Where were you all my life? 42/?
Chapter 42 - Near or far?
Summary:
Kim Jaejoong is forced to do business with the mafia who keep threatening him. Changmin, Junsu and Yoochun are responsible for his security.
Jung Yunho is a cop investigating a paedophile/mafia man named Kim Jaejoong and the mafia is blackmailing him to do one job for them: kill Jaejoong.
And so their paths collided. A week later, Jung Yunho is more than a prisoner in Kim Jaejoong's house and both mafia and cops are getting near the two men.
Warnings: mention rape and abuse, some violence, smut.
Pairings: Yunjae, little hints of Yoosu
Chapter 1 - Jaejoong Intro, Chapter 2 - Attempted Rape, Chapter 3 - Payback Rape, Chapter 4 - Yunho Intro, Chapter 5 - Yunho Intro, Chapter 6 - Framed and Blackmailed, Chapter 7 - Framed and Blackmailed, Chapter 8 - Aftermath, Chapter 9 - Method of Interrogation A, Chapter 10 - Method of Interrogation B, Chapter 11 - Unexpected Rescue, Chapter 12 - Talk and Re-enact, Chapter 13 - Surprises, Chapter 14 - Something Changes, Chapter 15 - I Remember Friday, Chapter 16 - Wet Dreams, Chapter 17 - Sweet Surrender Y, Chapter 18 - Sweet Surrender J, Chapter 19 - Morning After, Chapter 20 - Talking Is Overrated, Chapter 21 - Thugs, Cops and Talks, Chapter 22 - Ready? Action!, Chapter 23 - Permission, Chapter 24 - Action vs Reaction, Chapter 25 - Changes, Chapter 26 - Police Work, Chapter 27 - Confrontations, Chapter 28 - More Changes, Chapter 29 - Different Mornings, Chapter 30 - Interrogation - The Cop Method - part 1, Chapter 31 - Interrogation - The Cops Method - part 2, Chapter 32 - Talk or Fight?, Chapter 33 - Clash of Tempers, Chapter 34 - Relax Time, Chapter 35 - Fight for Dominance, Chapter 36 - Gentle vs Hard, Chapter 37 - All is Cool, Chapter 38 - Taemin Intro, Chapter 39 - Countdown, Chapter 40 - Countdown, Chapter 41 - Love or Lust?, Chapter 43 - It's Ok …
OBS: Yes, it's a high number of chapters, but they are all tiny tiny chapters. I promise. Pinky swear.
Chapter 42 - Near or far?
As Jaejoong and Yunho were walking down the corridor on their way to have breakfast, they met Yoochun about to enter the control room.
-Morning, boss. Just going to coordinate the guards for today. We’re all about to set off.
-Ok.
Yunho kept walking but looked back at where Yoochun had disappeared.
-Changmin is already surprising when he turns all mature, business like and professional on you. But Yoochun doing it is like…
-A different person?
-Yeahhh. Still not used to when he does it.
-Junsu doesn’t like him just for his jokes, you know? - Chuckled Jaejoong.
At the breakfast table they were met with Junsu and Mr. Jung quietly chatting, while Changmin looked seriously pissed off. Yunho stared at the untouched food in front of the tall bodyguard and actually looked open mouthed at Junsu, silently asking for an explanation.
-Boss, Jun ki and Donghae already went to the company. Eric and I are just waiting for you. I think Eric might already be out front with the car.
-Oh, ok. I’ll just eat and hurry up.
Changmin huffed at the mention of Jun Ki’s name and got up.
-Yunho, I’ll be outside waiting for you.
As soon as the tall bodyguard was out of earshot, Yunho turned to the others.
-What bite him? Did he have a fight with Jun Ki?
-The usual. Changmin had to put his foot down for Jun Ki not to go alone. Besides, he’s still avoiding Min and our bad tempered young man is getting really pissed off with it. - Answered Mr. Jung, before turning to face Jaejoong.
-Why is your assistant doing that to Changmin when it’s obvious he likes the brat?
-Hey, I may spend entire days working with Jun Ki but he’s a very private man. I have no idea.
-Jun Ki already dated someone younger and it didn’t work out. He’s probably trying to assess if our Min is worth the risk. - Said Junsu.
-Oh, come on. Even I think he’s being silly. And what age difference? 6 years? Peanuts. Your brat is more mature than his age. He just looks younger than he really is and he also enjoys too much getting away behaving like a spoiled brat. By the way, you all let him get away with it.
Junsu chuckles at Mr. Jung words.
-He just looks too cute. - Points Jaejoong.
-You look cute too. Junsu, Donghae, Yoochun, Eric and Jun Ki do too. Even my son here can be as cute as a kitten. But you guys just spoil Min.
-He’s the younger. It’s like he’s our little brother, even if when we are working, he’s the second in command after Jae. - Junsu admits.
-Has Jun Ki seen Changmin behaving more as head of security or more as your spoiled little brother?
-Well…
-There’s your problem. They are a perfect match but one of them is being too stubborn and blind to see what is right in front of his nose.
Mr. Jung finished his last words with a meaningful look in the direction of Jaejoong and Yunho. Both pretended not to notice. Junsu hide his smile at the old man’s shameless taunt at the other troublesome couple.
After he finished eating, Yunho got up to go meet Changmin, when Junsu put a bag on his hands.
-Here. Just leave the food in the car as if it’s no big deal. Sooner or later, Minnie will attack it.
-Spoil. - Mr. Jung pointed from his place in front of the tv.
…
Changmin and Yunho had the regular bodyguards watching Siwon but they also went after him as well in a rented car. While the lawyer was in the courthouse in the middle of a trial, Changmin contacted the police station from a payphone. As soon as Il Woo answered, Changmin pretended to be calling about someone stealing a store on that street and asked for all the cops available. Later, as they kept an eye on the courthouse, the cops arrived in regular cars, coming from different directions.
-Hi, Yunho. Didn’t thought you’d actually use the code to meet up so soon.
-Hey, Il Woo. Glad you guys could make it. We need your help.
Soon, they had divided chores and agreed on how to exchange information. Shin Hye-sung and Jun Jin would work with Lee Jun Ki on uncovering the paper trail to figure out what Park Ri Ho was doing behind Top’s back. Lee Min Ho and Lee Jong-suk would search Taemin’s old neighbourhood to get more information on possible hideouts for the runaway, maybe get Jonghyun to trust them and confirm what happens on Park Ri Ho’s clubs. Jung Il Woo and Kim Soo Hyun would be the point of contact for all of them, as they also continued trying to catch the mole inside the police station, getting Captain Rain to keep Jang Geun Suk and Yoon Sang Oska out of making too much trouble searching for Yunho, while also conducting a separate investigation on Choi Siwon. By the end of the informal meeting, Changmin looked tired at Yunho after the cops had left.
-This is a mess. And we have way too many people involved. I can’t even keep track of all the cops. Who was who again?
-Well, I still haven’t memorized all of the names of your bodyguard team, so I don’t pity you. Let’s get back to the car. The trial should be over soon.
…
The two men sat in the car, watching the steps of the courthouse, Yunho at the wheel. They watched as Siwon walked up to his car, greeting several people on his way over.
-You can set your watch for that guy. - Grumbled Changmin.
They followed Siwon who kept to his regular schedule, right on time for everything. The two men easily spotted the cop’s car and their own men who were also following Siwon. Because of that, Yunho kept playing games of hide and seek on the traffic, changing lanes, sometimes even being ahead of Siwon’s car.
-Stop showing off, Yunho. We might lose him.
The two end up bickering. Changmin is too tense that morning and even Yunho is not on his best mood. For one second, Yunho loses his concentration and follows Siwon’s car too closely as it turns to the side street leading to the lawyer’s office, where the traffic is chaotic with too many people searching for parking spaces. Usually, they would be either ahead or way back since the lawyer has an assigned parking space in the office underground parking lot. The cops and the other two bodyguards have kept to that. Yunho curses as they are forced to slow down, their car very close to Siwon’s. If the lawyer looks back, they are not sure if the tainted windows and expensive looking car will be enough to not give them away. In the middle of the confusing mess of cars parking and taking off, Siwon’s car simply slides into a space that opens magically as if it was waiting for him. The two men look surprised at the out of routine movement until they notice one small detail about the car that pulled away.
-Shit fuck! That’s the exact same car and even has the same licence plate.
-Yunho, a car pulled away. Park this car in that space now.
Yunho parks their car a few meters away and they wait. They remain open mouthed, watching how the cops’s car follows the decoy car, never noticing that an identical car is among the parked cars in the street.
-Our guys always wait up ahead in this part because this street is too busy. Shit! A decoy car. Exactly the same car. Same licence plate. I’ve done this before. We’ve all done this before but we always avoided following too close in this damn street. And he knew that. That…
-Calm down, Changmin. Let’s just see what he does now. From now on we won’t be fooled again.
…
After about ten minutes, Siwon himself gets out of the parked car and gets inside another, the driver already inside waiting for him. As they drive away, Yunho follows carefully. Changmin is still cursing.
-Fuck! No wonder we never caught the guy doing anything. He must be doing this for ages.
Yunho bites his lips, trying to control his anger. He’s pissed off. If not for his mistake, he would have been fooled as well. The car chase takes them to the side streets nearby Park Ri Ho’s main nightclub. Siwon exits the car that continues to drives away and walks up to the doors of an abandoned motel behind the club before disappearing out of sight. Yunho parks the car in a nearby alley and grabs a huge jacket and a baseball cap from the trunk.
-Keep watch, Changmin. I’m gonna get closer.
The cop walks as if he was drunk. He reaches the corner of the building in time to see Siwon enter a door. He continues to walk sideways, studying every little detail of the abandoned looking motel. The door where the lawyer entered is disguised as if it’s nailed. Some of the windows have traces of light behind nailed boards and others are actually opened. Distant music can be heard.
Yunho walks around, checking the trash can, bumping into them to spill their contents. One thing causes the cop to stumble and almost drop to the floor. Inside one of the black plastic bags that wasn’t firmly closed, among the regular trash, he can see way too many used condoms and tissues, one or two tissues with faint traces of blood. The cop has to fight the bile rising up in his throat. He remembers all too well his recent talk with Lee Jong-suk, who assured him that they suspect that Park Ri Ho might be involved with underage prostitution based on the neighbourhood rumours and constant anonymous tips. However, every police raid never turned up any evidence. One little thing had stuck in his mind, how Lee Jong-suk said it was too much of a coincidence how some of Park Ri Ho’s clubs were in buildings that had abandoned motels or offices on the other side.
…
Yunho returned to the car where Changmin was waiting with stumbling steps that he didn’t need to fake. The bodyguard got out of the car with a worried face.
-What’s with you? You’re as white as paper.
-It’s a prostitution joint. Likely underage if Siwon is a client.
Yunho fought against the rising bile again, while Changmin just stared open mouthed. The cop wanted to punch something. Worst thing was, as a cop, he knew they had no grounds to just walk in. It would not be admitted as evidence in court. He cursed loudly and punched the nearby wall. Changmin turned thoughtful.
-You know… Top’s clubs have prostitution too. You can’t say that whoever works there is happy or that there aren’t cases where someone is being forced… but… usually it’s really above eighteen. We spent some time checking Top and his dogs when Jae first hired us to protect him. Ri Ho is the one who gets the most out of line. Top follows his own idea of honourable crime or whatever it is and imposes it on the others. There were a few others causing Jaejoong troubles but mostly it has always been Ri Ho.
-I guess he’s planning on overtaking Top. Probably just gathering enough money, influence and friends in high places. With a club like this he must sure have plenty of people that he can blackmail. But why the hell this obsession with Jae’s company?
-It’s great for laundering money. Besides, the construction company owns a lot of buildings and lots across town that Jae hasn’t had money to invest on. I realised that when I helped Jun Ki to check all that paperwork the other day. Now… if Siwon is a regular customer of Ri Ho… that does explain a lot. So, Mr. Cop, how do we nail these guys?
-No idea, yet. We can’t just walk in there. Even if we call the cops or if I was acting as a cop I would need probable cause, caught in the act and hard evidence. It’s always so frustrating when the rule book ends up allowing the bad guys to walk away.
-I guess you really do punch guys a lot.
Yunho chuckled humourlessly.
-The file that Internal Affairs has on me is almost as thick as some of the files I have on lifelong criminals.
-Good for you.
-No, bad for me. It’s why all of my colleagues say I’m not cut out for this job and that I should return to school and just go draw houses instead.
The tall cop sighed, his eyes in the distant sky.
-You know, I might just consider that one of these days. I still haven’t forgotten how much I dreamed of becoming an architect.
-An architect? Really?
-Yeahh…
-How did you end up as a cop instead?
-After my mom died, we only had my dad’s salary and the odd part-times I would take. It was just enough to get me through University. Unfortunately, my dad’s company did one of those huge downsizing cut downs unexpectedly. With his age it was impossible for him to find another job in the same area. I had toyed with being a cop, I had thought about doing it while I studied, I even had already passed the entrance exams and physical tests. But I was considering it as something interesting to earn money until I could finish my degree. However, when my dad lost his job, I just… switched all my efforts into becoming a cop. I ended up never returning to the University even when my dad found a job to help pay the bills until he retired.
-What does Mr. Thumper say about you being a cop and not an architect?
-Oh, he bugged me about it for a while but gave up. It’s not so bad being a cop. Usually I quite enjoy it. Hey, remember those blind spots I kept detecting in the security back at the house?
-Yes. It was really annoying how you could do that.
-I did a paper on that type of blind spots for Uni when I started working as a cop. It’s easier to spot them if you know angles and all that stuff.
Changmin crossed his arms with a huff. Then he shook his head and started to laugh. He patted Yunho’s shoulder.
-That was really annoying. But you know… despite the crazy circumstances of how we met, I kinda think you’re an ok guy.
-Uau! Thanks. So magnanimous of you.
Yunho smiled back. He agreed with the bodyguard. Weird circumstances alright but he had met great people because of it.
…
Meanwhile, Yoochun, Eric and Donghae were on the neighbourhood while Lee Min Ho and Lee Jong-suk were also trying to find Jonghyun. The young man showed up eventually and recognized Jong-suk with a start. The two cops tried to talk him into trusting them but Jonghyun simply repeated again and again that he had no idea about where Taemin was or even that the boy had left the orphanage. Yoochun had seen the two cops approach the teenager and achieve nothing. At some distance, he could see Eric and Donghae have similar results with other kids. Thoughtful, Yoochun waited until the two cops left to go near Jonghyun. The young man eyed him suspiciously to which the bodyguard cocked an eyebrow up and smiled.
-Are you a cop?
-Do I look like one?
-Not really.
-That’s cause I’m not. Here, check for yourself.
Yoochun threw his wallet at the guy. Jonghyun caught it surprised and checked it, never tearing his eyes away from the older man.
-Bodyguard?
-To Kim Jaejoong, friend of Ren who in turn is a good friend of Taemin, who I know is from your neighbourhood and that sort of means he’s under your watch. I’m no cop. My boss wants to save Taemin from enduring a harsh fate at the hands of this one creepy guy that’s after the kid. Whatever happens, we can’t let him be the one to find Taemin. There’s a card there. Keep it. Check on who Jaejoong and Ren are if you can, that should confirm that you can trust us, I hope. Please call us if you find anything that can help us protect Taemin.
Jonghyun returned the wallet and walked away. He remembered some older men trying to search for redheaded kids, which had made him nervous before. But now, with cops involved and even this new guy, things seemed serious and he no longer had any problem understanding why Taemin had sounded so paranoid on the phone. He cursed the teen for not having given him any means of contact. He remembered Ren from his visit to the orphanage. But how could he trust this Yoochun guy when he even had trouble trusting Jong-suk who had grown up around these streets too? The young man sighed. He could do nothing else but wait for tomorrow when he would finally meet Taemin at the agreed place. He only hoped he would be able to help the kid.
…
Kim Junsu was helping Lee Jun Ki file the paperwork, after Shin Hye-sung and Jun Jin had left, while the assistant was busy dealing with the usual company tasks. In his office, Kim Jaejoong was nervously doing the first steps to a possible profitable new contract, one that didn’t involve any money even remotely linked to mafia.
Junsu received a text from Yoochun saying that so far they had no luck with Jonghyun but that the younger cop would try again. Junsu told that to Jun Ki who wondered if they should maybe ask Changmin if he had any luck.
-If I call Changmin he won’t answer me. Why don’t you try it?
-Me?
-Look, Jun Ki, I know it’s really none of my business but I like Changmin a lot and he deserves to be happy. I’ve been just watching from my little corner and keeping my opinion, however, I should warn you of this little detail. Changmin is getting fed up. So, please make up your mind. If you want nothing with him, then start behaving accordingly and stop sending him mixed signals. Changmin is getting fed up and that means he will take matters into his own hands. You may not like what he decides to do.
Jun Ki kept silent for a while. His head went over his little argument with Changmin that morning. He had trouble dealing with the younger guy when he insisted on including him in his bodyguard duties. Jun Ki didn’t consider he needed protection. He had agreed to stay at Jaejoong’s house because things had gotten more complicated and he was of the opinion that they should all stick together. However, he had no intention of remaining there forever. Besides, he did feel attracted to the tall bodyguard but he was still learning who Changmin was. Maybe such precaution was useless and overboard. Just because he and his ex had broke up mostly because of differences due to age, there was nothing to prove to him that age would get in the way again. Changmin could be rather mature. Even surprisingly so. Something told him that Junsu was right and Changmin might take the decision out of his hands. He wondered how the young man would do that. Then he realised he was feeling a hint of fear that Changmin might stop wanting to be more than work colleagues. That possibility didn’t sit well with him.
-Jun Ki?
-What? Huh… Yeahh, I…
Lee Jun Ki was saved from his stuttering when Kim Jaejoong opened his door and called them inside. The business man couldn’t wait to tell them about the possible new contract. He was nervous and happy.
…
Jaejoong tried to keep focused on work but in the end he asked Junsu if he had any news. The business man sighed to know that so far they were not getting any more information about Taemin even now that they were almost certain he might be in his old neighbourhood. He asked Junsu to call Changmin and find how the surveillance on Siwon was going. Junsu looked at Jun Ki who took the hint and called himself.
-Jun Ki?
-Hi, Changmin. Jaejoong asked to call you.
-Oh… Right. Tell him so far we have nothing. Bye.
Jun Ki stared at the phone for a few seconds. The bodyguard had rarely used that tone with him. Junsu was right. Changmin was upset with him.
-Anything?
-No. Nothing so far.
Junsu grabbed Jun Ki’s phone and dialled again.
-What?
-Min, it’s me. Get me Yunho on the phone.
-He’s not here right now.
-I can hear his voice, Shin Changmin. Put him on the phone.
Inside the car, Yunho was fighting Changmin over the phone, annoyed at the bodyguard for telling them that they had nothing when they were finally finding a crack in the lawyer’s defence system.
-Hello? It’s Yunho.
-Hi, Junsu here. Since I know Min likes to save the bad news till later… anything new?
-Siwon uses decoy cars to avoid being followed. We’re at the back of Park Ri Ho’s main cub where he disappeared a little ago. What about from your end?
-No luck in Taemin’s old neighbourhood. The paper cops have just left. They checked what Jun Ki had gathered in the last days and are off to try and get more.
-Ok.
Yunho hesitated. He heard Jaejoong’s voice in the back wanting Junsu to hurry up and tell him what was going on. The cop sighed. He felt like he wanted to talk with Jaejoong.
On the office, Jaejoong was pulling Junsu, asking what Yunho had said. However the business man was not prepared to find about the decoy car. It almost had him kneeling on the floor.
…
Jung Il Woo and Kim Soo Hyun returned to the police station to find everyone eyeing them sideways, nervously telling them that the Captain had ordered them to go see him as soon as they returned.
-Did he say what about?
-Sorry, guys. No idea. But you might want to take an umbrella. Captain Rain seems to be in a stormy mood. I think you’ll catch more than a little rain.
The two cops were entered into the Captain’s office to find already inside the troublesome duo from Internal Affairs: Jang Geun Suk and Yoon Sang Oska. The Captain ordered them to sit while he dismissed the other two.
-Captain, why were they here?
-Geun Suk is highly suspicious that we are trying to cover up for Yunho, implying that we are not really trying to find him or even his father. Then, Oska is all polite and points the rules in the book that we might not be obeying fully. I hate those two. When, and if, a big if, Yunho ever returns, I am going to be all over his ass if he even just dreams of stepping out of line. Anyway, managed to get out of those two how they knew that Kim Jaejoong might be here the other day because of Yunho. I want you two to check if that might be our leak.
…
After a couple hours, Yunho and Changmin got tired of just sitting in the car and they spread around, trying to kill time until Siwon would appear. Yunho went to the street where the lawyer disappeared. He was about to go near the trash cans again when the door suddenly opened and he was face to face with Choi Siwon.
-Jung Yunho?
…
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Special HI to Songbird. Sorry about the mean cliffhanger.
Summary:
Kim Jaejoong is forced to do business with the mafia who keep threatening him. Changmin, Junsu and Yoochun are responsible for his security.
Jung Yunho is a cop investigating a paedophile/mafia man named Kim Jaejoong and the mafia is blackmailing him to do one job for them: kill Jaejoong.
And so their paths collided. A week later, Jung Yunho is more than a prisoner in Kim Jaejoong's house and both mafia and cops are getting near the two men.
Warnings: mention rape and abuse, some violence, smut.
Pairings: Yunjae, little hints of Yoosu
Chapter 1 - Jaejoong Intro, Chapter 2 - Attempted Rape, Chapter 3 - Payback Rape, Chapter 4 - Yunho Intro, Chapter 5 - Yunho Intro, Chapter 6 - Framed and Blackmailed, Chapter 7 - Framed and Blackmailed, Chapter 8 - Aftermath, Chapter 9 - Method of Interrogation A, Chapter 10 - Method of Interrogation B, Chapter 11 - Unexpected Rescue, Chapter 12 - Talk and Re-enact, Chapter 13 - Surprises, Chapter 14 - Something Changes, Chapter 15 - I Remember Friday, Chapter 16 - Wet Dreams, Chapter 17 - Sweet Surrender Y, Chapter 18 - Sweet Surrender J, Chapter 19 - Morning After, Chapter 20 - Talking Is Overrated, Chapter 21 - Thugs, Cops and Talks, Chapter 22 - Ready? Action!, Chapter 23 - Permission, Chapter 24 - Action vs Reaction, Chapter 25 - Changes, Chapter 26 - Police Work, Chapter 27 - Confrontations, Chapter 28 - More Changes, Chapter 29 - Different Mornings, Chapter 30 - Interrogation - The Cop Method - part 1, Chapter 31 - Interrogation - The Cops Method - part 2, Chapter 32 - Talk or Fight?, Chapter 33 - Clash of Tempers, Chapter 34 - Relax Time, Chapter 35 - Fight for Dominance, Chapter 36 - Gentle vs Hard, Chapter 37 - All is Cool, Chapter 38 - Taemin Intro, Chapter 39 - Countdown, Chapter 40 - Countdown, Chapter 41 - Love or Lust?, Chapter 43 - It's Ok …
OBS: Yes, it's a high number of chapters, but they are all tiny tiny chapters. I promise. Pinky swear.
Chapter 42 - Near or far?
As Jaejoong and Yunho were walking down the corridor on their way to have breakfast, they met Yoochun about to enter the control room.
-Morning, boss. Just going to coordinate the guards for today. We’re all about to set off.
-Ok.
Yunho kept walking but looked back at where Yoochun had disappeared.
-Changmin is already surprising when he turns all mature, business like and professional on you. But Yoochun doing it is like…
-A different person?
-Yeahhh. Still not used to when he does it.
-Junsu doesn’t like him just for his jokes, you know? - Chuckled Jaejoong.
At the breakfast table they were met with Junsu and Mr. Jung quietly chatting, while Changmin looked seriously pissed off. Yunho stared at the untouched food in front of the tall bodyguard and actually looked open mouthed at Junsu, silently asking for an explanation.
-Boss, Jun ki and Donghae already went to the company. Eric and I are just waiting for you. I think Eric might already be out front with the car.
-Oh, ok. I’ll just eat and hurry up.
Changmin huffed at the mention of Jun Ki’s name and got up.
-Yunho, I’ll be outside waiting for you.
As soon as the tall bodyguard was out of earshot, Yunho turned to the others.
-What bite him? Did he have a fight with Jun Ki?
-The usual. Changmin had to put his foot down for Jun Ki not to go alone. Besides, he’s still avoiding Min and our bad tempered young man is getting really pissed off with it. - Answered Mr. Jung, before turning to face Jaejoong.
-Why is your assistant doing that to Changmin when it’s obvious he likes the brat?
-Hey, I may spend entire days working with Jun Ki but he’s a very private man. I have no idea.
-Jun Ki already dated someone younger and it didn’t work out. He’s probably trying to assess if our Min is worth the risk. - Said Junsu.
-Oh, come on. Even I think he’s being silly. And what age difference? 6 years? Peanuts. Your brat is more mature than his age. He just looks younger than he really is and he also enjoys too much getting away behaving like a spoiled brat. By the way, you all let him get away with it.
Junsu chuckles at Mr. Jung words.
-He just looks too cute. - Points Jaejoong.
-You look cute too. Junsu, Donghae, Yoochun, Eric and Jun Ki do too. Even my son here can be as cute as a kitten. But you guys just spoil Min.
-He’s the younger. It’s like he’s our little brother, even if when we are working, he’s the second in command after Jae. - Junsu admits.
-Has Jun Ki seen Changmin behaving more as head of security or more as your spoiled little brother?
-Well…
-There’s your problem. They are a perfect match but one of them is being too stubborn and blind to see what is right in front of his nose.
Mr. Jung finished his last words with a meaningful look in the direction of Jaejoong and Yunho. Both pretended not to notice. Junsu hide his smile at the old man’s shameless taunt at the other troublesome couple.
After he finished eating, Yunho got up to go meet Changmin, when Junsu put a bag on his hands.
-Here. Just leave the food in the car as if it’s no big deal. Sooner or later, Minnie will attack it.
-Spoil. - Mr. Jung pointed from his place in front of the tv.
…
Changmin and Yunho had the regular bodyguards watching Siwon but they also went after him as well in a rented car. While the lawyer was in the courthouse in the middle of a trial, Changmin contacted the police station from a payphone. As soon as Il Woo answered, Changmin pretended to be calling about someone stealing a store on that street and asked for all the cops available. Later, as they kept an eye on the courthouse, the cops arrived in regular cars, coming from different directions.
-Hi, Yunho. Didn’t thought you’d actually use the code to meet up so soon.
-Hey, Il Woo. Glad you guys could make it. We need your help.
Soon, they had divided chores and agreed on how to exchange information. Shin Hye-sung and Jun Jin would work with Lee Jun Ki on uncovering the paper trail to figure out what Park Ri Ho was doing behind Top’s back. Lee Min Ho and Lee Jong-suk would search Taemin’s old neighbourhood to get more information on possible hideouts for the runaway, maybe get Jonghyun to trust them and confirm what happens on Park Ri Ho’s clubs. Jung Il Woo and Kim Soo Hyun would be the point of contact for all of them, as they also continued trying to catch the mole inside the police station, getting Captain Rain to keep Jang Geun Suk and Yoon Sang Oska out of making too much trouble searching for Yunho, while also conducting a separate investigation on Choi Siwon. By the end of the informal meeting, Changmin looked tired at Yunho after the cops had left.
-This is a mess. And we have way too many people involved. I can’t even keep track of all the cops. Who was who again?
-Well, I still haven’t memorized all of the names of your bodyguard team, so I don’t pity you. Let’s get back to the car. The trial should be over soon.
…
The two men sat in the car, watching the steps of the courthouse, Yunho at the wheel. They watched as Siwon walked up to his car, greeting several people on his way over.
-You can set your watch for that guy. - Grumbled Changmin.
They followed Siwon who kept to his regular schedule, right on time for everything. The two men easily spotted the cop’s car and their own men who were also following Siwon. Because of that, Yunho kept playing games of hide and seek on the traffic, changing lanes, sometimes even being ahead of Siwon’s car.
-Stop showing off, Yunho. We might lose him.
The two end up bickering. Changmin is too tense that morning and even Yunho is not on his best mood. For one second, Yunho loses his concentration and follows Siwon’s car too closely as it turns to the side street leading to the lawyer’s office, where the traffic is chaotic with too many people searching for parking spaces. Usually, they would be either ahead or way back since the lawyer has an assigned parking space in the office underground parking lot. The cops and the other two bodyguards have kept to that. Yunho curses as they are forced to slow down, their car very close to Siwon’s. If the lawyer looks back, they are not sure if the tainted windows and expensive looking car will be enough to not give them away. In the middle of the confusing mess of cars parking and taking off, Siwon’s car simply slides into a space that opens magically as if it was waiting for him. The two men look surprised at the out of routine movement until they notice one small detail about the car that pulled away.
-Shit fuck! That’s the exact same car and even has the same licence plate.
-Yunho, a car pulled away. Park this car in that space now.
Yunho parks their car a few meters away and they wait. They remain open mouthed, watching how the cops’s car follows the decoy car, never noticing that an identical car is among the parked cars in the street.
-Our guys always wait up ahead in this part because this street is too busy. Shit! A decoy car. Exactly the same car. Same licence plate. I’ve done this before. We’ve all done this before but we always avoided following too close in this damn street. And he knew that. That…
-Calm down, Changmin. Let’s just see what he does now. From now on we won’t be fooled again.
…
After about ten minutes, Siwon himself gets out of the parked car and gets inside another, the driver already inside waiting for him. As they drive away, Yunho follows carefully. Changmin is still cursing.
-Fuck! No wonder we never caught the guy doing anything. He must be doing this for ages.
Yunho bites his lips, trying to control his anger. He’s pissed off. If not for his mistake, he would have been fooled as well. The car chase takes them to the side streets nearby Park Ri Ho’s main nightclub. Siwon exits the car that continues to drives away and walks up to the doors of an abandoned motel behind the club before disappearing out of sight. Yunho parks the car in a nearby alley and grabs a huge jacket and a baseball cap from the trunk.
-Keep watch, Changmin. I’m gonna get closer.
The cop walks as if he was drunk. He reaches the corner of the building in time to see Siwon enter a door. He continues to walk sideways, studying every little detail of the abandoned looking motel. The door where the lawyer entered is disguised as if it’s nailed. Some of the windows have traces of light behind nailed boards and others are actually opened. Distant music can be heard.
Yunho walks around, checking the trash can, bumping into them to spill their contents. One thing causes the cop to stumble and almost drop to the floor. Inside one of the black plastic bags that wasn’t firmly closed, among the regular trash, he can see way too many used condoms and tissues, one or two tissues with faint traces of blood. The cop has to fight the bile rising up in his throat. He remembers all too well his recent talk with Lee Jong-suk, who assured him that they suspect that Park Ri Ho might be involved with underage prostitution based on the neighbourhood rumours and constant anonymous tips. However, every police raid never turned up any evidence. One little thing had stuck in his mind, how Lee Jong-suk said it was too much of a coincidence how some of Park Ri Ho’s clubs were in buildings that had abandoned motels or offices on the other side.
…
Yunho returned to the car where Changmin was waiting with stumbling steps that he didn’t need to fake. The bodyguard got out of the car with a worried face.
-What’s with you? You’re as white as paper.
-It’s a prostitution joint. Likely underage if Siwon is a client.
Yunho fought against the rising bile again, while Changmin just stared open mouthed. The cop wanted to punch something. Worst thing was, as a cop, he knew they had no grounds to just walk in. It would not be admitted as evidence in court. He cursed loudly and punched the nearby wall. Changmin turned thoughtful.
-You know… Top’s clubs have prostitution too. You can’t say that whoever works there is happy or that there aren’t cases where someone is being forced… but… usually it’s really above eighteen. We spent some time checking Top and his dogs when Jae first hired us to protect him. Ri Ho is the one who gets the most out of line. Top follows his own idea of honourable crime or whatever it is and imposes it on the others. There were a few others causing Jaejoong troubles but mostly it has always been Ri Ho.
-I guess he’s planning on overtaking Top. Probably just gathering enough money, influence and friends in high places. With a club like this he must sure have plenty of people that he can blackmail. But why the hell this obsession with Jae’s company?
-It’s great for laundering money. Besides, the construction company owns a lot of buildings and lots across town that Jae hasn’t had money to invest on. I realised that when I helped Jun Ki to check all that paperwork the other day. Now… if Siwon is a regular customer of Ri Ho… that does explain a lot. So, Mr. Cop, how do we nail these guys?
-No idea, yet. We can’t just walk in there. Even if we call the cops or if I was acting as a cop I would need probable cause, caught in the act and hard evidence. It’s always so frustrating when the rule book ends up allowing the bad guys to walk away.
-I guess you really do punch guys a lot.
Yunho chuckled humourlessly.
-The file that Internal Affairs has on me is almost as thick as some of the files I have on lifelong criminals.
-Good for you.
-No, bad for me. It’s why all of my colleagues say I’m not cut out for this job and that I should return to school and just go draw houses instead.
The tall cop sighed, his eyes in the distant sky.
-You know, I might just consider that one of these days. I still haven’t forgotten how much I dreamed of becoming an architect.
-An architect? Really?
-Yeahh…
-How did you end up as a cop instead?
-After my mom died, we only had my dad’s salary and the odd part-times I would take. It was just enough to get me through University. Unfortunately, my dad’s company did one of those huge downsizing cut downs unexpectedly. With his age it was impossible for him to find another job in the same area. I had toyed with being a cop, I had thought about doing it while I studied, I even had already passed the entrance exams and physical tests. But I was considering it as something interesting to earn money until I could finish my degree. However, when my dad lost his job, I just… switched all my efforts into becoming a cop. I ended up never returning to the University even when my dad found a job to help pay the bills until he retired.
-What does Mr. Thumper say about you being a cop and not an architect?
-Oh, he bugged me about it for a while but gave up. It’s not so bad being a cop. Usually I quite enjoy it. Hey, remember those blind spots I kept detecting in the security back at the house?
-Yes. It was really annoying how you could do that.
-I did a paper on that type of blind spots for Uni when I started working as a cop. It’s easier to spot them if you know angles and all that stuff.
Changmin crossed his arms with a huff. Then he shook his head and started to laugh. He patted Yunho’s shoulder.
-That was really annoying. But you know… despite the crazy circumstances of how we met, I kinda think you’re an ok guy.
-Uau! Thanks. So magnanimous of you.
Yunho smiled back. He agreed with the bodyguard. Weird circumstances alright but he had met great people because of it.
…
Meanwhile, Yoochun, Eric and Donghae were on the neighbourhood while Lee Min Ho and Lee Jong-suk were also trying to find Jonghyun. The young man showed up eventually and recognized Jong-suk with a start. The two cops tried to talk him into trusting them but Jonghyun simply repeated again and again that he had no idea about where Taemin was or even that the boy had left the orphanage. Yoochun had seen the two cops approach the teenager and achieve nothing. At some distance, he could see Eric and Donghae have similar results with other kids. Thoughtful, Yoochun waited until the two cops left to go near Jonghyun. The young man eyed him suspiciously to which the bodyguard cocked an eyebrow up and smiled.
-Are you a cop?
-Do I look like one?
-Not really.
-That’s cause I’m not. Here, check for yourself.
Yoochun threw his wallet at the guy. Jonghyun caught it surprised and checked it, never tearing his eyes away from the older man.
-Bodyguard?
-To Kim Jaejoong, friend of Ren who in turn is a good friend of Taemin, who I know is from your neighbourhood and that sort of means he’s under your watch. I’m no cop. My boss wants to save Taemin from enduring a harsh fate at the hands of this one creepy guy that’s after the kid. Whatever happens, we can’t let him be the one to find Taemin. There’s a card there. Keep it. Check on who Jaejoong and Ren are if you can, that should confirm that you can trust us, I hope. Please call us if you find anything that can help us protect Taemin.
Jonghyun returned the wallet and walked away. He remembered some older men trying to search for redheaded kids, which had made him nervous before. But now, with cops involved and even this new guy, things seemed serious and he no longer had any problem understanding why Taemin had sounded so paranoid on the phone. He cursed the teen for not having given him any means of contact. He remembered Ren from his visit to the orphanage. But how could he trust this Yoochun guy when he even had trouble trusting Jong-suk who had grown up around these streets too? The young man sighed. He could do nothing else but wait for tomorrow when he would finally meet Taemin at the agreed place. He only hoped he would be able to help the kid.
…
Kim Junsu was helping Lee Jun Ki file the paperwork, after Shin Hye-sung and Jun Jin had left, while the assistant was busy dealing with the usual company tasks. In his office, Kim Jaejoong was nervously doing the first steps to a possible profitable new contract, one that didn’t involve any money even remotely linked to mafia.
Junsu received a text from Yoochun saying that so far they had no luck with Jonghyun but that the younger cop would try again. Junsu told that to Jun Ki who wondered if they should maybe ask Changmin if he had any luck.
-If I call Changmin he won’t answer me. Why don’t you try it?
-Me?
-Look, Jun Ki, I know it’s really none of my business but I like Changmin a lot and he deserves to be happy. I’ve been just watching from my little corner and keeping my opinion, however, I should warn you of this little detail. Changmin is getting fed up. So, please make up your mind. If you want nothing with him, then start behaving accordingly and stop sending him mixed signals. Changmin is getting fed up and that means he will take matters into his own hands. You may not like what he decides to do.
Jun Ki kept silent for a while. His head went over his little argument with Changmin that morning. He had trouble dealing with the younger guy when he insisted on including him in his bodyguard duties. Jun Ki didn’t consider he needed protection. He had agreed to stay at Jaejoong’s house because things had gotten more complicated and he was of the opinion that they should all stick together. However, he had no intention of remaining there forever. Besides, he did feel attracted to the tall bodyguard but he was still learning who Changmin was. Maybe such precaution was useless and overboard. Just because he and his ex had broke up mostly because of differences due to age, there was nothing to prove to him that age would get in the way again. Changmin could be rather mature. Even surprisingly so. Something told him that Junsu was right and Changmin might take the decision out of his hands. He wondered how the young man would do that. Then he realised he was feeling a hint of fear that Changmin might stop wanting to be more than work colleagues. That possibility didn’t sit well with him.
-Jun Ki?
-What? Huh… Yeahh, I…
Lee Jun Ki was saved from his stuttering when Kim Jaejoong opened his door and called them inside. The business man couldn’t wait to tell them about the possible new contract. He was nervous and happy.
…
Jaejoong tried to keep focused on work but in the end he asked Junsu if he had any news. The business man sighed to know that so far they were not getting any more information about Taemin even now that they were almost certain he might be in his old neighbourhood. He asked Junsu to call Changmin and find how the surveillance on Siwon was going. Junsu looked at Jun Ki who took the hint and called himself.
-Jun Ki?
-Hi, Changmin. Jaejoong asked to call you.
-Oh… Right. Tell him so far we have nothing. Bye.
Jun Ki stared at the phone for a few seconds. The bodyguard had rarely used that tone with him. Junsu was right. Changmin was upset with him.
-Anything?
-No. Nothing so far.
Junsu grabbed Jun Ki’s phone and dialled again.
-What?
-Min, it’s me. Get me Yunho on the phone.
-He’s not here right now.
-I can hear his voice, Shin Changmin. Put him on the phone.
Inside the car, Yunho was fighting Changmin over the phone, annoyed at the bodyguard for telling them that they had nothing when they were finally finding a crack in the lawyer’s defence system.
-Hello? It’s Yunho.
-Hi, Junsu here. Since I know Min likes to save the bad news till later… anything new?
-Siwon uses decoy cars to avoid being followed. We’re at the back of Park Ri Ho’s main cub where he disappeared a little ago. What about from your end?
-No luck in Taemin’s old neighbourhood. The paper cops have just left. They checked what Jun Ki had gathered in the last days and are off to try and get more.
-Ok.
Yunho hesitated. He heard Jaejoong’s voice in the back wanting Junsu to hurry up and tell him what was going on. The cop sighed. He felt like he wanted to talk with Jaejoong.
On the office, Jaejoong was pulling Junsu, asking what Yunho had said. However the business man was not prepared to find about the decoy car. It almost had him kneeling on the floor.
…
Jung Il Woo and Kim Soo Hyun returned to the police station to find everyone eyeing them sideways, nervously telling them that the Captain had ordered them to go see him as soon as they returned.
-Did he say what about?
-Sorry, guys. No idea. But you might want to take an umbrella. Captain Rain seems to be in a stormy mood. I think you’ll catch more than a little rain.
The two cops were entered into the Captain’s office to find already inside the troublesome duo from Internal Affairs: Jang Geun Suk and Yoon Sang Oska. The Captain ordered them to sit while he dismissed the other two.
-Captain, why were they here?
-Geun Suk is highly suspicious that we are trying to cover up for Yunho, implying that we are not really trying to find him or even his father. Then, Oska is all polite and points the rules in the book that we might not be obeying fully. I hate those two. When, and if, a big if, Yunho ever returns, I am going to be all over his ass if he even just dreams of stepping out of line. Anyway, managed to get out of those two how they knew that Kim Jaejoong might be here the other day because of Yunho. I want you two to check if that might be our leak.
…
After a couple hours, Yunho and Changmin got tired of just sitting in the car and they spread around, trying to kill time until Siwon would appear. Yunho went to the street where the lawyer disappeared. He was about to go near the trash cans again when the door suddenly opened and he was face to face with Choi Siwon.
-Jung Yunho?
…
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Special HI to Songbird. Sorry about the mean cliffhanger.