Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The following morning, Jenna returned home. She ran through the excuses in her head for not coming home earlier. Her head was in clouds for she didn’t see the figure coming at her. The two collided shoulder to shoulder “Excuse you!” Jenna said with sarcasm as she looked at the hurried man. He muttered a hasty apology and walked by. Suddenly she stopped in her steps and turned to him “You! Hey Mister!!” but the man kept walking. She recognized him. He was the man that helped her with Robert Kwok.
Shrugging her shoulders, she continued up to the elevators and stood outside the door. Letting out a sigh, she had to face the music some day. Using her key, she opened the door but noticed it wasn’t locked “Joe, you forgot to lock the door!” she called into the house. Assuming that he was home since his wallet and keys were on the coffee table. Maybe he was ready to leave, she thought to herself “Joe, I’m home!” she called again.
Jenna walked to the fridge to get a drink. She noticed he had bought her favorite morning drink, orange juice. Smiling as she poured herself a glass, she roamed the house to find her dad “You know Joe, we’re too old to be playing hide and seek.” She talked to herself while walking down the hall to his room. He wasn’t there. She found her room door ajar “Come out, come out wherever you are…” she stood dead in her tracks when her eyes focused on his body. The drink fell from her hands and splattered into the floor “Daddy?” chills ran down her spine, goosebumps appeared on her arms as she stammered towards him.
His neck was sliced open, she noticed as her eyes traced his face and body. Tears erupted slowly and soon she was sobbing while reaching for him. She cradled his neck while rocking half his body in her arms “Daddy…”
“Jenna…” the hoarse voice brought her back to reality as she pulled away with a large grin on her face.
“Daddy!”
“Be careful…” his eyes widened and he winced in pain causing the wound to rupture again and he began bleeding profusely. Lifting a shaky hand, she covered his wound but the blood poured through her fingers, dripping onto her jeans.
“Don’t talk.” She whispered, “You’ll be okay. Don’t leave me daddy…please…I’m sorry. I’ll be a good girl, I won’t leave again. Please…” she begged through tearful eyes.
Joe blinked slowly, he was dying “Too late…” he muttered “Be careful…” he said through closed eyes. Suddenly, they opened “Riley…Jenna…Riley…”
“What about him?” Jenna asked while trying hard to maintain her composure. But she was sobbing too much to comprehend his words. He was fading away in her arms “Daddy…don’t sleep. Please, stay with me!! NO!! You can’t die!!! NO!!! Daddy!!” she shrieked on the top of her lungs hoping it would keep him alive.
Neighbors overheard her cries as one male came over and was stunned at what he saw. He quickly called the cops and within minutes, they were in the apartment asking questions and trying to pry Jenna away from Joe’s lifeless body “Miss, we have to take him.”
She looked crazily at the cop as she clutched onto his body for dear life “No…you can’t take him. He’s not dead. He’s just napping.”
“Jenna!” Ryan appeared at the door. He had come to see Joe when he noticed the police were parked at the bottom of the apartment building. He took the stairs to the floor and his stomach fell when he realized the cops were in Jenna’s apartment.
“Ryan!” She smiled through her tear stained face “Tell them to leave. I don’t need them. Daddy’s just resting, he’s okay.”
He nodded for the police to move away and let him take over. Ryan bent over, his eyes reddening from the gruesome sight “Jenna…don’t do this to yourself. I know how you feel…you’re in denial right now. But you can’t be this way, Joe would want you to be strong.”
“Why are you talking like he’s gone? He’s right here.” Jenna replied lightly but her eyes deceived her.
“Jenna!” he cried while cradling her face in his hands “Look at him!!” he pushed her face closer to Joe’s “Look! He’s gone! You have to face reality!” She twitched her head from side to side “Yes. He’s gone…” a tear fell from her cheeks and onto Joe’s face. She looked down at his motionless body “Come here.” He beckoned as she slowly let go of Joe and fell into Ryan’s arms. He pushed her face into his shoulder while he nodded for the police and emergency technicians to take over. Her body convulsed with each sob and he tightened his grip around her “Shh…it’s okay…” he consoled.
**********
Ryan followed Jenna to the hospital while he called Matt about the news. He in turned paged everyone the sad news. Stunned silence came from each member that got the page. It was surreal, they had just talked to him the day before, how could it have happened so fast? Questions filled the waiting room while voices stayed quiet, only silent tears covered their faces.
The doctor entered the room with the finished examination “The cause of death was a slice along the throat, he lost too much blood.”
“Just like Shelly’s.” Mia said, her eyes distant on the wall across from her seat.
Matt nodded, the lump in his throat was hard to get rid of “Is there anything else we should know? Or could we determine this was just a murder case?”
The doctor tilted his head strangely “There is something else. His blood test appeared that he had taken at least two sleeping pills. Does the patient have a habit of taking this drug?”
The group turned to Jenna for an answer, she looked up with puffy eyes “He’s always had problem sleeping. He takes a pill each night to help him sleep better.”
“So that cannot be a factor.” Matt analyzed.
The doctor shrugged “That is your job to determine. The final report will be ready for pick up tomorrow.”
“Thank you doctor.” Matt nodded politely.
“What do we do now?” Becca asked, she felt the team was lost without its dragon head. Joe was the creator, the team would not exist without him.
Matt smiled weakly “I don’t know what to tell you. But I know what Joe would say to us right now.”
“Move on and find the culprit.” Jenna replied darkly. Her eyes moved up to Riley, who was looking more nervous with each passing minute “What’s wrong?” she asked threateningly.
He settled his arms in a crossing motion “Nothing. Why would you ask that?”
Jenna stood up slowly as she walked towards him dangerously “Why did my dad tell me to be careful of you? Who are you and why are you so determined to join the team? Did you kill him? Did YOU?!” she demanded.
“Jenna, what are you saying?” Erin intervened when she noticed Riley was growing uncomfortable.
“Erin, this isn’t about you. Move.” Jenna growled.
“No.” she stood her ground “Tell me what happened.”
She let out a sigh “Fine. Before my father died, he told me to be careful…of Riley.”
“Those were his exact words?” Erin asked.
“You don’t believe me?” Jenna accused.
She shook her head vehemently “I didn’t say that. I just don’t want an innocent person to be blamed for something. Did Joe say be careful of Riley or did he say be careful, Riley?”
“Why does that matter? He said those three words! Even a two year old would conclude the same thing!” Jenna cried with angry eyes.
Mark stood up next to her “Jenna’s right. No matter how you say it, it will sound the same. I think you need to explain something to us Riley.”
“Yeah, I agree.” Ryan nodded.
Matt quickly raised his hands to stop the group “Guys. What happened to the rule of innocent before proven guilty? We cannot determine from Joe’s three words that Riley is a suspect. No one was present. Jenna, did you see anyone else?”
She looked away but suddenly, her eyes relaxed “Yes! I saw him.”
“Whom?” Ryan asked, she did not tell him earlier.
Jenna turned to Erin “That same guy that helped me with Robert Kwok.”
She felt a cold chill run down her spine “Him…”
“Who is he?” Ted asked her “And why weren’t we told?”
Reina stepped up from his accusations “Don’t be angry with her. I knew too but we thought it would be best not to let the team know until we determine who it was.”
Erin patted her on the shoulder “It’s okay Reina. You don’t have to hide for me. Yes, I’ve known for a while and I know exactly who it is. But just because Jenna saw him outside her apartment building, doesn’t mean he is the killer.”
“You seem to be hiding a lot for this guy.” Doug noticed.
She quieted while all eyes turned to her for an answer “It’s Devin.” Mia guessed by the look on her face. Erin’s eyes moved up and she knew her answer was right.
“Who?” Darren asked his wife.
“The guy we ran into in Guang Chow and the same guy that ruined our terrorists capture at the Federal Building weeks ago. I knew he was suspicious!” Mia claimed.
“Then why would he help Jenna?” Reina asked.
Matt raised his hands again to silence the crowd “Hey, this is not the place or time to discuss this. First thing’s first, we have to work on Joe’s burial and until then I do NOT want any one of you guys to do your own research or condemn anyone.” His eyes moved to Ryan and then to Riley, who was still shaken up.
“Yes, sir.”
**************
After the group left the hospital, Riley took a cab to Sa Tin. He walked into the tall high rise building. His fists balled as he entered the elevators. Marching into his office, he gave no welcome to the receptionist who greeted him with an awkward smile “Sir, you have to check in!” she called. He had looked familiar but she would be in trouble with Robert if she didn’t announce the guest.
“I don’t have to.” Riley turned with a growl “I’m his son.”
“Jane, let him in.” one of the bodyguards said with authority.
Riley’s eyes darkened as he passed the guards and into Robert’s office “Why did you do it?”
“Do what?” Robert asked innocently “And the next time you enter this office, I would want you to knock.”
“The hell I will! Mr. Kwok, did you kill Joe Cheung?” he asked again.
“Son, is that any way of addressing your father?” he asked with a smirk on his face.
Riley snickered “To a man that killed my mother, he is not worthy of the word. Now answer me.”
“No.” Robert replied easily “I did not kill him. Are you happy now?” he was growing frustrated with his son’s attitude.
“Did you send someone to kill him?” Riley questioned.
He poured himself a drink and sipped it calmly “No.”
Riley’s face softened “You didn’t? Then who did?”
“Why is this of importance to you?” he asked carefully.
“You know I am in the Team. Why would you even ask me that question?” Riley quipped.
Robert Kwok’s eyes saddened “Twenty three years that I have not seen you. Eventhough you said you have forgiven me, but I know you are still angry that I kicked your mother out of the house.”
“We lived in poverty.” Riley recalled “But I didn’t care…I cared about her. She was always so sad and constantly cried over you. I was repulsed but she was a young girl in love. Who could blame her for making the worst decision in her life? I always told myself growing up that I would not accept you.”
“Then why have you come back?” he asked suspiciously “After a year of your disappearance, you come back three months ago. If my memory serves me right, that is the time you joined the team.”
Riley turned away so he would not see the sadness in his eyes “Because my mother’s dying wish was for me to find you. I’ve done my job.” He began walking towards the door.
“Riley.” He stopped his son “Couldn’t we let bygones be bygones and continue here on out? I owed your mother an apology, she was framed and I didn’t believe her. Had I known that she was innocent, I would have never kicked you two out of the house. Why can’t you let that go? I know you want to return to my side, if not you would not stick around for the past three months.”
“You have a son, why don’t you turn to him?” Riley spat harshly.
Robert’s face turned ice cold “Don’t speak of him! What a useless ingrate! My precious Jasmine was killed because of him!” Riley turned to him with a surprised look “Right, you didn’t know you had a sister.”
“What happened to her?” Riley asked with sincerity.
“If you want to know more. Stay by my side. I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” Robert smiled warmly “You are my son, you are welcomed in my home. Come live with me and help me with the business. I cannot do this myself.”
“How about the team?” he asked.
Robert snapped, “They are scum! You don’t need them!” when he noticed Riley looked startled, he softened his voice “Why work hard when you can live comfortably? Come, what do you say?”
“Mom would be happy.” Riley smiled causing Robert to laugh heartily.