Chapter 265
As soon as we stepped inside, Kang Gwanung and Park Younggi were seated in the living room. They glanced up at me, then let out heavy sighs. It looked like they'd already kicked off countermeasures from the moment I got the call—or even before.
"Sit down, Lawyer Cha." Park Younggi scooted over slightly on the sofa armrest and said.
I took the spot beside him, while Kang Minjae settled opposite.
"We were just briefing Teacher on the situation."
"Lawyer Cha needs to hear it too. Run it by him again."
I eyed them one after another. Park Younggi seemed thoroughly flustered, and Kang Minjae... looked downright furious. But Kang Gwanung was different. His thoughts were hard to read from his expression or gestures. Closer to anger than worry or panic, maybe. Perhaps he was irritated that after all his help, not only couldn't I repay the favor, but now his own grandson was tangled in a murder case.
"All I know right now is what you told me, sir: Lee Jeongchan's body turned up in the reservoir, and I'm the prime suspect. That's it."
Of course, on the drive over, I'd mulled a few more possibilities. Finding Lee Jeongchan's killer meant they'd spotted signs of foul play on the corpse. No way it was suicide. If Wooshin did it, like Lawyer Kang said—and if the data he was handing me was that devastating to them, and if he really died there that day at the reservoir—why spare me? Was Lawyer Kang some kind of lucky charm after all?
"The reason you're pegged as a suspect is straightforward. You were the one set to meet him at the reservoir where he was found, and CCTV at the entrance caught you hanging around there for an hour or two."
"Lee Jeongchan never even showed. We went inside looking for him because he was a no-show. And—"
"I know, Lawyer Kang. It's not that I don't believe you. But that's how it looks from the cops' angle."
"No, this is driving me nuts... He dangled top-shelf intel, so we wanted to see him more than anyone. After we left empty-handed that day, Lawyer Cha kept texting and calling: 'Where are you?', 'Something up?', 'Let's meet again.' If he'd killed the guy, why send that stuff?"
Kang Minjae couldn't hold back, firing it all off in a rush. Realizing his tone had veered aggressive and rude, he tacked on a quick apology.
Park Younggi sighed, and I gave a short reply.
"Cops could spin even that as me scheming to slip off the suspect list."
"Spot on, Lawyer Cha. That's exactly their take."
If this hits the media, I'll be branded a cold-blooded killer in a heartbeat. Sure, murder's murder to some, but courts treat heat-of-the-moment kills different from premeditated ones. Though they might claim I sent those texts to dodge fallout from an impulsive act...
But that's not the pressing issue. This is right on the heels of me wrapping the Seol Hyo-seok and Kim Seong-woo cases. I was the hero who yanked that near-double-homicide from the brink—face all over the news shows, interviews and everything. One slip, and I'm the psycho now.
"Lawyer Cha. You got your phone on you?"
"I've got it."
I pulled it out, but Kang Gwanung snatched it from my hand and passed it to Manager Kang standing nearby.
"Take it near Lawyer Cha's office, kill the power, and make sure no location ping."
"Sir."
"Last ping here screws us all. You know it."
"...Didn't think that far. Sorry."
They'd summoned me, but the last thing I wanted was blowback on Kang Gwanung.
"Use a burner for a bit. Manager Kang'll hook you up."
A burner meant lay low, no question. But ghosting now screams guilt—perfect frame for "fled 'cause he did it." Better to face the probe head-on, project innocence.
"Told Lawyer Kang on the way, but we were at the reservoir maybe an hour, tops. Under that inside hunting for Lee Jeongchan. He stuck with me the whole time... and just in case, I had office guys tailing from afar. Witnesses to clear me off the list, right?"
"How tight are these 'office' folks? Thick as thieves?"
Kang Minjae ducked his head. "Our investigators."
"Won't fly. Once they sniff investigators, it's 'bought witnesses.' Cops'll rampage for real evidence. Wooshin'll orchestrate it."
"Can't rabbit forever if warrants drop. Caught fleeing's worse. And dodging cuffs doesn't fix squat."
I pushed back, and Kang Gwanung beckoned Manager Kang. He leaned in, and the old man whispered something. Manager Kang's eyes bugged out. Kang Minjae, watching, clenched his pants leg.
"No need to run, Lawyer Cha. Stay here at our place."
Kang Minjae had clearly pegged it as his grandpa ditching me. Eyes blazing fury at the old man, he piped up loud.
"This is a former president's residence. No proof you're here—no search. Darkest under the lamp, right? They know you too well to guess you'd hole up here. And while you're tucked away, me and the bros hunt proof you're clean. Best spot for updates. Burners from Brother Suil or not, chatter gets traced."
He hammered it home. Park Younggi shot him a startled look, then pivoted to Kang Gwanung—checking if the kid's impulse held water for such a big call.
Kang Gwanung shut his eyes, no words.
"Lawyer Kang. Not your solo call."
I wasn't buying he was buckling to grandson pressure or playing reluctant host. Still, freeloading felt wrong.
"Plus, phone pinged inbound—could drag you and Lawyer Kang in. Not staying."
"Easy fix—we share office, same model. 'Grabbed yours by mistake heading home, dropped it back.' Last met Lee Se-hwa, right? She ghosts the link, says you ghosted. Or truth: you bounced."
Damn, kid's sharper than I thought. Sans fallout for them, yeah—prime hideout. But fallout's my cross.
"While en route, Lee Se-hwa rang."
Quiet till now, Park Younggi spoke.
"She'll swear no meet. Other assemblymen too."
"Solid?"
"No sweat, she says. Your ride? Drove to the restaurant?"
"Nah, cabbed it—booze ahead."
Kang Minjae fielded.
"Lucky break. Clandestine campaign huddle, skeleton crew—no witnesses. CCTV killed for the meet, clean."
"Good. Fretted for Lee too."
"Who's fretting who? You're the one morphing into murderer."
Kang Minjae snapped back.
"Nowhere safer than here. Gives me chills picturing that reservoir—if just Lee Jeongchan got it, you next. Me tagging along saved it—one extra body. Fugitive life? Wooshin might finish the job."
Anger flipped to pleading.
"Grandpa, chime in. Safest here—you know it."
"Pipe down. Could be safer in holding. No Wooshin blade there."
"No arrest yet. Premature. Lawyer Cha gets it. Detention handcuffs you—nil moves. Haven't gauged the heat, but hordes gunning."
Park Younggi's volume crept up. Never seen him this riled—situation's vicious.
"Stuck indoors either way. Detention or here, access aside—same diff."
"Not the point! Nabbed after nailing other suspects. Else cops shunt to prosecution post-you; they indict. Wooshin's playbook! Wrong turf—I can't jam it!"
"Enough!"
Kang Gwanung bellowed over the rising clamor. Park Younggi deflated, softening his face.
"Situation's sunk in for Lawyer Cha. Park, head home."
"Teacher!"
"Dig deeper, loop him in."
"...Got it."
"Minjae."
"Yes, Grandpa..."
"Cool it."
"But—"
"Hmph."
Kang Gwanung cut him off; Minjae pouted, head down.
"Last, Lawyer Cha."
"Yes, sir."
"Bunker here awhile."
"But sir—"
"Done. Get you hate imposing, it's real. That's plenty. Crash here."
With that, Kang Gwanung rose gripping the armrest. Before trailing, Manager Kang handed my phone to Minjae.
"Minjae, office drop like you said. Makes it stick."
"...My plan? Oh—yeah! Lawyer Cha, tag along?"
"Together? Solo quick. I'll room-hunt for Lawyer Cha."
"Haha, roger. Heehee. Back pronto! Hey bro—food for Lawyer Cha. Hasn't eaten."
"Brat. I'll manage—scram!"
"On it!"
The sprightliest Kang Minjae I'd seen today bolted garage-ward phone in hand. I sighed at his back.
Was this really the play?