She looks him in the eyes, “I’m fine with it, on condition that you must tell me when and why you’re against me.”
“Likewise. You want to seal it in blood?” he jokes.
“Yes, your blood.”
“OK, let’s go back to the situation room. At least there I can smoke.”
They return to the situation room and find Johan standing next to Deena at the whiteboard as she writes more details about the second victim.
“Let’s continue from where we left off,” Sherry says, taking a seat.
“Where were we?” Mislan asks.
“Random. I know that screwed-up brain of yours is piecing together the jigsaw. Let’s have it out in the open.”
“Sai, anything?”
“Nothing concrete, but there were insinuations that they’re a couple … Era and Tim.”
“That’s good enough for now. Keep working on it. We still need to be sure; otherwise my theory won’t hold. Jo, I need you to confirm it. Talk to her and her friends.”
Johan nods.
“We’re talking about your first vic and Tim,” Mislan explains to Sherry. “I’ve a strong feeling she’s gay.”
“Me too,” Deena says. “The way she dressed and, when she dropped by the victim’s unit, the way she called out to her. What was it, Baby, where are you or something like that.”
“I believe the link between the two vics is their lifestyle.”
“Meaning?” Sherry asks.
“There’re gay, and that was where they crossed paths.”
“You really have weird logic,” Sherry says.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He smiles. “Sherry, why don’t you and Deena talk to the first vic’s coworkers, friends, and neighbors? Find out anything and everything you can about them, especially where they hang out.”
“I thought you asked Jo to do that,” Sherry says.
“Changed my mind. I’ll go with Jo to KLCAC, check on the Datuk’s daughter’s claim of the stolen laptop.”
“OK, but remember our deal,” she wearily reminds him.
Walking out, Johan asks his boss what deal Sherry was talking about. Mislan smiles and shrugs.
“You took charge back there. What’s the deal?”
“I don’t know what she was talking about. She must have been mistaken. Maybe it was some deal she made with someone else. You know the pressure from these cases, not to mention the press and the public. It makes her a little mixed up.”
“So now you’re saying she’s delusional.”
“I did not say that. I simply said she must have me confused with someone else.”
“So, who’s the lead now, you or her?”
“Like ma’am said, she is.”
Johan laughs. “You’re just itching for trouble, aren’t you?”
24
STEPPING OUT OF THE elevator at the ground floor, they bump into a large group of journalists and cameramen waiting for the elevator to go up. Mislan and Johan push their way through the impatient crowd that rushes in before they can get out and head for the parking lot. As they walk out of the lobby, Mislan hears his name being called. It’s Rodziah, or Audi as she likes to be called. He quickens his steps toward his car. Audi calls out again running after them.
“Inspector, wait up, will you?”
Catching up, she greets Johan and says to Mislan, “Are you running away from me?”
“What gives you that impression?”
“Forget it,” she replies, catching her breath. “You’re the lead in the murder of the rape victim’s housemate?”
“Shouldn’t you be with them?” Mislan points to the crowd in the lobby.
“They’re reporting history, I’m chasing stories,” she crows. “Slow down, will you, my feet are hurting. So, are you the lead?”
“Inspector Sherry of D11 is the lead.”
“Jo, is he telling me the truth?”
Johan nods.
“Why is Sexual & Child Abuse leading a Special Investigations case?”
“Don’t ask me, I don’t make the rules. I only follow them.”
“Do I detect resentment?” she teases him. “Any lead so far on the murder and rapes?”
“I suggest you go to the press conference, or talk with Sherry.”
They reach his car, and he unlocks and gets in.
“Can I come with you?”
“You don’t even know where we’re going,” he says. “I’m sure you’ve heard how police officers like to malinger, you know, play truant at the taxpayers’ expense? That’s what we’re doing. Go chase your story somewhere else.”
Driving out of the contingent headquarters, he heads for Jalan Imbi and makes a right onto Jalan Sultan Ismail. Driving through Kampung Pandan, he hits Jalan Ampang and is caught in a traffic crawl.
“Where are we going?” Johan asks.
“Setapak Jaya.”
“Why’re you taking this street? You know this street is forever jammed.”
Mislan grins.
His assistant is right. Jalan Ampang is the most congested artery and even boasts a title to be proud of—Ampang Jam. Inching along, they pass the Gleneagles Specialist Hospital where those with deep pockets go for treatment. Low-level public employees like him go to government clinics and wait for hours to receive treatment.
He makes a right after the Great Eastern Mall onto Jalan Jelatek and heads for the City Hall Public Housing in Setapak Jaya.
Turning to the apartment complex, he stops at an Indian Muslim or mamak restaurant across the street for a drink. Johan picks up a Malay daily lying on the table next to them. The headline reads, Rape Victim Housemate Brutally Murdered, with a photo of building 10-4-03 and a thumbnail of Zaitun.
“What does it say?”
“‘The perpetrators of the UTube Serial Rapes are now involved in murder. The rapists call themselves the Emancipatist.’ It mentions that the first rape victim committed suicide, etc. Oh, listen to this, ‘The Kuala Lumpur Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigations, SAC Burhanuddin Sidek, says he’s personally heading the task force and that they’re looking into several promising leads. He’s confident the police will have the rapists in custody soon,’” Johan says, laughing.
“It’s easy to be optimistic when you don’t know the first thing about what you’re up against. Jo, look at the entrance. Cars, bikes, and pedestrians go in and out freely.”
“That’s common at most City Hall apartments: no budget for guards. They’re for low-income people. I don’t think there’s a monthly maintenance fee charged.”
“Jo, I thought I saw the management office in that block,” Mislan says, pointing. “Why don’t you talk to anyone there and see if they heard of any talk by the residents about the incident.”
Johan approaches the office while Mislan walks to the crime scene block. He lights a cigarette and watches his assistant speaking to a couple of men. He notes that the block is old and under-maintained. Plastic bags litter the drives and drains. There is barely any landscaping, and whatever space there is is used for parking. The area next to the staircase is lined with parked motorbikes, an indication the apartments are mainly rented by the young working class. After a few minutes, Johan walks toward him.
“They heard a lot of gossip but nothing of any substance,” Johan says.
“The killers would’ve parked their bike here,” Mislan says, pointing to the motorbike parking area.
“They could park elsewhere, around the other end.”
“Yes, they could, but I don’t think they’d do that. Parking in non-designated areas may risk attracting attention of insomniac residents. And I’m sure they want to park where they can make a quick escape.”
Mislan drops his cigarette in the drain.
“The staircase’s over there, so parking here close to it makes the most sense. Eliminates the need to walk in an exposed area longer than needed. In the stairwell they’re concealed from view.”
Mislan walks to the stairwell and
looks up. Perfect for the killers’ entry and exit route.
“You know what I can’t figure out about this case?” he asks.
“What?”
“How they gained entry into the vics’ units. There was no sign of break-in. The first vic said she latched the door, and Sherry confirmed that.”
“Yes, but it was a dead bolt that can be opened with a key from the outside, not the night latch,” Johan says.
Mislan nods. “Still, the doorknob lock and dead bolt need two different keys. How do they know the second vic’s boyfriend or partner’s not home when they enter the unit?”
Mislan walks up the staircase, with Johan following close behind. He observes the missing light tubes in the stairwell.
“They probably observed the vic’s unit,” Johan offers.
“I’m positive they did, but with all their planning, our vic still caught them by surprise.”
“And paid with her life.”
“Jo, tonight, get the standby detective to talk to Zac’s coworkers. Find out her work schedule and if she knocked off early that night.”
“OK.”
Mislan takes out his cell phone and calls Sherry.
“Yes.”
“Sherry, can you send one of your team to the second crime scene?”
“What’s there?”
“I need them to interview residents with bikes, see if they noticed any bike that’s not usually parked here. If they hear of any biker complaining that his parking space was taken.”
“Bike, how would they know? If it’s a car I can understand.”
“Before I could afford my old junk of a car, I rode a bike, OK. Like cars, we, too, have our regular spots. If someone parked his bike in our spot, we get upset and react.”
“OK, how long do you want them there?”
“Until around midnight.”
“That long?”
“You need to cover the office and shift workers that finish work at eleven p.m.”
“I’ll get Deena to organize it.”
“Anything from your side?”
“Nothing so far. We just keep beating the bushes, eventually the snakes will come out,” Sherry says.
Terminating the call, he turns to his assistant.
“Jo, those roadside stalls … they’re open all night till morning, right? I’m sure if something happened around here, they’ll know about it. Can you get the detective to talk to the operators and the owls and moths?”
25
FROM SETAPAK JAYA THE two officers drive back to the city. At the junction of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Sultan Ismail, they make a right onto Jalan Raja Laut and park on the street next to the building that houses the Kuala Lumpur Creative Arts College. Johan asks a group of students hanging about at the entrance for directions to the Student Affairs office. At the office, he introduces himself to a receptionist and asks for Mr. Lai.
“Mr. Lai’s with the principal,” the clerk says. “May I assist you?”
“Yes, a student by the name of Massayu Datuk Yunus reported her laptop stolen. May we see the report?”
“Give me a minute, I’ll check with Mr. Sega, Mr. Lai’s assistant.”
The clerk disappears and returns with an Indian man.
“Sergeant … ?” the Indian man asks.
“Johan from Special Investigations, Kuala Lumpur, and this is Inspector Mislan. You are?”
“Gunasegaran, I’m the assistant manager of student affairs. Please come with me into my office. It’s more private. Sorry, what’s the student’s name again?”
“Massayu Datuk Yunus. She reported her laptop stolen from the library bag depository pigeonhole.”
“I remember that case was handled by Mr. Lai himself, with the chief of security.”
“Can we view the inquiry file?”
“Let me check with his secretary.” He makes a call and, replacing the phone, says, “She says there was no inquiry file opened.”
Johan raises his eyebrows inquiringly. “Is there any reason why the case wasn’t reported to the police?”
“I believe it was on the recommendation of the chief security officer, but I really don’t know because I wasn’t involved in it.”
“Do you lose many laptops here?” Mislan asks.
“I think you’ll have to ask Mr. Lai that.”
“Are there cameras at the library?”
“Yes.”
“At the pigeonholes?”
“Yes.”
“Can we view them?”
“I’ll have to check with the security chief.”
“Can we meet this security chief?”
“Sure,” Sega says, eager to be rid of the police officers. He phones someone, and tells them that the security chief is waiting in his office.
“I noticed a mamak restaurant next to the 7-E outside. Can you tell him to meet us there?” Mislan says.
The officers make their way back to the lobby and out the building. Walking to the restaurant, Johan asks, “Why the mamak?”
“I’m hungry and need to smoke,” Mislan answers casually.
“What do you make of the lost laptop? You think they’re covering up something?”
“I don’t know. Ask the chief when you see him.”
“You’re going to have lunch?”
“Might as well.”
He orders fried noodles with iced black coffee, while Johan walks to the mixed rice counter to check out the spread. He comes back with a plate of rice topped with chicken curry and vegetables. Just as Johan starts eating, a man approaches them.
“Are you Sergeant Johan?”
“Yes, and you must be the chief security officer.”
“Yes,” he says, extending his hand. “Najib.”
“This is Inspector Mislan. Please sit.”
They shake hands, and Najib slides into the seat next to Johan.
“I was told you’re inquiring about Miss Massayu’s lost laptop.”
The waiter brings Mislan’s fried noodles and asks Najib for his order, but he declines.
“Mr. Sega said you and Mr. Lai handled the case. Why was it not reported to the police?” Johan asks.
“Her father was insistent that the college reimburse his daughter in full for the loss. Since the college agreed to pay, I didn’t see any reason to make a police report. We only make police reports to ward off liabilities or for insurance claims.”
“Was there an official inquiry following the loss?”
“Yes, but we sort of stopped it when Miss Massayu was reimbursed.”
“Was there a suspect?”
“No.”
“Do you have CCTV cameras at the library?”
“Yes.”
“Do you still have the recording?”
“We made a copy of the date of the incident. I think Mr. Lai has it.”
“I’ll need to view it. When can you give us a copy?” Mislan asks.
“I’ll check with Mr. Lai.”
“Do you lose many laptops?”
“A few, but since we increased security it has stopped. May I know the reason for the sudden interest in the case?”
“My boss was told about the loss by Datuk and we’ve been instructed to make some inquiries,” Johan lies. “Can you confirm with Mr. Lai that he still has the recording? We’ll wait here for you.”
When Najib leaves, Johan looks at his boss.
“Something bothering you?”
“You’re doing just fine,” Mislan says with a sly grin.
Back to enjoying his fried noodles, his cell phone rings.
“Mislan.”
“Mislan, Sherry, where’re you?”
“KLCAC.”
“What’re you doing there? Please don’t stir things up.”
Ignoring her, he asks, “What’s up?”
“We’ve uncovered something interesting about the first victim.”
“Such as?”
“It’s confirmed she had the same sexual orientation as the second victim.�
��
“Gay?”
“Yes.”
“That’s interesting. Any other link between them?”
“That’s the only commonality we have at this moment. Are you coming back to the office?”
“We’re waiting for a CCTV recording. Let you know when we’re back.”
As Mislan terminates the call, Johan asks, “The first vic was gay? I thought ‘gay’ only applies to men.”
Mislan laughs.
“‘Gay’ is often used to refer to homosexual men, but it can refer to both genders.”
In a country where homosexuality is forbidden, there is a general lack of knowledge and understanding about it.
“I learned something today,” Johan admits with a grin.
“Do you know that homosexuality also exists in the animal kingdom?”
“You’re just making that up.”
“I’m serious…. I did some research. The study was conducted in the early twentieth century but was suppressed by the Church authorities. It was argued that, if it was nature and not nurture because it existed in the animal kingdom, then it is God’s will. That was why the study was suppressed.”
Seeing Najib approaching, Johan warns Mislan with a tilt of his head. The security officer gives them a DVD and says he has to get back to the office.
“Thanks. I’ll call you if there’s anything else we need,” Johan says.
26
SUPERINTENDENT SAMSIAH WAITS PATIENTLY as the operator transfers her call to the director general of immigration’s personal assistant. When a woman at the other end answers, she introduces herself and asks to speak to Datuk Yunus Malik. After a few rings a man answers, “Yunus.”
“Assalamualaikum, Datuk, I’m Superintendent Samsiah Hassan from Special Investigations, Kuala Lumpur.”
“Waalaikumsalam. Yes, Superintendent, how may I assist you?”
“I was told by my OCCI, Senior Assistant Commissioner Burhanuddin, that you’re disturbed about your daughter’s interview by my unit. Let me assure you, Datuk …”
“Superintendent, I don’t know what Burhanuddin told you, but I was only inquiring about the case and how my daughter is involved.”
“Oh, I’m sorry Datuk. There seems to be some miscommunication. Since we’re on the line, let me enlighten you. Your daughter Massayu is not a suspect, nor was she picked up by the police. I’m sure Datin has told you it was she who brought Massayu to the office. My officers needed to identify a laptop bought in June of last year, registered in her name, but it has been established that the laptop in question was stolen.”
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