„Wait a minute, to be able to follow you,” hissed Kan through his teeth. He was standing in front of DooSan and Gi at that moment, staring at the two as though they were his enemies. „What do you need is SolHi to keep pretending to be the „innocent lamb,” who allows the wolf to catch her, right?” Then, as though completely losing his mind, his eyes started to sparkle because of anger.

Detective Gi, who was already used to Kan’s way of doing things, told him confidently, „That’s right! It’s exactly what we need from her. Actually, we initially planned for So Hi Na to be the bait. Yet, the individual preferred her and not Detective So. He chose SolHi as his next „victim,” and he did that right after she showed up at the gym. That’s why we asked Detective Ian to help us with this.”

„Only over my body,” shouted Kan, staring into Gi’s eyes. „Do you know why? Because I have no intention to endanger my people to help others with their operations.”

„To endanger her? I think you exaggerate right now, Kan,” Gi told Kan, somehow upset because he really disliked his colleague’s distrust.

„Well, I assure you that I don’t exaggerate at all. Why? Because I know very well what can happen in such operations. Thus, Ian SolHi won’t be ever involved in this.”

„However, I think that…” DooSan tried to interfere in their talk. He kept silent eventually when Yoon Suk said:

„What sombe Kan said didn’t seem at all an exaggeration. Just think about this: that guy focused on SolHi soon after she appeared at the gym. He even approached her and talked to her, asking for her phone number. Something that seems damn suspicious to me.”

„What exactly do you mean?” DooSan asked.

„That such guys, whom we know as „women collectors,” aren’t at all stupid. Thus, as far as we know, before approaching a woman, they check her background first: her past, whether she’s married or not, what she’s doing for a living, and if she has money. In sombe Ian’s case, everything simply flew. Something that not only seems suspicious to me but also dangerous.”

„It might have been that he’d been interested in SolHi because of her beautiful face and body. Let’s be honest, Ian SolHi is a woman who many men dream of,” said Gi.

„Still, she’s a woman that many know,” said Yu, making everybody watch him in amazement. „I mean now the trial seven years ago. This made her „famous.” The same happened with the „scandal” that involved her when she’d been caught leaving Prosecutor Han’s apartment after spending the night there. According to me, this isn’t something that such guys, like your „fly,” aren’t aware of. I think they know her.”

„I have another opinion though,” said A Rim. „I talk about the fact that not everybody knows her because of the trial. Then, with the recent „scandal,” as everybody calls it, her face didn’t appear in the news or the newspapers. Only her name, but not completely. That’s why, it’s probably that they chose her just because she looks sexy. It might have happened because they thought she was wealthy. She got to the gym in your car today, right, Prosecutor Han?”

„Mmm, that’s right. Yet, if someone saw her getting out of my car, they would have suspected that she was my girl and they wouldn’t have tried to take her from me,” DooSan confidently replied. This made SuJin burst into laughter, making DooSan frown. „Did I say something comic?” DooSan asked, irritated.

„Absolutely,” replied SuJin right away. „Honestly, you are exactly the type of man who seems the perfect candidate for taking his girl. And, if I’m not mistaken, the „fly” approached Nuna and asked for her number in front of your nose, right?” A remark that made the others smile because he was right in saying that DooSan hadn’t been able to protect SolHi at the gym. What seemed real was that he brought her there for the „fly” to approach her.

„Idiot,” growled DooSan. After that, looking at Kan, he said, „Anyway, I still think Detective Gi is right: the fact that SolHi is involved in this is less dangerous than if a civilian had been involved.”

„What I think is that it has become even more dangerous now that SolHi is involved in this,” insisted Kan.

„Of course, it’s dangerous,” said DooSan, smiling. „As I know SolHi, someone would be hurt for sure.”

„Or the hurt one will be she,” growled Kan. „For God’s sake, we are talking about women hobbyists, people whose hands won’t shake to pull the trigger if they feel threatened. Moreover, if they find out that SolHi’s a detective, they will get rid of her in seconds. That’s why I won’t ever accept her to be involved in this operation. Not with her playing the main role.”

„I still think you are exaggerating now,” Gi replied in a stern tone. „Detective Ian doesn’t participate in her first undercover mission. She’s well-trained and she knows what to do if she’s in danger. In a civilian’s case, this might be dangerous. And, why the hell are you so nervous? It gives me the feeling that you are her father and you are against her going on her first date. Or worse, that you are jealous.”

„I’m not her father. Yet, it doesn’t mean I won’t protect her because Ian SolHi is more than a daughter to me. That’s why I insist for her not to be involved in this. She mustn’t be involved. Not in this.”

„If you tell us the reason why Ian SolHi shouldn’t be involved in this operation, maybe we won’t insist on that,” murmured A Rim. This made Kan growl at her. „Yeah, yeah, I know that you can bite,” she said, at all bothered by the detective’s killing glance. „Yet, I’m still right: you hide something important related to Ian SolHi if you want her out of this operation, am I right?”

„Yeah, you are right. Yet, this is something others won’t ever find out, not from my mouth. So, don’t insist on finding this out. Just… keep her away from problems. And away from this operation, of course.”

„I won’t give up too,” Gi suddenly said, making Kan look at him, thunderstruck. „No matter what reasons you have for SolHi not to be involved in this, I won’t give up on her help. We have been after these guys for so long. I can’t give up now, Kan. There are too many victims to do that.”

„Nobody told you to give up on this. All you need to do is choose another „bait,” insisted Kan.

„This would take too long,” said DooSan. „At the same time, nobody guarantees us that it’ll work. On the contrary, if SolHi vanishes now, this can alert them and make them vanish. Then, when we lose track of them, they’ll show up again and make more victims.”

„It’s exactly why I don’t want to give up,” said Gi. „And, I think that the only person capable of deciding something like this is Detective Ian. She hadn’t been against this operation, and I will do the same.”

„Even if she might suffer?” Shouted Kan.

„Yes,” Gi shouted too. „Something I doubt though because I know very well who Ian SolHi is. She’s a pro and she’s capable of protecting herself. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have insisted for her to be involved in this. On the contrary, I would have told her to stay as far as possible from all this and the problems. Yet, now it’s too late to change something, Kan. It’s time to take drastic measures and do all we can for these guys to pay for all they’ve done.”

„Not if the price for all this is what you offer us,” Kan shouted again.

„The price? What the hell are you talking about, Detective Kan? What can happen to SolHi if she’s involved in this operation? More than this, I don’t understand why you oppose this when you know very well that SolHi is more than capable of finishing this operation,” shouted DooSan.

„Yes, SolHi is capable, I agree. I haven’t ever doubted her skills. Yet, what you all forget is that SolHi is also a woman. She can also suffer because of your „hobbyists.” That’s why I don’t want her involved. Not now when she has lost her mother.”

„It’s exactly why I want her involved,” insisted DooSan. „To forget all that has happened to her, SolHi must be focused on something else. For the moment, she can focus only on work, and this operation is perfect.”

„Of course, it’s perfect: to bury her once and for all.”

DooSan looked at Kan, thunderstruck. „To bury her? Do you think that’s why I want her involved? Because I wish her harm?”

„Yes, it’s exactly what I think: that you want to make her suffer more than she has suffered already.”

„Detective Kan, you are crossing the line already. I don’t want SolHi to suffer.”

„And I don’t want her involved in this case. I won’t allow her to be involved. Never.”

„Not until you don’t tell me the reason, Kan. Why should SolHi stay away from all this? Or… should I ask her about this?”

„You won’t dare do that,” Kan said through his teeth, threateningly approaching DooSan. The detective even seemed eager to fight at that moment. And, staring into DooSan’s eyes, he told him, „If you really care about her, you won’t ever talk to her about such delicate things, Prosecutor Han.”

„Delicate?! What the hell are you talking about?”

„About…,” Kan suddenly shouted. Yet, halfway through telling them what he was thinking about, he stopped, realizing that he couldn’t tell DooSan and the others about what he knew. He could only change the subject and say, „About everything that happens right now. Or what, does all this seem little to you, involving her in such a risky operation? Well, it looks like this to me: damn dangerous, by the way. Especially for her because… we are talking about extortion and other kinds of crimes that involve women, for God’s sake. Involving SolHi in this means making her take a one-way road. I won’t agree for her to be involved.”

„It’s not you who decides this, but Detective Ian,” said Gi, confidently, showing his phone to Kan. Thus, the detective could read SolHi’s message, who texted them, „Coffee shop „Shy,” in one hour. The bird is in the cage.”

„You have lost your mind for sure,” Kan hissed through his teeth.

„Maybe! It’s up to you to believe that because I don’t give up,” said Gi. „And… stop being so mean to her. She’s capable of solving such a risky case… successfully, Kan. She can do that.”

„Yes, she can solve it or all this can tragically end,” growled Kan, only one step from Gi, staring into his eyes. „That’s why, keep this in mind, Gi: if something happens to SolHi in this operation, I will kill you all, do you hear me? I swear my hand won’t shake because SolHi is everything to me.” Saying this, Kan left the office, slamming the door behind him.

„What the hell was that: declaration of love or jealousy?” A Rim asked. Her remark made all the men in the room squint at her. „I just said that to say something. Nothing personal,” she murmured. After that, understanding that it was safer for her to keep silent, A Rim shut her mouth. Yet, she did that only after SuJin had thrown a wooden cube toward her.

Yet, even if A Rim kept silent and thought that everything was over if she said nothing more, she was wrong because, through all she said, she managed to alert the others. Especially, she alerted DooSan, who frowned and gnashed his teeth after Kan’s departure. The reason? That „SolHi is everything to me,” said with so much passion by Kan, words that burnt him inside because this meant only one thing: he had a new rival that was capable of blocking his way to SolHi’s heart.

***

After leaving the office, so angry that he was about to kill someone, Kan told himself that it was indispensable to leave that place as soon as possible. If not, if he hadn’t left that place, he understood that he could turn back and twist someone’s neck - the only way he could have calmed down. More than this, he was sure that if he hadn’t left, DooSan would have been his victim because he was accusing him of not being able to take care of SolHi, whom he exposed without being aware that he was harming her when he agreed her to be involved in that.

Actually, Kan got to „hate” DooSan for the simple fact that he had control over SolHi while the detective was losing that „power,” one he had always had over her. At the same time, he hated to see her so in love with DooSan, whom he wanted so far away from her before starting to work together. At that moment though, she wasn’t only with him, in tender positions sometimes, but she also seemed to dream of that love. That’s why Kan hated to see himself weak in front of her, allowing her to cut herself off from him - more than she already was.

„Something I shouldn’t have allowed to happen ever,” Kan got to catch this thought crossing his mind more often than before. „If not, SolHi will suffer for sure. Even so, I don’t think I can do something to keep them away from each other because, insisting for them two to work together, all I did was to sentence SolHi to even more suffering.”

The same thought was crossing Kan’s mind while he was heading toward the parking lot of the Prosecution. It’s when he felt himself capable of kidnapping SolHi and taking her far away from there because, since they started to work together, he got to care about her a lot. Yet, even if he felt all this, he always failed to keep her away from problems. At the same time, he failed to be her support in everything and, usually, he left her alone. Because of this, she got to approach DooSan so much, wishing for him to be her support. At least, this was what Kan got to think, feeling jealous of DooSan more often than before.

Yet, this was a different jealousy and not what others thought he was feeling at that moment. Why? Because Kan didn’t want SolHi to be with him like a woman. He simply got to love her for what she was, for being strong, and because she had always solved her problems with dignity. At the same time, he got to feel for her more than a father could feel for his daughter because, even if Kan hadn’t ever had kids, he had always wanted one, whom he wanted to always be by his side, protecting him from evil, and guide him in life. Probably because of this, he got to bond with SolHi so much, seeing in her that unprotected child he had always dreamt of. Yet, even if he always took good care of her like a father, others thought differently about his care - they thought he loved the woman SolHi. Even so, knowing what others thought about them, Kan hadn’t ever corrected those wrong thoughts. On the contrary, it seemed that he did everything to fuel those rumors, and he did that because he felt that it was the only way he could keep unserious people away from SolHi.

At that moment though when he realized that it was DooSan, whom he knew that had beautiful feelings for SolHi, the one who endangered her, Kan felt that he really failed in that story. He didn’t fail only like a man. He also failed like a parent, as it had happened a long time ago when he lost his wife and his child dreaming of bringing justice to others.

Kan suddenly silenced the voice of his mind, chasing away those memories about his unfair past, the moment he felt someone approaching him in a hurry. Yet, although Kan felt someone approaching him, he didn’t look back to check who was coming because he knew that it was DooSan, whom he got to know „after the smell.” At the same time, the detective got to recognize the noise of DooSan’s steps - something that always told Kan if a man was trustworthy or deceitful.

Thinking like that, Kan wasn’t at all wrong because it was DooSan who ran after the detective when this one left the office. The reason? That „SolHi is everything to me,” something that squirmed him inside and wasn’t allowing him to breathe normally. Because of this, DooSan told himself that he had to find out what exactly was Kan thinking about and what he felt for SolHi, just to know what plan to make or what to do after that.

Yet, getting out of the office, he didn’t see Kan in the hall as he suspected. He didn’t find him even on the roof because he went to look for him there at first. Why? He knew that Kan spent some time on the roof when he was nervous, having the same habit as SolHi. Then, seeing that Kan wasn’t on the roof, he ran to the parking lot, thinking that he’d catch up with Kan at least there. He’d been lucky eventually because, getting out of the building, he saw the detective kicking a stone, as he did each time he wanted to calm down. This made DooSan quicken his pace and make sure he’d catch up with him. He even got to run after Kan, although his leg still hurt him. Yet, seeing that he wouldn’t catch up with Kan on time because this was about to get into his car, and if this had happened, nothing in the world would have stopped the detective, DooSan shouted, „Detective Kan, wait!”

Too nervous to see or talk to DooSan at that moment, Kan quickened his pace once he heard the man’s voice. Even so, DooSan managed to grab Kan’s arm and stop him before this one could open the door. Then, struggling a little with the detective to make him look at him, DooSan told him, „Tell me at least why you are acting like that. Give me a good reason for all this.”

„A good reason? For what?” Kan asked. He did that not because he wasn’t sure what Han DooSan needed from him, but because he understood that it was the only way he could hurt DooSan’s feelings, making him think that Kan really felt something for SolHi.

DooSan didn’t fall into his trap though, but confidently asked him, „Why exactly don’t you want SolHi to be involved in Gi’s operation? It’s what I want to know because, in a different case, you wouldn’t have opposed it. Now instead…”

„Now it’s different.”

„How?”

„Just because she doesn’t know what those individuals are doing for a living. Or… did you tell her already?”

„I’m not sure,” replied DooSan, confused. „I think so. I think Gi told her. If not, I don’t think she would have been involved in this… in something unknown for her.”

„Well, I think that she would have been involved anyway. Why? Because SolHi can get into trouble without thinking about the consequences. Why? She wants justice for all the victims she meets in her way, thinking that’s the only way she can help herself because… if then, when that event happened to her, someone had helped her as she helped others, SolHi would have been a different person today. That’s why I think that at least we should be rational and keep her away from problems.”

„Something I will do if you tell me the real reason for your stubbornness to keep SolHi away from this operation. I don’t believe what you’ve told us in the office: that’s because she’s a woman and that’s why she shouldn’t be involved.”

„And you are right: it’s not only because of this. Yet, I can’t tell you a word, Prosecutor Han. The only one who can talk about all this is SolHi. So, if you want to find out things, ask her or at least talk to her about the details of this case. If you tell her everything, I’m sure she’ll give up on this case.”

„Something I doubt though. You are the one who said that SolHi wants justice for the victims.”

„Yes, I said that. Yet, I also know that if you tell her the truth, she won’t be involved in this case.”

„What truth are you talking about, Detective Kan? Just tell me straight, and don’t go around the bush! It’s the only way I can help you to…”

„To help me? Don’t get me wrong now, Prosecutor Han: I don’t need your help, but SolHi.”

„Why?” DooSan suddenly shouted. „What kind of help SolHi needs, Kan? Tell me because I don’t understand a thing. The reason? I know SolHi and I know she’s able to do that.”

„You don’t know her at all. You don’t know what she feels, what she thinks, her preferences, and the rest. You don’t know at least something that small even if you live with her. Why? This has never interested you - to know her better. You didn’t care about her or if she suffered. That’s why I don’t like the idea of you two living together. Why? I don’t think she can rely on you.”

„What about you, Detective?” DooSan hissed through his teeth. „If you were me, would SolHi rely on you?”

„Yes. Absolutely.”

„Like a boss or… like a man?”

Kan looked at him, thunderstruck. „Like a man?”

„Yes, like a man. Or what, will you tell me that you don’t have feelings for SolHi?”

„No, I never said that. I haven’t ever denied this thing and I won’t ever do that. Why? Because I really care about her, I want her to be fine, to be happy. Something I doubt she will ever achieve while being with you.” Saying this, Kan turned his back to DooSan, intending to enter his car.

The detective’s innuendo enraged DooSan. This made him grab Kan’s coat and, with one move, he turned that one toward him. After that, eyes sparkling because of anger, he hissed through his teeth, „If you don’t know what you are talking about, Detective Kan, you should keep your ideas to yourself. Why? SolHi means more than you can imagine for me, more than she could have ever meant for you.”

„Are you sure about this?” Kan ironically replied, trying to provoke DooSan.

„Yes, I’m sure. Just as I’m sure I won’t ever allow you to always be around her.”

„You are really stupid then,” Kan hissed through his teeth, releasing himself from the trap of DooSan’s hands. „Because… I…” Suddenly Kan kept silent and looked elsewhere.

DooSan smiled. „You see? It’s exactly why I am sure you won’t ever be with SolHi: you lack the courage to accept what you feel in front of her.”

„I’m not the only one. Or… am I wrong now?”

„Yes, you are wrong because… even if I haven’t told her about my feelings, I’m sure she knows that.”

„That’s not a fact. Do you know why? Because… hunches sometimes have nothing to do with reality. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have ever given her phone number to that guy. Not that easily. By doing this, she lets you understand that she’s not sure of your love and that she’s alone. Thus, anybody has a free way to her heart.”

„No, Detective Kan: you are wrong now. SolHi isn’t the kind of woman who plays such games just to make someone pay attention to her. At the same time, she doesn’t play games to win someone’s heart or get a profit from something like that.”

„Yeah, I must accept you are right now. Even so, by doing this, not telling her about your thoughts and feelings, you let her know that you haven’t ever been able to win her trust: like a man or like her boss.”

„You’ve crossed the line now.”

„Why? Did I hurt your ego? If yes, I’m happy. At least… I can get revenge on you this way.”

DooSan burst into laughter. „If you want to take revenge on me, it means you accept you’ve lost in front of me. At the same time, you accept that your feelings for her aren’t those that a father feels for his daughter.”

It was Kan’s turn to grab DooSan by the collar. After that, boiling inside because of anger, he said, „The one who is crossing the line is you, Prosecutor Han. You crossed that line a long time ago when you entered her house pretending to be there for inexistent debts, dragging her into this dangerous and unsure game you are playing.”

„Game? Of course not! I haven’t ever played with her.”

„Allow me to have a different opinion. Just as I don’t trust the love you say you feel for SolHi. A fake love that’s meant to harm her eventually.”

Also grabbing Kan by the collar and staring at him with hatred, DooSan told him, „Fake? Don’t make me laugh, Detective. You have no idea about what I feel for SolHi, just as you are wrong in thinking you are the only one who cares about her.”

„If it’s so, prove it then!” Kan shouted, pushing DooSan away from him. „If you really care about SolHi, don’t let her work in this case. Keep her away from problems and danger, Prosecutor Han. If not, I swear I’ll enter this game and you’ll lose or you’ll remain headless because I can do everything for SolHi. If I have to, I can even kill!”

„Are you threatening me right now?”

„Take it as you like! Yet, it’s a sure thing: I won’t allow you to expose SolHi. Not that cruelly!”

„To expose her? I won’t do that if I know the truth, Kan! Something that forces you to tell me about this.”

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

„No, Prosecutor Han, I’m not forced to tell you anything. Even so, I’ll tell you the reason you are so eager to find out. Yet, not now.”

„If not now, when?”

„When SolHi is safe, far away from problems. Also, when I am sure that your feelings for her aren’t fake. That you don’t pretend that you care about her. Otherwise, you won’t ever find out something from me, Prosecutor Han! Never!”

Saying this, Kan entered the car, slamming the door behind him. After that, pressing the gas pedal to the brim, he left the parking lot, making that place strangely resound as though it was empty. Yet, before leaving, he opened the window and told DooSan, „One more thing, Prosecutor Han, if something ever happens to SolHi, your head will be the first one to fall off your shoulders. And this is a threat already, I swear!”

Looking behind Kan’s car, DooSan frowned. He even felt the anger boiling inside, even if his mind clearly understood why the detective acted like that. His heart instead, crazy and jealous, only felt that he was about to lose SolHi. That’s why DooSan was furious and ready to burn the world to the ground only to make sure the „fly” would stay away from her. At one point, when he felt that he wasn’t able to control himself anymore, DooSan even kicked the tire of a car, hissing through his teeth, „You have lost your mind for sure today! One is turning herself into a sexy tigress when she hadn’t ever allowed others to even hold her hand, while the other one is turning himself into a „daddy,” without being aware that he’s only a clown.” After that, powerfully gnashing his teeth, DooSan left the parking lot, determined to finish Gi’s case first. Then, he was also sure to take care of Kan, whom he intended to keep as far away as possible from SolHi… no matter the consequences.

***

„Still, Detective Kan abandoned us today, it seems to me,” So Hi Na murmured, staring through the window and looking for someone with her glance. She was in Gi’s car at that moment, in the rear back seat while Gi was behind the wheel and Mo to his right. Han DooSan instead was to Hi Na’s left, in the back seat. „Or maybe… is he afraid to lose? Eventually, I understood that it had been a bet between you all, right?”

„A bet? What the hell are you talking about?” Mo asked, giving the young detective the camera, which she started to set to make sure she’d be able to take photos when it was necessary.

„At nothing in particular,” replied DooSan instead of Hi Na. „And yes, that ogre won’t appear here. On the contrary, he’ll take care to stay far away from us, just to make sure he’ll have a good reason to twist our necks if something happens.”

„I think you are exaggerating now, prosecutor Han. I know Kan. I got to know him in all these years since we worked together. That’s why I know that he never acts like that without a reason.”

DooSan smiled. „Of course, he has a reason: Ian SolHi!” He thought. Yet, even if DooSan smiled, he wasn’t really in the mood for that. Not after the fight he had with Kan in the parking lot when that one let him know he was also interested in SolHi. That’s why, thinking so deeply about everything that happened, DooSan winced when Gi added:

„Kan is that kind of old wolf that will always act as he feels. Actually, it’s not the first time he’s acting like that with a woman.”

„Do you mean that he has been interested in other co-workers before?” DooSan hissed through his teeth so suddenly that he made the other three detectives stare in amazement at him. Because of their curious glances and being afraid not to give himself away in front of them and let them know about his feelings for SolHi, DooSan took a step back, mumbling, „I mean, isn’t this the first time he reacts like that in something related to Detective Ian?”

„Nea,” replied Gi, looking in front again. „Ian SolHi wasn’t on the team at that time. The event I’m talking about happened about 8 or 9 years ago. At that time, our team was investigating a criminal organization that was trafficking women. And, as the investigation was too slow, our bosses decided to infiltrate someone in that group. The best candidate they found was a young detective that just joined the team. The reason? Nobody knew her and this could have led us to success. Yet, Kan thought differently. He was sure that it was the worst decision ever and did everything for our colleague not to be involved in that organization, but nobody listened to him, even if they should have done this though.”

The detective’s answer made DooSan nervously move in the back seat, finally understanding that maybe Kan acted weirdly for another reason and not because of his feelings for SolHi. An unknown reason that was a kind of wake-up call for Kan. That’s why, DooSan finally asked, „Should I understand now that the investigation didn’t finish as you wanted?”

„Exactly. It tragically ended because, having no experience in working with such groupings, they quickly discovered her. Thus, to show everybody how strong they were and that they weren’t afraid of anything, they simply executed her. Right in front of us. That’s why Kan is so against involving our female colleagues in such groupings.”

Gi’s words made DooSan gnash his teeth, finally understanding that maybe he rushed in allowing SolHi to turn back to work. He understood that maybe he should have insisted on Kan for that one to give him an answer to the question that kept spinning in his head, „What could have happened to SolHi in that operation?” Yet, once it was too late to step back already, he could only accept his mistake and do everything he could to keep her safe.

He winced again when he heard Hi Na saying, „What I think is that Detective Kan’s reaction has nothing to do with the event nine years ago but for another reason.”

„What do you mean?” Mo inquired.

„Well, I don’t know how to explain what I feel, but I think that it might be related to something that happened to Ian SolHi in the past.”

„A bad experience,” murmured DooSan.

„Something like that. Anyway, as I said, it might be only a hunch. Even so, calling it a woman’s intuition or how you like to call it, I still think that Detective Kan is somewhere around because we all know how much he cares about each member of his team, especially about Detective Ian. That’s why he doesn’t want her involved in this.”

„I also think so,” said Mo. „Eventually, we all know what happened to Detective Ian in the past. Thus, after such a trauma, it’s difficult for all of us not to try to defend her. Those who care about her, I mean. That’s why…” Mo’s sudden whistle made everybody attentive eventually. Especially when he, looking with enthusiasm at SolHi, who was stepping out of DooSan’s luxury car, which he „borrowed” her to catch the „fly.” Yet, Mo didn’t whistle because of the car but because of the mini dress SolHi was wearing, something that made Mo say, „I thought Detective Ian couldn’t be that sexy. To be damn! If I had known how well she could look in such a dress, she would have been mine since long ago.” For this remark, DooSan rewarded him with a growl while Gi slapped his colleague’s head. „Yes, yes, I’ll keep my mouth shut. Anyway, it was just an innocent remark!” Murmured Mo, smiling.

DooSan wasn’t as happy as Mo was though. He even felt at one point that someone poured a bucket of hot water over him, seeing how cool SolHi looked in that dress and her sexy moves while she was heading toward the „fly.” That one, casually dressed but still elegant, was waiting for her in front of the coffee shop, all smiles. This made DooSan growl „Leech” through his teeth, a word that reminded him about Iu Min and the event on the beach, a memory that made him nervously move again in the back seat.

„Something happened, Prosecutor Han?” Hi Na teased him, seeing DooSan acting weirdly.

„No, no, nothing. Just… take pictures of everything,” DooSan rushed to answer, forcing a dumb smile.

„Something I was about to do already because… uh, that dress looks so good on her,” said So, smiling, taking picture after picture of SolHi and her companion.

„Sexy my ass,” DooSan shouted in his head. „She could have chosen something more elegant and with more fabric on it,” he continued his thought in an irritated voice. He even powerfully gnashed his teeth when he saw the individual kissing SolHi’s cheek to greet her. Then, the moment the „fly” touched SolHi’s back, heading both toward the coffee shop, because of so much jealousy DooSan kicked the seat in front of him. Gi glared at him for this, a hint that he felt the kick in his back very well.

Seeing Gi’s beast eyes, who kept asking him with his glance „What the hell happened to you?” DooSan grinned. Then, he even whispered a „Sorry, a cramp” into the detective’s ear to soften that one’s heart. After that, when Gi raised his hand to let DooSan know that they were good, DooSan fixed his glance through the front windshield on SolHi, who was cheerfully talking to the „fly” in front of the shop. This made the man growl in his head again, „I’ll see you later, Ian SolHi. Then, I’ll show you for sure who the hell I am!” After that, burning inside, DooSan folded his arms over his chest, still eyes on SolHi and her idiot companion.

DooSan’s childish reaction made Hi Na smile. Although she wasn’t sure of this, she still suspected that something special happened between SolHi and Prosecutor Han. Yet, even if she suspected this, she decided to keep her mouth shut because of simple feminine solidarity. Eventually, it wasn’t her business with whom her co-worker was spending her nights. Yet, noticing Gi’s discreet sign, she started taking photos again, leaving Han DooSan alone.

However, even if he seemed calm, DooSan still felt that he was burning inside. He felt that more intensely after hearing SolHi asking the guy in a playful voice, „Have you been waiting for a long time?” An answer to that question none of them heard because the „fly” decided to whisper it into her ear, making SolHi laugh. After that, thrilled, while they were climbing the coffee shop’s stairs, she told him, „Oh, I’m really sorry about this. Yet, what to do?! Women are like that: we never pay attention to the clock if we are in front of the mirror. Even so, I still think that it’s worth the wait.”

„Absolutely,” the „fly” rushed to assure her. „Actually, it’s not a waste of time to spend many hours in front of a mirror if the result is worth millions.”

„Wow, do you really think so? That I’m beautiful?” SolHi asked, taking a seat, after the „gentleman” helped her with pulling the seat.

Who answered that question was DooSan, who texted her right away. „If you want me to come there and leave your fly wingless, I suggest you keep flirting with him, Ian SolHi! You know very well who I am.” Hearing the notification of the received message, SolHi smiled. After that, discreetly, she read it but didn’t answer it. This made DooSan nervously move again in his seat while, deep inside him, he was yelling, „Well, yeah, now you really crossed the line by ignoring me, Detective Ian! You definitely looked for it!” After that, damn pissed off, he started to write a very long message, which he intended to send her once he finished it.

Halfway through writing that message, DooSan stopped and frowned when he heard SolHi loudly laughing at one of her interlocutor’s spicy jokes. To his great surprise, DooSan even got to stare at Detective So’s camera where he clearly saw the image of SolHi laughing. This made him slowly growl while squeezing the phone in his hand so hard that he’d been about to break it. Then, he pulled back when he spotted Detective So’s glance focused on him and heard her saying, „Do you want it?” A question that flustered DooSan.

His frustration didn’t last long. Only for a few seconds. After that, clearing his voice, he idly said, „No. I was just curious. You can continue.”

The prosecutor’s elusive answer and the fact that he looked through the window to his left, at the crowded street and not at SolHi, and at what was going on inside the coffee shop that was a priority for the operation, made Hi Na smile again. Yet, because of the same solidarity, she kept her mouth shut, although a few spicy words were spinning on the top of her tongue. Why did Detective So feel the need to tease Han DooSan? Simple: he looked for this because, at the guy’s question, „What do you do for a living?” addressed to SolHi, he answered, hissing the words through his teeth, „She hunts flies like you.”

DooSan’s mumbling made the other detectives exchange glances eventually. Gi and Mo even elbowed each other at one point, understanding that even if DooSan tried to seem calm, jealousy was speaking in his place. They also understood that he felt hurt that SolHi ignored him, who was focusing her mind only on the operation and care less about his childish jealousy.

They calmed down eventually and became attentive when SolHi told the guy, answering the previous question, „Business! Everything that brings money means a good business.” She said that, staring into his eyes because she considered such a question suspicious, especially because they just met. Yet, even if all this seemed weird to her, she decided not to give herself away, but talk about their „jobs” to make sure he’d talk about himself. „What about you?” She asked eventually.

„I…,” was the guy’s evasive answer. „The same. I’m doing business. All that brings money and brings men like me into the spotlight is a good business to me. At least, it’s what I think: that’s good for me.”

SolHi smiled again. „This one, with being in the spotlight, goes without saying,” she said. „Actually, it can’t be different! I mean, for a man like you, who knows how to flatter a woman, not to be in the spotlight.”

„Sometimes it is difficult though,” he tried to be humble.

Such words didn’t fool SolHi because she was already used to sweet words. Even so, she decided that if she kept teasing him, it would be unproductive. At the same time, flattering him didn’t mean that it would have been easier to succeed. That’s why she only said, „Difficult but not impossible.”

„I must agree now! Eventually, it all depends on how we react, right?” After that, gently, he leaned over the table, holding her hand into his.

This game of seduction was at hand for SolHi. That’s why she did the same: she slowly leaned over the table, staring into the man’s eyes while smiling because she knew very well that a beautiful woman’s smile had always opened doors… lots of doors if she knew when and how to use it. Then, after a few moments of staring into his eyes, she said, „It depends on the circumstances, don’t you think so? At the same time, it also depends on if you have or don’t have doubts.”

„Like?” He pretended not to understand her hint.

„Like… it’s absolutely normal for a beautiful woman to be interested in a man… that looks good. It’s what I have in mind right now… and the fact that it might be damn interesting to play a game in two and not alone.”

„Damn smart strategy,” said Mo when he heard SolHi’s answer. „Yet, he seems to be a tough one for her.”

„He only looks so,” replied Gi confidently. „And he’ll look like this only until he gets behind bars.”

„Or until someone twists his neck,” DooSan nervously murmured, moving in his place. He was outraged because SolHi had never told him such sweet words before or commended him. Yet, she said a lot of good things about the „fly,” ten minutes only after meeting him, something DooSan didn’t intend to forgive her for, not easily.

Eventually, understanding that acting like that was pathetical, especially after catching the detectives’glances focused on him, DooSan right away „calmed down,” forcing a smile. After that, he leaned a little in front to hear what SolHi kept saying to her interlocutor. He was damn interested in that conversation because he wanted to know what else could cross that woman’s mind. And, as SolHi was the kind of woman who didn’t love to leave others to wait for her, she amazed him more when she told the guy:

„Honestly, I’d be more interested in finding out what men think about us. About beautiful women, I mean. Or… if you know what we want from you.”

Her beautiful smile made the man smile too. Then, confident in himself, he said, „More business? Luxury? Jewelry? Flowers? Or maybe… money?”

„Of course not! Do you know why? Because, to have all this in life, you need one thing: a good man! A man that looks good, to be more precise!” Then, slowly moving her finger on the back of the man’s hand in her attempt to seduce him, SolHi whispered, „I really smile when I see someone I like.” An intelligent move because that discreet invitation for something „together” made him lean over the table, trying to kiss her.

SolHi suddenly pulled back when she heard Gi’s voice in her headphones, „Take him easy, SolHi, and from far away! We don’t want to scare him and run, right?” Yet, her game of one sweet and another one tough seemed not to be something the individual liked because she suddenly saw a smile of unpleasant surprise on his face. Even so, she knew that it wasn’t time to give up or that he’d give up. Thinking so, she wasn’t at all wrong because, soon after this, he looked at her again and smiled. Then, when the waiter brought them the drinks they ordered, he said:

„For beautiful women!”

„Let it be for intelligent ones!” SolHi told herself, clinking her glass of his. Then, while he noisily sipped from his Cuba Libre, SolHi looked through the window, discreetly making the sign of an „ok” toward the car of the detectives. After that, running her hand through her hair, with gentle moves, she also sipped from the Campari Orange she ordered. Yet, feeling that the cocktail was stronger than the one she asked for and when she understood that it wasn’t the right moment for her to be dizzy because she had to drive, she „dropped” the glass, which, in contact with the floor, broke into pieces. This made her jump to her feet, stuttering, „Oh, so clumsy! I can’t explain how… oh, I’m really sorry for this!”

The individual seemed to understand her trick because he smiled. Then, he asked the waiter to gather the pieces of glass, telling SolHi with fake calmness in his voice, „This might have happened to anybody. Don’t worry for… nothing!”

„Well, not for… nothing,” she murmured. „Yet, you are also right: sometimes when you are nervous you can also be clumsy. Especially when you are with someone you like.”

„Then… what about knowing each other better?” He said.

„To know each other better? Where exactly?” SolHi pretended not to understand the hint. „More than this, to know each other better… how?” Then, she kept silent, a hint she liked his game.

„It depends on how you’d like to get to know each other better.”

„Mmm, an interesting offer but still… I’m not interested.”

„Why?”

„Because… it doesn’t tell me too much. For example, if you had told me from the start that you were interested in a little bit of… „action” … maybe I would have accepted faster than you could imagine.” After that, winking, she touched the back of his hand again, gently moving her fingers on his skin. A move that made Hi Na smile and say:

„Respect for this girl, really! She knows how to play with them.” After that, discreetly, she looked at DooSan, whose mimics explained a lot of his feelings. In particular, he let others know that he hated the way SolHi acted at that moment.

Yet, those mimics weren’t mute but accompanied by a lot of thoughts, those where he whispered into SolHi’s ear, „You’ll see what kind of action you’ll have after this, Ian SolHi! More than this, I swear I’ll show you how a real man reacts when a woman like you flirts with him so openly.” Yet, even if he wanted so badly to express those thoughts loudly, he only comforted himself by cooking his nose. Then, he looked at the passers-by, who were rushing somewhere and seemed to try to piss Han DooSan with their freedom while he was forced to be a captive in that car when he’d have liked to vanish from the earth’s surface.

Eventually, he focused on the operation again when he heard Gi telling SolHi, „Try to make him talk more about himself and about the business he bragged about so much.” An urge SolHi followed right away because they heard her saying:

„Still, you didn’t answer my question.”

This made the individual frown. „What question?”

„About your… business and what you are doing in particular.”

„Aaa, nothing special. Just… selling,” he suddenly murmured. Then, trying to change the subject, he said, „What about you?”

„I? Also nothing out of the ordinary,” replied SolHi, smiling. „And… honestly, I don’t have to work because I have been lucky to be my „father’s girl.” Thus, I can work only on paper. It’s better this way, trust me because… I have more time for fun thus.”

„Should I understand that her „daddy” is me?” DooSan asked, frowning. „I hope not. Especially, no… as I know her, she wouldn’t have ever accepted something like that, not when she knows that I’m here.” Then, he kept silent again when he heard the „fly” saying:

„You are a lucky person then. That you don’t have to work, I mean. And, I must accept that I like what I hear because… this also means you know what exactly you want in life.”

„Hell yes! Especially, I know what it feels to have a nightlife,” SolHi murmured in half a voice, trying to intensify the emotions between them.

„Something that tells me that you won’t deny an invitation to the club tonight. Or… yes?” The „fly” whispered while kissing her hand.

SolHi smiled. „It’s what I was waiting for, baby,” she told herself. Loudly, she only said, „Why refuse something that can bring me pleasure?” Then, slowly leaning over the table and touching his hand too, gently, she whispered, „You don’t even know how funny I can be when I’m in a good mood.”

„It’s exactly what we need… both of us,” he murmured, slowly „blushing.”

The same happened to SolHi. Then she smiled when she heard Mo’s voice in her headphones, „And I thought he’s tough and won’t ever fall into the trap. Well, respect, Detective Ian, you are a real tigress!” A smile the „fly” didn’t notice because SolHi was too close to him and looked through the window at that moment and not at him.

DooSan saw her smile though. That’s why he hissed through his teeth again, „Tigress, my…! She’s just an inexperienced cat that plays with the fire. Yet, I’ll take care to teach her some manners and also cut her nails, just not to be able to scratch my skin again.” After that, staring at the three detectives, who were looking at him in amazement, DooSan said nothing. He only looked through the window again because he felt he was about to give himself away and let others know about his feelings.

***

„I can’t believe this,” said Mo, staring at the „fly’s” car, which he parked not that far from the building where DooSan’s apartment was, where SolHi entered after parking her car. „Did he follow her?”

„Something we’ve expected,” said Gi. „He makes sure they won’t fail tonight and that the target won’t run away.”

„I think all this is more than insurance,” said So. „It’s something strange. At least, I feel strange about all this,” she added, slowly tapping over her chest with her fist. Then, she frowned when Mo teased her:

„The famous hunch again?”

„Yes! And you don’t even know how bad I want my hunch to have something to do with you… something bad,” she growled.

„Why? Are you that afraid to lose me?”

„Absolutely. Thus, if this happens, I’ll be grateful to all the Angels for the „favor” they’ll do to me. So, give us all a break and just vanish!”

„Why should I vanish when…”

„What about keeping your mouth shut?” Gi told them off, knowing very well that if his pupils started a fight, they didn’t end it too soon. Then, seeing the individual getting out of the car and heading toward SolHi’s car, which was parked in front of the building, the four stuck to their seats, trying not even to breathe, not to be spotted there, spying.

The „fly” didn’t seem aware of their presence there. That’s why he acted openly and with no fear. He even dared to take a photo of the plaque and of SolHi’s car, a BMW iX, black, which was DooSan’s actually. Then, while heading toward his car, he made a phone call.

Who saw the „fly” giving that phone call had been So. Seeing this, she slowly tapped on Mo’s right shoulder, making him a sign to open the window. Thus, through the half-open window, they heard the individual saying, „Yes, she fell into the trap faster than I was expecting. Mmm, I also thought so: that it’d be damn difficult to convince her. Yet, things like this often happen. So, once the fish is caught, I say to prepare the grill. We’ll need it for tonight and a lot of fun.” After that, entering his car, he stepped on the gas pedal to the brim.

„Interesting,” said So, sitting in her seat again. „This one seems smarter than we thought he was. Just as I understand now why all his victims said that they felt that someone followed them. This trash was behind them.”

„Trash is a nice word for someone like him,” Gi hissed through his teeth. „He deserved other words to describe the darkness of his soul. What kind of words? We’ll decide after catching him and twisting his neck! Now, let’s follow him!”

„Without me!” DooSan said, suddenly getting out of the car, right at the moment Gi turned the engine on. After that, paying no attention to the detectives’desperate signs, who were trying to make him turn back or he’d give them away, DooSan headed toward the entrance to the building. Yet, he did that on the sly, somehow afraid he’d be discovered there because he wasn’t eventually sure if someone else besides SolHi’s „fly” followed her there.

***

Hearing the door code formed, SolHi frowned. „What the hell?” She thought. „Who came? I know that Han DooSan won’t pass by here, not to give us away. Is… his mother then?” Suddenly she shook her head, realizing that DooSan wouldn’t have given her his apartment for that operation without telling Marie about this. Yet, once she could convince herself of this only by checking it, she put one of DooSan’s shirts on her because she had just taken that mini dress off her. Then, on tiptoe, she approached the drawer where she hid the gun, and, taking it with her, she headed toward the living room, on the sly.

Getting into the small hall that separated the bedroom from the living room, SolHi stopped, realizing that the door hadn’t been opened after forming the code. Also, she didn’t hear the code formed again, as though the one who formed it changed his mind. This seemed suspicious to her because… „It might be that the idiot from the gym had followed me down here to check if I didn’t lie to him and I live here,” she thought. „Yet, he didn’t seem that stupid to take such a risk and be caught red-handed. More than this, if I catch him spying on me, I can call the police or this could have alerted me. Even so, I still think that’s worth checking. For my safety.”

Said and done: after encouraging herself like that, SolHi continued to sneak toward the living room. Once there, she’d been forced to hide behind the couch when she heard that the code was formed again and the door suddenly opened. This move forced her to keep her breath, feeling her heart madly beating in her chest. Even so, afraid to death, SolHi knew that only one there could be saved after this: she or the one who „had dared” to enter the apartment in broad daylight. So, not to waste more precious time because she needed it to prepare for the „big date” she had planned for that night, SolHi peeped from behind the couch and aimed the intruder with her gun: no one other than DooSan, who was standing in the middle of the room, arms folded, and staring at her.

His presence there irritated SolHi. Right after realizing he was there, she hissed through her teeth, „Damn it, Han DooSan! Sneaking around will kill someone for sure. And… what the hell are you doing here?”

„Shouldn’t I have been here or what?” DooSan feistily asked.

„Yes, you shouldn’t have been here because, in case you have forgotten this, we are in the middle of an operation. Actually, I’m sure you’ve seen the idiot following me up here once you were with Gi and his pupils.”

„Yeah, I saw him: both when we came and when he left.”

SolHi frowned. „He left? Why? I thought he’d stay there and keep an eye on me until tonight.”

„Well, it seems you’ve been wrong because… why should he bother himself with wasting his precious time and keep an eye on you once the „fish” fell in the net already? It was logical for him to vanish once he was sure of his success.”

„Are you lecturing me right now?”

„Shouldn’t I?!” DooSan hissed through his teeth. After that, he also answered his own question, „Well, I think I have the right to be here once I’m your „daddy.” Thus, I can check on my „daughter.” Plus, here is my house and I can be here whenever I want, baby. And, come on, tell „daddy” how much money do you need for the club tonight.”

„Can you not exaggerate? I only did my job there.”

„Too diligent in my opinion. And, stop pretending that all the credit belongs to you once the dress gets the ten in this story. Because of that dress, you go on a date tonight with your „fly,” a romantic date that can make you feel on top of the world because… you are who said that, right: the „action” is the most important for you.”

His commentary drove SolHi crazy. That’s why she suddenly shouted at him, „I said to stop this, DooSan. It’s not either the right place or the moment for stupid jealousy.”

„Jealousy? No, baby: I just try to open your eyes and let you know you are doing bad things.”

„What you are doing is called abuse of power, Han DooSan! Why? Because, acting like that, you are crossing the line. We are only colleagues and, among colleagues, such words aren’t acceptable. So, do me a favor and get lost!”

The moment she turned her back to him intending to leave, DooSan grabbed her by the arm and, squeezing it a little, he forced her to watch him. He even hugged her after this and didn’t let her go, although SolHi tried that. Something that made SolHi push him away from her and hiss through her teeth, „What the hell do you think you’re doing, DooSan?”

The man seemed not to think rationally though. All he was seeing at that moment was the threat: of losing her or seeing her in someone else’s arms. That’s why, still holding her to his chest, he confidently told her, „What am I doing? I let others know that when you play with fire, you can burn yourself, Ian SolHi! Something you seem not to realize, just as you don’t understand that I don’t like the dangerous game you are playing. Thus, as you haven’t been a good girl today, I’ll punish you: like any father that respects himself!” After that, immobilizing her to make sure she wouldn’t run away, DooSan passionately kissed her.

Feeling his lips touching her lips, SolHi froze. She didn’t do that because of amazement as it happened the last time but to let him know she wasn’t in the mood for stupid jokes. She actually sent him a cruel message that night: that nothing goes well when using force. So, when he finally understood that it was useless to continue that kiss when she wasn’t responding to him with the same feelings, DooSan took a step back, looking at that stone statue in front of him, who suddenly told him, „Did you think a kiss would bring me to your feet?”

„What?” He asked, confused. „What are you…”

„I’m talking about what you are doing now, DooSan! This stupid game, the kiss, the scenes of jealousy in front of everybody, the words you say without thinking, and the rest. Or what, do you consider me that stupid? Do you think I’m not aware of anything and you can do whatever you want while I, like an obedient child, do everything you ask me to do? Kissing you, entering your bed, being submissive, and so many others?”

„Yes, I want all this with you, SolHi. But not using the force because what’s between us…”

„There is only hatred between us, Han DooSan. Only hatred and nothing more. So, stop deceiving yourself with such fake illusions and live your life because you won’t ever have more than this with me.”

„Then… nobody ever will have more than this with you, SolHi,” DooSan told her when she turned her back to him, heading toward the bedroom. „Yes, if you aren’t mine, you won’t be with anybody else! I swear because… I’m not that stupid to allow another man to touch the woman I love. That’s why if you don’t want to see falling heads all over starting today, I suggest you control yourself. Especially, stop flirting with others because… I’m able to show everybody what kind of man should stay by your side.” After that, DooSan left the apartment, slamming the door, even if SolHi was still looking behind him, confused.

After the man’s departure, SolHi looked at the door for a long time. She was confused and felt weird because, although she understood why DooSan acted like that, she still couldn’t justify his behavior. Yes, she couldn’t understand how he could be so irrational because she was doing this for everybody, for their cause, and for bringing justice to the victims, even if she also hated to behave like that. Yet, he didn’t understand that but judged her, not understanding that she was afraid of love. She feared that love that seemed to be born from hatred… from that hatred that they felt for each other at first. A hatred that always told her that there wasn’t a future for the two of them. At least… there wasn’t a future together.