x
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14HhDs1SLO
[LUKA]
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2Xq2kC0fs
“Really?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1m3hSvKgg
“Yeah.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zi5eXDa9K
“How did that play out?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HFw7WIu28
“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.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaF6gJgOg3
“My God, the balls on her!” He remarked with amusement.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk4K0TPCyQ
“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.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTLlzX7Cjm
“She still around?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS79Eze407W
“Nope. She got married and moved on out of town.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ906ugNdK9l
The elevator came to a halt and the doors opened at their designated floor. Luka walked out and James followed close behind her.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcy19jBA6JD
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.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy1ZiYRUx4
“One bullet hole. Entry through the back and exit through the front.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ymhVQbgYr
“Was there anything on his person?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBs96GUhe3
“Just the clothes on his back and a wallet.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBmQWoIfhN
“Anything missing?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY6aPMqsxG
“When we looked through the wallet, we were totally shocked, his ID was in there and the cash wasn’t even touched.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV84TnToz6R
“So its possible that the assailants were after something other than money?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr38ErlX3Uz
“It’s possible.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuOtdGpVIh
Both James and Luka once more scanned through the images of the casino shooting to pick up any clues they might have passed over.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmJr6Ned2l
“What about the workers there? Didn’t they see anything?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoK2wi5WHm
“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.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3J4NJ5gu7
“So they had some sort of meeting scheduled.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xBVaOBds0
“Yup.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5DFKkevVT
“Do you have the schedule of who the meeting was with?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr28DNdCu4
“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.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY06YQ88wqJ
“Then how did Benjamin know who to look out for at the entrance?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPyzxLCqQy
“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.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqzMU73h4O
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.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mhca0VLkD
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it actually was, especially considering the circumstances of this case.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU8kFZ7PGd
“Yeah. What about the third witness?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTG7KsMFk4
Luka flipped through the file. “Well that’s strange.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRYsPuf5nY
“What?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCRBglOrB2
“I can’t seem to find the statement.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S6EAdvVBo
“You’re sure?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgn62eIxVo
“I went through the file twice. All the signed statements of the witnesses we interviewed were here.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtdA1XTWWl
“Maybe someone accidentally put it in another file.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPYwATsyzK
"Hmm, highly unlikely. I'll ask Ruth to check the log to see if anyone's had recent access to the file."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1titWfdQ8j
“On the confession statement by Vinny Goma, he said that he saw Chen walking in the casino with a suitcase right?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRHz1yZ9h0
"Yeah."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwFiJi9Kgu
“Then its possible that that’s what they were really after.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEiP10erfM
"Its possible."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhMVFQKNLD
“Now the real question is what was in the case?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrrIKKZ98t
“As far as I know, it could be anything. By the way, I forgot to ask. Who’s the lawyer representing Goma?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKglUQt22A
James adjusted his posture. “Ever heard of Charles Chance?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIUM3SAsXm
“Who’s that?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwtgPDFgMr
“You haven’t watched the news lately? He’s the guy that beat LM Pharmaceutical in the recent court case.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbkY6xWo35
“He’s that good?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYcuDuksiB
“He hasn’t gone up against me yet.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOGQ6o7UoC
“Keep stroking your ego James, I’m sure you’ll get there."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqBbjvsZUX
Just then Ruth stepped in.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgR8Lr9Y2w
"Hey Ruth, I was just talking about you."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjGOIC5YrN
"Good things I hope?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtjozaLzk9
"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."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPaOHUMx2n
"Sure thing, by the way this just came in for you." She handed Luke some papers and walked out.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgN3F79tqc
"Thanks."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuscKQU71w
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.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEC2N5mDjg5
"What is it?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz3BleNqYE
"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."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlK2eyWXY4
"And? What does it say?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ym8EAE4bu
"It came from a warehouse."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlytCAxjHU
"A warehouse?" James' face briefly looked puzzled before the realisation slowly dawned on him. "That warehouse?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z6wGHSfoP
Luka nodded her head.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxEAxgoXFI
"Wow."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekN3oTiSvK
"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."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduy4jrnrsg
"Is it local?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uEbASXAo7
"It is." Luka stood up and grabbed her jacket off of the chair. "I'm going to follow up on this lead, you in?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJelZjfLBo
James checked his watch. "I've got about an hour or so to spare."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfob9Fzad2y
"Not much going on at the NPA huh?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhe4p8TaE7
James also stood up, smiled and shook his head. "Not really."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kZLkgRIzY
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeDdLq6Uie
The door opened and the chimes rang announcing the individuals’ presence.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAte1gROKVW
“We’re not open!” Blurted out the shopkeeper from behind his magazine.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bW4pgyrIG
“What, not open? A man in your position turning away business?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmgODuIw7o
The shopkeeper lowered the magazine. “Oh, I didn’t realise it was you Luka.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RirzGI32Z
“You would have if you’d put down those porn magazines you’re always staring at and mind the store a little more.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd9rfchtSP
“What do you need?” He put down the magazine in frustration.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqzj0buLtg
“Information.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX8TvY4PfM
“I can’t help you with that. People see you coming in here often and they might get the wrong idea.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQLzfVXeLm
“Well, the sooner you help me out the faster I’ll be out of your hair.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznQGCEfrby
He scoffed. “What's this about?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zmV54U05B
Luka pulled out photos of the bullets and casings found at the casino and warehouse and placed them on the store counter.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6GVhHeiWX
“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."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXx3705UuP
“That’s nothing new. You know I supply most of the firearms and ammunitions on this side of the city.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXABwQyKMMi
“Yeah, I do. That’s why we need the names of the purchasers. I know you keep a list of your clients' names.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8Dl4mbIYG
“Now you know that I can’t do that Luka. Its private information.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtuRrSh6wz
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.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f2IBpYMPT
They briefly stared at each other before Fred clicked his mouth and looked away.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzQqYpmxOL
“I’ll take that as a sign of your cooperation.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wwsxUZQEm
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.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkulJ6HWHHx
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.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFcqmdH6J2
"Do you have any details on the serial numbers?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrDb8T4HZi
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.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwMA00xJPl
"Ah, here we go."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrauWBdn8X
Luka took out a small notepad and pen in anticipation.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdebqLAb5gd
"Hmm..." He stared more intensely at the page.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ410aRvYQYu
"Fred, the names?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnQFd5XzEa
"The ammunitions were purchased from here, but not by a person."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcacVVJXLH
"Well, by who?" James pressed him.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk6DDmq0dd
"By a company, called The Golden Company." He closed his book, took off his glasses and faced Luka. "They are a mercenary group."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBSJ5NdiLr
"Where are they registered?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sfT3bzijg
"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."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUhsNCvMEf
"Really Fred, you know I could arrest you right now for arming such groups."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqE2bMYOwP
"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."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJeXKIPCAF
Luka knew he was right. Better to deal with the devil you know than the one you don't.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO3fhjcn7S
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!"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CiD9q95yp
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."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0UQQ3Ddbd
She walked back to the counter.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aBKJMrfx7
"When did this transaction occur?"
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR32OUMFfJ7
"About 6 months ago."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFv1xkafqy
“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?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtcq1n8nu8
He picked up the photo and closely inspected it. “You won’t find that kind of stuff around here.”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8eQ4pbvfl
“Can you at least point me in the right direction?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT9lsTX5ea
“Sure, as long as you buy something this time around."
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6CL0ZVU5d
Luka turned to James and stretched open the palm of her hand.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn62nKl8a9
James sighed and reluctantly pulled out his wallet, took out some cash and gave it to her. She in turn gave it to Fred.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAzP8PF5Kd
“Ever been to Riverside?”
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhBkRBYiXr
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXtfkb66JK
