A Plea for Passage

Min kept his hands raised. The officer's gun was still trained on the sedan door. The rain outside the tunnel was gone, but the echo of the police radio filled the concrete. Min took a deep breath. He spoke in a calm voice.

"Officer, I am just a civilian. I am driving to Seoul for a meeting. I need to get there before sunrise. Please let me go."

The officer did not lower his weapon. He stepped closer, his boots clicking on the metal floor. "Show me your ID," he said.

Min reached for the rental agreement on the passenger seat. He pulled it out and handed it to the officer. The paper showed his name, Kang Min, and the car's license plate. The officer glanced at it, then at the envelope tucked under Min's thigh.

"What is that?" the officer asked, pointing at the envelope.

Min swallowed. "It is a family matter. My grandmother is ill. She asked me to help. I have a note that explains why I am in a hurry."

He opened the envelope just enough to let a piece of paper slip out. The officer snatched the note and read it quickly. The words were short, but they mentioned a board meeting, a sister named Soo‑jin, and a warning about a man in a dark coat. The officer frowned.

"Why were you driving without any cash?" he asked, looking at the empty wallet on the floor.

Min answered, "I ran out of money after I left the city. I am on my way to the airport to catch a flight. I need to get to Seoul for the meeting."

Behind Min, the other car stayed still. Dong‑won's hands trembled on the steering wheel. He had the empty black box on his lap. He seemed ready to speak, but the officer's gaze was fixed on Min.

"We have a report of a suspicious vehicle on this highway," the officer said, his voice flat. "We need to check your car."

Min felt his heart race. He could feel the envelope press against his thigh. He tried to think of another way.

"Officer, please. My sister is waiting with proof that can save the company. If I miss the meeting, she will be in danger. Let me go. I will not cause any trouble."

The officer glanced at Dong‑won, then back at Min. He pressed a button on his radio. A crackle filled the tunnel.

"Control, this is Unit 12. We have a civilian stopped at the tunnel. Requesting verification. Over."

A voice answered, "Copy that, Unit 12. Hold position."

The second police car rolled deeper into the tunnel, its lights flashing. Two more officers stepped out, their guns also pointed at the sedan.

Min sensed the tension rise. He could feel the weight of the decision pressing on him. He could try to give the officers the box, hoping it held something useful. He could also try to convince them by telling the truth about the board meeting. Or he could attempt to drive away, risking a shootout.

He looked at Dong‑won. The older man raised his hand slightly, as if to signal something. Min could not tell if it was a warning or an offer of help.

"Officer," Min said again, "I have nothing illegal in the car. The box is empty. I was told to keep it safe. If you search the car, you will find only personal items. Please, let me go. My sister needs me."

The officer stared at Min for a long moment. Then he lowered his gun just a fraction. "You understand we cannot let you drive out without checking," he said. "But we will give you a chance. If you cooperate, we will escort you to the tunnel exit."

Min felt a flicker of relief. He nodded. "I will cooperate."

The officer motioned to the other two officers. One of them stepped forward and opened the driver side door. Min kept his hands visible. The officer crouched and began to look inside the car. He lifted the floor mat and pulled out a small metal case. Inside was a flash drive, its surface scratched.

"What is this?" the officer asked, holding the drive up.

Min's eyes widened. He had not noticed the drive before. It was something he had taken from his father's office the night he left. It contained files about the company's finances.

"That is…" the officer began, then stopped. He seemed to weigh his words.

Dong‑won shifted in his car, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The second police car's engine rumbled, as if impatient.

The officer finally said, "We will take this to the station. In the meantime, you will stay in the car. We will escort you out when we are done."

Min nodded again. He felt a mix of fear and hope. He had managed to avoid a gunfight, but now he was in police custody. He thought of his grandmother, of his sister, of the board meeting that was still hours away.

As the officers closed the sedan door, the tunnel lights flickered. A sudden power surge made the lights dim, then flash back brighter. In the brief darkness, Min heard a muffled thud from the other car.

When the lights steadied, Dong‑won's car was no longer there. The space where it had been was empty, the road smooth.

Min's breath caught. He turned his head to see the officer glance at the empty spot. "What happened to the other vehicle?" he asked.

The officer's radio crackled again. "All units, suspect vehicle has vanished. Maintain position."

A cold wind blew through the tunnel, carrying the distant sound of a siren that grew louder. The officer tightened his grip on his gun. He looked at Min, his eyes hard.

"Stay inside," he said. "We will move you out soon."

Min sat still, his mind racing. He could try to ask the officer more about the flash drive, he could try to get Dong‑won's help, he could attempt to slip out when the escort arrives, or he could stay quiet and wait for the police to take him to the station. The tunnel seemed to stretch forever, and the ticking of the dashboard clock now read 04:18 a.m.

The chapter ends as the officer steps back, the flash drive still in his hand, and a new sound echoes through the tunnel: the low rumble of an engine approaching from the far end, its headlights cutting through the gloom.