„Ah, I’m always in trouble with you,” SolHi shouted the moment they entered DooSan’s apartment. Then, kicking the door to close it and bending a lot to the left to support the man who was practically hanging on her with his arm around her neck, she headed as she could toward the couch. Yet, even if the distance from the door to the couch wasn’t that big, SolHi thought that she needed an eternity to get there. That’s why she shouted eventually, „If I had dragged the elephant after me, I’m sure it would have been easier than with you.” After that, she threw DooSan on the couch.
That falling, although it wasn’t from a big height, DooSan still felt it well. Especially, he felt the pain in his broken leg when his body touched the couch. That’s why, when he could control himself, he glared at SolHi, hissing through his teeth, „You could have had some mercy. I’m injured, remember?”
„As though this is something I can forget. Just as my back won’t ever forget that I have carried a whale,” she feistily replied while trying to catch her breath. Then, at all bothered by DooSan’s killing glance, who understood very well who the „whale” was, SolHi asked him, „Did you put some kilos on you or what?”
„Of course not!” DooSan rushed to answer. He even felt offended because he had never expected such a question or be compared with a whale. Yet, seeing SolHi squinting at him, as though she didn’t trust him at all, he added, „It’s because of the cast. It’s so big, you see it, right?”
SolHi burst into laughter. „As though this cast weighs a ton. You should better accept that you ate everything you could in the hospital. It’s why you weigh so much. And… stop blaming others for how much you weigh, especially the cast. These are simple childish excuses…”
„And I’m not a whale to be compared with one,” DooSan feistily replied. „Yes, I’m tall, but not fat!”
„Yet, you weigh a ton!”
„Can you not exaggerate right now? I don’t weigh that much. As I said: I’m tall! That’s why I weigh… a little. Plus, there is the cast, which is about two kilos. I think. That’s why I’m heavy. And, as each centimeter matters…”
His childish excuses and the fact that DooSan got to stutter in places made SolHi burst into laughter again. Then, not being able to control that laughter and because she wanted to tease him more, SolHi eventually said, „The giraffe told this to the mouse as an excuse when he asked her why she was deaf…”
She’d been forced to hit her chest eventually, just to chase the fright away, and keep her mouth shut when DooSan yelled at her, outraged, „Ia, Ian SolHi, don’t you think that’s enough? To compare me with all the animals at the Zoo, I mean. Why? Besides the elephant and whale, I got to be a giraffe eventually. Maybe you should decide at once who I’m eventually: whale, giraffe, or elephant. I can’t be everything at the same time.”
SolHi didn’t lose her temper, not even at that time. Innocently looking into the man’s eyes, she told him, „Why not?! It’s better to be all the species at the same time than trying them one by one. It’s the only way you can avoid a heart attack when hearing such big news. And, you know me: I simply adore animals. Thus, once you are a specimen at hand, I decided to turn you into a living copy from the Zoo. At least, I have fun this way.”
DooSan didn’t taste the joke at all. He, seeing how easily SolHi had fun of him, felt that he was boiling inside. How not to feel all this when he saw that SolHi simply relished having fun of him while staring into his eyes and seemed serious, although a smirk was seen in the corner of her lips. Thus, as her lips were as stubborn as their owner was and didn’t sketch that smile to the end, they managed to drive DooSan crazy, who would have preferred to kiss them instead of seeing them smiling because SolHi made fun of him. Yet, once he couldn’t kiss her because he decided to stay away from her, at least for a while until he found out what happened between YuSan and her, he had to settle for only throwing a pillow at her.
He was outraged. His eyes were sparkling because of anger, seeing that the woman he loved could easily joke on him. And, seeing him so pissed off, SolHi decided that it was time to make peace with him. If not, he would have exploded for sure. That’s why she told him, „It was a joke, dude! Why are you burning? Worse than a child!”
„The one who couldn’t avoid making fun of an invalid said this eventually. I’m like that because of you, by the way!”
„Because of me? As far as I remember, I didn’t climb you on that motto!”
„Of course, you did that! Why? Because you are as stubborn as a donkey.”
„Should I understand that I’m the personification of the Zoo animals right now?”
„I’m glad you are insightful,” replied DooSan sarcastically. After that, struggling a little with his injured leg, he made himself comfortable on the couch.
He would have liked to play the upset boy for longer, but he couldn’t do that. If not, if he hadn’t made peace with her, he would have given SolHi the perfect chance to leave. Something he couldn’t allow for the moment. That’s why he insistently looked at her in the end.
„What now?” She asked him when she saw him staring at her.
„Nothing. I was just trying to figure out if there are still jokes about me in your sack with jokes or we can be serious now.”
„If it’s necessary, they might have been over,” SolHi murmured, shrugging. „And, once we decided to be serious now, what about telling me why you decided to come here?! Oh, no, let me guess: while being in the hospital, you had time to think about everything that happened in your life. Thus, you have realized that it’s better and holy the bed in your house than the couch in my hut. It’s why you decided to return to your nest, right? Come on: tell me I’m right and I’m finally having my freedom and intimacy back!”
DooSan didn’t answer right away. He only stared at her for a while, seriously, something that made SolHi attentive because she was already aware of what Han DooSan could do when he was acting like that. That’s why, seeing him silent, she decided to force her luck, as she saw some girls were doing it with their boyfriends just to be sure that they would do what the girls wanted. And, sweetly looking at him, she turned herself into a kind of sweet puppy that was begging for attention. This happened because she wasn’t used to acting like this.
Seeing her begging for attention cracked DooSan up. Yet, when he understood that she was doing this to get something from him and that he had the perfect chance to get revenge for all the times SolHi made fun of him, especially for that day, DooSan weirdly grinned. After that, he made a sign to her to approach him.
„What do you have in mind this time?” She asked him in amazement. Even so, she didn’t approach the couch. This made DooSan summon her closer to him by moving his index finger. Yet, this didn’t work because SolHi shook her head and asked, „Can I hear what you have to say from here?” DooSan shook his head too, insisting that she should come closer to him.
His exaggerated confidence seemed suspicious to SolHi. Even so, understanding that he wouldn’t talk unless she approached him, she took a few steps toward the couch. Then, one step from the couch, SolHi saw DooSan making her a sign to put her ear to his lips. And, cunningly smiling, he whispered eventually, „Do I look like a charity boy?”
This question made SolHi cook her nose. After that, moving away from the couch, she murmured, „Yeah, right: what did I expect from him? The charity and Han DooSan are two magnets with the same pole. Thus, they won’t ever be one. I rather take the banana from the monkey than make him leave my house willingly.”
„I hear you, by the way!”
„I didn’t even try to hide it, by the way. And… I’m glad you have heard it. Thus, the list of animals you can compare yourself to when you are bored gets larger. And… you know how adorable the monkeys can be when they want, right?” After that, to piss him off more, she imitated a monkey, so comically that DooSan burst into laughter again.
Eventually, realizing that SolHi was making fun of him, DooSan yelled in a rage, „Ian SolHi, stop it! Mammal, mammal, but we are from different breeds. And… maybe you let me tell you what I have to tell you today, huh?”
„Yes, boss, no problem,” SolHi ironically murmured. Yet, even if she didn’t know why she wanted so badly to tease and piss DooSan off, she wanted that. And, to make him understand she wouldn’t bow in front of him, at least not that day, she told herself to act as indifferent as possible.
Yet, looking all over the room but not at DooSan, the moment she was going to sit on the couch, she didn’t see that she’d been about to sit on his broken leg. DooSan saw her instead and screamed blue murder. This made SolHi stare with wide-open eyes at him. Before that, she jumped up, afraid that it was burning somewhere.
Eventually, seeing DooSan staring at her with the eyes of a furious pitbull, she smiled. Yet, she understood the reason for his upset only when she noticed his desperate signs toward the hurt leg. Even so, although she saw him burning inside because of her indifference, SolHi wanted to play and told him jokingly, „Sorry, I didn’t see it. That’s why: stop throwing flames around… like a dragon.”
The childish excuse of the woman made DooSan weirdly grin. Then, he told her in mockery, „Of course, you didn’t see it: it’s invisible! Do you consider me stupid or what? To believe this, I mean. How big and white it is, this cast can be seen from the Cosmos too. Or, to be even more visible, should I write with big black letters on it: the leg of an invalid?! Please, don’t sit on it!”
„You know… it’s not that bad idea!” For this remark, DooSan awarded her with a second pillow thrown at her. This made her chortle. „Yes, yes, I got it,” she murmured. „I have to keep my mouth shut. You can continue, master!”
„I would have lived without your irony if something. Yet, once you can’t live without it, it’s accepted. And now… if we can normally talk, I’ll ask you kindly to answer a question.”
„A question? Which one?” SolHi asked him, stunned.
„A vital one like… what the hell am I doing here?”
„Where should I know this from? Especially, what’s in your head.” Seeing him frowning, SolHi smiled again. „Was it because you missed home?”
„Do I look like a child?” SolHi shrugged; an indifference that made DooSan cook his nose again. After that, he pointed to his injured leg.
SolHi, although she understood very well what he was trying to say, decided to make fun of him for a little more time. That’s why she innocently asked, „Are you serious now? Did you come home for the cast?”
DooSan sighed. Loudly, by the way, to hiss through his teeth after this, „No! It’s because I have this leg in a cast.”
„And?” Replied SolHi with a certain indifference. „Honestly, I don’t understand why… Ah, wait: you mean that in case this cast breaks, you have another one hidden here to use it, right?” Yet, she right away made the sign of a zipped mouth when she realized that DooSan was about to rage like the lion in the cage. Then, quietly, she moved his injured leg to the side, sitting in the corner of the couch. Even so, she kept spying on DooSan on the sly, seeing him struggling with his inner demons to calm down. Something that seemed damn difficult to do that day.
Eventually, when he felt that he could breathe and talk normally again, he stared straight into her eyes. Then he said, „Tell me, lady Ian SolHi: why a man like me, whom you compared with a hippo, with a whale, a monkey, and the rest of the mammal race, came here, to live in a building that has an elevator when he has a broken leg?”
„Hm… because he’s too lazy to climb the stairs, carrying two crutches and a cast that weighs a ton after him?” SolHi murmured, thoughtful.
„I like that you have a brain when it’s necessary. We have a small progress today,” murmured DooSan in mockery. Seeing SolHi squinting at him, he understood that he had gone too far with that joke and rushed to change the subject. If not, he would have had the second leg broken for sure. „Or… shouldn’t I have come here because you preferred to be my crutch for a month?”
„Do I look like Mother Teresa?”
„Absolutely not. That’s why I preferred to move to this apartment for a while. More than this, you are the one who said that the bed from my home is better than the couch from your hut. So, as I know that my bed is perfect, after three long and tiring weeks spent in a hospital bed, I say to stay here.”
SolHi cooked her nose. „You could have left that hospital bed two weeks ago. Yet, you preferred to stay there just not to move to your mammy’s house, who offered to take care of you. More than that: you haven’t been alone in that hospital. No, you forced me to be your shadow 24/7.” SolHi finished her speech, hissing it through her teeth when she felt that she was burning inside, remembering the last two weeks when she’d been his nurse because DooSan, who acted worse than a child, kept an eye on her always, although he thought that she wasn’t aware of anything.
„Not that much, 24/7. Don’t exaggerate,” murmured DooSan, in the end. „I’ve already been informed about your visit to Min SinJu.” A remark that made SolHi growl „traitor,” addressed to Kan, because she already knew who told DooSan that she hadn’t been a good girl after the accident and looked for more troubles.
Seeing that DooSan waited for an explanation from her about the visit to Min SinJu, she confidently told him, „I didn’t do anything wrong. It was just… for the safety of the team? Yeah, I did this for that. And… we have Scorpion, that’s real progress, by the way.”
„Yeah, sure: real progress,” said DooSan ironically. „They have told me already that he keeps his mouth shut even after a week after he had been caught by the DEA. This is what makes me doubt he’ll say something eventually. Well, maybe in twenty years…”
„What about keeping your mouth shut and not teasing me?”
„Or?”
„I swear I’ll break your other leg too. And, if you force me to stay around for more, you’ll have a cast on your neck and arms too. And… even your tongue!”
DooSan happily smiled because, seeing her angry, made him feel himself a winner. Because of the same feeling, he murmured, „You have my permission! Thus, I’ll have my personal nurse forever! Just as it happens to you today when you are forbidden to leave this place!”
„And this miracle?”
„You owe me?! And, as I can’t take care of myself because of the leg, you have to do that for me!”
„I think I said already that I’m not Mother Teresa. So, if you need a nurse, you can ask your mammy to come here and take care of you. Or… you can move to her place and remember your childhood. What’s related to the debt: I paid for it when you left the hospital, a huge bill, by the way. That’s why, stop begging for mercy from me and pay inexistent debts!”
„Not that inexistent,” replied DooSan confidently. „Or what, did you forget about the agreement already? The one we had when I moved to your apartment, for example.”
„As though something like this can be forgotten?! Especially, one you remind me about every single day. You are a damn good master of pissing people off, you know that?! Actually, I swear that if you were a cat and I a mouse, I would have given up without a fight.” After that, outraged, she entered the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
Her reaction made DooSan happily grin. Then, taking his phone out of his pocket, he looked for Kan’s number while proudly murmuring, „I’m glad I don’t have to explain anymore who is the boss in this house.” After that, he sent a text message to Kan, „The big mouse is in the trap. You can quietly work for a few days. She won’t bother you.” After that, blocking the phone’s screen, he comfortably lay on the couch and, sweetly yawning, he told himself that it was time for a nap. He would have happily had that nap although it wasn’t quite calm in that apartment because of SolHi, who was heard mumbling from the bathroom all the „good things” that could have happened to Han DooSan if he had kept pissing her off.” Something DooSan didn’t really care about, but considered it a kind of lullaby, something that made him feel calm.
Stolen story; please report.
***
„Are you sure we can make him talk?” Yu asked Kan when they entered the DEA building. They didn’t come there empty-handed, aware that, otherwise, they wouldn’t have succeeded in their plan. This was so not because those who worked for the DEA were corrupt but because this was always accepted this way among „friends.” And, to make sure it wouldn’t be considered a bribe, they brought only a small attention with them - a box of natural juices, something that had always opened the closed doors for Kan.
Hearing Yu’s question, Kan cooked his nose. „What do I know?!” He said. „If they allow us to see him, maybe we can make him talk. That’s why I brought the „attention” with me.”
„You rather brought it with you to make sure they send us behind bars to keep company with that Scorpion. Yet, unlike him, who is here for drugs, we’ll be for bribing a DEA officer,” Yu mumbled, pissed off.
Kan reproachfully shook his head. „You have always been pessimistic. That’s why you have only one child: not to overcrowd this planet, right?”
„And you have none for the same reason, right?!” Yu teased him. Yet, seeing Kan growling like a bulldog again, as he did in that nightclub, the inspector changed the subject. „At least I have a wife and a child while others help you to descend from „others’balcony.”
„Remind me to twist Oh Yoon Suk’s neck,” Kan furiously growled. „He’s the only one capable of making me have a bad time like this.”
„I think you make it great on your own,” replied Yu, smiling. „Brilliantly, by the way.” After that, grabbing the box with juices, he rushed toward the elevator.
Kan didn’t follow him right away. He stopped in place at first, comically moving his nose and lips to calm down. Yet, seeing that this didn’t help him too much and that Yu was waiting for him next to the open-door elevator, he rushed to catch up with him. Not quietly, but mumbling all the good words he knew about Yu. Then, when he got by the inspector, he murmured into Yu’s ear, „I’ll put my paw on you eventually. Then, you’ll sing differently.” A remark that made Yu smile: he was happy.
***
Arriving next to the door of the Interrogation Room, Kan and Yu stopped. And, because none of them dared to knock on that door, they contented themselves with only exchanging glances. They even made a sign to the other one to knock when none of them wanted to do that. Nevertheless, they were lucky eventually because Shin Du Ho, the DEA chief, who worked in the team for more than two decades, suddenly opened the door to leave the room.
The sudden appearance of the DEA detective made Kan and Yu wince. He instead, seeing Kan there, cooked his nose. „You were the only one missing here,” Shin murmured, feistily.
Kan grinned. „I’m also happy to see you, sombe!”
„Do I look like one that is happy to see you?” Detective Shin asked in an irritated tone. Yet, understanding that he wouldn’t get rid of Kan that day because he saw the box with juices, he suddenly calmed down, asking, „What do you hope to find out from him?”
„Just to talk?! Like between friends?!” Kan murmured.
„And I was born yesterday, Kan. That’s why, stop moving around the bush and tell me how you have found out about „The Night Pleasures.”
„I said it already: pure chance!”
„Tell the truth, Kan. The real one and not the one invented by you,” said Detective Shin with superiority. He even stopped in the doorway and, folding his arms, he stared into Kan’s eyes.
„Old devil,” Kan suddenly hissed through his teeth. „Nobody can ever deceive you. Well, you are right: I „fished” him because of another case we were investigating. Yet, as we found nothing to relate him to that case, I said to give him to you. And the talk I have with him: let’s say I’m just interested in finding out some details from him.”
„And… why exactly do you need to talk to this Nam Sang Ki? Or should I ask better what relates him to your case?”
„A lot of things,” replied Yu in Kan’s place. „He’s known as Scorpion in the area, being part of the gang led by a certain Iun Dja Iun. A gang we think is involved in a lot of things that aren’t quite legal. Especially Nam Sang Ki. That’s why we want to talk to him.”
Detective Shin cooked his nose again. „I got your point, young man. Yet, it’ll be damn difficult.”
„Why? Don’t tell me: has he found a lawyer to represent him? One related to Min SinJu, I mean,” asked Kan.
„No, he didn’t find a lawyer. Even so, he said no word. And… he had two powerful crises. One more and I think he won’t survive.”
„Crisis? What kind of crisis? Abstinence?” Yu inquired.
„Yes. He’s been an addict for a long time already, and he is not taking only one drug, by the way, but many: ecstasy, smack, cock, pot, and the list goes on.”
„Something that smells like debt to me,” mumbled Kan.
„Undoubtedly. Yet, as I said: it’s difficult to prove anything because he keeps silent. If we had found at least some transactions in his name, we could have sent him behind bars for a lot of things. Thus, we can accuse him only of consuming. He won’t receive much for that.”
„Anyway, we aren’t interested if he goes to jail for consuming or for other things. We want to talk to him about the other case.”
„The other case?!” Asked Shin, staring at his interlocutors. „May I know what else he’s in?”
„In a lot of things,” said Kan ironically. „Recently, we have investigated him for attempted murder. We suspect him, at least.”
„Attempted murder? Upon whom?”
„Ian SolHi. One of our female colleagues. I think you’ve heard about her.”
„Yes, I heard something. I think she’s the one who had the motorcycle accident along with one of the prosecutors, after a race, about three weeks ago. It was an accident when one of the motorcyclists died, right?”
„I told you are an old fox but you didn’t believe me. You know too much,” growled Kan. „Yet, you are only half right. Why? Because it wasn’t a race and it wasn’t illegal. For the rest, yes: Ian SolHi and prosecutor Han DooSan have been involved in that accident. And… the case was already classified as an accident and not as a race. It wasn’t closed yet because of the dead motorcyclist, Iun Dja Iun.”
„The guy you said Scorpion was part of his gang, right?”
„Right. We think that Scorpion had something to do with the accident.”
„Assault then?”
„Most likely yes,” replied Yu. „Actually, we are sure of this, but we can’t prove that it was a murder attempt upon our colleagues.”
„What I don’t understand is what benefit could have had this Nam Sang Ki if prosecutor Han DooSan had died. As far as we found out, investigating, of course, they didn’t cross in any penal case. A love triangle then?”
„It’s not the case! There was a love triangle but not with him, but with the dead one,” stuttered Kan. „Yet, not this is important but we suspect that Scorpion planned all this at Min SinJu’s order. And we think this because we proved that he hangs around Min SinJu after the accident and after he left the gang.”
„Now I see why you insist on talking to him alone,” murmured Detective Shin, thoughtful. „Let me see what I can do for you. I don’t promise anything though because the case „The Night Pleasures” is not an ordinary one. We found a lot of illegal businesses there, including drug trafficking, prostitution, extortion, and many others.”
„Something we aren’t interested in at all, sombe. All we want is to see Nam Sang Ki and find out who „ordered” our colleagues’death,” insisted Kan. He was really nervous, feeling that they would fail to talk to Scorpion eventually because of someone important.
Kan’s pleading eyes managed to „soften” Shin’s heart, who eventually said, „As I said, I can try. Yet, I promise nothing.”
„We’ll be grateful even if you only try, sombe. Yet, if it’s possible, I’d like to see him today. It might be too late if we leave this for tomorrow.”
Adding nothing else, Detective Shin moved away from the two, making a phone call. And, while looking behind the DEA detective, Yu asked with a certain concern in his voice, „Do you think he will help us?”
„If he can do that, he’ll undoubtedly do it. I’ve been knowing this man for years, Inspector. He’s a man like there is no other. So, if he can, we’ll see Scorpion today, although it’s unofficial. And, official or not, seeing him, it’ll be a damn useful thing because I’ll make that son of a… talk for sure!”
***
Although Kan had hoped to talk to Scorpion as soon as possible, he managed to see him only hours after the conversation Yu and he had with Shin Du Ho. And, as he suspected right from the beginning, he could see the prisoner only unofficially because „a very important person started to pull the strings and ask for Nam Sang Ki to be sent behind bars as soon as possible.” The same person also required the prosecutors to send him to a maximum-security jail outside of Seoul City.
Due to this situation, Kan told Shin while the two of them were heading toward the Room used for „Unofficial Interrogation,” a room that was in a side building, close to the DEA main office, „It seems to me that this Scorpion had bitten some important person’s tail if they try to get rid of him so urgently.”
„Or he knows more than it has been necessary,” Shin replied preoccupied. „And, to be honest, my bosses are the first ones to try to get rid of him as soon as possible.”
„And this miracle? I thought a capture like Scorpion meant a lot of prizes for many here.”
„I rather say this means a lot of losses, Kan. More if he dies or if he is killed while we have him. That’s why ours are in a rush to „give” him to others.”
„Honestly, nothing out of the ordinary or what has never happened. And… if it’s right what we suspect, more than ever.”
„Do you mean Min SinJu?”
„Yeah. I won’t be at all surprised if I find out one day that many of our bosses are linked to him in one way or another.”
„Or he knows something about them and he controls them this way. Anyway, this is not something we should be worried about, at least not now. What’s important now is to find out what we need. And, as I’m not sure that he’ll be here tomorrow, I have done what I could to let you see him. Yet, unofficial only, Kan.”
„I know, sombe. Don’t worry. As I said, all I need from him is a track. That’s all!” After that, Kan entered the Interrogation Room where Scorpion had been for a few hours, left alone to „think about his actions.”
Entering the room, Kan found the youngster with his eyes closed, as though he was sleeping. Yet, this didn’t deceive Kan because he saw a lot of people like Scorpion while working as a detective, in particular. That’s why he knew that many of the criminals could have acted very well just to buy time and gain more from that situation.
In the case of Scorpion, Kan wasn’t that sure if he kept silent to buy some time or because he was afraid to talk about what he knew. That’s why he allowed the youngster to continue with his eyes closed, at least for a while, and think about what he did. Thus, Kan hoped to make him talk because of a bad conscience eventually.
Meanwhile, until Scorpion had decided to talk with him or not, Kan sat in front of the young man and silently waited. He felt weird looking at the man’s face, who suffered a lot while he’d been locked there and who was also haunted by memories. All this reminded Kan of a black period of his life, many years ago when he had been held hostage by alcohol. This happened because of the pain he felt at that time after he lost the woman he loved. Events that only a few people knew about because Kan preferred to keep the pain only for himself and not share it with others. That’s why he said nothing about this, not even after he got to be known as the Don Juan of the Seoul PD department. He did that because it was better this way and was free from explaining his acts.
Even so, these memories made Kan feel the anxiety in his chest. This made him suddenly break the silence, telling Scorpion, „I think you know that starting tomorrow you’ll be in jail,” a remark that made Scorpion open his eyes and stare at Kan. Then, moving on his chair, he turned and looked elsewhere. He was sad, having a lost glance - of the man who finally understood that it was his fault for how he ended. Yet, it was too late to change something.
It wasn’t too late for Kan to find out things though. That’s why he insisted on this, in the hope that maybe Scorpion would talk and tell him at least something. And, trying everything he could, Kan said, „And all this was for a stupid idea though. You betrayed your friends for the same thing, those friends who did a lot of things for you.” Scorpion said nothing, not even this time. That’s why Kan felt at one point that it was useless to talk to him. Even so, he didn’t leave. He only leaned against the back of the chair, folded his arms on his chest, and, staring in front, the detective murmured as though thinking in a loud voice, „Friends that aren’t among us anymore… Those who died in front of you, by the way.”
„I didn’t kill him,” murmured Scorpion. „He knew very well where he went when he climbed on that motto.”
„Do you mean Iun Dja Iun knew about the assault?”
„I never said that.”
„You said instead „he knew where he went.” This makes me think that he was aware of your plans.” Scorpion said nothing. This made Kan stare even more insistently at him. Then, leaning over the table and supporting his elbows on it, he said, „Come on, Nam Sang Ki, give me at least something to help me get you out of here! Silent, you help nobody! Neither you nor the dead one. Yet, if you speak, you can have a chance to breathe again.”
Scorpion grinned instead, mockingly. „As though those like us can trust cops.”
„What if you can trust one, huh? Me, for example. Or Ian SolHi. You know her. Very well, by the way, once you have been part of Dja Iun’s gang.”
„I knew what? That Dja Iun and she had… something?”
„You knew Dja Iun loved Detective Ian. Even so, you assaulted them while they were together. I don’t understand the reason though. Jealousy?”
Scorpion loudly laughed. „Jealous I? On who? On Dja Iun and the detective? Don’t be stupid, Detective!”
„And you watch your tongue,” Kan scolded him. „We aren’t friends.”
„I say the same, dude,” replied Scorpion aggressively. „I tell you to stop pretending to be my friend and wishing me the best. I know you can’t take me away from here. It’s impossible to escape. At least not alive.”
„This means you know on whose tail you’ve stepped. You pissed off an important person, according to me. Or you know something they don’t want you to talk to others about.”
„It’s up to you if you want to think that!” Scorpion hissed through his teeth after a few moments of gnashing them. Then, he stared at Kan, something that told the Detective that he had been right in saying those words.
„Maybe! But I still don’t go around the bush: you know things. So, what about sharing what you know with others, huh? This can help you feel better. I accept even an unofficial confession. What do you say?”
„I say to get lost, old man! If not, you can keep company to Iun Dja Iun.”
„Are you threatening me right now? Or maybe are you accepting your guilt? That you killed someone, who was your friend, in cold blood.”
„My friend? Iun Dja Iun? Yeah, right! We have never been friends: he and I.”
„That’s why it has been easy for you to kill him? Because he wasn’t your friend?”
Scorpion growled something unpleasant through his teeth. Then, leaning over the table and staring into Kan’s eyes, he said, „I killed him? No, old man, you are wrong. I killed nobody!”
„I’m not sure of this,” said Kan confidently, quite relaxed after leaning against the back of the chair again. „Do you know why I’m so sure of this? Because you were the only one capable of making Iun Dja Iun’s dash cam disappear. Don’t even try to deny this because it’s useless. Su Won told me already that while he was trying to help his friend, you were checking the motto.”
„And? Is this a crime or what?”
„Of course, it is. Not checking the motto, but making important evidence vanish. This is punished by the law.”
„Something I won’t ever be punished for. You are the one who told me this when you entered.”
„This means you accept that it was you who took that cam.”
„I never said that.”
The sure voice and his calmness when Scorpion said those words drove Kan crazy eventually. That’s why the Detective hit the table with his fist. Then, furious, he hissed through his teeth, „Are you kidding me right now? Or maybe you think it’s time to play? If yes, you didn’t find the fool here, young man. I’m not stupid. Why? Because I clearly heard when you said that’s not a crime that you approached the motto after the accident. It means you took that dash cam.”
Even calmer than before, Scorpion grinned and said, „If you are so sure of this, prove it! If you can, of course! If not, you won’t ever find out anything from me.”
„Perfect then. If you don’t want to talk about the dash cam, your choice. Yet, tell me at least one thing: why did you do that?” A question that made Scorpion nervously move on his chair. Even the ironical and triumphant smile vanished somewhere. This didn’t calm Kan down, who nervously said, „I see you’ll keep your mouth shut up to the end. Or… do you allow me to imagine things though? Things I intend to tell the judge about when I’m asked to declare against you. Thus, you won’t ever leave prison. Is this what you want?”
„Do whatever you want!” Scorpion calmly said. „Yet, no matter what you invent, cop, it would be only lies. Because only Dja Iun and I knew the truth. And both of us will take it with us in the grave.”
„You are stupid then.”
„Do you think so?”
„Yes. Taking care of those who want you dead is a stupid thing. If I were you, I would have thought only about saving my ass. If not, you will definitely see what the grave looks like from the inside. A sure thing for you, by the way!”
„Tell me something I don’t know, Detective. I also know that even if I talk about what I know, I’ll go to jail. Or I’ll be dead somewhere on an open field, as food for crows!”
„Even so, you don’t want to talk about what you know.”
„Mmm. I won’t do that. Just as you’ll do yourself a favor if you stop wasting your time here. You should better look for that evidence that can make me talk. Otherwise, you’ll grope for it for an entire life, but you won’t find out the truth no matter what.”
Scorpion kept silent the moment Shin opened the door and told Kan, concerned, „Get lost! Now, Kan! My boss is coming here right now!” After that, leaving the door open, Shin walked away along the corridor, further from that place.
Kan, although wanting to stay a little more to see what else Scorpion had to say, understood that it was risky. Yes, it was risky for Shin, in particular. That’s why he decided not to endanger his friend and stood up, determined to honor the word he gave his elder friend and colleague: to leave that place when he would have told him and not get him into trouble.
Once next to the door, Kan stopped when Scorpion said, „Detective Kan, if something happens to me, tell Su Won to visit me where we have seen each other for the first time. The reason? Even the dead ones talk sometimes!” After that, closing his eyes, Scorpion turned his back to Kan, who ran after Shin, understanding that he didn’t have time to waste it in vain. Not when he heard voices in the distance, a hint that someone was coming there to see Scorpion in that secret room.
Who exactly was coming there to see Scorpion, Kan didn’t wait to see. He did that even if he was interested in this. At the same time, the detective left, afraid that he could have given Scorpion away, who told him something eventually. That’s why he got lost from there before being seen by someone.
***
„It’s all I could do for you, Kan,” Detective Shin told him when they got in front of a secret door that led to the parking lot of the DEA. „I’m really sorry that I couldn’t do more to help you get the evidence you need.”
„Trust me, sombe: it was enough what you did,” Kan calmly said. „I’m grateful for what you did because you took a huge risk letting me see Scorpion. And, if you need my help one day, don’t hesitate to ask for it!”
„I’ll do it, don’t worry! Now, take care of you, Kan Gi Yon! I wish you this with all my heart!” Murmured Shin, closing the door behind Kan.
Although he heard that Shin locked the door from inside, Kan didn’t leave the place right away. He even stood minutes in a row next to that closed door. Why did he do that? He wasn’t sure. Yet, understanding eventually that staying there and waiting for nothing was in vain, he headed toward the car that was parked not that far from him, next to which Inspector Yu was waiting for him.