Page 79 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 13-16
“If you need anything, just let me know. I’m here in both my official and private capacity.”
Damian caught sight of Mr. Su.
“I appreciate it.” Damian clapped Bryce on the back. “I see an old professor of mine. Catch up more soon?”
Damian approached the judge with a bow. “Mr. Su. It’s an honor you came.”
Mr. Su gave a less deep bow in return. “I hope my services aren’t required, but if so…”
Damian bowed again. Then stood, uncertain. There had been a time when he would have shown his old mentor pictures of the skyline of the latest city where he’d taken a sunrise run, or started a discussion on a recent legal case, but that was behind them. They were no longer friends.
Mr. Su folded his hands one over the other on the top of his cane. “Young Sathers, I know you are busy and you have your worries. We can speak later. In fact, I am certain we will speak later.”
Damian forced himself to stay calm. Perhaps there was a chance. Perhaps, with all the evidence, all the months of work, Mr. Su had changed his mind, not just on the case, on the morality of it all, but on Damian himself. He’d hoped, but he couldn’t be certain.
“I look forward to it.” He took his leave.
Jun
Jun stopped near the front of the room, waiting for the next winner of the raffle to escort back.
“Lively party,” a familiar voice said in his ear.
Jun glanced over his shoulder. The Merchari. He went back to looking forward. “Yes.”
“So you would classify this as a success.”
“You said we had a year.” Jun put a hint of anger in his tone, half turning so he could see the Merchari’s face and still watch the room.
“Yes.” The Merchari tilted his head to the side, taken aback by Jun’s coldness, or at least, so it seemed.
Jun lowered his tone. “Then why is Bak Sahyuk in my dressing room threatening me and Damian Sathers with a gun right before my concert, demanding I pay him instead of you?” Jun glanced directly into the Merchari’s face, looking for his reaction.
The Merchari agent’s eyes widened a fraction. “Do not consider that a sanctioned action on behalf of my organization.”
“Sanctioned or not, I have to deal with it. This entire event might not have happened. Not the concert, not this. Bak Gyeong is dead and the police already want to know what I know.”
The Merchari’s face sharpened, his shoulders coming up. “What have you told them?”
“What could I tell them?” Jun raised both eyebrows in exasperation. “I was on stage for the world to see when he was gunned down. But they’re looking for answers. And my father wants me back. Seems like he’s made the first move.”
“I have some calls to make.”
“Do that. Security is amped up and the police are on site. Sathers isn’t an idiot. You may have left him out of this, but Bak Sakyuk did not.”
“We’ll be discussing that.”
“If Bak Sahyuk goes down, Sathers will let the matter drop. He’ll think it’s finished. If he doesn’t…” Jun let his voice trail off.
“Bak Sahyuk is rogue. You won’t need to deal with him.”
Mi Hi called Jun for the next raffle winner. Jun gave the Merchari agent one last meaningful look and left to entertain the wealthy donor of the moment.
The karaoke session went by without a hitch. The woman actually wanted to sing with him and they both ended up laughing and tripping over the words. He offered her another song, to make up for it, and they finished with compliments on both sides. Jamal escorted her out, leaving the door open so the security in the hall could see in. Jun took a moment for himself in the empty room just to breathe. In. Out. In. Out. He closed his eyes, dropping into himself, and then opened them slowly, looking out over the river and the flat, tranquil dark water that hid a thousand dangers while feeding ten thousand lives. The moon was hidden. Storm clouds were moving. He breathed again and turned around.
His earpiece clicked, signaling a call. Ellisandre’s voice trickled in his ear. “We have the Merchari agent lingering around the hallway. We think he’s trying to catch you alone.”
“Has he nibbled at the raffle tickets?” Jun asked.
