Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN IN THE VIDEO
They hid in an abandoned office building across the street.
Emily's heart pounded.
Daniel paced.
Park watched the windows.
"This is insane," Emily whispered.
Daniel stopped.
"Yes."
"My supervisor is beaten."
"Yes."
"Your mother has been kidnapped."
"Yes."
"Your dead uncle is apparently alive."
Daniel stared at her.
"Apparently."
Emily laughed nervously.
"How are you so calm?"
"I'm not."
He looked at her.
"I'm terrified."
It was the first time Emily had seen vulnerability in him.
"Your mother."
Daniel nodded.
"I've already lost my father."
He looked away.
"I'm not losing her."
Emily stepped closer.
"You won't."
He looked at her.
She realized how close they were.
Neither moved.
Then Park interrupted.
"Sir."
They separated.
Park held up a phone.
"We have a video."
Daniel took it.
The screen showed Mrs. Kang sitting in a dark room.
She looked tired.
But alive.
A man's voice came from behind the camera.
"Tell your son where the account is."
Mrs. Kang shook her head.
"I won't."
"You know what happens if you refuse."
She remained silent.
The man stepped into view.
Older now.
Gray hair.
But unmistakable.
Victor Shaw.
Daniel stared.
"Uncle Michael."
Emily looked at him.
"What?"
"My uncle's real name was Michael Kang."
Victor smiled at the camera.
"Daniel."
Daniel froze.
The video continued.
"Your father left something for you."
Michael placed a folder on the table.
"Something that will destroy everything you inherited."
Mrs. Kang looked toward the camera.
"Don't come."
Daniel clenched his jaw.
Michael smiled.
"Of course he'll come."
The video ended.
Park looked at Daniel.
"There's metadata."
"Where?"
"A warehouse outside the city."
Emily stepped forward.
"That's a trap."
"I know."
"Then don't go."
Daniel looked at her.
"If I don't, my mother dies."
Emily had no answer.
They drove to the warehouse.
This time, they brought police.
But not Chicago police.
A federal investigator Daniel trusted.
The warehouse appeared abandoned.
They entered carefully.
Nothing.
Then speakers came alive.
Michael's voice echoed.
"Daniel."
Lights turned on.
Mrs. Kang sat in a chair.
Her hands were tied.
Michael stood behind her.
Emily's heart raced.
Daniel stepped forward.
"Let her go."
Michael laughed.
"You always were impatient."
"You're supposed to be dead."
"I was."
"What happened?"
"Your father happened."
Michael looked at Emily.
Then smiled.
"And she looks just like her mother."
Emily froze.
"You knew my mother?"
"Very well."
Mrs. Kang looked terrified.
"Emily, don't listen to him."
Michael laughed.
"Your mother was the only person who ever discovered what your father was doing."
Emily's voice shook.
"What was he doing?"
Michael answered.
"Building an empire on stolen money."
Daniel stared.
"You're lying."
Michael shook his head.
"Ask your mother."
Emily turned.
Mrs. Kang closed her eyes.
Daniel's voice cracked.
"Mom?"
She whispered,
"It's true."
Daniel looked devastated.
His entire world collapsed in one sentence.
Michael smiled.
"Now you understand."
But Emily noticed something.
Mrs. Kang wasn't looking at Michael.
She was looking at her.
And subtly shaking her head.
Emily understood.
This was not surrender.
It was a message.
Mrs. Kang wanted her to look somewhere.
Emily followed her eyes.
A security camera.
Then the floor.
Then the clock.
Three symbols.
Emily suddenly realized what they meant.
A code.
She leaned toward Daniel.
"Don't react."
He glanced at her.
"Your mother is telling us something."
Emily whispered the numbers.
Daniel understood.
He looked at Park.
Park subtly nodded.
The rescue team moved.
Michael realized too late.
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Emily dropped to the floor.
Daniel pulled his mother down.
Seconds later, the lights returned.
Michael was gone.
But Mrs. Kang was safe.
Daniel untied her.
"Mom."
She hugged him.
"I'm sorry."
He held her tightly.
Emily stood nearby.
Then Mrs. Kang looked at her.
"I owe you the truth."
Emily nodded.
"What did my mother know?"
May you like
Mrs. Kang's eyes filled with tears.
"Everything."
