to do! You can't do it while sitting on your ass and feeling sorry for yourself. Now either get or together or put your transfer into Rose." She growled attempting unsuccessfully to turn his larger form to face her.
"Your right... Women always are... Women and Ryo anyways.." He muttered a little while longer to himself before turning and going to sit at his desk.
"MEN!" Ronda yelled before walking out to the break room.
"I think I agree with her." Chen spoke from the doorway.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"What's it look like? I'm going to help." She growled.
"You are not here to help unless you are going to talk." Ryo said as he came in behind her.
"I can help!" She cried.
"Not until you graduate high school." Ryo remarked.
"Yes Otusan!" She snorted.
"I am not your Otusan!" Ryo yelled back.
"What the hell are they saying?" Dee asked scratching his head.
"It means father." Nazomi spoke with a smile.
"Jeez, he's already adopted her? Hi and his strays." Dee smiled as well.
Ronda stormed back in.
"Let's get to work." She shot a murderous look at Dee.
"Yes, your highness." He nodded back.
Sensing the fight Ryo quickly spot up.
"So what exactly are we looking at?"
"According to the reports it was a slightly altered version of the MO." Dee spoke.
"That being?" Chen asked.
"Slit wrists and marks around the neck with a cord or a rope." Ronda added.
"Let me see." Nazomi whispered dropping down at her desk.
Nazomi poured over the pictures with Chen looking over her shoulder. Ryo looked at Dee.
"Who was guarding Lang?"
"J.J. and Drake."
"And he got right passed them?" He asked eyebrows shooting to his hair line.
J.J. might have been hyper but he was a damn good cop and Drake was one of the best.
"We're in a whole new ballpark." Dee muttered.
"The killer has gotten confident... She was ditched out in the open." Ronda spoke as she nodded towards the pictures.
"Meaning what?" Ryo asked.
"Left her in front of her apartment building in Chinatown."
"Who found her?"
"Some man reported it but didn't hang around." Dee spoke as he stood.
Ryo noted how shaken Dee was, the man wasn't acting anywhere near his usual self and it scared him quite a bit . He stood and walked over to Dee putting a hand on the taller man's shoulder.
"Do you need to leave for a while? There's not much we can do right now." He spoke in even tones.
"I'm fine. No sweat."
Ryo raised his eye skeptically and Dee shrugged him off. Now that hurt more then anything else he'd endured so far. But he backed off. This was after all a hard case.
Megan Nyugen stood on the corner waiting for her aptly described, deadbeat boyfriend Aaron to show up. She tugged at the bottom of her skirt and was ready to march away when she noticed a car slowly rolling up. The car was defiantly Aaron's, missing headlight and dented bumper. She marched over to the car as soon as it stopped. Ripping open the driver's side she prepared to give him an ear full but got a shocking surprise back.
Aaron Vu was dead. His stomach was split open in a way she recognized from the old Japanese movies Aaron liked to watch. It was seppuku, the Japanese tradition of suicide to bring honor back to the family if a male were to dishonor it.
"Oh Kami-sama... IIE!" She shrieked as she dropped down staring at the clean cut lines.
Her cries alerted an elderly old woman out for her nightly walk. And this was how the first male victim of Oiru aoi was found.
"This doesn't make fucking sense! The guy was driving Ryo! Driving! How could he do something that fast?!" Dee shrieked.
"There is no way he could have done it. There is no sword to be found. And still no leads." Ryo added.
"Look.. Dee you need to calm down." Ronda spoke.
"Shove it up your ass Fey." Dee growled.
"Dee.... Really now." Ronda rolled her eyes.
"Don't 'Dee' me." Dee muttered.
Ryo laid his hand on Dee's and the older man turned to face him. Unexpectedly Dee wrapped him in his arms and kissed him. Ryo struggled in his arms for a second before relaxing. He could feel Dee's victory smile against his lips but for the first time he didn't care. He didn't even care that people could see let alone that they were at work. When De pulled back he just stared unsure of what to do.
"Well I be damned. You were telling the truth when you said you were bating for the other team." Chen cried clapping her hands happily.
"You would point that out." Ryo muttered blush beginning to paint his face.
"Oh... Stop being so in the closet. None of us care. Right Nazomi?" Chen asked.
"She's right. I am not... What is the word? Yes, homophobic." Nazomi nodded to herself in conformation.
"That's nice to know..." Ryo whispered willing his blush away.
"Well... Insert awkward silence." Chen whispered.
"Can we please get back to work!" Ronda mock growled.
"Fine."
"Sure."
"Alright."
There was really no way to explain what happened to Aaron Vu, or Lang Wong or the other six victims. Except that the supposed eighth had gotten away. Chen Lu was still alive.
Megan Nyguen stood outside of the doors of the police station. She hesitantly pulled at one of the glass doors and slipped inside. She tittered on the heels of her shoes as she slipped around like a ghost in her pale, pale make up and black clothes. She had no real clue of what she was looking for. But she knew she had to talk to the people. She had to understand what was happening.
"Are you looking for something Miss?" A voice asked behind her.
She jumped with a short scream and spun to find a silver haired man staring at her with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry Miss. I didn't mean to scare you." He replied.
"Y-you didn't." She whispered.
"Sure... Are you looking for someone?" He asked softly.
"H-hai... I'm looking for Detective Laytner... I was told that he worked here." She whispered.
"And you would be right. My names is Detective Adams. Please follow me." He whispered careful not to touch her as if she were glass.
She followed him the straight path to the elevator and upstairs to office of the Special Cases Unit. She tittered behind him as he swung open the door.
"Dee-sempai! There's someone to see you!" His slightly hyper exterior made her jump, he'd seen calmer earlier.
"Yeah, I'm Laytner... Hello? Oh, hi Megan... How may I help you?" He asked dismissing thoughts of J.J. without a glance towards the small man.
"I wanted to know if what they said about Aaron was true." She whispered.
"And what have they been saying?" He asked frightened by what she was going to say.
"They say that Oiru aoi got him. That it was because he'd disobeyed his father." She whispered.
"Well, I haven't heard that."
"He wasn't killed like those girls though." She pressed.
"I really don't know what to tell you Megan. Please go and spen time with you family. If anything comes up as to why this happened to Aaron then I will inform you."
"Do you promise?" Her eyes became large.
"On my honor as a cop."
"If the promise is on your honor then I know you are tell the truth. Thank you Detective Laytner." And then she was gone like a ghost.
"Dee? Who was that?" Ryo asked looking up from what he and Nazomi were working on.
"Megan Nuygen. She wanted to asked about her boyfriend." He replied shutting the door.
"That poor girl. She's all alone now I think." Nazomi whispered.
"Let's jus hope she's not next." Dee muttered softly to himself.
"Come Dee. Let's get more work done."
"Hey, where's Ronda anyway?" Dee asked sitting.
"She went to talk to Lang Wong's father."
Ronda knocked on the door lightly and waited for an answer, a few seconds later a small meek looking woman opened the door.
"May I help you?" She asked softly.
"I am looking for Diana Wong." She replied.
"I am her. Why are you here?" She asked still not opening her door.
"Please Ma'am. It might be best for you to open your door. You might want to be sitting down when you hear this." She whispered.
"Alright." She whispered.
The door was opened and Ronda stepped inside. Diane sat primly on the edge of her seat and Ronda stood at the doorway watching her.
"This is about Lang isn't it? She got mixed up with the wrong people. I knew it was bound to happen one day." She whispered.
"I'm afraid you have the wrong idea Mrs. Wong."
"Oh, I have the right idea. The girl has gone and disgraced our family and then expects us to front the bail money." She replied unfolding and refolding her hands in her lap.
"No Mrs. Wong. Lang Wong is dead." Ronda spoke wanting to end the triad.
"What? My little girl was a little disrespectful but. She wasn't in a gang. How could she be dead?" Diane asked staring at her eyes.
"She was killed by what we only know now as Oiru aoi. She had escaped at first but instead of returning home went back to the streets. She said she did it to protect you." Ronda whispered.
"I have heard the younger girls talk about that. the monster of honor that comes to cut down those who have betrayed their Asian heritage. But I thought it was only an urban myth." She whispered.
"It is just another name for the killer. We will find out who did this Mrs. Wong. Would you like me to keep you posted?" She asked.
"No thank you. You just go do your job. I must go and see my husband." Diane spoke ushering her out the door.
"Poor woman. Though, she seemed a little too calm for what I just told her." Ronda whispered to herself.
"Hello? I need to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Vu." Roy called as he banged on the door again.
"The Vu's don't live here anymore." A man said behind him.
Ryo turned to see a man of about fifty or so leaning out of his door.
"Can you tell me where they moved?" He asked.
"Yeah.to the cemetery. Had a disagreement with their little boy's gang leader and the leader had them all killed. Momma, Papa and the little sister raped and beat to death. Sad, sick sight. The police were talking about if for weeks." Man whispered.
"Oh. Well, when did this happen?" Ryo asked.
"About three years ago."
"Thank you for your time." Ryo whispered walking away.
As he walked he paused, a triple homicide and there was no witness but a man who knew everything? He knew that would puzzle him for a long time.
Chen looked up from the phone she was using. She turned to Dee and Nazomi.
"Looks like Vu's parents have been dead for a while and Wong's mother seemed to know nothing."
"And your parents?" Dee asked softly.
"My father went back to China. My mother is in the hospital with a stroke. And Ryo's already talked to her anyway." She muttered picking at the bottom of her short leather skirt.
"I'm sorry to hear that. So are you enjoying playing secretary?" Dee asked with a sad smile.
"Yeah. I like being here. I feel more alive then I have in years."
"Then go to the Police Academy. It will do you some good."
"But I want to work here." She pouted.
"I'll put in a good word for you." He smiled.
"You'd better." She mock growled.
Nazomi looked up from the photos she was pouring over and smiled. She looked back down and suddenly she noticed something that wasn't there
"Hey Chen. Go get the scanner." She whispered drawing a circle around the spot.
Chen nodded and disappeared out the door. Nazomi began searching through the other pictures and circling each mark she found that resemble what she was looking for. When Chen came back with the scanner she hooked it up and scanned the picture.
"What did you find?" Dee asked leaning over her shoulder.
"Just this. Apparently there was a distinctive mark that we looked over." Nazomi pointed out as she began to enlarge the picture.
"And that is?" Dee asked not quite following.
"A mark that might give us a lead." Nazomi replied while adjusting the monitor.
"I still don't get what are you talking about." Dee muttered.
"It's very simple. See right there. That is a burn mark, and beside it, there is a sentence." Nazomi spoke as she pulled line under the mark up closer.
"Why didn't we pick up on this before?" Dee asked staring.
"It's small, you wouldn't really be able to pick it out on dark skin. Unfortunately Wong has allowed us to find it." Nazomi whispered softly tracing a finger along the sentence.
"Ozaki's Japanese Sushi Bar." Dee read slowly.
"That's a small dive in the lower part of China town." Chen muttered.
"Have you eaten there?" Dee asked.
"Yeah, pretty shitty food if you ask me." She muttered.
"I'm gonna go ask around. Update Ronda and Ryo when they get back.
Ozaki's Japanese Sushi Bar was small, out of the way and filled with the smell of rotting meat. He wrinkled his nose before slowly entering the stifling atmosphere of the dive. He walked over to the bar.
"Please sir. Go to the front and wait to be seated." The man spoke.
"I'm not here for the food." Dee returned.
"Then I suggest you leave."
"I suggest you pay attention to me. NYPD. I'd like to ask you a few questions." Dee gave sly smirk.
"Talk to Kenji, he's in the back." The man spoke and turned back to his customer.
Dee followed the directions and found a small old man with blue eyes, something not very common for a Japanese man.
"May I help you Mr. Detective?" He asked in an oily voice.
"I'd like to ask you a few questions about something." Dee spot sitting down."
"Ask away young man." Kenji spoke.
"Do you sell lighters of any kind?"
"That is an unusual question. But no, we don't."
"Are you sure?"
"Very. Why?"
"A number of girls have been killed by something that on the streets they call Oiru aoi. We found on each girl a brand, so small it's almost not noticeable that says Ozaki's Japanese Sushi Bar." Dee explained.
"Hmm, that is most unusual. I wish I could help more detective."
"It's alright sir. Thank you for you time."
Dee felt more frustrated then before. The mark was a dead end. And yet. Something about Kenji unnerved him. And alerted his sixth sense but he ignored it. He dropped down into his car and stared down at the page Nazomi gave him.
A burn: Ozaki Japanese Sushi Bar
Slit throat
Bound wrists
Non-tradition Asian girls
And none of that shit made any damn sense at least not to his frazzled mind. And yet still, where was the pattern that would identify the killer? There seemed to not be a single flaw, the perfect murder. The perfect killing spree. He growled and started up the car and took off in a flurry of smoke.
Nazomi pulled her hands out from under the sink with a sponge in hand. It was a purely nervous gesture, to clean something. But after hearing from Dee what a bust her find had been had her frazzled. She walked back out into the main office and set to work cleaning the monitors and keyboards. She barely noticed Chen watching her as the clock ticked closer and closer towards six.
At six exactly Ryo burst in with Bikky in tow. Said boy was wearing a smirk that should have split his tan face. He sat with Chen and leaned forward whispering.
"I think I know how you can help." He whispered.
"How?" She whispered back.
"Tell them what you know... Send it in a letter from Lang's address. The killer will never know it's you." He whispered.
"How can you be sure." She hissed back.
"I can't but... They need what you know Chen... Please." He whispered.
"I guess your right... My days are numbered anyways... It will get me again. I might as well do some good." She nodded.