Part 12 – Trouble in Chinatown – Part 4
"Yes," Sasuke said over the phone, "Thank you, Detective, you have a good evening."
"Well," Iruka asked as Sasuke hung up the phone and walked up to the evidence-board.
"That was detective Adam Lopez out in Los Angeles," Sasuke said, "His father worked the original case back in 1998, and the case is still pending because the perpetrator hasn't been caught, because he's lying on a slab in our morgue," he opened the two photos of the girls holding the signs, "Rose-Anne and Bella Simons, born in Los Angles in late 1992, their mother, Ms. Ju Chang was a Chinese mail-order-bride whose swift marriage in 1990 to young, up and coming Los Angles Federal Reserve employee, Micha Butler allowed her to avoid jail time for her role in in the Tiananmen Square protests."
"She was in hiding until February on the following year when she left to come to America in order to stay out of prison for helping erect the barricades," Shikamaru said.
"By 1992, she and Micha were living a very comfortable lower-middle-class lifestyle until Micha was promoted to deputy board member," Sasuke said, "Suddenly they went from lower-middle-class to upper-middle-class overnight, bought a bigger house, and two, very nice cars. Nine months later, two baby girls were born, and the family lived a very comfortable life. Until March 11th, 1998 when the two five-year-old girls were sent off to school, but when their parents went to pick them up, they weren't there, and the police were called. Two days later, Micha returned home, and two pictures exactly like these were nailed to the door and a phone number."
"The kidnapper demanded the entire amount upfront, but Micha knew that if he gave the kidnapper the whole amount, then there was no incentive to return the girls," Shikamaru said, "He told the kidnapper if he returned one of the girls he would give him half the money in the form of U.S. Treasury certificates that would never expire."
"He left the first certificate at the drop-point," Sasuke said, "Four hours later Rose-Anne walked up to the front steps of her parent's house and rang the doorbell. The next day, Micha delivers the remainder of the ransom to another drop-point, and two hours later, Bella is running into her parent's arms. That's when they call the police, and both girls positively identify one Marcus Wong as the man that took them.
"But by the time authorities had put his picture out in the papers Marcus Wong had boarded a plane to San Antonio," Shikamaru said, "He rented a 1998 Ford Contour, drove to Houston, and simply, vanished, stock certificates and all."
"They found the car abandoned at a hotel within the Houston city limits," Sasuke said, "Inside they found his driver's license and a handwritten note saying that authorities would never see him again. Since then he's been wanted by the California division of the F.B.I., U.S. Marshalls, Los Angeles County Sheriffs, and authorities in thirty-eight counties across California."
"And then he settles here," Shikamaru said, "Finds a job working at various companies where he picks up managerial skills and a short temper. Within a couple years he finds a partner, they put their money together, and they open Chinatown together."
"But why come here," Iruka asked, "Why Louisiana and why Alexandria?"
"Because authorities aren't looking for him in Louisiana," Sasuke said, "It's about four states away from his problems, and he happens to be the Head Chef's second cousin."
"I want him brought in immediately," Iruka said.
"We already have units heading to his house to arrest him," Sasuke said, "We should have him in a cell within the next hour."
"What about the certificates," Iruka asked, "And the Butler family?"
"California treasury department states that the certificates were labeled," Sasuke said, "Even if Marcus Wong used them they would have tracked him down, and locked him up for the rest of his life for kidnapping. As for the Butler family, Micha and Ju Butler were at work every day this week. Ever since the kidnapping, Ju makes it a point to keep tabs on her children so she calls them once every two hours. Mrs. Butler insists that her daughters haven't been beyond the Vegas Strip. Both Rose-Anne and Bella have airtight alibis. It's no secret however that Micha still harbors old grudges," Sasuke picked up a piece of paper off his desk, "His final instructions before he hung up were, 'Take those useless certificates and shove it up that jerk's rear'."
"He was really that calm," Iruka asked.
"Nope," Sasuke said, "I'm paraphrasing. He does, however, insist we send the certificates back to California."
"Are you sure we should send those back," Shikamaru asked, "We could do a lot with two million dollars."
"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that," Iruka said, "What about the cousin?"
"Well the gun is registered as being bought by him," Shikamaru said as he picked up the revolver they found in Marcus Wong's safe.
"Since he's been living under an assumed identity he can't openly purchase a gun," Sasuke said, "So of course, he asks his cousin to buy him the revolver for personal protection, he puts up the money, the cousin buys the gun, and he keeps it in his office in case there's a break-in."
"Lot of good it did him," Shikamaru said, "A guy walks in, blasts him eleven times with a 9mm, and doesn't even get into the safe."
"Maybe," Sasuke said as he checked his watch, "I don't know about you guys, but I have a hot date in about half an hour."
"We'll handle the interrogation tomorrow," Shikamaru said.
"Alright," Iruka said, "You guys have a good evening."
"You too, LT," Sasuke said before holding his fist out to Shikamaru who bumped it, "See you, partner."
"You too," Shikamaru said.
Sasuke walked outside where Sakura was waiting, "Hello, detective," she said as she walked up to him.
"Ms. Haruno," Sasuke said, "Ready for dinner?"
"You know it," Sakura said.
"How'd you get here anyway," Sasuke asked as they walked into the parking lot to Sasuke's car.
"How's the case going," Sakura asked as Sasuke opened the door for her.
"Alright," Sasuke said as Sakura entered the car, "Up until I discovered that Mr. Trang has been on the run from the F.B.I. for twenty-four years," he shut the door.
"What," Sakura asked as Sasuke took his place in the driver's seat.
"Yep," Sasuke said, "His real name isn't Johnny Trang, it's Marcus Wong," Sasuke stared up his charger, put the car in reverse, and drove off.
"Marcus Wong," Sakura asked.
"Yes," Sasuke said, "The man is wanted by authorities over half of California for kidnapping."
"That's quite a revelation," Sakura said.
"Yea," Sasuke said as he turned onto Masonic Drive, "What do you feel like tonight?"
"I'm thinking something a little different," Sakura said.
"How about Zito's," Sasuke asked.
"Greek and Lebanese," Sakura asked, "I could go for some Mediterranean."
"And the lady makes a decision," Sasuke said, "Let's go."
"Has it always been like this while you're working cases," Sakura asked as Sasuke turned onto the traffic circle, "Able to find time for your friends?"
"Not really," Sasuke said as he got off on the next exit, driving towards Zito's, "Back when I was a patrol officer I took extra hours to stay away from my father's suggestions that I leave being a cop, and go to plumbing school."
"Your father just wants what's best for you," Sakura said.
"I know that," Sasuke said as they got off on the final exit, and pulled into the parking lot, "But I've found my calling. Being a cop is the best thing I've ever done, and I'm proud to say it."
"I'm glad you are a cop," Sakura said as they exited the car.
Sasuke and Sakura entered Zito's whereupon sitting down they were instantly greeted by a young woman who was about twenty years old.
"Welcome to Zito's," she said, "What can I get you to drink?"
"Coke," Sasuke said.
"Sprite," Sakura said.
"So," Sakura said as she placed her napkin in her lap, "How's the rib?"
"Healing," Sasuke said, "Still tender. You know, I'm surprised you didn't take your car to work."
"My car is in the shop," Sakura said.
"What's wrong," Sasuke asked.
"Timing belt is off," Sakura said, "They said it should be done by tomorrow."
"Interesting," Sasuke said, "I never knew that BMWs had timing belt issues."
As their waitress brought out drinks, Sasuke decided what he wanted from the menu, "What'll you have," she asked.
"I'll have the Youvetsi," Sasuke said.
"I'll take kebabs," Sakura said, "Chicken please."
"I'll go put those in," the waitress said.
"I'm actually curious," Sakura said, "Why'd you come back to Alexandria to become a cop? You could have gone anywhere your father wasn't. Why come back here?"
"This town does things to you," Sasuke said, "I guess when I left college I wanted to come back to a place that was familiar. When we left the Army, everyone settled here. My family's here, and you're here."
"Has anyone told you that you can be really romantic sometimes," Sakura asked.
"I've been called charming before," Sasuke said, "Never romantic."
"Charming," Sakura asked, "By who?"
"You," Sasuke said as he leaned back in his seat, "I might have gone to college at a different school, but I would often visit you when you were in medical school remember?"
"Oh yea," Sakura said, "I'm surprised we didn't think about doing this back then."
"What," Sasuke asked as he picked up his drink, and took a small swig, "Having dinner?"
"Dating," Sakura said.
"You never seemed interested in dating," Sasuke said.
"I thought the same about you," Sakura said, "Back when you were A.S.H.'s (Alexandria Senior High) linebacker you had every girl in school lining up to date you, but you weren't interested in them."
"Because I didn't have eyes for them," Sasuke said as he looked up at Sakura, "I had my eyes on someone else."
"Me," Sakura asked, "Come on, in high school I always wore those thin-rimmed glasses, and those worn-out sneakers. Most of the girls at school wore short skirts and high heels, and you were more attracted to me more than them?"
"They were more self-centered than you," Sasuke said, "They were only interested in dating me because I was the hot guy around school. You were one of my best friends, and I honestly thought you were the cutest and most beautiful girls on school grounds."
"You were a good friend too," Sakura said, "And I really missed you when I went to Shreveport."
"I missed you too," Sasuke said.
The two of them then leaned over the table in an attempt to kiss before the waitress brought out their food, "Am I interrupting something," the waitress asked.
"No," Sasuke said, "No, not at all."
Following dinner, Sasuke drove Sakura back home: a small house on Rue Maria just off of Versailles Boulevard.
Sasuke walked her up to the front door, and as she unlocked her door, Sasuke leaned against the wall and spoke, "You know, it's weird," he said.
"What is," Sakura asked as she unlocked her front door, and turned off her house alarm.
"When we went to A.S.H., we both said we would end up on different ends of the country by the time we were finished with college," Sasuke said.
"I remember," Sakura said as she walked outside, "You wanted to go to New York and become an F.B.I. agent."
"And you wanted to go to Seattle and become a Cardiac Surgeon," Sasuke said, "Now here we are, seven years later. You're living not a two minute drive from our High School, and me about six minutes."
"It is ironic," Sakura said as she smiled at Sasuke, "I suppose that life has a funny way of doing things."
"I suppose," Sasuke said, "Is this where we part?"
"That would be a yes," Sakura said as she leaned forward and kissed Sasuke, "Sweet dreams."
"Good night," Sasuke said as he watched Sasuke close her door, and he walked back to his car, only to have a call on his cell, "Uchiha," he said as he placed the phone to his ear.
"Sasuke, it's me," Shikamaru said over the other line, "We have a lead on the shooter."
[Dramatic Music]
*The story you are reading is a work of fiction, but it is inspired by actual events in which the owner of a Chinese Buffet in Alexandria, Louisiana was wanted in California for kidnapping, and spent over a decade hiding until he was finally arrested. He is currently sitting in jail for his crimes…
