Chapter 24...

Man set the table neatly, putting down the forks and knifes and straightening the corners of the tablecloth. She did an about-face back to the kitchen and stopped short. Instead of stirring the soup like she was supposed to, Quin was smiling dreamily into the space, the pot of soup forgotten. Man smiled to herself. Quin had been on cloud nine ever since she returned home. Man assumed that it had something to do with Fei.

Man: (loudly) Earth to Quin!!

Quin jumped in surprise and dropped her ladle. Annoyed, she turned to face Man, who was laughing at her.

Quin: (in mock anger) And why did you just do that for, Miss Mun? If I’d have a weak heart, I’ll be dead by now.

Man: (still laughing) Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
(Quin shook her head and turned her attention back to the soup.)

Man: (slyly) Made up with lover boy?

Quin: (blushing) None of your business.
(Man laughed and leaned against the doorframe.)

Man: What did he do this time to earn your forgiveness? Folded a thousand stars? A million? A zillion?

Quin: No…I just…forgave him. It was an honest mistake…after all, it was my partly my welfare, our welfare he was thinking of. By the way, how come YOU never told me about Ching Ching?

Man: Urrmm…we thought we’d just leave it…after all, it was a touchy and sensitive subject, no one particularly likes mentioning Ching Ching.

Quin: (shook her head) If Fei was to be blamed, same goes for all of you. You really should have told me.

Man: How is Ching Ching now?

Quin: She’s changed a lot from the last time I remembered seeing her. She was happier, and more confident.

Man: (suddenly) How serious are you towards Fei?

Quin: (surprised) Why did you ask such a question?

Man: Just answer me first.

(Quin stopped in the midst of stirring the soup, pondering thoughtfully.)

Quin: Very serious. After all these false starts and stops, all these obstacles, we are finally together. I am really thankful that we could be together. I love him so much, Man. (playfully) And what is Chi San to you?

Man: I…I…urmm…
(A blush crept up Man’s face.)

Quin: (curiously) Tell me!

Man: (quietly) Seriously, I cannot bear to lose him. But sometimes, I get so scared. So scared that Chi San and I were not meant to be, and that I will eventually lose him.
(Quin listened to Man quietly and turned off the stove. She ladled the soup out into a big bowl.)

Man: Or maybe I’m just not worthy of him. Maybe he will realise that and leave me. I’m…I just feel so insecure.

Quin: You want a psychologist’s advice, or a friend’s?

Man: (smiling a little) Both.

Quin: Both personas will give you the same piece of advice. Man, Chi San loves you. Any idiot could see that. You’re worrying about all those things that you have no need to worry about.
(Quin squeezed Man’s shoulder.)

Quin: Just relax and enjoy life. You’re much too tense.

Man: Thanks, Quin.

Quin: What are friends for?

Quin lifted the bowl of soup and carried it into the dining area. Man followed her, bringing two plates of filet mignon. Man set it down on the table as Quin step back a little and admired the table setting. The two of them had put a lot of effort into this dinner, as it was for them to spend a little time with each other. Quin sat down as Man did the same.

Quin: Just wait till you tasted the filet mignon. It’s my own special recipe.

Man: (looking at the wall clock) Isn’t a bit too early for dinner? It’s only 6 o’clock.

Quin: Then let’s just have some salad and catch up with each other a bit.

Just as they were about to start eating their salad, the doorbell rang, startling them both. Both looked up curiously, as they were not expecting any visitors. Suddenly, inexplicably, Man felt frightened. There’s bad news. There’s going to be bad news…

Quin: I’ll answer it. You just stay where you are.

Quin pushed back her chair and walked to the door. She opened it and was surprised to see Fei standing there. Barely hiding her smile, Quin opened the door-grill.

Quin: (playfully) Did you miss me? I told you I’ll be eating with Man tonight…Chi San?

Quin was even more surprised to see Chi San behind Fei. His face was unusually grim and very pale. Fei also looked dead serious. Man stood up and walked to the door. She noticed Chi San’s pale face.

Man: Is something wrong?

Chi San: Man…I’m sorry.
(Man looked at Chi San confusedly. Quin, on her part, was looking at Fei confusedly as well. Fei turned to Quin.)

Fei: Kwan…I’m here for work matters. Not personal matters, and same goes for Chi San.

Kwan: What kind of work matters could you have with us? Are you playing a bad joke?
(Fei shifted uncomfortably and looked at Chi San. Chi San nodded. Fei retrieved his ID badge and turned to Man.)

Fei: Miss Mun Yuen Lan, the Hong Kong police have a reason to believe that you are possibly involved in a murder in Kowloon. Please follow us to assist in the investigations.

Quin looked at Man in shock. Man’s face was drained of color as she stared at Chi San and Fei.

Man: (in a whisper) M…murder? Of whom?

Fei: We now need you to identify the body. Please come with us.

Man looked like as if she was in a bad dream. She stepped forward. She stopped. And turned to Chi San. Chi San’s eyes were darting everywhere around the apartment, refusing to look at Man in the eyes. Man felt a stab of pain.

Man: I will follow you. (she turned to Quin) Quin…you eat the dinner first. I’ll be back really soon.

Quin: No! I’m coming along.

Man: Quin…

Fei: Kwan, this is hardly the time to…

Chi San: Fei, it’s okay. Let Quin come along. It does no harm and it makes no difference.

Quin threaded her arm through Man’s protectively as they left the apartment. What the hell is going on? Why is this happening?

Man, meanwhile, was shaking like a leaf. The memories of her arrest almost three years ago came flooding back. The feeling of terror in the prison. The feeling of fear and foreboding earlier returned to her in a rush, only this time, it was ten times stronger. I was right. Something bad had happened. And I have no power to stop it…Another thought pushed into Man’s mind. What is going to happen to me?

Man shivered. Flanked by Chi San and Fei, she slowly walked into the west wing of the hospital. She glanced up at the ominous words on the door. Morgue. Man swallowed hard and looked at Chi San. Chi San was looking at the ground. He looked at her briefly and gestured toward the door. Man reached out to push the door. Fei stepped in and put his hand on the door. Chi San stopped him.

Chi San: Fei, you and Quin wait for me out here. I’ll be all right alone with Man.

Fei: (protesting) San Gor…

Chi San regarded Fei steadily. His eyes left no room for arguments. Trust me on this one, Fei. Fei nodded. Chi San turned to Man and pushed open the heavy iron doors to the morgue.

Chi San: Man, this way.

Man walked into the morgue slowly. She turned and cast a terrified look at Quin. Instinctively, Quin took a step forward. Fei held out his arm to restrain her, shaking his head. The heavy doors closed. Man looked around her uncertainly. Chi San motioned for her to follow him. Chi San showed his pass to the attendant on duty. The attendant got up and pulled out one of the drawers.

Chi San: Man, please take a careful look at the body. And then tell me whether if you know the victim.

Man stepped forward hesitantly. She peered at the body. Her body went numb as she was hit by a wave of nausea. Unblinkingly, she stared disbelievingly at the body. No, no, no. Oh God, no. She felt her knees weakening.

Man: Josh! Oh my God, Josh…

Man sank to her knees. Chi San stared woodenly ahead. His worst fears came true, all of them. Ever since he left the crime scene, he’d hope against hope that somehow, Man wouldn’t be involved. He’d hope that Man didn’t know the victim; the photo of her was just a look-alike, and nothing more. He’d hope that Man had dropped the organizer while out on a stroll. But his hopes were futile. He had known it. It was inevitable.

Meanwhile…
Quin: Tsui Fei, tell me what the hell is going on.

The two were seated on a bench outside the hospital, waiting for Man and Chi San to emerge from the morgue.

Fei: Kwan…you know there are things I can’t tell you.

Quin: But that is my best friend in there!

Fei: (shaking his head) Kwan, please. Try to understand.
(Quin relented.)

Quin: All right. But it just kills me not knowing what happened…

The doors to the morgue opened. A pale and shaken Man emerged, followed by an expressionless Chi San. Quin immediately leapt forward.

Quin: Man, what happened?

Man: (in a whisper) He’s dead, Josh’s dead…

Quin’s jaw went slack.

Quin: Josh? Josh Chan Hau-Wah?

Fei: (surprised)You knew this guy?

Quin: (shaking her head) No…I’ve…heard Man mentioned him, that’s all.

Chi San: (cutting in) Fei, bring back Man to the station for questioning.

Man shrank back in fear. Questioning? Images flashed through her mind…being interrogated…being questioned…admitting she was a criminal…a criminal…Man looked at Chi San imploringly. She couldn’t go through all that. Not again. Chi San looked at Man’s vulnerable expression. His heart ached.

Chi San: (gently) Man, this is the procedure. Just a few routine questions. You will be all right. Go with Fei. I will be there with you later on.
(Man nodded robotically. Fei gently propelled her towards the exit.)

Fei: Let’s go, Man.
(Quin was by Man’s side in two seconds, standing protectively with her.)

Quin: I want to…

Chi San: (interrupting) Not this time, Quin. Please. Understand.

Quin looked at Chi San, and she could sense the pain he was going through. She knew that he reliving a nightmare, as Man was. She relented. Fei reached into his pocket and retrieved a bunch of keys. He pressed the keys into Quin’s hand.

Fei: Go to my apartment for the night.

Fei bent down and kissed Quin on the cheek. When doing so, he whispered into her ear: “I’ll tell you whatever I can later.” Quin could only watch as Man was led away. Chi San was feeling difficult, for he told a lie earlier. He had told Man that it would was just a procedure, a few routine questions. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that she was the number-one suspect in the case.

Man was immediately ushered into the interview room when she arrived. The members of the team surrounded Chi San. Chi San glanced at Korean tiredly.

Chi San: What did your research turn up?

Korean: The victim is a man from China. Josh Chan Hau-Wah, aged 35, was the son of China Mainland business tycoon Chan Fong-Keong. He was a businessman himself, took over his father’s company when the former retired 3 years ago. He had a 10-year-old daughter, Chan May-May, but she died 3 months ago in a freak accident.

Chi San: Freak accident?

Korean: A radio fell into her bath when she was bathing. She died instantly from electrocution.

Fei: Any other family members? Chi San nodded. He turned to Gigi and Fei.

Chi San: You may conduct the interview with Man now.

Man shifted uncomfortably in the interview room. A cup of steaming coffee was set before her. Seconds later, Fei and Gigi entered the interview room. Gigi carried a plastic evidence bag. She placed the bag before Man.

Gigi: Do you recognise this organizer?

Man looked at the organizer warily. She recognise the Snoopy sticker immediately.

Man: It’s mine! Where did you find it?

Gigi: (quietly) At the scene of crime.

Man felt the air knocked out of her.

Man: But...but…that’s impossible…how…

Fei: When was the last time you saw this organizer?

Man: Last Tuesday, the day before yesterday. I lost it since.

Fei: How?

Man: I…I…dropped it. I forgot where.

Fei and Gigi exchanged glances. Gigi opened her file and flipped to a fresh piece of paper.

Gigi: Man, how well do you know Josh Chan Hau-Wah?

Man: He was…he was the parent of one of my students. Chan May-May. We met about 2 and a half years ago in Yunan.

Fei: How close were you and Josh Chan?

Man: (her face was red) Quite…close.

Gigi: To what extent, may I ask?

Man: We dated for quite a while. But we seperated a year ago, 2 months before I returned to Hong Kong.

Gigi: And why did you separate?

Man: (looking down) Personal reasons and problems.

Fei: Miss Mun, when was the last time you saw Josh Chan?

Man started. The last time I saw Josh. Not the last time I had any contact with him. I can answer this one without lying.

Man: Approximately 10 months ago. It was on the day when I left Yunan to return to Hong Kong.

Fei and Gigi continued to ask a few questions about Josh. Because the autopsy report wasn’t ready, there wasn’t much they could ask. The interview was over in half an hour. Fei entered the room connected to the interview room and handed Chi San the file.

Fei: When the autopsy report comes out, we’ll have to bring her in again. You understand that, don’t you, San Gor?

Chi San looked out of the glass window and at Man. Man was chewing her fingernails nervously. There was something in her expression that Chi San couldn’t quite place. He had a feeling that Man was hiding something from him. He knew that she was hiding something from him.

Chi San: I understand.

Pain contracted his heart.

Chi San: I understand.

More unknown details about Man’s life in Yunan will be uncovered. Her life with Josh, May May…and how will all this, and the case affect Chi San and Man’s relationship? And, what will happen as past memories of Man’s arrest comes back to haunt her?
Things seemed rosy with Fei and Quin for the moment. But a terrible loss will change everything. What will happen?

Chapter 25...

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Yong June-Ling
Copyright 2001