Chapter 112: The Tenth Case (12)

I find a quiet corner in the station, away from prying eyes. Closing my eyes, I reluctantly summon the voice I've both relied on and feared for years.

"Bundy," I think, "I need your help with this case."

There's an unusual pause before the familiar voice responds, its typical smugness noticeably absent. "I'm not sure I can be of much assistance this time, detective."

Surprised by this uncharacteristic reluctance, I press further. "What's wrong? You've never hesitated to offer your... unique perspective before."

Bundy's voice in my mind sounds oddly distant, almost confused. "I'm not entirely certain. It's strange, but I feel as if there's some kind of... force, for lack of a better word, telling me not to interfere."

This catches me off guard. In all the years I've grappled with this internal demon, I've never encountered anything like this. "A force? What do you mean? Since when do you listen to anyone or anything?"

"Believe me, detective, I'm as perplexed as you are," Bundy's voice replies, a hint of frustration creeping in. "It's as if... as if the answers you seek are already within your grasp. There's no room for me to insert my insights. It's quite disconcerting, to be honest."

I furrow my brow, trying to make sense of this. "Are you saying I already know how to solve this case?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Bundy's voice confirms. "The pieces are all there, laid out before you. You don't need my help to put them together. In fact, it seems I'm being purposefully held back from interfering."

This revelation leaves me feeling both relieved and unsettled. On one hand, the idea that I might not need to rely on this dark part of my psyche is appealing. On the other, the implication that some greater force is at play sends a chill down my spine.

"I... I see," I think, still processing this strange turn of events. "Thank you, I suppose. For your honesty, if nothing else."

As Bundy's presence fades from my mind, I'm left with more questions than answers. But there's also a growing sense of determination. If the solution to this case truly lies within my own understanding, then it's time I trust my instincts and piece together what I already know.

Opening my eyes, I take a deep breath. The hallway lights seem brighter somehow, as if illuminating a path forward I hadn't seen before. With renewed focus, I head back to the interrogation room.

And then, suddenly, a thought hits me like a bolt of lightning. A baby. Or a child. The memory of one of our earlier murder cases floods back, the details crystallizing with newfound clarity.

In that case, we had suspected that our perpetrator might have a child of their own. The way the crime scene had been handled, the hesitation evident in certain actions – it all pointed to someone who understood the fragility and innocence of a young life. Stay connected with m|vl|e|mp|y|r

My heart begins to race. According to our profile, the suspect isn't married, but that doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't have a child. The careful planning, the meticulous execution of each crime – it all fits. But there was always that one anomaly: the reluctance to harm the youngest victims.

This could be the key we've been missing. If the suspect does have a child, it might be his one vulnerable point, the chink in his otherwise impenetrable armor.

Just as this realization washes over me, I hear footsteps approaching. It's Officer Oh, one of Ko's team members, carrying a stack of files. He's heading towards the interrogation room, likely to report new findings to Ko.

"Officer Oh," I call out, "anything new on our suspect?"

Oh stops, looking a bit surprised. "Not really, Detective. As Kim said, his life is pretty miserable. No assets, no house to speak of. No family or close friends either. It's all pretty bleak, to be honest."

I nod, processing this information. Then, a question forms on my lips, driven by my recent epiphany. "What about previous relationships? Any ex-wives or long-term partners?"

Oh shakes his head. "No marriages on record. But," he pauses, flipping through his notes, "there is mention of a former girlfriend. They worked together at a factory a few years back. They're not in touch anymore, though."

This catches my attention. "Do we have a name? Any other details about this relationship?"

Oh furrows his brow, scanning his notes again. "The name's Lee Hong-sook. That's about all we have right now. The relationship ended when Kim left the factory job. No contact since, as far as we can tell."

I nod, trying not to let my excitement show. This could be the lead we need.

I'm still processing the new information when I see Ko walking towards me, her face etched with a mix of frustration and determination.

"Any new insights?" she asks, her tone hopeful despite the long hours we've put in.

I nod, feeling a surge of excitement. "Actually, yes. I just learned from Officer Oh that Kim used to date a woman named Lee Hong-sook when they worked at the same factory. They've been out of touch, but I think it's worth looking into."

Ko's eyebrows raise slightly. "Interesting. What are you thinking?"

I take a deep breath, organizing my thoughts. "I have a hunch. It might be nothing, but... what if Kim and Min-seo had a child together? It could explain some inconsistencies in our suspect's profile."

Ko considers this for a moment, then nods. "It's a long shot, but at this point, we need to explore every avenue. What do you propose?"

"I'd like to track down Min-seo and talk to her," I say. "If there is a child, or if she has any other insights into Kim's past, it could be crucial."

Ko doesn't hesitate. "Do it. We need answers, and we need them fast. Keep me posted on what you find."

With Ko's approval, I hurry to my desk and log into our database. After a few minutes of searching, I find a Lee Hong-sook who matches the age and former employment details we have.

I dial the number, my heart racing with anticipation. After a few rings, a woman's voice answers.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Lee Hong-sook?" I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral.

There's a pause before she responds, her voice suddenly guarded. "Who's asking?"

I introduce myself as a detective and mention Kim Su-chul's name. Before I can even finish my sentence, Lee interrupts.

"I don't know him. I have nothing to say about him." Her words are clipped, defensive.

"Ms. Lee, please, if we could just—" But the line goes dead. She's hung up.

I stare at the phone for a moment, my suspicions confirmed. There's definitely something here. Lee's reaction was too strong for someone with nothing to hide.

Determined, I decide to pay her a visit in person. I pull up her address from our database and head out.

Thirty minutes later, I'm standing in front of a rundown apartment building. But when I knock on Lee's supposed door, an elderly man answers, clearly confused by my presence. The address is outdated.

Frustrated but not deterred, I pivot to my next option: the factory where Lee and Kim first met.

The factory is a large, imposing structure on the outskirts of the city. Inside, the air is thick with the smell of machinery and sweat. I find the manager's office and explain my situation.

The manager, a middle-aged man named Jang, listens intently. "Lee Hong-sook? Yeah, I remember her. Quiet girl, kept to herself mostly. But she left years ago."

"Is there anyone here who might know more about her?" I ask, hoping for a lead.

Jang thinks for a moment, then nods. "Yeah, actually. Min-ji over in packaging was pretty close with her. Hey, Min-ji!" he calls out. Searᴄh the NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

A woman in her late thirties approaches, wiping her hands on her work apron. "Yes, Mr. Jang?"

"This detective here wants to know about Hong-sook. You two were friends, right?"

Min-ji's eyes widen slightly at the mention of Hong-sook. She turns to me, curiosity and caution warring in her expression.

"What do you want to know about Hong-sook?" she asks.

I take a deep breath, knowing I need to tread carefully. "Anything you can tell me would be helpful. When did you last see her? Do you know where she might be now?"

Min-ji hesitates, clearly weighing her words. "Hong-sook... she had it rough, you know? Always struggling to make ends meet. Last I heard, she was working at a convenience store, but that was a while ago."

"Did she ever mention Kim Su-chul?" I ask, watching her reaction closely.

Min-ji's face clouds over. "Su-chul? Yeah, they dated for a bit. It... it wasn't good. Hong-sook changed after that.

Became more withdrawn."

I lean in, sensing we're getting to something important. "Changed how? Did something specific happen?"

Min-ji looks around nervously, then lowers her voice. "Look, I don't know details, okay? But there was a night... Hong-sook came to work with bruises. She quit not long after that. I tried to stay in touch, but she just...

disappeared."

"One more thing," I say, a hunch forming. "Did Hong-sook ever mention having a child?"

Min-ji's eyes widen in surprise. "A child? No, never. But..." she pauses, thinking. "There was a time, right before she left, when she kept missing work. Said she was sick, but rumors went around, you know?"

I nod, understanding the implication. "Thank you, Min-ji. You've been incredibly helpful."

As I walk out of the factory, something nags at the back of my mind. Min-ji's information was helpful, but her body language, the way she looked around nervously before speaking... it doesn't sit right with me. Years on the job have taught me to trust these instincts.

I make a show of getting into my car and driving away, but I only go around the block. Parking in a secluded spot with a view of the factory entrance, I settle in to wait.

An hour crawls by. Workers trickle out as shifts change, but no sign of Min-ji. Just as I'm beginning to think I've made a mistake, I spot her. She exits the factory quickly, her head down, constantly glancing around. This isn't the behavior of someone simply heading home after work.

I start the car, keeping a safe distance as I follow her. Min-ji walks briskly for several blocks, then suddenly ducks into a small, dingy cafe. It's the kind of place you'd miss if you weren't looking for it.

Parking across the street, I watch the cafe's entrance. Ten minutes pass before Min-ji emerges, this time accompanied by another woman. My heart rate picks up as I get a good look at her companion's face. It matches the photo in our database - it's Lee Hong-sook.