Money Loving CEO's Detective Lover

Chapter 74: CCK (17)

Over the next two days, there was pandemonium in the Jang household. Kanji's father, Jason, had returned from his trip and used all his contacts to find Mina while Soojung was on the streets, distributing posters of the missing girl. Minho and Kanji were also aiding her to post the pamphlets all over the town. They had not received any calls for ransom which only meant that the person who kidnapped Mina was not going to demand for money.

Junwan had dispatched his whole police team to find the missing girl. They tried looking for her everywhere but it was as if the girl had disappeared. Her picture was all over the city but not a soul stepped up to give information on her.

There were no cameras on the streets back then and hence, they did not have a suspect either. No one saw the little girl and the family was getting more desperate to find her. Minho, in particular, was in a bad state. He was blaming himself for Mina's disappearance and would not rest at all.

"You look dreadful," Kanji commented on the third day when Minho came downstairs. Dark circles appeared underneath his eyes making him look like a panda and he had lost a few pounds as well. Kanji was worried that Minho would faint any time. He had not slept nor had he eaten well for the past few days as his energy is spent looking for Mina.

"I'm fine," Minho assured him. "I just want to find my sister"

He trailed off. Would he find her? What if the kidnapper had done the worst? What if she?

He instantly threw the thought out of his head. No! His sister was alive and he could feel it. It was hard to explain but he felt that Mina was somewhere close. The kidnapper could not have taken her very far in broad daylight. 

"But you're going to fall sick if you keep up like this!" Kanji argued. "You should stay home today. I'll go and look for her with mom-"

"No!" Minho snapped. "I'll find my sister! I have to! I am not going to lose another family member."

There was a strong determination in his eyes. He was burning to punish the person who had dared to take his sister away from him. She was his last family and he was going to find her by hook or by crook.

"Let's go," he said, picking up the pamphlets from a desk. Kanji nodded and they set off again, this time going to the neighboring town to look for Mina. Kanji's chauffeur drove them until they reached Town C. Getting off the car, they began to post Mina's picture on every empty wall space they could find. The people passing by stopped for a brief moment to read the poster before losing interest and walking away.

"This is not going to work," Kanji said. "Let's hand these out."

"They'll just throw it away!" Minh exclaimed in frustration. Most people read the posters and discard them quickly. Some do not even glance at them. He was getting annoyed at the people's lack of empathy. He had known from a very young age not to expect anything from others but he was desperate now. They had limited means to find her and the police were also drawing a blank. They had no idea how to find a little girl without any clues to lean on.

Minho and Kanji got to work, handing out the posters.

"Please help us find my sister," Minho begged a few people who were walking past them. Most did not stop to look but some briefly glanced at it. Some were nice enough to take the posters in order to help him find Mina if they spot anyone matching the picture but the rest were indifferent.

"Please help us find her!" Kanji pleaded but he too went unheard. They were at their wit's end and at a loss. What to do? 

Minho slumped against a wall. The tears he had held back for so long were finally bursting out. Kanji was taken aback as Minho's eyes watered up, the pain and guilt in his heart accumulated until he could bear it no more.

"I'm going to lose her, Kanji," he wailed. Kanji was speechless. He had never seen Minho cry like that. All this time, he always kept up a stoic and indifferent poker face as a shield to protect himself from getting hurt. But seeing a strong person like Minho break down only meant that he was losing all hope.

"Minho," Kanji began. "We will find Mina! I know it! If there's someone who is capable of saving her then it's you. Her older brother. She's out there somewhere, scared and helpless. And she's calling out your name for help. Only you can save her."

But Minho was beginning to doubt himself. He could never forgive himself for what he did. He had neglected the one person he was supposed to protect. The agony was eating him from within. 

"Kanji I-"

Suddenly he froze. He glanced around Kanji. The latter frowned and followed Minho's gaze which fell on a woman who was reading one of the posters they had plastered on the wall. She looked troubled as she bit her lip. The woman seemed as if she was contemplating something. There was a visible fear on her face as she read the poster.

"That woman has been standing there for a long time," Minho remarked. "Maybe"

The woman turned around and noticed that they were staring at her. She quickly turned away and sped off. 

"Wait!" Minho yelled after her. He followed her and Kanji trailed him but the woman was walking too quickly. She pretended not to notice the teenagers who were catching up with her. Minho quickly overtook her and blocked the way.

"L-let me go!" the woman stuttered. "I'm in a hurry-"

She turned around to leave but Kanji stopped her.

"You were reading that poster for a long time," he stated. "Why?"

"I-I just thought the girl looked familiar but I've never seen her before," she replied.

"You're scared," Minho accused. "You know something. Tell me!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" the woman shrieked. "I'll scream if you follow me any further!"

She glared at him but Minho could read the fear in her eyes. The woman did not want to spill the beans because she was afraid of something.

"Look, please," he begged. "She's my sister! She's only six years old and has been kidnapped. We've been looking for her for the past two days and can't find her anywhere-"

"Wait, two days?" the woman asked. "She's been missing for two days? Did you get a ransom call?"

"N-no," Minho said. "Do you know something?"

The woman glanced at the posters in his hand. The girl was the same age as her youngest son. Her innocent smile and the thought that the little girl was probably alone and scared somewhere, was breaking her heart. 

The woman took a deep breath. 

"My name is Mimi," she introduced herself. "I'm not entirely sure, but if my theory is correct then your sister is still alive. However, she has little time! You must save her within three days!"

"From whom?" Minho whispered. 

"The man of your nightmares," she said cryptically.