by Glen Robins
Chapter 43
Laguna Niguel, CA
June 6, 2:42 a.m.
“Gramma, what’s all that noise?” Sophia appeared at the bottom of the stairs, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was tussled, and her face scrunched up.
Anna Choi, wrapped in a robe and wearing warm slippers, forced a wan smile for her granddaughter. “Oh, I’m just getting a few things together for your grandpa,” she said, ignoring the real question.
“No, Gramma, where is Grampa and Mommy going?”
“They are going to your daddy’s gym.”
“Why? It’s so late.”
“Because your father needs them to take care of something there but doesn’t have time to do it himself.”
“Daddy went to Korea with the Tae Kwon Do kids.” Sophia’s little face twisted in puzzlement.
“Yes, dear. But he needs these things down at the gym right away, so Mommy and Grandpa need to hurry.”
“Oh. But why so late at night, Gramma?”
“Well, dear, all I know is that your daddy said it was very important that these things be at the gym right away. I guess someone there needs them.” Anna had crossed the room and knelt down in front of her three-year-old granddaughter using her body to block her granddaughter’s view of the array of kitchen knives lined up on the counter. “You and me and Matthew are going to have a good time together in the morning. But first, you have to get a good night’s sleep. OK?”
“OK,” said Sophia.
Anna at smiled at her granddaughter and patted her shoulders. “Let’s get you back upstairs and in your bed, shall we?”
Sunny appeared from the side door, breathing hard. “I’ve almost got everything ready. Did you get the—? Oh, I mean, where’s Stephanie?”
Anna forced another smile directed at her husband as she turned toward the sudden sound. A motion of her head indicated that he needed to keep the young ones in mind.
Sunny nodded his head, but continued to quickly gather his keys, his wallet, and his phone. While Anna distracted Sophia, he slid the knives into a duffle bag.
No matter what the trouble or the cause, the Choi family stuck together. Neither Anna nor Sunny were strangers to situations like this. But they were older now and there were more unknowns than ever. More to lose, as well. The Choi’s avoided trouble and kept to their own business. Tonight, however, they would do all in their power to aid their son-in-law, who found himself in an impossible situation. It was the right thing to do, but it still brought a high level of tension.
“Upstairs,” said Anna, answering Sunny’s question. “She said she had to change her outfit. You might want to do the same.”
Sunny looked down at his flowered button-up shirt and cargo shorts and shrugged. “Why? No need to impress these people, right?”
“I don’t know. I thought you might want them to take you seriously.” Anna raised an eyebrow at Sunny who looked momentarily deflated.
Sunny cocked his head, as if to consider her words. “Nah, I prefer the element of surprise.” Even in stressful situations, his instant, sunny disposition and unflinching comfort with who he was remained a pillar of strength in the Choi household.
Stephanie appeared at the top of the staircase, looking stunning as ever. “I’m ready to go.” She wore black stretch pants, a long-sleeved dark grey athletic shirt, and black running shoes. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
“If looks could kill …” her father said.
“I wish it was that easy,” she said, glancing at the worried look on her mother’s face.
“You two need to let Jeong Tae take care of this situation. He’s the military man.”
“Ex-military,” Sunny corrected. “As am I. There’s no difference between us.”
“Just thirty years and twenty pounds of muscle,” she said with a grin, stealing a page from Sunny’s book and trying to lighten the mood.
Sunny was known for his humor, but also for his penchant for helping anyone in their time of need. This night, he dropped everything and rushed to the aid of his son-in-law. And Stephanie was just like her father. Stubborn and capable in her own right. With all the training she had done with JT, she was more than just a pretty face and toned body in a ninja-like outfit. She exuded strength and confidence but was also filled with kindness and compassion.
“Mommy, why are you dressed up like that?”
“Don’t worry, baby. Daddy said for us to take a few things to the Do Jang. That’s all.”
“Then why are you dressed like that?” Sophia repeated her unanswered question.
“It’s comfortable, sweetie.”
“Oh.” Sophia’s facial expression still showed concern.
Stephanie bounded down the stairs, knelt down, and took her daughter in her arms for a long embrace. “Grandpa and I are just going to run a few errands that Daddy needs us to do. We won’t be long. Go back to bed now, OK?”
Sophia pulled back and looked at her mother with concern.
Stephanie headed off the next question by saying, “I’ll bet Grandma will make pancakes for you in the morning if you’re a good girl and go back to bed.”
Stephanie kissed her daughter’s cheeks and stood.
Anna pulled Sophia’s little hand into hers and said, “Say good night. You’ll see her in the morning.”
“OK,” said Sunny. “Let’s get going.”
Sunny and Stephanie each grabbed a loaded duffle bag.
“I love you, too,” Anna called out as the door closed.
Anna closed her eyes and mumbled a little prayer as she heard the throaty purr of Sunny’s big Chevy truck rumbling out of the garage, followed by the sound of Stephanie’s minivan’s ignition awakening its engine. “Lord help them and the people on those planes.
Chapter 44
Garden Grove, CA
June 6, 2:49 a.m., 26 minutes of fuel remaining in first plane
I dragged the two bleeding terrorists one at a time by their armpits, struggling the whole way, to the door. Dumping them in the little reception area, I escorted Ahn and Robinson into the back room and used more duct tape to secure them as best I could to one of the desks. It was a hurried job that they would have no trouble breaking, but it would at least show that they were not in on my scheme.
Returning to the front room, I helped the two resistant detainees to their feet. Pushing them out the door and past the darkened window of the insurance agency. My prisoners stumbled as I guided them down the steps. This was understandable since the woman had a bullet hole in her thigh, but it was still slowing me down. The gauze and cloth I had found in the office and wrapped around the wounds were soaked through with blood. She had a pronounced limp and caught her breath with every movement. I finally gave up and swept her off her feet in my arms and carried her like a baby down the stairs and across the parking lot to the car. She was too weak to protest. Her body was rail thin and light as I’d imagine a mannequin to be. She couldn’t have weighed more than a hundred-ten pounds. Before I did that, I aimed my weapon at the guy and motioned him onward.
Yes, they needed medical attention. Yes, their faces were sallow and their movements clumsy and weak. Most likely they were in the beginning stages of shock, but I really didn’t have time to make a fuss over their physical well-being when the lives of so many innocent people lay in the balance. These two were the most likely sources of the information I needed to prevent those bombs from going off, so certain protocols went out the window.
I also couldn’t ignore the approaching sirens. I barked at the guy to move it along faster. He stumbled along and I kept barking like a drill sergeant. The small crowd outside the karaoke place gasped in horror as they saw the blood and the condition of my two detainees.
Since these two hadn’t cooperated in front of witnesses, I needed to isolate them. I did what I could to not put Robinson in a tough spot, but it was inevitable. Without the information they were clinging to, heartache and tragedy would reign. I could think of no other way to get the
information I needed in the narrow window of time that remained.
As I approached the blue Ford parked at the base of the stairs, Agent Kim, the driver, was standing at the rear of the vehicle and gave me an odd look. I put the woman down on her feet next to the back door on the driver’s side but continued to prop her up by the elbow since her hands were still cuffed. I nodded to Agent Kim and said, “It’s OK. We need to get them out of here in a hurry, so we’re going to take them in this car.”
Agent Kim’s mouth twisted up, like he wasn’t sure what to say. Finally, he said in English, “Shouldn’t we wait for an ambulance?”
“No time,” I said. “They’ve got to be transported immediately.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Keep a gun on that one,” I said throwing my head in the direction of the injured man.
Kim pulled out his service weapon and took aim, still looking bewildered.
I yanked the back door open and shoved the North Korean woman into the driver’s side of the back seat as quickly as I could. I fixed my aim on the guy. He stood unsteadily near the trunk. Manhandling him into the back door on the passenger’s side, I slammed it shut.
Painfully aware of the passage of time, the approaching sirens, and the crowd of onlookers, I rushed to get out of there as fast as I could.
Racing back to the driver’s side, I thanked Agent Kim. “That’ll be all,” I said as I kneed him square in the crotch. He dropped to the ground in instant pain. I wrenched the weapon from his hand and dragged him out of the way, then opened the driver’s door and checked for the keys. They weren’t there, so I got back out and searched Agent Kim’s pockets until I found them.
The sirens were almost upon us. I could see them approaching on the boulevard, coming from my left, preparing to turn right onto the side street where the driveway entrance was located.
I slipped into the driver’s seat and shut the door, hit the lock button and started the engine with a roar. The few spectators standing in front of the karaoke joint jumped out of the way as I backed out of the parking space then threw the car into drive and smoked the tires out of the parking lot.
I put the siren on. I was heading away as two cops turned on to the side street, then into the parking lot. I caught two confused looks but kept my foot on the accelerator. Another police car was turning left into the parking lot of the market across the street. I navigated through and around the approaching cars, not pausing for anything.
Tearing down Garden Grove Boulevard in the dark blue Ford sedan, looking for Harbor Boulevard, I was glad there was no traffic. An on-ramp to Highway 22, which would lead me to Interstate 5, which would lead me to Highway 55, which was the fastest way to my Do Jang, just a block or two away. I prayed that there would be a similar clear path all the way to Costa Mesa.
As I turned onto the onramp, I yanked all the wires out of the dash-mounted radio. I figured they could potentially use the signal to track the vehicle. Of course, there were probably other transponders in the vehicle to monitor where I was going, but I didn’t have time to find or disable them. I only needed a few uninterrupted minutes, I hoped, to extract the information I needed.
Despite my speed, I sensed the sands of the hourglass in my head continuing to drain.
As soon as I was on the 22, I called Stephanie. “I’m on my way. Have you prepared everything I asked?” I spoke in English and I spoke fast. I didn’t want to make it easy for my passengers to comprehend.
“Yes,” she said. “It’s all ready. We’re on our way there now.” Her voice had that no-nonsense quality to it, like a battle-hardened warrior. I knew at some point I’d need to talk her through the events that had transpired and the decisions I had made, but I was surprised at how calm and focused she sounded. Sunny must have talked her through things.
“OK. Thanks. Just drop them and leave. Trust me, you don’t want to be anywhere near when I show up. So, please, return to your parents’ house.”
“My dad insists on helping you.”
“I think it’s best if I do this on my own. No need for you or him to be accomplices.”
“Go ahead and try to make him leave. You know how he is. What are you going to do?”
“Please don’t ask me that question. I’ve got to go.” I paused before hanging up. I could feel her trying to make sense of everything and her need to keep the connection between us. “I have some very ugly work to do and very little time to do it.”
Her voice was quiet, but her spirit was strong. “Please be careful.”
“At this point, Honey, it’s more important that I’m successful than careful.”
“OK. Then be successful. Please.”
I ended the call and focused on my driving. I was exceeding the speed limit by a good margin, passing the few cars on the road in a blur, and only slowing slightly for the turn-off to Highway 55.
Admittedly, it was a thrill to drive that fast with impunity.
As I raced down the wide-open highway, a chill ran down my spine. The woman in the back had ruthlessly taken out Yong Byun, just as I was starting to like him. A shadow passed through me along with the image of his blood pooling on the floor of that store. He, like anyone else stuck in a hopeless circumstance, just wanted to live a better life, free of the oppression he had grown up with. There was light at the end of his long, dark tunnel. He had come so close.
I also felt bad for the shopkeepers who would not be returning to their home anytime soon. Their long day wasn’t over yet.
As I neared my Do Jang, I turned off the lights and siren. I pulled into the employee parking area behind the strip mall where my gym was located. As suspected, there were no other cars there at that late hour. That meant no witnesses to what I was about to do.
I pulled the car right up close to the back door, leaving just enough room to swing it open. I jumped out, unlocked the rear entrance to my office, surveyed the area to make sure no one was watching, then hauled my prisoners out of the car one at a time, dragging them by their shirt collars. As I dropped them on the floor, I gave each a half-kick to the gut. This was to keep them incapacitated, which would keep me safer and them more compliant. They gasped for air. After dumping them in the cramped office space behind the actual gym, I closed the car up and locked it.
There was going to be some hell to pay for the time we had already lost. But I had to control my fury until I got the information I needed.
Chapter 45
Over Incheon Harbor, West of Incheon, Korea
June 6, 6:09 p.m.; six minutes of fuel remaining in the first plane
Permission to land had not yet been granted and time was running out. Tensions ran high in the cockpit. The fuel gauges indicated six minutes until empty.
The co-pilot raised his voice, uncharacteristically. “We need to land. We have to trust that Mr. Kim can jam the connection. We have only a few minutes before this Jumbo Jet becomes nothing more than a huge glider.”
“If we try to land, those F-15’s will shoot us down.”
“Doesn’t matter. We’re dead either way. I say we try it.”
Captain Hong nodded and held the mic button on his headset. “Incheon Tower. This is Korean Air 5821. We’re coming in for landing. We are out of time. Do you have a runway clear for us?”
“5821. Please await further instruction.”
“Negative Incheon. We are out of time. We must attempt a landing now or we will all die.”
“5821. I read you loud and clear … 5821, hold on, please.”
A short eternity passed as the pilot and co-pilot exchanged anxious glances and fiddled with the instruments in front of them, trying to bleed out some of the nervous twitches.
“5821. This is Incheon Tower. The entire airport has been cleared. Your First Officer has been instructed to re-run the signal disruption protocol when you reach two hundred meters altitude. You have seven seconds to finish your descent once he starts the protocol Proceed to runway 02 Niner Left.”
“Roger t
hat, Incheon.”
Captain Hong noted runway 02 Niner was the furthest from the terminal, out to the west where there were fewer buildings and less visibility from the two major highways leading to Yeong Jong Do, the island southwest of Seoul and directly west of the port city of Incheon the airport inhabited. Another chill swept through his body as he realized how many lives were at stake. He winced as he considered again that the passengers and flight attendants were clueless as to what was going on. The Ministry of National Security felt it was best to keep them in the dark to avoid panic and to allow the flight crew to focus completely on the task at hand. He had complied and had given them frequent updates regarding the delayed landing, explaining that there was a problem at the airport.
The pilot said a silent prayer as he lined up his massive jet with the appropriate runway and continued his descent. “Incheon, we’re coming in on a bearing of 331. Altitude of two thousand meters.”
“Roger, 5821. We see you. You’re clear to land.”
Captain Hong navigated into position for final approach, watching both the fuel gauge and the altimeter carefully. “Final approach, Incheon.”
“Descending. Officer Kim? Are you ready?”
“I’m here and ready,” said First Officer Kim. “On your mark, Captain.”
A short pause. “Current altitude 500 meters, 400, 300.”
“Initiating protocol, sir,”
“God help us,” said Captain Hong.
“Godspeed, 5821. Everyone here at Incheon is praying with you.”
“One-hundred-fifty meters.”
Then there was nothing.
The massive fireball could be seen from miles away. People in cars on the two main highways that crossed over the water to Yeong Jong Island saw it. Workers on the docks and on the boats in and around the harbor saw it. Passengers and employees who had been evacuated to a location two kilometers from the terminal, the airport-based fire and rescue crew, and everyone in the flight control tower saw it.
