Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
9am – P.R.A. Headquarters
Chuck stood in front of the room, there were bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep the night before. Ted wasn’t doing that much better than the lieutenant since he stayed awake with Chuck. They found it hard to make sense of the whole situation. Joe also came along as he sat quietly at the opposite end of the table, giving his expertise advices here and there.
Ted was telling the rest of the team of his discoveries “I asked around the block after I discovered Erin was gone. No one seemed to know anything. But there were a few people who refused to meet me in the eyes, my guess is they didn’t dare say anything because something would happen to them. I recall a group of gangsters hanging outside the café, when I came back they were gone.”
“You think they had something to do with her disappearance?” Darren asked thoughtfully.
Chuck nodded “Maybe, but we are not positive.”
“So what do we do now?” Mia asked. She spent most of the night saying prayers for her friend to be safe. It was unlike Erin not to leave them a clue. Even if she was kidnapped, there should be at least one sign or a slip up “Is it safe to say that TK is behind this?” it was her own guess.
Becca snorted “Isn’t it obvious he is?”
Doug nodded in agreement “Didn’t Ted say he showed up at the ball? Why didn’t anyone catch him? And he was dancing with Erin…what did he tell her?”
Chuck crossed his arms with a frown on his lips “There are too many unanswered questions. It’s useless to sit here and wonder, why don’t we go find out for ourselves?” he turned to Joe who looked dazed “What do you think Joe?”
His eyes moved up slowly “I agree. We should all split up and look for clues. Ted and Mia, I want to talk to you two separately.”
The two didn’t have time to exchanged glances as they were hurried into the private office of Chuck’s. The rest of team watched on in wonder while Chuck continued “Becca, I want you to look for Ah Bat. You think you can do that?”
“I found his fat ass once, I’ll find it again.” She growled.
Chuck nodded to confirm “Darren, I want you to—”
“Sorry, I’m late.” Ryan rushed into the room completely out of breath “I had to take Dai Lou to the hospital.”
“Is Matt okay?” Doug asked.
Ryan nodded “Just some physical therapy that he had to do. Did I miss anything?”
Chuck shook his head “Not much. Doug can fill you in after I’m done. Darren, I want you to keep a lookout at Yeung Memorial. This is where Erin’s parents are buried. I have a feeling she would come back in two days.”
“I didn’t know you could tell the future.” Becca was sarcastic.
“It’s her parent’s death anniversary.” Chuck replied grimly and Becca knew her place as she lowered herself in the seat “We’ll keep in contact with our headsets. Doug and Ryan, I want you two to go around the gangsters’ properties and see if you can dig up anything about what happened yesterday.” The team nodded with understanding “Good. Let’s move.”
*************
Mia and Ted listened intently to Joe’s plan. After he was done, Mia shook her head “It’s too dangerous. What if she finds out?”
“It’s a chance we’ll have to take.” Joe knew the chances were low but they had to do it “She is our only link to TK.”
“She won’t believe us.” Ted nodded in agreement with Mia.
Joe smiled “She might not believe us, but you think she’ll believe her only sister?”
Mia’s lips slowly moved into a sly grin “Maybe.”
“I guess we’ll take a detour before we go to the county jail.” Ted nudged Mia to get a move on.
Again, they went through the tough security of the jail. Instead of getting one telephone and a glass window, they were able to enter a barred room with chairs and a table separating the prisoner from the visitors. Reina was taken out with handcuffs around her wrists, she looked at them with a fierce cold look “You two again.” She sighed “When will you learn to give up?” she took a seat and placed her feet on the table comfortably. The guard cleared his throat roughly and she put her foot down before rolling her eyes “Who pulled the strings to get us this fancy room?”
“Joe.” Mia replied shortly.
“Ah…the creator. Right, I almost forgot he was the Head of Security.” Reina snickered.
Mia turned to Ted and gave her head a nod, he leaned into the table and stared at Reina in the eye “Did you tell TK where Andrew and Dave was buried?”
That seemed to catch her attention as she sat closer into the table “What the hell is that suppose to mean?”
“It’s a question.” Ted said flatly “Did you or did you not?”
She wrinkled her brows and dazed away as if trying to recall if she indeed told him about it “I might have mentioned it.”
Mia hid her sigh of relief with a louder sigh “Great!” she muttered.
“Why?” Reina almost had a paranoid look in her eyes “What happened? Isn’t it buried at the Wu Memorial?” she had learned this from Chris, her partner in crime months before she was put in jail.
“Yes, but last night, they were dug up and the bodies were stolen.” Ted explained.
Reina shook her head in disbelief “But how…why…who would do such a thing??!” she cried with anger. Her eyes red with crazy hatred as they moved up to Mia and then over to Ted. Suddenly, her fears were replaced with a smile “Not bad…I almost fell for your little trick. Nice try. You couldn’t put the blame on TK. He wouldn’t do that. I’ve done too much for him.”
“You think this is a joke?” Mia had a stunned look on her face “Andrew was with the P.R.A. too. We have no reason to hate him, if you think about it he didn’t do anything wrong but fall in love with the wrong person.”
“You don’t have to use Andrew against me. I don’t believe your bullshit!” Reina spat angrily, but her teary eyes told Ted and Mia otherwise.
Reina was about to stand up when Ted’s booming voice stopped her “Fine! If you don’t believe us, you will believe your only sister.” It was more of a command than a question.
She slowly sat down when Michael and Julie were escorted into the barred room. Seats were pulled up for them. Julie’s eyes never left her sister’s “Sam Jei, it’s true. Dai Lou and Andrew’s graves were dug up. Michael and I were about to visit them this morning but we discovered the holes were dug up. We quickly called the P.R.A. for help.”
She was still not willing to believe them but seeing Julie’s earnest face, her heart began to soften “Really?” she asked hesitantly.
Michael nodded “I went to find the guard that is suppose to stand guard 24 hours a day, but I found him unconscious with a huge bruise on his forehead. He has a concussion and is in the hospital, if you don’t believe me, I can bring him in here later tonight.”
“No.” Reina replied slowly “Okay, I believe you guys.” Julie’s smile appeared but was quickly slapped away from Reina’s words “But I don’t think TK did it. I think the team did it.”
“Sam Jei!” Julie cried in dismay “I’m telling the truth. I have never lied to you. Why would the team do that? Why now? If they wanted to do that, they could have done it ages ago.”
“Now they have a reason to do it.” Reina replied stubbornly refusing to believe them.
Mia looked at her with sympathy “Reina. Don’t be in denial…you don’t trust TK as much as you hate the team. What we’re telling you is the truth, I know we can’t make you believe us. I know it’s even harder for you to help us. I’m not asking you to help Erin, I’m asking you to help us find TK so we can bury Andrew and Dave back where they belong. Do you remember three years ago during a mission that called for us to dangle from a wire and jump into a truck full of pillows? I was crying and crying but you held my hand the whole way down. Even when we missed the target, you didn’t let go…you could have saved yourself but you didn’t. You held on…and we ended up landing on a bunch of newspapers filled cardboard boxes.” Her eyes were brimming with tears “We were in the hospital for days…do you remember?” Reina’s eyes were distant as she nodded “Please, we’re begging you…help us. For old time sakes.”
Reina looked up and a tear escaped her eyes “Fine. I’ll help you.” The four let out gasps of surprises and smiles were contagious “But I have one request.”
Ted knew it was too good to be true “What is it?”
“Let me out. I want to catch that son of a bitch myself. Once I’m done…I’ll go back to jail. No questions asked.” It was hard to read her face.
“That’s impossible.” Michael said with furrowed brows.
Reina smiled as she sat back in her chair “No, just ask them two.”
Ted and Mia exchanged glances “We can get the Mayor and Joe’s signature combined in order to let a prisoner out.”
“I almost forgot you were a cop.” Reina clapped her hands in a rhythmic tone.
“What if you run?” Ted asked coldly “Then we’re screwed.”
She shrugged nonchalantly “Then I won’t help.”
“Fine.” Mia replied while they turned to her in shock. She looked at Ted “I’ll put my life on it that she won’t run.”
“Mia!” Ted shook his head.
“I’ve decided.” She turned to Reina “If that’s what it takes.”
Reina showed no sign of emotions as she prepared to get up “You’ve got guts.” She left without another word leaving the four in awed silence.
Outside, Mia and Ted shook hands with Michael and Julie “Thank you so much for your help. It wouldn’t have gone that well without you.” He said specifically to Julie.
She smiled “Your welcome, but I think Mia did most of the work.”
Michael turned to them worriedly “I just hope you guys know what you’re doing. Reina isn’t exactly a saint. She could turn on you like a bomb.”
“I know.” Mia nodded “But we have to get Erin back. She risked her life to save me, this is the least I could do.”
“Okay.” Michael nodded knowing it was in their hands now “Just be careful and let me know how it goes. I want to know about Erin’s safety.”
“Thank you.” Ted nodded “We’ll keep in touch.” The four parted ways and on the ride back to the headquarters, Ted asked Mia “Do you know the consequences if Reina does run on us?”
“I go to jail?” she guessed jokingly.
“It’s not funny.” Ted said sternly “You will pretty much do her duty in jail…life in prison.”
“One life for another.” She sighed sadly “I may not be the cause of her time in prison but I was an addition to her pain and suffering. I had no idea she hated the team that much.”
Ted shook his head “Don’t blame yourself. She brought this upon herself. The pain of her life is not measured by what others do unto her. It is what she chooses to do. You don’t control her, she has her own mind. I’m just worried she will take advantage of your big heart.”
Mia lowered her head with a crooked smile “I know you’re right…but I can’t help feeling somewhat responsible.”
“We’ll have bigger things to be responsible for. You just better pray she won’t run.” Ted said solemnly as he pulled up to the headquarters. He got out of the car and paused when he remembered the question he asked her "Hey, how did you remember about that mission?" eventhough he wasn't there yet, but he didn't recall Erin talking about it.
"Uh...I guess it just came to me." Mia stuttered.
Ted nodded as he began walking towards the entrance "I won't tell."
Mia was grateful "Thanks, Ted."