The best testimonies were those taken at the cri scene, while mories were still fresh. As more Bureau officers located and took in all hosts of systems that were at the cri scene. Liwu stood in the center of the square, notebook in hand. On her chest was a button cara that was recording everything that was said.
The first witness, a middle-aged woman clutching a shopping bag with supplents and fruits. "Yes, I sitting on the bench near where it happened but I didn’t really see anything. She was screaming, but so was everyone. The fireworks were so loud. She did not shout the words ’help’"
A young man in a biker kind of leather jacket contradicted her. "No, she scread for help. I saw her struggling. But the dancers in those baby masks surrounded her, clapping. I an they had caras, I thought it was so kind of play. The invitation said this would be a night of music and spectacle."
Liwu stilled her hand.
A teenager, still trembling asked, "Can I go ho? My parents don’t know that I sneaked out."
"Did you see anything?" Liwu asked her.
She looked from left to right, "I saw the karaoke guy and the woman whose hair caught fire. It was chaos. I didn’t see that woman at all."
Liwu scribbled furiously. Each account tangled into the next one, none aligning. So claid the woman was one of the dancers and she ca with the masked group. Others swore the masked dancers pulled her from the crowd of onlookers. A few admitted to recording the scene and even applauding. A mother cursed the victim, because she had gone with her children to enjoy the fireworks, not acts of lewdness.
One man, clearly shaken, confessed: "I only realized too late what had happened. She was crying. I looked into her eyes and saw it that sothing was wrong. But by them, everyone was clapping. I just froze."
A woman who was hugging her boyfriend tightly said softly, "I called the police. I took a seminar on sexual assault and I recognized the signs. By the ti we tried to help, it was too late, the creepy baby mask guys were gone."
"They vanished into a light, I swear." Her boyfriend emphasized.
"No, they drove away." The girlfriend insisted. "The flash was only there briefly, like when a magician does that trick where they vanish into the smoke but everyone knows they are behind the curtain. It was a white car and it sped away, check the traffic lights."
This woman was the first witness Liwu had t whose story was well put together. "We will do that." She gave the woman a card. "We might invite you down to the precinct if we need anymore information. You can also call if you rember anything else."
The woman nodded. "Is she going to be okay, that poor girl."
Liwu had no definitive answer to give. She went in search of the karaoke system host. He was sitting in the back of a Bureau SUV, waiting to be transported to the precinct. She rembered him clearly. He was the one that made everyone sing at the beach during the registration.
"Did you plan this?"
He shook his head. "For the last ti, I did not plan this or do anything to that woman. I did not even plan this event, soone paid money and told to create a carnival atmosphere. I did not bring the dancers in the baby masks or fireworks or fire dancers."
From all the witness statents, one of the few things everyone could agree on was that the Karaoke master was nowhere near the victim when she was assaulted. In fact, he was still leading people in song when the police arrived and stopped him.
"Do you have evidence of this paynt?" Liwu asked him.
"Check my phone, I have ssages and everything." He replied.
She took his phone, bagged it as evidence and slamd the door shut. Her jaw tightened as she thought of the testimonies which painted a grotesque picture: a square transford into a circus of noise, masks, fire and music. It had been done deliberately so that the victim’s cries could be swallowed by spectacle.
It was a well planned vicious cri.
What kind of person was the brains behind this operation and what had their goal been? Was it a stalker, an opportunist or soone who hated the victim?
She wrote ’personal grudge’ in her notebook and closed it. Next, she need to personally have a talk with the victim.
****
The sterile scent of antiseptic replaced the sll of smoke and sweat from the square. Liwu weaved her way through patients, doctors, nurses and visitors until she reached the private room where the victim lay. The woman’s skin was pale against the white sheets, her hair cascading like dark silk. Even in vulnerability, she radiated a presence that unsettle Liwu--an allure that seed to draw a gaze.
Linlin had not escaped being chard. She was holding the victim’s hand and patting her hair. Outside the room, three doctors and two nurses were hoping to catch a glance at the woman. Even the two police officers posted outside the door could hardly take their eyes off her.
Liwu cleared her throat.
Linlin drew her hand back and stepped away from the woman. The woman’s eyes turned to Liwu as she approached. "Detective Liwu," she whispered, voice fragile.
Liwu pulled a chair and sat beside the bed. "I didn’t get your na earlier."
"Xu Jinling." Linlin replied on behalf of the woman.
Liwu looked at Jinling with gentleness. "Jinling, you are safe now. I need to understand what happened. Do you think you can tell about it?"
Jinling’s lips trembled. "When I got ho in the evening, I found the invitation outside my door. A package with a dress and a necklace. It said that it was from a secret admirer." Tears slipped from her eyes. "I didn’t want to go but the dress and necklace were expensive. I wanted to et the person that had sent them and at least thank them." She touched her necklace, fingers brushing the diamonds. "I wanted to return this to them."
Linlin patted Jinling’s head. "It’s okay," she said softly, "None of this was your fault."
Jinling wiped her eyes, "There were so many people when I got there. I didn’t know how to begin finding the person who sent the package. I stopped to join the crowd because they were singing my favorite song. Then those people in the masks surrounded . One of them pulled to the ground. I scread, but nobody tried to help. A cara was shoved in my face....I could see faces in the crowd. I begged for soone to help , they just smiled, cheered and clapped. No one ca until it was finished. It was like I was invisible." She cried softly. "How could they stand and watch?"
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