Love Case Vol. 1

Atikom drove at considerable speed. The road was fairly clear. Anupap mentioned he didn't need to drive so fast, concerned about safety.

"I apologize for leaving late. I really couldn't get away early today." That was why he was driving fast—to make up for lost time. "I know you want your car back quickly so this whole thing can be over with," he said evenly.

Anupap thought to himself, 'That's sarcastic too.' He wondered if the captain might feel hurt that he was rushing to conclude the car matter quickly—'so we won't have to be involved with each other anymore.'

He asked himself whether he truly didn't want any more involvement. Deep down, he was beginning to feel accustomed to this big man intruding, teasing, stirring up his emotions. Anupap argued internally that they'd still have to be involved anyway since Atikom had become an essential actor.

Atikom's phone rang. He reached for it, but the phone kept ringing. He put that phone down and searched for another one. Anupap picked up the phone tucked beside the gear stick and handed it over.

"Thank you," he smiled sweetly before his expression turned grave upon hearing the voice on the line.

"What did you say..." Atikom's voice darkened. "Really?... On the Ramintra-Atchanrongse Expressway... Got it... Prepare to intercept... I'll chase them back down to the Kaset intersection tunnel... Tell Sergeant Yut to block—don't let them through the tunnel..." Atikom's voice was tense on the phone.

Atikom pressed the accelerator. The Land Rover shot forward like an arrow from a bow. Anupap was a fast driver himself, but this time he felt Atikom was pushing the car to nearly 160 kilometers per hour. His face was dark, silent, and stern—completely different from his usual gentle demeanor.

"Khun Nu, I'm sorry. There's an emergency."

The police radio crackled to life, reporting details of a suspected drug dealer's vehicle fleeing from police arrest. The radio center coordinated that Captain Atikom was the closest to the target and was in pursuit, all units should prepare—the captain would force them down at the Kasetsart intersection tunnel.

Anupap tensed, adjusting his seatbelt tighter, sitting in silence. He wondered what Captain Atikom would do if he complained about missing the garage appointment. But he knew what was appropriate. He prayed silently that it wouldn't come to drawing guns and shooting like in the movies.

But if it came to that, he'd probably duck down into the footwell. Call him a coward if you want—he'd never experienced anything like this in his life.

Atikom caught up with the modified black sports car with no license plate. Now aware that the Land Rover was tailing closely, it swerved desperately across the expressway during rush hour. Atikom stayed right on its bumper, refusing to back down. His driving skills were exceptional—despite the centrifugal force from sudden lane changes, Anupap felt the vehicle's stability. Brake squeals pierced the air, horns from other cars blared incessantly.

Atikom grabbed his radio to issue commands.

"All units copy. Now exiting the expressway, forcing entry toward Kaset-Nawamin. Set up roadblock at Kaset intersection tunnel. Copy, over." The radio coordination crackled chaotically. Anupap's ears rang. He began feeling dizzy from the constant swaying.

If he were driving himself, he probably wouldn't be this dizzy.

The car ran several red lights heading straight for Kasetsart intersection. The fleeing sports car, realizing it was being squeezed toward the tunnel entrance, tried turning into a side alley to escape pursuit. Police cars lurked at corner intersections, blocking the way with sirens wailing. Atikom attempted to overtake the sports car on the left to cut it off and prevent lane changes.

Approaching the tunnel entrance, the sedan accelerated to maximum speed, shooting past the Land Rover before cutting across lanes—perfectly timed with a four-wheel-drive pickup crossing into their lane, causing a collision before the sports car lost control and crashed into the barrier at the tunnel entrance. 

The thunderous crash mixed with screaming brakes and blaring horns. Anupap braced against the front console, preparing for impact as he knew Atikom would have to brake hard. 

The massive Land Rover braked until it tilted, tires screeching against asphalt, its rear end clipping traffic cones that scattered in all directions.

The car stopped completely. Atikom pulled the handbrake, flung open his door, and ran straight toward the crashed vehicles ahead. The pickup truck was crushed from its midsection to the right rear, completely mangled. Fortunately, the driver wasn't injured. 

The sports car had spun and slammed into the barrier leading down to the tunnel before coming to rest. 

Several officers rushed closer, waving frantically for surrounding vehicles to move away while signaling nearby civilians to duck down. Chaos erupted before three or four gunshots rang out. People screamed in terror. Motorcyclists abandoned their bikes and fled in all directions. 

Anupap instinctively ducked against the car console. In a split second, he looked up to see Atikom kicking in the sports car's side window, gun pressed against the driver's head. Other officers swarmed the vehicle, opening doors and dragging two young men out to pin them against the road.

Anupap sat rigid in the car, never imagining he'd find himself in a movie-like scenario. His heart pounded with adrenaline. Though he couldn't see clearly when the gunshots fired because he'd ducked instinctively, for a moment he thought about Atikom. 

He's wearing a regular uniform, not the bulletproof vest that plainclothes tactical officers wear. If he got shot, he'd...

Anupap couldn't help feeling irritated by Atikom's reckless bravery. Wasn't he afraid of dying? 

Anupap sat waiting tensely. If something happened to Atikom, what would the people who loved and worried about him do?

The chaotic shouting began subsiding. Traffic started moving again. Police dragged the suspects into patrol cars, sirens wailing before disappearing down the tunnel through the intersection.

Anupap's heartbeat gradually returned to normal.

"Khun Nu, it's finished. Let's go," Atikom's gentle voice roused Anupap from his daze. He stood beside the driver's side where the door had been left wide open.

Anupap had been so startled he'd forgotten to reach over and close it. Atikom's face had returned to normal, breaking into his characteristic gentle smile.

"Were you so scared you sat frozen? Leaving the door open like this—what if the criminals had run over and driven off with you? What would I have done?" he teased, climbing into the car and maneuvering away from the traffic obstruction.

"Well, you would have chased after to help me back," Anupap shot back, still sitting stone-faced. His heart had returned to its normal rhythm, tense muscles beginning to relax.

If what Atikom joked about had happened—criminals running over with guns to take him hostage—he would have been shocked senseless. The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became with Captain Atikom.

"You left the door open yourself," Anupap said petulantly.

"I rushed to catch the criminals. Not even a split second to spare for closing doors," Atikom widened his eyes innocently.

"That split second nearly made me stop breathing. Next time you're chasing criminals and shooting it out, let me get out of the car first."

"Hey, if I let you jump out while chasing criminals, you'd get hurt," Atikom teased deliberately.

Anupap sighed at the capable captain's annoying behavior.

"I'm sorry. It was truly necessary. Don't be angry," Atikom turned to make a pleading face, looking guilty.

'Is he serious or just acting?' Anupap wondered.

"If bandits had kidnapped you, I would have tracked them down and dragged them back to jail by the throat. Whoever takes you away, I'll go get you back. I won't let anyone take you from me," Atikom's face turned fierce.

"You talk like a character in a novel," Anupap smiled mockingly.

"Let them try it and they'll see," Captain Atikom maintained his serious expression. 

Anupap felt his face burn. He fell silent and turned to look out the window, afraid the ace detective might say something else 'inappropriate' for him to hear.

***