Hothead Cop “This Bastard, Let's See How Far He Runs!”
Floored the accelerator. The old Korando let out a thunderous roar. The speed bump in the indoor parking lot flashed into view, but I blew right past it. The impact launched the car into the air. BOOM. Amid the ear-shattering noise, I caught sight of the bastard's face draining white. Just slam into him like this? The sweet temptation flickered for a second, but I shook my head. Sick of writing up reports. Felt bad for the team too. SCREECH. The hard brake kept me from hitting him. Distance to the guy? Maybe 10 cm tops. Wedged between the parking lot wall and my car, unable to budge, his eyes whipped left and right. Then, like he'd made up his mind, he circled around toward the passenger side to bolt.
“This fucker still hasn't learned!”
I hurled myself out and kicked the passenger door hard. His body got crushed against it, flipping up in a sharp V before crashing to the ground with a racket.
“Let's keep this easy, easy. You and me, neither wants this crap, right? Haven't even had dinner.”
I slapped cuffs on his hands as he hacked and gasped for air. Right then, Kim Gwang-il's voice crackled through the earpiece in my ear.
“Detective Kang, apprehension complete here.”
“Good work. Hand him over at the station quick, then let's smash some haejangguk.”
* * *
“Detective Kang, you really gonna keep this up?”
The second we got back to the station, Team Leader Hwang Woo-sik came rushing over, yelling.
“I told you to take it easy! And now you're saying you almost hit the suspect with your car? Cracked ribs! He's calling his lawyer, threatening to tip off the press about excessive force! Why the hell don't you know the meaning of 'easy'!”
“Almost hit him—didn't actually. The injury's just an unavoidable slip in the apprehension process... And what right does a scumbag with no human rights have to go to the press? Guy's got three priors for raping women and kids...”
“You think 'no human rights' is something a cop in 21st-century Korea should say? Anyway, head to the chief's office. He's calling for you. Looks like he's grinding his teeth.”
“Again?”
“Yeah. Just apologize this time. Say you won't do it again and bow low.”
Hwang Woo-sik's voice trailed off, like even yelling at me was wearing him out now.
* * *
My steps to the chief's office felt heavy. Hesitating outside the door, it swung open and out came Officer Oh Hye-jin, face flushed. The smirk lingering on her lips suggested she'd just been in there buttering up the chief with chit-chat and flattery.
“Officer Oh.”
“Who... oh, yeah. What?”
Her face hardened the instant she saw me. That upturned mouth plummeted.
“How's the chief's mood?”
“No idea. Why don't you go in and find out.”
“Your attitude toward a superior...”
Irritation boiled up, but before I could snap, Team Leader Seo Dong-gyun from Violent Crimes Unit 1 strolled out. He just nodded curtly at me and kept walking. Oh Hye-jin snorted through her nose and trailed after him.
“Gotta go. Busy. Oh, Team Leader Seo, want some coffee?”
“Sure. Days I don't see you, I wonder why I even bother coming to work...”
Their voices echoed off the hallway walls.
“So what'd Detective Kang do? Looked tense from what I glimpsed...”
“No clue. Tells me to show respect to superiors. Can you believe it...”
“Man, Detective Kang's a problem. Kite with no string, strutting around 'cause he's from the police academy... Makes my skin crawl. If it were me, I'd quit on my own.”
A hollow laugh escaped me. But it wasn't the first time. Once I got chewed out by the chief, I'd hit my daily quota of humiliation and disdain. Knocked it all out.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
No salute in return. Made me stand there for 30 minutes without a word.
“Get out.”
“Pardon?”
“Out, I said! You think I'd listen to a punk like you?”
Not even glancing up from his papers.
“...Understood. I'll be going, sir.”
“Worthless punk with nothing but pride... No obedience at all. Ugh!”
His mutter chased me as I opened the door. Still wouldn't spare me a look.
* * *
Stepping out, I spotted Team Leader Hwang fidgeting anxiously. He'd been waiting.
“You okay? What'd he say?”
“Nothing... Just total ignore.”
Hwang Woo-sik's eyes darkened. He got the picture in a flash.
“Detective Kang—no, Cheol-gu. How long you gonna live like this? At your age, your rank, taking this shit... Makes no sense.”
“Yeah, yeah. Got it, oh great Team Leader Hwang.”
I turned away. Couldn't look at him or the tears would burst. A heavy sigh followed me from behind.
In the bathroom mirror, my bloodshot eyes from endless overtime gleamed hollow under the sodium lights. Dark circles framed a face long turned dark red. Every surge of resentment and rage used to be soothed by a shot of soju—but all it brought now was gut fat and a slew of adult ailments.
My life hadn't started like this. It used to shine brighter than anyone's. The guy in the mirror felt like a stranger.
* * *
“Here, have a shot. Tomorrow's your dad's death anniversary, right? Pay your respects. I'll cover for you with the chief—say it's fieldwork or whatever.”
“Heh. Abuse your position like that and one shot takes you down. Want my fate?”
The sizzling pork belly smelled mouthwatering. Soju sloshed in the glass Hwang poured.
“Team Leader—no, hyung. Sorry and thanks. Must be hell having a disobedient team member like me.”
“You punk, you gotta say it like that?”
Hwang slammed his glass down hard.
“That chief too! Back when your dad was alive, the bastard couldn't even show his face properly. How's he treat you like dirt now? Makes me sick!”
“Hyung, drop it. You're drunk.”
“...Regrets?”
A thick sigh, then he pried the words out with effort. No subject needed.
“......”
“Poked too big a bear. Word is he's the next big presidential frontrunner. Barring a miracle, it's a lock.”
Even slurring drunk, the second he mentioned that guy, Hwang glanced around wary. Regrets? The question I'd hurled at myself a thousand times over the last decade. If I could grab my old self by the collar, I'd demand: Did it have to be that way? Was that choice really the best?
* * *
Seoul's night glittered. Neon signs from bars and clubs lured passersby. Touts hawked everywhere. Life spinning on without me. Everyone's grinding so hard.
Shoved the tipsy Hwang into a taxi, then leaned against my beat-up Korando.
“Evening, sir. Called a designated driver?”
A guy in a deep-pulled cap greeted brightly. Late 20s. His crisp stride screamed trained soldier. Instinct screamed caution, but I just smirked. Nah. Kang Cheol-gu. You're no threat to them anymore. No point targeting a washed-up detective with no limbs left.
Slid deep into the back seat.
“Looks like you overdid the drinks, sir.”
The driver kept the friendly chatter going from up front.
“Life's a bitch, that's why. Whatever.”
Pointless talk as the old Korando left the bright streets for alleys. No CCTV here? I knew every local security cam spot. No reason for a time-is-money driver to take this detour.
Instinct flared—I snapped my eyes wide—the car slammed brakes. Passenger door flew open; two guys piled in. Military knives in hand.
“Sorry about this. Big job ahead—the boss chose a clean end for you.”
Cool, emotionless voice. The bright tone from before? Gone.
“Hard life over. Rest easy now.”
His words hit like a death sentence. The blade pierced my heart. Black silence flooded my vision.
Need to visit Dad's grave...
* * *
Noise stabbed my ears, hospital cresol stench burned my nose. If my senses were working...
Am I alive?!
Forced my eyes open. What the hell? Place is too nice. Nothing like the police hospital where I'd patched up knife wounds. Hell, a private room!
“Ah! Patient's awake! Vitals normal! Call the attending doc quick!”
'Why'd they stick him in a private room? Cop salary's peanuts—how's he supposed to afford it...'
Survived death, but annoyance flooded back. Capitalism's scarier than dying.
“Cheol-gu. Feeling better now?”
This voice... Mom's. She'd passed with Dad. Guess I am dead.
* * *
This can't be real!
Stared in the mirror dozens of times—still couldn't wrap my head around it. The face was unfamiliar yet familiar. No wonder. It was me from 10 years ago. No bloodshot eyes, no dark circles. Just the promising top-grad police academy star. And the year? 2013. Exactly a decade back.
“Cheol-gu, you okay? They say you're eating well these days?”
Mom supported me. Beside her stood a uniformed man with stern features, chief security commissioner insignia on his shoulders. Name tag: Kang Hyeok. Seeing Dad choked me up. The police academy dean was my pride. Ten years on the force, I'd seen every corruption and sleaze. Schemes ruled, politics thrived, endless tightropes. Dad climbed through that hell on pure skill alone.
And he'd died investigating that guy at my request. Murder disguised as an 'accident.'
“Buck up and get back out there. Everyone's counting on you.”
“This is... what you say to a kid who woke up a month after a car crash?”
One question I'd asked myself endlessly over the last decade: Did it have to be that way? Did you have to chase him?
The answer was set the moment I opened my eyes. My 20-something self was still hot-blooded.
32, 33... Push-ups. Body fresh from a month coma wasn't right. Had to rebuild my strength fast.
Above all, I wanted to test this new world I'd been given.
Sweat soaked the sheets. Door creaked open.
“Oh my, Patient Kang Cheol-gu, what are you doing?”
The head nurse's shocked voice pierced my ears.
“Told you a million times: absolute bed rest. You're in recovery. No straining yourself.”
“Sorry. Itches to move. The newspaper I asked for?”