Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Nurse's Confession
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When Lee Jae-hyun returned to the police substation with Han Sun-ah in tow, the fellow officers inside stared at him with wide eyes.
It wasn't unusual for a cop to bring someone in.
Incidents could happen anytime, anywhere, and if there was trouble at the scene, it was perfectly fine to haul them back to the station.
The problem was...
The person leading the way with his companion right now was Lee Jae-hyun.
Even with his clear superior, Kim Jun-ho, walking alongside, the fact that Lee Jae-hyun was taking the lead meant he was spearheading the case.
*This is a bit embarrassing.*
Lee Jae-hyun did his best to ignore the stares directed his way and headed to the interrogation room to avoid the crowd.
Sure, being able to take charge of the case was great, but this kind of attention wasn't something he'd asked for.
It had turned out this way because Kim Jun-ho had suddenly shoved him forward after getting out of the car, telling him to handle the case himself.
Lee Jae-hyun had ended up leading without knowing what was going on.
*Still, being able to investigate freely isn't bad.*
He shrugged at the watching colleagues as if to say "that's how it is," then led Han Sun-ah into the interrogation room.
The interrogation room was walled off by glass covered in opaque film.
Lee Jae-hyun sat down at the computer, and Kim Jun-ho, who had followed him in, gestured for Han Sun-ah to take the seat across from them.
"Alright, let's start with the basics. Name: Han Sun-ah, age 26, residing in Hanseong-dong. That correct?"
"Yes, yes. It is."
With Kim Jun-ho observing as a witness, Lee Jae-hyun began the interrogation.
Han Sun-ah glanced around the station before nodding hurriedly at his words.
The questioning continued with standard queries.
Age, family relations...
She answered Lee Jae-hyun's questions dutifully.
He nodded once at her in acknowledgment, then continued.
"Why'd you take the nutritional supplements from the hospital?"
"Well... Normally, when we're worn out from work at the hospital, we give each other supplements. But we can't use the products, so we take the ones right before disposal..."
As soon as the supplements came up, she started rambling explanations without being asked.
A stark contrast to her previous short answers or mere nods.
Lee Jae-hyun lifted his hands from the keyboard where he'd been typing her responses and rested his elbows on the desk before speaking.
"Sun-ah-ssi."
"Y-yes?"
He called her name in a serious tone, setting the mood.
He had no intention of dragging this out.
Han Sun-ah was one thing, but his real goal was nabbing Park Chun-beom.
For that, her cooperation was essential.
Lee Jae-hyun continued in a gentle voice.
"Let me be straight with you."
"Y-yes..."
"I've handled tons of cases like this. Guess how they turned out?"
"..."
"Most stonewalled to the end, then broke down crying later, begging for leniency just once. If they'd cooperated early, they might've gotten some consideration."
As Lee Jae-hyun spoke in a calm, steady voice, Han Sun-ah's eyes wavered.
His tone rang with sincerity.
Of course, Kim Jun-ho—who knew Lee Jae-hyun had only been on the force for a little over a month—gave him a strange look.
Lee Jae-hyun brushed it off and pressed on.
"We saw it at the hospital and the senior center. We've got CCTV and witness statements. You think I'm dumb enough not to put it together?"
"...Then why not just arrest me right away?"
With talk of solid evidence, Han Sun-ah hunched her shoulders and asked.
Lee Jae-hyun let out a faint sigh of frustration before responding.
"You don't get why I'm doing this? I'm not trying to dig up dirt and lock you up. I'm giving you as many chances as I can."
Normally, lines like that would fall flat.
But Han Sun-ah was clearly cornered mentally right now.
With someone she already knew treating her gently in that state, her defenses crumbled.
"Just come clean, speak freely, and we'll advocate for you as much as possible."
Of course, he wasn't saying it to actually help her.
This was a test.
If she was truly tied to Park Chun-beom's crimes, she'd deny it to the bitter end, evidence or not.
It wasn't some minor offense—it was murder.
No excuse would save her.
With that, Lee Jae-hyun fell silent.
Giving her time to decide.
After a moment's hesitation, she hung her head and started crying.
"Sob, sob...!"
Starting with sniffles, Han Sun-ah soon burst into full sobs, as if overwhelmed by grievance.
But Lee Jae-hyun's gaze on her didn't change.
"Wow... She did it herself, but now she's crying out of nowhere. Doesn't look like remorse. What's her deal?"
Serhen appeared then, tilting her head as she looked down at Han Sun-ah.
Lee Jae-hyun knew the answer.
*She's selfish.*
Someone truly repentant wouldn't cry like that.
A person genuinely remorseful for their crimes would have carried guilt all along.
They'd feel relief spilling it to police, not tears after being pressed.
Just as Serhen said, Han Sun-ah's tears held no remorse.
Just indignation at getting caught.
* * *
A short while later, having calmed her sobs, Han Sun-ah began explaining her side between sniffles.
"I'm sorry, so sorry... I didn't plan on it at first. I really worked hard. Even got a job at Myeongseok Hospital. But I still had student loans, housing loans..."
Han Sun-ah poured out her hardships and frustrations, detailing how she'd turned to crime.
Lee Jae-hyun mechanically typed her words into the computer.
Her sob story meant nothing to him.
He filtered through her excuses for a bit.
Just as his patience was wearing thin, she wrapped up her justifications.
Lee Jae-hyun sighed inwardly and posed his final question.
"Fine. Then... what about your accomplice? Hard to distribute supplements at the senior center alone, right?"
"There was someone recommending them to people and taking a cut. I actually tried quitting midway, but they kept persuading me, so I had no choice but to continue. I couldn't risk the secret getting out and getting reported, so..."
She slapped the desk with her palm, words tumbling out in a rush.
As if relieved to have a scapegoat now that her excuses were running dry.
Han Sun-ah pinned the blame on her accomplice.
"Is that accomplice Park Chun-beom?"
"Yes, yes! The village head. He's seriously weird. His eyes... he looks like a total criminal!"
Her voice rose as she shifted the blame.
Lee Jae-hyun regarded her with impassive eyes and spoke.
"Don't forget—you're a criminal too."
His voice was icy as he stood up.
A sharp departure from his earlier kindness.
Han Sun-ah flinched in surprise at the sudden shift, but Lee Jae-hyun paid her no mind.
There was nothing more to get from her.
*I've got all the testimony I need.*
Confession secured, plus confirmation of Park Chun-beom's involvement.
He had cause to bring the guy in—no need to play nice anymore.
*From her reaction, Han Sun-ah doesn't seem tied to the murder. Time to get the rest from Park Chun-beom.*
With nothing left to extract, Lee Jae-hyun asked Kim Jun-ho to handle the rest and headed out.
Or tried to.
"...What are you all doing?"
Lee Jae-hyun let out a hollow chuckle at the people pressing ears to the interrogation room door.
Even with the opaque film on half the glass, it was obvious if someone was outside.
Realizing the interrogation was over from his incredulous stare, the colleagues scattered from the door.
"What were you all doing here?"
"Oh, just passing by, and wouldn't you know, my shoelace came undone right in front..."
"Y-yeah..."
Park Dae-hyung cleared his throat awkwardly with a lame excuse.
Lee Jae-hyun nodded vaguely at the unconvincing line, then scanned the others avoiding his gaze.
Park Dae-hyung, Oh Cheol-jin, even Min Ji-hye.
*Wasn't she the type who didn't care about others?*
Lee Jae-hyun chuckled at Min Ji-hye pretending to gaze at distant mountains.
Unexpected from someone so aloof.
"Ahem! Team Leader, I'll go grab this Park Chun-beom with Ji-hye here!"
"Y-yeah, go ahead. I knew I could count on our maknae, right?"
As Lee Jae-hyun eyed them in disbelief, Park Dae-hyung cleared his throat loudly and declared it.
Oh Cheol-jin nodded, then turned to Lee Jae-hyun.
An obvious topic change.
But Lee Jae-hyun just smirked once and nodded.
"Of course, Team Leader."
He turned to Park Dae-hyung.
If picking the one person in this substation he could fully trust, it'd be him without hesitation.
Lee Jae-hyun grinned at Park Dae-hyung and continued.
"Please take care of it."
"Yeah, wrap up the interrogation and wait. We'll bring him quick."
"Yes, be careful."
Park Dae-hyung patted his shoulder.
Lee Jae-hyun saluted in response.
"What, careful? Pfft."
Park Dae-hyung chuckled.
A murderer made him uneasy.
But with Park Dae-hyung, he could rest easy.
He was the strongest person Lee Jae-hyun knew.
* * *
Park Dae-hyung and Min Ji-hye headed out to nab Park Chun-beom.
Lee Jae-hyun returned to the interrogation room to stand by Kim Jun-ho as he finished up with Han Sun-ah.
*I planned to bring in Park Chun-beom myself.*
A bit regrettable not to cuff him personally.
The team members eavesdropping outside had taken it on instead.
Lee Jae-hyun wrapped up Han Sun-ah's interrogation.
There might be unrevealed crimes, and right now, he knew her offenses best.
Under Lee Jae-hyun's supervision, her interrogation concluded.
Taking a brief breather, he stepped out for some air.
As he exited the substation, Serhen followed unbeknownst when she'd shown up.
"Hmm, a decent appetizer."
She smirked faintly.
Apparently having devoured Han Sun-ah's karma in the interim.
But Serhen licked her lips as if it were nothing, continuing.
"So, when's the main course?"
"Main course..."
To a demon, karma was food.
If the appetizer was Han Sun-ah, the main was Park Chun-beom.
As Lee Jae-hyun trailed off in thought—
"No, officers! I don't know what I've done wrong!"
"Yes, I get it—just sit down for now."
Park Chun-beom appeared, being led in by Park Dae-hyung.
Lee Jae-hyun watched him head to the interrogation room with sharp eyes, speaking in a cold voice.
"...Looks like you'll eat soon."
Lee Jae-hyun clenched his fist tight.
Whatever that bastard was hiding.
He'd drag it into the light and make him face justice.