Disclaimer: In first chapter

Author's note: Wooooo! It's been over a month since I updates, so sorry about that, I was sooo stressed out since my MAC ibook crashed on me and my workload is increasing to the end of the semester. Well, I hope this is worth it. Don't worry, in this chapter, our witness will confess what has happened. I know that the plot is soo drab and so slooow, but hey, sometimes writer's block gets to you when you're currently in the mood for drawing. Give this chapter a chance, ok?

Chapter Four: A Dark Secret

"I love you, Dee," Ryo said softly as he snuggled close to Dee. They were sitting together on the couch drinking coffee together as the night drew on.

Dee grinned and hugged him, "I love you even more."

Ryo shook his head with a small smile, Dee could still manage to make him feel like a puddle of sticky goo no matter how sappy it was.

"Where's Hu Tieh? I haven't seen her lately."

"She's helping Bikky with his homework."

"She's seems pretty much healed, her arms are almost as good as new," Dee frowned slightly, "Has she said anything yet about it since she's better?"

Ryo paused and shook his head with a slight grimace.

"No, but I hope she could open up soon so that the case can be solved."

"Mr. Maclean? Mr. Latyner?"

A newly healed arm reached out to touch Ryo's shoulder timidly. Both men turned around to find Hu Tieh behind them.

"Hu Tieh?"

"I..." she paused as she fiddled a yin and yang pendant that both men hadn't seen before that was around her neck, "I think that...it's time that I make a confession. To tell you and the law the truth...about James...and Michael..."

Dee stood up first and patted the young woman's shoulder. Ryo also stood up to get their coats but the younger man stopped him.

"We don't have to go down to the office just to make her spill the beans, Ryo. We don't have a night shift today, remember?" he turned back to Hu Tieh, "You can talk to us here before our shift tomorrow. Is that alright with you?"

She nodded hesitantly.

"Hu Tieh," Ryo pursed his lips as he observed the young woman who was sitting on the couch before them, "Just start where you're most comfortable. We'll prompt you when you can't elaborate."

"James...he was more than a friend. He actually was my ex-boyfriend. But we're good friends now ever since it happened..."

"What happened?" Dee asked.

She sighed as a tear slid down her cheek, "I found out he was bisexual the hard way. We were together for two years. I loved him so much but then...when I was about to surprise him, I found him in bed with Michael. Sufficed to say, I felt hurt and betrayed. I wanted to die at that time..."

Dee and Ryo were silent but they urged her to continue.

"Who's Michael?"

Hu Tieh sighed shakily, "He was my best friend from junior high school and..."

"And what?"

"The man back in the precinct...that was him...the one who attacked me."

Shock filled their senses. Suddenly Ryo felt an uncomfortable feeling building up in the pits of his stomach.

"I didn't speak to James and Michael for a whole year after that. But we eventually met again under forced circumstances. I met James that day. We made up to be friends again. Even though he broke my heart, I still love him and I accepted Michael and James to be together. I mean isn't it strange to see your love and your best friend together like that?"

She smiled a bit weakly.

"Seeing you two together gave me bittersweet memories. Through my experience, I've learned to accept gay and lesbian couples."

Dee's face softened somewhat.

"But why did the bastard attack you like that if you accepted them together?"

Hu Tieh's mood turned sour, "Somehow when James and I agreed to come onto good terms and start over as friends, Michael grew insecure. He thought that I was going to steal James again. But I don't want to, I could see how happy James was with him even though it pained me that I can't give him that happiness he deserved so much,but still...Michael distanced himself from me."

Hu Tieh pressed her hands to her nose and inhaled deeply with a sudden pain in her eyes.

"It...It hurts so much...he was my best friend like a brother I never had..." she sniffled, fiddling with the pendant, "...and Michael gave me threats and bruises...what happened to me in the office...wasn't a new thing. It made James so unhappy that Michael was hurting me just because I still loved him even though I accepted their relationship..." she shook her head as another memory surface that brought a tremble to her spine, "He started cutting himself. Not just on his arms...everywhere. I tried to get him to stop, help him, get a psychiatrist but pain became his new ally, his love for Michael wasn't enough to quell his emotional pain inside. When Michael heard about this...he blamed my arrival as a sign of James's decline in health, and most of the time..."

A sob fought its way out of her.

"I believed him...James wasn't the same as before...it seemed as if...he was dying...each time I'm with him...it was partially my fault...I couldn't find the strength to let go..."

Dee and Ryo's hearts were aching at the pain in her words.

'She doesn't know,' Dee mouthed to Ryo who nodded and left the room momentarily.

"Hu Tieh," Dee started as he bit his bottom lip, "I think that...there's something you should know."

"Huh?"

"James left a suicide note, it was addressed to two people including you, here..." Ryo said as he returned with the suicide note, "I think that you now have a right to read it..."

She took the envelope with shaky fingers.

"James..." she slowly took the letter out, fingering the edges and reading the contents slowly. By the time, she was finished, her tears stained the paper, her face filled with disbelief and immense sadness, "He was dying?"

"From prostate cancer, to be precise," Dee said, "Poor guy...my guess is that...he didn't want you to know. Pain and depression can drive a person to commit suicide..."

"Why didn't he tell us?" Hu Tieh sobbed softly before slowly composing herself, "Michael has a right to know."

"But-"

"There's no buts about it, Mr. Maclean!" she shouted, "James and Michael had hurt me in many ways whether they were unintentional or not, for my heartbreak and the abuse I suffered after they came out in the open. But, I will not forget the happy memories we shared together, I won't...I can't...please...I beg of you, let me see Michael to make him open his eyes...James still loved him,.."

A pregnant silence fell over the room. Both detectives hadn't felt this intense for a long time concerning on an ordinary suicide case.

Just then, Ryo's cell phone beeped.

"Ryo speaking, Ted?" there was excited conversation, making Ryo gasp with his eyes wide and said, "Dee and I will be right there! Hang tight!"

"Ryo! What's happening!" Dee exclaimed as he caught his trenchcoat when Ryo tossed it to him.

"Hu Tieh's assailant managed to escape his cell, he's armed himself with a gun and is holding out not far from the station, right now, they're trying to negotiate," Ryo quickly explained.

"Please, let me come," Hu Tieh pleaded, clutching the letter close, "I have to talk to him."

"Hu Tieh, it is not safe for you to come," Dee tried to reason.

"I know him, Mr. Latyner, he needs to know the truth of why James died!" Hu Tieh cried out, "I beg of you...let me come...please?"

"Hu Tieh..." Ryo's heart twisted.

"I will not stay and not do anything, Mr. Maclean," she said softly, "Michael's my best friend..."

Dee sighed with frustration but he couldn't tear away from the sad and pained face. He couldn't stand to see anyone cry. After a long moment, Dee sighed.

"I can never turn down a woman's plea. Come on, Hu Tieh," Dee gently nudged her shoulder, making her face light up with hope, "We don't have much time."

Ryo shook his head but smiled.

"Ryo?" Bikky's sleepy head poked up from his bedroom door, "What's going on?"

"It's nothing, Bikky," Ryo quickly rushed over to the young boy, "Go back to sleep, you have school in the morning."

"But-"

"No buts, Bikky," Ryo firmly said, ushering him back into his room, "Bed, now."

To be continued...