Chapter 15
That evening.
Juwon was having dinner with Team Leader Gu Jin-gu at a Korean-style restaurant near Gangjung Station.
"Still, it's better than it happening at a local motel. I really thought it was a disappearance this time and was quite shocked."
"Right? I heard he's almost ninety, but he’s with his girlfriend and seems even more energetic than me. Haha."
Juwon and Team Leader Gu Jin-gu had just solved another case—an 80-year-old man’s disappearance, or rather, a runaway case.
"But if it weren’t for your insight, we might not have found him. You suddenly looked around the grandfather’s house and said he might be at that motel. I was really surprised."
"Haha, was it like that?"
"Well, the only case left now is the gold ring robbery, but that’s something I’ll handle with Officer Han..."
As their meal was nearing its end, Juwon cautiously brought up a case he had heard about from reporter Young So-hee.
"Team Leader, have you heard about the illegal filming distribution case at Korea University?"
"Huh?"
Team Leader Gu, who had been slurping his soup, turned his head.
After a moment of thought, he nodded.
"Ah...! That case that was in the news a month ago? Gangnam Police Station?"
"Yes, that’s the one."
"Of course I’ve heard of it. Those damn bastards."
Team Leader Gu slammed his spoon down.
"I have two daughters myself. Those scumbags, how dare they treat someone’s precious daughter like that... They should be torn to pieces!"
Juwon was taken aback by Team Leader Gu’s sudden outburst and looked at him with a startled expression.
Noticing this, Team Leader Gu, feeling a bit awkward, picked up his spoon again and asked Juwon, "But why are you bringing this up?"
"Reporter Young So-hee requested that we look into the case."
"That’s the reporter from KBN’s social affairs department, right? The one who interviewed you."
"Yes, that’s her. She made the request after our final interview today."
"Hmm."
Team Leader Gu nodded, urging Juwon to continue.
Juwon went on, "The victim committed suicide a few days ago, but there are suspicions that it might have been a homicide."
"The victim died?"
"Yes..."
"Ah, that’s... really unfortunate."
"But the Gangnam Police Station, which is handling the case, seems to have a different opinion from Reporter Young. They don’t think it’s a homicide."
"Is that so?"
Team Leader Gu fell into thought.
But soon, he continued, "But without any clear connection, it’ll be hard for us to take over the case. The Gangnam Police Station guys aren’t fools; they won’t just hand it over."
"Ah, don’t worry about that. I looked into it, and the victim’s address falls under both Gangnam and Gangjung Police Station jurisdictions, so we can take over. The victim’s family also requested the transfer."
"Family?"
Team Leader Gu tilted his head.
Had they already met the family?
Juwon leaned in and whispered in a low voice, "The reporter who requested the case, Young So-hee, is the victim’s older sister. At first, I wasn’t sure, but after checking her background, it came up."
"Ah..."
A sigh of sympathy escaped Team Leader Gu’s lips.
On the day of Juwon’s first interview, they had stopped by the broadcasting station to greet the staff and had run into Reporter Young So-hee.
"She seemed like a composed reporter, but she was hiding her pain..."
"So, are you giving your approval?"
As Juwon leaned in, Team Leader Gu shook his head.
"Not yet. I'm okay, but I need the chief's permission. I need to take over the case. Once I get permission, I'll dig into it with Officer Kim."
The next day.
Juwon was in the office from the morning.
"The article still hasn't come out……."
Click. Click.
Juwon scrolled the mouse.
News articles from a portal site were displayed on the monitor.
There was still no news about the death of the victim in the illegal filming distribution case at Korea University, which reporter Young So-hee had requested.
"But it's really strange."
Terra responded to Juwon's muttering.
[What is strange?]
Juwon thought to himself.
'Reporter Young So-hee. No matter how cold-hearted a person, or rather, a reporter, can be. How could she talk about a case where her family member died like that?'
Juwon hadn't noticed at all.
Not until Terra mentioned reporter Young So-hee's name and the victim's name.
Reporter Young So-hee seemed completely unshaken emotionally.
[Wasn't it to fulfill her duty as a reporter?]
'Her duty as a reporter?'
[To satisfy the public's right to know. By delivering accurate facts. That's why she requested the case to you, Juwon, who can find those facts well. She might have been so focused on that part that she couldn't fully feel the sorrow.]
'Is that possible, even if a family member died?'
[All humans are different. There are hundreds of millions of personalities, and everyone feels emotions differently.]
Juwon shook his head.
'Anyway, the most important thing for me right now is solving the case.'
Since the case hasn't been transferred yet, there isn't much information at hand.
Only the news from a month ago and the information verbally provided by reporter Young So-hee.
Juwon took out a notebook from the drawer.
'First, let's write down the strange points.'
As he picked up a pen, Terra spoke.
[First, the shoes mentioned by reporter Young So-hee are suspicious. There are several possibilities, but as you said, it's a bit against common sense. Taking off the shoes and heading to the rooftop barefoot.]
'Shoes…… heading to the rooftop barefoot…….'
Juwon's pen moved.
He thought.
'Right. It seems like someone dragged the victim, who was at home, to the rooftop.'
[The cause of the victim's death is important.]
'Yeah.'
But there's still nothing known.
There's no information.
'But since reporter Young didn't say anything specific…… maybe it wasn't a fall?'
[Sometimes, a different cause of death is found in the second autopsy. After the case is transferred, suggest a second autopsy to reporter Young So-hee.]
'Got it.'
At that moment.
Juwon's phone rang.
A text from reporter Young So-hee. It was just a link.
"……!"
"Going for a triple hit……."
At that moment.
In Chief Kang Joong-seo's office.
Team leader Gu Jin-gu and Chief Myung Gun-hyung were sitting on the sofa.
And on the small TV across from the sofa, Juwon's interview was playing.
-That's a candid answer. Still, is there a reason you didn't run away and confronted the suspect with a weapon?
-Run away? Because I'm a police officer. That's all.
Beep-
Chief Myung Gun-hyung pressed the remote to turn off the TV.
Then he looked at Team leader Gu Jin-gu.
"Team leader Gu."
"Yes."
"Honestly, I've never thought of myself as a police officer. Just a slightly special public servant."
"……."
"Justice? The tears of victims? Honestly, I never really thought about those things sincerely."
"I've never tried it. And I've never once been ashamed of that."
But lately, things have been a bit different.
A junior, whom I thought was useless—full of bravado but lacking ability—started to really look like a proper police officer.
Captain Myeonggeon-hyung sighed and rubbed his face with both hands.
"But now, I feel ashamed. Seeing that guy makes me feel that way."
He feels ashamed of himself for having no desire for justice.
No, he feels ashamed that someone like him is sitting here as a police officer.
Seeing Captain Myeonggeon-hyung like this, Team Leader Gu Jin-gu smiled.
"You've matured."
"Guess so."
Captain Myeonggeon-hyung let out a sigh.
"My kid finally graduated from college and got a job last month. At the biggest conglomerate in the country, no less."
"Jiyeon? Wow, she's all grown up."
"She is. Now she can earn her own living."
Captain Myeong's gaze shifted to Team Leader Gu.
"I think it's time I start living like a real police officer."
"What do you mean by that...?"
"I'll stake my position to support this inspector. Someone like him doesn't belong here; he should be at the headquarters. Somewhere higher."
To do that, solving this case is essential.
For someone with no connections, the more achievements he has, the better his chances of getting to headquarters.
"Let's be his windbreak."
But why is it?
As Captain Myeonggeon-hyung makes this bold declaration, his eyes meet the trembling gaze of Team Leader Gu Jin-gu.
"But why do your eyes look like that...?"
"Captain... my youngest is still in middle school."
"What?"
"It'll be another 10 years before they go to college and start earning their own living."
Team Leader Gu Jin-gu, who had been leaning forward, straightened up.
"I'm sorry, but that means I need to be inside your windbreak too, Captain."
Captain Myeonggeon-hyung's sharp gaze turned toward Team Leader Gu.
"Are you really going to do this?"
"Captain, is Jiyeon your only child? Don't you remember? At my high school graduation, you said if I ever had kids, you'd be their godfather or something. So technically, my kids are your kids too."
"Do you always have to bring up adopting my kids at times like this?"
"If it's a house under the windbreak of the Gangjung Police Station Captain, I'll adopt them at any time."
"Ha, you rascal."
Captain Myeonggeon-hyung scratched his head as he looked at the shameless Team Leader Gu Jin-gu.
But soon, he nodded.
"Alright."
"So, are we taking this case?"
"Yes. But you know Gangnam Police Station is Chief Heo Young-sam's turf, right?"
"Yeah, I know. It's full of his lackeys, isn't it?"
"Right. So, this inspector might get involved in the case being transferred here. They might not hand over all the information. It's childish, but what can we do in a world where guys like that still wear police badges? We have to stop them. For now, we'll transfer it to our cyber investigation team and look into it. I'll talk to the cyber team."
Team Leader Gu Jin-gu nodded vigorously.
"Let's help this inspector fully demonstrate his abilities."
"Yes!"
At that moment, someone banged on the captain's office door.
"Come in."
The door swung open, and Ju-won entered.
"Inspector?"
"Captain, Team Leader... the article is out."
"Article? What article?"
Ju-won held up his phone screen.
On the screen was written:
<Victim of Illegal Filming Distribution Case at Korea University Dies Three Days Ago, Gangnam Station Concludes Case as Suicide...>
"Case closed?"
