Chapter 15
The morning after Kuvira's escape and Shu Hai's kidnapping, Lin Beifong was on a podium in front of the police station. Reporters were in front of her and cameras were flashing. Six of her officers, the president, and Korra were behind her. Lin takes a small breath. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice but I have news that must be addressed to the public."
Lin takes a deep breath. "Yesterday at around 4 PM, Kuvira escaped from her prison, as this is still an ongoing investigation, I will not go over any of the details, but I will take your questions at this time."
"Chief Beifong?"
"Chief?"
"One at a time please." She looks through the crowd and points to a bald male reporter. "Chief do you believe this has to do with the kidnapping that happened earlier that day?"
"It's a possibility." She stated hoping that the subject of Shu Hai would be dropped.
"But it is the kidnapping victim her daughter Chief?" The reporter asked.
This caught Lin and Korra off guard. They looked at each other for a moment before Lin answered his question. "Yes, she is the daughter of Kuvira."
This set off numerous shouts from the press. "How did she get access to the country?"
"Did Kuvira have anything to do with the kidnaping of her daughter?"
After a few moments, Lin finally got a chance to speak. "Shu Hai won a study abroad program to allow her to study here in Republic city and no Kuvira had nothing to do with her kidnapping."
"Do you think Kuvira knows of her daughter's kidnaping?" A reporter asked.
"We can not say for certain at this point in time." Chief answered. "No more questions, thank you."
The officers went back to their desks, while Lin, Korra, and Pando enter her office. Once the door is closed Lin turns toward them. "How the hell did the media get the info on my niece?"
"I didn't tell them." Korra stated.
"I told an advisor of mine and he recommended that I let the public know that her daughter was kidnapped in hopes to get help from the public." He said with a large amount of confidence.
"You do realize that you outed the daughter of a dictator who tried take over the country right?" Korra asked in disbelief. "Do you honestly think most of the public will even help if they have information that could help us find her daughter."
"Avatar Korra, I rely on my advisors and most suggest that I should release that information about her daughter to reassure some of the voters that Kuvira is not planning to take over the city again, most of the citizenry." He explained. "Now I think we would agree Avatar that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."
Korra looked ready to strangle the man but Lin steeped in between the two before the Avatar could do something that she would regret. "Nothing we can do about the public now, I do have a sketch on one of the perpetrators of the kidnapping that I am released to the media last night."
Korra slumped her shoulder before breathing. "Hopefully someone will come forward to the police about this."
In the small noodle store Lahna's mom owned, Lahna, Zuko, her little sister and her mom were listening to the radio while Lahna's mom was cooking the noodles while a waiter was serving the customers. Zuko and Lahna looked at each other as the little sister, "You didn't mention that your friend at school was…" Her little sister was starting but was stopped with a hand to her courteous of her older sister.
"Not here Rakka." Lahna whispered to ter.
"What do we do?" Zuko quietly asked.
"I don't know." Lahna answered.
"Lahna dear, can you go take out the trash please?" Her mom asked her.
"Sure, thing mom."
Lahna got up and dragged Zuko to take out the trash. They carried the trash out to the dumpster where they find a woman sleeping next to the dumpster. Zuko and Lahna opened the dumpster and put the trash in it. "You think Shu will be safe?" Zuko asked.
"I don't know, I hope so because they might try to hurt her when they find out that her mom escaped from prison." Lahna stated.
The two turned to go back into the restaurant only to face the woman that was sleeping next to the dumpster. They look up at her and see a recognizable. The two were about to open their mouth to say her name but were stopped with a hand to each of their mouths. "Listen I am looking for Shu Hai and I need your help." She started. "Do you know any cabins that are located south of the city?" She asked them.
"Yeah there are a few scattered south the most isolated being the Buma cabin 10 miles from the southern entrance to the cabin." Zuko explained.
"How would you know of an abandoned cabin in the middle of nowhere?" The woman asked
Zuko squirmed a little at the woman's stare. "My dad owns it for some reason."
"You two guide me to where it is located." The woman ordered.
They both nodded. They walked and found a parked satomobile. They broke in and the two teens got in the back while the woman entered the front seat and bent to key ignition to start the vehicle. She then started to drive. After 10 minutes Lahna decided to speak, "Um miss Kuvira are you out to rescue Shu."
She looked in the mirror toward Lahna. "Yes, and spirits help me that I will succeed." She stated resolutely.
A little early but I don't think anyone will complain that is a little early.