#126.

Im Ha-yoon’s steps towards the apartment complex were heavy. The streetlight illuminated her tense expression. The phone call with Park Min-ah lingered in her mind. ,You can meet that person tomorrow evening.” At those words, Im Ha-yoon’s heart had started beating rapidly.

As she opened the door to the management office, a familiar scent greeted her. Lee Han’s smile was warm, but Im Ha-yoon’s gaze immediately fixed on Park Min-ah, who was sitting on the sofa.

,Hello, Park Min-ah-ssi.” Im Ha-yoon’s voice trembled slightly.

Park Min-ah slowly stood up. Anxiety and resolve crossed in her eyes. ,Hello, Detective-nim. Let’s go together.”

Im Ha-yoon nodded and turned towards Lee Han. ,Then I’ll be going now.”

Lee Han’s gaze deepened. ,Be careful on your way.”

As Im Ha-yoon left the management office, a chill ran down her spine. She followed Park Min-ah’s back, keenly observing her surroundings. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly at the familiar scenery.

,This neighborhood… I’ve been here before.’

A question flashed through Im Ha-yoon’s mind. ,A victim in the same building…? Or…’

Inside the elevator, the silence between the two was heavy. Im Ha-yoon tried to steal glances at Park Min-ah’s expression, but her eyes were fixed on the floor.

Finally, they arrived at their destination. A familiar hallway, and at the end of it, a front door. Im Ha-yoon’s heart began to beat irregularly.

Park Min-ah suddenly stopped. She turned towards Im Ha-yoon. Complex emotions flickered in her eyes.

,It’s here.” Park Min-ah’s voice trembled. She bowed slightly and quickly left the spot.

Im Ha-yoon stood frozen in place, watching Park Min-ah’s retreating figure. A storm of questions raged in her mind. As she slowly raised her hand to press the doorbell, Im Ha-yoon’s fingers trembled slightly.

As the door slowly opened, the trembling figure of a woman was revealed. Fear and anxiety were etched in her eyes. Im Ha-yoon spoke in a gentle voice.

,Hello. I’m Detective Im Ha-yoon from the Seoul Central Police Station’s Violent Crimes Unit.”

The woman’s shoulders hunched. Im Ha-yoon took a step back and continued. ,Don’t worry. I’m here to help you.”

The woman cautiously nodded and led Im Ha-yoon into the living room. Her hands were trembling slightly. Im Ha-yoon’s heart ached.

,It’s okay. Take your time and tell me everything.” Im Ha-yoon said kindly.

The woman sat on the sofa and took a deep breath. Her eyes still couldn’t meet Im Ha-yoon’s.

,I’m… Kang Ji-won.” Her voice trembled.

Im Ha-yoon nodded and listened attentively. Kang Ji-won’s story cautiously continued.

,A man… threatened me with a video…” Kang Ji-won’s voice cracked. ,He kept forcing me to have relations. The contact only stopped recently, but…”

Im Ha-yoon carefully observed Kang Ji-won’s appearance. Her trembling body and anxious eyes clearly indicated that she was a victim. But the content of her story felt somewhat unnatural.

,Something’s strange…’ Im Ha-yoon’s brow furrowed.

It was too awkward to connect it to Park Jun-ho, and the flow of the story felt as if it had been manipulated by someone. Im Ha-yoon’s mind became complicated.

,Kang Ji-won-ssi, can you tell me more about that man?” Im Ha-yoon asked cautiously.

Kang Ji-won’s eyes wavered for a moment. Her fingers tightly gripped and released the edge of the sofa.

Im Ha-yoon sensed that this situation was not simple. Countless questions chased each other in her mind. But right now, reassuring Kang Ji-won was the priority.

,Take your time. I’ll help you until the end.” Im Ha-yoon’s voice was filled with warmth.

Im Ha-yoon frowned as she listened to Kang Ji-won’s story. There were overlapping parts in the testimonies of the two victims, but at the same time, it felt somewhat fabricated.

,Kang Ji-won-ssi, thank you so much.” Im Ha-yoon said as she stood up. ,I’ll do my best to solve this case. Please rest assured.”

At that moment, Kang Ji-won suddenly opened her mouth. ,I… I have a recorded file.”

Im Ha-yoon’s heart dropped. Joy welled up, but she tried to hide her expression.

,Could I… perhaps receive that file?” Im Ha-yoon asked cautiously.

Kang Ji-won’s eyes were filled with fear. Im Ha-yoon continued softly. ,I promise it will never be leaked to the outside.”

After hesitating for a moment, Kang Ji-won slowly took out her phone. After receiving the file, Im Ha-yoon hurriedly headed to the police station.

Arriving at the office, Im Ha-yoon compared the testimonies of Park Min-ah and Kang Ji-won. There were commonalities, but something felt unnatural. Her mind became complicated.

She looked around. After confirming that no one was there, Im Ha-yoon carefully played the recording file. Her fingers were trembling.

,Could this be a clue that leads to the truth…” Im Ha-yoon took a deep breath. The recorded voice began to play, and her eyes gradually sharpened.

As soon as the recording file started, Im Ha-yoon’s face turned pale. The voice was definitely Park Jun-ho’s. The woman’s voice seemed intoxicated, and it wasn’t clear if it was Kang Ji-won.

,Why… why here…”

Im Ha-yoon’s fingers trembled. Soon after, she heard a squelching sound, and she quickly skipped through the file. But Park Jun-ho’s vulgar comments continued, and Im Ha-yoon couldn’t help but feel nauseous.

With trembling hands, she closed the file and ran to the bathroom. While burying her face in the toilet and vomiting, her mind was in chaos.

,It’s fabricated… it has to be…’

But the voice was so clear. She wanted to believe it was fabricated, but reality was not so.

Looking at herself in the bathroom mirror, Im Ha-yoon sighed deeply. Park Jun-ho and that woman’s relationship… she couldn’t understand how such a thing could happen.

Returning to the office, Im Ha-yoon sat at her desk and covered her face. To verify the authenticity of the file, she needed the help of an external expert. But if she did that, there was a risk that this case would be made public.

,What should I do…”

The night deepened. Im Ha-yoon’s eyes were bloodshot, and her head throbbed. She took a sip of coffee and looked at the file once more.

,I have to uncover the truth. But… is it right to suspect Park Jun-ho based on this?’

In Im Ha-yoon’s heart, a sense of duty and personal feelings clashed. She slammed her fist on the desk.

,Damn it…”

As Im Ha-yoon agonized all night, the light of dawn began to seep over her shoulders.

Im Ha-yoon returned home with heavy steps. Her team leader’s nagging echoed in her ears, but she didn’t care. Her expression as she took her overdue vacation was filled with fatigue and skepticism.

Washing her face with cold water in the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror. The dark circles under her eyes had deepened.

,Is this the right thing to do…”

She lay in bed, but couldn’t fall asleep. Park Jun-ho’s voice, the contents of that recording file, lingered in her mind. As she tossed and turned under the covers, her phone rang.

Im Ha-yoon sighed and tried to ignore the call. Then a message notification sounded. Her eyes widened as she checked the sender.

,Lee Han?’

Opening the message, it contained unexpected information.

,I have something to tell you about Park Jun-ho.”

Im Ha-yoon’s heart began to beat rapidly. She sent a reply without hesitation.

,What information is it?”

A moment later, Lee Han’s reply arrived. ,I think you should see it in person.”

Im Ha-yoon bit her lip. Curiosity and anxiety mixed together.

,Okay. I’ll visit you in the evening.”

After sending the message, Im Ha-yoon sighed deeply. Fatigue was etched deeply around her eyes.

,I need to get some sleep first… I need to be alert when I go.”

Im Ha-yoon pulled the blanket up and closed her eyes. But countless questions still lingered in her mind. The information that Lee Han possessed, and the repercussions that information would bring…

She tried hard to fall asleep, but an uneasy premonition wouldn’t let her go. Imagining the outcome of her meeting with Lee Han, Im Ha-yoon drifted into a deep sleep.

–

Im Ha-yoon shivered in the chilly autumn night air. She tightened her jacket and headed towards the management office, crossing the darkened apartment complex.

As she opened the door, Lee Han’s welcoming voice greeted her. ,Welcome, Detective-nim.”

Im Ha-yoon nodded briefly and immediately got to the point. ,What information did you say you had?”

Lee Han’s expression turned serious. ,Park Jun-ho-ran the person has been frequently entering and exiting with women recently.”

A wrinkle formed on Im Ha-yoon’s forehead. ,How did you know that?”

Lee Han quietly led Im Ha-yoon to the monitor. ,I’ll show you the CCTV footage.”

On the screen, a man who appeared to be Park Jun-ho was seen entering the apartment with several women. Im Ha-yoon’s breathing became rough.

Lee Han continued his explanation. ,After hearing what you said, Detective-nim, I looked closely, and similar scenes were found in past footage as well.”

Im Ha-yoon stared intently at the screen. There was no room for doubt. It was Park Jun-ho. Her hand unconsciously clenched into a fist.

,Is that all?” Im Ha-yoon’s voice trembled.

Lee Han shook his head. ,No, there’s more.”

Im Ha-yoon’s eyes sharpened. Anger, betrayal, and complex emotions swirled within her heart. Im Ha-yoon had been staring at the CCTV screen when Lee Han tapped her on the shoulder, causing her to flinch.

,Look over there.” Lee Han pointed to the current screen.

Park Jun-ho was walking, supporting a woman who seemed drunk. Im Ha-yoon’s lips twisted.

,I’ll be back in a moment.” Her voice was low.

As Lee Han seemed about to follow, Im Ha-yoon said firmly. ,You stay here.”

The cold night air brushed against Im Ha-yoon’s cheeks. She followed her memory and headed towards Park Jun-ho’s apartment. Waiting with bated breath at the entrance, Park Jun-ho and the woman appeared before long.

The woman was pretending to be drunk. Im Ha-yoon didn’t miss her clear eyes. Park Jun-ho seemed to be aware of that fact as well.

,What is it…’ Im Ha-yoon’s brow furrowed.

Suddenly, suspicion arose in her mind. What was Lee Han’s intention in showing her this scene? There seemed to be a connection between the case and Park Jun-ho, but the situation she was witnessing now seemed far from a sex crime.

,It’s true that Park Jun-ho is a playboy… but he wouldn’t let himself get caught so easily.’

Im Ha-yoon bit her lip. Her suspicion of Lee Han grew stronger.

,Could it be…’

Im Ha-yoon sighed and leaned against a dark alley in the apartment complex. Gazing in the direction where Park Jun-ho and the woman had disappeared, her mind was filled with complex thoughts.

,Something’s strange… it’s too easily revealed.’

She slowly took out her phone. The time displayed on the screen indicated that it was late at night. After hesitating for a moment, she dialed Park Min-ah’s number.

The ringing tone sounded a few times, and Park Min-ah’s voice was heard. ,Hello?”

,Park Min-ah-ssi, this is Im Ha-yoon. I’m sorry, but could you spare some time for a moment?”

She could feel Park Min-ah’s breathing becoming rough over the phone. ,Now? At this hour?”

Im Ha-yoon bit her lip. ,Yes, there’s something important. There’s something I need to confirm.”

,That’s…” Park Min-ah’s voice trembled. ,I don’t think it’ll be easy right now.”

Im Ha-yoon became anxious. ,It’ll only take a moment. It’s really important.”

,I’m sorry, Detective-nim. I can’t right now.” Park Min-ah’s voice became firm.

Im Ha-yoon made a final attempt to persuade her. ,Park Min-ah-ssi, please. For the sake of solving the case…”

But Park Min-ah didn’t listen any further. ,I’m sorry. I’ll contact you next time.”

The call ended. Im Ha-yoon looked down at her phone with a hollow expression. Suspicion and resolve crossed in her eyes.

,Why is she refusing so much? Is she hiding something?’

She pondered for a moment, then picked up her phone again as if she had made up her mind. This time, it was Kang Ji-won’s number.

,Kang Ji-won-ssi? I’m sorry, but could I see you once again?”

Kang Ji-won’s hesitant voice was heard over the phone. ,That’s… it’s a bit difficult…”

Im Ha-yoon quickly continued. ,It’s important. There’s something I need to confirm.”

A moment of silence passed.

,…Okay. Come to my house.”

Im Ha-yoon’s heart pounded. She looked around once more. Park Jun-ho’s apartment seemed to be glaring at her from the darkness.

,This time, I’ll definitely uncover the truth.’

With a determined expression, she moved towards Kang Ji-won’s house. The cold night air brushed against her cheeks, but a burning will was blazing in Im Ha-yoon’s heart.

While heading to Kang Ji-won’s house, countless questions swirled in her mind. Park Min-ah’s refusal, Kang Ji-won’s hesitation, and Lee Han’s intentions… Hoping that all the puzzle pieces would fall into place, Im Ha-yoon quickened her pace.