The luxury car, a sleek black Mercedes, sped down the highway, its tires screeching as it took the turn onto Elm Street. The hospital's bright lights illuminated the dark autumn night, casting an eerie glow over the scene. Eun Ho's hands were clenched into fists, her knuckles white with worry, as she gazed out the window. Her husband, Jonathan, held her hand tightly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Worry was etched on his face.
As they pulled up to the hospital, the crisp autumn air enveloped them, carrying the scent of damp leaves and decay. The sign above the entrance read "Haven Hospital" in bold, silver letters. The building itself was a towering structure of glass and steel, its windows reflecting the flashing lights of the ambulances parked outside. The convoy of vehicles' doors opened, guards pouring out. Angus and Bonnie opened the Mercedes door after a quick check of the area.
Eun Ho and Jonathan leaped from the car, their doors slamming shut behind them. They rushed towards the emergency room, their footsteps echoing off the hospital's walls. The automatic doors slid open, revealing a scene of orderly chaos. People waiting for their number to be called in various states of health and agony, written all over their faces.
The waiting room was filled, their faces etched with worry and fear. Some sat with their heads in their hands, while others paced back and forth, waiting. Their eyes were fixed on the doors leading to the treatment areas, waiting to be called back or for news of their loved ones. The air conditioning was still on, even though it was early October. The sound of television playing the local news was slightly muted by the light chatter of the busy staff.
Eun Ho's eyes scanned the room, her heart racing with every passing second. She spotted the nurse's station, a long, curved counter behind which two nurses sat, their faces a blur of concentration. Eun Ho rushed towards them, her husband close behind.
"Excuse me," Eun Ho said, her voice trembling. "I'm looking for Jonah Lowrie. I'm his mother. The police told me he was here."
The nurse's expression softened, her eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Let me check, Mrs. Lowrie," she said, her voice gentle.
Eun Ho's emotions were in turmoil. Fear, worry, and anxiety swirled inside her, threatening to consume her. Her mind was a jumble of worst-case scenarios, each one more terrifying than the last. She felt like she was drowning, unable to catch her breath. The receptionist's nails clicked on the keyboard at a leisurely pace, it was as if this were all normalized for her. Eun Ho felt like her soul was being ripped out of her chest.
She wanted to tell her to hurry, she would kill her if he son died. As she waited for the nurse to check on Jonah's status, Eun Ho's eyes locked onto Jonathan's. His face was a mask of calm, but his eyes betrayed his fear and worry. He looked like he was about to cry, but he was keeping it together for her. Eun Ho felt a surge of gratitude towards him, knowing that he was there to support her, no matter what.
Angus and Bonnie, their security guards, appeared behind them, their faces somber. Eun Ho barely registered their presence, her focus solely on the nurse, who was now typing away on her computer.
"Please," Eun Ho whispered, her voice barely audible. "Tell me my son is okay. Please do not take him from me. We have served you. Please do not let us suffer." Eun Ho prayed to the goddess. If this was destined, it seemed like their family was cursed to suffer.
The nurse picked up a phone and dialed it. "I have the family of the patient in critical care block one, room A1?" She paused briefly and listened. "Okay, they are waiting," she hung up the receiver. "It will just be a moment or two," she said as she looked at the couple.
The automatic doors opened to the emergency room as a partially scrubbed-out doctor emerged from them, not even a minute later. The nurse's expression turned sympathetic as she nodded towards the doctor emerging from the treatment area. "Mrs. Lowrie, this is Dr. Thompson. He's been taking care of your son."
"Doctor Thompson, thank you. Can you tell us what is going on?" Jonathan said, his heart sinking as he respectfully shook the doctor's hand.
Dr. Thompson's face was grim, his eyes filled with deep concern. "Mr. and Mrs. Lowrie, I'm afraid Jonah's condition is critical. He suffered severe injuries in the accident, including head trauma and internal bleeding."
Eun Ho's face blanched, and she cried out in shock. "What? Oh no, no, not my baby." Eun Ho's world began to spin, her legs trembling beneath her. Jonathan's arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her upright. Tears streamed down her face.
Dr. Thompson's voice was low and serious as he turned to Jonathan. "Mr. Lowrie, may I have a word with you?"
"Angus, can you take her to sit somewhere close by and get her some water?" Jonathan asked. Bonnie and Angus steadied his wife, Bonnie had long grabbed a box of tissues to take care of her mistress.
"After you, Doctor," Jonathan said and nodded, his eyes locked on Eun Ho's before he followed the doctor away from the nurse's station. He knew she would not sit still while he was gone; she was not the kind to seek answers and hold people to account.
"Bonnie, come with me. Angus, can you wait here for people like Claire, Selena, Blackwater, and the Reinhold Families?" Eun Ho paused.
"They will show up soon," Eun Ho said, her voice shaking. Her heels clicked as she went to seek the progeny of those parents to get answers. Jonah had taken both stunt and safe driving courses. The car was checked by multiple mechanics and the security team when it came off the boat and then into the garage. A car was a great place to store explosives after all. It could also be a coffin if you were not weary of sabotaging.
"You got it," Angus said, slightly emotional. He worried about his daughter. The girl was deeply in love with Jonah. He was quite fond of the lad as well. He was going to be an excellent son-in-law for his precious only daughter, Claire. He hoped and prayed he would survive this. His daughter had a vicious streak when she was upset.
They quickly made their way to Jakob's room, where they began their interrogation of the only other conscious witnesses. Jonah was in bad shape.
Eun Ho's eyes widened as she took in the sight of Jakob Reinhold lying on the hospital bed, his leg elevated in a cast. A faint bruise was visible on his forehead, and his eyes looked glassy from the concussion.
"Jakob!" Eun Ho exclaimed, rushing to his side. The boy was going to need rehab. "Oh, this is horrible. Can you tell me what happened?"
Jakob's eyes fluttered open, and he gazed up at Eun Ho with a mixture of pain and guilt. "Mrs. Lowrie...I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice shaking.
" Jakob, I need you to tell me everything...please," Eun Ho said, her voice shaking. "What happened on the drive there? Did you notice anything unusual?"
Jakob winced in pain as he shifted in his bed. "We were just driving, talking about Call of Duty...and then Jonah slammed on the brakes to avoid a cat, but they didn't work."
Eun Ho's eyes narrowed. "And did you notice anything strange about the car's behavior after that? Any unusual noises or movements?"
Jakob thought for a moment before responding. "Yea, Jonah could not turn the steering wheel; it was a bit loose. I forgot to tell the detective I was in pain."
Eun Ho's expression turned grave. "Loose steering wheel, faulty brakes...this sounds like sabotage. Did anyone have access to the car before you left?"
Michael was rolled into Jakob's room by a very eager Bonnie. He had overheard her questioning in the hall. "I don't think so," Michael said hesitantly. "But we did stop for gas on the way. Could someone have tampered with the car then?"
Eun Ho's eyes locked onto Michael's. "I'll look into it. But I need to ask you something else. Did you notice anything unusual about the gas pedal? Did it feel like it was stuck or malfunctioning in any way?"
Jakob's eyes widened as he took the chance to answer the question, he was the one in the shotgun seat. "It was like it had a mind of its own. The ca"
Eun Ho's face was grim. "I don't think it was your imagination, Jakob. I think someone deliberately tampered with the car's brakes, steering wheel, and gas pedal. And I'm going to find out who."
Jakob's voice was laced with concern as he asked, "How's Jonah?"
Eun Ho's expression was somber, and she hesitated before responding. "I don't have an update yet, Jakob. But I need to ask you something. Could you please call your brother and have him tell Selena about the accident? She and Liam are close, and I think it's best if she hears it from him."
Jakob nodded, his eyes filled with worry. "Yeah, I'll text Liam right now." He pulled out his cell phone and began typing out a message.
Eun Ho's eyes locked onto Jakob's phone as he texted Liam. She knew that Selena had to be told about the accident, and she trusted Liam to break the news gently.
As Jakob waited for Liam's response, Eun Ho turned to Michael and asked, "Can you tell me anything more about what happened before the accident? Anything that might help us figure out what went wrong?"
Michael's words were laced with pain as he shifted in his bed. "The gas station we stopped at was a MobileGas in White Plains, in Westchester. They had a few cameras."
Eun Ho's eyes locked onto Michael's, her expression somber. "Thank you, Michael," she said, her voice confident but shaking with emotion. She nodded curtly and turned to leave, her heels clicking on the hospital floor as she rushed to find Jonathan.