Chapter 26: In Which They Plan

Detective Seo Jin stood at the lakeside to which he had received the coordinates to by Ashton. He massaged his temples at the headache that was in progress. This was an absolute mess, the bastard knew he would have no choice but to contact him back after this.
"Sir we pulled out three more, they just keep coming, I can only imagine how many missing person cases this would close" an officer said as they pulled more bodies from the bottom of the lake.
Many were decomposed to the point they were unrecognizable and there was no evidence left behind of any sorts, the bodies were even stripped naked before being put into body bags.
The detective pulled out his phone scrolled to Ashton's contact, placing the call.
"You're a fucking bastard you know that" the detective seethed. He knew that Ashton may not have killed them but he was the one who bagged them and dumped them here.
"I see... you found the bodies"
"Yes you bastard, meet me at the same place so that we can come up with a plan"
"No, I can't risk getting out of the house again, the first time was risky enough. You come around to my place just not from the front or the main entrance, park your car a block down and walk to the backside of my house, I'll meet you there" Ashton instructed.
"Fine"
"This is crazy, dead bodies and a secret fucking tunnel. I can't believe my own day" Detective shook his head as Ashton lead him through the secret passage and into his study.
"Well it's probably gonna get crazier so you better brace yourself" Ashton said once they entered his study.
Ashton closed the passage door behind them and tooh a seat on the leather couch along with detective Seo jin.
"Where's your little girlfriend today?" he asked.
"In the kitchen, occupying herself with making lunch" Ashton replied.
"I can't believe she is with you, she doesn't look like your type but then again I don't really know your type but I hadn't expected you to be into good girls. She is very beautiful though I must say"
"Even I can't believe she is with me either, she is perfect and she is indeed beautiful and all MINE"Ashton replied, giving a subtle but not so subtle warning to which the detective smirked.
"She really has you whipped doesn't she?"
"Let's get down to business detective"
However, as soon as he let out those words, the door to his study softly opened and Sora peeked inside before coming in with a tray of sandwiches and orange juice.
"I thought everybody might be hungry" she said offering a polite smile and placing the tray down on the table in front of the couch.
"Thanks doll" Ashton offered her a polite smile.
"I can join right" she asked.
"Of course sweetheart, you're in this mess as much as I am you deserve to know all the details"
"Hello, I wasn't able to quite introduce myself properly last time, I am detective Lee Seo jin" he extended his hand.
"I am Sora, it's nice to meet you" Sora gave him a toothy smile as she shook his hand before she was pulled away by Ashton and onto the couch beside him, tucked under his arm as he handed her a sandwich, taking one for himself as well.
"PleasantAries aside, let's get to the point. Detective, I have a few things that we need clear out before hand"
"And what might that be?"
"We'll it's more like a few conditions if I am gonna give you leads into the Takaheshi family. Firstly, she gets out of this whole ordeal without any trial or troubles of any sorts, she gets out with a clean record, safe and sound. Secondly, I get immunity as well, or something close to it and lastly, you make absolutely sure that he is behind bars for good and never getting out and that his whole team is arrested, I don't want trouble for us later" Ashton listed.
"She can get out of this with a clean slate but I can't say the same about you, I can convince the DA to cut you a deal for the minimum sentence of one year but that's the best I'd be able to do for you, we'll sent you to a private prison to make things easier for you l and as for Takaheshi, once he is in, the FBI would do everything in their power to ensure he stays in and never gets out and I have a feeling we'll be gathering more than enough evidence" Detecitive stated.
"No! He can't go to prison, plead you have to do something else" Sora immediately objected, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes even at the idea of him being away from her in prison for a whole year.
"That's the best I'd be able to do for him, in reality the sentence he'd face would be much wore at least 12 years or so, an year in prison would pass by faster than you think" the detective quickly replied trying to make her feel better but in vain.
"Y...you can't go to prison Ashy" Sora sniffled looking up at him.
"Baby... it's a small price to pay if we'd be free for the rest of our lives love. Don't be so upset, he's right an year would pass by in a jiffy and then we'd have a lifetime , how about we discuss this in detail later okay? We have to come up with something that would get us out of the situation, let's focus on that and the bright future we would have after that okay?be brave for me now and wipe those tears away now doll" Ashton consoled and she sniffled trying her best to stop crying as she nodded her head in agreement.
"Good girl" Ashton praised and she blushed.
"Now let's get started, I already have a few ideas in mind"