The Doctor's Abduction Plan
The Doctor's abduction plan.
If it weren't in the countryside, one might have mistaken the mansion for the home of a Hollywood celebrity. It was that grand and imposing. The Doctor glanced at Yuria, who stood beside him radiating the unmistakable aura of a seasoned agent.
“Doesn’t this seem off? A man who was nothing more than a prison guard until recently living in a place like this?”
Yuria, dressed in a long coat that reached her ankles, nodded.
“Yes. It’s definitely suspicious.”
“I have a feeling we’ll uncover some clue to an incident here. But… it’s a little scary.”
“Don’t worry. I’m right here beside you.”
“Thank you.”
The Doctor found Yuria incredibly reassuring. Her basic combat skills were unmatched by anyone on Earth, and throughout their investigation she had never once complained. On the contrary, whenever the topic involved Tyrat, her eyes would light up with fierce concentration. It was utterly dependable. As long as she was with him, he would be safe.
With that thought, the Doctor pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong!
It wasn’t long before a short burst of static crackled from the intercom, followed by a man’s voice.
“Who is it?”
“Is Mr. Fred Sinclair home?”
“That’s me… but I don’t want any solicitations.”
“This isn’t a sales call. I have some questions I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“I’m an agent with the Central Intelligence Agency. You used to be a guard at Florida State Prison, correct? I’d like to ask you a few questions about what happened back then.”
“……”
A heavy silence followed. Then came an aggressive reply.
“I’ll be right out. Wait there.”
Click!
The sound of the intercom cutting off only deepened the Doctor’s suspicions. At that moment, Yuria spoke.
“Judging by his tone, he’ll probably come out with a gun. Let’s step aside for a moment.”
“Where?”
“Any cover will do. Behind those pillars should work.”
“Got it.”
The Doctor and Yuria hid behind the large pillars flanking the gate. Just as Yuria had predicted, when Sinclair burst the door open, he was holding a 12-gauge shotgun.
“I saw you hiding behind the pillars on the camera! Come out right now with your hands up!”
Sinclair’s shout rang out. The visibly tense Doctor yelled back.
“This is illegal! We could arrest you for this!”
“You’re trespassing, you idiot! And you don’t even have a warrant! This is self-defense, you sons of bitches!”
“Can’t we just talk? I’ll ask a few questions and leave quietly!”
“The Department of Justice and the FBI already investigated! They confirmed I had nothing to do with it!”
“Haa… this is driving me crazy…”
The Doctor let out a sigh full of irritation, then noticed that Yuria, who had been hiding behind the opposite pillar, had vanished. Just as he tilted his head in confusion—
Thud!
“Ugh!”
A dull impact was followed by Sinclair’s short scream. Then came the sound of a body being slammed onto the grass.
The Doctor cautiously peeked out and stared at Sinclair. His jaw dropped. Yuria had already subdued Sinclair, taken the shotgun, and was now aiming it at him. It had all happened in the blink of an eye.
“Open the door.”
At Yuria’s low, icy voice, Sinclair raised both hands and staggered toward the iron gate. Blood streamed from his nose as he reluctantly opened it. The Doctor offered an apology.
“Sorry about that. He came out with a gun… My agent got a little rough, didn’t she?”
“Haa… Fuck. What kind of agent moves that fast?”
“Well… she’s a trained agent, after all.”
“Fair enough. You said you’re with the CIA? Show me your ID first. I want to check it.”
The Doctor quickly pulled a forged ID from his handbag and held it up. Sinclair examined it carefully, then spoke with a resigned expression.
“Even if you’re CIA… is it really okay to treat civilians like this?”
“We were threatened. In a dangerous world like this, we have to be cautious.”
“Haa… This is bullshit. Fine, come inside and we’ll talk. Can you tell that agent of yours to lower the gun? Her eyes are terrifying.”
“Of course.”
When the Doctor raised one hand, Yuria lowered the shotgun. Bringing her along had truly been a stroke of genius. Just as he had thought earlier—if Yuria was with him, he would be safe.
@@
The living room was filled with luxurious furniture. The Doctor, seated on the sofa, gave an awkward smile to Sinclair, who was pressing a towel to his nose.
“Has your family gone out?”
“Mind your own business. Ask what you want and get the hell out. You’re suspicious that I’m the only guard who survived, right?”
After speaking, Sinclair glanced nervously at Yuria standing behind the Doctor. He seemed uneasy about his earlier rude attitude. The Doctor held back a quiet chuckle and asked his question.
“That’s correct. When exactly did you quit your job as a guard?”
“Before that bus rollover accident.”
“And the reason for quitting?”
“Florida State Prison is a fucking shithole. Being around those insane criminals made me feel like I was losing my mind too. I couldn’t take it anymore and retired.”
The Doctor could deeply sympathize with the idea that the prison was a terrible place. Even Jihyeok, who had possessed such strong mental fortitude, had begun to break down after entering that place. Adjusting his glasses, the Doctor continued.
“How did you acquire this house? A guard’s salary couldn’t possibly afford a place like this. Your parents and wife weren’t particularly wealthy either.”
“You even dug that up?”
“We’re the CIA. This much is basic. Since we want honest answers from you, we’re being honest with you as well.”
“Haa… Fine. My cousin does some illegal work. This house came through his help.”
“What kind of illegal work?”
“Shouldn’t you people figure that out yourselves? You’re the CIA, aren’t you?”
Sinclair threw the Doctor’s own words right back at him. From behind the Doctor, Yuria’s lips curved up ever so slightly. It was excellent acting. At this level, he could be used as either a pawn or a bullet sponge. However, her master’s order had been clear: If the Doctor grows suspicious, eliminate Sinclair. It was still too early to act. They needed to observe a little longer.
“Understood. Do you remember an inmate named Alex Song who came in toward the end of your time as a guard?”
“Alex Song…? Let me think…”
Sinclair’s eyes rolled as he searched his memory. Watching him, the Doctor began to wonder if the man truly knew nothing. Then Sinclair spoke.
“Ah… That guy who came in and left after just a few days? I remember the surname Song because it’s Asian. Not many Asians end up there. Why? Did that bastard die along with the other guards?”
“I’m the one asking the questions. How was his time as an inmate? Did any suspicious individuals ever approach him?”
“How would I know? Guards aren’t exactly sitting around with enough free time to pay attention to a single prisoner.”
“What about the source of the drugs that were circulating in the prison?”
“There were too many dealers to keep track of. I don’t know.”
“Has anyone suspicious ever approached you, Mr. Sinclair?”
“An ice cream truck came by the day before yesterday, and there was a pit bull inside the van. That guy looked extremely suspicious. That’s all.”
It was clearly sarcastic. The Doctor let out a long sigh through his nose. He couldn’t detect anything strange from Sinclair. Just as irritation began to build inside him—
“Wait… That face looks familiar…”
Sinclair narrowed his eyes and muttered. The Doctor flinched.
“What do you mean?”
“I definitely remember seeing you somewhere… Or maybe not? Your eye color is different… and your build seems a bit off too…”
When Jihyeok had visited the prison as a lawyer, they had crossed paths. The Doctor had assumed he wouldn’t be recognized since he was wearing colored contacts and had changed his hairstyle, but the man had surprisingly sharp eyes. Of course, mentioning Jihyeok’s English name had probably helped jog his memory.
The Doctor calmly offered an excuse.
“This is the first time I’ve actually met you, Mr. Sinclair.”
“Really…? Then whatever… Just get out. If you want to know more, come back with a warrant.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Just hurry up and leave.”
The Doctor rose from the sofa and asked Sinclair a few more simple questions. After listening to his annoyed replies, they left the house.
“No gains at all. I thought there would be something…”
The Doctor sighed. Yuria looked at him with a concerned expression and offered comfort.
“It seems the circumstances simply overlapped by coincidence.”
“I have a gut feeling. There just isn’t any evidence yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I brought up his assets, his focus didn’t waver and he didn’t stutter at all. No matter how clean he claims to be, telling a supposed CIA agent so naturally that his cousin is involved in illegal activities is far too smooth.”
Yuria let out a soft “Hmm…” as if in agreement. On the surface she appeared to sympathize with the Doctor, but in reality her thoughts were elsewhere. She was currently weighing how to handle Sinclair. Since the Doctor had a history of schizophrenia, if this was merely a delusion, then Sinclair should be allowed to live. If the delusion had turned into genuine suspicion, then he needed to die. Her master had left the judgment to her, so… she would let him live for now. Causing trouble right now might alert the Doctor, and after seeing that impressive method acting, Sinclair still seemed like a useful asset.
“I’ll keep that in mind as well.”
“Good. Let’s book plane tickets now. I need to return to Korea for a bit.”
“Korea?”
“From now on, I plan to look into everyone who ever came into contact with Jihyeok. With our current equipment, quick analysis is impossible. I need the lab’s tools. Hacking programs, of course, and also miniature reconnaissance drones and jammers in case something dangerous like today happens again. And…”
“And?”
“I need to look into Sehwa as well. Could you subtly probe her for me?”
“You want me to ask if she’s had any contact with anyone, right? I’ll phrase it naturally.”
“Exactly. Also, bring some of the lab equipment secretly. It would be a bit awkward for me to go myself…”
The Doctor was trying to uncover far too much. This was essentially proof that he was beginning to suspect Jihyeok. He needed to be stopped before he could run any further. Since he had mentioned returning to Korea, it would be the perfect place to capture him. It would also be convenient to hand him over to Jihyeok.
Yuria smiled brightly and answered.
“Of course, Doctor.”
“I’m really glad you’re here… Thank you, Yuria.”
“You can call me Yuri.”
“Yuri? That sounds like a Russian man’s name.”
“In Korea, it’s a woman’s name.”
“It suits you either way. I’m hungry—shall we get something to eat before we head back?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
After reading Yuria’s message, I gripped the welding tool tightly.
So it’s come to this after all.
Why did you have to do something so unnecessary… Jennifer… This is all your fault.
Everything that happens from now on is on you.
But why go through the hassle of cooperating? With the level of trust Yuria has earned from the Doctor, she shouldn’t need to bother with such troublesome work. Well, she must have her reasons.
I deleted the message history and returned my focus to crafting the device. A few hours later, Adele staggered over, still half-asleep.
“Jihyeok… I want to go home now… I need to unpack and see Sister Silvia… Please drive me.”
“Understood. Put on a cardigan. It’s cold outside.”
“I’ll be in the car anyway…”
“Hurry.”
“Fiiine…”
Adele drew out the end of her reply before slipping on a teal cardigan. I slung her bag over one shoulder and said,
“I just received an urgent call from the company. There’s a meeting scheduled for tomorrow. It might run long, so we may not be able to meet until late.”
“Fine. Then there won’t be any presents either.”
Adele’s eyes instantly sharpened. I broke into a cold sweat and muttered in a deflated tone.
“…It’s for the headquarters… Can’t you cut me some slack…?”
“I was joking. I’ll pester Sister Silvia to play with me all day, so call me even if it’s late.”
Would pestering work on Silvia in her current state? She’ll probably just try to avoid you.
“Understood. Thank you for understanding.”
At those words, Adele trotted over, stood in front of me, and rose onto her tiptoes. She wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a kiss full of affection.
Is this encouragement? Where did she learn this? It’s making my heart flutter. With this, I feel like I can put even more effort into kidnapping the Doctor. Thank you.