Escape to You

Atlas Trembles

Almost as soon as Chen Yu sits down to his desk, his phone rings. He takes a deep breath and answers.

"Detective Chen, homicide." Chen Yu says, hearing a groan on the other end. "Kiki? Didn't I tell you to get some rest?"

"Yeah yeah. I did kid." Detective Ki says, actually sounding better. "I don't want you to think I'm slacking here. This audio recording? Assholes used a white noise generator! Ugh." She sighs. "It's taking me forever to filter through the real and artificial sounds. I'm getting closer and I want you to know, this is my top priority."

"Thanks Kiki. I really appreciate all your efforts." Chen Yu says, glancing around his desk. A single red rose sits in the center of the desk. "Fuck." He mumbles, glancing up as Wu Zhen Feng passes him a coffee.

"Chen?" Detective Ki says.

"Mn?" Chen Yu nods down at the rose and Wu Zhen Feng pales.

"Don't do anything stupid? Your reputation proceeds you." Detective Ki warns, concern in her voice. "Just, be careful."

"I'm hearing that a lot lately." Chen Yu smirks, shaking his head. "I'll be careful, thanks Kiki." He hangs up and looks at Wu Zhen Feng. "We need to run Zhang's credit cards. Hong has no money."

"On it!" Wu Zhen Feng says, booting up his pc and getting serious. "No note?" He flinches, seeing Chen Yu remove a small piece of paper from around the stem of the flower. "What now?"

"Fucking creep." Chen Yu mumbles, before clearing his throat. "My dear Detective. I recall how you prefer red roses. Let this single rose represent our blooming affection." He blinks rapidly and makes an exaggerated gagging noise. "Blooming affection? What a crock of shit!" He plops down at his computer, typing rapidly.

"A'Yu, don't respond out of anger. You could set him off." Wu Zhen Feng warns, hating that this is actually getting under his unshakable partners skin.

"Ugh, you're right." Chen Yu takes a deep breath and thinks things through. A slow, sexy grin spreads across his face. "I think honestly is still the best policy ge."

"Nothing pinging on the credit cards. Maybe the kid had cash? Anyway, we still running down properties today?" Wu Zhen Feng asks, but is interrupted by Chen Yu's cell phone ringing.

"Detective Chen, how can I help you?" Chen Yu asks, not even reading the caller id. "Baobei? What's wrong?"

"Yu'er. It's Alen." Gu Wei says, nervously.

"What's wrong?" Chen Yu asks, already on his feet.

"That creeps public defender came by the hospital first thing this morning." Gu Wei says, sighing. "He claimed that his client has the right to face his accuser. They're trying to force the boy into seeing the piece of shit before a trial even starts."

"How's Alen? Tell him I'm on my way." Chen Yu says, grinning at Wu Zhen Feng as he falls in step beside him.

"He had a pretty bad panic attack lao gong. They had to sedate him, just to calm him down." Gu Wei says. "I don't know what to do for him. He looks up to you Yu'er."

"I'm hanging up baobei. I'll be there as soon as I can." Chen Yu says, furious that some slick lawyer is trying to intimidate and frighten an abused kid.

"A'Yu, you're going to be one hell of a Father kid." Wu Zhen Feng says, moisture in his eyes.

* * *

Chen Yu strides into the hospital and sees Zimo and Gu Wei arguing with a man in a suit.

"You're obstructing justice! I just need the boys sworn statement." The man in the suit says, attempting to shove past Zimo. His wrist is grabbed and twisted, his arm pinned behind him. "Ahhh!"