The Wish You Left Behind

Chapter 16: The Ball

"There is no accidental meetings between souls." 

—Sheila Burke

YOKO

Two days have passed since she received a call from the vulcanizing shop the same day Marissa received a call from Attorney Chai about Adithep Sakda's escape. Only two days — and now, her office is swarming with cops. Perhaps swarming is an overstatement.

Nevertheless, a bunch of uniformed strangers are the last thing she needs.

Yoko shifts in her seat and crosses her legs as Detective Kowit leafs through his notes regarding her statement.

Again.

"So," his deep voice resounds in her spacious office, "Other than your car breaking down, there have been no unusual occurrences for the past couple of weeks, Ms. Apasra?"

Yoko sigh. "How many times do you have to ask me that?"

Faye, who's standing beside her, stiffened, and so is the officer in front of her.

"I'm afraid you are taking too much of my time, is all."

"I'm sorry, miss. We're only trying to figure out if Sakda had anything to do with your car breaking down," said the woman officer who's leaning beside her office door.

Yoko leans forward in her chair, giving the two officers a stern look. "Then find the missing CCTV footage of the mall's parking."

As it turns out, the footage is tampered, making the officers' assumptions most likely true.

So far, the mall is the only place Yoko can think of when they leave the car vulnerable. Even though they only park there for a few minutes to buy Ryn's gift that day.

The man scratches his chin. "My team is already trying to retrieve it as we speak."

"Great!" Yoko looks at the pile of paper works on her desk and groans internally.

"My bodyguard will see you out."

Detective Ko stands as Yoko remains seated.

"We recommend you to change your schedule of activities outside the office. Change it weekly if you can. As per your car, since it's still under our jurisdiction, we recommend you to hire a service company. And don't use a car more than twice if you can."

"Way to complicate my already complicated life, huh?"

"I'm sorry, miss. This is only for precautions. At least until we catch Sakda again."

Officer Kowit leaves a small card on her desk. "Call me if anything came up. And I mean anything. I don't care, no matter how trivial it seems."

When the cops are gone and Faye is back, Yoko grabs her crutch and limps to the door.

"Where are you going?" Faye asks.

"None of your business."

She didn't mean to be harsh, but she had a long day and she hadn't had her coffee yet!

A soft hand grabs Yoko by the elbow. Her bodyguard tugs at her a little strongly that Yoko loosens her hold on the crutch. She almost falls.

Faye catches her in time.

While Yoko crumples the front of Faye's shirt for support, the woman wraps a hand on her waist.

The door of her office creaks open and Marissa's head peeks out.

The young woman is reading something on a paper. "Uh, Yo. On your mother's arrival, what do you prefer —." Marissa's eyes widen upon seeing them. "Oh! Uh, sorry. Never mind!"