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Chapter 20
“Sorry to keep you waiting. But Doctor Jeong said to head to the restaurant first.”
Chief Choi smiled again, as if nothing had happened.
“Okay.”
His slightly bloodshot eyes and awkward smile caught Chaerin’s attention. Whatever had happened inside, the sadness shadowing his face sparked a strange curiosity within her.
Ding-dong.
“Chaerin, the elevator.”
Riding the elevator together felt as awkward and tense as the drive. Chaerin wished she could take the stairs, but somehow her feet carried her inside the small box.
8th floor. 7th floor. 5th floor.
In that cramped, uncomfortable space, Chaerin’s eyes were fixed solely on the slowly changing numbers. A few minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity.
“Isn’t it hard?”
Chief Choi’s voice broke the silence.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
The question slipped out before Chaerin could think.
“Going into memories… doesn’t it tire you?”
Choi asked, gaze fixed on the elevator door, his expression serious.
“It’s manageable.”
Chaerin’s answer was short and calm, still watching the floor numbers.
“I see.”
Ding. Basement 2.
“But if you ever want to stop, just say so.”
The elevator doors opened. Choi tossed the words lightly over his shoulder and walked ahead without looking back, shoulders slumped as if carrying a heavy load, footsteps tired.
“He’s acting strange today…”
Chaerin thought. Today, of all days, Chief Choi seemed unusually burdened.
Inside the police station office.
“Ah, damn it. Why isn’t it working again?”
Bang. Bang.
“Seriously, someone replace this piece of junk.”
Seongjin crouched in front of the broken copier, fiddling with it while muttering complaints.
“Detective Kim.”
A young woman’s voice tickled his ears.
“How did you find your way here?”
Seongjin smiled politely, turning his head to see who it was—but his smile faded when he recognized her.
“You remember me, right? Han Somi from Focus Daily.”
She was the notorious “clingy journalist,” known to pester detectives endlessly.
“I’m sorry… I don’t quite recall.”
Seongjin scratched his head, deliberately avoiding her gaze. Pretending not to know her was safer than risking annoyance.
“You really don’t remember? Back when you were newly assigned to Seocho Police Station, we met often.”
“I recently had a head injury and my memory’s been poor… Sorry. I’m busy now, so I’ll have to go.”
Seongjin tried to slip away, scratching his head awkwardly.
“Oh, that’s disappointing. Shall I jog your memory? Remember the first time you went out on duty and lost your gun? I found it for you in the parking lot…”
“Ah—Han reporter! Now I remember. Lately, I’ve been forgetting things. Hahaha.”
There was no way to feign ignorance now. She never gave anyone an opening to escape.
“See? Now you remember. But do you really have to bring up old stories to make me recall? You won’t lose your gun again, right?”
“Why did you come today? If it’s a story tip, there’s nothing new. Go elsewhere. I’m busy.”
Seongjin cut her off and scurried toward his desk.
“I didn’t come for a story. It’s about something else… I need a favor.”
But she wasn’t backing down. Han reporter followed closely behind.
“If it’s not about reporting, then you don’t need me. You know I can’t accept favors carelessly because of the Kim Young-ran Act! Why won’t this work?!”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Seongjin ignored her, typing at his keyboard without looking up.
“Detective Kim, you handled the Kim Seung-beom case, right?”
Her mention of the familiar name made his head snap up.
“Why?”
“Do you really think Kim Seung-beom is innocent? Really think he’s not involved in insurance fraud?”
The woman’s face was flushed with excitement.
“If that’s why you came, the case is already with the prosecution. Please leave.”
Seongjin returned to the monitor, exasperated.
“Doesn’t it seem strange to you? How could everyone connected to Kim Seung-beom die? And all the insurance payouts go to him alone. Does that make sense?”
But giving up wasn’t in Han reporter’s nature.
“No, it’s not strange at all. So please, just leave.”
Seongjin’s tone was dismissive.
“Still… if we dig into the insurance beneficiaries more…”
“Han reporter, do you think insurance companies just hand out money? They investigate thoroughly. That’s why they paid. That alone ends the matter. And why stir up a case that already ended in acquittal? Don’t risk defamation. Find another story. And please, leave—I’m busy.”
Seongjin shot her a pointed look, refuting every point meticulously.
“Still, I want to investigate one more time…”
At that moment, Chief Choi entered the office.
“Coming here now? Chief, let’s go eat.”
Seeing him, Han reporter paused like a savior had arrived. Finally, a chance to break free from her relentless questions.
“What meal? We just ate together. Are you sick?”
Choi looked at Seongjin oddly.
“Hahaha. Chief, what are you talking about? We just ate? Reporter… reporter.”
Seongjin nudged Choi, signaling Han reporter behind him.
“Why is this happening all of a sudden?”
The usually perceptive Choi had no idea in this situation.
“You must be Chief Choi, right? I’m Han Somi from Focus Daily.”
Han reporter extended her business card without missing a beat.
“Ah… yes.”
Choi took it, and Seongjin heaved a sigh of relief—there was no escaping this “clingy” reporter now.
“I’ve heard so much about you. Top arrest record nationwide, known as a god in the Gwangsu Unit. But I’m surprised someone so cool is a unit chief.”
Han reporter flattered Choi relentlessly.
“Cool? Oh… thank you. But what’s the matter?”
Choi smiled awkwardly. Everyone liked compliments, even if they hated admitting it.
“She’s been going on about Kim Seung-beom being suspicious.”
Seongjin shook his head, exasperated.
“What’s suspicious about Kim Seung-beom?”
Choi’s gaze sharpened.
“You know the case well. Didn’t anything strike you as off?”
“What do you mean?”
He decided to hear her out.
“Like a bringer of death. His parents died in a mysterious fire, his first fiancée was killed by a stranger’s knife, his second in a car accident… and he’s the sole beneficiary of all insurance claims. Does that make sense?”
Finally, she found someone who seemed to understand, and she launched into her argument.
“Yes, it makes sense. That’s just called coincidence.”
Seongjin’s frown deepened as he interjected.
“Coincidence? This isn’t coincidence. It’s impossible. Less likely than winning the lottery.”
“But the fire that killed his parents was ruled accidental by the National Forensic Service… the first fiancée’s murder, he had an airtight alibi, excluded from suspicion. And the traffic accident? No decisive evidence links him.”
Seongjin refuted each point methodically.
“Exactly. That perfect alibi feels suspicious…”
“And the traffic accident, while slightly questionable per the forensic report, still has no decisive proof against Kim Seung-beom.”
Seongjin left no room for her rebuttal.
“That’s why I’m telling you to dig again. Something will surface.”
Han reporter pounded her chest in frustration.
“Ugh, you don’t understand. Something must appear first before we dig. We’re not free to chase every whim. Now leave, I’m busy.”
Seongjin gently pushed her toward the door.
“There really is something. Do you know what Kim Seung-beom told me a few days ago?”
“Detective Kim, wait. What did he say?”
Choi’s serious face caught both off guard.
“‘We have to live, right?’ That’s basically a threat to kill.”
Han reporter shook off Seongjin’s hand and ran to Choi.
“He really said that?”
Choi nodded, slightly surprised.
“Yes, he did.”
“Any injuries?”
“No, luckily. But that look… I’ve never felt such killing intent.”
The memory made Han reporter shiver.
“Anything else?”
Seongjin’s expression mirrored the gravity of the moment.
“Yes. But I don’t think he’ll stop. I could be next. Please, help me.”
Han reporter gripped Choi’s hand, pleading.
“Calm down. We’re already reinvestigating Kim Seung-beom, so don’t worry too much.”
“Really?”
Her face relaxed into a small smile, relief spreading.
“Yes. Just don’t provoke him first. Got it?”
“Reinvestigating? But I didn’t hear—”
“Just go for now. We’ll contact you with updates.”
Seongjin frowned, but Choi nudged him to stop him from interrupting.
“Chief, please make sure to contact me.”
Han reporter left, her instructions clear, footsteps heavy.
“Hey, you detectives really have no sense, do you? I told her we’re reinvestigating.”
Choi smacked Seongjin’s back the moment she left.
“Ah! You didn’t notice either. Now that I said reinvestigation, that woman’s coming every day. How are you going to deal with it?”
Just thinking about the daily hassle made Seongjin’s head throb.
“You handle it.”
“Me? Why?”
“Seems you know her better. From now on, she’s your problem.”
“Chief! I’d rather stake out every day than deal with that.”
Seongjin raised both hands in surrender.
“Anyway, gather all materials from the previous Kim Seung-beom case.”
“You really mean it? Total waste of time…”
Seongjin hadn’t expected Choi to be serious.
“No complaints. Move out.”
Choi pointed firmly toward the office door.
“Ah, this isn’t right…”
“Where’s Han reporter’s business card…”
“Go. I said go.”
Seongjin muttered, opening the door.
A moment later:
“Phew… heavy. Brought everything.”
Seongjin dumped a towering box of files onto the desk.
“Let’s read this.”
“All of it? Shouldn’t we… fine, we read. Must read carefully.”
Under Choi’s scorching glare, Seongjin started flipping through the papers. The rustle of documents filled the room.
“Chief… something’s strange here.”
“What?”
“There was a witness who claimed to see Kim Seung-beom at the scene of the first fiancée’s murder.”
“Really? Hand it here.”
Choi frowned slightly, scanning the documents quickly.
“But… the witness was dismissed in court.”
“Why?”
“The witness was an alcoholic homeless man, so the defense argued it was unreliable. Likely why it was dismissed. What should we do? Investigate further?”
Seongjin’s chair shifted as he grew eager.
“Then let’s find this witness first.”
Choi tucked a few nicotine lozenges into his pocket and rose from the desk.
