16 Chapter 15

The duo, along with Edward, arrived at the police station with Luna first thing in the morning.

Brooklyn was already there with the police. Edward went inside.

'Miss Chang. What was the reason for killing Miss Li and how you did it?'

'I was born to a family of 4. Me, Bernicia, Jayden and Kaylen. We were happy, at first, but later our mother died during given birth to Kaylen and Jayden. Our father married again to a woman named Jessie Au. She was very pretty and father was pretty happy with her. They had a daughter, Jessalyn. Bernicia was two years younger than me and the twins were three years younger than me. Jessalyn's four years younger than me. Our new stepmother was mean to all four of us, but kind to Jessalyn. She was kind to Jayden too. He was a boy, and boys meant good luck. Therefore, our stepmother treated us children differently...'

*Flashback*

'Au Nu Si (歐女士/Miss Au), I got full marks in my exam!' A twelve year old Bernicia waved a stash of paper in front of her new stepmother. 'Ooooh. Very well, Bernicia. I'm proud of you. How about you, Brooklyn?' Brooklyn sighed. 'I tried my best, but look! I only got ninety...' Brooklyn sighed. 'Y-YOU!!!! IDIOT!!!!!!!! WHY DOES YOUR YOUNGER SISTER GET HIGHER MARKS THAN YOU!! YOU SHOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE TO YOUR SIBLINGS!!!!' Miss Au (That's what the four stepchildren called their mother) scolded Brooklyn.

Then, nine year old Jayden came home with his sister Kaylen. 'Hello, twins. How's your test today?' Au Nu Si turned to the younger kids. 'I got only seventy marks in my test.' Kaylen answered. 'I was even worse. I got only sixty five.' Jayden answered. 'Never mind, Jayden. Try again harder next time. And Kaylen!!!! What did you do???? THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!!'

*Flashback ended*

'I thought, that Jessalyn would be treated the same as us girls. But, she wasn't. She was treated better than all four of us. That, made her arrogant and bossy. Instead of having servants and maids, our stepmother ordered me and Bernicia to serve the family as maids. I didn't complain. Bernicia did.

But, something made me change

One day, when I was about sixteen, I saw girls from Jessalyn's primary school all doing the villain hitting (打小人) at Canal Road Flyover on the way to SETS, my old dance academy. (鵝頸橋) An old woman was reciting a ritual:

Search for it yourself. Idk about anything.

I looked at the person's photo. It was my sister, Jessalyn. After the beating, the girls giggled again. 'Yay!!! I feel so refreshed now! Who told her to cheat on me during the exam??' A girl said, yawning. 'Yeah!! Who told her to snatch my lunchbox for a week!!!!' 'Yeah! Kate! I was starving too!' '簡直係個嘅大霸王哦!!!!' (That's undoubtably a big overlord!) Screamed a fourth. 'Maybe we would hit her brothers and sisters next. I bet they are big bullies too. And also her parents! For giving birth to such an insolent child!' The girl named Kate said. '好! (Good!) Let's meet her same time next week with the tools for villain hitting! 驅逐胡虜,恢復中華,立紀陳綱,救濟斯民 (To expel the barbarians and to revive our nation, to establish a republic, and to distribute land equally among the people.) is what our nation's founder, Mr Sun Yat Sen said. We are the leaders and our school's classmates are the people. The Li family's the barbarians!!' 'Yeah!!! High five!!' The twelve year old students chorused.

I was furious. I was NOT an insolent child. My parents are innocent. Well, my father was. I told my siblings and we were all angry. We all agreed that Miss Au was the罪魁禍首(culprit) and without her, we will be free. But, we knew that we can't kill anyone. Bernicia suggested that we follow the feng shui. We went to the villain hitting station and we asked the lady there to hit Au Nu Si. We got our revenge. She died the following month.

My father was depressed after Miss Au's death. He traveled around the world by himself. The five of us were alone in the house.

First, the four of us children, meaning Bernicia, Jayden Kaylen and I, found a stamp containing father's signature for official documents. We all knew he had twenty of these so Jayden suggested that we steal it. Next, Kaylen suggested that we forge a document signed by father too change the four of us' surnames from Li, my father's surname, to Chang, our mother's surname. We wanted father to know that he has done something wrong. There are so many ladies in the world. Why does he need to pick a woman as brutal and demonic as Miss Au?? From the moment Miss Au entered the house, things, as I remembered, were not the same again.

Jessalyn did not know anything. We pretended to be all friendly in front of her. Then, Kaylen played pranks on her. She thought it was me, so she was even worse to me. However, the twins made her their servant. We made her suffer.

But, when we heard our father would come back after two weeks, we were terrified. We were very scared about Jessalyn telling father what we have done to her. However, our Aunt just told us that our father would start a new life in the US, and we would go to the US with him when we finish college. I went there earlier than the rest, since I was the oldest of the bunch.

On the day after my result day, I heard, from my form teacher, that my father had died. According to his will, he wanted to be buried in Hong Kong, so I headed back to Hong Kong.

Back in Hong Kong, the trio told them what they had experienced. Jessalyn, they realized, was only afraid of Jayden because he's a school. Jayden was in a boarding school and Bernicia and Kaylen had to handle the pressure of being bullied every day by this ridiculous younger sister.

So, I started revenge.

First, I told Jessalyn that I wanted to visit SETS, my favourite school of all time. I told her I wanted to walk in the garden outside the building. The day was sunny, and I gave her a bottle of water to drink. She indeed drank a lot of water and wanted to go to the bathroom. That, was the first part of my plan. I secretly put some sleeping pills. She fell asleep soon after and didn't even notice when I stabbed the knife. But, I wore Bernicia's clothes that day and even tied my hair in braids, to let you guys think I was Bernicia.

That Jessalyn Li deserved to die!!! Who told her to be this bad to us!!!!'

Brooklyn finished.

'I understand. Then why do you have to kidnap Noelle and Luna? They are innocent!!' Natalie asked, while putting her fists on the table. 'Do you know how my sister felt when she learnt that her friend was the scapegoat of your actions?'

Brooklyn smiled, then said. 'I know this is the question you wanted to ask.'

She took a sip of water, and continued.

'After I killed Jessalyn, I heard footsteps behind me. I hid in a toilet cubicle and saw Noelle Ching, your sister. I felt afraid. Soon, I heard the shriek. When you three were discussing, I crept with the knife by the side door, the janitor's door. I was afraid that your sister found out, but I don't want to kill anyone. So, I decided I wanted money instead and put the blame on Bernicia, who looked awfully like me. time, I disguised myself as Bernicia so that you guys won't suspect me. I asked the triad gang to help me kidnap Noelle, but they didn't watch the telly often and they kidnapped the wrong person.'

Brooklyn said.

'Then why did you still keep Luna? She's innocent! She didn't even know what happened!!' Natalie protested. 'All of father's property has been given to Jayden since he's a boy. I didn't get anything. I needed money to get back to Manhattan Country. I refused to let Luna go.'

Brooklyn smiled. 'There. I'm finished.'

The police nodded, then took Brooklyn to her cell.

'Brooklyn!!!' Her brother and sisters called. 'Don't worry, Brooklyn!! I'll find the best lawyer for you!!!' Jayden called. 'Brooklyn!! Stay safe!!!' Kaylen exclaimed, while Bernicia burst into tears.

_______________________________________

'Ha, Emily. How long do you think Brooklyn would be imprisoned?' Edward asked the two friends. 'Idk. Life imprisonment?' Emily asked. 'At least thirty-something years?' Asked Natalie. 'I don't know too. I'm not a lawyer.' Edward smiled.

'Hey, can we make up a detective club? I wanna be like Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong!' Emily asked the other two. 'Okay, but we make up the names for it. One each, two words and it must sound nice. I, Edward Wong have a high standard for name-making.' Edward said and the girls facepalmed. 'Okay, ladies first, then. I propose the word Secret. We did our stuff in secret, did we not?' Natalie was very proud of her answer. 'Well, I think Phantom will be good enough. I like the Phantom of the Opera,' Edward replied.

'Then, I'll be the President of the... Secret Phantom Detective Club!!!' Emily gathered the other two's ideas. 'The Secret Phantom Detective Club it is! Good job, Ching Ching. I'll be the vice-president and the secretary!!' Natalie offered. 'And I'll be the treasurer. Well, if there's any. And the events chair.' Edward replied.

'Okay! Secret Phantom Detective Club!! Let's go!!!' The trio put their hands on top of each other and shouted. 'Yay!!!! 萬歲!!偵探團萬歲!!' (Long live the detective club)

Then the trio walked into the glimmering sunset...