LOVER

Chapter 5

A FEW HOURS BEFORE

Jaekyung, Zhou and Xin Xi all stood together in the balcony, in silence, starring off into the distance. They were built the same, height, looks, sometimes even their mannerisms were just the same. Anyone who didn't know them could never tell them apart. Jaekyung was only distinguished by his shaven heard and shaved beard. Other than that he was just like his brothers.

"Its been a month since he came out of prison." Jaekyung said. "We need to finish this. ASAP."

"And how do you suggest we do this without risking jail?" Xin Xi asked. "This plan of yours, it still makes me nervous." He turned to look at his brothers. He was the first born, older than Zhou by just eight minutes and older than Jaekyung by twelve. He never forgot to remind them of it.

"The plan is foolproof. Everything we've worked on over the past fifteen years leads to this. He takes the fall. For everything." Zhou assured him. He sighed and turned forward.

"I just need to be sure this won't backfire on us." Jaekyung said.

"It will work. Fifteen years of planning and execution leads to this. We've gone through every single step and nothing will go wrong. Plus the Minister has been putting pressure on the team to get an arrest." Jaekyung told them.

He never wanted to be a police officer, as far as he was concerned police had a bad reputation and were incompetent. But he had to put his feelings aside, get in the office and be the eyes and ears they needed to be a few steps ahead of the police. He made sure to always keep his brothers on the loop. They knew when to strike and what needed to be done to evade the police. But he was ready lay down the badge and live his life and doing what he loves the most, baking.

"So what's the plan now. Who is going to show face at the police station?" Jaekyung asked, staring at Zhou.

"You." The two said in unison.

"No." Xin Xi argued.

"Yes." Jaekyung insisted. "Zhou is too moody and sulky, he might get there and end up spilling everything." He earned himself a slap on the back of the head.

"I am not sulking and I am not moody." Zhou hissed. Xin Xi stifled a laugh as his brother rubbed his head.

"Whatever. Point is Xin Xi is doing it."

"Fine. So who is taking me in? You or that annoying detective?" Xin Xi asked.

"Neither. I was thinking Constable Choi can take all the praise. He will bring you in. I'll find a way to convince him to look deeper into the case. He is an ambitious guy, it should be easy." Jaekyung said. And just like that a plan that was set in motion fifteen years ago was about to come to fruition.

Jaekyung found out where Constable Choi was and gave his location to Xin Xi. He drove to the garage and sure enough, outside was a police van. He couldn't see anyone inside it so he stood by the drivers side, waiting.

Lwandle came out of the garage with his bottled water and sour worms. His shift was almost over, he was ready to go home and sleep, until he saw a stranger standing by his car. His steps faltered as he took in the man. When realisation dawned he dropped his belongings and pulled out his gun, pointing it at Felix.

"Really? And here I am in good faith and you're pulling a gun on me. So much for compliance." Xin Xi chuckled.

"Get your hands out of your pockets, slowly." Felix shouted. A group had already gathered, phones were out, capturing from every angle. Cin Xi pulled out his hands, as slowly as he could, a smirk plastered on his face. "Now put them up and turn around." Xin Xi obeyed, turned around with his hands up in the air. Felix approached him, slowly till he got to him. He pulled out his handcuffs and cuffed him before putting his gun away.

"I guess you're the hero now." Xin Xi said, chuckling.

"You won't be laughing when you spend the rest of your life behind bars." Lwandle replied, opening the back of the van and pushing Xin Xi in.

The drive to the station was short but bumpy, Felix made sure of it. By the time they got to the station, the detective was already waiting for them outside. He opened the back of the van before the Felix had properly parked. He swung the door open and came face to face with a man he had been hunting for years.

"Well well well. Look who the cat dragged in. I've been looking for you." He said. Xin Xi smiled and jumped out of the van.

"Clearly not hard enough. I've been here all along." He boasted.

"Not for long. I have a cold cell waiting just for you." Detective hissed, pushing him forward.

"We will see about that."

News of the arrest filled the station pretty quickly, seeping up the ranks till it made it to the Minister of police. He left his warm bed and made sure to use his position to clear the road. He needed to see the man who had eluded them for so long in person. He got to the station and made a beeline for the interrogation rooms. Other officers were standing just outside the room, watching Xin Xi through the double sided mirror. He was relaxed for someone who was facing life in prison.

"Is that him?" The minister asked.

"Of course sir. We did it. We have him." Detective boasted, his smile wide as ever. He could picture the promotion already.

"Well done detective. Well done. Has he said anything?"

"No sir. He says he won't say anything without his lawyer present." Detective answered.

"Okay, when is his lawyer getting here?" The minister questioned. "You cannot afford to f**k this up Detective, especially now at this late stage. Get him a lawyer and get him talking." He ordered.

"I'm here. I'd like some privacy with my client please." A woman spoke up. Everyone turned, she stood there with her briefcase. Not even the presence of the minister would shake her.

"Advocate."

"Minister. I guess you're here for the photo op. My advice though, make sure you have the right man in custody before parading him in front of the press. I'd hate to bring a lawsuit against your office. Again. And you know I would win. Now, a moment with my client. Please." The officers stepped aside, opening up a path for her.

Her heels clicked on the floor as she made her way in. She pulled up a chair and sat down, looking at Xin Xi.

"Its late. I should be in bed. But I am here because your stupid ass decided to get yourself caught." She muttered.

"Oh come on, it's not like you had anything better to do. Unless of course you have your little silicone friend is charged up and ready." He teased. She rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

"Why are you here Xin Xi?" She asked. He shrugged, sitting back on his chair.

"Its Ghu He Zhou actually." He lied.

"Tell that to someone who doesn't know you. Why are you here?"

"Ugh, you know my picture has been up on their wall for years now. I needed to make sure they have a new one. Not a sketch this time." He said and laughed at his own joke.

"That's not funny. Why are you here?" The advocate asked again.

"You're such a bore. But on a serious note, this cat and mouse with the police has to end and what better time than now. All they have to do is explain to me who I killed, when and why. Once that's done I can go back to my life."

"You do realise the minister is here? You're facing serious charges." She warned him.

"I know. And that's why I am here as a law abiding citizen ready to clear my name." He smirked.

The detective walked in with another officer in tow.

"Ready to talk?" He asked. "We don't have all day. First things first......."

"Yes, first things first." The Advocate jumped in. "Before we even get to the nitty gritty, what is my clients name?" She asked.

"Excuse me?"

"His name. I understand that all you have is a sketch that's a few years old. I want to know what it is you know about my client, his name, date of birth, age, something other than a sketch." She questioned. She tried to hide the smile creeping up on her face as she could see the detectives jaws clenching, hard.

"That's what we want to find out." He answered through his clenched teeth.

"So basically you have nothing but a sketch. Not even a motive. I know you're desperate to close this case. In fact you've been desperate for the past ten or so years until the sketch found it's way on to your desk a couple of years ago. So basically you have nothing on him. Am I right?" She asked.

"What we have is a witness statement. She is the one who identified him as the serial killer." The Advocate laughs as Xin Xi pretends to doze off.

"Detective, I understand how big this case is. A serial killer case is not something to take lightly. I know the public is on the edge about this and they want answers. But what you are not going to do is hang my client out to dry just because you need to close a bunch of cases." She argued. The detective shook his head, chuckling. This should have been easy. At least that's what he thought when he saw Xin Xi inside the police van. But now he wasn't sure.

The Advocate was right, all eyes were on him. This case was also the reason he had missed out on a couple of promotions. Years of trying to get to the bottom of the case had taken its toll on him. The worse part, there was never any evidence to point to someone. The only thing they had was how each victim died, drugged and then had some sort of smoker shoved down their throats, filling their lungs with so much smoke they died from smoke inhalation. The first few victims, it seemed like just a natural death, until an ambitious officer connected the dots and realised the causes of death were similar. Then things moved to maybe, just maybe there was something wrong with the cigarettes they were smoking, except none of the victims were smokers and none of them were in a burning house or in any close proximity to a fire, then it was decided, a serial killer was on the loose. But with no fingerprints, suspects or some evidence, they had nothing else to go on. Except a sketch. And now even that was being dismantled.

The Detective refused to give up. Two days Xin Xi was under interrogation. His lawyer right there by his side and countering every point being made, and when there was nothing else the police could do, so he was released.

"Here's the jailbird." Ghu He Zhou mocked him as he walked through the door.

"You're not funny." Xin Xi answered, throwing himself on the couch.

"How was lock up?"

"Not bad. Jonathon made it bearable." He replied and Zhou burst out laughing.

"I'm sure she did. I wish I was there to see it."

"Yeah, i am going to take a shower, I need the smell of jail off of me. Now." Xin Xi said. He left his brother in the lounge.

Jaekyung came back from his run and joined Zhou on the couch.

"Is he back yet?" He asked.

"Yep. He is upstairs taking a shower." Zhou answered.

"Good, I'll talk to Constable Choi and get some wheels turning in his head and steer him in the right direction." He said.

"Yep. The sooner this is over the better." Zhou agreed.

"So you can fight for your girl?" Jaekyung asked, ready to tease his brother.

"She is not my girl." Zhou hissed.

"I think you should fight for her. You've been different since you met her. Even when you were watching her from afar, she always brings a smile to your face." Jaekyung noted.

"It doesnt matter. It's done." Zhou sighed and pulled the controller away from him.

"Zee, this will be over soon. We will go back to living our lives without looking over our shoulder or having to watch where we go and who sees us. And you can't be mad at Tae for wanting to protect herself. This is not some Bonnie and Clyde thing. She's worked hard for her career and that's why you stayed away to begin with. Being too close would have been problematic for her."

"I know that. I'm not mad at her. I miss her that's all."

"I understand. But it will be over soon. I'm sure she misses you too." Jaekyung assured him.

It wasnt that Zhou didnt believe she missed him, he was afraid she might just forget that he even exists.