The Unexpected (Namkook)

Part 17

Stuck between ethics and love, Jungkook's oath for serving the cause of his country made him choose the former. Due to the undeniable strength of his feelings for Namjoon, he thought of carrying out the investigation on his own on the newly discovered clues. Including Bin and Sung-ho might embitter the situation.

He searched through his contact list in the phone and finally scrolled down to a number saved as 'Kai'. They had a somewhat friendly bond after working on some cases together and Kai was the only one he could trust to keep it secret from the forensic department. Rubbing the bridge of his nose to take the last minute decision, he called him up.

"Hey Jeon! How have you been buddy?" A welcoming voice answered the call.
"I've been good, thanks. Kai, are you still in lab or left for the day?"
"My cruel boss got me engaged to a peculiar case, so no. Still chewing on the last thread of my patience. Tell me what is it about?"

Jungkook felt relieved to know he can still get access to the required data.
"I have few things to be verified and it's kind of confidential." Jungkook hesitantly asked for a favour.
"Bring them down here, man. Don't worry about it." Kai has always been helpful to him, so today Jungkook didn't observe any other kind of behaviour from him either.

Thanking him, he cut the call and putting the painting, jacket and the ID card holders in the evidence box, he drove off to the forensic lab. On his way, he experienced cramping in parts of his hands and feet while driving due to nervous breakdown at the imagination of horrible things that can happen. It wasn't just about Namjoon anymore, it was also about his own mental state if he himself has to take any action against the younger.

After a drive of twenty minutes, he reached the place and got out of the car carrying the items. The walk to Kai's lab felt like his walk of shame, doubting on the person he loves, plotting against the person he cares for. Every inch of his body denied to increase the pace of walking indicating some trouble it's trying to avoid.

"Hey buddy! How are you?" Kai walked to Jungkook as he entered with a huge smile to see his friend after a very long time. As Kai wasn't assigned to Byeol's case, they haven't got the chance to talk much recently.
"Thanks for helping me out, Kai. I will explain you what to do."
"Yes please."

Jungkook placed the box in his hands on the table and started taking out the things one by one explaining, "This is a jacket where I can see some dried blood stains. Need to know if this matches with Lee Kun-woo."
Kai brought a tray to put the jacket in while his hands were covered in gloves. Next, the ribbon was taken out.

"This is an ID card holder. I need you to check how many fingerprints are there. Also, the tiny piece of similar coloured ribbon found in Lee residence had three sets of fingerprints, one being Kun-woo's. The other two were unknown, so do check if those matches with any on this one." Kai took the item in his hand to check something.

"I think it's from the place, Jeon. See, the letters printed along this one matches with the one from the tiny one. I was going through the evidence list before you arrived just to understand clearly." Jungkook clenched his jaws to prevent himself from breaking down at Kai's words which were only directing to something he doesn't want to believe in.

"Anyway, what's next?" Kai asked looking at the box.
"This painting. I need you to check if the finger print from jacket and ribbon matches with this one. You might find several ones in this frame but just match the one with ID card holder."

All the requirements were noted down as Jungkook explained. Kai arranged them in different categories when his phone started ringing.
"That asshole again!" He whispered to Jungkook hinting it was his boss. During Kai's phone conversation, the police officer walked to the lab platform where the items were kept. The person he was dreaming to be with all this while is the one he is suspecting now for a murder case. A bitter chuckle escaped his mouth at the irony of life.

"That bastard will never let me be in peace." His trance got broken by Kai's yelling.
"What happened?"
"My boss! I need to monitor the test results every hour due to the court date urgency. So, guess I am stuck here all night, man." He stated frustratingly.
"Which case is it?"
"Some high profile one, related to some minister. But the good thing is that I have time to run through your items now."
"What about your main work?"
"I already noted the readings few minutes back so next one to be taken after an hour."

He started the process in front of Jungkook who was sitting on a chair with his arms getting heavier and body getting drowned in the ocean of fear. He kept his eyes closed for a while to make his mind alarmed of Namjoon's innocence. He believed in that. No way the blood or the finger prints are going to be matched.

Seconds turned to minutes, minutes turned to hours, there was no change in Jungkook's sitting position except for the intensified fear of losing Namjoon. After about 3-4 hours when it was already 1 in the morning, Kai finished all the tests.

"Hey buddy! The results are here."