The Tiger King (Chaelisa)

79| The Gangnam Gambit

"Letters? From Mom?" Ella asked curiously. The moment she picked up one of the blank sheets, Seulgi and Irene watched in trepidation, waiting for the crestfallen face of disappointment. Ella had soldiered bravely through the days with barely any complaint but she was too quiet for Seulgi's tastes.

To their utmost surprise, Ella brought the paper to her nose. She sniffed deeply for a few seconds before her eyes grew round as she clapped with glee. 

"Oranges! It's invisible ink! Mommy wrote the letters in invisible ink, just like my ghost game!"

"Ghost game?" Seulgi said, puzzled.

"Are you sure?" Irene said cautiously, kneeling to take up one of the sheets. She sniffed deeply. "It does smell like oranges."

"We need a candle! Or a torch!" Ella declared. Her eyes were shining again, making Seulgi and Irene glance at each other and smile, relief and anticipation taking over their expressions.

"Let's get reading then," Seulgi nodded and Irene hurried to find a box of matches.

>

Gangnam-dong wasn't one of Rosé's regular haunts when she had been running gigs for Yang.

That dubious honour went to some other runner, since they were all individually assigned the same district over and over to carry their jobs, in order to build a presence and a reputation. Yang liked to have repeat customers, because that's where the money business was. Having a familiar face helped clients to stay in touch.

Constantly showing up at the same places with shady people was what had Rosé dreading that one day, she  would be profiled by cops. She wouldn't be too surprised if she was already. And then it would only be a matter of time before the cops come banging on her door and took Ella away...

Ella. Did she get the letters? Did she realise that they were written in orange juice, a nod to their old game? Would she understand all the love Rosé poured into painstakingly writing with a measly toothpick? Would Ella forgive her? Was she eating well?

Rosé shook her head. Focus. She couldn't afford to get lost in ruminations right before they went into Burning Sun. She needed to be Thorn, poised and in control.

"Ready?" Youngdon asked before they climbed out of the car. He was wearing a rectangular black mask over his eyes, an item that all Burning Sun patrons were uncompromisingly asked to wear, otherwise they were not granted access at all. It was like a precaution to help maintain anonymity in a criminal's den, in case some wandering undercover cops managed to get the slip.

Rosé pulled her own rectangular black mask over her eyes, hoping it was enough of a disguise. "Ready."

Youngdon tapped the diamond stud earring in his ear and Rosé heard the faintest crackle, so faint that you wouldn't hear it if you hadn't been listening for it. In the silence of the car they sat in, Rosé heard the answering feedback, which meant that the earpiece had connected to Hani's channel. 

Hani, Youngdeuk and Jennie were going to be communicating with them and keeping an eye on the proceedings with the hidden camera Youngdon had on his person. Rosé tapped her own diamond stud earring as well, listened for the signal that communication lines had been open then nodded at Youngdon.

"Let's go."

"Good luck," Hani said in their ears. "The time-window opens in fifteen minutes."

"We'll get there in time," Rosé reassured. 

"Be careful," Jennie said shortly. 

Rosé knew Jennie was trying to keep a tight lid on her emotions for everyone's sake, but Rosé could still hear the anxiety behind her words, virtually begging Rosé to back off the mission. But Rosé couldn't back off; she was the only one of them who could access the dead drop.