Page 70 of Damian & Jun: Episodes 5-8
Mr. Su shook his head and looked away, half smiling in a grim way. “Is there anything I can say to induce you to allow this to be handled properly, in a dignified manner, Mr. Gang? This is not how these things should be done, loudly and publicly.”
“This isn’t what I want.” Jun swallowed and took a deep breath. “It’s not my wish to bring shame to anyone, any department, or business. But I’ve been informed that I have very little time before I’m framed for murder. Damian and my lawyers have been trying for days to get anyone to listen to my request for an investigation. The people who kidnapped me are still free, and the only notice of an investigation I’ve received is a request that I make my statement in person at a station in Seoul. I don’t know how I can agree to that when last time I stepped through a closed door with a member of the police I wasn’t arrested—I was kidnapped.”
“I’m sure it was very unsettling to be arrested, Mr. Gang, or taken anywhere unexpected, but that is how the law works. I’ve seen a legitimate warrant for your arrest. You were missing and had damaged property.”
Jun swallowed back dread. “Mr. Su, I don’t suppose you would agree that a luxury mountain resort, intimate bathing instructions, and alcohol are all routine parts of being arrested and questioned. I was never booked. My lawyers have checked. There are no records of me entering police custody.”
Mr. Su sat silently on the other end of the call with his lips pressed together. “It is difficult for me to decide whether your trust in the system has been legitimately damaged or whether you are trying to escape lawful consequences, Mr. Gang.”
“Then watch me. Look at the evidence.”
Mr. Su’s lips thinned even farther. He tapped his fingertips against the table. “Very well, I will.”
Jun
Jun couldn’t eat any of the snacks Damian had ordered in. Mi Hi stuffed her face while reviewing notes and left ahead of time with Holden. Cedric arrived with a car for Damian and Jun. Alice and Ash would not be attending, but they were in so deep, an entire screen now dedicated to video conference and screen sharing with Pearsen, that they hardly noticed everyone leaving. Somehow, they’d roped Yohei in via video call to interpret for them between Yun’s Korean investigators and themselves.
Whatever they were finding, Jun had to put it out of his mind. There were more urgent things.
In the car, Damian took his hand. “Breathe, Jun.”
From up front with the driver, Cedric chimed in, “Yeah, breathe. I’ve done these lie detector tests. It’s a cakewalk.”
“What’s a cakewalk?” Jun frowned. Walking on top of cakes actually sounded messy and difficult.
“Means it’s easy.” Cedric gave him a thumbs-up. “Just ignore it and focus on the questions. If you don’t want to answer it, just refuse, don’t lie.”
“There’s a criminal defense attorney meeting us on-site.” Damian tightened his grip on Jun’s hand. “If she thinks there’s a question you shouldn’t answer, she’ll step in. Mostly, this is just about recording your account and submitting it to get authorities to move on your behalf.”
He could do this. He really didn’t want to, but he could. He didn’t want to go back to those places in his mind, hadn’t wanted them to ever take up residence, but ignoring them was not something he could do.
Internally, he gave himself a shake. The crimes these men had committed included putting these memories in his head. It wasn’t just that they’d done what they’d done; it was the fact that the memory was stored inside him, a living, breathing piece of experience carried within him.
He reached for the headspace that allowed him to do things that he couldn’t do when present in his body and found it. A coldness, a fuzzy distance between him and reality wrapped around his limbs.
Just breathe. All he had to do was breathe. Breathe and eventually talk. His limbs were going numb, and his head was roaring.
He gripped Damian’s hand and smiled at him.
I’m fine, DaSu. I’m fine.
Everything from the time they pulled up to the sidewalk in the car to entering a large room was a blur. Just slaps of color while he stared straight ahead, holding Damian’s hand. There were people inside, some in uniform, the rest in suits. Mi Hi was shaking hands and pointing people to seats. Gigi was checking a camera. In the middle of a half-circle of chairs was one chair facing everyone else and a table beside it, on which was a laptop and a board with a bunch of wires. Beside the board was an older gentleman facing the laptop.
“Hi, I’m Maria Wright, your attorney for today.” A woman with a dark complexion and wavy black hair held out her hand. She was as tall as Jun in her heels. “I know we don’t have a lot of time, but Mr. Sathers has read me in on what we know. I’ll be sitting behind you, and if you’re not sure about something, you can ask me for advice, or if I think a line of questioning is inappropriate, then I’ll interrupt.”
Jun shook her hand and nodded. She smiled at him, as if she was trying to be encouraging, and stepped away toward her seat.
Damian greeted a few people. Jun kept to himself. Mi Hi seemed to almost have everyone seated. The last thing to start was turning on the teleconferencing. Jun recognized Mr. Su on one of the screens. Several others appeared to be South Korean police and detectives and Mr. Yun.
The room closed in around him, full, despite how large it was.
Mi Hi appeared in front of him. “Jun, it’s time.”
Jun looked to Damian, who nodded, leaning in to speak close to his face where others couldn’t hear or see. “I’ll be standing right there, beside Gigi, in the back. You got this, wolfling.”
Jun’s lips twitched. “I’ve had bigger crowds.”
Damian drew back and smirked. His hand lifted as if he would touch Jun’s face but dropped as he seemed to realize where they were. Jun looked at Damian’s hand. He wanted that touch.
