“What!” Sharon screeched and reached across to swivel Yu Chin’s laptop around so she could view the screen. In her haste she completely missed the look of petrified alarm on her husband’s countenance.

“What forum is this? Fridae.com?”

“Yes,” Yu Chin stammered. “It’s a local…LGBT website. Elvis wanted me to keep tabs on the public’s response to Gimme Lao’s speech.”

“But why on an LGBT website?”

“You probably don’t know this, but Gimme Lao’s son is gay.”

“My gosh, I have nothing but respect for your espionage skills!” Sharon laughed. “What else do I not know? Tell me!”

“Well…” Yu Chin drawled, scratching his nose to hide his blush. “Gimme Lao’s son is in a long-term relationship with a prominent gay rights activist who happens to be the legal adviser for Migrant Workers Count Too. Which explains why the son is at loggerheads with the father.”

“You are right. This is even more exciting!” Sharon grinned. “Imagine what will happen if the public finds out an MP has an out-and-proud son!”

“It’s no fault of his, really. The public ought to give the man a break.” Yu Chin did not appear keen to pursue the topic. “I was talking to Elvis earlier today. The sentencing of the first rioter will be announced next Wednesday. The media might want to interview you. Elvis wants me to help you prepare a statement.”

“Sure.” Sharon shrugged. “Piece of cake. I don’t foresee any surprises.”

But Sharon was wrong.

Late Monday afternoon, Sharon received a text message from Yu Chin. Elvis wanted to meet both of them for dinner. They would have to redraft her press statement to incorporate some new developments.

“Update me,” Sharon requested once she arrived at the restaurant. Yu Chin had already ordered food for all of them.

“We received a plea from the Indian Embassy to exonerate the rioters yesterday,” Elvis said.

“Are you kidding me? Three days before the sentencing and they make a plea?” Sharon could not hide her astonishment. “And on a Sunday? What do they have up their sleeves?”

“They have this.”

Sharon took hold of the mobile phone Yu Chin handed her and watched the video clip being played. It was a shaky recording using a smart phone. There was some sort of a scuffle as a Chinese man dragged an Indian man off a bus, followed closely by two others, a man and a woman. The four quarrelled inaudibly outside the bus for a minute or two before the Chinese man, who looked to be the bus driver, turned and ascended the steps. When one of the Indian men tried to push his companion up the steps, the Chinese man swivelled around and aimed a kick at the latter’s chest, sending him reeling out of the vehicle.

“This was the night of the riot, wasn’t it?” Sharon asked tremulously.