AAE -- Twists of Fate

Part 1 -- Chapter 18

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

Gwi-Sung pulls the Range Rover off the cracked asphalt, the tires crunching over loose gravel. The cemetery sits on a gradual slope between the road and a steep bluff overlooking the reservoir lake. In the passenger seat beside him, Hyung-Chul scans across the traditional grass-covered mounds.

 

"I don't see Sun-Mi anywhere," he says. "Maybe Huh Young-Mi was wrong. This is pretty remote. Hard to reach without a car."

 

"We passed a bus stop, back a kilometer or two, "Gwi-Sung points out. "Or she could have taken a taxi."

 

They get out of the car and walk to the newest mound, partway down the slope. The humid air is sticky in the afternoon heat.

 

Hyung-Chul spots the flowers first. "They're still fresh. Couldn't have been here for more than a few hours."

 

Gwi-Sung approaches the grave and squats in front of the newly set granite marker bearing Woo-Jin's name and date of death. Hyung-Chul stands behind him.

 

Gwi-Sung looks closer. "What's this?" He lifts the bouquet of roses and picks up a sodden envelope. "It's Woo-Jin's letter to Sun-Mi. She must have come here right after the rain."

 

"May I see it?" Hyung-Chul asks.

 

wi-Sung passes the envelope to Hyung-Chul. He slips out the damp sheet, unfolds it, and freezes. "Mr. Jin?"

 

"What is it, Director?"

 

"Sun-Mi left a note inside. To Woo-Jin."

 

Gwi-Sung stands. Hyung-Chul hands him the note without a word. When he reads the note, his face pales. He pulls out his mobile, flips it open and dials, putting it on speaker.

 

"Hello? Gwi-Sung?" Jin-Suk's voice trembles.

 

"Director Yoon is here with me. We're at the cemetery."

 

"Did you find Sun-Mi?"

 

"Not yet, but she was here," Gwi-Sung tells her, keeping his voice level. "We found flowers at the grave, and Woo-Jin's letter."

 

Jin-Suk sighs, her voice brightening with relief. "So Young-Mi was right."

 

"Yes," Gwi-Sung replies. "Sun-Mi left a note with the letter. I'll read it to you. -- 'My dear Woo-Jin, I've kept you waiting for so long. I'm sorry I doubted your love. But how can I expect your forgiveness, when I can't forgive myself?' -- What do you think she meant?"

 

There is no response.

 

"Jin-Suk? ... Are you there?"

 

Her weak voice is barely audible. "Yes... It sounds like a goodbye. Do you think... she would...?"

 

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Gwi-Sung says firmly. "Sun-Mi is a practical girl. She wouldn't do something rash. I need to hang up now. We're going to look around some more. Maybe we'll find something."

 

"I'll keep praying," Jin-Suk promises. "You find her."

 

Gwi-Sung closes his phone and slips it back into his pocket. He looks at Hyung-Chul. "Director?"

 

"After the funeral, Sun-Mi sat under that pine tree, to think." Hyung-Chul gestures down the slope, toward the bluff where a lone tree stands, its branches sweeping low. "Let's check if she's there."

 

 

Near the base of the gnarled pine, Hyung-Chul stops at a patch of muddy ground. "There's shoe prints here."

 

He inspects the deep, clear impressions of high heels in the wet clay. "These were made after the rain stopped."

 

"That was around five, just before dawn," Gwi-Sung concludes. "So she was here, early this morning."

 

Hyung-Chul nods. "She couldn't have gotten too far on foot since then."

 

Gwi-Sung gazes out over the grey expanse of the lake. "She probably stood right here, watching the sunrise," he says quietly. Then he squints and points. "Look, Director! There's something down there, on the shoreline. That black spot. See it?"

 

Hyung-Chul follows his gaze to a dark rectangular shape at the water's edge. "It could be a woman's purse. But how would Sun-Mi get down there?"

 

Gwi-Sung is already moving. "I remember there's a path down to the lake, somewhere."

 

 

They walk along the grassy bluff, until they come to a steep, rocky path.

 

"No sensible person would attempt that path when it's slippery from rain," Hyung-Chul states. "And certainly not a woman in heels."

 

Gwi-Sung's expression turns grim. "But a determined woman might -- heels or not. And we both know how Sun-Mi can be when she makes up her mind."

 

 

They descend the bluff on the narrow, zigzag path. Gwi-Sung leads the way, his work boots solid underfoot. Hyung-Chul treads cautiously in his wingtips. At the bottom, the lake is cold and dark. They stand on the rocky shore, breathing heavily from their rugged trek.

 

The purse lies on its side, lapped by the waves.

 

"There's a woman's shoe, in the water next to the purse," Gwi-Sung says, pointing to the black slingback. His voice trembles. "It could be Sun-Mi's. But where's the other one?"

 

Hyung-Chul picks up the purse, while Gwi-Sung begins searching along the rocky shore. After a few meters, he bends down to retrieve an open-toe pump from the water.

 

"Here's the other shoe. The waves must have washed it down here."

 

Hyung-Chul pulls a plastic badge on a neck cord from the bag. "I found Sun-Mi's ID badge... and this." He holds up a half-empty bottle of sleeping pills.

 

Gwi-Sung returns, clutching the shoe. "Maybe she just left her things here, and wandered off," he says, his voice wavering. "It's possible, Director, isn't it?"

 

Hyung-Chul scans the lake. The opposite shore is obscured by humid haze. "Yes, it's possible, Mr. Jin." His words drift off. "Anything... is possible... but..."

 

The two men stare at each other in silence -- neither man dares to speak. The evidence is incontrovertible. The conclusion -- inevitable. The only sounds are from the waves sloshing against the rocks and the distant cries of gulls circling overhead.