Love Me If You Dare

Chapter 35

Lisa is in front of his ‘body’.

They are in a morgue that belongs to the Ministry of Public Security.  A room with dull grey walls.  A lifeless and cold room.

Though she thinks she is prepared, she is still repelled by the sight. 

His body burnt into an unrecognisable charred corpse.  The only conclusions they can make of the remains are that he is very tall, not too thin, but not fat either, which fits Jisoo’s description of him.     

According to the police, his car went off the cliff during a high speed pursuit with the police.  There was an explosion at the bottom of the hill.  

“Is that ‘him’?” Lisa asks Jungkook.

During the hot summer days, Jungkook usually wears a white shirt and pant without his jacket.  But today, he has his full suit on.  Even his shoes are nicely polished.  It’s a sign of respect for meeting someone for the first time, even though he’s no longer alive.  

He does not answer Lisa’s question.  Instead, he looks at the body for a few seconds, then he greets ‘him with a small smile : “Hi.”

His voice is mellow and soft. 

 Lisa is used to his unusual behaviour.  But others are perplexed: “You know this guy?”

Before they get an answer, Jungkook has walked out of the room.

——————

The conference room of the Ministry of Public Security.

It’s a meeting between the representatives from Korea and the FBI from the US.  Jungkook looks like a different person from the charmer who called her “Your Majesty” yesterday.  Today, he is a professional with a sharp mind and distinguished capability. 

Lisa sits quietly at the back with a few other supporting staff members.  

One the side of the round table sits the reps from FBI. They share the results of the DNA testing : “We have successfully identified the deceased.”

They project a picture of an Asian man on the screen.  He is wearing a suit.  He looks like he is in his late twenties. 

“Kai.  American born Korean. IT engineer.” FBI rep looks at Jungkook : “Justin, you should be familiar with who he is.”

Everyone is surprised by the statement.

Jungkook replies with a mocking tone : “What an honour - He’s one of the survivors I helped rescued from Flower Cannibal No.1.”

—————-

Kai fits the profile drew up by the FBI.  The physical attributes, his nationality, what he was wearing at the time of death (a match to Jisoo’s descriptions)… He is a rich and intelligent expat that returned to Korea about 6 months ago.  He had the means to stalk Jungkook, and the ability to leave the clues at the crime scene.  

What is his motive?

 The FBI have come up with two explanations:

1. Post traumatic stress disorder prevented him from living a normal life. The mental illness turned him into an abuser.  

2.  Perhaps he was an accomplice of the Flower Cannibal from the start.  He pretended to be one of the victims to escape from being arrested when the Flower Cannibal was captured by Jungkook and the FBI.  

——————

At the end of the meeting, Lisa walks up to Jungkook.  He is still standing by the table, reading the document that contains information about Kai.