The Prosecutor’s Office’s Proposal Chapter 133

“It’s a common awl, so how do you remember it?”

“My major is ceramics. It’s a profession that is close with awls. Even back in middle and high school, I had plenty of occasions to work with them, so awls were common at home. You wouldn’t have known because you weren’t interested, Hyung.”

“Do you remember the length?”

“They come in various sizes, and since it’s a common brand of awl, I can’t be certain… but if it’s this awl that was at home at the time, it wouldn’t have exceeded 20 cm, excluding the handle. As far as I know.”

The length of the stab wound that remained on President Kang Woosung’s body was well over 25 cm.

As expected, it was certain that the murder weapon in this case had also been swapped. Just like the doctor grandmother who was stabbed to death with an awl.

The culprit behind the two cases must be the same person. It became almost certain that it wasn’t my father.

Without realizing it, I put strength into the hand holding the photo. After barely putting it down without crumpling it, I took out another photo and handed it to Joo Wooseon.

“The police estimated that this awl was an item that had been in the toolbox placed in the shoe cabinet. What is your recollection, Mr. Joo Wooseon?”

“Ah…, that’s highly likely. It was when I entered high school. From then on, I started studying art in earnest, so I had shoved all these amateur-use awls into a corner.”

“Would Mr. Lee Gilyoung have known of the awl’s existence?”

“Yes. Since he was in charge of taking care of miscellaneous tasks around the house, he would have had several occasions to use awls or screwdrivers.”

“This is a circumstance that Prosecutor Joo is unaware of; is there a reason only you remember it specifically?”

“At that time, Hyung was a high school senior, so you were practically never home. You’d just come home to sleep and then leave.”

This explained why Lee Gilyoung’s DNA was detected on the awl that had been planted as a decoy.

Joo Wooseon suddenly looked at Prosecutor Joo.

“It is strange, though. That this awl was used.”

“It’s not a common murder weapon.”

Prosecutor Joo replied nonchalantly.

“Is that why you’re digging into Father’s case again? Because of this awl?”

“Yes.”

The younger brother, who had been chilly until now, looked at his older brother with a moment of hesitation in his eyes, opening and closing his lips. Then, he brought up an entirely different matter.

“I saw the flowers a while ago. Honestly, I was surprised you still come to visit.”

“What is the point of bringing that up now.”

Prosecutor Joo fiddled with his earlobe with an expressionless face. Staring out the window with a listless look, he spoke in a passing tone.

“They said Chief Tak Noona was also laid to rest there.”

Only after hearing what Prosecutor Joo added did I realize the two were talking about the charnel house where Prosecutor Yoon Soyeon sleeps. Joo Wooseon had seen the flowers his brother left behind, and Prosecutor Joo had not missed this opportunity to naturally turn the conversation toward Chief Tak.

Joo Wooseon opened his eyes wide. With such a surprised expression, the face that had seemed similar to Prosecutor Joo looked completely different. For the first time, he had a youthful air that made him look like the youngest.

“Who?”

“They said Chief Tak Noona passed away early. Did you know?”

“Ah…, I think I’ve heard of it.”

Prosecutor Joo, for the first time, took his back off the chair he had been leaning against the whole time, and leaned his body slightly forward.

“What did you hear, and how did you hear it?”

“Well, I was younger than Hyung back then and had more free time, so I spent a lot of time at home. I heard Father and Prosecutor Tak talking at home, and I think they said Noona died in an accident when she was in high school. So she dropped out of high school and took the qualification exam. They were arguing about stuff like that.”

“Did they fight severely?”

“Yes. Father brought it up first, and Prosecutor Tak must have been angry, as she shouted incredibly loudly in the study.”

“Why would she drop out just because Noona died?”

“Who knows. Maybe she did it because she was having a hard time? Hyung has a cold personality, so you might not understand.”

Joo Wooseon’s eyes turned toward me.

“There’s nothing more to ask now, right?”

I nodded and ended the recording.

“Thank you for your time.”

“Don’t mention it. Then, please go now.”

“Yes.”

Joo Wooseon stood up without hesitation, as if he wanted to get rid of us quickly. Prosecutor Joo and I also stood up immediately.

However, the younger brother, who had been cold throughout the interview, finally followed us out to the parking lot to see his older brother off. Every time we took a step, the thick gravel spread all over the parking lot pressed painfully against the soles of our shoes.

Before Prosecutor Joo opened the driver’s side door and got into the car, Joo Wooseon suddenly spoke up.

“Is Mister doing well?”

It seemed to be a reference to Chief Tak. Prosecutor Joo hesitated slightly but soon nodded readily.

“He is doing well.”

“He’s still being good to you, Hyung?”

“Of course.”

“He calls sometimes. Even to me.”

“…That’s something to be grateful for. Then I’ll be going.”

“Yeah.”

The brothers finished their dry farewells. I bowed my head to Joo Wooseon in greeting and got into the passenger seat.

As the car started, Prosecutor Joo, who had acted coldly the whole time, also glanced at the rearview mirror. He seemed to be checking on his younger brother who was lingering in the parking lot to see us off.

Family is family. Though I have no one left for me now.

Unlike when we came, the road heading to Danhyeon City let us through without any traffic. The car drove at a constant speed without slowing down. Although I had the recording, I took out my blue notebook to briefly record the information I had heard from Joo Wooseon and put an asterisk next to the word “awl.”

As expected, what matters is the murder weapon. The awl.

Finding Chief Tak’s hidden child is important, but the more critical evidence is the murder weapon. If we only find the awl, we can prove all the charges. If it was kept for 8 years in the past, there is a high probability that the culprit is still keeping it now, 7 years later.

Because they never know when they might need to use it again. That is their method of murder.

Prosecutor Joo started the conversation first.

“From now on, I have to investigate with the certainty that Mr. Lee Gilyoung was framed. Because we have to assume the culprit didn’t know the password.”

Mr. Lee Gilyoung. Prosecutor Joo’s title for my father had changed. Trying not to reveal my anticipation that the scarlet letter he had carried for over 15 years might be removed, I opened my mouth with a calm expression.

“In that case, was it Oh Jahyeon, or was it Chief Tak?”

At first, Oh Jahyeon was the only candidate, but now Chief Tak had also become a strong suspect. Both had a motive for murder. Inheritance.

However, one could not yet conclude whether the final culprit who executed the murder was Oh Jahyeon or Chief Tak.

Prosecutor Joo replied after thinking carefully.

“What do you think, Officer Lee? Unless we get a warrant and find the awl, I think it’ll be difficult to pinpoint one of the two.”

“It’s not like there are no awl murders outside of the Russian cultural sphere, so I feel like it might be Oh Jahyeon.”

“The basis?”

“Oh Jahyeon stabbed Koryo-in Mr. Kim in the neck with a syringe containing nicotine. You could see it as the same pattern as stabbing the neck with an awl.”

Lately, the needle mark that had remained on the Koryo-in’s neck had been coming to my mind more and more frequently.

It is true that an awl is an unusual weapon. Since awls are almost never used for murder in Korea, it is true that we initially assumed the culprit might be someone who lived in another country.

However, Oh Jahyeon already had a history of using a needle, so there was no reason to exclude her from the profile. And it’s not like there are no awl murders in Korea.

Prosecutor Joo nodded.

“That makes sense. In the sense that the pattern keeps repeating.”

“Oh Jahyeon was also an acquaintance, so she had plenty of opportunity to enter the house. President Kang Woosung was in a state of deep intoxication, so he wouldn’t have been able to resist properly, and since he was attacked in the neck from behind, it would have been possible even with a woman’s strength.”

“A syringe and an awl….”

“I don’t think we should ignore the syringe. The fact that she attacked the neck in the same way is significant.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Anyway, it was Father who blocked the Osong Construction bid, and Oh Jahyeon’s motive is certain.”

“What about Prosecutor Tak?”

“I have a feeling it might be Chief Tak. It’s possible she was so obsessed with Oh Jahyeon that she would even go as far as to commit murder on her behalf. I imagine she might have even dreamed of a future where, once the sick old man died, she would live with Oh Jahyeon and enjoy the sweet inheritance.”