Chapter 146 "Director, time to head home?"
Director Chu, lost in thought at the site office, lifted his head at the sudden voice.
"Oh, has it gotten this late already?"
When he'd arrived, the sun had been dipping low on the horizon. Now darkness blanketed everything.
"Haha. Why are you spacing out like this today? Everything okay?"
"What trouble could I possibly have?"
Director Chu waved him off and stood. "Anyway, head home quick."
"You too, get going."
After hanging up with Cha Juhan, the site director sank back into his reverie. More precisely, he was reliving that day.
—Director Chu! Director Chu! Open the door!
Right after Go Yunseong had been carried out of the construction site by his entourage, someone pounded frantically on the site office door. It was Kim Uicheol's voice.
The director opened the door, and Kim Uicheol rushed inside, pale and terrified. Anyone could see that the conflict between Oh Sanghyeon and Go Yunseong had started with Kim Uicheol.
—Director Chu, you saw the CCTV footage here, right? Right?
Faced with Kim Uicheol's torrent of words the moment their eyes met, the director finally spoke.
—...Yes.
—What the hell happened? Huh? What? Why was Go Yunseong suddenly carried out like that? Did Oh slap him or something? Huh?
Looking at the man's trembling, wrinkled hands, the director sighed and slowly shook his head.
—Go Yunseong was the one who hit him.
—What?
—Looks like Oh pointed out the foreman’s mistake, and Go Yunseong lost his temper and decked him...
The director rubbed his forehead in confusion. He'd seen plenty, but it was all so shocking he could barely bring himself to say it aloud.
Just then, his phone rang—an unknown number.
—Hello?
The voice on the other end belonged to Go Yunseong's secretary. He ordered the director to calm the agitated workers and get them back to work. Send the laborers home at sunset, but stay behind yourself.
After hanging up, the director pondered. This means they'll handle the cleanup once everyone's gone.
He turned to the fidgeting Kim Uicheol.
—Foreman, you seem pretty shaken. Why don't you head home first?
—...Even if I go, it'll be like sitting on pins and needles.
—Still, if you mess up while this rattled, it'll be a big problem.
—True, but—
—Go on ahead. I'll check on things here.
The director pressed some cab fare into Kim Uicheol's hand and sent him off. Then he grabbed the megaphone and barked at the murmuring workers to get back to their tasks.
Even so, their agitation lingered, forcing him to threaten docking their daily wages if they kept slacking.
The workers milled about uncertainly before resuming, though he could hear them whispering as they hauled gear. Nothing he could do about that.
—Director?
Time passed. With all the workers gone, the director was alone at the site.
Around 8:10 p.m., a black sedan pulled in. Go Yunseong's secretary stepped out.
—Sorry for keeping you so late. Just need to confirm a few things about today's incident. Write down the password for the CCTV storage for employee Bin-ho. Oh, and any other procedures for accessing CCTV? Like your employee ID barcode.
The director hesitated, then removed his ID badge from around his neck and handed it over.
—...How's the executive director doing?
As the secretary sat at the computer, the director asked. Go Yunseong had thrown the punches, but that wasn't the story going around. It was obvious this guy was here to check and delete the footage. The director couldn't admit he knew the truth.
The secretary clicked the mouse without looking up, replying flatly.
—No, it's serious. Ah, Director, you can head out now.
He dismissed the lingering director perfunctorily and turned back to the monitor.
The director sighed, shrugged off his jacket, and started changing into his coat.
Then—
—Director.
—Yes?
—Got something shady going on?
The sudden accusation made the director flinch. Even from this kid who looked at least ten years younger, the rudeness barely registered—his heart was pounding too hard.
—What do you mean? Shady how?
—You know the executive director's fine, so why ask if he's okay?
He was watching footage of himself rushing into the site office.
The director zipped his jacket with shaking hands.
—...I'll be going now.
—Mm, this guy's the one who messed up with the executive director earlier, right?
The secretary pointed at the screen: Kim Uicheol entering right after Go Yunseong was carried out.
—Ah, you know him?
—What are you talking about?
—...You're dodging even though you know.
A glint entered the secretary's eyes.
—...Secretary, he doesn't know anything.
—You're bad at lying. Better keep your mouth shut, Director.
—...
—What's his name?
—...
—No time, Director. Golden hour's critical in cases like this. You screw this up, you're done. You know that.
The secretary's face hardened.
—Kim Uicheol...
—Thanks for cooperating. Head home.
The still-shaking director fled. He changed shoes frantically and yanked open the door.
—I'll call tomorrow. Till then, no loose lips—or you'll regret it most. Got it?
The secretary's voice stabbed at his back.
—Cooperate, and there'll be a suitable reward, of course.
The next day, the director arrived at the site thirty minutes early. Before even changing, he sat at the computer and tried accessing the CCTV storage.
[No Access Rights]
He bit his lip. They'd probably locked him out to avoid him rashly deleting footage and getting caught later.
He checked the site where the assault happened. The CCTV camera was gone—ripped off overnight by Go Yunseong's people, no doubt.
They were covering it up. Or rather, since they couldn't erase the incident, pinning it on Oh Sanghyeon.
He'd have to talk to Kim Uicheol separately when he arrived. Couldn't let an innocent man like Oh Sanghyeon take the fall.
But the secretary's cold glare from last night lingered. No clue what to do.
He waited for Kim Uicheol. And waited.
But he never showed.
—Why isn't he picking up? Something happen? No way Go Yunseong went after him.
Kim Uicheol had just relayed words; I saw the CCTV. If retaliation was coming, it should be me first.
As anxiety gnawed, his phone rang—Kim Uicheol.
—Foreman! Why didn't you come today? Everything okay? Yesterday the secretary asked your name, and I told him... Figured he'd find out quick anyway. Been so worried something happened...
The director babbled frantically, but silence on the line.
—Foreman?
—Uh, yeah, Director Chu.
—Something wrong? I checked today—they blocked my CCTV access. Even ripped off the site camera. They're framing Oh completely.
—Uh-huh, really?
Kim Uicheol sounded like he was hiding something. The director got it—what had happened.
He sighed. He understood. From the moment the secretary waltzed in and viewed the footage freely, he'd known they were burying the truth.
And he'd said nothing, just left. No solo courage there.
Poor Oh Sanghyeon, just calling out injustice, getting screwed. But staking his own safety? No.
Unless Kim Uicheol stepped up for Oh... then maybe he could too.
—Foreman, honestly, I'm scared.
—...
—But we gotta help Oh, right? ...Though that'll get us hurt.
Kim Uicheol just sighed heavily over the line.
—Haa...
—Foreman, seems you're taking the day off. Rest up. I'll call another time.
The director bowed his head.
"Director, you still here?"
Snapped from his daze staring into space, the director flinched at the voice. The worker who'd urged him home earlier must've swung by again on his way out.
Glancing at the clock, it was time to go. Even rushing, he might be late for the appointment.
"Whew, chilly."
The director pulled his collar tight and entered the alley. Cutting through here got him to the subway quick—if the timing worked, no tardiness.
Does that lawyer really have proof of the CCTV? What evidence could he have?
The CCTV was removed that night. Police took the storage, but Oh Sanghyeon was indicted anyway. Clearly, the site footage was gone.
But if he does have proof, and I just help a little... maybe that lawyer can clear Oh for real.
As long as his involvement stayed hidden, the director was willing to aid Oh Sanghyeon. It was just fear of payback—not wanting the man branded a criminal unjustly.
"Ugh, gotta hustle."
The streetlamp ahead flickered. The quiet residential alley felt eerie, sparsely peopled.
Then, heavy footsteps from behind: thud, thud.
The director glanced back. A man in a deep-brimmed hat walked head down, arms crossed, hunched against the cold.
Thud, thud. Faster now.
Presence closing tight on his back.
"...?"
The hunched man stopped right behind, raising both arms high. In his grip: something long and solid.
Thwack!
A dull impact echoed through the alley.