| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“Check it over and call me if anything,” Ray told them.
“Whoa!” Mandy blurted out in surprised, examining the sheet.
“What? Impressed?”
Mandy nods, not knowing what to say.
“Anyway, I have to go meet Jess. Last date before we join her in Guangzhou at the end of this week.” He gives them a quick scan before continuing. “Don’t tell me you guys haven’t decided yet.”
“Uh…” Wallace managed.
“I’m kidding. If any of you happen to stay around here, the better since you can spy on Ekin while he’s pretending to kiss up to Auntie Yeung.”
Wallace lets out a chuckle. “The better? How about ‘Welcome to a miserable Christmas’?”
“Uh…what if Jacky’s wrong and Ekin’s just trying to patch things up for real?” Charmaine hesitated.
“Jacky is never wrong,” Ray said.
“Don’t mind Ray,” Wallace said. “Jacky’s his idol.”
“For real, guys,” Charmaine said in a serious tone.
“Jacky is never wrong!” Ray and Wallace exclaimed out at the same time.
Ray turns to Wallace. “I thought you said…”
Wallace cuts him off. “Although you’re crazy, but I believe in Jacky.”
Mandy has on a nervous look before speaking up. “I’m sorry, Charm. But I have to side with the guys this time.”
“See? Even my sister supports us.” He pauses briefly. “No wait…are you just supporting us because you’re trying to support your future cousin-in-law?”
Mandy wrinkles her face. “What?!”
“Jacky.”
“He hasn’t even made a move yet.”
“He will when I push him during our time at Jan’s.”
“Guys!” Charmaine interfered, knowing way too well that they’ve gone off their original topic.
Ray turns to Charmaine again. “Sorry. As I was saying again…”
“What if he’s playing a joke on us? You know – for holidays’ sake?”
“April’s fool is too far away. Even I’m not that lame to play a joke now.”
“Oh really?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
“Hey! What? You obviously know something?”
“Nothing is nothing.”
As Ray’s about to beat it out of Charmaine – not literally, Kevin comes into the apartment. Ray signals to the others to hide the sheets they’re holding. Wallace and Charmaine fold their papers up loosely while Mandy rolls hers into a ball.
“What are you guys doing?” Kevin asked, eyeing them suspiciously.
Ray lets out a nervous laugh. “Nothing! Just talking about Christmas plans again. Anyway, I gotta head downstairs. I need to go pick up Jess. Don’t wait around for me. I won’t be back until tonight.”
After that, Ray rushes out of the girls’ apartment before Kevin could question him. Kevin turns his attention to the others instead. Charmaine and Mandy had taken a seat at the sofa again after Ray was talking to Kevin. The only one left standing is Wallace – the potential candidate to be questioned.
“Don’t look at me,” Wallace said. “He’s the weird one.” He gestures towards the front door – which is empty at the moment.
Kevin wrinkles his face. “Are you guys hiding something from me?”
“What made you say that?”
“Uh…”
“What happens with the whole Ken and Ruby now?” Wallace asked suddenly, changing the subject on purpose.
“How did you know?”
“I came over last night since Alice urged me to and bumped into Ray. He was telling us about what you and Gallen found out while nibbling on some sweet breads.”
“Gallen’s trying to follow Ruby right now. But not much is going on since it’s her day off and she hasn’t left her apartment. And Gallen said Ray’s trying to blow his cover?”
“Gallen said that? He wasn’t supposed to tell you that.”
Kevin looks surprised. “Why not?”
“Never mind. It’s just too complicated. Did he tell you anything else?”
“No. Just that.”
“Hmmm….”
“What?”
“Never mind. I’m leaving.”
“It’s Sunday!” Kevin yelled after Wallace.
“That’s why I’m leaving!” Wallace yelled back from the hall.
Kevin looks towards the girls. “What is he up to? In fact, what is everyone up to?”
Mandy shrugs her shoulders. “Holiday craze?”
“Beats me,” Charmaine added.
Kevin senses something going on, but couldn’t put his finger on it, so he decides to drop it for the time being.
*****
Wallace steps out of Constant Comfort while still holding the schedule sheet in his hand. Smart guy, Wallace thought. Making me drive around the city while he’s on a date. Wallace remembers that he parked his car somewhere in front of the building last night. Why couldn’t he find it now? He finds it a bit far from where he thought it would be. As he pulls out, he sees a car following him in the rearview mirror. This guy has got to be kidding, Wallace thought. How immature can he get? Wallace shakes the guy off his tail in two shakes. He feels so proud of himself that he almost forgot to turn right at the next intersection.
*****
Kevin leaves about 15 minutes after Wallace. The girls stay in their apartment and study the schedule Ray handed them earlier. They merely had a chance to study it earlier since Ray and Wallace were busy worshipping Jacky. They finally understand why Wallace had to go earlier. First on the list, Wallace has to find the candy store and/or factory. Ray will check out the mansion later with Jessica. Charmaine and Mandy were to wait for further details from both parties before reacting. That means they can’t do anything until tomorrow.
“Great or what?” Mandy said, feeling defeated. “What do we do now?”
“In case you forgot, Miss Cho, we still have our next Ad project to do,” Charmaine reminded her.
Mandy lets out a nervous laugh. “Oh…sorry. I was just excited with the plan.”
“You’re a strange one. You were worried about some jinxes yesterday and now you’re excited?”
Mandy shrugs. “I don’t know. Since Ray mapped out the plan quite well, it sounds exciting now. I mean trying to play ‘detective’ and all.”
Charmaine couldn’t help but smile at Mandy’s sudden change of attitude towards this whole thing. “All right. I already mapped out most of the details for our next Ad. Let’s work on the design before the guys decide to call us again.”
Mandy nods and follows Charmaine to her room.
Just as Charmaine predicted, one of the guys – Kevin – calls them after about half an hour later.
“What’s going on?” Mandy asked.
Charmaine listens in since Mandy puts her phone on speaker mode.
“I need one of you or both of you – doesn’t matter – to tail Ken,” Kevin told them.
“What now?” Charmaine asked. “You guys got busted?”
“No. We’re following Ruby and her boyfriend now and they just separated so Gallen took to following Ruby and I’m following her boyfriend right now. So you girls have to help on this one with following Ken.”
“It’s not easy. Oh yeah, it’s better if Mandy go since my ankle still hurts, remember?”
“That’s right.”
“All right,” Mandy mumbled.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Call me or anyone in case you run into trouble, okay?”
“Okay.”
Mandy leaves after grabbing her wallet from her room. She looks so unenthusiastic that Charmaine couldn’t stay quiet about it.
“What’s wrong?” Charmaine asked. “You look so excited earlier.”
Mandy looks at Charm. “I’m excited about figuring out the other thing, not spying on Ken.”
“Better to help your boyfriend than Ken?”
“What do you mean?”
Charmaine smiles. “The whole spying on Ekin thing is for Kevin’s benefit. The whole thing about tailing Ken is for helping Ken.”
“Charm…”
“I’m just kidding. Be careful, okay? Call me if anything.”
Mandy manages a smile. “All right. Thanks, Charm.”
Mandy leaves the apartment, feeling a deep heaviness within her. She can’t believe she has to do this task. Helping Ken is a good thing, but she doesn’t want to poke into Ken’s life.
*****
Ray and Jessica are standing in front of Ekin’s mansion at that moment.
“Nice view,” Jessica commented.
“I think this place is too dark,” Ray said. “It looks like a haunted house.”
“Ray!”
“Kidding. All right, it’s nice. So what? I wonder where this guy is.”
“Don’t tell me you want to break in.”
“No way! I’m just thinking if he’s staying here or decides to rent some place nearer to Constant Comfort to stake out at, you know.”
“Hmm…I think he should be here. Well, unless he hires people to keep this place in tip top shape.”
“Hmm…” Ray’s cell phone rings at that time. Ray fidgets with the cell phone on his belt, trying to see who’s calling him. Seeing Yoyo’s name on the Caller ID, he turns to Jessica. “I’ll be back.” He walks toward the ramp that leads into the sea and answers the call. “Hey Yoyo! What have you got for me?”
“I made some progress last night,” Yoyo said. “But I need to halt it for a bit since it’s last week before I go on break. It’s going to be one crazy week. And I need to finish doing some reports so the others will know what’s going on with my current patients.”
“It’s all right. What did you find out?”
“A bunch of interesting things, but I have to verify it first. I ran into him by accident at the bakery though.”
“You mean Seahorse Fest?”
“How did you know?!”
“He was there last night spying on one of the girls there.”
“What?! How dare he?”
“What?! You’re socializing with the enemy? I told you…” Ray has to stop himself because Jessica is looking at him from a distance. He gives Jessica a smile, shrugging his shoulders.
“I had to talk to him in order to extract information, okay?”
“All right. Got it.”
Yoyo couldn’t hold it back anymore. “Who was he spying on?”
“Some girl.”
“Okay.”
“I see you’re impatient. You’re really interested in him, huh?”
“Whatever.”
“Okay, fine. He’s spying on this one dude’s sister. It’s something we’re trying to figure out right now. Something that got everyone who isn’t really interested in it involved.”
“That is as clear as mud.”
“I’ll tell you later. I’m at Ekin’s mansion right now and can’t talk at the moment. I need to make it fast before he comes back.”
“He’s back?”
“Yea.”
“Need my help?”
“I thought you said you’re going to be busy this upcoming week.”
“Uh…yea, but just thought there are lots of things going on your side, so you know. Maybe I could try and squeeze it into my schedule. Or maybe you can tell me now and I’ll see what I can find out when you guys are on vacation.”
“How do you know we’re going on vacation?”
“Uh…”
“Yoyo!” Ray couldn’t believe what he’s hearing, so he couldn’t help it but yell out. He looks at Jessica to see her reaction or if she heard him. She might, but he’ll just have to explain later if she asks. Right now, he has to get to the bottom of the problem.
“All right, all right. I talked to Jacky last night through Tim’s phone so I found out that you guys are going on vacation soon.”
“You know Jacky?”
“I helped him with some stuffs six months ago.”
“Oh…regarding some cases he was working on?”
“Yea.”
Ray softens his voice a bit. “Okay. Got it. Sorry. I just over-reacted.”
“It’s all right. I should have told you. But I forgot all about that. If you didn’t tell me to investigate Tim, I wouldn’t even remember about it at all.”
“It’s all right. No need to explain. Anyway, I have to go for real, okay? Talk to you later.”
“Okay. See you. Bye.”
Ray hangs up after that. He walks back to Jessica with a smile on his face, pretending like nothing happened. Jessica decides that she doesn’t want to nag him if he doesn’t want to reveal whatever it is to her.
“Let’s go before he comes back,” Ray said, beginning to make his way towards the mansion.
Jessica pulls on Ray’s shoulder to hold him back. “Are you sure? What if it’s just his car isn’t around at the moment but he is?”
Ray turns back to look at Jessica. “We’ll go around back to see what’s going on first. Come on.”
He grabs Jessica’s hand to urge her forward. She knows there’s no point arguing with him, so she follows quietly.
*****
Wallace arrives at Cornerstone Corporation about an hour later due to the fact that he has to shake the tail off and because of traffic. He parks at a print shop across the street and takes a walk around that area before crossing the street to his planned destination.
Wallace stands in front of the shop, observing its exterior designs before entering it. He couldn’t help but wonder what in the world is this guy thinking. Is this Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? He smiles and shakes his head before grabbing the door handle to enter the shop. His expression changes into overwhelming as he sees a mountain of candies of different kind in the middle of the store greeting the customers. This place is huge, but the mountain of candies really stands out. No way does Wallace believe that Ekin really owns this place. He pretends to be looking for a particular type of candy and turns to the left side of the store. A square glass display greets him as he looks around the window area. He moves slowly around the store and into the middle and back area to see what this place is all about. His little inspection takes about half an hour or so. He leaves the shop buying two types of candy that he thought Alice might like. He steps outside, breathing in the fresh air and glad that it’s finally over. Sweet-land attack, he thought.
As he pulls out of his parking spot, he makes sure to give Ray “a piece of his mind” later. However, that thought disappears as he pulls back into the familiar streets that leads back to Constant Comfort about half an hour later. What the world is that guy doing? Why is that guy tailing him like that? Wallace takes a right on purpose and makes several more turns to shake the guy off again before making his way back to Constant Comfort again.
*****
Kevin wonders what in the world is the guy doing. Why did he turn right before? And now left. Right again. Great, he thought.
“Sir, are you sure you want to follow this guy?” The Taxi driver asked, breaking through his thought. “He’s making me dizzy. I can’t focus anymore.”
He clears his throat before answering. “If you can keep up.”
“All right then.”
They continue this chase until another 15 minutes before Kevin decides to give up since he thinks that this guy is just trying to mess with his brain. The other guy probably already spotted him ages ago and is just trying to mess around now.
“Driver, forget it,” Kevin said.
“Okay, sir,” The Taxi driver said, his voice sound relief.
Kevin gives him the direction back to Constant Comfort.
As Kevin pays and gets out of the car, he bumps into Wallace. Wallace probably parked in the back of the building since Wallace just walked out from that area.
“Hey!” Kevin called out to Wallace.
Wallace turns around to see Kevin. He waits for Kevin to catch up to him before they walk inside the lobby together.
“Where have you been?” Kevin asked.
“Around,” Wallace said.
“You look annoyed, man. What’s going on?”
“Some smart-aleck dude tried to tail me earlier. Had to lose him. I made sure that he got really dizzy too. He’s quite immature though. Who the world would follow someone so close?”
Kevin lets out a nervous laugh. “Uh…”
Wallace senses something so he turns to Kevin. “Don’t tell me you’re the guy in the red Taxi earlier.”
Kevin’s expression turns serious. His pace slows down.
Wallace slows down also. “What’s wrong? I was just kidding. Did I guess right?”
“Oh! No wonder that car looks familiar.”
Wallace turns to Kevin again after punching the “Up” button. “That red Taxi was really you?!”
“I was trying to follow that guy that was following you. No wonder the other guy kept turning. Because you were turning.”
“Yes. I guess I made your driver dizzy too, huh?”
Kevin lets out another nervous laugh. “Yea.”
“Who the world is he then?”
The elevator to the left opens at that time. They wait until everyone gets out before entering.
“Well?” Wallace urged.
“He’s Ruby’s boyfriend,” Kevin answered.
Wallace wrinkles his face. “Why would he be following me then? I don’t even know who she is in the first place.”
Kevin shrugs his shoulders. “No idea.” Then he turns to Wallace. “You know who he is, right?”
“Who? Someone I should know?”
“You should have met him before. Six months ago. Gallen recognized him right away. Thought you would too.”
Wallace taps the metallic bar he’s leaning on. “Who…who…hmm…”
Before Kevin could tell Wallace, the elevator door opens. A girl steps in and turns to the keypad on the wall. She steps back when realizing that her level has already been pressed. Kevin and Wallace give her a friendly smile.
“So…did you made it on time last time?” Wallace asked.
The girl looks confused, but remembers somehow. “Yes, I did. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“So...uh…may I ask your name?”
Wallace stands straight up again and approaches the girl. He introduces himself and shakes her hand. Kevin takes the chance to introduce himself also. The girl doesn’t tell them her name, but just smile as each guy introduces themselves.
“Oh!” The girl said. “I know you. You were in the shop before.”
“Yea,” Kevin admitted. “I didn’t realize we have a bakery so close to our place.”
“I think it’s new. That’s what I heard from the others. It has been around for only a month or so.”
Kevin nods. “No wonder. You like it there?”
“Pretty much.”
Finally the elevator reaches 7th floor. Kevin and Wallace wait for the girl to step out before stepping out themselves. The guys exchange a look that said “What the world is she doing here?” behind her back. They continue to walk behind her since she seems to be distracted. In fact, she tensed up a bit since she stepped out of the elevator.
Wallace increases his pace to catch up to her again. “Hey, are you lost? We can help you since we live around this area.”
The girl turns to Wallace. “I think I can handle this one.”
Wallace takes a step back. “Hey. I didn’t mean it in that way. I just want to help since you look distracted.”
“Sorry,” The girl said, her voice softening. “I was just thinking of something. But I’m serious. I know I’m at the right place this time.”
“All right then. I won’t bother you anymore.”
Kevin and Wallace look at each other again. They walk slowly on purpose to see who she’s looking for. Their answer comes seconds later when the girl stops in front of Gallen’s apartment. The guys walk past her on purpose and pretend to be unlocking their apartment doors.
Wallace looks to Kevin. “Hey Kev!”
Kevin stops jingling his keys and turns to Wallace. “What?”
“Did your aunt change the lock again? How come I couldn’t get the door to open?”
Kevin walks towards Wallace’s apartment and takes the key from Wallace. He begins to work on it. At that same time, the girl is waiting impatiently after she rang the doorbell. Gallen appears at the door after she rang it the second time – to which Kevin is still pretending to work on the lock. Gallen opens the steel door before speaking up.
“Hi, Miss,” Gallen greeted her. “May I help you?”
“Don’t you pretend not to know me,” The girl said.
Gallen has on a confused expression. “What are you talking about?”
“Gallen Lo! Stop playing dumb. And stop following me! You don’t know what’s really going on so stop poking your nose in.”
Kevin stops working on the lock and turns to look at Wallace. Wallace shrugs his shoulders. Both guys look down the hallway. They breathe out a sigh of relief at the same time since Ray isn’t around to hear this. They tune in again to the conversation across the hallway.
“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gallen said, still faking innocent.
“Cory’s a cop too, you know,” The girl shouted out, still in her irritated voice. “He’s not clueless like you thought he would be when you were following us. Stop it. You’re getting us expose. I’m telling you this now so you would quit it. I’m moving out tomorrow so don’t follow me. It’s all your fault that my brother found us again.”
Before Gallen could clarify himself, the girl marches away – her face all red from anger. Kevin and Wallace turn to look at Gallen. After the girl disappears towards the elevators, Kevin and Wallace walk to Gallen.
“You got busted?” Kevin asked.
“What is going on here?” Wallace jumped in before Gallen could answer.
“You mean you don’t know?” Kevin asked, turning to Wallace.
Wallace turns to Kevin. “What?”
“I thought you know her.”
“Sort of. I mean the other day when I was with Mandy and Ray in the elevator up here and she jumped in with us. She was in a hurry of some sort.”
“Oh…and I thought you know her. I was about to ask but have to wait until she’s gone.”
“Who is she then? Come to think of it, she didn’t say her name when we introduced ourselves.”
“Ruby Ma.”
Wallace wrinkles his face. “Ken’s sister?”
Kevin nods. “That’s not all though. I meant to tell you something but she joined us earlier in the elevator.”
“What?”
“Guess who her boyfriend is.”
Wallace remembers what happened a few minutes ago and the name Ruby blurted out. He turns to Kevin again. “Cory?”
Kevin nods. “That’s why I had to follow him since he would recognize Gallen if he spots him. I guess Cory’s smarter than we thought.”
“What are you talking about? Of course he’s smart. He’s Jacky’s right hand man after all.”
“Talking about that, why was he following you anyway?”
“What?”
“Cory was following you before.”
“That was him in the white car? He looks different.”
“Of course he looks different. Probably trying to disguise himself so Kenneth wouldn’t recognize him.”
“Wait…”
“What?”
“If he’s trying to hide from Ken, then why is he following me?”
“Jacky!” Kevin and Wallace blurted out at the same time.
“Is he trying to mess with my brain?” Wallace asked.
Gallen, who has been quiet all the while that Kevin and Wallace were trying to sort out things, finally speaks up. “It can’t be.”
“Why not?” Kevin asked. “It’s the holidays. He might just be bored and decided to give us an early Christmas gift.”
“I’m going to find out what’s really going on,” Wallace said. “See you guys later.” He strides past Kevin after retrieving his keys from Kevin’s hand. He unlocks his door and steps inside. He tosses the bag of candies on the table at the door before heading to his room. Feeling anger rising, he wrestles his cell phone out of his pocket.
Jacky picks up on immediately.
“What kind of sick joke are you playing on us?!”
“What?!” Jacky exclaimed out, wincing. “You’re killing my ears. What happened?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know what happened.”
“What? You mean how Ray called and told me about Ekin’s mansion and he hasn’t told you yet or…”
“No. You pinned Cory on me. He has been tailing me half of the day already.”
“What?! I thought Cory’s on vacation. You mean he hasn’t had enough of you guys yet so he came to visit you?”
“Can you stop joking? We have enough going on here already.”
“I’m not kidding!”
“Jacky!” Someone on Jacky’s side called out to him.
“Give me 10,” Jacky told that person. Then he returns his attention on Wallace. “If he was here, I wouldn’t be stuck here right now, okay?”
Wallace calms down a bit, but he doesn’t seem to believe Jacky. For some reason, Jacky senses the apparent hostility still present.
“Look,” Jacky said in his serious tone. “I don’t know why Cory’s there but I swear to you I have no idea why he’s in your area. And wouldn’t know why he decided to spy on you.”
“Do you know that he’s Ruby’s boyfriend then?” Wallace asked.
“What?!”
Wallace realizes from Jacky’s voice, he doesn’t seem to know for real. It takes almost a minute before Jacky speaks up again. Wallace could hear the constant tapping of Jacky’s pencil on his desk. Wallace remains silent, thinking things over himself.
“That explains it, right?” Jacky asked. “I mean at least why he’s there.”
“Yea. But it doesn’t explain why he’s tailing me.”
“Hold on.”
“What?”
“If he’s Ruby’s boyfriend, how long have he been her boyfriend?” He continues to tap his pencil. “It has to be at least six months already, right? Since that was when Kenny got distracted from working his best on cases. Wait…if he knew Cory was with Ruby at that time, why didn’t he confront him and expose him also?” He taps some more. “Not to mention…oh….”
“What?”
“That explains half of his hostility towards me.”
“You mean Ken would take out his anger at Cory on you?”
“I take out my anger on him too.”
“Stop joking around already.”
“I’m not. It makes sense though. And…”
“What?”
“I can’t put a link to it. Not right now. I know all the pieces are there though. You know what? I have to go again. But I’ll get back to you on this one.”
Jacky hangs up before Wallace could say any further. Wallace realizes that he didn’t get a clear answer from Jacky at all. But he decides to think things over on his own while waiting for Jacky to call back.
*****
After Wallace leaves, Kevin and Gallen go into Gallen’s apartment to discuss things further.
“What is going on here?” Kevin asked, still pondering about matters.
“I have no idea, but probably some business with Jacky,” Gallen said. “Now we need to come up with a new plan.”
“So are we still following them or no?”
“I’ll have to call Jacky. I think Cory’s onto us already as it is.” As he’s saying that, Gallen takes out his cell phone to call Jacky. He flips his phone shut a bit later.
“Well?”
“Busy signal. Probably Wallace called in already.”
Kevin nods. They go back to waiting, wondering when the line will be clear again.
*****
Jacky presses “End” before keying in another number. He has it on speed dial already, but just wants to enjoy the feeling of punching in every single digit – despite the situation.
“Hello?” A girl’s voice came on immediately.
“It’s Jacky.”
“How’s it going?”
“I know it’s not the best time to call, but I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Did Cory leave for unknown reasons during the time when you were hospitalized?”
The girl wrinkles her eyebrow – though he could not see. “What do you mean?”
“Remember during the time when we were staging Annie’s fake coma and all. Did Cory leave aside from getting food for you guys?”
“Are you investigating him?”
“Jan, just answer the question.”
Although his tone is light, but Jan knows that he’s refraining himself really hard right now. She sighs out before answering. She knows she can’t lie to him. “Yes, he did. Remember that one night when Gallen has to sit around to guard without taking a break? Cory wasn’t there the whole night until the next morning he came in with you.”
“I remember that one. Were there other times?”
“Yea. Gallen covered for him when he was gone or the others on our team did.”
“No wonder. I should have seen it. I mean he isn’t the careless type. I already know that Kenny isn’t a careless type either. I should have figured it out with Cory earlier. What else do you know about him during that time?”
“He wasn’t focused enough.”
“That’s obvious.” Jacky scolds at himself for taking it out on Jan. He clears his throat before speaking again. “Sorry. It’s just that the guys found out something and I need to run it by you before I figure the next move.”
“It’s all right. You’re probably under a lot of pressure right now, huh? It’s the holidays. It’ll be crazier.”
“I’ll be off next week anyway. It doesn’t matter. Even more time for me to sort this mess out.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but do take good care of yourself, okay?”
“Of course.” He feels like being mischievous despite the moment. “I have to restore my energy to see my girlfriend again at the end of this coming week, right?”
“Fan Gang!”
“I’m kidding.”
“I know.”
“All right, I have to make another call so see you next weekend?”
“Yea.”
They hang up after that. Jacky feels much better after talking to Jan for unknown reasons. He dials Gallen’s number. Gallen picks up on the first ring.
“It’s finally my turn?” Gallen asked.
“What are you talking about?” Jacky asked back, confused.
“I’ve been trying to call you.”
“I’m getting quite popular, huh?”
“Quit the smart talk.”
“What happened?”
“Cory and Ruby know that we’re following them. She’s moving out of here tomorrow. What do we do now? I mean pull out, right?”
“Stall for time. I’m coming tomorrow. In fact, possibly tonight.”
“What’s your hurry? I thought you have to work.”
“I have to come or else it would drive me crazy. And I need to strangle Cory.”
“Why in the world for?”
“Wallace told me that he’s actually the boyfriend. How could he not tell me? And we’re going around in circles just because of that. I don’t think Kenny’s up to anything at all. You guys can stop tailing him now. In fact, let him strangle Cory for me too while he’s at it.”
“Why do you sound so out of control now?”
“Do I?”
“Yes. What did Wallace tell you?”
“Cory’s tailing Wallace. I wonder why. I need to figure that one out too. All right, can’t talk anymore. Just delay Ruby for me. I’ll take care of the rest when I’m there.”
Jacky hangs up after that, not waiting for Gallen to say “Okay” or something similar.
Gallen looks at Kevin – who has been trying to listen in the whole time. “Jacky’s coming tonight.”
“What? I thought he has work.”
“I don’t know. But all I can say is Cory’s dead meat.”
“So it’s not Jacky who was playing a joke on us?”
Gallen shakes his head. “Probably not. We shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. I think Jacky got attacked by Wallace.”
“I shouldn’t have said ‘Jacky’ before.”
“Wallace came to that conclusion himself though. I mean you two shouted out Jacky’s name at the same time.”
“Still…”
“Don’t beat yourself up. We’ll just have to wait for Jacky now.”
“What about Ken?”
“Jacky said to stop following him. We just need to delay Ruby now.”
“Let me call Mandy. Hope she didn’t get expose yet.”
Gallen waits while Kevin dials Mandy’s number. Mandy doesn’t pick up until it almost goes into VoiceMail.
“Hello?” Mandy said.
“You can come back,” Kevin told her. “Don’t stalk him anymore.”
“Okay.”
“Tired? Sorry.”
“It’s all right.”
“I’ll meet you out front.”
“Okay.”
Kevin hangs up and gives Gallen the clear sign. Both guys exchange a few more words before Kevin leaves to go downstairs again.
*****
Ray bumps into Kevin in the lobby as he’s walking in.
“Why are you standing here?” Ray asked, eyeing Kevin with cautious eyes. “Observing the stars? There’s a better view outside though.” He’s jingling with his keys as he’s saying that.
“Very funny, man,” Kevin said, not feeling like arguing with Ray.
“No. For real. Why are you standing here?”
“Waiting for Mandy.”
“Oh. Why?”
“She was tailing Ken so I’m just waiting for her to come back now since Jacky called the stalking off.”
“What?! You had Mandy tailed that guy? Are you crazy?”
“Calm down, man. She’s fine.”
“Calm down?! I…” Ray’s phone rings at that time. “Hello?”
“Is Kevin with you?” A guy asked from the other side of the line.
“Yea. You want to talk to him?”
“No. I just need you to make an excuse and leave. I need to tell you something regarding you know who.”
“Okay. Hold on.” Ray covers the mouth piece before turning to Kevin. “I’ll see you upstairs. We’ll continue the talk later. Make sure Mandy’s safe or else.”
“All right,” Kevin said, seeing Ray’s stern expression.
Ray walks away from Kevin and towards the elevators. “Go ahead.”
“I’m coming back tonight so we can talk more tomorrow about it. But here’s what I have so far…”
Ray cuts the guy off. “What?! Why in the world are you coming here tonight?”
“I sure hope you’re far enough from Kevin because he probably knows that I’m coming and you’re still yelling that loud.”
“Don’t worry. I’m in the elevator right now.”
“All right. But what I meant to say was that candy shop might not be Ekin’s after all.”
“What?! That means Wallace went to inspect that place for nothing? He’ll definitely be mad at you for it.”
“Doesn’t matter. He’s already mad at me.”
“What? Why?”
“Cory was tailing him before and he thought I pinned Cory on him. That’s also why I’m coming back tonight instead of meeting you guys at Jan’s like I planned before. I need to get to Cory before it drives me insane.”
“What does Cory have to do with anything?”
“Don’t tell me Tim and Kevin haven’t told you.”
“Told me what? I just got back from Jessica’s place.”
“Cory’s Ruby’s boyfriend.”
“Whoa!”
“Exactly.”
“What will you guys do now?”
“The focus is actually on Cory. So I’m calling everything off.”
“No wonder. I just met Kevin at the door and that was what he told me but I wasn’t sure why. Then you called.”
“Probably that’s why he didn’t have a chance to tell you. Anyway, that isn’t the point. The point is…”
Ray cuts him off again. “If the candy shop isn’t Ekin’s, then who owns it?”
“I’m looking it up right now. But Ekin might be a shield for that person. Or he took over without the owner knowing.”
“Is that possible?”
“That’s why I’m double checking it right now.”
“That means we’ll talk tonight, right?”
“Yea. But don’t expect me to show up anytime soon. I might be there by midnight.”
“Okay then.”
They hang up after that. Ray begins to whistle as he’s walking around the apartment. While he was talking to Jacky, he has continued on with going out of the elevator and walking back to his apartment. Now, he’s organizing his thoughts again to change the plan.
Ray dials Wallace’s number after five minutes of pacing. Wallace picks up right away.
“What?” Wallace asked.
“Geez, Grumpy,” Ray mocked.
“Sorry. What did you find out today?”
“Ekin’s mansion is huge, I’m telling you. And no, I didn’t break any rule or laws yet. Jess managed to convince me it’s not a good idea to barge in there. There might be security cameras and/or alarms. So we just pretended like we’re lost in case we got caught on tape.”
“Oh.”
“What about you?”
“I have to say that I never want to see another piece of candy again.”
“That bad?”
“Not to mention that place is a copy-cat out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
“What?”
“If you don’t believe me, go see it for yourself.”
“No. It’s not that I don’t believe you. But it’s hard to imagine.”
“What do we do now?”
“Talking about that, don’t do anything else until Jacky gives the go ahead.”
“What do you mean? He’s pulling your strings too?”
“Stop it with the hostility, man. It’s not his fault that Cory’s a jerk.”
“He told you?!”
“He just said that you told him about Cory and that he’s coming here tonight. But other than that, he just found out that the candy shop might not be Ekin’s after all. I mean probably he manages that place, not own it himself. But there might be something else going on there that Jacky needs to look up first.”
“My head’s spinning so much now. It’s not funny even to juggle between these things.”
“I just block out whatever it is about the whole following Ken thing. Since it doesn’t concern me anyway. You should take it easy. And if you want to go at Jacky for whatever reason, save your energy so you can attack him tomorrow.”
“We’re all back at work tomorrow, remember?”
“Tomorrow afternoon then.”
“Whatever. I need to go. Alice’s home.”
“All right. Later. And don’t think too much.”
“All right. Stop nagging!”
“Come on…”
Wallace lowers his voice a bit. “I know. I need a break from all of these.”
“We will get a break later. Like Christmas vacation, remember?”
“Okay then. Later.”
Wallace hangs up before Ray could say anything else.
Ray stares at the phone, pondering about matters before snapping it shut. He walks back out to the kitchen to get a drink. The front door slams shut the same time he slams the fridge shut. He sees Kevin back.
“Well?” Ray demanded. “Mandy all right?”
Kevin hesitates before speaking up. Ray takes that little time to open the fridge again and tosses Kevin a soda as he’s making his way to the sofa where Kevin’s at.
“You won’t believe what happened,” Kevin told Ray.
Ray sits down at the chair next to the sofa. “What?”
“Guess who drove Mandy home?”
Ray sips his soda before answering. “Who? Some movie star slash singer?”
“No…where did you get that idea?”
Ray shrugs his shoulders. “Since you made a big deal out of it, I thought it’s some singer you’re into lately.”
“No. I’m serious.”
“Who then?”
“Ken.”
Ray almost spits out his soda. “What?!” He jumps up from his seat at that time. “So she did get busted?”
“I don’t know. But she didn’t say anything. She just said she’s tired.”
Before Kevin could finish, Ray’s out the door already.
© Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
Re-posted: Thursday, October 15th, 2009