An Eye for News Chapter 11
The
white suit wearing female reporter had her hair up in a brisk ponytail. Her
hands were tightly wound around a microphone as she took her steps forward
beside Commissioner Xie.
They
stopped at about 5 to 6 meters away from the jumper, just enough to make sure
his voice was recorded but not too close to alarm him.
“h.e.l.lo,
I’m Lee Wei from Province X Tv Station’s
Commissioner Xie had told me about your plight but do you mind explaining it further
for the camera?”
Le Wai
said consolingly as she inched slightly forward.
Her
voice was soft but charismatic, the kind that was perfect for broadcast.
“Yes,
you listen to me… I was out for dinner with my wife and son about a month ago.
When we arrived at the intersection in front of our apartment, a Cayenne
Porsche suddenly sped round the corner. I instinctually pulled my family
towards the sidewalk to avoid collision with the car. But the car suddenly
veered and rammed into my wife and son. The street was covered with skid marks
of their blood but did the car driver stop? No, he didn’t not! And I’ll never
forget its plates as it sped cowardly away, it was 88888, Gao Song’s car!”
w.a.n.g Da
Fa started to break down, “Gao Xung was drunk driving and killed my family and
the sentence he got? 20000 RMB fine! What is that going to do? Can the money buy
my family back?!”
“Are you
sure he was drunk driving? According to traffic law, his sentence should be
more than just monetary fine.”
Lee Wei’s
keen news sense sniffed out the inconsistency in w.a.n.g Da Fang’s story.
“I’m
sure! Who drives like that sober? Also why else would he report to the police
only the next day? He must have been waiting for the alcohol to disperse! And
he even pushed his driver to take blame for him. I saw it clearly that day, it
was Gao Song who was behind the driver seat not his driver. You think I would
mistake the person that killed my family?”
Lee Wei
nodded along to his explanation, then she added, “I believe you. I can’t
imagine the sadness you’re going through right now but I’m sure your wife and
son wouldn’t want to see you this way right? They certainly wish to have you
move on and live a fuller life on their behalf, wouldn’t you agree?”
“No! As
long as Gao Song is not brought to justice, I’ll never be able to move on! If
he’s truly innocent, why wouldn’t he dare to come up and confront me?” w.a.n.g Da
Fa screamed in her face.
Lee Wei
snuck a look at Commissioner Xie, asking about Gao Song’s conditions. The
latter shook his head imperceptibly, whispering, “We can’t bring Gao Song up
here. The jumper’s too unstable.”
“Reporter
lady, as you can see, the law can’t help me so you’re my only hope. My wife is…
was
bring justice to her death.”
w.a.n.g Da
Fa wiped the tears from his eyes, and then took in a deep breath in an effort
to collect himself. He uttered as calm as he could, “Lady, can you pa.s.s me the
microphone? I would like to say my last words if you’ll allow it. So please
make sure the sound and picture’s clear.”
“Brother
w.a.n.g, please listen to me. You still have a long future ahead of you. We’ll
gladly record what you have to say but please don’t say it’s your last words.”
Lee Wei
advised as she made to move forward. Commissioner Xie grabbed hold of her
before she could do so, whispering violently, “w.a.n.g Da Fa is too unstable, it’ll
be too dangerous for you to get any closer!”
Lee Wei
smiled and shook her head, “Don’t worry, I’m an experienced legal beat
reporter. I’m sure I can handle this. Plus the wind up here is blurring the
recording of his voice. This is for the sake of a good news but at the end of
the day, it is also to save a life. Rejecting his request might push him over
the edge.”
Se Cai
nodded in agreement. He too would have done the same thing if he was in the
female reporter’s shoes.
However,
Se Cai noticed Lee Wei’s legs were shaking. He suspected she was only putting
on a brave front.
But can
she truly be blamed? She had to negotiate with a suicide attempter by the edge
of a tall building, who wouldn’t be afraid?
“Please
be careful and try to keep him occupied. The firemen are standing by. They’re waiting
for the right moment to strike.”
Deputy
Director Wong offered silently.
He had
reservations about the reporter’s decision, he had a sneaking feeling in his
gut that w.a.n.g Da Fa’s intention wasn’t just to talk to the reporter that simple,
but since his superior had allowed it, what else could he do?
Lee Wei
acknowledged Deputy Director Wong’s advice wordlessly. She took one slow step
after another until she was only 1 meter away from w.a.n.g Da Fa.
Pushing
her microphone forward, she said with a bright smile, “Alright, brother w.a.n.g, I’m
here as you asked. Is there anything you want me to relay to the public
security bureau? I have faith that they’ll ensure ultimately justice prevails.”
“Can
you come closer? I would like to hold the mic, like how I see the celebrities
do it on Tv…”
w.a.n.g Da
Fa leaped back from the railing and stared at the microphone in Lee Wei’s hand.
He seemed ready to move forward and grab it but suddenly he sneered. He saw the
2 police officers trying to sneak towards them. He yelled, “Get back the two of
you! I only need the reporter lady here! After I’ve spoken my mind, I’ll
surrender freely. But, if you try anything funny before then, I swear I’ll
jump!”
“Brother
w.a.n.g, please talk to me. I’m sorry but I can’t grant your previous request
because it’s normally the interviewer that holds the mic. It’ll look weird for
you to be holding it. How about I come closer? Will that work?”
Lee Wei
smiled and exchanged an eye contact with her cameraman before taking one more
step forward.
“Something’s
wrong with this w.a.n.g Da Fa…”
Se Cai
observed. His instinct told him w.a.n.g Da Fa was acting too weirdly.
“I
suppose it’s wouldn’t hurt to read his mind…”
“I’m
such a failure… I only cared for myself and didn’t even think to pull my family
along with me or else they would have lived… I’m sorry, honey. I promise I’ll
come apologize to you personally after I’ve taken care of Gao Song that
b.a.s.t.a.r.d!
And the
bomb I’ve hidden to by the air duct will help me accomplish that. The moment
Gao Song appears, I’ll take all of us out with a blast! But that coward doesn’t
have the guts to come face me. Never mind… I’ll force him out by taking one of
these people here as hostage. The two officers will be too troublesome but this
female reporter will do nicely!”
Se Cai
was beside himself with shock when he learnt of w.a.n.g Da Fa’s true intention. He
wasn’t expecting the man to be so vicious!
Se Cai
scanned his surroundings more attentively and quickly spotted an inconspicuous
brown paper bag in the s.p.a.ce between the air duct and the rooftop floor. Se Cai
believed this was the bomb w.a.n.g Da Fa was referring to.
At that
moment, w.a.n.g Da Fa made to take the microphone but leaped one full step ahead!
Lee Wei
only managed to let out a yelp before w.a.n.g Da Fa had her in his chokehold and dragged
back to the building’s edge.
“n.o.body
moves! Or I’ll bring her with me!”