Chapter 3

Miriam strode out of the ward in a hurry with Donovan striding alongside to catch up with her while the two cops who had come with Miriam tailed the duo as they headed down the corridor which now buzzed with a handful of medical personnel bustling back and forth amidst the latest murder.

''This is getting out of hand, detective. We must put a stop to this,'' Miriam said impatiently as she wouldn't halt a bit in her track. ''Natasha's murder does not make it look any better.''

''I swear I did every bit to protect the Natasha--with my life,'' Donovan cut in, in defence. ''She was our best chance to have a hint about the killer. Don't you think this is some sort of psychopath running wild out there?''

''Now, listen up, Donny,'' Miriam stopped dead in track, forcing Donovan and the two cops to halt in their steps. She turned sharply to face Donovan squarely. ''Right now, we have a problem.''

''Problem? What problem?'' Donny asked concerned.

''Salim has filed in a claim of death threat with the Department of police and the commissioner is seriously taking it up,'' replied Miriam fixing a gaze on Donovan's perplexed face. ''A panel has been summoned for tomorrow morning. All police personnel from the Vagas county investigating the series of murder cases must be present.''

''Death threat?'' Donovan remarked, shocked. ''How did Salim manage to hear about our little discovery? Thought we agreed to keep it secret pending a close monitoring.''

''Well, as it is, your discovery in Kasidy's was obviously not exclusive,'' Miriam asserted briefly raising her shoulders and eyebrows in sync before dropping them to express disappointment. ''Salim came up with a disturbing claim that he had received a death threat from a familiar foe via phone call. Guess who?''

''Who?'' Donovan asked crumpling his face and raising his upper lip in a moment of curiosity.

''Jack Banning,'' Miriam replied and paused a bit afterwards to examine Donovan's reaction.

''Jack Banning! Oh-oh, that son of a gun!'' Donovan exclaimed as his eyes widened in sheer astonishment. ''That's the super secret service agent and former bodyguard to the vice president.''

''That's correct, Donny,'' Miriam chipped in sharply. ''Salim's claims all point to the suggestion that Jack is behind the spate of killings.''

Donovan squinted and made a look as though he was drawn in his own thought.

''I wouldn't put it past Jack to run wild and hunt lives with reckless abandon. He murdered the vice president's brother, remember?'' He remarked as he continued picking words from his thoughtful posture. ''But come to think of it; is Jack not supposed to be dead now? That dude was sentenced to death four years back after being found guilty by the magistrate court. A ghost can't possibly be running things in the city. No, I don't believe in ghosts anyway.''

''You have some correction to make to your impression of Jack. Lots of it,'' Miriam asserted forcing a mild smile and nodding pitifully at Donovan's ignorance.

''Ma'am, correction? What justification could there be for a cold-blooded murderer?'' Donovan asked astonished with a hint of confidence. ''Jack murdered Tony that night and he was caught pants down with a rifle in his clutch. The facts and evidence are there, ma'am.''

''Donny, Jack was no murderer in the first place. He was set up for murder that very night at the Phantom Arena. But who would believe it when the innocent dude was caught up in a perfectly arranged set-up in the enemy's camp?''

Miriam paused a moment to examine if Donovan had given in to her submission of Jack before she made to instantly dismiss the conversation as she realised Donovan wasn't particularly convinced and he was going to press on.

''Now let's not dwell on some past story and bullshit, Donny. There's possibly no link between Jack and the death toll in the city. We have had enough of it, okay?'' Said Miriam stiffing her tone of voice as she restored herself to authority. ''Let's have a meet at the Panel tomorrow to discuss more pressing issue, detective.''

Adjusting himself to attention, Donovan raised his head at a slight angle. He wouldn't understand why the inspector of Vagas county chose to voice a different opinion in contrast to the popular belief that Jack was a murderer. He was most certainly faced with a contradictory view about the Jack Banning criminal saga for the first time and much to his astonishment, the much respected inspector was the voice behind the controversial view.

''Okay, roger, ma'am,'' Donovan said nodding, not wanting to press furher.

''Perhaps we could hear Salim's side of the story,'' he chipped in daring to raise Miriam's ire.

Miriam had no reaction to Donovan's last comment but could only spare a blank, disapproving look at him as she turned away and made to storm out of the ward.

''Donny might have struck an answer, inspector,'' one of two cops cut in, forcing Miriam to halt and reconsider the conversation.

''Lt. Smith?'' Miriam called, surprised ''You trust the hell of a crap that filthy Salim has to say at the panel, too? Come off it, Lieutenant.''

Smith nodded in the affirmative as his eyes beamed with certainty.

''As a matter of fact, inspector, there's a big chance that Jack Banning is roaming still far in the ColdWolf woodland,'' Smith affirmed. ''We traced his phone call with Salim to the untamed forest around the Gulf Coast, and a search team has been despatched to the forest on the Chief of Police's order.''

Smith's report aroused Miriam's curiosity. She felt the strands on her skin rising and yearning for more news surrounding the once-loyal bodyguard of the vice president who turned an overnight killer and was sentenced to death by the Magistrate court. Unlike the other cops, she had a surprisingly different opinion about Jack's involvement in the Tony's murder. She wouldn't be budged by Smith's report, however.

''Jack is a dead and forgotten man. It's grossly unprofessional to drag a dead man into the case we have at hand now,'' She asserted, sounding confident in her knowledge. ''You witnessed the old lad sentenced to his early grave, Smith, don't you?''

''Jack has his cunning ways, ma'am,'' said the second Lieutenant, Scott, ''I was a survivor of the team that drove the Black-Maria to execute Jack before the deadly Mafia attacked us and hijacked him from us.''

Scott fixed his gaze on Miriam's countenance and hoped he had crushed her claim.

''To be honest, though,'' Scott continued, ''i'm not quite aware of what became of Jack after the mafia attacked us in the Gobi desert. But my gut tells me that he was the mastermind behind the attack. The old bastard must have run loose afterwards.''

For a moment, Miriam felt herself losing the grip of the discourse. But then, she seemed to know the truth, the backstory, the circumstances and the dark side to Jack Banning's role in the murder of Tony four years back. The truth gnawed at the door of her mind; but then, she had to come to terms that the truth was beyond her cohorts.

''Okay, Lieutenants, I'm quite aware of the kidnap of Jack in the Gobi desert,'' admitted Miriam, ''but then, I want us to look critically into Salim's insane claim of a death threat from Jack. Meanwhile, I shall look forward to the report of the search team despatched to the Gobi desert.''

Miriam's words held so much authority as her decisive tone commanded the trio's attention. She obviously didn't buy Salim's claim and she deemed the tycoon's words should be taken with a pinch of salt.

''It would be interesting to meet the ghost Salim has been communing with tomorrow wouldn't it?'' She asked sarcastically. ''I shall expect your hands on deck tomorrow morning, guys. Don't lose guard tonight.''

Miriam took to the exit to the salute of the two lieutenants while Donovan also found his way out of the ward. It was a moment of respite and the beginning of a fresh worry for Miriam who drove away and home-ward from the vicinity of the Central ward. The thought of the panel slated for the next day filled her mind. Deep down in her heart, she detested Salim. She detested his shady activities and how he had often managed to escape the clamp-down of the laws. However, her worries about Salim only paled compared to the jitters that ran down her spine at hearing that Jack Banning was back in town. Jack cannot be in this city at this time, she thought. No, he can't be here. The espionage is still a thing with the political elites, she cautioned.

For a moment, she was proud of herself to have to put up a defence for her estranged father, Jack Banning. However, she had always resolved to avoid divulging this cherished piece of secret of her biological connection with Jack Banning lest it might dent her reputation as a respected inspector of the Vagas County.