Winner of 3rd Quarterfinal

Winner of 3rd Quarter Finals: Mitchelle Lee

Mr Tan Swee Teck sat very erect on his blue comforter in his spotless office. His eyes scrutinised on the paper in front of him checking it yet again. He was a man who liked ensuring the finer details were never overlooked. He frowned in frustration. It added years to his age. Suddenly, he stood up and walked out of the room. With quick and concise steps Mr Tan walked towards the interrogation room. As he stepped inside, his expression changed drastically. His eyes hardened and his lips were fixed into a perpetual scowl. He wore austerity on his sleeve and would mercilessly interrogate the suspects to breaking point. He stared into the eyes of the man in front of him. “Blatant liar.” He thought to himself. He dragged the plastic chair across the hard linoleum floor, the noise causing the man in front of him to jerk upright. “Tell the truth now.” Mr Tan’s voice was barely a whisper but there was some peculiar quality to it which made it so intimidating. So condescending. The man in front of him stuttered for a while, before replying stupidly, “How did you know?”

Mr Tan had a small smile playing at his lips as his walked out of the interrogation room. “Idiot accomplice.” He muttered happily under his breath. He gathered the policemen for a briefing before dispatching them to the area the criminal frequented. The men changed into normal everyday clothes before rushing out. Their expressions were formidable and etched with determination. Mr Tan ran out of the station. He felt the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins and heard his heart thumping erratically. The drug dealer which the team had been trying so hard to apprehend was just within their grasp. Mr Tan was not going to let him get away this time.

Along the busy night streets of Geylang, the red-light district was abuzz with activity. Near the sidewalk a few drunk men were puking profusely in the drains, the stench of their vomit fill the air around them, suffocating anyone who stood within meters from them. Mr Tan sighed, finding this drug dealer was going to be harder than he thought. Suddenly, he felt his phone buzz. ‘Man spotted. Near Sunni’s bar. Assistance needed.’ His screen flashed. “Sunni’s bar?” he thought to himself, his sharp eyes quickly scanned the entire road. A large neon lighted sign caught his attention. It read ‘Sunni’s bar’ and was located at the tiny shop house tucked at the very end of the street. Being as inconspicuous as he could, he rushed to the scene as quickly as he

By the time he got there, the rest of the team had already devised a plan to ambush the drug dealer. The plan was hatched via instant messaging over the smart phones so as to not arouse any suspicion. It was a clear-cut and simple plan. Mr Tan was supposed to act as an interested buyer while the rest of the team stayed hidden in their respective hiding places near to the drug dealer. When the time was right they would nab him on the spot. “He isn’t going to get away this time.” Mr Tan murmured softly to himself. Now, Mr Tan was tentatively stepping into unknown territory, his heart beat quickened as he breathed in the musty air of mildew and cigarettes. He hated the claustrophobic feeling of walking through the alleyway. But he pressed on,

“My friend recommended me to you. I am very interested in buying your special pills. How much?” Mr Tan started, his baritone voice smooth and unfaltering. The silhouette nodded bent down as if to rummage through his bag of goods. Mr Tan raised his arm to make a tiny signal and the team closed down on him.

Mr Tan’s smile was profound when he drove back to the station. He had a man in silver cuffs seating at the back of the vehicle and a sense of satisfaction radiating around him.

1 year later

Mr Lim is still seating on his blue comforter in his pristine office scrutinising yet another piece of paper in front of him. Determination and perseverance is written all over his face. He knows he cannot stop here. Thus, he presses on.