Alliances

"What?"

Whatever you expected to hear, it certainly wasn't this.

The uneasiness in your chest grows heavy like lead. It has been a while since the last time you've heard anything related to that case, as years have passed since. Deep down, you wonder why Jungkook would still be digging into this matter, until you remember seeing him on the television all those years ago as part of the team that was formed to investigate the case.

Hadn't things been resolved, since Yoongi's brother is now locked up thanks to his involvement in that case?

"Is that the case that you've been working on in secret? Do you think they are somehow connected to it?" you ask Jungkook instead, who immediately shakes his head.

"There was never any indication found that may show any connection between the case and the Kims. We couldn't even find any link between Min Yoonseok and these men before they became known to the public," he says, before his gaze meets yours when he adds, "But I certainly don't believe in coincidences."

Looking at the expression on his face, you have a feeling that he isn't just talking about how they might be involved with the case. The fact that these men had been in the same room with your husband just a couple of years later doesn't seem much of a coincidence when you look at it from various angles.

While you are trying to process everything Jungkook had just told you, Hoseok chimes in, "Joho Publications, the sister company run by the cousins, also got their fame for being the whistleblower for the embezzlement case all those years ago. They were the first ones to reveal the truth behind the fraudulent activities done by Min Yoonseok."

Shaking your head, you are beginning to understand what Jungkook meant by not believing in coincidences.

"What is your investigation telling you so far?" you reluctantly question Jungkook, only to once again earn the sound of his deep sigh.

"Nothing. That's the problem." Jungkook looks terribly exhausted as he admits to this. "We couldn't find any connection between them, Min Yoonseok, nor the victims. At least not during the time he was allegedly actively scamming these people. At least, that's all I've found."

With a sigh, Jungkook lets his head fall in defeat before looking at you again. "These men—the Kims—seem to have some connections with the higher-ups. Because every time I tried to bring up their names or if their names somehow entered the system during the time I was digging for information about them, I kept getting blocked. I even got a warning from my superior when I was caught asking questions about them."

"Is that why you told me there's no one from your department you can trust or rely on?"

Jungkook nods. "Like I said, they have connections to the higher-ups. And I'm not just talking about the big men working on the industry and the big names backing their business, but also people who mattered." For a moment, Jungkook looks pissed. He doesn't waste any time revealing the reason why. "They allegedly have connections with the police department, as the former police commissioner turned governor was rumoured to be a close relative of theirs."

There is a sinking feeling in your gut as you continue to listen to Jungkook. It sinks deeper the more you know about these men.

Who are these people?

You cannot help but wonder. And as you begin questioning things, every single thing that happened in the meeting, every word shared, all starts coming back to you. The way Yoongi hinted that these men might have been closer to Jinyoung than you thought gives you a terrible feeling in your gut, and then the comments that Kim Taehyung gave to Yoongi start making you doubtful about everything that you were made to believe.

Had Yoongi lied to you, and their history began further into the past?

Or is this the reason why Yoongi tried his hardest to avoid getting involved with them?

"You still remember how much we've helped you in the past, don't you?"

"But what does Yoongi's brother's case have to do with Jinyoung?" you find yourself asking as you try to brush away the deep voice echoing in your head, "If that was the case that you've been working on, how was Jinyoung involved in all of this?"

Jungkook's expression turns grim. "It's too complicated. Even we don't know the full details of everything yet, and sharing the whole story will take too long."

"And you don't have much time," the hacker chimes in once again. Hoseok has turned on his seat and has his eyes locked on one of the screens that he has set up to do his work, searching for something, before catching your gaze with his. "I tracked down your husband's phone number when we first set up for our project."

His fingers start moving rapidly on his keyboard before the tracking device expands on the monitor, showing you a bright dot flickering at one side of the screen. "My system caught a movement and changes on his location, and it's showing him leaving his office building—" His eyes flicker back to the screen as the flickering light begins to move away from its original spot, then, "—right about now."

"I guess your time is up," Jungkook immediately comments, already leaving his seat.

You rise to your feet, yet you refuse to go when you still have some unanswered questions. "I'm not leaving until you at least give me something else to go on so I can process all of this."

Jungkook looks hesitant for a moment. It's clear that he doesn't want to share too much of his investigation, though it seems more like he's wary about involving you rather than not trusting you with the information that he has.

"There's really no need for you to get involved deeper into this," he starts to deny any more information, yet he quickly changes his mind when you challenge him with a look. "Fine," he says with a sigh. "We might have found a reason for me to come in contact with at least one of these men, so I might have something more to share once that happens."

"How?"

Jungkook clenches his jaw. "Do you still have the copy of Jinyoung's incoming and ongoing calls that I gave you last time?"

"I have it," you quickly answer, yet before you turn away to grab your copy, Jungkook is already pulling out the ones that he has from his backpack to show you what he has found.

With the printed pages spread on the coffee table, he begins showing some of the numbers that are marked in different colours. "We've been tracking the phone numbers, focusing on a few specific ones that kept appearing on the list right before his death and aren't officially registered to anyone significant to Jinyoung while he was alive," Jungkook explains to you before pointing at a marked phone number that appears frequently in Jinyoung's call list.

"Notice this number? This one caught my eye specifically because it always appeared every day at the same time, like clockwork, but always during the time Jinyoung would've been either occupied or alone. It's been appearing almost the entire time Jinyoung was working with your father."

Paying close attention to the list of incoming and ongoing calls, you notice the times when the phone number appears.

"Short phone calls were made from the number to Jinyoung's cell usually around the time he would have arrived at work, whereas his outgoing calls to that same number were mostly made around the time he finished work," Jungkook points out, "And these calls happened at least three times a week for the past three months before his death, with the last incoming call recorded on the same day of Jinyoung's accident."

Seeing the time listed for the last phone call, your mind goes straight to what happened that day. You think about how Jinyoung suddenly changed plans, cancelling dinner and leaving the voice message after he suddenly left the company at the end of the day while you were still busy with work.

"It almost seemed like he was reporting to someone," you wonder out loud.

"That's what came to our minds as well."

"Did you find out who that number was registered to?"

"It was an unregistered number," Hoseok answers. "The number has been inactive since, but we managed to track down the notes of purchase and link it to Kim Namjoon."

"Kim Namjoon?" you ask with a gasp. "That's your connection!"

Jungkook nods, but his face remains grim. "Only if we can truly use it. The number is no longer active, and we believe it was initially used as a burner phone before it was deactivated. We wouldn't have been able to link it to him if it weren't for Hoseok."

You turn to look between Hoseok and Jungkook, while the hacker remains quiet as he listens to your conversation closely. Judging from Jungkook's response, you can only guess how the hacker managed to link the number to Namjoon, and it couldn't have been through any legal process if he feels like he wouldn't be able to use it for an official report.

"So how are you going to use it as an excuse to see him?"

"I'll manage somehow. It won't be easy, though," Jungkook says, before adding with a low murmur, "or pretty."

"Do you really know nothing about what kind of relationship Jinyoung might have with them?" Hoseok suddenly questions you, as if he has been reading your thoughts as you silently process all of this.

Shaking your head, the only thing that goes through your mind is the conversation you had with Yoongi back at the Country Club, when you first saw the picture showing Jinyoung, Yoongi, and the men from the Kim family.

"I don't remember ever hearing Jinyoung talk about them or anything related to the Kims. The first time I ever saw them before today was from the picture I saw back at the Country Club. Jinyoung and Yoongi were also in that picture with those men, and it was said to have been taken during an event at the club where the young members actively participated in it."

You also share with them what Yoongi said about Jinyoung developing a good relationship with the cousins. The way he described it only made you think that what they had was simply a professional connection, or something as cordial as fellow members of the club who spent much of their leisure time together through the club's activities and events.

But could have there been more? Had Jinyoung been involved with them more intimately and personally without anyone else knowing?

Shaking your head, you try to stop yourself from thinking too deeply about it and focus on getting more information from Jungkook before you have to leave.

"What about this other number? The one you also marked?" You point out the copy of the list that Jungkook has, where a different set of phone numbers appears, always during Jinyoung's busy hours of the day. The calls went back to a year before you were engaged with Jinyoung, and had only stopped appearing within months before Jinyoung's death. "I noticed before when I first read the copy that this number kept showing up almost randomly, but it seemed odd for a business call to happen during work hours yet it went through Jinyoung's personal cell instead of the company's line."

Jungkook nods at Hoseok who answers for you, "I managed to track it down to a phone line registered under the name SS Novelties. But that's how far I've gotten before getting into another dead end. There are no records of such company ever listed anywhere, but I'm still trying to dig into it further."

Hoseok's voice fades to the background when the name rings a bell. "SS Novelties—"

Jungkook turns to you with his eyebrows raised. "You've heard that name before?"

"I was going through Jinyoung's old belongings today and found some files mentioning that name. I've only seen them today and hadn't gotten the chance to look into it," you carefully explain, "I was thinking of searching for more information about it once I'm back at my father's office. The files contained contracts for a joint partnership in tech wares production and there was one discussing change of ownership for the company."

Jungkook straightens up with a dubious look on his face. "That's quite an interesting type of contract for someone like Jinyoung to acquire."

"Even weirder still that I've never heard of such a name mentioned anywhere in my father's files, yet Jinyoung's name was listed on it as a representative of the company," you continue, while Hoseok's eyes light up upon hearing this.

"Can I have some copies of them?" the hacker asks you, "I might be able to find a way to track them down from those files."

"Of course. Although I'm not sure how you're going to be able to make use of those old contracts," you wonder, though you still take your time to retrieve the copies of the files from the study room and hand them over to the hacker.

"What about you? Have you found anything yet from what we talked about before?" Jungkook quickly asks you, "Have you figured out how your husband might be connected to Jinyoung and his accident?"

You can only shake your head. "I couldn't find the right time to bring it up. I've already been asking too many questions. I don't want Yoongi to put up his guard on me when I still need more information from him."

"You should try to find that chance soon if we want some answers," Jungkook says. "There has to be a reason why Jinyoung made the call to Yoongi right before the accident, and why Yoongi made the return call right when the crash happened."

Your head spins as you look down at the papers before you. The last time you spoke with Jungkook was the day after you first studied the list, noticing a familiar phone number that appeared in it.

Yoongi's personal cell phone number.

Looking through the list, it didn't seem like they made direct contact frequently. But when Yoongi's number appeared during the two significant times in Jinyoung's final moments, the reason behind his calls mattered.

The first was an outgoing phone call made from Jinyoung's cell just an hour from the time Jinyoung sent you the voice message, while the second call was an unanswered call made to Jinyoung. There was less than an hour gap between both calls, with the latter one recorded to happen at the same time as when the accident was assumed to have happened.

"The first call lasted for half an hour. Whatever conversation they had that night might be important," Jungkook says, reminding you why you need to figure out the reason behind the call. "And like I said, I don't believe in coincidences. There has to be a reason why your husband was trying to call Jinyoung right when your late fiancé got into the accident."

You know that Jungkook is right. There has to be a good reason for Yoongi and Jinyoung to suddenly come in contact that night, when they never seemed to personally communicate with each other before that specific night.

"Speaking of your husband—" Hoseok suddenly interrupts while you are deep in thought, "you have to leave now if you want to be home before he does. He might not be speeding and the traffic isn't as crowded this late at night, but according to the tracker, he'll be home within twenty minutes."

Jungkook nods. "He's right. You need to go."

"Damn it," you curse under your breath when you remember, "I came here with a taxi. There's no time."

"I'll take you," Jungkook offers, just as you are trying to figure out how to call for a car.

"Take her in my car," Hoseok says, throwing his car keys to Jungkook while saying, "It's a fast ride, and it won't draw any attention."

"Get your stuff. I know a shortcut to get us there even faster," Jungkook says to you, before turning to Hoseok with a stern look on his face. "And you, stay here. No funny business."

Chuckling deeply, the hacker crosses his arms behind his head as he reclines in his seat. "I have no plans other than to enjoy my sweet time in this fancy apartment until you return."

"While you're here," you cut them off as a thought suddenly crosses your mind. "Can you find something else for me?"

The hacker shrugs. "Sure, I've got all the time in the world."

You are hesitant for a moment, but there is something that has been bothering you ever since your wedding day, and with so many things to solve in such a short time, you need to at least find some answers to this.

Soon.

"Can you find out if my father had ever worked for MYG Corporations or if he was once related to any of the Min family's associates in the past?"

"Your father?" the hacker asks, creasing his brows. "Wouldn't you have known about it if he ever had a history of working with them before?"

Clenching your hands tightly, you only shake your head. "My parents never shared anything related to the life they had before my father built his company. Nothing much except for how different their lives had been before and how much they had to struggle," you bitterly admit. "Somehow, I have a feeling that there is something more to the story."

That feeling has been plaguing you ever since the moment you watched the interaction shared between your parents and your in-laws. It was clear that your father was no stranger to your father-in-law and the head of the family, Yoongi's grandfather. But the tension you felt coming from their table that night, and the way your mother reacted while she sat between them told you that there is an untold story there that you need to figure out if you want to know the reason behind your mother's vengeance.

Expecting more questions, you are relieved when Hoseok only shrugs. "I'll see what I can do."

You accept his answer with a nod, and allow Jungkook to usher you out of the apartment so he can rush you back home before Yoongi gets there. But not before letting the hacker know that he is free to use the apartment for the rest of the night to do his work with the detective.

It doesn't take much time for Jungkook to get you back home.

You manage to guide him towards a different private entrance to the building to be able to drop you off without being seen, while avoiding any chance to cross paths with Yoongi on his way out.

"Thank you for coming up when I called."

"I'll keep you updated and will contact you if I find anything else," Jungkook only says in return. His voice sounds grim, and there is an unsettling feeling in your chest when you turn to look at him before leaving.

You have no idea why you suddenly have a feeling that you won't be seeing him for a while. As if you sense something bad coming up when you picture him putting himself in danger to find answers.

"Be safe," you find yourself saying to him before you can stop yourself, earning a hollow chuckle from Jungkook.

"I should be the one saying that to you," he says with a grin.

You return his grin with a scoff. "I'm not the one moving around in the shadows and diving straight into danger."

"True," he says while looking downcast, though the determined look in his eyes remains. "I'll keep that in mind."

Knowing that your time is up, you finally step out of the car and make your way to the private entrance of the building, only stopping as Jungkook starts to leave.

As you watch the detective drive away into the night in the unmarked car, a dark feeling sets heavily in your chest. This time, it doesn't come from your concern over the detective's safety. It comes from thinking of the things that you are about to face going forward.

Walking back into your new home, with more questions than answers, and more mystery surrounding the man you just married, the uneasiness you feel grows deeper. You have prepared yourself to go through the rough path waiting for you ahead when you first began your journey to find answers. But you are not sure if you are prepared to deal with the truth, knowing that the mystery that you are going to unveil might change everything—your memories, your future, your life—that you've always known.