The Left-Handed Killer
The investigation proceeded smoothly.
Among the medical staff in the Tower, there was someone who had briefly worked as a coroner in the past, and Minyoung—who had the most dissection experience among the rest—assisted him.
While the two conducted a formal autopsy in a makeshift space inside the Tower, Jaejeong had come to an empty barracks.
The Work Leader sat in a chair across from him, with a table between them.
In truth, Jaejeong had been closely observing every move the Work Leader made from the moment he entered the barracks.
One thing was clear: the man was extremely uneasy.
He kept swallowing dryly, unable to fix his gaze on one spot, and coughed repeatedly, as if the situation made him uncomfortable.
It was no different from the reaction of his sidekick, who had testified earlier.
"Talk."
Jaejeong pressed the record button and spoke.
The abrupt casual command made the Work Leader's anxiety halt abruptly.
He quickly nodded in acceptance and lowered his eyes.
"……We were doing inspections when I got called over suddenly. When I got there, something that looked like a person was face-down and floating. That's it."
"And?"
"Pardon?"
"Keep going. What happened after that."
"Oh, right…… I got scared and just ran straight to the Tower. I figured I had to tell Director Park first."
"Did you go straight there?"
"Yes."
The Work Leader looked puzzled but nodded.
Of course, Jaejeong already knew.
He'd seen it all from behind.
The point of these questions was to verify the truthfulness of his demeanor.
The funny part was that even though the two men had clearly crossed paths, the Work Leader didn't remember him at all.
"Must've been a hell of a shock."
"Yeah. I was so freaked out, I don't even know how I made it back to the Tower."
Jaejeong thought that tracked.
They'd been shoving past each other in a frantic race, after all.
"Here, have a smoke. Calm your nerves."
"Thanks."
Jaejeong watched intently as the Work Leader took the cigarette.
It wasn't just because of Youngman's words.
But he wasn't unaffected by them either.
The wounds were concentrated on the left side.
Even a basic autopsy could reveal the angle at which the blade had entered.
Which would indicate the direction of the attack.
To prepare for that, he needed to note something about everyone he met.
Which hand they used.
He took the cigarette with his right hand first.
But even a lefty could do that.
The lighter, though—that was different.
Left-handers blocked the wind with their right and lit with their left.
Any smoker knew it.
You unconsciously used your more comfortable hand.
"Got a lighter?"
"Yeah. Thanks, I'll enjoy it."
The Work Leader flashed a sycophantic smile as he pulled a lighter from his pocket.
It was a completely different look from how he acted in front of crowds.
Click! Flick!
Jaejeong caught the hand striking the lighter without missing a beat.
Then he casually looked away, as if nothing happened.
"I need your help with something, Work Leader."
"Sure thing. Anything you say."
"Managing the boundary zone, you've interacted with pretty much everyone, right?"
"Well, with my position, it's unavoidable."
"Exactly. So, by tonight, round up anyone you've thought was suspicious. The killer's definitely in the safe zone. Higher chance they're in the boundary zone, too."
"Because they'd have some beef with the victim?"
The Work Leader grinned, showing yellowed teeth.
Jaejeong nodded silently.
"But it could be someone with no connection, right?"
"Sure. But once you know what kind of guy the victim was, that probability drops real low. Say you were a random psycho killer with no reason—who'd pick a risky target like that on purpose?"
"……Yeah, makes sense."
The Work Leader tapped ash onto the floor cautiously, glancing at Jaejeong, then let out an admiring sound.
"You gonna keep slaving away managing those sweat-drenched workers forever? Come to the Tower, live easy. Or snag a barracks like me."
"What do you……."
The Work Leader's eyes slowly widened.
They filled with anticipation, his facial muscles tensing like someone had yanked them taut.
"Tough case. All we've got left is the body, and the witnesses are just the ones who found it. Imagine if the killer's among the people you round up. That'd be huge merit. Director Park's treating this like top priority."
"I'll do my best! Ow, hot!"
The Work Leader shot to his feet, bowing awkwardly, and burned his hand without realizing the cigarette had burned down to the filter.
"Good. Sit, sit. I'll trust you. Me? This is plenty. Plenty to get by. Solve the case with your help, and obviously, the credit goes to you."
"What do you need me to do?"
"I told you. Round up people. If too many, narrow it to those connected to the victim. Like, anyone who's even talked to him once."
"Fistfights? Definitely drag 'em in."
"Obviously."
The Work Leader's eyes gleamed for a moment.
Seeing the reaction, Jaejeong knew it had worked.
He couldn't interview everyone himself.
And motivation made it more accurate.
Plus, the Work Leader had directly managed the laborers, so he was trustworthy on that front at least.
His lust for power went without saying.
His behavior toward the Production Manager proved it.
"By sundown. Short notice, but do your best. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
The Work Leader acted like Jaejeong's subordinate.
That gaze—like he'd offer his life if needed.
But no admiration, no respect.
Not entirely trustworthy, but Jaejeong decided to bet on his greed.
After the Work Leader left.
Jaejeong met Youngman and headed straight to the Tower.
He figured they'd learned something by now.
Knock knock.
The room they entered reeked with an indescribable stench.
But Jaejeong and Youngman remained unfazed.
Compared to the horrors on the way to the safe zone, it was tolerable.
Minyoung and the old man—who'd been examining the corpse under bright lights with windows wide open—paused the autopsy and turned.
Jaejeong asked the old man.
"How's it looking?"
"Cause of death: drowning. Lungs full of water. Honestly, the decomposition's so advanced, the autopsy's pointless. No proper equipment, been out of the game too long, and my eyes aren't what they used to be."
Jaejeong pinched his nose and leaned close to the wounds on the corpse as the old man grumbled.
"Checked these?"
"First thing."
"Results?"
The old man snorted at Jaejeong, who was practically pressing his eye to the wound.
"This guy's a total pro. Curious? Look for yourself."
"Should I?"
In normal times, unthinkable.
Entering an autopsy room without gear and touching the body freely?
Absurd.
Not a movie scene.
But these weren't normal times. They needed to confirm together.
The body's state was already wrecked anyway.
Jaejeong spread the wound slightly with his gloved hand.
The old man added,
"Weapon was a knife. Kitchen or home chef's knife—not a filleting blade."
"Yeah? But this……."
Jaejeong pried it wider and frowned.
Decomposition hid details, but one thing was clear.
"Stabbed from behind."
"Right."
The old man nodded.
"Right-handed possibility?"
"Nope. Couldn't get that angle stabbing from the front with the right. Knife thrusts push forward with force, creating a trajectory. From behind with right? Even less likely. Would've hit somewhere else."
"……Lefty. This bastard."
Jaejeong muttered, stepping back from the body.
"Certain."
"Time of death?"
"Tricky. Theoretically possible, but no equipment. Bodies long in water get colonized by tiny aquatic bugs building nests. You estimate from that."
"And?"
"Needs more time. Plus, it's a post-me technique—dunno if I can even do it."
"Forget theory. By experience? How long?"
"At least five days to a week. And still early, but piecing it together—he died at night."
"Night?"
The old man nodded firmly, eyes certain.
Jaejeong pieced it together.
"How much longer?"
"Give me a day."
"Got it. Thanks for the hard work. Minyoung doing as told?"
As Jaejeong backed away, he glanced at Minyoung and asked the old man.
"Sharp as a tack."
"I'm her father."
Youngman, silent till now, spoke proudly.
The old man's eyes widened.
"Oh, really? Figures—she takes after you. Rare these days for mother and daughter both alive……."
The old man trailed off politely, then cleared his throat as if remembering someone.
The three fell silent, averting eyes, waiting.
"Forget I said that. Come back tomorrow. I'll find something."
"Yes. Take care."
Outside, Jaejeong sat on a bench in front of the Tower with Youngman.
Facts swirled chaotically in his head.
Time to sort them.
Five days to a week, night, left-handed, kitchen knife, drowning, victim a sturdy man, risky target that could've fought back…….
As Jaejeong organized his thoughts.
"Why kill him, you think?"
Youngman asked abruptly, gazing at the sky.
"That's what we gotta find out."
"People kill for their own reasons. Sure, psychos kill randomly, but this? Doesn't feel like it. Not an expert, but common sense says no."
"Which part?"
Jaejeong asked, intrigued.
He'd predicted it all, but a layman's view made it fresh.
"Think. Thrill-killer picks easy prey. Saw that guy a few times—tough customer. Could've gotten himself killed instead."
"Spot on."
"So, reason. Risked it for a reason—not petty grudge. Right?"
"Same here. But facts could say otherwise. People's motives ain't simple."
Jaejeong stretched, fatigue etched on his face.
Chatting about the case under the sky felt like old times.
"Earlier."
Youngman stroked his thick beard and continued.
"You rattled off to me like a machine gun. Seemed different—like a robot spitting input verbatim, no hitches."
"Just the job."
"Impressive. Where next?"
"Restaurant, then production zone."
"Why there?"
"Gotta find the bastard who took the kitchen knife."
Jaejeong's eyes chilled.