Chapter 128: Connecting Dots (3)

As the imposter reaches my bedside, I spring into action. Ignoring the searing pain in my ribs, I lunge forward, grabbing her wrist. She lets out a startled gasp, clearly not expecting me to be awake.

"Who are you?" I demand, tightening my grip.

Instead of answering, she twists her arm, breaking free from my grasp. In the dim light, I catch a glimpse of her face - young, determined, and definitely not a nurse.

She reaches into her pocket, and I react instinctively. I swing my legs off the bed, ignoring the protest of my battered body, and tackle her midsection. We both crash to the floor, the impact sending shockwaves of pain through my body.

We grapple on the ground, neither of us willing to give in. She's strong and clearly trained, but I have desperation on my side. I manage to pin her arm behind her back, but she drives her elbow into my injured ribs. The pain is blinding, forcing me to loosen my grip.

Taking advantage of my momentary weakness, she scrambles to her feet. I reach out, managing to grab the hem of her fake uniform. It tears away, revealing dark clothing underneath.

She kicks out, catching me in the shoulder. I fall back, gasping in pain. By the time I look up, she's already at the door. Our eyes meet for a brief second - hers wide with a mix of fear and determination - before she bolts into the corridor.

"Stop her!" I yell, but my voice is weak, barely carrying beyond the room.

I try to stand, to give chase, but my body betrays me. The pain is too much, and I collapse back onto the floor, breathing heavily.

Summoning what strength I have left, I drag myself to the call button and press it repeatedly. Within moments, the room is flooded with light as medical staff rush in.

"There was an intruder," I gasp out, pointing towards the door. "Disguised as a nurse. She attacked me and ran."

The staff look at me in confusion and concern, clearly trying to process this information. One of them, a senior-looking doctor, takes charge.

"Call security," he orders a nurse. "And the police. Now!" seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

As they help me back into bed, checking my injuries, I can hear the commotion spreading through the hospital. Alarms are sounding, voices raised in confusion and alarm.

Despite the pain and exhaustion, my mind is racing. This attack, coming so soon after the beating I received earlier, confirms my suspicions. I'm onto something big, something that powerful people are willing to go to great lengths to keep hidden.

As the police arrive and begin taking my statement, I steel my resolve. This isn't just about solving a case anymore. It's about uncovering a truth that could shake the very foundations of the system I've dedicated my life to serving.

The stakes are higher than ever, the dangers more real and immediate than I could have imagined. But I won't back down. If anything, these attempts to silence me only fuel my determination.

***

Several days later, I'm back at my desk, still sore but determined. My phone buzzes - it's Officer Jo.

"Detective, I've got that information you requested about the church," she says, her voice tinged with excitement.

"Go ahead," I reply, pen poised over my notepad.

"The ownership... it's not what we expected. The church is registered under a company called 'Serenity Holdings'. I've never heard of them before, but they seem to have connections to several other religious and charitable organizations across the country."

I frown, jotting down the name. "Serenity Holdings? That's... interesting. Anything else?"

"Not much. They're incredibly private. No public records of who runs it, minimal financial disclosures. It's all very... opaque."

I thank Jo for her work. This mysterious company, its connections to multiple organizations - it feels like another piece of the puzzle falling into place.

Deciding it's time to push forward, I grab my jacket and head out. My destination: the prison, to see Tak again.

As I drive, I rehearse what I'm going to say. Han's given me the green light to be more direct with Tak, to use their connection if necessary. It's a risk, but one I need to take.

Arriving at the prison, I'm quickly escorted to Tak's office. He looks up as I enter, surprise evident on his face.

"Detective? I wasn't expecting you. Is everything alright?"

I close the door behind me, taking a deep breath. "Tak, I need your help. And I need you to be completely honest with me."

His brow furrows. "What's this about?"

"It's about Lee Chunsik, about the church that supports this prison, and about connections that go far beyond what either of us initially thought."

Tak leans back in his chair, his expression guarded. "That's... quite a statement. What exactly are you implying?"

I lean forward, my voice low but firm. "I'm not implying anything yet. But I need information, Tak. Information that only you can provide. Han vouches for you, says we can trust you. So I'm asking - are you willing to help me uncover the truth, no matter where it leads?"

Tak's eyes widen at the mention of Han's name. He studies me for a long moment, as if weighing his options. Finally, he nods slowly.

"Alright, Detective. You have my attention. What do you want to know?"

I lean forward, grateful for Tak's cooperation. "Thank you, Tak. What I need is a list of all goods brought in by the church during Lee Chunsik's imprisonment."

Tak nods, but his expression turns serious. "I can provide that, but I need to be clear on something first. This is for an official investigation, correct? Not just personal interest?"

I meet his gaze steadily. "Absolutely. This is part of an ongoing investigation, and Han can vouch for that. You have my word."

Satisfied, Tak turns to his computer. "Alright, let me pull that up for you." He types for a moment, then calls to his assistant. "Kim, can you bring in the donation records for the period of Lee Chunsik's incarceration?"

A few minutes later, Kim returns with a thick file. Tak gestures to his computer. "Feel free to cross-reference with our digital records."

I dive in, scanning through the lists. At first, nothing stands out - Bibles, religious texts, educational materials. But then, a pattern emerges. Among the various donations, there's always one constant: a holy book published by Serenity Holdings.

"Tak," I say, trying to keep my voice casual, "was Lee particularly religious?"

Tak shrugs. "Not that I recall. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. Can we check what books he borrowed from the prison library?"

Tak nods, pulling up another screen. As the list populates, my suspicions are confirmed. Lee consistently borrowed only one type of book - the holy text published by Serenity Holdings.

My heart rate picks up. This is it - the connection I've been looking for. These books were clearly more than just religious texts. They were a communication channel, a way for Lee to receive messages from the outside. Find more to read on m_v-l -NovelFire.net

I look up at Tak, my mind racing with possibilities. "Tak, would it be possible to see one of these Bibles that Lee used to borrow? Preferably the most recent one if available."

Tak nods, turning to his assistant. "Kim, could you fetch one of the Serenity Holdings Bibles from the library? The ones Lee Chunsik used to borrow."

Kim nods and hurries out. We wait in tense silence, the implications of what we might find hanging heavy in the air. After what feels like an eternity, Kim returns, looking slightly flustered.

"I'm sorry, sir," he says, addressing Tak. "Most of those Bibles were discarded due to their poor condition. Apparently, they were quite worn out. I was only able to find one."

He hands over a battered, well-worn Bible. I take it carefully, feeling the weight of its potential significance in my hands.

"Thank you, Kim," Tak says, dismissing him. Once we're alone, he turns to me. "Well, Detective? What are you looking for?"

I don't respond immediately, instead opening the Bible and carefully flipping through its pages. Tak watches me intently, curiosity evident in his expression.

As I near the end of the book, something feels off. I frown, flipping back and forth between sections. And then it hits me.

"Tak," I say, my voice tight with excitement and apprehension, "this Bible is incomplete. The last part is missing."

Tak leans in, peering at the book. "What do you mean?"

I show him the last few pages. "Look here. The Book of Revelation should be at the end, but it's not here. These pages have been ripped out."

Tak's eyes widen as he realizes what I'm saying. "You think...?"

I nod. "The missing pages could have contained messages or information. By removing them after reading, Lee could have destroyed any evidence of communication."

Tak leans back in his chair, his face a mixture of determination and concern. He's silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the incomplete Bible on his desk. Then he looks up at me, his jaw set.

"Detective," he begins, his voice low and serious, "I need to make something very clear."

I nod, encouraging him to continue.

"I've dedicated my life to running this prison as fairly and efficiently as possible. The thought that something like this could have been happening under my nose..." He shakes his head, disgust evident in his expression. "It's unacceptable."

Tak leans forward, his eyes meeting mine with intensity. "I don't want any dirt coming out of this prison. If there's corruption, if there are illegal activities that have been going on, I want them exposed and cleaned up. Completely."

His words surprise me, but I can see the sincerity in his eyes. This isn't just about protecting his reputation or his position. This is about upholding the principles he believes in.

"I understand, Tak," I say carefully. "But you need to know, this investigation could lead to some uncomfortable truths. It might implicate people you know, maybe even people you trust."

Tak nods grimly. "I'm aware of that. But I can't in good conscience turn a blind eye to this. If there's rot in this institution, I want it rooted out. No matter who it implicates."