Chapter 136
The site director turned his head toward where my gaze had landed. "Ah, that one?"
"It looks like traces of a CCTV installation."
"No, that's where a light fixture was hung."
I gave a faint smile. Should I probe a little deeper? It only denied it was a light fixture spot—not that there'd never been a CCTV there.
"No matter how I look at it, it screams CCTV. It might've caught the crime scene."
"Haha, I wish it had, but no."
His expression control was decent, but he'd picked the wrong mark to fool. Staring at the text hovering over his head, I smiled faintly. A CCTV that captured the crime scene existed. If we could find it, flipping the situation would be straightforward.
For now, it was clear the director had taken money, so I'd have to watch my words around him.
"I see. Must've been my mistake."
"Yeah, looks like it."
"Thanks for showing us around. Appreciate it."
I headed back toward the canteen area with the director. There, I spotted Kang Minjae chatting away naturally among the workers. He'd even grabbed a tray of food.
"Lawyer! This stuff's legit good. Grab some grub!"
Kang Minjae waved his spoon at me.
"That lawyer guy's got some real guts."
"Tell me about it."
Before long, Kang Minjae cleared his tray and said goodbyes to the workers. They'd apparently warmed up to him—they were even telling him to swing by again.
"Find anything?"
I asked as we walked to the parked car. Kang Minjae shook his head.
"Only folks who saw the bodyguard carrying Go Yunseong out. No one saw Oh Sanghyeon."
"Doesn't sound like they're lying?"
"Twenty guys at that canteen, and all twenty said they didn't see him. I handed out cards and asked them to check with anyone else or folks off today."
We couldn't rule out Wooshin buying off some, but they wouldn't bribe the whole crew. Bribing and wrangling a few witnesses was easy enough, but scaling that up got messy fast. One leak about Wooshin spreading cash around, and it'd be a nightmare for them.
"If really no one saw him, maybe they moved Oh Sanghyeon another way."
"Another way? Like that back area with the stacked materials?"
"It's been over a month and a half since the incident. Might not have been materials there back then. We should check it again."
We turned around. I considered asking the director to guide us but skipped it—seemed like he'd taken money from above. If it came up later, we could just say he looked busy and we checked ourselves.
"Kang."
"Yeah?"
"Snap a pic of that tangled wire mess on the wall here."
"What's this?"
"CCTV was mounted here."
"Huh?"
Kang Minjae paused mid-zoom and yelped.
"You mean footage of the scene exists?"
"Director says it was lighting, but I'm calling bullshit. They ripped it out on purpose."
"Prosecutors must have the tape then?"
"Wooshin might've scrubbed it before handing over, but yeah, it existed."
I left him snapping away and headed deeper into the alley—the spot we'd overlooked earlier due to piled materials. If no one saw Oh Sanghyeon leave as Kang checked, this was the only other path. Materials blocked it now, but maybe not then.
I wedged one foot into the gap.
"Lawyer, what're you doing?"
Kang Minjae approached.
"Pic this too."
It was a ridiculously narrow squeeze. Even accounting for my build, if materials were stacked this high, Oh Sanghyeon couldn't have passed—especially passed out, needing to be carried by a bodyguard. Oh Sanghyeon was burly himself; add the carrier's frame, and no way.
"Let's head out."
As we emerged, the director—picking his teeth post-meal—spotted us.
"Oh, lawyers still here?"
"Yeah. Dropped my phone back there."
"Gotcha. Didn't see it. Should've looked."
"No worries. Oh, forgot to ask something."
"Shoot."
"That narrow spot behind the crime scene, with the materials."
"Ah, yeah. What's up?"
"Where's it lead?"
"Underground parking entrance under construction deeper in. Connects there."
Opposite the main site entrance. Explained why workers missed it. If no materials back then, Oh Sanghyeon was likely snuck out that way, eyes averted.
"CCTV there too?"
"Yep."
Might've caught him being moved.
"Can we check?"
"Cops took every tape from that day."
"Even the underground parking ones?"
"Whole storage drive for site CCTV that day."
Tricky.
"One more thing. When did those materials pile up?"
"From the start. Guys kept getting lost back there, so we blocked it on purpose."
An unexpected verdict. I'd bet on a lie, but truth? That narrow path was Oh Sanghyeon's only unseen exit. No other routes.
"Thanks. Seen enough."
We returned to the car.
"Where the hell did Oh Sanghyeon go? Director seemed shifty."
I wished the director was lying too, but no—pure truth.
"Victim can't remember either. Tough spot."
"Zero harvest today, then."
Kang Minjae sounded deflated.
"We learned CCTV was at the scene. Not nothing."
"True, but they took the whole drive. Hard for us to get. FOIA? Auto-reject."
"Even proving CCTV was there, they'll claim it was busted, no footage."
"Yeah."
"Keep digging. Something'll turn up."
As the car pulled out, I fished my phone from my inside pocket. Missed call from Office Manager Oh.
"Office manager, it's me. Saw the missed call."
"Ah, Lawyer. About that case records viewing and copying request."
"Ah, yeah."
"Denied. Called the prosecutor's office—they said the lawyer has to come in person and copy on their machine. Told 'em I'm the clerk, but they hung up saying it has to be you."
A hollow laugh escaped me. Denials happened, but this absurdity? First time they'd demand the lawyer photocopy in person and bar the clerk.
Barring the clerk felt like payback for Office Manager Oh jumping ship from prosecution to me. They'd treated him decently during the Kim Hyeongjun case, but time was cruel.
"Figures. My junior must miss my face bad. Didn't expect abuse of power just to see me."
"File a complaint? This is rude."
"Nah, no need. They're letting me copy if I go myself."
"True, but..."
"I'll swing by prosecution on the way back."
I hung up and briefed Kang Minjae.
"Yang Hansuk lost it? Man, makes me wanna prove Oh Sanghyeon innocent and smash that smug nose of his."
Office Manager Oh soon texted Yang Hansuk's office location. We got a visitor pass on the first floor and took the elevator. Kang Minjae still looked pissed—usually all smiles, but feeling dissed had him grumpy.
"Ease up. Lots of eyes."
Criminal Division 3 was my old home. Sure enough, as the doors opened, passersby glanced my way. No close ties, but we'd nod in the halls. Now? Just brushing past.
"Hey, Cha Juhan? Yo, isn't that Lawyer Cha?"
Then I bumped into the Criminal Division 3 deputy chief prosecutor.
"Ah, long time."
"Been a while! Who's the kid?"
"My partner lawyer."
"Partner?"
The deputy eyed Kang Minjae, but he ignored it—just stared at me with dewy eyes. Creepy.
"Criminal Division 3 deputy chief. Greet him."
I murmured. Kang Minjae snapped to, bowing deep.
"Cha Juhan Lawyer's partner, Kang Minjae. Judicial Research and Training Institute class of '36."
He emphasized "partner."
"Oh yeah? Sharp-looking. Must be sharp if partnering with Cha. Nice to meet ya."
The deputy shook hands, then turned to me.
"What brings you here, Cha?"
Not super tight back in Criminal 3, but no bad blood. We'd chat at drinks when seats aligned.
"Case stuff. Viewing records."
"Huh? Heard Office Manager Oh jumped to your firm. Not true?"
"True. He's with us."
"Then why you in person?"
"Prosecutor insisted."
Kang Minjae gritted out. The deputy frowned.
"Clerk there and they want the lawyer? Who's handling?"
"Yang Hansuk."
"Yang Pro?"
The deputy smirked knowingly.
"Gonna give you headaches, Cha."
He didn't elaborate, but I got it. Didn't know Yang Hansuk well, but figured he'd grudge me post-Kim Hyeongjun. Dragging me here for records? Petty revenge for humiliating him.
He'd swaggered about ending my win streak. Fair enough.
"Gotta head in. Fight on, Cha."
"Thanks. See ya."
After the deputy, we reached Yang Hansuk's office. Kang Minjae knocked lightly and entered. A busy investigator asked curtly,
"What do you want?"
"Oh Sanghyeon's counsel. Here for records."
The investigator sized up Kang Minjae. Apparently expecting me, not him.
"Prosecutor's out briefly. Wait here."
Lackluster reply. I stepped in from the hall.
"Investigator."
"...Lawyer Cha. You came yourself?"
He startled.
"Prosecutor called. Had to."
No Yang Hansuk in sight. But the investigator's eyes flicked oddly to the blinded break room inside.
"Someone in there?"
He glanced nervously. Then the break room door opened.
First, eyes locked with Yang Hansuk gripping the handle sharply.
"......"
Then, with Hwang Youngchan emerging, face stiff.