Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Loan Shark Hunt
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Thud.
Lee Jae-hyun closed the door and climbed into the driver's seat.
Park Dae-hyung pulled two jackets from the trunk of the squad car, handing one to Lee Jae-hyun and slipping on the other before speaking.
"Head to the Tan-yeong intersection."
"Yes, sir."
Lee Jae-hyun quickly grasped why Park Dae-hyung had given him the jacket.
Throwing one on over their uniforms would hide their police affiliation.
It seemed they had a job that required moving around without blatantly advertising they were cops.
Lee Jae-hyun shrugged on the jacket Park Dae-hyung offered and immediately pulled out of the parking spot.
Only after the car was underway did Park Dae-hyung start explaining.
"Looks like it wasn't the mom who hurt the kid."
"Then..."
"After her husband vanished, Kim A-young started seeing a guy named Gu Hyun-seok. Turns out the bastard's a loan shark. She borrowed money from him."
Lee Jae-hyun furrowed his brow but had no response to Park Dae-hyung's words.
Her husband was a wanted con man on the run, and in the midst of that, she'd started dating.
And of all people, her new boyfriend was a loan shark, so she'd borrowed cash from him?
*Talk about a tangled mess.*
Dating another man while still married might sound bad.
Legally speaking, who knew—but on a human level, it was somewhat understandable.
If her husband had been normal, maybe not. But he was a fraudster who'd gone fugitive after a warrant dropped.
Three years on top of that, so divorce probably wasn't smooth. Kim A-young would've needed someone to lean on.
Especially since she wasn't alone—she had a kid too.
The child's six now, so three years ago, that would've made her three.
Raising a young child solo was no joke. Lee Jae-hyun couldn't fully get it, but he could imagine.
He let out a small sigh and glanced at Park Dae-hyung.
"So, husband's a con man, ex-boyfriend's a loan shark?"
"Yeah. Her luck's rotten."
"..."
She wasn't drawn to bad men or anything.
Lee Jae-hyun swallowed another involuntary sigh and continued.
"So, what—that loan shark shows up and hits the kid?"
"Yeah. He came looking for Kim A-young to collect at first, but she'd stepped out after putting the kid to bed."
"The door..."
They'd checked the scene—no signs of forced entry.
If it'd been busted open, traces would've been obvious and spotted.
But a loan shark politely waiting at the door? Unlikely.
Lee Jae-hyun pointed it out, and Park Dae-hyung clicked his tongue.
"Password was the kid's birthday. He already knew it."
"Jesus..."
Sharing the passcode with a loan shark—one of the most dangerous moves out there.
Park Dae-hyung scratched his head in frustration and kept going.
"Kim A-young comes back, kid's already bawling, loan shark's yelling at her out of irritation.
"..."
"She tries to stop him, they tussle, he smacks her around a few times and lays into the kid more... Kid must've passed out in the chaos."
Kid blacks out, loan shark panics and bolts.
Kim A-young rushes to the substation after.
Situation made sense now, but Lee Jae-hyun had a question.
Then why'd Kim A-young say she killed her daughter?
"Why'd she say she killed her own kid?"
"She's blaming herself, saying it's all her fault... We'll grab that loan shark bastard and compare stories."
Never trust one side's word alone.
Slim chance, but maybe Kim A-young really tried to hurt her daughter.
Like Park Dae-hyung said, nab the shark, check if stories match, hunt for evidence.
CCTV and her testimony lined up, though, so Lee Jae-hyun and Park Dae-hyung naturally leaned her way.
"No clue on their exact office, but she always met them around Tan-yeong intersection. Gotta be close."
"Time to scour the place."
Loan shark dens—especially ones that throw punches openly—wouldn't be out in plain sight. They'd have to dig.
But they couldn't hide forever.
Lee Jae-hyun pressed harder on the accelerator.
Vroom.
The car surged forward.
* * *
Jurisdiction wasn't huge, so Lee Jae-hyun reached Tan-yeong intersection fast.
"I'll check this way, you take the opposite and we'll meet up."
"Got it, sir."
Lee Jae-hyun replied simply to Park Dae-hyung and turned.
Sweeping in from both sides was routine—they knew the drill.
But Park Dae-hyung seemed uneasy.
He hesitated, then spoke.
"Kid."
"Yes, Inspector?"
Lee Jae-hyun paused at the tone and looked back.
Park Dae-hyung met his eyes briefly before continuing.
"It's good you're acting like a cop, but don't go off solo. Spot something, call me first. No idea how many there are."
Lee Jae-hyun got it instantly—why Park Dae-hyung was worried.
Rookies' easiest mistake: getting hyped.
Get excited, act alone, get hurt. Violent crimes detectives could die that way.
Lee Jae-hyun knew better, planned to stick with his partner.
But to Park Dae-hyung, he was still a green patrol officer, despite nabbing two killers lately.
Sometimes forgot that, watching Lee Jae-hyun's usual sharpness—but not today.
Reading the worry, Lee Jae-hyun reassured him.
"Isn't sticking with your partner the cop way?"
"Yeah, that's the most cop thing there is."
Park Dae-hyung emphasized firmly, then turned away.
Lee Jae-hyun started walking, scanning the shops.
Just eyeballing might seem pointless, but simple sweeps caught plenty.
Tattooed guys huddled smoking—hints like that.
But today, no bites from a casual pass.
They looped back, met up—nothing.
"Stuck wandering blind till we pinpoint these bastards?"
Park Dae-hyung clicked his tongue.
Not just them grinding.
Back at the substation, Min Ji-hye was keeping lines open with Kim A-young.
Kim Jun-ho and Team Leader Oh Cheol-jin were chasing the shark's details and location.
Lee Jae-hyun pondered Park Dae-hyung's words, then crouched slightly.
"What're you doing?"
Park Dae-hyung sounded puzzled at the sudden dip.
Lee Jae-hyun just reached down and picked up a business card from the ground.
Standard loan shark flyer anywhere.
[Lend You Money.]
"Call this one?"
Lee Jae-hyun flashed it.
Park Dae-hyung huffed.
"Yeah, not a bad idea..."
Right then, Lee Jae-hyun dialed.
No clue if it was their spot—but had to poke.
That's the mindset as the call connected quick.
—Hello?
Male voice.
Lee Jae-hyun played it cool.
"Ah, hello, sir."
Stammering a bit, cautious tone, even "sir."
Park Dae-hyung gawked at the instant voice switch.
—Ah, hello. Who's this?
"Uh... saw your loan ad and called."
Lee Jae-hyun ignored Park Dae-hyung's face, kept acting.
Voice shifted instantly.
—Oh, a customer! Yes, yes, go ahead.
"Need a big sum quick. How much can I get...?"
Never borrowed illegally, but knew their game from busts.
Act green, reek cop—they'd bolt.
—Customer needs big money, huh? We do up to 5 mil, no questions.
"Five mil..."
Trailed off.
Like it wasn't enough, baiting.
And he bit.
Predictable.
Sharks never lose—they'd dig credit, ID, max out what he could repay.
—Not enough?
"Ah, yeah. Need a bit more. Possible?"
Pleaded nicely.
Guy exhaled awkwardly, then:
—You working now?
"Yes."
—Social insurance?
"Yeah, covered."
—Any bank debt...?
"A little..."
Denying bank loans? Insane.
No bank debt, why illegal? Borrow legit.
—Hmm... Could be up to 10 mil after consult... But gotta eat, so face-to-face for exact amount.
"Uh... can I visit? I'm near Tan-yeong now..."
Bait dropped.
If Tan-yeong base, jackpot.
Wishing too hard? Screw scruples for crooks.
Waiting quietly, guy perked up.
—Whoa, we're in Tan-yeong too. Fifth floor, building with CS convenience at the intersection.
Lee Jae-hyun scanned, spotted the store, smirked faintly.
Gotcha, bastard.
"Be right there, sir. Anything to bring?"
Kept the act to the end.
Guy chuckled reassuringly.
—Just ID, customer.
"Coming now."
Real soon—wait up.
Lee Jae-hyun thought, hanging up.