In a Maze...

Chapter 17

At half past five, Mark was already in front of Jinyoung's company. He was anxious to see Jinyoung - to keep him under his protection.

At a quarter to six, some of the company staff came out of the company building. They shot curious glances at Mark, who was leaning against the car and whose eyes were fixed on the entrance of the building.

More and more people came out as minutes passed but there was no sign of Jinyoung yet. At ten past six, it seemed most of the employees were already out.

Mark had got unstable with worry, with every minute passed. Yet he rejected the idea of calling Jinyoung in case he was still busy.

"Excuse me," Mark addressed to a man, who was in his company uniform and was about to pass by Mark.

"Yes?"

"Your CEO, Park Jinyoung, at what time does he finish? Do you know?"

"Hasn't he left already?" the man asked. "I work at the reception counter. I'm sure he left at about four, maybe for some appointment."

"Didn't he get back here?"

"No, I don't think so. I haven't seen him since then."

"Alright, thanks."

Something was weird now, Mark could feel it. Once the man continued his way, Mark rushed to the company building and the security guards let him in when he showed them his detective ID. He got to the topmost floor and searched for the CEO room.

Just when he found it, a woman came out of it, locking the door, and then was startled by Mark's presence.

"Who're you?" she asked in alarm, "How did you get here? You can't be here, this is off the office hours now."

Mark presented the ID card to her and said, "Your CEO hasn't been back since he left? You see, I'm a detective and investigating the serial murders, connected with the Park family. Your CEO, he's away and time's important, now. Could you let me use his room?"

"Is he in danger?" She asked in fright and handed a key to Mark. "That's the CEO room key. I've got that spare one for myself. Do I need to remain here?"

"You don't have to. But do you know where he went?"

"No, he didn't tell me anything before leaving."

"Thanks, you can go now."

When Mark was inside the room, he looked around the room in dismay. Jinyoung's phone was off when Mark called him. This confirmed all of Mark's suspicions: Jinyoung was in a critical situation. And here he had no idea how to locate Jinyoung.

There was only this office laptop on Jinyoung's table, which Mark hoped, would give him some clues. Because to lure out a businessman was only through business. But the laptop asked for a six-digit password as Mark had turned it on.

Sweat appeared on his forehead as he fired in some random numbers and letters. He tried to calm himself down and focus on the numbers and letters related to Jinyoung. He tried the date the company had been founded as it involved six digits, but it was rejected.

Then he thought of Jinyoung's birthdate but it was 2291994, which consisted of seven digits. He omitted one number and changed the sequence at each try. His heart was thumping hard and it was getting difficult to concentrate.

But, at one time, he excluded 1 and changed the order - 994922, the password was accepted and the home screen appeared. He went straight to the email and checked the inbox. There his deduction was proved right, as there was an email that had newly arrived, at 3:20 this afternoon.

It was a business email which asked Jinyoung for a deal negotiation. But Mark focused more on the location: the sender asked Jinyoung to meet him at 'Golden House' hotel, which Mark had heard of, in Gangseo district. The appointed time was 5pm.

After having got the information he needed, Mark headed out of the company and was met by the surveillance team member, who looked lost, outside. He seemed somehow glad to see Mark.

"The subject hasn't come out yet and it's unusual. You were inside, have you seen him there, hyung?"

"He isn't there."

The surveillance team member looked bewildered by the information, "But how? I've been inside the car, watching him this whole time." Then he turned guilty as he recalled something, "P-Perhaps, when I was dozing off a little. It was just for a while, hyung. He didn't usually come out before 5:30, so I thought-"

"So you missed him. Time's ticking away and I need to search for him."

"I'll follow, hyung. I'm sorry for causing this."

He returned to his car and Mark also got in his own car. But before anything, he dialed Minsoo's number and gave him a brief summary of what was happening - where Jinyoung had been demanded to come and how he was being out of contact at the moment.

"You think he's in danger?" asked Minsoo, half in disbelief.

"Yes, if my guess is right, the murderer's with him. Call the other two and we'll meet at that hotel. And bring along your guns, we're going to be in a tight spot. I hope we're not too late yet," Mark felt that there was no confidence in the last sentence.

"So, he's out of our reach and we need to get to him?"

"Yes, please hurry."

"Got it."

Once the call was ended, he started the car engine and drove off, to the designated hotel.