Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
When they reached the Orphanage, Erin walked behind Darren as they entered the place she hasn’t visited for so long. She had a splash of memory return to her during her lonely childhood, suddenly she felt vulnerable “Miss Yeung?” Darren stopped when he noticed her dazed expression.
Erin snapped back with a smile “Yes?”
“I’d like you to meet Miss Naja Lu.” He pointed to a girl probably her age “She is the manager of this place.
“Nice to meet you.” Erin greeted with a friendly smile.
“Well you girls have fun. Personally this place brings my mood down. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do…” He said directly to Erin.
After he left, she turned to Naja “Is he always like that?”
Naja frowned “Like he’s got a stick up his ass?”
“Yes!” Erin snapped her fingers as she grinned at the girl “I couldn’t say it better.”
“Most of the time he’s like that, but the other times…he’s surprisingly nice.” Naja commented deeply.
Erin snickered “Whatever nice means to him.” The girls giggled and she remembered her job, she wondered if Brad had done his part “So, where do I start?”
Naja nodded “Right, I totally forgot, come on. I’ll show you your office.” She led Erin to the West wing where she noticed the tiny devices in certain places along the hallway. She smiled at how well Brad does his job “We’re here.” She pointed to an office at the right side “All the children’s files are inside there and the families that are looking to adopt are in here.” She pointed to file drawer across the desk. You can start by looking at each child’s description as well as the parent’s description of what they are looking for.”
“It’s like some kind of dating service.” Erin commented with a laugh.
“You could say that. Anyways, I’ll leave you to get acquainted with your stuff. If you have any questions, my office is right down the hall three doors to your left.” Naja nodded politely and left Erin alone.
She pulled out an ear peace hanging under her sweater and popped it in her ear “Capricorn, I’m in.”
“Great job. Now try to find what’s strange about the files. I’ll have Andrew check in if Darren is to return. Brad is set up in a van facing the back of the orphanage. He’ll assist you if you need it.”
“Thanks.” Erin smiled feeling safe with Brad around.
****************Hours later****************
Dennis was busy looking at the monitors with the cameras that Brad had set up. Mia was twiddling her thumbs when suddenly she blew up with a monotone cry “AHHHHHH!!!”
The Lieutenant was startled as he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath “God, you could give someone a heart attack.”
Mia put on a puppy face “I’m bored, Dennis. Please give me something to do, I can’t just sit here all day…I can’t… it’ll drive me crazy!” she ruffled her own hair.
“What do you want to do?” Dennis asked, but his attention was still on the screens.
“Give me a little mission, I’ll do anything.” She insisted desperately.
“Anything?” he asked with a smile on his face.
She was so in need of doing something that she didn’t care “Anything.” She confirmed. Mia walked down the busy streets in downtown Kowloon as she mumbled to herself “Never say anything…because anything really means anything.” She scolded herself before entering a fast food place “Two chicken rice dinners to go. Can I get extra soy sauce on one? And no green onions on the other one.”
The guy at behind the counter took her order “You can pay at the register, it’ll be about 15 minutes.”
“15 minutes??!!” Mia cried “Dang it! How long does it take to cut up some already cooked chicken and throw it on a bed of rice?” Hell, what do you guys do back there? Kill the chicken first and then cook it?”
The guy was getting nervous when a few customers turned to look at the commotion “Miss…could you keep your voice down?” he asked nicely.
“It is down!!” her voice screeched “Look, I don’t want to make a scene, but this is a life and death situation here, the person that ordered this dinner is dying at the hospital, he requested to have his last meal…I don’t think he’ll last 15 minutes.” She shook her head with wide eyes.
A few people whispered something and some even yelled at the guy for being inconsiderate “Okay, we’ll do yours first.” He gave in.
Mia nodded solemnly “Thank you.” She let out an exaggerated sigh but inside she was bursting with laughter. Her food came in about five minutes and she rushed up to the counter to grab the bag.
She walked outside with a skip in her steps as she swung the back up and down. It was easier than she thought. It took her a few minutes to realize that she was being followed, her eyes darted and her face was grim. She quickened her steps and tried to dodge the on coming traffic of people to lose her stalker. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and her reaction was to fight off the attacker. She took the hand with her free hand and twisted it behind as she turned her body at the same time. She flipped her attacker with ease and he was groaning in pain.
Mia’s eyes widened “Oh my God, Darren!!” she dropped the bag of food and bent down to help him “I’m sorry, I thought someone was trying to attack me.”
He was in pain as he grumbled and sat up “Geez, when did you gain muscles?”
“I eat wheaties in the morning.” She said weakly.
“Wheaties? I thought you had half a grapefruit and a toast?” he wondered while holding onto his back in pain.
Mia frowned “Out of all things, that’s what you remember about me?” she shook her head while helping him up “Actually, I’ve been taking this defense martial arts class at night. It’s really helping me.” She lied.
“Maybe I should hire you as my personal bodyguard.” He snickered with a laugh. Darren allowed her to support him.
“You were looking for me?” she changed the subject.
He nodded “I wanted to know if you’d have some free time, being a temporary teacher and all. I would appreciate it if you would tutor the kids at the orphanage. They’ve been really tired lately and some don’t even wake up to go to school.”
Mia looked at him in the eye careful to catch any lies “Really?”
Darren nodded honestly with his eyes staring at her “Yeah, you think I’m lying?” he asked incredulously.
She shook her head “No, it’s not that…I thought you guys already had a home teacher.” Mia could not read his face, either he was a good liar or he was being honest.
“Well, kind of…but the teachers never stay for long. They always seem to disappear after a month or two. But I guess it’s my fault for hiring the incapable people. At least I can trust you.” He smiled sincerely and it almost made her forget how cruel he could be.
“Can I think about it first?” she asked, not sure of his current mood.
Darren nodded “Of course. You know where to call me.” She smiled in return “I would offer you a ride, but I have to meet with an important businessman.”
“Oh, don’t mind me, I can find my way back.” She replied as she watched Andrew drive him off. In her mind, she was wondering if he was the same guy she once knew. According to Erin, he had stopped drinking and it was because of Mia too. She found herself on a fence between believing him and not, in the end she decided to keep it to herself.
When Mia returned, Dennis looked up with an urgent expression “I think Erin found something.” He put up his earplug “Erin, where are you exactly, I can’t see you on the screen.
“I’m in the corner room on the east wing. I’m not sure what room it is, all I know is it’s dark and it is locked with a stainless steel lock.” She described the darkened area.
“Brad, can you hear me?” Dennis asked.
“Yes.” Brad answered.
Dennis motioned for Mia to sit down next to him and take a look at the screen while he gave Brad directions “Did you see an office at the end of the east wing?”
“No, I couldn’t go that far, Naja returned by the time I was getting there.” Brad answered.
“You’re on a first name basis now?” Mia teased with her own head set.
Brad laughed “I think calling her ‘the girl’ would be inappropriate.”
Erin could hear the whole conversation and she reminded herself to choke Mia when she saw her. She looked around in the dark with a tiny flashlight on her keychain “There’s something cold in here. She shined the light on the wall and noticed it was made of stone “Cemented wall…now why would there be a cemented wall in here?”
“Erin, careful don’t do anything hasty.” Dennis warned.
“The Eagle is returning to it’s flock.” The group heard Andrew’s warning as he too was carrying his ear piece.
Mia frowned “What kind of code is that?”
“Reina, where are you?” Dennis asked, she was suppose to be posed as a cleaning lady.
“I’m in the front office. The girl has gone back to the east wing. Scorpio, you need to get out.” Reina warned.
Erin backed herself out of the hidden room and rushed down the hallway, around the corner was Naja who looked at her strangely “Erin, what are you doing down here?”
Erin shrugged coolly “I got lost, this place was bigger than I last remembered it.”
“You were here?” Naja asked with curiosity.
“Yeah, a long time ago. I was an orphan here.” Erin smiled when the girl looked at her sympathetically “Don’t look at me with pity.”
Naja shook her head “I’m sorry, it’s just…my heart goes out to these kids and when I hear that someone was an orphan, I get especially emotional.”
Mia snorted when she heard it through Erin’s microphone “That’s a bunch of bull.”
“Mia, be nice.” Brad warned.
“Oh, so you’re taking her side.” Mia shook her head at Dennis “And all this time I thought he was on ours.”
Erin smiled at the girl, despite hearing the bickering “I’ve got to get back to work.” She continued on her way and had to past the front reception in order to get to her office. She was there in time to see Darren walk in with Andrew close behind him.
“Sir, there’s this mark on your suit, I swear.” Andrew was flustered as he tried to stall the impatient guy.
“I don’t care. Would you stop following me!” Darren cried as he pointed his head to the door “Stay in the car.”
Andrew nodded “Yes Sir.” he threw Erin a wide eyed look which meant for her to be careful.
Darren shook his head with frustration “I hate new workers.” He looked up at Erin who arched her left brow at him “I mean…new male employees.” He said with emphasis.
She nodded “That’s better.” Erin began walking on her way when he blocked her way “Yes?”
“Where were you just now?” Darren asked with suspicion.
“Lost…what’s it to you?” Erin snapped.
He narrowed his eyes at her “There’s one rule here, never enter in the deep East Wing, there is a closed door that no one enters.”
“Why not?” Erin asked.
“Don’t ask questions and you won’t get yourself hurt.” He warned “Anyways, the more you know the more bad things will come your way.” With that he walked away leaving her there alone.
“So much for changing.” Mia shook her head sadly.
Erin let out a sigh through her flared nose “Yeah, he’s a keeper alright.”
*******************
A week later, the team regrouped to go over their new discoveries, Dennis turned to Erin who was the one with the closest contact “Did you get a chance to check out that cemented room?”
Erin shook her head “No, there’s always someone there to stop me. Mostly Naja.”
“I told you she was trouble.” Mia retorted with her eyes directly on Brad.
He looked from side to side “Why are you telling me?” he asked blankly.
Mia received the glare from Erin and she eventually shook her head “Nothing.” She turned down to look at her hands.
“Did you dig anything up on Naja?” Dennis asked Reina.
She shook her head “She’s clean. Cleaner than a virgin.” Reina said with saracasm “I don’t think she’s involved in this drug deal.”
“How about the kids?” Dennis asked randomly as he paced the floor, they were getting nowhere near solving the mission.
“I’ve only seen a few, most of the time they are either in their bedrooms or in school.” Erin said thoughtfully as she spun from side to side in her turning chair “Do you guys remember that kid on the boat? That little boy where his mother was shot by a terrorist?”
The group nodded and Brad asked what everyone wanted to ask “Is he in that Orphanage?”
Erin nodded at them “He was signed in a few days ago by an anonymous person. Something about moving him to a new orphanage because he was not getting along with the other kids. I can’t even get near him to ask him questions.”
Dennis tapped his chin thoughtfully “Okay, new plan. Brad, I need you to distract Naja long enough for Erin to see that kid, maybe he’ll remember her. Reina, you take over Brad’s station. Andrew, keep an eye on Chiu. Mia…” at the sound of her name, her head popped up with ready eyes “You stay here with me.”
Her face fell “Fine, but I’m not going on anymore missions by myself.”
“What?” Reina asked “You went on one by yourself? I’ve never got to go by myself.” She said to Dennis with a touch of envy.
“I guess I’m just important then.” Mia said smugly.
Dennis shook his head with a laugh “If you call ordering two dinners to go, a mission.”
The group laughed while Mia pouted “Dennis!!”