Lights Out

by Stopforth, W. J.

  Lily finished her tea first and she placed the teacup back on to the tray.

  She moved the tray towards the back of the table and made space for her laptop in front of them. Then she waited.

  Soon her Grandmother had finished her tea. Lily helped her to place the teacup back onto the tray.

  “Your challenge as a new member of The Family was to bring us fresh new business opportunities. I remember that I told you that you must first attain the skill, and the creativity comes later. You have studied hard, you have been privy to every aspect of the society and understand us well. All of the Masters have been impressed with you, most of all myself. Now I am interested to see what creativity you can provide for us.” She smiled at Lily.

  Lily started to feel a little nervous presenting to her Grandmother, but this was no trial run. This was her one shot to show her what she could bring to the table.

  Lily opened up her laptop and pressed the on button. Whilst she waited for it to boot up, she began her presentation.

  “I started out by looking at our strengths and what we are good at, and also looked at the Society like you would do any major company. The two big income areas for us are money laundering and security, but we’ve faced some difficulties with both of these over the last few years. We know that our rivals in Hong Kong are starting to compete with us, and they have managed to lure some of our less loyal members and are encroaching on some of our territory. We are lucky that we are cash rich, but we need new ways to move our money, so that we can clean it quickly and get it re-invested elsewhere. I also believe that we must step up our security offer, and I think I’ve found a way to do both.” Lily said, and positioned the laptop screen so that it faced her Grandmother.

  “What I can offer, and what the Society is lacking, is technology.” She stated. “I did some work on digital video technology as part of my studies and managed to build a unit that can be manipulated by me, or people that I train, remotely.” Lily tapped on her keyboard and pulled up a black and white image that filled the screen entirely.

  Lily’s Grandmother leaned in and squinted at the image for a few seconds, and then sat back in her chair.

  “Where is this?” She asked Lily, observing the moving image of people going back and forth into a building.

  “It’s the entrance to one of our busiest strip clubs in Wan Chai. We’ve had trouble with some of our rivals threatening the staff, getting past the security on the door and as you know, last week, we had a small fire breakout. Our CCTV camera’s can only record, but can’t help us to stop what is happening, we can only watch it unfold after the event.” Lily could see her Grandmother lose interest, so she quickly continued.

  “Keep watching. I installed this camera system last week after we received the first round of threats.”

  Lily pressed the play button. The footage that now came up showed a full club, people were queuing up outside in their hundreds and slowly people were being allowed in bit by bit. They watched as the video showed a man slowly pushing his way to the front of the queue, and after a short while was given entry to the club. Shortly afterwards smoke could be seen billowing out of a small side window. The same man could be seen slipping out of the door and calmly walking away from the building, whilst everyone else around him panicked and shouted. Lily clicked another play button. This time the footage began in the same way, but the date on video indicated that it was recorded the day before. Lily’s Grandmother watched the same man begin to push his way through to the entrance of the bar. The camera zoomed in and locked on to his face and zoomed out again. Seconds later a security guard walked to the front of the club and grabbed the man, hauling him inside the building.

  Lily pressed the off button and closed her laptop.

  “What this means is that I’ve been able to develop the technology so that we can incorporate facial recognition. We can start to build our own database of rival society members, and pick them out one by one to prevent this kind of thing from happening. We can monitor and control who comes in to our clubs, our restaurants and our territories.”

  “You said that you can assist the Society in two ways. What is the second way exactly?” Lily’s Grandmother asked.

  Lily could sense that her Grandmother bored easily when it came to technology, so she would have to make her sell to the point to hold her interest.

  “We are always looking at ways to generate income. Using the same camera technology I’m able to cloak video imaging from a remote location and replace it with another image.” Lily said, hoping that she was holding her grandmothers attention.

  “And how exactly would this be useful to us?” She asked.

  “It’s a way of protecting us whilst we gain access to funds.” Lily replied.

  “Funds as in….”

  “Funds as in, cash.” Lily finished the sentence for her Grandmother. “Potentially, a lot of cash.”

  “If we are able to get past all of the usual security measures in a bank, for example, cloaking the camera’s is relatively simple. That gives us the flexibility to carry out the work, without detection. It would be as though we were never even there.” Lily said.

  Lily’s Grandmother sat in silence absorbing all of the information.

  “I know that we normally try and gain funds through reputable means, but Banks have insurance measures against this type of thing. So we’re actually going up against the insurance company and not the bank or it’s customers. We would be removing the funds from the right people.” Lily explained.

  “Just enlighten me with how you expect to bypass all of the security measures?” Her Grandmother asked out of sheer curiosity.

  “Well, as always it’s about who you know.” Lily said.

  “An old friend of mine works at the World Asia Bank. I think that through him I could gain all of the knowledge that I need to get into the building. I’m fine on the technology side. It’s the removal of the funds that I would need help with.”

  “I can help you with men, if that’s what you would need. That’s no problem, but how will you gain access to the actual cameras, even if you can get through all of the security? I’m assuming that you would have to do something to them to get them to work as you wish.”

  “Well this is where fate has played a big hand. One of my other contacts that helps me on the tech side of my development has heard that the bank is planning an upgrade. I think I can bid for the contract and I’ll make sure I win it. That way we can legitimately go in and make all the changes to the camera’s that we need.”

  “I really think that it could work.” Lily said, excited with her plan.

  “How much income do you think this could generate?” Her Grandmother now asked.

  “Enough to keep the money launderers very busy for a while.” Lily replied.

  Chapter 20

  Motel 186

  Ryan looked up at the cracked neon sign above the Motel entrance. It’s flickering bright pink light spelling out the name in cursive writing, the only source of illumination on the dark street. Each flicker was accompanied by a low buzz as the electrical current surged and waned as he stood on the doorstep deciding whether to go in or leave. A few drops of rain landed on Ryan’s shoulder making up his mind. Ryan pushed open the old wooden door and peered down the dimly lit corridor. The grey marble floor that led Ryan towards the reception was cracked and dirty. Litter formed small piles in unsuspecting corners. Old food wrappers, yellowed newspapers and cigarette ends made up the majority of the collection.

  An old metal fan whirred overhead, its outer cage set slightly skew causing

  the metal blades to tap, tap, tap against the metal rods as the blades spun past.

  As he drew closer, Ryan could see an old TV standing on a table top at the reception. There was no sound, just the reflection of the TV picture forming shapes, and casting shadows across the face of the sleeping Chinese security guard.

  Ryan watched the old man sleep for a moment. His face was soft with sleep, but
carried deep-set wrinkles. He had fallen asleep sitting upright on his chair. His feet remained flat on the floor and his hands rested gently on his thighs. His head was positioned slightly to the side and his mouth was relaxed and slack. His breathing was raspy and faltered slightly with each exhalation, as though he had something caught in the back of his throat.

  Eventually Ryan shook the guard gently by his shoulder.

  The guard awoke with a start. Disorientated by his sudden consciousness he looked around trying to find what had woken him so abruptly and his eyes finally rested on Ryan. The panic in his eyes changed to guarded suspicion.

  “I need a room.” Ryan said pointing to the keys on the wooden board behind the guard.

  He spoke to the guard slowly and used his hands to mime a key turning in a door.

  The guard looked to where Ryan was pointing and then back towards Ryan, his face completely blank.

  “I need to sleep.” Ryan said, this time placing his two hands together and resting his head on one side with his eyes closed in an attempt to make the guard understand.

  “Ah.” The Guard said and gestured back to Ryan, by showing him a key.

  Ryan nodded, relieved that he would soon be able to lie down and rest.

  Ryan stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out some crumpled notes and showed them to the guard.

  “How much.” he said, spreading out the money on the desk.

  The guard looked at the cash, then took a calculator and tapped in the amount, turning the small screen to show Ryan.

  “OK, $200, that’s fine.” He took the two red one hundred dollar notes and flattened them out before passing them across the counter to the guard.

  The guard nodded, then turned to the hooks behind him and pulled off a key with a long bottle green rectangular plastic fob with number 241 etched in white.

  He placed the key on the table and pointed to a stairwell just down the hall from the reception desk. Ryan nodded.

  The guard gave Ryan a toothless smile and waved him off down the corridor, before settling himself back in to his chair.

  Room 241 was basic. A single bed stood underneath the only window in the room framed by heavy brown curtains that didn’t quite reach the floor.

  The deep red carpet covering the floor smelt musty to Ryan. He covered his nose with his shirt as he made the short walk to the bathroom.

  The bathroom was not much better. Two white towels, grey with over washing, hung stiffly on a metal rail on the back of the door.

  Ryan brushed his hand across them only to feel the crunchy hard fabric underneath his fingers.

  A single bulb lit the bathroom sending a yellow glow across the room, and highlighting the dusty sink and low bath. The toilet lid was down, and Ryan wasn’t ready to check out how clean it was. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, the dull light more gentle on his complexion than before, but he could still see the dark circles that had formed underneath his tired bloodshot eyes.

  Ryan noticed a small shelf above the sink, and saw that there was at least a free toothbrush and small pot of shampoo that he could use.

  He walked back through to his room. He had no change of clothes and just the few crumpled notes he’d managed to grab before fleeing his apartment.

  He sat down heavily on the bed and was surprised at how soft the mattress was. Trying not to think about the smell of the carpet, Ryan lay back and covered his eyes with his forearms, pressing them closed. All that he could think about was sleep. The desire tugged and pulled at Ryan until eventually he hauled himself fully onto the bed, kicking his shoes off as he did so. He drew a corner of the bed sheet across his body and allowed himself to become consumed by exhaustion.

  Chapter 21

  Unable to sleep, Lam decided that her time was better spent working. She pulled herself out of bed before her alarm and quickly showered and dressed herself. She gave her dog Sasha a rub on the head before leaving, a pang of guilt sweeping over her, and a promise to herself that she’d take him for more walks once this case was solved.

  She pulled up to her normal parking space in the dark. Her colleagues still had another few hours of sleep before the sun would come up.

  She climbed out and scanned the parking lot. The Chiefs car was parked in its usual spot.

  A bit early, she thought to herself and checked her watch. It was 5.30am.

  Lam could see a shard of light under her office door. She paused for a moment and then walked in. The Chief was standing fixated. He was so engrossed in Lam’s pin board that he didn’t even hear her enter.

  “Chief.” She said, a little amused at the height at which the Chief jumped at the sound of her voice.

  The Chief composed himself and smiled at Lam.

  “A bit early for you Lam?” He queried, looking at his watch.

  “I may say the same about you?” She countered.

  Motioning to the pin board, the Chief continued.

  “This is impressive Lam. When did you do this?”

  “Last night. It helps me to run through the facts, try a few theories out, link things together.”

  “Listen, whilst I have you here, there’s something that I’d like to ask you.” The Chief sat himself down in her chair, rocking it back and forth slightly with his weight. Lam chose to sit in the ‘guest’ chair on the opposite side of her desk, not wanting to look down at the Chief when she answered him.

  “Most importantly, have you been to see the Counselor yet?” This question surprised Lam, she wasn’t used to the Chief being so nice, and this was twice now that she’d experienced him showing empathy, however awkward it was for him.

  “I have an appointment set up for next week, but I’m actually fine.” Lam lied.

  “That’s good. Let me know how the meeting goes.” The Chief said with relief. Please to have at least asked the question.

  “In fact I’m pretty focused.” Lam continued. “I have a couple of new leads and I’m a step closer to our main suspect, we had his prints confirmed yesterday, and it definitely appears to be an inside job.”

  “Do you really think it’s an inside job?” The Chief asked.

  “We’ll know for sure when we catch up with Harper and his buddy Black, but for now, the hard evidence is giving me a set of palm and fingerprints that match, and a staff member that is MIA from his work place.”

  “And what about Chow?” The Chief asked gently “Have we moved any further forward there? Do you need more people?”

  Lam sat quietly for a moment.

  “I have a few guys working on Chow’s case Chief. How was the visit?”

  The Chief shoulders slumped slightly as he remembered the stricken faces of Chow’s wife and his mother. They had been perfect hosts to the Chief upon his arrival, in true Chinese tradition. When he broke the news of Chow’s death, his wife rocked silently back and forth in her chair, whilst his mother howled, like any parent would who had outlived their child.

  “It was as expected.” The Chief replied simply, not wanting to go into detail.

  Lam wanted to move away from Chow and back onto the Bank. She wasn’t ready to discuss him yet.

  “I think the bank job is only partly an inside job. I don’t think that Harper was smart enough to set this thing up himself. Someone else planned it, and he was simply a part of it. It was very well organized, and normally when it’s well organized, it usually involves our old friends. I think one of the Triad groups are involved, but I need to do some more digging first to be sure. What has thrown me is that they have included someone who is clearly not part of their normal family. They usually stick within their own kind, especially for something this big.”

  “I think you may be right.” The Chief agreed. “That brings me on to my next subject. In fact the timing couldn’t be better. I was going to talk to you about this later, but as we are both here and we have some privacy, now would be a good time.”

  Lam shifted in her seat. She didn’t like it when the Chief just threw her a curve ba
ll. It wasn’t her style. She didn’t like change, she needed to chew on things for a while, and he was giving her the distinct impression that he was about to make a change.

  “I’m assigning a new partner to you from the Organized Crime Bureau. He’s very experienced and specializes in organized crime. He’s covered many situations like this before and I think you two will work well together.” The Chief could hardly look at Lam in the eyes. He knew that she would fight him over this, but he wouldn’t back down. She couldn’t manage these two cases together, and he wanted someone to be there with her. Support her where she needed it.

  Lam could feel the tension come into her neck and her cheeks flushing hot. She hated having new partners. She worked just fine on her own, and she certainly didn’t need someone new to come and give their opinions and change the course of her investigation. She was making headway on her own. No, no this is not going to happen, she thought to herself.

  “Chief, with all due respect” Lam started.

  The Chief cut her off mid sentence knowing what was coming. “It’s decided, you have no say in the matter. You need someone else on this with you. Now that you don’t have Chow, you need someone to pick up the slack, and he’s good. Very good. You have a case that is getting bigger and more complicated by the day. You have one dead contractor and a dead partner on your hands. Not forgetting two missing bank employees of which one we know is on the run.”

  “Oh, and if that’s not enough, then you have to deal with me,” The Chief said, pointing a finger to his own chest and stabbing himself to make a point. “I’m putting you under pressure to solve this case, and whilst I have the board of Directors and Commissioner breathing down my neck, I’ll be breathing down yours.” The Chief pointed a finger toward Lam.

  Lam got the picture. She realized that she would have to pick her fights with the Chief. This was not one that she was about to win. She held her tongue and nodded an affirmation across the desk.