Chapter 122 - Her Game

At the harbor,

'Beep' 

Anya heard her mobile beep on the desk. She was going towards it when she heard the greeting of the cops who entered with four men. The two were Berwick's minions, and the other two were Stefan and Captain of the ship.

When the four men were entering inside, the two were freaked out and the other two just stole a glance at each other. 

Stefan and Captain's guess turned out to be accurate. She wasn't any assistant-general secretary.

Stefan and Captain were seniors. So she shoved the mobile into her pocket as she made her way towards the door.

Anya signaled the cops to keep the two minions inside and went out with the other two. She skipped the greetings and came to the main topic, "I am leading the case of all the illegal activities in PSR and an attempt to hijack PSR. I request your complete cooperation during this time."

"It will be our honor." They were polite without questioning her anything.

Anya gave a faint nod at the response and questioned, "Was there anything odd that might have caught your attention and would like to let us know?"

The two men looked at each other and shook their heads, "Nothing in particular."

Anya nodded again. She pointed to another room, "Please wait in that room. I will come shortly to get your statement and I have some instructions for you."

"No issues." The two men responded and went inside.

Anya returned to the room, pushed her chair for the two minions to sit. She leaned on the desk looking at the two men who were already freaked out. Anya shook her head and lied, "Your boss washed his hands off. He said he doesn't know you two."

The two men looked at each other. They couldn't believe their ears. Did Berwick push all the blame on them? Their panic continued to rise.

Anya sighed, pitying the two, "Don't you know peeping into the private lives of people, that too cabinet ministers and their family is illegal? You guys even dared to film them. Are you planning to sell it to p*rn sites? Or threaten those families to extort money?"

The two men panicked and tried to clear it out, "No, we were not doing it."

"We don't know what you are talking about?"

Anya laughed and lied, "Vice-Captain submitted proof against you. So according to law, p*rn racket, sabotage of privacy, Conspiracy, crime against children, stalking, illegal…" Anya listed all the possible crimes that go under their acts. 

Those two men were only doing it for some money. They couldn't bear to hear anything and soon started confessing. The cops recorded the confession for Anya.

While confessing, they blurted, "… The cameras were installed before we got on the PSR. I am sure it's Harper Johnson's work. His men were instructing the Vice Captain and we were doing as the Vice-captain was saying…"

Anya was waiting for people to pick Harper's name. Now she could summon Harper for interrogation whenever she wants. But she won't make his life so easy. She will start her game.

The cops understood their next step and went to the darkroom. Meanwhile, Anya took statements from Stefan and the Ship captain. 

Before letting them go, "You two might have to visit my office whenever necessary and you aren't allowed to speak about anything with anybody. Ignore the media, avoid Johnson employees reaching you out and rest at home." Anya gave her instructions.

The two men were supportive so Anya wrapped the first stage of the investigation successfully. Standing in the lobby, she breathed a long sigh, for having a few seconds of peace. So she fished in the pocket for her mobile.

The two cops who were laughing outside the storage room saw Anya and jogged to her. "Officer Owen, the plan was well made. Mr. Berwick is scared after hearing his minions have proof against him."

Another one continued in disappointment, "But he is insisting on meeting his lawyer."

Anya shoved the mobile back into her pocket while hearing them. She had expected this outcome. She needs to break Berwick slowly. Until he makes up his mind and confesses, she will have to collect all the evidence from the ship. 

She looked at the cops and faintly smiled with a nod, "Thank you so much for helping me out." It wasn't their work. They were helping her on the commands of Commissioner Brown. 

"It's alright. We were free today anyway." A cop told and made way for her to get in the room.

Anya was again fishing the mobile when a soldier came upstairs and reported to her, "Officer Owen, all the staff are rescued. We have taken control of the ship. Manager Payne is injured but not critical. The ship will be surrendered to you shortly."

Anya was glad Manager Payne was safe. "What about the casualties?" She questioned.

"Our teams have tried to keep crew members safe but some have lost lives, a lot are injured. We haven't faced any loss of life, however, some got wounds from bullets and knives." He reported to her.

Anya was happy with the status. She was thanking him for the update when they noticed a man clad in black pants, shirt, and the armor of a cop making way towards her. His eyes wandered on them before asking doubtfully, looking at her, "Officer Owen?"

Anya nodded and identified that he was the man she chose for her assistance and to control the rest of the cops she teamed up with. He was in his thirties, a highly motivated and focused cop.

He looked a bit surprised before reacting with his introduction, "Captain David." He extended his hand towards her as he continued, "All the thirty officers have reported downstairs."

Anya shook his hand as she responded, "Right on time. Let's get to work. The quicker we put an end to this case, I will release you all soon." She stressed that they have to complete the case quickly.

Anya grabbed some papers and files she had prepared. Meantime, Berwick and his minions were taken downstairs and stuffed into the police car separately.

Downstairs, in the enclosed parking lot,

The thirty cops plus Captain David stood in five lines and looked at Anya who was standing on the raised platform. Anya could see most of them were surprised to know Officer Owen is a female. Fortunately, she didn't see anybody with a contemptuous gaze on her. Rather they were gasping in astonishment.

Anya tested the water. Her voice was clear and audible to everyone in the parking lot, "I am sorry to announce that you might have to lose some sleep and rest for a few days." She paused to look at their expressions before continuing, "But the good news is, you all will be rewarded appropriately for your contribution to this special case. Does anybody have any objection? Would you like to quit the case?" There was no weakness or hesitation in her tone.

The cops stood straight looking at her without a second thought in their decision. 

Anya was working with local cops for the third time. This was the first time she got such a large team with a good response. "Alright." She got down to the main point, "I am making the smaller teams and assigning you the tasks. It's alright to take a little extra time but I don't tolerate negligence. Am I clear?"

"Crystal!" All responded in unison.

Anya opened a file and started calling out the names to form teams. She quickly instructed the work to them depending on the priority level. Each team had multiple tasks and she also cut down what has to be done immediately and what could be done the next day. 

In case they had any confusion, she handed them a paper that had everything listed. They were beyond surprised looking at how organized and efficiently she works.

One after the other the team quickly dispatched and got into work. Captain David and another Captain received her number to report to her if there was anything difficult or important information.

When the duo dropped her message to save their number, Anya fetched her mobile and her eyes widened looking at the screen.

[Mommy Mommy, come soon. I miss you.]

Anya felt dizzy and her eyes turned red identifying it was Alvin's number. Her hands shook, stomach twisted in a knot, it was her son's message. Numerous thoughts ran wild in her mind. 

'How is it possible?'

Captain David noticed her sudden change in her demeanor and asked her, "Officer Owen, what's wrong?"

Anya quickly came to her senses, "Airport… I need to go to the airport. Is there a car?"

Captain David felt her voice quiver. He pointed out, keeping his confusion out, "Commissioner Brown has sent a car and driver for you."

Anya was already running out before he could complete his words. Realizing her abrupt actions, she paused and took a breath. When she turned around, she was back to her distant self, "Get to work. I need a constant update on the status. If there is anything, call me anytime. Am I clear"

Captain David felt like he just imagined things. He responded seriously, "Clear." His crisp voice sounded loud.

Anya was running out again when Major Reth came with bloodstains on his clothes, "Major Reth!?" 

Major Reth saw her eyes on his clothes, "It's not my blood." He chuckled and came to the point looking at her in hurry, "Thank you, Officer Owen. I got to know you have managed to take those snipers under control with the cops." Or else many lives would have been in danger.

Anya shook his hand when he extended, "Thank you for your hard work in such a short time." She managed to hold her anxiety.

Major Reth cued his junior as he sternly stated, "I have given word to Chief Jason that you will be safe. If you are going out, Sergeant Leo will drop you there."

Anya didn't want to waste any time so she thanked him and ran out.. She got into the military jeep and immediately called Alvin's number with the fear of the Matthews family hurting Zane.