Shadows of Secrecy

Writer's POV:

Marvin dialed Caleb's number. After a few rings, Caleb picked up, his voice tight with concern.

"Caleb, it's Marvin," he began, his words rushing out in a breathless torrent. "I'm heading to your apartment right now. I might have some news that I think might lead us to unraveling Isabella's case brother. Can you meet me there?"

Caleb's response was immediate, tinged with a hint of hope. "Of course, Marvin. I'll be waiting for you," he said, his voice crackling with static over the phone line. "Please, whatever you've found out, let me know as soon as you arrive."

With a grateful nod, Marvin ended the call, his hands trembling with the weight of the revelation he carried. As he navigated the bustling streets toward Caleb's apartment, his mind raced with the possibilities of what awaited them both.

Marvin got to Caleb's place and Caleb had already poured them drinks at his study , then moved to the study balcony and had their seats. Caleb seems like he hasn't really been sleeping and Marvin gets worried about his brother. It's actually sad seeing him this way , as he's always a lively person , but now, he has just turned dull.

Marvin explains to Caleb that Wei Jun, one of his contacts, expressed concern about his wife Mei Ling. According to Wei Jun, Mei Ling recently took a job as the personal assistant to a high-profile criminal, and the nature of the job seems to be unsettling her. Wei Jun suspects that there may be more to the job than Mei Ling is letting on.

They got back to the kitchen to get more whisky. Caleb leaned against the kitchen counter, his brow furrowed with concern. "So, Wei Jun's worried about Mei Ling, huh?"

Marvin nodded as he poured himself a glass of water. "Yeah, it seems like it. He mentioned she's working for some big shot criminal and it's got her on edge. That her working hours are odd and she's always spooked and worried. He says she has completely changed and is always paranoid about most things."

"We need to find out more about this," Caleb said firmly, crossing his arms. "If Mei Ling's in trouble, we can't just sit back. Especially if you feel like it may have something to do with Isabella, I cannot ignore that bro."

Agreeing with a solemn expression, Marvin replied, "Agreed. But Mei Ling's not the type to spill secrets easily. We need to approach this carefully."

Caleb pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Maybe we can talk to Wei Jun again, see if he knows anything more specific. If Mei Ling won't talk to him, maybe he had noticed something off specifically , that would give us more clues on what might be going on with Mei."

Nodding in agreement, Marvin added, "Good idea. And if we can't get through to Mei Ling directly, maybe we can find a way to reassure her that we're here to help."

"Let's make a plan then," Caleb said decisively. "Wei Jun might be our best bet to get some insight into what's really going on with Mei Ling."

Marvin calls Wei Jun and tells him that he and Caleb are thinking of coming to see him right now. They chat for a little while.

Marvin hung up the phone and turned to Caleb, his brow furrowed with concern. "Wei Jun just confirmed he's home. He sounded worried about Mei Ling."

Caleb's eyes narrowed with resolve. "We need to find out what's going on. Let's go talk to him."

They wasted no time and headed straight to Wei Jun's house. Each step weighed heavily on their minds as they contemplated the situation. As they reached the door, Marvin's hand hesitated before knocking, the gravity of the moment sinking in.

Marvin knocked on the door, and after a moment, Wei Jun opened it, his face etched with worry. "Marvin, Caleb, thank you for coming," he greeted, ushering them inside. "I'm really concerned about Mei Ling. She's been acting strange ever since she started this new job."

Caleb nodded, his expression serious. "We're worried too. Can you tell us more about this job she's taken?"

Wei Jun sighed heavily. "She's been hired as a personal assistant for a high-profile businessman. But she won't tell me much about it, just that it's demanding and makes her nervous."

Marvin exchanged a concerned glance with Caleb. "Do you know anything about this businessman? Anything that could help us understand what Mei Ling might be dealing with?"

Wei Jun shook his head. "Not much. Mei Ling won't share details, and I haven't been able to find out anything substantial."

Caleb rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We need to find a way to get Mei Ling to open up. Maybe there's something she's afraid to tell you."

Wei Jun nodded, his worry deepening. "I just want her to be safe. Whatever it takes, we need to figure out what's going on." Marvin looked uneasy at the suggestion, but Caleb pressed on. "Look, if she's not talking, we need to find out what's going on somehow. Maybe if she lets her guard down, she'll reveal something she's been keeping from you."

Marvin's suggestion hung in the air, laden with tension. Wei Jun glanced between the two brothers, uncertainty etched on his face. "Bugging her space feels invasive," he muttered, his voice tight with apprehension. "And what if she catches me?"

Caleb leaned forward, his eyes glinting with determination. "We need to know what's going on, Wei. If she's in danger, we can't afford to wait for her to open up on her own. As for slipping something into her drink, it might loosen her tongue."

Marvin grimaced, torn between his brother's pragmatism and his own moral compass. "But what if she reacts badly? What if we push her further away?"

Caleb's jaw clenched, his resolve unyielding. "We have to take that risk, Marvin. We owe it to her to find out the truth, no matter the cost."

Wei Jun hesitated, clearly conflicted. "I don't know, guys. It feels wrong to invade her privacy like that."

Marvin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I agree, it doesn't sit right with me either. But if it's the only way to make sure she's safe..."

Caleb nodded, his determination unwavering. "We have to do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it means crossing some lines temporarily."

Wei Jun finally relented, albeit reluctantly. "Okay, I'll do it. But just know that I don't feel good about this."

Marvin placed a reassuring hand on Wei Jun's shoulder. "We'll figure this out together, Wei. For Mei Ling's sake." As the evening wore on, the tension in the room eased slightly as they sipped their drinks, the clink of glasses filling the air with a hollow sort of camaraderie. 

Wei Jun poured another round, his movements hesitant, betraying his inner turmoil. Caleb watched him closely, his mind already racing ahead to the plan they had concocted.

Marvin leaned back in his chair, his thoughts drifting to Mei Ling, a knot of worry tightening in his chest. He took a long sip of his drink, the alcohol burning down his throat, but it did little to numb the unease that gnawed at him.

Conversation flowed in fits and starts, punctuated by forced laughter and strained smiles. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, the weight of their mission hanging heavy in the air between them. But beneath the surface, a sense of determination simmered, driving them forward into the unknown.

Caleb's worry for his abducted girlfriend hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the gathering. Despite the attempt at casual conversation, his mind kept drifting back to Isabella, her absence a gaping hole in his world. He fidgeted with his glass, the ice cubes clinking softly as he swirled the amber liquid within.

Wei Jun glanced at Caleb, noting the furrow in his brow and the tension in his shoulders. He cleared his throat, trying to break through the heavy silence that had settled over them. "Caleb, are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle but laced with concern.

Caleb forced a tight smile, his gaze distant. "I'll be fine," he replied, the words coming out more as a mantra than a statement of fact. But deep down, he knew that until Isabella was back in his arms, he would never truly be okay again.

" I feel like there's more to this , like you are hiding something from me , especially you Caleb." Wei Jun asks, looking intensely at them. Marvin shifts uncomfortably, while Caleb's eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and apprehension at Wei Jun's directness. 

He exchanged a quick glance with Marvin, silently communicating their shared dilemma. "Wei Jun, we're just worried about Mei Ling," Caleb replied carefully, his tone measured. "She's been acting... different lately, and we're concerned for her well-being."

"You don't know my wife Caleb." Caleb knew that there's no turning back.

Marvin nodded in agreement, his expression mirroring Caleb's concern.

Caleb's admission hung heavy in the air, casting a somber pall over the room. Wei Jun's eyes widened in shock, his concern deepening as he processed Caleb's words. "Your girlfriend is missing?" he echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Caleb nodded, his jaw clenched with worry. "Yeah, she disappeared a few weeks ago," he confirmed, his voice strained with emotion. "We have no idea where she is or who might have taken her."

Marvin placed a reassuring hand on Caleb's shoulder, silently offering his support. "We've been trying to find her, but it's like she vanished into thin air," he added, his own frustration evident.

Wei Jun's expression softened, his concern shifting from suspicion to empathy as he regarded Caleb and Marvin. "I had no idea, I'm so sorry," he said sincerely, his voice filled with genuine sympathy. "We'll do whatever we can to help you find her."

But Wei Jun wasn't convinced, his gaze probing as he searched their faces for any hint of deception. "I know you're worried about Mei Ling, but I also know you, Caleb," he pressed, his voice unwavering. "There's something else going on here, isn't there?"