the music box killer | bang chan

10. pizzazz

JIYEON'S POV:

"Are you the one who messaged me?" I ask, shaking hands with the man who had just introduced himself as Mark. He nods and motions for me to take a seat. We were in a secluded corner of the cafe which made it easier to have a private conversation. Random wires were plugged into his laptop which was running some program, and a thick brown paper file rested on the surface next to it.

"I'm Jiyeon, but I guess you already know that," I too introduce myself for the sake of formality. "What did you want to tell me in such secrecy?"

His expression darkens at my words. I still didn't know whether I wanted to trust this guy or not, but he looked so serious right now I couldn't help but be curious about what he had to say.

"Now, listen to me very carefully. These are invitations," he starts, handing me the brown file. 

"For?" I ask.

"There's a masquerade ball taking place tomorrow night where all the crime syndicates in the country set aside their differences for one night of fun. Han is expected to be there and he'll be running a major drug deal too," he begins to explain.

"But we can't go there as detectives. They'll kill us if they find out that we have anything to do with the police," I get a whiff of the situation.

"Precisely. Now, the only way to enter the venue is by producing the physical invitation at the entrance. I've already entered your names in their guest database," he says, eyeing the laptop. "That brown file consists of fake profiles for the criminals you'll be posing as. You need to study up every inch of those documents if you don't want to be suspected. Oh, and dress up fancy. The mafias like some pizzazz."

I soak in all the information. He sounded absolutely sure and certain. Who was this Angel in disguise?

"If all this is true, I'll forever be indebted to you," I say, accepting the envelope from him. A question still remained at the back of my mind, though. "Why are you helping us? To this extent?"

"Let's say...some scores need to be settled. I only ask one thing of you in return," he replies, coming closer. I lean in to hear his voice, which had lowered to a barely audible whisper.

"Don't tell anything to Lee Minho."

*

I find my way back to the hotel, my mind stuck in a daze from the events of the past one hour. What did Mark mean by that? Why shouldn't I tell anything to Minho?

I knock on the door, which opens almost immediately. The man occupying my thoughts almost pounces into my arms.

"YOU'RE ALIVE! CHAN, JIYEON IS SAFE!" Minho yells into the room. Chan appears moments later with a smile, looking relieved to see me.

"I told you I'd be back in one piece," I say with a grin. I still didn't know why I wasn't supposed to tell the truth about the meeting to him, but I guess shutting my mouth was the least I could do in return for all the information I got.

"I'm glad you're okay," Chan mumbles softly against the crook of my neck as he hugs me, lingering for a moment. I feel butterflies erupt in my stomach, along with Minho's gaze analyzing our position from my peripheral vision. 

"Was it a credible message? Did you get anything?" He asks, pulling away.

"No one was there. These were left on a table in the corner with a note," my mouth effortlessly spills out the rehearsed lie which Mark had instructed me to tell. I didn't know why I was listening to him, but it didn't hurt either of us so I just went with it.

We go over the files for each of us, containing our fake names, family history and crimes in them. Studying them up wasn't really hard, but this other thing had been bothering me for a while.