Uncover

37.

"So basically no one has any idea when and where your dad disappeared?" Jaemin asks tapping his chin. 

"Stop making her repeat it. If you got it, then stay quiet." Renjun interrupts, as he knows Jieun's been agonising over it for quite a few days. 

The entire friend group, along with Jieun, is sitting at their regular cafe which also turns out to be the cafe where Mark works part-time.

"It's okay-"

"No, it's not and he should know better."

Jaemin makes a face which Renjun ignores but Haechan snickers at. Confused, Jieun looks back and forth between the boys.

"Am I missing something?"

With his ears turning red, Jaemin pouts a little as he attempts to hide behind Jeno. "Nothing."

"It's not nothing Jaemin if you're behaving like that. What is it?"

"Allow me-" Haechan starts but is immediately shut down by a wild Jaemin pouncing on him and covering his mouth. "You shut up!"

"Wha-"

Jeno smiles awkwardly and scratches the back of his head as he supplies a hint. "Well... when your friend got kidnapped, he was very worried."

"Frie- Oh! Oh?" As epiphany strikes her, she shakes her head and lets out a slight chuckle. "It's okay Jaemin, unlike Haechan my lips are sealed."

"Jeno!" Jaemin whips around his head and glares. Jeno flinches and shrinks down in his seat. Looking at Jeno's lost, puppy like expression Jaemin can't stay mad at him for long. So, he gives Haechan one last hug, a mix of aggressive hugging and chocking, and sits back gracefully. 

Renjun rolls his eyes and rubs his temples in stress, muttering, "Fools." Jieun hears him and elbows him lightly. "Atleast the mood got light."

Renjun instantly faces her and his eyes scan over her, reading the way her face adorns a small smile, but her fingers are still tightly clasped together. "What's the use though? It didn't reach you."

The corner of Jieun's lips slightly goes down, and she looks at Renjun unblinking. As if permitting him to see her fears which she would otherwise cover up. Just as water starts lining up her eyelids, she looks away. 

Taking a deep breath, she turns back to him and her smile is back in place. This time, there's a flicker of reassurance to her demeanor telling Renjun, I'll be alright. Thank you. 

~~~ 

"Have you gone mad?"

"I'm serious Taeyong. They found a copy of Jaehyun's key card discarded in an alley right before the intersection where Irene's car crashed."

"Detective Doyoung, you do realise the implication of what you're saying?"

With a solemn face Doyoung nods. "You thought it too back then, that it was an inside job... We have the evidence now."

Taeyong slammed a hand down on his desk. "I did not say it was one of our officers! And certainly not Jaehyun!"

"Tae-"

"That's enough. Jaehyun is one of my most trusted officers. I'm not accusing him of being a traitor just because of a mere keycard. And I won't let you either."

Frustrated Doyoung grabs Taeyong's shoulder and pulls him close. "Lee Taeyong pull yourself together! We. Are. Detectives. We do unbiased investigation because that's the justice the victims deserve. "