Page 65 of Damian & Jun: Episodes 5-8
Bryce made a tight, unhappy sound. “This is beyond me. This is beyond most people. South Korea can request the US turn him over. It could be a long drawn-out process, and US officials may agree to arrest him but then not turn him over in a show of cooperation. Who does he intend to name as his kidnapper?”
“Bak Gyeong and the chief of police.”
“The one who’s currently taking time for his health?”
“Yes.”
“And who died?”
“Jun fought back during a sexual assault. So whoever paid to have him there. I’ll let you guess.”
Bryce made another strained sound. “I can see why you don’t want to come back and trust the legal system.”
“No.”
“Does your former threat still stand?”
“Yes.”
“All right. I’ll make some calls. This isn’t really the State Department's jurisdiction, but people know people. It’s possible that we can get testimony taken via a joint task force. How much time is left?”
“Twenty-three and a half hours. I’m going to make Jun’s testimony public whether or not I get legal cooperation. This fight is taking place in the realm of public opinion.”
“I’ll make some calls.”
“So will I.”
“Good luck, Sathers. You’re taking on a hell of a beast.”
“He’s worth it. Wait a second, isn’t there a task force on international sex trafficking?”
“Yes, but you haven’t pointed to any international trafficking.”
“Jun’s mother turned him over at nine years old to his father at the airport in South Korea, and his father dumped him with his current manager within hours. Does that count?”
“It might. We need something more direct. It’s not trafficking if it’s parents taking children from one legitimate location to another. Who took him?”
“His mother to give him to his father. His father gave him to Bak. It is if the parents intend to make a sale.”
“Show me that there was intention and money, and then we have international child trafficking of a US citizen.”
“I’ll call you as soon as I have something.”
Damian hung up. He didn’t want to do this; he really didn’t want to do this. Dragging Jun’s story through the news was going to be ugly.
His finger hovered over Mr. Su’s name in his phone. It was the logical next call. But they’d parted with bad blood. He couldn’t trust his old mentor.
He scrolled to Yun’s number instead.
Yun answered almost immediately. “Yeoboseyo.” Hello.
Damian switched over to Korean. “I need you to reach out to the detectives. Tell them Jun is willing to give his testimony, but he’s going to do it here in Chicago.”
Yun made a sound through his teeth. “That’s not going to go down well.”
“They can get involved and be present to certify it themselves, or Jun can turn it all over to US authorities and Interpol and whatever international organizations for human trafficking exist before they get to see what he says and who he implicates.”
Yun huffed. “I will tell them. I will argue. You are doubling my bonus. I’m going to have to move my daughters out of the country after this case. Australia. Yes. Australia is nice.”
