Fan Fiction |
by Rain
Saturday, 15th June 2002
The apartment that was usually neat looked cluttered. Papers and piles of books were scattered all over. It looked not much different from a share stock workplace.
Niki rubbed her eyes hard preventing herself from falling asleep over the piles of information to be read.
“Louis Lai…” she read.
This mysterious guy has one the most complicated background she had ever encountered. In fact, it was all so muddled up she was going insane tracking back his roots. He seemed to be an abandoned child that was kicked around like a football and rolled aimlessly. She began to have a little pity for the poor guy as she read on.
Louis, she learnt, had grown up picking his meals from food leftovers after he escaped from his abusing foster parents. He had once been picking a fight in the streets and then recruited by Mo gangster head, a legendary influential dark society group. Louis had gained Mo’s trust and his influence and status rose significantly within the recent years, becoming Mo’s most trusted assistant. Niki’s heart couldn’t help feeling a shudder of cold reading all the crimes the man she had saved committed in the past.
“What is it you want me to find Michelle?!” Niki cried in exasperation in her efforts of trying to save her best friend.
“Chill Niki, Michelle just asked us to investigate this Louis thoroughly, she must have her reasons,” Raymond who was also reading on blindly encouraged Niki who looked tired.
“But…,” Tavia began. “We have found nothing but negative stuff so far. Niki, what’s the penalty of hiding a criminal?”
“It’s…” Niki stopped to think. “It’s not a very serious crime if you’re not convicted as accomplice. Two years of jail or bail should do it. But for a lawyer like Michelle, it might as well be the dooms day for her.”
“No!” Raymond said. “Nothing can happen to Michelle!” He began flipping through the piles feverishly.
The door of the apartment swung open.
All five pairs of tired eyes immediately cast their gaze towards the door.
“You’re here!” Alec cried in much more delight than others had expected from him. Vicki returned his hug with a friendly pat.
“Vic!” Tavia and Niki simultaneously went over to hug their friend they had all missed much.
Kenneth went over and carried her luggage inside. “Welcome Vicki…”
Vicki gazed over the mess her friends were poring over. “How’s it going?”
“Vicki, you’ve gotta help out… We’re all so lost here…” Raymond said worriedly.
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Monday, 17th June 2002
“We’ve got a surprise visitor for you,” Raymond told Michelle who looked like she could use some cheering up. “I’ll be waiting outside.”
Michelle watched Raymond disappearing. They had not brought her any good news about their research on Louis.
Could I have been over confident? Was I wrong? She wondered helplessly.
But she never regretted her decision because she knew Louis’s appearance at the bar meant the police would soon be knocking their doors down summoning them for more and be arresting Niki as well.
“Hello little sister…” Michelle’s eyes immediately lit up with joy.
“Vicki!” she cried. They hugged each other but were soon told to break apart by the guard watching over them.
“What a mess you get yourself into…” Vicki said.
“I’m glad you came. I’ve missed you a lot.” Michelle looked at Vicki. “How are your days in England? Been making big money huh? How’s Leo?”
Vicki smiled uneasily. “I’m fine. But, Leo and I decided to take time apart.”
“Why?!” Michelle asked.
“Well, you know… It’s not like we have any arguments or what. We just think we are not the one for each other,” Vicki explained.
Michelle nodded understandingly.
“So, I heard your face appear almost everyday on several newspapers and magazines after your amazing victory in your first case. Becoming the hot person huh?” Vicki teased.
“Yeah, bet now I’m the headlines…” Michelle joked half heartedly, and she was quite right, but Vicki did not tell her.
“Don’t worry Mich, I’m sure things will be alright,” Vicki said.
“Yeah, it’s not really a big crime, but my name is in the mud now… And trust me, I know better… A lawyer’s name decides the life and death of their career,” Michelle groaned more.
“Trust me Mich, everything will be alright soon…” Vicki was about to pat Michelle on her shoulders when the guard glared causing her to withhold her gesture.
___________________________________________________________________________
Raymond felt that it was the longest walk he had ever taken in his life; from the visiting rooms towards Ron’s office.
Michelle… he thought bitterly. The girl who had never loved him, yet he had never been able to rid her from his heart.
----------------------------------------------*Flashback*----------------------------------------------
“Vicki…” Raymond beckoned her towards a corner while others were still busy poring over the investigation materials.
Raymond showed her a piece of unfamiliar Hong Kong identity card. Vicki took it to examine it closer.
“Is this the Louis guy?” Vicki asked.
Raymond nodded. “I found it beneath Niki’s bed the day he disappeared. I didn’t show it to anyone.”
“You should! It might help…” Vicki started excitedly, but Raymond dragged her into the kitchen and hushed her up.
“Shhh… Vicki, I’m… I’m going to Officer Ron’s tomorrow…” Raymond said.
“Okay… Hand it to him. See if he can take this as the exchange for Michelle,” Vicki said without much thought.
“No… no… Law doesn’t work that way Vicki, law works with evidence, which means whether some things happen or not, if there’s evidence… if there’s enough evidence to prove it…” Raymond’s voice trailed as he wondered deeply into his plan.
Vicki didn’t like the sound of his plan. “What are you doing? You’re not going to take the blame too are you?! It won’t help Michelle!”
“It will! I have the story ready in my head, and my story will be ten times more convincing than Michelle’s when I produce this for Ron. Shh… Vicki, I didn’t want anyone to know, but since you’re here, I trust you’re level headed enough to help me with this plan and not object to it,” Raymond said not giving Vicki the chance to decline.
“NO! Michelle would never forgive me if she knew I let you do this! Ray, even though her heart had never moved for you, she treats you like her brother… She wouldn’t want to lose any of us to secure herself! Otherwise she wouldn’t have taken the blame all by herself leaving Niki out!” Vicki still refused to support Raymond’s plan.
“Vicki can you calm down…” Raymond let out a sigh. “Even though Mich has never returned my love for her, but it doesn’t change how I feel about her. I… I just want to protect her… I’m not forcing her to accept me…”
“I’m just a simple businessman. This conviction wouldn’t harm me much in anyway. In fact, the public may think me of a kind hearted person!” he explained.
“But it’s totally opposite for Michelle. She’s a lawyer. Her hard work and effort as well as her successful career could all go down the drain if she’s convicted!” Raymond said.
“Plus, I trust Michelle enough to win the case for me. If she’s released, she can investigate the case. We’re all helpless here when the real power source is squatting behind bars. One Michelle attorney can easily beat all the seven of us here anytime!” he added persuasively.
“Ray… I don’t know…” Vicki still felt it was wrong to sacrifice an innocent man for her own sister though she very much wanted Michelle out of all the chaos.
“Trust me Vicki, with or without you, I’ve already planned this but with you my plan would be easier,” Raymond assured Vicki.
------------------------------------------*End of Flashback*------------------------------------------
Raymond stared at the plate ‘Ron Ng’ hanging on the door and bit his lower lip with determination. He would not let anything befall Michelle; he was determined to ensure Michelle’s future as bright as she had deserved it.
___________________________________________________________________________
“So how’s your love life been?” Vicki pestered.
“Blank…” Michelle smiled at her nosy sister. “No knight had shown any interest… especially not now since I’m a convict…”
“You’re not a convict okay. Well… have you given Raymond a thought? I’m quite sure he’s still very into you…” Vicki asked suggestively.
“Ray? Hmmm… I don’t think the brotherly feeling I have for him had changed…” Michelle said frankly.
“But don’t you want to give it a chance?” Vicki said.
“What’s the point to start something that has no result?” Michelle asked, curious that her sister was suddenly very supporting Raymond. “I think my feelings for him are like yours for Leo, no sparks…”
“Well, I did give it a try, right? You never know without trying... No harm trying… If it doesn’t work out, I’m sure Ray would understand,” Vicki encouraged some more.
“Hmmm… I’m in such a mess now. I don’t think I’m in the position to fall in love,” Michelle kidded.
A guard came into their visiting room.
“You may leave now,” he said.
Michelle looked on at Vicki, reluctantly saying goodbyes.
“I mean, Ms Yip you are also released after much investigation. Our officer has arrested the rightful culprit,” he added hurriedly.
“Huh? Rightful culprit?” Michelle asked feeling astonished, and looked over to Vicki who suddenly became very interested on the dull gray grounds they were standing on.
___________________________________________________________________________
END of Chapter
Author: Foreword has been edited. Added with some quotes extracts and a poem for this FF. Enjoy! :D