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Chapter 22
“Who is this?”
Jeong-sik rubbed his bleary eyes and held his face close to the phone.
“Is this the person you saw that night? Try to remember carefully.”
The person smiling brightly on the screen.
It was Kim Seung-beom.
“Hmm… let’s see…”
Jeong-sik stared at the phone intently, then suddenly grabbed the soju bottle beside him.
“Do you remember anything?”
His reaction was unusual. Choi’s tone grew urgent.
“Huh—”
Without even taking a breath, Jeong-sik downed half the bottle in one gulp, exhaling roughly before slamming it back down. With half-lidded eyes, he stared straight at Choi and slowly moved his lips.
“It’s this bastard. He’s the one I saw that night.”
The moment he saw the photo, the face from that night surged back into his mind like a flash. His whole body trembled lightly as memories, buried under layers of fear, began to rise to the surface.
“Are you really sure?”
Seongjin asked, suspicion clear on his face. This was the same man who had insisted he couldn’t remember anything moments ago.
“Ah—you’ve been fooled, huh? Yes, that’s him. Seeing this face, it all comes back.”
“Are you absolutely certain this is the person you saw that night? Look again.”
Choi held the phone up once more to Jeong-sik’s face.
“I swear on the heavens, this is the guy I saw. Yes. He was smiling exactly like this back then.”
Jeong-sik fussed over the smiling Seung-beom on the screen.
“But you said it was too dark to see earlier.”
“I couldn’t remember before. Now that I see his face, the faint glow from the streetlamp before he left after the crime comes back clearly.”
“Can you testify in court?”
For the first time, a serious gaze. Choi looked straight into Jeong-sik’s eyes.
“I told you before—I was originally going to testify.”
Jeong-sik thumped his chest, exasperated.
“Alright. Then don’t hang around here. Go to the inn listed here. I’ll tell them everything so it’s comfortable. Stay there quietly until your testimony.”
Choi handed him a business card from his wallet.
“Really? Nothing weird, right? You’re not suddenly gonna take me away or anything?”
Jeong-sik examined the card suspiciously.
“It’ll be much better than staying here. Don’t mess around—stay quiet.”
“Really? Oh—finally, a warm room. And you’re giving meals too, right? And if you could sneak in some soju, that’d be great.”
He couldn’t hide his glee at this stroke of luck.
“I’ll make sure you get food. Don’t cause trouble before your testimony. Stay in the room. No alcohol.”
“Ah—I can’t eat without a little drink… Fine. Then make sure the meals are good. And I can’t eat without meat…”
“I’ll contact you through this phone, so answer promptly.”
Choi pulled a phone from his jacket and handed it to him.
“Okay! I always keep my promises. Don’t worry. Shall we go?”
Jeong-sik stumbled to his feet, dusting himself off.
“Don’t go anywhere—stay in the room. Got it?”
Choi, still uneasy, repeated his warning.
“Ah—you don’t look like the worrying type, but you really are. Don’t worry. I’ll stick close. Now I’ll take this.”
Jeong-sik snatched the 50,000-won note from Choi’s hand and laughed recklessly.
“Make sure you check if I’m okay later. Answer the phone.”
“Y-yes—”
But Jeong-sik wasn’t listening. Flush with luck, he hummed a tune and left the underground passage.
“Chief, is this really okay? And will Jeong-sik’s testimony hold up in court? It didn’t last time.”
Seongjin watched Jeong-sik’s retreating figure, uneasy.
“Of course, not now. But once we find decisive evidence, things will change.”
Choi couldn’t hide his own uncertainty, but for now, he had to keep every possibility open.
“But is Kim Seung-beom really the culprit? Are we sure Jeong-sik didn’t get it wrong?”
“We’ll see in time.”
Choi popped a nicotine-free candy into his mouth, murmuring thoughtfully.
“Chief, I think we’ve got it wrong. There’s nothing. He’s completely clean.”
Seongjin closed the files on Seung-beom with a frustrated frown.
“Still, keep looking. Sometimes, something pops up if you look long enough.”
Choi rubbed his stiff neck, feeling the strain. Even with Jeong-sik’s testimony, they needed solid evidence. Seung-beom’s traces were elusive, and both Choi and Seongjin were growing tired.
“Looking a hundred times won’t help. Seung-beom’s too popular now. If we push him as a murder suspect again, we’d just look insane. Let’s drop it here.”
Meanwhile, Seung-beom had become a tragic romantic figure in the public eye, having lost his fiancée and earning widespread sympathy.
“And Jeong-sik isn’t causing trouble, right?”
Choi stretched, changing the subject.
“He’s behaving. Eating enough to drain this month’s department budget.”
“Keep an eye on him. We’ll need him if we find evidence later.”
“Still, I don’t think Jeong-sik can really be a witness. Maybe we should find another witness—”
“Witness, witness? What do you mean?”
A journalist suddenly interrupted Seongjin.
“Ah! Watch your step! Chief, I’ll be right back.”
Seongjin, startled, got up quietly, deciding to let it go for now.
“You need to answer. This has something to do with Kim Seung-beom, right?”
The journalist, persistent, wouldn’t let Seongjin evade.
“No, it’s unrelated. I’m busy.”
“Detectives can’t lie—so tell me quickly. I have the right to know.”
Seongjin tried to brush it off, but the journalist leaned in relentlessly.
“I just need the restroom—”
Choi quietly stood, intervening.
“Where are you going! Listen to what I’ve investigated first.”
But it was useless resistance. Both men were already worn out, staring at the journalist.
They silently endured the journalist’s investigation into Seung-beom. Most of it was already known. Nothing new.
“Useful for your investigation, right?”
The journalist smiled triumphantly.
“Thanks for your effort. We’ll reference this. We’ll contact you later. For now, go home.”
Choi opened the office door for her with an awkward smile.
“Wait, there’s still an important story left.”
The journalist closed the door with a meaningful expression.
“Important story?”
Choi’s tired eyes sparked at the phrase.
“Yes. Important.”
“Then what is this important story?”
Seongjin, annoyed, sighed.
“I’ll write the article.”
“Of course, as a journalist, you should. Now, go.”
Seongjin reluctantly opened the door, waving her off.
“How?”
Choi adjusted his jaw, arms crossed.
“Step aside. I’ll stir public attention with a story about Seung-beom. Show that something was off in past cases. All good?”
The journalist, excited by Choi’s approval, ran ahead, jabbering happily.
“Don’t make a fuss. Do you know Seung-beom’s popularity? You could be sued for defamation.”
Seongjin waved his hands.
“You don’t know the power of media. Now is the perfect time to plant suspicion. Once doubt takes root in people’s minds, it’s hard to remove.”
“So what’s the plan? Just a rumor article won’t do.”
Choi leaned in, intrigued.
“First, let me meet the witness. If he can’t testify in court, at least we can use a story.”
“Chief, you’re not really doing this, are you?”
Seongjin looked doubtful.
“If the article can run by the next trial morning, that’d be perfect.”
Choi, resolute, pointed to the desk calendar.
“It’s possible. First, meet the witness.”
The journalist, thrilled, said:
“Great! Tomorrow, interview. I’ll contact you about place and time. Let’s do it properly.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll stir public attention effectively. Contact me later.”
The journalist left confidently, leaving Seongjin uneasy.
“Is this the right thing?”
“Once he reads an article calling him a murder suspect, Seung-beom will react. First, call Jeong-sik.”
“Shall we meet at the coffee shop in front of the inn at 2 p.m.?”
“Yes.”
Seongjin called Jeong-sik while Choi leaned back, eyes closed, thinking: If this fails, only Chaerin can help. But I’d rather solve it without her.
“Chief, Jeong-sik isn’t answering his phone.”
Seongjin’s urgent voice echoed.
“Try again.”
Choi’s expression hardened.
“I’ve called five times. Where could he have gone?”
“Try the inn. If not, go there directly.”
Grabbing the car keys, Choi rushed out.
At the same time…
“This one’s too strong, that one’s weak… ah, none of these are what I like.”
Unaware that people were desperately looking for him, Jeong-sik sneaked out to a convenience store, carefully picking soju.
“Kid, tell the boss to keep things ready. Got it?”
“13,000 won.”
The part-timer thought it was just a drunk rant.
“I’m staying at the inn down the hill. Someone will pay later, put it on my tab.”
Drunk from the delivery soju from the inn, Jeong-sik gestured for credit, boldly.
“It’s okay. I’m a key witness. The detectives will pay. Don’t believe me? Call this guy.”
He leaned close, reeking of alcohol, handing over Choi’s card like a credit card.
“Is this real?”
The card read: [Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Major Crimes Division 2, Team Leader Choi Chung-sik]
“Young people get fooled easily. Don’t believe it? Call him. He’ll pay immediately. Alright, thanks.”
“Hey, sir.”
Ignoring the part-timer, Jeong-sik left with a bag of soju and snacks.
“This neighborhood feels so eerie.”
Dragging his slippers, he muttered to himself as he returned to the inn. Just early evening, yet the alleys were silent.
“Hwang Jeong-sik?”
At the entrance of a small alley to the inn, someone called his name.
