The network, p.28
The Network, page 28
part #1 of Chronicles of Chun Series
I drew small breaths and then larger ones. I focused on the present moment, with me staring at the mirror and the image of her dripping blood disappeared.
I re-focused and exited my bedroom. Williams, Zata and Mathews were eating spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread. I grabbed my plate and dug in. “Who cooked?” I asked.
“I did,” Williams said.
“This dish is well made and I like the crunch of the garlic bread,” I said.
“You’re welcome, Chun. Thanks,” Williams said. Zata and Mathews gave each other sly looks but said nothing.
“Any news from Director Whitten,” I asked.
“Yes. He replied, ‘made aware. be safe,' Williams said.
“To the point,” I said. “Walk me through this. You’ll probably be searched if this is legitimate, so you can’t have ear pieces. I can sew buttons on your respective shirts that can send video without detection. It’ll come across as signals from any cell phones in the room. We leave in thirty minutes. I’ll clean up, sew the buttons on and everyone get ready,” I said.
Mathews had emerged in dark blue dress pants, white dress shirt and dark blue jacket. Zata came out in a plain black dress with stilettos.
“You guys wear it well,” I said.
"Wait until you see what car we’re driving,” Mathews said.
I stepped out and Mathews had rented a classic BMW. “Nice Beemer,” I said.
“Thanks. We have to give the illusion that we’re rich and important,” Mathews said.
Zata added, “Yeah, and somehow that makes us less perverted.”
I tested the button cameras on their shirts and got the feed on the tablet. I had plugged in headphones as the devices can also broadcast sound.
I saw the images of them walking outside and when they got into the car.
Williams rode shotgun and I drove. We followed Mathews and he drove to La Plaza.
They went to the second floor and we stayed in the lobby. I had straddled the tablet between the chairs so that Williams could watch as well.
I also gave her half an ear bud and she nodded her head in thanks. Mathews and Williams were at door and knocked. The door opened and a thin, ordinary looking man opened the door and ushered them in.
"So, you’re TMGM. These are the rules. I will photograph you with the dates. No aggressive touching. By that I mean grabbing, pushing, pulling, slapping, hitting. You can put your hand out and guide them. You can put your hand on their shoulders or their legs or waist. You can caress their faces. Play with their hair. You cannot stick your hands or fingers in their private areas. I will kill you if you do. The Network doesn’t take to people who disobey their orders. And I’m called Mister."
Mister… Mister… That’s who Nelson said had kept him confined! I sent a text to Zata and she excused herself. She opened her phone and it read: That’s Nelson's kidnapper.
Zata erased the message and went back out. There were two girls: both were dressed in skimpy swim suits. "Don’t be shy. Go and check them out. And you," - Mister pointed to Mathews, "I need the cash."
Mathews gave Mister five thousand dollars and Mister put it in a backpack.
Zata signaled Mathews that this guy needs to be caught. Mathews stood beside Jillian with his hand on her shoulder. Mister took the picture and Mathews walked over to see it.
Mister placed the camera screen so that Mathews could see it and Mathews grabbed Mister and threw him to the floor.
Mathews was about to put him in cuffs when Mister rolled to the side and punched Mathews in the groin.
Mathews gave a grunt and tried to grab Mister’s arm. Mister slipped out of his shirt and made it to the door.
He opened it and ran down the hall way. Zata was with the girls and Mathews was in pain.
"That son of a..." Mathews let that trail off.
I looked at Williams and we took opposite ends of La Plaza. I waited in the west location of the hotel and heard nothing.
I ran to the other side and Williams was down. "You just missed him. He cut me." Williams was nursing a cut forearm. "I got my arm. Go and get this guy," she said.
I ran around the corner and Mister lunged at me with a knife, barely missing my neck. He was thin, wiry and plain looking.
He lunged at me again, this time aiming for my arms and I knocked the knife out of his right hand. The knife fell to the red carpeted floor and he lunged at me. I stepped back and landed an uppercut. He fell forward, unconscious.
I checked his body for more weapons and found three more knives and an ankle gun.
I took the knife from the hotel floor, removed the knives and his ankle gun.
I took off his belt, wrapped it around his leg and dragged him towards Williams.
"You got him, Chun. Looks like you hit him hard," Williams said. We heard sirens. The local PD had arrived and two officers eventually found us. Williams got stitches and bandages.
The girls were brought down, given sweats to cover themselves and were talking with a female officer. FBI had also arrived. Special Agent-in-Charge - SAIC Bill Watley walked in.
"Williams, I thought I said don't ever give me unnecessary paperwork."
"SAIC Watley, we have someone of significance in custody. Director Whitten is aware and awaiting a de-brief, once we're finished," Williams said.
SAIC Watley slowly nodded his head. "How can I help with this investigation?"
"If there's any news media, can you handle the questions. Answer but don't answer," Williams said.
"Of course. We're putting the facts together and when we know more, we'll let you know. Sound good to you?" SAIC Watley said.
"Perfect," Williams responded.
"I'm not looking forward to the paperwork," SAIC Watley said again, while his team began blocking the small army of reporters that were gathering outside the hotel.
The paramedics had decided to take the girls to the hospital and we decided to lock Mister up in the psychiatric wing of the same hospital.
We contacted Director Whitten and he'd quickly approved the idea and had spoken with the hospital CEO.
Zata and Mathews rode with Mister. Williams and I rode with the girls. We didn't want to start questioning them in the ambulance.
We needed privacy.
We arrived at the hospital. Zata and Mathews took Mister to the 9th floor psychiatric ward. We were led to the ICU where we could get more privacy for the girls. A nurse and a doctor checked them out and asked if we wanted to perform a rape kit.
"Girls, did anyone touch you in your private places?" I asked.
"No, we were never touched in our private places," they said in unison.
I looked at Williams and she nodded at the nurse. The nurse left and we put a chair against the door to alert us if anyone was trying to get in.
"Girls, we need to know your names, please?" I asked.
"I'm Jillian and my younger sister is Lilly. We ran away," Jillian said.
"How did you meet Mister?" I asked.
"He picked us up. We were hitch hiking," Jillian said.
"And why did you run away?" I asked.
"Because daddy kept hitting mommy. We couldn't take it anymore, so we left," Lilly said, hugging her knees closer to her chest.
"There were others," Jillian said.
"Others?" I asked.
"Other kids. We saw a girl, she looked older and a young boy about six or seven," Jillian said.
"Do you remember where," I asked.
"No. Mister stuck a needle into us both times. When he picked us up and before we got here," Jillian said.
Williams was making notes and I was angry. I wanted to beat the crap out of Mister.
"Get the nurse and doctor in here. I hope Children's Services haven't been notified yet…" I said.
Williams went outside and informed the nurse. The doctor walked in and began to ask the girls questions.
He finished and said, "Children's services have been notified. Sorry, I didn't ask… It's policy… I don't know when they'll be here," he said and left.
"Great beside manner, huh?" Williams said.
"Can you get Mathews or Zata down here, so I can go to our other patient?" I asked Williams.
"Sure, I can do that," Williams said and left the room.
The girls were quiet and were listening to our conversation.
"My son... he was also kidnapped. He was lucky. He escaped and eventually found his way to me. Both of you have been very brave, first to run away and next to survive Mister," I said.
"Your son ran away from Mister? Mister was probably angry. That's why he beat the young boy. His name, I remember now, is Ronny and the girl's name is Sara," Jillian said.
I made a mental note of that - Ronny and Sara.
Williams arrived with Mathews and the girls stopped talking. "This is Sergeant Mathews. He's a good man. He's going to be with you as well as Special Agent Williams. I'll come back when I'm finished. You can trust them," I said.
Jillian and Lilly slowly started to relax and Lilly gave me a smile. I smiled back and whispered to Williams and Mathews: do not let children's services leave with them until I get back.
I arrived on the 9th floor and went to Mister's room. Two FBI agents were posted outside and Zata was inside the room.
Mister was still sedated and his face was red where I had punched him. He was strapped down in leg and arm restraints.
I took a picture of him and said to Zata, "He had two other kids: Sara and Ronny. We need to find out where he's keeping them. We need to wake him up. Get a doctor, please."
Zata hesitated and walked away slowly. When she was out of view, I moved closer to Mister. I had my guns with me and all it would take is a bullet to the head and he'd end.
But that wouldn't get you any closer to the power players behind The Network.
I closed my eyes, eased my breathing and released the hate and contempt I had of Mister. I focused on finding out where he held Sara and Ronny captive.
Zata arrived with a doctor and a nurse. She noticed that Mister was still breathing and moved to the side.
The nurse had a needle full of adrenaline and she plunged it into the intravenous feed of the saline bag.
Mister's eyes started to flutter and he started to cough. Drool came out of his mouth and he started to swear.
I motioned to the doctor and the nurse to leave the room. I pulled out my gun and Mister stopped swearing.
"Do you have the courage to kill me, right here, right now?" he said. I kept my aim at him. Zata knew what I was doing and asked, "Where are your other children located. Sara and Ronny?"
"They're going to die without me," Mister said.
I went outside and down to the lobby. I grabbed a handful of magazines and went back to the 9th floor.
The two FBI agents saw me with the magazines and let me pass. I walked in and smacked Mister six times - three on each side of his face.
Blood was coming out of his mouth. Zata knew I wasn't letting Mister go without punishment. He didn't seem to like being hit; correction, he didn't like feeling that he wasn't in control.
"I'll ask again, Mister. Where are the other children located?" Zata asked.
Mister was a second too slow in answering. I hit him on the inside of his legs and the sides of his neck. I also hit his ears.
His face was red and his mouth began to bleed. He'd cut his lips on his teeth.
He eyeballed me and I wailed on him again until Zata stepped into my view.
The nurse had left the remaining adrenaline and I fed the rest into the saline feed.
Mister woke up and Zata asked again, "Where are the other children?"
I moved to hit Mister again and he said, "in La Jolla. Address is 2332 WaybytheLane."
I walked out and Zata followed. "Let SAIC Bill Watley know and for his team to sweep the place for traps and IED's. Make the call, please," I said.
Zata pulled out her phone and called SAIC Watley. He informed her a team would be ready in three minutes and would get to the address in under thirty.
"Chun, that's not the way we do things. You could've killed him," Zata said.
"I have that ability, Zata. Next time you're in contact with your director, ask him," I said.
Zata looked perplexed. Her eyes betrayed the emotion she was feeling but remained silent.
"I'm going back down to ICU. I'll send Mathews back up," I said and left.
I wanted to end Mister but not before I punished him. The emotions I was feeling were beginning to feel like rage.
I calmed my breathing down and the adrenaline rush I felt was easing.
I had arrived in time to see that children's services was there and in children's services typical way, had tried to over rule everything Williams was saying.
Mathews had thrown his hands up and said, "I'm going back up, should you need me," and left.
"They need to come with us, now, Special Agent," Mr. Wellings, the social worker said.
Williams saw me. "Chun, these people won't listen. Wellings and Jenson."
"Mr. Wellings, please let me use your cell phone," I said and put out my hand. Wellings hesitated but handed over his cell phone.
I dialed the Governor of California's private cell phone.
"Governor, this is Dr. Dylan Chun. Yes, that Chun. I have children's services who are making it impossible for me to conduct an operation with the FBI. Can you speak with them? His name is Mr. Wellings. Thank you," and handed Mr. Wellings his phone.
Wellings' eyes grew wide and he took the phone. "Yes, this is Mr. Wellings from children's services. Governor… Yes… I understand… But… Yes… Governor, I understand."
He gave me a look of disgust, grabbed Jenson and walked out.
"Chun, do you know everyone? I mean, who don't you know?" Williams asked.
I didn't answer that question. Instead, I said, "A team is headed to where Mister kept the girls and possibly my son. SAIC Watley has sent a team and I warned them to sweep the place for IED's and traps."
"And I guess you used those magazines to get those answers?" Williams asked.
I'd forgotten I had the magazines in my hand. They looked like a club. I threw them in the waste basket. Jillian and Lilly were silent and they were staring at me.
"I need to ask both of you a very serious question: do you want to go back to your mom and dad?"
"No," Lilly said. Jillian still hadn't answered.
"And you Jillian, have you decided?" I asked.
"I'm the older sister and we have to look out for one another. So, it's no," Jillian said. She turned her head so that her tears wouldn't show.
Williams had physically moved herself away from the sisters. She was clearly uncomfortable with the entire situation.
"Understand that at your age, you might be separated in order to be placed with families. That's a fact. Do you have any relatives, grandparents that you could go to?" I asked.
"No, mom's parents died and dad's parents… he doesn't talk about them much. We haven't seen grandma and grandpa in a long time," Jillian said.
They're less emotional and more adult. Lilly is handling this well and Jillian is able to answer my questions. They deserve better.
I left their room and went to the nursing station. I pulled out my calling card and dialed the number to the foundation that my mother had setup for female education.
Around the world, females were denied education and this foundation helped with that challenge.
I was listed as a director of the foundation under my alias Craig Lowell.
My mother would know that it was me who was putting these girls forward and would look after their education herself.
I re-entered the room and Williams wasn't happy. "Where did you go?" We haven't said a word to one another, since you left," Williams said, pointing at the girls.
"Jillian and Lilly, I have good news. You're going to a new school which will also be your new home. The best part is that you won't be separated," I said.
The girls hugged each other and for the first time, they smiled. Real, genuine smiles. They ran up to me and hugged me. "Williams, we're going to drive them to the airport. As for their paperwork, it's being worked on as we speak," I said.
