Pools of Blood

Chapter 23

"How did this happen?", I stormed into the station a banged a fist of frustration on a table. "No matter what we do, they are always one step ahead."

-"Yes you are right", Angela chirped in. " I went to Zemarriott. The manager said that he had no idea of anything. Jasmine couldn’t even identify the waiters who took the order."

-"They are obviously fake and imposters."

-"Yes. 50 policemen were guarding the whole area with laser beams and snipers. Still, someone jumped in. killed, and jumped out without even being noticed. A vampire or what?"

-"Exactly my point."

I was feeling so much frustrated. "How FTH was always a step ahead? how did they know where Lenus was being held? How in the f*****g world? "

-"Because the police have been infiltrated. Someone is their spy here", came the gruff voice of Bo Chang from the door.

We turned around and found a haggard-looking Bo Chang with s box in his hand. He came into the office, placed the box on the table, and sat down with a deep sigh.

-"For 10 years I kept the city in one piece. For 10 years I guarded this city like a wolf protecting his territory. And after all this, I have failed. I have failed to stop a r**e, two murders all in a span of few days."

Bo Chang took his head in his hand and gritted his teeth in anger. Angela went beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort.

-"Boss. It's not your fault. It's not any of our faults. It's just- it's just bad timing."

He sighed deeply and stood up.

"Okay. No time for grieving now. We can still catch them. Our forensic department has found a phone inside Lenus’ jacket. The recorder mode was on. He had recorded every word before he died."

I scoffed. "Was he feeling guilty? Did he think that by this act all his sins would wash away or what?"

-"Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. Repentance or not, we have got a big clue for the next one to arrest."

Saying this, he opened the box, and took out a phone, and clicked on the playlist. Two voices flooded in the office room. One belonged to the frightened Lenus and the other was a relaxed and calculated one. We listened in silence.

"So, we can still find the second in command. The woman Woori", Bo Chang said at last.

-"But how?", Angela enquired. "Every day lots of women are getting married. Jasmine hadn’t seen her face. How can we know which bride is Woori? "

-"You are right. That's a big problem."

He looked at me. I was thinking, trying to find a loophole.

"There should be something we are missing. Simply missing."

-"What is it? "

-" Remember, Lenus said that all of them are marked with their names on their arms. "

-" Yes. Branded with fire".

-"Correct. That means Woori too had been branded. Won't she?"

Bo chang thought a moment before answering. "Yes. You are right. But how can we narrow down the search?"

-"Exactly ", Angela put in. she looked expectantly at me. "We can't go to every church and ask the bride to open her dress. That would be improper’.

-‘ Moreover, what’s the guarantee that she would be marrying in a church? She might marry on a beach too’.

I felt my head to the point of bursting. Nights after nights I was spending without sleep, my diet has degraded and I couldn’t even handle so much pressure and darkness gripping me from all sides. I couldn’t find the answer to any of their questions. I felt as if I am drowning in the sea with simply a small plank to hold on to. Every day so many women get married. How would we find Woori? That’s surely impossible. I leaned down heavily on the table, trying my best to come up with an idea. Then it dawned upon me.

"Yes! I know what to do".

-"What Michael? You have an idea?"

-"Yes sir. I have the best strategy to pull her out".

-"Please enlighten us too."

-"Sir. We don’t have enough time for enlightenment. By tomorrow afternoon, the second one will also die. We have to arrest her to know the whereabouts of the others. This is the only one which can help us in this short time. Please have faith in me".

Bo Chang nodded.

-"So what we have to do now?"

-"We need Jasmine’s help. "

-"Why?"

-"She is the only one who has heard Woori’s voice. So she is the only one who can help now."

Bo chang ordered Angela to leave for the hospital and securely bring Jasmine back to the police station.

"And if she is unable to come, then switch on the video mode. We can converse online". I cried back while she was leaving.

She waved and left.

"Now for the first part of our plan, we need a reporter. Sir, please call Lily immediately".

Bo Chang dialed Lily Brown, the famous local channel news reporter’s number.

"Michael", he looked at curious probing eyes. "What are you going to do?"

-"Sir, I am going to do the same thing that they did with Jasmine. I am going to lure Woori here. A bait to trap the fish. Just wait and watch."