Little Romantic *Second Book*

Chapter 23: His Crime

The station quieted down as I walked inside after going to have lunch. Many people turned to look at me as I walked to my desk. Their eyes drilled into my body as I tried to ignore them. 

Why were they looking at me? What was going on?

I got to my desk and sat down. Jones was sitting across from me working on his computer.

"Why is everyone looking at me?" I asked Jones. He jerked his head to the left as an answer.

It was then that I noticed that Prince was walking out of Captain Butler's office. They were talking to each other in hushed voices.

I quickly stood up and rushed over to him.

"Prince!" He turned to look at me before turning back Butler to roll his eyes. "I saw that!"

Once I reached him, I folded my arms across my chest.

"Hello, Detective Barnes," Prince said in a rude tone. "What can I do for you?"

"Where is NJ? He hasn't been answering my calls. Is something wrong? He could tell me if something is wrong. Does it have to do with Gabos? Has something happened in G-"

"Anastasia, NJ is in jail," Prince interrupted me. "He's been in jail this entire time."

I stared at him. I didn't want to believe what he told me. He couldn't be in jail. There's no way he would stay in there. Not with how much money he makes, he could get out on bail. Why hasn't he gotten out yet?

Tears began to come into my eyes as I thought of Jihwan in jail.

"Why isn't he out yet?" I asked, almost snapping at him. "Aren't you going to get him out?"

"He doesn't want to get out," Prince snapped at me in a whispered tone. "Trust me. I tried, I've been trying. All he told me was that I needed to make sure Gabos survived this and that it stays on top."

"Why hasn't he asked to see me?" I asked.

"Listen, Anastasia. If NJ wanted to see you, he would have asked by now. And since he hasn't, he won't want to see you," Prince said. "So unless you need help with a case, I'm leaving."

After Prince finished speaking, he turned to leave the building. He left me standing there stunned. Why wouldn't Jihwan want to see me?

"Barnes? Barnes!" I was taken out of my thoughts by Captain Butler. "I was confused as to why you weren't told about NJ's arrest. If you want, you can go see him. Since you're not on his visitor list, you're going to have to go in as a consulting officer on the case. I can pull some strings with the east side Captain. Just don't just tell anyone your last name. You can use mine."

"Thank you, Captain," I said.

"Go now. I'll call Captain Wilcox to get you through and I'll call you as soon as I get the okay," Butler said.

I rushed out to my car and began to drive to the jail. As I drove, I just wanted people to move out of my way. I needed to see Jihwan. I needed to understand what was happening. Why Jihwan didn't want me to know about him being in jail. Why he was put there in the first place.

I parked in the visitor parking and pulled out my phone. I stared at it, waiting for the go-ahead from Butler.

After ten minutes of waiting, my phone lit up with an incoming call. I quickly answered with a hello.

"You have the okay. They called the warden to let him know you're coming. You'll be talking to him in private. Let me know what you find out, Anastasia."

"Thanks, Captain. I really appreciate this," I said before hanging up. I quickly got out of my car and went to enter the jail. I had been here plenty of times for work, but I was always escorted in. Now I had to come in as a visitor.