They spread the contents of the box over her bed carefully. The clippings were from the newspaper and looked about 30 years old. Tabloids were not unlike their current state of relentless, harsh, and sometimes cruel as they read the headlines and articles. They noted the photos were cut out.
The men were drawn to the chronicles of underage wealthy heiresses and partygoers of Republic City's upper echelons. The allegations of illicit drug use, drinking, and sketchy relationships. Heavily blaming the younger generations for moral decay, they reached the bottom of the box, a current case file request for a young Mumeishi interested in publishing an exposé.
Mako wondered if whatever this case was about set the chief over the edge somehow, but also asked if it was a combination of things. He looked over to Saikan.
"We should see if we can find the case file in the catalog, but first, let's get someone in here to investigate and see what they found when they ran her tox screen." Then he looked over at Tenzin. "And see what Lin wanted us to find in the attic."
—
The men decided to have Mako investigate the attic, and Saikan pulled the case file, leaving Tenzin to wait for them while officers investigated her home in closer detail.
Saikan returned first. He clutched the case file in his white-knuckled hands, his lips pursed thinly. They sat silently as they waited, Saikan wondering what Mako would find. He started believing that the case had driven Lin off the deep end. It was explicit and disconcerting to think about what had happened to the young Mumeishi, knowing how much she cared about children.
All the adults involved had failed the child, and the perpetrators had gotten off with a slap on the wrist from Toph Beifong. Saikan realized why they wanted to do an exposé. The case should not be swept under the rug, and the living perpetrators should be penalized. The people who had vilified that child should be ashamed. Saikan yearned to give the dead girl some justice.
He looked over at Tenzin, who seemed lost in thought. He wondered again how this tied back to Lin.
—-
Mako ignored the spiderwebs and dust as he rooted around in the attic. He noticed a spot that looked suspiciously clean. That was when he found another box. A crude drawing of a flying boar was on an ornate green trunk. Mako sighed, unsure if what he was about to see was something he was ready for. This trunk, labeled 134 a.g., made him wonder how old the chief was.
He took a deep breath and opened the trunk.
It was filled with files and what looked like a diary. The most extensive file was the images that were missing from their tabloids. Blurry photos of people in shady-looking clubs. Mako remembered how much cameras had improved and how much easier they were to move. He couldn't distinguish the girls in most photos but could tell they were girls. He was eager to see what else was in the file, so he closed it and opened the next one.
His stomach turned. Miao-Taktuq. The man who had revolutionized the camera was an alleged child predator. He realized this was one of those cases, and he braced himself, knowing that he would find things close to home as he connected the dots with no context.
Mako began to assume but caught himself as he realized more things were in the trunk. Mako didn't know how long he had been sitting in that attic when he heard his name and footsteps.
"It's almost sunset, Mako. Could you not find it?" Saikan grunted, still holding his file.
"I-this. We need to meet with the others." Mako snarled, reading the contents of the diary. Files were everywhere, organized in piles.
Tenzin couldn't breathe when he saw two photos lying on the floor.
Two salacious photos. One of a non-age-appropriately posed but clothed image of a young Lin Beifong. One of a tween-aged Lin in a compromising situation.
It was cruel how dark the world suddenly became as Tenzin held on to Saikan for support.
"No, this cannot be. Why?" The master Airbender practically howled with disgust. Saikan flipped the images. That was when Saikan narrowed his eyes. Mako and Tenzin realized one photo was written on.
You cannot forget I still have your photos. If you give me any more problems, the world will see how dirty your hands are. Chief.
Tenzin recognized the scrawl. The man had always taken photos of Lin as a child. Lin was younger than Ikki in the photo.
"This is sick. We have to get the bastard." Saikan said.
"I have files. A lot of these men are still alive and free. But we should go. Hopefully, we have better news on Lin." Mako said, noting how many of the files were wealthy men with prestigious titles and former triads. He was renewed with a sense of purpose.
"Why did nobody help you?" Tenzin said to the sky as they exited with the trunk on Oogi, managing to avoid the press waiting around the perimeter of the hospital as word leaked that the chief of police was in critical condition after possibly attempting to take her life.
—
The three men sat once again in the large meeting room in the wee hours of the morning with the rest of the Krew, including Opal, Su, and Bumi. They were waiting to share the information they found. Only to discover that Lin was in far more dire shape than the mother-daughter duo had known, finding out she had been in the water for much longer and had almost succumbed to complications from her injuries and weakened state.
The more Tenzin saw his mother, the older and more ashamed she seemed. He wanted to ask her if she knew.
"She's stable for now," Katara sighed, struggling to keep tears from falling.
"What was the tox screen like? Do you think somebody tried to kill the Chief?" Bolin asked softly.
"Mom?" Bumi said, noting how tight Katara held the table.
"She might not make it. Izumi and Lord Zuko should be on the way. Her tox showed multiple drugs and spirit intoxication." Katara advised, looking over at Asami.
"She would have frozen to death if she wasn't found when they did, and her uniform did not protect her from jumping, in fact it made jumping from such a dangerous height more letal. It will take months or more to recover from the damage if she makes it," Katara said somberly. It was calculated. The waterbender wondered how Lin didn't drown.
"Lin, drugs. Aunt, there must be a mistake." Su held back a confused sob.
"Sorry, Su, her place. It seems she lost control. But the reasons are sick." Mako slid into his role as the detective, giving bad news. He wished he didn't have to provide the table with this information.
"The scandal?" Katara said softly. Knowing deep in her heart that the events that took place in those nightclubs when she was a minor unsupervised destroyed that child and the denigration that followed by her own mother.
"Yes, but I think it's more than that." Mako and Saikan laid out the evidence, leaving the worst photo that had the message turned to the message, not feeling it was the place.
"It would seem there are images of her that have never been investigated. And the main culprit, being the inventor of the camera, leaves further need to be investigated." Saikan said. "We have the police reports, two photos, and a lot of files. We plan to put those responsible behind bars.
Additionally, adding blackmail and child endangerment among other charges." Katara's face paled, looking at the photo. Remembering how rough it was back then, how she failed Lin.
The room fell silent, the weight of the ordeal proliferating. They wondered how a thing like this even happened. Bolin shoots a sympathetic look at Mako. He always suspected adults had taken advantage of him as well. He had that fire in his eyes that he would fix this.
"There must be a mistake. My mother-" Su was interrupted by Tenzin.
"Your mother swept it under the rug and blamed your sister, Su. Like when she covered up your criminal activity." Tenzin got up enraged and exited the room as Su sat there stunned.
"He's probably going to her room. Should I stop him?" Korra asked. There had been a few rumors about the pair, and the air master never made the allegations hard to believe.
"No, having company might help her," Katara said softly.
—
One week later
Lin lay in the hospital bed, her eyes glazed over, her breaths faint. She appeared almost lifeless on most days. Tenzin stayed by her side as much as he could, holding her hand or stroking her cheek when no one else was around. His presence is a constant source of ease. He held her hand, whispered words of encouragement, and stroked her hair, hoping his presence would somehow reach her.
The others realized they had never checked in on their ally and were now regretful. Realizing that they had failed to notice the signs of her inner turmoil. Guilt weighed heavily on their hearts as they wondered how they could have missed the pain she was silently enduring.
They shared stories of Lin's power and resilience, reminiscing about the times she had stood up for and protected them. They hoped these memories would somehow reach her, reminding her of their love and admiration for her.
Kya and Katara had joined them, offering their expertise and support. They worked tirelessly to help Lin recover, using their healing abilities and medical knowledge to aid her physical and emotional well-being.
Each day, they would perform healing sessions to awaken Lin's spirit and bring her back from the darkness that had consumed her. One day, Kya managed to get Lin to move a finger, a small sign that she was aware of their presence. They took it as a glimmer of hope, but the progress was slow, and it seemed like Lin had lost the will to recover from her attempted suicide.
Su and the kids would sit around Lin, sharing bits and pieces of their days, trying to bring some semblance of normalcy to the room. They avoided discussing anything related to the police or the media circus and the things Mako was uncovering. They hoped Lin would eventually start working with Katara and Kya, who were doing their best to help her heal.
One day, as Mako read court documents, a man entered the room, interrupting his thoughts. Mako closed the document, his eyes burning with outrage.
"I'm looking for Lin," the man said, his voice filled with concern.
"Who are you?" Mako asked, his tone guarded. Tenzin and Saikhan looked at the man, who seemed to dwarf Tenzin in size and had a chiseled, almost inhumanly handsome appearance.
Tenzin and Saikhan began to analyze the man, sizing him up.
"Uh, I'm Lin's ex-fiancé," the man replied, his hands trembling as he looked at Lin's face, washed over with sadness. She was a mere shadow of herself. "We broke up almost two weeks ago, and I don't understand-" His voice trailed off, his gaze fixated on her as he saw her chest rise and fall with each breath. It was slight but still enough to show him she was alive.
Mako's suspicion turned into anger, his eyes burning with outrage. He couldn't fathom how someone who claimed to care for Lin could have let her reach such a desperate state.
"Can she hear me?" the tall man asked nervously.
The questions swirled in Mako's mind, fueling his determination to uncover the truth.
"Probably, but we will need you to step outside, sir. We need to ask you a few questions. What is your name?" Saikhan stood up, taking charge of the situation. Tenzin's mind raced, thinking back to the night before. Did Lin sleep with him because of their break-up?
"Happy to answer outside. I don't want to disturb her," the man sighed. "My name is Xooang."
They turned to leave, and as Xooang muttered, 'I wish you would've just talked to me instead of pushing me away,' Tenzin couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He wondered what had transpired between Lin and Xooang and if it had contributed to her current state.
—
Pema took advantage of the momentary absence of the others to focus on caring for Lin. She gently washed her, taking extra care to make her feel comfortable and dignified. Pema's heart swelled with pride at how well she had managed to maintain Lin's appearance during her time in the hospital. She hoped these small acts of care would somehow get to Lin and provide her with comfort.
As Pema brushed Lin's hair, she noticed tears streaming down the sides of her face. It pained Pema to see her in such distress, unable to understand what was causing her pain. She continued talking to Lin, assuring her they would never let her down again. Pema spoke of the children and the growing circle of friends they had hidden away in Lin's room. She hoped it helped.
Pema's thoughts drifted to Toph Beifong, Lin's mother, one of the greatest heroes of their time. She couldn't help but feel anger at the difficult life that Toph had given Lin and how it had affected Lin so severely. Pema's cheeks flushed with heat as she thought about the war hero.
She then thought about the messy situation with her husband. She knew that if Lin had wanted him back and wasn't so stubborn, Tenzin would have been by her side, as he had always been. That Lin had his heart at her fingertips and always had.
It stung Pema, but she also understood that she had no control over the deep love that Lin and Tenzin shared. Their love was powerful and enduring, like the tragic love story of Oma and Shu, but it had withstood the test of time.
Pema found herself pleading with the silence, pouring her heart out to Lin, begging her to work with Katara and Kya to let them help her heal.
"We want to hear your side, Lin. Please, let us help you get past this. You survived, and we just want to see you thrive again. You don't know how lost we are without you, Lin. Please," Pema pleaded, her voice filled with desperation for the return of normalcy.
Pema knew that Lin was strong and that she had the power to overcome the challenges she faced. She just had to hold onto hope and trust that they would break through the walls built around Lin's heart.
—
The gray office seemed to grow even colder as the tension between the four men escalated. Xooang's words hung in the air, his disappointment and frustration intense. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as they all processed the weight of their actions and their impact on Lin.
Xooang's voice remained calm, yet his tone had an underlying disappointment. "I should've known she was trying to push me away," he admitted, his gaze shifting from one man to another. Mako clicked his pen, ready to hear the truth behind their breakup.
Xooang sighed, his face reflecting regret and frustration. "She has been suffocating. Drinking non-stop for the past two months as the city rebuild comes to a close," he confessed, his eyes briefly meeting Mako's, who looked on with concern. "She has been going outside a lot, refusing to tell me about these random ventures into the Earth Kingdom."
Saikhan, his voice filled with concern, interjected.
"Do you know where? We have been investigating her whereabouts up until the suicide attempt. It at least seems like a suicide attempt."
Xooang nodded, his expression serious.
"Yeah, she would say stuff insinuating wanting to kill herself, but it's tough to get her to open up, especially after Amon. She was around Gaolin and surrounding areas. I followed her one day." He glanced at the three men, suspicion in his eyes. "Something about seeing an ex, but if it was a boyfriend, you would've told me, huh Tenzin?" Xooang's gaze narrowed, his accusation hanging in the air.
"You left your garments in my house." Xooang sneered.
Tenzin's face turned pale, Mako's eyes widening in realization. Memories of a yellow shirt left behind in Lin's home flooded his mind. Mako and Saikhan exchanged a knowing look, the truth of Tenzin's infidelity becoming painfully clear.
Xooang's calm demeanor remained intact as he continued, his voice laced with disappointment. "See, I'm not upset because I took the bait and broke up with her, a bad mistake when she mentally wasn't there. But you, sir, are still married and cheating with Lin with the girl you cheated Lin with,when you dated Lin. Why is that, Tenzin?" Xooang's words cut through the room, leaving an uncomfortable silence.
Mako stepped forward, his voice firm. "Enough. We just needed her whereabouts and a statement from you, Xooang." He shot Tenzin a disapproving look, his disgust evident. He took advantage of Lin.
Tenzin's glare intensified, not appreciating the attitude he felt from Xooang.
"Lin really is blinded by her love for you," Xooang rolled his eyes.
Saikhan, wanting to diffuse the tension, spoke up.
"Let's focus on the task at hand. We need to gather the information and support Lin. We can address personal matters later."
Xooang sighed, his frustration evident.
"Shame you didn't seem to care before. It would have been a big help when Amon's reign ended, or Raiko wouldn't stop being a creep." He clicked open his fountain pen, ready to begin writing his statement.
—-
Mako's eyes stung. They had been searching for the men in the files. The criminals abused Lin and countless young girls. The issue was with their influence and connections. They kept losing their trials or couldn't be extradited from different nations as this case was nearing 30 years, and statutes of limitations were in place for some of these crimes.
Mako knew they just needed to catch one guy. If they could, they could investigate the rest. That was when Asami came into his office with a plan to see the older forgotten photographer and to get them access to his home in Republic City. They just needed to lure the old man home, and Asami knew just the trick.