Dare You To Death: Solve the Mystery, See the Death.

Investigation Part 24

 

Khamin stood watching his men collect evidence and take photos of the crime scene, his eyes never leaving Time's corpse for a moment. He looked down at the cassette tape in the evidence bag in his hand. The voices on the cassette tape were so mesmerising that they were incomprehensible, yet he was sure they were human words. Of course, the murderer didn't just kill people without reason and specifically target all the children in this group. But where was the problem?

 

"Khamin"

 

“What’s up?” Khamin looked up at Jade, who was walking towards him.

 

“We found something when we lifted the TV from the corpse’s neck. Would you like to take a look?”

 

“Smile.” Khamin followed Jade until they reached the spot where Than was moving Time’s body into the transport bag.

 

"Here, Inspector. The inside of the TV is hollow, so this paper fell out." Khamin reached out to take it and found that it was a letter addressed to Time.

 

TRUTH OR DARE

 

TIME

 

Khamin hadn't opened it yet because he had to have Mirin check for fingerprints first, so he put it in the same bag as the cassette tape before turning around, looking for Jade. 

 

“Let’s go check out the illegal clinic first, then return to the station.”

 

“What about hospital forensics?”

 

“This is more important. I want to check what’s in the letter, tape, and flash drive first.”

 

"I drive myself."

 

“Mirin, you take it to get the fingerprints checked. When you're done, call me.”

 

"Yes, Inspector."

 

Jade and Khamin got into the car and headed to the location they had investigated based on Bell's letter. While they were stuck at a red light, Jade reached out and gently poked Khamin's eyebrow.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Your eyebrows are so furrowed they’re about to form a bow.”

 

"If you have a duty to drive, then just drive."

 

"I don't really drive for anyone."

 

“I’m so grateful.” Khamin gave him an insincere smile before rolling his eyes. But instead of getting angry, Jade felt so annoyed that he reached out to pat the other person’s head gently. Khamin grabbed his large palm before reaching out to put his hand on the back of the person behind the wheel’s neck. “You’re a little hot.”

 

"Have you taken your medicine yet?" Khamin looked down at Jade's waist. From the time he started treating the wound until now, he hadn't opened it to look at the new wound. And one thing was for sure: he hadn't seen Jade take any anti-inflammatory or antibiotic medication.

 

"There's no time yet."

 

“If the wound gets infected and you die, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

 

“If you’re that worried, come be my emergency nurse.”

 

“Why should I take care of you?”

 

"Because if I die, you'll be so lonely."

 

"I don't know either. Try dying first and tell me the results later," Jade laughed at Khamin's deadpan joke. He never backed down when it came to arguing. "There are only three left, Jade. Your younger brother is one of them. How can you keep your cool?"

 

“Just because I can joke or laugh doesn’t mean I’m calm. But if I get too impatient now, I’ll just make a big mistake.”

 

“Have you called Jay yet? How is he?”

 

“I'm so worried about him.”

 

"Then why shouldn't I be worried?"

 

"And you don't seem to care at all about me."

"I'm worried about you." Jade paused before turning to look at Khamin. "You're my subordinate."

 

Jade smiled at the person who had finished speaking, then turned to look out the window. Let's just say that he would only listen to the first sentence. As for the second sentence, just pretend that he didn't hear it.

 

The pair arrived at the shophouse they were aiming for. He chose to park his car not far from the building, just in case something happened. It used to be a prosperous place, with many shops renting and selling goods. But when department stores and new zones began to be built within the city, the place lost its appeal, and tenants began to move out, one by one, until it became an abandoned building that remains in perfect condition.

 

"This is it," Khamin said, looking up from his phone. The storefront still had a sign for a photo and document printing shop. Jade walked back to the car, took out a wire cutter and used it to cut the lock, causing it to fall to the ground. He then looked up to meet Khamin's eyes, who was about to scold him.

 

“How do you get in now?”

 

“You are a policeman.”

 

Jade put down the steel cutter and extended both arms towards Khamin. “Do you want to arrest me?” Khamin sighed before opening the door without paying any attention to the person behind him.

 

Because it was an old building that had been uninhabited for quite some time, upon entering, Khamin had to hurriedly brush away the dust and cobwebs floating in the air. The musty smell inside made him grimace immediately. It wasn't just the musty smell of an old building, but also the musty, stinky smell of flesh and blood.

 

Khamin picked up the gun to protect himself before searching around. This place didn't seem like much because everything had been moved out. When he walked upstairs, he found a tightly closed door. Khamin turned to look at Jade, who was following behind him, before walking on. The further he walked, the stronger the fishy and musty smell became. His slender hand grabbed the doorknob and pushed his way inside. It was true to what he thought. This place really did have an illegal abortion clinic. Even though there wasn't much equipment left behind, he could tell what it had been like.

 

“It’s giving me goosebumps,” Jade grumbled before using the black barrel of his gun to push the old cart out of the way.

 

“Didn’t the police get any notification about this clinic?”

 

“Never. If it weren’t for the fact that it was hidden so well, then it would be because the previous officer on duty took a bribe,” Khamin nodded before continuing his exploration.

 

The place is divided into three rooms. The front appears to be a reception counter. The next room is a rather unassuming operating room. Next to it is a small guest room with a bathroom on the side.

 

“Khamin,” the person who had been called walked out into the front hall and found Jade standing there, holding a CD box.

 

“Let’s go back. If the bad guy leaves us like this, there’s nothing left to investigate here except him.”

 

“Do you want to go back?”

 

"um"

 

Jingle!

 

The sound of a bell from downstairs made Khamin and Jade look at each other before they picked up their guns. Jade pushed the police lieutenant behind them and walked ahead. The two tried to walk downstairs as quietly as possible, but they heard footsteps walking back and forth.

 

“Stop, don’t move!” Jade jumped down from the stairwell and pointed his gun at the suspect.

 

"Hey, hey, it's not me. I didn't steal anything. I didn't steal anything," said the old man, who was carrying a large black bag, dressed in tattered, filthy clothes, and immediately raised his hands in a strange wai when he saw Jade pointing a gun at him.

 

Khamin hurriedly ran down after him and pressed down on Jade's hand that was holding the gun so that the old man in front of him wouldn't have a heart attack.

 

"Who are you, uncle? What are you doing here?"

 

"I... I collect old things around here. I saw that the door was open, so I came in to take a look. I... I didn't intend to steal anything."

 

“There’s nothing here. Uncle, go out.”

 

“Well… well, I saw people come here twice and thought something was wrong.”

 

“Wait a minute.” Khamin walked over and grabbed his uncle’s arm. “Uncle said someone has been here twice already. What do you mean?”

 

“W-well, the police came here again. It was probably a week ago. Someone else came here too. My uncle came to collect the bottles over there. I see enough.”

 

"Uncle, can you remember the appearance of the person who came before?"

“Hmm, what does it look like, young man?”

 

"What does he look like? How tall is he? How does he dress? What did he bring? Things like that."

 

“Oh, I don’t remember. But…” Uncle paused to think, and Khamin and Jade were both excited. “The person who came was a woman.”

 

Cherene was waiting for Champ to pick her up at the front of the house after calling to make arrangements. This morning, she had packed her bags before telling her mother that she wouldn't be back for a while because she had to go to work. When the luxury car arrived, she opened the door and got in without hesitation.

 

“Are you ready?”

 

“Smile.” 

 

Champ drove out of the house before stopping at a gas station not far from Cherene’s village.

 

"Full tank." When the employee left, Cherene immediately turned to ask Champ.

 

“Where are we going?”

 

"What about my condo?"

 

“Your condo isn’t far from here. Why do you have to fill the tank so full?”

 

"Are you going to stay cooped up in your condo?" Cherene didn't ask any more questions. She just sat there and looked outside.

 

"Do you still love Fai?"

 

"Why do you ask?"

 

“I just want to know.”

 

“But I don’t want to answer.” The whole car was silent until Champ finished paying.

 

“Stop by the store for me. I forgot to bring my toothbrush. I’ll buy some food to take to your room.” Before Cherene could go down to buy some things, her wrist was grabbed by the person beside her.

 

“Have you opened the letter yet?”

 

“Still...I'm afraid.”

 

"Um, let's go shopping." Cherene nodded before going downstairs to buy the food and other necessities she needed.

 

Cherene stared blankly at the alcoholic drinks in the cabinet before opening the door to take out four cans of beer and then walking over to pay at the counter.

 

"You bought so many things. You can go buy them at the mall later," Champ said after seeing Cherene returning with a bunch of stuff.

 

"I don't really want to go out."

 

"Then whatever you want."

 

Cherene chose a white car and drove to a condo that wasn't too far from the university. The couple walked into the room that Champ's parents had bought for him. She went to put the drinks and food in the refrigerator before walking to the bedroom to put the bag. When she walked out to the living room, she saw a framed picture of Champ and Pui Fai.

 

“Why are you still keeping that photo?”

 

“Just forgot to throw it away. Come sit here.” Champ slammed down on the cushion next to her. When Cherene walked over to sit, he pulled her close before lightly kissing her shoulder. “What are you so stressed about?”

 

“I don't.”

 

“Are you still worried about that stupid letter?”

 

“You know it’s not just a silly letter.”

 

“Then why can’t I?”

 

“Sigh, I don’t know.” Cherene leaned against Champ’s chest before closing her eyes.

 

“My father is handling this matter. Don't worry about it.”

 

"Good. Let's end it now so we can start over." Cherene opened her eyes and looked at Champ. "We're still going to study in America together, right?"

 

“Um, at first, Fai said she would go too.”

 

“The dead are gone; what more can you hope for?”

 

“You even asked me before if I still love Fai.”

 

“I just asked to be sure.”

 

“Are you sure about what?”

 

"No," Cherene declined before laying her head on Champ's lap and talking about moving in together temporarily this time. Before, when they were secretly dating, Cherene would only come to sleep here if Pui Fai didn't come. This might be the first time she didn't have to be suspicious or afraid that someone would find out, but it was also the first time she was suspicious about sleeping with Champ.

 

Inside the hospital, people were bustling about, waiting to be treated. Nurses and doctors were checking on their patients. Inside a special room with a heavy police presence at the front, Jay was sitting, staring blankly out the window, until the door to the room opened.

 

"Oh, Mr Jay, are you awake? I was just about to come in and treat your wound."

 

“Oh, yes.”

 

“Do you want to take a shower or dry yourself, Jay? The nurse will bring a change of clothes for you.”

 

"I can take a shower myself."

 

"Okay, then let's dress the wound first." Jay sat down and let the nurses help him dress the wound easily. While the wound was being treated, the nurse chatted idly. He answered some questions and didn't answer others, depending on his mood, until the wound was finished. "The nurse will bring you some clothes to change into. The doctor will be in early evening to check on you again."

 

"Thank you"

 

After the nurse left, Jay got up and opened the balcony door to get some fresh air. He was tired of sitting around here. Jay picked up the phone to call his brother, but it was Khamin who answered instead.

 

[What's up, Jay?]

 

"Why did you answer Brother Min's phone call?"

 

[Jade just went down to buy something. Do you want anything? I'll buy it for you.] Jay smiled when he heard Khamin's call.

 

"It's okay. Are you guys working on a case?"

 

[Um]

 

“Do you have anything else to add?”

 

[Not yet]

 

Knock knock

 

"Then you and Brother Jade, be careful."

 

[Okay, take a rest.]

 

"Doctor, please come in."

 

"Please come in," Jay said, turning to the person at the door. He had heard that the doctor would be arriving around dusk, but this was even earlier than the nurse had said. "That's all for now, Min. The doctor has come in to examine me."

 

Jay hung up the phone with Khamin before walking over to sit on the bed. He sighed again that day. Jay didn't like being in the hospital at all.

 

"Be careful of catching a cold with lots of round eyes."

 

"I want to get some fresh air," said the doctor standing at the end of the bed, wearing a white gown and a surgical mask covering his face. But for some reason, he felt unfamiliar. "You're not my old doctor."

 

"Doctor Wichai has an emergency surgery, so he asked me to come check on you and report the results of the examination." Jay nodded in understanding. "Overall, you're stable. The CT scan didn't reveal any abnormalities in your brain. The wound appears to be healing well. I think you will be home in two days."

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes, congratulations.” Jay smiled widely when he heard the word going home. “I’ll go tell Dr Wichai about going home again."

 

"Thank you"

 

"Then I'll take my leave first."

 

Jay lay back on his bed with relief. He knew that Brother Jade would definitely have the police guard his house anyway, but it was his home, so he definitely felt freer than here.

 

There was another knock at the door, and a nurse walked in, handed Jay a new set of clothes, and left. But as she was about to continue working, she stopped.

 

"Huh? Is this yours, Jay? I saw it lying in front of the bathroom." Jay turned to look and, in confusion, reached out to take it. But when he saw it clearly, his heart immediately beat faster. It was definitely his, because the envelope was clearly addressed to him.

 

TRUTH OR DARE

 

JAY