Pieces Falling Apart (2)

The people held captive in the camp, those who suffered major injuries and the traumatic experiences they had to endure, were all shifted to a safe medical facility for years of psychological recovery and to help them get back on track to live a normal life.

But if I were to look at the whole situation from the beginning, I found it absurd or odd. Think about it. 

If the people who orchestrated the heist had just sunk the ship to the bottom of the sea, it would've been easier for them. They would leave no trail.

A vessel that big, when sunk in the ocean, would leave an oil slick floating on the surface of the water. But finding that patch in the vast ocean is a task in itself. Recovering the ship from the bottom is almost impossible.

So why divert it to a group made up of hot-minded criminals? Why leave a trace at all in the first place?

It's like they're delivering a message: 'We'll be taking the stuff onboard, thank you!'

Just weeks before, I used to be a guy free of any worries, no pressure or anything of the sort. Now it feels like I am at the center of a game.

"What's the problem?" Jinsoo asked driving the car as I gulped down the painkillers.

"Five missed calls from Ethan. Now he's not picking up the phone.", I replied.

"How about asking someone else there?", He said.

"No shit sherlock. I did. The situation in all has taken a… Bad turn.", I said.

"Maybe I can help?", Jinsoo asked.

"I was transferred to Korea because some russian killers are after me…", I paused as I dialed Ethan's phone again.

"Then got a case here, Reviewed it as an advisor. Since it was an easy way out I handed it over to Ethan to act on my behalf…", I added.

"And?", Jinsoo asked me to continue.

"Turns out that there are people who murdered a witness and two potential witnesses just to delay the hearing". I said.

"You mean that Ethan might have been caught up in this mess?", Jinsoo asked.

"Never hope for the best. If he's really caught up in this because of me. Then I need to make sure he's safe.", I replied.

"By now, the news would have reached the embassy. They'll help you willingly", Jinsoo said.

"If someone really did abduct Ethan. Or got to him. Then I'm sure they are doing this to make sure hearing does not proceed and probably inflict fear.", I stated my thoughts.

----

"Ivor Snow?", Inside the US embassy in front of the Deputy Chief's Office was a bald man with short black beard. Sharp jawline and high cheekbones with brown eyes. Reachin our height, wearing a blue formal shirt and black pants.

"Micheal Dawson?", I asked as we shared a greeting.

"That's right. Micheal Dawson, Deputy Chief of Mission.", He replied.

"Let's talk inside", He said opening the doors to his office and leading us in.

Jinsoo and I had changed our clothes. They day today had already been exhausting. From going to Busan and wiping out a splinter group, retrieving a ship and freeing the captives, to the complexities of the case.

I was wearing a black shirt over black joggers, while Jinsoo was in a brown hoodie over black jeans.

We both took a seat in fron of the desk as Micheal sat in front of us.

"I'll just cut straight to the point…", Micheal paused looking at his computer screen on the desk.

"What have you been doing?", He asked.

"… …", I don't think either of us got that question.

"First you…", He looked at Jinsoo and said. "Activating a Special force unit, unauthorized."

Then he looked at me, "And entering a camp of terrorists-"

"Wiping", I corrected him.

"Use of C4 Lethal explosives, in a country without authorization, stealing maritime data, tracking an illegal shipment, retrieving an unaothorized vessel, conducting on site investigation and operation and not to mention, you both are carrying illegal weapon with you right now", He said. By illegal weapon, he meant the pistol we kept with us.

"Ivor Snow, just because you have extensive connections doesn't mean you can just do anything. There's a limit to how much reckless one can be and how much shitty ass situation one can create…", He added.

"I thought we are here to talk about Ethan", I said.

"Yes and this too. But I need you both to tell me every fucking thing. I've been working my fucking ass off just to cover up your mess, trying so hard to suppress all the matters and now this…", He muttered.

"Since you asked me, I'll also be direct…", I paused for his response.

"You need to be direct…", He said and I continued…

"I was in california, I fought a case, angered a Russian mobster who has assassins shoved up his ass. He shitted some, and they almost got me. I was transferred to Korea under guise, as Yara Choi's advisor. The case was easy I handed it to Ethan. Complications occured and now there are more murders regarding the case, obviously the news tomorrow will be filled with this…and Ethan's nowhere to be seen", I said.

"And? I know that's not all.", He asked.

"A shipment disappeared, ordered by Japanese Yakuza, Stolen by a group in Korea. I suspect a collaboration but I'm not sure. We found the ship and retrieved it, the payload's still missing. Not to mention the people that are pulling the strings are still unknown", I added.

"… …", And what followed next was a minute of silence in the room. 

"What the actual fuck?", He muttered.

"Now what?", I asked. Jinsoo was just sitting beside me, listening to the conversation attentively.

"Okay… We track Ethan first.", Micheal said turning around the monitor towards us.

"This right here is Ethan's car. He was being persued by a bkack range rover, no number plate. Windows were tinted so we don't have a clear view inside the rover. They both entered this tunnel, which is actually the quickest way to Gangnam station of police. But none of them exited the other side. Now here's the thing, this tunnel has a maintainence line."

"A maintainance line?", I asked.

"The sewer system, it's the centre of the city basically and it leads to almost in every direction." Micheal said as he opened a folder.

"This is the picture. The series 3 BMW is Ethan's, crushed sideways by the rover. The cars were dropped off in the tunnel itself and they probably took Ethan. I mean, really not probably."

"Did he try contacting anyone?", I asked.

"We checked up his call logs, after yours, only the station was contacted, he said he was in persuit and he's heading to the police station. The network broke off in the tunnel.", Micheal said.

"As far as my belief goes, this is obviously related to the case. We solve it, we find Ethan. And ofcourse, time is not a luxury we have now", Micheal said.

"Solving the case is a lengthy approach. What do you expect me to do? Interrogate suspects, ask questions? Roam around clueless, knowing that my friend is out there somewhere, abducted by people whose motive we don't know, or are they even treating him as a human?" I asked with a voice filled with desperation.

"Then—" Michael began to reply, but I cut him off mid-sentence by slamming my hand on the table. The loud bang reverberated through the room.

"Are we even sure that Ethan is alive or not? We have no fucking clue. You show me that video which has almost... nothing. From here on out, it's not just about the money, the shipment, or the fucking case."

"Then do you have a plan? A lead? Or even an idea of where to begin?" Michael asked, pointing his finger at me as he leaned forward.

"The idea you ask? It's right in front of you..." I replied stating everything that my mind could come up with.

"How many cars go through the tunnel every day, and how many of them have dash cams? Can't we pull the records and get the recordings from people? And you're telling me that the pursuers crashed the car to stop Ethan in a busy underpass—there will be several witnesses," I began stating pobable possibilities.

"These guys knew that Ethan's best approach would be to reach the police. They calculated everything, from the shortest and fastest route to the traffic at that time. They knew the roads and that Ethan was new to the country; he would need a navigation system to reach the station," I explained.

"A plan you ask? I have none. I have no fucking plan, no fucking idea. I'm a lawyer, not an investigator. I make use of loopholes; I use clues that are already discovered not find new ones. I create fake stories and prove that they're real," I was losing my composure by the time.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and leaned back in the chair.

"Then we go with a basic trial and error strategy," Jinsoo finally voiced his opinion in a low tone.

"Trial and error?" Michael asked, tilting his head to look at Jinsoo.

Jinsoo leaned forward,"Yes, we start with what we know and follow every lead, no matter how small. We piece it together, bit by bit."

"Ask anyone to retrieve the recordings, Michael," I said, locking eyes with him.

"In the meantime, we make leads," I added, my voice firm.

"I'll have my men retrieve the recordings. But about the leads, how do we do that?" Michael asked.

"Do we have any connections with criminal groups in Korea?" I asked.

"Fuck, not that..." Michael muttered shaking his head in frustration.