notlettuce

"Investigative Service for All Things Missing and Lost"

Jeonghan works with Jun and Minghao to investigate paranormal disturbances. He doesn't believe in ghosts, but it pays well.

They're called to the house of Choi Seungcheol, whose sister has recently disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

(G / 1089 words)

The exit off the highway is almost small enough to miss, marked only by a wooden sign painted with the words ‘Choi Family Farm’. The characters are cracked and faded; they would be illegible if Jeonghan hadn’t been looking for them for the past six kilometres. He flicks on the indicator and turns onto the dirt road, grimacing when he hears the static of rocks hitting against the underside of the car like waves. Maybe if he’s sweet enough to the woman at the rental company they won’t have to pay for damages.

The road curves around to the mouth of a property. A single-story farmhouse sits beside a cluster of trees, bathing in their shade. On its other side are what look like animal pens--Jeonghan counts two horses, a goat and what might be a cow, but it’s too far away to see.

He pulls the car into park once they’ve passed through the metal gate, propped open by a log of wood.

“This place is a dump,” he says, mouth twisting.

Minghao snaps the visor closed after fixing his hair. “It’s a farm.”

“I’m aware. Smells like shit.”

Junhui laughs from the backseat. “Isn’t that kind of the whole point?”

He gets out and walks off to greet the horses. While he’s making friends, Jeonghan turns to Minghao with a pleading look.

“Can I stay in the car?”

“No, it’s impolite.” Minghao unbuckles Jeonghan’s seatbelt and holds his palm out until Jeonghan passes over the keys.

“You have such little faith in me, Myungho.”

“I have enough. C’mon.”

The melting pot of manure, grass and smoke from the chimney is enough to make Jeonghan’s eyes water as they walk up the makeshift path to the front door. The air is thick with it and the sun sits hazy behind some clouds, getting ready to set in an hour.

They were expecting rain this morning. It never comes when it’s supposed to.

After a series of knocks in the pattern of a nursery rhyme, Junhui takes a step back from the front door and clasps his hands behind his back.

The main door opens first, then the flyscreen. Jeonghan can’t help the way his eyebrows jump up. Instead of a wilting old man, a man their age steps into view. He’s wearing jeans with mud at the knees and a long-sleeved shirt pushed up to the elbows. His eyes, as they jump between the three of them standing on the porch, are wide and warm, and he could probably use a haircut if the overgrown curls didn’t suit him so well.

“Hello,” he says, wary but kind. “Are you the--”

“Investigative Service for All Things Missing and Lost?” Junhui interrupts. “Yes! Lovely to meet you. I’m Wen Junhui. These are my associates Xu Minghao,” Minghao bows politely, “And Yoon Jeonghan,” Jeonghan looks Seungcheol up and down with half a smile, “And we’re here because your sister went missing under mysterious circumstances and you called to tell us about it.”

“Um. Yes, that’s right. I’m Choi Seungcheol.”

“We know! It was on the sign and also in your email! May we come in?”

Seungcheol steps to the side with a dazed nod. First meetings with Junhui tend to have that effect. The three of them file into the farmhouse like ducklings. Jeonghan can’t help but notice that Seungcheol smells good as he passes, despite the lingering stench of animals following them from outside.

“Would you like anything to drink?” Seungcheol asks, once he’s guided them to the kitchen table. “Tea? Coffee? Water?”

“Tea for me please,” Minghao says, getting comfortable in one of the wooden chairs with a notebook in hand and the pen that usually sits behind his ear now twirling between his fingers.

Jeonghan slouches in the chair next to him and says, “Coffee sounds nice.”

He stares at Seungcheol’s ass while he moves around the small kitchen. It’s a cosy place--olive green walls, eclectic furniture and multiple throw rugs over the couch. There’s a stack of them on the chair beside Jeonghan, like Seungcheol gets cold easily and likes to always have a blanket within reach. Cute.

The stove gets busy making their drinks and Seungcheol wipes his hands on his jeans instead of a tea-towel before joining them at the table. He visibly counts the bodies and looks around, confused. “Where’s Junhui-ssi?”

Minghao waves a hand. Something clatters in a room down the hall. Seungcheol looks visibly alarmed.

“Don’t worry,” Jeonghan says, “He’s just checking for guests. He won’t steal anything.”

“Yes, that’s more Jeonghan-hyung’s M.O.,” Minghao says to his notebook.

Seungcheol looks over with those beautiful round eyes and Jeonghan winks at him.

“All clear,” Junhui announces, rounding the corner. He pulls a chair around so he can sit with his chest pressed against the back of it. “Just you here, then?”

“Yes, I live alone,” Seungcheol says slowly. “Who were you looking for?”

“What,” Junhui corrects. “Standard procedure. If you’ve already got a haunting then it lets us skip a few steps. It usually makes the job a little easier, but then again, it’s not always a good sign.” He smiles. “All a matter of perspective.”

Seungcheol looks confused. Poor thing. “A haunting? Like a ghost? You thought there was a ghost in my house?”

“You ask a lot of questions,” Minghao comments gently. He stands up and pulls the whistling kettle off the hob. “There’s no need to panic. We’re only working through the steps.”

“What he said,” Junhui says.

“Uh-huh,” Jeonghan echoes. He’s always felt rather useless for this part.

“So you can find my sister?” Seungcheol asks, hands desperate.

“Oh, no, there’s no guarantee,” Junhui says. “But we’ll have a look. Here’s my card just in case.”

Seungcheol takes the thin square of paper with a frown. “It’s blank.”

“Is it?” Junhui asks, walking backwards to the car. “We’ll be in touch.”

Jeonghan grins around his chewing gum. He farewells Seungcheol with a salute through the car window before shifting into first and turning back to the main road.

***

Business is business. You don’t have to be honest about it. Does Jeonghan believe in half the shit they chase after? No. But it doesn’t matter. All he does is drive the car and mediate between Junhui and new clients so they’re not spooked off before any money changes hands.

“Never thought you’d be the people person in this situation,” Minghao told him once.

“Beats dealing with the ghosts,” Jeonghan had replied.