🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 15
Just to Confirm
Jihyeok took Dasol to a nearby parking lot.
She seemed intent on staying with him even during the short moment it took to bring the car over. Judging from it, she didn’t want to be anywhere near the club area.
He started the engine. As soon as Dasol got into the passenger seat, he handed her his jacket.
“Here, take this jacket. Thank you.”
Jihyeok tried to look at the jacket, but instead of the clothes in front of him, his gaze drifted to Dasol’s legs. Her pale thighs, as smooth as her face, were exposed.
“Just cover yourself with it. It’s cold.”
“It’s okay. The car’s warm.”
Jihyeok cleared his throat and quickly averted his eyes. But it was pointless—his gaze kept getting drawn back, as if magnetized.
Damn it.
At this rate, he wouldn’t even be able to drive. He turned off the heater.
Dasol shifted slightly, as if wondering what that meant.
“I’m just… sleepy.”
He cracked the window open a little. Winter’s lingering cold rushed inside. Only then did Dasol drape the jacket over herself like a blanket.
“Then I’ll borrow it a bit.”
“Seatbelt.”
“Ah.”
Click.
As soon as Dasol buckled up, Jihyeok started driving. Even though it was late, the Gangnam streets were still crowded.
Grrr…
A sound echoed through the quiet car.
Without even looking, he could picture Dasol awkwardly holding her stomach in embarrassment.
Grrr…
Her stomach growled again.
So even that sound could be cute.
“Ah… I didn’t eat dinner… I only had lunch…”
Dasol rambled on awkwardly.
Jihyeok thought for a moment. After what she had gone through, it made sense she wouldn’t have an appetite.
Soup would be best, but at this hour nothing would be open.
He pulled over in front of a nearby convenience store.
“Are you allergic to milk?”
“No… but why are you asking something like that…”
Her expression said everything.
Seriously, Prosecutor. Why are you asking that?
“Wait here.”
He went into the convenience store.
Moments later, he returned with dark chocolate and chocolate milk.
Dasol stared at his hands blankly, then her expression asked again:
What is this?
“This will help calm you down even if you’re feeling better now. Eat the chocolate later.”
He nodded toward the chocolate milk in her hands.
“Sugar helps with recovery and also fills you up.”
“Thank you… but why chocolate?”
“It has a calming effect.”
“…Oh. I see. You really shouldn’t have bought me all this.”
“You do realize you did something wrong, at least.”
Dasol pouted and shot him a side-eye before gulping down the chocolate milk.
After confirming she finished it, Jihyeok pressed the accelerator.
After some time passed—
While driving and silently thinking about the case, Jihyeok glanced at the passenger seat.
Dasol, finally relaxed, was dozing off. Her small head kept drooping—left, forward—her long hair swaying softly.
He slightly turned up the heater. As the air grew warm like a blanket, she leaned back and fully fell asleep.
In that quiet, gentle silence, he continued driving.
Near the prosecution office—
“Mm…”
Dasol let out a small, kitten-like sound. Then she murmured, “Ah, right.”
“Prosecutor, by the way… those guys earlier… can you check their phones and things like chats too?”
Her voice was still soft with sleep, warm and fuzzy against his ears. Even Jihyeok felt slightly drowsy.
“Of course. We check transaction records too.”
“Oh, good! Then in the chats, maybe Kim Dojun posts dog photos.”
“Dog photos?”
“Yes! He apparently posts pictures of his dog often. Talks a lot about grooming and fur care too.”
“Ah, I see.”
Jihyeok responded flatly. He already knew that much. No one had considered it important.
It wasn’t like they were going to put a dog on a wanted poster.
Dasol looked dissatisfied, lips slightly protruding.
“Why…”
“What is it?”
“There’s something…”
She hesitated as if she had something important to say.
Something she personally considered meaningful.
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
She fidgeted with the jacket in her hands.
Perhaps because she had messed up earlier, she couldn’t speak easily.
“Speak comfortably.”
“Well… I think it’s likely he uses a professional grooming shop.”
“Can’t it be self-grooming?”
They both watched a dog cross the street in step with its owner.
“There are breeds that require professionals. Bichon, Komondor, Bedlington Terrier… things like that. They’re difficult breeds. Because of their skin, professionals really should handle them.”
“I see.”
He answered mechanically, pressing the accelerator as the light changed.
“Groomers also have their own techniques. They can recognize their own work. They usually style dogs in their own signature way unless the owner requests otherwise.”
“So?”
“So I’d like to see that photo. If I see it, I think I can help.”
Jihyeok tapped the steering wheel.
“So what you’re saying is, a groomer can recognize their own work just by looking at the fur in the photo?”
“Yes.”
“Even though dogs all look the same?”
“What do you mean they look the same? Prosecutor, you’ve never owned a dog, have you? They all look different. Like people.”
Dasol snapped back.
Jihyeok didn’t find it convincing, but instead of arguing, he lightly touched his nose and stayed silent. There was no point arguing with an expert.
—You have arrived at your destination.
The navigation announced it.
He parked.
“Let’s go back to what you were saying. Are you sure?”
“Probably?”
“Probably…”
When he repeated it skeptically, Dasol replied defensively.
“Yes, probably. There are limits, but it’s not impossible. The photos Kim Dojun posts are likely taken right after grooming. People like to show off their pets at their best.”
She kept talking.
Most owners take photos immediately after grooming, just like parents taking pictures of their children after a haircut.
She was energetic. Her voice bright like sunlight in a clear sky.
“So if the dog photo was taken right after grooming, it’s possible?”
“Definitely. Unless Kim Dojun takes terrible photos.”
Jihyeok tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
Kim Dojun was an unidentified suspect.
No face, no name, no age. Nothing was known.
Not even gender was certain.
Estimated 30s. Only one thing was clear: intelligence.
He was a genius.
He never did anything that could expose himself. Most operations were delegated to Do Man-deok’s group.
He rarely acted directly, and when he did, it was impossible to trace.
His disguise skills were excellent. Even consultations with intelligence agencies and special makeup artists had yielded nothing.
Today had been their only chance to catch him—and he had escaped.
If this unidentified suspect fled overseas…
They needed to grasp at straws.
“Alright. Let’s get some help.”
“Of course!”
“Are you free around 2 PM tomorrow?”
“Yes, I only have a morning appointment.”
Dasol smiled brightly, almost bouncing with happiness. A smile that made others unconsciously smile back.
“Then I’ll come to the shop.”
Dooom… thud thud…
Loud music suddenly echoed through the quiet night.
A motorcycle stopped in front of Dasol’s apartment.
“I’ll go inside now, Prosecutor. Here’s your jacket. Thank you.”
Jihyeok glanced at the motorcycle and stepped out after her.
Once outside, the music became even louder—like drilling into the ground with a giant machine.
“Why did you get out too?”
But Jihyeok didn’t answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on Dasol.
Her outfit was fully committed to its clubwear purpose.
Her long neck and shoulders were proudly exposed, her body line striking and alluring.
Her skirt was no different. Her legs were slender like a deer’s—delicate and dangerously beautiful.
He was surprised that even ankle bones could look that beautiful.
The heels practically glowed.
The music made everything feel like it was vibrating—like his own heartbeat was louder.
“Prosecutor?”
Still silent, he finally spoke.
“Oh. I need you to come to the prosecution office tomorrow to sign documents after they’re prepared.”
“You already told me that.”
Dasol tilted her head.
Jihyeok awkwardly rubbed his neck.
“…Just to confirm.”
The motorcycle owner came out and drove away. As the noise faded, Jihyeok spoke again.
“Alright. Go inside.”
Dasol smiled, as if amused, then turned away.
Click. Click.
As the noise disappeared, only the sound of her heels echoed as she walked away.
Jihyeok stood there until she disappeared from view, then got back into his car.
