Disclaimer: In first chapter

Sorry! Sorry for not updating for so long! Thanks for the reviews, u guys. They are really encouraging. Millyfan, I'm sorry that you think that I'm implying that I'm being racist and that my character is dumb. I used the word 'dumb' to indicate that she can't speak, not that she's stupid. Pls. tell me if there's another term to use for that condition. I'll try to rewrite that little part when I have more time.

Anyway on with the next chapter:

Chapter Two: It's A First

Ryo and Dee observed Hu Tieh as she sat alone in one of the interrogating rooms when the officers in charge had left. The young Chinese woman was left with a cup of hot cocoa which she fiddled with her thin fingers. She looked like she was in deep contemplation, her tears had dried but emotional fatigue was starting to set, as seen from her slightly hunched posture.

"Ryo?" Dee wrapped an arm around his shoulder, "You alright?"

"I couldn't help think about this case we're working on...and other cases such as this before that..." Ryo sighed and covered Dee's hand that was on his shoulder, "Why is it that people want to end their lives right and there...leaving all their loved ones behind..."

Dee followed Ryo's melancholy and sympathetic gaze at the individual in the room. He pulled the other man tighter, pressing a kiss to his hair.

"I don't really know, Ryo. We can't decipher every bit of the victim's mind. Forensics and psychology can only give deductions. The human mind is so complicated."

"I've seen too many young people die in this harsh world..." Ryo murmured, burying his head against his shoulder gratefully, "I'm just glad that...you're here with me..."

Dee grinned and kissed him softly.

"Hey, you guys," both men turned to find Ted with a file in his hand, "The autopsy on the vic is done. We can take a look at the coroner's report."

"There's nothing unusual about this case, Ted. The guy's been shot through the left temple and there were traces of gunpowder on his fingers where the gun was. Signs that were consistent with a typical suicide case."

Dee sighed with disinterest as he and Ted scanned through the photos while Ryo was reading through the coroner's report as he twiddled with the corner of his reading glasses.

"What you said is true, Dee. But there's somethin' else, check this out," Ted was holding the other photos which he passed to Dee who took them, "You would've thought that cutting could only happen on the wrists."

"Jesus..." Dee frowned, "What's he trying to be? A human nail-board?"

"What?" Ryo also frowned as he took off his glasses.

"Look..."

Dee spread the photos on the desk and Ryo shook his head at the sight of them. The coroner had taken photos of the victim's upper abdomen, upper arms and legs. There were faint criss-crosses cutting pale across the skin and some of fresh new ones appearing red and stark.

"Scars?" Ryo said, "Self-mutilation?"

"Or just sick games of bondage..." Dee said as an afterthought.

"Huge possibilities, and that's not all," Ted sighed, "It looks like we don't need a psychiatrist to find out why he died. He was dying of prostrate cancer when they went through his medical records. Stress and depression might have gotten the best of him. They processed the suicide letter, they found no foreign fingerprints or any traces of fibres, hairs, blood etcetera. It was addressed to several names, though. Do they ring any bells?"

Dee took the letter. It had been opened recently for processing. There were two names addressed. Ryo saw Hu Tieh's name written.

"I think the letter can be given to the witness. She's one of the recipients," Ryo said, taking the letter from Dee and proceeded to stand up.

All of a sudden, they could hear a ruckus coming from the.,.

"Guys! Guys!"

The group found JJ looking flustered and agitated.

"JJ, what's the matter!" Ryo exclaimed.

"A crazed man entered the interrogating room as soon as one of the rookies let him in. He's now attacking the witness!" JJ huffed, his eyes wide with fear and concern, "Drake is trying to hold him back. He might have been related to the witness."

"We leave now!" Dee immediately took off.

"Listen, man! Stop hitting her!" Drake shouted as he tried to pry a young man who was hitting the young woman who was lying on the ground, holding her arms up for self-defense.

"You fucking bitch! You let him get killed!" the man only fought harder against the restraint, "It's all your fault!"

"Enough of this crap!"

The young man was thrown off as Dee roughly pushed him aside, throwing him to the corner where Dee immediately pinned him. Ryo and Ted helped the young woman up to sit her on one of the chairs.

"Are you alright, Hu Tieh?" Ryo asked gently, earning a small nod in return.

"What happened to your manners? Huh?" Dee angrily said to the assailant, giving an arm-lock, "Treating a lady like that."

"Why don't you ask her, bastard?" he retorted, gesturing towards her with a cold glare, "She's the one who made James commit suicide...fucking bitch..."

The assailant was referring to the witness and the victim...suddenly there was a bigger picture, this was more than just a suicide...

"That's enough from you, you're going to cool off inside the cell for a while," Dee said as he slipped the handcuffs on his wrists. He turned to the others, "Will she be alright?"

Ryo was holding her while Ted was examining her arms.

The brunette nodded, "I think so..."

"Well, I'll just place him in a cell, I'll be right back."

"Someone will have to report this to the commissioner."

Berkeley sighed as he stared at the police officer in front of him. He was looking meek and humiliated. The commissioner shook his head, a perfect look for a rookie...a rookie who's supposed to supervise the premises.

"I strictly gave orders of not allowing friends or relatives of victim James Garet after we've confirmed details until tomorrow morning, rookie. The chief won't be pleased to hear about a rookie allowing an obviously crazed psychotic into the office and attacking a young woman who happens to an important asset to this case."

"I promise that it won't happen again, sir."

"It better not. And to prove that, you're going to stay in the office to work on paperwork for a week. Your shift starts now, get to it."

"Yes, sir..."

There was another knock on the door when the officer left. He watched as Dee and Ryo walked in.

"Berkeley..."

Berkeley nodded to acknowledge their presence, "Is everything under control now?"

"Yes, sir, the assailant's in the cell, Ted's tending to her."

"Good. Is she alright?"

"I don't know about her arms, she was really defending well..." Dee mused with a frown, "But I think she'll recover..."

"Keep him there for a while longer," Berkeley rose from his chair and rubbed his chin, "I think he may have provided a psychological clue about this case."

So Berkeley saw that this case met more than the eye. How were the victim, witness and assailant connected?

"Sir?"

"You two have a new assignment now, try to get information from the witness...everything will fall into place when she speaks."

"But she wouldn't say a word when we spoke to her," Dee said.

"Then try again, detective," Berkeley retorted back, "But in the meantime, she has to heal from this ordeal, she needs close supervision."

Ryo and Dee gazed at each other. Years of partnership and being lovers gave them a silent link of understanding.

"Well...I guess we can work something out..."

To be continued...