Pools of Blood

Chapter 30

"Can't you simply go and arrest Frank Ting?", asked Jasmine

We were all seated together on the roof of our base. Woori was being held captive somewhere down in the enormous labyrinth prison base. For the crimes she had committed, she would be taken to the court after 72 hours. Probably she would get a life sentence for murdering Alfred and partnering in the Jasmine r**e case.

"No, we can't", replied Bo Chang. He sipped a coffee and looked towards the horizon. Sun was setting. We never realized how fast the day went by. And each passing made me realize how far we have to go before avenging Alfred.

"Why can't we?", asked Angela.

"Because it's not easy. On what cause will you go and arrest Frank Ting? Just because Alfred wrote his name in his diary? Or Just because his name happens to abbreviate the initials of the famous software company?", I replied. It seemed we were moving towards a dead end.

"So, what do you suggest?", Jasmine looked at me. Her eyes were tired. She looked beaten and slumped. Physical pain, mental trauma, not being able to avenge her love all were taking a toll upon her already damaged body.

-"We need proof that Frank Ting is the Boss that handles all nightly ventures and crimes. Without proof, we can't go and arrest him."

-"And how do you presume that?"

-"We have to arrest all other partners in crime before we can lay our hands on that blondie".

-"You mean to say that first, we will catch Ginn, Derb, and others. Right?"

I nodded. "Five people’s confessions would be enough to prepare the arrest warrant, isn’t it?" I looked at Bo Chang.

He emptied his cup and looked back towards the setting sun.

"Michael. What you suggest is a perfect plan. We have to work in stealth. So that Frank Ting doesn’t get a whiff of it. One by one we will catch all the criminals. Then we would throw a surprise party for Frank. But, you know the risks involved with the whole process, right?"

I nodded. It won't be easy to find someone, whom we have never met, who doesn’t exist in police databases or civil registration offices. We have to find the five nonexistent animals, a shame to human civilization, that too in perfect secrecy, and extract their confessions. With each extradition, we would be able to move close to Frank.

"It's like trying to hold your nose from behind the ear", Angela remarked.

"But there are some protocols we have to follow for this mission to succeed", I sat down and took the paper pad lying in front of me.

Everyone leaned in.

"None will talk about Frank Ting here anymore. Since the police have been infiltrated, we can't trust anyone. So we are going to call him Frankenstein, as code, clear?"

Everyone nodded. The name seemed appropriate after the resurrected monster Mary Shelley.

"Secondly, we will keep Woori at a secret place for the next 72 hours, somewhere underground. Not a single police officer should know about it. Lenus was being guarded by so many police. Someone might have sold himself to Frank, or else it was impossible to break in."

-"Where do you intend to keep her?"

-"There is a small old age home on the outskirts of Seoul. Very few people reside there. In the middle of a forested area, that place would be perfect to keep her for 3 days until she is taken to court. We will take her in disguise in a lotto van. No suspicion."

Everyone nodded again.

-"Thirdly, let's make a dual team. One team would go and extract one from Naju and the other team would go to Jeju to catch the two hiding there. In that way, we can bring in three of them together. No time wasted."

Everyone willed in.

"So let's start our plan", Bo Chang stood up and rubbed his hands of a kerchief. He always did that when he was excited.

"Who are the members of the two teams?", asked Angela.

-"Why you and Sir be on one, and I on the other. I can manage one man of my own. No deal", I said.

"Yes, you can. We have full faith in your work style", Bo Chang clapped on my back.

"I wanna go with you too", whispered Jasmine.

We all looked at her in shock. How could she even say that? She could barely stand upright, how would she be of any help to me? Rather, she would slow me down.

"I know what you are thinking Michael", she said. "But you have promised me, that you would help me to get trained. I can't simply sit back and watch as an audience".

-"But, my dear child", Bo Chang knelt beside her chair and held her hand very gently. "You can barely stand. Plus, this is the work of the police. We can't involve a civilian here. Try to understand".

Jasmine looked crestfallen. "This isn’t fair. I faced the worst lying there naked in a shack. What more can happen to me? But if I don’t go and help in catching the criminals, my mind won't be at peace ever. Please I beg of you", she looked at him pleading.

"You have placed me in a dangerous position. If anything happens to you, we would be responsible for that. Plus, in your present situation, you would be more of a burden to Michael".

-"I won't be a burden. I swear. I won't slow him down. I promise."

Bo Chang looked at me. I knew he left the decision for me to take. How could I deny her pleading eyes? She has already been through a lot. Another rejection would probably break her completely.

"Very well. You will go with me. But you have to follow every order and command I give. Understood?"

She stood up. Her legs were shaking. But her voice was firm. Her spirit was indomitable. Her eyes flashed anger and rage.

"Yes, Sir", she saluted with a bow.