Where In The World Are The Killers?

A Twist of Fate

Beijing, China...

"Adalet, we've learned that SOMBRA is kidnapping orphans from all over Asia," Chief Ripley began, "their last major operation took place right here, in Beijing. So I want you and Archer to-"

"Uh, Chief? I hate to state the obvious, but it's late, and I'm sure even the big bad SOMBRA doesn't work overtime!" Jack smiles innocently, "how about Adalet and I check out the Great Wall before we get down to business? It'd be a shame to come all this way and miss it!"

The Chief facepalms, "need I remind you that you're on a mission, not a vacation, Archer? But I suppose I could spare you for one evening... Enjoy the Great Wall, Agents, but keep an eye out for suspicious activity while you're there!"

"Let's go, Adalet! Before the Chief changes her mind!" he laughs, grabbing his partner's wrist and dragging her along.

Adalet and Jack drove through the dark streets to where tourists would climb up the Great Wall of China. There were lights all along the sides of the wall, illuminating it and the surrounding trees. The agents climbed onto the wall and began walking along it, admiring the night sky above. Since it was so late, they didn't expect anyone to be out sightseeing, so they were surprised to find someone else on the wall.

They were even more surprised to find the man slumped against the side of the wall with a plastic bag over his head.

Knowing there was no avoiding investigating the apparent murder, Adalet and Jack look around for any clues. The only thing they could find on the wall was a brown leather wallet on the raised part of the wall close to the man's body.

Jack mimics the Chief's earlier facepalm, "Adalet, can't we do just one evening of sightseeing without you tripping over a dead body?!"

"Oi! I did not "trip" over this body!" Adalet defends, hands on her hips, "besides, you were walking right beside me! Anyway, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this guy has been suffocated with a plastic bag. We've got another murder on our hands!"

"Chief Ripley won't be pleased. It feels like every time our investigation into SOMBRA progresses, another murder investigation gets in the way!" he commented, "anyway, this plastic bag is clearly our murder weapon... What a way to go!"

She squats in front of the body, "this is weird... The victim's missing a glove!"

"Why would anyone steal a glove?" he wondered.

"No clue," Adalet replied, standing up to grab the wallet.

"You also picked up the victim's wallet?" Jack assumed, "no doubt that'll give us an ID to work with. Let's look inside!"

Jack called for backup to collect the body while Adalet looked through the wallet. It had most of what you expected, a driver's license, credit and debit cards, a handful of colourful bills, and a few loyalty cards. There were also multiple condoms in pink packaging, but Adalet chose to ignore those. Instead, she was interested in a torn receipt inside the wallet's largest pocket.

"What did you find in the victim's wallet, Adalet?" Jack inquired, hanging up his cell phone.

Adalet holds up the driver's license, "according to this ID, the victim's name is Fang Cheng."

"That doesn't ring any bells...." he mused, "but those torn pieces from his wallet should tell us more about this Cheng guy. Let's tape 'em up!"

Jack holds the tape for Adalet while she figures out which pieces go together. Jack passes her strips of tape to hold the pieces together, and in no time, Adalet is holding a repaired receipt.