-Oxford - Wednesday: Part 12-
Gayle King was not known to be a patience woman, she pushed a strain of her short brown hair back around her ear as she stared at the file, the so-called case file was suspiciously missing the photos of Kyoko Takarada's bruises. Something that she had personally taken that night. She had woken the woman up as soon as she had heard about it from General Brown for this exact reason. The case was built to look like Heth was a victim and when she had heard from Chief Inspector John Tyler about how she apparently was refusing to speak to anyone she had wanted to strangle the man who seemed so hell on bent on making an example of the Royal Family.
She tapped her fingers on the tan folder, it was rare for a member of the royal family to be charged and the chances were that they were making an example out of her because of the kidnapping... somehow they were bitter and angry at the fact they had not been included in this. 'Well, of course, they wouldn't have been included' she sighed mentally, 'There was no Kyoko Takarada to have been taken' not that anyone would really be able to prove it. This time they would not allow the Royal Family to make it disappear or be dealt with in private, no they wanted to make the world know about this case. They had no way to explain that the kidnapping was fake, not that they would even if they did. They would only see that in the data system was a case file on Kyoko Takarada, with Restricted Access, what was known was three things: Kidnapped. Returned. Not all members of the kidnapping caught.
It had been added by another member of the Ankou to make it seem as if she had always been there, a way to explain things if need be, like with Heth. Though even she was surprised by the skill of whoever had gone through the internet and truly made it seem like Kyoko was always there. The Ankou would love to enlist someone like that but the Queen had informed them that they were off limits. Though she herself had personally believed it was because it wasn't someone loyal needless to the Queen like she and the rest of the Ankou but the Queen's very own mother. Not that their own skills lacked, they were good at sneaking, stealing, killing, hiding information. So many of the hardcopies for news articles had been magically replaced. Ankou was everywhere and nowhere and when the time came Gayle King would disappear and she would become someone else.
Though King was starting to grow annoyed, no matter how she personally looked at it. Someone Kyoko's size would not have been able to make a man submit so easily. Ren Tsuruga on the other hand. He was tall, he even seemed rather fit, if the images she had seen of him were any testament to his skills. If she had been Heth she would make him the target, not a petite fifteen-year-old girl. That man could likely have seriously damaged the other, but even he seemed to hold back. 'Unlike Heth...' her mind recalling the way Kyoko had looked. King had wanted to ask more, but the girl had shut down, perhaps if she had been able to get Ruto to ask she could gather that information but the way he looked at Kyoko it was clear that would be a task in and of itself. She only ever seen him look that way towards Lory Takarada and based on what Brown had told her. The man was released from their order to keep him safe. That was the only reason, the late King had tied Ruto to Lory. So why was Ruto tied to Kyoko now?
One could believe that she was lost in her thoughts, but the truth of the matter she hadn't been or not so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't heard the door open. Still, she thought it best to pretend that was the case, so when Tyler cleared his throat, she gave a slight jump that she hadn't really felt and smiled towards them. The man was older and prematurely balding, he wasn't friendly looking, not like the man who stood behind him. No Tyler you would not easily overlook, the man behind him you could. Where Tyler stood out in his own way, the officer did not he came off as extremely kind and caring just like any other average man and it worried her for some unknown reason.
"Ms. Gayle King this is the officer in charge of the case…" he motioned towards the man behind him, "He's spoken to both parties."
The Officer took his hat off and she noted that it seemed to make him fade even more, 'He could really get lost in a crowd by simply blending in' she smiled back at him. "Forgive me I was expecting a Chinese man with the name like Jia Mianju."
The officer smile kindly, " The hazards of being adopted I'm afraid." and she couldn't help but feel comforted by the way he smiled at her.
Tyler smiled placing a hand on his shoulder, "but we're very glad to have him with us, he's one of our best officers believe it or not."
Where the officer seemed to come off as kind and comforting, the Chief Inspector smile who reminded her of most people in such positions of power. They did it to make themselves seem better than others. King didn't believe he would ever be the kind to break the law but he would also try to use the law to help shoot him higher up the ladder, the status was important to this man. Where the officer just seemed to want to help people, to take care of them. 'How different they are' she smiled softly at them both, yes perhaps this officer wasn't a bad guy. Which means the real issue might indeed be Tyler wanting to use Lady Kyoko, to make an example, to prove something to people. 'What though?' Standing up she placed a hand around her waist "Is that so Inspector Tyler? Well, that's wonderful news. I really do want this case closed quickly." she said motioning for them both to sit down, "So shall we get down to business in what you have discovered Officer Mianju?"
Tyler glared at her before quickly schooling his smile, it didn't go unmissed by the woman. "Yes. yes of course," he said motioning for the officer to sit down on the other side, only then did he sit down followed by the officer himself. Tyler felt a bit smug but only for a second before he realized that by waiting for both of them to sit down first and then sitting she had gained a different control and power over them. That seemed to annoy Tyler as it gave her the power compare to the others in a different way and he realized it far too late, "Gayle.."
"Commander King if you would please Inspector Tyler." she said flipping open the folder, "I like us to stay profession right now, this is a very serious matter after all and I'm not here for a social call," she said simply but she could see the outrage that seemed to fall across Tyler's features while the officer seemed to shrink almost as if he wanted to make a run for it. 'Guess he's harmless' she thought as she reached into her bag and pulled out a pad and pen.
Tyler forced a smile on his face as he watched her movements, "Right, as I was saying Jia... I mean Officer Mianju was just informing me over the phone this morning that Lady Kyoko is refusing to work with us." he leaned back a sense of pride overcoming him as she nodded her head slightly. "To the point, she has yet to give us a statement, other than for us to use the recording. Seems that the recording magically disappeared after she reported the crime." He was clearly hinting at more and that bothered her a bit.
"Are you sure?" she said simply, pulling out a hard copy of the report, "seems the only part missing from your records is what was said between her guardian the Queen Mother, ArchDuke Lory, The Prince Consort Robert and ah yes, The Queen herself." she smiled softly at the man "I'm sure you understand that we had to take that record and make it restricted information, it was deemed as such by the Commissioner of the Royalty and Specialist Protection. I'm afraid if you need to access that restricted information you will have to speak to Commissioner of RaSP."
Tyler's face was turning red but she paid no mind to it, "That's not the only thing that's an issue here Commander King we have a young man who's scared for his life and his career being blackmailed by a member of the Royal Family and now we can't even get her to give us statement she even refuses to come down to the police station. Surely that seems off to you." His eyes turned towards the Officer who looked down turning his hat between his fingers
"Yes I saw her this morning actually. I asked her to once again give me a statement. It's important we get to the bottom of this... but her boyfriend he told me that if I wanted to talk to her I would need to contact her lawyer." he shook his head softly, "Innocent people don't hide behind lawyers." He looked down "I mean that's what all my years have taught me."
"She is a member of the royal family, it is likely to make sure that information doesn't get leaked," she said tapping her fingers on the file. "Still it's the boyfriend who said this not her?"
"Ah yes… " he said turning his hat some more between his fingers. "The boyfriend was very threatening."
"The boyfriend?" she flipped the page "Not the bodyguard?"
"Yes. It was Ren Tsuruga, the witness who came in after everything. Lady Kyoko denies they are together and I'm rather worried about their age difference, what would a 19-year-old see in a child? I mean Lady Kyoko is only 15 and this man is likely being treated in the same manner as Heth." He licked his lips before holding his hat tightly, "I am worried about the poor guy, what if she's using her father's business to threaten him. His career would be destroyed by such a scandal." he shook his head.
"Interesting…" to didn't pick up any romantic feelings coming from the girl. Most of all the fact remained that King knew the truth the idea that she would demand such affections was laughable to her but then again sometimes such things could happen. She had known many girls who had been sexually abused to the point that they began to crave sex and it didn't matter from who. If she was that sort, she had misjudged her greatly.
Tyler had jumped in at this point, "Yes, we don't know what happened during the time she was kidnapped, those men likely did some unspeakable things. If we could open the file to look at it..." and it became clear to King at that moment, this man wanted to know the details. If he likely had those that information this wouldn't even be a problem.
"I cannot do anything about that Inspector" her voice was soft but firm.
"That's not what I mean... the fact remains she said this guy Heth was one of her kidnappers. We should have that information if it's true otherwise she can just say anyone is, and then to say that this man was part of some sex ring? We have nothing to base any of that one but her word and she was left without a single mark on her body but that young man was the only one hurt?" he huffed "that's just too convenient don't you think?"
"Yes I saw the claim… yet a girl that small with a man that large." she said pulling out a view photos "and it doesn't change these images."
"They could be fake, not a mark on her body until afterward?" he shook his head "No one with that amount of damage would be playing the koto the next day. They wouldn't want to move."
There was truth in what he was saying. Yet she had met the young woman, she was able to push and hide that much pain because she had experienced worse. It would have been shocking to her even but she knew plenty of people in her own children who had dealt with such matters. That was what had been her trigger at first, what had made her part of the Ankou in the end because she knew that justice sometimes required so much more. They would never be able to stop the dark world but if it allowed people to stay in their light world she would make sure it happened. Yet she was sure this guy would not see that in a good light, only that she was attempting to hide something from them as well and it was already clear to her he didn't trust her or perhaps who she worked with. That this was a way for him to move up in the ranks nothing more. This case could make or break someone if it was true and if you were on the wrong side of it. Well, it wouldn't really matter, the Queen's orders would still stand. That man would be brought to justice in a far different matter and the rest of this was just to make sure that people who were making this into something much bigger could have a peace of mind.
"Now she has some marks conventionally hidden under her clothes. Think who her father is, TV shows and movies do this sort of stuff all the time." Tyler said tapping at one of the images, "The fact none of us has actually seen these marks?"
"I've seen them," the Officer said softly and Tyler looked at him, "but I was not allowed to get a really good look at them. I was surprised but the fact remains she moved so well that it clearly didn't hurt her and I believe the Chief is right, she is likely pretending. They likey are make-up otherwise why would she have had the help of her bodyguard, nor would he allow her boyfriend to look at her when this was happening." he licked his lips "add last night when I tried to have her come down to the station."
"It's alright Jia, Ms. King won't fault you for what the girl said" he shot one more look at her as though he would clearly win this time.
"Well…" the man shifted his hat some, "Lady Kyoko offered her body to me last night. I was surprised, she saw the look and then started to cry and Mr. Tsuruga came running over and she held onto him. I'm not sure what she said but she said something. He quickly took her away at that time. I thought it was funny he would be taking her but he claimed it was her father's orders. I really think something is going on between the two of them and it's not healthy. I think her mental health is questionable too. Maybe it's like what the Chief said, the kidnapping did something to her."
"Our laws do not prevent them from dating," she said simply leaning forward, "Yet if you have proof of them doing something more, I can do something about that."
"I have no proof at the time… but I wouldn't be surprised. The fact that girl even stripped in front of me this morning without a second thought. If her bodyguard hadn't been there... well I'm just glad someone was looking out for her." The officer was holding his hat tightly as he spoke.
King really believed he was worried, worried about Lady Kyoko health, worried that Ren Tsuruga was in a bad position. This was a bigger mess than she wanted to admit. Yet she wasn't sure how this would work out only that she hoped that the Lawyer that Kyoko had insisted upon was as good as the child thought he would be. The only thing she knew for sure right now was one or both of these men were trying to discredit her, if not making her seem as the abuser, mentally ill. 'The Queen will need to know' she mentally sighed.
Heth paced back and forth, he felt trapped and he didn't like being a trapped animal. Chained to one of the walls was a chestnut hair woman, her hair chopped short. She was much older than Kyoko the one he wanted and her curves were already well set in. The blood dripping from her in small cuts he had given her had done nothing and the fact that she was crying yet again, was pissing him off.
Moving the small distance he backhanded her with his good hand, the way she hit her head against the wall caused her to once again to pass out, he ran a down her body before jabbing a finger into one of the open wounds causing her to scream out in pain. He grabbed her jaw still moving in and out of the wound, "Why do you have to anger me?" he sounded so sad, so hurt. She whimpered softly as he jabbed his finger harder and faster the blood pooling and dripping down her side as she tried her hardest not to sob, she would have screamed in pain but she didn't have the ability anymore.
"You should treat your toys better, we can't get you new ones so easily here." Heth's eyes turned towards the young Chinese man, barely in his early twenties. Heth pulled out his finger licking the blood off his finger.
"Ah Young Master" he smiled warmly at the man with blue eyes.
"Father is not happy Heth," he said wrinkling his nose at the two women huddled in the corner. Both with chestnut hair that had been cut. "Do you have a new type?"
Heth grinned widen, "Oh I plan to make sure she dies screaming my name." he laughed.
"Well do not expect to much help from us Heth, this woman means little to nothing to us." his eyes trailed towards him, "I need to correct that statement actually, she's in a position that makes her meaningless to us. We want people no one will miss." his eyes narrowed slightly, "We are going to get this case taken care of and then I recommend you go home."
King left the meeting rather troubled as she walked down the steps of the police station towards the car that had been assigned to pick her up her eyes caught the sight of the officer. It was uncomfortable how he had been watching her, there was no lust or desire in the way he looked that she could deal with it was like he was looking for something but the question was what? She waved at him and he waved back. Had he not been staring at her, watching her she likely would have missed him that bothered her even more than being watched.
Getting in the passenger seat her eyes looked back out towards the window, in the direction that the office had been, he was gone. 'How come I feel like I should be truly worried about this man, while at the same time that the real issue is Tyler?' she closed her eyes going over everything once again in her head.
General Brown couldn't believe what King had told him. This John Tyler was going to be a problem, he had known others like that during his time who wanted in on the deeper level but the man wasn't even one in office. He could understand if he was higher up on the chain but he wasn't no matter how you looked at it. Brown believed that he was indeed seeking a way to move up. 'And what a way that would be, if this case becomes public...' he sighed heavily. 'For now, we are good, he can't pull anything just yet.' but the question was how much longer could they keep his mouth shut?
"First thing, need to know the speak to them about their connection. I know Maria and Tsuruga are close, I know Lory likes the kid well enough." He mentally sighed, Ruto would have the answers most likely but he needed to see their faces when he spoke to them. He opened his phone and dialed Ruto, "Hey, I need you to bring me Lady Kyoko and Ren Tsuruga... we may have a problem with their relationship."
A/N: So we now know the Officer's name: Jia (fake) Mianju (mask) [Not his real name of course]
Yes sorry, nothing from Kyoko or Ren this time in this chapter. Next Chapter though!