Chapter 4
Gang Hai
After finishing Pauline's little errand Lin made her way back home to her dad's for the night.
Unlike her current somewhat mild goth look the room was pink with a teddy bear at the end of the bed sitting on a huge box. She has also a carpet with a jigsaw motif and a computer in the corner.
Lin felt nostalgic as she entered and slept. The next morning she studied the Perloka Ripper case in her room. One of the ripper pieces is "Love the Way You Hate Me" It is a red painting with the outline of a human face screaming. It is drawn by blood and Lin noticed Enocian symbols drawn at the bottom of the painting. Just as she started to get into the material Lin heard footsteps,
"Wow, I never imagined this… I mean this isn´t the image I had of your room…"
"Holden? What are you doing here?"
"I imagined something more along the lines of hellraiser and metal."
"Christ! Holden"
"Sorry, I am in shock here. I came because the prints on the bottle and partials from the crime scenes match around 99% probability. it seems Gang Hai is our best bet."
"Really?"
"Yes, and I thought you would want to pick him up"
"Ok, I meet you over there, wait for me before taking action."
"Of course I will."
Arriving at the HKU campus Lin could see Holden's car parked in front of her, Entering and going upstairs to Gang Hai's apartment was uneventful. Outside the door, she could see Holden.
"Hey Lin" She nodded at him as she turned to the door and knocked.
"Hey Gang! We need to talk to you, The cute agent is back"
"What the cute agent thing?"
"Aw, forget it… (Female scream) Shhh, listen… did you hear that?"
"What? Probably a horror movie."
"No, I don´t think so. Call Terrance"
"Ah, crap! I will… later" Said Holden as Lin kicked the wooden door open with a gun in hand.
"Oh my god Holden, you were right… absolutely right, it is a movie"
"Wasn't that a bit excessive, we can get into trouble"
"Common Holden… lighten up. Let's check out his bedroom."
The room was filled with pictures and newspaper clippings on the wall. further in was an unmade bed and bags on the floor.
"This guy is twisted" Said Holden as he surveyed the room.
"Oh stop it"
"Don´t you see the pictures on the wall?"
"Yeah… so what?"
"Gore films, crime scene photos, porno… do I have to say more"
"You just described three-quarters of upper-class immature adolescents in the country. Gang Hai is a harmless teacher. We are here to ask about the prints: Not character assassination, we leave that to the lawyers."
"Ok." Holden drew out his phone and made a call for an officer to guard the door as he made his way outside the apartment.
"What's going on?"
"Knight Errant Police business miss" the woman was en elf with thigh-suggestive clothing. Lin stepped out of the apartment.
"Ouch! Hello."
"You must be Mia right?"
"Yes, and you seem to have me at a disadvantage"
"I am Agent Caihong and this is Detective Holden. you wouldn't happen to know where Gang Hai might be?"
"Actually I do. I saw him at work. He is getting a massage or taking a hot bath… Which ever"
"Where do you work" Asked Holden but he did not get a reply at all, just when it was about to get awkward. Lin asked the same question.
"Here is my card, the address is on the back" Holden stretched his hand out to get it but Mia gave it to Lin. Lin handed it over to Holden.
"Can you check it out? I meet you over there"
"Sure, better than being ignored." As he left the scene.
"Do you mind me asking what you do there?"
"Not at all… I can show you if you'd like cause I can see all that tension on your shoulders and neck. My apartment is just a few steps away"
"Thanks for the offer but I have to decline. I need to talk to your friend Gang.
Friend? Gang is a nice guy but he is no friend. He is a neighbor at best… Sorry to interrupt the flow of your questioning but can I be blunt here?"
"Err… I am not sure I want you to but sure, go right ahead"
"Are you taken"
"Not quite what I expected but then again it could have been worse. To answer your question, yes I am already taken."
"Oh, How unfortunate"
"I do not have much time to chitchat now but I will contact you later. I´d like to ask a few more questions."
"Anytime. My offer still stands if you change your mind"
"I will be in touch"
Just as Lin was making her way to the stairs she saw the elven Terrance show up.
"You called agent Caihong?"
"Yes, I need you to guard the door in case Gang Hai shows up here"
"Description"
"About 1. 70 human, black hair, glasses and he has a scar on his face, here is his picture."
"Ok, I call in if he shows up"
"Alright, Thanks Terrance"
While driving to Mia's work Bai called, he investigated the morgue and took a photo of astral residue that the spirit had imprinted on the wall while possessing the body. It was an unknown human girl. Lin arrived at Red Lantern villa out on the edges of the city. Looking out of the window Lin saw Hodlen out in the rain at the entrance.
"I think, I might have screwed up"
"You didn´t try your thought guy routine, did you?"
"I might have, yes"
"What happened"
"I said that I needed to talk to one of the clients. He wouldn´t let me in so I asked again, this time with some subtle encouragement."
"You mean you flashed your badge at his face right?"
"That pretty much sums it up. Yeah"
"Then what?"
"He asked for a warrant. So I am screwed. No way we can find a corporate judge at this time of the day and so close to the holidays."
"Correction, we are screwed… but wait…I might have an idea. Stay here in case I miss Gang, you already know what he looks like right?"
"Yeah. Wait what are you up to?"
"Just watch the door and I will be right back"
Entering the villa Lin could sense magical wards were in place to prevent loss of privacy. The atmosphere looked high-class with late 18th-century Western decor. She tried to walk past the chromed-up troll guard but no luck.
"Sorry baby but I need to see your pass"
"I don't have my pass, I was wondering if you could let me in any way "
"Then you ain't going in. You must be a new girl. Listen don't forget your pass. You forget it, you do not work simple as that."
"Can you bend the rules? Just for tonight?"
"No, listen up, a rule is a rule. It´be my ass on the line if I let you in. I thought that they did brief you."
"They did, it is just that I live very far and it cost a fortune in cab fare"
"So take a cab: they pay for it. So I am sure it is not a problem"
"How would it look like to you if you start at some place and you already asking for nuyen. It does not make me look good."
"Yeah I can see your point but I can still not let you in."
"How many girls besides me?"
"Four, are you sure they briefed you?"
"Yes, they did… Do you like working here? I mean how is it?"
"Yeah… I like working here, not bad at all. This is better than what I used to do. I know my end of things, but on your end, I have to say you should be asking one of the other girls."
"Well I got to head back and get that pass"
"Sorry about that but, I really got no choice"
"I understand" Said Lin as she made her way outside to Holden.
"your idea didn´t work I gather."
"Yes and no, I have to see Mia and have her give me her pass. Can you stay here and watch in case Gang decides to split?"
"Sure, can you give me some genuine coffee while you are at it?"
"Hehe, good one"
Lin made her way to the campus, passing Terrance still guarding Gang apartment she read the doors until she found Mia's name on it and knocked.
"Oh, hi"
"Hi Mia"
"Have you had a change of heart?"
"Sort of… I need a favor"
"Even better come on in"
Mia's phone buzzed. "Yeah right I have to go and get the mail order. Make yourself at home"
"But Mia, all I need is…"
"It won't be long I promise"
Looking around the apartment was simple and clean, unlike Gang in comparison. She has paintings on the wall with a different motif, entering her bedroom was a bed for two persons unsurprisingly. Besides the bed was a small table with drawers and there she saw a small portrait picture. it looked like the picture Bai had sent her in color. Lin tried to compare it with the negative astral picture that she had in her PDA, it was the same person. She took the picture and made her way out to Mia. She was at the door with a mailbox.
"Mia, who is this?"
"Oh, that Steph… O shit, I was supposed to meet her to have another portrait of her"
"Where were you going to meet her?"
"Why? What´s wrong?"
"Just tell me where!"
"At a studio here in HKU not very far just a few blocks away"
"Ok, can you tell me the address?"
"Yes, here it is... Lin, what is going on?"
"No time to explain just stay here… don't move"
Going to the studio building she meets Marcel in the lobby
"Hi Marcel"
"Hi, honey. Ah, have you come finally to see the new matrix exhibition?"
"No, not really. I need you to open the gate outside. I need to get to one of the studios, the 77. "
"Sure but why?"
"I finally have a lead in my case"
"And it is on one of my studios? What is going on?"
"Yes, well it is a person who might know the killer and she is inside. I really need to talk to her."
"Ok, let's go"
The pair walked out a few blocks and Marcel opened the door to an industrial building that had been converted into a studio. The BTL squatters have had this space but have been driven away by the KEP a while back. Entering the space past the walkway Lin felt the familiar astral taint and noticed a corpse lying in the middle of the studio.
"Shit"
"I would have appreciated it if you took interest in my work…Oh my god, Lin"
"I know"
Mia entered the studio through a rolling sheet garage door and saw the scene from the bottom floor.
"Oh… My god! no!" Said she as she ran away.
"Mia! Wait! Shit! I have to wait here and secure the scene. Call the KEP and go find Mia"
"Ok."
Going downstairs Lin finds a handbag on the floor with some items spread out, among them a red lantern pass card with a picture of the victim. She picks the card up and pockets it. Looking at the corpse it was naked on the floor with lots of blood markings and symbols around. This time the killer didn´t bother wiping some of the symbols out. Alright, I got to wait until Pauline arrives, what a great day to be alive. She thought as Lin made her way to the rolling sheet garage door to take some fresh air.