The Wish You Left Behind

Chapter 23: The Cousin

You cannot love a thing without wanting to fight for it.

- Gilbert Chesterton

FAYE

The impact of her shoulder against the man's chest came as a dreadful wave of pain.

Sakda groans as soon as his back hits the wall.

Faye didn't give him time as she landed a punch on the man's cheek and chin.

The stack up chairs tumble down along with him.

"Hear me out, please." His voice is weak, but through the close space, Faye can hear it loud and clear.

She grabs and throws the chairs, blocking her way to him before squatting in front of the man.

"WHERE is she?"

When Faye raises her fist, Sakda raises his hands, palms out.

"I'll tell you! Just - stop beating me."

Faye grabs the man's collar.

"If the next thing you'll say isn't the place where Yoko is," she pauses, catching her breath and lifting her fist even higher, "I will shut your mouth forever."

"Abandoned Bangrak Fire Station," he mutters between hiccups.

"Drive," Faye ordered, pointing the gun at the man.

Sakda looks at it warily. But for someone who has a gun pointing at them, he seems rather at ease. "The last time I drove, I caused an accident."

Faye massages her temple.

How can she forget who this man in Yoko's life is?

What would Yoko feel once she sees her with him?

Faye refuses to dwell on that thought and focus on the matter at hand.

"Drive. I won't ask nicely again." She motions at the steering wheel with her gun. "If you do something funny, I wouldn't think twice about pulling the trigger."

A suppress sigh escapes the man's lips before he starts the engine. He throws a few glances at her side and drives out of the parking lot.

She should have shoved him to the police, but something in the back of her mind tells her he wouldn't cooperate if she did.

Faye glances at the man. At this angle, she can clearly see the forming bruises that she caused earlier. It was so red it almost covers the man's profound cheekbone.

For a convict, the man is rather lanky.

With his brown eyes focused on the road, he muttered, "For what it's worth, you have my gratitude for looking after my kid. So, what makes you think I will do something to hurt you, huh? "

"This is not about me."

"Oh right. This has something to do with the lady."

The man suddenly pulls over.

Faye raises her gun up to the man's hip. "What are you doing?"

"Haven't I caused enough trouble for her? Why would I hurt her?"

"So you recognized who she is?"

She didn't lower her gun. But the man seems oblivious to it.

"When you destroyed someone's life, you'll never forget. Trust me."