The Zodiac of PRA IV: The Return

Chapter 7

The weekend was always nice for the team, it was the only two days they were off, unless there was an emergency. It was Ryan’s idea to have a family dinner, which included Matt, Ted, Erin, Ryan, Shelly and Uncle Chuck. Ryan was out shopping with Erin while Matt finished some work at headquarters. Shelly wanted to stay home and clean up the house.

“Where’s Ted?” Ryan asked when he noticed she had not mentioned her boyfriend.

“Working.” Erin smiled “He’s a workaholic that won’t admit it. But he’ll be back for dinner, he promised.”

He quickly picked out a head of lettuce and paid for it “Is this enough?” she nodded blankly “You okay?” She tilted her head with wondering eyes “You seem out of it.” He analyzed.

“Just thinking.” She didn’t want to tell him about Luke.

“Ga Jei, you know we all are still worried about you.” Ryan stopped in the middle of his steps to look at her.

Erin laughed, trying to play it off “I’m a big girl, there’s no need to worry about me. I’m no longer blind.”

“But since Brad passed away, you’ve changed. Don’t be offended but I think you’re a little cold towards Ted and not to mention you’ve been more aloof lately.” Ryan analyzed “I mean the guy has been patiently waiting for three years, he should earn some credit in your heart.”

She hated being put on the spot but Ryan made too much sense but if only he knew about Luke and the past had began to haunt her again. Maybe it was a sign from Brad? Erin wasn’t too sure what was happening inside of her but she knew she could not settle with Ted, it was not fair to him but she did care about him with all her heart “There’s a lot of things you don’t understand Ryan.” She said sadly and walked towards the meat section.

The two were choosing a piece of pork meat when Ryan’s cell phone rang “Must be Shelly.” He guessed but when he looked at the name it was flashing ‘Unc Chuck’. He smiled “Wrong. Hello Uncie!” he answered brightly.

“Hey Ryan, is Erin with you? Let me talk to her.” Chuck said hastily.

He frowned strangely “Why didn’t you just call her cell phone?” he handed the phone to his sister in law “Your uncle is strange.”

“He’s yours too.” Erin teased as she answered “Hello? Dinner is at seven.”

“I know, I know.” He said quickly “I just wanted to tell you that I’m bringing a friend over.”

She raised her eyes at Ryan “What kind of friend? I thought this was a family dinner?”

“That’s why I’m calling. If everything works out, she will be your future aunt in law.” Chuck was as giddy as a child with a lollipop.

“Eve?” Erin guessed “You actually got her to come to a family dinner??” she was surprised how well his Uncle was doing without her help.

Chuck laughed “Well, not exactly. I told her it was just a friendly social gathering. I found out she is a night teacher at the Kowloon High School. She teaches English to old people. You know my English is superb but I played the sly card and told her that I needed to brush up on it and she offered to give me lessons for free!”

“You work fast.” Erin replied without feeling.

“I thought you would be more excited for me?” he asked disappointed.

Erin smiled “I just don’t want to set you up for a disappointed. Girls are complicated and women are even more difficult to handle. If it doesn’t work out, you’re going to be the one getting hurt.”

“Hey, that’s what Dr. Love said last night.” Chuck commented, “Are you listening to those talk shows too?”

Erin blushed over as she lowered her head to hide from Ryan’s questioning gaze “No, of course not!” she replied offensively.

“Denial is the first sign of lying.” Chuck sang teasingly “Anyways, I’ve gotta go to my new teacher’s house to get some lessons on English. Wish me luck and I’ll see you guys later.” He hung up the phone before Erin could defend herself.

“He’s a strange little round bald man.” Erin rolled her eyes and gave Ryan back his phone. He only laughed, wondering why she had blushed earlier. But he didn’t want to pinpoint her.

The two returned an hour later with bag full of groceries “Honey, I’m home!” Ryan called out.

Erin couldn’t help but grin, “That’s so cute.”

“You can have it too. Push Ted, I’m sure he’s already bought the ring.” Ryan teased.

“Mind your own business, kid.” She scolded with a laugh “Hey, I think she’s in the kitchen. Do you smell something burning?” she sniffed the air.

Ryan laughed, “That’s how Shelly cooks. Come on, let’s scare her.” He dropped the bags in the living room and crept on his tippy toes towards the hallway leading to the end of the house “Shhh…be berry berry quiet.” He whispered to Erin who was trying hard not to laugh. He carefully snuck his head at the crack of the door and peeked inside. The burning fumes suffocated his nose as he began to cough uncontrollably “Wow! Shelly, what the heck are you cooking?” he waved his hand in front of his face but the smoke of the burned potatoes was too thick to be pushed aside.

Erin covered her mouth and nose while entering the kitchen with Ryan “She’s not in here.” It was empty with a pot turned on and burned contents inside.

“Well, I’ll be…” Ryan placed his hands on his hips “She better not be playing video games or my little wife will be earning a good spanking or two.” He slid his sleeves up and headed to the bedroom.

Her gut feeling told her it was not good but Ryan was positive Shelly was slacking off. Erin only followed him around the house, they could not find her anywhere “Where do you think she went?” Erin asked cautiously. She didn’t want to alarm him of her instincts.

He shrugged carelessly “I don’t know. Maybe she went out to get something and forgot to turn off the fire?”

She lowered her eyes to the ground “I hope so.” Suddenly they caught on a drip of red color on the ground, a trail led to the linen closet “Ryan…” she pointed to the spot.

His heart thumped as he followed the trail, a shaky hand rested on the knob as he turned it slowly and opened it. They were not prepared to see Shelly’s lifeless body falling to the ground. A deep slit was lined against her throat, blood soaked her clothing and hands, her face a pale blue “Shelly?” Ryan shook his head at first “Stop playing, we know you’re just joking. Come on, what did I tell you about playing like that.” He nudged her body with his feet but she was not breathing, Erin could see her calm chest.

She broke into chills all over her body while cold sweats escaped her forehead “Ryan…I… I don’t think she’s joking…” her voice was trembling.

“NO!” Ryan cried turning to her with intense eyes “She’s just messing around!!” he denied with a vengeance. Kneeling down in the pool of blood, he cradled her in his arms “Shelly! Wake up, the game is over, you win!” he yelled, straining his throat “Please…” his voice shaking as he began sobbing “You win…please…wake up…”

Erin’s tears erupted as she covered her shivering lips with one hand. Watching Ryan hold her limp sister’s body only brought her horrifying memories of Brad dying in her hands three years ago “Shelly…” When she began thinking straight again, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Ted “Come on…pick up!” She said hurriedly.

After the fourth ring a tired Ted answered, “Hi Erin, I’m really busy—”

“Ted! Come quick!” She sputtered out “Shelly…she’s…” Erin couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“I’ll be there in one second.” He hung up and raced out of the police station while telling the receptionist to order a paramedics team to the address he gave. Ted thought maybe Shelly had accidentally cut her finger off but was not prepared to see her dead, drained of blood. He froze at the door “Oh my God…”

“Ted!” Erin raced to fall into his ready embrace “She’s gone…she’s really gone!”

He stroked her hair lovingly while staring intensely at Shelly’s body in Ryan’s arms “Shhh, it’s okay…Go sit down, the ambulance is on it’s way. I’m going to take a look around.” He settled Erin on the couch as she silently cried to herself.

Walking around, he found the kitchen to be the most suspicious. The burned food caused a thick fog, easy for the culprit to hide and escape through the backdoor. He checked the tiled kitchen for footsteps and found one by the door, he might have killed her in there. Opening the patio door, he walked outside to the small backyard, high brick walls surrounded the yard. The only escape was climbing over the wall. His eyes searched around for the easiest way over the wall and instantly answered his own question at the lemon tree in the corner.

“Sir Kwong, what do you need us to do?” the homicide team also came.

He nodded “Get an imprint of that footprint by the door. Look around the kitchen, I think this was the scene of the crime.” The girl nodded and returned to work while he stared at the lemon tree, a branch was broken. Ted lifted the branch in his hand “Blood…” he could see it scratched lightly on the stem. Breaking it off, he brought it inside “Test this immediately.” He handed it to one of the teammates.

“Sir, we cannot get him to release the girl’s body.” A young male said as he pointed down the hall.

Ted knew what Ryan must be feeling “I’ll take care of it.” He walked out and waved to the crowd that was circled around Ryan and Shelly. They quickly moved aside as he bent down in front of Ryan “She’s gone, Ryan. We have to take her back.”

“No…no one’s taking her away from me. She’s my wife!” he was not himself and it worried Ted to see the young guy lose it.

“I know! But we have a job to do. I am heartbroken too but we have to find out who did this to her. Don’t you want revenge?” he asked, hitting the soft spot.

Ryan’s eyes were red from crying, “Yes…I do…but it’s not going to bring her back.”

“I’m glad you figured that out.” Ted said more softly “Come on, let her go…” he coaxed and gently pried his fingers off Shelly. He turned to his paramedic team and nodded. They worked quickly to put Shelly’s body on a stretcher and out of the house.

He turned to check on Erin and found her looking at something in a manila folder. He patted Ryan on the shoulder and walked over to his girlfriend “What is it?”

Erin’s eyes began to tear up again after she read the doctor examination “She was pregnant.”

Ryan turned to her with angry eyes as he rushed over and snapped the paper from her hand to read it himself “Two months!” he growled as he whipped the paper away and ran out the door.

“Come on.” Ted pulled Erin up from the couch as they chased after Ryan who had stopped the stretcher and pulled the sheet from her face. He was holding on desperately to her body while sobbing painfully.

Ted was about to reach for him when Erin stopped him “Don’t…let him. He needs to let it out.” He sighed with a shaking head as he wrapped his arms around Erin and rocked her gently. Her eyes were stinging and she closed them after a few minutes.

Matt and Chuck rushed into the hospital the minute they received the calls from Ted “Erin!” the guys called when they spotted her in the lobby.

“Matt, Uncle Chuck.” She looked like she had not slept for days.

“Is she…” Chuck didn’t want to believe his youngest niece was gone. Erin nodded, tears ready to come again. He sighed painfully while reaching out to embrace her.

Matt turned to Ted “Where’s Ryan?”

“He passed out. The nurses are tending to him.” Ted informed.

Minutes later, a doctor in a white jacket came out “Who is the family of Sheila Kam-Tong?” The group stepped closer to him as he nodded “Come with me.” He led them straight to the ice room where they kept the dead bodies for observation. Ted wrapped an arm around Erin for warmth “Her cause of death has been determined by a slice in the neck.” He pulled the covers below her neck to show them.

Erin winced in pain while Chuck pressed his brows together “Just one slice?”

Matt noticed her hand was outside the sheet “What’s that on her nails?”

“Looks like she struggled with the killer.” Chuck commented.

The Doctor smiled “That is up to the police to decide. That is all I can do for you. Her body can be moved to a mortuary tomorrow after the report is done and sent to the police.”

Chapter 8

It was a cold November day. The sky was part clear with a crisp icy wind blowing on the hilltop. Shelly was to be buried next to her parents at the Yeung Memorial. Guests arrived in black out of respect and a beautiful ceremony was served in the tiny chapel. It was filled with mourning for the loss of a friend or loved one.

Ryan looked tired, like he hadn’t slept for day. He approached the podium to do a final speech before they took her away forever “I want to thank you all for coming. Shelly would be very happy to know this many people care for her.” He looked down at his empty hands, he wanted to speak from the heart. A few sniffles in the crowd caused him to close his eyes “She was a very gentle soul, always laughing, so naïve and that was why I was drawn to her. Most of you don’t know how we met. She thought I was a thief and accidentally sprayed glass cleaner in my eye and instead of panicking, she took me straight to the hospital. Silly as it may sound, but I knew she would be the one at that very moment when I pretended to be blinded by the spray and she bawled at my feet.” The memory only brought tears to his eyes but he continued, “I will never forget her for she lives in my heart and I know we all will still be missing her years from now. Once again, thank you all for coming.” His voice was quivering as he thanked them quietly and walked down to let the priest take over.

The burial was in slow motion. Flowers were overfilling her gravesite with tons of white lily casablancas set at her grave after the burial was finished. Slowly the guests began to leave while the team stayed behind with their fellow agent. Ryan knelt down in front of her grave, silent tears crept from his eyes and dripped onto the lilies underneath him.

Erin was drained from tears as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder “Don’t be so sad. She wouldn’t want you to be like this.” He nodded slowly “Maybe you should take a break from the team.”

Matt quickly agreed, “Yes, it’s best. Joe will not mind.”

Ah Bat was forced to come along and he was not feeling safe, squirming he began to complain “Are you sure this is safe? They could be watching me right now…Ah!!” he jumped back “Did you see that? It was a red target laser beam…on my arm.” Spinning in circles, he looked like a paranoid lunatic between a group of well dressed people.

Erin’s eyes darkened “Becca.” She only needed to say her name.

“I’m on it.” Becca replied as she pushed Ah Bat harshly “Come on! No one asked for you opinion.”

“Hey, your superiors said to treat me with respect!” Ah Bat complained when he almost tripped over his own foot.

She raised a brow at him “I’ll give you something to respect…” muttering under her breath, she led him far away from the group.

Ryan sighed, “Can I be alone with her?”

Erin turned to her teammates “Come on guys.”

One by one, they left him alone but it was Jenna that paused and returned to his side with one last word of motivation “If I was Shelly, I would not want to see you sad. I would want to figure out who the killer is and take revenge. Everyone needs a goal in life to continue living. Make that yours.” He turned to her with a slow smile as she returned the grin and left him be.

**********

At the bottom of the hill, they reached the vans as the group separated. Ah Bat settled in his seat in the back comfortably “This is the life.” He sighed.

Jenna pushed his crossed leg down roughly “Yes, enjoy it while you are still alive.”

He widened his eyes at her “Don’t curse me!”

Chuck snickered “She doesn’t have to. If you continue to drag out this case, then you’re giving them a bigger chance to find you .”

“You…you people don’t scare me!” he said in a shaky voice.

Leah smiled “Then why do you sound like a stuttering chicken?”

“I…I…don’t…” he stammered. Ah Bat began to sweat as Chuck’s words sank into his head “I need a drink…I want to go out tonight.”

“No.” Chuck replied shortly.

“Why not? Joe agreed that I would not lose my regular lifestyle. I have cut down a lot for you people, why can’t you just let me do this one thing—”

Jenna was tired of his whining, “It’s okay Chuck. We’ll take him out.”

Chuck knew it would be good experience for his young team “Okay. Jenna, you’re in charge. Bring Riley along too, he’ll be dropping by headquarters to pick up his tag. Mark and Leah, you two be on the lookout.” He pointed at Ah Bat warningly “And you, no funny business. Don’t make it harder for us to protect you. That means, no going anywhere by yourself.”

Ah Bat rolled his eyes “Yes…yes…”

**********

That night after Ah Bat had a delicious steak dinner while the four watched him savor his food like a hungry animal. They headed off to his favorite bar ‘Monet’, supposedly an upperclass bar but Jenna couldn’t tell a difference with the motorcycles and gangsters loitering at the door. Ah Bat greeted them with a nod, smugly turning to his bodyguards “I am well known here.” He commented to them.

“I see.” Jenna snickered while rolling her eyes at Leah who laughed at the expression.

Ah Bat started off at the bar as he ordered himself a drink. Turning to his left, he found a beautiful girl in a red mini skirt and a low cut black top “Hey.” He greeted coolly.

The four turned their backs to Ah Bat and kept a semi circle to make sure no one could come near him. The girl did not look interested “What do you want?” she asked rudely.

Ah Bat took his beer and drank it slowly, his eyes still plastered on her bosoms “Nothing… just wondering if you want to dance.” He suddenly snapped his fingers as if remembering something “Wait, I can’t. My bodyguards won’t allow me to.”

Mark snickered “Lame.”

Jenna grinned as she threw him a smile. Suddenly, her face fell “Huge guy three o’clock, coming at us.”

Riley turned to Ah Bat “Pstt!!” he hissed.

But Ah Bat was too into himself and flirting with the girl that he didn’t hear the warning “So, where are you from?” he grazed her thigh lightly while she smiled, knowing what he was going to get for touching her.

“It doesn’t matter, but my boyfriend is from the Tiger Gang. You want to meet him?” the girl smiled evilly as she got up and walked towards the muscle bound guy.

“You had to flirt with her?” Leah barked at Ah Bat “There were so many girls but you had to chose her?”

Ah Bat stepped behind Jenna, who was in her ready stance “Your father said that I will be protected, he said that I will not have a scratch on me…and your fat leader agreed—”

“Shut up!” Jenna snapped.

Riley placed his hand behind his back coolly “Is there a problem?” he asked the Dai Lou.

“Yes.” He pointed viciously at Ah Bat “That thing touched my girl. I want a fair trade.”

Leah relaxed her ready hands “Is that all? You can touch him back in return. Pick your favorite place. We don’t mind.” She said casually.

“HEY!” Ah Bat cried in disagreement.

“Actually, I was thinking of his hand. I want to chop it off.” He replied with a smirk.

“Sorry, we can’t let you do that.” Mark replied.

The buff man nodded as he raised a hand and snapped it. Everyone in the bar besides the bartender rushed up behind him “Dai Lou!!” they answered his beck.

“Then I’m forced to do this.” He turned his head slightly and stepped back while his boys began attacking the young team.

Ah Bat began shrieking like a cat in heat as he cowered below the bar stool and watched the team beat up one guy after another. Jenna was fighting with two huge guys as she used the bar to help her kick them away only to have five more guys after her. Sliding over the bar, she grabbed two bottles of vodka “Can I borrow this?” she asked the bartender quickly and slammed it against one another. Returning to the fight, she used it carefully as a weapon.

Riley was the most trained as he circled from one fight to another, with tough punches to the enemy’s stomach causing them to fall to their knees. He caught one guy trying to yank Ah Bat from his hiding place as he rushed over and grabbed the guy from his shoulder “I wouldn’t do that.” He commented and beat him up with ease.

Leah was the not as experienced as she was in trouble with a group of ten guys ganging up on her. Her arm twisted to the back as one guy pulled out a pocket knife, ready to stab her when a beer bottle came flying at his forehead and crushed at the impact of the scull. The guy quickly let go of Leah, where Riley rushed to her side “Are you okay?” She didn’t have the breath to answer, “You want to pick on someone your own size?” he asked the guy in a ready stance.

Mark on the other hand was enjoying his drink in one hand. The three were doing fine without him. Taking a seat at the stool under Ah Bat, he watched Jenna with special interest “A little help here!!” she cried tiredly.

He only laughed “You’re doing fine!” he put his cup down and gave her an applause.

“Mark!!” Jenna pointed to a broken beer bottle flying at his face. He quickly swerved to the side, his face twisted with anger.

“That’s not cool.” Mark growled as he quickly attacked the guy that tried to scar him. Fighting came easy to him and he was ruthless, beating each guy until he was unconscious.

The four grew weary with each fight and soon, they had defeated a great amount but there were still more. Gathering up together, Riley asked “What now?”

“Call for backup?” Leah asked.

“No, we can handle it.” Mark said with confidence.

Jenna laughed nervously “Yeah.”

Ah Bat crawled from his hiding place as he suddenly stood up tall and moved Riley aside so he could see the group in front of him “Okay, fun’s over. We can do this some other time.” He snapped his finger “Come on.” He commanded the four, who exchanged strange glances.

“In your dreams!” one of the guys growled as they stepped closer to them.

Jenna pulled Ah Bat behind her “What the hell are you doing?”

“You’re afraid?” he asked wide eyed “I’m not.”

“Yes, that’s why you were hiding under that stool for the past fifteen minutes!” Leah pointed out.

Ah Bat laughed with his head thrown back “Oh that…I was only playing along. Come on, we can walk out…right…about…now.”

“Hi!” A bright female voice called from the doorway. The six stood coolly in their places while Mia smiled “Is there a problem?”

Jenna spun around at Ah Bat “You called the team?!!” she was offended, he didn’t think they could do the job.

The Dai Lou of the triad crossed his arms “Yes, I want to cut off his hand.” He pointed dangerously at Ah Bat, who was not at all scared with the six of them there.

Becca laughed as she stepped inside first, walking around the unconscious body “Is that all? You can have it…”

“What?!” Ah Bat’s voice squeaked.

“Over our dead bodies.” Mia finished.

The troublesome witness sighed, “That’s more like it.”

Ted stepped closer to the guy “Look, we know how this is going to turn out, so why don’t you just let them go?”

“The winner is not determined through words.” The gang boss snickered, ready to punch Ted in the face, his fists balled up.

Doug smiled with a nod “Very well.” Swiftly pulling out his gun, he pointed it at his head.

Erin crossed her arms with a tilted head “I believe the rule is, whoever has the gun…wins.”

“Come on.” Darren waved for the younger team.

Ah Bat could not help himself as he walked by the still leader “Next time, find out who you’re messing with!” he said through gritted teeth and added a few slaps on his face.

“Ah Bat!” Becca barked.

“Coming!!” he called and laughed like he had just won a war. The team slowly backed away until they were completely out of the bar. Leaving the gang in wonder who they were.

Chapter 9

The conference room was filled with awkward silence as Joe stared sternly at the team. Jenna glanced at her watch again, it had been ten minutes and he still had not said a word yet. She knew he was well aware of what happened the night before. Darren made eye contact with the girl as he whipped his head towards Joe. Knowing that no one would dare speak up, she raised her hand slowly “Daddy…”

“Oh, it’s Daddy now? What happened to Joe?” he snapped.

“Please, don’t be mad. We won’t let it happen again.” Jenna pleaded with her famous puppy eyes.

But it didn’t matter how innocent or regretful she looked, he was going to be upset for a while “When I warned you guys to stay low, it didn’t mean to go to a bar and start fights with gangsters. And it surely didn’t mean use your weapons in vain!” he eyed Doug carefully.

Ted stood up to defend his team “Sir, I don’t mean to disrespect you but I thought the four of them handled this really well.” Jenna, Mark, Leah and Riley exchanged small smiles “Ah Bat was safe and no lives were taken.” He reasoned.

Joe raised his brows “Really? They handled it well?” he laughed sarcastically “If they handled it well, the fight would not have started and we would not be on the first page of the news this morning!” turning to the table behind him, he dropped the newspaper in the center of the table with a splat.

Mia reached for it as she read the headlines out loud “Mysterious Group in Brawl with Tiger Gang. P.R.A. turning to the bad…” she let her words fade when Darren nudged her to stop.

Joe frowned at his team “Congratulations, you have just gave away our faces.”

“Who could have taken these pictures?” Erin wondered out loud “And who would know we were there?”

Matt shrugged “It’s too late for that. The pictures are taken and now almost everyone in the city will know our faces.” He turned to Joe with a shaking head “There will be more trouble for us.”

“You can guarantee it.” Joe confirmed. He turned away from the group, still angry “Meeting is over.” He said coldly. The group got up quietly an exited “Erin. Stay back, I want to talk to you.”

She nodded and turned to Ted “I’ll see you at home.”

“Okay.” He smiled and closed the door behind her.

“Did I do something wrong, Joe?” she asked.

He smiled, showing his soft wrinkles at the corner of his eyes “No. I must apologize for not making it to Shelly’s funeral. I had some business to take care of.”

She nodded “I understand. So what did you need?”

“I want you and Ryan to see Ethan for a session.” Joe suggested firmly.

“Ethan? I heard from Mia that he stayed in the U.S.A. after his trip to Hawaii three years ago?” Erin was certain that was what her friend informed her.

Joe nodded “He was, he just got back last month. It seems he is more comfortable in his homeland.”

“That’s understandable. Alright, let me talk to Ryan tonight and see what he thinks.” Erin promised.

The group met up for dinner that night at Darren and Mia’s home. Ryan was the last to arrive, looking grungy and unshaven. Mia and Erin were cooking dinner when they saw him dragging his feet into the home “He looks like crap.” Mia whispered. Looking up at him, she smiled brightly “Hey Ryan, you look good!”

Erin jabbed her friend in the ribs “The guys are setting up the dinner table, you can have a seat out there.”

“Okay.” He said lifelessly.

Mia glared at Erin “Ow!”

“Sorry, but you needed it.” Erin laughed.

“So…how are you doing?” she was worried for Erin. After Brad’s death, the girl became more emotional. Losing a sister is unbearable, Mia could only imagine.

“I’m okay, I guess…sad…it feels very surreal. When we found her body, I think I was almost prepared for the worse. You know, our lives are always full of danger and we never know what psychos will be lurking around the corner ready to pounce on us. I am more worried about Ryan. He miss her terribly but at least I know she is in a good place, but Ryan...”

Mia frowned “I don’t know how you do it. First Brad…now Shelly…” sighing, she turned to her friend and quickly regret the mention of Brad “I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay.” Erin smiled, her eyes red “I’m almost over it.”

“Really?” Mia asked unsurely “Do you still…you know…” Erin shook her head, not sure where she was getting at. She sighed and leaned into Erin’s ear to whisper “see his spirit?”

Erin laughed lightly “No, not for a years. But I’m pretty sure it’s a part of my imagination. My conscience is trying to help me find closure.”

“Too bad Ethan is not here, I’m sure he can help you with the troubles.”

“That’s right, I almost forgot to tell you. Joe said Ethan is back from the U.S. He’s at Yan Sum again.” Erin informed.

Mia widened her eyes “He is? And he didn’t bother to call me? His best friend in the whole world? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.”

“The small one or the big one?” Erin teased, “Don’t give him a hard time. I’m sure he left so he can get over you.”

“No…you think?” Mia asked.

The girls stopped when they heard the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps “Mommy! Mommy!”

Mia turned and lowered herself to gather her little girl in her arms “Hi sweetie. What is it?”

“Daddy said to tell you that I am hungry and I that I need a medium rare steak. With a side of mash potatoes and carrots.” The darling round eyed girl said in one breath.

“Oh, he did? Did he?” Mia flicked a brow at Erin, who was stifling a laugh “Go back and tell your father that you cannot eat rare steak.” Dropping her girl she watched her bounce away.

Erin laughed with a shaking head “I think it’s a sign they’re hungry.” Gathering the dishes of meat, she walked it out as Ted quickly got up from his seat to help her “Thank you.” She smiled gently.

He patted the seat next to him while everyone settled down. Darren turned to his girl “Bon Bon, will you say a prayer?”

The two year old giggled, “Okay. Umm…God bless this food uh...and...and things around it!”

Chuck pulled out his napkin and rested it on his lap “Bon Bon? Isn’t that a name of a desert? Why would you name your kid that?”

Mia laughed “It’s really Bonnie but Darren calls her by the nickname.”

“I see, Mi Mi.” Chuck cracked making the group chuckle, except for Ryan.

Mia nodded her eyes to Ryan, hinting for Erin “Ryan, do you remember Dr. Ethan Chan?”

He looked up after making faces in his mash potatoes “Yeah.”

“Joe asked for you to see him tomorrow. I’ll take you there.” Erin added.

Mia quickly chimed in “I’ll go with you too.”

Darren stopped chewing as he placed down his fork and knife “Excuse me?”

“Get over it, I married you remember?” Mia rolled her eyes. He was not as jealous as he use to be but when it came to Ethan, he was almost fearful that something would happen because to him, Ethan was the guy that got away “Bonnie, remind your father how much you love him.” She instructed as the girl pulled herself up on the seat and leaned over to kiss her father on the cheek, leaving a chunk of mash potatoes on his skin.

He eventually picked up his utensils “Take her with you.”

“Take who?” Mia asked.

Erin smiled “Your dessert.”

“Fine.” Mia grumbled.

“I don’t want to go.” Ryan said out of the blue.

“What?” Erin asked.

He sighed and turned to her as he got up “Excuse me, I’m not feeling too well.”

Erin was about to push her chair back when Ted stopped her “Let me.” She smiled in return and watched him chase Ryan down. He caught him at the front gate “Ryan!”

Turning to Ted, he shook his head “There’s nothing you can say to convince me.”

Ted smiled “I’m not trying to convince you anything. It is your choice to do anything you want. But I want to remind you that if you want to find Shelly’s murderer, you have to see Ethan.”

“I don’t understand.” Ryan snickered “What can he do to help me? Will he know who the killer is? No. He doesn’t have ESP, he can’t read the future. Maybe it was just a robber.”

“Trust me, a robber does not slit someone’s throat with a Swiss Army pocket knife.” Ryan crunched his brows together at Ted’s comment “We discovered the weapon outside by the lemon tree, stabbed at the trunk. The blood is being tested.”

Ryan turned to the sky “Even if it was a murder, we have no clues to find out who did it.”

“That’s where Ethan comes in.” Ted replied.

“How so?” finally getting through to Ryan, he turned to him questioningly.

Ted pointed to his left temple “Here. The mind is a powerful thing. Erin mentioned that you were the first to walk into the kitchen, you thought Shelly was in there. Did you see a figure?”

Ryan’s eyes wandered down to the grass as he concentrated, suddenly his head whipped up “I did! That’s why I asked: Shelly what are you cooking. I forgot all about that! Ga Jei and I split up and we searched the house, that’s why I was positive Shelly was playing a joke on us. The killer was in the kitchen? What was he doing?” his head was spinning, how could he have forgotten that factor?

Ted smiled “Now we’re getting somewhere. I can’t answer your questions, but I know Ethan can help you go back to that day and maybe your memory will remember something else?”

“Maybe.” Ryan had found his purpose. He suddenly smiled when remembering Jenna’s words. He looked embarrassed “Do you think they’ll mind if I come back for dinner? I'm starving.”

Ted laughed “No, of course not. If they do, I’ll just shoot them.” Placing a friendly hand around his shoulder, he led him back inside.

SIUBINGLIBRARY 2004