Crushed Suns - SCI (Mysteries)

4 - Criptic

"What do you mean 'they're gone'?"

The yell tore through the hospital walls, unleashing a wave of sheer anger. 

"Exactly what I said, sir! One second, they're in bed, one awake the other asleep, the next, poof! Gone! Vanished! It was as though they never existed! Even their beds were made perfectly. If it weren't for that glass of milk, I would have thought I was dreaming up the whole—" 

"Shao."

The bald man gulped as the inspector towered over him, hands-on-hips looking like bleached vulture wings. The way a poker-face of indifference was placed did not go unnoticed to the beanie-clad cop. Bai was obviously beyond furious. 

"Those two who just 'vanished' were our only lead! Not to mention that they are both victims, meaning they have a red target on their heads. Do you know what this means? Need a translation?"

The nearby cops outside the elite unit quickly filed away, making sure to make not noise or sudden movements to attract the beast. They all felt bad for the cop that was reporting, but no one wanted to get further on Bai's bad side.

Poor Wang Shao was trying his best not to show that he was trembling in his shoes. "That they legally signed themselves out while I was on bathroom break, but I was suppose to follow them?" 

"You— NO!" The investigator threw his hands up, steam hissing through his teeth. "It means that they're. Wanted. DEAD! And now, you've—!" 

"BAI SIR! BAI SIR!" Black platform shoes hurried from across the hall. 

"WHAT," Bai inhaled sharply, "is it?"

Puffing out a huff, Ma Han showed him a USB chip. "I searched all the video footage in the hospital. Around 15 minutes after Wang Shao left to the nearby washroom, the two suspects were visited by a man in a suit, black, English cut, right before they ran off. The man in question was followed by some security members of our unit but committed suicide before the authorities could catch him. It seems to me that Elio and Zhan-Ming were threatened."

Bai held his head. "When did this happen?"

"The time was 4:07, this afternoon."

"Do you have the tape?"

"Which one," she pulled out a small clear ribbon, "Scotch or film?"

"Just—" Bai pinched his nose, "give it to Lin."

"Yes, Bai sir." 

----------

Once they arrived into the tiny security room, they found that Zhan Yao was there already. The blue-clad inspector took one look at Bai Yutong and said, "something's bothering you."

The taller man sighed. "Wait till you find out. Han!"

"Heads."

Han tossed the USB stick to Jiang Lin, who was seated in front of the main screen. The woman fumbled a bit before managing to hold and plug the flash drive in."Hey! I told you not to throw stuff at me! I can't catch well!"

"Not now Lin."

Lin pouted. "Sorry, Bai sir." She pulled up the files. "What do you want me to show?"

"Go to 4:07 pm and play it on screen." 

Blue light reflected off of Lin's glasses as she executed the order in record time. "And, here we go."