Chapter 39 - Earth Intermission - 6
An hour later, the wail of a police car's siren reverberates through the neighborhood. Two police officers step out of the car and approach the residents, inquiring about the emergency call. A dozen residents point towards the 3rd floor, the source of the commotion.
The 50-year-old, 4-story apartment shows signs of neglect, with decayed exterior paint and vines from dead trees creeping across some areas. Many walls bear the marks of vandalism by gangs and troublemakers, leaving them dirtied and defaced.
Vesper rents a room on the east wing of the third floor. The officers mark the location and continue their inquiries, noting witness accounts of gunshots and calling for backup.
Thirty minutes later, two police cars and a riot van arrive, carrying ten officers in SWAT uniforms armed with riot shields and assault rifles. They cautiously ascend the stairs, guided by a detective in plain clothes.
The officers survey the area but come up empty-handed in their search for CCTV cameras. Frowns spread across everyone's faces, recognizing the potential challenge of finding solid evidence in this case.
As the undercover cop reaches Vesper's room, he notices a broken wooden door and a trash bag outside. Inside, Vesper nonchalantly sweeps the floor with a broom. The cop, in a calm voice, identifies himself as an investigator from FIB and shows Vesper his badge.
"Sir, I'm an investigator from FIB. We have reports that they heard gunshots from your room. Could you cooperate with us and answer some questions?" The cop asks Vesper in a calm voice.
The FIB cop, Kamper Noir, a half-European, half-Asian man with a trimmed beard and crew-cut hairstyle, exudes a dandy charm despite being 45.
Vesper, unfazed, agrees to cooperate. He shrugs as he has nothing to fear, "Sure."
Kamper brightly smiles and dismisses the SWAT team, allowing the investigation team to take over.
The assault unit accompanying the detective nods and lowers their weapons, stepping back from the crime scene. They retreat to their van and instruct the local police officers to handle the remaining tasks before departing.
As Vesper sits on his gaming chair, Kamper observes an expensive PC and a one-year-old iPhone near the monitor, along with gold stains on the walls and floor.
In a confidential tone, Kamper asks Vesper about the incident, "Sir, this is a confidential conversation. There won't be any recording. I simply want to understand what transpired here."
Vesper snorts disdainfully and feigns innocence, "Four armed dudes smashed through my front door searching for someone. They ransacked my room and left."
"Four armed men?" Kamper's interest piques. "Do you know them, sir?"
Vesper shakes his head. "None. I don't even know who they are."
"What do they look like? Can you remember?"
"Eh… I remember seeing a skinny dude who behaved like a hoodlum. All of them wore cop's official gear and carried an SMG if I remember correctly."
Kamper retrieves a small notebook and begins jotting down notes. As he pretends to write, he kneels and strokes the yellow stains on the floor, attempting to rub them away. However, the color has ingrained itself into the wooden surface.
Observing the seamless integration of the yellow stains into the floor, Kamper deduces that they have been present for an extended period. Yet, he harbors suspicions about Vesper, noting the numerous yellow marks resembling patterns found in blood splatters and wounds. Additionally, a faint iron-like blood scent lingers in the damp confines of the room.
Kamper decides to test Vesper, attempting to lower his guard.
"Alright, please remain here, sir. By the way, have you eaten? Would you like something?"
Vesper expresses gratitude, "That's kind of you. I haven't eaten since dinner. What time is it?"
"It's 11 PM."
"In that case, something light would be great."
"Sure! I'll fetch it right away, sir."
After the two exchange polite conversation, Kamper's grin widens as he strolls toward a late-night food stall situated beneath the apartment. The stall is owned by Madam Jay, a chubby woman in her 50s who has been running the vendor for three decades.
Despite Madam Jay's harmless appearance, she holds considerable influence in the neighborhood. Her diligent work ethic has acquainted her with nearly every resident in the apartment complex, including the janitors. She is knowledgeable in the local underworld, being familiar with the gangsters, drug dealers, and troublemakers who frequent the area as her customers.
Approaching Madam Jay, Kamper is met with a sardonic greeting. "Hey, detective. Chasing after small fish again?"
Kamper chuckles weakly. "I'm not so sure this time, Madam Jay. Something feels off about this case. Have you seen any odd groups entering the building?"
Madam Jay smirks sarcastically. "Your favorite nuisance was here."
"Ah, Peter?" Kamper's eyes light up. "So he was here? Anyone else?"
"In addition to Peter, I spotted that rascal, Dick. As for the other two, they're strangers to this area."
"Thank you. I'll have a deluxe-sized tofu soup, five moo-ping, and one sticky rice, please."
Madam Jay playfully chides him. "You should buy out my entire stall next time. You have been freeloading my intel these days."
Kamper chuckles, wiping his brow. "Ma'am, I can barely make ends meet with my salary. You know I can't afford that. One more thing, where did they go after leaving here?"
"I'm not sure. I didn't see them use the front stairs. Maybe they used the fire exit?"
"Hmm."
Kamper pivots and surveys the parking lot, spotting a familiar truck belonging to his police station with Peter's license plate—an ironic twist given their history as adversaries.
"Interesting," Kamper muses.
After receiving the food from Madam Jay, Kamper returns to Vesper and hands over the meal. He requests Vesper's ID and basic information, which Vesper readily provides.
After some initial questions, Kamper shifts the conversation and repeats the previous question. "So, what happened after they broke in?"
Vesper casually munches on the grilled pork skewers and fabricates a story, "As I said, they ransacked my freaking room. They didn't find who they were looking for, so they left."
"I see. Did they steal anything?"
"No."
Kamper raises an eyebrow, finding the testimony contradictory based on his understanding of Peter's character.
Peter's group, backed by a political party from another province, operates under the wealthy "Pom," who uses a gold company as a front for shady financial dealings. Peter, known as 'The Collector,' enforces debt payments through intimidation, torture, and human trafficking.
The Peter Kamper knew was notorious for his cruelty and ruthlessness towards his victims, with rumors suggesting involvement in human trafficking and smuggling. Therefore, the notion of sparing Vesper seemed illogical and out of character for Peter.
If Peter were involved, he would have likely fled the scene with the truck. Yet, the truck remains parked in the apartment's lot, adding to the mystery.
Kamper purses his lips and stares into Vesper's eyes. "They must have been quite foolish. How could they mistake you for someone else? Do you recall who they were searching for?"
"No," Vesper responds blankly.
"Ah, that's a shame. By the way..." Kamper continues to scan the room, his attention drawn to the gold stains on the walls and floor. Intrigued, he runs his finger along the gold surface and takes a sniff.
They smell like blood.