Right after waking up and opening his eyes, SinJu felt everything moving around him. Yet, this didn’t impede him from sitting on the bed, thinking that dizziness would disappear if doing this. Something that didn’t happen eventually because he felt even dizzier than before. He felt his head so heavy that he had at one point the feeling that his head would fall off his shoulders. Because of this, he supported his head with his palms, leaning a little bit in front to be able to support his elbows from his knees too. Then, somehow powerless, he muttered, „To be damn! I’m about to collapse and all this because of stupidity! Damn, this life is full of problems!” After that, he kept silent, taking thoughts.

All this was only a strategy. It was how Min SinJu used to solve his soul problems: it looked as though he was closing inside and thinking when he had no thought, in fact. A trick that had always helped him to calm down and come back to his senses and which worked at that time too. He, right after he felt that his powers had come back, threw the sheet off him, revealing all the splendor of his naked body.

Sleeping naked was a habit SinJu didn’t remember when it actually started. All he knew was that each time he slept naked he woke up refreshed. That’s why he started to sleep naked even if no woman was next to him. Thus, he got to feel fully fulfilled, comparing himself to an Adonis each time he stepped out of bed and, looking in the mirror, he was admiring the perfection of his body despite the fact he didn’t visit the gym.

That morning though, due to the fact he felt weird, SinJu didn’t fulfill that ritual of looking in the mirror. He only preferred to put a bathrobe on him and went to the living room where the breakfast was waiting for him. At the same time, loneliness was also waiting for him there, just as Min SinJu loved: to be alone when he was at home. A habit he had had since very little. And, if it happened to spend the night with a woman and she slept in his bed that night, she never stood for the breakfast. The reason? Min SinJu! If he awoke and saw her still there, he was forcing her to leave, even if tears bathed her face after the morning talk to him or cursing him, swearing that she wouldn’t ever have something to do with him, as though this had ever impressed a man like Min SinJu or made him feel bad about this.

The only ones who could make him feel like that, especially lately, were DooSan and SolHi. The reason? They got closer and closer to him and poked their noses more often than usual into his businesses. They also got to investigate his personality and his psycho actions. All this happened after he killed Lee Ha Ni in a moment of euphoria and all this because he got bored of her. Then, when he started to spend the night with different women, mostly in his small office in the club, when he understood that nothing interesting was around him at that moment, Min SinJu realized that he started to drink more than usual. This wasn’t a common feature. Nevertheless, although he understood that he was about to lose control over himself, SinJu didn’t stop drinking or doing the rest of the things he was doing at that moment.

On the contrary: he started to think that drinking would relax him, even if he felt his head cracking the next day and that he lacked energy. Just as it happened to him that morning. Yet, as usual, after a good breakfast and a hot shower, he got to feel reinvigorated again and ready to do the same things.

That morning, SinJu preferred to leave the shower for later. At first, he approached the dressing table, poured some water into the glass, and thirstily drunk. Then, he approached the bed and took the phone from under the pillow when he heard the sound of a text message received. A short message, an informative one, sent by his cousin and lawyer, Ian Hiok Uk, who informed him, „The bug was crushed as you ordered.”

The message made SinJu smile. He even said in a cheerful voice shortly after this, „I didn’t expect for less!” After that, finishing the water from the glass, he threw the phone onto the bed and got out of the room.

Once in the living room, SinJu cooked his nose, seeing that there was nobody because the house cleaner, as it was their agreement, came each day early in the morning, made breakfast, cleaned the kitchen and the living room, and left before the owner woke up. She returned after that, the same day, when SinJu was already gone, to clean the rest of the house because Min SinJu hated dirty places and had always asked for general cleaning and to have his clothes washed. What he never asked for was dinner and lunch because he never used to have it at home. Because of this, he had never seen who his servant was. And, honestly, he didn’t ever see her because the one who took care to hire her was his cousin. Thus, if he had ever seen her on the street or in the elevator, he wouldn’t have recognized her or paid attention to her because the rest of the people were simple „bugs” in Min SinJu’s eyes.

„A bug that cooks well!” SinJu murmured, sitting at the table and pulling the plate closer to him. A plate with two well-friend sausages on it, two fried eggs in the form of stars, roast fish, and other small things he loved for breakfast. He also pulled closer the jar with fresh juice and the hot coffee, a sign that the house cleaner didn’t leave so long ago. „And, as each time, she knows how to surprise me. I have to give her a bonus for this. If I don’t forget it, of course,” he added, smiling, leaving the fork and the knife, which he used to cut the sausage, on the plate, chewing the food for a long time.

SinJu didn’t chew that sausage to enjoy its flavor but because he suddenly took thoughts. It happened because he remembered his meeting with Hion Uk a night ago. And, while having a strong liquor together, Hion Uk asked, „Are you sure this won’t complicate things? I think it’ll do that. More… I consider it a risky move.”

SinJu smiled. „As though something like this ever stopped me. I don’t care if it’s risky, don’t be a chicken! Or what, do you think we would have gotten here if we had always followed the rules? Of course not! We wouldn’t have had the money we have today if we had followed the rules.”

„Let’s not forget our parents, SinJu,” Hion Uk murmured, sipping from his drink. „My father and uncle worked for an entire life to leave us a big part of the fortune we have today. That’s why I consider we have to be grateful for what they left us.”

„Grateful?” SinJu replied, irritated. „For what? For all the problems, they left behind or for all the headaches, we still have today? Of course not! I won’t be grateful for their weaknesses. Why? Because, for their mistakes, we still have a lot of problems and we have to bow in front of every single rat not be trampled, Hion Uk!”

„What the hell are you talking about?” Hion Uk asked his cousin, confused. He couldn’t understand for sure what was in SinJu’s head.

„I’m talking about my father, of who else?! You know very well that I’ve always hated him. Just as I hate that thanks to him I got to hate so much in this life, as I have never hated someone.” After that, unable to control his fury anymore, SinJu grabbed the liquor bottle, which was on the coffee table in front of him, and threw it against the wall, breaking it into pieces.

The sudden and violent reaction of SinJu, although he knew very well who his cousin was, made Hion Uk squint at him. Nevertheless, he said nothing about this. He just quietly waited for that one to say something more and make it clear what exactly he had in mind.

SinJu said nothing else that night. He only drank, a lot. Yet, although he asked the girls to come to one of the booths and make him feel better, he didn’t feel like that eventually. He only drank all night long, thinking about every single bad thing that happened in his life.

The same SinJu did that morning: he thought a lot about the reaction he had in front of Hion Uk. „A bad move,” he murmured eventually. „Thus, I gave him the chance to know my weakness. Something I really hate is that I let him know about my weak points. Yet… what you’ve done is well done, Min SinJu. So, stop complaining and focus on the important now, on Ian SolHi, in particular, whom you have to get rid of: once and for all!”

***

Squatting in front of the dried asphalt, which was still shining because of the warm light of the morning, Kan carefully analyzed each piece of that place or what was seen around. Yet, even if he clearly saw that everything looked as normal as possible, something bothered him and didn’t allow him to be deceived by appearances. What exactly bothered him? The exaggerated „normality” of that place because… he couldn’t understand how a place, where a tragic accident happened not that long ago, could look as though nothing ever happened there.

Not only did Kan find that place weird. The same Inspector Yu thought. He was close to the detective, also squatting, and carefully checking the tracks left on the asphalt. Well, at least he looked where they should have been but which were invisible at that moment. This made him cook his nose at one point, asking shortly after this, „I understand that a while has passed since the accident but… there is really nothing left here?”

„What do you mean?” Asked Kan.

„The skid marks. They should have been still visible, although barely. Yet, they aren’t seen anywhere, as though someone took an eraser and erased them.”

„Nobody erased them, Inspector,” Kan confidently said. „Those marks haven’t ever been there,” a remark that made Yu squint at the detective. Thus, seeing the confusion on his colleague’s face, Kan said, „I’m right when I say that they haven’t ever been there because… I’ve checked this place. The day after the accident. Why? Because I found the truck driver’s testimony ambiguous. Yet, even if I checked this place millimeter by millimeter, I didn’t see any skid mark here as he said. Only in that part where the truck hit the heap of earth. Even there… they were barely visible.”

„This means he lied to us when he said that he pressed the brake pedal to the brim when he saw Dja Iun appearing in front of him.”

„That’s right. And, to be more precise, I didn’t find any skid marks even there. Nevertheless, I found acceleration marks. About three hundred meters from the crossroads.”

„What?” Yelled Yu, jumping to his feet. „What you try to say is that the truck accelerated when it got to this road?”

„It looks like this to me,” murmured Kan. After that, he also stood up, chasing the numbness away. „Yet, even if I’m sure of this, I can’t prove it because someone „worked” here after the accident. Very well, by the way, because even the acceleration marks were barely visible. More than this: all the surveillance cameras around stopped „working,” by chance. Who knows when they stopped working: that night or before that?! This is what we must find out, I think.”

„This means someone prepared everything up to the end. The aim? To get rid of someone. Well, why am I even surprised?! It was logical to do that. And… SolHi was right in saying that someone tried to kill Prosecutor Han. Something they would have succeeded that night if not for Iun Dja Iun. This place is perfect for killing. Not only using a truck. More effective would have been using some bullets. Bah-bah, and Prosecutor Han would have been history already.”

Kan burst into laughter. „Do you think you are in Sicilia or what? Or maybe that the Italian Mafia is working here?”

„Why Sicilia? We have enough with Korea. Or what, do you think ours are „softer?” If you think this, you are really naive because… they managed to „kill” our witness, in front of us, by the way. In the most unexpected manner because… he’s at the morgue now.”

„Well, maybe you are right. And… once we are talking about our „dead witness,” do you think the lawyer had something to do with this?”

„Ian Hion Uk?”

„Who else?! Something that won’t ever surprise me if it results in being so. Not when I know who his cousin is. And… I think it’ll be a good idea to visit him.”

„Do you think this will make him talk?”

„I doubt. Neah, he won’t do that because he’s too loyal to Min SinJu. Even so, we can make him overreact if he feels surrounded. At least… we can try. If it doesn’t work, we have done all we could.”

„If you say so?!” Murmured Yu, smiling, although Kan’s words didn’t convince him. Even so, he followed Kan when the detective headed toward their car which was parked not that far from the place where they had been by then.

***

Slowly stretching her body and sweetly yawning, still with her eyes closed, SolHi suddenly touched, with the top of her fingers, DooSan’s nose, who was to her right, supporting himself on his elbow. He wasn’t only staying there, but he was watching her insistently and smiling. Thus, feeling that she wasn’t alone there, SolHi suddenly opened her eyes and looked at him, thunderstruck, hissing through her teeth right after this, „What the hell are you doing here?”

DooSan smiled instead. Then, in a playful voice, he told her, „If I were you, I would rather ask what you are doing here because… this is my bed eventually.”

The man’s words made SolHi suddenly sit on the bed. Then, somehow scared, she looked around, seeming not to understand why she was there because, as far as she remembered, she fell asleep on the living room couch. Yet, at that moment, she was in the same bed as Han DooSan. And, on top of that, she was wearing his shirt. Because of this, she suddenly pulled the blanket closer to her chest, covering her upper part. Then, staring at DooSan, she frowned.

Seeing her acting like that, DooSan also frowned. Then, he hissed through his teeth, „Don’t even think of accusing me of something! I haven’t done anything from what you are thinking about.”

„As though you know what I’m thinking about?!” SolHi murmured, in the mood for a fight. Then, when she remembered fragments of what happened the night before, she suddenly kept silent. And, cooking her nose and looking elsewhere, she mumbled, „To be damn, the ketchup!”

To her great surprise, DooSan heard her whisper. Because of this, he suddenly shouted, in a happy voice, „At least you don’t deny having tried to take advantage of me.”

„Taking advantage of you? I? When that?” She yelled, squinting at him.

Looking at her with love and not losing his temper, DooSan smiled. „Last night,” he murmured. „When you entered my bed.”

„Give me a break, Han DooSan! Why? Because you brought me here!” SolHi hissed through her teeth. „Don’t even try to deny this because I’ll tear your eyes out! Why? Because I’m sure I haven’t come here alone, but brought by you. I clearly remember that you helped me to stand up from the floor. So, as you helped me to come here, you can’t accuse me of trying to take advantage of you. If you didn’t want this to happen, you should have left me to sleep on the couch.”

„What you have preferred to do then? To leave you there, mumbling, „Blood! Blood!” where there was only ketchup?”

„Well? Let’s say I had a bad dream last night,” SolHi suddenly said.

„On the kitchen floor?” DooSan ironically asked.

Instead of answering his question, SolHi looked elsewhere. She even cooked her nose because she had nothing to say to defend herself. Not when she knew that DooSan was right and he heard everything she murmured the last night. „Even so, this doesn’t give you the right to accuse me of trying to take advantage of you. Not when I didn’t even try a small piece of your body… sexy vampire you are. So…”

DooSan grinned again. „Not that I would have complained if this had happened. Yet…” Then, he cleared his voice and looked elsewhere when SolHi glared at him. „Yet, this doesn’t mean that…”

„That…?”

„That… I’m fine! Not after I had suffered an entire night, turned into a pillow in your arms. That’s why I ask you to take responsibility for your acts.”

„Yeah, right!” SolHi almost shouted the answer, furious. She was definitely angry because even if she understood what DooSan was trying to say, she wasn’t ready to take responsibility for this. That’s why she harshly replied after this, „You should ask to take responsibility… the one whom you dream of every single night !”

„Do you mean you?” He asked, laughing.

His remark made SolHi suddenly jump on the bed, landing on her knees. Then, pointing him with her finger, she demanded him, „Don’t push this too far, Han DooSan! I haven’t ever thought about you. At least… not as you are thinking about.”

„This means you thought about me.”

„No… Well, maybe. Anyway… I didn’t…”

„Ia, Ian SolHi, stop playing the innocent angel and honestly answer my question!”

„Question? Which one?” She asked in an innocent voice, pulling closer to the edge of the bed while squeezing a pillow in her arms. She was squeezing that pillow because she intended to use it in case DooSan would have thought about asking for his „reward” by force.

Seeing her acting like that, DooSan suddenly reproachfully shook his head. Then, in a playful voice, he told her, „Nothing out of the ordinary. I was just wondering what it’s called when a woman like you and a man like me spend the night in the same bed.”

„What do I know? Symbiosis? Cohabitation? Mutual aid? Brothership?” SolHi kept stuttering, seeing DooSan’s facial expressions each time he heard her answer. Because of this, when she understood that her answer wouldn’t satisfy him, she yelled, „Yes, I don’t know, okay?! So, leave me alone!” Then, seeing DooSan looking elsewhere, she tried to get out of bed.

Yeah, right: she didn’t find the man to allow her to leave that bed so easily. At least DooSan didn’t intend to allow her to do that. The moment he noticed her intention to hit the pike, he grabbed her arm and, pulling her toward him, forced her to stay quiet. Then, looking straight into her eyes, DooSan asked, hissing through his teeth, „Which way?”

„Far away from… here?” Murmured SolHi, a little bit confused and swallowing hard. Why? Because, so suddenly, she noticed his naked chest, well-worked at the gym, through the robe that moved to the sides a little. Then, realizing that she was acting weird and could have given DooSan some strange ideas about her, she released her arm and, standing up, yelled at him, „Why have you stuck on me? Are you a leech or what?”

„No, I’m not a leech. Yet… I have the right to an answer.”

„An answer? To what? To the previous question?”

„Yep. And… you won’t leave this room until you answer it.” Carefully staring at him, serious this time, SolHi managed to make DooSan attentive. „What now?” He asked. He even moved nervously in bed after this.

She instead, of an enviable calmness, still staring into his eyes, asked, „Are you sure of this?”

„Of what?”

„That you want to hear that answer!”

„Of course, I’m sure! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have insisted on finding out that answer.”

„Well then, you looked for it,” she hissed through her teeth. „Yes,” she suddenly yelled. „We slept in the same bed. And… what? Is this the first time you sleep with a woman or what?”

„Well, you are right: it’s not the first time when… I sleep with a woman. Yet, it’s the first time when I… do nothing else than hold hands with her.”

„Ha-ha-ha! At least… you stopped pretending that I forced you to do… certain things. So, stop being a child and complaining for nothing. Especially, stop lying that’s the first time you sleep in the same bed with a woman without doing… certain things.”

„I’m not lying! It’s the truth!”

„You are lying: round and beautiful!”

„And? What do I win doing this?”

„What do I know?! That you are trying to be who you aren’t?! Well, I assure you of this… that’s not the first time you’ve slept with a woman holding hands only. Why? Because it’s not the first time we slept together doing nothing, Han DooSan! Actually, we did that in the same bed. Or what, should I refresh your memory about that night?!” After that, so suddenly that it was DooSan’s turn to swallow hard, SolHi stood on all fours on the bed and started to walk toward him. While doing this, she was strangely grinning and staring at him.

Seeing her acting like that, DooSan suddenly pulled back. Then, comically grinning and not losing sight of her, he wondered, „What the hell is she planning this time? Is she trying to… no! She won’t dare do that! Or… well, if she insists, I won’t say no to that!” Then, closing his eyes, he put his lips together, waiting for the kiss. A kiss he felt right away… with the pillow, which SolHi put on his face. Then, so suddenly that he didn’t even have time to react, she left the room, slamming the door behind her.

Soon after this, SolHi returned to the room when she realized that her shirt was on the couch in DooSan’s room. She saw it while she was trying to get rid of him. Yet, as she had been in a hurry to leave that room, she forgot about it and had to turn back to take it. Then, when she was about to leave the room again, she heard DooSan asking, „Don’t you feel guilty about what happened?”

„Should I?” She asked in a feisty tone, squinting at him while DooSan looked at her like an upset puppy who begged for love. He even squeezed the pillow in his arms to make sure he would be able to blackmail her emotionally. A trick that didn’t work with SolHi, who coldly told him eventually, „Stop this! It’s not funny at all, just as you aren’t a dog to look at me with such eyes.”

Her words managed to „upset” the man a little. That’s why he said in a shaking voice, imitating a crying boy, „You should know that you definitely don’t have a heart. Not after you kept me all night long like lying on fire while touching and fondling me without even giving me a chance to breathe or… dream about something more. Now you even call me a dog. This is a crime already, Ian SolHi! Crime against humanity!”

„And you are exaggerating now. I’m not that bad!”

„Sure you are! Or what… how do you think I feel after I’ve been forced to be… a good boy last night?”

„Should I care about this too?”

„Wow, incredible! If I hadn’t known you, I would have thought you were the perfect personification of innocence. Yet, pay attention to „If I hadn’t known you.” Why? Because I know you, and very well, by the way. You aren’t a Saint. Not after the kiss we had in the car. A kiss that wasn’t for sure an innocent one.”

SolHi burst into laughter. „The angel who disliked that kiss was talking about innocence now. Especially, the „angel” who held me to his chest that night, dreaming for more… for action! Or what, will you also accuse me of being „a good boy” that night too? Or maybe you’ll say now that you disliked that kiss?”

„I had never said that… I disliked it. Yet, I still think that women should also be forced to take responsibility. At least from time to time.”

„Really?! And… how exactly is it supposed that we should take responsibility? We, the women, I mean.”

„With… another kiss?” DooSan innocently said, grinning.

„Yeah, right! In another life, Han DooSan, but never in this one. Why? Because you are all out of chances in this one. And, keep this in mind: If I’m born as a woman in another life again and meet you… I swear I’ll turn myself into a nun only not to have to deal with you!” Then, leaving the room, she slammed the door behind her.

„Wow, she’s definitely worse than Jack the Ripper! She’ll become a nun only not to have to deal with me?! Well, Ian SolHi, you looked for this! And you said that: in another life! This means you won’t ever get rid of me in this one. And, trust me: if I don’t get what I want, I’m sure people will stop respecting me.”

DooSan’s confidence didn’t last long, only for a few moments. After that, like a spoiled child, who didn’t get what he wanted, he started to toss in bed, scolding himself, „Idiot! You are an idiot for sure, Han DooSan! You had the prey in your arms, but you let her go. Especially, since you haven’t been able to get at least a kiss from her. Ah, damn idiot you are!”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

He winced eventually when he heard SolHi’s voice from behind the door, „Actually, I hear you!”

„I know!” DooSan yelled. „I haven’t expected less from you,” he furiously murmured eventually because he hated to lose in front of her. More than this, he was pissed off because he let her know about his plans, having no progress in this.

***

The moment she managed to finish checking the documents related to the truck driver’s bank account and the transactions in his name, and… more… the moment she finally found what she was looking for, A Rim hit the desk with both palms. Because of this, those who were in the office at that moment, squinted at her, not understanding what exactly could have made A Rim act like that. Yet, even if two pairs of eyes were focused on her, A Rim seemed not to care about this. She only focused on checking the data once again, and yelled eventually, „Finally!” After that, stretching her neck and arms, she looked around. Only then did she see that SuJin and Yoon Suk were staring at her. „What now?” She asked in amazement.

„Nothing!” Yoon Suk drily replied. „We were just wasting our time, trying to figure out what exactly crossed your mind.”

A Rim smirked. „Yeah, you are smart, I know. Yet, not this is important now.”

„No? Then?” Insisted Yoon Suk.

„The money?” A Rim jokingly asked. Yet, seeing that both SuJin and Yoon Suk cooked their noses, she told herself that it was a better idea to explain the things than playing the fools with them, she said, „I was talking about the money the truck’s driver received. Not him, but his wife. To be more precise: 50 thousand dollars!”

„Oho! Did they win the lottery or something?” SuJin asked, smiling.

„I would rather bet that they received that money for someone’s life,” murmured Yoon Suk.

„And you’d be right,” A Rim confidently said. „There’s no place for doubts now. Not after the driver’s wife and their seven-year-old boy left the country, a few days after he was closed.”

„Cannot it be a simple coincidence?” SuJin asked.

„Yeah, right,” Yoon Suk growled. „I stopped believing in coincidences since long ago. Not when someone’s life or death as in this case is involved.”

„That’s why I think Detective Ian’s version is real.”

„Do you mean what Nuna said that someone tried to kill her and Prosecutor Han?”

„Yes. Actually, if we carefully think about this, she might have been right when she said that someone wanted them dead. Or what, do you think that it was randomly that the accident took place after the operative at „The Night Sun?” I don’t think so. Not after she went to threaten Min SinJu.”

„She visited Min SinJu after the accident,” murmured Yoon Suk thoughtfully.

„Yeah, maybe! I forgot the details,” said A Rim, a little pissed off. „Anyway, it doesn’t matter, but what is important: the truck’s driver received money after the accident, and we should find out who transferred that money.”

„It’s what exactly makes me doubt right now.”

„Why, Yoon Suk? It shouldn’t have been like that because it’s obvious that…”

„No, A Rim, it isn’t! Just think about this: if someone hired the truck’s driver, do you think he would have put the money into his account? Of course, not! At least… he wouldn’t have chosen his wife’s account for that transfer because this would have been suspicious. Moreover, it’s suspicious now when we think they left the country. And… did they leave without caring about the driver? No, I don’t think so. His wife would have at least visited him. Yet, she didn’t pass by there.”

„Maybe she didn’t care about him?”

„Do you really think so, A Rim?” SuJin asked.

„Yes, I think so. Why? Because… she won’t be the only one who acts like that. Or… the only wife that vanished with a significant amount of money.”

„It’s exactly why I consider all this suspicious,” said Yoon Suk. „Why? Simple: if she really knew what her husband wanted to do, she would have asked for cash and not for a transfer. It’s what the intelligent women do in such cases.”

„I agree with you this time, Yoon Suk. And… maybe SuJin is also right when he says that she vanished when she saw such a significant amount of money. Yet, I also agree that she wouldn’t have taken such a risk to put the money into her account if this had accused her of a crime. And, on top of that, what’s suspicious is that she vanished once she had that money.”

„Did she take all the money from her account?” SuJin asked.

„No. Only five thousand. She withdrew it from her account shortly before leaving the country. Look, it’s written here - two hours after the transfer was made, she withdrew five thousand. After that, nobody saw her.”

„Logical, right?” Said SuJin, smiling. „If she left the country, it’s logical for nobody to see her around.”

Hearing SuJin’s words, Yoon Suk cooked his nose. „Something happened?” A Rim asked, seeing him doing this.

„Yeah, I found strange the fact that we have no evidence that she actually left the country.”

„What?” Both A Rim and SuJin yelled. Then, shaking her head to clear her mind, A Rim asked, „How did you know she left the country?”

„It’s a theory you have supported before, by the way.”

„Oh, yes, you are right again. I mentioned this before. Yet, this is not my theory, but what the driver’s lawyer says, a certain Ian Hion Uk.”

„Now I get this,” said Yoon Suk, smiling.

„What exactly?” SuJin inquired.

„That everything is so messed up and crazy that even the most dedicated person will give up finding out all this. Yet, they were wrong in thinking we’d do that.”

„What I keep thinking is that I don’t understand what you have in mind,” murmured A Rim.

„Well, what I’m thinking about is that the disappearance of the driver’s wife might be something set up.”

„Are you talking about the fact that someone could have threatened his family and he did what he did because of this?”

„Mmm, that’s right. That’s why I say that it won’t be wrong if we investigate this track. So, tell me, A Rim: from what bank has the wife withdrawn the money?”

„None. She withdrew it from the ATM. The one from Starfield COEX Mall. After that, she could have headed to the subway or airport. Why do you ask?”

„Because… all the ATMs have surveillance cameras. This will help us to see if she withdrew the money or…”

„…someone helped her do that!” SuJin murmured, confused.

„Something like that. And, SuJin, I see you are a good pupil when it’s necessary,” added Yoon Suk, smiling while gathering his things. „Just as I think it won’t be difficult for you to send me the transfer’s data to my phone and the ATM’s coordinates. I’ll take care of the rest.” After that, Yoon Suk left the office, slamming the door.

„Do you think that’s a good idea to go there alone?” A Rim asked, frowning. „I think it’ll be better if we tell the others about this. At least we should tell Kan.”

„Why? Do you think he won’t make it alone? I think differently though. Just as I know he’s a grown man and knows what he does. Yet, if you like, you can tell others. Of course, if you want to have troubles with Yoon Suk.”

„I don’t do that only for me,” said A Rim feistily.

„I think you do that though because, acting like this, you aren’t doing him a favor for sure. More, if you give him away in front of his boss. He won’t thank you for that,” murmured SuJin, smiling. Then, finishing sending Yoon Suk the data he requested, the boy turned the computer off and left the office.

Staring behind him, A Rim mumbled, „It’s always my fault for trying to make sure everybody will be safe. Just as nobody appreciates the effort I’m doing.” Yet, even if she was upset with the boy for not appreciating her effort and concern, she still called Kan to tell him about what she found out.

***

„Are you sure of this, A Rim?” Kan asked while he and Yu headed toward the entrance to the attorney’s office IAN&CO.

„Absolutely sure,” A Rim’s voice was suddenly heard in the receiver. This made Yu stare in amazement at Kan. He even asked Kan by a glance what was going on. That’s why Kan said shortly after this:

„A Rim, repeat what you said, please! I’ll put you on speaker this time as Inspector Yu to hear it too.”

„Sure, Detective Kan. As I said: 50 thousand dollars were transferred to the account of the driver’s wife two days ago. Shortly after this, five thousand were withdrawn from this account, right before she and her child left the country. Or… at least this is what others try to convince us: that they left the country. Or as Yoon Suk thinks it might be so. That is why he went to check the ATM from where the money was withdrawn.”

„Did he go? Where exactly?” Asked Yu.

„Starfield COEX Mall, Inspector. There is the ATM from where the five thousand were withdrawn.”

„Something that smells like running from the country to me.”

„Do you think so?” Kan teased him, smiling. „I thought I was the only one having such ideas.”

„Not the same Yoon Suk thinks, Detective. According to him, the driver was blackmailed and not hired.”

„It’s another idea, A Rim. Yet, this doesn’t explain the money he received.”

„A camouflage maybe,” said Yu, making Kan stare at him with wide-open eyes.

„Or a good play.”

„Well, old Kan, call it as you like. Even so, it smells to be the same to me. That’s why, A Rim: as soon as you find out something from Yoon Suk, call us. I’d like to know details about this. Meanwhile, Detective Kan and I will try to find out how much Ian Hion Uk knows about this. And, I hope he knows a lot. Otherwise, we will only manage to provoke the hunting dog that’s after us already: Min SinJu.”

***

After the conversation they had with A Rim, Kan and Yu entered the building of IAN&CO. Once inside and seeing the crowd that was there at that early hour, Kan cooked his nose, mumbling, „I thought we’d have to deal with a bunch of idiots only. Yet, we won’t be able to confront them all.”

Yu smiled. „Did you turn coward or what? So suddenly?!”

„Well…,” murmured Kan, „maybe I’m not a coward. Even so, I still care about me because… I don’t want to suffer in old age. I care about my skin.”

„Why? Do you think that Mrs. Oh, or what was her name, will stop loving an old wolf like you if you remain without your fur?”

Kan cooked his nose again. „Remind me to twist Oh Yoon Suk’s neck when I see him,” he growled.

„What for? What did he do wrong this time that you want to kill him?”

„Does it seem little to you that he has a sharp tongue? Or what, do you think I haven’t understood where you know about certain ladies from?” Then, staring at Kan’s sour face, who was exaggerating as always, Yu burst into laughter. „What now?” Kan snapped at the inspector.

„Nothing. I have just forgotten how exaggerated you can be sometimes.” After that, the Inspector turned his back to Kan, heading toward the reception. „And, you are wrong, by the way.”

„About?”

„That Yoon Suk told me about Mrs. Oh. I found out about her by myself.”

„Impossible! Only a few people knew about her. And, if it’s not Yoon Suk who has told you about her, it’s the other traitor then, Ian SolHi!”

„You are wrong again,” said Yu, smiling, something that made Kan frown. „I found out about this when we were investigating Lee Ha Ni’s case.”

„I was right then. It’s Oh Yoon Suk the one who told everybody about this that day. Thus, he remains headless for sure,” the detective hissed through his teeth. Then, once in front of the receptionist, a young woman about thirty, Kan asked to talk to Ian Hion Uk. Yet, both of them widely opened their eyes when they found out that Ian Hion Uk was out of the country.

„Do we know when he’s back?” Inspector Yu asked.

„In about ten days, Inspector. He has to participate in a conference, which has some delays. More than this, Mister Ian has some personal problems to solve there. He’ll be back as soon as he solves them.”

„I think he solved those problems already,” said Yu sarcastically. This made Kan look at him, thunderstruck. Yet, looking in the same direction as Yu, he saw Ian Hiok Uk shaking hands with a group of five men, who seemed to be clients or maybe partners.

Seeing Ian Hiok Uk, Kan smiled. „This man is a genius if he managed to make ten days seem like seconds.” Then, Kan reproachfully glanced at the receptionist, forcing her to look elsewhere. „An oblivious genius once he forgot to tell his secretary that he was back. Not the other, but… not being informed about something can cause him problems.”

Understanding that she messed it up, the receptionist bit her lower lip, seeming scared. The reason? A very simple one: telling those words, which were obviously a lie, she could have had problems with the law if the detectives had decided to accuse her of fake statements. What she didn’t know was that Kan and Yu had no time for this, not when they knew already that the main function of a secretary was to lie for their bosses.

In whom they seemed interested more was in Ian Hiok Uk. That’s why, seeing the lawyer and the moment they started to walk toward him, Kan called the lawyer’s name loudly to be heard by everybody and not give Hion Uk a chance to run away from them. Besides that, once next to Hion Uk, Kan told him in mockery, „Damn interesting people are working for you, lawyer Ian.”

„I have no idea what you are talking about,” Hion Uk told the detective, hissing the words through his teeth. Thus, he tried to hide his dissatisfaction with seeing them there. Then, paying no attention to the two, he headed toward the elevator.

The lawyer’s elusive answer made Kan and Yu exchange glances. After that, smiling, they followed him, understanding that it was the only way they could find out something important. What motivated them was the fact Ian Hion Uk and Min SinJu were cousins, who weren’t known precisely for their calmness. On the contrary, both of them were impulsive and made big mistakes when they were nervous, something that would have worked for Kan and Yu if Ian Hiok Uk had lost his temper.

Once next to the elevator while waiting for it, Yu said, smiling, „Yet, I think you know what exactly Detective Kan meant by „Interesting People.” He meant the receptionist, who knew you outside the city. For about ten days, by the way. However, ups, we caught her lying because you are here. Or… is this a simple coincidence?”

„I would rather call it teleportation,” said Kan ironically.

Kan’s commentary managed to drive Hion Uk crazy. He insistently looked at the Detective, hissing through his teeth, „I would rather suggest you watch your tongue, Detective. Not the other, but what you said is worth for a criminal record.”

„I think it’s a civil matter rather than a criminal one,” Kan kept teasing the lawyer, not letting this one intimidate him. „Even so, I’m sure we won’t get there. Why? Because… I haven’t insulted anybody. I have just told you what I think. So, I’m innocent!”

„What I think is that you’ve been sarcastic. Yet, be as you wish because I don’t see a reason for you to be ironic related to me. Eventually, all this was a simple misunderstanding because the one who went to the conference was my partner.”

Yu smiled after these words. „Without the personnel being informed about this?”

„What do I know?! Maybe the secretary didn’t manage to inform the others yet! Don’t you think, Inspector?”

„Maybe! Even so, this ruins your reputation, lawyer Ian! That’s why, if I were you, I would have thought about the skills of those who work for me. Not a bad idea to do that now, by the way. And, if you decide to listen to my advice, I can even help you with finding valuable personnel to replace your „incompetent” secretary.”

„What I would have done if I were you, Inspector, I would have kept my mouth shut. The law punishes those who are insulting people. In a criminal case, by the way.”

„And we are back to criminal cases again,” murmured Kan mockingly, looking at Yu. Then, he entered the elevator behind Hion Uk, who pressed button 25, the same number as the floor where he had his office. „Even if all this was a simple misunderstanding. According to you, by the way!”

„Are you calling me a liar, Detective?”

„Not at all. I was just… mentioning facts,” replied Kan, smiling. Then, seeing Ian Hion Uk’s sour face, the detective kept silent. Yet, he did that, understanding that he had better chances to find out something if he had left the lawyer to boil on low heat. At least, this was what Kan hoped to achieve that day.

Nevertheless, the moment they stepped outside the elevator and headed to Hion Uk’s office, Kan understood that maybe Yu was right in saying that they willingly entered the lion’s cage. The reason? All the employees were worshipping in front of Hion Uk when he passed by them. This made Kan tell himself eventually, „None of them is on our side. So, Kan Gi Yon: be careful what you say when you are in that office if you want to leave this building alive.”

***

After they entered Ian Hion Uk’s office and his secretary brought the coffee the lawyer asked for, the three men looked at each other for a long time. They had been doing this for about ten minutes if not more, as though imitating a shy teenager at his first date with the girl he liked. Yet, all this was just a tactic Kan often used to make others nervous. A tactic that worked that morning too because, soon after this, Yu saw Hion Uk nervous.

This made the Inspector cunningly smile. Then, sipping from his coffee but still eyes on Ian Hion Uk, he told himself, „Kan is a damn old fox for sure if he managed to put this devil nervous, a lawyer many are afraid of, by the way. That’s why, Yu DoJin, remember this day when you are alone with him and never make him furious or you can suffer more than this devil.” Then, seeing Hion Uk staring at him, Yu forced a smile.

Hion Uk didn’t waste his time staring at the Inspector. Soon after this, he looked at Kan, saying, „I really can’t understand the reason for your visit, Detective. And, more than this: why we are quiet for so long. I’m not asking because I’m bothered having you here, but… I have things to do and…”

„We are also busy, lawyer Ian,” said Kan, smiling. Then, he left the cup of coffee on the small table in front of him. „Or what, do you think that the Police officers and the Prosecution employees have nothing to do?”

„It seems so to him,” Yu suddenly said.

His remark managed to drive Hion Uk crazy again. Even so, he didn’t snap at the Inspector as he generally used to do with those who were pissing him off. He only gnashed his teeth, leaving the cup of coffee on the table. After that, staring into the Inspector’s eyes, he said in a harsh tone, „I didn’t have this in mind, Inspector Yu. Even so, you understood only what you wanted to understand. Is it because you are sensitive, Inspector?”

„I?” Yu innocently asked. „Of course not! I’m not „delicate” or a „girl.” Something I can’t tell about others though.”

„If this „I can’t tell the same about others,” was about me, Inspector, I assure you that you are wrong,” Kan growled. „Yet, even though I’m not also delicate, I still feel weird when others tell me the opposite.”

Hion Uk smiled. „I see you are delicate though, both of you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have reacted like that.” Yet, seeing the sour faces of the two police officers, he decided that it was time to change the subject and said, „All I was trying to do was to speed things up a little. And, as far as I can see, you have guessed already that our work is different from yours. In many aspects, by the way.”

„Really?!” Kan suddenly hissed through his teeth. „Which way the lawyer’s work is different from the detective’s? You are teleporting yourself from one place to another and we don’t? Or maybe through the fact that where a lawyer has been, someone is dying?”

„Are you accusing me of something, Detective Kan?”

„Accusing you? No, lawyer Ian, let’s not be sensitive! It was a simple and innocent remark. Why? Because I was thinking that once your client, Mion San Iun, decided to take his life after your visit…”

„You are thinking too much, Detective. Wrongly, by the way. Why? Because I have no idea why you have linked my visit to my client’s death.”

„Because there is something we can’t figure out,” Kan replied feistily. „Something we’ll figure out eventually, just as we’ll find out where exactly your protégée’s wife, Mrs. Lin Dji A, vanished.”

„My protégée’s wife?” Ian Hion Uk played the fool. „I don’t really understand whom you are talking about.”

„I’m sure you know! Or what, do you accept certain jobs without knowing whom you are working for? I don’t think so. Why? Because… you don’t seem to be that kind of „innocent” lawyer, who signs documents without knowing what devil hired him. Yet, if you say you don’t know who I am talking about, I’ll tell you then: Lin Dji A is no other than the wife of the one who poisoned himself in the cell of Kanam police station. Right after you visited him. Is it because the poor guy found out that his wife „abandoned” him?”

Kan’s words made Hion Uk smile. Yet, that smile wasn’t his usual one but a forced one, meant not to give him away. Then, to make sure he wouldn’t give himself away in front of the two detectives, Hion Uk supported his elbows on his knees, squeezing his fists first. After that, with controlled anger in his voice, he hissed through his teeth, talking to Kan, „Your accusation, Detective, is something I won’t tolerate. Why? Because I have the feeling you are trying to turn me into the patsy in this story and all this because the deceased one was my client. Something impossible to do in my opinion because I have no guilt of this and you won’t also find evidence to link me to the case.”

„What if we still find it? The evidence, I mean,” said Yu, smiling and staring into the lawyer’s eyes, who was throwing flames through his nostrils at that moment.

„Bring a judicial order then. More if you want to talk to me again. Otherwise, I don’t want to see any of you in my office or around here. If this happens, I’ll complain about invading my privacy, Detectives! Just as I’ll complain about these unsubstantiated accusations, which sound more like insults than conversation. And now… get out of here! Both of you! If not, I swear I’ll make you get out of here, kicking your asses, just as I’ll take care of that none of you work in the police again if you don’t let me breathe!”

„It’s sound like a threat to me.”

„It’s up to you to think whatever you want, Inspector. Yet, as I said, until you don’t have a judicial order with my name on it, I don’t want to see any of you here. I won’t allow you to accuse me of stupid and meaningless things.”

„Not that meaningless, Lawyer Ian,” replied Kan in a serious voice. „Or what, does it seem meaningless the fact that your client died and you didn’t even ask what would happen to him? What you did instead was to accuse us of intimidation and being wrong in doing things.”

„Well, I don’t think that I’m wrong in something because, as a lawyer, I have the right to protect myself if someone tries to accuse me of something criminal. Related to my client, what should I have done though? To bring him back to life, maybe?”

„To show you cared about him,” Yu hissed through his teeth. „Yet, as I doubt that you have ever showed humanity… Anyway, we aren’t here for this.”

„Why are you here then? For a social visit?”

„Lawyer Ian,” Kan hissed through his teeth, furious. „Your irony is a little out of line. That’s why, I suggest you be careful with saying something like this. Why? Because it gives you away. It shows us that you are afraid. And, once Inspector Yu mentioned the real reason for our visit, I’d talk about this then and I’d ask you this: who exactly asked for the death of Ian SolHi and Han DooSan? Santa Claus? Aaa? Come on, Lawyer Ian: tell us! We also want to know. So, from a man of law to another, what about speaking with the truth?”

What Kan said managed to infuriate Hion Uk, who suddenly stood up, yelling like a mad person, „Get the hell out of my office! Or I’ll report you and make sure none of you will be able to stand up again! Then… both of you will know what a lawyer like me can do!”

At all bothered by the lawyer’s reaction, Kan smiled. Then, taking the cup of coffee in his hand again, which he left on the coffee table before, he sipped from it. He noisily sipped from it, as though trying to make sure Ian Hion Uk would be burning soon. After that, looking at the bottom of the cup, as though trying to read his future, the detective smiled and said, „I suggest you the same, Lawyer Ian: if you don’t want to see what two crazy detectives like us can do, answer the damn question and calm down!”

„Something I don’t intend to do!” Hion Uk growled. „And, once you don’t want to leave my office on your own feet, I’ll take care to be dragged out of here!” Saying this, lawyer Ian approached his desk and phoned his secretary, to whom he demanded in a shaking voice, „Call security! Now! And… stop asking so many dumb questions!” Saying this, he dropped the receiver.

„Security!” Said Yu ironically. „Well, if we got here, to turn this place into a circus, I mean, it means you hide something.” Saying this, Inspector Yu stood up and stared into Hion Uk’s eyes, which were literally burning. Then, still looking at Hion Uk but talking to Kan this time, Yu confidently said, „Let’s go, Detective Kan! I think we are done here once the crazy clowns from the circus are trying to make us act the same as them!”

„I think you are right, Inspector,” replied Kan calmly, leaving the cup of coffee on the table again. Then, still eyes on the cup, he murmured, „We are leaving! For the moment! Nevertheless, I’m sure we’ll see Lawyer Ian again!”

„Something I doubt,” said Hion Uk in mockery. He, seeing the two detectives about to leave, thought he won that battle.

„We are sure of this though,” insisted Kan. „Why? Because… we are sure that next time we talk to you, it won’t be like a man of law to another, comfortably sitting on a sofa and having a delicious cup of coffee, but in the Interrogatory Room, you - in the role of the criminal and we interrogating you, Lawyer Ian.” Saying this, Kan turned his back to the lawyer, heading toward the door.

Hion Uk instead, sure of his victory and confident, said, „As I said, Detective: I doubt this. Just as I doubt that I will ever be accused of something.”

„Are you saying this because of Min SinJu, who protects your back?” Kan said, at all intimidated by Hion Uk’s words. „If so… keep dreaming! Yet, if we are talking about him now, send him a message from us: we are vigilant and expecting him to turn himself in. Otherwise, he’ll be like the wolf from the story: ripped off his fur.”

Leaving the lawyer’s office, right behind Yu, Kan slammed the door. Then he smiled because, right after this, they heard things falling in the office. It wasn’t because of the slammed door but because of the lawyer, who, in a nervous breakdown, started to throw to the floor everything he met in his way.

„I think your threat worked,” said the Inspector, smiling.

„As always! And… if he jumps from off something, instead of throwing those things, he’ll do a favor to all of us. I think many will be happy if this happens, just as my mind will thank him for this. And… for still being healthy, of course.”

Eventually, seeing the security, which Hion Uk asked for, heading toward his office, Kan grabbed Yu’s arm and forced him to follow him toward the stairwell. Once there, right before closing the door behind them, Kan looked at the four bodyguards, who were heading toward Hion Uk’s office, and at the other employees who left their offices when they heard the noise just to make sure they’d known everything about what was going on, Kan smiled. „Can the leopard change his spots? Never! The same happens to Ian Hion Uk, who’ll die like a puppy for not being smart enough to kill the devil that kills him!”

***

Arriving at the living room, somehow on the sly, although it hadn’t been his intention, DooSan stopped and looked at SolHi, who was making breakfast. Yet, even if he was there, SolHi didn’t feel him coming. She also didn’t realize that he was insistently looking at her, somehow in love. That’s why, thinking she was alone there, she sweetly yawned, stretching her body. Then, she murmured, „So hot right from the morning!” And, taking the elastic from her hair, she started to grab it into a ponytail again. Then, closing her eyes for a few moments, she cleaned the sweat drops from off her neck with the back of her palm.

Her sensual movements, although unintentional, made DooSan smile. Then, he felt a crazy desire to hold her to his chest, something he started to feel more often lately. Yet, the moment SolHi suddenly turned toward him, finally feeling him there, DooSan just swallowed hard and looked elsewhere.

He was definitely confused, especially after everything that happened between them that morning. Even so, SolHi didn’t notice his confusion. She only took the plate with the sausages she prepared for the omelet, which was on the cabinet behind her, throwing them into the frying pan eventually, and telling DooSan, „Breakfast in two minutes. You can sit at the table if you want.”

DooSan said nothing though. Even so, SolHi didn’t pay attention to this because she knew he was weird and he could act like this sometimes. That’s why she only focused on mixing the ingredients in the pan, afraid she could have burnt the omelet, for which she worked for a while.

The moment she felt DooSan’s lips touching her neck, SolHi froze. She felt thousands of thrills running all over her body. And she was confused because… if she had left, she would have given DooSan the chance to make fun of her for an entire life. Yet, if she had stood there… no, it was a mistake to stay there because everything was boiling inside her at that moment, being ready to fall into his arms. Not, when she felt he wanted the same thing.

She wasn’t wrong at all thinking about this because she felt soon that DooSan released her hair from the elastic, hair he grabbed in his left hand after this, moving it away from her neck to touch it with her right hand, making her vibrate when the top of his fingers touched her skin. While doing this, DooSan looked straight at her. SolHi didn’t do that: she looked elsewhere, confused and afraid of what could come next. Eventually, she looked at him when DooSan forced her to do that and froze. How not to feel all this when DooSan, as she would have been a light feather, pulled her closer to him, sticking her chest to his, a move that made SolHi murmur eventually, „Han DooSan, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind or what?”

He didn’t answer, not even at that time. He only put his lips on hers, kissing her and making her keep silent this way. Something unexpected even for him because, generally, DooSan loved to argue with her. Yet, he didn’t want any of this at that moment. All that he wanted was to kiss her and have her in his arms. He wanted even more: he madly wanted her, stuck to his chest, powerless, and with no desire to stand against him, controlled by a secret thrill that summoned her to him.

Then, so suddenly that DooSan froze, SolHi pushed him away from her. After that, without looking back or turning the stove off while the omelet was still preparing in the pan, she left. She just took her coat, which was on the back of the couch, and left.

Only then did DooSan dare to look at the door. He wasn’t either furious or disappointed. He just felt… strange because she rejected him. Even, so he knew he didn’t lose the war. Not yet. Not while he still had chances. That’s why he slowly bit his lower lip, murmuring, „You have no escape, SolHi. Not this time because… all the roads lead to you. At least my road leads to you.”