Chapter 23 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 06:49:50 08/11/07 Sat
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: wnpp-p-144-134-167-68.prem.tmns.net.au / 144.134.167.68
Subject: Chapter 23
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued ..." on 00:41:33 07/29/07 Sun

Chapter 123

On returning to work at the OCTB the next morning, Nikita�s colleagues greeted her with the buzz about the car bombing in Victoria Park.

�Did you hear the news?� Raymond Yee enquired enthusiastically when he saw her come into the room.

�What news?�

�The car bombing ... You couldn�t have missed it Nikita. It was all over the evening news and the newspapers this morning.�

�Oh, I thought you meant something else,� she evaded putting her things away in her locker. �I do know about it ... I was in the park when it happened.�

�No? ... Really? Did you see anything?� Raymond gushed rapidly at her.

�No.�

Interjecting, John So amusedly stated the obvious. �Well ... I won�t bother asking how your weekend was then Nikita.�

�Quiet ... that is, until I went jogging in the park yesterday,� she replied back.

He laughed. �Well it certainly looks as if this week is going to be busy. All personnel in our department have been summoned to a briefing in Inspector�s Ng�s office.�

�Come on we better get there ASAP ... you know what Inspector Ng is like if anyone is late,� Raymond called out from the door.

John and Nikita exchanged a look at Raymond�s enthusiasm, then collecting the things they needed for the briefing from their desks, they followed him out the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

John, Raymond and Nikita entered Inspector Ng�s office and they all sat together near the front of the room. A large interactive white board was already set up in the room for the briefing, and they didn�t have to wait too long before he made an appearance. Glancing around at those gathered, Inspector Ng rested his eyes on Nikita a moment longer than the others before beginning. Activating the newest technology at the OCTB, a picture of Victoria Park appeared then with the click of a switch, the image changed to show the car park located on the outer area of the park. Looking around at those gathered Inspector Ng began looking at the screen and pointing out the scene of the crime.

�As you are aware there was an explosion in Victoria Park yesterday here in the car park.� Then turning to look at those assembled he stated, �There was one fatality.�

�Do we know who the victim was sir?�

�Unfortunately the deceased was unrecognizable. Forensics has informed me that their investigations will take some time in order to identify the body. However, from eye witness accounts the dead person was a woman ... Caucasian ... about five feet ten inches tall and aged in her thirties.�

�Do we have any leads Inspector as to the bomber?� John So enquired inquisitive to what information the OCTB already had.

�Several eyewitnesses have given statements but this was no ordinary murder.�

Raymond voiced the question that other officers were wondering about. �Why�s that Inspector?�

�It has the typical signature of a triad execution.�

�What about the Rising Dragons? Could it be them?� Nikita asked, knowing what the Inspector would say.

�No. It�s not their way of dealing with their enemies.�

�14K?�

�No ... it�s not them either John.�

�Which one then?�

�Car bombings are the signature of the Black Panthers. They are ruthless and like to leave very little in the way of clues to their crimes. This is particularly so with kidnapping incidents.�

�Samuel Li is back in Hong Kong ... perhaps this was a kidnapping gone wrong?�

�Possibly, but that is conjecture at the moment.�

Nikita observed the interaction between the Inspector and the detectives gathered at the briefing and watched as he weaved a plausible scenario for placing blame.

He was good ... very good, but the charade that Inspector Jiang Ng was playing amused her. She knew that the woman murdered had obvious ties to him and that he was playing the game of cat and mouse in the blame game. The stalling of Forensics would certainly help him diffuse any attention away from himself and onto Samuel Li or a rival triad group. From the Intel Section had on Inspector Ng, it was known that he was ruthless enough to frame someone else for the crime. He was trying to create the perfect alibi by implicating others for if the powers that be found out about his association with the Rising Dragons ... then he would be doomed.

She would need to keep an eye on Inspector Ng, keep her head to the ground and watch her back as well.

�Do we have any leads?�

�Not as yet ... by the time officers arrived at the park any perpetrator would have been long gone.�

�I was in the park with my neighbour yesterday,� Nikita announced unexpectedly shocking those gathered except for her colleagues.

Inspector Jiang Ng gave her a penetrating look. �Did you see anything or anyone suspicious?�

�No sir ... I just heard the explosion.�

�Did you happen to see the woman victim in the park at all Nikita? It would certainly help with our enquiries if you can remember something.�

�No sir ... I was looking around the flea market. There were several women of that description there, but I really can�t shed any light on who she was.�

�That�s a pity. If you do happen to remember something, it could make a big difference.�

�Yes sir.�

�Are there any clues to go on sir?�

�It�s sheer speculation at the moment Raymond, but a cell phone found in some bushes near the scene may have been used to detonate the device.�

�Anything else?�

�One witness said that a woman fitting the deceased�s description was seen talking to a man in the park but he had walked away before the bomb went off.�

�Were they able to give a description of the mystery man?� Nikita asked somewhat nervous to his answer in case Michael may have been compromised too.

�Unfortunately, she was very vague on any specific details, only that he was wearing dark glasses.�

Summarising what Intel they had, Nikita stated, �So it will be difficult to even know if he was Chinese or any other nationality then?�

�Regrettably ... yes.�

�What do you need us to do Inspector?� one of the operatives asked.

�I expect all teams to focus on the Black Panthers triad. I want to know the exact movements of all their principal players but particularly Samuel Li. I need you to set up surveillance and report back about anyone who he meets during this week.�

Looking for confirmation from John So and Nikita, Raymond volunteered, �We can do that Inspector.�

�I also need someone to trace all of Samuel Li�s landline and cell phone calls to see if he has had communication with any known cohorts who could have carried out this crime.�

�We�re on it already sir.�

�I also want to know if this mystery man is in any way connected with the Black Panthers.�

�That might be impossible given what we have to go on Inspector Ng.�

�Give it your best shot.�

�I�m sure we can cover that also sir,� John replied on behalf of his team.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Inspector Jiang Ng surreptitiously surveyed the officers in his office and he noticed the buzz that a new investigation caused.

There was much chatter amongst members of the OCTB and he was most pleased. But more importantly he had done enough. He�d managed to focus the attention of the car bomber away from any possible connection with him and the Rising Dragons and placed it solely on the Black Panthers and Samuel Li. When the time came, he would make a watertight case against Li that would hold up in court. If by chance anything was found to implicate him or the Rising Dragons, he would be able to eradicate the information before it was taken further. All things were possible when you ran the department including exonerating him from any blame and the triad as well. He�d be in the clear and his position at the OCTB would be intact.

Smugly he decided to play his trump card.

�Good ... I want no stone unturned in this investigation. The people of Hong Kong need to know that it is safe for parents to take their children to Victoria Park to play... It is important too that all the people who enjoy the tranquillity that a park offers its citizens can do so in peace and harmony.�

�We need to protect the innocent children and the future; we need to protect them both,� Nikita elucidated philosophically well aware of Inspector Ng�s side stepping. �We can�t let the criminals gain an upper hand can we now sir?�

He looked at her wondering if she had called his bluff. �Certainly not Nikita!�

�Hear! Hear!� was the collective reply from those gathered.

�No one is untouchable including a lot of senior triad office-bearers. That�s why it is imperative that we bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice,� he answered wondering if Nikita�s cryptic question was alluding to him. Suddenly he felt a little nervous.

Nikita merely looked at him with a replica of Michael�s patent blank stare.

Yes, she thought ... no one is untouchable ... especially you Inspector Ng. Your time of reckoning will come and you will get your just deserts for ruthless men eventually make mistakes and have to suffer the consequences of their actions. When that happened Madeline would be waiting in the White Room for his imminent presence.

Clearing his throat Inspector Ng confidently looked around at all those gathered before adding, �I am proud of all your efforts everyone ... men and women alike. The OCTB is the most professional and efficient police agency I've ever dealt with. That will be all.�

A unanimous and sustained clapping ensured at his final statement.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When everyone had left Inspector Jiang Ng remained behind and pondered Nikita�s questions and answers.

This was a woman who was a chameleon. Sun Yee Lok had asked him to tell him all he knew about her. At the time, the picture was sketchy. Perhaps now he was just really getting to know her. He would guarantee that Nikita knew more than she let on and more than she should. Not only would he need to watch his step around her, but he would be keeping a very close eye on Nikita�s movements too. Perhaps it was time to step up his surveillance of her. Whilst she was at the OCTB he would be able to monitor her movements and Karen was in place to keep an eye on her at home but maybe there should be more.

He would wait and see what transpired this week before making his final decision. What he did come to realise however, was at some time in the future Nikita Wirth was a marked woman.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Play on text from ... FLYF

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