Detective's Love Case

Chapter 15

Jaehwa's POV

I crouched to her level and stroked her hair when In-Taek spoke.

"Jaehwa, there's something between you two, isn't there?"

I just shook my head as I continued to brush her face with my fingertips.

"Jaehwa, you know that I'm so happy for you, but at a time like this, you need to focus on your job and not let your emotions get in the way. That was what she was doing. She did her part and let emotions go in order to focus on this case, why can't you?"

"I have only loved one other woman in my life, and that was my mother. She cared for me and did everything for me, but once my father died, she shut me out. Why do you think that all those other women didn't work out? Diamond brought out a man inside of me, where I can care for again. I haven't felt this way in a long time."

I stood up to face him.

"But for what cost is it worth if you stop paying attention and you lose her? You have to focus!"

He shoved my chest as he raised his voice.

"If you want to protect her..."

He tapped my head.

"...focus."

And with that, he walked out. I watched his figure disappear behind the door frame then sat in the chair he was in earlier. I rubbed my face in frustration then looked over at her sleeping form. I stood up and walked back over to her, lifting her head and sitting down to place her head on my thigh. I continued to brush her hair as she slept. After a while, she woke up and glanced up at me. I smiled as she lifted herself up.

"Jay, I think In-Taek..."

"He knows. I told him. How are you?"

"Fine."

I placed her head on my chest and rested my chin on her head as she wrapped her arms around me. We sat like this for a while until she pulled away.

"Are you sure you're fine, Kimora?"

She nods and stands up.

"Come on. We have a crime to solve."

We both walked back into the office. Everyone was sitting around the whiteboards as In-Taek, briefing them about the bombing.

"Lastly, two women were found at the scene. Both were placed there after the explosion, so the bodies are in perfect condition."

He then places a photo upon the board. I glanced over to Kimora to see no emotion on her face. She just walked by and into her office. Moments later, she emerged from her office with something in hand. Walking up to the board, she tapes a picture. The picture shows two girls in the same position as the two found in the aftermath of the explosion. The two photos were almost identical until you saw who was in the photo.

Kimora's POV

I saw the picture Kwon put up and felt my heart stop. This man knew everything about Miranda and I. Just who is he? I walked back into my office and pulled out my journal. I've had this journal since that day. I would write in it every year on the anniversary of her death. There were pictures we would take of each other and notes that we would pass around when we were in a briefing for a shoot. Also taped to the first page was a picture we took on the day she died. I took it out and walked back into the room. I approached the board and pasted the photo up. It was a picture of us together facing each other in a spiral. She wore a light violet dress while I wore a light green one. We were supposed to look like two girls lost in a Fairytale.

"That was the last photo of us."

Jay walked over to the board and looked at the pictures.

"They're exactly the same. This guy knows who you are. Why did you hide this from us?"

I glanced at him with "Really," written on my face.

"Well, sorry, I was preoccupied at the moment. You know getting kidnapped and all."

"R-right, right. Sorry."

"Miranda Choi, age 20, Korean America model. Worked for XT Modeling Industry for 6 years. Was murdered after going out with her boyfriend. Last person to see her was... Me."

I passed the files to Kwon. And he put the information up on the board as I talked.

"Jeremy Todd, age unknown, White male. The victim's boyfriend. Main suspect, but when Choi's body was found, a car was burning with a Male victim. The victim was so badly burned that no one could recognize him, and no DNA was on record. Police searched for a Jeremy Todd, but searched came clean."

"There's no Jeremy Todd?"

Jung spoke out. I shook my head.

"No, Jeremy Todd does exist. But he died over 40 years ago. And that man doesn't seem to be in any database. He's a ghost."

I pointed to the question mark, symbolizing the killer, on the board.

"Diamond, how can you be so sure? What if that male in the car was her boyfriend, who would want to kill her and then come after you?"

Kwon looked at me.

"Because you don't know the look of hunger in his eyes as you passed on the offer. I saw it. The night Miranda died was the night he asked if I wanted to go out with them. I said no, and she paid the price."

Everyone looked at me. I was a mess. My emotions jumped in front of my logic. Jay walked over and placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Let's take a break."

He dragged me off to the break room. He sat me down and handed me a water bottle.

"I'm sorry. I'm letting him get to me. I... I just feel so lost now. I feel so close but so far away."

I looked up at Jay, who still hasn't said a word.

"Well, aren't you going you say something? Aren't you going to threaten my position or... or tell me that everything's okay?"

He grabbed a chair and sat next to me. He moved my hair behind my ear and stroked my cheek. I looked in his eyes for something, but I didn't know what. He leaned in and placed his lips on mine. My eyes closing immediately as I kissed back. We pulled away and leaned our foreheads together.

"I hate this."