Zodiac of PRA II: Forever Heroes

Chapter 22

After their rendevous with the mortuary, Mia and Erin met up with the guys at Michael’s mansion. They had set up security cameras at every aspect of the home, tiny television screens showed every piece of land on the Wu Estate. Mia nodded with a satisfied smile “Not bad…not bad at all, boys.” She teased.

Darren waved his hand nonchalantly “It was a cinch.”

Brad shook his head with a laugh “Yeah, because you did the easy stuff.”

“You couldn’t let me be cool for another minute?” Darren asked Brad roughly.

“Someone’s gotta put you in your place.” Brad chuckled when he dodged a punch from Darren.

Ted was busy watching the screen, suddenly he waved to the team “Hey guys, you might want to see this.” He pointed to a figure in white roaming around the estates back yard. It was too far for them to zoom on the face.

Mia shivered “Second strike.” She muttered.

Darren turned to her strangely “Second?”

Brad nodded to Eric “Why don’t you go check it out?”

Eric pointed to himself “By myself?”

Ted laughed “I’ll join you.” He put an arm around Eric and pulled him towards the kitchen.

“What happened to you girls tonight?” Brad asked with his arm crossed.

“We heard some strange things and the caretaker was trying to scare us. Well, he succeeded with Mia and Shelly.” Erin nodded to her scared friend.

Darren wrapped an arm around Mia’s shoulder “What a freak. Did you girls give him a lesson?”

Mia nodded with wide eyes “But he claimed that he wasn’t the one making the noises and that he hear voices all the time. But from whom? He doesn’t know.”

“How about Reina?” Brad asked Erin.

She nodded “We were right on the nose. She’s not dead. It was another person.”

“Needless to say, she’s behind all this.” Darren nodded in agreement.

They paused when there were footsteps running back into the living room “The figure disappeared by the time we reached the back porch.” Eric advised the team.

Ted nodded “Looks like someone’s just trying to scare us.”

“Where’s Michael?” Erin wondered out loud.

“Upstairs.” Ted replied.

She nodded “I’ll see if he’s okay.” She smiled shortly at Brad who had on a grim expression.

“Jealousy SUCKS, doesn’t it?” Mia asked sarcastically when Erin was not within earshot.

Brad turned to her with a stern expression “Maybe you want to take the graveyard shift?”

Mia wrinkled her nose in defeat while Darren stroked her hair “It’s okay, baby. I’ll join you.”

Upstairs, Erin knocked on the library door softly. It felt like ages ago when she was living there as a guest herself. It seems the P.R.A. will always be haunted by the past “Come in.” Michael answered.

Erin peeked through the door and found him staring at a framed picture. He turned and gave her a warm smile “Is it Julie?” she asked nodding to the frame.

He nodded “I can’t seem to let go of her. It’s like she’s still haunting my every day life.”

She smiled, he was such a romantic “Maybe because you never got to say goodbye? Have you seen her grave ever since…” even Erin could not bring herself to remind him of her death.

Michael shook his head “Actually, I don’t know where she was buried.”

“What do you mean?” Erin frowned “So you didn’t witness her burial?”

Again, he shook his head “No, the Lee’s did not let me come near their home. Wherever they buried her, it was kept a secret. The only people that knew…I assume was Reina and Dave. But two of them…” he sighed sadly.

“Reina’s not dead.” Erin said flatly.

“What?!” Michael shook his head in shock “That can’t be.”

“But it is. Mia and I saw the proof today.” Erin explained.

“So I still have a chance to see Julie’s grave?” he asked excitedly.

Erin smiled “That is unless Reina has the heart to tell you. You had no idea they were sisters did you?”

He shook his head “It explained why she was so cruel to me. All that ‘sir’ and ‘master’ stuff was a front for the P.R.A. She and Dave had bigger plans for you guys and they couldn’t take a chance that you find out what really was going on. We’re all pawns in their game of chess. Fortunately…the madman is dead. But now…”

“We have the madwoman.” Erin concluded. She patted him on the shoulder “Why don’t you go to sleep? Someone will stay on guard all night for you.”

He smiled gratefully “Thank you.” He reached up and placed his hand over her hand on his shoulder.

“Ahem!” Brad cleared his throat, interrupting their moment “Erin, can I see you for a minute?”

She pulled her hand away and nodded at Michael before following Brad downstairs “What is it?” she asked.

“Mia and Darren will stay guard tonight.” Brad explained as they walked down the stairs “The rest of us will take turns tomorrow and the days after. I need a ride home.”

Erin nodded as she rejoined everyone. Eric was describing the invigorating moment when he was face to face with the white figure “I ran up to it and pointed ‘Who are you?’ and then you know what it said?” he asked Mia, who seemed to be the only one into his little story.

“Your momma?” Darren asked sarcastically making Mia burst into giggles.

Eric was not bothered as he shook his head carefully “No…it put up a hand and turned to float away.” His voice was a deep whisper.

Mia shivered from head to toe as she shook herself. Ted crossed his arms with a smirk on his face “And then Eric screamed like a baby and ran back into the house.” Mia laughed as she pointed at Eric teasingly.

“I did not.” Eric argued.

Ted shook his head “The only person that believes you is Mia. And Mia will believe EVERYTHING. Just ask her about the boogie man.”

Mia dropped her jaw in shock “You promised not to mention that!” she retorted at Ted.

Erin and Brad exchanged smiles “Mia, I think everyone knows about that.” Eric nodded in agreement causing the team to laugh heartily. She glanced at her watch “It’s getting late, we should all go.”

Mia got up from her seat “Where’s the kitchen?”

Darren frowned “Are you hungry?”

She shook her head “No, I want to make a garlic necklace…someone threw my other one away.”

Erin rolled her eyes when Mia gave her a look “I told you…ghosts are not afraid of garlic, only vampires.” She turned to Darren “How do you do it?”

Darren smiled “It’s easy…you smile and say ‘yes, dear’.” He teased Mia who was not appreciating being ganged up on.

Eric waved for Mia to come over “Erin’s right, the garlics will not protect you. Take my cross.” He took the silver chain necklace around his neck off and placed it over her head “It will keep you safe, my child.”

“Now, sprinkle some water on her and say ‘bless you’.” Brad concluded.

Mia looked at the chain while the team chuckled with laughter “Is this real?” she asked Eric.

He nodded solemnly “It was a gift from the Pope when I went over to Egypt a year ago.”

She smiled gratefully “Thanks, at least I know I have ONE friend.” She eyed the rest carefully and then landed on Ted “I thought I had two…but I guess I was wrong.”

Ted laughed as he reached out and ruffled her hair playfully “Aww, you know we love you.”

Erin shook her head at her friend and then turned to Darren “Make sure she doesn’t have any coffee, she’ll wake up Michael.”

Darren nodded “Got it!”

The team moved out leaving Mia and Darren to fend for themselves. Through out the whole night, each time Darren sat down, he would nod off and Mia would be sure to wake him up with her schemes. Whether it was tickling him or just screaming in his ear, it worked all the time. The night moved by slowly but peacefully, it seems the figure did not return.

Chapter 23

Early that morning, Mia and Darren were to be sent home to rest while Erin and Brad took over their shift. When the two got there, they found Mia and Darren dead asleep on the couch. Erin crossed her arms “They wouldn’t wake up if the house burned down.”

Brad smiled as he walked over and shook the two “FIRE!”

She waved her hand up unexpectedly hitting Darren on the face, Erin stifled a giggle while Mia took a hold of his face “I’m sorry, honey…did I hit you?”

He rubbed his face painfully “It’s okay…as long as I get some love.” He pouted while leaning on her shoulder.

“Hey, hey…take that home.” Erin warned.

The two tired souls laughed as they exited the home. Michael stood at the stairs smiling at them, he wore a gray suit that made him look tall “Good morning.” He greeted Erin and Brad “Are you ready?”

The two nodded in response as they rode with Michael in his limo. When they reached the office floors, they were greeted by a group of policemen. His face turned pale when he realized something was wrong with his suite “Are you Michael Wu?” they asked.

Michael nodded solemnly “What’s the problem officer?”

“Four janitors were murdered last night.” The policeman advised “We would like to ask you some questions.” He nodded blankly while following the policemen.

Erin and Brad turned to each other “Matt should hear about this.” Erin whispered.

Brad nodded “We’ll wait for Mia and Darren to be well rested first. Call a meeting tonight.” His eyes moved into the packed suite and his eyes met with Nora, who looked like a scared kitten.

She jumped from her seat and raced over to Brad. Her arms flew around his waist while she sobbed “It was horrible, Brad…blood everywhere…oh my God…I saw my life flash before my eyes!”

Erin rolled her eyes as she looked up at Brad who looked confused and didn’t know what to do “I’ll leave you two alone.” She said dryly.

He didn’t get a chance to stop her as Nora tightened her grip on his waist “I was so scared…I thought I’d never get to see you again.” She looked up at him adoringly.

Brad took a hold of her arms as he pulled her away at arms length “Nora, get a hold of yourself. You’re safe now. Were you the one that discovered the bodies?”

She nodded with wide eyes “I thought I’d come in early and help Michael set up the conference room, but then I saw this trail of blood and it led from one person to the next.” She squeezed out the tears while covering her stammering lips.

Erin watched from a distance looking disgusted, Julie was also silent sitting next to Erin “If you feel uncomfortable, you should tell him.” She said wisely. Erin turned to the girl with an odd expression “Relationships are built on trust, not on lies.”

“It’s not a lie if I don’t say anything.” Erin said wisely with a smile.

Julie leaned on her elbows “It is if you are going against what your heart says.”

“Good point.” Erin turned to the girl and suddenly, her smile faded. Her eyes caught on her dangling necklace “That’s very pretty.” She pointed out.

Julie touched the cross “Really? I got it at this jewelry shop in the States. It was really cheap, so I bought it.”

Erin’s brows flickered “Thrift shop?”

She shook her head “No, why do you ask?”

“Nothing, just thought I could get the same one if it was sold in a thrift shop.” Erin explained shortly.

After the questioning was finished, the police quickly cleaned out the bodies and the office building owner hired cleaners to take out the bloody carpets. Michael sat back in his leather chair looking drained instead of the vibrant face earlier that morning “They’re going to play me until I die.”

Erin smiled “At least you’ve got us to share the boat.”

“But don’t you see that they’re trying to get to me?” Michael asked “The letter, the ghastly figure outside my backyard and now the four dead janitors that work on my floor.”

Brad frowned “How did you know about the figure?” then he thought of the answer “Did you talk to Mia?”

He nodded with a short smile “Don’t be mad at her. I came down for a drink in the middle of the night and thought I should keep her company since Darren was nodding off. She might have spilled a bean or two.”

“I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a ghost.” Erin said confidently.

Michael nodded “For a minute, I tried to convince myself that Julie had come back to talk to me. But now that I think about it…it sounds absurd.” He shook his head with a laugh “I’m so pathetic!”

“It’s not your fault…if Reina is behind this, she knows exactly how to mess with your mind. She’s playing your weakest part, your heart.” Erin pointed out.

Brad agreed “Erin’s right. Reina is a lot smarter than we all think. But for some reason, I think this Chris Wong guy is in on it with her.”

“Same here…” Erin faded her thoughts away when Nora came knocking on the door.

“Michael, I’m not feeling good…can I go home?” Nora asked weakly.

Her boss smiled warmly with a nod of the head “Yes, of course you can.”

“Thank you.” She said sincerely before almost fainting on Brad.

He quickly got up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder “Are you okay, Nora?” he asked with genuine concern. She nodded with a small smile “Let me take you home.” He offered, but then turned to Erin who didn’t bother to look up at him.

Michael looked at the two obvious having a tension moment “How about I get my driver to take Nora home?” he offered.

Erin smiled at him thankfully while Nora refused “Oh no…I couldn’t ask you to do that, Michael. Brad can take me home.”

Brad nodded to Michael “I’ll be back.” He looked at Erin but again she did not look up. When the two were out of the office Erin sat back in her seat and let out a sigh.

“Why do you put yourself in so much pain?” Michael asked “Relationships are built on trust not lies.”

Her eyes snapped up “Strange, that’s what Julie said.”

He frowned “How did you know? I never told you what Julie and I use to talk about.”

Erin smiled “I meant your secretary, Julie.”

“She said that?” he asked in wonder.

She immediately caught his wondering eyes “It’s a logical thing for anyone to think. It doesn’t mean anything.”

Michael nodded “I guess your right. But it’s really strange, Erin. She has been on my mind since I got back from the States.”

“I think you need closure from Julie’s death. Let me talk to Ted and see if he can find any death records of her.” Erin offered.

When Brad returned 30 minutes later, Michael was in a meeting with his managers. Erin suggested that they patrolled around the building to make sure nothing was going on. They walked around the first time, not spotting anything unusual. By the third round, Erin was in her own little world. She didn’t notice that Brad had stopped behind the building “Erin!” he called for the fifth time.

Erin turned around blankly “What is it?” she asked.

“What’s wrong? You seem out of it.” He asked with his palm on her forehead “Are you feeling okay?”

She shook her head “I’m fine, did you find something?”

He nodded “Maybe. Look at this.” He picked up a dagger, with intricate designs on it. It looked to be ancient.

Erin remembered his love for ancient artifacts “Is it from the 1800th century?” she joked.

Brad shook his head “It’s Egyptian.”

She frowned “Are you sure?”

“Are you doubting my expertise?” he smiled.

She tilted her head “If only you were more experienced with women’s feelings.” She teased.

He took out a cloth that he carried around and wrapped up the dagger “Is that a hint I’m suppose to take?” he stood up and so did Erin.

“Mia would be proud, you’re finally taking hints.” Erin continued further behind the building.

“Is this about Nora?” he asked. Erin abruptly stopped in her steps and Brad jogged over to her “I take it that’s a yes.” She didn’t want to admit it as she lowered her head. He let out a sigh and spun her around with his hands “Erin, please talk to me. I want to know what’s going on in that little mind of yours. If it wasn’t for all of Mia’s hints and sarcasm, I would never know you were uncomfortable with Nora.”

She shook her head “That nosy little…” she sighed when Brad lifted her chin with his finger “Okay…fine, you want to hear it? I don’t like her, I never did, since the moment she walked back into your life, I knew I would not like her. I’m not the kind of person to talk behind someone’s back and I still refuse to. If she is your friend, I will respect that, but it doesn’t mean I have to like her.”

Brad nodded “Nora told me you would say that.”

Erin looked up with angry eyes “She did? Of course, you believe her…” she turned her head away sarcastically “You would take everyone else’s word for it before mine?”

His smile appeared and grew as Erin got more upset “Erin, listen to yourself. You’re assuming things so fast. I didn’t even finish.” She looked flustered at the same time crossing her arms “Yes, Nora said that you don’t like her. But she also said that you threatened her.” Erin’s eyes snapped upward and he laughed “I didn’t believe her.” He assured her.

“Really?” Erin asked reluctantly.

“I know you better than that.” Brad said with confidence “Erin doesn’t threaten…Mia does. I could only guess what she said to Nora.”

“She means well.” Erin said standing up for her friend.

Brad smiled “I know Mia’s harmless, she’s all talk. But Nora…she’s a whole different world.”

“Is that good?” Erin asked cautiously.

“I’m not sure.” His brows knitted together “She is a spoiled girl, she wants what she can’t have. While we were dating, she wouldn’t give me the time of day. But after we broke up, she realized years later that she wants me back? Call me crazy, but that’s a long wake up call.”

Erin smiled as she reached up and stroked his hair “That book Mia got you really works huh?” she teased.

Brad rolled his eyes up to the sky “Whatever, I didn’t even read it. I got this all on my own.” He rested an arm around her shoulder as they continued down patrolling the building.

Chapter 24

Later that night, Erin and Brad called a meeting. They walked into headquarters realizing that Matt was already there. His hair was tousled while his beard was unshaven. The two observed him carefully but he seemed to be in his own little world, looking through files. Mia and Darren strolled in together hand in hand, they were joking about something when they saw Erin placing her fingers to her lips as she pointed to the concentrated Matt.

Mia took a seat next to Erin “Someone’s enjoying the single life.” She said with sarcasm.

Matt covered his face with his hand “I just haven’t been home.” His voice was muffled.

“Huh?” Mia asked “Don’t talk to the table, it can’t carry on a conversation.” Matt sighed as he looked up, showing his darkened eyes and unclean face. Mia covered her gasped with her hands “It’s the hairy homeless guy down the street!” she giggled hysterically, nudging Erin at the same time.

Erin shook her head at her friend “Don’t pick on him, he’s been out all night.”

“Thank you!” Matt nodded with his arms thrown in the air.

“What did you find out?” Darren asked, a smile still on his face from Mia’s giggles. She always managed to make him smile.

“We’ll wait for the rest first.” Matt smiled at Darren “You know it’s not too late to turn back.”

Darren frowned “What are you talking about?”

He nodded at Mia “It’s not for one month, it’s going to be for the rest of your life. That’s a lot of months to go.” Matt dodged the evil glare Mia threw at him.
Darren laughed while Brad nodded solemnly “Matt’s right, Darren. Are you sure you want to be married to Mia? It’s MIA we’re talking about.”

Mia was pouting as she frowned at the two “That’s enough! Stop scaring him…he’s my last chance for survival.”

“Cause no one else wants you?” Erin asked teasingly, she turned to Darren sadly “Doesn’t that make you feel so special?” her sarcasm was easily detected.

“I feel special!” Eric jumped into the conversation as he strolled in late with Ted behind him.

“That makes two of us.” Darren nodded.

Matt clapped his hands to get their attention “Okay gang, let’s get back to serious business.” He nodded to the group “Anyone got anything new hints or clues?”

Brad turned to Matt “Try four dead janitors.” They turned to him unexpectedly and he continued “Erin and I escorted Michael to his office and found the police were there questioning everyone. It seems four janitors were murdered during the night. I don’t have any other information, but maybe Ted does.”

Ted smiled “That’s why I was late. I was reading over the files, it seems they were stabbed to death by a very odd shaped dagger. Nothing that the police has ever seen before.”

Erin nodded Brad “I think we know where it came from.”

He took out the knife from his jacket “Ladies and Gentlemen, the murdered weapon.” Unwrapping the cloth, he said “There is no blood on here, which means…”

“There were other daggers…and maybe they dropped this while trying to escape from the rooftop, which leads to a ladder that takes you to the alley.” Erin finished.

“Bravo!” Mia clapped her hands “You two are finally working together.”

Matt smiled as he nodded “I was just thinking the same thing, Mia.” He turned to Brad “Where is this knife from?”

“Egypt.” Brad answered “It’s a 1875 artifact that was discovered by a pheasant roaming the desert of Morocco. It’s made out of stainless copper, hence the color.” He picked it up and passed it around the group. It was said that the man sold it to a dagger/knives collector and it was duplicated 100 times but only 50 were sold to outsiders.”

“Does that mean this person…the murderer, and possibly the person that kidnapped Darwin is from Egypt?” Mia asked.

“Not necessarily.” Ted turned to Eric curiously “How long did you stay in Egypt?”

Eric frowned “Just a little over a month. I’ve always found the country very interesting so I decided to go there on my vacation. The people were friendly, but it was very hard to communicate with them. But you’d be surprise to see how many Asians were there.”

“Anyone strange or worth remembering?” Matt asked.

He shook his head “Not that I could think of.”

Suddenly, Erin thought of something as she looked up questioningly “How about that cross necklace? You said the Pope gave it to you?”

Eric smiled embarrassingly “I was just kidding. But I did really buy it in Egypt. The owner told me it was a rare design that you could only find in Egypt and at the very shop.”

Erin turned to Mia with her hand out, Mia looked at her strangely as she pulled the necklace from her head and handed it over “Are you positive this is only found in Egypt?” Erin wanted to be clear.

“Unless the owner lied to me.” Eric said logically.

“Did you think of something?” Mia asked Erin.

She shook her head slowly “No, nothing.”

Matt nodded at the team “Okay, looks like we’ve got a lot of digging up to do. Now it’s my turn to show off.” He smiled crookedly.

Mia grinned with her arms crossed “Let’s see what you got.”

“For the past two nights, I have been hiding out downtown by the bars and club at Tsim Sa Tsui. The gangsters really live during the night time, it was jammed pack with people. I had a lead that a ‘Dai Lou’ of the Hung Hing gang was meeting there with a new client by the name of C.W.” Matt paused to see their reaction.

“Chris Wong?” Darren was the first to ask.

Matt smiled “That’s what caught my attention.” He turned to the controls and pressed at the button that turned on the screen “This is Cheung Fei Hung, also known as Hung Gor. Leading his men at the top of Hung Hing. They say he’s like a flying dragon, you always see the head but never the tail.”

Mia suddenly grabbed her head painfully “Metaphors…oh, pain.”

Matt laughed with his head shaking “It’ll be so easy to torture you Mia. All they have to do is hang you from a high rise building and let a poet do all the talking.”

She shivered at the thought “Man, you paint an evil picture.”

Brad crossed his arms “Do you think we should contact Hung Gor?”

“Better!” Matt pointed “We’re going to find out his next trade off with this C.W. guy and have Cheung Fei Hung himself tell us the details.”

Brad frowned “I doubt the gangsters will be willing to help us pin a guy they are making money off of.”

Erin smiled slowly “No…but we can get a Hung Gor look alike.” She nodded to Darren “Come on.” She got up and stood at the front of the table while Darren followed her with an odd expression. She pulled out his sunglasses from his pocket and put it on for him. Then using her fingers, she combed his normally down hair upwards making spikes “Give the team a little smirk.” She advised Darren.

He did so and everyone began to smile, finally realizing what Erin was saying “Brilliant!” Matt clapped his hands.

Mia wagged a finger at the screen “He’s that same guy we saw at that one café shop that night we got into a brawl with the gangsters! He disappeared before the cops got there.”

Brad smiled “And I thought your brain was full of mush.”

Mia twitched her nose at him “I think you’ve mistaken that for your brain.” The team covered their giggles while Brad turned away from Mia’s snickering face.

Matt shook his head at the two and then turned to Ted “Can you find out when the next trade off is?”

Ted smiled “It shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Ahh…isn’t it nice to have a cop on the team?” Mia asked Brad with extra emphasis.

Darren returned to his seat and crossed his legs “Let’s say I pull off the identity, but how do I know what this deal is about? Surely, it will blow our cover if this C.W. guy figures it out. Since Matt found out that it’s not the first time they were in a tradeoff, he would easily realize that I am not the real Hung Gor.”

Matt leaned over the table with his hands clasped “That depends on how much information Ted can get and how convincing Darren is in his role.”

Mia’s hand suddenly shot up “I can help Darren!” she offered.

“With what?” Erin asked sarcastically “You’re a cursing kindergarten teacher.”

Everyone laughed while Mia’s face dropped “There is no rule at the school that teachers can’t curse outside the school grounds.” She stuck her tongue out at Erin. She shook her head at the rest “I love watching gangster movies…I can totally imitate it.” The team laughed again and she quickly stood up “Don’t believe me?” she walked coolly over to where Matt sat and lifted her foot on his chair. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter and easily lit one as if she’s been doing it for years “My boys were telling me that you threatened to beat them up with one hand tied behind your back.” She placed the cigarette between her finger and pointed it at Matt “Wanna put your money where your ass is? You… me… here, right now, punk bitch!” she threw the cigarette on the ground and stomped on it roughly. Then she took off her jacket and placed her hands in a boxing position.

Matt couldn’t hold it as he began laughing hysterically, there were tears of laughter in his eyes and soon, it became contagious as the rest of the team were now laughing. Mia wrinkled her nose and Erin quickly reached out to pull her back in her seat “That was…really… convincing.” She nodded but the grin told Mia she was not being honest.

“It wasn’t good?” Mia asked Darren.

He crossed his arms with a small smile “It was very good. Except…how did you get my cigarettes?” he asked sweetly.

Mia widened her eyes “Oh…well…I like the smell of them.”

Erin rolled her eyes “No she doesn’t. She’s trying to get you to quit.” She said to Darren “Hey, I didn’t know you smoke when you’re nervous.”

He laughed “Everyone has a weak spot.” He pointed at Mia “No wonder every time I buy a pack, it just disappears. And here I thought I was getting old and can’t remember where I put them.” He shook his head at her with disappointment while she smiled widely.

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