Chapter 7 The Blackout

Several minutes prior to the precinct’s power outage. Detective Kim stepped out of his private office, instructed the two officers to guard Mega Pop’s daughter then began walking down the hallway. He sauntered into an elevator nearby where he interacted with the interface’s floor panel. He set the elevator’s destination to the ground level.

While descending, Detective Kim’s phone started ringing. He swiped the screen then answered. “Hello? Yes, I’m heading down there now. What, she already arrived? Invite her in, I’ll be there soon.”

[Beep!] Detective Kim ended the phone call. During his wait for the lift to reach its destination, he adjusted his tie, his suit, moreover, he slicked back his roughly unkempt hair.

[Ding!] When the elevator reached its stop, a dapper-looking Detective Kim stepped out, looking more of a professional. Waiting for him outside the elevator was a male assistant. This person almost swallowed his tongue after recognizing Oolong Kim’s improved appearance.

“Detective Kim, you look dif… never mind. Follow me, she’s over here.”

“Lead the way.” Detective Kim followed the assistant who brought him to a refreshment area. As he opened a glass door and stepped into the room, his eyes fell on a captivating woman garbed in crimson apparel. Her mesmerizing presence outclassed all of the station’s feminine beauties. Some female officers who were taking a break inside the refreshment area felt envious towards the mysterious lady garbed in red.

“Detective Kim there she is. Let me introduce you.” The assistant brought Detective Kim face to face with the gorgeous lady and commenced the introduction. “Inspector Lee, this here is Oolong Kim. The lead detective overseeing the Mega Pop’s case.”

“Yes, we’ve met briefly. Isn’t that right, Mr Kim?”

Detective Kim was a bit flustered when he saw the beguiling beauty smiling at him while extending her arm. “Ah, yes. We’re briefly acquainted.” He shook her arm.

“Is that so?” The assistant noticed the weird expression on Detective Kim’s face and said: “Since you two are already acquainted I’ll take my leave.” The assistant walked out of the room, leaving Detective Kim together with the seductive temptress.

“Inspector Lee please have a seat.” Detective Kim gestured to table nearby.

“You’re too kind.” Inspector Lee complied by positioning her luscious behind onto the soft seat. When the other male officers who were waiting for refreshments saw that Detective Kim was conversing with this crimson beauty from such a close distance, they felt a tinge of jealously which made their envy audible.

“Isn’t that Detective Kim sitting over there with an alluring woman?”

“It is. Who is that woman he is with? Is it his girlfriend?”

“No way. What would a young beauty such as her doing with that aged man?”

“Then who might she be?”

“I overheard Gordon calling her Inspector Lee.”

“She’s an inspector? Then they are just work-related buddies.”

“Why are they meeting in such a casual place to talk business? Are you sure nothing is going on between those two? It looks to me as if this isn’t their first time meeting each other.”

“Why concern yourself with that? It has nothing to do with us. Excuse me, I’m going to get a coffee.”

As the gossips started dying around them, Detective Kim gave his attention to Inspector Lee and spoke softly. “Inspector Lee we’re attracting too much attention down here. Why don’t we take this matter up to my office?”

“What’s the matter, Detective Kim? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me in this exposed venue?” Inspector Lee showed a tinge of disappointment on her countenance.

Detective Kim hurriedly correctly his statement. “No! No! That’s not it. I just thought that you would feel uncomfortable.”

“Thanks’ for your concern, detective but I’m not uncomfortable. Now shall we get down to business?”

“Yes, please.”

Inspector lee took out some classified documents from her bag and spread them across the table for Detective Kim to analyse. “Regarding the issue that we spoke about last time, it seems that the evidence has generated inconclusive results.”

“That can’t be. Have you done a cross-analysis with the previous case reports?”

“We did. However, we’ve identified no substantial manufacturer who could have produced these unique golden rings. Contact tracing has also come to nought. So far there is no lead on that mysterious assassin who you’ve said caused that great uproar in the underground.”

Detective Kim’s countenance shifted from greater expectation to disappointment when he heard this unsavoury news. He slammed his hand on the table and voiced his frustrated thoughts. “Dammit! Every time I thought I’m getting closer to that blasted Tainted Scorpion, she ends up slipping through my fingers.”

Inspector Lee rested her buxom bosom against the table while grasping Detective Kim’s jittery hands. “Mr Kim, may I ask why you are so desperate to apprehend this elusive criminal?”

“That is…” Detective Kim was reluctant to share his personal story but after assessing the width of Inspector Lee’s cleavage, moreover, inhaling her persuasive scent, he began spilling his story without hesitation. “It was during winter 4 years ago on my birthday. I begged my superiors for a break from work so I could spend some time with my family. I had a wife and two daughters.”

“Had?” Inspector Lee asked curiously.

“Correct, it is exactly what you are thinking. At that time when I was granted the requested break, I didn’t head home right away for I knew that my wife was planning a surprise birthday party for me like she usually did, so I gave her some time to prepare. While I was biding my time at a bouquet stall couple blocks away from my home, I received an emergency call from my youngest daughter and rushed home as fast as I could. When I got there I spotted a violent blaze devouring my house. I was so shaken up, my mind went blank and I dashed into the blazing inferno with no fear of getting incinerated.”

“So is that how you acquire that burnt scar on your face? What happened next?”

“When I rushed into my home, everything was crumbling around me. Smoke quickly infiltrated my lungs, forcing me to halt my breathing. I searched endlessly for my wife and kids. Amidst the burning embers, I heard my daughter’s voice screaming out for help but I got pulled out of the blaze before I could get to her. While I was being dragged outside I glimpsed a golden silhouette dashing through the collapsed rooftop. Due to the excessive smoke which had corroded my lungs, I fainted shortly after. When I came too, the fire brigade already put out the blaze. I helplessly sat there, watching them carried out my family burnt corpses. The post-mortem reports found a golden scorpion-shaped ring wrapped around the aorta of my wife’s heart. I didn’t understand back then but now I know that my wife was a target of assassination. I discovered later on that the golden ring stunt was the M.O of the famous underground assassin who goes by the moniker, Tainted Scorpion. I’ve been hunting her down ever since to find out who contracted her to kill my family. My wife had no enemies so why…?”

[Sob! Sob!] Tears began forming in Detective Kim’s eyes. Inspector Lee who had listened to his doleful story reached out a finger towards his face and wiped his tear away. “You poor man. To have experienced such dreadful trauma is really upsetting.”

“Inspector Lee… I’m so sorry to have burdened you with my sad story.”

“No, please don’t be sorry. It wasn’t a bother.”

[Boom!] A sudden electric surge overcame the station which cut off the power, in the process, damaged some electrical components. Darkness encompassed the precinct, the alarmed officers inside started panicking.

“What happened?”

“The power is out. Why all of a sudden.”

“Look there. Those other buildings outside still have power.”

“Then why is it only our building? Did the department manager not pay the damn electricity bill?”

“How could that be? We are the law, aren’t we? They can’t cut off our power.”

“Detective Kim where are you?” Inspector Lee’s frightened voice rang out in the darkness.

“I’m right here, Ms Lee.” Detective Kim shot up from his seat, ran over and shamelessly embrace Inspector Lee.

“Oh, thank goodness. I don’t like the dark. Why did the electricity got cut off?”

“I’m not sure.” As Detective Kim started thinking about the possible causes of the lights going out, he remembered Mega Pop’s daughter who was still eating dinner inside his office. “Inspector Lee, I have to go check on someone. The emergency power should be kicking in soon. Will you be okay on your own?”

“I’ll manage somehow. Go if you’re busy.”

“Alright.” [Chep! Chep! Chep!] Detective Kim rushed outside the refreshment area and headed towards the emergency stairway where he wasted no time dashing up. “Could it be the Demon Triad’s doing? If so then that little girl might be in danger. I have to hurry.” [Huff! Huff!] As he continued climbing the stairs, Detective Kim quickly ran out of breath. However, he did not stop his legs from moving even when he made it to the floor where his office was located.

“I hope the little girl isn’t in any danger.” The moment Detective Kim entered the department, he heard a painful scream resonating in his ear.

“KYAAAAH! My arm!”

“Something’s happening?” Getting alerted by deafening voices, Detective Kim pushed some boxes out of his path and followed the screaming trail. Closing in on his destination, he identified multiple concerned officers swarming around a puddle of blood in front his office, moreover, he recognized the two officers who he left in charge of guarding Tiara Gold writhing on the bloody floor, each missing a hand.

“What the hell happened here?”

“Detective Kim? It’s horrible! Our guys were brutally attacked by an unknown assailant!”

“What about the little girl? Is she still inside my office?”

“No, sir. We have no idea where she went.”

“It took her!” The officer who had his hand chopped off spoke all of a sudden. “That dark aberrant abducted the little girl! Awe! So painful!”

“Don’t stress yourself. Someone get these two medical care!”

“Right away, Detective!”

“This incident recently occurred so they couldn’t have gotten far. The elevators aren’t working either, also I came up here from the stairway. Meaning, the only possible escape route is the roof. The rest of you follow me!” Detective Kim began dashing to the precinct’s rooftop with armed forces chasing behind him.

“I promised that little girl that I would keep her safe. How could I’ve let this happened?” [Chep! Chep! Chep!] Detective Kim desperately ran up the stairway, hoping to catch up with the assailant before Tiara Gold got lost forever.