Chapter Twenty-Four: The Search for the White Lotus

It was a distant yet incessant rhythmic hiss. LiYul heard the buzz of conversations and the sound of weeping. Who was crying? He heard his name being called but felt too heavy and far too tired to open his eyes. He let the mist carry him away…

Jae-Ho sat at LiYul's bedside, watching the machines measure blood pressure, heart rate, and the flow of IVs going into LiYul's body. The morning was still imprinted in his mind! If LiYul knew what had happened he would wake up from the coma he had been in since coming from surgery to remove the bullet from his chest. Jae-Ho felt tears of frustration sting his eyes. Everything had caught fire and turned to ashes. Even three weeks later, the bitter taste of gunpowder filled his mouth, and the unmistakable tang of blood filled his nostrils.

"Go rest Jae-Ho," Master Kang said. He laid his hand on Jae-Ho's shoulder. "I will sit with LiYul."

"Talk to him," Jae-Ho said standing up to gaze at his friend. "Tell him to come back to us."

"I will," Master Kang said. He watched Jae-Ho leave the room. He was not looking well. Everyone had come to rally around the Director of Aquila Studios. The writers at the Eagle's Nest paid regular visits to inquire about LiYul's status. The young writers from the second floor also visited the hospital, but only Warren Grisham refused to see the director. Kang studied LiYul as he silently prayed and fingered the teak beads of his bracelet. Finally, he spoke, "LiYul, you need to wake up as soon as you can, we need to find your White Lotus."

Somewhere in an undisclosed location

 "How is our guest?" Ga-Ram asked.

 "She refuses to eat," Mr. Kwak said around a mouthful of Ramen noodles. "She's making herself sick not eating."

 Ga-Ram frowned. She had been treated well, he had made certain that all the men keeping an eye on her knew to treat her gently. "You should have called me."

 "I don't work for you!" Mr. Kwak growled. "The Chairman gives the orders around here!"

 Ga-Ram perched on the edge of the table where Mr. Kwak sat eating. Ga-Ram did not care for any of his father's minions, particularly Mr. Kwak. It was like looking into the face of a dead fish. "That may be true, but I do not think the Chairman would take kindly to his important guests being neglected."

 Mr. Kwak stabbed his chopsticks at the small microwave. "You're welcome to try to spoon-feed the lady if you're so concerned."

 Ga-Ram collected the Ramen bowl and a pair of bamboo chopsticks. He pulled open the small refrigerator and took a bottle of water. The mechanical room where their guest was currently contained was hot and smelled of oil and diesel fuel. He walked past the two security guards lounged in wooden chairs. They nodded at Ga-Ram. He let one of the guards unlock the supply shack door and he stepped into the gloomy room. Directly under a dimly burning lightbulb sat SooYun. Her long wheat-colored hair was dirty and hanging in limp clumps around her pale face. Her shirt was torn, and one sleeve was hanging off her shoulder. There were healing scrapes on the exposed shoulder, and as her head rose, the purpling around one cheek and jawline was fading into pink and green at the edges. The dark circles under her eyes made her grey eyes blaze from her face. He felt something twinge deep in his chest. "Ms. Shin, I hear you continue to refuse to eat."

 "Let me go!" SooYun rasped. "Please, let me go!"

 Ga-Ram sat down in the only other chair in the room. He twisted the cap on the water bottle and cracked the seal. He gently raised her head with his free hand, "Drink this water," he murmured, "If you won't eat, then you need to drink, Soo Yun."

 "What happened to LiYul?" She asked.

 "Drink and I'll tell you," Ga-Ram said.

 Soo Yun relented and sipped from the bottle he held to her lips. Thirst got the better of her and she snatched at the bottle with her bound hands. Ga-Ram pulled it away, "Slowly! You'll make yourself sick!"

 "Tell me now!" She said.

 "He's in the hospital," Ga-Ram told her. "Min-Ji missed his heart, but she was aiming for yours."

 "But he's alive!" Soo Yun said hope sparking in her eyes.

 Ga-Ram nodded. "Barely,"

 Tears welled in her eyes and Ga-Ram felt a tug of pity. "You should try to eat something."

 She shook her head, "No, I feel sick! I can't!"

 He opened the water bottle again, "Then drink more water, you're dehydrated." As he held the bottle to her lips he wondered why his father was keeping her prisoner. Min-Ji had been caught red-handed and nothing would get her out of jail. The only possible reason was to coerce LiYul to hand over the Falcon's Eye lens. It was the only thing his father desperately wanted and LiYul had not given him. With LiYul in a coma, there was little his father could do but wait. He looked worriedly at Soo Yun, she could die before LiYul could wake up.

 Ga-Ram pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and poured water over the fine woven cotton. He gently wiped her face, careful of the angry bruising on her face. She was still beautiful. Consumed by sudden jealousy, he stopped and got up.

"How did you get tangled up in this?" Soo Yun asked him.

 He swung around, now full of rage. "Don't try to win me to your side!"

 "I'm trying to understand you," Soo Yun said.

 "Don't try!" he growled at her. "You need to worry about yourself – the Chairman's patience is wearing thin, and he sees you as the cause of all his troubles!" Ga-Ram scoffed lightly, "For once, I'm not the target – you are."

 "Help me then," Soo Yun pleaded, "If there's a shred of compassion inside your heart, please, help me!"

 Ga-Rom felt that tug in his chest. He turned on his heel and stalked out of the room, slamming the steel door behind him.

The Police Station

 Detective Jang stared at the images of an American woman and the mugshot of Chu Ga-Ram, Mr. Lim was searching for.

"So, you are telling me that you haven't been able to turn up anything on Jin LiYul's fiancée? It's been three weeks!"

"I wish I had better news for you," Detective Jang said, "I don't have to tell you that this case is not popular among the top officials. Chairman Chu ---,"

Jae-Ho raised a silencing hand. "Just stop – What was I thinking? I was foolish to think the institution put in place to protect the people was incorruptible!"

Detective Jang slammed his open hand down on the case files in front of him. "Dammit, I am doing everything in my power to find Ms. Chandler!" He leaned toward Jae-Ho. "I will continue to do so until I am reassigned, Mr. Lim!" 

Jae-Ho left the police station and walked slowly to his car. His phone began to vibrate against his ribcage. He reached in and saw it was the hospital. He answered it.

"Jae-Ho, it's me, Kang. LiYul just woke up!"

Mr. Lim closed his eyes in relief then he realized LiYul would be asking for Soo Yun. "Have you told him anything?"

"No," Master Kang replied. "He is still in critical condition, but he will soon be asking questions."

Jae-Ho sighed heavily. "I'm on my way back."

"I take it you got nowhere with the detective?" Master Kang guessed.

"It seems that the Chu Corporation has its tentacles everywhere," Jae-Ho responded.

"Be careful coming back," Kang said. "You're exhausted and if anything happens to you, I will have a difficult time explaining to LiYul!"

Jae-Ho laughed lightly. "I'll see you in a little while." He hung up and tucked the phone back in his inside jacket pocket.

 "Are you ready to ask for my help?"

 Jae-Ho swung around. The man standing in front of him was a mountain! He was dressed in a tailored three-piece suit but instead of looking like an executive, he looked like a bear in human form! The material of his jacket strained against bullish shoulders and biceps. "Who are you?"

 "I am Taehwa," The bear rumbled.

 Jae-Ho recognized the name from Soo Yun's text messages on her phone. "What can you do that the police have not already tried?"

 "I will find the White Lotus!" Taehwa declared.

 Jae-Ho met Taehwa's dark fierce eyes. He nodded solemnly at the man. "I will tell you what Jin LiYul would tell you -- Do whatever it takes and find Shin Soo Yun!"

 Taehwa nodded then tilted his head slightly, "And?"

 Jae-Ho shook his head and stepped away from Taehwa. "Find Soo Yun."

 Taehwa smiled slightly, then turned and walked away. Jae-Ho looked back at the police station and saw Detective Jang standing in front of the entrance. Jang raised an acknowledging hand at Jae-Ho then turned and walked back into the station.