Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The following day, Matt called a meeting around noon for the team to give him an update on their discoveries. Erin and Brad came in together talking about their case. They quickly noticed that they were not the earliest ones there. Mia and Darren were already sitting down whispering and giggling with each other. Erin took a seat next to Mia when she waved her over.
“What’s with the goofy smile?” Erin asked when Mia could not wipe off the grin on her face.
Mia shrugged her shoulders, her smile growing wider by the minute “Nothing.”
Darren turned to her with raised brows “Is that what you call nothing?”
Mia, who suddenly grew red from embarrassment, hit him playfully while he laughed. Erin looked at the two strangely “You guys act like you just did it last night.”
Her face froze as she widened her eyes at Erin “How did you know?” she whispered.
Brad and Erin exchanged glances “We thought you two have been doing it for ages?” Brad asked.
Darren and Mia shook their heads vehemently “No…just because we mess around doesn’t mean it actually happened.”
Erin covered her smile with her hands “Oh…” she reached out and hugged Mia “Well…” she pulled away suddenly “What do you say with this occasion?”
The other three shrugged their shoulders, not sure how to answer her. Their happy moment was suddenly interrupted when the last three members walked in. Matt closed the conference door and took a seat. He looked up at the team and saw that Mia was beaming and Erin was smiling, definitely not her usual self “Would you girls like to share something with us?” he asked.
Mia shook her head while Erin answered “No. Just some girl business.”
Matt nodded “Okay. Well, let’s start with Brad and Eric.”
“You guys know how security was tight that night?” everyone nodded while Brad continued “Then how could those three gunmen come in without being noticed?”
“Unless they were in the guest list.” Eric answered.
“Right.” Brad pointed at him “But another way was through the freight elevator. It was behind the door across from the stairwell door.”
“Sneaky bastards!” Darren whispered.
Matt nodded in agreement “Good job boys. Now one more thing. Check if they have video cameras. If they do, then request to look over the taping for that night. Maybe you’ll discover something new.” He turned to the smiling couple “How about you two love birds?”
Mia nodded at Darren “We discovered that Elisa spent the whole day going to different buildings. All in which seemed to be owned by people her husband knew. Each time, the person that she apparently had a meeting with would walk her down and they’d shake hands as if finalizing a deal.”
“What are you implying?” Matt asked thoughtfully.
“She is borrowing a huge amount of money from them. Maybe it’s something the kidnappers wanted?” Mia suggested.
Erin nodded “That’s what I was thinking. Which means they already contacted her. And it’s obvious why she wouldn’t go to us first.”
The team nodded while Eric looked confused “I’m confused…why wouldn’t she go to us? Didn’t her husband trust himself in our hands?” just as he asked the question, he got the answer. His lips shaping in the ‘O’ form while his head bobbed up and down “But why would she ask other people for money? Isn’t her husband filthy rich?” another question popping into his head “Or maybe the amount is so outrageously large that she can’t get enough in time?”
Matt smiled at the new member “You’re quick.” He turned to Erin and Ted “How about you two?”
Erin looked at Ted who smiled “Ladies first.”
She nodded with a small smile “Looks like Darwin has a secret admirer.”
“Ew…stalker?” Mia asked.
Erin nodded “A guy by the name of Chris Wong was arrested a couple of months ago for stalking Darwin and attempted kidnapping. But failed when a security guard caught him red handed.”
“Did he go to jail?” Matt asked.
Ted shook his head “No, the charges were dropped by Darwin.”
Matt nodded, his forehead wrinkled with new thoughts. He turned to Mia and Darren “Looks like you two have a new project.” They looked at him strangely and he answered “Talk to Elisa Wong and see if you have any new discoveries. She might be a little tough on you two, but be firm.”
“Yes, Sir.” Darren and Mia replied.
He turned over at Ted and Erin who were waiting for his next orders “Erin, I want you and Ted to pay a visit to someone.”
“Who?” Erin wondered out loud.
“You know this person very well. Michael Wu.” Matt smiled when Erin raised her brows “After what happened to Darwin, Michael has been keeping in touch with him. They became very good friends. I’m positive that Elisa will look for him, but try to get to him first. I know that he was on vacation and he will be coming back today.”
Ted smiled “I guess we’re going to have to give him an early greeting.”
Matt nodded at the team “Okay. Why don’t you guys start the jobs.” The team eventually broke apart.
Ted asked Erin to wait for him outside. She watched Mia and Darren leave and after 10 minutes, she received a tapped on the shoulder. When she turned, she found Brad smiling at her “Where’s Ted?”
His face fell “I choked him to death and left his body in the woods to rot.”
Erin tilted her head “You asked him to switch?”
Brad smiled “No. Actually, it was Ted that suggested it.” Erin lips curled into a smile “He’s not a bad guy after all.”
Erin shook her head with a grin “Really?”
“Go ahead…just say it. I know what you want to say.” Brad rolled his eyes teasingly.
“I told you so.” Erin said a matter of factly making him laugh.
He reached his arms around her petite waist naturally “How about I listen to you from now on?”
She tilted her head thoughtfully as if taking on his offer “Hmm….even when I’m wrong?”
“Especially when you’re wrong!” Brad nodded firmly.
Erin shook her head with a laugh as she reached for his hand and pulled him along “Come on.”
When the two arrived at the airport, the flight had just let out. They quickly spotted Michael on his cell phone, probably a business call. His driver and other workers collected his suitcases while he walked on with a briefcase in hand. Erin looked up and saw Brad’s stern face, she smiled “It’s like seeing an old friend huh?” she asked sarcastically. He only frowned at her while she laughed and yanked at his hand when he refused to move.
When they approached Michael within a few feet, his workers quickly dropped the luggage and blocked Erin and Brad’s way “Identify yourself.” One guy said with his guard up, ready to attack.
Erin crossed her arms as she met eyes with Michael “Do you give all old friends this special welcome?”
Suddenly a smile spread across his face “Erin.” He tapped his guys to move aside as he hugged her warmly, never noticing Brad there “How are you?” he pulled away and kept his hands on her shoulders “You look great!” he complimented.
Brad cleared his throat and it was then that Michael saw him. His smile lowered as he nodded at Brad “Mr. Wu, can we have a word with you in private?” Brad said professionally.
Michael’s expression turned serious as he moved his eyes over to Erin. She smiled “I’m afraid it’s serious.”
He nodded solemnly “Okay, lets go back to my office. You need a ride?”
“No, we drove.” Brad spoke up for them as he took her hand “We’ll meet you back there.” He practically pulled her along.
“You might need the address!” Michael called after them.
Brad turned shortly “We already have that information, thank you.” He spun around briskly and Erin smiled apologetically at Michael before catching up with Brad.
“What is with your jealous streak?” Erin asked when they were inside the car.
“I just thought it was rude the way he ignored me. I mean, he didn’t ask permission to hug you. I really don’t like this guy.” Brad concluded.
Erin sighed, she knew he didn’t like Michael “If you’re going to act like this, I will request from Matt to switch partners again.” It was just a threat but Brad took it personally as he suddenly halted the car and Erin was threw forward and whipped back. She turned to him with a raised brow “I’m kidding. I wouldn’t switch you for the world.” She said sweetly causing him to smile. He pulled the car into drive as they sped away, a smile plastered on his face.
When they got to the office. They found a line of girls waiting outside Michael’s office “It’s like an interview for the Miss Hong Kong Pageant.” Brad whispered when he saw how many girls were fixing their makeup and how short their skirt suits were.
“Shh!” Erin whispered back when she saw Michael walking out.
“I’m sorry, Erin…and Brad.” He quickly remembered to acknowledge the guy “It seems my secretary quit suddenly and now I’m stuck. The office manager set up an interview today unexpectedly. I’m not sure if I can talk to you two today.”
“We can wait.” Erin offered.
“It might take a while.” Michael warned.
Brad smiled wryly “We are patient people.”
“As you wish.” He smiled at the two and turned to the girls. They threw him flashing smiles while he nodded and returned to his office. One by one the girls were called into his office to interview. Two hours passed slowly for Brad who was beginning to nod off.
Erin sat there quietly, running through notes in her head. She felt a pair of eyes looking at her as she turned and surely one of the interviewing girls was looking at her intently. Her hair was long and pulled back, her bangs swept across her forehead gracefully “Can I help you?” Erin asked after a moment of the staring game.
The girl shook her head “No…excuse me for staring. You just look like someone I know.”
Erin smiled in return, her guard was down “I have a good memory but I don’t recognize you.”
“I guess I mistaken.” The girl replied with a friendlier smile.
The office manager suddenly walked into the room and called out “Julie Lee.”
The girl that was having a short conversation with Erin suddenly got up “Excuse me.” She smiled at Erin, whose face had paled over. The name, it was ghastly familiar yet she could not pin point where she had originally heard it.