Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Order from above

Chapter 4: Orders from Above

The office was unusually quiet when I arrived at exactly 8:00 a.m. The soft hum of the air conditioning filled the empty space, and the faint smell of coffee from an abandoned mug on Joong’s desk hung in the air. No chatter, no shuffling papers, no Dunk complaining about how tired he was. Just silence.

I set my bag down by my desk, glancing around uneasily. The squad room was never this empty.

“Where is everyone?” I muttered under my breath.

“Hirunkit!”

The familiar voice startled me, and I turned to see Chief Sakda strolling leisurely into the room. His hands were tucked casually into his pockets, and his shirt was slightly untucked—his usual look of relaxed authority. But there was something about his sharp gaze that made it impossible to forget who he really was.

“Are you here alone?” he asked, his tone light but curious.

“I just arrived, Chief,” I replied, straightening up instinctively. “Everyone must still be at the stakeout. They’re following the lead from the suspect we caught yesterday.”

Sakda nodded thoughtfully, stepping closer. “And why aren’t you with them?”

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. He already knew the answer—of course, he did—but he wanted me to say it.

“Captain gave me a different task to handle,” I said finally.

Sakda hummed, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I see.”

He didn’t say anything else, but the look on his face made me feel like he was dissecting me, peeling back the layers of my carefully constructed calm.

“You know, Hirunkit,” he said after a moment, his tone softening, “Sky isn’t as bad as he seems. He’s… meticulous. Sometimes too meticulous. But he has good instincts.”

I nodded but didn’t respond.

Sakda sighed and leaned against the desk next to mine, folding his arms. “I know it’s not easy for you, being here.”

My stomach twisted at his words, though I kept my face carefully neutral. “I’m fine, Chief,” I said quietly.

He gave me a knowing look, one that made me feel like he could see right through me. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Hirunkit. I know this… situation isn’t ideal. But you’re here for a reason. There are people who want you safe, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.”

Safe. The word made my chest tighten. Safe was a lie. I wasn’t safe. Not here, not anywhere.

Sakda must have noticed the shift in my expression because he placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm but comforting. “You’re doing good work, son. Just focus on the tasks in front of you. One step at a time.”

“Thank you, Chief,” I said, forcing a small smile.

He smiled back, his expression softening. “You remind me of Sky when he first joined the force. Always so quiet, always trying to prove himself. Though I have to admit, you’re much better at following orders.”

I blinked at him, unsure if it was a compliment or a joke.

Sakda chuckled, patting my shoulder before straightening up. “Alright, enough fatherly wisdom. Back to work.” He handed me a file.

“This came in from the south district. They’ve requested our squad to handle it,” he said, his tone returning to business. “Call Sky and tell him to bring everyone back to the office. Briefing’s in an hour. Narcotics can handle the bust at the warehouse.”

“Yes, Chief,” I said, taking the file.

He nodded, then paused at the door, glancing back at me. “And Hirunkit… no matter what happens, remember: you’ve got people watching out for you. Even if it doesn’t feel that way.”

Before I could respond, he was gone, leaving me standing alone in the quiet room with the file in my hands.

-----

An hour later

The meeting room was dimly lit, the overhead lights casting sharp shadows on the faces around the table. The squad sat slouched in their chairs, exhaustion written across their features. Dunk’s head bobbed slightly, like he was fighting to stay awake, and Joong’s usually bright expression was replaced with quiet focus.

Perth sat rubbing his temples, and Santa leaned back, arms crossed, tapping his fingers restlessly on the table. They had been working non-stop for almost 48 hours, but Sky’s squad wasn’t new to this level of intensity.

I sat quietly at the end of the table, keeping my head down as usual. Being invisible came naturally to me.

The door swung open suddenly, and Chief Sakda strode in, followed closely by Sky.

The Captain’s face was as cold and sharp as ever, his shoulders squared, but I noticed the tension in his jaw. Something was bothering him, though he hid it well.

Santa leaned over and nudged me, his voice low. “Hey, Nani. What do you think’s got the Captain so sour today?”

I shrugged, not looking up. “How would I know?”

“Come on,” Santa whispered, smirking. “You’re his favorite punching bag. Maybe you annoyed him in his dreams.”

Before I could reply, Sky’s voice cut through the room like a whip. “Alright, listen up.”

The room fell silent immediately, all eyes turning to the front. Chief Sakda stood to the side, his arms crossed as Sky took the lead.

“We’ve received a priority request from the higher-ups,” Sky began, his tone clipped and precise. “There’s a situation in Narathiwat—a series of bombings over the past week. Three separate incidents. Five confirmed dead, including civilians.”

The squad straightened in their seats, the weight of the words settling heavily over them.

Sky continued, his expression grim. “This isn’t a terrorist attack. Intel suggests it’s related to a territory dispute between rival gangs operating in the south. The bombings were likely meant as warnings, but they’ve escalated into something far more dangerous. The local police are stretched thin, and they’ve requested our squad to take over the investigation.”

Chief Sakda stepped forward, his voice steady but firm. “Let me be clear: this case is high-profile, and there’s a lot of pressure from the top to resolve it quickly. The media is already circling, and the public is panicking. We need to contain this before it spirals out of control.”

He glanced at Joong, who was now fully alert. “Joong, summarize the intel we’ve received so far.”

Joong flipped open a file in front of him, scanning it quickly before speaking. “The first bombing happened six days ago outside a small food market in the heart of Narathiwat. It was a crude device—low yield but enough to cause chaos. Two people were killed, three injured.”

He turned the page. “The second incident happened three days later, outside a nightclub known to be a front for gang activity. That bomb was more sophisticated—remote detonation, higher yield. It killed two men and injured several others. Both of the deceased were confirmed gang members.”

“The most recent bombing,” Joong continued, “was two days ago at a bus terminal. This one was different. It was planted in the luggage area of a bus heading out of the city. Five passengers were critically injured, one later died in the hospital. No gang affiliations among the victims this time—just civilians.”

Sky folded his arms, his expression unreadable. “Any connections between the sites?”

Joong nodded. “Yes. All three locations are in areas controlled by the Kuapha gang. They’ve been fighting to keep control of their territory ever since a rival group, the Raksin gang, started moving in. The bombings are likely retaliation for previous skirmishes.”

“What do we know about the Raksin gang?” Sky asked.

“They’re a newer group,” Joong replied. “They operate out of Songkhla and have been expanding aggressively into Narathiwat over the past six months. We’ve got a few names tied to them—local enforcers, mid-level players—but no clear leadership. They’re harder to track than the Kuapha gang, which has been established in the area for years.”

Chief Sakda nodded. “That’s consistent with what the locals reported. The Raksin gang is trying to force the Kuapha out, and the Kuapha is retaliating by targeting areas where they think the Raksin are operating. The problem is, they’re hitting public spaces, and innocent people are getting caught in the crossfire.”

Perth raised a hand. “Chief, any indication that the bombers themselves are local? Or could they have brought someone in from outside?”

“That’s what we need to figure out,” Sakda replied. “The devices used in the first two incidents were crude, likely assembled locally. But the bomb at the bus terminal was more sophisticated. It suggests they’re escalating—or they’ve brought in outside help.”

Sky’s eyes flicked toward the team. “This isn’t just about stopping the bombings. We need to figure out who’s responsible and take them out before this turns into an all-out war between the gangs.”

Chief Sakda continued, his tone serious. “We’re dividing responsibilities. Perth, Santa, you’ll stay here at the office. I need you to coordinate with local law enforcement and dig up everything you can on the Raksin and Kuapha gangs. I want profiles, locations, associates—anything we can use to get ahead of them.”

“Yes, Chief,” Perth said, though he looked disappointed.

“Sucks to be stuck here,” Santa muttered under his breath, earning a smirk from Perth.

“Joong, Dunk, you’re with Sky,” Sakda said. “You’ll be heading down to Narathiwat to take point on the investigation. Coordinate with the local police, examine the bomb sites, and start tracking down suspects.”

“Understood,” Joong said, his usual playfulness replaced with determination.

Then Sakda turned to me. I kept my head down, not expecting anything. I never expected to be included in missions like this.

But then Sky spoke. “Hirunkit. You too. Get ready.”

My head snapped up, and for a moment, I thought I’d misheard him.

Santa, who was mid-sip from his coffee, nearly choked. “Wait, what?”

Joong raised an eyebrow, looking just as surprised. “Captain, are you sure about that?”

Sky shot him a glare that could freeze fire. “Did I stutter?”

“No, sir,” Joong said quickly, though his expression was skeptical.

I stood slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. “Yes, Captain,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sky’s sharp gaze lingered on me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “We leave in thirty minutes, our flight is in 2 hours, and bring all the necessary items, maybe we need to stay for a few days. Don’t be late.”

As the others got up to prepare, I stayed frozen for a moment, the weight of Sky’s decision sinking in. This wasn’t like the other times. This time, I couldn’t stay invisible.

-----

The drive to the airport was quiet, aside from the occasional hum of the engine and the soft murmur of a late-night radio station playing through the speakers. Joong drove in silence, eyes fixed on the road, while Sky sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Dunk and I sat in the back.

I kept my hands in my lap, my backpack resting against my feet. I’d packed light, as always.

Too light, apparently.

Dunk gave my bag a sideways glance before raising an eyebrow. “Hey, Nani.”

I turned my head slightly. “Yeah?”

His eyes flicked to my bag, then back to me. “Why is your bag so damn thin? What the hell did you even pack?”

I shrugged. “Nothing much.”

Dunk squinted. “Define ‘nothing much.’”

I exhaled slowly. “A pair of pants. A shirt. Toothbrush.”

Dunk stared at me like I’d just admitted to a felony. “That’s it?”

“Yeah.”

“You do realize we might be there for a while, right?” His voice slowed as if explaining a complicated concept to a child.

“It’s fine,” I said simply. “I’ll wash them every day.”

Dunk blinked. Then he groaned dramatically, throwing his head back against the seat. “P'Joong, look at your little brother. How does he live like this?”

Joong glanced at me briefly in the rearview mirror before shaking his head. “Honestly? I don’t know. Kid’s like a monk.”

“Not even monks live like this!” Dunk exclaimed, throwing his hands up. “I swear, Nani, sometimes I think you were raised by wolves.”

I just shrugged again, used to this kind of reaction. It was easier this way—easier to pack light, easier to move, easier to disappear if I ever had to.

From the front seat, Sky remained silent.

But I could feel his eyes flick toward me—just for a second—before returning to the road ahead.

---

Sky’s POV

Sakda had insisted I bring Nani.

"Give him a chance," he had said. "He can be useful."

I wasn’t sure if I agreed.

Nani wasn’t incompetent. If anything, he was too competent—too efficient, too careful, too good at keeping his head down. Unlike the others, who wore their exhaustion openly, Nani moved like someone who had spent his whole life being prepared for the worst.

Packing light. Traveling easy. Never carry more than you could afford to lose.

Sky wasn’t sure what bothered him more—the fact that Nani operated this way or the fact that he understood it.

He glanced back in the mirror. Dunk was still half-scolding Nani for his lack of luggage, Joong was shaking his head in amusement, and Nani—Nani just sat there, completely unaffected, like none of this was surprising to him.

Sky clicked his tongue and looked away.

They had a long flight ahead.