Midday Guest Chapter 19

“Ah, well then. The timeline matches up.”

Detective Kwon Changil’s hands moved busily. Yiwon hadn’t realized it while he was speaking, but in the silence that followed, it hit him. The fact that everything he just said had become an alibi.

“…Has the culprit been caught?”

“Not yet. We’re tracking clues, but it’s not as easy as expected. Securing CCTV footage isn’t easy either. We tried to utilize car black boxes, but most cars are set to turn off when the ignition is cut, so there’s really… no results at the moment.”

Detective Kwon Changil slurped the rest of his coffee mix and set the paper cup down. Five cups were already stacked at his spot.

“Still, thanks to you catching that the scene had been tampered with, we were able to request an autopsy immediately and get the results. Bruises were found near the shoulder, and the same for the back. It seems there was a physical struggle… we have the circumstances, but no physical evidence. It’s the work of a professional. That’s why I called you in again, Yiwon Mr., to properly secure the statements from the start.”

“…Ah.”

“Anyway, you should be careful while operating for a while. I’ve asked the local precinct to strengthen patrols, but since this is the countryside, there are inevitable constraints on personnel distribution. Be thorough with identity checks when taking guests, and pay attention to safety.”

Detective Kwon Changil informed Yiwon of several other things, including points to be cautious about and numbers to contact in case of an emergency.

“Thank you for your cooperation. You may leave now.”

The investigation ended much sooner than expected. It was before the coffee mix had even fully cooled. Yiwon drank it quickly and put the empty paper cup in the trash can.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Yiwon stood up and gave a bow. The large window behind Detective Kwon Changil’s seat was so wet with rain that the outside was barely visible. Looking outside, Detective Kwon scrunched his brow with a troubled expression.

“Somehow it’s pouring even harder than before.”

“It really is.”

“I think the distance to your house was quite a way. Will you be okay on your own?”

“Yes. It’s a quick trip if I take the bus.”

“I’d like to give you a ride. But since I’m right in the middle of an investigation, I can’t do that.”

As he said that, Detective Kwon Changil tilted his head toward the conference room next door. Yiwon, following his gaze, was slightly surprised. Through the small glass window on the door leading to the conference room, he saw a familiar face.

“…Oh.”

“He’s the guest staying at Haeundang, right?”

Yiwon answered with a “Yes” and fixed his gaze on the conference room again. Cha Seokjoo and Detective Yoon Kyungho were facing off across the table.

“Is he here for the same matter?”

“It’s true he’s involved in the same case, but…”

Detective Kwon Changil did not finish his sentence. Thinking he wouldn’t be told details about an ongoing investigation, Yiwon gave a vague “I see” and was about to turn away.

Detective Yoon Kyungho made eye contact with Detective Kwon through the window and nodded, and Cha Seokjoo looked outside following him.

And his eyes met Yiwon’s.

His eyes narrowed slightly and then returned to normal. As if he had encountered an unexpected person. As if he had run into a situation he didn’t like because things weren’t going his way.

Cha Seokjoo turned his head from looking up at Yiwon and stared straight ahead. He remained silent for a while. There was no change in the way he sat, but his gaze seemed to have changed slightly.

After thinking for a moment, Cha Seokjoo said something to Detective Yoon Kyungho. The door opened immediately, and Detective Yoon spoke to Yiwon as if he were in a difficult position.

“Could you come in for a moment?”

“…Me?”

“There are a few things I’d like to ask you to verify.”

Yiwon nodded and entered the conference room. Detective Kwon Changil sat down next to Detective Yoon Kyungho, leaving only one seat. Yiwon sat down next to Cha Seokjoo. It was so uncomfortable he felt breathless.

The questions were asked by Detective Yoon Kyungho.

“You said you were in downtown Yonggung-ri on the night the incident occurred.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Is it true that you ran into Cha Seokjoo Mr. here at the restaurant?”

Yiwon stole a glance at his side. The expressionless Cha Seokjoo was staring intently at Yoon Kyungho, giving Yiwon no opening at all.

Should he have told him in advance that he had handed over the guest ledger at Detective Kwon Changil’s request? Yiwon withdrew his gaze from peeking at Cha Seokjoo and answered clearly.

“Yes. When I arrived, he had already finished his meal and was in the middle of paying.”

Detective Yoon Kyungho asked Yiwon again as if he couldn’t believe it.

“You met? At the restaurant?”

“We met. I remember him paying in cash. I saw him give a fifty-thousand-won bill to the restaurant owner. Did you not ask the owner? She received it directly from him then.”

Detective Kwon Changil tilted his head, then closed his eyes tightly and muttered.

“…Ah, it seems the elderly lady didn’t leave a receipt since she does business in cash. So she probably acted like she didn’t know…”

Cha Seokjoo, who was leaning back in his chair, fixed his gaze on Detective Yoon Kyungho. He was rebuking the other party without a word, his face frozen cold.

“Then…”

Detective Yoon Kyungho acted frantically, looking up and down repeatedly. Cha Seokjoo continued speaking in a calm voice without showing any signs of being shaken.

“If there is anything more you wish to verify, I would like you to bring a warrant. Although I don’t know if you’ll be able to request a warrant with insufficient evidence.”

At the pouring words, Detective Yoon Kyungho could only open and close his mouth repeatedly, while Detective Kwon Changil scratched the back of his head and spoke.

“I’m sorry. We weren’t trying to conduct a targeted investigation. It’s just that your alibi was ambiguous only at that specific time, and the CCTV records happened to disappear for that exact moment, so while trying to verify…”

The voice of Kwon Changil, who was listing excuses in a mumble, died down. It was because the conference room door swung open and a middle-aged man in uniform appeared.

Kwon Changil, turning around, asked in a flustered voice.

“…Commissioner?”

“You two, what on earth do you think you’re doing right now.”

“What brings you all the way here, Commissioner…”

“Whatever the reason, drop everything and step back right now.”

The Provincial Police Commissioner rebuked the two detectives in a sharp voice. He then immediately apologized to Cha Seokjoo.

“Director, it seems there was a mistake on our part. I apologize if you were inconvenienced.”

“It’s fine. That can happen when you work hard.”

“I am truly sorry.”

“It makes me uncomfortable when you do this, so please don’t mind it.”

“I don’t know what to say… Would you like to come upstairs for a cup of tea?”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll visit next time. I’ve done some long-distance driving, so I’d like to go in and rest for today.”

“Then please do so.”

“I’ll host you on the field sometime soon.”

“Yes, Director. What are you doing? See him out on his way.”

Detective Kwon Changil and Detective Yoon Kyungho came down to the first floor and saw the two out. They bowed several times and kept saying they were sorry, to the point where Yiwon’s face grew hot.

The two only returned to each other after glancing at them for a long time.

It was still raining outside.

Cha Seokjoo, standing vacantly in the lobby, took a cigarette out of his inner pocket and put it in his mouth. A bright red light seeped into the gray sky and vanished, leaving only faint smoke in its place.

Cha Seokjoo smoked quietly. Emotion could be felt in his long inhalations and exhalations. The cigarette ash, which had been hanging precariously, fell into the dedicated collection bin with a patter.

Yiwon, standing side-by-side with him, poked the floor with his long umbrella and thought.

Cha Seokjoo has nothing to do with the death of Mister Park from the mill.

The truth was that he had wondered “could it be” the moment he saw Cha Seokjoo in the conference room. Even while giving his statement, he had thought “maybe.”

It was only for a fleeting moment, but he felt absurd and foolish for having such a ridiculous suspicion on his own… but he couldn’t say it was entirely his fault.

“Hey.”

“I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even open my mouth about the story from that day.”

“I haven’t said anything yet either.”

“… .”

“Let’s go. Open the umbrella.”

“Don’t you have an umbrella?”

“Would I have been in the right mind to open an umbrella? When the cops were lunging at me with their eyes rolled back.”

Cha Seokjoo grabbed Yiwon’s arm and pulled him. When his palm touched the forearm, which had a lower body temperature than other places, a surge of heat was felt.

“Where are you going?”

“To get the car.”

After hesitating for a moment, Yiwon opened the long umbrella. Patter, patter. Thick raindrops fell. As the heavy rain poured down, it splashed inside the long umbrella. Yiwon walked with his arm held high as if he were cheering.

“Stick a bit closer.”

“…I am close.”

“The guest is getting soaked.”

“Would you like to use it?”

“Give it here.”

Cha Seokjoo snatched the umbrella from Yiwon. He thought the man would use it for himself and walk away, but instead, he pulled his body even closer. A strange sensation surged up. More than his rain-soaked shoulder, the sensation of brushing against Cha Seokjoo felt more vivid.

His breathing grew faster than usual. Yiwon stared at the raindrops slamming down noisily and moved away while pretending to be nonchalant.

“Is something broken? Why do you keep going in a different direction?”

“Because there’s a puddle.”

“I guess puddles only exist in front of you.”