The hustle and tussle of footsteps echoed in the out-of-service bar Highway to Heaven. The counter that was usually filled with a myriad of alcoholic drinks was now empty, with residues of broken glasses scattered across the surface area. Contrasting with the slovenly state of the bar were Junmyeon and Kyungsoo, both wearing equally serious expressions of concentration.

“So,” Kyungsoo’s voice droned and echoed in the enclosed space. “By the time police and paramedics arrived, the core group of people were all spread out across this counter, some with shards of glass in them, others looking just out of it.”

“As confirmed by the hospital, some of them presented with alcohol poisoning as well as drug-induced psychosis,” Junmyeon added.

Kyungsoo signed, exhaustion lacing his face.

“They never learn huh?”

The two agents closely observed their surroundings, carefully following the trail of evidence markers that eventually led them to an entrance, tucked away in an easily overlooked corridor away from prying eyes. After analysing the surroundings, it was clear that normally the entrance was hidden by a shelf of expensive alcoholic beverages.

“The evidence team found this entrance earlier in the morning,” Junmyeon continued, “the bar manager would not divulge anything, claiming he had no idea this room existed. The team is down there now gathering evidence. From what I’ve been told so far, they’ve found all sorts of drug paraphernalia.”

Nodding in contemplation, Kyungsoo carefully stepped over a fallen chair while taking in the details of the entrance. That was when the officer noticed that embedded in the centre of the door was an upside down spade. Kyunsoo let his hands graze across the symbol before dropping down onto the floor upon discovering a piece of shiny cloth stuck bewteen the hinges of the hidden door.

“My gut tells me the fight originated from inside here. These rich kids were having a bit too much fun with drugs and alcohol. It was all fun and jokes until it escalated and got out of hand, affecting the people up here too,” Kyungsoo whispered with certainty while using a pen to lift the piece of expensive silk cloth. “What do think this is? A pocket square?”

Junmyeon glanced at Kyungsoo’s unimpressed face before turning his attention towards the raised cloth. Both set of eyes focused on the initials LTY embroidered in the corner.

“A fancy pocket square,” Junmyeon whistled while handing Kyungsoo an evidence bag. “Did I mention they found condoms laced with ground up MDMA down there too?”

Hearing this, Kyungsoo’s grim expression turned into a grimace of disgust. The unamused male sealed the evidence bag and stood back up, purposefully shoving his shoulder against his partner who appeared disturbingly unperturbed by this discovery.

“Interestingly there were no female patients brought to the hospital, so question is: where did the girls disappear to?” Junmyeon hollered after the fast retreating figure of the disgruntled Kyungsoo.

・・・

A heavy air weight in the meeting room of team 3. Each agent had taken turns presenting their latest finds. Yuri and Hyoyeon confirmed ties between the ion ring they had been investigating and the underground club found hidden within Highway to Heaven. Yeri had previously provided a list of young girls held captive and forced into ion. Much to everyone’s discomfort, one of the listed girl’s DNA had matched the bodily fluids found on the condoms laced with drugs. In fact, her DNA had been found on multiple condoms, along with a number of other people. From this, team 3 could at the very least establish who the perpetrators who were involved in the unsavoury activities and prepare an arrest warrant for them. Hopefully, they will also find the victims of the