“Are you aware of any violence by members of these movements?”
“That’s hard to say. LGBTQ and anti-LGBTQ aren’t registered bodies, so they don’t have specific addresses or offices. Membership is loose, open. We know the main players, but there are hundreds of smaller groups. Even if a crime is committed against a person of such orientation, it doesn’t mean it was instigated by the movement.”
“Let us know if you discover anything that might assist with our cases.”
Mislan, Johan, and Deena enter the task force room just as the Special Branch officer leaves. Mislan inquires, “SB?” tilting his head toward the man walking away.
Sherry nods.
“Sai, if I give you a cell phone number, will you be able to pinpoint its location?”
“You mean like on TV, no. But you can get the service provider to track it for you.”
“They can?”
“Yes, if they want to.”
“What do you mean?”
“Every few minutes, I don’t know how many, your cell phone will check in with the nearest hub or transmitter. It’s like a transponder in vessels and airplanes.”
“Can you check with the service provider and locate it?”
“I’ll try.”
“Whose number?” Samsiah asks.
“Ape-Man.”
“Who’s the Ape-Man?”
“The person who bought the laptop from Wahab.”
“How did you get it?”
“From a reliable source.”
“Don’t give me that. How did you get it?” Samsiah demands firmly.
“One of the detainees.”
“You interrogated them?”
“No, we had a chat, he recognized Ape-Man from our sketch, and gave me his number. He was quite talkative and cooperative. He said he met Ape-Man at one of the rallies and bumped into him several times at the nasi lemak place.”
Samsiah looks at him suspiciously. “I don’t want to know any more details. Sai, can you get to the service provider and get the location?”
“It may take a while.”
“I’m thinking of asking Wahab to call him and set up a meeting. Maybe offer to sell him another laptop,” Mislan suggests.
“Does Wahab have his number? If he doesn’t, Ape-Man may get suspicious, and you’ll lose him. It’s better for the guy who gave you the number to make the call.”
“A bit difficult.” Mislan hesitates.
“You just said he was talkative and cooperative.”
“Maybe I exaggerated a little?” Mislan smiles.
“While Sai gets the service provider to locate him, the two of you get some rest and freshen up. You look like you’ve not slept in ages. I promise you, it’s going to be a very long day.”
When Mislan reaches home, he showers, slumps into bed, and tries to nap, but just as he’s about to doze off, his cell phone rings.
“Inspector, Chew. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“No. What’s up?”
“The DNA results came in and the blood belongs to a female donor. No match on our database.”
“Female?”
“Yes, but it could also be from another accident, unrelated to our case. The blood type is AB, which is not very common.”
“Thanks.”
“Inspector, the Chinese papers say the serial rapists are targeting lesbians. Is that true?”
“That’s all newspaper talk … to sell more papers.”
“How’s the case going?”
“Tough.”
“Wish I could do more to help.”
“You already have, Chew.”
Wide awake now, Mislan calls Dr. Safia.
“Hey Fie, busy?”
“Slow day, why?”
“Want to grab a bite? I’ve not had breakfast.”
“Where are you?”
“Home. I can swing over to your place and grab a bite there.”
“Why don’t you stop by a McDonald’s and get me a double fillet? We can eat here in my office.”
“You want anything else? A sundae, or a pie?”
“Apple pie.”
“OK, be there in thirty.”
He arrives at Doctor Nursafia’s office at HUKM with McDonald’s takeout, and she clears the files from her desk to make room. Unfolding the wrapper of her double fillet, she asks, “What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing. Just needed company, that’s all.”
“If it’s company you want, there’s Jo and others at your office. Tell me what’s on your mind?”
He toys with his Quarter Pounder, then puts it down, picks up a french fry, and nibbles on it. Dr. Safia waits patiently, watching his face closely. She can see he’s struggling with something. She bites into her fillet and puts it down, too.
“It’s this case,” he mumbles, picking up another french fry and dipping it in the chili sauce.
Dr. Safia waits for him to continue and, when he remains silent, she asks “What about this case?”
“The victimology.”
“Wow, big word,” she jokes. “What about it?”
Mislan smiles. “Learned it from watching Criminal Minds. All the victims are lesbians. That’s the only connection between them.”
“So, the rapists are targeting lesbians randomly.”
“That’s what it looks like. The question is, how did the rapists know the victims were lesbians? Is there a central source of information?”
“You mean, like a hangout, or a social gathering the victims went to?”
He nods. “We can’t find any. The other puzzling thing is: how the hell did the rapists get into their houses? There’re no signs of forced entry. All three victims were fast asleep and woke up to find the rapists standing over them. The first victim said she would put on the double locks whenever she was home, and that was confirmed by Sherry when she visited her. So, how the hell did they get inside the house?”
Dr. Safia takes another bite of her double fillet. “Maybe they were already inside when the victims came home. Hiding, until it was time.”
“I thought of that. That would mean they had the keys to the houses. The next question is, how did they get them?”
“I can think of a few places. Car washes, service stations, jockey parking services … you know how we tend to leave our house keys in the car.”
“Hmmm … and their windshield stickers would give away the location of their apartment. Car-jockey services, car washes, and service stations: that’s a lot of places to cover.”
“Lan, about this lesbian victimology, I read a story about it a few months ago. It said that such incidents have been reported in some countries. South Africa, Zimbabwe, even in Thailand. It’s called ‘corrective rape.’ NGOs in those countries have so far been unsuccessful in pressuring the governments into classifying them as hate crimes.”
“What do you mean by corrective rape?”
“Well, these men rape lesbians with the intention of turning them straight. You know, once they have had sex with a man, they’re supposed to enjoy it and go straight.”
“You violate a woman and expect her to love it or your kind? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Well, men have been known to do dumber things,” Dr. Safia laughs.
“But we’re not living in some backward country.”
“African, Malaysian, American, European … what does it matter? Men are men all over the world. They have two heads, and blood can only rush to one of them at any given time,” she says, giggling.
“Funny,” he says, and makes a face. “So you think these were corrective rapes?”
“I’m saying I read about it. The victimology seems to point in that direction. And the username ‘Emancipatist’ must come from the word emancipate.”
“Like liberate. So they’re ‘liberators’?”
Dr. Safia nods. “Don’t you think the username could imply corrective rape?”
“I totally missed that,” he says. “I though
t it was just a username they coined.”
She sips her Coke.
“Sherry is a looker, isn’t she?” she says, catching him off guard.
Mislan looks at her, bemused, and manages to say, “Do I sense jealousy?”
Dr. Safia blushes. “Jealous? Me? I was only making an observation.”
“Yes, she is and, no, I’m not into her type.”
His cell phone rings.
“Yes, Sherry,” he answers. Catching a glimpse of Dr. Safia’s expression, he smiles.
“Did I wake you?”
“No, I’m in Dr. Safia’s office having brunch.”
His answer brings a smile to Dr. Safia’s face.
“Sai has managed to locate Ape-Man. I’ve already dispatched the team. You want to come?”
“You bet. WhatsApp me the location and I’ll be there.” He grabs his Quarter Pounder and Coke. “Got to run, they have a location on the Ape-Man. Call you later tonight.”
“I like that … Sherry calls, and you jump,” she kids with him.
“Yah, right,” he laughs and dashes out.
He receives a WhatsApp message just as he turns on the ignition: BSC. Meet u in front of Chilis.
He calls back. “What’s BSC?”
“Bangsar Shopping Center. You know where it is?” Sherry says.
“Bangsar.”
“Yes, it’s in Bangsar, but do you know where in Bangsar?”
“It’s the shopping complex where that Chinese woman, what’s her name, was abducted and then murdered and burned, right?”
“Yes, Canny Ong. I’ll wait for you in front of Chili’s. It’s at the main entrance.”
“OK, on my way.”
On Jalan Loke Yew, he gets caught in a traffic jam. Shit. Why is it that on TV the streets are always clear when the police dash to the crime scene? He spots a patrol car in the right lane. Once level with it, he rolls down the window, introduces himself, and tells the driver to pull over to the side.
“I need to get to Bangsar in double-quick time. My team spotted a murder suspect there. Can you put on the siren and lead me?”
The obviously bored patrolmen jump at the opportunity for some excitement. The patrol car, with light bar on and siren screaming, guns down the emergency lane with Mislan tailgating, much to the annoyance of other drivers. Nearing the Jalan Maarof traffic lights, Mislan waves them off, not wanting the suspect to hear the siren. He turns right toward the Bangsar Shopping Center.
Walking up to the entrance of Bangsar Shopping Complex from across the road where he parked illegally, he spots an impatient Sherry by the florist next to Chili’s Grill & Bar when he approaches.
“Where exactly is he?” he asks as she approaches him.
“Sai says he’s here at BSC.”
“Is there a car wash in the basement?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Just a hunch. If there is, there’s a good chance he’s there. Let’s go,” Mislan says, entering the shopping complex looking for the staircase. “Get your men to cover all exits, especially the entrance and exit ramps.”
Sherry gives orders over the walkie-talkie.
“You think he’s going to make a run for it?” she asks him.
“I hope he won’t, but I’m sure he will. Tell them to keep their eyes open. I want him taken down at all costs.”
Sherry transmits more instructions over the walkie-talkie.
“And tell them not to move in until told.”
They barge out of the emergency door and into the basement parking lot, with Sherry still issuing instructions.
“There,” Mislan says, pointing to what looks like a car wash at the east end.
He quickens his pace, with Sherry scurrying close behind. The clacking of her heels on the concrete floor echoes through the half-empty lot, attracting attention. Mislan spots the Ape-Man, and for a moment their eyes lock. Ape-Man drops the sponge he’s holding, and, crouching, he disappears behind a row of cars. Mislan dashes toward the car wash with his sidearm drawn and shouts, “Police! Stop!”
The word “police” instantly results in a group of foreign workers scampering in several directions. Some customers freeze motionless, gaping.
“Tell the men he’s making a run for it!” he shouts to Sherry. “Shit,” he curses.
He hears the roar of a motorcycle and stops in his tracks. He grabs the walkie-talkie from Sherry and yells into it.
“All exits watch out, he’s on a bike. I repeat, he’s on a bike.”
Just as he finishes relaying the information, a motorbike roars out from behind the car wash and zooms toward the exit ramp. Mislan levels his Beretta at the speeding bike, and the gawking customers go hysterical, screaming and running for cover. Not having a clear line of fire, Mislan runs toward the exit ramp, shouting into the walkie-talkie.
“Ape-Man’s on a bike, take him down, take him down!”
The motorbike disappears out of the parking lot. Mislan hears a loud crash, and he and Sherry run toward the sound to find Johan and Deena standing over the Ape-Man lying motionless on the street, with the motorbike wrapped around a lamppost, its engine still running.
“Is he dead?” Sherry asks anxiously.
“He’s going to wish he is,” Deena answers.
“What happened?”
“He slipped,” Johan replies casually, bending down to cuff him. He picks Ape-Man up and pats him down for weapons and identification.
“He looks like an orangutan,” Deena says.
A crowd gathers. Sherry tells her team to stand down.
“Jo, Deena, take him away before things get messy here. This place is crawling with human-rights activists and bleeding-heart liberals,” she instructs them.
“His bike?” Deena asks.
“I’ll call Bangsar police station and get them to send it to Forensic in Cheras,” Mislan volunteers. “I’ll tell Chew to expect it. I want him to examine the indicator lights, see if there’s a match with the debris collected from the Setapak Jaya flats. Get one of the men to wait here, I don’t want the bike going missing,”
“Also get Traffic to come in, just in case he decides to make a report against Jo and Deena,” Sherry adds.
“For what? He slipped,” Deena protests and then looks at Johan with a sly smile.
“Prudence,” Sherry says.
41
THE OFFICE IS ABUZZ with news of an Ape-Man being captured. It is said that the Ape-Man, being six and a half feet tall and weighing almost three hundred pounds, was taken down by five detectives, two of whom suffered broken ribs. The elevator lobby is crowded with onlookers from other units. When Detective Sergeant Johan and Detective Deena emerge from the elevator escorting the suspect, the crowd lets out murmurs of disappointment.
“What was that about?” Johan asks Deena.
She shakes her head.
They take the Ape-Man to the interview room and wait for instruc-tions.
Mislan gives Sherry the honor of informing the heads of Special Investigations and Sexual & Child Abuse Investigation of the arrest.
Superintendent Samsiah walks over to the general office and peeks into the interview room but quickly closes the door when Ape-Man turns to glare at her. Mislan steps up from behind, startling her.
“Ya Allah,” she mutters. “Don’t you ever creep up on me like that again.”
“Nasty piece of work, hah?” he says with a chuckle. “Exactly as Wahab described him. Those eyes could scare even his mother.”
“Why’s he all bloody?” she asks, regaining her composure. “And don’t tell me he ran into a car, and where’s Sherry? “
“He fell. Jo says his bike skidded and he crashed at the exit ramp. Sherry’s preparing her notes for the interview.”
“Make sure Jo lodges a police report of the accident. Lan, work this one by the book. If he’s somehow connected to the anti-LGBT movements, there will be thousands out there rooting for him and offering him free legal advice.”
Mislan no
ds.
“I’d like to keep his arrest under wraps until we know what we’re dealing with.”
“Not even him?” Mislan jerks his head upward to indicate the OCCI.
“As long as I can.”
“No disrespect, ma’am, but you may want to consider going above him on this one.”
“That’s disrespect in itself,” she cautions him.
“If you say so. Ma’am, I want to search his place before word of his arrest gets around. Can you get me a search warrant?”
“I’ll get Reeziana to apply for it. In the meantime, consider sending Jo and a team to monitor the house. Pick up anyone going in or out.”
Sherry and Mislan enter the interview room, and Sherry releases Deena, to her dismay. While Johan leans against the wall near the door, Mislan and Sherry take a seat across the table from Ape-Man. Sherry recoils and looks away when Ape-Man glares at her. Mislan notices this and whispers to her.
“Don’t do that again. Don’t let him intimidate you.”
He takes out the digital recorder and places it on the table between them, and reads aloud information from Ape-Man’s identity card, “Radin Yasin bin Radin Alang, born July 25, 1986. Listed address, Kampung Pokok Sena, Sik, Kedah Darul Aman.”
Ape-Man Radin glares at him, not answering.
“Radin, I’m going to caution you. Listen carefully to the caution,” Sherry says.
Ape-Man Radin ignores her and continues staring at Mislan.
Sherry repeats her instructions, but Ape-Man keeps ignoring her. The room falls silent, and she can feel tension rising. She looks at Mislan, who appears calm, unperturbed by Ape-Man’s glare. Mislan’s hand slowly reaches out to his digital recorder. He switches it off. Then, like lightning, the hand slams down hard on the table and, in one movement, he is up on his feet and leaning across the table. He grabs the front of Ape-Man’s shirt, pulling the detainee forward, their faces inches apart. When Sherry and Johan recover from their shock, they try to intervene.
Mislan snaps at them, “Stay out of this.” The two officers stop and watch anxiously.
Yanking Ape-Man closer, Mislan hisses venomously, “Did you hear what Inspector Sherry said to you?”
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