104Please respect copyright.PENANAa3o7lkVXfn
[LUKA]
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjYPym6yLky
“Really?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAn4Y62AvJAc
“Yeah.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAUs1yo54WC0
“How did that play out?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjY6z4lwQD1
“Well, my sister was coming home from work one night and a guy approaches her with his hands in his pockets. He says, “Where’s your money?” Now my sister in her post work obliviousness answers, “In the bank.” She then continues on her way humming as she walks.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANA7QlARZj3W1
“My God, the balls on her!” He remarked with amusement.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAM3iYrOq8ih
“I know right? Its only after she got into her car that it dawned on her that he was trying to rob her. After that incident, our dad made us both take self defence classes.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANANb7AglDsIn
“She still around?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbZI2UReFsc
“Nope. She got married and moved on out of town.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQjmKRvZt1l
The elevator came to a halt and the doors opened at their designated floor. Luka walked out and James followed close behind her.
104Please respect copyright.PENANACmhMyup8ZR
They went into the conference room of the police station where they had set up the evidence in the Chen case and sat down placing their half eaten lunch on the table.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYQlNLclN0b
“One bullet hole. Entry through the back and exit through the front.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAimRqgj87GV
“Was there anything on his person?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAf8HoVd5ihU
“Just the clothes on his back and a wallet.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAe7ynwZtDPN
“Anything missing?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKWv9JOROZC
“When we looked through the wallet, we were totally shocked, his ID was in there and the cash wasn’t even touched.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANADA3sGpZObb
“So its possible that the assailants were after something other than money?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAs2Vi72itj5
“It’s possible.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANACTLh4N1Kwu
Both James and Luka once more scanned through the images of the casino shooting to pick up any clues they might have passed over.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAIkzJpboVh8
“What about the workers there? Didn’t they see anything?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANActj154I2Qo
“We interviewed all those that were working that day, including the manager, and only three of them had any credible information.” She pushed aside some files, pulled out the one she wanted and opened it. “The first witness, a Mr. Benjamin Doll, stated that he received Chen’s nephew along with two of his colleagues at the entrance of the casino and guided them to a VIP room which was reserved for them.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAuiNX0mC13b
“So they had some sort of meeting scheduled.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAN1s6xnx4Vz
“Yup.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKroo9aN9hk
“Do you have the schedule of who the meeting was with?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAE2ERQoTvv8
“Nope. Apparently, the meeting was off the books and no one was supposed to know who was in attendance. That was the testimony of..." she flipped through some more pages, "...the manager, Mr. Carlos Alvaro.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4Z0IzbGPYh
“Then how did Benjamin know who to look out for at the entrance?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAwTeyWRvqg9
“The manager said that they had specially made cards issued out to clients who made such reservations. Once they attended, they only needed to show the card and they would be escorted to their respective rooms.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAjpL4xGShDG
James leaned back onto his chair with an exhausted expression. “Secret meetings, special cards, unknown individuals. In my opinion, this has all the trappings of a cabal.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAiLQita0YwK
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it actually was, especially considering the circumstances of this case.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAi5MMAJKpGr
“Yeah. What about the third witness?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAr5q05yAE60
Luka flipped through the file. “Well that’s strange.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAFw5ElYmXnN
“What?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdXzJAa5V13
“I can’t seem to find the statement.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ewe8LuRY9
“You’re sure?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAfiSIhbs8eh
“I went through the file twice. All the signed statements of the witnesses we interviewed were here.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAanUgc2IEmF
“Maybe someone accidentally put it in another file.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAsJOc1rJV3w
"Hmm, highly unlikely. I'll ask Ruth to check the log to see if anyone's had recent access to the file."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAD4i7kWAEqj
“On the confession statement by Vinny Goma, he said that he saw Chen walking in the casino with a suitcase right?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAOHffIm3cHX
"Yeah."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAmkvZrAkM8N
“Then its possible that that’s what they were really after.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANATjA94ZxiNr
"Its possible."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAAFt1bGcmtZ
“Now the real question is what was in the case?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAEXc54uSp5M
“As far as I know, it could be anything. By the way, I forgot to ask. Who’s the lawyer representing Goma?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANARu1WoQsB1T
James adjusted his posture. “Ever heard of Charles Chance?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyUiOuOzOub
“Who’s that?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAqCivKnK5ha
“You haven’t watched the news lately? He’s the guy that beat LM Pharmaceutical in the recent court case.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5O26s54EEj
“He’s that good?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANA6lm8EdsmT6
“He hasn’t gone up against me yet.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAp8DJFvFPer
“Keep stroking your ego James, I’m sure you’ll get there."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAvWaC6nZq5i
Just then Ruth stepped in.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAp9UjjT7y9E
"Hey Ruth, I was just talking about you."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAIgSfuD6Uah
"Good things I hope?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANA60plPt3iP2
"Always. I needed a favour, could you please check the log to find out if anyone has accessed the Chen file recently, we can't seem to find a document."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAhbADW5WCkc
"Sure thing, by the way this just came in for you." She handed Luke some papers and walked out.
104Please respect copyright.PENANACeq0mPYzi5
"Thanks."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAXsfVcGTKAC
Luka read over the contents of the documents and James noticed her facial expression change as the bridge between her brow closed in shock then rose in surprise.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA8YUjqwUKkS
"What is it?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAA2rfdKR0ek
"Umm..." She looked at the paper more intensely. "About two days ago I received a an emergency distress call. The caller said he needed help before he suddenly went quiet and said he was going to call me back, after which he cut the call. I asked the operator for details on the call and was told that the caller said that somebody was trying to kill him. So naturally, I asked for a trace on the location of the caller at the time, and this is the report."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAILSnUf7WUM
"And? What does it say?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANA56MTyi1BUM
"It came from a warehouse."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAyH0i6VPlcI
"A warehouse?" James' face briefly looked puzzled before the realisation slowly dawned on him. "That warehouse?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbgrxBL8v1z
Luka nodded her head.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAeuG0H3ZzEh
"Wow."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAzWdLpe9vYh
"That's not all." Luka continued, "The ballistics reports also came in for both the Chen case and warehouse incident. Turns out most of the shell casings from both incidents came from a single supplier."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAt4Z56ojNG5
"Is it local?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANATugYOCdfW5
"It is." Luka stood up and grabbed her jacket off of the chair. "I'm going to follow up on this lead, you in?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANARRFMtLnJUs
James checked his watch. "I've got about an hour or so to spare."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbn9swprQ4P
"Not much going on at the NPA huh?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANApq8HEKrG9T
James also stood up, smiled and shook his head. "Not really."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQmKTB1hXuL
104Please respect copyright.PENANA4GMYBewN1A
The door opened and the chimes rang announcing the individuals’ presence.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAzuavNnpKSs
“We’re not open!” Blurted out the shopkeeper from behind his magazine.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA5OJ7NspBTs
“What, not open? A man in your position turning away business?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANATpclveKL2Q
The shopkeeper lowered the magazine. “Oh, I didn’t realise it was you Luka.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxGNsOjEfjr
“You would have if you’d put down those porn magazines you’re always staring at and mind the store a little more.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAePhuvGGArk
“What do you need?” He put down the magazine in frustration.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAWfA6xbKGSI
“Information.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANA1dUTeV2icm
“I can’t help you with that. People see you coming in here often and they might get the wrong idea.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAU2Ci7EkefP
“Well, the sooner you help me out the faster I’ll be out of your hair.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxyPkZXusbi
He scoffed. “What's this about?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANApVIDdMMbPo
Luka pulled out photos of the bullets and casings found at the casino and warehouse and placed them on the store counter.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAoF3Cp1wb1n
“We found bullet casings at the shooting at the casino and warehouse incident, our ballistics expert traced them back to your store as the vendor."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAL4t8wp6M48
“That’s nothing new. You know I supply most of the firearms and ammunitions on this side of the city.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQrHGEi7VzY
“Yeah, I do. That’s why we need the names of the purchasers. I know you keep a list of your clients' names.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAcBACDq8Xmh
“Now you know that I can’t do that Luka. Its private information.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAheRoQqoBki
Luka leaned in over the counter and stared directly into his eyes. “I’m doing you a favour Fred. The fact that I’m here and not some other cop with a warrant to search and seize all your records, including what we both know are some illegal contraband shows my good faith.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKp2emEUf2D
They briefly stared at each other before Fred clicked his mouth and looked away.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQOAvh1KeLt
“I’ll take that as a sign of your cooperation.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAzTL0ejpM22
He walked to the back of his store, where she heard him handling some keys to unlock what she could only assume was a safe, before coming back to the counter with a large dusty old looking book. He placed it on the counter and wiped the dust off the cover with a cloth he most likely used to clean his rifles.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAM2LjqY1xsc
He put on his glasses and flipped through the gigantic pages whilst gliding his hand over the list of clients with the tip of his pen. From what she could tell from her angle, the book had the names, serial numbers of guns, ammunition, the date they were purchased and by who, as well as the addresses of the purchasers.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA0ynPkPpn4e
"Do you have any details on the serial numbers?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAddy8lAh6Xe
She handed him a copy of the report with the details of the ammunition. He glanced at the page and went back to his book, flipping through more pages until he came to a stop.
104Please respect copyright.PENANABmsUTeo4WS
"Ah, here we go."
104Please respect copyright.PENANALVurrRhp6f
Luka took out a small notepad and pen in anticipation.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAbuX8bJIkDk
"Hmm..." He stared more intensely at the page.
104Please respect copyright.PENANASKr1kNo05j
"Fred, the names?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAKrZlIt7VVH
"The ammunitions were purchased from here, but not by a person."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAiINihszUrG
"Well, by who?" James pressed him.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1y3p9MbLw
"By a company, called The Golden Company." He closed his book, took off his glasses and faced Luka. "They are a mercenary group."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAngZkISeLI8
"Where are they registered?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANA2E5fMjksy7
"I don't know, people like them tend not to give such details. It was a supply drop at an undisclosed location and we picked up our payment at another undisclosed location. Both happening simultaneously."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAuWoiBRugCK
"Really Fred, you know I could arrest you right now for arming such groups."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxtuRqVYILI
"You could, but then that will just give room to another competitor who will take up my spot, and most likely won't be as cooperative as I am."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAevER4CacKZ
Luka knew he was right. Better to deal with the devil you know than the one you don't.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAnf6is7Oll6
James pulled her aside by the arm. "Are you really going to let this slide? The man just told you that he illegally sold arms and ammunitions to a mercenary group for God's sake!"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAxVB5E3jfCe
Luka broke free from his grip and looked at him dead in the eyes. "This isn't a courtroom, this is how we make headway. If you want to be on this then you need to follow my lead."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAlt7oSQlxuA
She walked back to the counter.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAYj3Mfgwgw3
"When did this transaction occur?"
104Please respect copyright.PENANAikhAs3nyBV
"About 6 months ago."
104Please respect copyright.PENANAgix1kw9ved
“I see, by the way...” She pulled out another picture and placed it on the counter. “Any idea where I might find something like this?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANASflKg4Jvd4
He picked up the photo and closely inspected it. “You won’t find that kind of stuff around here.”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAEm1cBulNHf
“Can you at least point me in the right direction?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANAdRKAwrFx0z
“Sure, as long as you buy something this time around."
104Please respect copyright.PENANACXOT3qKdKC
Luka turned to James and stretched open the palm of her hand.
104Please respect copyright.PENANAGZ6uEWofnQ
James sighed and reluctantly pulled out his wallet, took out some cash and gave it to her. She in turn gave it to Fred.
104Please respect copyright.PENANA8MFMn7qEvX
“Ever been to Riverside?”
104Please respect copyright.PENANARFIHl1E3rl
104Please respect copyright.PENANAo43zNYZ7Bp