“Captain agreed to set up a quick intel trade. Guan’s Tea Shop. Tomorrow, same time as our meeting in that internet cafe. How about that?” Right after the meeting with the captain and other detectives, Marcus sent a message to Gloria.

“Okay.” Gloria responded without much delay.

Keryn and Shrevas rushed out of the briefing room because they got an alert on their phones. Kevin and Brian Sai chatted a little, then went into Kevin’s office. Marcus went in and joined them right after the message. The reason for this was simple: something Brian Sai mentioned during the debriefing: the name, Yixiang Zhuge.

“Hi, you called me?” Just this moment, Mick knocked on the door.

“Yes, please, come in.” Kevin nodded.

Marcus looked Kevin in the eyes, who then gave him a “trust me” look.

“Okay, Brian, can you tell us a bit more on what you found on the Ling family connection? ” Kevin asked: “And - I think we can organize this information a little, so we can maybe help Keryn and Shrevas with their case.”

“The Ling family case?” Mick nodded: “I - I heard about it. And what’s new?”

“Have any of you heard of the name Yixiang Zhuge? Or maybe Zhuge Yixiang?” Brian Sai asked, looking at everyone in the room: “I mean - I haven’t got a chance to dig into it yet, but it sounded very familiar…”

“I think I heard of the name. Which is why I called you guys here, because, for one I want to confirm, and for two I don’t want to say this in front of the captain unless we have something concrete.” Kevin nodded.

“Wait - I think I’ve heard of this name as well - ” Mick frowned: “Is it - is it the real name of Big Sister Zhu, or Madam Yi? The - the trafficker?”

“Yes, yes, exactly!” Kevin snapped his finger: “I mean - I’m glad I’m not the only one who remembers. But - we just need to have a plan to actually research this - ”

“Wait wait wait, what’s the deal with this trafficker?” Brian Sai scratched his head, confused.

“Well, uh - she used to be kind of a legend - however horrible it might be.” Mick cleared his throat then shrugged: “... in the trafficking crime sense - I meant. She used to be one of the biggest fish. Until - until her brutal death.”

A jolt of electricity went through Marcus’ entire boy: “She’s the one who got captured and lynched?”

“Yes.” Kevin and Mick answered at the same time.

“Okay - okay, so this is a good connection.” Brian Sai almost jumped at the confirmation: “So I guess the theory is - they ‘adopt’ their son through her. But - how do we confirm it? Where do we start? If it is more than a decade ago, all the records would be kinda - kinda murky.”

“That’s where Mick comes in.” Kevin chuckled: “Out of all of us, you are the one with the most connections in the district. Am I right Mick? ”

Mick looked at Kevin, then Marcus, then Brian Sai, then shook his head and sighed: “Well, yeah, I guess - I guess I MAY know more people.”

“Good - good. And I will presume you know more about these people - I mean, South Western District upper middle class types, kinda rich, one or both parents work for a big company - ”

“Yeah yeah, I got it.” Mick waved his hands, then took out his phone and got ready to take notes: “What do you want me to learn about?”

“We’ll need you to lead me on this one.” Brian Sai nodded and patted Mick on the shoulder: “If you could find something out about the Lings, that would be great.”

“I - I can’t say I’ll have anything for you very soon. Because - because I’ll need to get in touch with some of my past contacts.” Mick shook his head: “Marcus, I think I’ll need your help with this as well - you know some people in some temples right? Can you bring me some - some hard to get blessed items or talismans? It doesn’t have to actually work, just needs to look and feel good.”

“No problem. But it'll take a bit. It’s not that easy to find.” Marcus nodded: “Things are getting harder to find, and more expensive too.”

“Also - this reminds me.” Brian Sai raised his hand: “Do you - do you happen to know where she was buried? Or was she cremated? Yixiang Zhuge, I mean.”

“She was neither.” Kevin shook his head: “She was tortured almost beyond recognition. The city recognized her through some DNA samples from her fingernails. A lot of main parts of her body was said to have been tossed into the lake and were not found. It wasn’t for the lack of trying - the city lost two divers that week.”

—-----------

Guan’s Tea Shop was a small but old establishment near the border between the South Western and South Eastern districts. It was a two storey house made of only bamboo and red wood, with a small but old peach tree standing in by the front door. On it there were around two dozen knots made of red threads each with a small pendant dangling below. The billboard of the tea shop was made of one single whole piece wooden board, the name was carved into it, each stroke fused with the art of Shufa.

Marcus and Kevin were seated around ten minutes before the designated time. Outside of the tea shop, Mick and Brian Sai were waiting in an undercover car, watching the outside and the surrounding area.

Five minutes before the designated meeting time, a tall, slim but slightly muscular woman in a black jacket, a pair of black jeans went into the tea shop, her hands in her jacket pockets. Another young woman stayed outside and sat on a decorative stone by the side of the road, acting rather innocuous but was quite clearly someone to cover for the young woman that just went in.

“She went in.” Brian Sai notified Marcus and Kevin through her coms.

“Thanks, noted. But like I said, no need to worry.” Marcus responded.