Chapter 270 ‘Murder Weapon Found’
A few seconds had passed since I read the words "Murder Weapon Found," but the meaning didn't hit me right away. They wouldn't toss around a phrase like that for some ordinary kitchen knife. It had to be because there was blood on it—blood that matched the wounds on the corpse—so they could declare it the murder weapon with such certainty. Not satisfied with fake witnesses, they'd planted fake evidence too.
Since I'd been out of the house since yesterday, someone must have slipped in before the police showed up with a search warrant today and stashed the weapon there.
"Lawyer, call from the office manager."
"Put it on speaker."
Oh Yanghun must have seen the breaking news and called right away too.
"Office manager, the lawyer's right here with me."
Kang Minjae switched the phone to speaker as he said it.
-Lawyer, I'm on my way back from meeting the detective.
"Detective?"
They'd said there was no raid at the office today, so I figured the cops hadn't reached out there yet. But Oh Yanghun let out a heavy sigh, his voice grave.
-Yeah. Bottom line: they wanted to know where you are. I said I didn't know. Told 'em you went radio silent out of nowhere, and the office was at a loss too. Said the lawyer I know wouldn't do something like that... but it probably fell on deaf ears.
"Yeah, figured. You did great."
-But the detective said something weird.
"Weird?"
-That someone saw you kill Lee Jeongchan.
That was the story Senior Kang had passed along earlier today. I'd figured they were holding back on it since the murder weapon scoop didn't mention it—maybe burying it for now—but apparently not. The weapon must've been the bigger bombshell, so they led with that.
"What?"
I hadn't told Kang Minjae yet, so he sounded genuinely shocked, repeating the question.
"Some fisherman at Hwagun Reservoir."
-You knew?
"Just got the word today myself."
-Wooshin must've hired an actor for it.
"Probably."
-Shouldn't we expose that witness as a liar?
"Yeah. That's why from now on, I need you and Kang here to move together."
Kang Minjae blinked wide-eyed at the sudden mention of his name.
"The spot where that so-called witness claims he saw me kill Lee Jeongchan. First, we need to figure out where it is. Then round up anyone who could've had a view of that spot at the time. Easiest way to prove the guy's lying."
-No public info on the exact location where the witness says he saw you.
"Kang here will head to the police station with me soon, say he was with me then. He can dig it out during questioning."
"You had a plan all along?!"
Kang Minjae beamed, lighting up. It wasn't so much a plan as just the obvious next step.
"And once we pinpoint the spot, you and I circled that reservoir back then—we can tell if anyone was around or not."
-Right. Got it.
"There was a snack bar and tackle shop at the reservoir entrance."
-We'll start by checking there—track down anyone who came and went around that time. Best to ask in person.
"Yeah. Thanks. Get everything ready so we can jump in right after Kang's questioning."
-Will do. And Hwagun Reservoir? There's always a few die-hard fishermen camped out. I'll check the angling clubs too.
"Oh, and since you might not have heard yet, heads-up so it doesn't shock you."
-Huh? More shocks coming?
"They found the weapon used to kill Lee Jeongchan at my place."
-What?
"No details yet. We'll watch and see, figure out the play."
Oh Yanghun went silent.
-…….
Usually Kang Minjae would fill the awkward pause, but even he stayed quiet this time.
-……I won't say "How can you talk like it's nothing?" You've probably heard it from enough people already.
"Yeah."
-Honestly, staying calm like this might be better than panicking or freaking out. We need cool heads now, not emotions.
"Right."
-I believe you'll sort it out. The lawyer I know always has.
Oh Yanghun's voice warmed.
Since your prosecutor days.
Back when I had nothing going for me. No foresight into the future. I'd always figured people overhyped me because of my ability. I gave a wry smile.
-Oh, might sound immature right now, but I've been cooped up in the office since joining. Fieldwork's been ages. Kinda pumped to hit the streets investigating with Kang here!
He was trying to lighten the mood. I chuckled softly.
"Yeah. Time to show off your skills, office manager."
Oh Yanghun wrapped up, saying he should head home, and hung up.
Several texts had piled up by then—catch-call service notices from missed calls during the talk. Yun Se-yeon, Choi Jonghyeon, Jo Bongjun. They'd been taking turns ringing nonstop.
"Come to think of it, your folks must be pretty shaken... but no call from them."
"Kang handled the talk great. They're probably trusting that and waiting."
I'd been there when he spoke to Mom. She teared up even without hearing my voice, but Kang Minjae relayed everything in a steady tone: no telling what fake evidence they'd plant, public might freak, but it'd sort out—just watching the timing, no worries.
Thank God they knew him by face. A total stranger saying that? They wouldn't have bought it.
"Lawyer, it's Bongjun hyung."
The phone buzzed again. Kang Minjae showed me the screen.
"Pick up."
"Got it. On speaker."
He hit accept, and even before the speaker button registered, Jo Bongjun's booming voice exploded out.
-Who the hell were you chatting up so long? Whatever—fuck, what the shit is this?!
Kang Minjae glanced at me as he tapped speaker, eyes saying brace for eardrum rupture.
"Hyung, calm down first—"
-Why the fuck's a murder weapon at Cha's place?! Does that even make sense?! Huh?!
"Jo Bongjun. Keep it down. Ears hurt."
I chimed in, and the guy—who'd been yelling like a steamed train whistle—went dead quiet.
-Cha?
"Yeah."
-You're with Kang right now?
"Yes."
-Stay put and hidden. For real, don't get caught. Mood's shit out there. Got it? Don't act like it's someone else's problem. Cut the chill act. Huh?
Choi Jonghyeon barged in suddenly, rapid-fire.
Park Younggi, Senior Kang, Oh Yanghun, now Choi Jonghyeon. What did they take me for?
Whatever. Multiple insiders warning the vibe was toxic? Not something to brush off.
"Hear something?"
Kang Minjae asked, and Choi Jonghyeon sighed.
-Iljungilbo and their affiliates seem to have a deal to hammer Cha Juhan nonstop. Wooshin cash probably.
"Hammer with pens? Can't get harsher than this. Net articles are already insane."
-Can and will. Not just straight news—columns, editorials like "The Fall of a Certain Lawyer" bullshit, deep dives, special series. Super petty stuff. Columns and op-eds have their fanbase, parents make kids read 'em for essays, so even high schoolers in uniforms'll be trashing you. They'll pull every trick. Anyway, silver lining: other outlets are quiet.
I eyed Kang Minjae. Maybe Grandpa Kang or Lee Se-hwa pulled strings. But he looked clueless too.
-Cha, got a question.
Quiet Jo Bongjun finally spoke.
"Shoot."
-You know when the cops raided your place?
"Afternoon, I heard."
-Yeah? So, were you home today, like around 11 a.m.?
"My place? Seocho-dong?"
-Yep.
"Nah. Been at Kang's the whole time."
-Maid, parents, Kang—no one home?
"Nope?"
Kang Minjae answered this time.
"What's up, hyung?"
-Just... weird.
"How?"
-Felt like someone was there.
I'd called Kang Minjae that morning before the breaking news hit. Shocked, I tried Cha Juhan—no answer. So I went to the house.
"And?"
-Rang the bell like crazy. Spam-tapped it. Da-da-da-da. Then that intercom cut-off sound. Pop! Like that. Made me think you were inside.
"You spam the bell, someone inside cuts it?"
-That's my hunch. Could be glitch, but with the weapon at your place now... bugs me.
"……Sounds like when Jo Bongjun was there, that's when someone broke in and planted the weapon."
They hadn't expected things to spin this fast. After Lee Jeongchan's death, word I was prime suspect reached me sooner than they figured. Let me vanish quick, so Wooshin flipped to public manhunt before I dug in proper. Couldn't sway the cops outright, so they lifted the embargo via Iljungilbo.
Plan was always to plant the murder weapon on me. But with the raid warrant rushed post-flip, they infiltrated that morning to stage the find. Knew I was gone anyway. Meant to do it the day before, but reporters swarmed after early leaks pegging me as killer. So they hyped the "Cha Juhan fled, gone dark" angle to redirect.
As predicted, press ditched the house for the office. Wooshin finally got their window that morning.
"This'll take a bit—wanna come to our place? Better face-to-face."
Kang Minjae's invite silenced the yapping duo instantly.
-Your place?
"Yeah."
-Like, ex-President Kang Gwanung's house?
"……Yup."
-We can go there?
To their hesitant question, I answered clear.
"Even if you show up, no one'll think I'm here. Say you're tight with Kang, worried about my case, meeting to talk it out."
-That's not the point. What is the point in this mess if not that?
-Ex-president's house! Never been. For real, we good? Grandpa won't mind?
"Nah, he'll love it. Grandson's friends dropping by."
-Whoa, then we're definitely going. When else you get a peek like this? Hour tops. Hyung, shower quick—you stink from days without! Clean clothes too. Hurry, hurry!
"……You can just come as-is."
-We're out! Text the address!