The Chinese Woman: Mystery Assassin: A Spy Mystery Thriller: Li Mei Spy Action Series (The Chinese Woman: Li Mei Spy Action Series Book 3) Read online

  THE CHINESE WOMAN

  MYSTERY ASSASSIN

  Protected by Copyright

  @ 2011 All rights reserved

  Copying or publishing this book, or any part thereof, is prohibited except with the express written permission by the author.

  Novels by Brian N. Cox

  The Chinese Woman: The Barbados Conspiracy

  The Chinese Woman: Operation Fox Den

  The Chinese Woman: The Mystery Assassin

  The Barbados Conspiracy – Book Reviews

  The criminal element in our society does not discriminate between borders, local or international. The Chinese Woman: The Barbados Conspiracy, while a fiction novel, allows us to see first hand how corruption and brutality weaves its sinister agenda across vast global distances: And the events that unfold gives us insight into what could very well be based on true events of organized crime. The narrative gives the reader awareness of the cooperation required between international law enforcement agencies to bring to justice those criminals who operate and function daily outside the law. Interesting and exciting, and full of twists and turns – well worth the read.

  Lucien B.

  Federal Competition Law Officer, Retired

  I started to read this story late one night when I was unable to sleep, what

  a mistake that was. I had to shut it down as it was time to get ready to go

  to work. I thought about that story all day and continued to read it until I

  was done. This story was exciting all the way through, it was easy to tell

  that the writer had some sort of criminal background probably a cop, he put

  such truth in the story that it gives you the feeling that you are right

  there, this is one of the best books I have read in a very long time and I

  look forward to many more from this writer.

  Don N.

  Calgary

  Brian knows police investigations, surveillance tactics, intelligence gathering, the criminal element and their environs. He understands Chinese organized crime, the Triads and their various "modus operandi"; and he has intimate knowledge of the Chinese culture and people. Brian has done a masterful job of creating this tale of conspiracy and intrigue that will keep the reader involved to the last page. I wouldn't have guessed at his creative side during those long nights of surveillance during our time on the Heroin Detail.

  Jim H.

  Former federal law enforcement officer

  I really enjoyed this first "The Chinese Woman" novel and look forward to reading the next one. I found it, from a woman's point of view, very descriptive as far as the policing methods of the Canadians, Americans and the working methods of the Triads. Because I have travelled to China, and particularly Hong Kong, the descriptions of the country brought back a flood of memories. Good story woven well together making a good read.

  Helen P.

  Banff, Alberta

  A great first novel! This book moves forward at lightning speed with lots of action, interesting characters and a roller coaster plot. I look forward to Mr. Cox’s next book and the further adventures of Xiaomei.

  Gordon O.

  Winnipeg

  Non-Fiction

  Reverse the Aging Process & Extend Lifespan

  Co-authored with Grand Master Tian Yong

  For further info go to:

  Website: www.bcoxbooks.com

  Blog: http://brianssecretworld.blogspot.com

  Other Books by Brian N. Cox

  International Police Officer Criminal Investigation Manual

  Safety Crusaders: Child Safety & Protection Manual

  For further info go to:

  www.intlpolice.com

  Thank you for purchasing my books. I hope I can provide you with enjoyable entertainment and even excitement with my suspense-thriller novels, or provide you with valuable information with my non-fiction manuals.

  Brian N. Cox

  This book is dedicated to the memory of Shirley June Wong (Wong Sen Toy),

  my loving wife of thirty-six years

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Gonzalez and Tessier, Homicide. Who’s in charge?” said the male detective as they both showed their badges and ID.

  “Sergeant Turner. He’s up on the third floor,” replied the rookie patrolman.

  There were four marked Seattle Police patrol cars in front of the apartment block, all with their roof lights flashing red and blue as the sun began to set casting shadows from the surrounding high-rises. Besides the patrol cars, the Crime Scene Investigation Unit van was parked across the street and several uniform officers kept the growing crowd of curious onlookers away from the front of the building.

  Detective Rick Gonzalez and his partner, Detective Rita Tessier, trudged up the stairs since the elevator was blocked with yellow police tape. Upon arrival on the third floor they walked down the hallway showing their badges to the two patrolmen who attempted to block their way.

  “Hi Rick. You got here in pretty good time. The CSIU’s are in there now. Tony Farrow is in charge,” said Sergeant Ted Turner, watch commander of the precinct patrol branch. Turner was tall, overweight, balding and thirty years on the job; a competent officer, who nevertheless was looking forward to retirement next year. Unlike many approaching retirement, he never slacked off and continued to be amongst the best watch commanders in the Department.

  “Hi Ted. What’s the score here?”

  “Looks like another sexual assault and strangulation. That’s why I specifically called for you and Tess. We’ll have to wait for Tony Farrow to give us the lowdown, but on the surface, it looks like it may be similar to the other two….maybe the same guy.”

  “Shit! I hope not. If it is, it means we’ve probably got a serial killer on our hands. The last crime scenes gave us nothing.”

  “What can I say Rick; you and Tess got your work cut out for you.”

  “We’ve got seven other open homicides on the go,” piped in Rita Tessier, “and we’re making good progress on all of them except this blow-job killer.”

  “Hold on, Tony’s coming out of the apartment,” interjected the Sergeant.

  “Hi Tony; what’s the scoop?” asked Detective Gonzalez.

  “Look at this, Rick,” said Sergeant Tony Farrow of the Seattle Police CSI Unit, as he held up what appeared to be a business card inside a small evidence envelope.

  “Don’t tell me that business card is from Portland,” said Gonzalez.

  “You got it; belongs to some lawyer. I think it’s safe to say this is the same guy,” replied Farrow. “The young woman is on her back with her hands tied to the headboard in the same way. Although she’s naked, no indication of vaginal penetration or potential DNA evidence in that area although the ME will have the final say on that. Her mouth is full of fluids, probably bleach, alcohol and mouthwash, same as before, and her face has been wiped clean. We’ll have mouth swabs tested for DNA evidence but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that. The perp obviously is cleaning out the victims’ mouths in order to kill the DNA.”

  “So he’s kneeling astride the victim and fucking them in the mouth, same as the last two,” said Detective Tessier.

  “I guess he’s a perv as well as a killer,” said Sergeant Turner, “like why doesn’t he screw them like most rapists do?”

  “Tess and I have talked about that,” replied Gonzalez. “Although, in my opinion, all serial rapists and
killers are perverts, I think this asshole is doing it so as not to leave DNA behind. He’s a lot smarter than the standard lowlife rapists. We can almost always find sperm traces or hairs around the vagina, even when they used a condom, but this guy isn’t taking that chance. He knows it’s easy to kill the DNA in the mouth.”

  “Besides,” added Tessier, “rapists want three things from their experience…the feeling of power over the victim, total physical control and an orgasm. He doesn’t care how he gets his rocks off, and long as he comes.”

  “I think you’re on the right track Rick,” said Farrow, “this guy is leaving less evidence at his crime scenes than any case I’ve worked on. By ‘less’, I mean none. The only things we found out of place as the scenes are a couple of receipts and this business card.”

  “All originating in Portland,” added Gonzalez.

  “This case is driving me nuts,” said Tessier. “Tony, let us know when you guys are finished with the crime scene so we can go in there.”

  When Detectives Gonzalez and Tessier entered the crime scene, they saw the same thing they had seen twice before over the past month and a half. A young woman was spread-eagle on a bed with her arms outstretched above her. A rope was tied around one wrist, lead around the headboard and tied to the other wrist. There were obviously fluids in her mouth and bruising on her neck. Just as in the other similar killings, there was a slight bruise on the left temple. The detectives surmised that the killer may have been pressing a gun barrel against the victims head to dissuade her from screaming or biting his penis. If this supposition was correct, it would indicate that the killer was probably right handed.

  Aside from this, there was little sign of a disturbance in the apartment, in fact, it was quite clean and well kept. A wine bottle, about one-third full was on a bedside table along with a half-full bottle of mouthwash. Other than that, the apartment was very neat with nothing appearing out of place.

  Gonzalez and Tessier were the Homicide Squad’s hotshots, but this case was going to be their greatest challenge.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Detective Rick Gonzalez sat at his desk in the Seattle Homicide Office across from his partner Rita Tessier, studying the reports in front of him while Detective Tessier did the same with reports on her desk. One thing both these detectives had in common was their ability to concentrate. As they studied the reports, immersed in deep thought, nothing could distract them. The detective office was constantly abuzz with phones ringing, detectives yelling to one another and uncooperative suspects being escorted to the interrogation rooms, but neither Gonzalez nor Tessier seemed to notice.

  Gonzalez had been on the Seattle Police for fifteen years, the last four and a half assigned to Homicide. It hadn’t taken the police brass long to realize, when Rick was brought in as an Acting Detective, that they had a real whiz kid on their hands. His solve rate was way above the average which made the Department look good. Like all police departments, only a select few detectives consistently solved cases, some detectives, in fact, solved very few and did just enough to keep their jobs in the Detective Division.

  Gonzalez was born in Tacoma, Washington, but his family moved to Seattle when he was only three years old. His father was recently retired from the Seattle Fire Department and was suffering from severe bronchitis. Both the family and the doctors were concerned that he was showing the early stages of emphysema, an incurable disease very common in older firefighters who worked before all the modern protective equipment was available. Gonzalez’ mother had died at a relatively young age from breast cancer so Rick was brought up by a single father who never remarried. Rick had subsequently become a bit of a health aficionado, determined not to succumb to the health problems that had befallen both his parents. Rick was over six feet in height and weighed a muscular two-hundred pounds. He ate more fruit and vegetables than any of his colleagues in the Detective Division and wouldn’t touch sugar with a ten foot pole. He thought anyone who smoked was a moron. Rick’s grandfather and grandmother, his father’s parents, had immigrated from Mexico many years before Rick was born. Both grandparents had Yaqui blood and Rick had the appearance of a full-blood Indian, even though he may have been as little as one-eighth Yaqui. Rick’s mother had emigrated from Scotland with her family when she was nine years old, but retained her Scottish accent until the day she died at age thirty-five. Despite his name and appearance, Rick did not speak Spanish and only understood the language at a very elementary level.

  Rick’s partner, Rita Tessier, was an attractive black woman of thirty-two with seven years on the job. She had only been on Homicide for one year and loved being Gonzalez’ partner. Tessier had a political science degree and had always wanted to be a FBI agent, but decided against it because she wanted to stay in Seattle with her family. She had attended Washington State University on a track scholarship and had been a successful competitor in NCAA competitions. After obtaining her degree, she followed her father’s footsteps and joined the Seattle Police Department. Like her partner, Rick Gonzalez, she was single and everyone knew there was a sexual tension between them. They had dated a few times, but most of their conversations eventually turned to the cases they were working on. Some of their fellow detectives described them as “driven” and that wouldn’t be far off the mark. They hated the thought of a killer getting away with his crime and when Gonzalez and Tessier got on the trail, chances were that a solid arrest was going to be the result.

  “Let’s go over this once again,” said Gonzalez, realizing that the conversation was going to be very short, as there wasn’t much evidence on the murderer that they called the “blow-job killer” although this wasn’t a term they used outside of the Detective Division. In fact, none of the details had been released to the media except for reporting that two women, now a third, had been sexually assaulted and murdered.

  “All three victims were very attractive white females in their late twenties. Each lived alone in a relatively upscale apartment block, however, none of these buildings had a doorman at the front door although they all had CCTV cameras covering the front entrances. Non-residents couldn’t enter without buzzing an apartment, although they could get in when an occupant opened the door. There were back doors on each of the blocks but no sign of jimmying or tampering. The back doors had key locks but were kept locked so that no one could enter without a key, although anyone could exit using a crash bar. The CCTV cameras showed no unusual comings or goings and no strangers entering or leaving. The apartment blocks were all within a five block radius of each other. The rope used to tie the victims to the bed was a ¾ inch nylon rope, a type used extensively as a boat or yacht anchor and could be purchased at any marine supply store. The killer was obviously bringing the rope with him.”

  “Have they finished that geographic profile?” interrupted Tessier.

  “Yah; they think there is a percentage chance that the killer lives on one of three streets in the area but they say three offences is not enough of a sampling to be of statistical significance.”

  “We’re trying to ascertain if there was any connection between the three women,” continued Gonzalez, “and there are several restaurants in the area where all three may logically have frequented. Some employees and patrons of the Starbucks have tentatively identified the first two victims as having frequented the restaurant, in fact, the first victim, Sharon Harrigan, was a regular. Those two new Acting Detectives have a photo of yesterday’s victim and are canvassing the area restaurants as we speak. It’s possible, therefore, that the killer targeted these women at the Starbucks; the employees don’t remember either of them sitting with any men although during the busy hours they probably wouldn’t have noticed. Since both were above average in the looks department, apparently many men approached them to talk, but none were invited to sit with them, to the knowledge of the employees.”

  “It’s possible, then, that the killer might appear on the restaurant’s CCTV video, which fortunately, they have in working order,” said Rita
.

  “Exactly, but there will be literally hundreds of men in the restaurant over the time periods we’re looking at, and the killer didn’t necessarily talk to them. He may, however, have left shortly after the victims did in order to follow them to their apartments,” replied Gonzalez. “We can continue going over those videos after lunch.”

  “Anyway, to continue, although we haven’t researched yesterday’s victim yet, the two earlier victims had no family in Seattle and no boyfriends, although they both had a lot of male attention. Both were very security conscious and both friends and neighbours said they would never open their door to a stranger. They both always spoke with the chain on the door, and the chains were intact and no sign of forced entry. This would indicate that the victims not only knew their attackers, but were not viewed as dangerous in any way, otherwise, why let them in?”

  “Unless he got into their apartments in advance and was waiting for them,” added Tessier.