Chapter 15
I was just dialing the tenth call to Yeo Hee-sook's manager when.
"I'm back."
Kang Minjae, who'd headed out to the Lirin Fashion factory that morning, pushed open the office door.
"Ah, you got the autopsy results? Escitalopram oxalate, bromazepam, propranolol hydrochloride... What are these ingredients?"
"Antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds. Some sedatives in there too."
"Did Yeo Hee-sook see a psychiatrist?"
"Looks like it."
"Yein University Hospital, maybe?"
"Probably a private clinic she arranged. Trying to track it down, but..."
I'd checked with Yein University Hospital just in case, but they said no. The manager was deliberately dodging my calls, so it was hard to judge the truth yet. Clearly, Kim Hyeongjun had ordered him not to contact me. Figuring out my cell and office numbers wouldn't have been hard for him.
"Kang, hand over your phone."
"Why?"
He asked, but handed it over without hesitation anyway. The slider phone thrust in front of me. Feature phones were one thing I still hadn't gotten used to, even after coming from a smartphone era.
"Who're you calling?"
"Shh."
Ring ring— ring ring— After a few rings, it connected.
📞 Yeo Hee-sook's Manager
"Hello?"
"This is the postal service. You've got registered mail. You home?"
📞 Yeo Hee-sook's Manager
"Oh, I'm out right now. Where's it from?"
"Seoul District Court."
📞 Yeo Hee-sook's Manager
"The court? Ah, that thing?"
The manager muttered like something clicked. As Yeo Hee-sook's close aide, he'd probably figured he'd be called as a prosecution witness. Threw it out there as a test, and bingo.
📞 Yeo Hee-sook's Manager
"Might take a bit to get home. Could you swing by after 6?"
"Nah, I'll be in another zone by then. Where you at now? If it's my route, I can drop it off on the way."
📞 Yeo Hee-sook's Manager
"Oh, near Yein University Hospital. If it's a hassle, I'll just pick it up tomorrow or the next day."
"Yein University Hospital? I'm right nearby. This is same-day express, so tomorrow's tricky. It'll take about 30 minutes to loop back."
Yein University Hospital. In this situation, with Yeo Hee-sook not there, the reason was obvious. He'd gone to see Kim Hyeongjun, who was admitted.
📞 Yeo Hee-sook's Manager
"Fine then, I'll pick it up at the Yein University Hospital entrance. 4:30 work?"
"Yeah. See you soon."
I grabbed my jacket. Kang Minjae, who'd been eavesdropping, jumped up.
"Who was that?"
"Yeo Hee-sook's manager."
"Why's he dodging you like his life's on the line?"
Kang Minjae was sharp. He'd pieced it together from the postman ruse. I'd chewed him out plenty back when he was a rookie, so he must've been slow back then. Two years, and he'd grown this capable—decent talent.
"Kim Hyeongjun probably shut him down. I'll head out."
"I'll come too."
"You sort the factory report."
"It's all up here." He tapped his head. "Gotta brief you anyway. And to reach the manager, we need my phone."
The elevator hit the parking garage, and Kang Minjae bolted out like a shot. His silver-gray BMW beeped in response.
"I'll drive. Yein University Hospital main gate, right?"
He slid into the driver's seat quick. A year as a prosecutor had sharpened his edges.
"Nice ride."
I buckled up. He shrugged it off.
"Grandpa got it for me—congrats on his recovery. Anyway, factory intel: Kim Hyeongjun must've leaned on the manager there too. If you'd gone, nada. Showed 'em your photo and everything, from the vibe."
Twenty minutes of his report, and we pulled up to Yein University Hospital's main gate. Prime downtown spot, rush hour bustle. But only one guy scanning the crowd like he was waiting for someone.
"Phone."
"Here."
Dialed again. The guy we were watching pulled out his cell.
📞 Yeo Hee-sook's Manager
"Yeah, where you at?"
"Almost there. Black tee guy?"
📞 Yeo Hee-sook's Manager
"Yeah, yeah."
I stepped out and approached slow. He hadn't clocked me yet, peering the wrong way.
"Jeans. Dyed hair."
📞 Yeo Hee-sook's Manager
"Yeah. Can't see you. Which way you coming from?"
"Hey there."
I stopped right in front of him. He pulled the phone from his ear and stared.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Your postman."
Realization hit; his face twisted. "Shit!"
And he bolted like a madman. I gave chase right away.
He shoved through the crowd like a thief caught red-handed, crude and desperate. He veered toward the alley behind the hospital. I kept pace—no breaks.
I didn't know how bad Kim Hyeongjun had scared him, but I was fast. Most field experience in Homicide 3? That was me. And now with a fresh thirty-something body to boot.
"Argh!"
I snagged his collar soon enough. He flailed, lost balance, then glared daggers.
"You asshole!"
"Mail time."
"Huff, huff... gonna lose it, for real. Huff, damn."
He panted, grumbled, then shoved me off with all his might and ran again.
But that direction...
"Hmm, bad choice."
Screech—
A car blocked the alley mouth in a flash. He skidded to a halt in panic. I strolled up casual, grabbed him again.
Passenger window rolled down. Kang Minjae's voice.
"Hey, manager bro, where's the fire?"
One quip, then he shot me a look screaming hire me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hospital's closing up. No answer."
Kang Minjae set down the phone. Caught at last, the manager spilled: the neuropsych clinic Yeo Hee-sook went to. Begged me not to tell Kim Hyeongjun he'd talked.
"Kim Hyeongjun reeks of guilt so bad my nose hurts. Still, nail the doc's testimony tomorrow, we're good. Physical evidence would be gold."
Kang Minjae grinned wide. I nodded slow, sorting docs.
Yeo Hee-sook went to psych over Kim Hyeongjun, no doubt. Timeline matched manager's story: first visit right after he started beating the couple. As a doctor herself, she'd know full disclosure was key for diagnosis. So she'd spilled everything to the shrink.
"Need help with paperwork? Witness and ref materials request. Hate when cases dump on us day before trial. Taegwang gets latecomers too—office managers suffer."
He flipped open his laptop. I shook my head.
"Nah, I got it."
"I'll help. Nothing at home anyway."
"Go home."
"Alright, see you tomorrow. Don't go see the doc alone—you'll need me."
"Why?"
"You'll robot-mode him into stiff testimony. Kills the vibe. Needs someone nice like me."
Cheeky jab.
"Haha. Tomorrow then. Good work."
He caught my look and scrammed. Docs done, I stepped out to the tiny office balcony, lit a smoke.
Trial day after tomorrow. Even with doc confirming Kim Hyeongjun as the serial abuser, no hard evidence yet. Best case: doc gives another lead for proof. Time was brutal. Tomorrow was do-or-die.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Next day, hit the clinic at opening. Trial tomorrow—every minute counted. Far from Yeo Hee-sook's usual haunts. She didn't want anyone knowing.
"Think we'll snag proof today?"
After today, just tomorrow left. No evidence by then, no win guaranteed. No perp in court, Kim Yeonjun got mitigation at best.
Could plant suspicion on Kim Hyeongjun sans proof—plenty shady, strong motive. But that's it. Court wants solid evidence, and right now, that's Kim Yeonjun.
"We will."
"Trial at 10 a.m. tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Trial postponement motion... Prep it?"
"Took the case post-indictment. No extension for defense prep."
"So fake a trip abroad or something. Emergency schedule..."
He trailed off, realizing the slip.
"Sorry."
He figured too: unless doc hands us proof outright, tough win. Even a lead meant more probes, no time.
"How're you so calm in this mess?"
I eyed him. He sighed deep.
"You say time's short, but don't look panicked. I'm spinning out and I'm not even lead."
Not anxious? Fair point. Time pressure nagged, but panic wouldn't help trial. Knew that.
Prosecutor chops don't fade.
...Too cocky for a fifth-year. Real talk: fifteenth.
"This stuff's daily from here on. Can't shake every time."
"...True senior vibes. Respect."
[Truth]
An hour wait, then the nurse: "Director's done. Go in."
Kang Minjae, reset to his usual pep, nodded.
"Let's go."