By Zephyria 
“What is this? The bear does the trick, and some other bastards take the honey pot.”
“Exactly. I know they’re from headquarters, but this is too much.”
“Detective Kim is the most upset. He almost died trapped in the warehouse.”
Everyone looked at Kim Yi-eum and Jeong Nam-su. Unlike the angry team members, the two didn’t seem to care, and the Team leader took the opportunity to appease the team members.
“What can we do when the orders come from above? Detective Kim and Detective Jeong, don’t feel bad. The chief praised you a lot too. Just help when headquarters asks for cooperation.”
“Is the chief’s praise the problem? It’s a matter of pride.”
“Let’s think positively. Thanks to this, we got their personal information, and arrest warrants were issued. Catching them is the priority, right? Of course, it would have been better if we had been in charge until the end.”
The atmosphere was still not good, so the Team leader picked up his jacket and raised his voice.
“In that sense, I’m buying dinner tonight! Think about what you want to eat.”
As if nothing had happened, the atmosphere changed, and they cheered. The Team leader chided them for being simple-minded. But when they asked him to buy them beef, he pretended not to hear and suggested going to a pork belly restaurant nearby. In the meantime, Lee-eum noticed his cell phone ringing on his desk. Checking the number, he was surprised and happy, and hurried outside.
“Hello, Father. What’s going on?”
The caller was none other than Kim Da-hyun’s father, the victim in the Kim Ji-cheol case. He had left his business card when he visited his house, but he didn’t expect him to call first.
【Detective… is that what happened?】
He had repeatedly inquired at the community center if there was a way to help him, so was he upset about that? But the man’s voice is clearer than it was a few days ago.
【About Kim Ji-cheol. I saw on TV that he might go to jail….】
Recently, Kim Ji-cheol had been constantly in the news, getting all kinds of insults from people. As public opinion worsened, the prosecution also moved, and Kim Da-hyun’s father seemed to have heard the news. He sounded slightly excited, and Lee-eum hesitated for a moment, feeling sorry.
“I didn’t do that…. I’m sorry to say this in advance, but I hope you don’t get your hopes up too much…. It’s just simple assault, and if he reaches an agreement with the victim, there’s a high chance he’ll avoid punishment….”
【You know, Detective.】
“Yes….”
【Even when I go to the mart, people curse at him, and when I go to the restaurant, people curse at him. Everyone is cursing at him. People who used to point fingers at our Da-hyun, saying she was promiscuous… they apologized to me for misunderstanding….】
“……”
【He may not be punished right away. I know that too…. But I, I feel like I have a little more face to see our Da-hyun and my wife when I die, so I was happy….】
The man’s voice trembled slightly, and Lee-eum bit his lip, feeling choked up, and looked down at his toes.
【Oh, and I got a call from a broadcasting station….】
At the word “broadcasting station,” Lee-eum lifted his head and stared straight ahead.
“A broadcasting station?”
【NBS said they wanted to cover our Da-hyun’s case…. The PD or whatever he is keeps saying that we should clear our daughter’s name…. I don’t have anyone to ask around, so I was wondering what you think, Detective.】
NBS…. NBS was also famous for its biased reporting due to its close relationship with the party to which Congressman Kim Yong-taek belonged. Why did they contact Kim Da-hyun’s father? Feeling uneasy, Lee-eum’s tone became firm.
“Father. For now, don’t contact the broadcasting station people, and I’ll look into it separately and tell you. You got the PD’s business card, right? Please send it to me. I was hoping to visit you soon… Are you free in two days?”
【Well, I’m home every day….】
“Then I’ll go in the morning.”
【Detective.】
“Yes.”
【That day. The day you came to our house….】
The man hesitated, unlike usual, and then spoke with difficulty.
【I’m sorry. It wasn’t your fault, Detective…. I guess I needed someone to blame like a fool.】
Unexpectedly, Lee-eum’s eyes stung, and he clenched his teeth.
“No…. You can blame me. Blame me as much as you want. But please take care of your health for the sake of your daughter and mother. Cut down on alcohol and get help from those around you.”
The man didn’t refuse and said he would think about it. That was enough. He was glad that he had opened his heart a little, and he wanted to ease his guilt about Kim Da-hyun even in this selfish way. In the meantime, the team members came outside.
“Then I’ll see you on Friday.”
【Thank you. For not forgetting our daughter.】
“……”
【I mean it….】
The man hung up the phone, embarrassed after saying that, and Lee-eum took a deep breath to calm his emotions, holding the disconnected phone. Just then, Nam-soo rushed over, linked arms with him, and asked curiously.
“Who were you talking to? Maybe a wallet?”
Lee-eum frowned and pulled his arm away.
“No, you idiot.”
Then Detective Park came over and joked.
“What wallet? Did Detective Kim catch a rich older woman or something?”
Jeong Nam-su was about to excitedly blurt it out, so he shut his mouth. Detective Park kept asking what it was, but Lee-eum couldn’t tell him honestly. As they were doing that, they arrived at the pork belly restaurant, and one by one, they went inside, took their seats, and sat down.
❖ ❖ ❖
Lee-eum got out of the taxi at the entrance of the apartment complex and bought ice cream at the convenience store as usual. He walked, shaking the bag, and hummed a tune involuntarily. It was a wonderful night.
As he walked through the complex, humming, he heard a creaking sound from the playground. He looked and saw a large lump sitting on the swing, going back and forth.
What is it? This familiar, ominous, and unlucky feeling.
He tried to ignore it and pass by, but sure enough, he heard someone calling from behind, “Detective Kim Yi-eum!” He pretended not to hear and walked faster, but this time, he shouted so loudly that it echoed throughout the complex. Kim-Yi-eum! He was about to cup his hands like a megaphone to call again, so he ran to Choi Won-joon’s face in an instant.
“Are you crazy? I clearly warned you. Don’t come looking for me.”
“I came to ride the swing.”
“……”
“I was just passing by, so I called you.”
“……”
“While you’re here, push me from behind. I think I’m addicted to this. I can’t stand it because I keep thinking about it.”
He gestured for him to push him naturally, and he almost pushed him. Lee-eum sighed deeply and looked at Choi Won-joon disapprovingly.
“Go away, quickly. If my Hyung or Noona see you here, it’ll be a real mess.”
“You’re afraid of your Hyung and Noona. My Hyungs are so easy to deal with.”
Sure, sure. You little brat. Lee-eum didn’t want to respond, so he took out a piece of ice cream from the plastic bag.
“Eat this. Eat it and get lost.”
“What I want to eat is you.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
As soon as he snapped and turned around, his arm was grabbed. Lee-eum’s gaze followed his arm up to Choi Won-joon’s face. The streetlights made his already sharp eyes look even more piercing.
“Why don’t you ask?”
“Ask what?”
“Anything. Anything you’re curious about.”
Lee-eum pulled his arm away with force, stepped back slightly, and stared straight at Choi Won-joon.
“You’re not going to answer honestly no matter what I ask.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because I’ve experienced it. To me, you and Kim Ji-cheol are both the same. You don’t feel guilty even when you commit bad deeds, you don’t empathize with other people’s pain, you lie as soon as you open your mouth, and you treat other people as expendable. That’s the kind of person I hate the most.”
“Don’t say that. I get hurt too.”
He was pretending to be upset with a hypocritical expression, and he didn’t want to watch it any longer. Lee-eum turned around as he was. Whether he called him or not. I can just report him for disturbing the peace.
Unexpectedly, it was quiet. Was he shocked? Good, be shocked and go back. Let’s not get involved with each other anymore. He took the elevator and pressed 13, but just before the door closed, Choi Won-joon appeared.
“Get off.”
“Are you senile? Your house is in front of my house.”
Ah…. This guy moved in.
“You should quit drinking. You’re so young, but you’re so out of it.”
Lee-eum clenched and unclenched his fist, hypnotizing himself. Don’t get involved. Don’t get involved. He got off on the 13th floor and immediately put his card key on the front door, but Choi Won-joon stuck close behind him. Then his head fell on his shoulder.
“Let me sleep over. Just for one day.”
As he turned around in anger, Choi Won-joon smiled weakly.
“It’s getting worse. I might really die if this goes on.”
“Just die. It’s better for a crime-free society.”
“Aah—this ice-cold man.”
He was about to touch his cheek while spouting vomit-inducing words, so he slapped his hand away sharply, but just then, his cell phone rang. It was Hyung. As soon as he answered, he heard his Hyung’s voice.
【Where are you?】
“I’m home…. Why?”
In the meantime, Choi Won-joon reached out and straightened Lee-eum’s crooked shirt collar. When he pushed his shoulder away, he kept sticking to him and flirting. Lee-eum couldn’t get angry because he was afraid his Hyung would hear, so he put his card on the door.
【I’ll stop by for a bit. I marinated ribs for dinner. Yunji’s mom told me to bring them over.】
“When are you coming?”
【I’m almost there. In front of the elevator.】
Lee-eum turned pale and stared at the elevator. The floor number was going down and down, and it arrived on the first floor. He was so flustered that his mind wasn’t working. He ended the call and quickly chased Choi Won-joon into the house across the hall.
“Go in quickly. My Hyung is coming. Quickly.”
“I don’t have a card key.”
“You know the password, don’t you!”
“I don’t remember.”
It was obviously a lie. Damn it. The elevator had left and was coming up, and Lee-eum, in a hurry, urged Choi Won-joon to go down the emergency stairs. This time, he said he didn’t want to because his legs hurt. For a moment, he had the urge to push him and kill him.
“Do you want to run into my Hyung here?”
“If you don’t want that, let me in.”
Looking at his sly smile, it seemed like that was his purpose from the beginning. Lee-eum glared at Won-joon and looked at the elevator. 9th floor, 10th floor…. Damn it. Lee-eum had no choice but to grab Choi Won-joon by the collar and drag him into the house.