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Chapter Text

“Did the late Park Gwang Su have any connection with Hanjo Group? Did you hear anything about him working for Hanjo? Prosecutor Seo Dong Jae?”

Across the table, Seo Dong Jae stirred from his position, ready to answer the Prosecutor’s question. He leans over, grimacing in pain due to his injured arm, evidence of the recent kidnapping and attempt on his life. He looked at his interrogator intently, as if to draw out the moment, and gave his answer.

“No.”

***

10 MONTHS LATER

Prosecutor Hwang Si Mok is running late.

He left the Wonju Prosecution Office early enough and made the drive to Seoul, thinking that he will have plenty of time before his meeting. But a massive protest had caused gridlock and traffic accidents on the road leading into the city and significantly delayed his progress, and he now found himself rushing to the Western Seoul Prosecution Office so he can arrive in time for his meeting with the Chief Prosecutor. After all, first impressions are very important, and he cannot have his superior think that his new prosecutor has no regard for punctuality, and have his tardiness seen as a sign of disrespect.

“…..charges are being brought to the former Mayor of Seoul Kim Han Mo, who had been embroiled in a scandal involving underage prostitution, after several photos and a video were released showing him and a 15 year old girl in various, compromising…”

Hwang Si Mok half listened to the news on the radio and thought about the events of the past few days, when he was told that he will be leaving his post at the Wonju Prosecution Office and re-assigned to the Seoul Western Prosecution Office to work on a special case. He was not given any information on what case he will be working on, just that he had been summoned to meet with the Chief Prosecutor, who will give him the details of his new assignment.

Hwang Si Mok knew Oh Joo Seung, the Chief Prosecutor of the Western Seoul Prosecution Office, only by reputation. Highly regarded amongst the service, he is known to be tough and strict on his staff, often excessively so, that he had earned a fearsome reputation amongst junior prosecutors who had worked with him and did not come up to his standards. Even seasoned, senior prosecutors often found it difficult to work with him, and he remembered an incident years ago when he heard Kang Won Chul referred to him as “that son of a bitch” when he thought no one could hear. Oh Joo Seung had only been the Chief Prosecutor at the Western Seoul office for 6 months, and Hwang Si Mok speculated if his recent appointment was due to the numerous scandals that had plagued the service recently, and that the higher-ups felt that a stronger, firmer hand is needed at the helm. He wondered how his new boss will feel about him since he was at the center of the biggest of these scandals, and him who exposed both Lee Chang Jun and Woo Tae-Ha’s misdeeds out in the open.

“…In other news, investigators are ruling the explosion of a restaurant in the Haebangchon neighborhood as accidental, due to a gas leak caused by faulty equipment. The explosion had caused 7 deaths, with dozens injured and significant property damage to the surrounding…”

Hwang Si Mok did not hear the rest of the news as he had finally arrived at the Western Seoul Prosecution office. He ran up the familiar steps of the building, onto the lobby and into a waiting elevator and ascended to Chief Oh’s office. Hwang Si Mok suddenly thought that he is glad of the distraction of the mad rush to his meeting, and that he did not have time to fully absorb the unexpected barrage of memories that came over him when he entered the place where he used to work; memories of his time there and the people he worked with, and the people he had lost. Of Lee Chang Jun, Kang Won Chul, Yoon Se Won and Seo Dong Jae.

Of Young Eun Soo.

Alone in the elevator, he took a moment to catch his breath and to compose himself, and tried to stop the memories of the dead and the old, and shift his focus to the living and the present.

Hwang Si Mok sat across from Oh Joo Seung, disapproval evident on his new Chief’s face. As he had feared, Chief Oh was not impressed with his lateness, for as soon as he entered his office, the first words out of his Chief’s mouth were ‘You’re late’. He apologized and tried to explain about the protest but stopped immediately upon seeing the look on his chief’s face. He knew right away that excuses will not work on this man, and repeated his apologies instead and promised that it will not happen again.

Chief Oh handed Hwang Si Mok a folder containing the details of his new case, and told him that he will be working at the Western Seoul office until he completed his investigation, upon which, he will return to his post at Wonju. He read the file, and realizing what his new case will be, turned to Chief Oh in surprise.

“Sir, you want me to investigate the explosion?” he asked.

Chief Oh nodded.

Hwang Si Mok tried to keep the confusion from showing on his face. He was not expecting this; not just because he had thought that the case had already been ruled as accidental but also why he, amongst all the other prosecutors, had been assigned to this case.

“I thought that they have already completed the investigation, and that it was ruled as an accident. Is there any reason to think otherwise?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

“We think that the investigators from the fire department may have been too hasty with their findings, and that there are questions that are still left unanswered,” said Chief Oh. “For instance, one of the cooks at the restaurant who was working the night of the explosion, has gone missing.”

Hwang Si Mok read the file. The explosion originated in the restaurant’s kitchen, caused by a faulty valve in the propane tank that allowed gas to leak and inevitably ignite. The other cook, being the one closest to the explosion, died immediately, along with 6 others.

“The fire department and police were unable to trace his whereabouts,” explained Chief Oh, “they’re still trying to find him and bring him in for questioning, but no one seems to know where he is, or tell us why he suddenly disappeared.”

“If they were unable to question a key witness, why would they close the investigation?” he asked.

“You are aware of what is going on in City Hall right now?”

“The scandal with the Mayor.”

“Exactly. The people are up in arms, sick of all the disgraceful antics of their elected officials. There was already a feeling of unrest and discontentment among them, and then this explosion happened, and rumors, dangerous ones, start flying around of what caused it. Now, you have a populace, who is already angry with the government to begin with, also afraid for their safety. That combination of anger and fear is a dangerous mixture. So, of course, the city officials would much rather place the blame on the negligence of the restaurant owners, since they are now conveniently dead from the same explosion and cannot defend themselves.”

Hwang Si Mok considered this, and can see Chief Oh’s point; after all, he had seen evidence of that same unrest today, with the people protesting in the streets that caused him to be late for his meeting. He moved on to his next question.

“Why did you choose me for this case, sir? Surely there are other prosecutors in this office who could have handled it.”

“I didn’t,” Chief Oh answered bluntly, “I did not want you on this case, but I was overruled.”

Hwang Si Mok does not know how to respond to this statement, and it was clear to him that Chief Oh did not want to elaborate. He had the feeling that his new Chief does not like him very much, and they had already started off the wrong foot when he arrived late for their meeting. He does not know what had caused his Chief to take an immediate dislike of him; and if he was like any other person, his new boss’ attitude would have bothered him. But it is not in Hwang Si Mok’s nature to be troubled by other people’s perception of him, and he does not crave approbation like any other normal person would. He had been given a job to do, and it is what he needed to focus on.

Therefore, he only nodded in response, accepting the brutally honest answer. His reaction surprised Oh Joo Seung, who was expecting Prosecutor Hwang to demand an explanation. But his new prosecutor just sat there, staring at him expectantly, and he found himself impressed against his will at the imperturbability of the man.

“Like I said, there are many people in the government who wants this case closed as swiftly as possible, and the last thing they want is someone else digging too deeply and finding something that does not fit their uncomplicated narrative,” Chief Oh explained. “Considering the other cases you have worked on in the past, this should be right up your alley. You have a reputation for ruthlessly pursuing after the truth and uncovering things no one else was supposed to find, even if it pits you against people more powerful than you.”

Hwang Si Mok was not sure whether to take the statement as a compliment; It certainly did not sound that way, and his chief made it sound more like an admonition, rather than a commendation.

“And one other thing; one of the people who died is one of our own.”

“Sir?” he looked at the file again, at the list of the names of the deceased.

“Hwa Song-Un. He was a lead prosecutor with the Central District Office. So have a care Prosecutor Hwang, this case is personal to some of the people here in the prosecution.”

Chief Oh stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. “You will report to me directly and regularly with the status of your investigation. I’ve set you up in the office across from mine, and you can have use of my assistants as well. Do you have a place to live already?”

Hwang Si Mok nodded in the affirmative and bowed to his chief on his way out. At the door, he suddenly thought of something, and turned to ask Chief Oh a question.

“Sir, you said Hwa Song-Un was a lead prosecutor at the Central District Office. What was he investigating?”

Chief Oh turned and stared at him intently. Hwang Si Mok could tell that his chief is carefully considering his response. He is not sure why Chief Oh is hesitating to answer such a simple question, until he finally responded.

“Hanjo.”

Chapter Text

Senior Inspector Han Yeo Jin has never been this uncomfortable in her entire life.

The skimpy underwear underneath the ultra-tight and indecently short skirt she is wearing is riding up her bottom. The wires on the brassiere that admittedly, made her breasts look unbelievably perky, is digging through her flesh. She can feel blisters starting to grow on her feet from the impossibly high heels she had to wear. But none of these compare to the uncomfortable and nauseating sensation of being made to stand up in front of a bunch of low life perverts who is now ogling her like she is their next meal.

It had been a while since Han Yeo Jin had gone undercover, but this was her first time doing so in a hostess bar, as one of the hostesses no less. When Han Yeo Jin chose to stay in the Intelligence Bureau 10 months ago, she had lamented the fact that she will not see the same kind of action that she encountered on a day to day basis as a detective in the Violent Crimes unit at the Yongsan Police station. Standing here now, trying very hard to convey her version of a sexy, come-hither-to look that she is afraid is just coming out as a painful grimace, she cannot help but think to herself ‘Are you happy now? This is what you wanted.’

It had been 2 months since Director No, her chief and the Director of Intelligence Bureau at the Korean National Police headquarters, had assigned her to investigate the alarming increase of drug related crimes that are tied to organized crime activities in one of the Seoul districts. The rapid proliferation of illegal drugs in the area was disturbing and significant enough that it caught the attention of HQ and the Intelligence Bureau, and a task force was set up to investigate and stop the criminal activities. It was one of the proudest moments of her career when Director No had assigned her to lead the task force; her very first one and a high profile one to boot.

Han Yeo Jin understood the significance of this assignment; she knew that her chief assigned her to lead the task force as a test to see if she is ready for the next step in her career. Han Yeo Jin had come to respect her director in the 10 short months they have worked together, and she promised herself to do everything she could to exceed his expectations; especially because she knew that most of her colleagues at the Intelligence Bureau is rooting for her to fail. Most of them are still wary of her after the incident with their former director, Choi Bit, while the rest resents her for snatching up such a prominent assignment even though she had only been in the department for 10 months.

Despite of it all, Han Yeo Jin immediately and eagerly immersed herself in the case. Her joy at being given the task force increased further when it afforded her the opportunity to work with her old squad at the Yongsan Police Station again, given that the area where they believe the drug activities are concentrated fell under the Yongsan Police jurisdiction. At that moment, she heard the voice of Jang Geon, her number two on the task force, through the tiny earpiece embedded deep into her ear telling her to relax. Han Yeo Jin looked at the hidden camera mounted high on the opposite wall of the private room and tried to convey without words and without changing her facial expression ‘You try to relax in this dress and shoes you punk.’

Inside a van parked a few distance away from the hostess bar, Jang Geon saw Han Yeo Jin’s expression and let out a laugh. He knew her well enough that he understood completely what that expression of hers meant. He radioed the other van to ask if they have seen signs of their target yet.

“This is Team 2. No visual yet.” answered Detective Lee Bong, the leader of Team 2.

Their target for tonight is a man named Park Ik Joon. He had been named as one of the top lieutenants of the organized crime ring operating in the district, and their goal is to arrest and take him in for questioning. They had spent the past few weeks trying to identify the players in the organization responsible for the drug activities in the area, which proved to be more difficult than initially expected. Unlike the usual motley crew of gangs they have encountered in the past that are linked to drug running, this new group is more organized, highly efficient, and extremely secretive. They finally caught a break when they received a tip from one of their CIs, confidential informants, that Park Ik Joon will be attending a party tonight that is being held in one of the hostess bars, and the task force had to quickly come up with a plan to capture him. The plan has to be executed with finesse rather than force, as any sign of police presence will cause the suspect to scurry back into the dark shadows of the underworld, and they would have lost the first and only significant lead that they had since they started their investigation.

Therefore, it was decided that the best approach is to go undercover at the hostess bar and wait for Park Ik Joon to show up; at which point during the briefing, every task force member looked at Han Yeo Jin expectantly. Jang Geon remembered the exact moment in the briefing when the senior inspector realized that she is the only candidate for the undercover job. First of all, she was the only woman on the team, and second, the only other female detective at Yongsan is a 46 year old woman who although is competent enough, also has a big, hairy mole situated right at the center of her face. Not exactly hostess material.

“I gotta say, Senior Inspector Han is looking good tonight,” said Detective Seo appreciatively. He is inside the same van as Jang Geon and is joined by Detective Park, the other and youngest member of their team. Jang Geon and Detective Park looked at him in disbelief.

“What?” Detective Seo said defensively. “I’m just saying she’s still got it. She looks as hot as those other girls, even though they’re all probably a decade younger than her.”

“Are you crazy? She can hear you,” said Jang Geon.

Detective Seo looked momentarily confused. “No, she can’t. We’re on mute.”

“No, we’re not,” said Detective Park, and pointed at the monitor showing the live video feed inside the private room.

Han Yeo Jin is looking right at the camera, and if looks could kill, Detective Seo would be lying deceased on the van floor at that very moment.

“Oh shit.” Detective Seo hurriedly pressed the mute button, and looked around the van, horror evident on his face.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!” he asked the other two detectives in a panicked voice.

“We thought you knew, you moron.” Jang Geon said, laughing alongside Detective Park at the look of terror on Detective Seo’s face.

Idiots, thought Han Yeo Jin. She’s going to make Detective Seo pay for that after she is done here. Even though she knew he is probably right, these girls are probably a decade younger than her. Han Yeo Jin felt positively geriatric in her ripe old age of 36, standing there with the other young and fresh-faced twenty somethings. But she acknowledged that Detective Seo also paid her a compliment when he said that she looks good.

Damn right I still got it, Han Yeo Jin thought in satisfaction. Her musings were suddenly interrupted by the opening of the door of the private lounge.

Park Ik Joon has arrived.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin tried to make her way across the room to where Park Ik Joon is sitting. Her progress was hampered by the other men trying to get her attention, one of them brazenly laying hands on her and drunkenly groping his way up her legs. Han Yeo Jin resisted the urge to break the man’s hand and did her best to stay in character, coyly disentangling herself from the man’s grasp, while surreptitiously keeping an eye on her quarry. Park Ik Joon looked to be settling in, refusing all offers of alcohol and enjoying the company of the other hostesses. Han Yeo Jin saw him reach into his jacket pocket and took out his phone. Someone is calling him, Han Yeo Jin thought. She watched as he struggled to hear the voice on the other line, as the music and voices inside the private room were too loud. He got up suddenly and walked out the room with the phone still in his ear.

Han Yeo Jin had to think fast. She cannot lose sight of her target, not even for a second. Throwing caution to the wind, she forcefully pushed the drunken pervert away from her, earning her the shocked stares of the other hostesses, and followed Park Ik Joon out of the room.

She looked around the hallway outside, but her target was nowhere to be found. She heard Jang Geon in her earpiece, asking where he was.

“I don’t know, he’s not in the hallway,” she said at the hidden mic, while she desperately looked for Park Ik Joon in the other areas of the bar and inside the other private rooms. She then noticed the back door at the end of the hallway hanging ajar, and thinking that he might have gone outside, Han Yeo Jin pushed open the door and stepped out into the night.

The alley behind the bar was covered in darkness, and Han Yeo Jin had difficulty seeing in the dim light.

“What do you mean they’re here?”

Han Yeo Jin heard the voice coming from her right, the same moment that Park Ik Joon turned and caught sight of her. Han Yeo Jin froze, and she saw recognition dawn on his face. Han Yeo Jin knew that look; it is the same one she had seen countless of times on criminals when they recognize a cop, and she realized at that moment that her cover has been blown. Faster than she thought him capable of moving, Park Ik Joon started running towards the other direction, and into the main street.

Han Yeo Jin flung off the ridiculously high heels she had been wearing and ran after her target in her bare feet.

“I’ve been made! I’m in pursuit, all units converge on main street now!”

Hwang Si Mok wasted no time and dove right in to investigating his new case. He set out immediately after his meeting with Chief Oh to the neighborhood where the cook, Cha Su Kyo, lived. His first priority was to find people who had association with Cha Su Kyo, and question them to see if he can garner any clues as to his whereabouts. He was able to discover that he has a girlfriend who works at a nearby bar, and a cousin who also lives in the area. Unfortunately, no one was able to tell him the actual name of the bar where the girlfriend works, nor the location of the cousin.

Hwang Si Mok had been driving around the same area, plotting his next steps. He thought that he should call Senior Inspector Han, not just because he knew she can help him with this case, but also the fact that he had not told her that he is back in town. It had been almost a month since they last spoke, and he knew that she is busy with her new assignment. Hwang Si Mok debated whether he should call her now and decided against it; as much as he would like to see her again, the hour is already late, and she is probably already home resting after a hard day’s work.

Hwang Si Mok suddenly heard the loud sound of police sirens coming from the direction of the main thoroughfare. He paused, and deciding to follow his instincts, drove towards the sound of the sirens.

Han Yeo Jin is closing in on her target. She almost got him earlier when she was able to grab him from behind; but Park Ik Joon shook her off, and in the ensuing struggle, tore the flimsy blouse off her body. Han Yeo Jin tried not to think of how ridiculous she looks now; clad only in a tiny skirt and a pair of bra and running barefoot in the streets of Seoul.

Her quarry rounded a corner that led to a narrow street. She heard the police sirens and realized that the police vans may have a harder time driving through here, and that she might be on her own for now until her squad can join her on foot. Park Ik Joon looked behind him to see how far she is and as a result, did not see a car coming from a side street until it was too late. The car hit him, hard enough that he stumbled but not hard enough that he was not able to get up and tried to run away again. But those precious few seconds he lost was enough for Han Yeo Jin to catch up with him. She was finally able to grab her target and throw him against the hood of the car that hit him. She then leapt on to his back and straddled him to keep him in place as he struggled underneath.

Hwang Si Mok was driving on a narrow side street, still following the sounds of the police sirens when a man suddenly runs out of nowhere and collided with his car. He was about to get out of the car to check if the man is injured when another figure came running from the same direction, grabbed the man and then violently threw him against the hood of his car. Hwang Si Mok watched in disbelief as the scantily clad woman straddled the man face down right on top of his car, yelling loudly for him to stop moving. He thought that he may have stumbled upon a lover’s quarrel, and watched in amazement at the spectacle unfolding right in front of him as the woman subdue the man almost twice her size while wearing nothing but a pair of lacey bra and a skirt that hid nothing. Then the woman looked up, and Hwang Si Mok immediately recognized the face, and stared dumfounded at a half-naked Senior Inspector Han sprawled on top of his car.

Han Yeo Jin was reading the scumbag his rights and gave his right arm another painful yank to get him to stop struggling. She reached instinctively behind her, at the spot on her back where she always keeps her handcuffs. She suddenly remembered that she did not have them, nor her weapon, because her undercover outfit did not provide enough material to conceal anything. She groaned in frustration and looked up and noticed the driver of the car looking at her, his jaw hanging wide open. She couldn’t blame him; she knew what kind of picture she must present, and tried to tell him that it’s ok, she’s with the police, even though she knew it sounds ridiculous. It was only then that she got a full look at the driver’s face, and delight filled Han Yeo Jin as she recognized the familiar face of Prosecutor Hwang.

Hwang Si Mok stared as Senior Inspector Han finally recognized him. She started talking to him through the windshield of his car “Prosecutor Hwang, is that you?” and waved at him happily, chattering away at him through the glass, while still sitting atop the huge man who is now yelling and cursing at her in pain. Hwang Si Mok waved weakly back, not knowing what else to do. Just then, the rest of the police squad reached their location, and he recognized the detectives from Yongsan Station; Detectives Jang, Seo and Park, all staring at the scene open mouthed in astonishment.

“Jang Geon, guess who it is? It’s Prosecutor Hwang!” Han Yeo Jin called out to Detective Jang, pointing at Hwang Si Mok.

“Umm.. Senior Inspector Han, you’re…” Jang Geon does not know how to finish his sentence, so he just vaguely gestured around his chest area to intimate that Han Yeo Jin is not wearing any clothes right now. Han Yeo Jin finally remembered her state of undress and yelled at Hwang Si Mok to look away, at which point he quickly pivoted his head to look at anywhere but Senior Inspector Han. He can hear her outside yelling for someone to give her a coat because she is ‘freezing her butt off’ and ordered the men to ‘cuff this prick or does she have to do everything herself.’ Hwang Si Mok still kept his eyes averted, not knowing if it was finally okay to look, when he heard someone tapping at the driver’s side window. He turned to look and saw the senior inspector, gesturing for him to get out of his car. A sudden, unbidden memory came to him of the time when she made the same gesture at him, all those years ago during their first case, when he was pursuing Kang Jin Seob and she was pursuing him. For some reason, the memory made him smile. He got out of his car and was relieved to see that Senior Inspector Han is now clothed in a long overcoat that covered most of her body.

Han Yeo Jin stood in front of Prosecutor Hwang, her arms crossed, staring at him with a serious expression on her face. Hwang Si Mok stood there, waiting for her to speak first, or most likely yell at him for staring at her while she was semi-naked. Her arm shot out suddenly and hit him hard on his arm, her face breaking into a big smile.

“Good to see you, Prosecutor Hwang” she said cheerfully.

Hwang Si Mok rubbed his arm; it really hurts when she does that, he thought, and knew he’ll probably have a bruise later as a result.

Han Yeo Jin noticed his discomfort and laughed even harder. Some things never change, she thought, and realized that she had missed this man.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t know you were in Seoul.”

Hwang Si Mok explained to her that he has been temporarily reassigned to the Western office to work on a case. “I was going to call you tonight, but I thought it might have been too late already, so I was just going to call you tomorrow to tell you I’m back.”

Han Yeo Jin made a face. “You could have called me before to let me know you were coming back.”

“Yes, but I know you are busy with your task force, and I didn’t want to bother you.”

Han Yeo Jin made a face again. “Well, you’re here now, and perfect timing too. You helped us catch a suspect. What exactly are you doing here anyway?”

Hwang Si Mok told her that he was in the neighborhood following a lead, when he heard the sirens and decided to follow. “I was looking into someone who lives in the area and was told that his cousin, a man named Park Ik Joon, works around…”

“Wait, what did you say? What was the name?” Han Yeo Jin interrupted.

“Park Ik Joon. Do you know him?” he asked.

Han Yeo Jin looked at him in disbelief. “Yes. He’s the man we just arrested.”

Chapter Text

“What do you want with my suspect?” Han Yeo Jin asked Hwang Si Mok.

“I need to question him regarding the case I’m investigating,” he answered.

“What’s it about?”

Hwang Si Mok looked at Senior Inspector Han. He does not know how much to share with her, especially after his chief had told him that other groups won’t take kindly to the prosecution looking into a case that was already closed by both the police and the fire department. But then he realized that this is Senior Inspector Han he is talking to, and he had learned from their previous case that nothing good ever comes from him withholding information from her, and vice versa. And that above all others, she is the only one he trusts implicitly and unquestioningly. He nodded, coming to a decision.

“I’m investigating the explosion at Haebangchon.” He told her everything he knew so far; about the suspicious disappearance of the restaurant cook, and that the prosecution wanted to look further into the case despite the fact that the fire department and police had already ruled it as accidental.

Han Yeo Jin listened to all of this and understood why Prosecutor Hwang was initially hesitant in telling her about his case. She noticed his reticence when she first asked the question, and tried to keep the hurt from showing on her face when she saw him hesitate. She had thought, after everything they have been through, that they have earned absolute trust towards one another. She certainly felt that way towards him, and was upset that he may not feel the same way towards her. But listening to him now, Han Yeo Jin’s fear was assuaged and knew that he had told her everything, even though she understood that he might be working against the police once again. She decided at that moment to reciprocate in kind by telling him about her task force and the case they are working on, and told him that he can question her suspect about the missing cook.

“Come to Yongsan station tomorrow morning, and we can question him together,” said Han Yeo Jin.

Hwang Si Mok bowed in appreciation, and told her he will see her there tomorrow.

Han Yeo Jin looked at him once more and said, “I’m really glad you’re back, Prosecutor Hwang.” She smiled and walked away to rejoin her squad.

“By the way,” Hwang Si Mok called out to her as she was walking away, “why were you dressed… like that,” he finished lamely.

Han Yeo Jin laughed. “It’s a long story, I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

Hwang Si Mok was about to get into his car when he realized that he did not tell her that he is also glad to be back. He turned around to tell her just that, but saw that she is busy talking to her squad, and thought it was probably not the best time to tell her while she is busy dragging Detective Seo by the ear, to the delight of Jang Geon and Detective Park. Hwang Si Mok smiled faintly, already looking forward to tomorrow.

***

Hwang Si Mok arrived at the Yongsan Police station the next day to interview Park Ik Joon. He entered the bullpen and saw the tall figure of Senior Inspector Han with her back to him. He approached her from behind and said, “I almost didn’t recognize you with your clothes on.”

The woman turned around, startled, and to his horror, he saw that it was not Senior Inspector Han, but another female detective sporting the same short hair style as her. They looked similar from the back that Hwang Si Mok thought it was her, until she turned around and saw that it was an older woman with an unfortunately placed mole on her face.

“What did you just say to me?!” the woman said indignantly.

Hwang Si Mok tried to explain his error and apologize to the detective, but she was having none of it. Just when he thought that he was about to be beaten up by the burly female detective, he felt a hand clamp around his arm, and heard Senior Inspector Han’s voice speaking to the other detective.

“I am so sorry Detective Kim, he’s one of the drunks we arrested last night, and I think he’s still confused, I’ll take him away now,” Han Yeo Jin said, and hurriedly dragged him away.

Hwang Si Mok sat with Senior Inspector Han outside the station, having coffee. They have been sitting together for 15 minutes, with the senior inspector laughing the entire time. He thought that she finally got it all out of her system, but then she started again, and it’s been like that ever since, with him just sitting there, patiently waiting for her to stop.

Han Yeo Jin wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to catch her breath. She cannot remember the last time she laughed like that. She tried to suppress the memory of Detective Kim’s reaction and Prosecutor Hwang’s face, lest she start laughing like a madwoman again.

“Detective Kim looked like she was about to seriously hurt you,” Han Yeo Jin said, still chortling.

“She was going to, if you hadn’t intervened.”

“Why would you say that to her though?” she asked, giggling.

“I thought she was you. You look similar from the back, same height, and the hair is the same.”

“It’s not! My hair is longer now.” Han Yeo Jin said, flipping her hair to demonstrate.

Hwang Si Mok did notice that her hair is longer, touching her shoulders when before it was only up to her chin.

“Your hair wasn’t like that last night. It was shorter, like when we first met.”

“Yes, but I was wearing a wig as a disguise. I was undercover, which also explains why I was dressed the way I was. I went undercover at a hostess bar.”

Hwang Si Mok stared blankly at her.

“As a hostess,” Han Yeo Jin added helpfully.

Hwang Si Mok tried to stop the image of Senior Inspector Han as one of those women who worked at that type of establishment. He’s not sure how he felt about that, only that he better get that image out of his head before his face turns any redder. He changed the subject instead.

“Your hair looks different every time I see you.”

Han Yeo Jin laughed. “That’s how human hair works you know, they grow longer as time passes.”

They sat together in companiable silence. Hwang Si Mok thought that he liked sitting with her like this; most people feel the need to fill the silence with inane chatter, but not Senior Inspector Han. He usually prefers to be alone, not craving other people’s company. Even during his time at Wonju, he never really bothered to make any personal connections; and save for the occasional lunch with Kim Ho Seob, did not socialize with his colleagues at the office. But sitting here now, he realized just how much he had missed the senior inspector’s company, and was surprised to feel a twinge in his chest because he would have to leave her again once his investigation is complete.

“Are you ready?” she asked, jarring Hwang Si Mok out of his reverie. He nodded, and they headed inside the station to question Park Ik Joon.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin sat across from Park Ik Joon and his attorney at the Yongsan station interrogation room. As expected, Park Ik Joon denied any knowledge of the drugs and criminal activities he was being accused of, and refused to say anything when questioned about the identity of the other members of his group.

“Who are you working for?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Park Ik Joon looked nervously at the two way mirror, behind which the rest of the task force watched. He fidgeted, but stayed silent.

“We have enough evidence to put you away for these crimes Mr. Park; witness statements, irregular deposits in your bank account and a ledger we found in your house detailing your drug transactions,” Han Yeo Jin pressed. “You are going to prison for a long time. But if you give us the names of the people you work for, I can help you cut a deal for a shorter sentence.”

Park Ik Joon looked at her then and said, “You can’t help me.”

Han Yeo Jin could tell that this was the first true thing he had said throughout the entire interrogation. Clearly, the man is terrified of something, or someone. She had seen this before; these criminals would much rather take their chances with prison than give up the people they work for; people who are capable of doing much worse to them and their families than a little jail time.

“Who are you afraid of, Mr. Park?” Han Yeo Jin asked. But Park Ik Joon just shook his head vehemently and refused to say anything more.

On the other side of the two way mirror, Jang Geon watched Park Ik Joon’s reaction, and said “He’s not going to give them up. He’s too afraid of them to say anything.”

“We don’t know that yet,” said Captain Choi, who is also watching the interrogation. “Some of these criminals change their minds after spending time in prison. They become more forthcoming when they realize how they will be spending years of their life locked up in that hellhole.”

“Do you really think he might change his mind and talk to us?” asked Detective Lee.

“There’s always a good chance of that,” answered Captain Choi.

Han Yeo Jin realized that she is not going to get anything further from Park Ik Joon, and turned to Prosecutor Hwang, silently signaling that he can start asking his questions.

“Do you know where your cousin, Cha Su Kyo, is?” he asked.

Park Ik Joon looked startled at the sudden change in the line of questioning. He looked at Hwang Si Mok, his confusion clear.

“Su Kyo? I don’t know where he is, why are you asking about him?”

“We know he has a girlfriend. What can you tell us about her?”

Park Ik Joon, who is still trying to recover from the abrupt change of the topic said, “I heard him call her Hana, and that she works at that bar with the chicken but that’s all I know,” he answered and asked again, more forcefully this time. “Why are you asking me about my cousin?”

A name, and a new lead on where to find her, thought Hwang Si Mok. He looked at Park Ik Joon and can tell that he is telling the truth. The sudden pivot in the questioning had ruffled him that he had not recovered enough to think of ways to evade his questions.

“I’m investigating the explosion of the restaurant he worked for at Haebangchon. He was working the night of the incident, but disappeared shortly afterwards. No one has been able to find him or tell us where he is,” Hwang Si Mok explained, “he is now wanted for questioning in relation to the explosion.”

Park Ik Joon looked at him and swallowed audibly, shock evident on his face. Han Yeo Jin saw this, and watched as Park Ik Joon’s expression changed as if he just figured something out, and whatever it was he had pieced together had horrified him enough that he seemed to have forgotten that the police and prosecution are watching his every move. She pounced.

“Tell us Mr. Park. What do you know about the incident? Where is your cousin and why did he disappear?” she asked.

Park Ik Joon looked at her, and for a moment, she thought that he will answer her question. But he caught himself, and said, “I don’t know here he is, and I know nothing about that explosion. I haven’t seen my cousin in weeks and that’s the truth.” He turned to his attorney.

“We’re done here,” said the lawyer.

They watched as Park Ik Joon was taken away, still looking distressed after the questions on his cousin. Han Yeo Jin turned to Hwang Si Mok.

“He knows something. When you told him about the explosion and Cha Su Kyo, it looked like something just occurred to him.”

“Yes, I noticed that too, but he won’t say anything now. Clearly whatever he just realized had terrified him enough that he had to cut the interview short,” he replied. “But at least he’s given us a new lead.”

“Hana. And the bar with the chicken,” Han Yeo Jin said. “Not exactly specific. No last name, and there’s got to be a hundred bars in the area that serves chicken.”

Hwang Si-Mok nodded. “Yes, but it’s a place to start.”

They stopped in front of the whiteboard in the bullpen, and Han Yeo Jin replayed what they know so far.

“So, it’s possible that Cha Su Kyo may have had a hand in the explosion, or at least has information as to what caused it. Otherwise, why disappear all of a sudden,” she said. Prosecutor Hwang nodded, and she continued.

 “His cousin, Park Ik Joon, is a known member of the organized crime syndicate in the area. So, it is also possible that Cha Su Kyo himself has ties to the same organization,” she looked at Prosecutor Hwang, who nodded in agreement.

“It follows then, that Cha Su Kyo, and the explosion itself, may be linked to the same organized crime group that we are investigating. May have even been caused by them, especially after the way Park Ik Joon reacted when questioned,” Han Yeo Jin said, then paused. “But the question is why. Why would they do such a thing? We have been tracking this group for months now and they are nothing if not discreet. They stick to the shadows, which is why it had been so difficult to identify the members. Causing an explosion is not their usual M.O., it risks notice by the authorities and may expose their drug operation as a result.”

Hwang Si Mok thought about this. Senior Inspector Han is right, why the sudden change and why an explosion? Why create a spectacle that could expose their entire operation?

“Maybe it has nothing to do with drugs. Maybe the explosion is for something else.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“I don’t know yet. We need to find Cha Su Kyo and ask him these questions.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded. “Well, whatever the reason is, it looks like your explosion case and my organized crime case may be related,” Han Yeo Jin said, and turned to look at the prosecutor.

“Looks like we’re working together again, Prosecutor Hwang.”

Alone in his cell, Park Ik Joon, thought back to his interrogation and tried to calm his frantic thoughts. He was startled when the prosecutor asked about his cousin, and even more shocked when he said that Su Kyo is wanted for questioning, had even intimated that he might be involved in the explosion. He heard about the explosion of course, but did not realize it was his cousin’s restaurant that blew up. Whatever his shortcomings were as a man, Ik Joon had always been fond of his younger cousin, and had made a conscious attempt to shield him from the dark, sleazy, crime-riddled world that he inhabits. Ik Joon is proud of the fact that Su Kyo is nothing like him; his cousin is a decent, hardworking man, and the last time Ik Joon spoke with him, he was in a committed relationship with a girl he calls Hana. No, Su Kyo will never be involved in anything like this and he was about to tell the policewoman and prosecutor interrogating him just that when a sudden memory came to him, and all at once horror filled him when he realized what it could mean.

You have a cousin that works in that restaurant right? In Haebangchon?

When his boss asked him the question that night, he answered in the affirmative. He thought nothing of it at that time; it was asked so casually, almost as a throw-away comment. But looking back now, he realized the significance of that question, and how out of character it was for his boss to suddenly ask about a cousin that he rarely mentioned. Ik Joon had spent most of his adult life in the seedy underworld and he is no stranger to violence; but these men that he works for, they scare even him. Because he knew who they are, and the power they hold, and what they are capable of. He thought about his poor cousin, and what his answer to the seemingly insignificant question he was asked that night may have caused him.

Su Kyo, what have you done? He thought miserably.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin thought about the events of the day as she sat in Seoul traffic on her drive home. She had briefed Director No on the task force progress earlier in the day, and of the new development that the explosion might be tied to the same organized crime group that they are investigating.

“Are you certain?” her director asked.

She told him that there is no hard evidence yet, but she is pursuing that line of inquiry until proven otherwise, and Cha Su Kyo is the only lead they have now anyway that can be connected to Park Ik Joon, and hence the syndicate. Han Yeo Jin told her chief that she is working with Prosecutor Hwang, who was assigned to investigate the explosion. Han Yeo Jin was surprised at how unsurprised her chief was at this statement, as she would have thought this was news to him.

“Sir, did you know already that I am working with him on this?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“No,” he replied, “but I did know that he was assigned on the explosion case. The prosecution told us that they are looking into it further. The police and the fire department are not too happy about it.” 

Han Yeo Jin looked at him, and asked carefully, “And what about you sir? What do you think?”

Director No considered her question, and said “I think that seven people are dead, dozens more injured. And if there is more to this case than what the official investigation concluded, then the victims and the victims’ families deserve to know the truth.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded, satisfied with his answer.

“But keep in mind Senior Inspector Han, that your main objective is to find and capture the members of the organized crime syndicate, and not the explosion case. They may be related but you don’t know that for certain yet, and I do not want you getting sidetracked from your main mission,” Director No warned.

Han Yeo Jin promised him that she will not, and left her chief’s office to return to Yongsan station. He had assigned members of the task force to canvass the neighborhood to try and get more information about Cha Su Kyo and his girlfriend, Hana. Her phone suddenly rang, and she saw that it was Detective Park calling. She liked the young detective, affectionately giving him the moniker Gochujang because his name, Soon Chang, sounds like the famous brand of red chili paste. She put on her blue tooth headset and answered.

“Senior Inspector Han, we found the bar Hana works at,” Detective Park said eagerly.

Han Yeo Jin straightened, “How did you find it?”

“One of Cha Su Kyo’s neighbor told us. It’s called the Rooster Bar. Remember Park Ik Joon’s description ‘the bar with the chicken’? Well, the bar’s sign has a huge drawing of a rooster in it.”

Han Yeo Jin felt excitement course through her, realizing that this might just be the break they need to find Cha Su Kyo. “Where are you now?” she asked.

Detective Park told her the location. “Detective Lee and I are surveilling the bar from outside.”

Han Yeo Jin looked around to see where she is currently at, and realized that she is actually near the place. “I’m on my way to you, see you in a few minutes.” She hung up and sped towards the location.

Hwang Si Mok is sitting at his apartment, going through the details of his case. He was glad that his sudden re-assignment had coincided perfectly with the end of his tenant’s lease, and that he was able to stay at his own place rather than in the dormitory that he stayed at 10 months ago when he was re-assigned to the Supreme Prosecutor’s office to work for the council. He reviewed Park Ik Joon’s statement again and wondered how they will find the location of ‘the bar with the chicken’. He opened his browser and tried a search with that description and was immediately returned with a hundred hits. He then tried to localize his search within the immediate area where Cha Su Kyo lives. As he was looking through the map, he saw a street view image of one of the bars; a bar with a giant red rooster on its signage.

“The bar with the chicken…” he murmured, understanding dawning on him. He quickly jotted down the address, grabbed his dark hoodie, jacket and car keys and ran out the door.

Han Yeo Jin walked towards the parked car where Detective Park currently sat, watching the entrance of the Rooster Bar. She tapped on the driver’s side window and leaned down to talk to him.

“What do you have?”

“We’ve confirmed that the girlfriend Hana works there as a part time waitress. Unfortunately, they don’t have any other information about her, not even her last name.”

“How’s that possible?” Han Yeo Jin asked surprised, because employers are supposed to have their employee information for tax purposes.

“Well apparently, because she only works part time, and they pay her in cash. The owner said that they will occasionally take in additional help when it gets busy, but they are not permanent employees, so he saw no need to get her information. He also said that she just started there about 3 weeks ago and only worked the occasional nights, so the other employees don’t know much about her either.”

“But,” Detective Park quickly added upon seeing the look of disappointment on Han Yeo Jin’s face, “the owner said that Hana is scheduled to work tonight. Her shift starts in 15 mins.”

Han Yeo Jin perked up at this. “Where is Detective Lee?” she asked.

Detective Park pointed to the other end of the street, where Detective Lee is standing on a spot across the street from the bar with a clear view of the entrance. Detective Lee waved at her, she nodded back at him.

“Detective Lee and I are waiting for her arrival. Should be any minute now.”

Han Yeo Jin suddenly had an idea. She turned to Detective Park and said “I’m going inside the bar and pretend to be a customer and wait for her there. Maybe I can get her to talk to me on the spot.”

She walked towards the bar, subtly signaling Detective Lee on her way to stay put. As she is crossing the street, she looked to her left and noticed a man in dark clothing coming towards her. She couldn’t see his face at first because his hood was up, but as he stepped into a puddle of light emanating from a nearby streetlight, Han Yeo Jin saw and recognized his face from the photo currently taped to the whiteboard at Yongsan station.

Cha Su Kyo.

Han Yeo Jin kept walking as casually as possible towards the entrance, giving the appearance of just another customer on her way to the bar while surreptitiously glancing to her left to assess her target’s progress. She can’t signal the other two detectives because he might notice her doing so; they have to be careful in approaching him, as she does not want him getting spooked and running away. Han Yeo Jin stopped at the bar entrance, pretending to read the menu while waiting for Cha Su Kyo to reach the spot where she is standing. She sensed, rather than saw him stop abruptly, and turned her head slowly to see why he had stopped; and saw that he is looking across the street, to where Detective Lee is standing. She looked over and saw Detective Lee holding his radio, staring at Cha Su Kyo in surprise. If Detective Lee’s look of astonishment is not enough to tip off Cha Su Kyo of the detective’s identity, then the radio he is holding certainly is. Han Yeo Jin knew exactly what is going to happen next, so she was ready and already running after Cha Su Kyo the moment he turned around and fled towards the opposite direction. Han Yeo Jin was the closest to him, but he was still a good distance away, and she is afraid that they might lose him, and hoped that Detective Park had called in the uniforms to help intercept their target. As Han Yeo Jin run after Cha Su Kyo, she couldn’t help but think that at least this time, she is chasing a suspect while wearing proper shoes and clothes, instead of barefoot and half naked.

Hwang Si Mok is driving towards the Rooster bar, hoping that his hunch is correct, and that it is the same bar where Cha Su Kyo’s girlfriend, Hana, works. He debated calling Senior Inspector Han but decided against it, as he is still not sure if he even had the right idea. He thought that he will go to the bar and question the employees, and if his hunch proved to be right, then he will call her. As he was about to round the corner leading to the street where the bar is located, a man running very fast flew past his car, followed swiftly by another figure he recognized as Senior Inspector Han. Hwang Si Mok hurriedly got out of his car and followed suit, thinking he had a better chance of catching him on foot rather than by car due to the narrowness of the street. As he run after the two, Hwang Si Mok could not help but think that at least this time, the senior inspector is fully dressed.

Han Yeo Jin knew that she will not be able to catch up to Cha Su Kyo. He had too much of a head start, and he did not seem to be tiring off any time soon. She looked around and realized that she is familiar with this area, and that there may be a way to flank Cha Su Kyo and intercept him from one of the narrow side streets that snaked through this neighborhood. She quickly made a decision and turned right.

Hwang Si Mok had lost sight of both Senior Inspector Han and the man that she is chasing. He kept running along the dark alley, hoping that he’ll catch up to them soon enough. Suddenly, he saw a dark figure running just ahead of him, a good distance away. The man looked over his shoulder and Hwang Si Mok recognized him as Cha Su Kyo. He ran after him, faster this time, but the man seemed to have disappeared from sight. Hwang Si Mok did not know if he turned into one of the side streets, or jumped over a fence into one of the buildings, or perhaps hiding in the many dark corners of this neighborhood. He was so focused on running after him that he did not notice the dark figure approaching fast from his right until it was too late.

Hwang Si Mok went down hard. His assailant had tackled him from the side and pushed him down on the ground. He tried to fight him off, but his attacker had the advantage of being on top of him, and he was still disoriented from the impact of his body against the hard concrete. He pivoted and tried to strike against his attacker, but the man easily blocked his swing and Hwang Si Mok did not have time to protect himself when his assailant punched him square on the face with a force that made him see stars. He saw his attacker pull his arms back again, ready to take another swing at him when he suddenly heard a familiar voice cry out.

“Prosecutor Hwang!”

Relief flooded Hwang Si Mok at the sound of the voice. The senior inspector is here, just in time to help him. Except he realized that the voice had come from the figure sitting atop and straddling him. His attacker, who he now saw is not Cha Su Kyo as he had initially thought, but a very surprised, and very angry, Senior Inspector Han.

“Ouch,” Hwang Si Mok said weakly.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok sat on the steps of the ambulance, his wounds already tended to by the paramedics. He took stock of his injuries; minor cuts and scrapes, bruised ribs, a large bump on the head. His nose is swollen, but not broken, and the bleeding had already stopped. He did not want to make a fuss and call an ambulance, but the senior inspector would not take no for an answer, and he really did not want to argue with her when she is already in an enraged mood. He looked at her now, talking to the uniforms and giving out orders to the detective squad. Cha Su Kyo had gotten away, and the police are now searching the area in the hopes that he might still be found and brought in for questioning.

Jang Geon approached him, took one look at his face and made a hissing noise followed by a grimace. “Wow, that looks bad,” he said, eyeing his injuries.

Hwang Si Mok said nothing. He had not seen himself, so he just has to take the detective’s word for it.

“I know how it feels. I got punched once too by Senior Inspector Han, during sparring practice. You wouldn’t think that those skinny arms can pack such a punch. But it does, and it did. She got me right here,” he pointed at his left jaw “and I went down like a log.”

“Jang Geon, I need you to coordinate the search with Team 2, with Detective Lee.” Han Yeo Jin told Detective Jang as she approached them.

Senior Inspector Han stood in front of Hwang Si Mok, her arms crossed, and looked at him with the same look he had only seen her use on suspects. Jang Geon recognized the look and hurriedly scarpered away. Hwang Si Mok knew that the senior inspector is angry with him; not only had he gone to the bar without telling her, but he also got in the middle of a police operation, and the distraction he created had inadvertently caused Cha Su Kyo to escape. Because of him, they had lost the one person who could have broken this case wide open.

Han Yeo Jin stared at Prosecutor Hwang and tried to hold on to her anger, but finding it more difficult by the second as she examined his pitiful state. She remembered tackling him down to the ground, thinking he was Cha Su Kyo. She remembered him fighting her, and the sensation of her fist hitting his flesh and the horror she felt when she realized that she had just assaulted her friend. It surprised her that the fact that a very important suspect got away came second only to her concern that she had seriously hurt Prosecutor Hwang. Of course, she did not show him that, and instead hid her concern beneath a façade of fury, and busied herself instead with directing the police in the search of their suspect.

“Is it painful?” she asked, pointing to his face.

“A little.”

“Good,” she said brusquely.

Han Yeo Jin knew she is being unnecessarily mean, but she much rather have him see her rage than her distress, or have him see just how much the thought of her hurting him had affected her. Still, she made an effort to take her anger down a notch. She took a deep breath and spoke to him in a much gentler tone.

“Go home Prosecutor Hwang, and sleep it off. We’ll talk tomorrow, and I’ll give you an update on the search.”

Prosecutor Hwang looked like he was about to say something to her, changed his mind, and nodded instead. He got up and walked, or in his case limped, to his car, holding his right side. Han Yeo Jin watched him leave, resisting the urge to run over to him and help carry him to his car; just as she had done that day at the council meeting 10 months ago, when she helped carry him to the stairwell. His head had pained him that day and Han Yeo Jin, not being able to stand the thought of him going through the pain alone, had ran out of the meeting shortly after his exit, not caring about how the others may perceive her actions.

This time, it was her who caused him pain, and she felt miserable over the fact that she had treated him harshly afterwards. She rubbed her face tiredly, and resolved to apologize to Prosecutor Hwang tomorrow when she sees him again.

Han Yeo Jin sat across from Director No, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau and her boss, in his office at the Korean National Police headquarters. She is giving her chief an update on the progress of the task force and last night’s failed capture of Cha Su Kyo. Han Yeo Jin waited for the inevitable lecture about the perils of working with people from the prosecution, and how they get in the way because they are not experienced in the field like the police are.

“What was he even doing there?” Director No asked, indignant.

“He figured out the location of the bar, sir. He went there to see if he was right and stumbled upon us in the middle of the chase,” Han Yeo Jin explained.

“I wasn’t aware that he was in the area, and that he decided to also join in the pursuit, so when I saw a man wearing dark clothes running around the same place I expected Cha Su Kyo to be, I took him down, thinking it was our suspect,” she continued.

“Did you hurt him?” he asked.

Han Yeo Jin shifted uncomfortably. “Well, I had to tackle him to the ground to keep him from running away. And he tried to struggle and fight me off, so I had to punch him too,” she finished guiltily.

“Did you punch him hard?”

Han Yeo Jin debated lying to her chief, but knows he will see right through her. She nodded.

“Good,” said Director No, nodding in satisfaction.

Han Yeo Jin looked at her boss, saw that he is smiling at her, and gave a short laugh. She had come to like her new chief, even though they had only been working together for a short while. She was afraid at first that he will treat her with the same wariness, if not outright hostility, as the other members of the division because of the direct role she played in the ousting of their former chief. But Director No had treated her fairly and respectfully right from the beginning, often even calling her out positively to show everyone that he harbored no ill-will towards her. His treatment of her had thawed some of the coldness of several of her colleagues, but she knew it will take a long time for them to fully accept her, if that day ever comes at all.

“I do feel bad about hurting him though, I know he was just trying to help,” she admitted to Director No.

“Well, let’s hope that it will teach him a lesson not to get in the middle of a police operation,” said Director No. “And not get on your bad side too,” he added.

Hwang Si Mok decided to meet Senior Inspector Han at her office in the National Police headquarters. He had trouble sleeping last night, not just because of the fact that the soreness of his body and face had pained him the entire night, but it bothered him that he had not even apologized to the senior inspector for blundering in the middle of her operation and causing their suspect to escape capture. He tried to think of what he would say to her, but couldn’t think of the right words. He is not in the habit of apologizing to people, not because he thinks that he is never wrong, but because he just never cared to. Hwang Si Mok knew full well that he lacks the required social skills and niceties that any normal person has because of his condition; as a result, people had often mistaken his direct manner for rudeness, and his constant non-expression for callousness. These things usually did not bother him, and he is sure that he had offended countless of people and never lost any sleep over the fact that he never apologized to them; but Senior Inspector Han is different. In Hwang Si Mok’s organized mind, he divided the people he knew in different buckets: in one bucket, he had placed Senior Inspector Han, and the other bucket, everyone else. If he cared to examine this, he would have been surprised to find that somehow, during the time that they had worked together, she had become something else to him entirely. But none of this matter right now because he just ran out of time to come up with what to say, as he watched the senior inspector walk across the lobby towards him.

Han Yeo Jin was about to leave HQ for Yongsan station when she noticed Prosecutor Hwang standing in the middle of the lobby, awkwardly holding two cups of coffee. She was so startled to see him, that for a moment, she just stared silently with her mouth gaping to make sure it was really him.

“Prosecutor Hwang?” she asked.

As she got closer, she saw that his injury looked much worse in the light of day. A massive purple bruise dominated his left cheek, up to his left eye. His nose, though not broken, is still very swollen and very red. Remorse immediately filled her; she couldn’t sleep at all last night because she was beset with guilt over her assault on him, and then her ensuing treatment of him right after. She opened her mouth, about to apologize but was cut off when he spoke first.

“I got you coffee,” said Hwang Si Mok, showing her the cups he is holding.

Han Yeo Jin was momentarily speechless, stunned at this turn of events. Prosecutor Hwang had never gotten her coffee before, or anything for that matter. She remembered the few occasions when they had gone out to eat at the pop up bar; he would only order for himself, while she sat there, foodless, watching him eat his meal.

“You’ve never gotten me coffee before,” she said, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

He shrugged in response and looked at her with the same blank expression she now recognized as the face he makes when confronted with a complicated problem. It was only then that Han Yeo Jin finally understood why he came here today, and what his gesture with the coffee meant. As he stood in front of her with his bruised and broken face, Han Yeo Jin felt moved, when she realized that his awkward offering of coffee is his own inept and clumsy way of telling her that he is sorry. She decided to take pity on him because he looked so uncomfortable that he may bolt at any second.

“Thank you,” she said taking the coffee from him. She looked at him and said, “I’m sorry for hitting you in the face.”

“And tackling me to the ground,” he added.

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, that too,” she paused then said “and for being angry with you last night. I know you were only trying to help.”

He nodded, acknowledging her apology, and to Han Yeo Jin’s surprise, said his own.

“I’m sorry I caused Cha Su Kyo to get away.”

She shook her head. “He already had a good head start to begin with. It was unlikely that we would have caught up with him. It was our fault really, one of the detectives exposed himself to him and he ran away before we even had a chance,” she admitted to him.

They looked at each other, and Han Yeo Jin gave him a small smile, indicating that all is right between them again. They walked together towards the exit, and it was then that Han Yeo Jin noticed a familiar, well-dressed figure walking across the parking lot.

“What is he doing here?” she asked, surprised to see Prosecutor Seo Dong Jae heading purposefully towards them.

Seo Dong Jae waved cheerfully as he spotted them, his face breaking into a wide smile. The same smile that Han Yeo Jin always associate with him; handsome, and yet somehow sleazy at the same time that only he is able to pull off. Han Yeo Jin has a bone to pick with the man. She is still angry with him about the statement he gave to the prosecution on Hanjo; how he had claimed to have no knowledge that it was them who ordered the dead lawyer to invite members of the prosecution and the police to a secret villa to cut deals in favor of the corrupt corporation. She suspected that he is probably in Hanjo’s pocket; after all, he had a history of accepting bribes and cutting deals with whomever holds the most power or money. She had hoped that his recent ordeal, where he was kidnapped and left for dead, will make him take stock of his misdeeds and change his ways for the better. But that proved to not be the case, since he made the false claim about Hanjo to the prosecution. On top of all that, Han Yeo Jin admitted that she is still smarting about his treatment of her on the bridge all those years ago. Her blood still boils when she remembered how she had to force herself to stand meekly while he berated and abused her. Han Yeo Jin scowled furiously and crossed her arms, as she watched him strut towards them.

“Senior Inspector Han!” he called out cheerfully then stopped when he noticed Hwang Si Mok standing beside her.

“Hwang Si Mok! What are you doing here? I thought you were at Wonju!” he said in astonishment. “And what happened to your face?” he asked, scrutinizing his beaten visage.

“Why are you here?” Han Yeo Jin asked rudely before Hwang Si Mok can respond.

“I came to see you,” he said, still unable to take his eyes from Hwang Si Mok’s face. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Han Yeo Jin was so surprised at this statement that she momentarily forgot to be angry. “About what?”

He finally turned to her and said, “This”, and held out a newspaper to them.

It was today’s paper, and the headline read: HANJO CHAIRMAN LEE YEON BEOM, DEAD AT 65

Chapter Text

The three of them sat together at a table in the small café located inside the National Police HQ. Han Yeo Jin admitted that she was curious enough to hear what Prosecutor Seo had to say after he made the dramatic pronouncement about Hanjo, and she made a conscious effort to set aside her animosity for now, but just barely. She asked him again what he wanted to talk about.

“I’ll tell you in a moment but before I start, Hwang Si Mok,” he said, turning to the other prosecutor, “what are you doing in Seoul?”

Hwang Si Mok told him about being re-assigned to work on a case with the Western office, and that he is only here temporarily until he completed his assignment. Seo Dong Jae asked him which case he is working on.

“The Haebangchon explosion,” Hwang Si Mok answered. He further explained that the explosion may be tied to organized crime, which is the case Senior Inspector Han is working on, hence why they are working together.

Seo Dong Jae sat back, stunned. For a minute, he looked like he had forgotten that he is not alone, and started muttering to himself, “This must be fate…”

Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok looked at each other, confused at his reaction. Seo Dong Jae shook himself, and asked, “But what happened to you? Why do you look like that?”

“Senior Inspector Han punched me.”

Seo Dong Jae looked at Hwang Si Mok in surprise and started laughing, thinking he was joking. He looked at Han Yeo Jin who just glared back at him, her arms crossed and her face impassive, and realized that it was not a joke. He looked at her in shock.

“Why would you do that to him?” he asked indignantly.

 “He got in my way. Now tell us why you’re here.”

Seo Dong Jae looked at her cautiously, wary now that she might also hurt him. He took a deep breath and said,

“Look, I know what both of you must think of me, after I gave my statement to the Prosecution on Hanjo. Because I told them that I don’t know of any connection with them and the dead lawyer.” He paused to look at them and continued when Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok remained silent. “But I didn’t lie. I didn’t have any evidence of a connection at that time; not concrete ones anyway.”

He explained to them that all he had at the time was conjecture; and that when he presented his findings before his kidnapping to Woo Tae-Ha, the disgraced former chief now being investigated in connection to the same case, he was still unable to find irrefutable proof to support his theory.

“And why tell us this now? Just because you can’t find proof doesn’t mean they’re not guilty,” Han Yeo Jin said.

Seo Dong Jae looked at her triumphantly and said “You are absolutely right Senior Inspector Han. They are guilty, but not just about this. I think they are guilty of so much more.”

***

Seo Dong Jae sat alone in his car, and leaned his head back against the headrest tiredly, and closed his eyes. The meeting was tougher than he had anticipated, but he thought that he had done well explaining his side of the story to them. He sat there, and played the meeting back in his mind. He was already expecting a cold reception from Senior Inspector Han when he set out today to talk to her, but what he did not expect is the overtly antagonistic reaction he got from her instead. Despite of what she may think of him, Seo Dong Jae is actually perceptive enough to understand that the senior inspector’s attitude towards him was not just borne out of his previous interactions with her; and Seo Dong Jae was ashamed to admit that he was a bastard for the way he had treated her. But more than that, he knew it was also because she felt let down when she thought that he had not changed his corrupt ways. Especially after all the lengths that she and Hwang Si Mok went through to save him, and he thought that she might have hidden that disappointment under the guise of anger instead. She must have thought him undeserving of the second chance he had been given, and ungrateful of the fact that the only reason he is still living is because of the tireless efforts of the two people sitting across the table from him. Seo Dong Jae resisted the impulse to give an impassioned speech telling them that he had, in fact, changed, and how he is eternally grateful to the both of them for saving his life. But he knew that emotional declarations will not sway either one, so he stuck to the facts and told them what he had been doing instead.

He told them both that he had a lot of time to think about his next course of action while he convalesced from his injuries. He knew that he had to continue his investigation of Hanjo, and he had to do it in secret, as he was not technically and officially supposed to be looking into them. Seo Dong Jae knew full well that Hanjo is as corrupt as they come, but no one, not the police or prosecution, have been able to bring charges big enough to make a significant impact on the company. They are too big, and too powerful, that Seo Dong Jae feared that even if the investigation proved the connection between Hanjo and the dead lawyer, Park Gwang Su, it still won’t be enough to make any meaningful effect against the corporation. He also told them that he is certain that they will not find any evidence of a connection anyway.

“Why do you sound so sure of that?”

Hwang Si Mok asked him the question, and he told them that while in the hospital, Lee Yeon Jae had visited and told him that Hanjo had paid off the lawyer’s family to stop them from talking. He heard her, even as he lay there, flitting between the state of consciousness and sleep.

“But why are you doing this, and why tell us this now?”

He looked at Senior Inspector Han. He wanted to tell her that he is doing this because he had made a promise to his senior, Lee Chang Jun to continue his work. That he thinks he can still help Lee Yeon Jae, who he felt, like himself, is not beyond redemption. That his abduction and near-death experience had changed him, and he is making amends for his past. But he did not say any of this, and again, stuck to the facts.

He told them that with Lee Yeon Beom dead, the power struggle that had been brewing between Lee Yeon Jae and her half-brother, Lee Sung Jae, is about to intensify; the last man, or woman, standing taking the crown and taking over the empire built by their deceased father.

“I know about Lee Sung Jae, and he is just like his father. Ruthless, calculating, and will stop at nothing to consolidate his power and protect his company, via legal means or otherwise. And from what I have seen and heard of him, it is mostly otherwise.”

He looked at both of them. “I am telling you this because I want you to know that I am going to keep investigating until I find the evidence that we need to take Hanjo down for all their illegal activities,” he said, then paused. “And I am telling you because I know that the two of you can be trusted.”

“And also, if I disappear, I need the two of you to find me again,” he said, and laughed at his own joke, even though he knew that there may be some truth to it, considering who he is planning to go against, and that this is his roundabout way of telling them that they are his insurance policy. And that if anything happens to him, at least someone else knew what he was working on.

He looked at Hwang Si Mok and thought again that it must be fate that he was assigned the explosion case. Of all the prosecutors, it had to be him, he thought, and working with the senior inspector again too. Because Seo Dong Jae had found something, but he is not yet sure of what it means. All he knew is that he got the same feeling as when he had inadvertently stumbled upon the suspicious death of Park Gwang Su, or when he saw the photo of Kim Hu Jeong and his bullies. He had learned to trust that feeling, that gut instinct telling him that there is something there, something potentially important. He recalled now his last question to Hwang Si Mok before he left the meeting.

“You know about Hwa Song Un right? What he was working on?”

Hwang Si Mok nodded.

“You think there’s something there?” he asked tentatively.

“I don’t know yet,” said Hwang Si Mok, looking thoughtfully at him.

Seo Dong Jae opened his eyes and exhaled. He felt better now after seeing them, and despite the formidable task ahead of him, he felt a little weight lift off him with the thought that he is not completely alone in this anymore. He drove off, determined to prove to Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok that he does deserve that second chance.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok headed towards Haebangchon to see the site of the explosion. They sat in silence while Hwang Si Mok drove, both lost in thought, and both thinking about what Seo Dong Jae had told them.

Han Yeo Jin broke the silence and asked, “Do you believe him?”

“About Hanjo?”

She shook her head. “I already know they’re corrupt. I meant Prosecutor Seo, that he’s changed.”

Hwang Si Mok thought about this. He had heard from Prosecutor Seo only once while he was at Wonju, when he sent him an email asking when he will be back in Seoul. He responded, but did not ask why he was asking, nor asked how his recovery was progressing. Kim He Seob later told him that he went back to his old post at the Uijeongbu Prosecution office, and Hwang Si Mok wondered why he chose to stay with the prosecution, especially after what he had just gone through, and knowing that Prosecutor Seo is becoming more discontented with his career with the service. He remembered that day at the detention centre while they sat together waiting to see a prisoner, when he complained about constantly being re-assigned to other offices, and bemoaned the fact that he barely saw his wife and kids. Hwang Si Mok understood now why he stayed; to investigate Hanjo in secret. What he did not understand is why Prosecutor Seo had suddenly made it his personal mission to bring down the company he once was so intent on joining.

“I don’t know. Maybe he has, maybe his experience had changed him for the better.”

Han Yeo Jin scoffed, and asked skeptically, “Do you really believe that? What if he’s just doing this as a cover to spy for Hanjo?”

Hwang Si Mok shrugged. He knew he cannot convince Senior Inspector Han that Prosecutor Seo had no ulterior motives other than to see Hanjo brought to justice, as he himself was not convinced that Prosecutor Seo’s intentions are really that pure.

“We just have to watch him carefully,” he said.

Han Yeo Jin sighed, annoyed that this is yet another thing she has to think of when she already has enough to be worrying about to begin with.

“And by the way, why did he ask you about a Hwa Song-something? What was that about?”

“Hwa Song Un,” he corrected, “he was one of the victims who died from the explosion. He was a prosecutor with the Central district office.”

“Oh,” Han Yeo Jin said somberly. She paused, remembering the other question Prosecutor Seo had asked that puzzled her “Why did he ask you if you think there is something there? Something where?”

Hwang Si Mok looked at her and decided to tell her about what the dead prosecutor was investigating.

“He was the lead prosecutor at the Central office assigned to investigate Hanjo.”

Han Yeo Jin turned her head swiftly to look at him, surprised at this revelation. He can see the gears turning in her head on what this could mean.

“I don’t know yet if there is a connection,” he said when Senior Inspector Han remained silent, her head turned towards the window.

“I didn’t tell you because it could be nothing,” he explained, guessing where her thoughts went. “It could just be a coincidence that he was there that night, and we may not find anything there.”

She finally nodded, accepting his explanation, and asked, “And if we do?”

Hwang Si Mok considered this, and said, “Then we pursue it.”

They arrived at the site of the explosion. Han Yeo Jin looked at the charred remains of the former restaurant that once stood at the corner of the street, now reduced to nothing but ashes and scorched timber. They slipped under the police line that looped around the property and walked through the pile of burnt wreckage and debris that lay strewn all over the ground. Han Yeo Jin looked at the destruction around her, and felt a wave of sadness engulf her at the lives that were lost due to the unfortunate accident. If it even was an accident, she thought. As a detective, Han Yeo Jin had seen her fair share of violence and had witnessed countless of times the terrible acts that people commit against one another that it barely fazes her anymore. But there are still those moments when she witnesses something so horrible and monstrous that shakes her to her very core, and leaves her despairing over the fate of humanity. This is one of those moments; because if this explosion was caused intentionally, then they are up against forces so malevolent that they had no compunction with indiscriminately committing murder against members of the innocent masses. She felt anger over the senseless loss of innocent lives, but more than that, she is also afraid that they may be up against people that are more dangerous than they ever could have imagined, and have ever faced before.

She looked at Prosecutor Hwang, and saw him watching her intently. She must have let her emotions show clearly on her face that he is probably afraid that she will have a breakdown right on the spot. She collected herself and turned to him, calm and composed, determined to get on with the investigation.

Hwang Si Mok watched as Senior Inspector Han stare at the devastation around her. She looked visibly upset, and he knew that she is thinking of the seven lives that were lost, and the many injured victims caused by the explosion. Most members of her profession would have felt the need to shield themselves from the human cost of crime, but not Senior Inspector Han; she let herself feel it all, and let herself experience the grief over the loss of innocent lives. Some may argue that this form of emotional attachment is a detriment to their jobs as police officers, but Hwang Si Mok disagrees; in his opinion, it is the senior inspector’s ability to feel empathy, and her limitless capacity for compassion towards her fellow men that set her above her peers, and is one of the reasons that make her such an exceptional detective. He often wondered if this was why he gravitated towards her; because her warm and passionate nature is a stark contrast to his cold and unemotional character, and he needed someone who can show him all those aspects of humanity that he himself is incapable of.

He watched now as she quickly gathered herself and turned to him, her expression full of resolve and determination, and couldn’t help but admire her grit and fortitude. He nodded, and began to speak.

“The explosion originated from the kitchen. The valve on one of the propane tanks was defective, and gas leaked as a result. The gas ignited, causing an explosion right here,” he said, pointing at the spot where the tank was located. “The fire caused by the explosion quickly travelled throughout this area.” He now walked towards the center of what must have been the former kitchen, and continued. “The fire reached the storeroom, where they kept extra propane tanks and other highly flammable materials, and caused a larger, secondary explosion.”

He walked further towards the center of the restaurant and visualized how it must have looked that night. He can see it clearly in his head and described it to Senior Inspector Han. There were three tables that were the closest to the kitchen, two in the middle area situated behind concrete pillars, and a table by the front window, furthest from the kitchen.

“The cook who was right over the tank when it exploded died immediately. The owner, Mrs. Baek was standing at the counter right there, and so was the waitress, Ms. Kim” he pointed at a spot right beside the kitchen entrance. “Both have died from the first explosion.”

“The occupants of the three tables closest to the kitchen also died, this time from the second explosion,” he pointed to a spot on the far right corner, “Mr. Yee and his eleven year old son were sitting there. But his wife, who had gone to use the toilets, were not sitting with them and survived, but is in critical condition.”

“In the middle table sat a Kim Gwang Ho, an analyst,” he pointed now to a spot in the middle. “And the table between the counter and the toilets was where Prosecutor Hwa Song Un was sitting.”

He moved towards the large, concrete pillars at the center of the restaurant, scorched by the fire but still standing. “The occupants of the two tables behind these concrete pillars survived. The pillars provided cover from the first explosion, and they were able to get away before the second one happened.” He pointed now at the spot near where the front window and doors must have been. “The man sitting at that table by the window, a Mr. Park, also survived, so did the other waitress who was standing near the front doors at the time of the explosion. They are all still in the hospital, recovering from their injuries. All are in stable condition, except for the other waitress, who is in a coma.”

Han Yeo Jin took all this in, and tried to imagine how it must have looked that night. If the occupants of the three tables closest to the kitchen were not immediately killed by the first explosion, then they must have already been gravely injured that they could not get away from the second explosion that would have certainly killed them. She tried not to think of the victims; an eleven year-old boy, she thought helplessly. She can’t help but think of the mother lying in the hospital now, fighting for her life, only to discover that her family is gone even if she survived. She pulled her mind away from the depressing thought, and focused on the investigation.

“The investigators from the fire department said that the explosion was caused by a defective valve, do you think that’s true?” she asked.

Hwang Si Mok walked towards her and showed her a photo of a misshapen object, burned beyond recognition. “This was the faulty valve. They claimed that there were no signs of it being tampered with.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at the shapeless blob in the photo and asked, aghast. “How could they tell from this? It’s melted completely.”

Hwang Si Mok shrugged. “They have people who are experts at looking at arson cases and accidents caused by fire.”

Han Yeo Jin shook her head, unconvinced, and said, “Then it will be difficult to challenge their professional opinion. How are you going to dispute that?”

“By finding the missing cook, Cha Su Kyo. There’s a reason why he disappeared, and a reason he ran from us last night. He knows something, otherwise, why is he acting this way?”

Han Yeo Jin nodded in agreement and said, “Park Ik-Joon has been transferred to Anyang Prison, awaiting trial. Let’s go there tomorrow and interview him again, maybe he’ll be willing to talk this time.” She hesitated, about to say something, but stopped at the last second.

Hwang Si Mok noticed and asked, “What is it?”

She looked at him, doubt etched across her face, and said tentatively, “The night we arrested Park Ik Joon, at the hostess bar; I heard him say something on the phone before he ran away.” She stopped, struggling to find the right words. Hwang Si Mok waited patiently for her to continue.

“I heard him say ‘What do you mean they’re here?’ on the phone. It sounded like whoever was on the other line may have told him that we were there, that the police were waiting for him.” She shook her head. “But how could they have known? The operation was a secret, no one knew about it except..”

She stopped, unable to finish her sentence. Unable to say the rest because of the implication of what she was about to say. Unable to complete the words and admit that only the police knew about the operation, and if somebody told their suspect of their presence there, then the information could have only come from one source, and Han Yeo Jin cannot reconcile in her head the possibility that there might be a traitor in their group.

“You don’t know that for sure, it’s possible that the person on the other line told him something else,” Prosecutor Hwang reasoned, correctly guessing her thoughts.

But Han Yeo Jin could tell that he did not truly believe what he had just said. She had been trying to convince herself ever since that night that she might be jumping to conclusions, but she could not help but remember the look on Park Ik Joon’s face when he saw her come out of the bar, and how he instantly knew she was police.

Her troubled thoughts were interrupted by a loud voice calling out from the street. Han Yeo Jin turned and saw a man waving at them from the other side of the police line. She looked at Prosecutor Hwang curiously, and together, walked towards the stranger.

Chapter Text

“Hello there!” the man called out in greeting, his face breaking into a wide, friendly smile.

“Can we help you?” Han Yeo Jin asked. She did a quick assessment of the stranger – tall, about her age, well dressed and good looking, and looked strangely familiar.

“Yes actually, are you with the police?” the man asked, in the same friendly tone.

“Why do you want to know?” Hwang Si Mok asked tersely. Senior Inspector Han looked at him, surprised at his tone.

The man took no offense however and said, “Oh I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Seo Tae Gu, and I’m the city council member in charge of this district.”

Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin looked at each other. City Council, Hwang Si Mok thought, here come the politicians. They both took out and showed their IDs to the councilman and introduced themselves.

Seo Tae Gu looked surprised, then impressed. “A senior inspector and a prosecutor. Are you here to investigate the explosion?” he asked.

Han Yeo Jin looked reluctantly at Prosecutor Hwang, unsure of what she can say to the councilman. Seo Tae Gu noticed and, giving her a quick smile of reassurance, said, “I’m only asking because I was under the impression that the investigation had been closed, and my office was not told that the police and prosecution are still looking into it.” He explained to them, and though he kept the same amiable tone, his words are subtly reminding them both of his position, and the fact that he is also there in an official capacity.

“Of course, Councilman Seo,” said Han Yeo Jin. “Prosecutor Hwang is investigating the explosion, and I am investigating the drug and organized crime activities in the district for the Intelligence Bureau. I am working with Prosecutor Hwang because a person of interest in our case is connected to the explosion.”

Seo Tae Gu looked at her in surprise and asked, “drugs and organized crime?”

She nodded. The councilman was silent for a moment, taking in the information. He nodded and finally said, “Well, I’ll be honest. I’m glad that the police are finally investigating this. My office has been getting reports of the alarming rise of drug-related crimes in the area. I’ve taken this matter myself to the police and was told that they will be looking into it. I’m happy it’s finally happening,” he said earnestly. He paused, and asked, “So you think the same organized crime group has something to do with the explosion?”

“We don’t know for certain yet, we’re still pursuing all leads,” Han Yeo Jin clarified.

Seo Tae Gu nodded again and for a moment just stood there, staring at her. Han Yeo Jin fidgeted, uncomfortable at the scrutiny. He caught himself and smiled apologetically at her and said, “I’m sorry senior inspector, I didn’t mean to stare, it’s just that you look very familiar.”

Han Yeo Jin tried to think if she had met the councilman before, because she also felt the same stab of recognition when she first saw him. Then Councilman Seo suddenly said, “I remember now! You were on TV! A couple of months ago, you did a press conference about the missing prosecutor and you were the lead investigator.” He looked at her admiringly. “And you found him, that’s very impressive,” he said, nodding in awe. Han Yeo Jin blushed.

Hwang Si Mok watched this exchange in silence. He cannot explain why he had taken an immediate dislike to Seo Tae Gu, especially after he had been nothing but friendly to them. Maybe that’s why, he thought, he’s too friendly. Especially towards the senior inspector. As he watched their easy exchange, he felt a pang of something he can’t name, or doesn’t want to name because of how ridiculous it sounds. The councilman reminded him of Kim Jeong Bon, with the way he is currently looking at Senior Inspector Han. He had felt only a mild curiosity at his old schoolmate’s infatuation of the senior inspector, whereas with Seo Tae Gu, he felt something else. A sudden pain in his side broke him out of his musings and he realized that the senior inspector had elbowed him in the ribs, because she had been trying to say something to him, but he was clearly not paying attention.

“Prosecutor Hwang,” she said looking at him curiously, “Councilman Seo is asking you about your case.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said and looked at Senior Inspector Han, then at the councilman. “What was your question?”

Han Yeo Jin resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She does not know why Prosecutor Hwang is acting so strangely, just standing there like a tree. A silent, disapproving tree, she thought, because she could tell that Prosecutor Hwang does not seem to like the councilman. She did not know why, as the man had been nothing but friendly to them. Too friendly though, but that’s a typical politician for you, she thought. She looked at the prosecutor now and pondered that it is not like him to be rude to people, then realized that that is actually not true; what am I thinking, he is almost always rude to people, without him even realizing it. Han Yeo Jin thought that perhaps his grumpiness can be attributed to hunger as it was already past lunch time, and made a mental note to stop somewhere to eat so she can feed the man.

Seo Tae Gu repeated his question to Hwang Si Mok, “I asked if you think there is more to what the official investigation had concluded, that this was just an unfortunate accident because of a defective valve.”

“We’re looking at all aspects of the investigation,” he said noncommittally. “We just want to be thorough.”

Seo Tae Gu nodded, accepting the vague statement. He smiled and thanked them for talking to him. “I hope we see each other again soon.” He said this to both of them, but was only looking at Senior Inspector Han when he said it. He bowed in farewell and left.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” he said gruffly.

Han Yeo Jin kept looking at him, unconvinced. “You were a bit rude to him don’t you think?”

He shrugged. “I thought I was normal.”

This made her laugh, and said, “I think you’re just hungry.” She looped her arm around his, and pushed him forward. “Come on, let’s get you something to eat.”

***

Lee Yeon Jae stood in front of the portrait of her late father, and thought, not for the first time, how much her father would have hated his memorial. She looked at the distinguished crowd of people who had come to pay their last respects to the former chairman of Hanjo, and thought to herself, my father hated every one of you.

Her father always had the exceptional ability to cultivate relationships with the right people, making them feel important and cherished, exuding charisma and warmth in one moment, and power and authority the next. He would wine and dine them, laugh with them, show them the best time of their lives; and behind closed doors, mock and despise their frivolous and pathetic tendencies. But her father knew the importance of creating and maintaining these relationships, because they would all prove useful to him eventually. She once asked her father why he did not have a hobby-- like collecting expensive cars, or stamps, something. Her father just laughed and said that he does; I do have a hobby, I collect people. She startled at that, and only later on did she understood what he had meant. All these people, the relationships he had made, were all done in the pursuit of one goal- make Hanjo the biggest and most powerful company in the country. He would take all the people that he had ‘collected’ and when the time comes, he would ask, persuade and if that doesn’t work, threaten, to make them do things for him. Lee Yeon Jae loved her father, but she is not blind to his faults, and know in his essence, that her father was not a good man.

In that same vein, she looked over at the man standing stiffly beside her. Her half-brother, who is cut from the same cloth as their father. Lee Sung Jae inherited his ruthless, devious and cunning nature; but where their father had always been calm, measured and prudent in his approach to business, her brother is the exact opposite. Reckless, impulsive and prone to emotional outbursts, Lee Sung Jae is more often than not, his own worst enemy. She knew that her half-brother hated her ever since they were young, and even more now as each do their best to wrest power away from the other. Even as she stood beside him now, she could feel the hate radiating off his body pushing towards her. Lee Yeon Jae thought that she could not stand another moment being bathed in his brother’s intense animosity, while she looked at her dead father’s portrait, and walked out of the memorial hall.

She knew Lee Sung Jae had followed her out of the hall and, resigned to the fact that she will have to confront the man, ducked into an empty room to deal with the inevitable unpleasantness in private. As expected, her brother charged inside the room, and snarled at her the moment he closed the door.

“You shouldn’t have come here. Father would not have wanted you here,” he said angrily.

Lee Yeon Jae remained silent and looked at her brother calmly. Lee Yeon Jae knew just which buttons to push with him, and there is nothing he hated more than seeing her seemingly unaffected by his outbursts, and her looking at him like he is nothing but a misbehaving, unruly child. As expected, her reaction made him even angrier, his face turning even redder.

“Father didn’t want you as CEO. And I am going to make sure he gets his last wish and remove you from Hanjo once and for all.”

Lee Yeon Jae said nothing, and tried to rein in her anger for the man standing in front of her. The same man who had kept her from seeing her father that she didn’t even get a chance to see him once last time; to talk to him, and to say goodbye. Her brother locked up her father in that house like a prisoner, under the guise of him being too ill, but she knew it was just his way of to keep him under his control, and to keep her away from him, while he slowly and steadily establish his own power within the company.

“Did you kill our father?” she asked.

Lee Sung Jae sneered at her, and said contemptuously, “No, you did. When you married that bastard who almost brought down our company. When you brought him into our lives and brought shame to our family. You’re the reason our father became ill. And you’re the reason he’s dead.”

He stormed off. Alone in the room, Lee Yeon Jae found that she could no longer keep a hold of her emotions. She collapsed to her knees, covering her mouth to silence her sobs. She thought about her dead father, but most of all, she thought about Chang Jun. When you married that bastard who almost brought down our company. Her brother’s words rang loudly in her ears, and she cried, angry at her dead husband for his actions. For almost destroying her family. And for leaving her alone forever.

Director Park watched helplessly from the small gap in the door as Lee Yeon Jae fell apart. He wanted desperately to comfort her, but he knew his superior will not appreciate the gesture; the powerful CEO does not let anyone see her in a vulnerable state, not even Director Park. He curled his fists into a tight ball, and looked towards the hall where Lee Sung Jae is, and vowed to make him pay for making Mrs. Lee cry.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok stopped by the Supreme Prosecutor’s office to see Kim Sa Hyun before heading to the prison with Senior Inspector Han. He discovered that his former assistant chief had been assigned to lead the investigation on the Hanjo case, replacing the late Prosecutor Hwa. Hwang Si Mok was surprised at the reception he got from Prosecutor Kim; for some reason, the man seemed genuinely glad to see him.

They talked about the Hanjo case, and as expected, Prosecutor Kim and his team have not been able to find any concrete evidence proving that the dead Park Gwang Su was working for the corporation. And Woo Tae-Ha, the former chief, had denied all allegations that he or Hanjo was involved.

“It’s disgraceful,” Prosecutor Kim shook his head sadly, “that he kept denying it. We all knew what he did, but he will never admit it.”

Hwang Si Mok said nothing. He did not tell Prosecutor Kim that Woo Tae-Ha’s actions did not surprise him in the slightest. This was the man who could have gotten Prosecutor Seo killed when he planted a fake witness and disrupted the police investigation of his kidnapping because he wanted to cast the police in a bad light so that the Prosecution can keep their investigative rights. The same man who had threatened to destroy the senior inspector’s career so that he can keep his own. Hwang Si Mok knew exactly just what that their former chief is really capable of.

“I heard you are also investigating Hanjo Engineering for other alleged wrongdoings – tax evasion, stock manipulation, bribery.”

“Don’t forget the embezzlement,” Prosecutor Kim said. “I haven’t found any solid proof of that, and neither did Prosecutor Hwa.”

Hwang Si Mok asked him if he knew why Prosecutor Hwa was at that restaurant in Haebangchon, and if he had any business there.

Prosecutor Kim shrugged, and said, “I don’t know, maybe he just got hungry and decided to eat there?”

Hwang Si Mok considered this; it’s a valid point, but why go to a place that is out of the way of his work and home?

“Although,” Prosecutor Kim continued, “I did hear from his team that he was in contact with somebody before he died. Somebody who had information on Hanjo.” He glanced around him, as if to check for eavesdroppers, “a secret witness.”

This got Hwang Si Mok’s attention. “A secret witness?” he asked. “Who is it?”

Prosecutor Kim shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve been going through his papers, hoping to find a clue as to the person’s identity. But he didn’t keep any records.” He sighed. “Whoever they are, Prosecutor Hwa took their identities to his grave.”

He looked at Hwang Si Mok and asked imploringly. “If you find them, let me know, will you?”

Hwang Si Mok arrived at the Anyang Detention centre and saw immediately the collection of police cars, ambulance and a coroner’s van assembled at the entrance. He saw that Senior Inspector Han had arrived before him, and is currently talking to a man in a coroner’s uniform. He got out of his car and walked towards the senior inspector, just as a gurney carrying a black body bag was being wheeled out. Senior Inspector Han noticed him and walked over, a worried look on her face. A feeling of dread came over him, as he turned to ask the senior inspector what had happened, though he has a strong suspicion of who was inside the body bag.

“It’s Park Ik Joon. He’s dead,” she said heavily.

They watched as the body of the only person who can lead them to their key witness was loaded into the coroner van.

Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin studied the whiteboard before them. They are now at Yongsan station, driving there after their trip to Anyang, and briefed the task force on the death of Park Ik Joon. The coroner had told them that Park Ik Joon had died of an apparent heart attack. He was observed to be alive and well before lights out, and was found unresponsive and not breathing at around 7 am the next day. The prison doctors had tried to revive him to no avail, and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.

“The coroner said the death does not appear to be suspicious,” Han Yeo Jin told the detective squad gathered around her. “But we’ll know for sure after the autopsy. In the meantime, we need to question the prisoners and the prison staff and ask if they saw anything suspicious leading up to his death.” Detective Lee raised his hand and volunteered to do the interviews in the prison, while Jang Geon was tasked to follow up on the autopsy results with the coroner.

“Hello everyone!”

Every head turned at the sound of the voice, and saw Seo Dong Jae standing there, wearing a big smile and carrying a dozen take away bags.

All at once, Seo Dong Jae found himself the target of a dozen wary and suspicious stares. He expected this reaction; most of these men are aware of his history, and only knew him as that shady prosecutor who had gotten himself kidnapped. And yet he knew that these same people who is now eyeing him with blatant distrust had done their very best to find and rescue him from his abductor. Seo Dong Jae knew that he owes a big debt to all of them, and had come today to convey his long overdue thanks.

“What are you doing here?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“I wanted to see you and Prosecutor Hwang,” he said, overly polite. “But I also came to bring lunch for everybody. As a thank you to the squad for their help in my rescue,” he said, showing them the bags of take-away food. He put the bags down on the table, turned to the group and took a deep breath, and proclaimed solemnly and sincerely, “Thank you all, for saving my life.” And to everyone’s surprise, bowed deeply to all of them.

Han Yeo Jin stared at him in shock, then looked around at Prosecutor Hwang and the rest of the detective squad, and saw that all of them were wearing the same surprised expression as her. There was a moment of awkward silence, each one not knowing what to say or how to react after Prosecutor Seo’s dramatic pronouncement, until Detective Seo broke the silence by asking “Is that from Rhino Dumplings?”

Seo Dong Jae smiled, visibly relieved, and said that yes, indeed it is; at which point, everyone converged at the table to partake on the food, the detectives nodding at him appreciatively. Everyone, except Senior Inspector Han and Hwang Si Mok. The senior inspector is still eyeing him warily, while Hwang Si Mok just stood there wearing his usual face of non-expression. Seo Dong Jae expected this from Senior Inspector Han and was ready with an offering especially for her.

“Senior Inspector Han, you like tteokbokki right? I got them for you,” he said, showing her the bag. He noticed her straighten up, eyeing the bag eagerly. He can see her battling with herself, not wanting to give him the satisfaction but at the same time, clearly coveting the delicious treat he is holding. She bit her lip.

“Fine. Let’s go eat in the briefing room,” Han Yeo Jin said resignedly, her hunger winning over her pride.

Seo Dong Jae resisted the urge to pump his fist in the air in triumph, and instead followed her to the room. Hwang Si Mok trailed behind them, asking “Did you get rice cake skewers too?”

The three of them sat together, eating their fill of the delicious lunch. Han Yeo Jin turned to Prosecutor Seo and asked, “How did you know I like tteokbokki?”

“Hwang Si Mok told me,” he said, pointing to the other man.

Han Yeo Jin turned to Prosecutor Hwang and asked, disgruntled, “Why would you tell him that?”

Hwang Si Mok, his mouth full of the rice cake skewers, just shrugged and said, “Because you do like them.”

Han Yeo Jin shook her head at him, sighed in frustration and thought, how can he be so intelligent and dumb at the same time.

Seo Dong Jae put his food down, and said, “Anyway, I wanted to talk to you because I found something.”

They turned to him, expectant.

“Prosecutor Hwa was in contact with someone before he died. Someone who had evidence against Hanjo,” he paused to look at the two and saw no reaction at all to his news. “Incriminating evidence,” he added in emphasis, confused at their reaction, because he thought that what he had told them was an important piece of new information.

“We already know about that,” said Hwang Si Mok. “I talked to Prosecutor Kim and he told me about it, because he took over from Prosecutor Hwa as the lead investigator.”

“Oh,” Seo Dong Jae said, disappointed that his information was not the bombshell he was hoping for. He quickly recovered and asked, “Do you know who it is?”

They both shook their heads. Seo Dong Jae sighed, disappointed. He noticed then a piece of paper with names written on it, along with information listed under each. “What is this?” he asked.

“The names of the victims of the explosion, along with their bios,” said Han Yeo Jin.

Seo Dong Jae looked at the names and their personal information. 7 people dead, he thought and closed his eyes when he read the name of the youngest victim. 11 years old, he thought sadly, same age as my son.

Han Yeo Jin watched Prosecutor Seo’s emotional reaction as he read the names of the victims, and once again found herself confused by the man before him. If he is a spy for Hanjo, then he is doing a very good job hiding his true intentions. She was not expecting him to show up today, let alone bring lunch for the detective squad. And she hated to admit that his declaration of gratitude to the Yongsan squad sounded sincere and heart-felt. She is not sure whether she prefers the old Prosecutor Seo to this new, improved one; at least with the old one, she knew exactly what to expect, whereas this new one continually perplexed her, and forced her to be constantly on guard. She was still trying to figure out the man before him when he suddenly stood up, still holding the list, looking very agitated. He looked at them both, held up a finger as if he is about to say something, then ran quickly out of the room without saying a word.

Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok stared after Seo Dong Jae’s running figure, then at each other, puzzled at his actions.

“What was that about?” asked Hwang Si Mok.

“I don’t know, but more tteokbokki for me,” she said happily, leaning over the table to pull Prosecutor Seo’s untouched food towards her.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok sat across from Chief Oh in his office at Western Prosecution, updating him on the progress of his case. He told him about the failed attempt to capture the missing cook, Cha Su Kyo and the latest development of Park Ik Joon’s death.

“Was it murder?” Chief Oh asked.

“We don’t know yet sir,” he replied, “we’re still waiting for the autopsy results.”

His chief sighed. “So, in short, you have nothing.”

Hwang Si Mok stiffened and said, “No. Not yet anyway, sir.”

Chief Oh scrutinized him. “What happened to you?” he suddenly asked, pointing to his heavily bruised face.

Hwang Si Mok touched his face self-consciously and told him about the details of the night of Cha Su Kyo’s botched capture.

“Wait, you’re telling me that that senior inspector did this to you? Senior Inspector Han?” his chief asked incredulously. Hwang Si Mok nodded.

Chief Oh snorted. “So you got beaten up by a woman?” he asked, his tone mocking.

Hwang Si Mok took no offense however, and said matter-of-factly, “Senior Inspector Han is capable of beating up any man sir, yourself included.” His chief scowled.

“And now you’re working with the senior inspector on your case?” Chief Oh asked.

Hwang Si Mok nodded, explaining that their case seems to be related for now, and that he had worked with her in the past and found the senior inspector a highly competent investigator.

“I know you’ve worked together before,” his chief said, “and caused all sorts of trouble for a lot of people.”

“If by trouble, you mean bringing them to justice then yes, that is correct, sir,” Hwang Si Mok said.

His chief scowled again, then stood up, indicating the end of the meeting. Hwang Si Mok bowed and exited his office.

Oh Joo Seung sat alone in his office after the meeting with Prosecutor Hwang. He contemplated what the young prosecutor had told him, and contrary to what he said to him in the meeting, Prosecutor Hwang actually already found more than what he was expecting him to, given that it had only been a few days since he was assigned to the case. He decided then that the time has come to make the call. He took his phone out of his pocket and dialed the number. The line was instantly picked up, and Oh Joo Seung began telling the man on the other line about his meeting with Prosecutor Hwang.

“He hasn’t found anything yet. But,” he paused, “he’s now working with that senior inspector. Again.”

“Han Yeo Jin.” The voice on the other line said.

“Yes. And he talked to Prosecutor Kim. About Hanjo.”

The line was silent for a moment, then the voice said, “Keep him away from the Central office investigation. You know what is at stake here. You need to keep a close eye on them, now that they are working together again.”

Oh Joo Seung closed his eyes, then nodded, and said, “Yes sir.”

Director No stared at the unknown number flashing on the incoming call on his cellphone, and felt his heart rate suddenly jump up. He had been expecting the call, but if he was being honest, also dreading it. He picked up quickly, not wanting to keep the other party waiting, and listened nervously to the voice on the other line.

“No sir, she is still looking for the missing cook and his girlfriend,” he said in response to the question asked by the caller.

“Yes, she is working with the prosecutor. Prosecutor Hwang,” he said and looked out the interior window of his office towards Senior Inspector Han’s desk, where the senior inspector is currently diligently working away.

“Yes sir, I understand,” he said and hung up. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and looked out his office window again at Senior Inspector Han, and thought about his next steps.

***

Seo Dong Jae burst through the door of his office at Uijeongbu, making his two assistants jump up in surprise. He muttered a hasty apology, and made a beeline to his desk, frantically opening drawers, clearly looking for something. His assistants looked at each other, concerned at his frenzied manner. Seo Dong Jae took no notice of them, too intent on his search. When he saw the name on the list of victims back at Yongsan station, it triggered a memory in him; the name sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t exactly remember where he had seen it. Then it finally hit him, and he ran out of the station and drove to his office as fast as he could. Because if he remembered right, then he may have just found a huge break in their case. He finally located the correct document and quickly turned the pages to the right section and found what he is looking for. There it is, he thought in amazement, and banged his fist on his desk in triumph, making his assistants jump again. He took the document and ran out the door, leaving his office and his bewildered assistants behind.

Han Yeo Jin parked her car and made her way towards the pop up bar to meet Prosecutor Hwang. She received a call from him to meet him for dinner to talk about their case, and was surprised to hear that their old, familiar spot is back in business. She stopped suddenly when she spied Prosecutor Hwang, sitting at their old spot and eating a bowl of ramen. For a moment, she just stood there and watched him, a feeling of warmth and contentment washing over her. In that moment, Han Yeo Jin felt happier than she had been for a long time. And despite the daunting task that lay ahead of them, she felt that she is right where she is supposed to be.

Hwang Si Mok watched as Senior Inspector Han walked towards him, her face breaking into the familiar, open smile that she reserves just for him. He knew that the senior inspector would appreciate coming here, their old hunting ground; so, when he saw that the place had re-opened, he called her immediately and asked for her to meet him there. He could have just easily discussed the case with her over the phone, but a feeling of nostalgia had suddenly overcome him, and he realized that he longed to see the senior inspector sitting opposite him again, in her usual spot, while they talked about their case, just like old times. This uncharacteristic bout of sentimentality had both confused and surprised him, but seeing the senior inspector’s reaction now had convinced him that he had made the right call.

Han Yeo Jin sat down on the stool opposite Prosecutor Hwang, looked around her in delight and said, “I can’t believe this place has re-opened.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded and said, “Yes, they decided to re-open under new owners. The food is better too.” He gestured towards his bowl of ramen, at which point, Senior Inspector Han took a spoon to his soup, gave a quick taste, then nodded approvingly. Hwang Si Mok’s smile came suddenly, as he remembered the time when she did the exact same thing all those years ago.

Han Yeo Jin saw Prosecutor Hwang smile, and suddenly experienced a strong sense of déjà vu. He did exactly that, looked exactly like that and did it at the exact same spot all those years ago. That was the first time she ever saw him smile, and she remembered commenting to him that he has a nice smile, and that he should do it more often, and later, even drew a picture of him smiling to commemorate the moment. She swallowed at the sudden lump in her throat. She was startled at her reaction, and turned around as if to order food but really trying to hide the unexpected glistening in her eyes, when a bowl of udon suddenly materialized before her. She looked questioningly at the bowl of food, and then at Prosecutor Hwang.

“I ordered you udon. I remember you liked it,” he explained, and continued wolfing down his food.

Han Yeo Jin stared at him in astonishment. He had never ordered her food before. Ever. First the coffee, now this, she thought, and he remembered what I like. She marveled at the change in him, and thought for a moment that perhaps she had unwittingly knocked some sensitivity into him when she punched the living daylights out of him that night. She snorted, amused at the thought.

“What?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

She shook her head, still smiling, and said, “Nothing. Thank you for ordering me food.”

He nodded in acknowledgment. “Any news on the stake-out?” he asked, diving into business.

She shook her head, “No. We’re still watching the bar, but Hana hasn’t shown up for work. Cha Su Kyo might have warned her not to go there, but we’ll keep watching in case she turns up.”

“We’re also staking out Cha Su Kyo’s place, hoping she or he may turn up,” she continued. “And we’re trying to track down the address for the girlfriend. It’s difficult with the little information we have about her. And, we got the autopsy results,” she reached into her bag, took out a folder and handed it to him.

Hwang Si Mok took the folder and read the file. He read the coroner’s official findings and looked at the senior inspector in surprise.

“I know. No poison, no foreign objects and no signs of foul play,” she said. “Just your regular, run-of-the-mill heart attack.”

“It says here they found drugs in his system,” he said, pointing out the section.

“Yes, apparently Park Ik-Joon took anti-depressants. The prison infirmary provided the medicine, and the coroner said that according to his medical records, he’s been taking the same medicine for a while,” she explained.

Hwang Si Mok handed her back the file, and said, “So there’s nothing there then.”

“Well, Detective Lee will still question the people at the prison, maybe he’ll find something there.”

He nodded, and switched tacks. “I’ve been thinking about Prosecutor Hwa, about why he would go to that specific restaurant.”

Han Yeo Jin remained silent, urging him to continue. “The restaurant is out of the way of his work and home, and when I questioned his colleagues, none of them were aware that he had business in the area. So why go there?” he asked the senior inspector.

She tried to think of a possible answer, but came up empty. She shrugged and said, “Maybe he just felt like driving in that direction, got hungry and decided to eat there. Maybe it’s as simple and mundane as that. Maybe we’re looking for nefarious reasons where none exists, just because of his connection with Hanjo.”

Hwang Si Mok contemplated this and remembered that Prosecutor Kim had said almost the same thing. But he cannot seem to ignore the gut feeling he has that there is a connection; he just hasn’t found it yet.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang, and knew that he remains unconvinced, and said, “Look, we will obviously still look into it. But let’s not forget our main objective: yours is to find the cause of the explosion, while mine is to find the people behind the drug and organized crime activities in the area.” She looked at him imploringly, and said, “we cannot get distracted by other things that is unrelated to both our cases.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded. Senior Inspector Han had a point, he thought, and he had to remind himself that he is not here to investigate Hanjo. And that he needed to focus on his main priority: find the real cause of the explosion that ended the lives of 7 innocent people, and injured many others.

“There you are! I need to talk to both of you!”

Han Yeo Jin turned and for the second time that day, found herself startled by the sudden appearance of Prosecutor Seo.

“What are you doing here? And how did you find us?” she asked in surprise.

“Hwang Si Mok told me,” he said, pointing to him again, just as he had done earlier that day at Yongsan station.

Han Yeo Jin threw up her hand in frustration. “So do you just tell him everything now?” she asked Prosecutor Hwang, disgruntled.

“I didn’t know he was going to come here,” he answered defensively. Han Yeo Jin gave him a look.

“Never mind that,” he said impatiently, “I found something.” He took out a document and laid it on the table.

“When I was reading through the names of the victim, one name jumped out at me; Kim Gwang Ho, the analyst and one of the people who died. It sounded familiar but I wasn’t sure why. Then I remembered; it’s because I’ve seen that name and his photo before, on this,” he pointed to the document. “It’s a list of employees for KPC and Associates, the largest auditing firm in Seoul. Kim Gwang Ho,” he pointed at the name on the document, besides a photo of a man that matches the photo of their victim, “is not just an analyst, he is actually one of the senior auditors working for the company. And guess who he is auditing.” He paused to look at them, clearly excited.

“Hanjo Engineering,” he finished triumphantly and watched in satisfaction as Senior Inspector Han and Hwang Si Mok finally gave him the reaction he was hoping for since that morning.

“Then that means...” Hwang Si Mok started to say but was cut off by the senior inspector.

“…that he’s the secret witness Prosecutor Hwa was meeting,” she finished in amazement, and looked at Prosecutor Hwang, “that’s why…”

“…why he was there, at that restaurant.” He nodded, taking over, “why he went to a place that is out of the way, and far from where he works. So that..”

“…no one will see him talking to a secret informant,” she nodded, following his train of thought. “And if the auditor, Kim Gwang Ho, felt the need to meet in secret, then that means he may not have told anyone else about what he found, not even his own company. Because…”

“Because he could have disclosed his findings officially and publicly,” Hwang Si Mok continued from her. “As auditors of Hanjo, he could have. But he didn’t, so either he was pressured not to or felt that what he found was too big and too sensitive that he had to go straight to the prosecution with it.”

Seo Dong Jae sat there and watched in wonder at the exchange. It had always baffled him how an uptight prosecutor like Hwang Si Mok and Senior Inspector Han, his polar opposite, have managed to work so well together. Now he knows, as he watched them literally finishing each other’s sentences and realized that their stark difference in personalities is, in fact, the very thing that makes them so compatible; like two completely different pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly and seamlessly. Different parts of the same whole, making them each other’s perfect partners. For a moment, Seo Dong Jae felt a pang of jealousy, tinged with a just a touch of regret. He wanted something similar for himself, but never managed to find a friendship and partnership quite like theirs.

“What?” Senior Inspector Han asked, looking at him curiously, and Seo Dong Jae realized that he had been staring at them in silent awe the entire time. He shook himself mentally and said, “Nothing. It’s just the two of you…nothing,” he finished lamely with a shake of his head. “But anyway, you know what this means right?” he asked excitedly, looking at them both.

“Yes, that Hanjo just became part of our case,” said Hwang Si Mok.

Chapter Text

They made plans to visit the hospital the next day to talk to the survivors, to see if any of them remembered seeing Prosecutor Hwa and the auditor, Kim Gwang Ho, together in order to support their theory that they were there to meet and speak with each other; and if any of them had heard anything, or remember any of their interaction. Seo Dong Jae wanted to come and be part of the investigation, to which they both reluctantly agreed, since it was him after all who had discovered the connection with the auditor. Seo Dong Jae noticed their reluctance, mostly on the senior inspector’s part, but was too excited at the prospect of working with them to say anything.

After he left, Han Yeo Jin turned to Prosecutor Hwang, and once again asked if he trusts him. “I know what you said. That you want to give him a chance, because he reminded you of Young Eun Soo. But I’m going to ask again – does it have to be him? What if he’s working for Hanjo?”

Hwang Si Mok looked at her, choosing his next words carefully to try and make the senior inspector understand. “He’s still wearing the same watch he wore the other day. Same shoes too.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at him in confusion and asked, “What does that mean?”

“He used to wear different ones every day. Watches and shoes. Three years ago, when we worked together at the Western office.”

Han Yeo Jin mulled over the meaning of his words. “So, you’re saying that he’s different now? That he no longer lives an extravagant lifestyle because he stopped taking bribes? That he’s changed after his kidnapping?”

“No,” Hwang Si Mok said, shaking his head. “I think he changed even before then. I already noticed it, before he was kidnapped.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at him, skeptical.

“We’ll keep a close eye on him. If he steps out of line, I’ll let you arrest him.”

Han Yeo Jin smiled at this, relishing the thought.

Hwang Si Mok drove to the hospital to visit the survivors the next day. He had just parked his car in the hospital parking lot just as Senior inspector Han pulled in. He waited as she parked and got out of her car, and walked with her towards the hospital entrance.

“Is Prosecutor Seo here yet?” she asked him.

“I don’t know, I just got here myself.”

“Well, if he’s not here yet then we’ll have to start without him.”

“Good Morning!”

Han Yeo Jin jumped, startled at Prosecutor Seo’s loud and cheerful greeting. Damn the man, she thought, her hand in her heart, always sneaking up on me.

“I got you guys some breakfast,” he said, showing the tray of coffee and paper bag he is holding. Han Yeo Jin narrowed her eyes at him, he seems to be using food to tear down her defenses. Well, she thought, if he thinks he can bribe me with food, then-

“Senior Inspector Han, I got you a latte and a chocolate croissant.”

-he’s right. Damn it! She thought, taking the food from him eagerly, and just a little bit ashamed of herself at how easily she capitulated. She really likes chocolate.

“Hwang Si Mok, I got you red bean bread and strawberry milk. You like red bean bread right?”

“Not really,” Hwang Si Mok said, but took the food and drink anyway. He does like strawberry milk.

Han Yeo Jin laughed. “Strawberry milk? What are you, eight?” she teased.

“I like it,” Hwang Si Mok said defensively.

“Uh-huh, want me to put that straw in for you?”

“You’re having dessert for breakfast,” he retorted.

“Catching bad guys burns a lot of calories,” she retorted, biting into the pastry.

Seo Dong Jae stood there aghast, watching their exchange. Not just the fact that Hwang Si Mok is letting Senior Inspector Han tease him like this, but he seemed actually pleased by it. When other people teased, or made jokes at Hwang Si Mok, they are just met with stony silence and his perpetual blank expression. But Hwang Si Mok looked like he is enjoying himself immensely, judging from the fact that the corners of his mouth had turned up in some semblance of a smile. Hwang Si Mok is freaking smiling, he thought, startled at the image. In all the years he had worked with him, he had never seen him smile. Not once. Not ever. He was so taken aback that he just stood there with his mouth gaping.

“Are you alright, Prosecutor Seo?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Seo Dong Jae recalled himself. “Yes, I’m fine. I just realized…something,” he said vaguely. Because he did just realize something and wondered if the two of them had come to the same realization. Probably not, he thought, not sure they ever will, or if they do, they probably won’t admit it. He thought to himself that it would be fascinating to watch this develop, but thought it highly unlikely to ever happen, considering the people involved.

“Okay, then stop staring, ‘cause you’re starting to freak me out,” Han Yeo Jin said.

Seo Dong Jae smiled, and followed the two of them inside.

Hwang Si Mok studied the hospital directory, searching for the right floor where 6 out of the 8 survivors are currently staying. The other 2, the waitress and the mother, are still in intensive care and in critical condition. “7^th floor,” he said, and they moved towards the banks of elevators and waited.

“Actually, I’m going to take the stairs,” Seo Dong Jae said.

Hwang Si Mok looked at him inquisitively. “That’s a lot of stairs,” he commented.

“I don’t mind. I couldn’t go to the gym today, so this will be my work-out,” he smiled and walked towards the stairwell.

Hwang Si Mok stared after him and said to the senior inspector, “That’s strange.”

Han Yeo Jin looked up from her phone and said distractedly, “Not really, he’s into his personal appearance and he probably spends more time than me getting ready in the morning, manscaping.”

The elevators arrived and they both stepped in and made their way to the 7^th floor to interview the survivors.

They began with the couple who was out on a date at the restaurant when the explosion happened. Both sustained third degree burns and some minor injuries, but nothing life-threatening. Both had said that they were there during the first explosion but was avoided getting directly hit by the fireball because of the concrete pillar in front of their table, and managed to just get away before the second one happened. Unfortunately, both were unable to provide them any information about the prosecutor and the auditor when asked, as they claimed to have been so focused on each other the entire time. They moved on to the occupants of the other table; a group of three teenagers who were eating at the restaurant after a night out in the movies. They too sustained similar injuries as the couple, and also managed to run out of the restaurant before the second explosion. They asked them the same question about Prosecutor Hwa and the auditor, Mr. Kim, but was told the same thing, that they did not really pay any notice to them and therefore were not able to give them any information.

“Did you notice anything else unusual? Anything at all?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

They looked at each other, all shook their heads in the negative, but one of them said, “There was that man who was sitting at the table near the window. We asked if we could switch with him because he had a bigger table, and he was alone and there were three of us. He said no, so the waitress had to sit us in the middle, smaller one, behind the big pillar. And the thing was blocking our view of the tables at the back of the restaurant, so we couldn’t really see those people you were asking us about.”

Mr. Park, a registered nurse by profession and the occupant of the table by the front window, was up next. He only had minor burns but suffered injuries to his head and torso after being thrown clear out the window by the impact of the explosion. He was uncomfortable with being questioned, clearly still struggling with the traumatic events of that night, but agreed to answer their queries regardless.

“Yes, I remember those kids. They asked me to move and I said no. They were very rude to me too,” he said in response to their comment about the teenagers from the other table.

“We wanted to ask you about the other patrons in the restaurant that night, specifically the two men who would’ve been sitting at the table closest to the kitchen, and you would have had a clear view of them from where you were sitting. Did you notice them at all?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Mr. Park looked at her, startled at the question, “Two men?”

She nodded and asked if she saw them together. Mr. Park looked away, visibly upset, and Han Yeo Jin thought he is probably thinking about the fact that they are both dead now, and he is likely to have been one of the last people who saw them alive.

“They both died,” he said, crying now. He closed his eyes, and the three of them waited until he had composed himself. When he finally opened his eyes, he told them in a clear, steady voice, “Yes, I saw them together.”

All three straightened up, alert now at this revelation. Han Yeo Jin eagerly asked her next question, “What were they doing Mr. Park?”

Mr. Park closed his eyes, as if trying to recall what he saw that night, and answered. “They seem to be having an intense discussion, because they were closely huddled together. And they were both looking at a tablet, like they were watching something on it.”

“And did you see anything else, hear anything else?” she asked further.

But Mr. Park just shook his head, clearly distressed, and said, “No, I’m sorry but that’s all I remember. I don’t like thinking about…,” he paused, distraught. “Please, I need to rest now,” he said, then turned his head away.

Han Yeo Jin gave him a slight bow of apology, thanked him for his efforts, and left his room with Prosecutors Hwang and Seo in tow.

Outside the room, the three of them stood together and discussed what they discovered from the Mr. Park interview.

“So, we were right, Prosecutor Hwa and Mr. Kim did meet that night in secret. Possibly to talk about Hanjo,” said Seo Dong Jae.

“We don’t know that for sure. No one overheard them so we don’t know what they were actually discussing,” Hwang Si Mok said.

“What else would they have discussed? He is the lead prosecutor investigating Hanjo and he’s the auditor looking into Hanjo. It only makes sense,” Seo Dong Jae argued vehemently.

“The tablet.” Han Yeo Jin said suddenly, lost in thought. “Mr. Park said they were watching something on it. Or maybe reading something on it. It might have contained the information he found that he wanted to share with the prosecution.”

“It would have been destroyed in the fire. We won’t be able to recover any of their stuff,” said Hwang Si Mok. “But perhaps there is a record of it somewhere. Perhaps Mr. Kim kept a copy and hid it away.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded and said, “We need to interview Mr. Park’s family and colleagues, and see if they can give us a clue of what it is, or where he may have stored it.”

“Senior Inspector Han! Prosecutor Hwang!”

They all turned at the sound of the voice and saw Councilman Seo Tae Gu waving and walking towards them.

“What is he doing here?” asked Hwang Si Mok.

“Hey, I know that guy. That’s Councilman Seo Tae Gu” Seo Dong Jae said.

“How did you know him?” Han Yeo Jin asked him in surprise.

Prosecutor Seo looked at her in mild confusion, and said, “Almost everyone does. He’s quite popular. And rumor has it that he is going to be the next mayor of Seoul, after the scandal with the current mayor. You know, the one with the video of him…” He trailed off, and Han Yeo Jin remembered seeing the numerous news coverage on the whole scandalous affair. The disgraced mayor caught on video having sexual relations with a prostitute, and an underage one at that.

“Did you say the next mayor of Seoul?” she asked.

Seo Dong Jae nodded and said, “Like I said, he’s quite popular. Young, good looking and very forward-thinking. He’s the party’s golden boy.”

Seo Tae Gu reached the group, sporting the same wide and friendly smile that he wore on their first meeting, and carrying what appears to be several bouquets of flowers in his arms.

“This is an unexpected and nice surprise,” he said, grinning widely. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here today.” He turned to Seo Dong Jae and introduced himself. Seo Dong Jae gave him a slight bow and did the same, and immediately began to obsequiously fawn over the councilman, telling him what a great honor it is to meet him.

Now there’s the Seo Dong Jae we know and love, thought Han Yeo Jin disdainfully, as she watched Prosecutor Seo toady up to the councilman. She looked over to Prosecutor Hwang and wondered what the matter with him is when she noticed the severe scowl on his face.

“So, what brings you here today?” Seo Tae Gu asked the group. His gaze lingered on Han Yeo Jin and his smile grew even wider.

“We’re visiting the survivors, and interviewing them about what happened the night of the explosion,” she answered.

“Ah,” said the councilman, nodding in understanding. “Of course, you’re investigating the explosion. And did you discover anything new?” he asked.

“That’s confidential information,” Hwang Si Mok said curtly.

They all turned to him, surprised at his abruptness, but the councilman recovered quickly. “Of course, I understand,” he said still smiling. “I only asked because this tragedy is very personal to me. I used to live around that neighborhood,” he explained somberly “and the thought that it could be anything other than an accident is inconceivable to me.”

Han Yeo Jin and Seo Dong Jae nodded in understanding, while Hwang Si Mok remained impassive. Seo Tae Gu continued, “In fact, I’m also here to visit the victims,” he gestured at the flowers he is holding, “to see how they are doing, and if there is anything I could do to help them.”

Seo Dong Jae commented how nice it was of him to make the effort to visit the survivors and to bring them flowers, at which the councilman looked mildly embarrassed. “It’s nothing. They’re just flowers,” he said and added sheepishly, “I’m afraid I let the lady in the flower shop pick all of them, because I don’t know anything about flowers. She said chrysanthemums are in season, so..” he trailed off, shrugging self-consciously.

“Chrysanthemums are nice,” Han Yeo Jin said politely.

Seo Tae Gu brightened. “Well, in that case,” he said and proceeded to take a single stem of chrysanthemum out of one of the bouquets. “Here you go,” he smiled and handed it to her.

Han Yeo Jin reluctantly took the proffered blossom, not knowing what else to do at the unexpected gesture. She stood there, awkwardly holding the flower.

“Something to brighten your day, Senior Inspector Han,” Seo Tae Gu said shyly.

Han Yeo Jin blushed. Hwang Si Mok scowled. And Seo Dong Jae watched them all in rapt and fascinated attention.

“Thank you,” she said, her cheeks still tinged with pink.

“You’re welcome,” the councilman said, smiling at her.

“Chrysanthemums are flowers of death.”

They all turned to look at Hwang Si Mok at his sudden, and slightly unnerving, statement. Senior Inspector Han is looking at him like he had lost his mind, while Prosecutor Seo looked as if he is trying to contain his laughter. He shrugged.

“Well,” said Seo Tae Gu, “let’s hope they don’t know that.” He laughed, embarrassed. He said his goodbyes then and thanked them for their efforts. He turned to Han Yeo Jin once again, and said, “It’s always a pleasure to see you Senior Inspector Han. Perhaps we’ll see each other again soon.” He made a slight bow to the three of them and left.

Han Yeo Jin turned to Prosecutor Hwang and asked, “What was that about?”

“I know, why would he give you a flower? It’s weird,” he said, agreeing with her.

“I meant you. And your death flower comment,” she said, exasperated.

He stared at her blankly. Han Yeo Jin realized that Prosecutor Hwang had probably not even grasp how inappropriate his comment was, and how awkward it made everyone feel. The absurdity of it all makes her want to laugh. She shook her head, released a long-suffering sigh and said, “Never mind.” She took his arm and pulled him towards the elevators.

Hwang Si Mok watched as Senior Inspector Han drove off, on her way now to Yongsan station, leaving him and Prosecutor Seo standing alone in the hospital parking lot. He sensed Prosecutor Seo’s shoulders silently shaking in mirth beside him; he is not sure what amuses him so, but he thought he heard him mutter ‘death flowers’ under his breath.

“Well, that was an interesting encounter,” said Seo Dong Jae, amusement evident in his voice, “how did you two know Seo Tae Gu?”

Hwang Si Mok told him about meeting the councilman at the explosion site. Seo Dong Jae nodded and said, “You don’t seem to like him very much.”

“He’s a typical politician.”

Seo Dong Jae looked at him, a knowing expression on his face and said, “He seems to like Senior Inspector Han though. A lot.” He looked at Hwang Si Mok, gauging his reaction.

Hwang Si Mok maintained his expressionless mask, not giving Seo Dong Jae any hints. He shrugged, “Senior Inspector Han has many likeable traits,” he said indifferently, and started walking towards his parked car.

Seo Dong Jae did his best not to laugh, because despite Hwang Si Mok’s deliberate air of nonchalance, he did not miss the slight tightening of his jaw when he told him that the councilman fancied the senior inspector. He decided not to push further and let Hwang Si Mok off the hook this time, and asked him instead about what he’s planning to do next.

“I have to go back to the Western office. I got summoned for a meeting,” he said.

“By whom?” Seo Dong Jae asked.

“The Deputy Prosecutor General.”

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok sat in silence as Deputy Prosecutor General Shin Dong-Un read his progress report on the explosion case. He was surprised by the summons, and even more surprised that his direct superior, Chief Oh, was not included in the meeting. Hwang Si Mok felt a small sense of apprehension when he received the call to meet with the Deputy Prosecutor General; after all, their last meeting did not really go well, after Hwang Si Mok had disobeyed the man’s direct orders not to reveal Woo Tae-Ha’s crime of planting fake evidence to incriminate the police in the kidnapping of Prosecutor Seo. The Deputy Prosecutor General had ordered him then to keep his mouth shut, in fear that Woo Tae-Ha’s actions may result in the prosecution losing the investigative rights they had kept for 70 years. Hwang Si Mok refused to do his bidding, and he knew that his stubborn refusal had earned him an enemy of the powerful man.

Deputy Prosecutor General Shin closed the file, turned to Hwang Si Mok and asked, “I heard that you talked to Prosecutor Kim about Prosecutor Hwa’s case. Why?”

Hwang Si Mok told him that his purpose of talking with Prosecutor Kim was to discuss the late Prosecutor Hwa, who was one of the victims of the explosion, and not the actual case he was working on. The Deputy Prosecutor General considered this and asked, “Do you think there is a connection between the explosion and what Prosecutor Hwa was working on?”

He noticed that Deputy Prosecutor General Shin did not directly name Hanjo in his questions. Hwang Si Mok is somewhat glad of this, as he also deliberately avoided mentioning in his report the fact that they are now actively looking into a Hanjo connection. His instincts told him not to disclose any of the details until they had gathered solid proof to support their theory. Hwang Si Mok had learned not to trust anyone, save for Senior Inspector Han, when investigating a sensitive case. Especially not the powerful men and women that oversee them, whose motives are oftentimes contrary to the spirit of justice they swore to uphold.

He looked at the Deputy Prosecutor General and said, untruthfully, “Not that we can see this time, sir.”

The Deputy Prosecutor General nodded, satisfied, and said, “If you find anything, I need you to tell me first, and right away.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded in agreement, his second lie of the day.

Han Yeo Jin listened as Detective Lee went through the results of his interview at the prison with her. None of the staff and the other prisoners were able to tell him anything new, and nothing jumped out at him as anything remotely suspicious on the days leading up to his death. Han Yeo Jin was disappointed, but thanked him for his efforts. She did not tell him that she remained unconvinced that Park Ik Joon died of natural causes; it seemed too convenient for him to die right after being arrested and becoming the only person who could possibly lead them to the leaders of the organized crime syndicate, and also as a potential witness to the explosion case. An idea suddenly occurred to her on how they can get more information about Park Ik Joon’s death; information that the prisoners have but won’t necessarily disclose to law enforcement personnel, who they naturally mistrust. Someone from the inside, she thought, to question the other prisoners. She resolved to pursue this avenue of inquiry the first chance she gets, but decided not to tell Prosecutor Hwang yet. He may not like the idea of her going down this route due to the sensitive and painful history tied to the individual, but she promised herself that she will let him know the moment she has information she can share.

Her meeting with the other members of the task force also proved to be unsatisfactory. There were no new developments in the search for Cha Su Kyo, and the same for the girlfriend, Hana. Han Yeo Jin decided then to leave Yongsan station for HQ, where she is due to give an update to her chief on the progress of their investigation.

***

“How sure are you?”

Director No asked her the question after Han Yeo Jin had told him about discovering a possible connection with Hanjo, pointing out that one of the victims is the lead prosecutor investigating the Hanjo case. They are in his office now in HQ, going through the recent developments of her case.

“It’s just conjecture at this point, sir,” she said, “we don’t have solid proof yet.” She did not mention to him what they had discovered regarding the auditor meeting in secret with Prosecutor Hwa. Han Yeo Jin instinctively kept this information to herself, not wanting to disclose until they have concrete evidence to support their claims. “We want to focus instead on finding the missing cook, Cha Su Kyo, and his girlfriend Hana.”

Director No nodded and said, “continue working with Yongsan station on this, put more men on the search if you have to. I’ll approve the overtime.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded, thanked her chief, and left his office.

Director No sat alone at his desk, his mind replaying what Senior Inspector Han had told him. Reluctantly, he took out his phone and dialed the number he now knew by heart. The line was picked up instantly, and he gave his own update to the man listening on the other end.

“Sir, I think they found it.”

Han Yeo Jin saw Prick 1 and Prick 2 coming towards her in the hallway outside of the Intelligence Bureau offices. She had started calling her two colleagues, Choi Kang Il and Yoo Jung-Oh, that in her head after the day they both confronted her, following the resignation of their former director, Choi Bit. She does not need this today, she thought, but damned if she’s going to back down and show that their pathetic attempts at intimidation has any effect on her. So, she put on her best detective face, the same face she uses when staring down low-lifes and criminals, and met the two.

“We need to talk to you,” said Prick 1.

Han Yeo Jin stared at him long enough until she saw him squirm at her silent scrutiny, then silently inclined her head to the empty room on their right, indicating for them to follow her. They did.

She stood there with her arms crossed facing them, still staring silently, as if daring them to continue. They looked at each other, unnerved by her silence. Prick 1 spoke first.

“We know you’re working on the organized crime case,” he said.

She raised her brow as if to say, what about it?

Prick 1 continued. “We also know that you are working with that prosecutor again. That same prosecutor that helped you take down Chief Choi,” he said, his tone accusing. “We’re here to warn you not to pull the same stunt you pulled 10 months ago. Because if you do, not even Director No will be able to protect you.”

Han Yeo Jin felt rage overcome her at this outrageous statement. She had vowed to keep her temper throughout this unpleasant interaction, but she had had enough of their bullying tactics, and she decided that it is time to turn the tables on them and show these two soft, pencil-pushers what a real police officer look like.

She walked slowly towards Prick 1 until she is uncomfortably close to his face and said, “Why? Are you afraid of what I will find? Afraid that I’ll discover what you and this other prick,” she jerked her head towards Prick 2, “is hiding?”

“You’ve got some balls...” Prick 2 said, menacingly advancing towards her.

“That’s right,” Han Yeo Jin said, cutting him off. “And if you two ever needed a pair, then I can lend you mine.”

She walked out of the room, fuming, leaving the two men looking after her in outraged disbelief.

Director Park sat inside his car and looked around to make sure they are alone. He had parked his car on an isolated corner of a square overlooking the river for this meeting. He looked over to the front seat where the missing cook, Cha Su Kyo, is anxiously sitting and nervously looking around.

It had not taken him long to track the man down. He knew the police are looking for him, and despite all the resources and manpower they dedicate to the search, they do not have the one thing he has in abundance of-- Money. That was how he was able to find Cha Su Kyo; his friend had been hiding him, and what the police questioning could not do was accomplished by a few thousand wons given to him by Director Park. That was all it took for him to give up his friend’s location. He turned to the younger man now, and asked his questions.

“Have you told anyone?”

Cha Su Kyo shook his head vehemently. “No.”

“The police and prosecution are looking for you. They’ve been asking people questions. They’ve questioned the survivors too.”

“I didn’t tell anyone I swear!” the cook said, clearly agitated.

“Is there anything that can be traced back…” he asked, his meaning implied.

Cha Su Kyo did not answer, and started biting his nails.

 Director Park sighed. Fine, he thought, if he had to put the fear in god on this man then he is more than happy to oblige. “Do you want you and your girlfriend to live?” he asked, and was satisfied when he saw Cha Su Kyo suddenly turn to him with fear in his eyes. He knew that the man will be willing to talk now, after he reminded him of what is at stake.

“Tell me everything,” he said.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin attacked her bowl of ramen with a fury, angrily mixing and stabbing the noodles with her chopsticks and imagining that it was the faces of Pricks 1 and 2 that she is stabbing instead. The owner of the pop up bar, where she is currently at, looked at her in concern, worried that the angry woman sitting alone at the table will break her crockery. Han Yeo Jin noticed and stopped the furious assault on her food, embarrassed at her loss of control, and made an attempt to calm herself down.

She was still seething after the unpleasant meeting with her two colleagues, and her anger had not abated even after she left work to come to the pop-up bar to meet up with Prosecutor Hwang. She took a deep breath and tried to pull herself together before the prosecutor arrived. It won’t do for him to see her this way, as Han Yeo Jin knew that any overt showing of emotions usually makes him uncomfortable. She tried not to think about all the vile things that those pricks had said to her. In the 10 months that she had worked at the Intelligence Bureau, she had done her best to endure the unfriendly glances that some of her colleagues directed at her, and the nasty whispers behind her back, and focus on her work instead. But there is a limit to what Han Yeo Jin can take, and she is afraid that the day will come when she will no longer be able to withstand her colleagues’ persistent and barely disguised hostility towards her. She felt so alone and friendless, which was why she was so ecstatic when she saw Prosecutor Hwang again. Her ally, her friend, had finally come to save her from the constant loneliness that had plagued her since that day he left her 10 months ago. She sighed, and put her head in her hands, and tried not to think about the fact that he will be leaving her again after his case is finished.

“Senior Inspector Han?”

She looked up at the sound of the voice calling her name, expecting to find Prosecutor Hwang, and found Councilman Seo instead, looking at her in concern. She quickly arranged her appearance and put on a smile on her face to cover her distress.

“Are you alright?” he asked her tentatively.

She answered in the affirmative and affected an air of forced cheer, but she could tell that he was not convinced when he continued to look at her with the same worried expression.

“Long day huh?” he smiled in sympathy, and asked, “do you mind if I join you?”

Han Yeo Jin hesitated, worried that Prosecutor Hwang could come at any minute and find them there together. For some reason, Han Yeo Jin is bothered by this, as if by doing so, she is somehow cheating on him. Which was ridiculous, she thought, they don’t have that kind of relationship, and she’s not even sure that Prosecutor Hwang is capable of such petty feelings as jealousy.

Seo Tae Gu noticed her hesitation and said, “It might help if you talk about it with someone, and I’m a good listener,” he said, smiling in encouragement.

Han Yeo Jin didn’t want to be rude and refuse the councilman, so she just smiled and said “Of course,” and gestured at the seat opposite her. Prosecutor Hwang’s seat, she thought, and immediately tried to bat the thought away, telling herself that she is being absurd.

Seo Tae Gu slid into the seat opposite and looked at her, kind concern in his eyes. She asked him what he was doing there, as the pop up bar is quite far from City Hall.

“I was actually coming from the development site, Grand Horizon? Are you familiar?” he asked.

Han Yeo Jin recalled seeing the construction site of a massive industrial complex at the outskirts of the city. There had been a lot of talk about the project, and City Hall has been hyping up the fact that the development will bring in a massive influx of foreign investments, creating a ton of jobs for the community and boosting the economy. She nodded.

“It’s my pet project. I’ve been working on it for 3 years now, and we’re close to completing it. I was just there to check on their progress and got hungry, saw this pop-up bar and decided to stop for a bite to eat,” he said, smiling at her. “I’m glad I did, otherwise I wouldn’t have run into you. It must be fate.”

Han Yeo Jin smiled. She is not immune to the fact that the councilman is a very attractive man, and quite charming too. She knew that he is interested in her, and while she is flattered that she had caught the eye of someone as handsome and accomplished as him, Han Yeo Jin found herself quite unaffected by his attentions. It had been a while since she was in a relationship; sure, she’d go on the occasional dates, and she enjoyed the casual fun and refreshing change of being with someone that is outside of her sphere of work. But it always fizzles out in the end, and mostly because she had always prioritized work over spending time with the other person. She told herself that the constant demands of her job as a police officer is not exactly compatible with building any kind of meaningful and long-term relationships, but she knew that this is not the exact truth, having seen many of her colleagues marry and start a family despite of being in the force. Han Yeo Jin thought that perhaps she is just not built for that kind of life, and wondered not for the first time if there is something wrong with her.

“Now, tell me what’s bothering you. Is it your case?” he asked, leaning over the table and gazing at her intently.

She shook her head. She doesn’t really want to go over it with him; first of all, the councilman is still virtually a stranger to her and second, she is not in the habit of confiding her emotions and feelings to other people. While she has a naturally approachable nature and can easily open up to others, she does not blindly trust or confide in just anybody as a general rule.

“No, it’s not the case. It’s just..” she paused, trying to find the right term, “office politics,” she finished vaguely.

“Ahhh,” Seo Tae Gu said, nodding in understanding. “Politics. Good thing you’re talking to a politician,” he said, teasing. “Let me guess, your colleagues are giving you a hard time because they feel threatened by you?”

Han Yeo Jin looked at him, startled at how quickly he was able to pinpoint her issue and how easily he was able to read her. Seo Tae Gu noticed her shock and laughed at her reaction, though not unkindly. “It’s not hard to guess Senior Inspector Han. I could tell you’re exceptionally good at your job the moment I met you. And also,” he looked at her sheepishly, “I sort of looked you up after our first meeting. You’ve accomplished quite a lot already; senior inspector at your age, closed several high-profile cases, leading a task force. It’s all very impressive.”

Han Yeo Jin started to blush while he ticked off her accomplishments. He went on, “That kind of success tend to threaten other people who is not as competent as you are. Especially from someone so young. And a female.” Han Yeo Jin looked at him at this point, and he continued, “I’m ashamed to admit that many members of my own sex do not look kindly on a woman besting them on anything.”

Han Yeo Jin found herself impressed at how perceptive the councilman is. And though she did not mention that the reason that some of her colleagues felt threatened by her is that they fear that she may find some dirt on them, he was right on the other points. Han Yeo Jin knew that professional jealousy is at the root of many of her colleagues’ antagonistic treatment of her.

“You seem to know a lot about the topic, Councilman Seo,” she said, “the young part, not the female part, that is.”

He laughed, and nodded. “Yes, unfortunately I do. Many of my colleagues at City Hall dismissed me at first. They thought I was just a young upstart who had all these crazy and progressive ideas. They thought I was too idealistic and too young to know better.”

“But I kept at it. I was determined to show them all what I can do. And when I started to get results, that’s when they started to pay attention, and not all of them good.” He looked at her then. “Success brings a lot of people over on your side, but it also attracts enemies. Especially in politics. People who are envious and resentful of the fact that you are rising above them. Although,” he said, looking sheepish again, “some of that may have been my fault. I may have been too brash and aggressive with them on occasion. I can be an obnoxious jerk you know.”

They both laughed at this. And this was how Hwang Si Mok found them; laughing easily together, and completely absorbed in each other’s company. He stopped in his tracks just outside the pop up bar tent and watched as Seo Tae Gu elicited another delighted laugh from the senior inspector. Hwang Si Mok suddenly felt an unfamiliar and deeply unpleasant feeling he can only characterize as jealousy. The man is sitting at his seat, and making the senior inspector smile the smile she usually only reserve for him. He curled his fists, about to walk over to them and break up their convivial meeting; but he stopped himself when he saw Senior Inspector Han’s expression. She is happy, he thought, and he suddenly felt ashamed that he had almost deprived her of what must have been a rare and much needed moment of happiness. Hwang Si Mok is fully aware that Seo Tae Gu is his exact opposite-- affable, warm and charismatic whereas he is emotionless, cold and dry as day old toast. The councilman is more alike with the senior inspector that he could ever be, and he knew that Councilman Seo will be able to give her what he couldn’t; and Senior inspector Han deserve to have someone in her life who is not fundamentally damaged and incapable of normal human emotions as he is.

He turned away and walked back to his parked car. He will send a text to the senior inspector to tell her he is not coming, and let her have a pleasant night out alone with the handsome councilman.

Han Yeo Jin looked at her watch and wondered where Prosecutor Hwang is. She hoped he comes soon because as much as she liked talking with Councilman Seo, she would much rather have the prosecutor’s comfortable and easy company. She had started to get tired of being polite and refined for the sake of the councilman, and longed to just slurp her food and have Prosecutor Hwang sit across her in silent attention while she angrily told him about the pricks in her office with her mouth full of ramen. She looked over her shoulder towards the entrance and outside, hoping to see the prosecutor’s familiar figure. Seo Tae Gu noticed and asked if she was waiting for someone. She was about to answer that yes, she is, when she received a short text from Prosecutor Hwang, telling her he is not able to come. Han Yeo Jin was disappointed, and puzzled, at the short and abrupt message.

She sighed, resigned to the fact that she has to sit here and make polite conversation with Councilman Seo, when her phone suddenly rang. She picked up quickly, hoping it is the prosecutor calling her now.

“Prosecutor Hwang?”

“No, it’s Jang Geon,” the voice said, to Han Yeo Jin’s disappointment, “we found a body.”

She sat up straight, suddenly alert. “Where?”

“The river, near the bridge,” he paused, “It’s Cha Su Kyo.”

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin said a hasty goodbye and apology to a startled Seo Tae Gu and ran out of the pop up bar. She tried to call Prosecutor Hwang while she run to her car, but he did not answer, so she sent him an urgent text instead to meet her at the crime scene. She peeled out of the parking lot, put her sirens on, and rushed to the scene.

Jang Geon looked on as the body of Cha Su Kyo was placed in a black body bag and loaded onto a waiting gurney. They had been trying, unsuccessfully, to find the man these past few days. Now, it is too late, and once again the task force is left with no leads that can help them find the members of the organized crime group they are investigating. First Park Ik Joon, and now Cha Su Kyo, he thought, we need to find the girlfriend, Hana. He turned around at the sound of sirens behind him and saw Senior Inspector Han finally arriving at the scene.

Han Yeo Jin flashed her ID to the police officer and ducked under the police line. She saw Jang Geon waiting for her and looked around for Prosecutor Hwang.

“Prosecutor Hwang isn’t here,” Jang Geon said, guessing correctly who she was looking for. “But he is.”

He pointed off to the side, where Seo Dong Jae stood talking to Captain Choi. Of course he’s here, she thought, more resigned than annoyed, and finally accepted the fact that the prosecutor is in this with them now. She sighed, and asked Jang Geon what happened.

“The body was found at close to 10 PM by two tourists. It was floating close to the shore, over there,” he pointed to the spot where the crime scene investigators are currently assembled.

“How did he die?” she asked.

“He was drowned, deliberately,” said Seo Dong Jae, sauntering over with Captain Choi to where Han Yeo Jin and Jang Geon stood. “The coroner said there were marks around his neck, consistent with strangulation. It looked like someone was holding his neck and head down in the water to drown him.”

“Any witnesses?”

Han Yeo Jin turned around at the sound of Prosecutor Hwang’s voice, who had asked the question.

“There you are, I was waiting for you at the pop up bar,” she said.

“I was busy,” he replied curtly. Han Yeo Jin frowned at him, confused at his aloof attitude.

The others noticed this awkward exchange, but chose not to say anything. Jang Geon cleared his throat to cover for the awkwardness and said, “Yes, there are, Detective Seo talked to them.” He called Detective Seo to come over.

“We have a problem,” Detective Seo said. He told them that the tourists are foreigners, and neither spoke Korean, and very little and incomprehensible English. He was not able to get anything out of them apart from a lot of gesturing and unintelligible words in broken English.

“What language are they speaking?” asked Han Yeo Jin.

“French. I called the department for a translator, but we may not be able to find one until morning,” explained Detective Seo.

Han Yeo Jin walked over to where a young man and woman stood, the rest of the men following her. The couple appeared to be trying very hard to convey something to Detective Park, who just stood there looking very confused. He saw her coming over and said, “I can’t understand a word these two are saying, their English is very bad.”

“Let me try,” Han Yeo Jin said, and spoke to the couple. “Bonsoir, Je m’appelle Han Yeo Jin. Je suis Inspectrice de la Police Coréenne.”

All the men looked at Han Yeo Jin in stunned amazement when she started speaking in French. None of them knew that she spoke the language. The couple also looked visibly relieved upon finally finding someone who spoke their language. Han Yeo Jin asked them her questions, which both readily and eagerly answered. When she finished, she turned to the men and repeated what was said.

“They said they came at around 9:30 PM and noticed a dark blue, late model sedan pulling away from the lot. They didn’t see the occupants because it was dark, and the windows were heavily tinted, nor do they remember the license plate number. They found the body shortly after.” She turned to the detectives gathered around her. “Detective Park, I need you to look at the CCTVs in the area and see if you can trace the route of the car and identify the owner.”

“I can help Detective Park,” Detective Lee offered. Han Yeo Jin shook her head and addressed the rest of the detectives who now converged around her, along with the two prosecutors. “No, I want everyone assigned to look for the girlfriend, Hana. Park Ik Joon and Cha Su Kyo are both dead, and she is now our only remaining lead on this case. I need all of you to find out her full name, address or where she could be staying. Captain Choi will lead Team 1 and Jang Geon will lead Team 2,” she paused and looked at them all gravely. “Cha Su Kyo was murdered. And we need to find her before the people that did this to him gets to her first.”

The detectives around her nodded and dispersed. Seo Dong Jae turned to her. “I didn’t know you speak French,” he said, impressed.

“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”

“That’s for sure,” he said, amused.

Han Yeo Jin ignored him and turned to Prosecutor Hwang, who is also looking at her speculatively. She regarded him, trying to ascertain if he is still in the weird mood that he was in before. “Why don’t we meet tomorrow at Yongsan station, and we can visit the auditor’s family?”

He nodded, but did not say anything. Han Yeo Jin looked at him, worried, and wondered if something happened to him today that made him look so forlorn. She decided not to push him for information for now, and perhaps try to get it out of him the next time they meet at the pop up bar.

Seo Dong Jae suddenly let out a huge sigh and shook his head.

“What is it?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“Somebody murdered that cook. And if we are right, and the explosion is deliberate, then that’s eight people dead. Maybe nine if Park Ik Joon was also murdered,” he looked at Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin, clearly disturbed after his statement. “The people we are dealing with clearly do not care how much body count they are leaving behind to protect their secrets.”

Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok thought about what he said. It is apparent now that they are dealing with a new and different kind of enemy that none of them had ever seen or faced before. They have dealt with corruption, blackmail, kidnapping, even murder; but none of their past cases had compared in the amount of violence and death that they have witnessed so far in this case. And they are no closer to finding the villains of this piece, making it the more unnerving and unsettling because their opponent seems to live comfortably in the shadows, the darkness its natural habitat. They are less civilized in their approach, more primitive in their methods, and infinitely more terrifying because their ultimate goal remains obscured.

“I think it’s time I pay a visit to an old friend,” Seo Dong Jae said, turning to look at them both. “I think it’s time to talk to Hanjo.”

Director Park stared at the TV, as news coverage of a body found in the banks of the Han River dominate the evening news.

“… the body is that of an unknown male and was found earlier tonight by two foreign tourists, in a park near the Han River. The police have not disclosed the identity…”

He turned the TV off. He needs to move faster now, he thought to himself. He stood and walked towards the window, staring out into the night towards the direction of the river, and contemplated his next move.

Chapter Text

Seo Dong Jae entered the office of Lee Yeon Jae, CEO of Hanjo Group. As usual, the powerful woman is impeccably dressed and flawlessly groomed, her face a mask of calm serenity, as she sat on the large throne-like chair behind her desk. Like an ice queen sitting on her throne, imperiously looking down on us mere mortals, he thought suddenly. And as usual, her loyal factotum, Director Park, is right by her side, ready to jump in an instant to do his mistress’ bidding.

He bowed deeply towards her and they exchanged the usual pleasantries. She stood up and indicated for him to sit with her on the plush, leather couches in the center of her office.

“It’s a pleasure to see you looking so well Prosecutor Seo, after your terrible ordeal,” she said, referring to his kidnapping.

Seo Dong Jae inclined his head in appreciation. “I heard you visited me in the hospital while I was unconscious.”

Lee Yeon Jae nodded at him, searching his face for any signs that he had heard her words that day.

“I would like to speak to you in private, if you don’t mind?” Seo Dong Jae asked her tentatively, hinting at Director Park’s presence.

Lee Yeon Jae, thinking that he wanted to speak to her about her whispered words that day, signaled Director Park to leave. He hesitated, but followed her orders.

“I assume you want to talk about what I told you that day?” she asked after Director Park left. “I guess you heard me after all. I was glad after I found out that you told the prosecution you knew of no connection between Park Gwang Su and Hanjo.”

Seo Dong Jae inclined his head, but remained silent. She continued. “Thank you for doing that for me,” she said, and asked the question she knew was the reason the prosecutor is here. “Now what can I do for you?”

Seo Dong Jae gave a short, self-deprecating laugh. “I didn’t do it for you ma’am. I said those things because they were the truth. I didn’t have solid proof that there was a connection between Hanjo and the dead lawyer, and it would have been wrong of me to say otherwise,” he said sincerely.

Lee Yeon Jae gave him a knowing smile, playing along at what she thought as his disingenuous justification for his actions, when she knew full well that he did it because he wanted something in return. She was only surprised that it took him this long to come to her to ask for his reward. “Of course,” she said indulgently.

“But there is something you can do for me,” he said.

Here we go, Lee Yeon Jae thought, people are so predictable. She nodded for him to continue.

“I need you to tell me if you know of any involvement by Hanjo with the explosion at Haebangchon.”

Lee Yeon Jae looked at him, and for a moment can only stare at him in shock at the unexpected and outrageous question.

Seo Dong Jae was hoping to elicit exactly that response and break the CEO’s composure. He knew she was expecting him to come today, hat in hand, to ask for his prize after she thought that he had done her bidding. He told her calmly about the explosion, the dead prosecutor and auditor, and the connection they found with Hanjo, and the fact that he is working with the prosecution and the police to find the people responsible. He watched as Lee Yeon Jae’s usual mask of cool dignity shatter as he went further into his narrative.

“Prosecutor Hwa was looking into Hanjo Engineering when he died, and he-“

“Enough!”

Seo Dong Jae stopped his account of the incident and stared at Lee Yeon Jae in astonishment, shocked at her loud and sudden outburst. The door burst open, and Director Park marched inside to stand beside his boss, ready to forcibly remove Seo Dong Jae off the property. He tried to speak again but was cut off.

“How dare you come here and ask me all these despicable questions! How dare you come here and accuse us that we have something to do with that horrible tragedy!” she screamed, all control lost.

 “Because eight people are dead,” he said fervently, “dozens more injured.” He looked at her imploringly. “Perhaps this isn’t your doing, and perhaps you are innocent of this,” he paused, “but someone in your company may not be. Someone here may know something.”

Lee Yeon Jae’s angry expression is suddenly replaced by shocked realization when she finally understood what Prosecutor Seo’s words had meant. Someone else in the company, she thought, and only one name comes to mind. Somebody whom she knows is ruthless enough, cruel enough, to be capable of something like this.

Seo Dong Jae watched as his words finally got through Lee Yeon Jae. He shook off Director Park’s restraining hand on his arm and moved closer to Lee Yeon Jae, and spoke to her with all the sincerity he could muster.

“Let me help you,” he said.

Lee Yeon Jae looked at him, and Seo Dong Jae saw for the first time the raw emotions of a woman who had always hid herself under a mask of self-possession and unaffected poise.

“I don’t need your help,” Lee Yeon Jae said disdainfully.

“Yes, you do. Just like I needed help. When people thought I was beyond redemption, when even I thought I was beyond redemption. But my senior, your husband, gave me a second chance. And other people, good people, gave me a second chance even though I didn’t deserve it. They didn’t give up on me. I won’t give up on you,” he stopped, trying to contain his emotions.

“People like us, we’re standing at the edge of a cliff, about to jump into the darkness, thinking we have no other choice, that there’s no other way. But there is. All we need is somebody to pull us back from the edge.” He thought now of his wife, and his children, of Senior Inspector Han and of Hwang Si Mok. “But it’s up to us to take their hand when they reach out.”

He went to her now, and reached his hand out. Lee Yeon Jae stared at it, and Seo Dong Jae’s own composure almost broke when he saw tears start to fall down her face.

But she didn’t take his hand, and instead stood still, willfully defiant and unyielding.

He dropped his hand, disappointed. He turned to her one last time and said, “It’s not too late for you yet. And I want you to know that we won’t stop until we find the people responsible for this. And if the police or prosecution asks me if I know of a connection between Hanjo and the explosion, this time, I won’t say no.” He turned around, leaving behind a shaken and tearful Lee Yeon Jae.

Seo Dong Jae stood in front of the elevators, visibly shaking, still raw from the emotions he felt from the confrontation with Lee Yeon Jae. But he thought that he had accomplished what he had set out to do; he planted the seeds of doubt in her mind about her brother and, more importantly, he is one step closer to fulfilling his promise to his senior, Lee Chang Jun. At that moment, the elevator doors opened, and Seo Dong Jae finally saw the man at the center of his suspicions. He watched as Lee Sung Jae marched towards his half-sister’s office, and he forced himself to stand still and resist the urge to confront the man.

“You’re that prosecutor.”

He turned and saw Lee Sung Jae addressing him. “The one who got himself kidnapped. I recognized you from the news. They had your photo,” he said, looking him over. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see CEO Lee,” he said with forced politeness. “I used to work with her late husband, Prosecutor Lee Chang Jun.”

Lee Sung Jae sneered at the mention of his senior. “I see. Still doing your dead senior’s bidding?” he asked, taunting.

Seo Dong Jae made a colossal effort to stop himself from marching towards Lee Sung Jae and punch the sneer off his face. Instead, he put on his old cocky and weaselly smile and said smugly, “Actually, finishing what he started.” He smirked at Lee Sung Jae’s angry reaction to his words, and walked into the waiting elevator.

Director Park stood silently at the door, and watched their interaction in thoughtful silence.

Seo Dong Jae entered the elevator and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down. Despite the tumultuous feelings currently battling for dominance inside him, he felt oddly at peace. Because at long last, Seo Dong Jae had completely and irrevocably, chosen a side.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok entered Chief Oh’s office for their weekly briefing, and saw the chief prosecutor on the phone. Chief Oh waved him in, and Hwang Si Mok waited patiently until he finished his call. He tried not to listen but thought he had heard his chief talking to someone named ‘Lion’, before he hung up and focused his attention to him.

Hwang Si Mok had made the decision before coming to Chief Oh’s office to tell him about the connection they had found on Hanjo and the restaurant explosion, because he needed to ask his chief a few questions of his own. He told him everything now, and he observed the chief prosecutor’s reaction grew increasingly more disturbed as he went on. When he finished, Chief Oh sat silently still for a few minutes, his expression troubled.

“Sir, when you assigned me on this case, did you already know that Hanjo may be involved?”

Hwang Si Mok had a strong suspicion that his chief may already know, or at least suspected, that Hanjo is connected with the explosion right from the beginning. What he is uncertain of is if his chief wanted him to find the connection, or just the opposite. He admitted to himself that he is having difficulty reading his senior’s true intentions; if he wanted to expose Hanjo, or if he is secretly working for them. He thought that by bluntly telling him that evidence kept mounting to suggest a connection with the corporation will fluster his chief enough that he may inadvertently reveal his motives for Hwang Si Mok to see. He waited for him now to respond to his question, and was disappointed when he did not answer directly; and his reaction further confounded than enlighten Hwang Si Mok on his chief’s real objective.

“Listen to me,” his chief said, looking at him gravely, “do not tell anyone about what you found. And I mean anyone.”

Hwang Si Mok noticed that Chief Oh stressed the word ‘anyone’, and wondered if he had heard of his meeting with the Deputy Prosecutor General.

 “You need to keep this to yourself,” Chief Oh added sternly, “if you don’t want your or the senior inspector’s life in danger.”

Hwang Si Mok stiffened at this grim statement, as anger quickly surged through him at the indirect warning not on his life, but on the senior inspector’s. He stared at the chief prosecutor and asked forebodingly, “Is that a threat, sir?”

Chief Oh looked at him, and Hwang Si Mok was surprised to see his countenance express not one of menace, but of concern. He answered simply, “No, Prosecutor Hwang. It’s a fact.”

Hwang Si Mok spied Senior Inspector Han leaning against her car, waiting for him at the Yongsan station parking lot. They agreed to drive together that afternoon to visit the family of the auditor, Kim Gwang Ho. They could have driven there separately but the senior inspector insisted that they go together, and Hwang Si Mok suspects that she wanted to ask about his admittedly cold treatment of her the previous night. Hwang Si Mok had lain awake last night in his bed, mulling over his reaction on seeing her and Councilman Seo at the pop-up bar, and could not find a rational explanation for it. He instead resolved to put it out of his mind for now, and find a way to somehow atone to the senior inspector over his rude behavior. He found it encouraging that Senior Inspector Han do not seem to be upset with him, as evidenced by her quick smile and friendly wave as she walked towards his car.

Han Yeo Jin noticed that Prosecutor Hwang’s mood seemed to have improved overnight, judging from his cheery expression; and by cheery she meant his usual blank expression but with a slight upturn of his lips. She greeted him and got into his passenger seat. She wanted to make the drive with him and use the time to talk about the case, and also to try and discover what was wrong with him the last night.

“I got you a drink,” Hwang Si Mok said suddenly, handing Han Yeo Jin a tall cup.

She took it and stared at Prosecutor Hwang in surprise. Something is definitely wrong with him, she thought, looking at the beverage. She said her thanks, still looking at him strangely. She took a sip.

“Hmm.. what is this?” she asked, expecting coffee but tasting something else.

“Coffee. With chocolate. And whipped cream. And sprinkles,” said Hwang Si Mok. He felt silly ordering the ridiculous-sounding beverage at the coffee shop, but knew that the senior inspector liked it, so he ordered it.

He looked over at her now and found her looking at him oddly. He shrugged and said plainly, “You like that drink.”

Han Yeo Jin smiled and said, “I do actually. It’s like a surprise in every sip.”

“Is the surprise diabetes?” he asked.

Han Yeo Jin laughed, and thought to herself that this was why she liked spending time with Prosecutor Hwang. Some people may find his direct and blunt manner rude, but she found it refreshing, and sometimes hilarious. She cannot help but compare him with Seo Tae Gu, and she found herself thinking that she would rather be in his company than that of the friendly councilman. She glanced over to him now, and noticed a half-smile hovering on his lips, and Han Yeo Jin felt suddenly and uncontrollably fond of the man sitting beside her.

“Ready?” he asked.

Han Yeo Jin smiled, suddenly feeling light, and oddly optimistic. “Let’s go.”

They arrived at the home of the late Kim Gwang Ho’s family where they now sit, in the living room, being served tea by his mother. Mrs. Kim had been telling them stories about his son for the past few minutes-- how smart he was, how proud she was of him and how he was just the best and most filial son that ever lived. Han Yeo Jin handed her a box of tissues when she started crying, and looked over at Prosecutor Hwang, who is staring stoically at the crying woman in front of him. She sighed; their interview was not going as expected. Mrs. Kim did not know a lot about her son’s work, and had been unable to give them any useful information so far. She started to think that this trip might have been a waste of time.

“Mrs. Kim,” Han Yeo Jin said tentatively, trying to get the crying woman’s attention, “do you know any of your son’s friends or colleagues by any chance? Anyone he may have talked to about his work?”

Mrs. Kim wiped her eyes and nose and said tearfully, “His friends? Oh yes, he had lots of friends growing up,” she perked up and said “I’ll show you the photos, let me get the album.”

“No, Mrs. Kim you don’t h—" Han Yeo Jin started to say but the older woman was already up her feet and disappeared into the other room.

“She doesn’t have any useful information,” Hwang Si Mok told her after Mrs. Kim left.

“I know,” she sighed, “but I think she just wants to talk about her son to somebody. Let’s just humor her for a bit, then we can leave.” In truth, Han Yeo Jin felt bad for the old lady, having lost her only son and now living alone. She doesn’t mind spending a bit of time looking through old photos with her if it gave her a moment of comfort.

“Here we are,” Mrs. Kim said, returning with an old photo album and handing it to Han Yeo Jin. “These are all the pictures of him growing up. His friends are in here.”

Han Yeo Jin obligingly flipped through the pages of the old photo album and saw pictures of a young Kim Gwang Ho showcased in every page. She could not help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought that the same boy smiling in the pictures had his life ended so suddenly and so brutally. She turned the pages and saw him now as a young man, laughing and surrounded by friends. In one photo, he had his arm around the shoulder of another smiling young man. She was about to turn the page when she stopped, and looked at the photo again; and Han Yeo Jin’s heart stopped as she gazed at the familiar face of the man with the dead auditor. He’s older now, but she still recognized the face.

“Mrs. Kim,” she interrupted the woman midway of telling another story about her son, and turned to her urgently. She noticed Prosecutor Hwang straighten, recognizing the change in her tone. She pointed at the photo of the smiling young man and asked, “who is this man?”

Mrs. Kim looked at the photo and said, “Oh, that’s Gong Chu.”

Han Yeo Jin showed Prosecutor Hwang the photo, and she watched recognition dawn on his face; because they had both just met this man, not that long ago. At the hospital, recuperating after the explosion. He had cried at the mention of the auditor and prosecutor, and Han Yeo Jin thought at the time that it was nothing but a reaction at being the person who had seen them last before they perished, But Han Yeo Jin now realized that it was so much more than that. He was crying because he knew the dead auditor.

“He and my son grew up together, and they have been best friends since childhood,” said Mrs. Park. “My son said that he is the person he trusts more than anyone in this world.”

Park Gong Chu, the lone man sitting by the window the night of the explosion. Who was there that night to accompany his best friend to meet a prosecutor with information that can bring down a titan of the industry, because his friend had trusted him more than anyone in this world. The man who may well have the information that they seek, and may well hold the key to the entire case.

Not a wasted trip after all, thought Han Yeo Jin.

Chapter Text

“We should have taken my car, it has my police siren,” Han Yeo Jin said in frustration, leaning forward the passenger seat impatiently, as if willing the car to go faster. She is anxious to get to the hospital to talk to Park Gong Chu; she took out her phone and asked Prosecutor Hwang, “should I call one of the Yongsan detectives to check for us?”

“No,” he said vehemently. Senior Inspector Han turned to him, a questioning look on her face. “Park Gong Chu didn’t tell us he knew Kim Gwang Ho because he doesn’t trust the police or the prosecution. Because he is probably aware of the information that his friend showed Prosecutor Hwa, and suspects that it got them killed.” He paused, “He’s afraid for his life, we need to tread lightly with him.” He remembered what Chief Oh said to him; “You need to keep this to yourself, if you don’t want your or the senior inspector’s life in danger.”

He turned to Senior Inspector Han and told her about the meeting with his chief, and what he had told him. “We need to keep this information to ourselves for now,” he told her. He took his eyes off the road to look at her quickly and saw her trying to process this information, and was concerned to find her troubled expression at the revelation. He hated making her uneasy, but Hwang Si Mok had decided early on not to keep any information from the senior Inspector.

“Does he know something? Your chief? Why would he say that?” she asked.

“If he does, he’s not telling. I probably wouldn’t trust what he tells me anyway,” he replied.

Han Yeo Jin nodded. She had worked on dangerous cases before, had various threats and warnings leveled on her before, but she can admit that this case feels different. Ever since they started investigating the explosion, she had felt an almost constant malevolent presence hovering around them, invisible, yet powerfully unsettling. She tried to shake off the feeling and told herself to stop being so fanciful, but she had been a police officer long enough to learn to trust her instincts, and her instincts are telling her not to discount the unnerving sensation.

“You’re right, let’s keep this between us for now,” she said, then hesitated. “And I hate to say it, but I’m still thinking about the possibility that there could be a leak at the police. Because of what happened that night at the hostess bar with Park Ik Jun,” she said, reminding Prosecutor Hwang of her suspicions that someone from the police may have tipped off their suspect.

She sighed and said, “At least we have a strong lead now. It’s lucky we decided to stay and let Mrs. Kim show us her photo album.”

“It’s not luck, it’s you. You decided to stay because you wanted to make an old lady feel better after she just lost her son. It’s because of you we uncovered this information.” He looked at her quickly and said, “Because you are a good and decent person.”

Han Yeo Jin blushed at this unexpected praise. Prosecutor Hwang rarely hands out compliments and when he does, it always unbalances her, because he would do it so precipitously and in the most inopportune moment; like right now, when she was least expecting it. She tried to brush it off, uncomfortable with the praise, and said, “You would have done the same.”

“No, I wouldn’t have. I would have been rude and left right away and you know it.”

She gave a short laugh. She thought to herself that the old Prosecutor Hwang may have done that, the rude and insufferable version of him when they had first met; but she is not convinced that the version of him sitting beside her now would have.

“We’re here.” Both of them jumped out of the car the moment he parked and ran to the hospital entrance, eager to interview their key witness.

“What do you mean he’s gone?” asked Han Yeo Jin, louder than she had meant to. The doctor looked taken aback at her reaction, and she tried to calm herself before she starts scaring off the hospital staff.

“I’m sorry, but he left early this morning,” the doctor said, still looking at her warily. “He checked himself out against medical advice.”

“Did he say why?” asked Hwang Si Mok.

The doctor shook his head, “No, but..” he hesitated, and Han Yeo Jin resisted the urge to shake the man and tell him to get on with it.

“Apparently, he caused a commotion last night. The night nurses told me that he kept summoning them to his room, very upset. The nurses thought it was just the after-effects of trauma, that he was just being paranoid.”  He looked at them and explained, “Paranoia can be a side effect of post-traumatic stress disorder.”

“What was he upset about?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

“He told the nurses there was a man in his room,” the doctor said, his tone disbelieving. “But the nurses saw no one when they got there. So, they thought he was just having a nightmare, especially with what he kept shouting about.”

“What was he shouting about?” asked Han Yeo Jin.

The doctor shook his head, as if he was about to say something outrageous. “He said that the man was there to kill him.”

Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok stood inside the hospital security room, looking at video footage of the hallway outside Park Gong Chu’s room. The guard was fast forwarding the video to the time that the incident occurred.

“Stop,” said Han Yeo Jin, noticing something. “Play at normal speed.”

They watched as a man in medical scrubs, his face and hair obscured by a surgical mask and cap, entered the room, and exited hastily moments after.

Han Yeo Jin turned to the doctor and asked, “Do you recognize that man?”

The doctor stared at the video, shock evident on his face and said, “No, I don’t. There were no male nurses or doctors on duty at that ward last night.” He looked at the footage again, and asked in stunned disbelief, “so he was telling the truth?”

Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok looked at each other, but did not answer the doctor, neither wanting to be the ones to tell him that a murderer may have been in their midst.

They stood outside at the hospital parking lot, discussing their latest discovery. They had spent some time looking at footage with hospital security, trying to trace the intruder’s steps, but the suspect seemed to have disappeared, at least on video, after he ducked into a stairwell. The security officer told them that there are multiple blind spots in the hospital, as a building that size cannot afford to have CCTV installed in all areas. They were also unable to find footage of the man leaving the hospital, as it seems likely that he had used an exit that is also not covered by cameras.

“We need to go to Park Gong Chu’s house. He’s probably not going to be there; if I were him, I’ll go into hiding too. But maybe we can find a clue of where he had gone. Talk to the neighbors too and see if they can tell us something,” said Han Yeo Jin.

Hwang Si Mok nodded, agreeing to the plan, when all of sudden, he heard a loud, grumbling noise. He looked at his stomach, where the offending sound emanated from, and realized that they had skipped lunch.

“Did I forget to feed you again?” Han Yeo Jin asked, amused.

“I’m fine,” he said, at the same moment his stomach growled.

Han Yeo Jin laughed. “That won’t do. C’mon, there’s a café nearby, let’s grab a snack and talk about the case,” she said, pulling at his arm.

They arrived at the café and had just ordered their food and drink, when a sudden a commotion at the front caught their attention. A big crowd of young girls seems to have been the cause, whom at that moment are eagerly taking turns to snap selfies with a man.

“What’s happening over there?” asked Hwang Si Mok.

 “Probably just a K-pop idol,” said Han Yeo Jin dismissively, watching the group of giggling and excited females, “let’s seat over here where it’s quieter.”

“Senior Inspector Han!”

Han Yeo Jin turned, and watched as Seo Tae Gu made his way to them, followed by the dozen adoring stares of his fan club.

He made a slight bow to them and smiled his trademark, boyish smile. Han Yeo Jin looked at the gaggle of girls behind them and understood why they all seem to be infatuated with the councilman. He looked more like a model than a politician in his perfectly cut-suit and open collar, and Han Yeo Jin had to admit that the man does look good.

Seo Tae Gu noticed her looking at the group of girls and gave an embarrassed wince. “I’m sorry about this,” he said gesturing behind him, “I was nearby at a political rally and came here to get food, and they followed me.”

Hwang Si Mok looked at the adoring crowd of women, and then at the councilman, and thought that he does not get the appeal. Sure, the man is good looking, but in a vapid and vacuous sort of way. And he smiles too much, he thought, probably to show off his dimples. He suddenly wondered if he too had dimples, as he had not really seen himself smile except that one time he practiced in the mirror to compare against the senior inspector’s drawing of him. He thought that maybe he’ll look at himself later in the mirror to see if he has one, or maybe not because it’s stupid and I sound absolutely stupid right now, he thought. He mentally kicked himself for having such ridiculous thoughts and looked at Senior Inspector Han to see her reaction, and was quite gratified to see that she looked completely unfazed, unlike the pack of worshipful females behind them.

Seo Tae Gu asked them if they had come from the hospital, to which they replied in the affirmative but did not offer any information beyond that.

“Were you there because of Mr. Park?” he asked.

It was a testament to both their training and experience that Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin did not react visibly to his question, even though they were both very surprised that he had guessed their intent correctly.

“Why are you asking about Mr. Park?” Hwang Si Mok asked, smoothly avoiding answering his question by posing one of his own.

“Because I stopped by this morning too to check on the survivors and was told that he checked himself out against doctor’s advice,” he explained, looking concerned. “I’m worried about him.”

“You seem to take a lot of interest in the survivors,” said Hwang Si Mok, his tone implying.

The councilman turned to him, the smile gone now, and said fervently, “I do. That was my old neighborhood, and they are my people. And they died on my watch.”

Han Yeo Jin watched the two men stare each other down, and wondered if she should intervene, when Prosecutor Hwang finally said, “That’s very commendable of you.” Some people may interpret his monotone delivery as unassuming and straightforward, but she had known him long enough to recognize the nuances of his tone, and she knew that he had said his words mockingly. She looked at the councilman, who only nodded at his comment, not realizing the true meaning of the prosecutor’s words.

“Anyway,” the councilman said, back to his old amiable self, “may I join you for coffee?”

Hwang Si Mok declined and said that he needed to get back to the office, but that the two of them should stay and catch up. Han Yeo Jin had started to protest, reminding him that they need to talk about the case, when the councilman spoke.

“I would like to stay with Senior Inspector Han, especially after our dinner the other night was interrupted,” he said, smiling at her.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang. She had not told him about her accidental meeting and dinner with the councilman, and she was worried about how he will take this news. But he only nodded, seemingly unaffected, and said his goodbyes to both of them. She thought it strange, and just a bit disappointing, that he would abandon her in the company of Councilman Seo, because she knew that the prosecutor does not seem to like him very much. She stared after him, willing him to come back, or take her with him, as she is not really in the mood for another polite interlude with the councilman; especially with the captive audience of hormonal girls watching their every move. Han Yeo Jin looked at the eager and smiling handsome face currently holding out a chair for her, and made an effort to look more enthused.

“So how long have you and Prosecutor Hwang been working together?” Seo Tae Gu asked.

“We’ve worked on a few cases together previously,” Han Yeo Jin answered, deliberately not going into specifics.

Seo Tae Gu nodded, and seem to hesitate on his next words. “Are you and him… together?” he asked, his meaning implied. He clarified his question upon seeing the surprised look on Han Yeo Jin’s face. “Sorry, I don’t mean to pry, it’s just that… he does not seem to like me very much, and I can only guess as to why.”

Han Yeo Jin was so taken aback with the question that it took her a while to answer. She thought about the relationship she and Prosecutor Hwang has, and can honestly say that it is most definitely not romantic; and she is not even sure that he is truly capable of that sort of connection with the opposite sex. But Han Yeo Jin can also say that their relationship is the most significant of her life; borne out of a profound trust and understanding of each other, and a deep and abiding connection that she herself cannot fully explain. But she did not say all this to the councilman, that sentiment is kept only for herself, and instead answered simply.

“No, we’re just colleagues” she said and added, “and don’t take offense with his attitude, he’s like that with everyone.” She felt obliged to add the last part, even though she knew this was a small lie, because it does seem that Prosecutor Hwang had taken a dislike to the councilman for reasons unknown to her.

The councilman smiled and said, “I have heard of Prosecutor Hwang’s reputation; I heard he’s not the easiest person to work with.” Han Yeo Jin said nothing in response to his comment, but she tensed, ready to defend the prosecutor. She knew what other people think and say about him behind his back, and she’d be damned if she let other people bad-mouth him in her presence.

“But I also heard that he is one of the best in his line of work, and I’m glad that it’s you and him looking into this case,” he finished. Han Yeo Jin relaxed, mollified at his statement. He smiled and said further, “I’m also glad to hear that you are not together if I’m being honest,” he paused and looked at her self-consciously, “you must have an idea why Senior Inspector Han.”

Han Yeo Jin won’t lie and say she had not been expecting this, but was hoping that it won’t happen so she can avoid the awkward conversation. She should be happy that a man like Seo Tae Gu is interested in her, but she cannot bring herself to feel excitement over the fact that she is about to be propositioned to by a gorgeous and successful man. She looked over to the throng of females who are currently eyeing her with disdain and jealousy, and thought that she had suspects of violent crimes who had looked at her with less hostility. She decided that she does not need the kind of scrutiny that she will certainly get if she dated a high profile personality like Seo Tae Gu.

The councilman followed her gaze and guessed where her thoughts headed, and smiled at her apologetically. “I know I come with baggage, and you won’t appreciate the attention that you will get if you’re with me. But all I’m asking for is a chance,” he said, earnestly. “Just one dinner. To show you I’m really not that bad,” he smiled at the joke, but looked at her hopefully.

Han Yeo Jin looked at the councilman, and felt bad at what she is about to say next, but knew that she at least owed him an honest and direct answer. Because he is in fact, not a bad man, and she regretted disappointing him, and if her circumstances were different, she might have said yes. She told him that she cannot start a relationship right in the middle of a very demanding case, and that it will not be fair to him when she cannot commit any time to the relationship because she is too distracted by work. She also told him that their professions are not exactly compatible, and that she is not comfortable with the limelight, which would most certainly come if she is with him.

He listened to all of her reasons and, to his credit, just smiled sadly and nodded his acceptance. “I understand senior inspector, really I do,” he said, smiling at her. “But that’s not to say I’m giving up. I’m a patient man, and I always persist on things that I know are truly worth the wait.”

He took her hands suddenly and gazed at her intently. “And I think you are. I think you’re extraordinary, and unlike any woman I have ever met. So, I’ll wait until the case is over, and I will ask again, until you say yes. And hopefully, you will.”

He stood up, getting ready to leave. “I have to get to City Hall, but as always senior inspector, it was a pleasure to see you, and I hope we meet again soon.” He gave her a parting smile and left.

Han Yeo Jin sat alone at the table, and for a moment, just thought about what the councilman said to her. She put her hands on her cheeks, and thought that her face could probably fry an egg right now it was so hot. She told herself that any red-blooded woman would be similarly affected by the impassioned speech that the councilman had just given her, and not really due to any reciprocal feelings that she may have towards him. She shook herself, and thought she should probably also leave the café before any of the councilman’s female fan club murder her right on the spot in a fit of jealous rage. Her phone chimed suddenly, signaling an incoming text, and saw that the message is from Prosecutor Hwang. The message read: Meet me at the Lotus Blossom restaurant for dinner, 7 pm.

Han Yeo Jin smiled, already looking forward to the dinner with the prosecutor.

Hwang Si Mok arrived at the restaurant and saw the senior inspector already waiting for him. He had spent the afternoon at Park Gong Chu’s apartment and also questioned his neighbors for information. He had kept himself busy to distract from the thought of Senior Inspector Han in the company of Seo Tae Gu. Unfortunately, but as expected, Park Gong Chu had already fled to locations unknown, and his neighbors were not able to shed any light as to his whereabouts. He was surprised, but secretly glad, to receive a message from the senior inspector to meet up for dinner, as he was expecting that she will be with the councilman for the rest of the day.

He nodded to her and they walked together inside. Han Yeo Jin immediately noticed the understated elegance and luxurious décor of the restaurant and told Prosecutor Hwang, “I’m surprised you picked such a fancy place to meet. I like our pop-up bar but this is definitely an improvement.”

Hwang Si Mok looked at her in surprise. He did not ask Senior Inspector Han to meet him here, but the other way around. He told her so now and was rewarded with her own surprised look.

“No, I didn’t, you texted me to meet you here. Look,” she took out her phone and showed him the text message. He took his own out and did the same. They looked at each other, confused, then to the hostess who was waiting patiently in front of them.

“Mr. Hwang, Ms. Han, please follow me,” she said, leading them further inside. Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin looked at each other warily, but followed the hostess nonetheless. She led them outside a private room, and both stood alert and tense, ready to meet whoever had lured them here, as the hostess slid open the doors.

A tall and distinguished looking older man stood alone inside the room, and Han Yeo Jin stared in astonishment as she realized who he was. She recognized him from the portraits that lined the hall in HQ, showing him as a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and then later as the Deputy Commissioner General of the Korean National Police. But she saw him more recently on television, beside the President, in his current capacity as Blue House Chief of Staff. She looked at Prosecutor Hwang and realized from the look on his face that he recognized him too.

“I am Ahn Yeong Seok. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Prosecutor Hwang Si Mok and Senior Inspector Han Yeo Jin.”

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin sat in uncomfortable silence as Ahn Yeong Seok poured tea for all of them. They had not spoken since they entered the private room, as both were waiting for the important man to speak first, and tell them why he has brought them there. Han Yeo Jin looked anxiously towards the door, as if willing someone else to enter and break the awkward silence.

“There’s no need to look so nervous Senior Inspector Han. I didn’t ask both of you here for a scolding,” said Ahn Yeong Seok, smiling at her kindly.

Han Yeo Jin gathered up her courage and responded candidly. “I guess I am wondering why you did call us here, sir. And why you had to hack our phones and send us the fake text messages from each other to get us to come here.” She felt her heart racing as she was saying the words, and hoped that the man does not take offense at her bluntness, but she needed to know why he used such measures to summon them when he could have just ordered them directly to do so. After all, he is a very powerful man whom nobody can easily say no to.

She was relieved when Ahn Yeong Seok only smiled at her again and said, “Hack is such an ugly word, don’t you think senior inspector? I merely called in a few favors from some friends of mine over at the NIS, but nothing else was done except to send you both that message. I give you my word on that. Although, I do apologize for the subterfuge, but it is imperative that my presence here remains highly secret, and I must ask you both to keep this meeting only between us.” He looked at them closely to underscore the importance of that statement, and then turned his gaze back at Han Yeo Jin. “But I will tell you why I called you both here Senior Inspector Han but first, is he always this quiet?” he asked Han Yeo Jin, jerking his head towards the direction of Hwang Si Mok.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang, who is currently sitting quiet as a rock, silently assessing the important man before them. She answered, “Only when he’s pondering a complicated puzzle.”

Ahn Yeong Seok turned to Hwang Si Mok. “Then tell me Prosecutor Hwang, have you solved the puzzle?”

“Almost, sir,” he answered succinctly.

Ahn Yeong Seok smiled, took a sip of his tea and spoke. “Han Yeo Jin. Senior Inspector with the Intelligence Bureau. Before that, an Inspector with the Violent Crimes Unit at Yongsan station. Police university graduate, top of your class, daughter of retired career diplomats.” He paused to look at her and continued to speak. “A police university graduate with your international education and connections, yet you chose to be a detective at the violent crimes unit, when you could have had a more prestigious position. Why is that?”

Han Yeo Jin was startled when Ahn Yeon Seok started to talk about her background. She resisted the urge to squirm uncomfortably during his recitation and even more so now as he looked at her with laser-like focus. She decided to give him the simplest and most honest answer to his question. “I guess I just like catching bad guys, sir.”

Ahn Yeong Seok smiled warmly at her answer. He turned to Hwang Si Mok now and said, “Prosecutor Hwang Si Mok. Cold, emotionless bastard.”

Han Yeo Jin almost spat out her tea at these words and turned to Ahn Yeong Seok in shock. She looked at Prosecutor Hwang to see how he took the offensive description, but he just sat there with his usual blank expression, seemingly unaffected that he had just been called a cold and emotionless bastard.

Ahn Yeong Seok laughed softly. “Not my words, Prosecutor Hwang. I was quoting an old friend of mine there. He also said that you have a razor-sharp mind and one of the best investigators and prosecutors that he had ever seen. And stubbornly incorruptible.” He paused and leaned towards him, his expression serious, “Doggedly chasing after the truth…”

The words struck a familiar chord with Hwang Si Mok, and he suddenly realized who the old friend was that he referred to before. They were the words that his former senior imparted to him before jumping to his death. The same words that are now permanently etched into his consciousness and try to live by. He looked at Ahn Yeong Seok sharply, understanding passing between them.

“Tell me, Prosecutor Hwang, should we make it mandatory for prosecutors to have a part of their brain removed to make them better prosecutors?” he asked Hwang Si Mok.

Han Yeo Jin had started to become uncomfortable with this line of questioning. She looked at Prosecutor Hwang again, worried that he will take offense this time but once again, the man kept his stubbornly impassive face and only stared back at Ahn Yeong Seok.

“That’s not what makes me a better prosecutor, sir,” he answered calmly.

“Then what does?”

He nodded towards Han Yeo Jin’s direction, silently telling the other man the reason. Han Yeo Jin, realizing what his silent answer meant, blushed furiously. Ahn Yeong Seok smiled, pleased with his answer.

“Why did you call us here, sir?” Hwang Si Mok asked, reminding him of the earlier question.

“Are you familiar with Edmund Burke?” he suddenly asked them. Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok looked at each other, confused at the sudden non-sequitur. Hwang Si Mok is familiar with Edmund Burke, but wondered what a long-dead Irish politician has to do with why they are there.

The chief of staff smiled at their confused expression and explained. “He said something very wise a long time ago that made an impact to me when I first read it as a young man, and had stayed with me ever since. He said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing’.”

He paused thoughtfully and continued, “I have been looking for a long time, and been disappointed many times, but I think I finally found it.”

“Found what, sir?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

He looked at them fully now, and said, “A good man, and woman. Who are finally doing something.”

Ahn Yeong Seok looked at the stunned faces of Prosecutor Hwang and Senior Inspector Han. He had followed their work from a distance for some time now, and in each time, they did not disappoint. And so, he decided that the time has finally come to meet with them face to face, and to discover if they will be up to the immense task that he will bestow upon them. He knew perfectly well that he had an ulterior motive in coming here, and what he is about to ask them is as great a responsibility as it is a burden; a burden that he had been carrying on his shoulders for a long time, unable to find the right people to share them with, and unable to act on his own because he was trapped in a cage of his own making. But watching the two now, he felt something that he had not felt in a long time; Hope, he thought, that they can accomplish what I cannot. That they have the will and fortitude to complete the mission that many others have failed, and most importantly, the integrity and honor that most people in their profession do not possess.

“Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of good men and women in the police and prosecution, but most of them neither have the will nor the skill that the two of you have. Because the work that the two of you have done had not gone unnoticed; you’ve gone against forces more powerful than you and I watched you forged on, resolute and undeterred, despite the cards being stacked heavily against you. And you managed to come out on top each time, not unharmed of course, but with your morals and sense of justice still intact.” He looked at them now, and said, “I am here to ask you to do the same on this case. To do what you have done before, and to soldier on despite the challenges. And the danger.” He emphasized his last point, letting them know that he is very much aware of the perilous nature of this case.

“We would have done the same regardless of you asking us, sir,” Han Yeo Jin said. “So why come to us now? What’s so important about this case?”

The older man regarded her, and Han Yeo Jin saw that he is carefully considering his response. When he finally spoke, she felt that his response was, while not directly evasive, did not provide any specifics either.

“You must have realized that this case is different from the ones you have worked on in the past. All I can tell you is that you may have stumbled upon something that have far-reaching consequences than both of you could ever imagine. And there are people, powerful people, who will do everything in their power to protect their secrets,” he said cryptically.

“But you do know something, don’t you sir? Something you’re not telling us,” said Hwang Si Mok.

“I might. But it’s not something I am willing to share with you at this juncture,” he said in a strong, firm voice, reminding them of his stature and position, “but I am willing to share this.” He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and slid it on the table towards them.

Han Yeo Jin looked at the piece of paper and saw the name of a village in Incheon. She looked inquiringly at Ahn Yeong Seok and asked, “What is this, sir?”

“Something to help you find the missing Mr. Park,” he said. He stood up, getting ready to leave, while Han Yeo Jin stared at the piece of paper and realized in wonder that the man had just given them a lead on Mr. Park’s current location.

“How do we know we can trust you?” Hwang Si Mok asked suddenly. “How do we know you’re not one of the powerful people you warned us about?”

The Chief of Staff paused with his hands on the sliding door, and looked back at Hwang Si Mok at his question. He stared at him thoughtfully and said, “I never said I am not.” With those parting words, he opened the door and left.

Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok stared at each other for a few moments after he left. Han Yeo Jin broke the silence and said, “We need to talk, but not here.”

“Why not?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

“I don’t know but I feel uneasy here. Like he could still be watching and listening. Let’s go to our place,” she said, referring to the pop-up bar.

Hwang Si Mok had no objections to this, because he may not have admitted it to the senior inspector, but the same, unsettling thought had crossed his mind.

Chapter Text

“What can I ge-“

“Bottle of soju please and two glasses,” Han Yeo Jin said quickly, not even letting the waitress finish her sentence. She noticed Prosecutor Hwang looking at her curiously.

“I need something stronger than tea after that meeting,” she said. “That was pretty intense.”

He nodded, as she poured them both the alcohol and filled their glasses to the rim. She downed the first shot quickly and poured herself another one. Hwang Si Mok watched her and decided that it might be a good idea to distract the senior inspector to ease her anxiety.

“So, your parents were diplomats?”

Han Yeo Jin spilled some of the soju she just drank on herself, surprised at the sudden question from Prosecutor Hwang. She eyed him warily while mopping up her shirt, and said, “Yes, they were in the foreign service.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded, interested in this tiny tidbit about the senior inspector. “Is that why you can speak French?”

She nodded, pouring him another shot. “Yes, my parents were stationed in Europe. I did my primary and some of my secondary school there.”

“How come you never followed in their footsteps and became a diplomat yourself?” he asked, fascinated.

She snorted, spraying a little bit of the soju she just drank on herself again. “Damn it,” she said, wiping at the new wet spot on her shirt and turned to him incredulously. “Are you kidding? You’ve known me long enough now to know that diplomacy is not my strongest suit.”

Hwang Si Mok gave a small smile and said, “You could be diplomatic when you wanted to be. Like that time during the council meeting when you calmly argued against Woo Tae-Ha, even though I could tell that you wanted to punch him in the face instead.”

Han Yeo Jin laughed, and felt her anxiety slowly drain away. She realized then what Prosecutor Hwang was doing, putting her at ease and gradually calming her nerves with questions about her personal life. Sneaky man, she thought, but appreciated his efforts nonetheless and thought that it might have helped him a little bit too, seeing how her reaction had made him smile.

“So, what do we know about Ahn Yeong Seok?” she asked, all business now, but calmer.

“He’s the current Blue House Chief of Staff. Before that, he held various positions within the government, including Deputy Commissioner General of the National Police.” He looked at the senior inspector, who nodded. “He is a powerful political figure, and many say it was him who got the President elected. They call him the Kingmaker –he stays behind the scenes and is the main political force in the party. He never ran for office himself, but put other people to those powerful positions instead. Like a highly skilled chess master.”

“Or a spider,” Han Yeo Jin said, suddenly assaulted with an image of a giant spider quietly spinning webs of its own design, and repressed a little shudder at the thought. “He had earned a formidable reputation when he was still a detective; the Lion of Gyeonggi, they used to call him. Had one of the highest arrest records in the history of the force. He’s highly regarded within the police too, and he implemented many programs as deputy commissioner that improved our system, and a lot of those programs especially benefited female police officers.” She remembered studying those same progressive programs while at the academy and remembered admiring former Deputy Commissioner General Ahn for enacting them, and making it better for someone like her if not succeed, then at least have a level playing field with her male colleagues.

“Why did he leave the police?”

“He retired from the force after his wife died. It was before I joined but someone told me she had cancer,” she said. Hwang Si Mok nodded, and filed this information for later.

“Can we trust the information he gave us? About Mr. Park and Incheon?” Senior Inspector Han asked him and added, “he’s got all this power and resources at his disposal, why not pursue the case himself? Why the secrecy?”

Hwang Si Mok mulled this over. He was thinking the same thing himself on the drive to the pop-up bar, and told the senior inspector his best guess. “Because he cannot be seen to be directly involved, being so close to the President. His boss and his party may have ties to these people; corporations are big political donors and they have significant political influence. He has to do it behind the scenes, like he does everything else.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded, accepting this explanation, and said, “And I guess we don’t really have much of a choice. We still need to pursue any leads, regardless if we are uncertain of its veracity.” She sighed, “When are we going to find the time to go to Incheon, with everything else that you and I have to take care of here?”

“I was thinking about that, and I have an idea,” Hwang Si Mok said, looking at the senior inspector carefully, not sure if she will like his suggestion. “I think we should let-“

Han Yeo Jin knew where he was going and said, “Don’t say it.”

“-Prosecutor Seo go to Incheon and investigate,” he finished.

Han Yeo Jin sighed and hung her head. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right; the two of them are spread out too thin and they needed help. And Prosecutor Seo is the only one who knows about the Hanjo connection. She will also admit, but not out loud, that Seo Dong Jae had so far not given her any real cause to doubt his sincerity. She nodded, resigned, and said, “Fine, we’ll talk to him together tomorrow and tell him everything we found so far. Well, everything except for the fact that the President’s chief of staff is the one who gave us the lead on Mr. Park.”

***

Hwang Si Mok had finished briefing Chief Oh of the latest development on their case. He told him everything they had found so far; about the connection with Park Gong Chu and Kim Gwang Ho, the attempted murder at the hospital and the fact that Park Gong Chu had now disappeared.

“Do you know where he might be hiding?” asked Chief Oh.

“We have a lead, sir. A village in Incheon,” Hwang Si Mok answered.

“Are you going to Incheon to find him?”

“No, sir. But Prosecutor Seo is.”

Chief Oh looked at Hwang Si Mok in surprise, and asked, “Prosecutor Seo? Why is he on this case?”

Hwang Si Mok had decided to be upfront to his chief about the details of the case, and that included telling him that Prosecutor Seo is also working with them. He did so now, letting him know that the prosecutor had been involved in the case almost from the beginning.

Chief Oh shook his head. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to involve him in this. Because of his history,” he said, reminding Hwang Si Mok of Prosecutor Seo’s past, which involved charges of bribery and corruption being leveled against him.

“He suspected Hanjo’s involvement even before we did, and he had been helping us ever since,” he explained, and then added, “and I believe he had changed sir, especially after his kidnapping.”

Chief Oh still looked unconvinced, which prompted Hwang Si Mok to say, “We haven’t told him about the Chief of Staff.”

The chief prosecutor looked at him swiftly, disconcerted that he brought up the topic of Ahn Yeong Seok with him. He pressed on, “During our first meeting, you said you didn’t want me to work on this case, but you were overruled. You strike me as a man who does not let his opinion be overridden by just anybody, even by those that has a higher position than you.” He paused. “So, it had to be someone who is very high up the totem pole, and most importantly, someone you absolutely respect for you to yield your position.”

 “You and the Chief of staff had worked together in the past; when he was with the police, and you were an assistant chief. That’s how you two knew each other.” Hwang Si Mok had spent the morning combing through Chief Oh’s old case files, and found numerous references detailing Assistant Chief Oh and Director of Intelligence Bureau Ahn working together on those cases. He looked at his chief now, assessing his reaction to the news that he had discovered the connection between him and the powerful man, and the fact that he had been secretly working with Ahn Yeong Seok the entire time.

But Chief Oh only sat quietly, neither confirming nor denying Hwang Si Mok’s theory. He looked at Hwang Si Mok, and he noticed that his chief was not particularly upset about the discovery; if anything, he looked more resigned.

“Don’t forget what I told you about the dangers of this case, Prosecutor Hwang. It’s not just Hanjo who is at stake here; but other powerful people and corporations who would not want to see an industry giant like Hanjo toppled by the law. In their eyes, it sets a dangerous precedent. Because it means that any one of them could be next.”

He stood, effectively ending the meeting. Hwang Si Mok paused at the door and looked back at his senior; his chief is standing still, looking out the window, his mind a million miles away.

Han Yeo Jin sat alone at the visitation room at the Anyang Detention center, waiting for Mr. Yoon to arrive for their regular visit. Han Yeo Jin had made it a point to visit Mr. Yoon every 3 months, after Prosecutor Hwang had told her about his dream. She does not consider herself very superstitious, but she felt a dire sense of premonition upon hearing about the prosecutor’s dream. She remembered it now; Lee Chang Jun and Young Eun Soo, both dead, walked towards the same direction, followed by Mr. Yoon. Mr. Yoon, who had looked gaunt and small the last time she saw him. Who had looked sad, defeated and a shadow of his old self. A man who had nothing to live for, and on the verge of ending it all. Han Yeo Jin could not shake the ominous feeling she had, and so had decided to visit the former investigator, and tried her best to make him hold on for just a little bit longer. She would never condone what he had done, no matter what his motives were; he ended a life, deliberately and violently, and he deserved to be punished. But Han Yeo Jin also recognized that while his actions were evil, the man himself is not; and she had meant it when she told him that what he had done does not define him.

She watched now as the door to the visitation room opened and a guard escorted Mr. Yoon in. He looked about the same, she thought, still too thin and too sad. She gave him a little smile in greeting, and Mr. Yoon gave her a small bow in return. She made small talk, asking him how he is, and listened as he gave the same response to her questions as the last time she was here. As she looked at him now, Han Yeo Jin hoped that he will be up to the task that she is about to ask of him.

“I actually came here today with an ulterior motive,” she said and looked at him intently. “I need your help.”

Mr. Yoon’s head snapped up at these words, and he stared at Han Yeo Jin in surprise. “My help?”

She nodded and told him about the death of Park Ik Joon. How he died within the same prison, seemingly of a heart attack, but that she suspects there might be foul play involved. How they are unable to prove it, but the timing of his death is suspicious. How he was involved in the organized crime syndicate she is investigating and may have information about the Haebangchon explosion.

“I wanted to ask if you can perhaps look into it and see if there is anything there. The prisoners may know something, but they may not necessarily tell the police because they don’t want to cause trouble for themselves,” she paused and added, “and you are in a unique position, because you can talk to them as a fellow inmate. And also, because you have experience as a former investigator with the prosecution, so you know the right questions to ask.” She looked at him hopefully, and for a moment, she thought he might refuse because he just sat there, looking at her incredulously. But then she saw a light suddenly flicker on in his eyes, and she watched in amazement as Mr. Yoon’s face transform into something resembling his former self.

“Yes, Senior Inspector Han. I will help you,” he said determinedly.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin was just getting out of her car at the Yongsan station parking lot when she saw Detective Park running towards her, excitement clear on his face.

“Slow down Gochujang,” she said, using the pet name she bestowed on him. “What is it?”

“We found the car on CCTV,” the detective said eagerly, “the car that the two witnesses saw the night of Cha Su Kyo’s murder. We manage to trace it’s route and final destination.”

Han Yeo Jin stopped in her tracks and looked at Detective Park in amazement. “Show me,” she said, and hurried inside with the detective.

She entered the bullpen with Detective Park and noticed Prosecutor Seo in discussion with the other members of the task force. She is so used to him being around now that she did not even comment on his presence. He nodded at her and went to her side as Detective Park began telling them of his discovery. He told them that he was able to trace the car as it left the park and discovered that the car had stolen license plates, and lost track of it when it entered an area with sparse CCTV.

“But I was able to pick up it up again, after I was able to narrow down the possible routes the car may have taken. The car drove through this side street,” he said, showing them the footage, “and through a CCTV blind spot area.”

“So you lost it?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Detective Park shook his head. “No,” he said smiling, and showed them a satellite map image of the street. “This street is a dead end, and there are only two buildings he may have gone into. And one of them is abandoned.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at Detective Park and thought that the young detective has done it again, and discovered an important lead for the task force. He had always been the most tech savvy amongst the detective squad, and so Han Yeo Jin had assigned him to track down the unknown car, knowing that his technical knowledge and resourcefulness will be the best suited for the task.

“I need someone to surveil the location and to find out which of the units belong to the suspect,” she announced to the task force. Detective Lee was about to raise his hand, but Detective Park beat him to it.

“I’ll do it!” he said eagerly. “I’ve been studying the map of this area, so I know which spot is the best to stakeout from.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded. “Good job, Gochujang,” she said and ruffled his hair, while Detective Park stood, looking very pleased with himself.

“… announced today that Councilman Seo Tae Gu will be running for Mayor of Seoul. The young councilman had been the clear favorite to replace the disgraced former mayor and had been one of the rising stars in the world of..”

Han Yeo Jin heard Seo Tae Gu’s name and turned to the TV mounted near the bullpen. She watched footage of the man now, announcing his candidacy for the mayorship, with the news anchor singing him praises and listing all his accomplishments.

“Hey, it’s your boyfri—oof.” Seo Dong Jae was not able to finish his sentence because he was doubled over in pain, after Senior Inspector Han had whacked him suddenly in the gut with her fist.

“Are you ok, Prosecutor Seo?” asked Captain Choi, looking at the man worriedly.

“He’s fine,” Han Yeo Jin said, eyes still glued to the TV, while Prosecutor Seo rubbed his tender stomach, still hunched over.

“Hey, it’s the guy from TV!”

Han Yeo Jin heard the shout and saw the entire detective squad looking behind her. She turned around and found Councilman Seo Tae Gu standing there, still wearing the same suit he was wearing on TV. He gave her a small smile and bow, and said, “Senior Inspector Han, may I speak with you for a moment?”

Han Yeo Jin stood uncertainly, not sure of what to do next. She does not know why the councilman suddenly decided to show up at the precinct, but she thought if it’s to do with what he told her during their last meeting, then she would have to be firm with him and tell him that she does not have time for it right now, and this is certainly not the place for it with all the detectives watching. She turned around and sure enough, a dozen eyes stared at them with unabashed curiosity. And they say women are gossips, she thought, but men are worst. She went to the councilman and told him quietly, “Can’t this wait? We’re a little busy at the moment.”

“I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t have come here, but I just needed to talk to someone. Please? It won’t take long,” he said pleadingly. That was when Han Yeo Jin noticed that the councilman looked a little worse for wear, and not his usual cheerful self. She nodded, leading him to the privacy of the briefing room, and away from the prying gazes of the detective squad.

She closed the door of the briefing room and sat down across from the councilman, who sat looking forlorn in his chair, and wondered what had happened to make him look this glum.

“What happened?” she asked.

Seo Tae Gu took a deep breath and asked, “Have you been to the hospital?”

She shook her head, dreading to hear that something bad had happened to one of the survivors. “No, did something happen?”

“Mrs. Yee, one of the survivors, died this morning,” he said somberly.

“The mother?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Seo Tae Gu nodded. She remembered the name of the woman who had been in a coma since the explosion, and who had lost both her husband and eleven year-old son in the incident. She closed her eyes, letting the sadness come. Another life taken by this deliberate act of evil, she thought, and let the anger flow through with her sorrow. She will stoke that anger, and use it to further fuel her determination at catching the people responsible for this cruel atrocity.

She looked at the councilman who had been watching her, his face etched in misery. “The lives of an entire family just extinguished in an instant,” he choked and looked away, trying to compose himself. He looked at her suddenly and with unsettling intensity, and said, “Tell me you know who did this. Tell me you’re going to arrest them.”

Han Yeo Jin desperately wished that she can answer yes to his questions, but knew that she can’t lie to him. Not with this, not even with him looking at her with desperate hope, so she told him the truth instead. “Not yet, but we’re getting close.”

“That’s not good enough!” he said loudly and forcefully, and Han Yeo Jin was so taken aback with his reaction that she just stared at him, stunned at the sudden show of anger. She watched as his anger turned quickly to shame, as Councilman Seo realize that he had lost control and raised his voice at her. He rubbed his face tiredly and then suddenly grabbed both of her hands in a tight grip and apologized to her in earnest.

“I’m sorry senior inspector. I don’t usually lose control like that, but this case..” he said, unable to finish and just shook his head, then turned to her again. “What I did was unforgivable, and I apologize.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at the councilman and can see his sincere regret; she will admit that his sudden outburst had unnerved her, but she understood his feeling of frustration because she felt it too. “It’s okay, I understand. I’m angry too,” she told him.

He shook his head, “I’m not angry at you, senior inspector. Never you,” he said adamantly. “I’m angry at the people who did this,” he said, still holding her hands. “Please tell me you have something. Something that will help you catch the people responsible.”

Han Yeo Jin thought about their lead on Park Gong Chu’s location, and the fact that they just discovered the possible location of Cha Su Kyo’s murderer. In this at least, she can answer him positively and truthfully. “Yes, we have something.”

Seo Tae Gu looked at her intensely, as if assessing if she was telling the truth, and finally convinced of it, gave her a small smile and nodded. He suddenly took the hand that he was still holding to his lips, and kissed the back of it. Han Yeo Jin blushed furiously, shocked at the unexpected act of tenderness.

“Thank you for listening, and for not being angry with me, even after I acted like a complete jerk,” he said remorsefully.

Han Yeo Jin, who is still recovering from what just happened, tried to brush it off and said lightly, “I have to be nice to you. You could be our next mayor.”

Seo Tae Gu laughed, and both of them turned at the sound of the door opening. Han Yeo Jin pulled her hands quickly from the councilman’s grasp, but she knew from the look on his face that Prosecutor Hwang had already seen; the man misses nothing, after all.

Hwang Si Mok arrived at Yongsan station to talk to Senior Inspector Han and Prosecutor Seo about their plan to track down Park Gong Chu in Incheon. He noticed upon entering that the whole station is abuzz with excited conversation, and wandered towards Prosecutor Seo’s side to ask him what was going on.

“Umm…” Seo Dong Jae looked at Hwang Si Mok, reluctant to break the news to him, and not sure if he’d even care. He’ll do it gently, he thought, in case there are feelings involved.

“That handsome councilman is with Senior Inspector Han right now!” Detective Seo said, clearly excited at the news. Seo Dong Jae gave him a dirty look.

Jang Geon scoffed and said, “He’s not that handsome.”

“He’s more handsome than you, that’s for sure,” Detective Seo fired back, earning him another dirty look.

Hwang Si Mok marched towards the briefing room. He’s not sure what made him do it, and told himself that he just wanted to make sure that the senior inspector is okay. He opened the door and the first thought that came to his mind is that he should have knocked first. The second is to wonder how it would feel to punch the councilman right in his handsome face. It took a surprising amount of effort to keep his face blank after what he had just seen, but thought he was able to pull it off. He watched as a flustered Senior Inspector Han explain the reason of the councilman’s visit.

“Councilman Seo just told me that Mrs. Yee, one of the survivors, died this morning.”

This information had managed to distract Hwang Si Mok from the unpleasant scene he had just witnessed, and he heard Prosecutor Seo’s gasp of surprise behind him upon hearing this tragic news. Eight casualties, he thought, and there’s no telling how many more until they finally catch the people responsible.

“Thank you for letting us know. Is there anything else you wanted to talk to us about?” he said to Councilman Seo, thanking him but also hinting that he can leave if there is nothing else he wanted to discuss.

Seo Tae Gu acknowledged his thanks, but took the hint and said his goodbyes to them. He looked at Han Yeo Jin and said, “Thank you for listening Senior Inspector Han, you’ve helped me more than you could ever know.” He gave them all a small bow and left.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang, trying to gauge his reaction after walking in on her and the councilman.  She wished that he had not opened the door at that exact moment and hope that he does not think that she had allowed Councilman Seo to take liberties with her. Then she realized how foolish she sounded; she is a grown woman for god’s sake, and it was just some lousy hand holding. And anyway, it does not seem that he minded at all, judging from his current usual, blank expression. Han Yeo Jin felt suddenly irritated, but was not entirely certain as to why. She looked at Prosecutor Seo, who is currently trying very hard to look at anywhere but them, and felt that this entire situation is beyond ridiculous.

“Should we go over the case with Prosecutor Seo?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

“Yes!” said Seo Dong Jae, relieved that somebody finally broke the uncomfortable silence. He looked at his watch, “It’s almost dinner, why don’t we go to that pop-up bar and talk there?”

Hwang Si Mok looked at Senior Inspector Han who just shrugged. Seo Dong Jae took this as acquiescence and said, “Great! Actually, I need to make a quick stop at the office. I’ll meet you both there shortly.”

“Can you give me a ride?” Hwang Si Mok asked Senior Inspector Han, who looked surprised but readily agreed.

“Great!” Seo Dong Jae said again, pleased. He thought to himself that he is finally putting his scheming and devious ways to good use for a change, and that he might just kill some time at a nearby coffee shop; after all, he does not really need to go back to his office.

Chapter Text

Director Park saw the incoming call from an unknown number on his cellphone and immediately declined it. He is currently busy working with the CEO at her office, going through the last quarter’s financial statements. His phone rang again, and he saw the same unknown number flashing on the screen. Annoyed, he bowed apologetically to the CEO and accepted the call, ready to tell off whoever was on the other line for disturbing him.

“I have the information you’re looking for,” the voice on the other line said, “on Hanjo.”

Director Park tensed, and looked at CEO Lee, who looked back at him curiously. He bowed again with a hasty apology and walked quickly out of her office.

“What information?” he asked as soon as he closed the office doors. His grip on the cellphone tightened as he listened to the voice, and he felt excitement mix with dread at what he was hearing.

“Who are you?” he asked, but the caller had already terminated the call. He debated how to proceed, as he is not entirely sure if he can trust the source or the actual information he had been given. He looked at the closed office doors of the CEO and thought that he does not really have a choice; he needed to at least verify if there was any truth to what the mystery caller had told him. He knew that he may be taking a dangerous risk in pursuing this; but he had vowed to protect Mrs. Lee at all cost, and no amount of danger will stop him in fulfilling that promise.

***

The image of the senior inspector and the councilman holding hands kept intruding into Hwang Si Mok’s mind that he almost wished that his tinnitus will flare up just so he can be distracted by the pain. He thought to himself that the gesture was probably just the innocent act of comforting each other after hearing such tragic news; but for some reason, this made Hwang Si Mok even angrier, more at himself than at Councilman Seo, because he thought that he should have been the one she turned to for comfort instead of the other man. Like it had always been, when it was just the two of them against the world, fighting and commiserating together. But he had never held the senior inspector’s hand; the closest that he ever came was when they questioned her former Director in prison, and she had discovered that her chief and mentor had lied to her. She had looked so devastated by the betrayal, that in that moment, Hwang Si Mok felt a desperate need to take the senior inspector’s hand because he could not stand to see her in pain. But he didn’t, and he remembered feeling regret that he had let the moment pass by, once again hindered by his inexperience to articulate his own feelings and emotions.

“Prosecutor Hwang?”

Hwang Si Mok snapped out of his musings on hearing the senior inspector call his name, and realized he had not said a word since they sat down at the table. He shook himself mentally and said, “sorry, what did you say?”

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang. He was quiet during the entire drive to the pop-up bar and the entire time they had been sitting at their table. He did not look particularly angry or upset, just completely absorbed in his own thoughts that she wondered what he must be thinking of. “I said your food is getting cold,” she pointed at the bowl of ramen in front of him.

Hwang Si Mok looked at the food in front of him, uncertain of how it got there. “I ordered for you. I didn’t want to disturb you since you’re so busy staring into space,” she said.

“Thank you,” he said, “I’m sorry, I was just thinking of something.”

“What are you thinking of?” she asked.

“The case,” he lied quickly.

Han Yeo Jin nodded in understanding, relieved that he had been thinking about the case and not about the awkward encounter from earlier.

“Are you and Councilman Seo dating?”

Han Yeo Jin almost choked on her food at the sudden question. She coughed and looked in disbelief at Prosecutor Hwang and said indignantly, “No!” She realized that she might have shouted the word because the other patrons were looking at her, and tried to lower her voice. “Why would you even ask that?” she hissed.

“Because he’s always bumping into you and he seems to like you a lot,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Well, we’re not dating,” she said firmly. She hesitated and added, “But he did ask me out on a date. I said no.”

“Why?” asked Hwang Si Mok, in a tone he hoped came out as nonchalant.

Han Yeo Jin shrugged, unable to tell Prosecutor Hwang the reason as she is not sure if she herself understands it completely. “I guess he’s just not my type.”

“Why not? He’s handsome, successful, smart, popular..”

“Why don’t you date him then?” Han Yeo Jin said exasperatedly, and just a bit annoyed at the sudden interrogation of her love life.

“He’s not my type either,” said Hwang Si Mok. “He’s too pretty for my taste.”

Hwang Si Mok watched as Senior Inspector Han roared in laughter at his remark. He smiled and dove into his food, suddenly feeling very hungry and more cheerful.

Seo Dong Jae stood at the entrance of the pop-up bar, unnoticed by both Hwang Si Mok and Senior Inspector Han, and watched the two laughing merrily together. He had seen Hwang Si Mok show more emotions in a span of one week than in all the years they have worked together. Even now, he watched in wonder at him actually laughing gently with the senior inspector and was amazed at the transformation; he looked younger and more carefree, his face softer and kinder, where a hard block of bare, smooth granite used to be. He wondered if the senior inspector realized the effect she has had on the man, and how she was able to succeed where everyone else had failed, and managed to tear down the impenetrable wall of ice separating Hwang Si Mok from the rest of humanity. Seo Dong Jae was glad that Hwang Si Mok managed to find someone like Senior Inspector Han, and is in turn thankful to the senior inspector for having the patience and persistence to be with someone like Hwang Si Mok. And for recognizing that behind the stern and unfeeling façade lies one of the best and most loyal person that he has ever known.

“Prosecutor Seo!” Seo Dong Jae heard Senior Inspector Han call his name and watched as she waved him over. He beamed, pleased to see a slight smile directed at him instead of the scowl she usually wears when she sees him, and thought that perhaps she is starting to gradually warm up to him; and he didn’t even have to bring a bribe of her favorite food this time. He walked over to their table and sat down.

“Right, there’s a lot we need to catch you up on, and we also need your help,” said Han Yeo Jin and then paused, noticing his expression. “Why are you smiling like that?”

Seo Dong Jae quickly wiped the smile off his face and said, “Sorry. I was just… happy to hear you needed my help.” Because it means you are finally starting to trust me, he thought, but did not say out loud.

“You’re making this weird,” said Han Yeo Jin.

“Sorry,” he said again, fixing a more serious expression on his face this time.

Han Yeo Jin rolled her eyes, but started recapping what they have found so far, with the assistance of Prosecutor Hwang. They filled him in about Park Gong Chu, his connection with the dead auditor, the events at the hospital and his disappearance shortly after, and started making plans for his trip to Incheon.

Detective Park Soon Chang gave a huge yawn and stretched his arms above his head, and did his best to stay alert. He had been surveilling the building a few yards away from where he had parked his police car, but he had not seen any signs of the car from the CCTV footage going in or out of the building. He hoped that he has the right place; he did not want to disappoint Senior Inspector Han after she praised him in front of everybody, and also because he has a lot of respect and admiration for the senior who had mentored him when he joined the Yongsan detective squad. He thought to himself that hers is a career that he wants to follow, but most importantly, she is the sort of police officer that he wants to emulate-- intelligent, hard-working and above all, honest and full of integrity. He sighed, starting to worry that he might have the wrong spot when he suddenly saw a dark sedan pull up beside the building. He sat up, alert now; the witnesses said the car was black whereas the car that just pulled up is dark blue. He thought perhaps that the witnesses may have mistook the color; after all, it is easy to confuse dark colors especially at night. He watched as a man clad completely in black, his head covered by a black baseball cap, got out of the car and looked shiftily around him. The figure moved stealthily towards the building, keeping to the shadows. He turned his head, and Detective Park saw that the man is wearing a face mask. The figure suddenly leapt over the gate and disappeared into the building.

“I have eyes on the suspect, send back up to my location now,” said Detective Park on his cellphone and hurriedly gave his location and started running towards the building to follow the man. He jumped over the gate easily and ran to the stairwell. He tried to determine which floor the man went into and saw a brief shadow moving at the very top of the stairs. The terrace apartment, he thought, and ran quickly but silently to follow. He saw the door hanging ajar when he finally got to the top floor, the lock jimmied. He took his taser gun out of its holster, and silently crept to the door, and saw the dark figure rummaging inside drawers in the small apartment. He walked stealthily towards the man, taser gun at the ready, when a loud creak suddenly broke the silence.

Shit, he thought, looking at his feet and the floorboards that caused the offending sound. The dark figure turned around, saw Detective Park, and before the detective was able to shout freeze, managed to throw a box at him and ran towards the exit.

Detective Park managed to duck out of the way of the heavy box thrown at him but lost his balance when he tripped over a pile of boxes and junk strewn across the tiny apartment. He lost his taser gun in the fall and did not have time to look for it when he saw the suspect about to get away. He got up quickly and ran towards the man, into the balcony just as he was about to head down the stairs. Detective Park was able to grab the man’s jacket and tried to pull him back into the balcony, but the man proved stronger than he looked. They struggled, and Detective Park managed to wrap his arms around the man’s body from behind, pinning his arms, and walking backwards into the balcony and away from the stairs. But the suspect managed to free his right arm, and elbowed the detective hard in the gut. The pain distracted the detective, and the suspect managed to shove him away from him. The force of the shove caused the detective to trip onto a pile of stone blocks littered across the balcony, and the momentum had caused him to overbalance, right over the balcony railing.

The man watched in horror as the policeman’s body toppled over the balcony. He ran to the railing and tried and pull him back, but grasped only air. And the last thing that Soon Chang saw is the terrified face of his killer.

Chapter Text

The three of them had decided that Seo Dong Jae will head to Incheon the next day to look for Park Gong Chu. Han Yeo Jin had given him the name of her contact at the local police station in case he might need their assistance.

“And call us if you find anything, or if you come across any trouble,” said Hwang Si Mok, as the three of them walk towards the parking lot of the pop-up bar.

“I will. Are you expecting trouble?” asked Seo Dong Jae.

Han Yeo Jin heard her phone ringing and saw that it was Jang Geon calling. She answered, still trying to pay attention to what the two men were discussing.

“Just be aware of your surroundings, in case someone is following you. And try to-” Hwang Si Mok stopped, suddenly aware that the senior inspector is not with them anymore. He turned around and saw her standing still with her phone in her ear. Something in her expression had alerted him, and he was about to ask her if she was okay when she suddenly start to crumple down on the ground, as if she was unable to support her own weight anymore.

Han Yeo Jin listened to Jang Geon’s broken voice on the other line, unable to comprehend what she is hearing, and unable to accept the horrible reality of that moment. A ringing had started in her ears and her vision started to tunnel, and she did not even realize that she was falling down until she felt Prosecutor Hwang’s arms catch her before she fell completely on the ground. She heard Prosecutor Seo’s anxious voice asking if she was okay, but her brain had decided to turn off at that moment, in an attempt to defend itself against the terrible truth she just heard.

Hwang Si Mok took the phone away from the senior inspector and asked the caller furiously, “Who is this?”

“It’s Jang Geon.” Hwang Si Mok heard what sounded like a repressed sob from the detective and knew immediately that something terrible had happened. “Is Han Yeo Jin okay?” Jang Geon asked.

“No, she’s not. What happened?” he asked urgently.

“It’s Soon Chang…Detective Park,” another pause as the detective tried to gather himself. “He’s gone.”

Hwang Si Mok closed his eyes and listened as Detective Jang told him what had happened. He asked the detective to give them his location.

“We’re on our way now,” Hwang Si Mok said, and hung up. He looked at the horrified face of Prosecutor Seo, who had also heard what Detective Jang had said, and turned to the senior inspector. She still looked to be in shock, her face tense in anguish and her eyes wide and bright with unshed tears.

“Senior Inspector Han. Senior Inspector Han.” He said her name to get her to look at him, and bring her back from the place of misery she is currently trapped in.

“Yeo Jin,” Hwang Si Mok said. Only then did she finally look at him, shaken out of her stupor by the sound of her first name uttered by him for the very first time. “We need to go,” he said to her, “we need to go to him now.” And he watched as the tears start to fall silently down her face, and looked at him in utter wretchedness. She closed her eyes and nodded, and both he and Prosecutor Seo helped her up on her feet, and half carried her to the car, to take her to her fallen friend.

They found the scene in utter chaos. Police cars, ambulance and fire trucks all parked haphazardly, the fire men still struggling to contain the blazing inferno to stop it from spreading to the entire apartment building, while paramedics and police run around to assist the victims of the fire. Through all the madness and destruction around her, Han Yeo Jin saw the Yongsan detective squad on the side, standing over a gurney carrying a body draped in a white sheet. She walked over slowly, willing her trembling knees to support her and prayed that she does not fall apart in the face of her friends’ naked grief; as she watched Captain Choi, Jang Geon, Detective Seo and the rest of the detective squad openly mourn their slain comrade. The other detectives noticed her arrival and made space for her to pass, and she finally saw the still figure of Soon Chang, lying peacefully as if asleep, save for the dark stain of red around his head. She moved closer, until she is standing right beside the gurney, and stared at the body of the young man that she had fondly taken under her wing when she was still a detective at Yongsan station. The harsh glare of the fire and the flashing police lights illuminated his face, and she noticed just how young he looked, his face still smooth and unlined by the years that he will never have. She bowed her head and kept going, unable to support its weight any longer with the heaviness in her heart, and rested her forehead on his unmoving chest. She felt three hands on her back trying to give her comfort, and she finally shattered, silently and completely, at the gesture.

Hwang Si Mok watched as the senior inspector rested her head on the body of Detective Park, and looked on as Captain Choi, Detective Seo and Jang Geon rested their hands on her back, gently comforting her in the midst of their own grief. Hwang Si Mok swallowed at the sudden lump in his throat, startled at the unfamiliar and unexpected emotion. He can hear Prosecutor Seo sniffing beside him, and felt rather than saw him wiping his face. The tragedy and poignancy of the scene is enough to affect even a man like him, whom biology dictated was supposed to be devoid of any emotions. He knew that the members of the Violent Crimes Unit at Yongsan share a bond that runs deep, and that this bond still holds true for the senior inspector even after she left the unit for HQ. Watching them now, Hwang Si Mok realized that they share more than that, and that they are, fundamentally and profoundly, a family; and this family had just lost their youngest son. He turned away from the scene and looked at the turmoil around him, at the raging fire and the faces of the people who have been displaced by it; and wondered how many have been hurt, or worst, by this intentional act of savage cruelty. Jang Geon had told him on the phone that the fire was deliberate, and most likely started by Detective Park’s killer. Hwang Si Mok felt anger course through him at the trail of destruction left by the people they are hunting, and their utter disregard for human lives. In that moment, he made a vow to hunt them all down, and will not stop until he had put each and all of them behind bars, where they belong.

***

Hwang Si Mok drove through traffic on his way to Detective Park’s memorial service, with Prosecutor Seo sitting quietly on the passenger seat beside him. They had decided to come to the memorial together and hold off on their plan for Seo Dong Jae to go to Incheon until after they had paid their respects to the late detective.

“Have you heard from Senior Inspector Han?” Seo Dong Jae asked.

He shook his head. He had not heard from the senior inspector since he had dropped her off her apartment the night that Detective Park was killed. He had tried to call her the next day, and sent her text messages asking if she was okay, all of which went unanswered. He went to Yongsan station to see if she is there but found only the other members of the task force, all of whom were still reeling from the shocking death of their colleague. He debated going to her apartment to check on her, but thought that she might need some time alone to mourn her friend, and may not appreciate him barging in on her at such a sensitive time.

“No, but she may be at the memorial today. If not, I’ll go to her apartment,” Hwang Si Mok said.

Seo Dong Jae nodded, and Hwang Si Mok noticed that he looked worried for the senior inspector, and was gratified to see that the prosecutor seems to genuinely care for Senior Inspector Han’s well-being.

They arrived at the memorial and walked through a sea of black, with all the police officers attired in their customary Class A uniforms. They paid their respects to the late detective’s family and bowed in front of Detective Park’s portrait. Hwang Si Mok stared at the face of the detective and felt the familiar anger surge through him at having such a vibrant and promising young man taken so suddenly and so brutally from them. He turned away and made his way to the hall to look for the senior inspector. He spotted Jang Geon and the rest of the Yongsan squad, and he and Prosecutor Seo made their way towards them. He looked around but did not see Senior Inspector Han.

“She’s not here yet,” Jang Geon said. He looked rough, as if he had not slept at all since the night of the incident, and Hwang Si Mok thought that he probably has not. He looked at Captain Choi and Detective Seo, both of whom had the same tired and haggard look on their faces.

“Have you heard from her?” Hwang Si Mok asked Jang Geon.

He shook his head and said “I tried to call her, and even stopped by her apartment. But she didn’t answer her door.” He sighed. “I’m worried about her. She was very fond of Soon Chang, we all were, but her especially,” he said.

Prosecutor Seo tapped him suddenly on the shoulders. “She’s here,” he said, looking at the entrance.

Hwang Si Mok saw Senior Inspector Han making her way alone into the hall; She was also wearing her police uniform and looked as rough and worn down as the rest of the squad. He made an effort to stay rooted on the spot, instead of immediately and quickly marching towards her, to ascertain her state. She made her way towards Detective Park’s portrait and he watched as she made her bow, and stayed in that position for longer than was customary. He could tell even from behind, from the tension in her shoulders and the subtle shaking of her arms, that she is having difficulty composing herself. He threw caution to the wind, not caring who saw, and walked quickly towards the inner chamber to where she is.

Han Yeo Jin closed her eyes and tried not to fall apart in front of Soon Chang’s portrait, and in front of his family and all of her colleagues. She felt, and knew even without looking, that Prosecutor Hwang was behind her. She took a deep breath and tried to get up from her bowed position, and hastily wiped the wetness from her face. He turned to Soon Chang’s parents and made the same customary bow.

“Are you Senior Inspector Han?”

She looked up at the sound of the voice and found Soon Chang’s mother, who had asked the question, looking at her expectantly. She nodded, surprised that she knew her name. Mrs. Park smiled sadly at her and said, “Soon Chang talked about you a lot. He said that you’re the best detective he had ever worked with, and that he learned so much from you.” She took Han Yeo Jin’s hand and told her tearfully, “Thank you, for looking after my boy. It had meant so much to him.”

It took all of Han Yeo Jin’s strength not to breakdown in front of the grieving woman, and instead told her in a tremulous voice how sorry she is for her loss. The inadequate platitude of condolence was all she could manage at the moment, as any attempt at more may inadvertently break the dam of grief that she is desperately and barely holding at bay at the moment. But the woman seemed to recognize her struggle, and nodded at her in understanding.

Han Yeo Jin stood up, and found Prosecutor Hwang standing near the entrance of the inner chamber, his brows knitted in worry and looking at her in concern. She walked towards him and for a moment, they just stood, facing each other, neither saying a word. He finally broke the silence and asked, “Are you okay?”

“No,” she answered. “I’m going to Yongsan station. We have a killer to catch,” she said in a steady voice, and Hwang Si Mok watched as she made her way to the detective squad, now huddled together with her current boss, Director No. She talked to them for a moment then made her way out of the memorial hall.

Hwang Si Mok had come to a decision after watching the senior inspector and walked purposefully out of the hall. He heard Prosecutor Seo call his name as he tried to catch up with him, but Hwang Si Mok kept walking, determined to get to his car as quickly as possible.

“Hwang Si Mok! Where are you going?” Seo Dong Jae asked once he caught up with him, anxious at his sudden departure.

“To get some answers,” Hwang Si Mok said, as he hopped inside his car and drove away, leaving a worried Seo Dong Jae behind.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin entered Yongsan station and made her way to the bullpen, towards the whiteboard where the details of the cursed case are fully laid out. She saw Detective Lee and the other detectives, who appears to have also come from the memorial as all were still wearing their uniforms, looked at her sadly and with concern. She nodded at them but kept going, and stopped when she reached the area where the Violent Crimes Unit sits, her eyes gravitating towards Soon Chang’s desk. She stared at the empty desk and realized with a painful stab in her chest that she will never see the detective’s eager, young face working across from her ever again. Will never hear him excitedly volunteer for another assignment, no matter how mundane and dull it was. Will never hear him laugh as she joked with Jang Geon and Seo Sang Won and Captain Choi. She closed her eyes and tried to suppress the gathering tears, and took a deep breath to calm herself. She decided she will pack his things now, and save the detective squad the depressing task later. She took an empty box from under the desk and started the miserable job of putting the late detective’s personal effects inside. She stopped when she saw a drawing taped to the side of his desk, and recognized it as one of hers. It was the one she gave him before she left for her dispatch at HQ two years ago, and she told him that he had better behave himself while she is gone. She drew him a picture of the name-brand red chili paste tub that was his namesake, with a pair of disembodied and narrowed eyes above and words below that read “Soon Chang, I’m watching you.”

She took the taped up drawing and sat heavily on his chair, and let the tears fall, not caring if the other detectives saw. She closed her eyes at the sudden onslaught of emotions, and of the memories of a young police officer, who was brave and loyal and true, right to the very end.

“I’m sorry, Gochujang,” Han Yeo Jin said, and cried.

***

Lee Yeon Jae sat at her desk, watching the news coverage in her computer on the death of a detective while investigating organized crime activities in one of the Seoul districts.

“…Detective Park Soon Chang was a detective at the Yongsan Police station and is part of the task force that had been investigating the spread of drug-related activities in the area. No suspects have been identified so far and the..”

 The intercom beeped, and she heard one of her secretaries announce, “Prosecutor Hwang Si Mok is requesting to see the CEO. He doesn’t have an appointment.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea ma’am,” said Director Park, who is currently standing behind her desk, watching the news coverage with her.

Lee Yeon Jae had been expecting a visit since she found out that the deceased detective was from Yongsan station, and part of the task force investigating organized crime. She did her homework; she knew that that female detective, Senior Inspector Han, was the one leading it. Prosecutor Seo mentioned during his last visit that he was working with the police on the explosion case, and that it was related to organized crime. She put two and two together and surmised that the prosecutor is working with the senior inspector, therefore she knew it was only a matter of time before Prosecutor Seo paid her a visit. What she did not expect is Prosecutor Hwang coming to see her instead. Lee Yeon Jae will admit only to herself that the other prosecutor unsettles her; not just because he was the last person to see her husband alive, and the person that may have ultimately sent him over the edge. It was because of the unnerving way he watches her, as if he can see right through her, and knows that behind the imposing persona she had cultivated lies a deeply embittered and terrified woman who is way out of her depth. Now he’s here, to see her, and she knew that hiding behind her office walls will not stop the man from going after everything she had worked for since she took over the company.

“I’ll see him,” she said on the intercom, and looked at the disapproving face of her number two, “it will be worst if I don’t.”

Lee Yeon Jae arranged her appearance and put on her calm and unaffected mask, and was ready by the time Prosecutor Hwang entered her office. She noticed that he is wearing a dark suit more fitting for a funeral, and realized that he may have come straight from the dead detective’s memorial and straight to her office. The thought made her uneasy, as if by doing so, he is bringing death right at her door. She wondered if that was the prosecutor’s intent, to rub the violence of death right in her face, as a means of unsettling her. Well, she is no stranger to violent deaths, and she thought that Prosecutor Hwang needs to do better than that to fluster her.

“Prosecutor Hwang,” she said with a slight smile, “to what do I owe this visit?”

There it is again, she thought, that watchful stare, trying to pierce her well-created armor. The prosecutor is just standing there, staring at her silently, and Lee Yeon Jae hated to admit that the strange man does in fact, disconcert her. But she’ll be damned if she let him know that.

“I was just watching the news before you arrived. I’m sorry to hear about what happened to the detective,” she said, with just the right amount of sympathy in her voice.

“Are you?” he asked, calmly.

His response chafed at her, so when she spoke, she forgot to maintain her serene and cool manner, and asked angrily, “What is that supposed to mean?”

Hwang Si Mok did not have time to play games with this woman and her minion who is currently standing behind her. He came here to finally get some answers and if that fails, then he will do everything he can to wreak havoc on her perfectly insulated little world, and make her feel at least an ounce of the pain that her corrupt company may have caused the many victims of this horrendous crime. An image of the senior inspector came to him, bowed low, her shoulders and arms shaking and unable to get up because of the weight of her grief; and he was suddenly overcome with the urge to reach across the desk and shake the apathy off the woman who has the power to end this all.

“It means your wretched company murdered that boy. Like it murdered countless others,” he paused, going in for the kill, “like it murdered your husband.”

“Get out!” Lee Yeon shouted, her eyes blazing with anger. And hurt, at the mention of her husband.

Hwang Si Mok stepped forward instead, but was stopped with a restraining hand on his chest. He looked down and saw that the hand with a very expensive looking watch on its wrist belonged to Director Park; but he went on, undeterred, intent on making this woman suffer, just like the senior inspector is suffering right now.

“He would have been ashamed of you,” he said quietly and vindictively. “Your husband. He would have been ashamed of what you had become.”

An involuntary tear slid down Lee Yeon Jae’s face, and she repeated her words shakily, “I said get out.”

“I’ll leave. But I want you to know that your reckoning is coming,” Hwang Si Mok said ominously. “Because I am coming for you, and your company,” he said with finality, and walked out of her office.

Director Park closed the office door and looked at the CEO with concern. He went to her and said, “Ma’am, that prosecutor was way out line. Don’t think-“

“I need to be alone.” Lee Yeon Jae said, unable to hear anything anymore, and just wanting to be by herself.

Director Park hesitated, not wanting to leave her alone in her current state. “But ma’am..”

“I said I want to be alone. Please leave!” she shouted, about to lose control.

Director Park nodded, and took one last worried look at the woman he admires so much, and closed the door.

Lee Yeon Jae closed her eyes and tried to calm herself, but she was unable to stop the tears from flowing any more than she can stop the horrible sequence of events currently unfolding that she may have had a hand on creating. She felt helpless, and angry, at the injustice of it all. She did not want to be this way, but she was forced to be. To survive. Because everyone else had abandoned her- her husband, her brother and her father, and she had no one else to rely on but herself. Now they look at her as if she is a monster, but she was a monster that they had all created.

Just like Chang Jun, she thought sadly, and wondered if she was fated to meet the same tragic end as her poor husband. She unlocked her drawer and stared at the black notebook sitting there, and remembered Prosecutor Seo’s words that day in her office. When he reached out to her, pleading with her to take his hand, and she stubbornly refusing it. But what he did not know was that she did desperately wanted to take his hand, but she was afraid that instead of him pulling her from the edge, that she will end up pulling him into the abyss instead, right along with her.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin wiped the soju that spilled on her jaw and thought that perhaps she has had enough if she can’t even place the glass properly on her mouth to drink. She made an unplanned stop at a nearby bar after leaving the precinct, because she did not want to go home in her empty apartment with nothing but her miserable thoughts to keep her company. So here she sat alone in a dingy bar, just like those cops she had seen on the television dramas that she swore she never watches but secretly does, drowning her sorrows in alcohol to help numb the pain. She noticed the bartender looking at her disapprovingly, and was annoyed at the silent judgement she saw in the man’s eyes. Then she realized that while she may have taken off the jacket of her Class A police uniform in an attempt to be discreet, she is still wearing the distinctive striped tie that identified her as a member of the police force. She thought that was probably why the bartender was judging her; because she was supposed to be an upstanding member of the force, instead of a sloppy drunk drinking alone in a questionable establishment. Well, she thought angrily, she is allowed one night of indulgence after the week she had; and Mr. Judgy eyes over there will probably do the same thing if he was in her position. She took the bottle of soju and defiantly poured herself another shot. The bartender looked at her askance.

“My friend died,” she told him bluntly, and drank the shot of liquor.

All at once, the bartender’s demeanor changed, the disapproving stare replaced immediately by a look of sympathy. “I’m very sorry for your loss,” he said kindly.

Han Yeo Jin swallowed at the sudden lump in her throat; she would rather have his judgmental stare than the look of pity he is currently giving her now. She cannot take the kindness of strangers at the moment because any attempt at sympathy will have her bawling her eyes out for everyone at this sad bar to see. Alcohol makes her weepy. She wiped angrily at her wet cheeks and slapped some bills on the counter and slid off the stool, and just stood there for a moment while she waited for the room to stop spinning.

“Are you going to be okay, officer?”

Busted, she thought. She took a deep breath and attempted to sound sober when she spoke. “I’ll be fine, I won’t drive. I live nearby so I’ll just walk,” she said, and hoped she sounded coherent.

Han Yeo Jin walked out of the bar and inhaled deeply, the night chill helping sober her up a bit. She was glad she had the wherewithal to choose a bar so close to her apartment, so she did not have to drive or take a cab to get home. And the walk will help sober her up some more, she thought, and tire her up so that she will go straight to sleep instead of lying awake crying like she had been the past two nights. Good plan, she thought to herself, pleased, just as the sky opened up and unleashed a deluge of rain.

“Are you kidding me?” she shouted to the heavens, looking up at the dark, stormy clouds above. Typical, she thought, a perfect ending to a crappy day after a crappy week. Maybe if she’s lucky, she’d get hit by a car too, she thought, and trudged miserably forward.

Hwang Si Mok sat alone in his car, which was currently parked outside Senior Inspector Han’s apartment building. He had been waiting for her for more than an hour now. He did not see her car parked nearby so he knows she is not home yet, and he wanted to talk to her and see how she is faring. He was about to try calling her again when he saw a lone figure walking and stumbling alone in the rain. He jumped quickly out of the car, immediately recognizing the form of Senior Inspector Han.

Han Yeo Jin let out a sigh of relief at the sight of her building. The cold, wet rain was seeping into her bones, and she cannot wait to get inside the warmth of her apartment. She saw suddenly a dark figure blocking her path, and she wondered if she would be able to fight off an assailant capably in her drunken state. She was about to tell the stranger to get out of her way when she recognized the familiar figure of Prosecutor Hwang. She stopped in her tracks and stared, wondering if he was really there or if she really was that drunk that she started to hallucinate the prosecutor’s form.

“Senior Inspector Han? What are you doing out in the rain?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

Han Yeo Jin heard the figure speak and comprehended that Prosecutor Hwang was indeed, standing in front of her and not just a figment of her drunken imagination. Then she realized that she did not want to see him right now, and the last thing she needed at the moment is to talk to the prosecutor while she is in this pathetic state.

“I was walking home,” she answered, “couldn’t drive.” She continued walking towards her apartment gate.

Hwang Si Mok could tell that the senior inspector is very inebriated, judging from the way she walked, and the barely intelligible way that she spoke.

“You shouldn’t have walked in your state and in this weather, you could have been hit by a car,” he said reprovingly.

“I’m not that lucky,” she muttered.

“Why didn’t you call me?” Hwang Si Mok asked, “I would have picked you up.”

“Because I didn’t want to see you,” Han Yeo Jin said, too tired and too drunk to soften her words.

Hwang Si Mok looked at the senior inspector and noticed her red, swollen eyes and the tight set of her jaw, and he can see even if she could not that she is precariously close to her breaking point.

“Are you okay?” he asked gently.

She scoffed at his words and said, “What do you think?”

Han Yeo Jin closed her eyes tiredly. She doesn’t have the energy to argue with Prosecutor Hwang at the moment, and right now all she wants is the peace and quiet of her warm apartment.

“Go home Prosecutor Hwang. I’m fine, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said wearily, and walked towards the gate.

“Detective Park’s death is not your fault.”

Han Yeo Jin stopped, and closed her eyes, trying to block the words; not wanting to listen but unable to move from her spot either. She shook her head, but did not turn around.

“He should not have gone in alone. He should have called for back-up first.”

Han Yeo Jin’s eyes flew open at the words, and a loud ringing suddenly started in her ears; the coldness of the rain drenching her body now gone, replaced by a white, hot anger coursing through her veins. She took a deep breath and turned around slowly to face Prosecutor Hwang.

“What did you just say?” she asked, her tone dangerously low.

Hwang Si Mok knew immediately that he had said the wrong thing, just as he knew he would. He tried to find the right words to express himself, but was cut off by the senior inspector before he can properly articulate himself.

“Are you really going to stand there and tell me that it was his fault that he died?” she asked in utter disbelief.

“That’s not –”

“It’s our fault!” she shouted at him, the suddenness and ferocity of it making him jump.

“We sent him in there! When we knew full well what these people are capable of!”

Han Yeo Jin knew she was shouting at the top of her lungs but did not care. All the pent up emotions that she had been suppressing since the night of Soon Chang’s death all coming out now; the anger, the rage and most of all, the guilt, that she had been the one who had sent him to his death. And Prosecutor Hwang, with his insensitive comment, had been the trigger that released it all. She turned to him now, letting him see her fury and misery fully, her soul laid bare to him for the very first time in their relationship; not caring if it made him uncomfortable, and forcing him to face the fact that their actions had caused the death of a good and decent young man.

“We thought we were being so brave for taking on this case. So proud of ourselves for every clue, every lead we uncovered. Not caring about the powerful, evil forces that we were provoking along the way because we were so convinced of our own righteousness,” she spat out angrily.

She walked closer to him, almost to his face, and said bitterly, “But we weren’t being brave. Or righteous. No,” she shook her head, “we were being reckless.”

“We were so arrogant to think that we can take on these monsters that we didn’t stop to think for one moment that we were putting other lives in danger.” She paused to catch her breath, tears flowing freely and looked at him miserably. “We sent him in there. I sent him in there. And now he’s dead, and it’s all my fault.” She stopped, unable to continue any longer, and covered her mouth with her hands to smother the deep and painful sobs.

“It’s part of the job.”

Han Yeo Jin stopped crying at the words she just heard. The words that she could not believe was uttered by the man in front of her. Words that pierced through her abject misery and ignited the ball of rage in her chest. She straightened, and looked at Prosecutor Hwang as if she was seeing him for the very first time, and in that moment, something broke between them; and all Han Yeo Jin wanted to do is to hurt him however way she can. She wanted him to feel the same way she felt when she stood over Soon Chang’s body, and when she sat at his desk and saw her drawing, and when his grieving mother took her hand and thanked her and told her how much his dead son had admired her, and how she was filled with guilt and shame because she could not tell her that it was she that sent her son to his death. She took a deep breath, and looked at him calmly, belying the fury she felt inside.

“Do you know what people say about you behind your back?” she asked, but Prosecutor Hwang only stared at her silently.

“Cold. Unfeeling. Heartless. Psycho,” she said, stressing every word. “I never believed those things about you. And in all our time working together, I’ve convinced myself that you are not that person.”

“But I can see now that they were right, and I was wrong,” she said, looking at his still impassive face, further invoking the anger she felt.

“Are you even sorry that he died?” she asked him, almost pleadingly. Begging him to show an emotion, any emotion at what had happened. To take back his tactless and insensitive words and show her that he did care, that he understood. And that she did not make a mistake about the man standing in front of her, and show her that he is the man she believed him to be. But all she got was the same blank and emotionless stare, and she, in her disillusionment and rage, pushed him hard in the chest.

“Answer me!” Push. “Did you feel that?!” Push. “Do you feel anything?!” she screamed.

She grabbed his shirt suddenly, and pulled him towards her, and kissed him full on the mouth. She kissed him fiercely, cruelly, and she did it because it was the only thing she can think of that may elicit a reaction from him. There was no tenderness, no romance, no gentle feelings; just anger, hurt, disillusionment and regret. When she finally broke the kiss, she looked at Prosecutor Hwang’s face and for a moment, just stared at each other.

“Did you feel that?” she asked, a hopeful note in her voice. She looked at his face, and found nothing but emptiness. She closed her eyes, and gave a short, humorless laugh.

“Of course not. You feel nothing,” she said, suddenly exhausted, and walked towards her apartment gate, and away from the man who broke her heart into a million tiny pieces.

Hwang Si Mok gripped the steering wheel tightly and noticed that his hands were shaking. He was in his car, driving home after the fight with the senior inspector, and his clothes were soaked all the way through after standing so long in the rain. He started shivering uncontrollably, and turned up the heater in his car; but he knew that he was trembling not because of the cold, but because of the feeling of dread that had started to bloom in the pit of his stomach, and is now spreading throughout his entire being. He tried to control the tremors that had engulfed his body, but the more he fought, the worse they become; So, he stopped fighting, and let himself feel the aftershocks of the terrible confrontation.

Hwang Si Mok knew that Senior Inspector Han had been greatly affected by the death of the young detective, and knew that she had put the brunt of the blame on herself for his death. He had spent the hours while waiting for the senior inspector thinking of what to say to her to help ease her pain, because he was worried that any attempt by him at comforting her will come out all wrong, and he will end up saying the wrong thing. Which he inevitably did, and in the end, he had forgotten all the kind and sympathetic words that he had rehearsed in his mind, and what came out were the harsh and callous statements that sounded cold and unfeeling even to his own ears.

“He should not have gone in alone. He should have called for back-up first.” When what he really wanted to tell her is that she should not blame herself for the tragic outcome of the actions of the detective; of whom when faced with a situation, had made a judgment call like many other police officers would have done in his place. That there was no one to blame for his death but the person who pushed Detective Park off the balcony that fateful night.

 “It’s part of the job.” When what he wanted to say was that Detective Park, who by all accounts was a dedicated, faithful and steadfastly-loyal police officer, understood that it was his duty to pursue the suspect that night. That risking one’s safety, and even one’s own life, in the pursuit of justice is a given in their chosen profession. And that Detective Park understood that, because he took his oath to heart, and because he did what his honor and character dictated. Because he was a good cop.

But he said none of those things to her, because his disability had left him at a disadvantage in all matters concerning normal human emotions and self-expression. And instead of giving her the comfort that she desperately needed, he caused her great anguish instead. He remembered the look she gave him, and recognized it as the same look that he had seen in countless others when faced with a grotesque and strange creature such as him. She was the only person who had never looked at him that way, the only person who didn’t treat him like the freak of nature that he is, and who had shown him kindness and patience, instead of revulsion and distaste. Until now. Until he opened his mouth and validated her greatest fear and confirmed what many others already knew. And with every cruel word that she threw at him, he felt himself retreating further into the emotionless cocoon that had been his home for most of his life, because he cannot take the pain of hearing her say those words to him, and unable to bear the look of anger, hurt and disappointment directed at him.

He heard the ominous and familiar ringing in his ears and was able to pull up his car on the side of the road before his head exploded in pain. He grasped both sides of his head and closed his eyes; but this time, he welcomed the unrelenting and excruciating pain. It was his punishment, much deserved and rightly earned; and a distraction from the greater and more terrible ache in his heart at the loss of the only person in his life who had given him peace, in a lifetime full of silent torment and agony.

Chapter Text

“I think you should take a couple of days off, clear your head.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at her boss, Director No, who at that moment was looking at her in deep concern. She knew she looked a sight; the dark circles under red, puffy eyes, the pale skin, and the slight tremor in her hands certainly justified her senior’s comments. She had woken up this morning feeling the most wretched that she had ever been in her entire life, and paid dearly for her over-indulgence the night before, and vowed never to touch alcohol ever again as she leaned over the cold porcelain of the toilet. The ache in her stomach and head was so intense that she could not even manage to get up from her bathroom floor. But none of these had compared to the searing pain her heart when she recalled the events of last night, and the terrible fight between her and Prosecutor Hwang. She did not know how long she stayed on that bathroom floor, curled up in misery, and feeling as if she had lost another friend.

“I’m fine, sir,” she told Director No, who continued to watch her, unconvinced.

“I’ve lost people on the job too. Good people,” he said, and bowed his head. “Friends.” He stared at her, understanding and sympathy in his eyes. “All the training and experience in the world could never prepare you when you lose a man in the line of duty. They never teach you in the academy about the overpowering anger, and fear, and helplessness.” He leaned closer and looked into her eyes. “And the crushing guilt.”

Han Yeo Jin closed her eyes and turned her head away, not wanting her director to see her tears.

“Sometimes it helps to get a little perspective. And to do that, you need time away from all of this,” he said to her gently.

“What did you do, sir?” she asked. “What did you do to cope with the loss?”

Director No shook his head slightly, and then let out a huge sigh of resignation. “I worked,” he admitted. “I kept going and did my job.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded and said, “And that’s what I need to do too.”

“Yes, but I’m not a good example in that regard. I’m hardly the picture of mental health,” he said, smiling slightly.

Han Yeo Jin looked at her boss and said earnestly, “I need to do this, sir. I need to keep going and finish this. Stopping now would be worst,” she said and added, “Please.”

Director No gazed at her intently for a long moment, quietly assessing her. He took a deep breath, released it, and then finally nodded.  Han Yeo Jin let out a small sigh of relief.

“You can continue Senior Inspector Han, but you have to promise me that you will be careful,” he said.

Han Yeo Jin nodded.

“Promise me,” he repeated. Han Yeo Jin looked up, startled at his vehement tone, and surprised to see his concerned eyes tinged with something that she cannot name.

“I promise, sir,” she said.

He nodded, and ended the meeting. Han Yeo Jin gathered her things and made her way out of the Intelligence Bureau offices. She had planned to spend the day at Yongsan station, and go through the case with the task force. She fervently hoped that she won’t find Prosecutor Hwang there, as she is not yet ready to face the man in the light of day. She had no idea what she will say to him, or even how to act around him, after the rift in their relationship. And for the first time ever, she found herself wishing for Prosecutor Seo’s presence so she would not have to spend time alone with Prosecutor Hwang. She sighed unhappily, and felt miserable over the fact that she may now have to work this case alone. Han Yeo Jin is reminded of the time when she and Prosecutor Hwang worked on opposing sides during the police-prosecution council. She remembered how wrong it felt working against him, rather than with him, and how during the entire time she felt untethered and lost, not being able to confide in her partner. Her partner, she thought, because that is what he is to her. Was, she corrected, and felt depressed all over again. She looked up and saw Prick 1 staring and walking towards her. She braced herself, and matched his stare, daring him to come to her. Prick 1 averted his eyes and hurriedly walked past her, and Han Yeo Jin thought that she probably frightened the man with her bedraggled appearance. Too bad, she thought, she was itching for a fight, and Prick 1 had probably recognized the almost manic look in her eyes and ran away from her as quickly as possible. Her phone rang, distracting her from her thoughts, and saw Prosecutor Seo’s number. She answered.

“It’s Seo Dong Jae. I’m on my way to the hospital. I know I’m supposed to go to Incheon but one of the survivors, the waitress, regained consciousness.”

Han Yeo Jin ran to her car and said, “I’ll meet you there.” She paused, then asked, “is Prosecutor Hwang with you?”

“No, I can’t reach him. Isn’t he with you?”

Han Yeo Jin was not sure if she felt relief at the knowledge that she won’t have to face Prosecutor Hwang yet. “No. I’m on my way now. Wait for me,” she said, and hung up.

She started her car, and then stopped, a thought suddenly occurring to her. Her mind went back to her meeting with Director No, and the moment when he made her promise to be careful. She was surprised at the intensity of his request, but thought at that moment that it was just a product of his worry. But then she understood now what she had seen in his eyes, that expression mingling with concern that she couldn’t name before, but recognize now.

Fear.

***

A huge crowd had gathered to witness the grand opening of the much anticipated and much hyped Grand Horizon Industrial Park. Local and national politicians, corporate executives, as well as foreign dignitaries were also in attendance, and the press had come in full force to cover the historic occasion. The President himself had come for the ribbon cutting ceremony. But the press, and most of the people gathered, had mostly come to watch the very popular and widely admired young councilman, who had been the main driving force behind the ambitious project, and everyone fully expected that he will be a shoe-in for the soon-to-be-vacated position of Mayor of Seoul. It is apparent to most of the people who attended the event that Seo Tae Gu is the undeniable star of the show, and everyone thought that it is only a matter of time before the vibrant and youthful councilman will set his sights on a higher position. Becoming the next mayor of the largest and most important city in the country will give the councilman a direct and rapid path to the highest office in the land.

Ahn Yeong Seok watched as the President and Councilman Seo shook hands, and cannot help but note the stark differences between the two men; one greying and stern looking while the other, handsome and energetic, his youth a sharp contrast against the aging mien of his boss. Watching the young man now, he understood why the people had been so captivated by him; his charm, vitality, relatability and avant-gardism had been like a breath of fresh air amid the old and decaying halls of government, and in the eyes of many, including his own party, he represented the bright and shining future of a new Korea.

He looked at his watch, conscious of the time, and sent a subtle nod to the agent in charge.

“Time to go, Mr. President,” he whispered to his boss, and made their way together towards the line of armored cars waiting at the entrance, past the mass of people watching behind the barricades. He looked at the crowd of spectators and almost stopped in his tracks when he recognized a familiar face, who at that moment was staring at him in quiet intensity amidst the sea of cheering faces. He understood the silent communication, and motioned one of the security detail over.

Hwang Si Mok saw Ahn Yeong Seok’s gaze linger on him for a moment, before disappearing inside of the President’s car. He saw on the news last night that the President was scheduled to make an appearance at the grand opening of the industrial park, so he had made his way to the venue and joined the crowd of onlookers in the hopes that the Chief of Staff will also be in attendance. Since he did not have any means of contacting him, this was the quickest and easiest way that Hwang Si Mok can think of to let him know that they needed to talk. He was relieved to see that his plan worked, as he watched one of the agents walk over to him and surreptitiously hand him a note.

Moonlight Restaurant. 20 mins.

Hwang Si Mok slid the note to his pocket, and made his way through the throng, towards his car.

Hwang Si Mok was led to a private booth at the back of the restaurant, and found the Chief of Staff already sitting and waiting for him. He gave a slight bow and slid into the opposite seat.

“I thought I made myself perfectly clear Prosecutor Hwang, that discretion is of the utmost importance,” Ahn Yeong Seok said, looking at him reproachfully.

“This was the only way I could think of to quickly reach you without directly contacting you, sir,” he said, “and I needed to talk to you.”

“And why did you want to talk to me?”

“Because a man died,” Hwang Si Mok said brusquely. “He died while investigating this case. And I need answers from you before anyone else gets hurt.”

“What makes you think I have them?”

“I know you know more than you’re telling us, and your silence may be putting the lives of the people working this case in danger.” He thought of the other brave and hardworking detectives at Yongsan station, of Prosecutor Seo, and of Senior Inspector Han, and told the chief of staff ominously, “I can’t allow that.”

“Is that a threat, Prosecutor Hwang?” Ahn Yeong Seok asked, his expression forbidding.

Hwang Si Mok gave no answer, and instead matched the chief of staff’s glare with one of his own. The other man looked away first, then sighed.

“Has Prosecutor Seo found Park Gong Chu?” he asked.

Hwang Si Mok looked at him in sharply, surprised at the fact that the man knew about their plans, even though they had kept that information only among the three of them.

“You’ve been having us watched,” he said, his tone accusing.

“Of course, I have,” Ahn Yeong Seok said frankly. “Find him, Prosecutor Hwang. He’s the key to everything,” he said. He stood up, and walked away, leaving Hwang Si Mok alone with his thoughts in the darkened booth.

Chapter Text

“I’m here!”

Han Yeo Jin turned around at the sound of the voice and watched as Prosecutor Seo run towards her. She had been waiting for the prosecutor outside the hospital room of the waitress, Kang Sun-Ri, so that they can interview her together. Prosecutor Seo halted beside her, and rested his hands on his knees, out of breath.

“Why are you so out of breath?” she asked, frowning at him.

“Traffic bad… got here late… I ran… took the stairs,” he said, still bent over and trying to catch his breath.

“Then why did you take the stairs?” she asked, confused.

Seo Dong Jae stood up, his face shiny with sweat and red from exertion. “I’m trying to lose some weight.”

Han Yeo Jin rolled her eyes, and said, “Well, wipe your face and let’s go.”

“Should we wait for Hwang Si Mok?” he asked, looking around for the other prosecutor.

“He’s not coming,” Han Yeo Jin said tersely. Seo Dong Jae noticed the rigid set of her jaw and the tight line of her lips when she said the words, and he knew instantly that something had happened between the two. He did not have time to ask any further questions however, as the senior inspector had already opened the door to Kang Sun-Ri’s room.

They found her sitting on the bed, her face half covered in bandages and multiple IV bags hanging over head. Ms. Kang had sustained serious injuries to her head and face from the explosion, and she had been in a coma since the day of the explosion until only yesterday, when she finally regained consciousness. She turned her head slowly to look at them as they entered.

“Ms. Kang, my name is Senior inspector Han Yeo Jin, and this is Prosecutor Seo Dong Jae. We’re here to ask some questions regarding the explosion, if you’re up to it,” Han Yeo Jin said, and did not miss the slight widening of the waitress’ one eye that was not concealed by the bandages covering her face. Kang Sun-Ri hesitated, then finally nodded weakly.

“What do you remember the night of the explosion?” she asked the patient gently, conscious of her fragile state.

In a feeble voice, Kang Sun-Ri relayed to both of them what she recalled that night. Her story matched the other witnesses’ statements for the most part, and Han Yeo Jin did not find anything particularly note-worthy on what she had heard. But she knew that Kang Sun-Ri is an important witness on this case; as she is the only restaurant employee who survived the explosion, and she may be able to provide them valuable information on what happened in the kitchens, the epicenter of the explosion, that night, or provide information on the now deceased Cha Su Kyo.

“Do you recall anything strange, or out of the ordinary, in the restaurant that night?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Kang Sun-Ri shook her head, but Han Yeo Jin did not fail to notice the way her eyes shifted uncomfortably away, or the nervous swallow at her question. She had been a detective long enough to easily recognize all the signs of someone who is lying to her. She gave a subtle glance at Prosecutor Seo, who looked back at her, his expression telling her that he had also spotted the lie. Han Yeo Jin turned her gaze back at the waitress, and knew exactly what question to ask next.

“How well do you know Cha Su Kyo?”

Kang Sun-Ri’s hands shook and fisted on the blankets that covered her, and said, “I don’t know where he is.”

Han Yeo Jin felt her heart rate jump up exponentially at the response, and she tried to rein in her reaction to their witness’ telling answer, lest she scare her off. Beside her, she can feel Prosecutor Seo’s barely concealed excitement, and prayed that the prosecutor can restrain himself and let her take the lead. Kang Sun-Ri had answered, ‘I don’t know where he is,’ when Han Yeo Jin had not even asked about Cha Su Kyo’s whereabouts. As if she already knew he had disappeared the night of the explosion, when she could not have, as she had been unconscious since the incident. As if she had anticipated the question and had her answer at the ready, because she knew that Cha Su Kyo had a reason to run and hide from the police.

“That’s not what I asked, Ms. Kang, but your answer tells me you knew him very well. You knew him well enough to try and protect him, because you know that he had a reason to hide from us,” Han Yeo Jin said.

Kang Sun-Ri looked at her, her eyes wide. “Knew?” she asked.

Han Yeo Jin realized that she had referred to Cha Su Kyo in the past tense, and that Ms. Kang is not aware of the fact that the former cook is now dead. She mentally beat herself for her slip of tongue, but thought that perhaps she can use this to their advantage and elicit sympathy from their witness, and get her to open up to them.

“I’m very sorry to have to tell you this Ms. Kang, but Cha Su Kyo is dead,” Han Yeo Jin told her gently, and watched as the waitress broke down in tears at the news. Both she and Prosecutor Seo averted their eyes to give her a moment to grieve, as deep sobs wracked the frail waitress’ entire frame.

“How did he die?” Kang Sun-Ri asked, still sobbing.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Seo, dreading the response she has to give to the mourning young woman, knowing that it will make her loss even more painful. “He was murdered,” she said finally, and observed Ms. Kang’s reaction.

All at once, the waitress’ demeanor changed, going from sorrow to fear in one quick instant. Kang Sun-Ri’s tearful eye flitted to them in alarm, and Han Yeo Jin wondered why she was suddenly frightened by their presence.

“There’s no need to be scared, Ms. Kang, you’re safe here. But you clearly knew Cha Su Kyo very well, and we need your help to piece together what happened that night. Please tell us what you know about the explosion, and why he disappeared after,” Han Yeo Jin asked her earnestly, but Kang Sun-Ri only shook her head vigorously.

“I don’t know anything!” Kang Sun-Ri said vehemently. “He was my… co-worker, and he was always nice to me, so I was upset when you told me he died. That’s all.”

“I don’t believe you, Ms. Kang. I think there’s something that you’re not telling us,” Han Yeo Jin said, using her stern, cop voice now.

Kang Sun-Ri shook her head again and said, “I don’t know anything. I didn’t even know him that well! I only worked at the restaurant part-time. I have my other job at the Rooster Bar…”

The waitress’ words hit Han Yeo Jin like a ton of bricks, and she stopped hearing the rest of her denials. Rooster Bar, Han Yeo Jin thought, and marveled if it could really be that simple. She looked at Kang Sun-Ri’s face now, and mentally compared it to the grainy photo of the missing girlfriend that is currently taped to the case whiteboard at Yongsan station. Despite the bandage concealing half of her face, Han Yeo Jin can see the resemblance now; the shape of the un-obscured eye and the tilt of the lips are similar to the girl in the photo.

“Senior Inspector Han?” Han Yeo Jin heard Prosecutor Seo’s tentative voice calling her, and she realized that she had been staring raptly at Kang Sun-Ri for some time without speaking. The other woman looked at her warily now, confused and apprehensive at her unblinking gaze.

“Hana?”

If Han Yeo Jin thought that the waitress was scared before, it is nothing compared to the terror she now sees in her unbandaged eye at the sound of the name she had called her.

“You’re Hana, aren’t you? Cha Su Kyo’s girlfriend,” Han Yeo Jin said in amazement, and felt the pieces of the puzzle finally fall into place. They could not find her because she had been here, all along, under her real name, and her face unrecognizable under all the bandages. She heard Prosecutor Seo’s sharp intake of breath beside her at this revelation.

Kang Sun Ri looked at her in panic, and moved as if to bolt, and Han Yeo Jin reached out a staying hand to calm her. “Ms. Kang, please, there’s no need to be scared,” she said to the distressed young woman, “If you did nothing wrong, then there is nothing to fear from us. We just want information.”

“Eight people died from the explosion that night, dozens more injured, including yourself. If someone deliberately caused this explosion, then that is murder, and the people responsible must be held accountable,” Seo Dong Jae said. But Kang Sun Ri only sat on the bed, her eye tightly shut and refusing to speak.

“Eight people murdered in the explosion. One more if you count Cha Su Kyo, and possibly another one, because we suspect that his cousin’s death, Park Ik Joon, was also murder,” Han Yeo Jin said. “These people kill without hesitation to keep their secrets, just as they did with Cha Su Kyo and Park Ik Joon,” she paused and said bluntly, “and they won’t hesitate to do the same to you.”

“That’s why we have been looking for you, not just to question you, but to make sure you do not suffer the same fate. We didn’t know you were here, because we only have the name Hana, and not your real name.” Han Yeo Jin stared at the girl, willing her to speak.

“Hana is my nickname. Su Kyo called me by that name,” Kang Sun Ri finally said in a whisper.

Han Yeo Jin leaned forward, encouraged that she is finally talking, and asked, “Did Su Kyo know anything about the explosion?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Kang Sun Ri nodded, tears streaming down her injured face. She turned her gaze at Han Yeo Jin and said brokenly, “I think he did it. I think he may have caused the explosion.” She put her face in her hands, and cried.

Seo Dong Jae and Han Yeo Jin listened as the waitress known as Hana told her story. She and Cha Su Kyo have been in a relationship for almost a year, and things have been going well between them until a few days before the night of the explosion, when she noticed an abrupt change in Cha Su Kyo.

“He became distant, barely ate at all, and couldn’t sleep at night,” she said. “I asked him what was wrong, but he wouldn’t tell me.”

“We were both working the night of the explosion, and he pulled me aside in the middle of our shift and told me that he had to leave. And that I’m to wait a couple of minutes after and leave immediately too. I asked him why, but he just shook his head, and made me promise that I’ll do what he says. So, I did, and he left. But the owner caught me trying to leave, and I didn’t want to lose my job, so I stayed. Then the explosion happened,” she closed her eyes and gave an involuntary shudder, recalling the horrible events of the night.

“Did Cha Su Kyo say anything else to you?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“He told me that he might go away for a couple of days, but that we should meet at the Rooster Bar in three days,” she said. “He was being very secretive and seemed very nervous, and he kept looking over his shoulders. I told him he was scaring me, because he wasn’t acting like himself,” she said, starting to cry again. “But he told me I have nothing to worry about. Because he was going to take care of everything, and that I’m safe now.” She looked at Han Yeo Jin and Seo Dong Jae. “I didn’t know what he meant at that time. But looking back now,” she swallowed, and said “I think someone made him do this horrible thing. Because the Su Kyo I know will never do anything like this. He never would have hurt anyone unless…” she stopped, unable to continue.

“Unless someone threatened your safety,” Seo Dong Jae finished. “Because he loved you and would do anything for you.”

Kang Sun Ri nodded, weeping silently. “He was a good man. You have to believe me; he never would have done this if he wasn’t so desperate. And they killed him for it, like they killed all those people.”

Han Yeo Jin listened to Kang Sun Ri’s broken sobs, and her heart went out to the crying woman who had been an unwitting pawn in this horrific crime. She turned to look at Prosecutor Seo, and saw her own sadness and anger reflected in his expression. He looked at her now, resolve and determination clear in his face, and Han Yeo Jin finally felt a genuine and sincere connection with the man who was once her enemy, and had now become a true and steadfast ally.

“Did Cha Su Kyo give you any clues as to who these people are?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“No, but...” she paused, and closed her one visible eye, as if trying to remember something. Han Yeo Jin and Seo Dong Jae leaned forward expectantly.

“Su Kyo said he left something in my house.” She looked at both of them now and said, “He said he hid it for me to find. In case something happened to him.”

Chapter Text

“What do we do now?” Seo Dong Jae asked Senior Inspector Han. They had just finished the very helpful and enlightening interview with Kang Sun Ri, and both are currently running across the hospital parking lot, and to their cars.

“You need to find Prosecutor Hwang and tell him everything we found,” she said, opening her car door.

“What about you?”

“I’m going to Kang Sun Ri’s house to find that package. I’ll meet you both at the station,” she said, putting on her seatbelt.

“Wait, you can’t go alone! I’ll come with you,” Seo Dong Jae said.

“I won’t be alone,” Han Yeo Jin said, already calling Jang Geon on her phone. Seo Dong Jae watched as she sped away, sirens blaring. He took out his own phone and called Hwang Si Mok.

Han Yeo Jin weaved through the Seoul rush hour traffic, her progress quick as cars made way for her at the sound of her police siren. She heard Jang Geon’s voice through the speakerphone as he finally picked up her call.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“Staking out Cha Su Kyo’s apartment, in case the girlfriend, Hana, show up,” he said.

“I found her,” Han Yeo Jin said, and told a shocked Jang Geon everything they had learned from the interview with Kang Sun Ri. “I’m on my way to her house now. Meet me there.”

Hwang Si Mok was driving to his office from his meeting with Ahn Yeong Seok when he saw an incoming call from Prosecutor Seo. He answered and heard the prosecutor’s impatient voice.

“Finally! Where have you been?” Prosecutor Seo asked.

“I had a meeting,” he said vaguely.

“Well, you will not believe what Senior Inspector Han and I just discovered,” he said excitedly, and told him about the interview. Hwang Si Mok listened, stunned at the discovery, and just a little bit disappointed that he was not with the senior inspector when they had made the significant breakthrough on the case.

“She’s on her way there now, with Detective Jang,” Seo Dong Jae said.

“Give me the address,” he said.

Seo Dong Jae gave him the address, and said, “If you’re going there, I’ll—” He stopped and looked at his phone in disbelief when he realized that Hwang Si Mok had hung up on him.

“That prick,” he said, disgruntled, and hurriedly got in his car to follow them both to Kang Sun Ri’s house.

Han Yeo Jin arrived at Kang Sun Ri’s house and saw Jang Geon already waiting for him.

“I called the station for back up,” Jang Geon said as she approached. “I can’t believe she had been there all this time.”

“I know, no wonder we couldn’t find her,” she said. Her phone rang and saw it was Captain Choi calling. She answered, while Jang Geon picked the locked door of the house.

“Captain, are you on your way?”

“On our way to where?” asked a confused Captain Choi.

“Didn’t anyone tell you?” she asked, baffled that no one had told him that they needed back up, just as Jang Geon opened the door. “Listen, we found the girlfriend, Hana. We’re at the house now, send for back-up.”

They entered house, it’s interior dark as night began to fall outside. They made their way to the bedroom.

“Kang Sun Ri said Cha Su Kyo hid a package underneath one of the loose floorboards, near the window,” she said.

“It’s too dark in here,” Jang Geon said, unable to find the light switch. Both she and Jang Geon got on their knees and used the flashlight on their phones to illuminate the floor, as they both look for the loose board.

“Found it,” Han Yeo Jin said excitedly, as her finger found purchase on one of the floorboards. She took it out, and used the flashlight to light the dark hole, and saw a small envelope lying there. She took it out, just as she heard a creak behind her.

She turned around just in time to see a figure wearing a dark cap and mask hit Jang Geon in the head with a thick, metal rod. The detective crumpled to the floor, unconscious, just as Han Yeo reached into her holster for her taser. But the man was quick, and swung the metal rod at her before she can take out her weapon. She dodged the attack and seized the metal rod, but the man grabbed her and violently threw her against the wall, then punched her in the face for good measure. Han Yeo Jin dropped to the floor, dazed from the impact and the punch, and dropped the envelope. Her assailant picked it up, ran to the window and jumped out.

Han Yeo Jin shook her head to clear the dizziness away and got to her feet unsteadily. She looked at the unconscious Jang Geon and at the open window where the attacker had escaped, and made a decision. She took out her radio and climbed out after the culprit.

“Officer down. All units converge on my location. I’m in pursuit of the suspect,” she said, and ran out into the dark night, to catch their thief.

Hwang Si Mok stepped inside Kang Sun Ri’s house, and immediately noted the unnatural silence. He saw the senior inspector’s car parked outside, and knew that she is still inside. He sensed right away that something is wrong when he heard no sound of voices or movements coming from inside the house. He quickly checked the rooms, and found Jang Geon lying on the floor. He ran to the detective just as he was stirring, and noted the dark red of blood running down from his head to his face.

“What happened?” he asked.

Jang Geon clasped at his head, winced. “I was attacked. Someone came in and bashed me in the head,” he said, then turned around in panic. “Han Yeo Jin.”

“Where is she?” Hwang Si Mok asked, his voice rising in alarm.

“She must have followed him,” he said.

Hwang Si Mok looked around and noticed the open window. He looked out into the dark alley, and heard a faint voice in the distance yell ‘Stop!’. He jumped out the window, and ran as fast as he could towards the sound of the voice.

Han Yeo Jin was gaining on their thief. He was fast, but she was faster, and she was close enough that she can shoot him with her taser. She took out the weapon and got into position, just as the man turned around unexpectedly and threw a big block of brick at her that he had grabbed from the ground. Han Yeo Jin ducked, but lost her chance to shoot, and saw the man charging at her. She raised her weapon again, but the man was quick, and tried to grab the gun before she can pull the trigger. They struggled; the large man stronger than her. Han Yeo Jin raised her knees and kneed him in the groin. She heard him grunt in pain, but the man grabbed her hair and banged her head against the cement wall of the alley. Han Yeo Jin was able to lessen the impact by bracing her arm against the wall, but lost her taser gun as a result. She turned around, ready for another attack, just as the attacker picked up her taser gun and pulled the trigger.

Han Yeo Jin crumpled to the ground as 50,000 volts of electricity surged through her body. She felt her muscles seize and contract painfully, and she dropped to the ground, temporarily paralyzed, as the electric shock wreaked havoc in her nervous system and caused excruciating pain in her entire body.

The man looked down at the senior inspector and arranged his face mask hastily. The policewoman had managed to grab his mask as she was falling down, and he was afraid that she might have seen his face in the process. He had no choice now, he thought, as he tossed the spent taser gun and took out his .38 special caliber gun. He didn’t want to have to do this, but he cannot risk anyone knowing his true identity. He watched as Senior Inspector Han slowly recover from the taser attack, and tried to get up from the ground. Despite of himself, he could not help but admire the balls on this woman. Too bad she has to die, he thought, and leveled the gun at her head.

Han Yeo Jin tried to get up, but cannot get her still convulsing muscles to cooperate. The pain from the earlier attack and the electric shock from the taser had left her disoriented and faint, and can only manage to rise to a kneeling position as her head swam in a dizzying and painful swirl. She looked up, and started to shake in helpless fear and fury as she found herself staring directly at the metal barrel of a gun.

Hwang Si Mok ran deeper into the dark alley, toward the sounds of struggle that he had heard earlier, and saw a man in dark clothing looming over the kneeling figure of Senior Inspector Han. He saw the man raise his arm, and Hwang Si Mok experienced an almost paralyzing feeling of terror that threatened to overwhelm him. He called out the senior inspector’s name in his desperation, screaming it over and over, at the top of his lungs, as if in supplication. The man turned around, distracted by his shouts. He saw Senior Inspector Han raised her head weakly, towards the sound of his voice, and watched in horror as her head snap back violently, as gunshot rang out in the night.

Hwang Si Mok ran faster, his gaze focused on Senior Inspector Han, now lying motionless on the ground. He did not care that the shooter had ran away, only that he needed to get to the senior inspector, while he tried to desperately deny the reality of what he had just witnessed. His knees started to shake uncontrollably as he got closer, and he did not even realize that he had fallen to the ground, as they finally gave out from under him. He tried to get up but found that his trembling legs are now too weak and useless to support him, and crawled towards the still form of the senior inspector instead. He heard sirens and loud shouting behind him. The police are coming, too late to save her, just as he was, and all he could do is stare in helpless disbelief at the woman lying in front of him, her head and face covered in blood. He felt wetness dripping down his face, and realized that it was not his tears but the sky opening up to unleash a torrent of rain. And Hwang Si Mok’s last, irrational thought was that he better cover up the senior inspector with his jacket because he did not want her getting wet, before his head exploded in a frenzy of pain and agony.

Hwang Si Mok grasped his head with both hands, as he suffered a level of pain he had never experienced before. More than his head being split in two, but his whole body, and his entire being, were slowly ripped apart, until he is reduced to nothing. He screamed into the night, unable to take the agonizing and excruciating torment, and welcomed the darkness as his brain finally surrendered to the unendurable torture, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious, beside his beloved senior inspector.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok opened his eyes and for a moment, felt disoriented. He looked around him, puzzled at the unfamiliar surroundings, and noticed the IV line hooked on his arm. Hospital, he thought, and tried to remember how he got there. All at once, the terrible memory of Senior Inspector Han came to him, and a tidal wave of grief and pain threatened to overcome him as he remembered the events of last night. He heard the familiar ringing in his ears and struggled with all his strength and willpower to keep the unbearable emotions at bay. He lay there, still and unmoving in his hospital bed, as a fierce and silent battle waged inside of him. A battle that he cannot lose, as he thought about the senior inspector, and the job he must finish for her. Only that thought, and a lifetime of practice of keeping his emotions in check, had finally cease the ominous ringing in his ears. He opened his eyes, alert and composed, and pulled out the needle from his arm. He got up from his bed, collected his clothes, and calmly walked out of the ward and made his way to the nurse’s station. He passed by the waiting area reserved for patients’ families and saw the Yongsan detective squad with Prosecutor Seo gathered inside. It was not easy for Hwang Si Mok to detach himself from the sorrowful tableau, and it was difficult for him to watch the three hardened and seasoned detectives from Yongsan reduced to a group of heartbroken and weeping men, their raw grief and mournful despair openly displayed for all to witness. He cannot begin to imagine what these men are going through, that in a span of less than a week, they had to bury two members of their family; first their youngest son, and now, the favorite, and only, daughter. He looked at Prosecutor Seo, his face slack in shock and his eyes unseeing, his shirt and hands stained with dried blood. Her blood, he thought, and realized that he must have been on the scene too, and had probably tried to help the senior inspector in a desperate bid to save her life.

Hwang Si Mok turned his gaze away as he felt the familiar pressure in his head trying to break free. He cannot let the melancholia distract him now and trigger another episode. He walked away from the waiting area and towards the nurse’s station, where he showed the nurse on duty his prosecutor badge and asked for Senior Inspector Han’s personal effects. The nurse handed him a clear bag that contained her possessions, and he found what he was looking for. He walked out of the hospital and into the daylight, his mission clear in his head. He had failed the senior inspector in life, and Hwang Si Mok vowed that he will not fail her in death.

***

Detective Lee Bong wiped his tired eyes and drank his fifth cup of coffee. He had been awake for more than 24 hours now, and the events of last night had started to take a toll on him. He looked around and saw the same exhausted expressions in the faces of his fellow detectives; but none of his colleagues had gone home nor stopped working despite of the fatigue, as the other detectives felt they owed it to Senior Inspector Han, and to Detective Park, to keep going. He looked up and saw a disheveled-looking Prosecutor Hwang striding into the room and towards the case whiteboard. Lee Bong jumped hastily to his feet and approached the prosecutor.

Hwang Si Mok stared at the whiteboard and tried to arrange the muddled pieces of the puzzle together. He knew the answer is hidden among the information written on the board, waiting to be discovered. He was so engrossed in his analysis that he did not notice one of the detectives approach him until he heard his name called. Detective Lee, he thought, vaguely remembering the detective’s name, who at that moment was trying to show him something.

“Prosecutor Hwang, I’m glad you’re here. I need to show you something,” Detective Lee said, handing him a tablet.

“What is it?” he asked, taking the device from him, which is currently displaying a paused video of a dark road.

“We found dashcam footage from a parked car that showed Detective Park’s killer getting in his car,” said the detective.

Hwang Si Mok looked at the detective sharply, stunned at this breakthrough. Detective Lee nodded at him eagerly, then paused, and said to him tentatively, “I’m very sorry about Senior Inspector Han, she-”

“Just show me the video,” Hwang Si Mok said, interrupting the detective. If Detective Lee was offended by the prosecutor’s blunt manner, he did not show it, and proceeded to play the video instead.

“The video quality is not very good. And you can’t really see the man’s face, and there’s also no license plate on the car,” the detective said as Hwang Si Mok watched. “There’s not a lot of CCTV in the area so we’re having a hard time tracking the car.”

But Hwang Si Mok had stopped listening. His attention was focused on the man on the video; his face was not visible, but when he moved to open the driver side door, it showed the watch that he was wearing. A very expensive-looking watch, he thought, and one that he had seen before. He handed the device back, and ran out the door, ignoring the questions called out by a startled Detective Lee.

Director Park watched worriedly as Mrs. Lee leaned her head back on her seat and closed her eyes tiredly. He had noticed that the CEO had been unusually exhausted and withdrawn these past few days, ever since that prosecutor had visited her office. Director Park fervently wished that he can take some of the burden that she carried on those slim shoulders, and ease some of her worries away, and let her know that she need not fight her battles alone.

“Is there anything else I can do for you ma’am?” he asked, but Mrs. Lee kept her eyes closed, and did not respond to his question. He was just about to leave her when he heard her spoke.

“Director Park, do you think I’m a bad person?” she asked softly and almost tentatively. Director Park stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her in surprise, and saw for the first time an expression of uncertainty and vulnerability from the formidable executive.

“Of course not, ma’am,” he answered without hesitation.

Lee Yeon smiled at the swift and unwavering response. She looked at her devoted right-hand man fondly and said, “You really are a loyal man, Director Park. I’m afraid I don’t deserve it.”

There are many things that Director Park would like to say to the remarkable woman in front of him right now, all of it inappropriate and unsuitable given their professional relationship; and all of it true and genuine. Instead, he walked over to her slowly and allowed himself a liberty he never would have dared make before, and took the CEO’s hand. She looked at him in surprise, stunned at his brazen behavior, but he continued to hold on to the soft, feminine hand, and reminded her of the words he once told her.

 “I told you once before, ma’am. I will never betray you. No matter what.”

***

Seo Dong Jae parked his car at Yongsan station and for a moment, just sat quietly in the driver’s seat, and stared vacantly forward. He looked down and saw the dried blood that covered his once pristine white dress shirt, and memories of the night before came flooding back. He shook his head violently, not wanting to remember what happened that night; of the fear that he and the Yongsan detectives felt at sound of the gunshot that spurred all of them to run faster in panic, and the inhuman scream that followed shortly after that sent shivers down the spine of every man who heard it, and how he found them both, lying unconscious on the ground, not knowing if they are dead or alive. And Senior Inspector Han’s blood pooling in a red puddle beneath her head, blood and water from the rain flowing like a grotesque red river down the filthy alley where she lay. He had grasped her head with his hands in an act of pure, primal instinct in a desperate attempt to staunch the bleeding, and watched the same desperation and anguish reflected in the faces of her three faithful Yongsan detectives.

He hit his head with his closed fist, as if to physically stop the barrage of terrible images in his head. His breath came in shallow gasps, and Seo Dong Jae recognized the familiar signs of a panic attack, as memories from last night mixed in with memories of being helplessly trapped and bound inside a tiny closet. He loosened his tie with shaking fingers, and tried to suck in the air he desperately needed. His phone rang suddenly, and he saw that his wife is calling him. He answered, urgently needing to hear her voice. He covered his mouth with his hands to muffle his agitated breathing, and focused instead on the sound of her familiar voice, telling him about her day, and their kids, and asking him if he will be coming home for dinner. The normal and familiar chatter had the desired effect on him, and he felt his breathing slowly start to regulate, and the violent shaking of his hands had now mellowed to a low tremble.

“Dong Jae-ya, are you ok?” he heard his wife asked in a worried tone.

Seo Dong Jae swallowed at the lump in his throat and mightily repressed the sob that threatened to come out. He took a deep breath and told his wife, in what he hoped was his normal voice, that everything is fine, and that he will be home as soon as he finished his work, and that he is sorry that he could not be with the her and the kids for dinner. He heard her pause on the other line, and knew that his very perceptive and intelligent wife had guessed the truth.

But being the true prosecutor’s wife that she is, all she said was, “Well then, the children and I will be here when you come home. And I’m here, whenever you need me. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Seo Dong Jae said, and wiped his tears.

Seo Dong Jae entered the bullpen and saw Jang Geon in conversation with Detective Lee. He had come here looking for Hwang Si Mok, who he discovered in alarm, had left the hospital without telling anybody. He had been trying to call him all day, but all his calls had gone unanswered; and Seo Dong Jae worried that he might be lying in a ditch somewhere in his fragile state, or worst; doing something rash and reckless in retaliation of what happened with Han Yeo Jin.

“Detective Jang, have you seen Hwang Si Mok?”

Detective Jang shook his head and said worriedly, “You haven’t found him yet?”

“He was here,” said Detective Lee, and both Jang Geon and Seo Dong Jae looked at him swiftly.

“When?” Seo Dong Jae asked.

“This afternoon,” he said, looking at them both. “I showed him the footage of the suspect in Detective Park’s death. And then he ran out of here without a word.”

“Show me the video,” Seo Dong Jae said urgently.

Seo Dong Jae watched the grainy footage, and tried to ascertain what Hwang Si Mok had seen that had made him abruptly depart the police station. And then he saw it, and his blood ran cold as he realized that he knew the identity of the killer. And his dread further increased when he realized that Hwang Si Mok had also come to the same conclusion, and had gone alone to confront the murderer.

“I know who the killer is,” he said to a shocked Jang Geon, “and I think Hwang Si Mok went to see him. Alone.”

Jang Geon looked at him in alarm, and then immediately started issuing orders to the rest of the men at the station.

“Track Prosecutor Hwang’s phone now!” he shouted at Detective Lee, as he rushed out of the station with Prosecutor Seo, along with a small contingent of police officers.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok saw the luxury car come out of the Hanjo building parking lot and followed the car at a discreet distance. He had been waiting all afternoon and well into the evening for their suspect to leave work for the day, and using the time to formulate his next move. He did not tell anybody that he had discovered the identity of the killer. He knew he should have. He knew he should follow the proper protocol when arresting a suspect, and knew that it is dangerous to confront a murder suspect alone. But Hwang Si Mok is past the point of caring about process and protocols, and he did not want anyone from the police or prosecution stopping him from doing what he wanted to do when he finally faced the person who took the senior inspector from him.

Director Park got out of his car and walked towards the benches that dotted the dark public square. He felt edgy and restless after leaving work, and not wanting to go home, decided to stop at the secluded, public park so he can quietly think about the predicament he had gotten himself into. He was just about to sit down when he heard a noise behind him. He turned around and saw Prosecutor Hwang standing there, and he could not help the involuntary shudder that ran through him at the knowing expression on the prosecutor’s face.

“Prosecutor Hwang, what are you doing here?” he asked, apprehensively.

Hwang Si Mok walked slowly forward, towards the other man, and said calmly, “I came to talk to you.”

Director Park swallowed nervously, and asked, “Talk to me about what?” But the prosecutor merely stared back at him stoically, and his blank expression is putting him on edge more than any overt expression ever could.

“That’s a nice watch you’re wearing. Looks very expensive.”

He looked down at his left wrist in confusion, baffled at the random comment. The watch had been a gift from Mrs. Lee on his promotion, and he considers it as his most prized possession, and wore it every day. “What about it?” he asked the prosecutor.

“You were wearing it the night you killed Detective Park.”

Director Park’s eyes widened, like a deer caught in the headlights. Or a killer, finally caught in his crime. Hwang Si Mok took a step forward, while the other man took a matching step back, fear now evident on his face.

“We caught you on video, and I recognized that watch immediately. The same watch I saw you wore that day when I went to the Hanjo offices. The same watch you wore the night you pushed Detective Park to his death.”

Hwang Si Mok took another step forward and said, “Were you wearing it too the night you killed Cha Su Kyo?”

Hwang Si Mok watched as fear and desperation finally overtook Director Park, and knew there is only one action left for a desperate man to take, so he was ready and running after him as the other man fled towards the dark and dense woods surrounding the park. Director Park looked over shoulders and found Hwang Si Mok giving chase, and quickly gaining on him. He felt the prosecutor’s hand on his shoulders and struggled to shake off the other man’s tight grip.

Hwang Si Mok tightened his hold on Director Park, but the man managed to pivot and attempted to strike him; he avoided the swing, but lost his hold in the process, and the other man managed to push him away. He fell hard on a fallen log, and felt an intense and sharp pain on his side. He looked down and saw that he had managed to impale his right side on a sharp branch protruding from the fallen log. Slowly and with considerable pain, he pulled himself out and clutched at his right side, and felt a warm, sticky, wetness in his hands and knew that he was bleeding. He brushed off the pain and injury and got hastily on his feet, then took out Senior Inspector Han’s revolver, and fired.

Director Park halted instantly at the sound of the gun shot, and hastily raised both his hands in the air. Behind him, Hwang Si Mok lowered the weapon that he had fired up into the air, and walked slowly forward, the weapon now pointed at Director Park. He can hear sirens in the distance and knew that he did not have much time.

“Turn around,” Hwang Si Mok ordered, and Director Park slowly turned, his arms still raised.

“Please don’t shoot,” he said pleadingly.

“Why did you kill Cha Su Kyo?”

“I didn’t! It wasn’t me I swear!” Director Park shouted fervently. “I only met with him that night, but I didn’t hurt him! I only wanted information!”

Hwang Si Mok studied his suspect and recognized the sincerity behind the shouted denial. Regardless, he had seen suspects lie convincingly before, and he remained unconvinced of his innocence.

“And Detective Park? Why did you kill him” Hwang Si Mok asked, leveling the gun at him.

Director Park swallowed; guilt evident on his terrified face. “It was an accident! We struggled and he tripped… I tried to save him… I swear, I never meant for anyone to get hurt!” Director Park stammered in his haste to defend himself.

Hwang Si Mok heard running footsteps and shouts behind him, and knew that the police is coming. He tightened his grip on the gun, and asked the question that mattered most to him.

“And what about Senior Inspector Han? Was that an accident too?” he asked, and watched as Director Park’s fearful expression combined with unaffected puzzlement. If Hwang Si Mok had been thinking clearly, he would have recognized the genuine confusion on the man’s face, and understood that Director Park truly had no idea what he was talking about. But he was not thinking clearly, and his unendurable grief had put his state of mind beyond reason, and all that is left is a voracious desire to punish everyone who had a hand on this cursed case.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Director Park replied, his voice shaking.

“Don’t lie to me!” Hwang Si Mok yelled, pain and misery unmistakable in his shouted command. Director Park’s knees trembled in fear at the crazed look in the prosecutor’s eyes, and stared in terror at the shaking barrel of the weapon pointed right at his head.

“Put your weapon down! Put it down now!”

Hwang Si Mok heard the shouted orders behind him to stand down and knew that the police had arrived. But he is not done with Director Park just yet, and he continued to stand there, refusing to lower his weapon.

Behind him, Jang Geon, Detective Seo, and a dozen or so police officers all took out their weapons and pointed it at Hwang Si Mok, and shouted for him to lower his weapon. Seo Dong Jae frantically called to Hwang Si Mok to put down his gun, and tried to stop the situation from further escalating.

“Si-Mok, please put down the gun!”

Hwang Si Mok heard Prosecutor Seo’s desperate plea behind him and his resolve wavered; but he quickly gathered himself, and said evenly, “He killed her.”

Seo Dong Jae heard Hwang Si Mok’s words and finally came to the horrified realization of why he is doing this. Almost hysterically, he yelled out the one thing that would make him come to his senses, and stop him from doing something that will ruin his entire life.

“No, he didn’t! Si-Mok, Han Yeo Jin is alive!”

The words had penetrated Hwang Si Mok’s cloud of pain and grief, and he turned his head slightly to the direction of Seo Dong Jae’s voice. The hand holding the gun lowered a fraction.

“If you’re lying to me…”

“He’s not!” Jang Geon said, lowering his own weapon and cautiously approached the prosecutor. “It’s the truth. She’s at the hospital. We’ll take you to her.”

When he looked back at this moment, Hwang Si Mok cannot fathom how he had remained standing upon hearing those words. The relief that he felt had made him feel light-headed, and he almost dropped to his knees in grateful abandon. But he kept standing, and lowered the gun instead, and surrendered it to a still panicked-looking Jang Geon and said, “Take him away. He’s a cop killer.”

He walked towards a wide-eyed Prosecutor Seo and said, “Take me to the senior inspector.”

Hwang Si Mok followed Prosecutor Seo and Jang Geon, the three men rushing down the hospital hallway towards Senior Inspector Han’s room. Prosecutor Seo stopped suddenly in front of a door, and looked at Hwang Si Mok, as if to make sure that he is alright. Hwang Si Mok nodded, and the prosecutor slowly opened the door.

Hwang Si Mok entered the room, and saw Captain Choi and Director No standing at the foot of the occupied bed in the semi-private hospital room. The curtains were drawn around the bed, obscuring his view. The other men made room for him as he moved slowly forward, and finally beheld Senior Inspector Han; unconscious, and hooked to a dozen beeping machines, but very much alive.

He heard one of the men in the room speaking, but did not heed the words being spoken, unable to focus on anything else but the woman lying on the bed in front of him; her head wrapped in white bandages, a ventilator in place to help her breathe, and numerous plastic tubes carrying life-saving medicine attached to her arm. His mind cannot reconcile the frail and fragile woman lying unconscious before him to the strong and vibrant detective that he knows; but as he looked at the heart rate monitor above her head, showing the strong beating of her heart, he realized that the senior inspector had remained true to her fighting nature, and kept herself alive through sheer determination and willpower, stubbornly refusing to be brought down by a mere bullet in the head.

“…very lucky. The doctors said that she’s stable for now, but there may be side-effects…”

Hwang Si Mok tried to focus on the words being said, but found himself suddenly feeling faint and lightheaded. He attributed his unsteadiness to the overwhelming relief he felt at seeing her alive, and shook his head to clear the dizziness away. He took her hand, grasping it as if it was a lifeline, and felt a sense of joy and peace overpower him at its warmth.

Seo Dong Jae watched as Hwang Si Mok stared at Senior Inspector Han with unabashed tenderness and affection. In a sudden moment of epiphany, he realized that their unlikely partnership had evolved into something else entirely; something that is beyond friendship, and deeper and more meaningful than any romantic attachment. It is simply that rare connection between two human beings, in its purest and most elemental form, that most people do not even manage to find in their lifetimes. He knew that Hwang Si Mok would never have survived the loss of Senior Inspector Han; not fully anyway, if today’s events were any indication, and he was eternally grateful to the senior inspector for fighting to stay alive.

“She’s a fighter,” Seo Dong Jae said to Hwang Si Mok, and patted him in the back for comfort. The prosecutor suddenly flinched, grasping painfully at his right side.

“Hwang Si Mok, are you alright?” he asked worriedly, and noticed the hand that touched his back specked with blood. He looked at Hwang Si Mok in alarm, just as the prosecutor collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

Chapter Text

“It was an accident.”

Seo Dong Jae listened as Director Park recounted the events of the night of Detective Park’s death. The Hanjo executive sat across from him, at the interrogation room at Yongsan station, being questioned by himself and Detective Jang. He saw the detective’s hand curled into a fist, and recognized how difficult it must be for him, and the rest of the Yongsan police officers watching the interrogation from behind the two-way mirror, to hear the details of their friend’s death replayed in full detail. They were able to alibi the Director out for the death of Cha Su Kyo and the shooting of Senior Inspector Han, but he admitted to being at the terrace apartment and the altercation that ultimately led to Detective Park’s death. He denied having caused the fire that followed after.

“Who tipped you off?” Seo Dong Jae asked, at Director Park’s statement that he received a call telling him there were incriminating documents pertaining to Hanjo at the apartment.

“I don’t know,” Director Park said. “The number was blocked, and he didn’t tell me his name.”

“How is Hanjo connected to this?”

Director Park shook his head and said, “I don’t know.”

“Stop lying!” yelled Seo Dong Jae, banging his fist on the table. “You met Cha Su Kyo right before he was murdered, and then you went to a place you thought contained documents about Hanjo just because of an anonymous tip. Why would you do that if Hanjo is not involved?”

Director Park remained silent, as if pondering the question, then finally answered, “Because I was told to do it. I don’t know the real reason behind it, I was only following orders.”

Seo Dong Jae looked at the man and hesitated, unsure if he wanted to hear the identity of the person who directed him to act; because he knew there is only one person Director Park take orders from, and Seo Dong Jae did not want to admit that she may be too far gone for redemption after all. In the end, it was Detective Jang who posed the question he could not bring himself to ask.

“Who ordered you to do this?”

Director Park looked directly at Seo Dong Jae and said, “Lee Sung Jae.”

Seo Dong Jae stared at Director Park in astonishment, not expecting the answer. He felt Detective Jang looking at him, the detective also surprised at this development.

“The President of Hanjo?”

Director Park nodded, and calmly said, “Yes. I’ve been secretly working for him for a while now. To spy on the CEO and his sister, Mrs. Lee.” He looked at Seo Dong Jae and said, “Mrs. Lee have no knowledge of this.”

“I don’t believe you,” Seo Dong Jae said incredulously.

But Director Park merely stared at him and said, “I want that phone call now.”

“I know it was you who sent me to that place. I know you set me up.”

Lee Sung Jae recognized the voice on the other line and looked at the men gathered around his desk. He waved them all hastily out of his office, not wanting anyone to hear the conversation.

“Director Park. I heard you were arrested last night,” he said in a sneering voice. “How’s jail?”

“I know you have spies in the police, that’s how you knew they were watching the apartment. That’s why you sent me there. You thought you can incriminate your half-sister by having me arrested, but you made a huge mistake. Because I turned the tables on you.”

Lee Sung Jae tightened his grip on his cellphone, his anger rising with every word the other man uttered.

“I told the police I was secretly working for you. Spying on your sister for you. And that it was on your orders that I went to that apartment that night, and why I met up with the murdered cook.”

Lee Sung Jae could not contain the surprised gasp that came out of him at the mention of Cha Su Kyo, and he heard Director Park gave a short laugh on the other line.

“That’s right. I heard you talking on your phone the day of your father’s memorial, when I followed you outside and you thought you were alone. You were talking to somebody about a missing cook, and I knew then that you were involved in the explosion. That’s why I tracked him down myself, to find out what he had on you.”

“The police can’t prove that I’m not working for you, and I will lie on the stand if I have to if it meant implicating you,” said Director Park. “And one more thing; I have the evidence. I didn’t tell the police, but if you don’t stop trying to take down your sister, or if anything happens to me, that evidence will be released. And everyone will know what you have done.”

The line dropped, and Lee Sung Jae violently threw his cellphone against the wall, his entire body shaking in rage.

Director Park stared at the phone in his trembling hand, and closed his eyes in defeat. All he wanted was to help Mrs. Lee, and instead, he had found himself at the center of a horrible disaster of his own making. He will take his punishment; he knew he deserved it, and knew that the image of the young detective as he fell to his death will haunt him until the day he died. But if he must go down, then he will at least make sure that he took everyone who had tried to hurt Mrs. Lee along with him. His gambit to incriminate Lee Sung Jae will ensure that, and Director Park vowed that not even jail will stop him from keeping his promise to protect his CEO at all costs.

***

Lee Yeon Jae dropped the phone in her hand, her entire body shaking in shock and disbelief. Her chief counsel had just told her over the phone that Director Park had been arrested the night before, and her mind cannot process the unimaginable and horrifying information she just heard.

“…being charged with second degree murder, and suspected arson. But we may be able to bring it down to manslaughter and fight the arson charge…”

“…he claimed to have been working for your brother President Lee, and that he had been spying on you on his orders.”

She shook her head violently in denial, and willed herself to wake up from this dreadful nightmare. Just then, the doors in her office flew open violently, and she watched as her brother strode angrily inside. On reflex, she schooled her features in some semblance of calmness, and hid her trembling hands beneath the desk.

“You lying bitch!” he said viciously, pointing an accusing finger at her. “You think you can do this to me?”

Lee Yeon Jae did not know how she was able to keep her composure at that moment in light of the shocking news she had just received, and at the sight of her brother’s raging temper. But she did, and was able to calmly and coolly respond, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Don’t play dumb!” he shouted, spittle flying everywhere in his anger. “I know you and your sycophantic little minion planned this! I know you told him to lie and tell the police and the prosecution that he was working for me!”

Lee Yeon Jae stared at her brother, and tried to keep the shock from showing on her face at what she was hearing.

“What did you do to make him do it? What did you offer him in return? Money? Power?” he asked savagely. “Your body?” he said, nastily.

Her hands tightened on the arm of her chair; Lee Sung Jae noticed and sneered contemptuously at her. “You think I don’t know about you two? How that pathetic little man was so disgustingly in love and obsessed with you?”

He leaned over her desk and said, “Don’t you ever wonder why all the men who ever loved you end up either dead or destroyed? Our Father. Lee Chang Jun. And now, Director Park?”

He smiled maliciously at her reaction, satisfied that he had finally broken her composure with his cruel words.

“This isn’t over. I swear I’ll make you pay for this,” he said threateningly, and stomped out of her office.

Lee Yeon Jae let go of all her self-control the moment the doors closed, and cried in wild and desperate abandon.

Seo Dong Jae entered the interrogation room alone, and stared at the desolate form of Director Park. He walked over to the video and audio controls, and flicked both of them off. Director Park stared at him in interest.

“It’s just the two of us now,” Seo Dong Jae said, sitting down across from him. He wanted to talk alone with Director Park, without the police watching and listening in. He knew there is more to the man’s story than what he had told them previously, and Seo Dong Jae was determined to get to the truth, knowing what is at stake.

“I know you lied to us. I know you will never betray Lee Yeon Jae. Because I know you will never do anything to hurt the woman you love.” Seo Dong Jae observed the man’s reaction to his words, and watched as a lone tear escaped Director Park’s tightly shut eyes.

“Lee Sung Jae is guilty. Whether I told the truth or not is irrelevant.” Director Park opened his eyes and stared at Seo Dong Jae intently and said, “You know it too. That’s why you came that day to see Mrs. Lee. And that’s why you said those things to Lee Sung Jae when you faced him outside of her office. I was there. I heard what you said to him.”

“Do you have proof of his involvement?” Seo Dong Jae asked, his heart racing.

Director Park shook his head. “No. I told him I did. To keep Mrs. Lee and myself safe. Cha Su Kyo didn’t tell me anything about Hanjo or Lee Sung Jae, only that someone had ordered him to sabotage the gas valve at the restaurant, and threatened to kill his girlfriend if he didn’t. But he didn’t know who they were, or at least, he didn’t tell me.”

Seo Dong Jae watched him closely as he spoke, and can easily tell that the man is telling the truth. He could not help but feel sorry for the tragic figure sitting opposite him; a man who had tried to rescue the woman he loves, and destroyed himself in the process instead. He thought of the things men do for love, and the parallels between the two men he knew who had risked it all for its sake; the one who was sitting across from him had ended in tragedy, while the other is lying in a hospital bed and had come perilously close to meeting the same. He stood, about to leave, but stopped when he heard Director Park speak.

“Did you mean what you said to Mrs. Lee?” he asked Seo Dong Jae, a hopeful note in his voice. “When you said that you’ll help her. When you said you’ll pull her away from the edge.”

Seo Dong Jae nodded.

“She has no one now. She needs you. Because you were right, she is not beyond saving, but you need to help her,” he said, his eyes beseeching. “Please.”

He nodded again, but stopped once more when the other man spoke, and could not help the chill that ran down his spine at his parting words.

“Be careful who you trust Prosecutor Seo. You are surrounded by people who will do everything in their power to make sure that you do not succeed. Watch your back.”

Chapter Text

Senior Inspector Han downed the shot of soju and sighed audibly in satisfaction. She and Hwang Si Mok were sitting together at the pop up bar, eating ramen and drinking soju. The senior inspector laughed at something he said, her eyes crinkling at the corners, her entire body shaking with uncontained mirth. Hwang Si Mok stared at the endearing picture, overcome with a deep feeling of contentment. He was so focused on watching her face that he did not notice the man come up behind her, and point a gun at her still smiling head, and pulled the trigger.

Hwang Si Mok awoke with a start, his heart racing and his body trembling from the nightmare. He looked around him and instantly recognized the familiar sights and smells of a hospital room. He tried to get up, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulders, and realized that the hand belonged to Prosecutor Seo.

“Whoa, Si-Mok what are you doing? Lie back down!” Seo Dong Jae said, trying to stop Hwang Si-Mok from leaving his bed.

“I need to go see Senior Inspector Han,” Hwang Si Mok said, urgently needing to see her after the nightmare he just had.

“Calm down, she’s right here!” Seo Dong Jae said, and pointed to the bed to his right.

Hwang Si Mok stared at the sleeping figure of Senior Inspector Han, and instantly felt his heart rate calm, his breathing returning to normal.

“Good thing this bed is free, since you decided to almost bleed out here,” Seo Dong Jae said, still eyeing him cautiously, afraid that he’ll jump out of the bed at any moment.

“How is she?”

Seo Dong Jae looked at the senior inspector and said, “She’s doing well, considering her injuries. She hasn’t woken up yet, but she’s stable. And they took out her ventilator yesterday, so she’s breathing on her own.” He looked at Hwang Si Mok and said encouragingly, “That’s a good sign.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded, still keeping a watchful eye on the senior inspector. The door opened just then, and a doctor entered. She examined Hwang Si Mok, who asked, “How long was I unconscious?”

“Almost 48 hours,” the doctor replied, to Hwang Si Mok’s surprise. He was stunned to find that he had been unconscious for that long.

“You lost a lot of blood Mr. Hwang. The injury on your right side was pretty deep, and it’s a good thing you were already here when you lost consciousness,” she explained. “But worse than that, you also have an unruptured aneurysm. And it’s more serious because of your pre-existing condition,” she said, referring to his childhood brain surgery. “Because of that, there’s a higher chance of rupture, so we need to keep you here for a couple of days for observation,” she stated, and then looked at him sternly, “and you also need to rest.”

“What about Senior Inspector Han? Will she be alright?” he asked the doctor.

The doctor looked over the other bed, and said, “She’s recovering well. Her vitals are stable, and her brain activity seems to be normal.” She looked at both Hwang Si Mok and Seo Dong Jae. “She’s extremely lucky. The bullet only grazed her skull and caused a severe concussion. A couple more millimeters, and she wouldn’t be here.”

“Will there be any side-effects?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

“Yes, it’s likely, as with any other cases of serious head trauma. She could suffer from severe headaches, memory loss, vision problems, seizures. We wouldn’t know for sure until she wakes up.”

Seo Dong Jae thanked the departing doctor, and turned to Hwang Si Mok, who is looking over the senior inspector in grave concern.

“She’ll be alright,” he said, hiding his own worry. Senior Inspector Han may have survived, but none of them knew what state she’ll be in when she finally wakes up.

“Millimeters,” Hwang Si Mok said quietly, and suppressed the unimaginable thought of how close she had come to death.

Seo Dong Jae tried to distract him by talking about the case. “We arrested Director Park,” he said, and proceeded to tell Hwang Si Mok everything he found out from the interrogation. He put a restraining hand on him when he tried to climb out of the bed again after he finished telling the story.

“What are you doing?! Get back into bed!” he shouted, trying to push the stubborn patient back down.

“I need to see him,” Hwang Si Mok said, brushing him off.

“No, you don’t! The doctor said you need to rest!”

“Someone has to continue working the case.”

“Yes! Me!” he yelled, and Hwang Si Mok stopped his attempts to get up at Seo Dong Jae’s raised voice.

“Senior Inspector Han almost died, and you are in no fit state to do anything right now. But I’m here, and I can help,” he said with great feeling.

Seo Dong Jae sighed; he looked at Hwang Si Mok and said, almost pleading. “You and Han Yeo Jin can’t do this alone. This case is too big, and it’s too dangerous. You need help. Let me help.”

“He’s right.”

“Yes! Thank you!” he said, glancing distractedly over his shoulders at Senior Inspector Han. Then realizing who spoke, jumped up almost comically off his chair and rushed to her bedside.

“Han Yeo Jin!” Seo Dong Jae exclaimed, looking at her in excitement. Her eyes are still closed, and for a moment he thought that he had imagined her voice, until he saw Hwang Si Mok got up from his bed to go to her side, and then immediately wobbled as he stood. He caught him just in time before he fell to the floor, and deposited him back to bed. Then tried to return to the senior inspector’s bedside, and had to run back to the other bed again when Hwang Si Mok wouldn’t lie still. He hopped between the two beds, like an uncoordinated metronome, trying to attend to both patients at the same time.

“Si-Mok, dammit stop moving!” he said, manhandling the other man now to force him to lie still.

“He’s right,” said the weak voice again, and both Seo Dong Jae and Hwang Si Mok stopped their struggling and looked at Senior Inspector Han in tense anticipation.

“We need help. Let him help,” she whispered, and then fell back to sleep.

Hwang Si Mok is back at the pop up bar again, facing a smiling Senior Inspector Han. This time, he is fully aware that he is dreaming, and knew what will happen next. He tried to wake himself before it happened, not wanting to relive the dreadful moment. The senior inspector laughed, and any moment now, he knew that a gun will be pointed at her head, and Hwang Si Mok had to watch in helpless horror as she dies right before his eyes. But the moment did not come; no menacing dark figure appeared behind her, and no gunshot was heard, and Senior Inspector Han kept laughing.

He woke up suddenly, and took a deep breath, relieved that his dream did not take a dark turn.

“Prosecutor Hwang, are you okay?”

Hwang Si Mok instantly tried to sit up at the sound of her voice. He looked over the other bed and saw, to his immeasurable relief, that her eyes are finally open.

“Yes. Just a dream,” he replied, his voice shaking.

“A bad one?” she asked, her voice weak and raspy.

“No.”

“What was it about?”

“I was eating ramen.” With you, he thought, but did not say.

Han Yeo Jin laughed, and immediately had a coughing fit. Hwang Si Mok immediately got up and went over her side, wheeling his IV cart with him. He took the water and straw from her bedside table and helped her drink. When she was done, she looked at him, her eyes clear and steady.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Like I just got shot,” she said, smiling slightly at him. She looked at him curiously and said, “I know why I’m here, but why are you here?”

“I got stabbed on my right side.”

“Who stabbed you?” she said, her voice rising slightly in alarm.

“A tree branch. I fell.”

She shook her head at him and said, “This is what happens when I leave you to your own devices.”

“I was trying to catch a killer,” he said. “Detective Park’s killer.”

She looked at him then, suddenly alert, and asked breathlessly, “Did you catch him?”

He nodded, and told her about Director Park’s arrest. When he finished, Senior Inspector Han looked away, tears falling from her tightly shut eyes.

Hwang Si Mok watched as the senior inspector quietly wept, and felt like kicking himself. She had just woken up from a serious injury, and here he was, making her cry already not even 10 minutes later. He felt a moment of slight panic, afraid that she will make herself ill because of his stupidity and insensitivity.

“Please don’t cry,” he said, and took her hand in his. She looked at him then, her eyes pools of sorrow and sadness. She looked at their intertwined hands and in a soft whisper, said, “I’m sorry.”

He frowned in confusion, puzzled as to why she is apologizing to him when it was him that had made her cry. “For what?” he asked.

“For that night. When I said those terrible things to you,” she said in a shaky voice, referring to their confrontation in the rain after Detective Park’s memorial.

“You only told the truth, and I deserved all of it,” he said, letting her know that he held her blameless for the entire incident.

Han Yeo Jin shook her head vehemently, and said, “No, none of it were true. I only said those things because I wanted to hurt you.” She paused, and choked back a sob, and repeated “I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes, and turned her head away in shame. All of a sudden, she felt a warm and soft sensation in her hand. Her eyes turned to look at Prosecutor Hwang, and immediately widened at the sight of him kissing the back of it.

Hwang Si Mok watched helplessly as Senior Inspector Han continued to cry, her face etched in pain from her injury and misery. He wanted desperately to make her tears stop; and not knowing what else to do, took her hand and impulsively kissed the back of it. It was an act of pure instinct, almost as a reflex, because he was unable to bear the sight of her in distress. He knew he was incapable of using words to comfort her; the last time he tried had ended in an unmitigated disaster. And so, he chose instead to give her comfort wordlessly, and express with that one gentle act what he was unable to utter. He was relieved to see that it had worked; her tears had stopped, and the look of sadness had now been replaced with an expression of great astonishment at his gesture. They looked at each other then, her hand still on his; and in that silent moment, mended what had been broken from that terrible night. She tightened her grip on the hand he is still holding, acknowledging what had passed between them, neither needing words to convey what they felt, and perfectly understanding each other as if the words were said out loud. She closed her eyes then, her face relaxing in contentment, until she finally succumbed to a deep and restful slumber. And Hwang Si Mok kept holding her hand long after she had fallen asleep, finally feeling at peace.

Chapter Text

“Park Ji-Chul, a Managing Director at Hanjo Group, has been arrested in connection with the death of Detective Park Soon Chang, who died in the line of duty while investigating organized crime and drug-related activities in the Yongsan district. It has been alleged that Director Park had been working for Lee Sung Jae, the President of Hanjo Engineering. A spokesperson for the company had denied any connections with the disgraced executive, and maintains that…”

The screen of the TV that had been playing the news coverage suddenly shattered, after an angry Lee Sung Jae hurled his golf club at it in a fit of rage. He took out his cellphone, his hands still shaking in fury, and dialed the number of the man he deemed responsible for this disastrous mess.

“This is all your fault,” he said the instant the line was answered. “It’s all on the news now, and they’re connecting that lying bastard to my company! And to me!”

“I’m taking care of it,” the voice replied.

“Like you took care of it the last time?!” bellowed Lee Sung Jae. “We’re in this position because of you! None of this would have happened if you had listened to me!”

“You knew why we had to do it this way. Or do I need to remind you why we got into this mess in the first place?” the voice on the other line said, a note of warning on his tone. Lee Sung Jae wanted to curse the other man for his impertinent tone, but was loath to admit that he also did not want to antagonize him further, knowing what he is capable of.

“Like I said, I am taking care of it,” the voice said. “This will all be over soon.”

“It better be,” Lee Sung Jae said angrily, “because if I go down, I am taking you with me.”

The man stood over the burning fire and took out an envelope from his pocket; the same envelope he had taken from that senior inspector that he had shot. He felt angry after finding out that she had survived after that night, and extremely annoyed that the stubborn bitch had refused to die. But his anger was followed swiftly by worry, and then panic, that she might have seen his face and come after him. But no one had arrested him yet, even after he had discovered that she had already regained consciousness and talking to the prosecution and the police. He was relieved that she did not see his face after all, but knew that he had to tread more carefully now, and bide his time. He and the senior inspector have unfinished business, and he would make sure that next time, he will finish the job.

He took out the contents of the envelope, and saw that it contained an old photo. The photo was of him and another man, back in their army days. The photo had a blurry quality to it, and he realized that this must have been a photo taken of the original that he haD framed on his desk at the terrace apartment that he had kept as his secret office, and that Cha Su Kyo must have taken it with the camera on his phone when he was not looking when they had met there. That sneaky bastard, he thought, and was glad that he had killed the weak, foolish cook.

He looked at the face of the other man. The man who had been his friend, and now, his boss, and the leader of one of the most successful and notorious criminal organizations in the country. He tossed the photo into the fire, and watched as the blaze consumed it.

***

Han Yeo Jin opened her eyes, groggy and disoriented from the deep sleep and the pain medication that they had been giving her. The sensation reminded her of being underwater; her body feeling oddly weightless, and yet also experiencing a heaviness in her limbs that made her unable to move freely. She suddenly felt someone tugging at her feet. She looked down and was met by one of the strangest sights she had ever seen in her life. Her eyes widened in surprise as she watched Prosecutor Seo sitting on a chair at the foot of her bed, gently putting socks on her bare feet.

“What are you doing?”

Seo Dong Jae looked up from his task, and saw a wide-eyed Senior Inspector Han looking at him bemusedly. He blushed, feeling oddly guilty at being caught in the act of putting on socks on her feet.

“Umm… It’s chilly in here. I didn’t want your feet getting cold, so I put socks on them,” he said, avoiding her gaze.

Han Yeo Jin kept staring at Prosecutor Seo in amazement, stunned at his actions. If someone had told her a month ago that she would feel affection for the prosecutor, then she would have laughed at that person’s face at the impossibility of that event ever occurring. She thought in awe and wonder how quickly things can change, and how people can still surprise her, as she felt a genuine fondness for her one-time nemesis for his sweet and touching gesture.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Seo Dong Jae cleared his throat, embarrassed, but hugely pleased, at her reaction. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Better. But these drugs they’re giving me is making me feel all loopy and weird,” she complained.

Seo Dong Jae nodded, and said, “They’re to help you with the pain. I’m really happy to see that you’re finally awake.” He paused, suddenly looking uncomfortable and unable to meet her eyes. He took a deep breath, and said, “Listen, I never really apologized to you about what had happened from three years ago. When I look back on it now, I’m ashamed of how I behaved, especially towards you. The bridge…” he started to say, then stopped, unable to complete his sentence as he was overwhelmed with shame and regret, remembering how he had mistreated and abused her that day. He hung his head, and said, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

Han Yeo Jin stared at Seo Dong Jae’s bowed head, and wondered what had gotten into him, or if the drugs are making her see and hear things. She remembered that day at the bridge; and for the longest time, her blood will start to boil every time she recalled the incident. But she understood that the man from three years ago, who was well on his way to complete corruption, is not the same man before her with his head bowed in genuine contrition. She had already decided to completely forgive Seo Dong Jae after observing him during the interview with Kang Sun Ri, and his thoughtful gesture today with the socks had strengthen that decision. Han Yeo Jin smiled to herself, and decided to let him off the hook, but not before having fun at his expense; after all, the bridge incident was very humiliating, and he was a massive prick to her.

“Well…keep the tteokboki and desserts coming, and then I’ll think about it,” she told him.

Seo Dong Jae looked at Han Yeo Jin, and saw her smiling mischievously at him. He laughed, relieved and delighted at her reaction, and at that moment, each felt a true kinship and genuine bond forming with the other.

Han Yeo Jin was still snickering when she turned her head towards Prosecutor Hwang’s bed, and finding it empty, asked, “Where’s Prosecutor Hwang?”

“They took him to do some tests,” Seo Dong Jae said, just as Hwang Si Mok walked in the room.

“Oh, you’re awake,” Hwang Si Mok said, and quickly walked to the senior inspector’s bedside. “How do you feel?”

Han Yeo Jin smiled at the two men who are currently looking at her like two overprotective and doting mother hens. She was not sure if it was the drugs, or her recent bout and triumph over death that is making her feel overly-sentimental, but she had an overwhelming urge to give the both of them a big hug. It is fortunate that she is physically incapable of doing so at the moment, as the action might embarrass the two, or make them think that she had incurred permanent brain damage from the gunshot wound. Instead, she repeated her response to Prosecutor Hwang, and asked about his condition.

“How’s your head?”

“It’s fine, tests are normal,” he said quickly.

Han Yeo Jin nodded. “I’m glad they didn’t have to remove another part of your brain again,” she joked.

“Wait, did you say remove a part of his brain? And what do you mean again?!” Seo Dong Jae asked incredulously.

Hwang Si Mok gave her a slight smile. “No, there’s no need for that this time,” he told the senior inspector, ignoring Prosecutor Seo’s question.

“You’re missing a part of your brain?!”

“How’s your stab wound?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“Is that why you’re like this?”

“It’s healing nicely, it doesn’t bother me that much anymore,” replied Hwang Si Mok.

“Oh my god, this explains so much,” Seo Dong Jae said breathlessly, looking at Hwang Si Mok in wide-eyed wonder.

Hwang Si Mok finally acknowledged Prosecutor Seo, and asked, “Are you done?”

Seo Dong Jae shook his head. “No. I have so many questions.”

Hwang Si Mok ignored him and turned to Senior Inspector Han instead. “I wanted to ask you some questions, if you’re up to it?” he asked. She nodded.

“Do you remember everything that happened the night you were shot? And did you see your attacker’s face?”

Han Yeo Jin closed her eyes, letting her mind remember the events of that dreadful night. She remembered the chase, and the fight with her attacker, the pain from the electric shock when she was shot by her own taser; and she remembered kneeling in front of the bastard, and looking straight at the barrel of the gun, and Prosecutor Hwang’s voice screaming her name in anguished desperation, and a brief moment of excruciating agony in her head, and then nothing but blackness.

She opened her eyes, and realized that her hands are trembling from the effort. She took a deep breath, and tried to calm her racing her heart, and said, “I remember everything. But I didn’t see my attacker’s face. The taser shot had wreaked havoc to all my senses, and I couldn’t see anything clearly.” She hung her head, disappointed in herself, and said regretfully, “I’m sorry.”

Hwang Si Mok squeezed her shaking hands to ease her distress, and said, “There’s nothing to be sorry for. None of this is your fault. The most important thing is that you survived.” Beside him, Seo Dong Jae nodded his head vigorously in support of his statement.

Han Yeo Jin smiled at them in gratitude, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “So, what’s our next move?” she asked, eager to move on.

“Find Park Gong Chu,” Seo Dong Jae said. “Which is why I am off to Incheon today. I’ll track him down, and find out what he knows.”

Captain Choi addressed the detectives gathered in front of the case whiteboard at the Yongsan precinct. The number of police officers assigned to the task force had now doubled, after HQ had seen fit to dedicate more manpower to the investigation, owing to the fact that their organized crime and drug case had now evolved to include the explosion investigation, as well as the murder and attempted murder of two of their own. Choi Yoon Soo looked at the assembly of officers in front of him, and noted the solemnity and grim determination in each of their faces. He knew that this case is personal to all of them; Soon Chang was well liked by everybody in the precinct, and Han Yeo Jin commanded the respect and admiration of each of the police officers present. All of them, himself included, had made it their personal mission to bring the people responsible to justice.

“Our top priority now is to capture Senior Inspector Han’s shooter. We can conclude that the same man is connected to the explosion case due to the fact that he stole evidence hidden by Cha Su Kyo, who we now know was coerced to cause the explosion. In addition, we can also surmise that the explosion may have been perpetrated by the same organized crime syndicate operating in the area. Therefore, the unknown shooter is our only lead that links all the cases together- the explosion, the organized crime group, the murder of Detective Park and the attempted murder of Senior Inspector Han.”

“The task force will be split into 3 teams – I will be leading Team 1, Team 2 will be led by Detective Jang and Team 3 by Detective Lee. You will be given your assignments by your Team leaders.”

“Director No from the Intelligence Bureau will oversee the task force, until Senior Inspector Han can return to her duties,” he said. If she returns at all, he thought, torn between wanting her to come back and fully recovered from her injuries, and at the same time wishing that she is kept away and protected from further harm.

“We will also assign a protective detail at the hospital to guard Kang Sun-Ri. And I need one of you to go over there today and interview her again to see what she knows.”

“I’ll do it,” Detective Lee volunteered. But Jang Geon interjected and said, “No, I’ll do it. I need to go to the hospital anyway to check on Senior Inspector Han and to talk to Prosecutor Hwang.” Captain Choi nodded, agreeing to his plan.

“What about the Prosecution?” asked Detective Seo.

Captain Choi looked at him and answered, “The Prosecution, namely Prosecutors Hwang and Seo, will continue to focus on the explosion case, including investigating the connection to Hanjo Group.” Captain Choi shouted over the murmurs that this information elicited and said, “But all of us have one objective; and that is to arrest and detain the people responsible for these crimes. And we all have to work together, regardless if you are with the police or prosecution.” He stared at the officers intently to stress his point; some of them nodded their heads, while some wore skeptical looks. But Captain Choi is determined to keep all of his officers in line. He is more than willing to bury the long-standing feud between the police and prosecution if it means catching the people who took Soon Chang from them, and almost ended the life of their dear Han Yeo Jin.

“Let’s get to work,” he said, ending the briefing.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin scowled at the porridge that they served her for lunch, and wished that she is having chicken and tteokboki instead. She looked at Dr. Chae, who is currently examining Prosecutor Hwang, and asked, “Do I have to eat this?”

The diminutive doctor turned to her, amused, and said “Yes Ms. Han, you need to eat your food.”

Han Yeo Jin made a face at the offending bowl of food, and said crankily, “But it’s gross.” Jang Geon entered just in time to hear her comment; he laughed at the look on her face, and felt happy that she is back to her old self again.

“We have to ease you into solid food. Eat all of your meals today and you can have a better one tomorrow,” Dr. Chae promised. She turned to Hwang Si Mok and said, “You’re recovering very well Mr. Hwang. We can discharge you tomorrow. But,” she looked at him sternly, “you need to take it easy for a couple of days. No excessive stress or it may trigger another episode.”

“What about me?” Han Yeo Jin asked, looking hopefully at the doctor.

“Not you. You’ll stay here until we’re confident that you have fully recovered,” said the doctor.

“That’s not fair. How come he gets to leave and I can’t? I was here first,” she said, disgruntled.

“Because you got shot in the head,” Jang Geon said.

Han Yeo Jin looked at him, annoyed, and asked, “Why are you even here?”

Jang Geon smiled at Han Yeo Jin’s irritated tone and said, “I’m here to update you both on the case, and also on my interview with Kang Sun-Ri.” He handed a folder to Prosecutor Hwang and said, “Here’s the transcript of the Director Park interrogation that you asked for.”

“Anything new from your meeting with Ms. Kang?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Jang Geon shook his head, and told her that the waitress did not mention anything that they don’t already know. “She seemed very nervous talking to me. I couldn’t really get anything out of her, and I had to finish the interview early because she said she wasn’t feeling well.

Han Yeo Jin considered this, and remembered that Kang Sun Ri was also similarly reticent towards her and Prosecutor Seo when they interviewed her, only opening up after she discovered her true identity. For some reason, Kang Sun Ri have a deep distrust towards law enforcement personnel. Her musings were interrupted by an abrupt and sharp pain in her head; she closed her eyes, and touched the right side of her bandaged head, where her injury is.

“Where is Director Park now?” Hwang Si Mok asked Detective Jang, as Dr. Chae finished examining him.

“He’s at the detention center, awaiting trial,” Jang Geon responded. “His trial is set for—”

A loud crash suddenly sounded in the room, interrupting Jang Geon mid-sentence. Jang Geon, Hwang Si Mok and Dr. Chae turned towards Han Yeo Jin’s bed, the tray and plates of food now lay scattered on the floor, and was met with the disturbing sight of her having a frenzied fit.

“She’s having a seizure!” Dr. Chae said, and pressed the call button to summon help.

Hwang Si Mok instantly jumped out of his bed and ran to the senior inspector’s side. Her body is now seized with violent convulsions, her eyes rolling at the back of her head, the whites the only thing visible. Beside him, he can hear Detective Jang calling her name in panic, terrified at the sight of her friend’s back arching off the bed, her limbs frozen in an unnatural position while her entire body is sieged with uncontrolled spasms. Hwang Si Mok instinctively tried to grab her, earning him a reprimanding shout from Dr. Chae.

“Don’t touch her!” she said loudly, while she and the nurse quickly and competently took care of the patient, and administered the medicine to help stop the intense paroxysm.

In what felt like hours, what in reality was only a few minutes, that the tremors finally decreased, then subsided. Hwang Si Mok approached the senior inspector’s side, her body now limp and unconscious. The bandage in her head had come off during her seizure, and he can see specks of blood on the white sheet from where her wound had started to bleed.

“Mr. Hwang, help me get her up, I need to replace the bandage around her head,” Dr. Chae said to Hwang Si Mok, being the one closest to the senior inspector’s bed. He immediately did what he was told, and gently lifted her still unconscious body to an upright position, and rested her limp body against his. He cupped her lolling head and placed it carefully on his shoulder, to allow more access to Dr. Chae to wrap the bandage around her head. From his position, he can clearly see the large, angry gash on the side of her head where the bullet had grazed her, the dark stitches crisscrossing obscenely through her blood-matted hair. Beside him, he heard Detective Jang’s gasp of shock, disturbed by her injury laid out in full display. Hwang Si Mok’s arms tightened convulsively and reflexively around her limp form, unnerved at the sight of the ugly wound. Senior Inspector Han had been making great strides in her recovery, and she made a point to appear healthier and stronger than how she really was in front of everyone, that it was easy to believe that she was fully recuperating. But the latest seizure, and her wound revealed for everyone to see, had been a frightening reminder to them of the seriousness of her injury, and reminded him of how close he had come to losing her forever.

“Mr. Hwang, can you move your hand please? I need to clean around the wound,” Dr. Chae asked Hwang Si Mok. He moved his hand, not realizing that he had been holding her head and face protectively the entire time. Dr. Chae looked at him in understanding. “Seizures are quite common in patients with traumatic head injuries” she said while cleaning the wound. “We have to monitor her closely. She’s tough, but she still has some ways to go before she is fully recovered.”

Hwang Si Mok is suddenly glad that he is leaving the hospital tomorrow, as he thought of the plan that had been brewing in his head while he convalesced from his injuries. They have been on the defensive ever since this case had started; always reacting, and always a step behind their opponent. They have let their enemy continue to hide in the shadows by not publicizing the details of their investigation, thus affording them the confidence to operate without fear of repercussions or exposure by the general public. He knew that the time has come to investigate the case publicly, and let these people feel the full might of the police, prosecution and the press, all working together, and force their adversary out in the open.

Hwang Si Mok is dreaming again. This time, he is back at Namhae, at the beach. He looked down and saw that he is barefoot, the warm waves soaking his feet. He lifted his head towards the sun, its rays warming his face, and suddenly felt the happiest he had been in a long time. He heard a voice calling his name and turned his head at the sound, and saw a vague outline of a familiar figure. The voice called his name again, notes of laughter ringing in her tone. He squinted, trying to see better with the sun in his eyes, as the figure walked towards him. He did not need to see her face to know who the voice belonged to. He would recognize her voice anywhere; deep yet feminine, and the way she laughs, openly and joyfully. She reached out her hand to him, and he smiled. And in his dream, took her offered hand.

He woke up suddenly, feeling regretful at the abrupt end of such a pleasant dream. He turned his head towards the other bed, and immediately sat up in panic when he saw that it was empty. He was about to get up when he heard a noise behind him, and watched as the door of the bathroom opened and Senior Inspector Han walked out, pushing her IV cart with her.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his tone mildly reproving.

“I had to go to the bathroom,” Han Yeo Jin answered.

“You shouldn’t be walking around on your own. Why didn’t you call a nurse to help you?”

“I don’t need a nurse to help me pee,” she said, exasperated. But just as she said it, a sudden wave of dizziness and nausea hit her, and she wobbled where she stood. She sat down heavily on Prosecutor Hwang’s bed, and waited for the wooziness to subside.

Hwang Si Mok looked at the senior inspector in alarm, noticing the way her face suddenly drained of color and the way she is holding the right side of her head, where her wound is. “You need to lie down in bed,” he told her.

“Okay,” she said weakly, and proceeded to lie down on his bed. Hwang Si Mok watched in astonishment as she climbed onto his bed beside him, as if it was her own. He looked at her in surprise and said, “I meant your bed.”

“Just give me a minute,” she moaned.

Hwang Si Mok sat on his bed with the senior inspector sprawled beside him, unsure of what to do next. He looked at her bed and was just about get up to head over there and leave her on his own bed when she suddenly groaned.

“Stop moving!” she grumbled, and yanked at his hospital gown. “Just lie still for a minute, you’re making it worst,” she said, whimpering.

Hwang Si Mok lay down slowly, and then just rested there, stiff as a board, beside her. She still has the front of his hospital gown bunched up in her fist, and she kept her hand there, on his chest, as if to keep him in place. He lay there, frozen, too afraid to move and jostle her and make her dizziness worst, or have her hit him with the hand on his chest; even in her weakened state, he knew it would still hurt. She moved to rest her head on his shoulders, and he felt her breath on his neck, ragged and uneven, as she battled against the sickening nausea.

“Were you dreaming again?” she asked, her voice feeble and weak.

“Yes, I was,” he answered stiffly.

“What do you dream about?”

He hesitated. He did not want to tell her the truth, knowing that it may make her feel uncomfortable, especially given their current situation. So, he told her a lie, and told himself that he did so only for her benefit.

“I don’t remember,” he replied, and he heard her mumble something incoherent in response. She lay still and quiet, and for a moment, Hwang Si Mok thought she had fallen asleep, until she spoke again.

“I hate the seizure,” she said suddenly. Hwang Si Mok turned his head gradually to look at her, and noticed that she still has her eyes closed while she spoke. He stayed silent and looked at the ceiling instead, letting her open up to him.

“I felt it coming on, and felt myself slowly fading into it. And I was helpless to stop it. It’s like somebody had taken control of my body, and I was powerless to make it stop,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. “I hate it,” she repeated, her voice getting stronger in her anger. “Does it feel like that with you too? When your head hurts, I mean,” she asked him tentatively.

“It is similar. Once it starts, I can’t make it stop either,” he told her, and felt her nodding her head gently beside him.

“That’s why you need to listen to the doctor, and take it easy for the next few days or you’ll be back here again with me. Promise?” she asked him, and when he did not immediately answer, punched him in the arm. “Promise me,” she said, more forcefully this time.

Hwang Si Mok rubbed the arm that she punched, and acquiesced to her order, mostly because he did not want to get hit again. He felt her relax against him, mollified by his response.

“I haven’t thanked you properly yet,” she said suddenly, and he was surprised by the note of hesitation in her voice.

“Thank me for what?”

“For saving my life.”

“But I didn’t. I didn’t do anything,” he admitted to her. Hwang Si Mok did not want to take credit for something he did not do. She was alive because of a combination of luck, and her extraordinary resolve and determination to keep herself alive. He did not want her to think that he had a hand in her survival, when it was him that failed to protect her that night, and almost lost her in the process.

“The doctors told me that I was lucky, and that it was just millimeters that separated me from life and death,” she said. “But it wasn’t luck. I heard you shouting my name that night, and it made me look up. And it made my would be-killer turn his head around. Because of you, I moved my head, and it distracted my attacker enough that his arm moved and skewed his aim. If you hadn’t, my head would have remained bowed, and my attacker’s aim would have been on target, and he would have shot me point blank right in the center of my head.”

Hwang Si Mok listened to her account silently, and thought about the events of that night. He remembered shouting her name, spurred by fear and terror; and if what she said is true, then he is grateful that his desperate act had helped her survive.

“Thank you, for saving my life,” she said softly.

Hwang Si Mok swallowed, and tried to calm his racing heart, knowing that she can feel the frantic beating with her lying so close to him and with her hand still placed atop his chest. He sighed, suddenly not caring anymore that she can feel how much this moment had affected him, and let his guard down fully, as she had done with him just now. “You’re welcome,” he answered simply and sincerely, surrendering to his emotions.

“Prosecutor Hwang, I think you just might be my best friend.”

Hwang Si Mok thought about this. He’s never had a best friend before, or a friend, for that matter. He had resigned himself with the fact that he will go through the rest of his life without having this connection with someone else, and it had never bothered him that he will never experience the joy and pleasure a deep bond of friendship can bring. Now, he thought, he does not think that he can survive without it. Without her, he corrected. She had given him many gifts before, and he still has those drawings tucked away safely, but this, he thought, is the most precious gift she had given him so far.

“You’re mine too,” he said truthfully, and felt her smile against him. She sighed and yawned, and within a few moments, was fast asleep. Hwang Si Mok lay there, wide awake, beside the woman who had come to mean more to him than anything and anyone else in his life, and who had been his salvation from a life of bleak and isolated loneliness. He felt her hair that was not covered by the bandages tickling his neck, but he did not move it away. On the contrary, he wanted to prolong the sensation for as long as he can, and remember it for the rest of his days. He smiled, and was reminded of the feeling of profound happiness he felt during his Namhae dream. She was there too, he thought, as she is always is, every time he felt that rare and elusive spark of joy and happiness. He closed his eyes, and instantly drifted off to the best sleep he ever had in his entire life.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin opened her eyes and for a moment, felt slightly disoriented. She moved her head from side to side, testing if the nausea she felt the night before still remained, and was relieved to note that it had completely subsided. She stretched her limbs, and moaned loudly, feeling the tight muscles loosen pleasantly in response; she sighed in satisfaction, feeling the best she ever had since she had been admitted at the hospital, amazed at the difference a good night of sleep can do. The thought of sleep made her remember what happened last night, and her eyes flew wide open when she realized where she was. I’m in Prosecutor Hwang’s bed, she thought, and slowly moved her head to the side to look, and found it empty. She sat up instantly, looking for him, and found a note addressed to her on the bedside table instead.

Discharged today. Meeting with C.P Oh and Dir. No. Will return later today to fill you in.

Regards,

Hwang Si Mok

P.S

Apologies for not waking you. I did not want to disturb you in your sleep. You were snoring.

Wretched man, she thought, why even mention that? She does not snore, she thought indignantly; but despite her annoyance at the prosecutor, she couldn’t help the laughter that escaped her at the absurdity of the situation. She had spent the night with him, on the same bed, and even though it was all perfectly innocent, she was afraid that it might make things awkward between them in the clear light of day. But the disarmingly honest, and unintentionally hilarious note, had broken the ice; and Han Yeo Jin felt infinitely more cheerful and more like her old self than she had in days. She climbed out of his bed and made her way hastily to hers, not wanting the nurse to find her in another man’s bed. Even though nothing happened, she would rather avoid being the topic of gossip among the hospital staff. She was just settling onto her bed when the door opened and a nurse entered, and she breathed a sigh of relief that she had made it to her bed just in time.

“Good morning, how do you feel today?” the nurse asked her cheerfully.

“Much better, thank you,” she said honestly, smiling at the nurse. “I had a good night sleep.”

“I bet. I checked up on you last night. You looked very relaxed,” she said, putting an emphasis on the word very and wearing a meaningful smile on her face.

Han Yeo Jin blushed furiously. She shook her head and opened her mouth to protest at the nurse’s knowing smirk, but nothing came out.

“I’ll be back with your breakfast,” the nurse said. “Oh, and that Prosecutor asked us to call him about any changes in your condition. He seemed very concerned with your well-being,” she added, once again putting an emphasis on the word very, and to Han Yeo Jin’s chagrin, gave her a cheeky wink.

The nurse left, leaving a mortified Han Yeo Jin sitting alone on her bed, her face still flaming red. She is pretty sure that she and Prosecutor Hwang are now the talk of the hospital staff, if the nurse’s reaction is any indication. They probably likened them to some tragic couple from one of those overly-dramatic dramas; The Prosecutor and the Police Officer, a poor-man’s Romeo and Juliet, except with more guns and explosions, and no touching between the leads. She put her head in her hands and gave a loud groan.

“Goddammit,” she said glumly to no one.

Hwang Si Mok sat across from Chief Prosecutor Oh and Director No in the Chief Prosecutor’s office. He had just finished walking them through all the information that they have gathered so far on the case, with the exception of the Chief of Staff’s involvement. Hwang Si Mok wanted to leave that part for the senior inspector to tell her boss, since his own is already aware of it anyway. He sat back, waiting for both seniors to process the information he had just imparted, and awaited their reaction.

“You said on the phone that you have a plan that you wanted to discuss with us,” Chief Oh told Hwang Si Mok, who nodded. “So, what’s next?” he asked.

“Senior Inspector Han and I want to go public with the investigation. We let the press know that the explosion is deliberate, and that the perpetrators are linked to the drug-running organized crime syndicate currently being investigated by the task force.” Hwang Si Mok looked at Director No and said, “The police had closed the explosion case initially with the fire department, so this may not go over well with HQ, sir.”

“Not just HQ, Prosecutor Hwang. City Hall will not like this either,” Director No told him. He frowned, and asked him, “Why do you want to go public?”

“We have given them an advantage by not disclosing the details of this case publicly. There is power in secrecy; and this organization does their best work in the dark. They are obviously also well informed and well-funded, which lead us to think that they may have connections within the government and the corporate world. By going public, it will send a strong message that they have not influenced the course of justice, and that the police and prosecution are united in the mission of capturing all those who are responsible for these crimes. It will shake their belief that they are untouchable by the law.”

“And Hanjo?” Chief Oh asked.

“We will have to disclose the murders of Cha Su Kyo and Detective Park, as well as the attempted murder of Senior Inspector Han. Since Director Park is involved in Detective Park’s death, the press will be able to connect the two,” Hwang Si Mok said. “And if they asked me about it, I would tell them the truth.”

The two men were silent after Hwang Si Mok’s pronouncement, recognizing the significance, and the danger, of this course of action. Chief Oh spoke first, and asked Hwang Si Mok the question that are on all of their minds.

“You do realize, Prosecutor Hwang, that by doing this, you may be creating a multitude of enemies for yourself and Senior Inspector Han. Not just City Hall; because if you are right about this organization, and I believe you are, then they are connected to powerful and influential people. You are talking about corporations, politicians,” he paused, and looked at him gravely, “the Police. Even the Prosecution.”

“And what’s the alternative, sir? That we let them think they are right? That they are above the law? That they can continue with their crimes unimpeded and unpunished?” he asked. “They have already taken out two of our own. Prosecutor Hwa was murdered in that explosion, and Detective Park was killed while investigating them. And they tried to kill Senior Inspector Han in cold blood,” he said, his voice rising with every name he uttered.

 “It’s time we put the fear of the law in them, instead of the other way around,” he finished, and looked at the two men expectantly.

“How is Senior Inspector Han? I heard she had a seizure yesterday. Is she alright?” Director No asked suddenly, concern apparent in his expression.

Hwang Si Mok nodded, remembering how he left the senior inspector this morning. She was sprawled in his bed, snoring like a trucker, and he remembered feeling glad that she was feeling well enough to have such a deep and restful sleep. “She’s getting better by the day, sir. But the doctor said she still needs more time to fully recover.”

Director No nodded, and then straightened himself, coming to a decision. “In your press conference, you can mention that we are adding more people on the task force. And that the police will be working alongside the Prosecution to capture the members of the organized crime group, as well as the people responsible for the explosion. And I will be standing right behind you in that podium, Prosecutor Hwang.” He looked at Chief Oh, who nodded.

“Call the press, Prosecutor Hwang, and let it be done,” said Chief Oh.

Han Yeo Jin woke up from her nap and realized that she is not alone. She looked at the figure, and was surprised to find the last person she expected to see sitting beside her bed.

“Chief?”

Choi Bit smiled at Han Yeo Jin, and said, “I think you can stop calling me that now, don’t you think?”

Han Yeo Jin looked at her former chief in bewilderment, unsure of what to say to her. This was the woman whom she had admired and esteemed, and had followed with unquestioning loyalty. Who had mentored and groomed her, and who had given her hope and strengthened her belief in the organization she had dedicated her entire adult life to. Until the day she discovered that her mentor had been behind the very crime that they have been investigating, and forced her to make the unthinkable decision of causing the downfall of the only person she had sincerely respected ever since becoming a cop.

And now she’s here, smiling at her as if she was not the one who ruined her career. And all of Han Yeo Jin’s emotions towards the woman that she had buried deep all came rushing back with a vengeance.

“I don’t think I can. Despite everything that had happened between us, I will always think of you as my Chief,” she admitted truthfully. She saw her former chief swallow, her eyes suspiciously bright.

Choi Bit turned her head away, suddenly overwhelmed with emotions upon hearing her former protégé’s words. She admitted to herself that she felt slightly afraid to come here, unsure of the reception that she will get from Han Yeo Jin, knowing that she had disappointed the young woman greatly. But she gathered up her courage because she knew that it was the right thing to do, and told herself that she deserved any condemnation and hostile words that she may throw at her. She was therefore greatly relieved upon hearing her kind words, and Choi Bit realized that she should have expected nothing less from Han Yeo Jin. After all, she is not just one of the best police officers she had ever worked with, but is genuinely one of the kindest and most compassionate people she had ever encountered.

“What are you doing here, Chief?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“I wanted to see how you were. I was worried when I heard you were shot on the job. I wanted to see for myself that you were ok,” Choi Bit told her.

Han Yeo Jin smiled, grateful for her concern, and said, “I’m much better now, as you can see.”

Choi Bit looked at the bandage wrapped around her head, and experienced a genuine fear of what could have been. She refrained from voicing her concern to the senior inspector, knowing that it is not her place any more to give her any advice. But she knew she will never stop worrying about her, regardless of the fact that she is no longer her superior officer, or a member of the police.

“You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that,” she said with sincere emotion. “I actually have something else to tell you. A mutual friend of ours found out that I was visiting you, and he reached out to me. He was also worried about you, and wanted to know how you were faring.”

“A mutual friend?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Choi Bit gave her a meaningful look, and said, “from the Blue House.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at Choi Bit, astonished at this piece of information. There could only be one person she is referring to, and she wondered how her former chief knew Ahn Yeong Seok. Choi Bit understood her questioning look, and explained to Han Yeo Jin.

“I knew him back when he was still with the police, and we kept in touch even after he retired. I even went to his wife’s funeral,” she paused, and continued, “he was a very devoted husband to her. It was sad to watch him go through that, and I think it was the reason why he quit the force. He loved her very much.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded, and asked the question that had been niggling at her mind. “Were you the one who told him about me? You must have guessed that he is involved in this case. He approached us early in our investigation, and I wondered why he chose me and Prosecutor Hwang.”

Choi Bit shook her head and said, “No, I didn’t. He knew about you even before that. In fact, it was him who recommended you to be dispatched from Yongsan to the Reformation Unit.”

Han Yeo Jin was shocked by this. She never would have imagined that such a high ranking personage would take an interest on a middle-level police officer like her. It did not make sense to her why the Chief of Staff to the President would personally recommend her, when she had not even met the man back then.

“Don’t be so surprised,” Choi Bit said, amused at her shocked expression, “you must have noticed by now that the man knows everything. And he is always on the look-out for good people in the force.” She paused, and then told her sadly, “I used to be one of those good people. Until I lost my way. I know I disappointed him. And you.” She looked at Han Yeo Jin now, her eyes full of regret, silently asking for her forgiveness.

“I’m sorry,” Han Yeo Jin said, choking back tears.

Choi Bit shook her head, and said, “Don’t. You have nothing to be sorry for. It is I who should be saying sorry. You did the right thing, and I did not.” She took Han Yeo Jin’s hand in hers, gripped it tightly, and said fiercely, “I’m proud of you.”

Han Yeo Jin let go of her tears, finally unburdened of the guilt she had been carrying ever since she had caused the demise of the career of her once-dear senior. She had never told anybody, not even Prosecutor Hwang, that she still struggled with her decision to expose her chief. Her objective cop-mind told her that she had made the right choice, but her heart, which had been broken at Choi Bit’s deception, told her that it was not that simple. And despite what she had told herself, she knew that she had borne the passive hostility of her colleagues not just because she wanted to maintain professionalism. Because the truth was that she saw it as a penance for her decision, rightly deserved and must be endured.

Han Yeo Jin does not know how long they sat there, holding each other’s hands and crying together, until they were interrupted by a breaking news announcement on the TV in the hospital room, declaring a press conference by the Prosecution.

“Oh, it must be time for Prosecutor Hwang’s press conference about our case,” Han Yeo Jin said, while Choi Bit grabbed the remote and increased the volume. They watched as Prosecutor Hwang took to the podium, followed by a uniformed Director No and Chief Prosecutor Oh, who took their place behind him on the stage. They listened raptly as Prosecutor Hwang revealed that the Haebangchon explosion was deliberate and tied to organized crime, and divulged all the details of the investigation, including all the confirmed deaths linked to the case, as well as the attempt on her life. He announced the joint police-prosecution investigation, and declared that the police will be dedicating additional resources to the task force. This was welcome news to Han Yeo Jin, who agreed that they could certainly use the additional help, and made a mental note to thank Director No later, whom she knew was behind the decision. A loud burst of shouted questions erupted from the reporters the moment Prosecutor Hwang finished his statement, all of them eager to unpack the sensational piece of news he had just imparted.

“Prosecutor Hwang, is Hanjo Group connected to your case?”

Han Yeo Jin was expecting this, and she and Prosecutor Hwang have discussed how to approach the question when it was inevitably asked. They decided that only the cold, hard and unembellished facts will do, and send a message to the mighty corporation and everybody who is watching that they will pursue all leads pertaining to the case, even if it meant going against a titan of the industry.

“Director Park, who was a senior member of Hanjo Group, was arrested for the murder of Detective Park Soon Chang, a member of the task force investigating the organized crime syndicate. He went to a location that was linked to the person or persons responsible for the murder of Cha Su Kyo, who we now know was blackmailed by the same criminal organization to sabotage the gas valve, thereby causing the explosion. In addition, Prosecutor Hwa Song Un, who was the lead prosecutor investigating Hanjo Engineering, was one of the victims of the explosion.  Because of this, we are treating certain people within the Hanjo organization as persons of interest in this investigation.”

“Your prosecutor looks good on TV,” Choi Bit said, glancing at Han Yeo Jin, who blushed at the comment.

“He’s not my prosecutor,” she said exasperatedly at Choi Bit’s amused expression, and was suddenly reminded of the time when her former chief had asked her if there was anything going on between them.

“Then what is he?” Choi Bit asked.

“We’re colleagues, who happen to like and respect each other,” she said, not wanting to go into the complex explanation of the nuances of her and Prosecutor Hwang’s relationship.

“Did you know he came to see me? That night after both of you confronted Woo Tae-Ha and he threatened to ruin your career. That was the reason I came home late, as you pointed out to me, after I found you waiting for me already half drunk in the parking lot of my apartment complex.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at her, surprised once again at yet another bombshell from her former chief. “No,” she said, astounded, “why did he meet with you?”

“To ask me to step down willingly, so I can save you and your career,” she told a shocked Han Yeo Jin. “I was already leaning towards that choice, but I will be honest, I was still hesitating. It’s not easy to let go of a career that spanned more than 20 years of my life. He didn’t even try to appeal to my conscience; instead, he just talked about you, and our relationship, but mostly you. And by doing so, he reminded me that if there is one thing that I can save from that god-awful mess, it should be you. Because you are the best of us. And if saving you would be my only legacy from a disgraced career, then at least it will be a glorious one.”

“Tell me, Yeo Jin-ah, do you think he would do that for someone he only considers as a ‘colleague’?” Choi Bit asked, a slight smile hovering on her lips.

Han Yeo Jin pondered this, still reeling from the revelation and still affected by Chief Choi’s speech about her. She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not notice her former chief staring intently at her, a knowing expression on her face. Choi Bit had always found Han Yeo Jin and Prosecutor Hwang’s relationship fascinating, and she had wondered whether the two of them knew what was already apparent to other people. Evidently not, she thought, shaking her head in mild amusement. She was glad at least, that Han Yeo Jin has someone like Prosecutor Hwang by her side. And was comforted at the thought that she has a champion ready to slay dragons for her, even if she does not know it yet.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok watched as Senior Inspector Han munched happily on her second helping of tteokboki. He had come straight from the office to the hospital to see her, but not before stopping at her favorite place to get dinner for them both, and talk about the progress of the case.

“Oh my god, this is so good,” she said enthusiastically, her mouth full and her cheeks splotched with tteokboki sauce. Hwang Si Mok smiled, happy that her appetite is back to normal and charmed at the picture she presented. Senior Inspector Han noticed him smiling at her and asked, “What? Do I have sauce on my face?” She then hastily wiped her cheeks, spreading the sauce further and making it worst.

“No, you’re fine,” he said, and she continued to devour her food.

“Have you heard from Seo Dong Jae?” she asked.

“Yes, he’s on his way back from Incheon. He said he’ll come by to talk to us later.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded, and said, “Chief Choi Bit came to see me today.” Hwang Si Mok looked at her, surprised at this unexpected news.

“What did she want?” he asked.

“She wanted to see how I was doing. She said she was worried about me.”

“Sounded like both of you had a good talk.”

“We did. A really good one in fact,” she told him. Senior Inspector Han did not offer any more details beyond that, but Hwang Si Mok could tell that the meeting with her former superior officer had a profound and positive effect on her. He was glad of it, as he knew how deeply the decision to turn against her mentor had affected her. She carried on bravely afterwards, like the dutiful police officer that she is, but he knew that she still carried the guilt of that decision, and knew that she felt responsible towards destroying the career of her former chief, regardless of how justly deserved that outcome was. He saw it still when they met each other again; he had noticed a shadow passing over her eyes at every mention of Choi Bit, and he knew that she still bore her burden, even after all this time. But he can see the change in her now, and he no longer saw the darkness settling over her when she talked about her former chief; and he was happy for her.

“She also told me something very surprising,” she said, her expression eager, and told him about Ahn Yeong Seok asking Choi Bit to check up on her.

“She also said that it was him who recommended me to be transferred to HQ almost 3 years ago, and that he had kept track of me and my career,” she told him in amazement. “I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’m not entirely comfortable with someone having that power over an aspect of my life without my knowledge,” she said, frowning.

“That’s what he does. He moves people to their proper positions, like pieces on a chess board. The chess master at work.”

“Or a puppet master, and I’m the puppet,” she grumbled.

Hwang Si Mok saw how much the information had bothered the senior inspector. He tried to think of what to say to reassure her, and said, “Then don’t think of it that way. He told us himself, he looks for good people; and he help put those people in the right positions, to maximize their potential and contribution. But I think that’s the extent of it, he only provides the opportunity, but ultimately, it’s up to the person if they want to take it or not.” He paused, and looked at her intently, “You could have refused the offer to be moved to HQ three years ago and stayed at the Yongsan precinct. But you didn’t, because you knew that it was the right move for you, and you wanted to do that job. Because you knew that you could make a bigger impact in reforming the police at HQ than you would have at Yongsan, where you would be too busy chasing bad guys.”

Han Yeo Jin thought about what Prosecutor Hwang said, and marveled at how he seems to know exactly what to say to soothe her troubled mind. She smiled softly at the man in front of her; the same man who had saved her life, and whom, unbeknownst to her until today, was also the one who had saved her career.

“Well, when you put it that way, I guess it doesn’t sound so bad,” Han Yeo Jin said, then faltered. She was hesitant to bring up a topic that she knew will make him feel uncomfortable, and she had guessed that that was the reason he never mentioned the meeting with Choi Bit to her. But she needed to tell him that she knew, and tell him how grateful she is for everything that he had done for her.

“Chief Choi also told me that you came to see her that night. After you and I met with Woo Tae-Ha, and he threatened to destroy my reputation and career.” Han Yeo Jin watched as Prosecutor Hwang shifted awkwardly in the chair, clearly uncomfortable that she had discovered what he did for her that night. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked him gently.

“It wasn’t that big of a deal, really. She was already leaning towards doing the right thing, and all I did was to talk to her. She made that choice all on her own,” said Hwang Si Mok, trying to be blasé about it.

“She told me that she still has not made her choice at that point; until you talked to her, and what you said is what ultimately convinced her to do the right thing. So, thank you, for doing that for me.” Han Yeo Jin watched as Prosecutor Hwang cleared his throat to cover for his embarrassment, and mumbled a self-conscious ‘You’re welcome’ while trying to avoid her eyes. She smiled fondly at the tinge of red spreading across his cheeks and ears, and tried not to laugh at his look of obvious relief when the door opened to admit Seo Dong Jae, newly returned from Incheon and his quest to find the missing Park Gong Chu.

“I’m back!” Seo Dong Jae announced, carrying an overnight bag in one hand and a plastic bag from a bakery in the other. “Han Yeo Jin, I got you pastries,” he told a delighted Han Yeo Jin who reached out to take the bag eagerly. “You look a lot better. You got sauce all over your face by the way,” he said, while Han Yeo Jin hastily wiped her cheeks, looking crossly at Prosecutor Hwang for letting her sit there with all that mess in her face.

“Any news from Incheon?” asked Hwang Si Mok.

“I haven’t found Park Gong Chu yet. It’s proving to be more challenging than we originally thought, since we only have the name of the village and not his exact address. It’s still a big area we have to cover,” Seo Dong Jae explained, looking tired. “But,” he said, brightening, “we have a lead.” He turned to Han Yeo Jin and said, “Detective Chu, your friend from the local precinct, has been helping me, and he thinks he may have found an address of one of his relatives who lives in the area. I’m heading over there tomorrow to check it out.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at Seo Dong Jae in concern. She had noticed that the usually immaculately put-together prosecutor looked disheveled, with dark circles from lack of sleep prominent under eyes red-rimmed with fatigue; and she realized that he must have been putting in long days and even longer nights in search of the elusive Park Gong Chu.

“Do you need a break? You look exhausted,” she asked him.

Seo Dong Jae gave a short laugh, and asked her, “Are you saying I look bad?”

“Yes,” she said bluntly. “You’re not wearing hair gel and that’s not like you. I’m worried,” she said, while Hwang Si Mok looked at Seo Dong Jae’s hair, and then frowned.

Seo Dong Jae patted his hair self-consciously. “I ran out, okay?” he said. “But I’m fine. I just need to go home, and then I’ll head back to Incheon tomorrow to pursue that lead.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about your workload at Uijeongbu. Because as of today, you are officially part of the investigation,” he told a stunned Seo Dong Jae, and told him about his meeting with Chief Prosecutor Oh and Director No, and the press conference he held that day. In addition to his request to make the investigation public, he had also asked Chief Oh to re-assign Prosecutor Seo to the explosion case, to which his chief acquiesced, albeit reluctantly.

Seo Dong Jae looked at Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin, and felt all his tiredness immediately drain away. For the first time since they started this case, he felt truly, and fully, part of their little team. He felt proud that Hwang Si Mok had trusted him enough to fight for him to be officially included in the investigation, and touched at Han Yeo Jin’s worry over him, even though she also told him he looked like shit. He grabbed a pastry and stuffed it fully into his mouth; mostly to stop himself from saying something emotional and embarrass all of them.

“So, we’re bringing the fight to them now,” Seo Dong Jae said, then nodded energetically, “I like it.” He smiled, and said, “So what’s next?”

“I’m heading to Hanjo tomorrow. To talk to Lee Sung Jae,” said Hwang Si Mok.

“Be careful with him. I heard he has a temper,” said Seo Dong Jae, and looked at Hwang Si Mok worriedly. “Maybe I should go with you, as your back-up.”

Hwang Si Mok raised his brows at him. “You don’t think I can handle him?”

Seo Dong Jae looked at him appraisingly. “Weeelll,” he said, elongating the word and making it sound insultingly patronizing, to Hwang Si Mok’s annoyance. “Let’s be honest. You’re not that tough.”

“Neither are you,” Hwang Si Mok said, frowning at him.

“I’m tougher than you, that’s for sure,” Seo Dong Jae retorted.

Both men looked at Han Yeo Jin’s sudden loud snort and bark of laughter. “Neither of you are tough,” she told them both condescendingly. “Stabbed by a branch,” she said while pointing at Hwang Si Mok. “Abducted by a teenage boy,” she said, and pointed at Seo Dong Jae.

“What, you think you’re tougher than either of us?” Seo Dong Jae asked her, scoffing incredulously. Han Yeo Jin just stared blandly at him in response, chewing her pastry.

“Yeah, alright,” he said, admitting defeat.

Hwang Si Mok watched as Prosecutor Seo and Senior Inspector Han continued to trade insults against one another. He smiled, feeling oddly light and cheerful, despite the formidable task that lay head for all of them.

Chapter Text

The restaurant on the top floor of the luxury hotel boasts one of the best views of the Seoul skyline. The spot is a popular meeting place amongst the upper echelons of society; rich executives, celebrities, politicians and other members of the one percent. Hwang Si Mok looked around at the plush and posh interior, which is currently empty of the lunchtime crowd, save for the person he had come to meet. He started to walk forward and was immediately stopped by one of the members of Lee Sung Jae’s security team.

“Apologies sir, but we need to run a scan on you. Can you please also turn off your mobile phone?” the stern looking guard told him. Hwang Si Mok complied, and stood still while the man swept the detector throughout his body. He looked around the restaurant and counted at least seven armed escorts standing throughout the space, creating a protective perimeter around their client. The guard gave him the all- clear, and he walked towards the table by the large window, where Lee Sung Jae is currently eating his lunch.

Hwang Si Mok studied the man sitting at the table and noticed a slight resemblance between him and his father, Lee Yeon Beom. But whereas the late Hanjo Chairman’s feature is softer, and more distinguished, his son’s visage was drawn harsher and sharper, making his face appear as if he is wearing a perpetual sneer. He was suddenly reminded of an unfamiliar term that he had heard Senior Inspector Han used; and if she had been here, he knew that she would have described Lee Sung Jae as having a resting-bitch face. He stopped in front of the table and introduced himself, affecting a slight bow.

“Thank you for meeting with me Mr. Lee,” Hwang Si Mok said.

Lee Sung Jae looked up from his meal and gave him a once-over, his gaze somehow managing to be condescending and mean at the same time. “It’s not like I had a choice, Prosecutor Hwang. After you chose to drag the name of my company through the mud in your press conference yesterday,” he said irately.

Hwang Si Mok chose not to comment on his remark, and sat down instead on the chair opposite him, even though he had not been invited to sit down. “Then it would be in your best interest to clear up the issue. First, the matter of Director Park claiming that it was you who sent him to the terrace apartment to look for documents implicating Hanjo,” said Hwang Si Mok. To his surprise, Lee Sung Jae started laughing.

“Are you really going to believe that my half-sister’s loyal lapdog is working for me?” he asked Hwang Si Mok. “It’s so laughably simple to disprove that allegation Prosecutor Hwang, because if it was true, then there would have been traces of it; phone calls, secret meetings, a money trail of payments from me to him. But you won’t find any of it, because it simply does not exist, because he lied about all of it.”

“Prosecutor Hwa was the lead prosecutor investigating Hanjo Engineering, while Kim Gwang Ho worked for the firm that audited your company, and they both died on the same explosion that was linked to the people who owned that same terrace apartment. It’s quite convenient that two of the people who may have possessed damaging information on your company died very suddenly and at the same time.”

“There’s nothing convenient about it, Prosecutor Hwang. I, or my company, have nothing to do with that explosion,” he told Hwang Si Mok testily. “And I have no reason to be concerned about Prosecutor Hwa or Mr. Kim, because both the Prosecution and the auditing firm did not find a shred of evidence of any wrongdoing in my company.” Lee Sung Jae gave a snort of laughter, “So if you think that I ordered the explosion as some sort of Machiavellian plot to silence them both, then the prosecution and the police are more hopeless than I thought.”

Hwang Si Mok looked at the smug face of Lee Sung Jae and admitted to himself that he can see the logic in the other man’s argument. He already knew that Director Park had lied about working for Lee Sung Jae, but he asked the question nonetheless to gauge his reaction. He also knew that Prosecutor Hwa and the auditing firm that Mr. Kim worked for did not find anything that could implicate the corporation; at least nothing concrete, or admissible in court. He also hated to admit that Lee Sung Jae did not seem to be lying when he said that both Prosecutor Hwa and Mr. Kim found no evidence of any wrongdoing at Hanjo; he was too confident and too self-assured when he said it. He knew that Lee Sung Jae is an accomplished liar, but even to Hwang Si Mok’s trained eye, he could tell that that the other man was telling the truth.

Lee Sung Jae started laughing meanly at Hwang Si Mok, and said mockingly, “What were you hoping to accomplish by asking me these questions, Prosecutor Hwang? Did you actually think that your amateur tactics would work on me?” He sneered disdainfully at Hwang Si Mok, and told him in a patronizing tone, “Your seniors have tried before you to bring me down, and both of them have failed. Lee Chang Jun jumped off a building to end his miserable life, while Kang Won Chul left the Prosecution with his tail between his legs. What makes you think you can take me on and win?”

Hwang Si Mok stared at Lee Sung Jae, seemingly unperturbed by the insult directed at him, and replied calmly, “I guess you’ll find out soon enough.” He stood, and gave a slight bow of farewell to the other man. Lee Sung Jae watched him walk away, the hand gripping the steak knife shaking in suppressed rage.

“So, he didn’t tell us anything useful then? Well, we were expecting that anyway. He won’t say anything to implicate himself or his company. He’s too clever and conniving for that,” said Han Yeo Jin, after Hwang Si Mok had finished telling her about his interview with Lee Sung Jae.

“What is it?” she asked, and Hwang Si Mok realized that the senior inspector had noticed his preoccupied expression. They were on a video call, with her sitting in her hospital bed and him in his car, still in the hotel parking lot.

“Something doesn’t add up,” he said. “I’ve been wondering why Prosecutor Hwa and Mr. Kim felt the need to meet in secret, when Prosecutor Hwa could have questioned the auditor officially, as he had done previously during the investigation.”

Hwang Si Mok watched on his cellphone screen as the senior inspector looked away contemplatively, thinking about what he said. “Maybe the auditor found something that needed to be said in confidence?” she theorized.

“Maybe,” he said, looking unconvinced. “But if you think about it, there was no need for that. The auditors are from a third party company, and their main objective is to find anomalies and discrepancies on Hanjo and report it to the necessary government bodies. It was a well-known fact to anybody, so why the need for a clandestine meeting?”

“And another thing,” Hwang Si Mok added, “Lee Sung Jae seemed to be telling the truth when he said that he was not worried about Prosecutor Hwa and the auditor. And he seemed too confident when he said that they did not find anything.”

“Maybe he’s just a good liar,” said Han Yeo Jin.

“Maybe,” Hwang Si Mok said, non-committal. He was about to say more when the senior inspector hastily cut him off.

“I’m sorry, there’s someone here. I’ll talk to you later,” she said, and abruptly cut off the video call.

Hwang Si Mok looked at the screen, puzzled at Senior Inspector Han’s sudden ending of the call. He thought about her expression just before she cut off the video feed, and he realized that whomever it was that entered her room was not a welcome visitor. He turned his engine on and peeled away from the parking lot, racing towards the hospital.

Han Yeo Jin stared suspiciously at Prick 1 as he entered her hospital room, looking extremely uncomfortable and unable to meet her eye.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.

Prick 1 cleared his throat, and said, “Director No sent me to check on you. He wanted to know if you needed anything, or if you need help with the investigation.”

Han Yeo Jin frowned, wary of the man, and said, “Tell him that I’m okay. And the extra resources he assigned are enough for now. We don’t need additional help.” Not from you anyway, she thought, but did not say out loud.

Prick 1 nodded, still not meeting her eye. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something else, but changed his mind at the last second, and instead bowed hastily and mumbled a quick goodbye.

Han Yeo Jin watched his retreating back, confused at his strange behavior, when the door suddenly opened to admit Seo Tae Gu. She watched as Prick 1 looked curiously at the councilman, and then at her, before exiting the room.

“Good afternoon Senior Inspector Han,” said Seo Tae Gu, smiling at her. Han Yeo Jin smiled in return, and lamented the fact that she probably looked like a mess right now, especially compared to the handsome and perfectly-coiffed councilman.

“I got you flowers,” he said, showing her the big pot of intricately arranged blossoms. Han Yeo Jin noticed the chrysanthemums again, and cannot help but remember Prosecutor Hwang’s comment about them being flowers of death. She had lost her taste for the flowers after that, and realized now that having them around unsettled her, especially after her recent brush with death. Nevertheless, she thanked the councilman for the gift, and endeavored not to show her dislike of the flowers. Councilman Seo sat on the chair beside her, wearing a somber and worried expression. He took her hand suddenly and asked, “How are you feeling?”

Han Yeo Jin resisted the urge to shake off his hand, not entirely comfortable with the overfamiliar act. She stopped only when she noticed his expression of great concern and distress, and told herself to stop being such a prude over an innocent gesture.

“I’m much better now,” she told him.

Councilman Seo exhaled shakily and gently squeezed her hand. “I’ve been away for the past few days. I only found out about what happened yesterday, when I saw Prosecutor Hwang’s press conference. When he mentioned your name, and the fact that someone tried to kill you, I—” he paused, and swallowed audibly, obviously still affected. “I rushed to return to the city. I only arrived this morning.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” said Han Yeo Jin, uncomfortable at his emotional reaction.

“I wanted to see for myself how you’re doing. I needed to make sure that you’re really okay,” he said with great feeling.

“Well, as you can see, I’m fine. Nothing to worry about.”

“But that’s not entirely true is it?” Seo Tae Gu said. “You were shot in the head. You could have been seriously hurt. Or worst,” he shook his head. “I can’t even say it.”

“Well, I wasn’t. I survived, and there’s no use thinking about what might have been,” Han Yeo Jin said, a little sharper than she intended. She does not appreciate being reminded of what could have been, being perfectly aware of it herself.

“This case… it’s too dangerous,” continued Councilman Seo, as if Han Yeo Jin had not spoken. He bit his lip and frowned, hesitating, then gazed at her imploringly. “I know it’s not my place. But I won’t be able to forgive myself if I don’t ask; can you step away from this? Can’t you just let others investigate? There are plenty other police officers who can step in, you don’t have to do this yourself. Focus on your recovery instead.”

 “You’re right,” Han Yeo Jin said, “it’s not your place.” She looked at the councilman, and tried to hide her ire at his presumption and high-handed attitude. Asking her to stop now will be tantamount to surrender, and asking others to step in is akin to putting another person in the line of fire in her stead. It is not in her character to do either of those things, and the councilman had gravely misjudged her if he thought otherwise.

Councilman Seo smiled sadly at her. “I knew that I would probably upset you if I asked that question, and I can see now that I have. But I’m desperate. I’m fine with you hating me, as long as it kept you safe,” he said ardently. “I’m not usually this selfish. But I find that I am when it comes to you, Senior Inspector Han,” he said, then smiled. “Besides, I’m still counting on that date.”

Han Yeo Jin smiled, and found her attitude warming a bit, despite her earlier annoyance. She understood that the councilman was just concerned about her well-being. She sighed, and told him, “I promise to be more careful next time.”

 “Then I’ll take it,” said Councilman Seo, and then kissed the back of her hand.

Han Yeo Jin looked at him in surprise, stunned by his actions. Any woman would have been greatly affected with such a romantic gesture, and she wondered if there really was something fundamentally wrong with her that she just sat there completely unaffected and feeling nothing except a tiny twinge of embarrassment. Then she realized that that is not entirely true, that she did in fact felt something at the gesture; just not with the councilman, but another man who sat on the same chair a few nights ago, and who had also kissed her hand, so she’d stop crying. She had felt something then, and she had not allowed herself to dwell too much on it, too afraid to examine those feelings. She blushed at the memory, and she saw the councilman looking pleased, mistakenly attributing her reaction to his actions. She was therefore relieved when the door opened to admit Doctor Chae and Nurse Yu, who had come to remove the sutures in her head. They stopped at the sight of Councilman Seo, and their wide eyes made it clear that they recognized the attractive man currently holding her hand. She pulled her hand from his hastily, and told the councilman politely that he needed to leave for her procedure.

Seo Tae Gu stood, smiled at her softly, and said, “I’m so happy to see that you’re okay, and that you’re safe. I’ll be back to visit again. Until then, Senior Inspector Han, please look after yourself.” He turned to Dr. Chae and the nurse, flashed his mega-watt smile and said, “Thank you so much for taking such good care of Senior Inspector Han. She is a very important person to me, and I am grateful to both you for helping her out.” He bowed to them deeply, and Han Yeo Jin saw the two women smile at him indulgently, clearly very pleased with his attentions, while Han Yeo Jin shook her head in wonder at the effect the man has on women.

“Well,” said Dr. Chae after the councilman had left, “if that’s who I think it was, then he is much better looking in person.”

Nurse Yu nodded fervently, and said, “I am definitely voting for him.”

Dr. Chae smiled at Han Yeo Jin and said, “Sorry Ms. Han, we don’t get a lot of famous visitors around here. And he is quite popular around these parts.”

“Ms. Han is quite popular too,” said Nurse Yu, looking slyly at her, and Han Yeo Jin remembered that it was Nurse Yu who caught her sleeping in Prosecutor Hwang’s bed. She mentally groaned, and then sighed dolefully, resigned to the fact that she will probably now be known in the entire hospital as the hussy with the two boyfriends. She closed her eyes, suddenly glad of the distraction of the removal of her stitches, and thought to herself that the procedure is less painful than having to look at Nurse Yu’s smug and knowing smirk.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok shuffled his feet impatiently in front of the elevator doors, waiting for the next one to arrive. He had reached the hospital in record time, eager to see Senior Inspector Han so they can continue their discussion about the case, but more importantly, to make sure she is okay after having to deal with whomever the unwanted visitor was. The elevator doors finally opened, and he moved aside to make room for the exiting passengers, and saw the tall and striking figure of Councilman Seo inside.

“Prosecutor Hwang, good to see you again” Seo Tae Gu said to Hwang Si Mok politely.

Hwang Si Mok gave a slight bow and said, “Were you here visiting Senior Inspector Han?”

Seo Tae Gu nodded, and said, “Yes, and the other survivors too.”

Hwang Si Mok thought about the possibility of the unwanted visitor being the councilman, and was oddly cheered by the thought. In any case, their chance meeting came at a perfect time, as he had been wanting to have a discussion with Seo Tae Gu. The other man looked at him speculatively when he asked for a private discussion, but complied, nonetheless.

Hwang Si Mok cut to the chase. “I wanted to ask you about the drug related crimes in your district. I know that your office keeps track of the crime statistics of the areas under your jurisdiction. When exactly did your office started to see an increase in the frequency of these types of crimes being reported?”

Seo Tae Gu took a moment to recall the information, then answered, “About four years ago.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded, and asked, “That would have been around the same time that reports of an organized crime group was operating in the district, and are believed to have been responsible for the rise in criminal activities in the area. Is that correct?”

Seo Tae Gu nodded. “Yes, that’s right. From what we know so far, the syndicate mostly dealt drugs, but they have also been linked to money laundering, racketeering, illegal gambling,” he said, “there’s a full laundry list.”

“About four years ago,” Hwang Si Mok repeated, “that would have been around the same time you took over as councilman for that district, correct?”

“Thereabouts. I had my work cut out for me when I took over from my predecessor. Unemployment was on the rise, and so was crime, as they usually go hand in hand,” he said, and narrowed his eyes at Hwang Si Mok. “Why do you ask?”

“The timing seems a bit suspect. The organized crime group and the criminal activities increased in your district just as you took over as the councilman.”

Seo Tae Gu’s face colored, and Hwang Si Mok could tell that he had angered the councilman with his insinuations. “Are you accusing me of something, Prosecutor Hwang?” he asked, his tone menacing.

“Just making an observation,” Hwang Si Mok responded coolly.

“Then observe this; everyone at City Hall knew that my predecessor was as corrupt as he was incompetent, and what you see now is a product of the long-term neglect of that area by the previous administration,” Seo Tae Gu said heatedly. “It has not been easy trying to eradicate crime in that district, and I will admit that a lot of my initiatives had failed; whether it was because of a lack of funding, support by City Hall or just general bipartisan bickering that failed to get my proposals off the ground. But at least I’m trying. And I will keep trying until I succeed,” he said, his anger rising, then told him derisively, “which is more than what I can say about you.”

Hwang Si Mok frowned, confused by his statement, and unsure of what he is implying. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

“I’m talking about Senior Inspector Han!” Seo Tae Gu exclaimed. “You were supposed to protect her! Isn’t that what partners are supposed to do? But you weren’t there. And instead, she had to take on a violent criminal on her own, and almost died in the process!” he asked, his tone angry and accusing.

It was Hwang Si Mok’s turn to become flustered at the councilman’s furious, but truthful, denunciations. He cannot deny the truth in every word of rebuke uttered by the other man, as they were the same words he had repeated to himself many times over since the incident. He heard Councilman Seo exhale heavily, and watched as he struggled to rein in his emotions.

“Listen, I’m not blind, or stupid. I know you care about Senior Inspector Han too,” Seo Tae Gu said, calmer now, his temper under control. He looked at Hwang Si Mok, and said, “If you really care about her, you’ll take her away from all of this. Away from the danger. And keep her safe.”

“Nobody can force Senior Inspector Han to do anything she doesn’t want to do,” Hwang Si Mok said.

Seo Tae Gu gave a short laugh, and said, “I am perfectly aware of that Prosecutor Hwang, and it’s one of the things I love about her.” He looked at Hwang Si Mok, his stare so intense that it was almost threatening. “But I’m warning you, that next time, she might not be as lucky. And that next time, we might lose her for good. And if that happens, I am holding you personally responsible. So, find a way. Please,” he said, then walked away.

Hwang Si Mok watched the councilman’s retreating figure, and thought about what he had said.

Hwang Si Mok saw Dr. Chae and a nurse huddled around Senior Inspector Han as soon as he entered her hospital room, and remembered that today was the day that the senior inspector is getting her stitches out.

“You’re back! How was the interview?” Han Yeo Jin asked, while Dr. Chae and the nurse continued working on her.

Hwang Si Mok was about to answer when he finally got a full view of the procedure, and watched aghast as Dr. Chae removed the sutures from her scalp. Han Yeo Jin saw the horrified look on his face and asked in alarm, “What is it? Did they shave my head?” She tried to turn her head to look at Dr. Chae and asked in distress, “You said you didn’t shave my hair off!”

“Hold still Ms. Han,” Dr. Chae said, and firmly positioned her head. “We didn’t shave your head. It just doesn’t look very pretty right now. But don’t worry, the wound is actually healing quite nicely.” She turned to look at Hwang Si Mok and said, “Maybe you shouldn’t look, Mr. Hwang.”

Hwang Si Mok turned his gaze away, and focused instead on the senior inspector. Running footsteps and loud voices suddenly sounded from outside the room, and he saw through the glass pane of the door several doctors and police officers rushing down the hall.

“Ms. Han, you have to stay still! Nurse Yu, hold her in place, please,” said Dr. Chae.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang and said, “Something’s happening…”

“Stay there, I’ll find out what it is,” Hwang Si Mok said, and hurried out the room. He approached one of the uniformed police officers, who are talking on his radio, and asked, “What’s happening?”

“It’s Kang Sun-Ri. She’s not breathing.”

***

The doctors were able to revive Kang Sun Ri, but the waitress is now in a coma and in critical condition. They all listened as the doctor described her situation. They were all gathered in Han Yeo Jin’s room; Hwang Si Mok, Jang Geon, Detective Lee and Seo Dong Jae, who had just arrived from Incheon.

“We didn’t find anything suspicious in her body; no poison or any visible marks suggesting foul play. She simply stopped breathing,” said the doctor.

“Was it because of her injuries?” asked Hwang Si Mok.

“It’s possible,” said the doctor, “but we actually thought she had been steadily improving. It’s unusual to be sure, but still possible.”

“Will she recover?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“We can’t say for sure at this point. We estimate that she had stopped breathing for almost half an hour, so it’s possible that she may have incurred brain damage without her brain getting oxygen for that long. We won’t know the extent of any damage until she wakes up.”

Han Yeo Jin turned to Detective Lee after the doctor left. The detective was the one assigned to watch the waitress, and she asked him now if he saw anything suspicious.

“That’s the thing,” said Detective Lee, “there was nothing unusual that happened. The last person who visited her was Councilman Seo, but she was still okay then, awake and talking with the councilman. He left after a few minutes, and she was still fine after that. I even checked on her myself after and asked her if she was ok. She said she was fine, and I didn’t sense anything amiss. She was totally normal. I looked in on her again after a few minutes and saw that she was sleeping. Then shortly after that, the nurse entered, and that’s when she started shouting that she’s not breathing.”

“So aside from you, nobody went in or out after Councilman Seo and the nurse who found her unresponsive?” asked Jang Geon.

Detective Lee shook his head and said, “No. Nobody else.”

“It is possible that Kang Sun Ri just stopped breathing. After all, her injuries were serious. These things can happen,” said Seo Dong Jae.

“Maybe,” said Han Yeo Jin, “but we need to be absolutely sure.” She looked at Jang Geon and said, “Jang Geon, you and Detective Lee should question the hospital staff, and find out everything you can about her condition, and what kind of medication she was on. See if you can find anything suspicious or unusual that happened before she had stopped breathing.”

“We’re on it,” said Jang Geon, and left the room with Detective Lee.

“You’re not convinced that Kang Sun Ri just stopped breathing on her own?” Hwang Si Mok asked the senior inspector.

“No, and neither are you. I can tell,” Han Yeo Jin told him.

Hwang Si Mok nodded, and said, “Well, if there is anything there, I’m sure Detectives Jang and Lee will find it, and we’ll know then if we were right.” He turned to Prosecutor Seo then and said, “For now, let’s focus on Park Gong Chu.”

Seo Dong Jae sighed, and said, “I wish I have better news. We found the relative’s house, and Park Gong Chu was staying there. But,” he said hastily at Han Yeo Jin’s hopeful look, “he was already gone by the time we got there.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate,” Han Yeo Jin said, “any idea where he went?”

“Detective Chu pulled up the CCTV footage on his street, and we were able to trace the number of the cab Park Gong Chu used when he left the house. I tracked the car, and spoke to the driver, and he remembered Park Gong Chu. The driver told me that he remembered him because he seemed to be in a great hurry, and had offered to pay extra to get to the train station as fast as he can because he might miss his train.”

“Do you know where he was heading?” asked Hwang Si Mok.

Seo Dong Jae nodded. “Yes. Thank goodness the driver was a talkative one. He asked Park Gong Chu, and he said that he was catching the early train to Busan.”

“Busan? Do you know where?” asked Han Yeo Jin.

“No, and that’s the problem. We may have to start over, and Busan is a big city,” said Seo Dong Jae. “Is there anyone we know who can help narrow down our search?” he asked.

Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok looked at each other. They know exactly who can help; the only problem is that neither of them knows how to get in touch with the man.

Chapter Text

“How do we reach him?” Han Yeo Jin asked Prosecutor Hwang. He stayed behind to talk to her, after they urged an exhausted Seo Dong Jae to go home and get some much needed rest.

“I can try reaching out to Chief Choi? She said she knew him, after all. Maybe she has his contact information?” suggested Han Yeo Jin. “Or your Chief? You did say that the two of them knew each other.”

“Chief Oh had not really confirmed nor denied that they knew each other, so I’m not sure if he would help us with this. But I think I have a better idea,” Hwang Si Mok said, and took out his mobile. He looked for the name in his contacts, and called the number. The other line picked up.

“Sir, are you available to meet tomorrow?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

“Who is this?”

“Oh, my apologies. It’s me, Hwang Si Mok.”

“I know you punk. Aren’t you going to say hello?” On the other line, Kang Won Chul shook his head, recalling a similar phone call that his junior made to him months before. He smiled, amused but also oddly pleased, that Hwang Si Mok had not changed one tiny bit.

“Oh, sorry sir. Hello,” said Hwang Si Mok obediently, and heard the senior inspector chuckle.

“Why do you want to meet?” asked Kang Won Chul.

“I need your help, sir,” said Hwang Si Mok, and heard only silence on the other line.

“Is this about the explosion case?” his former senior asked after a few moments.

“Yes, sir.”

“Tomorrow morning,” said Kang Won Chul after a brief hesitation, then gave Hwang Si Mok the time and place for the meeting.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Hwang Si Mok said, then hung up.

“Why Mr. Kang?” asked Han Yeo Jin.

“He works for one of the most prestigious law firms in the country,” he told her, “and Ahn Yeong Seok is his client.”

It had been almost a year since Hwang Si Mok had seen former Chief Prosecutor Kang Won Chul, and as he walked towards him now through the crowded café for their breakfast meeting, he noticed that little had changed with the man; same glasses, same dark and conservative suit and the same air of authority that he remembered. The only difference that he noted is that the former chief prosecutor now wore an easy smile of welcome, whereas he remembered him usually greeting him with a serious expression, if not an outright frown or scowl, when they used to work together. He thought that perhaps working in the private sector suited his lifestyle better that it had lighten his demeanor, and it never occurred to him that his former senior was in fact, genuinely glad to see him.

“Thank you for meeting with me, sir,” said Hwang Si Mok.

Kang Won Chul nodded, and smiled slightly. “I have to admit, I was curious as to the reason why you wanted to meet with me,” he said.

“I need your help, sir. I need to get in touch with someone.”

Kang Won Chul looked questioningly at Hwang Si Mok and asked, “But why come to me?”

“Because you know him, sir. He’s a client with your firm.”

Kang Won Chul look at Hwang Si Mok incredulously and asked, “Are you asking me to break privacy laws and give you my client’s personal and confidential contact information?”

“Not at all, sir. I’m only asking you to relay a message from me to him. This person contacted us first, but we do not have any means of contacting him, not discreetly anyway, and this person values privacy and secrecy above all else, and this was the only way I can think of to reach him while still maintaining absolute discretion.”

Kang Won Chul looked at Hwang Si Mok skeptically, still unconvinced of his argument. “Who do you want to contact anyway?” he asked.

“The Chief of Staff.”

“Chief of Staff of what?”

“Blue House, sir.”

Kang Won Chul’s eyes widened in shock. He glanced nervously around the cafe, leaned over the table, and whispered furiously, “Are you insane?” He looked at Hwang Si Mok, and saw the same infernal impassive expression that used to drive him crazy, and realized that his former junior is being deadly serious. He shook his head in disbelief, and said, “This is no small thing you’re asking of me. That man is the most important client in my firm. I can’t just call him out of the blue for you.”

“But it won’t be totally out of the blue, sir. You’re handling a case for him now, or rather, for his party. That’s how I found out you knew him,” said Hwang Si Mok. He looked at the former chief and said earnestly, “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t so important, sir.”

Kang Won Chul stared at him, torn between wanting to help and not wanting to lose his job either. He knew that the prosecutor would not have come to him with such a significant, and frankly, intimidating, request if he had any other option. Despite of himself, he was greatly curious to know what a distinguished and powerful man such as Ahn Yeong Seok have to do with Prosecutor Hwang; then he remembered the case the prosecutor is working on, and his eyes widened when he finally realized the implication of the request.

“Is this related to your explosion investigation?” he asked Hwang Si Mok quietly. He nodded.

“And Hanjo?” he whispered. Hwang Si Mok hesitated, then nodded again. Kang Won Chul leaned back in his chair, overwhelmed at the information that the most powerful political figure in the country is involved with such a high profile case.

“I won’t ask you to do anything illegal, sir.”

Kang Won Chul could not help the sudden laugh that escaped him at such a ridiculous statement. He looked at Prosecutor Hwang and was surprised when he noticed a subtle lifting of his lips, and if he did not know any better, the serious prosecutor looked as if he is almost smiling, which is something he had never seen him do before in all the years that he had worked with him.

“How is Senior Inspector Han? I heard she was seriously injured,” he asked the prosecutor.

“She was shot in the head, sir. But she survived, and recovering. She was very lucky.”

“That’s good to hear. I heard you were in the hospital too.”

“I’m fine sir. Just a minor wound.”

“Is Seo Dong Jae also working with you on the case?”

Hwang Si Mok nodded. “How did you know that sir?” he asked, surprised that his former senior knew.

“He came to see me a couple of months ago. To talk about the Hanjo investigation, because I was in charge of the case against them before I left the prosecution,” he said. “I asked him why he wanted to know, because I thought at first that he might be secretly working for them. But he told me something completely unexpected.”

“What did he say?” Hwang Si Mok asked.

“He told me that it’s his responsibility now. He said, his senior Lee Chang Jun started it, I continued it, and he will finish it. Bringing Hanjo to justice.”

“And you believed him?”

Kang Won Chul gave a rueful laugh, “Surprisingly, yes.”

“I do too,” said Hwang Si Mok.

Kang Won Chul looked intently at Hwang Si Mok, and said, “So, you two troublemakers are at it again.” He tried to sound stern and disapproving, but cannot help the slight note of pride coloring his tone. He sighed, and asked, “So, what’s the message?”

Hwang Si Mok slid a folded piece of paper on the table towards him. He took the note and read it, and looked at Hwang Si Mok curiously, his brows knitting in puzzlement.

“He’ll know what it means, sir.”

Kang Won Chul nodded and put the folded note in his breast pocket. He stood up, about to leave, but not before saying, “Take care of yourself Si Mok. And Senior Inspector Han too. We can’t afford to lose either one of you. And look after Dong Jae too. Make sure his ass doesn’t get kidnapped again.”

“I will, sir. And thank you,” said Hwang Si Mok, bowing to his former chief.

“I’ll contact you as soon as I talked to him,” Kang Won Chul said, and left.

***

Lee Sung Jae walked down the darkened hallway of the exclusive, members-only club in Seoul. The private club boasts a member roster comprising of the richest and most powerful and influential men in the country; politicians, government officials and descendants of the mighty chaebol families. Membership is mostly inherited, passed down from generations, and valued almost as highly as any bequests of extrinsic value. Those who did not come by their membership through legacy did so only by invitation; and only those who meet the committee’s stringent and extremely exacting standards receive the highly sought-after invitation to join their prestigious and elite ranks. Not many people know that the most important decisions that shaped their country’s past, present and future were not made within the hallowed halls of government, but within the rooms of a non-descript building in the heart of Seoul that housed the ultra-exclusive, and highly secretive, club. Lee Sung Jae came by his membership through his father, after he passed away, and he had been enjoying the privileges and unparalleled status of being admitted to the club ever since. He relished associating himself with what he thought of as men equal in rank and status as him, reveled in the feeling of power and supremacy as he walked through the glorified halls, but most of all, he enjoyed the fact that there are no women allowed. Today however, Lee Sung Jae did not feel the excitement and satisfaction that he usually does every time he visits the club; because today, he is here solely and purely on business. He hated to admit that the ongoing investigation into Hanjo had gone from being a nuisance to a real cause of concern; and despite his show of indifference with that annoyingly smug prosecutor yesterday, he saw enough in the man to recognize that he is not someone he should underestimate. And so, Lee Sung Jae decided that the time had come to use his ace in the hole, and call upon the one person who has the power to end it all; the investigation, the scrutiny of him and the company, and any charges that the police and prosecution may be planning to level on him, and put him back on top where he belongs. He knew that this person is powerful enough to do all these things, just as he knew that he would do anything he tells him to do.

Lee Sung Jae opened the door that led to one of the rooms in the club, and felt immense satisfaction that he had the most powerful man in the country waiting patiently for his arrival.

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Chief of Staff,” he said to Ahn Yeong Seok.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin wondered what would happen if she started running down the hospital hallway right now. She had been walking around the hospital floor for several days now as part of her daily exercise, but she had started to get bored with the slow pace and itched to get a proper sprint to get her blood really flowing. She looked around her, assessing if there are people nearby who might tell her off for doing so, and thought that perhaps she will try it as soon as she gets past the nurse’s station.

“Don’t do it,” said Jang Geon beside her, correctly reading her mind. He had been keeping her company in her walk today, and he shook his head at her now in both amusement and disapproval.

“Don’t do what?” she said, pretending ignorance.

“I can feel you stretching your haunches like you’re about to run after a suspect. Don’t do it,” he told her again sternly. “I don’t want to have to drag you back in your room after you inevitably faint due to over-exertion, because you are too heavy for me to carry.”

“I’m not going to faint. And I am not that heavy,” she said peevishly, and punched him in the arm for good measure. “Dick.”

“Well, the good news is, your strength is back. The bad news is, your strength is back,” he said, rubbing his arm and wincing painfully. “And besides, Prosecutor Hwang is going to go ballistic if I let anything happen to you while you’re on my watch.”

Han Yeo Jin snorted. “Prosecutor Hwang will do no such thing. He’s too dignified for that.”

“Not when it comes to you,” Jang Geon mumbled, still rubbing his arm.

Han Yeo Jin stopped at that comment, and looked at Jang Geon inquisitively. “What do you mean by that?” she asked.

Jang Geon looked at her strangely and said, “Well, you know what he tried to do with Director Park, when he thought it was him who shot you.” He looked at Han Yeo Jin, who only stared back at him blankly. “Right?” he asked, hesitant now that he might have said something he was not supposed to.

“No, I don’t. What did he do?” Han Yeo Jin asked expectantly.

Jang Geon rubbed his neck, looking uncomfortable, and said, “Maybe you should ask him yourself…”

“I’m asking you. Now, spill,” Han Yeo Jin said, advancing towards Jang Geon menacingly.

“You know what, why don’t you go ahead and run in the hallway. I won’t tell.”

“Jang Geon!”

“Alright!” he said raising his arms protectively at her raised fist. He sighed, and started recounting the story of the night they arrested Director Park. How Prosecutor Hwang disappeared from the hospital, and they realized later that he had discovered that Director Park was the culprit in Soon Chang’s death, and how he tried to confront the Hanjo executive alone. And how they found him in the woods, with a gun pointed at a terrified Director Park.

“He was beyond reason. He wouldn’t believe Director Park when he said that he didn’t shoot you,” said Jang Geon, and quietly added, “I think he would have shot him, if it weren’t for me and Prosecutor Seo hysterically shouting at him that you’re not dead.”

Han Yeo Jin felt dazed, shocked at Jang Geon’s story. She cannot imagine Prosecutor Hwang doing something so very out-of-character and wildly reckless as to confront, and threaten to shoot, a suspect. It is inconceivable to her that the stoic and disciplined prosecutor had felt such strong and overwhelming emotions that it took him beyond the point of reason and reality. She shook her head, unable to reconcile the person in Jang Geon’s story with the prosecutor that she knows.

“No,” she said, still shaking her head at him. “He would never do that. He’s not like that.”

“I told you. Not when it comes to you,” said Jang Geon. He swallowed, struggling to tell her what he wanted to say and had kept to himself since the night that she almost died. “The night you were shot, I’ve been having nightmares about it. Finding you like that…it was absolutely horrible. But the thing that terrified me the most, and what woke me up in the middle of the night many times in absolute panic, was the scream,” he said, and shuddered involuntarily, as if remembering the sound. “I’ve never heard anything like it…that sound, it was so frightening, and almost inhuman. And I pray to god I never have to hear another sound like that ever again,” he finished, and then looked at Han Yeo Jin. “It was Prosecutor Hwang. He must have screamed when he found you, laying there in that alley, covered in your blood. When he thought you were dead. We found him there too, unconscious, beside you.”

Han Yeo Jin did not realize that she had been crying until she felt the wetness in her cheeks. She wiped her face, struggling to contain her emotions. She looked at Jang Geon, who had been her staunch ally and faithful friend, ever since they were detectives together at Yongsan station, and it shamed her that she had not thought that he might also have been struggling with his own trauma from the events of that night.

“Please stop crying. It’s making me uncomfortable,” said Jang Geon.

“Then you’re not going to like what I’m about to do next,” Han Yeo Jin said tearfully.

“Please don’t,” pleaded Jang Geon, but did not further protest when Han Yeo Jin threw her arms around him in a tight hug. He sighed in resignation, but enfolded her in his own embrace, nonetheless. Han Yeo Jin thought about the other men in her squad, of Captain Choi and Seo Sang Won, and how they both must have been equally affected after that night, and resolved to also give them a hug when she sees them again. But most of all, she thought about Prosecutor Hwang, and the pain he must have suffered as a result of that night, and her heart broke a little at how alone he must have felt.

“I think that bullet hitting you in the head had made you soft…Ow!” Jang Geon said, then rubbed the back of his head where Han Yeo Jin had hit him after his comment.

“Idiot,” she told him fondly.

Ahn Yeong Seok sat alone in his office, and replayed the meeting he had earlier with Lee Sung Jae. He had been expecting the summons after Prosecutor Hwang’s press conference, where he announced to the press that Hanjo is being investigated in connection with the explosion. He was also expecting Lee Sung Jae to be exactly like his dead father before him; ruthless, entitled, even cruel. But whereas Lee Yeon Beom is methodical even in his brutal ways of doing business, his progeny is the exact opposite. Lee Sung Jae is unkind, nasty and cruel for the sake of being unkind, nasty and cruel; and the younger man’s horrid character had left a bad taste in Ahn Yeong Seok’s mouth. His ruminations were interrupted at the sound of his mobile ringing. He looked at the number and saw that it was his lawyer calling him, and he answered just to distract himself from the unpleasant thought of Lee sung Jae.

“Attorney Kang, how is the case progressing?”

“It’s going very well sir, we should have the papers ready for your signature tomorrow,” Kang Won Chul said, then hesitated. He had been rehearsing in his mind how to approach the powerful man with the request from Hwang Si Mok, and decided that the best way is to just ask directly. He took a deep breath, wondering if he will need to start looking for another job after this call.

“I’m actually calling for another reason, sir. A mutual friend had approached me, asking me to convey a message to you,” he said, then swallowed nervously.

“A mutual friend, you say?” Ahn Yeong Seok asked curiously, “and who is this so-called ‘friend’? And what is the message?”

“I think you’d know who the person is from the message sir, which is ‘The auditor’s friend is no longer at the location. The same assistance is needed for the new location. Busan,” said Kang Won Chul. The note made sense to him now as much as it did when he first read it after Hwang Si Mok handed it to him, which is to say it did not. He did not ask, and if he was being truthful, he also did not want to know.

Ahn Yeong Seok gripped the phone tighter upon the realization of who the message was from, and what it meant. He was surprised that they have chosen to involve Kang Won Chul, when he had explicitly told them that their association must remain hidden. He had no doubt that it had been Prosecutor Hwang’s idea to use him as an emissary, as the two had previously worked together in the Prosecution. It is apparent to him now that the prosecutor had trusted his former chief enough to use him as a messenger, and he probably figured that Kang Won Chul would not disclose any of this to anyone knowing that he would do anything to protect his client’s, meaning his, privacy. Clever boy, he thought, impressed despite of himself. It seems that they were able to track down Park Gong Chu in Incheon, only to find that the man had left for Busan. And now, they need his help once again to narrow down Mr. Park’s location, knowing he had the resources and connections to do so.

“Thank you, Attorney Kang. Please tell our friend that I will be in touch soon with the information,” he told Kang Won Chul, and then ended the call.

Ahn Yeong Seok did not know how long he stayed sitting in his office after the call. He had always been a man who never falters on a course of action; always planning ahead, and always prepared for any eventualities. It is the reason he rose so quickly through the ranks of government, and the reason he became the de-facto leader of the ruling party, and the true power behind the presidency. But for the first time in a very long time, Ahn Yeong Seok found himself unsure of what to do next. He is suddenly reminded of his father, who always comes to mind in times like these. He was a fisherman, extremely tough and hardworking, who had spent most of his life at sea. He was a hard man, roughened by years of work and manual labor, but a good man, nonetheless. He once told him that the mark of a foolish man is to think that he had mastered the sea, because the truth is, as soon as man’s feet leave the shore, he is no longer the master of anything. If he was still alive, he would have thought his son very foolish indeed, because Ahn Yeong Seok had been harboring under the illusion that he had been in control of his life all this time, when in reality, he had ceased that control to somebody else many years ago. And now, his actions on that fateful day had finally caught up with him, and the sins of his past may once again bend his will and compel him into doing something unconscionable.

He closed his eyes, and made his decision. He picked up his phone and called a number, and in one fanciful moment, imagined himself on the bow of a ship, looking out the horizon, the shoreline becoming even more distant.

Chapter Text

“Seo Dong Jae, can you lift the phone higher? All I can see is Captain Choi’s crotch.”

Seo Dong Jae obediently lifted his cellphone to eye level for Han Yeo Jin, who is currently on video call, while the rest of the task force, along with him and Hwang Si Mok, are gathered at the Yongsan precinct for a briefing.

“Han Yeo Jin, shouldn’t you be at home resting?” said Captain Choi, his disapproving face filling her phone screen.

“I am at home, Captain. And I am resting, don’t worry,” said Han Yeo Jin. She was finally discharged yesterday, but was told that she still needs to stay home for several days before returning to work. Director No had suggested a couple of weeks, to which Han Yeo Jin flatly, and stubbornly, refused. It had only been a full day and she was already bored out of her mind, and she had strong armed Seo Dong Jae and Prosecutor Hwang to include her in today’s briefing. On the screen, Captain Choi shook his head, frowning at her, and said, “Can’t you find something else to do to relax?”

“She can’t. She’s a lonely spinster who has nothing but her work.”

“Who said that?!” Han Yeo Jin shouted, her outraged face filling the cellphone screen.

At Yongsan station, Detective Seo covered his mouth with his hand, not realizing that Han Yeo Jin can hear everything, and mortified at his blunder. He shook his head at Prosecutor Seo, his wide-eyes silently pleading with him not to tell Senior Inspector Han that it was him.

“Uh, I don’t know,” said Seo Dong Jae, the same time that Hwang Si Mok said “Detective Seo.”

“Are you ever going to stop doing that?” Jang Geon asked Seo Sang Won, referring to a similar incident during the undercover sting at the hostess bar last month, when he had said something equally inappropriate about the senior inspector without realizing that the mic was on, and she had heard everything that he said.

“Alright, everyone listen up!” Captain Choi said loudly so he can be heard over the men’s laughter at Detective Seo’s visibly anxious expression, caused by Senior Inspector Han’s threats at him over the phone.

“Let’s go over what we have on Cha Su Kyo’s murder. Detective Lee?”

“Forensics were not able to find any usable prints in the terrace apartment. They couldn’t salvage any of the documents either; all were burned in the fire.”

Captain Choi shook his head, “And no leads yet on who caused the fire?”

“It’s very likely that it was Director Park,” said Detective Lee.

“He denied it during interrogation,” said Seo Dong Jae.

“And you believe him?” asked Detective Lee skeptically.

“We do,” said Hwang Si Mok. “There were no traces of any type of accelerant found in the car and wardrobe that he used that night, and he would have sprayed some on his clothes and shoes if it was him who torched the apartment, regardless of how careful he was. It’s more likely that the person who caused the fire is the same person who murdered Cha Su Kyo, and the real owner of that apartment. He was probably also there that night, and waited until Director Park had fled after he had killed Detective Park, and then set fire to the apartment. Cha Su Kyo’s killer would have more motive to cause the fire and destroy the evidence held within it, and we already know it was not Director Park who killed Cha Su Kyo, as he had a solid alibi for that night.”

“I think we can also theorize that Cha Su Kyo’s killer is the same person who shot Senior Inspector Han. It was the shooter who stole the documents that Cha Su Kyo hid in his girlfriend’s house after all, and it’s possible that whatever he took may have been documents that Cha Su Kyo kept that could have revealed the shooter’s identity, or the identity of the people responsible for the explosion.”

Captain Choi nodded at Hwang Si Mok, and said, “I agree. But right now, we have no leads. The girlfriend, Kang Sun Ri, is in a coma and cannot be interviewed. We really don’t have much to go on.”

“There is one more lead that we may have overlooked,” said Han Yeo Jin over the phone. “I’m talking about Park Ik-Joon. He was our first suspect after all, and the one absolute link we have with the organized crime syndicate and Cha Su Kyo, seeing as they are related. I know that we already looked into his death, but I’m still not convinced that he died of natural causes.”

“How are you planning to re-investigate his death, then?” asked Captain Choi.

“I already have. I’ve already set it in motion before I was hospitalized. I’ll get the information as soon as I am back at work.”

“What information? Are you working with someone at the prison?” asked Detective Lee.

“I’d rather not say at this point, Detective Lee. The person is a confidential informant, and I need to verify whatever information that person brings me. But I will let everyone know as soon as I get it,” said Han Yeo Jin. “If I’m right, then whoever killed Park Ik Joon may very well be the person who killed, or ordered to kill, Cha Su Kyo. And by extension, the same person who tried to kill me.”

“It’s settled then. Senior Inspector Han will continue to pursue this line of inquiry, and the rest of you will keep tracking the small-time drug dealers for arrest and questioning, and hope that one of them may have information on the identities of the leaders of the organized crime syndicate,” said Captain Choi, then turned to Hwang Si Mok and Seo Dong Jae.

“Prosecutor Hwang, can you update us on the explosion case, and explain to us the connection with Hanjo?”

“Two of the people killed in the explosion are linked to the ongoing investigation with Hanjo Group. Prosecutor Hwa was the lead prosecutor investigating Hanjo Engineering of bribery, corruption, securities fraud, tax evasion and embezzlement. Another victim, Kim Gwang Ho, was an auditor in a private auditing firm who was also looking into Hanjo for accounting irregularities.”

“And they both died in the same explosion,” said Captain Choi. “I can see why that is suspicious, but without hard evidence, it’s still all conjecture.”

“I agree,” said Hwang Si Mok, “but we have another lead that we are pursuing. We found a witness that may have evidence linking Hanjo to the explosion.”

“Who is it? And where is the witness now?” asked Captain Choi.

Seo Dong Jae was about to answer, but Hwang Si Mok cut him off. He did not want to divulge too much information in front of the larger group, recalling Senior Inspector Han’s concern about a possible leak with the police. He knew how hard it was for her to admit those suspicions to herself and to him, and he trusts her instincts as much as he trusts his. “This person has a connection with the lead prosecutor and the auditor. We’re currently tracking this person down, who seems to be in hiding at the moment.”

Captain Choi noticed the way Prosecutor Hwang cut off Prosecutor Seo, and he knew that both of them knew more than they were letting on. He looked at Han Yeo Jin’s face on the screen of Prosecutor Seo’s phone, and noticed that she is wearing the same stoic expression as the two prosecutors. She gave him a subtle nod, and he knew then that she is fully aware of whatever knowledge the Prosecution has. He nodded, accepting Prosecutor Hwang’s vague response. He may not trust the two prosecutors fully, but he trusts Han Yeo Jin completely, and he knew that she has a good reason to keep the information hidden for the time being, and confident that she will divulge all when the right time comes.

“All right then. Let’s get to work,” said Captain Choi, finishing the briefing.

“Why didn’t you want to tell them about Park Gong Chu?” asked Seo Dong Jae. He and Hwang Si Mok are now sitting inside his car, with Han Yeo Jin still on video call. Hwang Si Mok looked at the senior inspector, letting her explain to Prosecutor Seo, as it involved the police.

“There’s no proof of this, but there may have been a leak in the police earlier in the investigation. I don’t know if the leak was deliberate or accidental, or if it even exists. Regardless, it is better if we keep this information between the three of us for now. There’s less chances of a leak if we keep the circle small,” she told Seo Dong Jae.

Seo Dong Jae nodded, secretly pleased that he is part of that circle, and asked, “But how are we going to find Park Gong Chu now? Busan is a big city, and I can’t find any connections between the city and Park Gong Chu; no relatives, friends, or acquaintances. How did you find his connection with Incheon in the first place? Maybe we can use the same method?”

Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin looked at each other, and Seo Dong Jae knew that they are doing that thing that the two of them does when they have a full discussion with neither of them uttering a single word, and yet still fully understanding one another. It should have been utterly annoying not being included in their bizarre silent communication, were it not for the fact that it was also quite fascinating to watch. He saw Han Yeo Jin finally nod her head and said, “I agree” to whatever it was that Hwang Si Mok did not say out loud. Seo Dong Jae resisted the urge to scream in impatience.

“The information was given to us by the President’s Chief of Staff,” said Hwang Si Mok.

“President of what?” asked Seo Dong Jae, confused.

“Korea,” Hwang Si Mok replied.

Seo Dong Jae looked at him blankly, and then at Han Yeo Jin, who said, “His name is Ahn Yeong Seok, and he met with Prosecutor Hwang and I in secret earlier in the investigation. He helped us track down Park Gong Chu.” She told him then everything they knew about the Chief of Staff, and the fact that they had also approached him via Kang Won Chul for assistance in finding Park Gong Chu in Busan.

Seo Dong Jae leaned back in his seat, stunned at this revelation. Just when he thought that nothing in this case can surprise him, then in comes another bombshell. He knew Ahn Yeong Seok by reputation of course; he is one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, man in Korea. His name is whispered by government insiders as the man behind the throne, and the real power behind the presidency. His mystique is further enhanced by the fact that he never sought to hold public office for himself, opting instead to operate behind the scenes, shying away from all forms of publicity and media attention. The old Seo Dong Jae would have relished the fact that he now has the opportunity to work with such a powerful man, and take advantage of the connection to further his career. He realized now that even though the thought had still occurred to him, as old habits are hard to break after all, his first thought had been to question why someone as powerful and influential as Ahn Yeong Seok would seek to help them in secret.

“Seo Dong Jae, are you alright?” asked Han Yeo Jin peering through the cellphone screen, then turned to Prosecutor Hwang in concern when Seo Dong Jae stayed silent with his mouth still open in shock, and said, “I think we broke him.”

“Sorry, just…processing,” he said, then took a deep breath. “I have a question. Why would he help us? What’s in it for him?”

Han Yeo Jin nodded her head approvingly, pleased that he is asking the right questions, and not scheming to get in touch with the powerful man so that he can ingratiate himself with him, which is what the old Seo Dong Jae would have done. “We don’t know that yet. But at this point, we decided to accept his help. So far, he had not led us astray, but we are still cautious because his motives are still not clear. Between the three of us, we’ll try and discover his true purpose later. But for now, our focus is to find Park Gong Chu.”

Seo Dong Jae nodded, and asked, “Did you get Park Gong Chu’s location in Busan?”

“Yes, just now actually,” said Hwang Si Mok, handing Prosecutor Seo a piece of paper with an address written on it. “We need you to go to Busan to find Mr. Park.”

Seo Dong Jae looked at the note, and saw that this time, they were given an exact address, instead of just the name of the town. He felt excitement course through him, elated at the fact that they might be close to breaking this case wide open. He nodded determinedly, and said, “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”

“Do you think they know something that they’re not telling us?” asked Detective Lee, gesturing over at Prosecutor Seo’s parked SUV where both he and Prosecutor Hwang sat talking to a cellphone mounted on the dashboard, where he assumed Senior Inspector Han is currently on video call. He, Captain Choi, Detective Seo and Jang Geon stood outside in the Yongsan precinct parking lot, and at his words, the other men looked over the parked SUV and observed the meeting currently happening inside.

“They’ll tell us in time,” said Captain Choi, unconcerned.

“But aren’t you worried that the prosecution is keeping information from us?” Detective Lee persisted.

“I’m not worried, if Prosecutor Hwang knows, then Han Yeo Jin will know too. And she’s police, so she’s on our side. Those two share everything,” said the captain.

Lee Bong looked at the other three men with him, a bit disconcerted that all of them seemed to accept this fact so easily. He looked over again at the parked car, at the two prosecutors and the one police officer that consist the tight, little circle, and pondered what the Captain said.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok entered his apartment and headed straight to his bedroom to change. He had not slept well since he got discharged from the hospital, and the lack of sleep had left him feeling drained and exhausted. He decided to take it easy tonight, get some dinner and make an early night of it, and then visit the senior inspector tomorrow to discuss the case, but mostly to check on how she is doing. He flicked the lights on in the bedroom, and then just stood still surveying the room, after he noticed that something was very wrong.

His things have been moved. Whomever it was that was in his apartment had rifled through his stuff and tried to put it back in their original position. But Hwang Si Mok had easily spotted the clumsy attempt, and he knew with certainty that an intruder had broken into his apartment, no doubt to look for information or documents pertaining to the case. He did a quick, but thorough check, to ascertain if anything was taken. When he was satisfied that nothing was missing, he called Senior Inspector Han to report the break in, and to also make sure that she is safe. Hwang Si Mok tried not to worry when his first call went to her voicemail after going unanswered. He thought perhaps that the senior inspector is busy, or sleeping, and tried again. His second call had once again gone to voicemail and by his third attempt, he was running out the door, intent to get to the senior inspector as fast as possible.

Han Yeo Jin woke up from her nap, feeling groggy and disoriented. She looked around her dark apartment in confusion, and realized that it is already nighttime. She groaned, and cursed the pain medication that she had taken earlier in the day. Her head had pained her a bit in the afternoon, and she decided to take the medicine to help the dull the ache. She felt sleepy immediately after taking the pills, and thought that she might take a short nap until the drug wore off. She looked at her clock and realized that her short nap had turned into 6 hours of sleep, and decided right then to stop taking the drugs. She can handle the pain; and if she needed to, she could always take over-the-counter pain medication. She was about to get up when she heard a noise coming from outside. She sat-up, alert, and listened intently for any further noise, and heard the unmistakable sound of someone testing her doorknob. She leapt out of the bed silently, and opened her locked drawer where she kept her gun. She took the weapon out, checked if it was loaded, and tip-toed quickly across the living room towards the front door. She can hear someone moving outside, but can only see a shadowy figure from her vantage point. The doorknob rattled again, and Han Yeo Jin got into position in front of the door. She carefully turned the lock, then flung the door open and pointed her gun at the dark figure in front of her.

“Don’t shoot,” said Hwang Si Mok calmly, slowly raising both of his arms above his head.

Han Yeo Jin was unable to speak for a few moments, as she frantically tried to tell her brain that the man standing in front of her is her friend and not her shooter. She fought to get her heart rate back to normal, and attempted to calm herself after the sudden surge of adrenaline into her system, and then finally addressed the prosecutor after she had composed herself enough.

“Are you insane?! I could have shot you! What are you doing skulking around in the dark outside my apartment at this hour?!” Han Yeo Jin knew that she was shouting, and also knew that she was using angry indignation to hide the absolute terror she felt when she thought that the intruder was the shooter, who had come back to finish the job. She put her hand in her heart, and looked at Prosecutor Hwang, who foolishly still has his hands up in the air, his eyes averted from her.

“What are you doing? Put your hands down! And why are you not looking at me?”

“Pants,” Hwang Si Mok said, still not looking at her. Han Yeo Jin looked down on herself, and saw in absolute mortification that she is wearing nothing but a thin, flimsy tank top and her underwear. She yelped, and ran hastily to her bedroom to put on something more decent.

In her bedroom, Han Yeo Jin put the gun back inside the drawer and just sat on the floor, waiting for the intense trembling in her knees and hands to stop. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, and tried to convince herself that what she is feeling is just the after-effects of adrenaline, and not something else that she refused to name. She wanted to weep with relief when she saw Prosecutor Hwang standing outside her door, instead of a real intruder. But for a brief moment, before her brain registered his familiar face, she was transported back to that night, and she was once again kneeling in front of a killer, looking at the unforgiving barrel of a gun.

She shook her head fiercely to drive the image away from her mind, and tried to focus instead on the present. She tried to compose herself, and remembered that she was supposed to be putting on clothes for Prosecutor Hwang. The memory of that embarrassing encounter was enough to distract her from her dark thoughts, and she groaned out loud and cursed herself why she chose today, of all days, to wear her Wonder Woman panties.

She exited her bedroom, now dressed in sensible sweater and jeans, and saw that Prosecutor Hwang is still standing outside her apartment door, looking uncertainly at her.

“Well, don’t just stand there. Come in,” said Han Yeo Jin, and tried to cover the flush in her cheeks from the awkward encounter earlier by pretending to fix her hair, then realized that she really does need to fix it because she got out of bed so quickly that she did not have time to brush the tangled mess in her head. She quickly and furiously ran her fingers through the unruly strands while Prosecutor Hwang looked around her apartment in interest.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Hwang Si Mok looked at the senior inspector, with her hair charmingly mussed with the remnants of sleep and her cheeks charmingly tinged with pink, and needed a moment to recall what he was there for.

“I’m sorry to bother you Senior Inspector Han,” he said apologetically, “I just wanted to check and make sure you are ok.”

“At this hour?” she asked in surprise, “why wouldn’t I be?”

“I called you multiple times and you weren’t answering. I was worried,” he explained.

“Oh, that. I took some of the pain pills today and it knocked me out for a few hours. They were pretty strong,” she told him.

“Are you okay?” he asked her, frowning in concern.

“Yes, of course. It was just a twinge, not a big deal,” she said, brushing it off. “Anyway, why were you calling?”

“Oh, my apartment got broken into.”

Han Yeo Jin’s head snapped up in alarm, and then asked in dismayed bewilderment, “Why didn’t you start with that?!” She quickly grabbed her jacket, phone and keys, and pushed him none-too gently out the door.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“Your apartment, of course. I’m calling Jang Geon to meet us there,” she said, pulling out her phone.

“But you can’t go. You need to rest,” he protested.

“I’ve slept for six hours, I’m rested enough,” she retorted, her phone in her ear. “Jang Geon,” she said, when the detective finally answered, “meet us at Prosecutor Hwang’s apartment. His place got broken into. Bring your gear.”

Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin found Jang Geon already waiting outside Hwang Si Mok’s apartment unit as soon as they stepped out the elevator. Hwang Si Mok unlocked the door and they stepped through together, and led the two police officers into his bedroom.

“I’m getting a strong feeling of déjà vu right now,” said Jang Geon, referring to the time almost three years ago when Prosecutor Hwang’s apartment was also broken into, and both he and the senior inspector was called in to investigate.

“Well, at least whoever it was didn’t destroy one of your suits this time,” said Han Yeo Jin, referencing the fact that the culprit from the previous incident violently slashed up one of his suits and hung it from the ceiling in full display, to send a threatening message to the prosecutor. “Are you sure nothing was taken?” she asked Prosecutor Hwang.

He shook his head, and said, “No, I’ve checked, I don’t think they took anything. But whoever it was was clearly looking for something. All my documents and papers were disturbed. My books too.”

“Do you think they’re looking for information on the case?” Jang Geon asked, taking out the camera and fingerprint brush and powder out of his bag, and handing Han Yeo Jin the bug sweeper.

“I assume so, I don’t know what else they could be looking for. I don’t have anything else of value here. But I never bring home documents from work. I always keep them in the office.”

“Well, they don’t know that. And it’s lucky that you weren’t here when it happened,” said Han Yeo Jin, waving the wand around Prosecutor Hwang’s things and furniture to check for any planted bugs.

“Or they timed the break in when they knew I wasn’t at home. I had to work late today, so I didn’t come home until after dinner.”

“Who else knew you were working late today?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“Just you and Prosecutor Seo,” Hwang Si Mok said, then added, “and my Chief.” Senior Inspector Han looked at him inquisitively at this, but did not further comment.

Jang Geon continued to dust for fingerprints in the bedroom, while Han Yeo Jin moved to the living room to sweep for bugs. “What’s with all the boxes?” she asked Prosecutor Hwang.

“I haven’t gotten around to unpacking yet since I moved. I’ve been a little busy,” said Hwang Si Mok.

Han Yeo Jin brandished the bug sweeper around the boxes, and noticed something familiar peeking out on one of the open ones. She peered inside and saw in astonishment what it was.

It was one of her drawings, given by her to Prosecutor Hwang as a good-bye gift on their last night together before he left for Namhae three years ago; at the pop-up bar, when she told him he should look at it, and practice smiling. She stared at it now, tremendously touched and happy that not only had he kept her gift after all this time, but also had it framed to protect it from the elements.

“Senior Inspector Han, we should go to the security office to look at the CCTV footage when you’re done here,” said Hwang Si Mok. “What is it?” he asked, looking at her curiously.

Han Yeo Jin realized that she had been looking at Prosecutor Hwang with the same dreamy half smile that she had been wearing when she had discovered her drawing inside the box. She shook herself, and arranged her features to something more somber, and said, very serious and business-like, “Let’s go, I’m finished here.”

The three of them stood huddled together in front of the monitors at the security office and watched the video footage of a man exiting through the doors, dressed all in black, wearing a dark cap and mask that obscured most of his face. Han Yeo Jin sucked in a ragged breath at the image, and tried to hide the sudden and involuntary tremor in her hands. Hwang Si Mok noticed the movement, and looked at the senior inspector in concern.

“You recognize him?” he asked her.

Han Yeo Jin nodded shakily, not trusting her voice enough to speak.

“Is he your shooter?” Hwang Si Mok asked, while Jang Geon looked at her, shock and worry evident on his face.

Han Yeo Jin nodded again, and finally composed herself enough to speak, but still could not help the slight quiver in her voice. “Not only that, I also recognize him from somewhere else. I think he is the same man who sneaked into Park Gong Chu’s room that night, and tried to kill him. Same stride, same height and build, the same form. I think it’s him.”

Hwang Si Mok took his cellphone out and scrolled through the images saved on his phone until he found the snapshot of the intruder from the hospital CCTV footage from a few weeks ago. He placed his phone beside the video monitor, and compared the photo of the man from the hospital and the still image of the intruder from the security footage, and saw that they are, unmistakably, the same person.

“Who was that man from the hospital?” asked Jang Geon, looking at them both in bewilderment.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang. They have not told anyone in the task force about Park Gong Chu, including the attempt on his life while he was still in the hospital. Prosecutor Hwang nodded at her, perfectly understanding her unspoken question and silently acquiescing to her request to bring Jang Geon into their confidence. Han Yeo Jin knew that the time has come to widen their circle, and there is no one else she trusts more than Jang Geon amongst her fellow police officers.

“Jang Geon, let’s take a walk while Prosecutor Hwang finish up here,” she said, taking Jang Geon’s arm and leading him out of the security office. Outside, she told him everything about Park Gong Chu; his connection with the dead auditor and prosecutor, the attempt on his life at the hospital, how Prosecutor Seo had been tracking him down first in Incheon and now in Busan, and how the man may well hold the key to solve their case.

“We had to keep the information to ourselves, to keep him safe. We know where he is right now, but we don’t think the people who tried to kill him does. And we cannot let it leak that we know, otherwise, we might compromise his safety,” she told a shocked Jang Geon, who looked completely stunned after her revelations. “Only I, Prosecutor Hwang and Seo Dong Jae know where he is. And now you, as well,” she said, purposely omitting Ahn Yeong Seok. She saw Prosecutor Hwang approach them and continued, “We need to keep this information secret for now, and I need you to focus your investigation at tracking down this man. Look at both the hospital surveillance video, as well as the one from Prosecutor Hwang’s apartment, and see if you can trace his movements. But don’t tell anyone. Not yet, anyway.”

Jang Geon looked at Han Yeo Jin, and then at Prosecutor Hwang, and understood that he has now been brought into the inner circle, and recognized the importance of his task. This was the man who tried to kill Senior Inspector Han, his friend, and he vowed to himself that he will do everything that he could to hunt the bastard down.

Jang Geon nodded at her. “I’m on it,” he said, his face grim with determination.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok sat alone on his couch, silently contemplating the events of the night, when his doorbell rang, announcing a visitor. He went to open the door and found Senior Inspector Han standing there, holding two cups in her hands.

“I heard chamomile can help you relax and sleep better,” she said, handing him one of the cups.

He took the proffered cup and gave her a slight smile, recalling that she said and did the same thing the last time his apartment was broken into. She smiled back at him, and entered at his invitation.

“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” she said to him, and sat down on his couch.

“You’re not. I was just sitting here, thinking about the break-in, and what it could mean” he said, joining her on the couch.

“And what do you think?”

He blew out a breath, and said, “I’m thinking, why stop at burglary? Why didn’t they do anything more?”

“You mean do something to scare you off? Or harm you, even try to kill you, like they’ve done to me and the victims of the explosion?”

He nodded. “We already know they are capable of murder and mayhem. The fact that they did not do anything to me means that they are also desperate for information. They broke into my apartment to see if they can find it. I have a feeling that if they have found something here, they would have done something to me, to silence me.”

“And the fact that they did not means they need you alive so they can watch what you will do next, because they believe that you can lead them to the information they seek,” Han Yeo Jin said. “Because they are also looking for Park Gong Chu.”

“Yes. And the timing of the break-in is also suspicious,” Hwang Si Mok said, and looked at the senior inspector, knowing what he is about to say next will be a sensitive subject for her. “It happened after I told everyone at the briefing today that we found another witness to the explosion,” he said, and watched her reaction to his statement, and its implications.

Han Yeo Jin did not say anything, only stared at her cup of tea in silent contemplation. Without looking at him, she asked, “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? You told them that we found a witness without revealing too much information, so you could watch and see what would happen next. You used that information as bait to tease out where the leak is, because you think the leak is with the police.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded, and said, “I did. I wasn’t expecting to be burglarized, but I was expecting there to be some sort of effect after my announcement.”

She finally looked at him, her expression inscrutable. Hwang Si Mok is not sure if she is angry with him for not giving her prior warning on what he intended to do. But he did not want to put her in the position that would force her to question the loyalties of all the people she worked with, and then, in essence, lay a trap for them to test their allegiances. He did not doubt that she would have made the right decision and agreed with the plan; the problem was that Hwang Si Mok was certain that she would have insisted that she make the announcement herself, as she would have seen it as her own duty and responsibility to do so. But Hwang Si Mok refused to put a target on her back and endanger her further, and the events of tonight reinforced his belief that he had made the right decision. Regardless, he did not want to upset the senior inspector, and was about to start apologizing to her when she suddenly cut him off.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to,” she said, her face full of understanding. “I get it. I understand why you did it, and why you had to do it this way. At least now, we know what we’re dealing with, and we can arm ourselves against that threat until we can find the traitor in our midst.”

He nodded at her, relieved at her reaction. He sipped his tea, feeling lighter now that she knows the truth, as he had been feeling uncomfortable all day with the knowledge that he had kept something important from her. He turned to her now, suddenly remembering a question that he had been intending to ask her.

“You said today that you had a lead about the Park Ik Joon death. What is it?” he asked, and noticed Senior Inspector Han looking a tad uncomfortable at the question.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang hesitantly, unsure of what his reaction would be when she tells him that she had engaged the services of a convicted murderer to help solve their case. She sighed, resigned to the fact that she cannot stall him any longer, and told him about her plan, and how she had asked Yoon Se Won to help flush out information from the other inmates relating to Park Ik Joon’s death. She looked at him after she finished her explanation, and tried to gauge his reaction; but she cannot garner any clues from his usual impassive and blank expression.

“I don’t know how much information he can give you, or even if he will be able to find something useful about Park Ik Joon’s death,” he said thoughtfully. “But I agree that it’s worth a try, since we have nothing else to go on.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at him, surprised that he did not voice any objections to her plan. “So, you’re okay with me using Mr. Yoon? You don’t have an issue with him, after what he’s done?”

Hwang Si Mok took a few seconds to think about this, and said, “No. He did something evil, it’s true; but I don’t think he’s an evil person. If he said that he would help, I think he would sincerely do his best to do so, especially if it was you who had asked him.”

“Why especially me?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“Because I think Yoon Se Won genuinely respected and cared about you. I remember when you caught him at the airport when he was trying to flee. He could have hit you when he had you on the floor, and he could have run away after. But he didn’t, and instead he let himself be caught, rather than hurt you.”

Han Yeo Jin remembered the events of that night, then thought about what Prosecutor Hwang had said. She felt a bit foolish now that she actually thought that Prosecutor Hwang would not understand a person like Yoon Se Won, and reminded herself that he is more insightful and aware of the nuances of people’s behaviors and characters than any person that she knows. She gave him a smile and said, “I will visit him at the prison the first chance I get, and see what he has for us.” She gave a huge yawn, suddenly feeling tired, and still a bit sleepy and sluggish from the after-effects of the pain medication.

“Oof, why did I drink this tea? I’m already sleepy enough as it is,” she said, then asked Prosecutor Hwang, “do you have any coffee?”

“I’ll make you some,” he said, and went to the kitchen to brew her a cup. He started making the coffee and turned around to ask how she took it, and found her already asleep on his couch.

He walked over to her, unsure of what to do next. He reached out his hand to wake her, but hesitated when he saw how peaceful she looked in her sleep, and was suddenly reminded of the time during their first case when he also found her asleep in his office. He did not wake her up then, especially after he noticed the fresh injury on her lip, and assumed that she had gotten injured on the job and could probably use the rest. He had let her sleep in his office chair then while he worked, and remembered that he actually did not mind having her there, and found her presence surprisingly soothing.

He withdrew his hand and went to his room instead, and returned with pillows and a blanket. He carefully shifted her from her sitting position and lay her down on the couch, and placed her head gently on the pillow. It was a testament of how tired she was that she did not even stir at the movement, and lay unmoving on the couch in a deep sleep. He took her slippers off and covered her with a blanket, turned the lights off in the living room, then went to his room to prepare for bed.

He dozed off instantly as soon as his head hit the pillow. And his last thoughts before he drifted off to sleep are of the senior inspector, and how happy and content he is that she won’t be alone tonight, and that she is here with him, safe and sound.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin stretched her limbs, moaning loudly in satisfaction when she heard her joints pop. She sighed in contentment, and allowed her body to slowly wake up from the deep and restful sleep that she just had. Her eyes suddenly flew open when her sleep-addled brain finally registered that she was not on her bed, and looked around her in confusion, trying to remember where she was.

“Whaaat?” she asked sleepily aloud, and then jumped at the sight of Prosecutor Hwang, who was sitting on the chair opposite, staring at her and holding a cup of coffee. She sat up jerkily, her face instantly turning crimson in embarrassment, as she remembered that she must have fallen asleep on his couch the night before, because she was so tired and drowsy from the pain pills. She wondered how long he had been sitting there, watching her sleep. Until another, more important thought occurred to her that she might have done something embarrassing in her sleep, like snore, or drool on herself, and immediately wiped the imaginary drool on her face.

“Good morning,” said Prosecutor Hwang, handing her the steaming mug of coffee.

Han Yeo Jin took it gratefully, avoiding his eyes, and said, “Sorry for crashing on your couch last night. You should have woken me up.”

“It’s not a problem. And you looked like you could use the sleep, I didn’t want to wake you,” he said. Han Yeo Jin noticed that he is already fully dressed for work, and asked, “What time is it?”

“A little after 7 am. I can drop you off your apartment when you’re ready,” he told her.

Han Yeo Jin nodded, and sipped her coffee, until her body reminded her of another, more pressing matter. She squirmed uncomfortably, and asked, “Can I use your bathroom?”

“Just through there,” said Hwang Si Mok, pointing at the door beside the bedroom. Han Yeo Jin nodded to him gratefully, “Just give me ten minutes, and then we can leave,” she said, running to the door.

Inside the bathroom, Han Yeo Jin splashed some cold water on her face and tried not to think about the fact that she just spent the night with Prosecutor Hwang. Well, not technically with him; at his apartment, on his couch, while he slept in the other room. She slapped her face, to wake herself up fully but more to slap the foolish thoughts away from her head, and told herself to stop being stupid. She rubbed some of his toothpaste on her teeth and mouth, and then brushed her unruly hair with her fingers, and tried not to think about the fact that she must have woken up looking like Gollum from the Lord of the Rings. She sighed, and added yet another item under the ‘Han Yeo Jin’s list of humiliating stuff she had done in front of Prosecutor Hwang’, right after the one where she had paraded in front of him in her Wonder Woman underwear.

Hwang Si Mok cleaned up in the kitchen while waiting for the senior inspector to finish up in the bathroom. He stretched his back, trying to work out the stiffness after spending the night on the hard floor. He had woken up in the middle of the night after hearing a noise, and found a restless Senior Inspector Han jerking and moaning agitatedly in her sleep, clearly having a nightmare. He went to her then, unsure of what to do to get her to calm her down, and felt his panic rising when her breathing became more ragged and erratic, afraid that she might have another seizure. In his desperation, he touched her forehead and called out her name softly, intending to wake her up. To his surprise and relief, she stilled immediately at his touch, and felt her breathing becoming more even and normal. He did not know how long he sat there with his hand resting on her forehead, until he was finally assured that the nightmare had passed. He went back to his room to fetch his pillow and blanket, and lay himself down on the floor beside the couch and the senior inspector, so he can be nearby and easily alerted in case she had another nightmare. He remembered laying there on the floor, listening intently to her breathing for any signs of disturbance, and might have imagined hearing her say his name softly in her sleep as he drifted off.

His musings were interrupted at the sound of the doorbell, and wondered who could be visiting him at this early hour. He looked at the monitor by the door and saw Prosecutor Seo waiting patiently on the other side.

“What are you doing here?” he asked him as soon as he opened the door.

“Good Morning to you too,” said Seo Dong Jae, smiling at him cheerfully and wheeling a carry-on luggage inside. “I heard you had a break in last night, so I’ve come to check if you’re okay. Also, I need a ride to the train station; I don’t want to leave my car there and pay for parking in case I have to stay in Busan for several days.”

“I’m fine, nothing was taken. How did you know about the break-in?” he asked, as he had not yet informed Prosecutor Seo about the prior evening’s incident.

“I called him last night. I needed him to be on alert, just in case,” Han Yeo Jin said, getting out of the bathroom. She watched as Seo Dong Jae jumped up, startled at the sound of her voice, obviously unaware that she was there, and was amazed that he did not get whiplash when he turned his head around so fast to look at her.

Seo Dong Jae looked at Han Yeo Jin in wide-eyed surprise, and took in her bedraggled appearance and the early hour of the morning. Clearly, she had spent the night here, he thought, as his eyes darted from her to Hwang Si Mok, unsure of what to say to either.

“Oh, hey…You,” he said in a clumsy greeting, uncomfortable that he might have unwittingly stumbled upon a very private moment. The three of them stood around for a few moments in awkward silence, until Hwang Si Mok said, “Let’s go”, and both Seo Dong Jae and Han Yeo Jin rushed out of the apartment in obvious relief, still avoiding each other’s gazes. 

The awkward silence continued as the three of them rode together in Hwang Si Mok’s car.

Han Yeo Jin sat in embarrassed silence in the front seat, while Seo Dong Jae, who had clearly gotten over the awkwardness from earlier, now sat smirking smugly in the backseat, his eyes going back and forth between her and Prosecutor Hwang, wearing an annoyingly knowing smile. While Prosecutor Hwang is, as usual, completely oblivious to the whole uncomfortable situation, and drove through the Seoul traffic in ignorant bliss. She felt, rather than saw, Seo Dong Jae leaning over the front seats slowly until his head is between hers and Prosecutor Hwang.

“Sooo,” he said, drawing out the word, “what happened?”

“What? Nothing happened,” Han Yeo Jin said quickly.

“I meant the break in.”

“Oh, that.”

“What did you think I meant?” Seo Dong Jae asked her facetiously. Han Yeo Jin turned to him, scowling furiously, and saw him pursed his lips, trying to contain his amusement.

“Someone broke in my apartment and went through my things. They were clearly looking for something, most likely information on Park Gong Chu,” said Hwang Si Mok, interrupting the banter between Seo Dong Jae and Han Yeo Jin. He replayed the events of last night to Seo Dong Jae, including the theory about the leak with the police, and the fact that they have now established that the attempted murderer of Park Gong Chu and Han Yeo Jin is the same man that broke into Hwang Si Mok’s apartment.

“It’s fortunate that you’re not hurt this time,” Seo Dong Jae said grimly. “They may not be as accommodating next time, and may not just stop with petty burglary. You two need to be careful.”

“You too,” said Han Yeo Jin. “You need to be extra aware while in Busan, in case you’re being followed. We need to operate under the assumption that our movements are being watched.” She turned to Seo Dong Jae and grasped his hand, worry written all over her face and said, “Seo Dong Jae… your wife and kids—”

“Don’t worry,” Seo Dong Jae said, interrupting her. “I already made arrangements for them to stay with my wife’s family after you called me last night. They’ll be safe there,” he said, and patted her hand reassuringly. Han Yeo Jin nodded, still frowning in concern. Seo Dong Jae noticed her unease, and endeavored to lighten the mood.

“Anything else happened?” he asked in an impertinent tone, his question loaded with meaning to tease her out of her anxiety. He knew it worked when he saw her blush, and he leaned back on his seat in delight and satisfaction, trying to cover his laughter.

An image of her standing in front of Prosecutor Hwang in her ridiculous underwear came unbidden in Han Yeo Jin’s mind, and she felt her face instantly burn red in remembered embarrassment. Damn it, not now! she thought furiously, trying to control her reaction, but she knew that the damage has been done, and that Seo Dong Jae saw her blush and is certain that his perverted mind is now probably concocting all sorts of dirty scenarios when the truth was more boring and mundane. She was relieved when she finally saw her apartment coming into view, and said a hasty goodbye to both men and jumped out of the car as soon as Prosecutor Hwang stopped in front of her apartment gate.  

Seo Dong Jae transferred to the front seat after Han Yeo Jin left, and looked at Hwang Si Mok curiously, wondering if he can broach the topic of the senior inspector spending the night in his apartment. He found that it was not easy for him to tease and speak casually with Hwang Si Mok as much as it was with Han Yeo Jin, and he was surprised to discover that his relationship with the tough policewoman had become so comfortable and familiar that they just naturally started referring to each other without the use of honorifics. He smiled to himself, pleased at how their relationship had evolved, and cherished the fact that she may well think of him now as her friend, as he does with her. He looked at Hwang Si Mok surreptitiously, and wondered if he felt the same friendship towards him now, or if he is even capable at creating that bond with someone else who is not the senior inspector. He decided then not to ask him about last night, uncertain that he was of their relationship, and not wanting to rock the boat with him, especially at this moment when he looked so grim and serious.

“What are you thinking about?” Seo Dong Jae asked him, convinced he is thinking about the case.

“Wonder Woman.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Weird, thought Seo Dong Jae.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok headed straight to the Yongsan precinct after dropping off Prosecutor Seo at the train station. He saw Detective Jang motioning him over from the other side of the room, and headed his way to talk to him, when the entire station suddenly erupted in a thunderous cheer and applause. He turned around and saw a surprised Senior Inspector Han walking into the bullpen amidst the loud cheering of all the people gathered in the precinct, looking embarrassed, but also pleased, at the warm reception. The police officers called out words of welcome and patted her on the back as she made her way towards him.

“Welcome back!”

“Good to see you, Senior Inspector Han!”

“Looking good, ma’am!”

“What are you doing here? Go home!”

Captain Choi shouted the order at Han Yeo Jin, affecting a stern expression, but the warmth in his eyes betrayed his pleasure at finally seeing her strong and healthy.

“You can’t order me around anymore, Captain,” she told him sassily. “Good to see you too,” she said, and gave him a tight hug. Captain Choi stood stiffly in the embrace, but patted her back awkwardly, and then cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment.

“Seo Sang Won! Come here!” she called out to Detective Seo after she let go of the Captain, her eyes narrowed at him. The detective made his way towards her tentatively, his face wary and anticipating a punishment after he called her a sad, lonely spinster during their previous briefing. He stopped in front of her, looking like a little boy who knew he did something bad and was about to pay for it. Han Yeo Jin took pity on him and broke into a grin, and gathered him into a hug. Detective Seo exclaimed in delight and embraced her back enthusiastically, lifting her off the floor and spinning her around.

“I think that gunshot in your head had made you soft,” Captain Choi said, smiling despite of himself.

“That’s what I said!” shouted Jang Geon.

Hwang Si Mok watched as the group chatted happily together, and once again observed the deep bond that exists between the four. It seemed so long ago now when he saw these same group of men huddled together in grief in the hospital waiting room, their despair so great that it had reinforced his mistaken belief that the senior inspector had perished. He saw Senior Inspector Han turn to look at him, her smile wide, and beckoned him to join them, and he felt a small flutter of pleasure at being included in their tight, little group.

“Are you sure you’re okay to come back to work?” Captain Choi asked her.

“The Captain is right, maybe you should take a few more days off to rest,” Hwang Si Mok said.

Han Yeo Jin made a face at him, and said, “Party pooper. I’m fine, really I am. Now, stop fussing.” She turned to Captain Choi and said, “let’s start the morning briefing.”

Captain Choi sighed, and shook his head at her stubbornness, but gathered the police officers nonetheless for their morning huddle. He had almost finished the briefing when he was interrupted by loud, angry voices, and all heads turned towards the front of the precinct where an altercation between a group of officers and an arrested suspect is currently unfolding. The suspect was being very aggressive and hostile, and was resisting the attempts of the officers to hold him down and drag him towards the jail cells. As they watched, the suspect suddenly broke free from the uniformed officer who was restraining him, and lunged at another police officer, and grabbed the gun from his holster. All at once, the station erupted in activity, with every police officer reaching for their own weapons, and shouting at the suspect to stand down, as he waved the gun at them menacingly.

Han Yeo Jin was in the process of pulling her own weapon out when the suspect suddenly pointed the gun in her direction. She saw the mad desperation in the man’s eyes as he looked directly at her, and suddenly found herself frozen on the spot, her entire body quaking in terror. She heard loud ringing in her ears, her vision tunneling, and felt cold sweat drenching her body; and the part of her brain that was not overwhelmed in fear recognized that she is having a full-blown panic attack. A figure suddenly moved in front of her, blocking her view of the suspect and covering her with his own body, and realized that it was Prosecutor Hwang. But far from being calmed by the gesture, she felt even more frightened and panicked that the man might deliberately or accidentally fire his weapon at him. She heard, rather than saw, the sounds of struggle coming from the front of the station, and realized that the suspect had finally been subdued when she saw the officers around her standing down and holstering their weapons.

Everyone calmed down after they carted the suspect off to the cells, brushing off the intense incident and going about their normal routine. Han Yeo Jin stood there, making a valiant effort to contain the intense shaking of her body, and tried to walk calmly to the ladies’ room. She does not know how she managed to get there on her trembling legs, but as soon as she was out of sight, she dove into an empty stall, and violently emptied out the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl.

She heaved and gagged, the roiling in her stomach so intense that it was almost painful. She flushed the toilet after she finished, and wiped her mouth with the back of her shuddering hand, and collapsed, exhausted, on the bathroom floor. She put her head in her arms and hugged her knees, and tried to make herself as small as possible, as she continued to shake uncontrollably from head to toe. She had been a fool to think that she had come out mentally unscathed from the shooting, and she had been willfully ignoring all the signs that the psychiatrist from the hospital had told her to watch out for as they could be signs of post-traumatic stress disorder; sudden flashbacks, nightmares, fatigue and panic attacks. Han Yeo Jin had experienced all of this, but she had opted to live in denial, afraid that her superiors may take her off active duty if they find out, and convinced herself that the symptoms were not that serious and will likely go away after enough time had passed. But as she sat miserably on the cold bathroom floor, she realized that her condition will not be easily, and quickly, overcome, and finally admitted to herself that she needed help. She heard a noise, and watched as someone opened the bathroom stall that she had neglected to lock in her haste, and saw the worried face of Prosecutor Hwang looking down at her from the open door.

“What are you doing here? This is the ladies’ room!” Han Yeo Jin exclaimed, momentarily forgetting that she is still in the middle of a panic attack in her outrage.

Hwang Si Mok stayed where he was and asked, “Are you okay?” She did not answer right away, her head remaining bowed and her hair obscuring her face. When she finally did look at him, he was arrested by the naked misery he saw on her face, her wide eyes filled with pain, and looking at him in silent and desperate anguish.

“What do you think will happen to a police officer who is too afraid to draw and fire her weapon?” she asked Hwang Si Mok tremulously, not meeting his eye, as if the question greatly shamed her. He joined her in the stall and sat down on the bathroom floor, facing her, and gently said, “Your body has healed itself fully from your injuries, but your mind has not. It doesn’t mean that it never will, it just means that the damage may have been greater, that it’s going to take more time to mend itself completely.” He continued when she remained silent.

“I know a thing or two about ailments of the brain. They had to take a tiny portion of mine out to fix my condition, and whatever they removed is lost to me forever, and something that I can never get back. But it’s not like that with you; you haven’t lost anything. It’s all still there, and you are still you, and you just need to give yourself time to heal fully, and get the proper help because you cannot do this alone.”

“Talk to a professional, you mean?” she asked him tentatively.

“Yes, and a friend. Me, for instance,” he told her.

Han Yeo Jin looked at him, touched that he had called himself her friend, and surprised that he would volunteer himself for the task, when she knew that any sort of emotional interactions makes him uncomfortable.

“In times like these, I wish I could be more like you,” she said.

“Because I don’t feel anything?” he said, repeating the words that she said to him the night they fought in the rain. He smiled softly at her, to let her know that he was not offended.

 “No, that I can control my emotions better, like you,” she clarified.

Hwang Si Mok leaned forward, looked her in the eye, and said, “When you got shot, and I thought you had died, I stole your gun and tried to shoot the man who I thought killed you. So clearly, I am not as good at controlling my emotions as you think.”

Han Yeo Jin stared at him, unable to hold back her tears any longer, and let it flow freely down her face. She took his hand, gripping it tightly in hers, and tried to convey with that one gesture her deep gratitude and appreciation for all that he has done for her.

“Thank you,” she told him earnestly, “for staying with me. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I did. You stayed with me too. That day, in the stairwell, at the council meeting, when my head had pained me. You sat with me until the pain went away,” he said, then reached into his pocket and took out a can of cola. He opened it, and handed her the cold beverage.

Han Yeo Jin laughed, recalling the time when she did the same thing for him. She took the can and drank deeply from it, instantly feeling better, and smiled at Prosecutor Hwang. “Thanks for that, I needed it. And thank you for what you did out there; when you shielded me with your own body when the suspect pointed his gun at me,” she said, then looked at him somberly. “But you have to promise me to never do that again.”

“Promise me,” Han Yeo Jin repeated vehemently when Prosecutor Hwang did not answer.

“I can’t promise you that,” he said, looking at her almost apologetically.

She sighed, then shook her head. “For someone so intelligent, you can be so dumb sometimes,” she said in exasperation, but Prosecutor Hwang only smiled softly at her in response.

Han Yeo Jin realized that the shaking had stopped completely, and she felt significantly better and calmer after her talk with Prosecutor Hwang. She got up off the floor with his help and said to him, “Now, let’s get out of here before Detective Kim catches you in the ladies’ room and beats you up for real this time.” Hwang Si Mok smiled, but looked around him warily, nonetheless, watching out for the other female detective whom he had previously offended with an inappropriate comment after mistaking her for the senior inspector.

Hwang Si Mok observed Senior Inspector Han closely as she walked back into the bullpen. It was fortunate that the commotion with the belligerent suspect had distracted all of the assembled police officers, that none of them had noticed the senior inspector’s condition, save for him, and only because he had always been so attuned with her moods. He saw Detective Jang eyeing her apprehensively, and watched as he approached her to ask about her state.

“Are you alright? You disappeared there for a bit,” Jang Geon asked, concerned.

“I’m fine. Just freshening up my make-up,” responded Han Yeo Jin coolly.

“You don’t wear make-up.”

“What are you, my stylist? Just give us the updates on the break-in,” retorted Han Yeo Jin. Jang Geon smiled, satisfied that she is okay after her convincing performance. Hwang Si Mok looked on, amazed at how quickly she bounced back. He knew she has a long road to recovery ahead of her, but there is no doubt in his mind that she will overcome that hurdle, and he will be there to provide whatever support she may need, even if he might be completely out of his depth. His ruminations were interrupted by the sudden buzzing of his cellphone. He looked at the screen and saw that it was the hospital calling, and answered.

“Prosecutor Hwang, it’s Dr. Chae. Can you talk right now?”

“Dr. Chae. Yes, of course. What can I do for you,” he said, and saw the senior inspector looking at him quizzically.

“It’s Kang Sun Ri, she’s awake. And lucid,” she said.

“We’re coming now,” he said, and looked at Senior Inspector Han.

“Is Ms. Han also coming with you? Good. I need to tell you both something else. I’ll wait until you get here,” she said cryptically, then hung up.

“What is it?” asked Han Yeo Jin as soon as Prosecutor Hwang finished the call.

“We need to go to the hospital. Kang Sun Ri is awake,” he told her, already walking towards the exit.

Chapter Text

Seo Dong Jae arrived in Busan and headed straight to the address given to them by Ahn Yeong Seok. He arrived at the house where Park Gong Chu is supposedly staying, situated in a quiet, residential neighborhood, and rang the bell. He tried to peer over the gate when no one answered on his fourth attempt, and noticed that the house looked to be currently empty. He was debating whether to jump the fence and force his way inside to check, when he looked over to his left and noticed a man walking towards him, bags of groceries in both of his hands. The man stopped abruptly at the sight of him, and Seo Dong Jae instantly recognized him as the same man he saw a few weeks ago in the hospital.

“Park Gong Chu?” Seo Dong Jae called out to him, and saw fear in the man’s eyes, just before he hightailed it to the opposite direction, the bags of groceries dropped on the street in his haste to flee away from him.

“Shit!” said Seo Dong Jae, and ran after Park Gong Chu. He had a bit of a head start on him, but Seo Dong Jae was able to cover the gap between them quickly when the other, slightly overweight man, started losing steam. Seo Dong Jae is suddenly grateful for all his stair-taking when he was finally able to catch up to Park Gong Chu, and grabbed his quarry before he had the chance to get away.

“No, no, please! Don’t hurt me!” cried a frightened Park Gong Chu, covering his face and trying to protect himself against Seo Dong Jae.

“What? I’m not going to hurt you!” said Seo Dong Jae, bewildered at the man’s reaction. “I just want to talk. My name is Seo Dong Jae, and I’m a prosecutor. We met before, at the hospital, remember? I was with another prosecutor and a policewoman.” He did not let go of Park Gong Chu, afraid that he might try to run again, but he gentled his tone to calm the visibly terrified man, who is now whimpering and crying in front of him. “Why would you think that I was going to hurt you?” he asked.

“Because they’ve already tried before!” cried Park Gong Chu. “I know they’re looking for me. They already tried to kill me, that’s why I’ve been in hiding!”

“At the hospital, you mean?” asked Seo Dong Jae.

Park Gong Chu nodded. “And the explosion. They tried to kill me then, and now my friend is dead,” Park Gong Chu said, sobbing loudly.

Seo Dong Jae felt his heart rate increase at Park Gong Chu’s comment, and the realization that they may have gotten the entire situation completely wrong. “You? You were the target in the explosion? Not your auditor friend and Prosecutor Hwa?” he asked Park Gong Chu urgently.

Park Gong Chu nodded his head tearfully, and started crying again.

“You better tell me everything. Now!”

***

Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin found Dr. Chae waiting for them in the lobby of the hospital. She saw them arrive and hurried over to talk to them.

“Prosecutor Hwang, Senior Inspector Han, thank you for coming over so quickly,” she said to them.

“Thank you for calling us. You said on the phone you have something to tell us?” said Hwang Si Mok.

“I do. It’s about Kang Sun Ri. I want to talk to you about something I found,” she said, and looked at them seriously. “I was curious as to why a patient who had been steadily recovering suddenly stopped breathing, so I looked into her case further and found something…unusual,” she said, hesitating on the last word, and added, “it could be nothing.”

“But you don’t think it is, otherwise, you wouldn’t have bothered to tell us,” said Han Yeo Jin. “If your gut is telling you that something is wrong, then it probably is. And we trust your instincts, Dr. Chae, so please tell us what you found.”

“We found an increased amount of morphine in her blood when we tested it after her breathing stopped. Now, the dose was not lethal, and it’s not unusual for her to have morphine in her system. After all, we administered it to her to help with the pain. Patients also have the option to increase the dose directly from their IV pump when the pain gets to be too much, but we monitor the usage very closely to gauge the patient’s symptoms, and to monitor if they are relying heavily on the drug. In Kang Sun Ri’s case, we discovered that her morphine drip was adjusted to the maximum amount, which would explain the increased quantities of the drug in her system right before her respiration stopped. It’s unusual because Kang Sun Ri had never increased her morphine drip before, and none of the staff had done it for her, and she had not complained of any pain that morning. In fact, we were planning to wean her off the drug the very next day because she was steadily improving.”

“And would an increased dosage of morphine make a patient like Kang Su Ri drowsy? Even make her fall unconscious?” asked Hwang Si Mok, one possible scenario entering his mind.

Dr. Chae nodded. “Yes, especially if the patient is not used to it, which Kang Sun Ri is not, because she had been taking only what we prescribed to her.”

Hwang Si Mok looked at Senior Inspector Han, and he could tell from her expression that she is following the same line of thought as he is.

“Thank you so much Dr. Chae, you’ve been a tremendous help,” Han Yeo Jin told the doctor sincerely.

“You’re welcome, and it’s good to see you doing so well Senior Inspector Han. But don’t forget, you still need to take it easy, and avoid any strenuous activities,” she said sternly, but punctuated it with a smile.

Han Yeo Jin gave her a small bow, then turned to Prosecutor Hwang the moment they were alone.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“I think that it’s possible someone increased her pain medication to knock her unconscious. Once she’s out, then anyone could have done anything to her,” said Hwang Si Mok.

“Like suffocate her with a pillow until she stops breathing,” said Han Yeo Jin.

Hwang Si Mok nodded, and said, “Something like that. We’ll find out once we ask Kang Sun Ri if it was her that increased the dosage.”

They arrived at Kang Sun Ri’s room, and found Detective Seo standing sentry outside, whom Han Yeo Jin had assigned on guard duty. They entered and saw that she was awake, and she eyed them warily as they approached the bed.

“Ms. Kang, I’m glad to see you looking better,” Han Yeo Jin told the waitress, who still continued to eye them apprehensively. “We’re here to ask you some questions.”

“I don’t know…I’m still not well. I need to rest,” said Kang Sun Ri, not meeting their eyes.

“We know Ms. Kang, and we are sorry for intruding on your rest. But I’m afraid I must insist; we’ll do our best to keep it short,” she told Kang Sun Ri gently, but the authority in her tone is unmistakable. She breathed a sigh of relief when Kang Sun Ri nodded reluctantly.

“Thank you,” said Han Yeo Jin gratefully. “First of all, I need to ask you about the day when we found you unresponsive and not breathing. Can you tell us what you remember that day?”

Kang Sun Ri slowly told them what she recalled that day, which matched the detailed account on the police report. Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang when the patient made no mention of increasing her morphine dose.

“Ms. Kang, were you in pain earlier that day? Did you increase the dosage of your pain medication in your IV to help you with the pain?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Kang Sun Ri looked at her then, a frown of confusion on her face. She shook her head, and said, “No, I wasn’t in any particular pain that day, and I did not increase the dose on my IV. I never do that. I’m too afraid to fiddle with it. Why are you asking?” She turned her gaze questioningly at Han Yeo Jin, and then at Hwang Si Mok, who told her gently, “We found increased levels of morphine in your system after the incident, so we needed to check with you if it was you who increased the dosage.”

They both watched as fear, and then panic, overcome Kang Sun Ri’s expression, the heart rate monitor beside her beeping louder now, signaling the sudden increased heart rate of the patient.

“Ms. Kang, please, you need to calm yourself,” said Han Yeo Jin, attempting to soothe her.

“I have to leave… it’s not safe here,” she cried, throwing the blankets off her, as if getting ready to leave.

Han Yeo Jin placed her hands on Kang Sun Ri’s shoulder, both to steady her and to keep her in place, and said, “Ms. Kang, you can’t leave! You’re still ill, so you have to stay here. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you safe.”

“Like you’ve kept me safe so far! Someone just tried to kill me!” she shouted at Han Yeo Jin, her body shaking in anger and panic.

“Why would you automatically think that?” Hwang Si Mok asked her, prompting Kang Sun Ri to turn to him, looking mightily unsettled by the question. “Why would you instantly think that someone tried to kill you? It could have been any number of reasons, Ms. Kang; so why is murder the first thing that came to your mind?”

Kang Sun Ri remained silent at his question, her eyes darting back and forth in panic, refusing to look at either of them. Hwang Si Mok continued with his line of questioning, determined to get the truth out of the waitress. “You know something don’t you, Ms. Kang? Something that you have not told us. That’s why you’re afraid that someone is after you, otherwise, why would they try to silence you,” he said. But Kang Sun Ri only shook her head, her lips stubbornly pressed in a flat line, determined not to answer Hwang Si Mok’s questions.

Han Yeo Jin had been in enough interrogations to recognize that Kang Sun Ri will not yield her secrets, and she knew that continuing on in this manner with her is futile. She knew that the woman is overcome with fear at the moment, and probably thought that her only chance of survival is to trust no one but herself. Han Yeo Jin did not blame her for thinking that way; having the man she loved killed in such a brutal manner, and almost losing her life twice in the process, had probably traumatized the poor woman so much that she had become distrustful of everyone. Han Yeo Jin stared at Kang Sun Ri, and felt sympathy for the younger woman who had gone through so much already, and tried a different approach.

“I know you don’t trust us, and we haven’t really given you a reason to do so. But I know how you feel. I know what it’s like to go up against these people, and I know how it feels to almost lose everything in the process,” she said gently.

“No, you don’t” Kang Sun Ri said, bitterness and defiance in her voice.

Han Yeo Jin bowed her head and parted her hair on the right side, revealing the big, ugly scar protruding grotesquely on her scalp. She saw the waitress wince involuntarily at the display, and then looked at her in shock.

“I know. It’s hideous,” she said, smiling gently at Kang Sun Ri. “That’s where the bullet hit my head, after someone had shot me and almost killed me. And it was done by the same people who killed Cha Su Kyo, and the same people who caused the explosion. The same people that tried to kill you,” she told Kang Sun Ri, her gaze focused intently on her.

“You and I, I think we survived for a reason. And we owe it to the others who didn’t to make sure that the people responsible for all of this are brought to justice, because we cannot let their crimes go unpunished,” said Han Yeo Jin. She took the Kan Sun Ri’s hand and grasped it in hers, and said entreatingly, “Please, help us catch the people who did this, and tell us what you know.”

Kang Sun Ri looked at her, tears flowing down her cheeks, and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I couldn’t be sure that you were not one of them.”

“What do you mean?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“Su Kyo did tell me something else, about the man who ordered him to do something. I didn’t know it then, but I know now without a doubt, that he was talking about the man who ordered him to sabotage the gas valve. He didn’t tell me his name, but he did tell me something about him. That’s why he was so afraid,” Kang Sun Ri said, and looked at Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok carefully, and hesitated.

“What is it, Ms. Kang? Why was he afraid?” asked Han Yeo Jin, her heart beating faster now.

Kang Sun Ri took a shuddering breath, and said, “Because the man who gave him the order was a cop.”

Chapter Text

“Detective Seo, I need you to stay here and not let anyone in this room, apart from the doctors and nurses that you know; and myself, Prosecutors Hwang and Seo, Jang Geon and Captain Choi. No one else, do you understand?”

Seo Sang Won looked at Senior Inspector Han in surprise, a little unnerved at her intensity. “But someone else is supposed to come to relieve me later,” he told her.

“I’ll call Jang Geon or Captain Choi, but you can’t let anyone else in, other than the people I mentioned. Not even if they are police, or prosecution,” Han Yeo Jin said, and saw the detective look at her uneasily. “Sang Won, do you trust me?” she asked. She did not have time to explain to him now the meaning behind her request, as she had a thousand things to do after Kang Sun Ri’s shocking revelation.

“Of course,” Seo Sang Won said wholeheartedly. “I got it,” he said, nodding determinedly at her.

“Thank you,” she said, then ran to the elevators, with Prosecutor Hwang following beside her.

“What are you going to do now?” he asked.

“I need to go to HQ and speak with Director No. This needs to be handled quickly and quietly. We cannot let it leak that we know about the police connection, otherwise the culprit may go into hiding, or destroy evidence. We need to catch him first before word gets out,” she said, pressing the elevator call button frantically. “I’ll call Jang Geon to come here and look at the security footage of the day of Kang Sun Ri’s incident. Whoever it was that increased her morphine dose must have been caught on camera. They have to be,” she said, looking at Prosecutor Hwang uncertainly.

“What do you need me to do?” he asked.

“Well, if you can find that traitor for us in the meantime, that’d be great,” she said, attempting to smile, but Hwang Si Mok could see that the information had affected the senior inspector greatly. The elevator doors finally opened, and she got on. She turned to him just before the doors closed.

“I’ll see you after my meeting,” Han Yeo Jin said, her face filled with worry.

“See you,” he said, trying to give her a look of reassurance just as the doors closed. He was just about to head to the security office to look at the video footage and wait for Detective Jang there when his cellphone rang. He answered, and immediately heard the frantic voice of Seo Dong Jae.

“Prosecutor Seo, slow down, I didn’t hear what you just said. Can you repeat it?”

“I said, I found Park Gong Chu!”

Hwang Si Mok stopped in his tracks, stunned and excited at the news. “You found him?” he asked eagerly.

“Yes! Si-Mok, I know who it is. I know who did it! The explosion, the organized crime syndicate, everything!” he shouted breathlessly over the phone.

Hwang Si Mok listened in shocked silence as Prosecutor Seo told his story, anger and horror enveloping him with every word he heard. As the last pieces of the puzzle start to finally fall into place, he realized the magnitude of the repercussions such a revelation would cause, and the staggering implications of it. He was already running to his car by the time Prosecutor Seo finished.

“What are you going to do?” Seo Dong Jae asked. “Si-mok, Han Yeo Jin…”

“I know,” said Hwang Si Mok, cutting him off, “take the next train to Seoul, and get here as fast as you can.” He cut off the call as soon he got inside his car, and peeled out of the parking lot at full speed, a plan already forming in his head.

Seo Dong Jae is running through the Busan train station like a bat out of hell, desperate to catch the next train to Seoul. He found the right platform with less than a minute to spare, and threw himself onto a carriage just as the doors closed. He bent over, panting heavily from the exertion, then tried to find an empty seat inside the almost full carriage. He sat down heavily, adrenaline still surging through his system, both from the mad rush to catch his train and from the astounding discovery from his talk with Park Gong Chu. He closed his eyes, recalling everything from his meeting with their elusive witness.

He had managed to get Park Gong Chu inside his house and calmed him down enough to ask him questions. In a shaky voice, Park Gong Chu told him his incredible tale.

“I work as a nurse at a clinic part-time, but most of the time, I worked as a private nurse. I’m contracted with an agency, and they assign us the patients. The agency is very exclusive, and their clientele is made up of important, prominent people. My last patient was one of those people,” said Park Gong Chu.

“Who was your client?” asked Seo Dong Jae.

“Lee Yeon Beom. The Hanjo chairman,” he said, to Seo Dong Jae’s astonishment. “I worked with him for more than a year, almost up to the day he died. He was a difficult patient, but I didn’t mind working for him. Most of the time, he was actually quite pleasant. He was staying in his house with his son, Lee Sung Jae,” he paused, a frown forming between his brows, “now, he’s a different matter entirely.”

“What do you mean by that?” asked Seo Dong Jae.

“I didn’t like him. He was a bully. He treated the staff very poorly, and he kept his father inside even though Chairman Lee said he wanted to go out to see his daughter. I could tell that Lee Sung Jae did not like his sister very much, so he kept inventing reasons for his father not to see her. He also told Chairman Lee that his sister did not want to see him, but I knew that was a lie. I knew Lee Yeon Jae visited once, but they wouldn’t let her in because Lee Sung Jae ordered everyone to keep her out, and the staff is too afraid of him to disobey. I felt bad for Chairman Lee then, his condition became progressively worst after that,” he told him sadly.

“Then one day, a couple of days before the Chairman died, I saw and heard something. It was an accident. Lee Sung Jae was with another man in his office, and they were talking. I wasn’t intending to eavesdrop, but the office doors were open, and I couldn’t help but listen to what they were saying because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” he paused, then swallowed nervously. “I knew then that I had to do something. Because if what they were saying is true, and considering who the man was that Lee Sung Jae was speaking with, then I knew I had to tell the authorities. So, I went to the only person I knew who has the connections to make that happen.”

“Kim Gwang Ho. Your friend,” Seo Dong Jae guessed.

Park Gong Chu nodded gloomily. “I knew he was auditing Hanjo, and that he worked with the prosecution before. I told him about what I found, and he said that he will introduce me to Prosecutor Hwa, who was the lead prosecutor investigating Hanjo. The meeting at the restaurant was supposed to be our introduction, but I was too scared to talk to him. I was afraid of revealing myself, so I asked Gwang Ho to talk to him first, and I sat at a table near the window so I can watch the meeting between the two.” He stopped, and started sobbing onto his hands. “And then the explosion happened, and my friend was dead, and so was that prosecutor. And so many other people too. I wasn’t sure then if it was deliberate. But after that night in the hospital, when I found that man in my room holding a syringe, I knew for sure that they were after me. And that they want me dead, because of what I’ve seen and heard that day in Lee Sung Jae’s office.”

“And what did you see and hear? I need you to tell me everything, word for word, anything that you can remember,” said Seo Dong Jae eagerly.

“I don’t have to,” said Park Gong Chu. “I have the entire thing on video.”

Seo Dong Jae opened his eyes and clutched his cellphone, which now contained the video clip taken by Park Gong Chu. He was still reeling from what he had seen on the footage, and he could tell from Hwang Si Mok’ s reaction that he was also equally affected after he had shared it with him. He tried to call the other prosecutor again, and once again, his call went to voicemail. He cursed, both annoyed and worried that Hwang Si Mok may do something stupid and reckless again, like the last time. He tapped his fingers restlessly on the table in front of him, frustrated at his inability to do anything because he is trapped inside a moving train and will be for the next three hours, until he reached Seoul. He sighed, making a decision, and called Han Yeo Jin’s number.

Hwang Si Mok sat in his car at the parking lot of the Korean National Police headquarters. He had gone there to look for the senior inspector, and upon ascertaining with the officer at the reception desk that she is in fact, inside, but in a meeting, had left without seeing her, assured by the fact that she is safe. He took out his cellphone, moving on to the next stage of his plan, and called the person whom he now knew is the mastermind of all the atrocities that have been committed in their case.

“It’s Prosecutor Hwang. I need to meet you, right now. There’s something urgent I need to discuss with you,” Hwang Si Mok said to the person on the other line.

“I’m a little tied up at the moment. Can’t it wait?”

“No. It’s about Park Gong Chu, and I’m sure you know why,” said Hwang Si Mok, and heard only silence from the other end. The person spoke after a few moments, and gave him the location for their meeting, then ended the call.

Hwang Si Mok looked at the building in front him, knowing that Senior Inspector Han is inside, and felt reassured and conflicted at the same time. Reassured, because he knew that she is safe inside, and conflicted, because he also wanted to call her and tell her everything that they had discovered, and have her by his side when they arrest the person responsible for all of this. But the memory of her lying bloodied and dying in a dark alley kept intruding into his mind, and Hwang Si Mok had vowed to never again put the senior inspector’s life in jeopardy. He made a decision then, and pulled out of the parking lot. He took a final look at the building, and imagined the senior inspector working hard inside, and said a silent farewell to her in his mind, and drove to meet the monster who had been hiding in plain sight all this time.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin watched as Director No leaned back in his chair in utter shock, after Han Yeo Jin had told him that they had discovered that it was a cop who had ordered Cha Su Kyo to sabotage the gas valve, ultimately causing the explosion. She also told him about the fact that they strongly suspected that there is a leak within the task force, citing the incident with Park Ik-Joon and the recent break in at Prosecutor Hwang’s apartment as an example. Director No blew out a breath, and rubbed his eyes tiredly, looking like he had aged 10 years during the past 10 minutes of their meeting.

“Do you have any idea who it is?” asked Director No.

“Not yet, sir. But Prosecutor Hwang and Jang Geon is looking into it as we speak,” she said.

“The prosecution knows about this?” he asked, surprised.

“Just Prosecutor Hwang, sir. He was with me when we interviewed Ms. Kang,” she paused, then added, “Prosecutor Hwang does not play politics, sir, so you needn’t worry about the prosecution wresting this case away from us. He only wants the culprit caught, as we do.”

“Am I that transparent, Senior Inspector Han?” Director No asked, amused, and said, “Very well, what do you need?”

Han Yeo Jin was about to answer when her phone suddenly buzzed, signaling an incoming call. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Seo Dong Jae calling her. She declined the call, intending to call him back as soon as she finished her meeting. “We need to put additional protection on Kang Sun Ri, and it has to be with officers outside of the task force, and completely independent from the investigation. And we need to do the same thing when we find Park Gong Chu. They are both key witnesses to this case, and both had had multiple attempts on their life already.”

Director No nodded, and said, “I’ll see to it personally. I’ll handpick the men and women myself, make sure they are above reproach,” he said, then sighed. “I need to talk to the Commissioner. The fallout from this will be massive, and we need to be ready. For now, I need you to focus your investigation in finding that traitorous bastard. And I need you back here later this evening with Prosecutor Hwang so we can talk about our plan.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, and was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something she wanted to ask her chief.

“Sir, when I was at the hospital, did you send Pr-, I mean Detective Choi, over at the hospital to check on me?” she asked, grateful that she stopped herself just in time from referring to her colleague as Prick 1 in front of her superior.

Director No looked puzzled and said, “No, not that I can recall. Why?”

“It’s not important, sir. Just wondering,” Han Yeo Jin said, hiding her suspicions. She closed the door in his office, and made her way to the division where Prick 1 works, intending to ferret out the truth out of him of why he lied to her that day at the hospital and told her that he was sent there by the Director. Her cellphone rang, and she saw that it was Seo Dong Jae calling again. She answered.

“Finally! I’ve been calling you for the past hour. Where are you?”

Han Yeo Jin stopped in her tracks upon hearing Seo Dong Jae’s anxious voice, worried that he might be in trouble. “I’m in HQ. Are you okay? Where are you?” she asked.

“I’m on the train back to Seoul. You’re not with Si-Mok?” he asked, and Han Yeo Jin noted that he sounded even more anxious now.

“No, I’m not with Prosecutor Hwang,” she said, and popped inside an empty conference room for some privacy. “Seo Dong Jae, what’s going on? Did something happen?” she asked worriedly.

Seo Dong Jae sighed loudly, almost certain now that Hwang Si Mok is doing something dangerous at that very moment, considering the fact that he had not told Han Yeo Jin something that is so vital about their case. And Seo Dong Jae knew that once again, Hwang Si Mok had let his reason and logic be overridden by his absolute need to protect the senior inspector at all costs.

“I found Park Gong Chu. He told me he was the private nurse for Lee Yeon Beom. And even more than that, I found the person responsible for all of this,” he told her.

Han Yeo Jin stood in stunned silence for a moment, unable to speak after hearing his astonishing claim. “Wait, what? What do you mean you found the person responsible?” she asked, almost shouting in her shock.

“I mean, I found him Yeo-Jin. We solved the case. I’m sending you something, a video, it will explain everything. I’ll stay on the line while you watch it,” Seo Dong Jae told her.

Han Yeo Jin sat down and opened the video with trembling fingers, and watched the shaky, but clear, footage on her phone. The video was clearly taken in secret; from the angle, she could tell that the person, most likely Park Gong Chu, took it while hiding behind a wall or a door, the camera positioned between a small crack in the slightly opened doorway. She saw Lee Sung Jae talking to someone off-camera, and listened raptly to what was being said.

“The plan with Mayor Shin worked beautifully. That poor bastard had no idea that prostitute was underaged. That was a masterstroke by the way, I thought you were just going to use a regular whore for the job,” Lee Sung Jae said, snickering softly. “Are you sure they’ll stop the investigation on the contractors now?” he asked the other man in the office, who is still hidden from view.

“Positive. That would be the last thing on his mind, now that his world is crumbling to pieces around him.”

Han Yeo Jin felt the breath sucked out of her, and she slumped in her chair in utter shock and disbelief upon hearing the voice on the video. She knew that voice, recognized it, as she had heard it many times before. Deep, prominent, and as alluring as the man who owns it; and she knew with terrible certainty even before she finally saw him appear on screen that the other man in the video is Seo Tae Gu.

She watched as the same man who had charmed her, and the entire country, reveal his true self. And what she saw sickened her to her very core, and left her shaking in horror, and utter fury, at the level of deception he had perpetrated. The video continued, and she watched as the extent of both men’s crimes were finally exposed.

“Good. It won’t do for the both of us to have it known that you gave Hanjo Engineering preferential treatment for the contract on the Grand Horizon project. I’m sure bribery won’t sit well with your constituents, and I don’t want to add it on the list of the alleged crimes that the Prosecution is leveling against me,” said Lee Sung Jae.

“Isn’t bribery already one of the charges you’ve been accused of?” Seo Tae Gu asked, a note of insolence in his tone.

Lee Sung Jae scowled, and said, “Don’t get cocky. If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have those pictures of the mayor with that underage hooker. I let you use my hotel and had it rigged with cameras to catch them in the act. I paved the way for you to become the next mayor, so don’t take that tone with me.”

“You didn’t do it for me; you did it to save your own skin. And we both benefited from it, so don’t make it seem as if you did it out of the goodness of your heart,” said Seo Tae Gu, his tone switching from bored insolence to softly menacing. Lee Sung Jae noticed the change, and backed down.

“Fine, you’re right, we both benefited. This partnership had been mutually beneficial for both of us, and I want to keep it going,” Lee Sung Jae said. “I need you to do me another favor.”

Seo Tae Gu gave a humorless laugh, and said, “And why would I do that? The way I see it, we’re even.”

“No, we’re not. I gave you that tape of the mayor. I could have held on to it and blackmailed the mayor myself without releasing it, or gave it to the opposition, and it would have benefited me just the same. But I gave it to you; and because of it, you will be this city’s next mayor, and one step closer to the Blue House,” said Lee Sung Jae disdainfully.

“And I gave you that contract for Grand Horizon, which earned you billions,” countered Seo Tae Gu.

“Which I paid you for dearly! And you used that money to finance your political campaign!” shouted Lee Sung Jae. “But I guess you don’t need my money now, right? I know your little ‘side business’ is booming. I imagine you’re raking in a fortune now,” Lee Sung Jae said snidely, eyeing the councilman maliciously.

Seo Tae Gu looked at the Hanjo executive, a dangerous glint in his eye, and said, “What are you talking about?”

Lee Sung Jae scoffed. “Drugs, Illegal gambling, money laundering; the list goes on,” said Lee Sung Jae, and laughed. “I gotta hand it to you; what you’ve done in a few short years is actually quite admirable. It’s amazing what a combination of blackmail, bribes and intimidation can accomplish, and you have executed all of it beautifully. You were a nobody, and now, you’re the most powerful crime lord in Seoul.”

Lee Sung Jae looked at Seo Tae Gu, who had remained quiet during his recitation, and said “But as commendable as all your…accomplishments, are, I don’t think the people would appreciate it if they knew that their beloved councilman, and the face of the country’s bright future is, in fact, one of the most wanted criminals in all of Korea.”

“Are you blackmailing me?” Seo Tae Gu asked menacingly.

“Of course not,” said Lee Sung Jae. “Like I said, we have a mutually beneficial partnership. I help you, and you help me. That’s how it works. You and I, we rise together. But if I fall, I am not going to fall alone.”

Seo Tae Gu quietly assessed the man in front of him, and can see only one option available to him. For now, at least. “What do you want?” he asked.

Lee Sung Jae smiled, and said, “My father is dying. And it won’t be long now until he’s dead. When that happens, I want to take over as Chairman of Hanjo, but there are two things standing in my way. First, is my incompetent half-sister, and second, is this ludicrous investigation into my company by the Prosecution. I need your help with the second one, and use your connections with the Prosecution to find out what they have on me and my company.”

“And your sister?”

“We’ll discuss what to do with her after you get me the information I need.”

Seo Tae Gu deliberated the request for a moment, and then finally said, “I’ll let you know what I find.”

Lee Sung Jae smiled, and then walked over to the side table, and poured two glasses of the expensive bottle of scotch. He handed the drink to Seo Tae Gu, raised his own glass, and said, “To a mutually beneficial partnership.”

Seo Tae Gu acknowledged the toast, and drank the expensive liquor, and watched Lee Sung Jae like a predator watching his oblivious prey.

The video cut off at that point, and Han Yeo Jin stared unseeingly at the screen, her mind still processing the shocking truth. Seo Tae Gu. It had been him, all this time. Behind the benevolent face and charming smile hid a man so evil and cruel that it turned Han Yeo Jin’s stomach. He had fooled all of them; fooled her, she thought. She closed her eyes at the sudden nausea that threaten to overwhelm her at the thought that she had almost let the man into her life, and shuddered at the memory of all the times she had spent with him, and let her head be turned by all his despicable lies. She curled her fists, her revulsion slowly, and overwhelmingly, replaced by white-hot anger. And at that moment, Han Yeo Jin felt, for the first time in her life, that she might be capable of cold-blooded murder.

“Han Yeo Jin, are you okay?”

Han Yeo Jin had forgotten that Seo Dong Jae was still on the line until she heard him speak. She took a deep, steadying breath and answered, “I will be when we catch that son of a bitch.”

“Listen to me! I think Si-Mok had gone to meet him alone. I told him about Seo Tae Gu more than an hour ago, and he’s not answering his phone. You have to find him!” Seo Dong Jae shouted frantically.

“Oh god,” cried Han Yeo Jin, fear and panic settling deep into her bones and into her very core at the thought of what might happen to Prosecutor Hwang at the hands of such an evil and wicked man. She flew out of the room and raced down the hallway, ignoring the startled look of her colleagues, one of which was Prick 1, at her mad rush towards the exit. She reached her car and jumped into the driver’s seat, and realized that she did not know where to go because she does not know where Prosecutor Hwang and Seo Tae Gu is. She clasped her head trying to think of a way to find them, and thought about running a trace on Prosecutor Hwang’s phone. That will take too long, she thought frantically, and discarded the idea, when another thought suddenly occurred to her. She picked up her phone, found the right number, and dialed.

“Councilman Seo’s office.”

Han Yeo Jin heard the female voice answer the call at Seo Tae Gu’s office and tried to speak calmly, not wanting to spook the woman.

“Hello, my name is Senior Inspector Han Yeo Jin from the National Pol-“

“Oh yes, of course, Senior Inspector Han. The councilman had mentioned you to us many times before. What can I do for you?”

Convenient, Han Yeo Jin thought, if not also sickening, but she’ll take the win, considering the circumstances. “That’s…nice. I actually need to see him right now. Do you know where he is?”

“Yes, I believe he is at Site B,” said the secretary.

Han Yeo Jin’s heart leapt, and asked, “Site B?”

“Yes, at the Grand Horizon Industrial Park. Site B is the one that is still under construction. But it’s already closed down for the day so I’m not sure if h-”

“Thank you,” she said, cutting her off, and hung up the call. She gunned her engine, put her sirens on, and drove out of the parking lot at full speed.

She looked up at the sky and saw that it was near dusk, the sky growing dark in the horizon. She put her foot down on the accelerator and felt her car gather speed, and said a quick, desperate prayer to keep her friend safe from harm until she can be with him.

Chapter Text

Seo Tae Gu knew from an early age that he was different.

He would have stood out already due to the fact that his family was the poorest one in their neighborhood, or the fact that their neighbors would always refer to him with a sad shake of their heads as ‘that poor boy’, while their children called him names and make fun of his charity-bin clothes. But it was none of those things that made him feel different. It was the fact that even as a young boy, he understood that he was someone special, and knew with an inexplicable certainty that he was destined for greatness. He never knew where that feeling came from, and it certainly was not fostered by the adults in his life. His father, a disgraced cop who was fired from the force when he was caught taking bribes and abusing his power, certainly would have laughed and mocked him for having such fanciful thoughts, and then proceeded to beat him up, which was his second favorite past time, after drinking himself into a stupor. His poor mother would have just stared at him with that glazed and blank look of the hopeless, her spirit already crushed by a cruel spouse, leaving only the empty, defeated shell of a woman who barely had the energy, or the desire, to take care of her young son. But Seo Tae Gu continued to feel that spark inside of him, and he nurtured that feeling all throughout his school years, where he had excelled in both academics and sports, and eventually earned him a scholarship to attend university. By then, Seo Tae Gu’s feeling of predetermined greatness was further strengthened when he started earning the praise and admiration of his classmates and professors, who were all impressed by his keen intellect and popularity among his peers, and graduated at the top of his class.

He joined the Marine Corps for his mandatory military service, and while there, began to cultivate the image that would eventually evolve to the persona that is now known to the public. The Marines were a good experience for him. It instilled in him the values of discipline, duty and above all, gave him ample opportunities to practice what he thought of as his best skill – his ability to manipulate people and his prodigious ability to lie. It was during this time that he started to build the connections he would later use, and it was there that he met the man who would later become his top lieutenant for his less-than-legal enterprise.

Seo Tae Gu learned from the outset that he had to claw his way to the top. He did not come from the right background, was not from a prominent family and did not go to the right schools. Therefore, he used the best weapon he had at his disposal; his brains, his good looks, and a singular talent of always knowing just the right thing to say. His rise to the top was both quick and remarkable, sustained by the image of a smart, handsome and compassionate self-starter that he had masterfully promoted. His humble background appealed to the masses, his youth and vibrant lifestyle made him relatable to the younger generation, and his good looks and ability to articulately speak on any topics gained him acceptance among the upper echelons of society. He cultivated an aura of mystery, refusing to talk about his personal life, and only shared tiny tidbits of his life outside of his political activities. The public ate it up, and the more he demurred on any attempt to make him open up, the public’s curiosity and interest on him only grew. But what they did not know was that his reticence was not just by design, but by necessity; because behind the affable and virtuous persona, lies a ruthless and narcissistic sociopath.

He ingratiated himself to powerful and influential people, showing just the right amount of subservience and obsequiousness, while secretly despising them all for thinking that they are his betters. They’re all the same, he thought, whether you are a member of a powerful chaebol, or a dirty drug dealer in the slums. They’re all motivated by the same things; money, power, more power, and above all, fear. Fear is a powerful motivator, and it is all about finding your opponent’s greatest weakness, and using that to your advantage. And Seo Tae Gu possessed the uncanny ability to discover this information from any target he chooses. They all reveal themselves to him, in the end; and by the time they realized it, they are all firmly and completely, under his control. Watching and listening to all the people praise and celebrate him, Seo Tae Gu would secretly amuse himself by thinking how stupid they all are; the rising political star, future Mayor of Seoul, being groomed to take the highest office in the land, is in fact, the mastermind and leader of the most notorious criminal organizations in the country.

As he stood on one of the buildings currently under construction at Grand Horizon, the site of what had become the crowning glory of his tenure as councilman, he felt again the powerful and familiar rush of his destined supremacy that had been his constant companion since childhood. He watched the sun set over his city; his kingdom, he corrected, for he truly is its king. He had conquered the criminal underworld and had become its undisputed overlord, and now, he is one step away from becoming the city’s legitimate and elected leader: ruler of both the civilized and the uncivilized, master of both the light and the dark.

Only one thing stood in his preordained path to greatness, and that is the man who is currently gazing up at him from the ground below, his usual blank and impassive face firmly in place. He smiled, confident that this is another obstacle that he will certainly overcome. After all, what can a mere prosecutor do against the omnipotent and almighty hand of fate?

Hwang Si Mok arrived at the construction site. He got out of his car and looked around the area, noticing the silence and the absence of the construction crew, and felt an ominous sense of déjà vu. It had also been in a construction site where he had confronted Lee Chang Jun three years ago, and it was there where his late senior had confessed his crime to him, before jumping to his death. The parallels of that fateful day with this particular moment were not lost on him. But as he stared up the unfinished building in front of him, and met the gaze of the monster standing on one of the higher floors peering down at him, he thought that the parallels had ended there. The scene may be the same, but the monsters are different; one was driven by a righteous, if not morally reprehensible, crusade, and had chosen to end his life rather than be caught. Whereas this one, was driven by pure greed, and the insatiable desire to greater power. And Hwang Si Mok is certain in his belief that this particular monster will never choose to take the easy way out, and knew without a doubt that only one, or neither, of them will get to walk away from all this by the end.

He saw Seo Tae Gu smile down at him in welcome, as if greeting an old friend, and Hwang Si Mok thought as he looked at the other man’s beaming, handsome face, that this must be what true evil looks like. He gathered himself, and walked towards the staircase, and up the flight of stairs to meet him.

Chapter Text

Seo Tae Gu heard footsteps behind him and knew that Prosecutor Hwang had finally arrived. He remained as he was, looking out towards the Seoul skyline, and kept his back firmly trained on the prosecutor.

“Look at this,” he said breathlessly, gesturing towards the view. “Can you believe that only four years ago, this area was a dirty and disgusting slum?”

“We found Park Gong Chu,” said Hwang Si Mok, refusing to acknowledge Seo Tae Gu’s pronouncement.

“And now, it has become the symbol of this country’s bright future,” Seo Tae Gu continued in a grandiose tone, as if Hwang Si Mok had not spoken. “It’s going to be the biggest revenue generator for the city. And it will show the world what an economic and technological powerhouse Korea is.”

“He has a video, and it showed you and Lee Sung Jae talking about the trap you set with the mayor, among other things.” Hwang Si Mok continued, speaking to Seo Tae Gu’s back, and inching closer to where the other man was standing. “But I suppose I don’t have to tell you what’s in it, I’m sure you remember what was said exactly between you and Lee Sung Jae at that meeting. He was right though, Lee Sung Jae, I mean, when he said that people will not appreciate it if they find out that their dear, future mayor is the most wanted criminal in the country. Guilty of bribery, embezzlement, drug trafficking, and all the crimes you have committed as the country’s top organized crime boss.”

Seo Tae Gu remained standing with his back turned to Hwang Si Mok, but he noticed the councilman’s shoulder tensed with every word he uttered. He stopped a few feet from Seo Tae Gu, and said, “All those crimes are already despicable on their own, but how do you think the people will react when they find out that you’re also a mass murderer?”

Seo Tae Gu turned around slowly, finally facing Hwang Si Mok, and regarded him with a foreboding expression.

“You ordered that explosion to target Park Gong Chu, because somehow, you found out that he had that video footage. Prosecutor Hwa and Kim Gwang Ho had to go too, because they knew about it. But you couldn’t just kill the three of them, that will look too suspicious. And the police and prosecution may dig deeper and find the connection between them, and link it back to you and Lee Sung Jae. And you were not sure if there were other evidence that any of the three may have hidden away that you don’t know about. So, you had to make it look like an accident.”

“You killed eight people from that explosion. And then two more to cover up the fact that you did,” said Hwang Si Mok referring to Cha Su Kyo and Park Ik-Joon. “And one more who died as a result of your evil machinations,” he said, referring to Detective Park. “And then you tried to murder three more; Park Gwang Ho, the waitress,” he paused, and took a deep breath to rein in his anger, “and the senior inspector.” He finished, looking at Seo Tae Gu in suppressed rage, and added, “You did all of that. You ended all those lives in such a violent and inhuman manner, and then tried to end more, just to protect your secrets.”

“Are you here to arrest me Prosecutor Hwang?” Seo Tae Gu asked, smiling softly.

Hwang Si Mok did not respond to his question, and Seo Tae Gu continued, walking slowly towards him as he spoke. “I don’t see a warrant with you, so I’m guessing not. Because all of what you said are just suppositions. You don’t have any hard evidence to support any of these claims. And that video you have is not admissible in court, because it was taken without any of the party’s knowledge,” he said, smirking. “So really, Prosecutor Hwang, you have nothing against me, and nothing that you can use in a court of law.”

“We know you have a man in the police, and it’s only a matter of time before we find him, and I’m sure that he will lead us directly to you,” said Hwang Si Mok. “And besides, I don’t need the court to end your political career. All I need to do is release that video to the press, or any of the social media platforms, and you will be as good as finished.”

Hwang Si Mok watched as Seo Tae-Gu’s once-handsome face contorted into an ugly and wicked expression. The outside finally reflecting what is inside, he thought, and what he saw was both unpleasant and horrid indeed.

“There are people more powerful than you who has a personal stake in my rise and fall,” Seo Tae Gu spat out angrily at Hwang Si Mok. “People who will do anything in their power to protect me, because my destruction will be followed swiftly by theirs.”

“I’ll find them too,” Hwang Si Mok said.

“But can you find them all?” Seo Tae Gu asked, his tone slightly mocking. “How did you think I got this far? How did you think I was able to operate for so long in the dark?”

Seo Tae Gu walked closer to Hwang Si Mok, and then asked, tauntingly, “How did you think I knew that Prosecutor Hwa was meeting with a secret witness?”

Hwang Si Mok tensed, realizing the implication that the councilman had a spy in the Prosecution. Seo Tae Gu saw, and smiled, relishing his reaction.

“Doesn’t it bother you, Prosecutor Hwang, that you don’t know who to trust in your own organization? That the institution you so loyally serve is rotting from the inside,” Seo Tae Gu asked, his tone full of malice. “Don’t you feel depressed to know how futile it is to keep fighting? To know how alone you really are?” He stared at Hwang Si Mok, his expression full of mock pity, and asked, “Isn’t that the reason Lee Chang Jun killed himself?”

Hwang Si Mok thought of the people in the prosecution and the police, and of the many nameless men and women who are still carrying out their sworn duty to protect the law. There are many of whom that have been corrupted along the way to be sure, but there are still plenty of whom that still honor their oath to uphold justice. He thought of Seo Dong Jae, and of the Yongsan Detective squad. Of Senior Inspector Han, and his heart lightened at the thought of the good men and women that had supported him in his fight against injustice.

“I’m not alone,” he said, his voice full of conviction.

Seo Tae Gu sneered nastily at Hwang Si Mok’s response, and changed tactics.

“What do you want?” Seo Tae Gu asked.

“From you? Nothing,” answered Hwang Si Mok.

“Then let me ask you a different question. What do you care most about?” asked Seo Tae Gu, but Hwang Si Mok remained silent, refusing to answer his question.

“You see, I read up on you, Prosecutor Hwang. They took away a part of your brain, and that made you devoid of any feelings or any emotional attachments. At first, it frustrated me, not knowing what motivates you. What makes you tick. But then, I realized; I actually liked the challenge. Everyone is so easy to figure out. But not you,” Seo Tae Gu said, smiling at Hwang Si Mok.

“No wife, no children, no girlfriends, and no friends. Maybe your mother?” Seo Tae Gu asked, and cocked his head in mock consideration. “But no, you’re not really close with her…” He said, trailing off and walking closer to Hwang Si Mok. He stopped only inches from him, and regarded him with a malevolent look.

“Senior Inspector Han Yeo Jin,” Seo Tae Gu said, and smiled triumphantly as he watched Hwang Si Mok’s jaw clench.

“See? Everyone has something they care about. And if you think that exile, even prison, can stop me, then you are very much mistaken,” he said, his tone ominous and threatening. “She’ll always be looking over her shoulders, and you’ll always wonder, if today is going to be the day. Because next time, I’ll make sure that my men won’t miss.”

Hwang Si Mok clenched his fists at the threat, while Seo Tae Gu continued. “I warned you. I told you to take her away from this case. To keep her safe. But you didn’t listen. I really do not want to hurt her, Prosecutor Hwang, because despite of what you may think of me, I was actually sincerely fond of the senior inspector. She is my ideal woman; beautiful, strong, independent and genuinely good. I don’t blame you one bit for liking her too. But let’s be honest, Yeo-Jin look better with me than with you.”

“Don’t call her that,” Hwang Si Mok said angrily, unable to contain his outburst and his outrage at hearing the bastard say her name so familiarly.

Seo Tae Gu laughed unpleasantly, and jeered. “How chivalrous of you, Prosecutor Hwang. I’m sure she’ll appreciate knowing how staunchly you defended her honor. Too bad she’ll never know the truth. I’m going to tell you one thing though; I am going to enjoy breaking her.”

Hwang Si Mok moved the same time as Seo Tae Gu, and grasped the councilman’s wrist with both hands, forcing the hand that was holding the gun away from his body, and tried to wrest the weapon away from him. They struggled, with neither obtaining the upper hand. They were so intent on their battle that both of them failed to notice the sound of an arriving car.

Han Yeo Jin screeched to a stop beside Prosecutor Hwang’s car at the construction site. She leapt out of her vehicle and looked around her, trying to ascertain where he went off to, when she heard the distinctive sounds of struggle nearby. She looked up, and saw in horror Prosecutor Hwang and Seo Tae Gu locked in a furious battle, the unmistakable glint of a gun in both their hands. She ran up the stairs at full speed, taking out her revolver from its holster with shaking hands, and prayed that her nerves do not fail her when the time comes.

Hwang Si Mok can feel Seo Tae Gu slowly losing his grip on the gun. The councilman tried to elbow him, but he parried quickly, and the effort had further loosened the other man’s grip. All of a sudden, Seo Tae Gu removed his other hand from the gun, reached into his back, and pulled out a small knife that was hidden there. He slashed Hwang Si Mok’s arm with a knife, and the pain had caused him to loosen his hold. Seo Tae Gu took advantage of the distraction caused by the knife attack and seized the gun away from Hwang Si Mok, and pulled the trigger, the gun aimed directly at Hwang Si Mok’s abdomen.

Han Yeo Jin heard the gunshot just as she reached the final step on the stairs, and saw Prosecutor Hwang falling slowly to the floor, his hands clutching at his stomach, and Seo Tae Gu holding the gun that is still aimed at him.

“Freeze!” shouted Han Yeo Jin, and aimed her gun at Seo Tae Gu with trembling hands. “Put down the gun! Put it down now!”

Seo Tae Gu looked at her, great frustration evident on his face, and turned angrily at Hwang Si Mok’s figure lying on the floor, and yelled, “You told her?! I told you to keep her away from this! Do you realize what you’ve done?! What you have forced me to do?!”

“I said put it down!” Han Yeo Jin repeated the order, and walked slowly towards Seo Tae Gu, who had not relinquished his hold on the gun, but neither is he pointing it towards Prosecutor Hwang now either. She watched as Seo Tae Gu took a deep breath, turning to her, and then smiled the same charming and beautiful smile that he used to give her in the past. And Han Yeo Jin had to repress a shudder at the evil she had seen lurking in his eyes.

“Are you going to shoot me, Senior Inspector Han?” Seo Tae Gu asked her softly, a hint of a smile still on his lips.

“If you don’t put down the gun and knife then I will,” said Han Yeo Jin, her voice steady, but the shaking in her hands betrayed her distress.

 Seo Tae Gu smiled, and shook his head. “I don’t think you will. Or maybe ‘can’t’ is a better word,” said Seo Tae Gu inching towards her slowly.

“Don’t move!” Han Yeo Jin yelled, tightening her grip on the gun. Seo Tae Gu halted, and lifted the hands that were still holding the knife and gun a fraction, as if to placate her. He gazed at her then, a look of great pity on his face, and spoke.

“Look at you, you’re a mess. You’re shaking so hard just holding that gun. You won’t be able to shoot me because you’re too afraid. Just as you were afraid this morning at Yongsan precinct. You have lost your nerve, Senior Inspector Han,” he told her sympathetically. Han Yeo Jin knew that Seo Tae Gu is playing mind games with her, but that realization did not stop her brain from responding in absolute fear at the thought that she has to fire her weapon, and she wanted to cry in both anger and frustration as her body betrayed her and revealed her weakness in front of him.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Senior Inspector Han. I meant what I said, I would like to be with you. I think we’ll be great together. Think of what we can accomplish, the good that we can do, with you by my side.”

This time, Han Yeo Jin did not try to contain the shudder that ran through her. Not just the fact that the thought of being with Seo Tae Gu is so abhorrent to her, but also at the realization that he had deluded himself that he can still walk away unscathed after today’s events.

“You’re insane. You can’t escape from this,” she said to him.

“Yes I can,” Seo Tae Gu said with complete confidence. “All I have to say is that Prosecutor Hwang confronted me, then tried to shoot me, like he did with Director Park. We struggled, and I shot him in self- defense. But not before accidentally shooting you,” Seo Tae Gu said calmly, and then looked at her earnestly.

“But I don’t want to hurt you. So please, don’t make me,” he said persuasively. “Come with me. He’s already dead anyway.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang, lying supine on the ground, his blood gushing from the wound in his stomach. She saw him look at her, his eyes calm and quiet, as if he sensed her great distress and is trying to soothe her, in the same way that he does whenever she felt troubled. Her tears fell then, at the thought that he is still trying to take care of her, even while fighting for his life, and at the realization that she might have been too late to save her friend.

Seo Tae Gu saw her tears, and scoffed cruelly. “I guess that’s a no, then. Shame,” he said, then lifted the gun to shoot at Han Yeo Jin.

The sound of gunshot reverberated throughout the floor. Seo Tae Gu held the gun trained at Han Yeo Jin; he looked down, a look of surprise forming on his face at the red stain growing on his chest.

Han Yeo Jin watched as Seo Tae Gu stared at her in shock, disbelief on his face that she had fired her weapon at him. He moved the hand that was still holding the gun, as if to shoot her, and Han Yeo Jin fired another round at him, hitting him again in the chest. She fired again, and again, walking slowly towards him, her steps punctuating each shot, and stopped only when she heard the click of the empty barrel of her revolver, and the councilman’s body hit the floor. She lowered her weapon then, and looked dispassionately at the bloody corpse of Seo Tae Gu, and realized that her hands have never been steadier.

She tossed her spent weapon, and ran towards the still form of Prosecutor Hwang.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin took out her cellphone and quickly dialed 119. “I need an ambulance sent to the Grand Horizon construction site. I have a prosecutor down. Send all police units in the area immediately!” she shouted on the phone, and then knelt beside Prosecutor Hwang. She removed her blazer, and pressed it against his stomach. She saw him wince at the pressure, but kept both her hands firmly pressed against the wound, desperately trying to staunch the bleeding.

“The ambulance is coming. Just hold on for a little bit longer, okay?,” she said softly to him, her voice trembling with fear. She looked down at the gunshot wound in his stomach, and felt her blazer already being soaked through with Prosecutor Hwang’s blood, her hands now covered with it. She looked at Prosecutor Hwang then, and she knew that he could read the dread in her face, and the terror in her eyes, and did her best to contain the panic that threatened to overwhelm her, and stay strong for her friend.

“It’s okay. You’re okay. We’ll get you to the hospital. You’re going to be alright.” She chanted this over and over, as if reciting a desperate prayer, as if repeating it again and again will make it true. She knew she was rambling, but couldn’t get herself to stop. She needed to say these words, not just for Prosecutor Hwang but for herself too. Because the blood won’t stop coming, and she can feel him slipping away with each second. She saw Prosecutor Hwang’s eyes starting to close, and shouted at him in panic.

“No! Stay with me! Open your eyes! Si-Mok!”

Hwang Si Mok heard Senior Inspector Han say his name for the very first time, and with a massive effort, opened his eyes. He looked at her then, struggling to keep his eyes open, weak from the pain and the blood loss.

“You foolish man. Why didn’t you call me? Why did you come here alone?” Han Yeo Jin asked him tearfully, her face contorted in despair and misery.

“I can’t let him hurt you. I’m sorry,” said Hwang Si Mok, his voice clear and steady despite his condition. He watched as the senior inspector wept, unrestrained and heartrending sobs shaking her entire body. Even in his current state, Hwang Si Mok still cannot bear to see her in distress, and gathered all of his remaining strength to speak to her, and help ease her pain.

“It’s you,” he said softly.

The weakly muttered words pierced through Han Yeo Jin’s haze of sorrow, and she looked at Prosecutor Hwang in confusion, afraid that the blood loss had started to make him incoherent.

“What did you say?” she asked.

“You asked me before what I dream about, when we were at the hospital,” said Hwang Si Mok, looking at her intently. “It’s you. I dream about you. And in my dreams, I am happy.”

Han Yeo Jin shook her head vigorously, refusing to hear his words; refusing to acknowledge what he had just said because his words had a ring of finality to it. Of a confession. And Han Yeo Jin refused to accept the unthinkable, that he is saying these things to her because he knew that it is his last chance to.

“Please…Please…”

Han Yeo Jin begged with all her might and with all of her being. She begged the universe, and all the gods, and anyone who can hear. But most of all, she begged Hwang Si Mok to not abandon her alone, and force her to live in a world without him in it.

“I can’t do this without you. Please stay with me. Promise me,” she asked him in an anguished plea.

Hwang Si Mok wanted to tell her that he will not leave her. That he will stay with her now, and always, and for as long as they both shall live. But he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He had never broken a promise to the senior inspector, and he is not about to start now, because the truth was that he is not sure that he would be able to keep it. He looked at her then, at the face that he knows better than his own, and the face of the woman of his literal dreams, and the memory of a conversation they had three years ago suddenly came to him. It was during their first case, and they have been sitting in his office. She asked him a question then, a question that he did not know how to answer, because the concept was alien to him. But as Hwang Si Mok stood at the brink of oblivion, he finally knew with absolute certainty, the answer to the senior inspector’s question.

I’m sure you’ve been in love. Think about the women you’ve been with. Your first love. You have, right?

Han Yeo Jin looked at Hwang Si Mok, his face staring unseeing at the distance, as if he is watching something that only he could see. She heard the sounds of sirens in the distance, and called his name in wild desperation, forcing him to look at her.

“Look at me! Si-Mok!” She turned his head to force him to look at her directly, and saw his eyes finally focus on her, and watched as his face broke into a wide smile. Not the half and tight-lipped smiles that she had seen before, but a full one; his lips split into a broad grin, his eyes crinkling at the corners, glittering with uninhibited joy. She gasped, stunned at the change in him, and at the radiance and beauty of it. She smiled tearfully back at him, touching his face gently, and thought to herself that she would have loved to draw his beautiful face at that very moment.

“Yes I have. Thank you, Yeo Jin,” said Hwang Si Mok, and closed his eyes.

***

Seo Dong Jae raced down the hospital hallway, towards the operating room where the doctors are currently working on Hwang Si Mok. He had been on pins and needles the entire train ride to Seoul, and his nerves were close to the breaking point when both Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok did not answer his calls. He finally called Detective Jang, who had apprised him of what had happened, and confirmed his worst fear: that Seo Tae Gu’s crimes have been exposed, and died after Han Yeo Jin pumped his body full of lead. But that Hwang Si Mok was gravely injured during the incident, and had been taken to the hospital for surgery. The press was camped out in full force outside the hospital, all hungry for any information on what is proving to be the most sensational and scandalous piece of news in decades. He cannot think about the press now, nor the fallout that will inevitably come after. All he can focus on is his friend who is fighting for his life at that very moment, and his other friend who must be feeling tortured and helpless while she waited.

He rounded a corner, and finally saw Han Yeo Jin sitting on a chair, her eyes glazed with shock, staring unseeing in the distance, and her shirt completely covered in blood. He halted abruptly, suddenly fearful, just as the doors of the OR opened. He saw Dr. Chae remove her mask and approached Han Yeo Jin, who had stood up on shaky legs. The doctor spoke to her in a quiet tone, and he watched as Han Yeo Jin’s knees buckled from underneath her. He ran to her, and as he caught her before she hit the floor, he realized that there is only one reason that would make the indomitable senior inspector fall on her knees, and it took all of Seo Dong Jae’s self-control to quell the scream of anger and pain that filled his grieving heart.

Oh Joo Seung sat alone in his office at the Western Seoul Prosecution Office, and watched the numerous news coverage on the Seo Tae Gu case.

“…confirmed that Seo Tae Gu, current councilman and mayoral candidate, has died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. In a shocking development, police have now confirmed that Councilman Seo was responsible for the restaurant explosion in Haebangchon, as well as the leader of the organized crime syndicate that have been operating in the city. The councilman had shot a member of the prosecution, who was arresting him on multiple criminal charges, forcing the police to shoot him down as a result. The police and prosecution have not released the name of the member of the prosecution who was injured during the incident, and it has not been made clear whether the unknown person has survived…”

Oh Joo Seung turned the TV off, and rested his head on his hands, and wondered despondently if the greater good is more important than the cost of one human life. He knew from the outset that sacrifices will be necessary in the pursuit of their goal, but he found himself beginning to waver as they progressed. He felt the first flicker of doubt after the senior inspector had almost met her death; and now, his resolve is further weakened as he realized that their actions may well have caused the demise of a truly remarkable and virtuous man.

He took out his cellphone, and made a call to the man who had helped orchestrate all of this.

“This was not part of the plan,” said Oh Joo Seung as soon as the line was picked up.

“We cannot stop now.”

Oh Joo Seung’s hand tightened on his phone, and said accusingly, “Then his blood is on your hands.”

The harsh indictment was met only with silence, and Oh Joo Seung thought that the other man had terminated the call, until he heard him speak.

“They’re on yours too,” said Ahn Yeong Seok, his voice heavy with regret.

Chapter Text

Lee Yeon Jae sat stiffly on a chair inside the dingy prison waiting area, awaiting the arrival of Director Park. She had not seen her former aide-de-camp since he was arrested, relying instead on the army of company attorneys that she had assigned to represent him to give her regular updates on his case, as well as inform her of his well-being. The lawyers had advised her to refrain from contacting Director Park directly, telling her that she needed to distance herself from the disgraced executive, in order to insulate the company from further scandal, and Lee Yeon Jae was more than happy to oblige. She told herself that she only did so to protect her company, and tried to silence the uneasiness borne out of feelings that she did not dare name. But in her quieter moments, lying sleepless at night or sitting alone in her office, she found the truth becoming more difficult to quell, and Lee Yeon Jae finally admitted to herself why she really did not want to see her former executive.  

Shame. And guilt, she thought. Because Lee Yeon Jae knew the real reason Park Ji Chul did what he did, and knew that she was ultimately the cause, and the real motivation, behind his actions. She was not completely oblivious to the fact that the Director may have harbored feelings towards her. And while she may not have actively encouraged the sentiment, she knew that she had taken advantage of those feelings to have him enact and enforce her crusade to win against her half-brother at all costs, even if the tasks are legally ambiguous, even ethically questionable, at times. It amused her in the beginning when she had sensed his infatuation with her, and will admit that it also fed her vanity to know that men still found her attractive and desirable. But she knew that Director Park will never cross the line with her, and she had endeavored to always maintain a distance between herself and her loyal executive; not just to maintain professionalism, but to also shrewdly, and ruthlessly, exploit his unrequited feelings by dangling the proverbial carrot on a stick. Close enough to see, but still out of reach, she thought cleverly at that time, and realized now that what she had perceived as cleverness was nothing but simple cruelty; and the man who had served her so loyally did so not because of the expectation of a reward, but because he had truly, and completely, loved her.

“Don’t you ever wonder why all the men who ever loved you end up either dead or destroyed? Our Father. Lee Chang Jun. And now, Director Park?”

She bowed her head, remembering her brother’s spiteful words, and acknowledged the truth in it. It did seem as if all the men who had loved her were cursed to suffer a terrible fate. And while she may not be able to take the full credit with her father, even with Chang-Jun, she knew that she was directly responsible for the tragic outcome that had befallen Park Ji-Chul. And Lee Yeon Jae was filled with great shame, and immense regret, that she had sacrificed a good man, and threw away a second chance at happiness; all for the pursuit of more wealth and power that she never truly wanted in the first place. She realized then that Prosecutor Hwang was right; her reckoning has come, and it was more terrible than she could ever have imagined.

Her musings were interrupted by a loud buzzing, signaling the opening of the interior door that led from the prison to the waiting area, and saw Director Park, clad in a prison jumpsuit, being led inside. He froze, a look of surprise on his face upon seeing her on the other side of the protective plexiglass, and watched as he walked unsteadily forward and took his seat across from her. Lee Yeon Jae picked up the handset, and spoke.

“How are you?” she asked tentatively, her voice slightly trembling. To her surprise, Director Park gave her a slight smile.

“I’m alright, ma’am, thank you for asking. How are you? Are you alright?” he asked, great concern reflected on his face.

Lee Yeon Jae smiled, and to her surprise, tears instantly followed. She was not expecting the reaction, and especially not right out of the gate; but Director Park’s genuine concern for her well-being had disarmed her. She was not expecting a warm reception, but neither was she expecting Director Park to still place her comfort and welfare above his, especially in his current dismal state. Director Park looked at her tears in worry, afraid that he had inadvertently caused them, and Lee Yeon Jae cannot find the right words to tell him that her tears were borne out her unbearable guilt and immense regret. Because she was the reason that he is sitting across from her now, stripped of his freedom, and the reason that a young life was senselessly ended.

“Mrs. Lee, are you alright? I’m sorry if I’ve upset you,” said Director Park anxiously.

 “Still looking out for me Director Park?” Lee Yeon Jae asked, smiling at him tearfully. “Again, I’m afraid I don’t deserve it.”

Park Ji-Chul gazed at the face of the woman he loves, and his heart ached from the pain that he saw there. He smiled at her, a smile that was tinged with sadness and regret, for all that they have lost, and for all that could have been.

“I will always look out for you, Mrs. Lee. And you deserve better than the likes of me. You deserve better than your father, your late husband, and your half-brother. Your life has been filled with pain and tragedy, and I watched you overcome all of it on your own. You deserve better than what the men in your life had given you.”

Lee Yeon Jae took a moment to compose herself after Director Park’s emotional declaration. She looked at him now, and said vehemently, “I will do everything in my power to get you out of here.”

But Director Park only shook his head sadly at her, and said, “No, ma’am. I caused the death of an innocent man. I deserve to be here.” He looked at her intently, and said, “But I shouldn’t be the only one.”

Lee Yeon Jae stared at Director Park, understanding dawning on her. She had been watching the news about Seo Tae Gu, and she knew even without proof that somehow, her reprehensible half-brother is connected to it. She also heard about a prosecutor being injured during the incident, and she knew instinctively that they are referring to Prosecutor Hwang. It had been the last straw that broke her continued silence and inaction, and what broke her resolve to continue on the same path that Seo Dong Jae had warned her about.

“My brother,” she said ominously.

Director Park nodded. “I lied to the police and prosecution. I had to, to protect myself, and you” he said. “I told them I didn’t find anything from the terrace office that burned down that night. But that’s not true, because I did find something,” Director Park said, his eyes shining.

Lee Yeon Jae leaned forward eagerly, and said, “Tell me everything,” and listened as Director Park told her his incredible story.

Lee Yeon Jae called a number on her phone the moment she entered the car. She had just finished her visit with Director Park, and her discussion with him had made it clear to her what she needed to do next. She heard the other line picked up, and spoke.

“This is Lee Yeon Jae. I need information on a patient.”

***

“…updates on the developing story regarding the crimes of Seo Tae Gu. Sungmoon Daily had received unconfirmed reports that the unnamed prosecutor that was shot by the former councilman has died from his wounds. No official confirmation has been received from the Prosecution on whether the reports are true…”

Lee Sung Jae turned off the TV set, and breathed a sigh of relief. He had been on tenterhooks ever since that fool, Seo Tae Gu, had gotten himself killed and almost ruined everything that he has worked for. He was worried that the police and prosecution were able to uncover whatever it was that that wretched nurse, Park Gong Chu, had on them, and he had been anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop and have himself and his company implicated on the many illegal activities of that vile councilman. But his earlier call with his contact with the prosecution, who had assured him that his name had not come up in connection with Seo Tae Gu, and this development that the prosecutor who had been investigating the case had died, had assured him that he is in the clear. He smiled, and amused himself by thinking that he should thank Seo Tae Gu for not only getting himself killed, but also killing the other loose thread that was Prosecutor Hwang. His phone suddenly rang, interrupting his moment of levity, and saw the name of his half-sister come up on the caller ID. He scowled, and answered.

“What do you want?” he said curtly. He listened as his half-sister asked for a meeting with him tomorrow morning, telling him that there is something of ‘great importance’ that she needs to tell him.

“It’s about the company, and you’re going to want to hear what I have to say, so think carefully before you say no,” said Lee Yeon Jae.

Lee Sung Jae sneered. He knew exactly what his worthless half-sister wanted to talk to him about, and it filled him with glee just thinking about it. He knew she is under a lot of pressure from the board after the incident with Director Park. Despite the fact that the lying bastard had wrongly implicated him, his half-sister cannot hide the fact that the man had worked under her for many years. And now, her competency and fitness to hold the title of CEO is being put to question after she had allowed such a man to operate unchecked for so long, and had put a stain on the company’s reputation as a result. He smiled. He will agree to the meeting, more to see the expression on the bitch’s face when he lorded her mistakes over her than any interest on anything she has to say.

“Very well, I will see you at my hotel suite tomorrow for breakfast,” he said, and ended the call.

He smiled, feeling immensely pleased that everything is finally working in his favor, and that everything he had worked so hard for after so many years are finally within his grasp. He walked to the sideboard and poured himself a glass of his favorite scotch, then raised the glass in toast to the late councilman.

“Here’s to you, you rotten bastard. May you enjoy your eternity in hell,” said Lee Sung Jae and laughed at his own clever joke.

Chapter Text

Lee Yeon Jae walked along the hotel hallway, on her way to her brother’s suite for their morning meeting. As expected, she was greeted by three of her brother’s goons, who had stopped her in the middle of the hallway for a security inspection.

“Apologies, Mrs. Lee, but we need to perform a security scan,” the guard said. Lee Yeon Jae nodded her head haughtily, allowing the man to wave the wand around her body.

“We also need to take your phone. We will return it after your meeting,” the guard told her. She frowned at the intrusive request, but took out her cellphone nonetheless, just as a door opened to their left and expelled a woman dressed in clothes that Lee Yeon Jae would have called ‘vulgar’, and her appearance screaming the hard night of partying that she is clearly still suffering from. She staggered unsteadily on her high heeled feet and obvious state of inebriation, and bumped unceremoniously against Lee Yeon Jae.

“Watch it bitch!” the vulgar woman said, to Lee Yeon Jae’s indignation.

Lee Sung Jae had been watching the entire encounter while standing at the door of his suite, and laughed meanly at the look of outrage on his sister’s face, who had clearly taken offense at the other woman’s rude conduct. He watched as the ice princess tried to compose herself, and then walked slowly towards him.

“Friend of yours?” he asked mockingly, and laughed derisively at her disgruntled look. She entered the room, and took a seat in one of the couches. He sat across from her, a look of amusement still evident on his face, after the entertaining encounter of watching someone call his half-sister a bitch.

“What do I owe this visit?” he asked, still chortling.

Instead of answering, Lee Yeon Jae took out a tiny USB drive from her purse, and handed it to Lee Sung Jae.

“Open it, and then we’ll talk,” she said.

Lee Sung Jae looked at his sister, both annoyed and curious at her request. He grabbed his laptop from his desk, popped in the usb drive, and opened the file; and his eyes widened at what he saw.

“I assume you know what this is. After all, this is what you and the late Councilman Seo have been trying to get your hands on these past couple of months. The video taken by our father’s nurse, of you and him discussing your despicable, and illegal, activities,” Lee Yeon Jae told him.

“Where did you get this?” asked Lee Sung Jae, his voice shaking in anger.

“You’re not the only one who have connections,” replied Lee Yeon Jae.

Lee Sung Jae snapped his laptop shut violently, cutting off the video. “You can’t use this. This was illegally taken! I will sue you and whoever uses or releases this footage!” he shouted angrily, getting on his feet.

“So, it’s true then? You bribed Seo Tae Gu for the contract. Then you worked with him to set up the Mayor with the prostitute, and illegally took videos of the encounter, then you released it so that he is removed from office. Because he was investigating irregularities with the Grand Horizon contracts and the two of you were afraid that he will discover your crime. And then when you discovered that someone else had found out about what the two of you have done, you plotted with Seo Tae Gu to silence all of them,” she said contemptuously.

“I didn’t know that lunatic was going to blow up the fucking restaurant!” said Seo Tae Gu, enraged.

“What did you think was going to happen?” asked Lee Yeon Jae, her own voice rising. “You knew exactly what kind of man he was, and what he was capable of. You knew, but you didn’t care, as long as he gets rid of the problem! So you cannot stand there and tell me you didn’t know! You cannot wash your hands off the blood of all those innocent people,” she said heatedly.

“You sanctimonious bitch! You have no right to judge me! Your hands are plenty dirty too. I know you’ve also done things to maintain your greedy little hold on the company!”

“Not like this,” said Lee Yeon Jae, shaking her head at him. “Never like this.”

“And that’s why you will lose! Because you do not have the stomach to do whatever that needs to be done for the sake of the company! The company that our family had built, and our father dedicated his life to!” he screamed, and Lee Yeon Jae watched in tense anticipation, and trepidation, as her half-brother completely lost control.

“Yes! I did all those things! Because I am my father’s son! And it is what he would have done too! And I do not regret any of it,” he said, and sneered disdainfully at her. “Father was right. You’re too weak to be at the helm. That’s why he wanted me to take-over, and not you.”

Lee Yeon Jae looked at him then, at the half-brother she wanted desperately to love, but found nothing but disdain and contempt in return. She felt sorry for him at that moment, at the monster that his father had created, and realized that she had also come so very close at becoming the same. She felt a great sadness wash over her at the tragedy that is their family, and felt the familial bond still tethering her to the men in her life finally break.

“Then there’s no more hope for you, Sung Jae,” she told him sadly. She stood up and walked calmly out of the room, ignoring the sounds of breaking furniture and shattering glass, and the mad shouts of her poor brother.

***

Detective Lee Bong got out of his car, balancing his bag and his fourth cup of coffee of that day. He and the rest of the task force have been pulling crazy hours of overtime after the recent shocking events surrounding the death of Seo Tae Gu, and the massive fall out that resulted from it. He waved at one of the detectives from HQ, Detective Choi, making his way into the precinct. HQ had put in additional people to investigate all the crimes that had been attributed to the former councilman, and he had volunteered to lead one of the teams assigned to investigate. Once again, his thoughts drifted to Senior Inspector Han, who was supposed to be leading the task force, but had been absent in action since Prosecutor Hwang’s injury. Just as he was wondering if she will come back after the unconfirmed news of his death, he saw the senior inspector walking down the steps of the precinct, in intent discussion with Jang Geon.

“Senior Inspector Han!” Detective Lee called out, running across the parking lot to meet the two. He noticed the senior inspector looking a little worse for wear, and thought that the death of the prosecutor had probably hit her very hard, considering how close the two were.

“Listen, I’m sorry about Prosecutor Hwang. I know he was your friend, and I am very sorry for your loss. How are you holding up?” he told her, and was only met by a blank stare from the senior inspector. Her hard, impassive face reminded him of the faces of victims of shock, and he looked at Jang Geon in worry, who then nudged Senior Inspector Han gently to get her attention.

“Senior Inspector Han, Detective Lee asked you a question,” he prompted her cautiously and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her gave a little shake, and answered Detective Lee calmly.

“I’m fine, thank you Detective Lee.”

“Is there anything that you are working on that I can help with?” Detective Lee asked.

“Prosecutor Hwang had left some documents in his apartment about the Hanjo investigation. I have to head over there to take a look at them, now that he’s…” she trailed off, and the two men saw her swallow convulsively, unable to complete her sentence.

“I think you should take a break today, ma’am. You could do that tomorrow. Isn’t that right Jang Geon?” Lee Bong asked, looking at the other detective.

“I think Detective Lee is right, Senior Inspector Han. Why don’t I take you back to your apartment?” Jang Geon said, and guided her gently towards his car.

Jang Geon nodded at Lee Bong, a look of concern on his face, and Lee Bong thought that the senior inspector must be in worst shape than he originally thought if she had let herself be carried away willingly for a forced break without putting up a fight.

***

The man carefully turned the knob on the door and entered the dark apartment of Prosecutor Hwang Si Mok. He stood still for a moment, getting his eyes accustomed to the dark, then walked confidently forward, his destination clear. He had been here before, so he knew exactly where to go; the bedroom, where the prosecutor also kept his desk for his home office. The last time he was here, he did not find what he was looking for, but he is confident now that he will find something, after hearing the information this morning confirming that he had kept documents here. He had waited until night has fallen to break in, confident that he will find the apartment vacant, now that the occupant is dead.

He started rummaging through the drawers, when he suddenly sensed movement in the living room. He straightened, and saw a shadow moving in the dark. The shadow turned the lamp in the living room, and the small patch of light revealed the figure of Senior Inspector Han. For a moment, the two of them only looked at each other, watching and assessing, until the senior inspector spoke.

“Take off your mask.”

The man slowly took the mask off his face, and noticed that the revelation of his identity did not elicit any visible reaction from the senior inspector.

It was only then that Lee Bong realized that Senior Inspector Han had known all along that it was him, and had probably planted the information for him this morning so she can catch him red-handed. He smiled to himself, and thought how stupid it was of her to come alone, and without her gun. He moved his hand slowly to reach across his back, where he kept his weapon, and felt the cold metal of a gun pressed against the back of his head.

“Hands up, asshole,” he heard, and recognized the voice of Jang Geon.

He realized too late that the senior inspector was not alone, just as the door to his right opened and out comes Detective Seo, his own gun pointed at him. He saw another shadow moving from the kitchen to the living room, and watched as Captain Choi slowly move to position, his own weapon raised. He saw too Prosecutor Seo coming out from his hiding place in the living room to stand beside the senior inspector, holding a document that he was sure is the warrant for his arrest. He watched Senior Inspector Han walked slowly towards him and read him his rights, just as his world start to crumble around him, and felt himself being crushed by the wreckage.

“Lee Bong, you are under arrest for obstruction of justice, drug trafficking, racketeering…”

He felt the slap of the cold metal of handcuffs on his wrists, while he screamed silently in his head that this cannot be happening.

“…arson, attempted murder, and murder of the first degree. You have the right to an attorney…”

He looked at his former squad mates, at their hard, angry expressions directed at him, and realized that they all knew. And that this was a trap, and he fell for it – hook, line and sinker.

He looked at Senior Inspector Han, who now stood directly in front him, and shuddered at the unmerciful look that he saw in her eyes, and the unforgiving words that she uttered next.

“We got you, you son of a bitch.”

Chapter Text

It was almost twenty years ago when Lee Bong first met Seo Tae Gu. Back then, he was Corporal Lee, and the councilman was Master Sergeant Seo, and both had belonged to the Marine Corps, the military unit they had both joined for their mandatory military service. He had been Lee Bong’s commanding officer, and even then, he had recognized that Seo Tae Gu stood apart from the rest of the men in their unit. Highly skilled, a charismatic leader and wickedly intelligent. He had earned the praise, and most importantly, the attention, of the senior officers, and had won the respect of all the men in their unit. Lee Bong had been mightily impressed by the way the young sergeant exemplified the ideal marine: brave, strong, invincible, and it was these qualities that drew the young Lee Bong to faithfully follow his commanding officer and look upon him in what could only be characterized as hero worship. He had become the Master Sergeant’s number two in the unit; executing his orders, and always by his side whenever he is needed. It was therefore this reason he was present that fateful night when everything had gone horribly wrong, and the night that their lives became inexorably linked together forever.

It is a well-known fact that the Marines is one of the most elite units in the Korean armed forces, and that its members have a reputation for being the toughest and strongest soldiers. The honor of being called a true Marine is bestowed to only the deserving and worthy few that had gone through an intense, rigorous and in most cases, brutal, training regimen. Lee Bong believed that it was their duty to ensure that the Marines’ reputation and pride is maintained by only accepting the strongest and the best of them all, and cull the weak and the unworthy. And that night, Corporal Lee, Master Sergeant Seo and two other marines in their unit performed their sacred duty of beating the weakness out of a private who had not been performing to standards, and turn the young man into a worthy and true Marine. If the Master Sergeant had been too enthusiastic in his lessons, Lee Bong chose to not say anything. Not even when the private had begged for the relentless assault on him to stop, and not even when the Master Sergeant had taken the pickax handle, and started to violently beat him with it. It was only after they heard an ominous crack, followed by the private falling unconscious, that Master Sergeant Seo ceased his assault, and they realized after that the crack they heard was the sound of the private’s spinal column breaking from their commanding officer’s savage beating.

The young private was found the next day, barely alive, and taken to the hospital. His injuries had been so severe that he was rendered completely paralyzed, and will be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life, if he ever regained consciousness at all. Lee Bong remembered being in a state of panic, afraid that their senior officers will find out and have them all discharged and prosecuted. It was then that Master Sergeant Seo came to see him, and calmly instructed him to follow his orders, and promised that he will take care of everything, and of him. Lee Bong complied with the order, and told the tribunal exactly what his commanding officer told him to say. A week later, he found out that the two other Marines with them that night have been dishonorably discharged, and were arrested for the assault and torture of the private. He had also heard that the private had passed away, his family choosing to pull the plug after being advised that he had no chance of recovery. He and Master Sergeant Seo were acquitted of all charges, and finished out the remainder of their service without any more incident. I told you I’ll take care of you, didn’t I? Lee Bong remembered Seo Tae Gu telling him, and he remembered looking at him in wonder at how he had managed to turn the incident to their favor. He felt a great admiration for the man then, at what he was capable of, and tried to quell the disquiet he felt at the savagery he had witnessed from him that terrible night.

Lee Bong had joined the police shortly after his stint with the Marines, while Seo Tae Gu entered politics. But the two men’s career trajectory had taken on very different paths; while Seo Tae Gu’s star continued to rise in the world of politics, Lee Bong’s took the opposite. He found that he was unable to progress within the police force, and he was perpetually skipped over promotions. It also did not help that his personal life also took a nose-dive. His wife had divorced him, and had taken half of his assets along with her. Broke, overworked, and underpaid, Lee Bong had started to become embittered of the career that he had chosen. It was at this low point in his life that Seo Tae Gu had found him, and it was when his former commanding officer had proposed a solution to all his problems. Lee Bong grappled with the moral dilemma of his proposition, but his moral objections were surpassed by the deep resentment he felt towards the police, and life in general. Lee Bong made his choice then, a choice that had given him more money than he could ever have dreamt of, and a promise of a higher position with the police once Seo Tae Gu comes to power.

He was devastated when his former commanding officer died, killed by that bitch that he should have finished off when he had the chance. But the sadness he felt mingled with the realization that Seo Tae Gu’s death had left vacant the powerful position of head of their criminal enterprise, and Lee Bong suddenly realized that the position is his for the taking. Which was why he had called Lee Sung Jae this morning, and announced to him that he is taking over, and told him that he knew where the Hanjo documents are being kept, and that he will get it for him, and they can continue the partnership that he and Seo Tae Gu had started.

“Get those documents for me, and then we’ll talk.” Lee Bong remembered Lee Sung Jae telling him, and then immediately set out to procure it from the prosecutor’s apartment. He realized too late that he had been lured into a trap, and as he sat in the Yongsan precinct interrogation room, his hands cuffed to the table, Lee Bong remembered the words Master Sergeant Seo used to say to him.

I told you I’ll take care of you didn’t I?

He closed his eyes, and felt the keen loss of his former commanding officer. Because there is no one left to take care of Lee Bong, and no one to get him out of trouble like before. This time, he knew there is no escape, and no hope, and he gasped for breath as he felt the hangman’s noose slowly tighten around his neck.

His eyes popped open at the sound of the door opening, and watched as his hangman entered the room in the form of Senior Inspector Han.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin entered the room with Seo Dong Jae to start the interrogation of Lee Bong. She paused to stare at the two way mirror, where she knew most of the task force, in addition to Director No, are gathered on the other side to watch. She sat on the chair opposite, leveling a cold, hard stare at the traitorous spy, and saw the ex-detective firmly keeping his head down and studiously avoiding her eyes. She turned to Seo Dong Jae, who nodded at her, indicating that they are ready to begin.

Han Yeo Jin opened her folder and took out the photo of Lee Bong and Seo Tae Gu that was taken during their military days. The same photo that Lee Bong had kept framed on his desk, and the same one that Cha Su Kyo had a copy of. She slid it on the table towards Lee Bong, and saw him swallow nervously as he looked at it.

“That’s you and Seo Tae Gu back in your days with the Marines. Corporal Lee and Master Sergeant Seo. I assume this was how you two knew each other,” began Han Yeo Jin. She looked at Lee Bong, who still had his head firmly bowed, and asked, “How long did you work for him?”

Lee Bong remained silent, declining to answer her question. “What’s the matter? Don’t feel like talking?” she asked scathingly. “That’s fine, I’ll talk.”

“Let’s start from the beginning; at the part where you and Seo Tae Gu, planned and instigated the explosion at the restaurant in Haebangchon, and murdered eight people, injured dozen others, and caused considerable damage to property,” said Han Yeo Jin, and nodded at Seo Dong Jae, who then played the Park Gong Chu video on his laptop, and showed it to Lee Bong.

“We found Park Gong Chu, and he gave us this video. This is what you, Seo Tae Gu and Lee Sung Jae have been trying desperately to get your hands on, and the reason why you deliberately caused the explosion; to kill Prosecutor Hwa, Kim Gwang Ho and Park Gong Chu, but making it look like an accident so that nobody will link their deaths together. You got Cha Su Kyo to do it by threatening to kill his girlfriend, Kang Sun-Ri. You almost got away with it too, after the police and the fire department had closed the case and deemed it accidental. Except you didn’t account for Cha Su Kyo suddenly disappearing shortly after, or the fact that Park Gong Chu survived. You and your friends must have been anxious when you couldn’t find either of them, especially after the prosecution had decided to re-open the case.”

“You also must have been really nervous after we found Park Ik-Joon. Which was why you called him the night of the undercover operation, to warn him that we were there to arrest him. I knew somebody tipped him off when I heard him talking on his phone in the alley, and we found the burner phone that you used to call him in your apartment,” she said, showing him a photo of the phone.

“No wonder he was scared when we interrogated him here, because he knew who you really were, and he knew you were watching him from over there” said Han Yeo Jin, gesturing to the two way mirror. “And he figured out that it must have been you and Seo Tae Gu who had used his cousin to cause the explosion. And you knew that Park Ik Joon was fond of his cousin, so he might tell the police about it and make a deal for the both of them. He was a threat, so he had to be removed; and you did. You had him killed in prison.”

She took out a file containing the coroner report on Park Ik-Joon’s death and showed it to Lee Bong.

“Park Ik-Joon have been taking anti-depressants for most of his life. The anti-depressant medicine he used is a type of MAO drug that have powerful contra-indicators, or in layman’s terms, drug interactions. Taking any substance that can trigger those interactions can lead to a severe hypertensive crisis, which looks a lot like a heart attack. I noticed when I was undercover at the hostess bar that Park Ik-Joon refused alcohol, and that’s because alcohol is one of the substances that causes a lethal interaction with his anti-depressant drug. Another substance that can trigger it is fermented food.”

Han Yeo Jin stared at a visibly nervous Lee Bong, and said, “But you already knew that didn’t you? That’s why you bribed the prison cook to mix soybean paste in his dinner the night that he died. Soybean paste is fermented, and one of the substances that could trigger a hypertensive episode if taken with his medication, which was exactly what happened that night, after he took his anti-depressant pills.”

“It was quite clever really, killing him that way. Nothing would have shown up as suspicious in his autopsy, making it look like he just died of a regular heart attack, and that was exactly what the medical examiner concluded as the official cause of death. But I was never really convinced it, so I asked somebody from inside the prison to dig a little deeper.”

Han Yeo Jin had gone to the prison the day before to speak to Mr. Yoon about Park Ik-Joon’s death. She remembers now the excitement on Mr. Yoon’s face upon seeing her, and Han Yeo Jin realized at that time that he looked more animated that she had ever seen him in a long time, maybe even ever. He eagerly told her what he found, and by the end of it, Han Yeo Jin had impulsively hugged him in gratitude, earning her a surprised smile from Mr. Yoon and a stern rebuke from the prison guard on duty.

“My contact at the prison had spoken with the cook that you bribed. And after it was made clear to him that he could be charged as an accessory to murder, he was more than happy to tell us everything. He said that you had ordered him to mix in a large quantity of gochujang in his soup, and that he only complied because he did not understand the implications of it. He’s willing to testify that it was you who ordered him to do it, and the prison logs would substantiate that you visited the prison that day. The ME also confirmed that the contents of his stomach contained soybean paste, and the amount he had been given would have constituted a lethal dose if taken with his medicine. He had now changed the official cause of death to murder.”

“And then, you killed his cousin, Cha Su Kyo. It made sense now why he ran away that night at the Rooster Bar when he saw you, because he knew who you really were. And then you strangled and drowned him in the river. We found your other car, the one that you kept hidden, parked in one of the private garages in the city. It matches the make and model from the witnesses’ description, as well as the CCTV footage.”

Han Yeo Jin paused, and stared at the disgraced detective, knowing that the next crime on the list will be the one that will hit the men watching from the other side of the mirror the hardest; and her face grew even darker and more ominous as she spoke.

“Let’s talk about Director Park, and the night that Soon Chang died,” said Han Yeo Jin, and can almost feel the men gathered on the other side of the mirror collectively stiffening in their anger.

“You used this same burner phone,” she said, tapping the same photo of the phone that he used to call Park Ik-Joon, “to call Director Park to lure him to the terrace apartment that you used as your office. You knew that Soon Chang was watching the place, and you wanted us to arrest Director Park as a suspect for the murder of Cha Su Kyo, and tie him to the explosion.”

“Clever of you, using Director Park to implicate himself, and therefore Lee Yeon Jae. This must be how Seo Tae Gu had planned to return the favor to Lee Sung Jae for giving him the video of the mayor; destroy Lee Yeon Jae’s reputation by linking her and her company to the explosion, paving the way for Lee Sung Jae to take over Hanjo completely.”

“But your plan backfired, didn’t it? When Director Park said that he was working for Lee Sung Jae, and that he was there on his orders, and not his sister’s,” said Han Yeo Jin, smiling slightly. “You didn’t see that coming.”

“And you also didn’t know that he found this photo,” she said, tapping the photo of Lee Bong and Seo Tae Gu as young marines, “and took it with him, before you torched the place.”

“I’m guessing this was what was inside the envelope that Cha Su Kyo left at Kang Sun-Ri’s apartment. That Cha Su Kyo somehow managed to get his hands on it and left it for his girlfriend in case something happened to him, so she knows the identity of the people responsible. You took this from me, the night we went to Kang Sun-Ri’s apartment. The same night that you shot me in the head and almost killed me,” Han Yeo Jin said, her voice hardening and her hands curling into fists.

“Jang Geon talked to you that day when we went to Kang Sun-Ri’s apartment, and asked you to send back up. But I remember when I called right after and talked to Captain Choi that he didn’t even know we were there, and I had to repeat the request for back-up. Clearly, you told no one about it after Jang Geon spoke to you, because you didn’t want anyone to know, not before you can take the evidence, and destroy it.”

“We know that you did the same thing to Soon Chang. We looked at his phone, and his last call was to you. He called you for back-up, and we now know that you were there at the time of his death, because the GPS log in your police car showed us you were in the area.”

“You were there, watching as he fought with Director Park. You watched as he fell to his death, and you did nothing,” said Han Yeo Jin, her voice shaking in quiet fury. “You let him die.”

From the other side of the mirror, Jang Geon resisted the urge to march over the interrogation room and shoot the son of a bitch dead where he sits. He looked at the other men in the room with him, and saw the same consuming rage that he felt reflected on each of their faces. He felt a hand touch his shoulders, and saw that it belonged to Director No, who was watching him with a look of understanding on his face. “It’s alright son, we got him now. And we’re going to make him pay,” the director told him. Jang Geon took a deep breath to calm himself, then nodded shakily, and continued to watch as Han Yeo Jin take down the duplicitous bastard.

“Then you and Seo Tae Gu tried to kill Kang Sun-Ri. We know he did it when he visited the hospital, he told me so himself that he had seen her when he came to my room to talk to me. We know that he increased the morphine dose in her IV pump until she fell unconscious, and most likely suffocated her with a pillow once she lost consciousness. Her heart rate monitor log showed that it stopped recording the same time that he was still in the room, because he unplugged it, so it will not sound an alert when she stopped breathing. And you were outside, on guard duty, keeping a look out and ready to give him a fake alibi later.”

“You were right to fear Kang Sun-Ri, because she did know more than you initially thought, Cha Su Kyo must have told her. For instance, she knew the person who ordered Cha Su Kyo to tamper with the gas line was a cop. I’ve suspected since the night of the hostess bar sting that there might be a spy in the police, and Kang Sun-Ri’s statement confirmed it. What I didn’t know then was that the spy is closer to home than I thought, masquerading as a member of our family all this time, and you have your friend to thank for giving me the clue that the spy was at Yongsan.”

“The night we confronted Seo Tae Gu at the construction site, he taunted me with the fact that I’m too traumatized to shoot my gun, and that I was too scared to pull my weapon out, just as I was that morning at Yongsan precinct. How would he know that unless someone had told him? Someone who was there when it happened and saw my reaction. I realized then that the traitor was one of us. Right before I shot the bastard down and sent him to hell where he belongs.” Han Yeo Jin finished with relish, then sat back and coldly regarded Lee Bong, who had remained silent during her entire recitation of his crimes. Seo Dong Jae spoke.

“It’s over for you Lee Bong. There is overwhelming evidence proving all these charges against you. But we know you didn’t do this alone, and we know you were only taking orders. Seo Tae Gu is dead, but we know there are other powerful people involved. Tell us who they are,” said Seo Dong Jae, but the other man firmly kept his mouth shut and his head bowed. Seo Dong Jae glanced at Han Yeo Jin, and saw the intense rage in her eyes that belies her calm expression.

“Look at me,” Han Yeo Jin said softly, ordering the other man. But Lee Bong stubbornly kept his eyes down, refusing to look at her.

“I said look at me!” she roared and banged her fist at the table at the same time, making everyone in the room and the people watching jump at the suddenness and ferocity of the shouted order. Lee Bong lifted his head and looked at her, compelled by the intensity of her command.

“Say something you traitorous bastard,” she said, her eyes pools of contained anger.

Lee Bong finally spoke, and asked, in a shaky voice. “If I tell you, what do I get?”

“Nothing,” said Han Yeo Jin angrily. “I will personally make sure that you get the maximum sentence possible. I will make it my personal mission that you pay for each and every one of your sins, and that you rot in jail. But we’re giving you a chance to take the other people responsible down with you. Why should you be the only one punished for all of this? The only one rotting in jail while the rest of them enjoy their life outside. After all, you were just their errand boy. Paid to do their dirty work.”

She leaned over the table, moving closer to Lee Bong, and in a voice dripping with disdain, said, “You are nothing to them.”

Han Yeo Jin saw Lee Bong’s hands curled into a fist, and recognized from his expression the moment that he finally grasped the hopelessness of his situation. She watched as panic, desperation and fear battled for dominance in his eyes, and saw the moment when all of those emotions were replaced suddenly by bitter anger. She knew then what he will do, as she had easily recognized the weak and cowardly nature of the man sitting across from her, and she knew that men like him will seek to destroy as much as they can when their own survival is no longer an option.

She waited for the inevitable to come, and to his credit, Lee Bong did not disappoint.

Chapter Text

It was past midnight when the interrogation of Lee Bong finally finished. Despite the late hour, everyone in the precinct, both Yongsan and HQ cops alike, are busy working through their respective assignments. Lee Bong had yielded a wealth of information, and all available men and women have been tasked to sift through all of it, and quickly assemble teams to make swift arrests of the other members of the organized crime syndicate, or work with the prosecution to get all the necessary warrants.

Amidst all the chaos, Jang Geon watched worriedly as Han Yeo Jin competently direct the members of the task force to their assigned duties. He had been concerned about her state after hearing about Prosecutor Hwang, and he is worried about the fact that she had flatly refused to talk to them about his death.

He remembered when she had called him, Captain Choi and Seo Sang Won to come to her apartment late in the evening the day before. They had all gone to her quickly, worried that she might be in terrible shape after the tragedy. But she had surprised them all when she talked about finding the traitor at Yongsan instead, and the shock of hearing about Lee Bong, and hatching a plan to catch him after, had pushed any talks of Prosecutor Hwang aside. They did try to pick it up again after they had finished the discussion, but Han Yeo Jin just shook her head stubbornly and told them that they will talk about it after. They had let it go, understanding that her refusal stemmed from the desire to keep a clear head during such a sensitive operation, and had resolved to be there for her after, and support her with whatever she needs.

Their plan to capture Lee Bong had gone perfectly, but Jang Geon remembered the moment when he and Han Yeo Jin met Lee Bong outside the precinct to set the bait for their trap, and he thought that Han Yeo Jin will not be able to contain her anger once she sees him. There was a moment when he can feel her restraining herself from murdering the bastard right there on the steps of the precinct, and it was fortunate that she recovered enough for Lee Bong to mistake her quiet rage for dazed grief instead.

He took a deep breath and approached Han Yeo Jin, who is in silent discussion with Prosecutor Seo, and resolved to take her away from the chaos so she can grieve for her friend in peace.

“Senior Inspector Han, it’s been a long day. You should go home. We can take over from here,” he told her gently.

“What are you talking about? I can’t leave now,” she said distractedly, then turned back to Prosecutor Seo, continuing their interrupted discussion. “HQ will have the plane ready to leave for Jeju Island in an hour--”

“Han Yeo Jin,” Jang Geon said, interrupting her, and both Han Yeo Jin and Prosecutor Seo looked at him in surprise, stunned at his firm and severe tone. “You need to go home and rest. And we need to talk about Prosecutor Hwang. I know it’s hard, but you can’t go on this way.”

Han Yeo Jin gave him an inscrutable look, and then sighed as if in resignation, then turned to Prosecutor Seo. Jang Geon saw the prosecutor nod at her, as if the two of them had come to a silent understanding.

“I’ll head to the airport now. I’ll see you in a few hours,” Seo Dong Jae told Han Yeo Jin, then patted Jang Geon in the back as he left. Jang Geon turned questioningly at Han Yeo Jin, puzzled at the exchange.

“Come with me Jang Geon. I need to tell you something,” said Han Yeo Jin, pulling him outside.

***

Lee Sung Jae strode angrily inside the office of Lee Yeon Jae at Hanjo headquarters. He had been in a foul mood since morning, when that worthless police officer failed to answer any of his calls. The man had called him yesterday, promising to provide him all the information that the prosecution has on him; but he had not heard from him since, and Lee Sung Jae’s patience is wearing thin at being made to wait by someone he considers to be his inferior. His mood was not improved by the fact that he had to pay his half-sister a visit, and he was ready to lash his anger out at her for having the gall to summon him.

“Thank you for coming,” she said, wearing the perpetual serene expression that he hates, further infuriating him.

“What do you want?” he asked brusquely.

“I’ve given a lot of thought about our conversation the other day,” Lee Yeon Jae began. “And I called you here to ask you to come clean to the police and prosecution about your involvement with Seo Tae Gu. To willingly confess to the crimes that you had committed with that evil man,” she told him calmly.

Lee Sung Jae stared at his sister incredulously, unable to believe what he had just heard. He laughed at her then, both in genuine amusement at his half-sister’s naivete, and scorn at her outlandish request.

“Have you finally gone insane? Or are you just really that stupid?” he asked, still laughing.

“No, just foolishly hopeful that you’ll finally grow a conscience,” Lee Yeon Jae replied. “I’m giving you this chance to come clean.”

“Or what?” Lee Sung Jae asked contemptuously.

“Or I will go to the police and prosecution myself and give them the recording.”

Lee Sung Jae stopped laughing then, his face turning full crimson in his anger. “I already told you that you can’t use that recording. That was illegally obtained! I swear I will sue you within an inch of your life if you do that! And I will do the same to the police and prosecution!”

“I wasn’t talking about that recording,” said Lee Yeon Jae calmly, and pressed a button on the intercom. “Send them in.”

Lee Sung Jae turned as the door opened, and saw Prosecutor Seo and a woman he did not know enter the office.

“You already know Prosecutor Seo, and this is Senior Inspector Han of the National Police,” said Lee Yeon Jae, and Lee Sung Jae watched as the policewoman took out a recording device.

“What is that?” he shouted at her, pointing at the device, as Han Yeo Jin pressed play.

Lee Sung Jae listened in shocked silence as he heard his own voice emanating from it, replaying the conversation that he had with his half-sister the morning that she visited him in his hotel room. He shook his head, unable to believe what he is hearing. He knew that his security team would have searched her for any recording device, and even ordered them to confiscate her phone just to be thorough. He looked at his sister in stunned disbelief, and then at the female inspector, and was suddenly beset by a feeling that he had seen her before. The memory of a woman clad in a revealing outfit suddenly came to him. A woman who had staggered drunkenly out of the hotel room adjacent to his suite, and had rudely knocked his half-sister and then called her a bitch. He remembered being amused then, and now realized that the rude woman and the senior inspector is one and the same, and that she had bumped his sister on purpose, and did so as a cover to surreptitiously slip the listening device on her after his security team had already searched her. He stared as the policewoman smile at his look of shock and recognition, and the horrified realization that he had been set-up.

“As you know, recordings are admissible in court if one of the parties in the conversation are aware and have consented, which is the case here. And you can clearly hear the part where you confessed to all the crimes you have committed with Seo Tae Gu,” said Lee Yeon Jae.

Lee Sung Jae shook his head furiously, refusing to admit defeat. He looked at the three of them, his defiance now mingled with fear, and said, “I can still fight this…I have good lawyers! Seo Tae Gu is dead so he can’t corroborate any of these!”

Seo Dong Jae chuckled at the absurd statement, and said, “Do you honestly think that this is all we have on you?”

“In case you’re wondering why Detective Lee has not called you back, it’s because he’s been arrested,” said Han Yeo Jin. “I’m sure you know who he is, as you have been calling his cellphone all morning and left him all sorts of mean and threatening voicemails asking him where the Hanjo documents are. He became very chatty with us once he realized that there is no way out for him. For instance, he told us that Seo Tae Gu kept heaps of records and information on people he did business with, and where he stored all of it.”

Han Yeo Jin walked towards Lee Sung Jae, only stopping when she stood uncomfortably close in front of him. “I’m sure you know why he has all that information, and what he used them for. I’ll say one thing about Seo Tae Gu; he might be an evil bastard, but he did keep detailed and meticulous records. I guess he had to, being the master blackmailer that he was.” She watched as Lee Sung Jae swallowed convulsively, panic threatening to overwhelm his features. He turned the panic into a sneer at the last second, still mulishly and defiantly clinging to the notion that all has not been lost, and refusing to accept that he has been beaten.

“If you really have the evidence, then I would have been arrested by now. And I don’t see a warrant with you,” he said, his arrogant sneer firmly back in place.

Han Yeo Jin’s face broke into a smile of pure pleasure. “I’m glad you said that, because here comes the man with the warrant.”

Lee Sung Jae turned towards the door, and staggered visibly when he saw a dead man enter.

“Thank you for joining us, Prosecutor Hwang,” said Han Yeo Jin, smiling at him.

Chapter Text

4 DAYS AGO - THE NIGHT OF THE SHOOTING

The paramedics had come shortly after Prosecutor Hwang lost consciousness at the construction site. Han Yeo Jin had ridden with him in the ambulance, and she watched as the medics quickly and expertly tried to staunch the bleeding. Han Yeo Jin held his hand the entire ride, refusing to let go, clinging to the illogical notion that it might be the only thing holding him to the land of the living, and that she might lose him forever if she loosens her grasp. She continued to hold his hand even as they wheeled him rapidly towards the operating room for emergency surgery, with her running alongside his gurney with the doctors and nurses. But they held her back as soon as they reached the doors, and Dr. Chae had to forcefully pry her hand away from his, and told her to wait outside, and promised her that they will do everything they can to save him. She felt panic then, as she watched the doors of the OR closed, and her last, irrational thought is that if she’s not holding his hand, how would he know to come back to her?

That was three hours ago. Three hours that the doors of the operating room had remained firmly shut, while doctors inside desperately tried to save his life.

Three hours that Han Yeo Jin have been sitting outside the doors, waiting for it to open. Three hours that felt like three decades, waiting to hear if her friend had survived.

She closed her eyes, willing herself to breathe, and calm her racing heart. She tried not to remember the image of Prosecutor Hwang lying in his own pool of blood, or how his blood had felt warm and sticky in her hands. But she found it difficult to stop the memories from coming, especially that her hands are still covered in his dried blood, and the front of her shirt stained with it. She tried instead to remember what he had said to her, after gifting her a full smile, and uttered, Yes, I have. 

She frowned, unable to decode the meaning of his last words, and then gave herself a furious shake at thinking that way. No, they will not be his last words, she told herself vehemently, and thought mulishly that Prosecutor Hwang better wake himself up because she needs to ask him what he meant by it, or else she will march inside the OR and wake him up herself so he can tell her.

As Han Yeo Jin contemplated the thought of bodily forcing her way inside the operating room, its doors suddenly opened, and she saw Dr. Chae step out. She stood up on shaky legs as the doctor walked towards her.

“Senior Inspector Han,” she began, “we’ve finished the surgery. The gunshot was a through and through, and it left no bullet fragments inside, which is very good. He got hit on the side of the abdomen, but it missed all the major organs and blood vessels, which is extremely lucky for these types of injury. He did lose a lot of blood as a result, so we needed to perform multiple blood transfusions. But over-all, the surgery went well, and he is in stable cond—”

Han Yeo Jin did not hear the rest of Dr. Chae’s sentence as her legs finally gave out from under her because of the overwhelming and intense relief that she felt. She heard the doctor exclaim in surprise, and felt strong hands catching her before she fell completely to the floor, and then carried her back to her seat. She saw that it was Seo Dong Jae who had caught her, and realized that he might have misinterpreted her reaction because he is looking at her with an anguished expression, and was about to tell him that Prosecutor Hwang is going to be alright when another, more urgent thought came to her.

“Senior Inspector Han, are you alright?” Dr. Chae asked her worriedly. “Prosecutor Hwang is going to be okay, so there’s no need to w—”

“Wait! Did you say Hwang Si Mok is okay?” asked Seo Dong Jae, hopeful eyes now focused on the doctor. “He’s not… I mean, he’s still alive?”

Dr. Chae nodded at him, and repeated the explanation she gave Han Yeo Jin. Seo Dong Jae closed his eyes and breathe a sigh of relief, then turned to Han Yeo Jin.

“Han Yeo Jin, did you hear? He’s going to be okay, he’s going to li—” Seo Dong Jae stopped when Han Yeo Jin suddenly grabbed his hand, her face serious. She turned to the doctor, and said urgently, “Dr. Chae, we need your help. Prosecutor Hwang’s life may depend on it.”

Dr. Chae looked at Han Yeo Jin, puzzled at her reaction, but said nonetheless, “Of course, what do you need?”

“I need you to lie about Prosecutor Hwang’s diagnosis, and report instead that he’s in critical condition. I need you to also tell your surgical team that operated on him to say the same thing, and to not let anyone know of his true condition.”

Both Dr. Chae and Seo Dong Jae looked at her in surprise, taken aback at her strange request. Seo Dong Jae frowned in confusion, and asked, “But why? Why do you want to do that?”

“Seo Tae Gu might be gone, but we still don’t know who else is involved in this, and we still haven’t caught them all. We know that they have already infiltrated the police, may be even the prosecution, and there may be more because we don’t know the extent of their reach. Until we do, we need to protect Prosecutor Hwang. We need to make it look like he’s not well enough to talk, and that his condition is dire enough that he may not even recover. That will make them think that he is no longer a threat to them. We know that they already tried to kill at least two patients in this hospital before, and we don’t know if they might try again with Prosecutor Hwang. And right now, I don’t trust anybody until we discover who else might be connected to this case.”

Han Yeo Jin turned to Dr. Chae, and said, “We just need a couple of days. We will use that time to comb through the evidence left behind by Seo Tae Gu to identify who the other people are in his operation. Prosecutor Hwang needs to recuperate so he would need to stay here anyway. We just need to find a place in the hospital that is secure enough to ensure his safety.”

“The VIP rooms,” said Dr. Chae, looking thoughtful. “They are highly secure, and more importantly, discretion is standard. They have to be, because of the type of clientele that uses them. We can transfer him there.” The doctor nodded at Han Yeo Jin and said, “I understand Senior Inspector Han. I’ll talk to my team and my Director, and I can vouch for all of them that they’ll keep this confidential. I’ll attend to Prosecutor Hwang myself while he recovers.”

Han Yeo Jin took Dr. Chae’s hands, and squeezed them. “Thank you doctor. You don’t know how grateful I am for all your help.”

The doctor smiled at her, and said, “You’re welcome Senior Inspector Han. My team and I have grown fond of you and the prosecutor. We’re all rooting for you.”

Chapter Text

Seo Dong Jae and Han Yeo Jin stayed in the VIP room with Hwang Si Mok until morning, and used the time to discuss the case and plan their next steps. Han Yeo Jin had spoken to Director No and the Yongsan squad, telling them the same lie that she had instructed Dr. Chae and her team to say. She looked over at Seo Dong Jae, who is currently on the phone with Chief Prosecutor Oh, and heard him tell their chief the same thing.

“It’s madness out there,” said Seo Dong Jae, after he had finished the call with the Chief Oh. “Everyone is talking about what happened to Seo Tae Gu. A lot of questions are being asked about what happened.”

“Do you need to go?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

Seo Dong Jae shook his head. “Not right now. Chief Oh is handling everything, but I may need to stop by the Western office later.”

“Same here. Director No is handling the press right now. He’s keeping them at bay by saying that the investigation is still ongoing.”

A knock suddenly sounded at the door. Han Yeo Jin and Seo Dong Jae looked at each other, suddenly alert. Han Yeo Jin stood up and positioned herself protectively beside Hwang Si Mok, while Seo Dong Jae went to the door. He slowly opened it, and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw who was on the other side. He looked at Han Yeo Jin, who was looking at him enquiringly, still unable to see who the visitor is. He made a decision, and opened the door wider to indicate to Lee Yeon Jae that she can enter.

“How did you get here? And how did you know we were here?” Han Yeo Jin asked Lee Yeon Jae tersely as soon as she saw her come in.

“I’m on the board of the hospital,” Lee Yeon Jae told her calmly. She saw Senior Inspector Han regard her with a suspicious look, her entire body tense as she stood protectively in front of Prosecutor Hwang’s bed.

“Don’t worry, Senior Inspector Han. I came alone, and I didn’t tell anybody that I am here. I’ve also asked the hospital director to tighten security in the VIP area, as well as to keep Prosecutor Hwang’s name off the register, so no one knows he is staying here,” said Lee Yeon Jae.

Seo Dong Jae thanked her when Han Yeo Jin remained silent, still regarding her warily. He noticed that Lee Yeon Jae looked ill at ease at her scrutiny, her eyes darting from her and to Hwang Si Mok lying unconscious in bed, and he realized that this is the first time that he had seen the unflappable executive looking unsure of herself.

“What are you doing here, Mrs. Lee,” he asked Lee Yeon Jae.

“I came here to talk to both of you. I’ve been to see Director Park this morning, at the prison, and I have information that can be of use to you.” She opened her bag and took out an envelope, and handed it to Han Yeo Jin, who reluctantly took it.

Han Yeo Jin opened the envelope and saw that it contained a photo. She looked at it, and her hands started to shake in anger as she finally beheld the face of the traitor.

“Director Park removed it from the terrace apartment. He wasn’t sure of the significance of the photo when he took it, only that he recognized Seo Tae Gu, but not the other man. He didn’t know who the other man was until the day he was arrested, and saw him at Yongsan station,” explained Lee Yeon Jae.

Han Yeo Jin handed Seo Dong Jae the photo, her hands still shaking in suppressed rage. Seo Dong Jae looked at the photo, and gasped when he recognized Detective Lee, standing beside Seo Tae Gu, decked out in their Marine uniforms. He finally understood the ominous parting words of Director Park that day when he interrogated him at Yongsan, when he told Seo Dong Jae to be careful of who he trusts, and to watch his back; because he had seen the detective that day, and recognized him as the man in the photo.

“I’m sorry, Senior Inspector Han, but it seems you have a spy in the police,” said Lee Yeon Jae, her voice expressing genuine concern.

Han Yeo Jin nodded grimly. “We’ll take care of him,” she said, then turned to Seo Dong Jae. “Please show Mrs. Lee the video.”

Seo Dong Jae handed his phone to a mystified Lee Yeon Jae and said, “You may want to sit down for this, Mrs. Lee.”

Han Yeo Jin carefully observed Lee Yeon Jae as she watched the Park Gong Chu video, scrutinizing every reaction and response to what she was seeing. She watched as shock, horror, anger and revulsion crossed her features, followed by a great sadness towards the end.

“This was taken in secret by your father’s nurse, Park Gong Chu. This video is what started all of this,” said Seo Dong Jae, and then proceeded to tell her everything they have discovered about the case so far, and how her brother, Lee Sung Jae, was connected through all of it.

“There’s something else you need to know,” said Seo Dong Jae gently. “Park Gong Chu told me that your father asked about you constantly. He said that your father wanted to see you towards the end of his life, but your half-brother wouldn’t let him.”

Han Yeo Jin watched as the powerful executive broke down in tears in front of them, and felt an unexpected stirring of sympathy towards the woman. She did not want to feel sorry for Lee Yeon Jae, because she knew that she had also done her fair share of misdeeds. And even though she may not be as guilty of the crimes as her despicable brother, Han Yeo Jin would hardly call her innocent. 

“Why did you give us the photo?” asked Han Yeo Jin. “And more importantly, what do you want in return?”

Lee Yeon Jae took a deep breath, and tried to compose herself. She raised her head and looked fully at Han Yeo Jin, her eyes full of grim resolve.

“I want the same thing as you. Make my half-brother pay for the crimes he had committed,” Lee Yeon Jae said, her voice steady.

“That sounds noble Mrs. Lee, but let’s be honest. It will be very good for you if we arrested your brother. Then the path for total control of Hanjo becomes much easier for you, with him out of the way,” said Han Yeo Jin coolly.

“Yes. I won’t deny that that is true, Senior Inspector Han.”

“This won’t pardon you of any other crimes you may have committed. This won’t absolve you of your other sins.”

Lee Yeon Jae smiled sadly at Han Yeo Jin’s blunt statement. “I know that. And I don’t expect my slate to be wiped clean. I know that I will answer for them in due course, because the three of you will make sure of it. But the sins of my father and brother are far too great, and they are much too powerful for even the three of you to take on.”

“You’re going to need my help if you want to bring my brother to justice. Make of that what you will, Senior Inspector Han, but you know I’m right,” said Lee Yeon Jae. “As for my father, I loved him, but I harbored no illusions that he was a good man. He built a mighty corporation; founded by his hard work and exceptional business skills, but fortified by lies and corruption.”

Lee Yeon Jae reached into her bag, and took out a black notebook from it. She took a deep breath, and handed the notebook to Han Yeo Jin. Han Yeo Jin took it and flipped the pages, her eyes growing wider with every page she read. She looked at Lee Yeon Jae in shock, knowing what she has in her hands but still unable to believe that she is willingly giving it to them. She realized then that this was her way of showing them good faith, and her way of letting them know of the sincerity of her words. She handed Seo Dong Jae the notebook, and watched the same stunned disbelief reflected on his face as he read.

“My father’s legacy,” Lee Yeon Jae said, referring to the notebook. “He’s guilty of a lot of crimes, it’s true, but he didn’t do it alone. And even though you can’t punish him now, you can still punish the people who made it possible.” She looked at Prosecutor Hwang’s sleeping form, and said, “when Prosecutor Hwang wakes up, please give him that notebook. I’m sure Chang-Jun would wish for him to have it, because he knew that he could finish what he started.”

Han Yeo Jin was suddenly reminded of the uncomfortable dinner at Lee Yeon Jae’s house during their first case, and the awkward exchange between the two of them. When Lee Yeon Jae told her that women are their own worst enemies, and she had retorted that women who say that must be treating other women as their enemies.

“I’m not your enemy, Senior Inspector Han. At least, not anymore,” said Lee Yeon Jae, as if she had read Han Yeo Jin’s mind.

Han Yeo Jin looked at Lee Yeon Jae, and cannot help but compare herself with the elegant woman. The two of them inhabit two very different worlds, and live very different lives, and she knew that she would never truly understand someone like Lee Yeon Jae, or the choices that she had made that led her to this point. But Han Yeo Jin understood what it is like being a woman who had chosen a trade that is dominated and ruled by men. She knew what it is like to be given every disadvantage, and still expected to surpass standards that are higher than that of her male peers; and then be met with resentment and derision when she does. She felt a spark of kinship with her then; a moment of understanding, and compassion, passing between them.

Han Yeo Jin finally nodded at her, and said, “Then let’s talk about the plan. Because you are right, Mrs. Lee, we are going to need your help.”

Seo Dong Jae walked Lee Yeon Jae out of the room after they had finished, and Han Yeo Jin can hear them having a quiet discussion just outside the door. She looked at Prosecutor Hwang, and gently took his hand, willing his eyes to open, and wishing that she can hear the soothing, monotonous voice that she had grown accustomed to. 

“Here,” said Seo Dong Jae, handing her an expensive looking blazer. She looked at it in confusion, and realized that it was the same one worn by Lee Yeon Jae.

“Your shirt is covered in blood,” said Seo Dong Jae, in response to Han Yeo Jin’s look of puzzlement. “Mrs. Lee noticed. She gave her blazer for you to wear so you don’t have to look like a walking horror show.”

Han Yeo Jin accepted the blazer, and then just held the luxurious garment tentatively with her fingers. Seo Dong Jae chuckled.

“Don’t worry about dirtying it. I’m sure she has hundreds exactly like it.”

Han Yeo Jin put the blazer on, the soft fabric gliding pleasantly against her skin. “That’s…nice of her,” she said hesitantly, “and unexpected.”

“Thank you, for giving her a chance,” said Seo Dong Jae, looking at her solemnly. “Like you did with me.”

“I only gave you a chance because you gave me free food. Maybe I did it for her for the free, expensive clothes,” said Han Yeo Jin, smiling at Seo Dong Jae’s laughter at her response. She took Prosecutor Hwang’s hand again, her face growing subdued as she looked at him.

“Don’t worry, he’ll pull through.” For you, thought Seo Dong Jae, but did not say out loud. He took Han Yeo Jin’s other hand, and squeezed it, and felt her tighten her own hold in return. They stayed like that for a moment, their hands linked; Hwang Si Mok’s with Han Yeo Jin’s, and Han Yeo Jin’s with his, drawing strength, and comfort, from each other.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin arranged the bob cut wig on her head, and then looked at her reflection in the hotel bathroom mirror, inspecting her disguise. It was early morning the day after Lee Yeon Jae had visited them in Prosecutor Hwang’s hospital room, and she is currently at the hotel room beside Lee Sung Jae’s suite, getting ready to execute the first part of their plan.

They had all agreed that Lee Sung Jae needs to be prosecuted for the crimes that he had admitted to committing with Seo Tae Gu in the Park Gong Chu video. But the video, while very damning, is unusable; due to the fact that it was taken with neither of the subjects’ consents, and is thus considered illegal. Therefore, they decided that the best and quickest way to indict Lee Sung Jae is to get him to confess again on record, this time with the other party’s participation, the other party being Lee Yeon Jae.

The the three of them had spent hours yesterday devising a plan on how to do just that, and figure out a way to get around Lee Sung Jae’s strict, almost to the point of paranoia, security measures. The key is to somehow find a way to smuggle a listening device onto Lee Yeon Jae’s person after she had undergone the security check, and then get Lee Sung Jae to admit to his crimes during their meeting. The first part is the reason why Han Yeo Jin is currently at the hotel room very early in the morning, donning the same disguise she had used in the hostess bar operation. They had decided that she would go undercover at the hotel, and slip Lee Yeon Jae the bug after the security check.

Han Yeo Jin regarded herself in the mirror, and felt the familiar and uncomfortable sensation of the skimpy underwear riding up her butt-crack, just like it did during her brief stint as a hostess, and felt that she had finally come full circle.

“How do you look?” asked Seo Dong Jae over speakerphone, who had called to check on her status.

“Like a hung-over hot mess. It’s perfect,” Han Yeo Jin said.

“Do you have the listening device?”

“Yes.”

“The receiver?”

“Yes.”

“The transmitter?”

“Not my first time,” she told Seo Dong Jae in a long-suffering voice.

“Sorry. I’m just nervous,” she heard him say apologetically, and took pity on him.

“It’s okay, I understand. There’s a lot riding on this,” she said. “How’s Prosecutor Hwang?”

“He’s fine, no change. Dr. Chae came this morning to check on him, and she said everything is still looking good.”

Han Yeo Jin breathed a sigh of relief, and went through the plan again in her head. Getting the bug onto Lee Yeon Jae is the easy part; getting Lee Sung Jae to confess will be the real challenge. It all hinges on Lee Yeon Jae being able to get her half-brother to implicate himself on record, and Han Yeo Jin admits that she had some reservations about this. But Lee Yeon had already proven that she is up to the challenge, especially after she had somehow managed to get Sungmoon Daily to report the fake news about Prosecutor Hwang’s death. Lee Yeon Jae had told both her and Seo Dong Jae yesterday that she has a powerful contact with the media outlet and can get them to release the bogus information, and Han Yeo Jin had been impressed with how quickly she was able to complete the task when she saw it already making the rounds on the evening news that very same day. She looked at her watch, and saw that it is almost time to start.

“It’s time,” she told Seo Dong Jae on the phone.

“Good luck,” Seo Dong Jae said, and hung up.

Han Yeo Jin walked towards the door and looked through the peephole. From the angle, she could see Lee Sung Jae’s security team already positioned in the hallway, a few steps away from her room. She waited, and a few moments later, saw Lee Yeon Jae finally arriving. She watched as the men scanned her for bugs as expected, and then made her relinquish her cellphone. She did a final check on the equipment inside the small bag she carried, straightened her shoulders, and took a deep breath; showtime, she thought, then staggered out of the room in an impressive imitation of a hung-over harlot. She felt the device successfully slip inside the inner pocket of Lee Yeon Jae’s jacket as she bumped into her, and heard Lee Yeon Jae’s convincing gasp of outrage as she walked unsteadily away. She kept up with the ruse until she got on the elevator, and then immediately after the doors closed, took out the receiver and recorder, put her earphones in, and listened. She ran out as soon as the elevator doors opened in the underground parking garage of the hotel, still listening in on the intense discussion between the half-siblings, and hurried inside her car. She pressed her fingers against the earphones in her ears to better hear what was being said over the loud beating of her heart, and almost shouted in triumph when she finally heard what they have been waiting for.

“Yes! I did all those things! Because I am my father’s son! And it is what he would have done too! And I do not regret any of it!”

Got you asshole, she thought in satisfaction, as the meeting upstairs concluded. She grabbed her laptop and downloaded the recorded audio file in it, and called Seo Dong Jae.

“It’s done. We have what we need,” she told him excitedly.

“Excellent. Now hurry back here, because guess who finally decided to wake up.”

Han Yeo Jin peeled out of the hotel parking lot, driving full speed towards the hospital, and sent a quick, heartfelt thank you to whomever is listening for bringing her friend back to her.

***

Hwang Si Mok is dreaming again.

He looked around him and realized that he is back in the brightly-lit white hallway from his previous dream, the mist surrounding him on all sides. In front of him and further down the hallway, he saw the outline of three people standing still, their features indistinct. As the mist cleared, he finally saw revealed the figures of Lee Chang Jun and Young Eun Soo, now joined by Detective Park Soon Chang. Hwang Si Mok instinctively knew that they are here for him, and knew that they had come to take him away. He looked at their faces, at the benevolent smiles directed at him in welcome, and felt himself being irresistibly drawn towards the peaceful tableau. He walked towards them, and felt a profound lightness engulf his entire being with each step he took. He walked faster, craving the light, and was suddenly halted by a force tugging at his hand. He looked down on it, and saw a hand gripping his own tightly. He looked up, and saw the face of Senior Inspector Han, gazing at him in silent supplication. He turned to look back at the three figures ahead of him, at their smiling faces, and the alluring lure of the light, and felt the senior inspector’s hold tightening on his hand. He looked back at her again, and took a tentative step towards her instead, testing the effect. All at once, he felt the lightness fade, replaced by another sensation. He took another step, and another, until he is right beside her, his hands still on hers, the feeling of lightness completely gone, replaced instead by the overwhelming feeling of peace, and of unbearable joy. He thought to himself that he liked this feeling better, and turned to look at the three people that he had lost, and silently convey to them that today will not be the day. They smiled in understanding, and walked away, one by one disappearing into the light. At the last moment, Young Eun Soo stopped, and turned to look at his direction. He remembered that she did the same in his last dream, except this time she did not look at him, but at the senior inspector beside him. He saw Senior Inspector Han give her a small nod, and watched as Young Eun Soo turn to him, and smiled softly. He watched her disappear into the light to join Lee Chang Jun and Park Soon Chang, and then turned to look at the senior inspector, and they walked together away from the light, their hands still joined.

Hwang Si Mok opened his eyes, his surroundings slowly coming into focus. He turned his head to the side, and was greeted by a wide-eyed Prosecutor Seo, his face shining with excitement.

“Hwang Si Mok, can you hear me?” he heard the prosecutor asked. He tried to answer, but the severe dryness in his throat was hindering his ability to speak. He swallowed, and tried to indicate to Prosecutor Seo his need for water. The other man understood, and gently administered it to him.

“How do you feel?” Seo Dong Jae asked after Hwang Si Mok had drank his fill. He watched as he looked around the room, his eyes slowly searching.

“Where is Senior Inspector Han?”

Seo Dong Jae laughed, relieved at the predictability of Hwang Si Mok’s question. “I guess you’re back to normal,” he said, still smiling. “She’s busy at the moment, but she’ll be back shortly.”

Hwang Si Mok turned to Seo Dong Jae, and asked, “What happened?”

“Let’s get Dr. Chae here first, and then I’ll tell you everything you missed,” said Seo Dong Jae. “Welcome back my friend,” he said to Hwang Si Mok, his eyes suspiciously bright.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok listened attentively as Prosecutor Seo succinctly summarized everything that had transpired since the night of the shooting. He was comforted to hear that Senior Inspector Han and Prosecutor Seo had made great progress with their case while he was unconscious, and was surprised to hear that Lee Yeon Jae had decided to join hands with them. He listened now as Prosecutor Seo talk to the senior inspector on the phone, and watched as the prosecutor pump his fist in the air, a look of triumph on his face.

“Excellent. Now hurry back here, because guess who finally decided to wake up.” Hwang Si Mok heard Prosecutor Seo say to the senior inspector, a broad grin directed at him.

“I can almost smell the burnt rubber,” said Seo Dong Jae, still grinning at him. “She’s on her way now, and quickly too, if the loud screech I heard was any indication.”

“I take it they were successful?” he asked.

Seo Dong Jae nodded. “Yes, they were. We got him,” he said with relish. “And we’re going to get Lee Bong next. Han Yeo Jin already have everything in place with her Yongsan detectives. She’ll head over the precinct this afternoon to set the trap, and then we’ll all head over to your apartment later this evening to catch him in the act.” He saw Hwang Si Mok frown at this, and knew instantly what the other man is thinking. “Don’t worry, Han Yeo Jin will not be alone this time. She’ll be safe.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded, and was about to say something when the door suddenly flew open, and he saw Senior Inspector Han enter.

For a moment, Hwang Si Mok thought that the pain medication was making him hallucinate, because the senior inspector looked…different, and similar to the night when he saw her chase after a suspect in the streets of Seoul, with her short hair and her questionable garments. And while she may not be half-naked right now, the clothes she is wearing left very little to the imagination. He only realized that what he is seeing is real after he heard Prosecutor Seo say ‘Whoa’ in a tone of surprise, tinged with masculine appreciation.

“Why…?” Hwang Si Mok started to ask, looking at her in wonder.

“I was undercover,” Han Yeo Jin explained breathlessly, anticipating his question, then ran to the bed and threw herself at Prosecutor Hwang, holding him in a tight embrace. She felt him stiffen at the contact, but soon felt his hands awkwardly patting her back, then enfold her in his own embrace when she didn’t let go. She held him tighter, making sure not to jostle his injury, and felt tears of joy and relief sliding down her cheeks. She did not know how long they stayed like that, and barely even noticed that Seo Dong Jae had silently snuck away to give them privacy. All she knows is that she wanted to keep holding him this way for as long as she could, until she is satisfied that her friend is truly alive and well, or before Prosecutor Hwang began to grow uncomfortable at the prolonged and intimate human contact and push her away. But to her surprise, he did not break the embrace, and let her have her fill of him to her heart’s content, and sat obligingly in her arms while he continued to pat her in the back in what he must have thought of as a soothing manner. Han Yeo Jin chuckled softly, and finally let go.

“How are you feeling,” she asked.

“Like I just got shot.”

“Hey, that’s my line,” she said laughing, recalling the time when she responded similarly when he asked her the same question after her own shooting.

Seo Dong Jae heard laughter coming from the room, and called out tentatively, “Can I come in now?” He heard Han Yeo Jin’s laughing ‘Yes!’, and pushed opened the door, and was greeted by the happy sight of a jubilant Han Yeo Jin, and a smiling Hwang Si Mok, who already looked significantly better than he did moments before the senior inspector arrived. Seo Dong Jae took a moment to just watch the happy reunion, and appreciate the incredible gift that he had been given in the form of the two people in front of him. They will never truly know what they have done for Seo Dong Jae, for not only have they saved his life, but his soul as well, and that is a debt he can never repay. But he will try, for the rest of his life, to earn their gift.

Over the next two days, Hwang Si Mok’s hospital room became their headquarters. Where they strategized and refined their plans, and discussed everything they have uncovered. It was there where Han Yeo Jin had finally taken a shocked Jang Geon, who looked almost traumatized after finding the prosecutor alive and well, and looped him in completely about the case. They have also decided to reveal Hwang Si Mok’s true condition to Chief Prosecutor Oh and Director No, who reacted almost the same way as Jang Geon did when they finally saw him. With the arrest of Lee Bong, the three of them felt more confident of Hwang Si Mok’s safety, and had therefore agreed to involve their immediate superiors in their planning, while still maintaining a tight circle until the arrest of Lee Sung Jae.

“Did you call your mother?”

Han Yeo Jin asked Prosecutor Hwang the question after the men had left, and they were left alone in the room. She had decided to spend the night in his room, so that they can continue discussing their plans for Lee Sung Jae’s arrest tomorrow, and then leave together in the morning. She also wanted to monitor Prosecutor Hwang’s condition, as he had insisted that he be discharged tomorrow, against the advice of Dr. Chae who had recommended that he stay a few more days to fully recover.

“Yes,” Hwang Si Mok answered succinctly.

Han Yeo Jin stared expectantly at Prosecutor Hwang, waiting for him to elaborate on his one-word answer. “And?” she asked, frustrated with his unhelpful reply, and was met only with his blank stare. She shook her head at him. “Was she upset that we made it sound like you had died?”

“Oh. No, she was not. My name was never released to the media, so she never even connected it with me, so I didn’t have to bring it up. I had to tell her I got injured though, but she was fine after I told her I am already recovered.”

Han Yeo Jin tried not to feel sorry for Prosecutor Hwang, and the fact that his mother did not even care enough to check on her son. She was worried when they circulated the false news about his condition that it might reach his mother, as the press had rampantly speculated that it was him that got injured, despite the fact that his name was not mentioned, because it was public knowledge that he was the lead prosecutor on the case. She looked at him now, and her heart ached at the solitary existence that he was forced to lead for most of his life, and how truly alone he must have been without any friends or family to support him. Well, he’s not alone now, she thought, and immediately started fussing at him, as if to compensate for the lack of maternal care in his life.

Hwang Si Mok sat forward in his bed when Senior Inspector Han suddenly started arranging his pillows, beating and pounding them as if they had done her a great, personal wrong.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m fluffing your pillows.”

“Why?”

“They’re more comfortable that way,” she said, then pushed him forcibly back to rest against the bed, and then started with his blanket next, tucking him in as if he was a child being tucked into bed. He sat there, unmoving, unsure of what to do or what even was happening, but let her complete her ministrations without any protest. “Do you need to go to the bathroom?” she suddenly asked. He shook his head vigorously no, afraid of what she might do if he said yes.

“Good, ‘cause I can’t help you there,” she said, to Hwang Si Mok’s relief, and sat back down the chair beside his bed, getting comfortable.

“You don’t have to stay here with me. You can go home and rest,” Hwang Si Mok told her.

“It’s fine. Besides, this VIP room is nicer than my apartment,” she said, stretching out luxuriously on the comfortable recliner. She turned suddenly to Hwang Si Mok, and asked, “are you sure you’ll be okay tomorrow? Seo Dong Jae and I can handle it. He should be back from Jeju island shortly with the documents that we need.”

“I’m okay. I need to do this,” he said firmly.

Han Yeo Jin let the matter rest, recognizing the futility of arguing with Prosecutor Hwang on this topic. She sighed, and said, “At least it’s almost over.”

“Not quite. We still have to take care of that,” said Hwang Si Mok, pointing to the black notebook on the bedside table.

“We will,” said Han Yeo Jin. She paused, suddenly hesitant to broach a topic that has been on her mind since the night of Prosecutor Hwang’s shooting.

“The night that Seo Tae Gu shot you, when you were bleeding… you said something to me. Do you remember?” she asked tentatively. She looked at Prosecutor Hwang apprehensively, unable to account for her sudden nervousness and shyness, and saw him still at her question. She forged on, getting the rest of the question out before she loses her nerve. “You said, ‘Yes, I have.’ What did you mean by that?”

Han Yeo Jin stared at Prosecutor Hwang, his face inscrutable and his entire body unnaturally still. She was not sure why her heart suddenly started racing, or why her palms had started to sweat. All she knows is that she has a desperate need to hear the answer to her question. She waited, and finally saw him turn to her, and spoke.

“I don’t remember,” he said, his voice apologetic. “It might just be the blood loss talking.”

“Oh,” she said, disappointed, then tried to recover. “That’s what I thought. It was a strange thing to say, that’s why I asked.” She nodded, giving him a smile, and said, “we should try to get some sleep before Seo Dong Jae arrives. Tomorrow is a big day.”

Han Yeo Jin lay in the dark, trying to quell the disquiet she felt after hearing Prosecutor Hwang’s response. She had seen his reaction to her question, and heard his carefully worded answer; and Han Yeo Jin suddenly wanted to curse her detective’s natural reflex and ability to spot a mistruth, so she doesn’t have to worry about why Prosecutor Hwang had lied to her. In any normal circumstances, Han Yeo Jin would have called him out on the lie; something that she never had to do before as he had never lied to her. Until now. And Han Yeo Jin suddenly found herself too afraid to learn the real meaning behind his words, unsure if she wanted to really know the truth, and uncertain that she is ready to hear it.

Beside her, Hwang Si Mok lay still on the hospital bed, wide awake.

Chapter Text

PRESENT DAY

“Thank you for joining us, Prosecutor Hwang.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded at a smiling Senior Inspector Han, who had called out the greeting. He strode towards Lee Sung Jae, whose wide-eyed countenance showed his typical self-righteous anger, but his eyes only showed the fear his sudden appearance had invoked.

“You’re supposed to be dead,” Lee Sung Jae said shakily.

“Fake news,” he said. “You really shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”

“We have arrested Lee Bong, the former detective from Yongsan, and your and Seo Tae Gu’s accomplice in the crime of bribery, blackmail and illegal surveillance of the former mayor of Seoul. In addition, we have also discovered from the interrogation of Lee Bong, the existence of documents kept by the late Seo Tae Gu, proving the allegations of tax evasion, bribery, and multiple counts of fraud; the same allegations that the Central Office is currently investigating against you and your company. The evidence has now been handed to the Central Office,” Hwang Si Mok said, just as Kim Sah Yun and Jang Geon entered the office, his former assistant chief looking very pleased.

“We seized all the documents from a property in Jeju island that Seo Tae Gu had secretly kept. He had kept mountains of documents on you, and other people like you. You really should have been more careful when you decided to join hands with a man like him, surely you must have known that he never leaves himself unprotected from the people he did business with. You already know that was how he was able to rise to the top so quickly, both as a politician and as a crime lord; by finding a person’s worst fear, and their most wicked sins, and using that to his advantage.” Hwang Si Mok walked closer to Lee Sung Jae, and felt an immense satisfaction at completing the work that his seniors, Lee Chang Jun and Kang Won Chul, had started, and finally bring the formerly untouchable Hanjo executive to justice. “Detective Jang, can you please do the honors.”

“Lee Sung Jae, you are under arrest for the crimes of bribery, blackmail, fraud…” As Jang Geon read Lee Sung Jae his rights, the man himself turned towards his half-sister, his face a mask of rage and defiance. He railed at her, even as Jang Geon slapped the handcuffs on his wrists, his fury growing even greater as Lee Yeon Jae only continued to regard her as if he is nothing but a petulant child throwing a tantrum.

“This isn’t over,” Lee Sung Jae shouted at his half-sister as Jang Geon tried to pull him towards the door with Kim Sah Yun in tow, “I swear I’ll make you pay for this!”

“No, you won’t. You’ll answer to your crimes, just as I will answer to mine. And Father is not here anymore to save you, Sung-Jae,” Lee Yeon Jae said softly, and watched as they dragged her half-brother forcibly away, certain that she had not heard the last of him. She looked around her office, and saw that only Senior Inspector Han, Seo Dong Jae, and Prosecutor Hwang is left.

“I’m glad to see you well and recovered, Prosecutor Hwang,” she told Prosecutor Hwang, who gave a small bow acknowledging his comment. “Did you get the notebook?”

“Yes, Mrs. Lee. We’ll take care of it.”

Lee Yeon Jae smiled. “I’m glad, and I’m sure Chang-Jun would have been as well.” She turned to Senior Inspector Han now, who handed her a small paper bag.

“Thank you for the blazer. Sorry for the blood in it,” Han Yeo Jin said sheepishly. Lee Yeon Jae smiled at her, and was gratified to see the senior inspector’s small smile in return.

“Dong Jae-ya,” she called out to Seo Dong Jae, and walked towards him, “hold out your hand.”

Seo Dong Jae looked at her, understanding the real meaning behind her request, and the great importance of it. He complied, and his hand shook when Lee Yeon Jae finally took it, and grasped it tightly on her own.

“Thank you. For pulling me back from the edge.”

Seo Dong Jae let out a great sigh, feeling the massive weight of the promise that he had made to his senior finally lift.

The three of them stood in the reception area outside of Lee Yeon Jae’s office, waiting for the elevator. Seo Dong Jae took a deep breath, and tried to calm his racing heart. He still has not fully recovered from the emotional moment with Lee Yeon Jae, and now, he has to take on the terrifying activity of riding the elevator from the 68^th floor down to the lobby. He heard the ominous bell announcing the arrival of the lift, and barely heard Hwang Si Mok telling them that he needed to stay behind to make a phone call, and that he will meet them in the lobby. He entered the elevator with Han Yeo Jin, and closed his eyes as soon as the doors closed. He focused on the breathing exercise his psychiatrist had taught him to do, feeling the familiar nausea and panic slowly rising inside him, and hoped that he does not embarrass himself in front of Han Yeo Jin.

“It’s sudden loud noises for me,” said Han Yeo Jin softly.

Seo Dong Jae opened his eyes, and saw Han Yeo Jin watching him, sympathy clear in her gaze. “When I hear loud noises; a car backfiring, fireworks, a gunshot. That’s why I couldn’t handle my gun, because I’m afraid of the loud noise it will make. My entire body starts to shake, and I feel like I am back again in that moment, when Lee Bong shot me.”

Seo Dong Jae swallowed, struggling to speak in his current state. “It’s small spaces for me,” he whispered, his voice faltering. “It takes me back…when I was kidnapped, and I couldn’t move or see or even breathe.”

Han Yeo Jin felt ashamed that it had taken her so long to recognize Seo Dong Jae’s affliction, and his struggles with his own trauma. All the signs have been there, with his sudden penchant for constantly taking the stairs. As a detective, she should have realized the reason behind it, instead of attributing it solely to his vanity, no doubt colored by her former, personal opinion of him. It took her going through the same ordeal to finally see his pain, and she was filled with compassion for the man beside her who had been silently suffering all this time.

“You’ll get through this,” said Han Yeo Jin.

“How?” Seo Dong Jae asked her in a broken, desperate whisper. He felt her take his hand, squeezing it very tightly that it almost hurt.

“Every time you go inside a small space, remember this sensation instead, of my hand squeezing yours tightly. Remember this instead of that dreadful moment, so that you’re reminded that you’re not alone anymore, and that you’re safe. And that you have a friend, right by your side.”

Seo Dong Jae looked at her in wonder, and then closed his eyes, imprinting in his mind the sensation of her hand enfolding and clasping his own, and associated the feeling to the image of Han Yeo Jin, strong and warm, just like the hand gripping his. He felt his breath start to calm, his ears stopped ringing, his knees ceased shaking, and felt himself being slowly tethered to reality, and away from the nightmare that had haunted him for so long.

He opened his eyes, and was surprised to find the open elevator doors in front of him, and even more surprised at the calm manner he walked out, instead of madly running to find the nearest toilet to be sick in. He let Han Yeo Jin lead him to the couches in the lobby, still dazed at his breakthrough. Seo Dong Jae marveled at the woman beside him, and finally understood the miracle worker that is Han Yeo Jin, who had breathed life to a cold, emotionless man, and fixed a lost, broken weasel.

“You really are Wonder Woman,” he said to her in awe.

“What did you just say?”

“Wonder Woman. I thought I heard Hwang Si Mok call you that.” Seo Dong Jae watched as Han Yeo Jin stared at him aghast, her face flaming red. He was confused at her reaction, as he had meant the comment as a compliment. He was even more confused when she suddenly burst into laughter; a laughter that was unrestrained and uncontrolled at it was loud. He looked around him, at the people who had turned to stare at the spectacle, and watched, amazed as Han Yeo Jin tried to stop, then started again, even louder this time.

Han Yeo Jin knew full well that she is laughing like a madwoman, and that people had started to stare. She looked at Seo Dong Jae, and his expression made her laugh even harder because the poor man looked so confused, and slightly alarmed, at her reaction. She gasped for breath, trying to explain to him why she is laughing, and realized how ridiculous the explanation sounded in her head that it made her start all over again.

Seo Dong Jae has no idea what is going on with Han Yeo Jin, but her joyful and uninhibited laughter was so infectious that he found himself smiling, and soon enough, laughing along with her.

This was how Hwang Si Mok found them. Sitting together, laughing like a couple of misbehaving children. He knew that Prosecutor Seo has been having problems with enclosed spaces, what with all his stair-taking. He noticed his struggle earlier and decided to give him a moment alone with Senior Inspector Han because he figured that if anyone can help him, it would be her. Because that’s what she does. With her exceptional gift for compassion and her boundless capacity for kindness, she can take the most damaged soul and slowly, and patiently, help put them back together. Whether it is providing shelter to an old woman who had just lost a son, or reaching out to a convicted man who had lost the will to live to remind him he is not alone, or by simply sitting with a bereaved mother and patiently listening to her as she showed her old photos to relieve her sorrow. He smiled, witnessing yet another one of her handiwork, and walked forward to join them.

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin returned to Yongsan station with the two prosecutors and Jang Geon in tow. It is unfortunate that they walked in at the same moment that Captain Choi is drinking his coffee, as his surprise was so great at seeing a very much alive Prosecutor Hwang walk in that he sprayed his beverage all over poor Seo Sang Won, whose own shock is now replaced by disgust at being drenched in his Captain’s coffee and spit. The officers gathered were also similarly surprised, but all exclaimed how glad they were to see Prosecutor Hwang alive and well. Han Yeo Jin watched as Prosecutor Hwang suffered through all their congratulations and well-wishes, amused at how uncomfortable and awkward he looked with all the attention focused on him, while Seo Dong Jae is the opposite, and is now regaling everyone with the dramatic tale of his survival. She walked over to Captain Choi, who is now being told Prosecutor Hwang’s story by Jang Geon.

“Are you okay, Captain?” she asked.

“A little heads up would have been nice,” he said disgruntled, while an annoyed Seo Sang Won nodded beside him, still wiping his face.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. We had to keep it quiet, for his own safety.”

“You told this one,” he said, pointing to Jang Geon.

“I only told him this morning, and only because he was being a persistent nag about my mental health and the proper grieving process.”

Captain Choi harrumphed grumpily at this, but looked mollified at her explanation. “Well, look who it is. Prosecutor Hwang back from the dead, like some real-life Sherlock Holmes,” he said as Hwang Si Mok and Seo Dong Jae approach.

“Or like Jon Snow from Game of Thrones. Or Superman from Justice League,” continued Seo Sang Won, warming up to the topic, “Or Jesus from the Bibl—”

“Alright! We get it, now stop with the analogies!” said Captain Choi, irritated. “Anyway, welcome back. Good to know you haven’t snuffed it.”

Hwang Si Mok gave a slight bow to acknowledge the short, and slightly rude, welcome. Seo Dong Jae tried to contain his laugh. Han Yeo Jin rolled her eyes.

“I heard you finally arrested that scumbag, Lee Sung Jae,” said Captain Choi. Hwang Si Mok nodded, and briefed Captain Choi and the rest of the task force on that morning’s event. After he finished, Captain Choi nodded, impressed, and said, “We have some updates of our own. We’ve started executing multiple arrests on the people involved in Seo Tae Gu’s crime syndicate. Drug dealers, enforcers, port and city officials—his illegal network is slowly being dismantled. There is going to be a lot of work involved in the arrest and prosecution of these people, especially for the ones that hold government positions, and I expect we’ll find more once we untangle the entire web of his illegal activities.”

“We expected as much. We’re going through the same exercise, and some of the people involved are going to be…sensitive, to say the least,” said Hwang Si Mok.

Captain Choi nodded, understanding what he meant. “Well, I’ll leave the big fishes to you and Han Yeo Jin. We already have quite enough to be getting on with. But we need someone from the prosecution to help us with the warrant for some of these arrests.”

“I can help with that,” said Seo Dong Jae, and walked over to join Captain Choi and the task force detectives.

Han Yeo Jin turned to Prosecutor Hwang once they were alone, and said, “I have to go to HQ to talk to my Chief.”

“Me too. I have to meet with Chief Oh, and the Deputy Commissioner General.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded grimly at this. “Do you need help?” she asked.

Hwang Si Mok shook his head. “I should be okay.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded. “I’ll meet you at your apartment after. Good luck.”

***

Hwang Si Mok sat in Deputy Prosecutor General Shin’s office, joined by Chief Prosecutor Oh. The Deputy Prosecutor General was momentarily speechless when he entered his office, undoubtedly from the shock at seeing him alive, and already on his feet so shortly after his injury. He had just finished replaying the arrest of Lee Sung Jae to him, and he waited while their boss silently digests everything he just heard.

“Has Lee Sung Jae said anything yet?” the Deputy Prosecutor General asked.

“Not at the moment, sir. He’s lawyered up, but Prosecutor Kim is still working on him.”

“And have you gone through all of Seo Tae Gu’s documents?”

“Almost, sir. But there are a lot of them, so it might take more time.”

The Deputy Prosecutor General nodded, then turned angrily at Hwang Si Mok. “I gave you specific orders at the beginning of your case to report your progress to me. You failed to do that. Why am I only finding out about this now? Why did you not update me?”

“Because I didn’t want the details of the investigation leaked,” answered Hwang Si Mok simply.

Deputy Prosecutor General Shin’s face turned red at the implication of Hwang Si Mok’s statement. “Are you implying that I’m leaking confidential information?” he asked furiously.

Hwang Si Mok shook his head. “No sir, I’m not implying. I’m saying you are.” He continued before the Deputy Prosecutor General starts his inevitable outrage and denial at his accusation.

“Before Seo Tae Gu shot me, he told me that someone from the prosecution had divulged the information on Prosecutor Hwa meeting with a secret witness relating to Hanjo. It was how Seo Tae Gu and Lee Sung Jae found out about the secret meeting among Prosecutor Hwa, Kim Gwang Ho and Park Gong Chu at the Haebangchon restaurant the night of the explosion. I looked at Prosecutor Hwa’s schedule on the days leading up to the explosion, and saw that he had met with you a couple of days before the secret meeting. I didn’t think any of it at that time, as he had a recurring meeting with you in his calendar, and it was not unusual that he would report his progress to you. But then, we also found your name mentioned in Seo Tae Gu’s personal calendar, as well as his phone records. You had been in contact with him, and you and Seo Tae Gu met after your meeting with Prosecutor Hwa.”

“I’m guessing Prosecutor Hwa was very open with you, as he had no reason not to be. I don’t know if he told you everything, as he himself may not be completely aware of the evidence Kim Gwang Ho and Park Gong Chu wanted to show him at the time he spoke with you. And you may not have realized it when you met with Seo Tae Gu that the information you gave him was enough for him to take such drastic actions as to cause that explosion, just to get rid of the three of them. But I’m sure you thought about it after, which was why you wanted me to constantly update you on the details of my case.”

Hwang Si Mok watched as horror filled Deputy Prosecutor General Shin’s face, at the confirmation that he had a hand in causing the explosion that killed eight people and injured many others. “I didn’t know the reason behind your actions, and why someone like yourself would leak information about an ongoing case. Until recently, when I was handed information relating to Lee Yeon Beom. On it is a list of people, important people, whom he had used to advance his company even further. People who gave him valuable information and assistance because they owed him favors, or he had paid with some form of compensation, and other quid pro quo arrangements.”

He leaned forward, looking at his senior intently, and said, “Your name is on it, sir.”

“In short, you’ve been in Lee Yeon Beom’s pocket all this time, Shin Dong Un.” Chief Prosecutor Oh said forebodingly, completely abandoning the use of honorifics in his anger. “You fed him information on Hanjo during your time with the prosecution, and in turn, he made you a very rich man. Hanjo is a powerful player in the market, and Lee Yeon Beom gave you valuable insider information on which stocks to trade in. It’s a clever arrangement, as you could simply explain your wealth as a result of your savvy business and investment skills. But after the information that we received, it’s very clear that most, if not all, of your wealth grew as a result of the information given to you by Lee Yeon Beom.”

Oh Joo Seung took out his pen and a blank piece of paper, and slapped it on the table in front of Shin Dong Un. “This is the part where you write your resignation, and save our service from further shame. I already talked with the Prosecutor General, and he is making arrangements for you and your replacement as we speak. You may think to yourself that you can fight this, but I advise against it; because I will be the one you will be going up against, and I can guarantee that you will lose.”

Hwang Si Mok watched the impressive show of force and power by his chief, and finally understood how he had earned his fearsome reputation. He looked on as the former Deputy Prosecutor General pick up the pen with shaking fingers, and started writing his resignation letter, under the stern and watchful gaze of Chief Prosecutor Oh.

***

Han Yeo Jin jumped up, startled, at the sudden and thunderous applause that greeted her when she entered the Intelligence Bureau offices. She looked tentatively behind her, wondering if the applause was meant for someone else, and finding no one there, realized in shock that the applause was meant for her. She wandered towards her desk, as her colleagues called out appreciative shouts and patted her in the back on her way; the same colleagues who had treated her with cold indifference and passive hostility, who are now congratulating her as if they have been her best friends all this time. All it took is for me to almost die and bring down one of the biggest crime syndicates in the country for these twerps to like me, thought Han Yeo Jin, but accepted their praises in good grace just the same. She finally reached her desk and sat down, still slightly dazed at the change in her colleagues, and wondered at the possibility that she might be getting pranked. She was still processing what just happened that she did not notice someone approach her desk, until she saw Prick 1 standing awkwardly beside her, trying to hand her a document.

“Sorry to bother you Senior Inspector Han,” he said timidly, “but I have the arrest reports here from the task force. I’ve been working with the Yongsan detectives on these.” He paused, then self-consciously handed her a cup, “and I got you these.”

“Why, what’s in it?” Han Yeo Jin said quickly, automatically suspicious.

“Umm…coffee?”

Good Lord, what is happening? Han Yeo Jin thought, and took the cup and the reports hesitantly, still slightly wary.

“Anyway, welcome back. And let me know if you need anything else,” Prick 1 said and then gave her a slight bow.

“Wait!” Han Yeo Jin called out as he was walking away. Prick 1 stopped, and turned to her expectantly. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something. The day that you visited me in the hospital, you said Director No sent you. But I asked him about it, and he said he didn’t. Why were you there?”

Prick 1 looked uncomfortable with the question, but answered her, nonetheless. “I wanted to visit you and see how you were. When I heard about you being shot, I…” he paused, then cleared his throat awkwardly. “I guess I felt bad about the way I treated you. How we all treated you. I wanted to apologize, but I couldn’t muster up the courage at that time. Anyway, I’m sorry for the way I behaved. I know you were just doing your job. You’re a good cop.”

Han Yeo Jin stared at him wide-eyed, astonished at his sudden change. “Thank you…Detective Choi,” she said, and breathed a sigh of relief that she had stopped herself in time before she called him Prick 1. She suddenly heard Director No’s voice, hailing her from the door of his office and hastily excused herself from Detective Choi to join her chief.

“That was a nice welcome, don’t you think?” said a smiling Director No as soon as she entered his office.

“Yes, sir. That’s one word for it,” said Han Yeo Jin, still slightly dazed. Director No chuckled at her response.

“I know it hasn’t always been easy for you, working here, with your history with Choi Bit. And I’ve been very impressed with the way that you handled it. I knew it was only a matter of time before they see what I and Chief Choi see in you, and it appears that day has come.”

Han Yeo Jin blushed at the compliment, and mumbled a shy thank you to her chief. He smiled, and said, “Also, they probably know which way the wind is blowing, so they are being nice to you now because they’re afraid of reporting to someone whom they had treated unfairly in the past.”

This got Han Yeo Jin’s attention. “What do you mean by that, sir?”

“You must realize how big of an achievement this is Han Yeo Jin. Your task force brought down one of the biggest crime rings in the country, you solved the explosion case with the prosecution, stopped a sociopath from becoming the mayor of our city, maybe even becoming our next president, and almost gave your life in the process.” Director No smiled indulgently at her, and said, “they’re promoting you to Superintendent at my recommendation, and giving you a commendation for your bravery and service. Ceremony is next week, so get ready.”

Han Yeo Jin stared speechless at her director, suddenly overwhelmed at all the changes that has happened, and not sure how she feels about it.

“The word you are looking for is ‘Thank you Chief’,” said Chief No, chuckling at her reaction.

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. Thank you,” stammered Han Yeo Jin. “I just…I don’t know if I deserve it.”

“Of course you do, Han Yeo Jin. Don’t fight me on this,” said Director No in mock severity.

“Did…” Han Yeo Jin started to ask the question that has been bothering her ever since Director No had told her she was getting a promotion and an award, but does not quite know how to phrase it. She took a deep breath, and asked, “Did Ahn Yeong Seok have anything to do with this?”

As much as Han Yeo Jin appreciated the rewards and honors being bestowed upon her, she found herself very uncomfortable at being beholden to a man like Ahn Yeong Seok. She knew how much the chief of staff likes to pull strings in the background, and Han Yeo Jin did not want to be given something just because she is being positioned as part of a bigger plan by the powerful man, or as a personal reward for what he might think of as services rendered to him. She looked at Director No, and thought she saw understanding there, and realized that her chief knew exactly what she was thinking.

“No, he did not have anything to do with this. I was the one who recommended both the promotion and the medal. In fact, I haven’t spoken to him ever since the night that Prosecutor Hwang was shot.” Director No sighed. “Let me tell you something about Ahn Yeong Seok. You’re probably wondering how I knew him. I was just a chief in one of the provincial outposts when I suddenly got a call to work in HQ, in the Foreign Affairs Bureau. I jumped at the chance of course, and it didn’t occur to me to question why they would choose someone like me because I was more than happy to accept the promotion. I discovered later that I was recommended by the then Deputy Commissioner General Ahn, and I was so surprised because I didn’t even know the man. So, I asked him about it, once I mustered up the courage to talk to him. Like you, I did not want to be indebted to someone whose intentions are unclear to me. He told me that he had been watching my career from afar, and that he needed good people like me in positions of power within the police. But that,iIf I’m uncomfortable with it, I still have a choice; go back to my provincial outpost and remain as chief there, with no hard feelings. Or, remain in my position, and continue on at HQ. With one condition.”

“What was the condition, sir?”

“To not stray from my duty as a police officer. He warned me that he will be watching, making sure that I am upholding the honor of the service. In all the years I worked with the police, he never asked me for anything I am uncomfortable with. That is, until the day he called me asking about you and the progress of your investigation with Prosecutor Hwang. But then I realized that all it was is just him, doing what he had always done.”

“And what was that sir,” asked Han Yeo Jin in rapt attention.

“Watching. Even after all this time, after he left the force. He’s still looking out for the service, and the good people in it. So, I’m going to do the same thing to you. Because you deserve this promotion, because you are a good cop, and a good person. All I’m asking in return is that you do not stray from your duty, and always uphold the honor of the service.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded solemnly. There were moments in her career when she had started to feel disillusioned at the futility of what they do in the police, and she remembered saying something to that effect to Prosecutor Hwang in one of her moments of melancholy. No matter how hard you look, you can’t stop the fog. And no matter how many criminals you catch, they never disappear. If I catch one here, two others pop up in a different place. But today, at this moment, she was reminded of the feeling that she had when, as a fresh, new recruit, she was overwhelmed with an immense feeling of pride at joining something bigger than herself, of being part of a fellowship of men and women with the sworn duty of protecting its citizens. And looking at her chief now, she felt something that she had not felt in a long time. Hope. That their service still holds a few good men and women, who like her, still aspire to that noble calling to serve and protect its people.

“I won’t let you down, sir,” said Han Yeo Jin, her voice brimming with pride and purpose.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok contorted his arm behind his back and tried to look in the mirror behind him to see if he can reach his gunshot wound. He had spent the last half hour attempting to clean and redress his wound, but the awkward placement of the injury had made the task more difficult than he had expected. He heard the doorbell rang, and sighed in frustration. He had planned to get the task out of the way before Senior Inspector Han arrived for their meeting, but it seemed he may have to put it off for later. He put his shirt back on and opened the door to let her in.

“Evening. I got you tea. I was going to bring something stronger, but I know you can’t drink alcohol with your meds.” She pushed the steaming cup on to his hands, and that was when Hwang Si Mok noticed the overnight bag she is carrying.

“Thanks. Why do you have a bag with you?” he asked.

“I’m staying here for a couple of days to help take care of you. I promised Dr. Chae, it’s the only reason she agreed to discharge you. Do you have an extra towel? I forgot to bring one,” Han Yeo Jin asked, looking at him expectantly. She saw Prosecutor Hwang looking at her in stunned bewilderment, much like the time she had punched him in the face after she had thought he was a suspect.

“You’re not staying here,” he said, after he finally got his brain to work after her surprising announcement.

“Yes, I am,” Han Yeo Jin said stubbornly.

“No, you’re not. I can take care of myself.”

“Really? Have you changed your dressing yet?” Han Yeo Jin asked innocently.

“Yes. Here,” he said, lifting the front of his shirt to show her the bandage he just changed.

“What about the one in your back?” she asked, and was met by a silent Prosecutor Hwang. She smiled victoriously and said, “that’s what I thought.”

“It’s nothing, I can take of it myself. You don’t have to stay here,” he said adamantly.

“Okay, then I won’t,” Han Yeo Jin said airily. Hwang Si Mok looked at her suspiciously, wary at how easily she capitulated.

“Who are you calling?” he asked when she suddenly took out her phone.

“Your mother. I’ll tell her to come by and stay with you instead, since you won’t let me.”

“Please don’t do that,” he said, a little note of panic in his voice.

“Sorry. I promised Dr. Chae. She gave me a long list of things that needed to be done for you. I’ll give it to your mother when she gets here,” she said, and put the phone in her ear.

“Fine. You can stay, but just for tonight,” Hwang Si Mok said, forcing the words out, annoyed at being blackmailed with the threat of his mother coming to live with him.

Han Yeo Jin tried to contain her smile of triumph and amusement at Prosecutor Hwang’s sullen tone. She ended the call when she heard Seo Dong Jae’s confused voice on the other line. She didn’t really have Prosecutor Hwang’s mother’s number, but had expected that the threat of bringing her here will make him agree to almost anything.

“We’ll see,” Han Yeo Jin said cheerfully. “Now, let’s change that bandage.” She walked confidently into his bathroom to wash her hands and retrieve the first aid kit.

Hwang Si Mok stood dazed in the living room, still not quite sure what had happened, and certain that he had been somehow hoodwinked by the senior inspector, but not sure how as it all happened so fast.

“Sit down here,” she ordered after she came out of the bathroom with the first aid kit, pointing to the couch, and then forcibly sitting him down when he didn’t comply quickly enough. He felt her warm hands against his bare back as she took out the old, soiled bandage, and winced at the sting of alcohol as she started cleaning the wound.

“Oof, that looks bad,” she said, wincing at the ugly wound. “Looks like you can’t wear your bikini anymore,” she joked.

“That’s too bad. I look good in one.” Hwang Si Mok felt the hands on her back stilled, and then Senior Inspector Han’s face suddenly popped up in front of him, both her eyes and mouth opened wide in pure delight.

“Is that a joke? Did you just make a joke?” she asked in gleeful wonder.

“It’s to distract me from the pain. You’re bad at this,” he said in mock grumpiness, but smiled at her delighted laugh.

“Don’t be grumpy,” she said, still cackling. “I got us dinner. Chicken and beer. Well, the beer is for me. Just chicken for you. There, all done,” she said, and was about to slap him in the back for a job well done when she saw him flinch involuntarily at the motion.

“Oh yeah, you got shot there. Sorry,” she said sheepishly, and patted him gently in the back instead, to Hwang Si Mok’s immense relief.

They spent an enjoyable time having dinner, with Hwang Si Mok eating more than the usual. Han Yeo Jin noticed, and frowned at him.

“Did you have lunch today?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.

“I had a sandwich.” He didn’t tell her that he didn’t even finish it as he was so busy, but he knew she could tell from the disapproving look she gave him.

“’I can take care of myself’ my butt,” she muttered disapprovingly. “You need to eat your meals if you want to recover faster,” she said, admonishing him. She took his plates to the sink to wash, and shot down his half-hearted protest when he insisted he can do it. He made tea for them instead and carried it to the living room, waiting for her to finish. He glanced at her open bag and noticed it contained a smaller bag inside full of yarn and other sewing paraphernalia.

“It’s my knitting kit,” Han Yeo Jin said when he noticed Prosecutor Hwang looking at it. “The department shrink recommended that I find a relaxing hobby when I start feeling too stressed.” She took out one of her handiwork and showed it to Prosecutor Hwang.

Hwang Si Mok looked at it carefully, trying to ascertain what it is. “Oh, it looks…” he stammered, still not sure what the kidney bean shape thing he is holding is. “What is it?”

“Nothing! It’s nothing. I am very bad at this!” Han Yeo Jin said, disgruntled, taking back the offending thing from Prosecutor Hwang. “I meant to knit a hat, but it came out looking like this piece of crap. I have to find another relaxing hobby because this is just making me feel more enraged.”

“What about yoga?” he recommended.

“That’s what Seo Sang Won said. Can you believe he does yoga? He invited me to a class. Though I’m not sure I want to watch him do the downward dog in his tights,” she said, shuddering at the image.

“You could start drawing again?”

Han Yeo Jin paused thoughtfully at this. It has been a while since she actually drew anything, save for the occasional, distracted doodles. Her art and drawings used to take up a big portion of her life, not just as a hobby, but also as a release of all of her pent up energy and emotions. It had become a habit, much like chewing one’s nails, but more creative, and less gross. She tried to remember why she had stopped and recalled the day when she had just started in HQ, and they were in a meeting with the other members of the Reformation Unit. She had started to get bored and, as was her habit, started drawing an anime character in her notebook. She remembered one of her colleagues catching her in the act, and then looking at her in haughty condescension. She realized then that her quirky, almost-childlike habit that was indulged, even admired, at Yongsan precinct will not be accepted nor appreciated within the elevated ranks of HQ. She had decided then to stop drawing while at work, and it had eventually curbed her desire to draw even in private, until she had stopped drawing completely. The realization made her sad, remembering the happy and whimsical version of herself that she used to be, but cannot return to.

“Maybe,” she said noncommittally. “How did your meeting with the Deputy Prosecutor General go?” she asked, suddenly eager to change the topic.

Hwang Si Mok noticed the senior inspector’s melancholy expression when he mentioned drawing. He had always wondered why she had stopped her favorite hobby, but he chose to let it go for now, as she clearly did not wish to discuss it. Instead, he told her about the meeting with the former deputy prosecutor general, and the resignation that followed.

“Wow, that sounds intense. What’s going to happen to him now?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“He’ll be investigated. Chief Oh will oversee the case himself.”

Han Yeo Jin nodded. “Well, that’s one off our list,” she said, looking at the black notebook.

Hwang Si Mok took the black notebook in his hands, and skimmed through the pages.

“And a lot more to go,” he said, as he and the senior inspector get to work.

Chapter Text

Over the next few days, Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin became absorbed in their work. Han Yeo Jin oversaw the dismantling of the vast illegal network left behind by Seo Tae Gu that transcended national and international jurisdictions, and leading both the teams at Yongsan and HQ to execute arrests of the top level members of the syndicate down to the lowliest, slum-dwelling drug dealers. Similarly, Hwang Si Mok, with the help of Seo Dong Jae, had begun to build the cases against most of the people named in Lee Yeon Beom’s black notebook. The work involved proved to be substantial enough that Chief Oh had created a special team dedicated for the investigation of the parties named in the notebook, with Hwang Si Mok officially transferred out of his Wonju post and assigned to the Western Seoul office instead to lead and oversee the team.

In the evenings, the two of them had settled into a familiar rhythm of living and working together. It had been almost a week since Han Yeo Jin had forced herself into the quasi-living arrangement with Prosecutor Hwang. She had only meant to stay for three days at most, until one night he came home with a huge blood stain on his back, when his stitches had come off and his wound had started to bleed without him even noticing until he almost passed out in the living room. She had rushed him to the hospital, and both were given a very thorough lecture by an irate Dr. Chae. She had decided to stay longer then, until she is sure that Prosecutor Hwang is fully healed because it is clear that the man cannot take care of himself. For his part, Hwang Si Mok did not voice any objections when the senior inspector announced that she will be staying with him until he is fully recovered, in part because he had been worried, even a little frightened, of the thunderous look she gave him after his visit in the emergency room. The other part being that he had gotten used to her presence that he found himself surprisingly unwilling to part with her company just yet.

Their glimpse of each other’s personal traits and idiosyncrasies, previously unseen during their purely-work related interactions, have been both enlightening and surprising. For instance, Han Yeo Jin discovered that Prosecutor Hwang cannot cook, and wondered how in the world he had been able to survive for 20 odd years without succumbing to hunger or malnutrition. She had tried to teach him how to cook a basic dish, then promptly gave up when her detailed instructions were met only with his perpetual blank stare. On his part, Hwang Si Mok discovered that Senior Inspector Han liked to sing while in the shower. Loud. So very loud and so very bad that he had to stop working until her off-key screeching finally stopped. He dreaded those high keys she tries to hit when her voice becomes so high pitched that it reminded him of the shrieking dolphins he once saw in an aquarium when he was younger. Even now, Hwang Si Mok closed his eyes as the senior inspector finished off her rendition of a ballad in her loudest, shrillest tone to date, and knew that it is only a matter of time when his neighbors file a noise complaint against him. He was still rubbing his ears as she came out of the bathroom, her hair still damp and smelling of the flower-scented soap she uses, carrying the first aid kit for her to clean and re-bandage the wound on his back that had become their nightly ritual.

“Do you have a headache?” Han Yeo Jin asked in concern when she noticed Prosecutor Hwang rubbing the side of his head.

“I do now,” he mumbled.

“Want an aspirin?”

“No, I’m fine. Though I may need to go for an ear check-up later.”

“Hmm. While you’re there, have them check your cholesterol too. You eat like you’re still a teenager, all that junk food and take-out,” she said as she started her ministrations. Hwang Si Mok scowled.

They both turned to the television screen when they heard Hanjo mentioned in the evening news. Hwang Si Mok grabbed the remote and turned up the volume, and they watched as a video of Lee Sung Jae, looking furious and surrounded by his lawyers, were mobbed by reporters on his way inside the courtroom.

“…the former Hanjo President, Lee Sung Jae, appeared in the courtroom today for his trial involving the multiple accusations of fraud, bribery, tax evasion and embezzlement. He is also implicated in the crimes involving former councilman Seo Tae Gu, who was later revealed to be the mastermind behind the explosion of a restaurant in the Haebangchon district that killed eight people. Prosecutor Kim Sah Yun, the lead prosecutor for the case, had expressed his confidence of a guilty verdict due to the strength of the government’s evidence supporting the charges against the Hanjo executive.

In related news, Lee Yeon Jae, the CEO and newly-appointed Chairwoman of Hanjo Group, has released a statement declaring her commitment to cooperate with law enforcement officials on any investigation involving the conglomerate, and had voluntarily surrendered herself to the Prosecution for questioning yesterday. Lee Yeon Jae took over as Chairwoman after her father, Lee Yeon Beom, died earlier this year...”

They watched as a calm and elegant-looking Lee Yeon Jae walked into the Eastern Seoul Office, her head held high and her bearing proud, the ice queen persona firmly in place. They heard from Prosecutor Kim that she opted not to have her army of lawyers with her during the questioning, choosing instead to answer the questions on her own and without any legal representation.

“Looks like she’s really keeping her word,” said Han Yeo Jin in wonder. “Do you think they’ll charge her?”

“For her past crimes, yes. But I doubt she’ll see jail time. It will be most likely hefty fines, and probation. And her voluntary surrender, and the fact that she helped us against her brother will go a long way with the prosecution and the court. Also, she had secured the services of the top law firm in the country.”

“Which one?”

“Kang Won Chul’s.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at him in surprise.

“He told me about it. He said Lee Yeon Jae contacted him. He refused at first, but I think he might be wavering after what Lee Yeon Jae told him, and after I told him what she did for us. He said she’s not fighting the charges, just negotiating the terms of her punishment if convicted. I don’t know yet if he will agree to represent her, there’s too much history there. We’ll see.”

“By the way, your wound is healing nicely. You will be glad to hear that I will be out of your hair after tomorrow,” Han Yeo Jin said.

Hwang Si Mok stilled. He knew this day would come, but had quietly hoped that it does not come too soon. Because as unexpectedly as she had come to his life, her forced presence in his home had also amplified an emptiness that he did not know existed until she came and filled it. But he will not tell her this today, or tomorrow, and perhaps never, knowing it will not be appropriate, and certain that it is less than what she deserved.

“Thank you, for coming to help. I really appreciate it,” he said sincerely. Hwang Si Mok watched as the senior inspector smile at him, the same joyful and open smile that is her trademark, tinged with a hint of sadness that he suspects is just his hopeful mind imagining things.

“See, it wasn’t that bad,” she said jokingly. “Sorry for all the singing,” she said sheepishly, causing Hwang Si Mok to reflexively rub his ears. Han Yeo Jin laughed.

“By the way, are you busy tomorrow?”

“Why?”

“I’m getting an award. The ceremony is tomorrow,” she said, suddenly self-conscious.

Hwang Si Mok turned to her in surprise, then smiled, and said, “Congratulations, Senior Inspector Han.”

“You have to stop calling me that now,” she said, and saw Prosecutor Hwang looking at her, confused. “It’s Superintendent Han now,” she said, looking at him in mock superiority.

Hwang Si Mok smiled at her again. “Superintendent Han,” he said, testing the word. “Has a nice ring to it.”

“I don’t know. I’ve gotten used to senior inspector. But this one has the word super in it, so I guess it’s okay.”

Hwang Si Mok thought that he had also gotten used to senior inspector, and that he will miss calling her that. “Well, congratulations again.”

Han Yeo Jin smiled, and tamped down the uneasiness she felt at the thought that she had not told him everything. Because her superiors had another surprise in store for her, having been impressed with the way she handled the Seo Tae Gu case. She was astonished when she heard the offer of a new assignment, but her excitement was immediately tempered with the realization of what accepting it will entail. She sighed, and told herself that now is not the time to tell him, and promised herself that she will tell Prosecutor Hwang tomorrow.

“Anyway, we still have one more person on the list we need to talk to,” she said, reverting back to business.

Hwang Si Mok looked at the black notebook lying on the coffee table in front of them, and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll get to him.”

Chapter Text

“Senior Inspector Han Yeo Jin”

Han Yeo Jin took a deep breath as she heard her name announced, and walked up to the stage to receive her commendation. She had felt conflicted ever since Director No had told her about her promotion, uncertain if she truly deserved it, and uncomfortable with the fact that the very case that earned her that honor has been filled with great personal pain and loss. But as she put on her Class A uniform in Prosecutor Hwang’s bathroom that morning, her fingers cannot help but shake as she added another mugunghwa flower to the two she already has in her rank insignia, and felt a flicker of pride as she looked at herself in the mirror. She was suddenly overcome by the bittersweet memories of Soon Chang, and felt a great sadness over the fact that he should have been here, receiving an award and promotion that he rightly deserved, along with her.

“This is supposed to be a happy occasion, you know,” said Hwang Si Mok, who had been standing in the open bathroom door, quietly observing the senior inspector. No, the superintendent, he corrected himself, and thought that it will take some time to get used to calling her by her new rank. He was arrested by the image of her in her police uniform, and marveled at the fact that only her can exude spectacular strength and bravery without losing an ounce of her femininity. But his silent appreciation was interrupted when he noticed her looking forlorn, and had uttered his comment to help tease her out of her gloom. He watched now as she turned to him, and gave him a sad, little smile.

“I know. Just thinking about some stuff. Don’t mind me,” Han Yeo Jin said, and busied herself straightening her uniform to avoid looking at Prosecutor Hwang, even though everything is already in place.

“He would have been proud of you. If he was here, he would have been happy to see you get the honor that you deserve.” Hwang Si Mok instinctively knew where her thoughts went, and the reason behind her sudden despondency; and so he voiced what he felt at that moment, and what he knew for certain Detective Park would have also felt if he was here with them. He watched as Superintendent Han’s eyes suddenly filled with tears, and he wanted to hit himself for once again saying the wrong thing and further upsetting her. He was about to apologize when the superintendent suddenly walked towards him and engulfed him in a tight embrace. He stood there, stunned and dazed, at the sudden and surprising gesture. He patted her awkwardly in the back, not knowing what else to do.

“Thank you,” she said tearfully.

“What for?” he asked, genuinely puzzled.

“For everything. For being my friend,” she said, tightening her embrace.

Hwang Si Mok thought that it should be him thanking her, certain that she has done more for him than he has for her. But all the emotions that he felt cannot be easily put into mere words, and so he simply said with all the sincerity and earnestness he could muster, “You’re welcome.”

They broke apart. Han Yeo Jin wiped her face and said, “Now I have to fix my make-up again.” She gave a little laugh, more to break the tension that suddenly filled the room, and walked towards the bathroom mirror.

“I’ll do my best to come to the ceremony, if the meeting finishes early,” said Hwang Si Mok. He had wanted to come and see her receive her award, but was roped in on a meeting with his chief and the Prosecutor General.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Han Yeo Jin, “We’ll meet up after.”

“Senior Inspector Han Yeo Jin led the Task Force that brought down a multi-national organized crime syndicate operating in the city of Seoul, as well as solving the Haebangchon explosion case with the Prosecution, and bringing all parties responsible to justice.”

Han Yeo Jin brought herself back in the moment as she reached the stage to accept her award from the Chief of Police.

“This award is in recognition to her great service, and for distinguishing herself by courage and bravery at the risk of her life above and beyond the call of duty. Along with this recognition, she will also be promoted one rank up.”

Han Yeo Jin accepted the award, and saluted the Chief of Police.

“The next award is given to Detective Park Soon Chang. This medal is being given posthumously, in recognition for his contributions to the Task Force, and for his outstanding bravery and honor, and for his ultimate sacrifice in the service of the people of this great country.”

Han Yeo Jin accepted Soon Chang’s medal from the Chief of Police, then turned to watch Mrs. Park, Soon Chang’s mother, ascend the stage carrying her son’s portrait. She handed the medal to an emotional Mrs. Park, who accepted it in tearful appreciation, and then saluted the kind woman.

 “Attention. Salute”

Han Yeo Jin turned towards the audience, and saluted. Her eyes roamed the clapping auditorium, and saw her friends heartily applauding her on their feet. She saw Director No, accompanied to her surprise by the former Prick 1, Detective Choi. She saw that most of the members of her task force from Yongsan was in attendance, and watched as Jang Geon cheered loudly for her, and Captain Choi patting a visibly emotional Seo Sang Won in the back, while Seo Dong Jae enthusiastically gave her the thumbs up. Her eyes continued to wander along the packed auditorium in search of the one person who truly mattered, and her face broke into a wide smile as she finally saw Prosecutor Hwang standing in the back of the auditorium, the familiar half smile directed at her.

Hwang Si Mok must have broken a dozen traffic laws as he sped towards the National Police headquarters to make it in time to see Superintendent Han accept her award and promotion. He watched her eyes eagerly searching the crowd, and felt immense pleasure when her face broke into a luminous, beautiful smile when her gaze finally landed on him. He continued to watch as she spoke to a tearful Mrs. Park, until he felt the hair at the back of his neck prickling in the sure sign that he is being watched. He turned, looking for the person, and saw Ahn Yeong Seok standing further in the back, observing him. They stared at each other for a brief moment, until the Chief of Staff subtly nodded, understanding the silent message that he had conveyed. Ahn Yeong Seok turned away, and walked towards the exit, with Hwang Si Mok silently following in his trail.

Chapter Text

The two of them stood alone on the rooftop of the National Police headquarters building, with everybody clearing off as soon as they saw the important man coming. Hwang Si Mok stood silently beside Ahn Yeong Seok as the older man surveyed the view, and waited for him to speak.

“I used to come here a lot when I worked in this building. When I needed to clear my head, or to just get away from work,” said Ahn Yeong Seok. Hwang Si Mok remained silent.

“I should congratulate you and Superintendent Han for a job well done. You solved the case, and stopped a very bad man and the criminal empire he had built.”

“Did you already know about Seo Tae Gu, sir?” Hwang Si Mok asked. “Is that why you helped me and Superintendent Han?”

Ahn Yeong Seok was silent for a moment, contemplating his answer. “I had a hunch. Although I could never prove it. I knew that he was not what he appeared to be, and I knew he was more than the benevolent face he showed to the public. But Seo Tae Gu was nothing if not careful; he guarded his other persona so completely and so well that no one suspected the dark secret he was hiding.”

“Except for you, sir.”

Ahn Yeong Seok nodded. “Like I said, I suspected. And it bothered me how quickly he ascended within the party, and how, after only a few short years, he was able to consolidate so much power and influence. So much so that my colleagues had started to bet our future on him, and groomed him to be our next leader. But I always had a feeling about him, and I learned never to discount that feeling, as it had served me well in my years in the police and then in politics. So, I watched him, carefully. He knew about it too; he was always wary with me, but always careful not to reveal anything, or show any signs that he was someone else other than who he said he was. I heard whispers, just rumors, really; in my line of work, you tend to come across these kinds of information. And that’s when I really started paying attention.”

“You’re a very powerful man. Why didn’t you do anything about it?”

“I did,” said Ahn Yeong Seok, finally turning to look at him. “I put the best man and woman for the job.”

Ahn Yeong Seok smiled. “I couldn’t do anything directly. Not without any proof, and not without revealing my hand and tipping him off. Despite of what you may think, there are limits to my power, and my abilities. I couldn’t investigate him without infringing on civil liberties, and I was certain that any objections I raise about him within my own party would have been shot down immediately. Doesn’t mean I didn’t try; but Seo Tae Gu had them all wrapped around his deceitful, little fingers, and as expected, I was overruled.”

“I knew he had a hand on what happened with the mayor, I just couldn’t find any evidence to prove it,” Ahn Yeong Seok continued. “And I knew he did it because the mayor was investigating his little project, Grand Horizon. I knew because I was the one who tipped off Mayor Kim to start investigating in the first place. I suspected that he took bribes from Lee Sung Jae because Hanjo Engineering won the contract, despite the fact that there were other, more financially viable, bids that were presented.” Ahn Yeong Seok shook his head. “Unfortunately, the mayor had a weakness, and Seo Tae Gu was smart and devious enough to exploit that. In the end, it ruined him, along with my plan to expose Seo Tae Gu for what he truly was.”

“And then, the explosion happened. I was surprised at how quickly the case was closed, so I took a closer look, and found a very compelling mystery. A cook who had suddenly gone missing, and three seemingly unconnected people, with one thread linking them all together.”

“Hanjo,” said Hwang Si Mok.

The chief of staff nodded. “The lead prosecutor investigating Hanjo, an auditor looking into Hanjo, and a nurse responsible for the care of its chairman. What are the odds of these three strangers together, in one place, and that place just happens to blow up; right when the company in question is in the middle of an investigation.”  

“Very slim, sir,” said Hwang Si Mok.

“Exactly,” Ahn Yeong Seok nodded. “That’s when I had the feeling again. I knew that Lee Sung Jae would never have done this, even though it benefited his company. Simply because he doesn’t have the balls to do it, and despite his terrible character, he is not capable of this kind of savagery. But I knew one person who might be, and I knew that Lee Sung Jae and Seo Tae Gu were already connected because of Grand Horizon.”

“That’s why you helped us. Because you wanted to expose Seo Tae Gu.”

“Yes,” said Ahn Yeong Seok, and saw the younger prosecutor staring intently at him, studying him as if he is a suspect being interrogated by him.

“But that’s not the only reason, isn’t it, sir?” said Hwang Si Mok, and continued when the chief of staff remained silent. “Your target wasn’t just Seo Tae Gu. It was also Lee Sung Jae, and Hanjo.”

“When we first met, you warned us to be careful of the powerful people with secrets to hide. And you said to me that you may be one of those people. I’ve suspected that your secret may be connected to Hanjo, and when I received Lee Yeon Beom’s black notebook, I fully expected your name to be on there. The notebook with the names of the powerful people whom he had bribed, cajoled, or outright threatened to perform favors, illegal favors, for the sole purpose of making his company the most powerful in the country,” said Hwang Si Mok. “But your name wasn’t on it.”

“And isn’t that a good thing, Prosecutor Hwang?” said Ahn Yeong Seok, carefully looking at Hwang Si Mok.

“I said your name wasn’t on it. I didn’t say you weren’t, sir.”

“Lion.” Hwang Si Mok said, and watched the surprise in Ahn Yeong Seok’s face. “I knew I heard that name before, it was when I walked into Chief Oh’s office, and he was talking to someone on the phone. I remembered he called the man on the other line that name, and it stuck with me because it was an unusual name to call someone. It was actually Superintendent Han that finally made me realize that it was you. The Lion of Gyeonggi; she said that was the nickname they bestowed on you when you were still a detective.”

“Your name is not on the black notebook, sir. But the name Lion is,” said Hwang Si Mok. “You were one of the people who helped Lee Yeon Beom. You gave him information, confidential and secret information, when you were still with the police, and even after, when you entered politics. You enabled him to commit his illegal acts in the service of his company. That is also the reason why you could not act directly against Hanjo. Because you were afraid that they might discover that you were working against them, and they will retaliate by revealing to everyone that you had secretly helped them commit their illegal acts. That’s where I and Superintendent Han come in; you delegated the task of bringing them down to the two of us. That way, they won’t suspect your involvement. And if we were successful, it will finally release you from the binds that tied you to the father, and then the son after his death, and free yourself from being beholden to them.”

“You used me and Han Yeo Jin. And she almost lost her life in the process,” said Hwang Si Mok, the slight clenching of his jaw the only sign of the simmering anger within him.

“And yours, Prosecutor Hwang. You almost lost yours too,” said Ahn Yeong Seok softly. “And I will add that sin to the countless others I have committed in this life.”

Hwang Si Mok watched as Ahn Yeong Seok walked closer to him, the older man’s face looking as if it had aged exponentially during the past few minutes, when he levelled his accusations on him.

“We all like to believe that we are incorruptible. To think that we are good, and decent, and noble. That when the time comes and the temptation is dangled in front of us, that we will be strong and honorable enough to turn away, and refuse. But that’s not the true ways of the world, and you cannot predict the hand that life will deal you.”

“We all have our price, Prosecutor Hwang, even you,” said Ahn Yeong Seok. “And here comes yours now.”

They both turned as the rooftop door burst open, and out came a worried looking Han Yeo Jin, who immediately started running towards their direction as soon as she saw them.

“Can you tell me, in all truth and honesty, that you will not do anything, give anything, to save her?” asked Ahn Yeong Seok, and for a moment, Hwang Si Mok witnessed a flicker of great sadness and regret in the older man’s eyes, before he turned away as Superintendent Han reached them and stood beside him.

“Superintendent Han, congratulations on your promotion,” Ahn Yeong Seok said sincerely, smiling kindly at Han Yeo Jin, who now eyed him warily. “And perfect timing too, because I think Prosecutor Hwang is about to arrest me, and he will need a police officer for that.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at Prosecutor Hwang in surprise. They had planned to talk to Ahn Yeong Seok together, after they discovered his name written in Lee Yeon Beom’s notebook, but she was not expecting it to happen today, and at HQ no less. She had looked for him after the ceremony, wondering why he had suddenly disappeared; until one of the officers told her that he was seen at the rooftop with Ahn Yeong Seok. She had rushed to the rooftop then, worried that something might happen to him if he was left alone with someone who turned out to be not the benevolent benefactor he purported to be, but as one of the villains of the story, whose motives are finally revealed to be less than honorable as he had claimed.

“Why did you do it?” asked Hwang Si Mok. “What made you betray the honor and principles you claimed to have? What was your price?”

Ahn Yeong Seok was silent for a moment, and when he finally spoke, he experienced the paradoxical feeling of a great heaviness in his heart, and an immense lightening of his soul, at finally being able to utter the secret that he had kept for so long.

“My wife,” he said softly. “She was my price, and my entire world. She got sick while I was still with the police. Cancer-- a bad one. The doctors gave her less than six months. But they said, there might be hope; an experimental treatment in America that could treat her type of cancer. Except it cost a fortune, a fortune that I did not have. But I knew someone who does, someone who had already tried to buy me off in the past, and whom I had refused. I did not refuse this time. And in return, I got five more years with my wife. Five more years to be with her, for our children to be with their mother, and for our grandchildren to meet her. Five years, in return for a lifetime of servitude for a corrupt man.”

“The thing is, if I had the choice to do it all over again, I know that I would do the same thing. Even if I only get to be with her for a short time; a year, a month, even for just one day. I would have still taken that money, and that one day would have been enough for the rest of my life.”

Ahn Yeong Seok smiled sadly at Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok. “You were wrong, Prosecutor Hwang, when you said I will finally be free. I will never be, because of what I have done. Lee Yeon Beom’s death and even the demise of his company will not release me from the prison I had locked myself in the moment I joined hands with a corrupt man. And while it is true that I used you and Han Yeo Jin, it is not because of fear of exposure for my misdeeds; it is because once exposed, I will not be able to finish the work that needs to be completed. I knew that the two of you will eventually discover my crimes, but I wanted someone else to complete the work that I could not, and I would have faced my reckoning a happy man,” said Ahn Yeong Seok. “I already handed in my resignation, and my affairs are in order. Do what you must.”

Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin looked at each other, silently communicating their thoughts, fully understanding each other’s intent, and decided to proceed with their original plan.

“Superintendent Han and I already tried to find evidence against you with regards to the information in the notebook, so we can build a case for your arrest. But the information in the notebook was not enough to trace back to you, and the fact that your name was not explicitly written on it will not be enough for me to issue a warrant,” said Hwang Si Mok.

“Prosecutor Hwang and I have decided to confront you about our discovery. We already knew we would not be able to prosecute you, but we wanted you to know that we know what you’ve done. And even though there will not be any criminal charges, we needed to make sure that you will never again have the opportunity to repeat your past crimes, and ask you to resign your position in the Blue House and within your party. And to let you know that we will always be here, watching,” said Han Yeo Jin, dangling the implied warning.

Ahn Yeong Seok took a deep breath, a feeling of immense pride suddenly overcoming him as he gazed at the prosecutor and the superintendent, and of a profound hope and optimism that he had not felt in a long time. He smiled, and finally spoke.

“I’m counting on it, Superintendent Han.”

Chapter Text

Han Yeo Jin and Hwang Si Mok stood together in the rooftop at HQ. Ahn Yeong Seok had left, and the two of them were left alone to discuss what had transpired. Han Yeo Jin blew out a breath, strangely exhausted after the emotional unravelling of the former chief of staff. She turned to Prosecutor Hwang, who looked lost in his own thoughts, and asked, “Do you think he was wrong? To do what he did, to save his wife?”

“Before, I would have said yes,” said Hwang Si Mok, then thought about what Ahn Yeong Seok had told him about everyone having a price, including him. “I’m not so sure anymore,” he admitted quietly.

“Me neither,” said Han Yeo Jin. “We’ve done what we could. And it turns out we don’t even have to force him to resign as he had already done it. I don’t think he’s a bad man, and I think the fact that he had used his powers since to quietly protect and advance good and worthy people might be his way of atoning for his sins. I’m not saying what he did was right, I’m just saying it’s complicated.”

Hwang Si Mok is still troubled at the words that Ahn Yeong Seok’s said to him when they were alone, and tried to hide the disquiet he felt from Superintendent Han. So he nodded at her instead, and kept his thoughts to himself, and saw her looking suddenly uncomfortable.

“There’s something else I need to tell you,” said Han Yeo Jin, not meeting Prosecutor Hwang’s eyes. She took a deep breath, and finally looked at him fully, and said, “I got offered a new position with the Foreign Affairs Division. It’s for a position with the National Central Bureau.”

Hwang Si Mok took a moment to digest Superintendent Han’s surprising news. He knew that this is a significant and positive step in her career, especially after he realized what the NCB does. “Interpol?” he asked in amazement.

Han Yeo Jin nodded. “I’ll be in the field, as well as leading my own team, and will be the primary liaison for Interpol.”

“Wow, that’s very impressive. And a great opportunity for you,” said Hwang Si Mok, and thought that this could mean that he may not be able to work with the superintendent anymore, given her new position. He tried to suppress the disappointment he felt, and forced himself to show more enthusiasm for her news. “I guess it only makes sense that they have chosen you. With your aptitude for languages, and your international education, and now you have experience with organized crime. Also, you’re one of the best detectives in the force.”

Han Yeo Jin chuckled. “Well, I’m glad you finally noticed,” she said jokingly. “The thing is, they’re sending me overseas to train and work with our European counterparts. First to Lyon, then in different cities in Europe,” she said, then paused. “I have to be away for six months. I leave in a week.”

Hwang Si Mok was surprised at the sudden and staggering sadness he felt at the thought that he may not see her for almost half a year. He was happy when Chief Oh had reassigned him back to Seoul, thinking that even if he and the superintendent are not working together on a case, they could still meet up regularly for a drink at their pop up bar. He sighed, and forced a smile on his face when he turned back to look at Superintendent Han. “Well, I’ll be here in Seoul when you come back.”

“That’s right, you’re assigned here now,” said Han Yeo Jin, and then groaned. “Just when you finally came back, I have to leave,” she said unhappily.

“Doesn’t really matter where we are, if you think about it. We always find our way back to each other, somehow.”

Han Yeo Jin looked at the man in front of her, and wondered when it was during their time together that he had become the most significant person in her life, and when their relationship had developed into the most meaningful one she ever had. She had battled with indecision these past few days whether she should take the job, knowing that there is no good reason to turn it down, other than the fact that she will be leaving Prosecutor Hwang behind, and the thought that she would not be able to see or work with him for a long time had made her incredibly lonely and depressed. She wondered then whether the two of them is perpetually destined to only be together for short but intense moments in time, like ships passing in the night, only crossing paths, but never really settling. She knew now that that is not true, that their bond ran so deeply that distance will not be able break it. And that what Prosecutor Hwang said is true, that they always find their way back to each other, somehow.

 “Yes. Somehow,” Han Yeo Jin said, smiling at Prosecutor Hwang. “Just make sure they keep the pop up bar open while I’m gone,” she said, laughing at Prosecutor Hwang’s smile.

“Speaking of drinking, the Yongsan guys and Seo Dong Jae wanted to have a drink and celebrate my promotion. I said we’ll join them shortly. They’re at your place right now, getting started,” she told him.

Hwang Si Mok nodded distractedly, then the superintendent’s words finally registered. “Wait, my place?”

Han Yeo Jin smiled. “Yup. Let’s head over there now before they trash your apartment,” she said with relish, pulling at his arm towards the exit.

“But why there?”

“Because your balcony is nicer and bigger than mine. And besides, it’s my last night there so it will be like my farewell party too.”

“My neighbors our going to complain about the noise,” he muttered, while being dragged by the superintendent towards the exit.

Han Yeo Jin laughed. “Just tell them the lady who sings is finally leaving. They’d be so happy they may even join us to celebrate.”

***

They arrived at Hwang Si Mok’s apartment with the party already in full swing. They were greeted by loud shouts of ‘Superintendent!’ by Jang Geon, Captain Choi and Seo Sang Won, including an already red-faced Seo Dong Jae who looked so excited and happy to be finally invited to a gathering. They passed the soju around, as the delicious aroma of roasting meat wafted in the air from the barbecue grill that Jang Geon had brought with him. They drank their fill and ate until their stomachs are full, and traded bawdy stories and funny anecdotes, and congratulated Han Yeo Jin when she told them about her new position.

“Maybe you’ll finally find a husband in Europe,” said Seo Sang Won, his words already slurring.

Han Yeo Jin scowled at him. “You need to stop with the husband jokes,” she said threatening him with the knife she is using to cut the fruit.

“He’s only worried about you! You’re not getting any younger,” said a laughing Jang Geon.

“Do you want to get stabbed too?”

“There’s a doctor in the hospital. He’s really handsome. Next time you get hurt, make sure it’s him that examines you,” said Seo Sang Won, winking drunkenly at her.

“How about I hurt you now and see if he can examine you.”

“I want Dr. Chae to examine me,” Seo Sang Won said dreamily, earning him the laugh of everyone around the table.

Idiots, thought Han Yeo Jin, and fondly looked at the people she loves gathered around her. She looked at Prosecutor Hwang, who looked on in half-smiling amusement at the antics of Seo Sang Won, and realized that he had not seen him so relaxed and cheerful as he was at that very moment.

“Let’s have a toast!” shouted Captain Choi, raising his glass as the others followed suit. “To Superintendent Han Yeo Jin, who is leaving us for Europe to find a husband!” he said to everyone’s laughter. Han Yeo Jin rolled her eyes. “And to absent friends,” he said pouring another shot on an empty glass in memory of Soon Chang, and setting it down in the middle of the table. “We will miss you forever,” he said to the cries of ‘Hear! Hear!’, and downed their shots.

The party went on through the night, with all of them finally letting off the intense pressure and stress that the past few months had wrought, now that the end is in sight. Everyone, save for Hwang Si Mok, was fully intoxicated as the night went on, and Han Yeo Jin thought she had probably had enough when she started singing loudly along with Seo Dong Jae, who turned out to have quite a nice singing voice.

Hwang Si Mok listened as Seo Dong Jae sang a nice, soulful ballad, that was immediately ruined when Superintendent Han joined in an awful duet. He watched, amused, as the other men complained loudly at her voice, which only spurred her to sing louder and with more feeling, and then announced to everyone that she needed to go pee.

“I can’t believe she still sings when we already told her she has an awful voice,” said Captain Choi.

“You know about her singing?” asked Hwang Si Mok.

“We all do,” said Jang Geon. “She used to sing loudly in the shower in the precinct. There’s a reason for that though. For the longest time, she was the only woman in our department, so she would share a shower room with us. One time, one of the patrolmen walked in on her while she was showering because he didn’t know she was there. Since that day, she would sing loudly in the shower, so everyone knew she was there. And let me tell you, her voice carries, so everyone in the precinct knows when she is showering. We used to say that we should record her singing and use it to torture suspects into confession.”

“I remember that day, when that patrolman walked in on her” said Seo Sang Won. “We had to take that poor bastard to the hospital after Han Yeo Jin knocked him out.”

“He startled me!” said Han Yeo Jin coming back to the balcony, staggering tipsily towards her chair. “And I was naked. What did you expect me to do?”

“Not punch him in the face, that’s what! I had to fill out so much paperwork for it!” said an irate Captain Choi.

Han Yeo Jin made a pfft sound and drank her shot of soju. “Whatever. And anyway, my singing is not that bad. Prosecutor Hwang didn’t mind it when I sang in the shower.”

In her current state, Han Yeo Jin did not realize the implications of the words she uttered so casually, and continued eating her fruit in a haze of drunken, ignorant bliss. But at her words, four pairs of eyes all turned towards Hwang Si Mok; one pair in amazement, the other three in sudden protective, suspicion.

“The shower, you say,” said Seo Sang Won, now eyeing Hwang Si Mok suspiciously.

“Uh-huh,” said Han Yeo Jin, “in the morning and at night.”

Hwang Si Mok wondered what would happen if he started stuffing the superintendent’s mouth full of fruit and meat, or anything that might help to get her to stop talking.

“Morning and night, you say,” said Captain Choi, his eyes narrowed at Hwang Si Mok.

“A-ya. I slept oomph---”

“Here, have some more fruit,” said Hwang Si Mok, putting the fruit in Superintendent Han’s mouth and watched as she struggled to chew with her mouth full. He turned to the men gathered around the table, who are now staring at him carefully, except for Seo Dong Jae, who is staring at him in delight.

“Superintendent Han helped me after I was shot. She helped me tend to my wound, because Dr. Chae asked her to,” he explained.

“I slept on the couch. It was comfortable” said Han Yeo Jin with her mouth still full. “Prosecutor Hwang can’t cook,” she said suddenly, and laughed as if she just shared a hilarious joke.

“That was very nice of you,” said Jang Geon, looking at Prosecutor Hwang and trying not to laugh at how uncomfortable he looked.

“I’m nice people,” mumbled Han Yeo Jin, and then gave a loud hiccup.

Hwang Si Mok wondered how long these drinking sessions usually lasts, as it didn’t appear to show any signs of stopping anytime soon. He was never really fond of imbibing socially, and only did it if he was with Superintendent Han in their pop up bar. But tonight was admittedly more enjoyable than he had expected it to be, and that the company and the conversations were surprisingly pleasant and entertaining. He watched, astonished, as the men of Yongsan drank an unsettling amount of alcohol, with Seo Dong Jae trying valiantly to keep up, even though he can see that he is close to passing out completely. Even more astonishing is the superintendent, whom despite her size, consumed as much alcohol as her fellow detectives. He watched her closely now as she battled to keep her eyes open, teetering precariously forward in her chair, then jerking suddenly when she caught herself, blinking her eyes furiously. She repeated this multiple times, until he saw her dangerously slumping forward without stopping, and caught her forehead with his palm to stop her from falling face first on the table in front of her.

Seo Dong Jae struggled mightily to keep his eyes open, and saw Hwang Si Mok catching an unconscious Han Yeo Jin just in time before she fell completely onto the table, and watched as he gently placed her head on his shoulders, then continued eating his rice cake skewers as if this was a totally normal occurrence. He smiled dreamily, the alcohol making him feel warm and happy, and his last thoughts were of the cute but undoubtedly weird child that the two of them will make before he finally passed out.

Chapter Text

Hwang Si Mok made his way inside the Western Seoul Prosecution office, on his way to a meeting with Chief Oh. It was a Saturday, but he came in the office after receiving a call from his chief last night, asking to meet with him. He complied without hesitation despite it being the weekend, curious to know the reason behind the summons, and left a snoring superintendent still passed out on his couch. He suspects that she won’t be waking up until noon at least, and left an aspirin on the coffee table, certain that she would need it after the copious amounts of alcohol she consumed last night.

He entered the office, and saw the stack of moving boxes littered across the space, with his chief packing the items on his desk inside one of the boxes.

“Come in Prosecutor Hwang,” Chief Oh said, waving him in, “thank you for coming on a Saturday.”

Hwang Si Mok gave a small bow, and asked, “Are you leaving, sir?”

“For now,” the chief prosecutor said. “They made me acting Deputy Prosecutor General. I start Monday.”

“Congratulations, sir,” said Hwang Si Mok politely, not entirely surprised with the announcement.

“I made a few changes before I left. I transferred Prosecutor Seo to Western Seoul—as a division chief.”

“I’m glad to hear that, sir. I’m sure he’ll be very pleased with the news,” said Hwang Si Mok sincerely, knowing that Prosecutor Seo has been hoping for a promotion and a transfer to Seoul for some time now.

“Mind you, I’m still not convinced he’s completely changed,” said Chief Oh.

“He has, sir. His actions on this case had proven that.”

“Good. Because I am holding you personally responsible for him, since the two of you will have the same title.”

“Sir?”

“I’m promoting you too. Both of you will stay here. And I need someone to keep an eye on this place with me gone.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Hwang Si Mok, surprised at the news, and gave a small bow to his chief.

“It’s starting already. I assume you heard about the arrest of the head of the biggest electronics and telecommunications conglomerate in this country? I told you before that going after Hanjo will set a dangerous precedent to the other powerful companies in the nation. That it will lift the illusion that they are untouchable, and impervious to the rule of law. But you’ve opened the flood gates now, and you could almost smell the fear emanating from these people, because they are all wondering who is going to be next.”

Hwang Si Mok did hear about the arrest. The High Court had retried the case against the current head of the company, who was accused of bribing multiple high-ranking government officials, including the former President of the country no less.

“I did hear about it, sir. He was found guilty.”

“He was, and this is just the beginning. I need you here because I need someone leading the charge when we take on the others like them. It’s time we show these people that no one is above the law, no matter how rich and powerful you are.”

Hwang Si Mok nodded, unsure of what to say after his chief’s impassioned speech. “Is that why you called me in today sir?”

Oh Joo Seung looked at Hwang Si Mok, then took out a piece of paper from a folder. “I called you here for this,” he said, handing the paper to Hwang Si Mok. “From a mutual friend of ours. He said to give it to you and Superintendent Han.”

Hwang Si Mok read the document, then looked at his chief when he realized what it was.

“Ahn Yeong Seok’s resignation. He gave it to the President yesterday. They will make the announcement on Monday.”

“You knew, didn’t you sir? When I showed you the notebook, and saw the name ‘Lion’ there, you knew it was him,” said Hwang Si Mok. “But I think you knew even before that. I think you have known for a long time that he had made a deal with the devil.”

Hwang Si Mok watched as his chief sat down heavily on the couch, and closed his eyes, suddenly exhausted.

“We were young men together, with him as a brash, hot-shot detective, while I was an eager, new prosecutor. We worked a few cases together, and we found out that we actually worked quite well, despite the differences in our characters. We were partners, much like you and your Superintendent Han, and overtime, he became my most trusted ally, and closest friend.”

“I never knew anyone who took his duty as seriously as he did. He was a true patriot. And his love for his country is surpassed only by his love for his late wife,” Oh Joo Seung said heavily, and looked at Hwang Si Mok with great sadness. “Please don’t judge him too harshly, Prosecutor Hwang. He made a difficult choice, a choice that no man should ever have to make; between his honor and his love, and he chose the latter.”

“It may be difficult for you to understand this. You are not compromised like the rest of us mere mortals. And you will never be, because of the way you are, which was why Lee Chang Jun chose you, and why Yeong Seok chose you.”

We all have our price, Prosecutor Hwang, even you.

Hwang Si Mok remembered the words Ahn Yeong Seok spoke to him, and experienced the same disquiet he felt when he heard the words spoken to him yesterday. But he found himself unable to voice the truth to his chief. That he is in fact, no longer uncompromised, and that he had finally discovered the price that will make him surrender his own honor and principles. And much like the former chief of staff, he knew, beyond the shadow of doubt, that he will always choose her, every single time and above all else.

Hwang Si Mok looked at Chief Oh, and found his senior staring at him, and realized that he did not need to voice his thoughts, because it was reflected clearly on his face. Chief Oh regarded him with a heavy look, not of judgement, but of understanding, and smiled kindly.

“Welcome to humanity, Prosecutor Hwang.”

Chapter Text

The next few days were busy for both Hwang Si Mok and Han Yeo Jin, with Hwang Si Mok settling in his new position in the Western Seoul office, while Han Yeo Jin prepared for her departure to Europe. Despite their busy schedules, they found time to meet nightly at the pop up bar, to have dinner and drinks together, and talk about their day. It had become a ritual, as if both of them were making up for the time they have been apart, and spending as much time together until Han Yeo Jin’s impending departure. They sat together now, two nights before Han Yeo Jin is set to leave for her new job, eating ramen at the pop up bar.

“How’s Seo Dong Jae?” asked Han Yeo Jin.

“He’s fine,” Hwang Si Mok said, then frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t think I’ll be taking the elevator with him anymore. He held my hand today as we were riding down. People stared,” Hwang Si Mok said sullenly.

Han Yeo Jin laughed, imagining the two of them holding hands. “Give him a break, he needs support.”

“I think he’s fine now. He was talking like normal the entire time. Except he was also holding my hand, which made it look even weirder.”

Han Yeo Jin laughed again. “I’m glad to hear he’s much better.”

“What about you?”

“I went to the gun range today. I did okay,” she said, and Hwang Si Mok knew that she did better than ‘okay’, judging from how very pleased she looked with herself.

“Are you ready for your trip?”

“I am. Just finishing up my packing,” she said, feeling a stab of melancholy at the thought of her leaving.

“I have to go on a trip too. To Busan, with Deputy Prosecutor General Oh. I leave tomorrow afternoon and return the next day.”

“But tomorrow’s my last day,” said Han Yeo Jin, surprised at his sudden news.

“I know. I only found out today. I’m sorry I won’t be able to see you off.”

Han Yeo Jin tried to hide the disappointment she felt, and the unbearable sadness at the thought that this will be their last night together for the foreseeable future. She forced a smile instead, and said, “That’s okay. We’ll see each other when I come back.”

She watched as Prosecutor Hwang start rummaging inside his bag, then took out a wrapped, flat parcel, and handed it to her.

“What’s this?” she asked curiously, accepting the package.

“A farewell gift,” said Hwang Si Mok, and watched as Superintendent Han looked at him in surprise, then smiled delightedly at his gift.

“Don’t open it yet!” said Hwang Si Mok, when the superintendent immediately tried to tear the wrapping.

“Why not?” she asked.

“Just…open it later. In private,” he said, too embarrassed.

“But I want to see it now,” she whined, but stopped, nonetheless. “What is it?” she asked eagerly, shaking the gift and trying to hear what was inside.

“You’ll see.”

Han Yeo Jin smiled, then poured them both a shot of soju.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this again,” she said, sighing as she looked at Prosecutor Hwang, and raised her glass.

“Goodbye. Take care,” said Han Yeo Jin, swallowing the painful lump in her throat.

“Take care, Superintendent Han,” said Hwang Si Mok softly, memorizing how she looked at that moment; the lines in her fascinating face, the curve of her mouth, and the glistening in her eyes. He will hold on to that memory in the days to come, until the day she returns to him.

***

Han Yeo Jin took her boarding pass from the agent and walked towards Departures, pulling her carry-on luggage behind her. She stifled a yawn, and decided that she’ll get a big cup of coffee after she had gone through security. She barely slept at all last night, too restless and excited for her upcoming trip. She blinked her eyes, fighting against the tiredness, and heard the beep of her cellphone, announcing a text message. She took out the phone from her bag eagerly, and saw that Seo Dong Jae had sent her a message.

Good Luck and Bon Voyage! So proud of you!

Han Yeo Jin chuckled at the text and the accompanying gif of a crying baby with the words ‘we’ll miss you.’ All of her friends from Yongsan had also sent her messages of farewell, and she smiled as she read through them again.

Have a safe trip and take care of yourself. And show those Europeans what we’re made of!

Good Luck and have a safe flight! Wish I was going with you, now I’m stuck here alone with Captain Choi and Seo Sang Won. Bring me back something nice.

Superintendent!!! We’ll miss you!!! Take care and good luck on the husband hunting…I mean new job hihihi ; )

Han Yeo Jin sighed. As much as she appreciated her friends’ heartfelt messages of goodbye, there was really only one that she was hoping to receive, and the reason she had been constantly checking her phone to see if she had gotten it. But true to his nature until the very end, Prosecutor Hwang had not seen it fit to do something as frivolous as to send a simple text message of farewell. She did not mind; after all, they had already said their goodbyes the other night. And he had given her a gift; simple, yet profoundly significant, and unbearably moving.

She remembered now as she eagerly tore through the wrappings as soon as she got home, and just stared, speechless, at what was inside.

It was a sketchbook. Bound in leather and expensive looking, with her initials HYJ monogrammed on the cover. Also included is a set of professional drawing implements; pencils, charcoals and pens. She took one of the pencils and held it in her hands, the thin wood naturally settling into her gripping fingers as if they have been waiting for it this entire time. She touched the leather binding of the sketchbook, stroking the soft, luxurious leather, and traced her branded initials in the front. She opened the sketchbook, and saw the short note written on the first page.

To Han Yeo Jin,

May you never stop drawing.

From your friend,

Hwang Si Mok

Her tears had fallen then. But she remembered that along with the tears, came an intense feeling of joy, and of inexplicable relief, as if finding a long-lost friend; achingly familiar, and greatly missed. She remembered picking up one of the charcoal pencils, her fingers flying through the page, as she started sketching the image that she had been longing to draw for some time now, and smiled as the picture began to take form.

Han Yeo Jin looked behind her, her eyes scanning the airport terminal, hoping that she would see him, standing in the crowd, just like he had been at her award ceremony. But she did not see the familiar figure amongst the rushing crowd, and did not see the same impassive and blank face staring back at her amidst the throng. She sighed, and walked forward the security check point, and towards her new life.

Hwang Si Mok watched as Superintendent Han stopped and looked back, her eyes searching the people around her. He shifted his position slightly behind a pillar when he saw her eyes darting to where he had been standing, unseen, and continued his silent observation. He had stayed up all night to complete his work, and had made his excuse to his superior that he needed to return to Seoul, then caught the earliest train back to the city in time to catch the superintendent’s flight. He had debated the entire train ride what to say to her, or what to do, when he finally sees her. It was only now, as he watched her, that he finally knew for certain what he must do.

He will not go to her, or speak to her, or even let her know he was there. He realized now what his role must be in her life, the only thing someone like him would be able to give her, and learn to be happy and content that a higher power even saw it fit to bring someone like her into his life. He knew then that he will always stand beside her, behind her, but never truly be with her. He will watch her, work with her, but never build a life with her. He will do all these things, until she is old and gray, and until his dying day, and never let her know that there was a man who loved her beautiful spirit, and loved her brave and gentle soul.

It would have to do, he thought, as he finally lost sight of her, and walked away.

Chapter Text

London - Five months later

Han Yeo Jin entered the small ramen bar on Regent street, and was immediately greeted by the waitress. She had been coming at the restaurant regularly, as this was the only place she had found where the food reminded her of home. The waitress ushered her to her favorite table, and she sat down, looking around at the fascinating mix of people inside the restaurant. Han Yeo Jin likes London; she had been living here for a month now, working and training with Scotland Yard while temporarily assigned at the embassy. She loved spending her days off just walking around the city, captivated by the history she found in every street corner, and loved the diversity and the different cultures colliding, giving the city its vibrant nature. She picked up the menu, suddenly famished after today’s grueling training at the Yard, and gave her order to the waitress.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Soju. Two glasses please.”

Han Yeo Jin’s head snapped up, startled at the sound of the familiar voice who gave the drink order. A voice that she would know anywhere, and knew was supposed to be halfway around the world, and not at a ramen bar in London.

Hwang Si Mok stood in front of a silent and shocked Superintendent Han, whose stupefied expression would have been funny if it weren’t for the fact that she had not spoken for almost a full minute now, and only stared at him with both her eyes and mouth opened wide. He shifted awkwardly on his feet and, not knowing what else to do, sat down on the chair opposite her. He watched as she slowly reached over the table, and poked him gingerly in the chest.

“What are you d—” Hwang Si Mok started to ask.

“Oh my god you’re really here!”

Hwang Si Mok looked around the restaurant, and saw that people are staring at their table at the superintendent’s very loud exclamation.

“Did you think I was a ghost?”

Han Yeo Jin is still reeling from the unbelievable fact that Prosecutor Hwang is actually here, sitting in front of her. In London, she thought, and put her hands over her mouth to stop herself from shouting excitedly.

“What are you doing here?” she asked in amazement, when she managed to get a hold of herself.

“I had some vacation days piled up, and decided to go on a European tour. I only arrived this afternoon. London is my first stop. I’ve been wanting to visit since you wouldn’t stop talking about this city,” Hwang Si Mok said, then shifted uncomfortably in his chair when the superintendent just stared at him with the same awe-struck look that she had been wearing since she realized he was really there.

“Can you stop staring please?”

His familiar awkwardness had finally snapped Han Yeo Jin out of her daze, and she started to laugh, unrestrainedly and loudly, sure that the other patrons are staring at them again. And Hwang Si Mok cannot help the smile that lit up his face at finally hearing the familiar jubilant and open laughter after so many months.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?” asked Han Yeo Jin.

“I wanted to surprise you,” said Hwang Si Mok.

“That’s one word for it,” said Han Yeo Jin, still smiling. “Wait, how did you know I was here?”

“You mentioned this restaurant to me before, so I came here for dinner. Then I saw you, sitting here,” he replied. He had been planning to call her the next day, and it was only pure happenstance that he had found her, sitting alone in the restaurant. He remembered being frozen on the spot when he saw her, and did not know how long he stood there, just staring at her, until he realized that he had been blocking the door and people were trying to get through.

The arrival of the waitress with the drinks interrupted their conversation, and Hwang Si Mok ordered his food. Han Yeo Jin poured the soju on both their glasses, and raised her glass for a toast.

“Cheers. To a wonderful surprise,” she said, clinking her glass against his and downing the shot, then moaned appreciatively after.

“How have you been?” Han Yeo Jin asked.

“I’ve been well. Busy with the new job. Deputy General Oh forced me to take a vacation though. He said I need to take them, or I’ll get in trouble with HR,” said Hwang Si Mok to Superintendent Han’s laughter. “What about you, how have you been?”

“I’m great. Busy too, but I like it. I’m working with Scotland Yard.”

“Wow, that sounds really interesting,” said Hwang Si Mok. “Prosecutor Seo sends his regards, by the way.”

Han Yeo Jin smiled. “I was just talking to him last month, while I was still in Lyon. He asked me to teach him how to speak French, but only certain phrases.”

“What for?”

“I think it’s for his wife, because they were all cheesy, romantic lines. I had to repeat it to him again and again. My colleagues heard me, and they all thought I have a girlfriend in Korea because I keep repeating ‘you’re the most beautiful woman’ over the phone,” said Han Yeo Jin, shaking her head.

“Did he learn?”

“No, he’s terrible. But who cares, she can’t understand him anyway,” she said, shrugging, and noticed Prosecutor Hwang looking at her intently. “What?” she asked, suddenly self-conscious.

“Your hair is different again,” he said, noticing that her hair fell past her shoulders now, her fringe gone.

“Does it look weird?” she asked, amused.

“It’s different every time I see you.”

“Maybe I’ll go blonde next time. Or bubble gum pink. Something to really surprise you.”

“Doesn’t matter. You’ll still look good even with no hair.”

Han Yeo Jin laughed, and they continued their catch up while eating their meal. She marveled at the change in him, slight though it may be, but noticeable to her who knows him so well. There is a softness in him now, the hard planes of his face had gentled, his smiles given more frequently, and his rigid form more relaxed. She remembered when they had first met, how austere and severe he was. And insufferable, thought Han Yeo Jin, amused, remembering the time they caught their first suspect, and she had wanted to hit him in the face for being so obnoxious.

“Which cities are you planning to visit after London?” asked Han Yeo Jin, as the waitress took away their plates.

“Munich, Paris, maybe Florence too,” he said.

“That sounds like a nice trip,” said Han Yeo Jin, and tried not to be sad that he is only there for a short time, and just enjoy the fact that he is here at all. “That reminds me,” she said, suddenly brightening, and started searching inside her bag.

Hwang Si Mok watched as Superintendent Han took out the sketchbook that he gave her, and flipped through it. She tore a page, and handed the piece of paper to him.

“It’s a gift,” she said, smiling impishly.

Hwang Si Mok took the piece of paper, secretly excited and eager to see what she had drawn this time. He never admitted it to her, but he had missed her drawings greatly. He had hoped that his gift to her will encourage her to pick up the habit again, and he was immensely pleased to see that it has. He looked at the paper, and saw what she had drawn.

It was his face again, smiling. But this time, his smile was full and wide. She had drawn him beautifully; the style different from the first one that she drew of him that looked almost cartoonish and he had framed. The memory of the smile came back to him, clear as day. He had smiled at her, at the exact moment of the most profound and joyous realization of his life, and when he had thought it was about to end.

“Thank you,” he said, carefully folding the paper and putting it in his pocket. He was happy that she had commemorated the moment. Because despite the pain and near-tragedy of it, he wanted to remember how it had felt for the rest of his life.

“I’m glad you liked it. And thank you for the gift,” Han Yeo Jin said ardently, touching the sketchbook that had become her talisman. His gift had reawakened her former passion, and once she had begun, she had been unable to stop. She understood then why he had given it to her, as she slowly start to recognize within her the version of herself that she thought she had lost, merging in harmony with the person that she had become, and felt closer to her true self than she ever had in a very long time.

“When do you leave London?” she asked, already dreading the answer.

Hwang Si Mok stared at the superintendent. What he didn’t tell her was that he had no plans further than London. That he hopped on a plane with only one destination in mind. Not to a country, nor to a city. But to her, wherever she may be. And correct the mistake that he realized he had made the instant he walked out of that airport without seeing her.

“I don’t have to leave,” he said, gazing at her intently.

They stared at each other, communicating the way they have always done when no words were necessary, and fully understanding the other without uttering a single sound.

“Or better yet, I can go with you,” said Han Yeo Jin softly, smiling meaningfully.

And Hwang Si Mok’s answering smile was as wide and joyous as the superintendent’s drawing of him.