Chapter 75: National Forensic Service (11)

After hours of searching, my eyes widen as I finally make the connection. The middle-aged man from the press conference isn't just any Senior Inspector - he's Hong Manduk, an official at the Central Police Academy.

"Got you," I mutter, quickly pulling up his file.

Hong Manduk, 52 years old, married with two kids. He's been at the academy for over a decade, responsible for training entry-level officers. That's where he must have met Kim Eunji when she was a cadet.

Without a word to my colleagues, I grab my police jacket and head for the door.

"Hey, where are you going?" one of them calls out.

I pause at the threshold, turning slightly. "Following a lead. I'll check in later."

As I stride down the hallway, Aileen's voice pipes up in my head. "So, you've got a name. But how exactly do you plan to prove any connection between Hong and Eunji? It's not like you can just accuse a senior official of conspiracy without solid evidence."

"I know that," I mutter under my breath, pushing through the station's main doors into the cool night air.

"Then what's your brilliant plan?" Aileen presses.

A grim smile crosses my face. "Sometimes, the old ways are the best. I'm going to stake them out."

"Stake them out?" Aileen sounds skeptical. "You're going to waste time sitting in a car, hoping to catch them... what? Having a clandestine meeting?"

"Exactly," I reply, climbing into my car. "Hong's married. If he and Eunji are meeting up, it'll either be at a hotel or at her place. Either way, I'm going to catch them in the act."

As I settle into the driver's seat, I pull out my phone and scroll through my contacts. I find the number I'm looking for and hit dial. After a few rings, a familiar voice answers.

"Park Jae-sung," the voice says.

"Jae-sung, it's me," I say, keeping my voice low despite being alone in the car. "I've got something big. Can we meet?"

There's a pause on the other end. "How big are we talking?"

"Potentially career-making," I reply. "But I need your discretion on this."

"Alright," Jae-sung says, his interest clearly piqued. "When and where?"

We quickly set up a meeting for tomorrow morning at a quiet café we both know. As I end the call, Aileen's voice chimes in.

"I thought you were going to stake out Hong and Eunji," she says, confusion evident in her tone. "Why are you calling a reporter?"

I start the car, pulling out of the parking lot. "I can't rely on just one strategy, Aileen. To beat Kim Eunji at her own game, I need to have multiple cards to play."

"So, what exactly is your plan with this journalist?" she asks, curiosity evident in her tone. "You're not just going to hand over everything we know, are you?" Sёarᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I shake my head, even though Aileen is just a voice in my mind. "No, nothing that direct. We're going to create a buzz, Aileen. A controlled fire, if you will."

"A buzz?" Aileen sounds intrigued. "How so?"

I smile grimly, keeping my eyes on the road. "Given the current situation, Hong and Kim Eunji are probably trying to reduce their personal, in-person meetings. It's too risky for them. But if we can create a situation where they feel they have no choice but to meet..."

"Ah," Aileen interrupts, understanding dawning in her voice. "You're going to use the press to force their hand."

"Exactly," I confirm. "I'm going to feed Jae-sung just enough information to start asking questions about a potential connection between a high-ranking police academy official and Kim Eunji. Nothing concrete, mind you. Just enough to start whispers."

"And you think that'll make them meet?" Aileen sounds skeptical.

"It should," I reply. "If they catch wind that people are starting to connect the dots, they'll want to coordinate their stories, plan their next move. And when they do..."

"We'll be there to catch them," Aileen finishes.

"Precisely," I nod.

As I pull up to a red light, I can almost feel Aileen's approval. "Clever," she admits. "Risky, but clever."

"Sometimes you have to take risks to get results," I mutter, more to myself than to Aileen.

***

The next morning, the headlines of Jae-sung's newspaper scream in bold letters: "LEAK IN THE RANKS: PRESTIGIOUS POLICE UNIT COMPROMISED?"

The article, citing an unnamed source, details potential breaches within the Seoul Metropolitan Investigative Unit. It suggests that confidential information about the ongoing investigation into Detective Sung's death may have been leaked to Kim Eunji, the prime suspect. The piece also raises the possibility that Eunji herself might have obtained the information through nefarious means.

The effect is immediate and explosive.

At the police headquarters, chaos reigns. My phone buzzes incessantly with messages from confused colleagues. I ignore them all, my attention fixed on monitoring Kim Eunji's movements.

Through my sources, I hear that high-level officials are in a frenzy, each trying to distance themselves from the scandal. Emergency meetings are called, fingers are pointed, and the air is thick with tension and accusations.

Han calls me, his voice tight with stress. "Did you know about this article? Where the hell did this come from?"

"I'm as surprised as you are, sir," I lie smoothly. "But I'm on it. I'll find out what's going on."

***

The streetlights cast long shadows as I wait in my car, parked a discreet distance from Hong's house. I've been here for hours, my eyes never leaving the front door. Suddenly, there's movement - Hong emerges, looking harried and checking his watch repeatedly.

This is my chance. I slip out of the car, adjusting my cap low over my eyes. My dark outfit blends into the night, and the mask covers the lower half of my face. I move quickly but quietly, closing the distance between us.

Just as Hong reaches for his car door, I tap him on the shoulder. He spins around, startled.

"Who are you?" he demands, his voice a mix of surprise and irritation.

I keep my voice low, disguising it as best I can. "Someone who has something important to discuss with you. It's about Kim Eunji."

The effect is immediate. Hong's eyes widen, a flash of recognition and fear crossing his face before he can compose himself. It's brief, but it's all the confirmation I need - my suspicions about their relationship weren't unfounded.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Hong stammers, trying to regain his composure. But the damage is done. His reaction has told me everything I needed to know.

"I think you do," I press, keeping my voice steady. "And I think we both know there's a lot more to this story than what's being told."

Hong's eyes dart around, checking if anyone else is nearby. His nervousness is palpable. "Who are you? What do you want?"

Here's the scene you requested:

I lean in closer to Hong, my voice low and urgent. "Listen carefully. That article this morning? It's just the beginning. Kim Eunji is planning to go to the press herself."

Hong's face pales, but he remains silent, his eyes fixed on me.

"She's going to throw you under the bus," I continue, watching his reaction closely. "After everything you've done for her, she's ready to save herself by pinning it all on you."

Hong's jaw clenches, but he still doesn't speak. His eyes, though, tell a different story - fear, anger, and betrayal flicker across them in quick succession.

I press on, "You need to start thinking about how to save yourself, Hong. Because from where I'm standing, you're about to take a very big fall."

Hong remains motionless, his gaze never leaving my face. He's clearly processing the information, weighing his options, but he gives nothing away.

I straighten up, adjusting my cap. "That's all I came to say. What you do with this information is up to you."

Without waiting for a response, I turn and walk away, my steps measured and calm despite the adrenaline coursing through me. I can feel Hong's eyes boring into my back, but I don't look back.

As I walk away from Hong, melting into the shadows of the quiet street, Aileen's voice pipes up in my head.

"I've got to hand it to you," she says, a note of admiration in her tone. "That was pretty impressive. Planting seeds of doubt, turning them against each other... it's devious. I like it."

I allow myself a small smirk, hidden behind my mask. "Thanks, I think. But we're not out of the woods yet."

"True," Aileen agrees. "But you've definitely shaken things up. How do you think Hong will react?"

I turn a corner, heading back to my car. "Hard to say. He might panic and reach out to Eunji, or he could try to cover his own tracks. Either way, it should force them to make a move."

"Well, I'm looking forward to seeing how this all pans out," Aileen says, a hint of excitement in her voice.

As I slide into the driver's seat, I nod to myself. "Me too, Aileen. Me too. Now we wait and watch."