The Violent Crimes Team Leader, Oh Min-seok, let out a dry chuckle as he gazed at the pet shop right in front of him.
He and his team members had rushed out at the sudden news and were now waiting in front of the pet shop, anxiously waiting for the warrant to come through.
“They caught the guy who was carrying a woman in a travel suitcase?”
Every Detective was on edge, running around with their eyes blazing in an attempt to catch the recent Serial Killer.
But finally, a strong Suspect had appeared.
No, it wasn’t even just a strong Suspect… Even with only circumstantial evidence, the probability that the guy they’d caught was the culprit was just too high—it was close to certainty.
“At this timing, the guy who was carrying a woman in a suitcase—there’s no way it isn’t him.”
And to top it off, the guy was operating a pet shop right here in front of them.
Though there was no definitive evidence yet, considering that both Victims had died by strangulation, the pet shop was a place filled with potential murder tools ideal for strangulation.
For example, dog leashes and such.
Oh Min-seok pondered as he quickly manipulated his phone and made a call.
While waiting for the warrant, he figured he might as well chat with an Old Comrade.
It didn’t take long for the other person to pick up.
— Hello?
A slightly distracted voice.
Oh Min-seok grinned and opened his mouth.
“Park Daehyung, you’re still alive, huh?”
— What are you on about all of a sudden?
“You caught a kidnapper while doing a drunk driving checkpoint, wasn’t it your Team?”
Even though the suspicion so clearly pointed to the Serial Killer, for now, the guy was still just a “caught kidnapper in the act.”
Oh Min-seok had started the conversation with that, but the answer that came back was a little different from what he expected.
— Uh, yeah, it was our Team, but not me.
At Park Daehyung’s words, Oh Min-seok tilted his head.
He’d heard it was a case caught and handed over by Team 4 at Hanseong Capital Region Police Station, so he just assumed it was Park Daehyung himself who’d caught the guy.
Even though he was currently working at a Capital Region Police Station, back when they worked together, he was called the Ace.
If it wasn’t Park Daehyung, who else could have caught a kidnapper during a drunk driving checkpoint?
“What? If not you, then who caught him?”
Oh Min-seok asked with that question in mind, and the answer came back immediately.
— The Rookie.
“Huh?”
— Our Team’s Rookie. The one who made the arrest.
At Park Daehyung’s answer, Oh Min-seok briefly doubted his own ears.
The Rookie?
Not even the Rookie of the Detective Team, but just the Rookie of a run-of-the-mill Capital Region Police Station Team had caught the leading Suspect in a serial murder case?
What a preposterous thing to say.
“The Rookie? You’re messing with me, right?”
— Amazingly, it’s true. I can’t believe it myself, honestly.
As Park Daehyung said that, Oh Min-seok burst out in laughter.
Judging by how he talked, it really did seem like the Team’s Rookie had caught him…
“Even though all the Detectives were scrambling and couldn’t find a trace, how did he manage to catch him?”
That was the puzzling part.
He and his Team had been chasing the guy hard, too.
How did that guy, out of nowhere, get caught up in a drunk driving checkpoint?
And on top of that, for the Rookie from a Capital Region Police Station Team with barely any experience to be the one to catch him—what a mystery.
Curious about how it happened, he asked, and the answer that came back wasn’t normal.
— The Rookie’s father is a Taxi Driver, and the guy happened to get in as a guest.
“What?”
What on earth is that supposed to mean now.
The Rookie’s father is a Taxi Driver, and the suspect they caught this time got into his taxi as a guest?
Oh Min-seok, in a baffled tone, asked again to confirm, and Park Daehyung continued as if he’d expected that reaction.
— Just as we were doing the drunk driving checkpoint, Father’s car passed by, and there was this guy clutching a suitcase looking really suspicious. When we checked, there was a woman inside.
In short, it was a series of coincidences that led to his capture.
Hearing that, the Team Leader clicked his tongue.
“What the hell, when luck’s on your side, nothing can stop you. That’s some unbelievable fortune.”
Just how much virtue did you accumulate in your past life for such a coincidence to happen?
Oh Min-seok was inwardly impressed as he spoke.
And as he said that, Park Daehyung’s voice came through the phone again.
— Hmm, but I’m not sure if this was luck or intuition.
“What do you mean by that?”
Oh Min-seok frowned at Park Daehyung’s words and asked again.
From what he’d just heard, it sounded like perfect luck, so how could he not know if it was luck or intuition?
— Well, it really was an unbelievable coincidence that Father, as a Taxi Driver, picked up a kidnapper as a guest. But the Rookie’s decision to check the guy was based on his intuition.
“Yeah? What did you think?”
— Even I found him suspicious at the time, but our Team’s Rookie almost seemed convinced there was something up. It was strange.
“Hm… What’s your Rookie’s name?”
— Name? Lee Jaehyun.
“Okay.”
— Why?
Why? Whether it was luck or intuition, he was the one who caught the culprit at a drunk driving checkpoint.
If he got the chance later, he should meet him and get some of that good fortune.
Thinking that, he spoke.
“Whether it’s intuition or just the special hot-bloodedness of a Rookie, anyone with that much luck—I should meet him and get some good energy.”
— The luck part, sure. But as for hot-bloodedness, I’m not sure. He’s usually really gloomy. Well, today, he didn’t seem particularly gloomy, I guess.
At Park Daehyung’s words, Oh Min-seok shook his head.
No, if the Rookie caught the culprit, shouldn’t he be boasting about it endlessly?
Instead, all he showed was a response as if even he didn’t get it, which was baffling to Oh Min-seok.
Just then, voices could be heard—it seemed someone was arriving.
Oh Min-seok glanced over and spoke.
“Anyway, got it. I’ll contact you again when the warrant comes through.”
With that, he ended the call.
***
Lee Jaehyun arrived in front of the pet shop run by Myung Jinhan and let out a long sigh.
Several Detectives were already waiting outside, just waiting for the warrant.
Lee Jaehyun carefully approached them and greeted them.
“Good morning.”
“Who are you?”
Perhaps because Lee Jaehyun was in Police Uniform, the Detectives regarded him with some caution.
He immediately took out his Badge.
“Lee Jaehyun, Sergeant from Hanseong Capital Region Police Station.”
“…A Sergeant? What brings a Sergeant here?”
Until just a moment ago, they’d been treating him with caution, but at the mention of “Sergeant,” their attitude shifted a little.
Naturally, people’s reactions change depending on rank.
They weren’t outright disrespectful, but the subtle looks they threw his way weren’t exactly friendly.
But Lee Jaehyun, knowing well the mindset of Detectives waiting for a warrant right before seizing evidence against a serious criminal, wasn’t too bothered by their attitude.
Still, he was in the position of needing to find decisive evidence to put Myung Jinhan away… As he pondered how to explain, just then—
“Huh? Wait, did you say Sergeant Lee Jaehyun?”
A voice sounded from somewhere, the Detectives parted, and a man stepped forward.
Half-balding, with the vibe of a neighborhood uncle.
Yet, even so, his eyes gleamed sharply.
Sizing up Lee Jaehyun from head to toe, he spoke.
“You’re the Rookie from Hanseong Capital Region Police Station, right? I was just on the phone with Daehyung. Nice to meet you. I’m Violent Crimes Team Leader, Oh Min-seok.”
“Sergeant Lee Jaehyun, sir. Did you just speak to Detective Park Daehyung?”
“Huh? You guys are already calling each other brothers?”
Reflexively, the words slipped out when he heard Park Daehyung’s name.
Now that he thought about it, they weren’t close enough for that yet.
Lee Jaehyun smiled awkwardly.
“I just personally treat him like an older brother.”
Well, it wasn’t a lie, so it should be fine.
Skirting around that, he changed the subject.
“By the way, has the warrant not come out yet?”
“Oh, the search warrant hasn’t come through, so we’re just waiting. Who knows when it’ll be ready. But with all the public attention on this case, it should come soon… Still, we’ll probably have to wait at least another hour.”
With a bored expression, Team Leader Oh Min-seok spoke.
Lee Jaehyun glanced at the time.
So they’d have to wait at least another hour for the warrant?
Lee Jaehyun’s patience wasn’t all that great.
He’d already spent ten years, and lived with the regret of that day filling his heart for ten whole years.
He couldn’t wait any longer.
Lee Jaehyun stared at the pet shop entrance in front of him, then took out his phone and dialed a number.
Before the phone rang twice, the other side picked up.
— Yes, this is Emergency Call 112. How may I assist you?
The voice on the other end belonged to the police.
Oh Min-seok, hearing the faint voice, looked at Lee Jaehyun with a puzzled expression.
He had no idea why Lee Jaehyun was calling Emergency Call 112.
Without minding Oh Min-seok’s gaze, Lee Jaehyun spoke calmly.
“I’m calling because I think there’s a robbery in progress here.”
At the abrupt statement about a robbery, Oh Min-seok made a face as if to ask what the hell he was talking about.
Meanwhile, Lee Jaehyun, who’d just reported a robbery, wore a calm expression.
If you lack patience and the warrant isn’t coming,
You’ve got to come up with some excuse.
— A robbery? One moment, please. Can you give us your location…?
“Myeongseu Pet Shop.”
To the police’s question, Lee Jaehyun answered immediately.
To get a grasp of the situation, the police continued asking rapid-fire questions.
— Are you the Owner? What exactly is happening?
“No, I’m not the Owner. Just a passerby. Um…”
Lee Jaehyun trailed off, then casually raised his arm.
And then—
Whoosh.
Crash!
He swung his arm and smashed his elbow straight through the glass door.
Unable to withstand Lee Jaehyun’s blow, the pet shop’s entrance shattered with a loud crash.
Oh Min-seok, standing beside him, gaped at Lee Jaehyun in disbelief.
Lee Jaehyun dusted off his arm.
— Sir? What was that noise just now…?
“Oh, it’s nothing. The front door’s just broken.”
— We’ll dispatch a unit immediately. It could be dangerous, so please don’t approach until officers arrive…
“Yes, understood. Thank you for your help.”
Lee Jaehyun replied and ended the call.
Don’t approach until police arrive?
Well, the whole area is crawling with police right now, so that means he could go right in.
Lee Jaehyun strode confidently into the shop.
Watching that, Team Leader Oh Min-seok couldn’t help but laugh.
“What did Park Daehyung say earlier?”
He’s always a gloomy kid?
Where, exactly, does he look gloomy?
Did the meaning of “gloomy” change at some point without me noticing?
I don’t know what Park Daehyung was thinking, calling him gloomy, but the Lee Jaehyun that Oh Min-seok just saw…
“He’s just a lunatic.”
Yeah, just a lunatic.