"I'm burning and it's because of you."
Three years ago one decision tore them apart before they even could be together. Now they meet again. With memories of the past and sweet promises of the future the world doesn't seem so bad. But the greed and...
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."
- Christopher Hitchens
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
When Earth with his mother and Mix landed, detective Niran already stood in front of the airport, waiting for them as they agreed upon after what was a long and mostly confusing call for detective Niran.
Next to him stood Sing, who nervously checked his phone every two minutes. What was his best friend doing, asking for that stupid detective? Sing knew that this whole thing with Earth's father would bring them just more problems after all that's what rich people bring — problems and nothing else!
"Checking your phone every two minutes won't get them here any faster, Mr Harit," detective Niran said offhandedly and took a sip from his morning coffee.
"But it won't hurt either, besides," Sing turned towards the detective, "you seem to be too calm for someone who is about to uncover a severe crime organization or whatever that shit is."
"I can't assume things from one phone call I got. I need evidence, I need to see it with my own eyes before I decide to do something. This is a delicate situation. Mr Watthanasetsiri is an important and influential businessman. And if what his son told me is true then this involves people at the highest positions as well as the mafia. Do you expect me to just go to the Watthanasetsiri mansion and arrest Chakrii Watthanasetsiri alone?" Detective Niran cocked an eyebrow as he finished his morning coffee.
"If you need evidence then ask Earth to take you to one of their hotels and you'll see yourself," Sing scoffed, "it's clear as a day what is happening here. Look, I just want this shit to be over so that my best friend is safe. Whatever the heck is gonna happen with Watthanasetsiris is none of my business."
"Well, that doesn't matter because your friend seems to care, doesn't he?"
Sing didn't have time to reply anything because at that moment the airport door opened wide and the people they have been waiting for finally walked out.
"Detective Niran," Earth greeted, "I'm Earth Pirapat Watthanasetsiri. Thank you for coming."
Detective Niran nodded, "welcome back. If I'm being honest what you told me on the phone seems to be too serious. I can't do much if I don't have any evidence confirming what you have said." He glanced at what he was assuming was Earth's mother, "and the testimony of your mother is also pretty worthless without any evidence."
"If there is the evidence?" Mix asked. "I mean, we can take you to one of the hotels and you can see for yourself."
"If you can do that, I would really appreciate it. I hope you understand that I can't have you waste my time so I need something that would spark my interest in this and show me that what you are all saying is the truth."
Earth looked at Mix and his mother, before he looked back at the detective, "detective, can you give us a moment, please?"
The detective nodded, "sure, go on."
"Can you all explain to me why you suddenly decided to go to the U.S.?" Sing approached them.
"Good to see you too, Sing," Mix chuckled, giving his best friend a quick hug. "We went there to get Earth's mom."
"Nice to meet you, young man. I'm Earth's mother," she smiled kindly.
"Oh, well...nice to meet you, Mrs Watthanasetsiri. So, what's gonna happen now?"
"Now, I'll go with detective Niran to one of our hotels to show him that we are not making this up and you'll take Mix and my mom somewhere they will be safe till I get back," Earth quickly said before Mix could come up with something else.
"Wait, no!" Mix pulled Earth to the side. "You aren't going there alone. I'll go with you."
Earth shook his head, "I'll go with the detective. I need you to stay with my mom and make sure that she is safe."
"And what about my mom?" Mix frowned, "we were supposed to talk to her right after we got back."
"And we will, I promise. I just show the detective what's going on and then we'll go talk to her. Trust me on this one, Mix, please."
"I'm worried. What if your father knows something is up? What if he is waiting for you?"
"He doesn't. And if he does, having you there would just get you in danger. Plus, I'll be with the detective, remember that."
"One detective won't help you if something happens. I know how to use guns; let me go with—"
"Mix," Earth put his hands on Mix's shoulders, holding them tightly, "look at me. I need you to take care of my mother now. I'll be fine. It's not like I'm going to confront Chakrii now. We are just going to check things around. Don't overthink it too much, okay?"
Mix slowly nodded, relaxing under Earth's touch, "yeah, okay. You are right, but call me the moment you can. Understood?!"
Mix pouted, "not there, here," he pointed at his lips.
Earth pressed a kiss on Mix's lip and hugged him tightly, "see you in a couple of hours, doll."
"Definitely, if not I'm going to get you," Mix said seriously.
Earth nodded and walked to his mother, "mom, go with Mix now, okay? I won't be long."
Earth's mother nodded, not asking any more questions.
Mix turned to Sing, "can you take us to Janhae's house?"
"Jan? You want to get her into this mess more than she already is? Wonderful!" Sing scoffed.
"We need to go somewhere where Earth's father would never go," Mix explained, "he has no idea about Janhae so in case he'll find out that his wife isn't where she should be anymore, he definitely won't be looking for her at Janhae's house."
"Fine!" Sing groaned, "get in." Sing started the engine, mumbling under his breath, "perfect! Helping rich people with their stupid rich problems."
"I can hear you," Mix told him from the passenger seat.
Sing glanced at him, "sorry, I meant that I'm helping my best friend with his serious problem."
"It's more serious than you think and there's something I need to tell you so drive so that we can talk once we are at Janhae's," Mix replied and turned around to check on Earth's mother. "Everything's alright?"
She smiled, "don't worry. I'm good, just getting used to being back."
.....
"When we get in we'll search for the janitor's room, which leads to the underground part of the hotel where the casino is," Earth explained as they were sitting with the detective in the car, watching the entrance on the hotel.
"Fine," detective Niran nodded, anything else I should know?"
"Yes, try to not act like a detective."
The detective chuckled.
"Oh, and one more thing, someone might recognize me because there is a big portrait of my family in the lobby of every hotel we own."
Detective Niran cocked his eyebrow but didn't say anything just got out of the car and waited for Earth so that he could follow him inside.
Earth chose the same hotel Mix and Janhae went to. It was mostly a coincidence being the closest to the airport. As they walked in and detective Niran followed Earth all the way to the casino, everything seemed normal, easy almost too easy until they stepped inside the casino and the sound of the shooting cut through the air.
