34
MISLAN ARRIVES AT THE office around 9 in the morning, makes his usual coffee, and chats with Inspector Reeziana. The makeshift pantry table is stocked with plastic containers of Malay cookies brought by the detectives. There will be plenty for everyone when more return after their holidays. Then, there will be the endless open-house invitations over the entire month of Syawal. Well, it is only once a year.
“When is Tee coming back?”
“Tomorrow. I heard about your car chase. I’ve never experienced one. What was it like?” Reeziana asks.
“Trust me, it’s not something you’d wish for. It’s not like anything you see on TV. In the movies, they’d drive at normal speed and then make it look like it was going at breakneck speed. I nearly peed my pants, but Jo was fantastic. The way he avoided oncoming traffic, passed cars, made turns by skidding and sliding the rear, missing drains and road signs by inches. Shit, it was scary.”
“Drifts.”
“Eh?”
“It’s called ‘drifting.’ Don’t you watch the movies—Tokyo Drift, KL Drift? It’s a big sport now. By the way, why are you here?”
“Ma’am said she’s coming in around 10. I need to update her. Yana, if you’re not too busy today, can you send your detective to the Telco? I need to get some phone listings.”
“I don’t expect a busy day. Is Telco open?”
“I’m sure the customer service center will be.”
Superintendent Samsiah arrives and walks around the various offices offering seasonal greetings to her staff. She then signals Mislan to follow her to her office, saying, “Let’s get it over with.”
He follows her in, pulls up a chair while she makes herself a cup of tea. “Shoot.”
“Where do you want me to start?”
“Why don’t you start with the chase?”
“You want the long or short version?” he prods her.
“I noticed you’ve become a little cheeky lately. Is this your new style?”
He laughs.
“Sorry, I think it must be the festive season, you know how some cosmic changes affect the brain. Anyway, as I said, Chew lifted a print from the car that matched an ex-con. His listed address was in Janda Baik, so I asked Bentong police to check the house, but the suspect bolted. Around 11 p.m., MPV Sentul 24 spotted the suspect’s car in Setapak and monitored it while waiting for us.” He pauses, reaching for his cigarette, and asks, “May I, ma’am?”
“Since it’s Raya, I’ll bend the rules a little.” She takes out an ashtray from the cabinet and places it on the table.
“Thanks.” He lights his cigarette. “As we were approaching, Sentul 24 told us that the suspect and a woman were getting into the car and driving off. We tried to intercept, but the suspect managed to slip away, and the chase started. It went all the way to Selayang Baru, where Selangor 112 did the cutoff. The suspect stopped, off-loaded the woman, and sped off after ramming Selangor 112. We gave chase for about five miles when he missed a turn and drove into a monsoon drain. He died on impact.”
Superintendent Samsiah leans against the cabinet, sipping her tea.
“Who’s the woman?”
“She claimed to be the suspect’s girl.”
“Is she in custody?”
“Yes, and no.”
“Don’t start getting cheeky with me again. Is she in custody or is she not?” she asks firmly.
“No, but Johan is keeping her under close watch. Ma’am, trust me, you don’t want to know more. Anyway, there’s no reason to put her under arrest. She was dragged into the chase unwittingly.” He pauses. “During the interview, she claimed the suspect drove her to Petronas at Jalan Jelatek on the night of the murder and left her there. We have CCTV evidence that the vic, Zaleha, was at that station just before they were killed. Nathan is still working on the footage. Now we have Jamie’s testimony that the suspect was there, too.”
“We’ll talk about Johan later. Go on.”
He tells her about the positive GSR test on the steering wheel of the suspect’s car, the visit to the suspect’s house, and the discovery of the polo shirt that D10 bagged for analysis.
“The fingerprint places the suspect in the vics’ car. The positive GSR on the steering wheel proves that the suspect fired a gun. If Forensics finds evidence of the vics’ blood on the suspect’s shirt, it places him in the vic’s car during the shooting or immediately after the shooting.”
“Good work. What about the suspect’s wreck?”
“Can you charm Selayang into handing it to us, plus the suspect’s cell phone?”
“I don’t see why you need it now. You’ve got all the evidence. But, if you really need it, why don’t you wait for Chew’s results? That’ll give you a stronger argument for jurisdiction claims.” She pauses and sips her tea very deliberately, deep in thought. “What was the motive? If it was murder, as you are proving it to be, was the suspect acting alone or was he paid? Either way, what was the motive?”
“I’m still at a loss, but my gut feeling says the suspect was not alone in this.”
“Keep at it, and in the meantime, I want you to stay out of Selangor until I’ve had the chance to clarify the situation with them.”
“But I live in Selangor,” he jokes.
“Don’t you start, you know what I mean. Now get out and let me do some work so I can go home and enjoy my Raya.”
Leaving his boss’s office, he wonders if he should tell her of his dilemma, the meeting with Superintendent Malik of Commercial Crime, Selangor, and the JKKK Chairman Daud Nordin. The casual mention by Daud of his marital status, his son, and the mysterious man who paid his entertainment bill. He decides to leave it until he can get more information. Johan has returned from Forensics HQ when he goes back to his office.
“Was Nathan there?”
“Yes. I’ve given it to him, and he’ll contact me soon as he’s finished.”
“Jo, did you notice anyone watching us at the Red Box reception?”
“I didn’t.”
“Sorry, I forgot you were too busy keeping your eyes on your new love,” Mislan teases.
Johan grins.
“By the way, where is Jamie?”
“In Setiawangsa at her friend’s house.”
“Let me make a call first before I forget.”
He calls Inspector Amita and asks her for the suspect’s mobile number and gives it to Reeziana.
“Where exactly are we going sightseeing?” Johan is curious.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Kuala Kubu Baru, you know, visit the waterfalls in the forest recreational park. I believe it’s cooling, scenic, and tranquil, nature with all its healing goodness. It could be good for the body and mind.”
“You expect me to believe that?” Johan says.