Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The Accomplice's Move
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Lee Jae-hyun left the interrogation room, leaving An Do-hyun behind.
As soon as he stepped out, he caught sight of several pairs of eyes watching him and put on a subtle expression.
“What... is it?”
From Ilsan West Police Station Violent Crimes Unit Chief Kim Ho-cheol's perspective, there weren't many chances to go after Lee Jae-hyun.
That was why he'd used every trick in the book to pressure An Do-hyun all at once, thinking it had to be settled in one go.
Fortunately, the guy had cracked a bit, but Lee Jae-hyun still felt a twinge of regret—he'd wanted to draw it out a little more to seal the deal completely.
The other cops watching from outside seemed to have different thoughts from his.
“What do you mean 'what'? You just shook An Do-hyun up good. That bastard might actually confess at this rate.”
Park Dae-hyung approached Lee Jae-hyun with a hearty laugh, looking pleased.
Kim Ho-cheol nodded slightly in agreement and spoke up.
“He definitely looked rattled. For someone who just got off patrol officer duty, you handled that interrogation way too smoothly. Good work.”
Kim Ho-cheol looked at Lee Jae-hyun as he said it.
Lee Jae-hyun bowed his head slightly in response.
With his past life's experience, it was only natural that Lee Jae-hyun was skilled at interrogations.
So even if he got a ton of praise like this, he couldn't help but take it in stride.
No, if anything, he felt a bit embarrassed inside.
A veteran detective would've gotten a simple nod for the same job.
Hearing this much praise just because of his rank and lack of experience... it felt like he was tricking them into complimenting him.
“If we let that unease fester and push him once more while he's wobbling, we'll get our answer.”
“Yes. Ideally, I'd do three rounds of interrogation to pry his mouth open for sure... but time's short, so we'll have to rush it.”
“Got it. Good work. Everyone's been running around all day, so let's rotate shifts and get some rest.”
Kim Ho-cheol said, looking around.
As he said, all the detectives here looked exhausted.
With the case exploding out of nowhere, they'd been scrambling nonstop and pulling late nights—it was only natural.
Sure, as detectives, sweating to catch criminals was par for the course.
But with nothing more to do right now, it was smart to rest when they could.
At Kim Ho-cheol's words, they all exchanged glances before starting to move.
Park Dae-hyung clapped a hand on Lee Jae-hyun's shoulder and grinned.
“Good job. Catch a quick nap, then we squeeze that bastard again... and nab the other guy too.”
“That's the plan.”
Lee Jae-hyun replied calmly.
The best outcome was An Do-hyun cracking and confessing.
Bonus points if he slipped in a way to find evidence on the other perp too.
Park Dae-hyung seemed to think the same, stretching as he continued.
“Ah, if only that punk would confess quick and spill on his accomplice. Done deal. If he clams up, who knows how this'll play out.”
“It'd be easiest if he talked... but even if An Do-hyun stays shut, it's not hopeless.”
Lee Jae-hyun said, and Park Dae-hyung blinked at him.
“What, you got separate evidence?”
“No, nothing yet... but it'll probably turn up.”
“What's that mean?”
Park Dae-hyung furrowed his brow, not getting it.
Lee Jae-hyun scratched his cheek and continued.
Sure, An Do-hyun opening up was the best way.
But it wasn't the only way.
If he wouldn't budge, make someone else talk.
“I swung by the funeral home earlier and chatted with Woo Kyung-hwan.”
“Yeah? How'd it go?”
“If he's the accomplice, he can't just sit still.”
“So?”
Park Dae-hyung's eyes lit up with anticipation.
Lee Jae-hyun gave him the answer he wanted.
“He'll move today or tomorrow at latest. That move itself will leave evidence. And once we nab both... cross-check phones or whatever, it'll pop right out.”
“...Yeah, it'll pop.”
Park Dae-hyung let out a huff at Lee Jae-hyun's words and muttered softly.
Lee Jae-hyun smiled faintly and went on.
“Get one to crack and act first. That's when they both crumble.”
One mouth opens, both fall.
And that moment... was fast approaching.
* * *
A night when all were asleep.
Mourners who'd visited the funeral home rose one by one, staggering out.
Woo Kyung-hwan glanced at his father, who was staring blankly into space.
He didn't like it.
She'd gone out whoring with other men, useless to her own life and her son's.
'What the hell's so hard about it.'
The guy who deserved to die was dead—why the long face?
Woo Kyung-hwan clicked his tongue and carefully stood.
He'd been in mourning clothes earlier, but now with the guests gone, he was in regular attire.
As he rose, his father, who'd been staring into space, turned to him.
“Where you going?”
“Mind your business.”
“...”
“Just gonna smoke and wander a bit. Go to sleep if you're tired—no need to wait.”
Woo Kyung-hwan tossed the words at his father and turned away.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and headed out.
Woo Kyung-hwan lit a cigarette out of habit, inhaled deeply, exhaled, and stared at the sky.
“Fuck...”
He muttered a curse and ruffled his hair irritably.
His head was a mess.
Everything had been going to plan.
Then An Do-hyun got nabbed.
At first, he'd figured the cop was bluffing.
But as proof it was real, An Do-hyun still hadn't called.
The possibility that An Do-hyun might sell him out for a lighter sentence grew stronger by the minute.
Sure, you could call it disloyal.
But really, they were just allies of convenience, interests aligned.
If selling him out meant leniency, he'd do it in a heartbeat—shallow ties like that.
In his anxiety, he'd rushed to log into BCI Outside and wiped their chat history.
But the unease lingered.
Cops were slow but not totally useless.
He'd erased traces, but they'd dig up something small.
Layer on the tracking, and his tail might get stepped on.
Or hell, they might not even need to track him.
No loyalty between him and that bastard An Do-hyun.
'If he talks, I'm done.'
Of course, he'd avoided leaving evidence, and the cops probably had none.
Even if An Do-hyun named him, he could hold out a day.
Drag it out, maybe buy a few hours or days more...
But that'd be it.
Once they seize his phone or computer, evidence emerges, and he's hauled in too.
Bottom line: do something before An Do-hyun talks.
'No clue how long he'll hold.'
No idea how much time before An Do-hyun cracked.
Woo Kyung-hwan closed his eyes briefly, thinking fast.
Picturing ways to slip the cops' net now that An Do-hyun was caught.
After a moment lost in thought, Woo Kyung-hwan opened his eyes.
'Sorry, but the one not caught has to keep living clean.'
An Do-hyun was done—prison for sure.
Murder pinned on him? Decades minimum, life, or the noose.
A couple extra charges wouldn't raise eyebrows.
With him caught, Woo Kyung-hwan had no choice.
To survive, ditch the guy.
Better one goes down than both, right?
'Fuck. Shouldn't have thrashed around so much.'
Woo Kyung-hwan thought it as he moved quickly.
His destination: Gobong Mountain.
Maebong Mountain wasn't even where he'd done the deed.
No need to go there—plenty of proof An Do-hyun killed.
So the spot he had to fix: right here, Maebong Mountain.
Where he'd murdered—had to stage it perfectly.
Evidence proving An Do-hyun, not him, did the killing.
'Nice knowing you. Never see you again.'
Woo Kyung-hwan thought it as he slowly climbed Gobong Mountain.
Maybe because it was his kill site.
The mountain's vibe felt especially grim tonight.
Woo Kyung-hwan ignored the creepy chill on his skin and climbed.
He knew exactly where he'd killed, being his crime scene.
Relying on senses and memory, he groped his way to the spot.
How long had it been?
Near the mountainside, Woo Kyung-hwan veered off.
A bit in, he spotted bloodstains not fully faded.
'Gotta wrap this quick.'
Woo Kyung-hwan grimaced.
Being here brought back the victim's image vividly.
Blood streaming from the head, shattered skull, begging for life.
He'd swung the bat at that victim with emotionless eyes.
'Farewell.'
Meant for An Do-hyun.
Such an annoying prick together, but useful now—Woo Kyung-hwan drew closer to the scene.
Then reached out toward it.
Just like when he'd killed.
Face devoid of any feeling.