AAE Fictions, MARGIE

:: GHOST -- A Cry for Justice ::


Short Story: DAE (Ghost)
Author: Margie L (M'sia)
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(Zhang Da Xian: Jang Dong Gun)


Superintendent of Police, Zhang Da Xian rang the bell to the posh apartment. He was not looking forward to crossing swords with the owner. However, he had to act on the numerous complaints he had received.

SP Zhang had another reason why he preferred to be somewhere else – even pursing petty thieves sounds more interesting. Han He Kun had a reputation as a notorious gay – a fact he was proud to disclose. He relentlessly chases after every good-looking guy he sees. He doesn't care what price he has to pay for them. As soon as he tires of one, he would move on to a new and fresh face.

Although holding a high level rank as Superintendent of Police, Zhang does not pull rank on his subordinates. Outside working hours, he treats his men like buddies. Probably used to having too much leeway from their boss, they were bold enough to tease the extremely good-looking Superintendent about Han – warning him to look out for Han's many 'tentacles'.

Fondly called SP by his boys, Zhang ignored their jibes and coolly replied, "That weirdo dares touch me, I promise I'll immobilize him where it counts!"

Laughing loudly at their boss' exaggerated threat, Inspectors Kim and Jin teasingly queried, "What if you do not get a chance to shoot? I heard he's a pretty persistent guy and very generous with his conquests. Why don't you give him a chance?"

The superintendent glared at Kim and Jin and asked, "Since you're so interested, why don't you both give him a chance?"

"We doubt he would even look at us. You know everyone's nickname for both of us – Abbot & Costello, right? But what's yours – Dong Gun Jang! I ask you, who would choose Abbot & Costello over Dong Gun Jang?"

"Don't worry. Han just has 2 choices, either 'Abbot' or 'Costello' because me, 'Dong Gun Jang' is out of the running. I am perfectly happy with my missus doctor at home."

Everyone laughed again. Actually they joked to ease the tension at the prospect of having to confront Han. Besides being a loudmouth, his violent outbursts were legendary. He was frequently in the news for bashing this or that person for the least provocation.

They were ushered into Han's apartment by his housekeeper.

"Mr. Han, the police are here to see you."

Although they had seen Han's picture in the papers, they were surprised when they actually saw him in person. He was a very tall man, almost 6' 5" and much bigger than he appeared in his pictures. It was also obvious that he was wearing a hairpiece.

"Mr. Han, I am Superintendent Zhang Da Xian of the Seoul Metropolitan Police". The superintendent introduced himself but did not bother to offer his hand for a handshake.

However, he was compelled to take the man's hand when it was offered to him. Touching Han's hand made his skin crawl. He suppressed the urge to wipe his palm on his pants.

Han proffered a charming smile at Zhang and welcomed him to his home. 'You look rather young to be a superintendent and too good-looking to be a cop."

He eyed the Superintendent appreciatively. "Why don't you come work for me? I guarantee that you would be paid more than what you would earn in a lifetime as a cop."

The superintendent felt like smashing a fist in Han's hairless face – he was that annoying.

However, he controlled himself and said in a no-nonsense tone he reserved for his subordinates during working hours, "Thank you, Mr. Han but I have no intention of switching careers."

"Well, anytime you change your mind, you know where to find me." Han obligingly changed the subject. "Now, how can I assist the Seoul Metropolitan Police?"

"Mr. Han, your neighbours' complaints are very straight forward. They said every night, or to be more accurate, they would be awakened by a hammering sound coming from your apartment at 2.30 a.m. in the morning. This has been more frequent. What I would like to ask you, Mr. Han, if you are the one making the noise?"

"You must be joking, Superintendent. Do I look like the type who has to do a menial task like hanging up my pictures?" Han's smirk is really getting on Zhang's nerves.

"And do I look as if I'm joking, Mr. Han?" Zhang decided to use a softer approach when he noticed the falter in Han's smile. No point in offending him, otherwise they would be there the entire day.

"I apologise, Mr. Han, if I sounded rude. That was definitely not my intention." Zhang gave Han a megawatt smile to take the sting from his earlier words. Han nodded his head graciously, accepting the apology.

"I thought I had always got along very well with my neighbours. I have absolutely no idea why they complain about me. Further, I am always in bed by 12.00 a.m. and I have never been disturbed by any noise. Wouldn't I have been awakened too if the noises were really from my apartment? I think their complaints are unfounded and a deliberate move to oust me from my apartment."

"Why would they want to do that?"

"That's for them to know and for me to find out."

Looking around him, Zhang politely suggested, "Mr. Han, do you mind I we take a look at your apartment? Maybe we would be able to find out the cause of the sound?"

"Well, of course I do not mind as I have nothing to hide, but I think we should follow protocol. Do you have a warrant?" Han thought he had caught Zhang at his game.

"Since you asked, yes, I do have one". Zhang produced the warrant and handed it to Han.

As he accepted the warrant, Han's smile faltered a second time - but just as quickly, he regained his composure.

"You have some very influential neighbours, Mr. Han. We had no problem getting a warrant." Zhang said this deliberately and with great satisfaction.

"I have absolutely nothing to hide. Please consider a tour rather an inspection. Where do you want to start, Superintendent?"

"I leave it to you, Mr. Han"

"Then we'll start with the kitchen, followed by the living room, the library, my study and finally the bedrooms. As you can see, my apartment is quite big. It will take up a whole day. Do you have the time, Superintendent?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Han. We have all the time in the world, don't we, boys?"

His 'boys' cheerfully averred, "Aye, Sir!"

Inspections of the kitchen, living room, study and library did not reveal any suspicious findings. After showing them the way, Han would stand and watch by the sideline, eyeing the police team like a hawk, waiting to pounce on its prey.

Finally, they come to Han's bedroom. The luxury of the bedroom was unbelievable and surprisingly, tastefully decorated. It was obvious that Han had spent a fortune on decorating his bedroom while maintaining a sparse interior design on the other parts of his apartment.

"May we take a look in your wardrobe?"

"Of course. Be my guest."

SP Zhang pulled the ornate iron knobs of the vast wardrobe open and was amazed at the immense quantity and quality of designer apparel inside. Checking that his hands were clean, he carefully moved the clothes aside. He did not want to give Han a chance to accuse him of soiling his precious apparel.

Rapping lightly on wooden panel at the rear and hearing a hollow sound, Zhang knew there was a cache behind the wardrobe.

He beckoned Kim and Jin and instructed them to remove the panel.

Han immediately tensed and shouted, "Hey, wait a minute! Your warrant was only to inspect, not to damage my property. Do you know how much I paid to assemble this wardrobe? More than your 2 years' income, Superintendent! Are you going to be responsible for any damage? Can you even afford it?"

However, Zhang was adamant. "Mr. Han, the warrant is to inspect and this is exactly what I'm doing. How can I inspect what's inside without removing the panel?" The angry Han was glaring angrily at the cool Zhang.

"I want to call my lawyer. You can't remove anything before he arrives? Understand?"

"Why would you need a lawyer? We're only going to inspect what we think is a room behind this panel. Do you have anything in there that we should not be privy to?"

Jabbing his finger at Zhang and his men, Han repeated, "I am still calling for my lawyer. You stay put." He pulled out his mobile and pushed angrily at the buttons on the mobile.

"Get yourself here right now! I don't care what you're doing, get over here right now or you'll be sorry!"

Han's lawyer, a tall and gaunt, mousy-looking man, arrived 20 minutes later. He produced his card and made a cursory check of the warrant.

After informing Han that the warrant is in order and the police were entitled to remove the panel, Kim and Jin carefully removed Han's clothing from the wardrobe. Next, they removed the panel, piece by piece. Half-way through, both Kim and Jin gagged, overcome by the pungent and vile odour emitting from within the cache.

"Oh God! Sir, please come and see this!" Kim and Jin excitedly shouted to Zhang.

Zhang peered into the room and did exactly what Kim and Jin did. He gagged, not from the smell but from the sight of what he saw.

On the floor of the stain-filled room, close to the wooden panel, were pieces of a human skeleton, obviously a male, due to the long frame of the bones. What could not be explained was that it was holding a mallet in one of its bony hands. Pieces of its bones were a few feet away from the others. Both the legs were in the center of the room, while its pelvis was a few feet away from the legs. The ribcage was another couple of feet away from the pelvis.

Zhang and his men looked at each other.

"Superintendent, are you thinking what we're thinking?" Kim and Jin asked their superior.

When Zhang nodded, both of them shook their heads. "But it's impossible. How can we explain that it was a skeleton that was hammering at the panel. Even worse, how can we explain that the bones crawled all the way to the panel? No one would believe us!"

Zhang shrugged and replied, "Just ask them to come and see for themselves. Perhaps this is one victim who refused to die!"

THE END.