37

AT THE MACC LOBBY, Mislan asks Johan if he has the victim’s cell phone listing. Johan tells him it is at the office.

“Are you not going back there?”

“I thought of writing my statement at home, to stay out of trouble,” Mislan says laughing.

“With you it doesn’t make any difference. Trouble follows you.”

“Jo, let me leave first. You watch my back and see if I grow a tail again. Let me know if I do, and let’s try to collar him. If not, we meet back at the office.”

“OK, but that’s like looking for more trouble, if you ask me.”

“Did I ask you?” Mislan replies.

Mislan walks down to the basement, locates his car, and casually walks toward it, imperceptibly glancing at the reflections on the windshields and side mirrors of other parked cars to see if he’s being followed. He unlocks his car, sits in it, and lights a cigarette, glancing at the rearview and side mirrors for any movement. He strains his ears, listening for a car door or the sound of an engine. Seeing and hearing nothing, he presumes the tail must know the model of his car, make, and number and is waiting outside to follow him. He drives out slowly, offering his tail every chance.

When he reaches Jalan Sultan Ismail, Johan calls to tell him that he has grown a tail. Mislan tells his assistant he’s going to take a detour to let tail become overconfident, and when he gets to Jalan Tun Perak, he will stop next to the LRT station. If the tail stops, too, Johan is to collar him.

When Mislan pulls over at the LRT station, he notices a motorcycle stopping by the curb about twenty yards behind. The rider pretends to inspect the engine of his motorcycle. Mislan watches Johan walking up to his tail, surprising him. The tail tries to ride off, but Johan grabs the ignition key. The tail jumps off the motorcycle and makes a run for it. When he’s about ten yards from Mislan’s car, the inspector jumps out, levels his Beretta, and shouts, “Freeze, police!” The tail tries to cut to the right, loses his footing, and hits the pavement. Two overzealous onlookers jump on him, grab him, and punch him. Mislan walks over, his Beretta lowered to his side, saying, “Thank you, that’s enough.” Johan arrives at the scene, flips the tail on his stomach, and cuffs him.

“Jo, I’ll take him in. Call for a detective to pick up his bike,” Mislan says, yanking the tail up by the arms harder than necessary. Aware of public sentiments against snatch theft, Mislan announces to the onlookers, “Snatch thief.” The huge crowd applauds and some of them snap photos. As he walks the tail to his car, an MPV shows up. Mislan tells them to transfer the tail to the Special investigations Unit.

Back in the office, he tells the duty detective to put the tail in an interview room and waits for his detective sergeant. When he arrives, Johan asks, “Do you want me to make a report?”

“Yes, link it to a suspected recent snatch theft or for suspicious behavior.”

“OK. Do you want to hold him?”

“For what, riding his bike behind me?”

Johan laughs.

“Let’s talk to him and decide later. Jo, you take the lead.”

“You’re the boss.”

Mislan’s cell phone rings. It is an unknown number.

“Inspector Mislan,” he answers

“Mr. Mislan, this is Daud, you remember me? Superintendent Malik’s friend.”

“Yes, how may I help you?”

“I was just told you have arrested my nephew, Arif. May I know for what offense?”

“Suspected snatch thief.”

“Snatch thief! I think you’re mistaken. Can I arrange for him to be bailed?”

“I’ll tell you what. He’s being interviewed at the moment, and when it’s done, I’ll call to let you know the situation.”

“I’d really appreciate it if you can release him on bail. His mother is here with me, crying and pleading. Can I come and see you?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. I’ll call you as soon as they’re done.”

Mislan enters the interview room, and Johan introduces him to Arif.

“Now, let me ask you again, why were you following Inspector Mislan?”

Arif keeps looking at the floor, not saying anything. It’s obvious to Mislan that Arif is not a seasoned criminal.

“Your uncle, Daud, just called me.” At the mention of Daud’s name, Arif’s face lights up. “He wants to bail you out. Guess what my reply was?”

Arif looks at him fearfully.

The inspector walks to the chair next to Johan, and sits down. He can sense Arif’s anxiety building. He continues, “I told him, murder is a non-bailable offense.”

The word “murder” strikes panic into Arif and he snaps.

“What are you talking about, what murder? I didn’t murder anybody. I was asked to follow you and report back.”

He realizes he’s said too much and shuts up.

Johan slams the table with both hands, startling both the detainee and Mislan. “Who told you to follow Inspector Mislan? Was it your uncle?”

He nods timidly, watching Johan like a frightened rat. With this admission, Johan grabs the initiative, trying his luck.

“Did he also ask you to pay for our karaoke at Red Box?”

He nods.

“Where’s the bill?”

“I gave it to him.”

“What about the hampers, did you order the hampers?”

“No. I was asked to observe and to call my uncle when the hampers were collected.”

Arif timidly shifts his eyes momentarily to Mislan.

“How about the money, did you deposit the money into his account?”

“What money? I don’t know anything about any money.”

Mislan’s cell phone rings. It is his boss. He steps out of the room to answer it.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to get into any more trouble?” Superintendent Samsiah asks, her voice sounding tired.

“Yes, you certainly did, ma’am.”

“And which part of . . . not getting into any more trouble don’t you understand? The OCCI just called me saying you’ve just made a spectacular arrest at LRT Jalan Tun Perak with your gun drawn in a crowded place.”

“Oh boy, I’m in deep shit, aren’t I?”

“Lan, use your head,” she sighs. “You’re making a bad case worse. I know you’re angry at them for trying to frame you, but you’re making it easy for them. Your conduct will cloud everything you’ve worked so hard for.”

“Ma’am, the person we detained was my tail, he was reporting back to them. He is my link to Daud and maybe to others,” he argues. “I don’t know how they’re linked to my case, but with this guy, I’m sure I can get to the bottom of it all.”

“Get Reeziana to record a caution statement from him. Lodge an arrest report linking him to your confidential report and we’ll hand him over to MACC tomorrow. Lan, please go home and stay home.”

“Thanks, ma’am, I will. And, ma’am, I’m really sorry for my temporary loss of sanity,” he says, chuckling.

“I’ll deal with you and Johan later.”

He informs Inspector Reeziana and Johan of the boss’s instructions, lodges the arrest report, and goes home.