The Prosecutor’s Office’s Proposal Chapter 151

I felt like I had spent the entire day on a wild goose chase. I closed my thin notebook, turned my head to the side, and looked out the window. It had been hot enough earlier to make it seem like summer was coming, but looking at the branches where all the cherry blossom petals had fallen, I felt a chill as if snowflakes, forgetting the season, were about to pile up.

📄🖊️

The next day at 10:00 AM, our team finally visited the home of Director Tak Sungwoong with a search and seizure warrant. Chief Tak lived in an apartment close to the casino. It was also right near the residence of Oh Jahyeon.

When we rang the doorbell, a woman who appeared to be in her 50s opened the door from the inside, and I could see Chief Tak’s face standing behind her back. Prosecutor Joo, without even glancing in that direction, presented his identification along with the warrant to the person right in front of him.

“I am Prosecutor Joo Taeson of the Criminal Investigation Department 1 at the Danhyeon Branch Office. We are here for a search and seizure. Please check the warrant.”

“Prosecutor Joo.”

The middle-aged woman, who seemed to be Chief Tak’s wife, stared up at Prosecutor Joo with her eyes narrowed sharply, but not even the sound of his breathing wavered. It was clear that they had been close, like family. A look of agony spread across her face, and her upper teeth bit down hard on her lower lip. Finally, the front door opened slowly, and we pushed our way inside.

Chief Song whispered to me as we crossed the hallway.

“This is truly uncomfortable.”

I nodded lightly in agreement. It was the home of a superior who worked at the same branch; even if he was under disciplinary action, there was no way a search and seizure would not feel burdensome.

It was a 50-pyeong apartment. After passing through a long hallway, the living room appeared. Chief Song stopped walking, looked around, and pointed out quite sharply.

“There isn’t a single wedding photo or family photo.”

Now that he mentioned it, it was strange. Even if they didn’t have much else, one would expect at least a small frame with a child’s picture hanging somewhere, but there wasn’t a single photo in the wide living room. Was it because the child was one the wife brought from a previous marriage, or was it because they were a couple who had married strategically and in a hurry while keeping Oh Jahyeon in their hearts?

Perhaps because I knew all about Chief Tak’s romantic history, the empty white walls, devoid of any common family photos, looked incredibly lonely, as if revealing the reality of a family that was only a facade. A marriage calculated solely for inheritance, while harboring another person in one’s heart, could hardly be happy.

I withdrew my gaze and slowly parted my lips.

“You’re right, Chief. There isn’t a single family photo.”

“Though it’s not information that will be of much help to the investigation.”

Chief Song Haneul said with a hearty laugh. I replied with a slight smile, shaking my head.

“No. Anything could become an important clue later on.”

Prosecutor Joo, who was walking in front, turned back to us with a slight frown. His expression was not pleasant, as if he thought we were just gossiping during an important search.

“Let’s begin.”

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

Chief Song and I replied in voices tight with tension, put on our gloves, and began to search the house, starting with the inner rooms. Chief Tak stood silently in the foyer hallway as if he were not bothered by this situation at all, and his wife, appearing unwilling to watch her house being searched, grabbed her cardigan and left the house.

A heavy tension settled inside the home, like water vapor covering a lake. The air was thin. It was a situation where subordinates had come to raid their superior’s home.

Not a single person here felt at ease. Prosecutor Joo, in particular, must have been suffering more than anyone else.

While Chief Song examined the desk in the study, I focused on checking the albums and various certificates placed on the bookshelf. Chief Song did not show any particularly suspicious behavior. Most of the search was a bust, but I found a photo of Chief Tak taken overseas in the middle of an old album, which I photographed and collected as evidence. Even in the album, there was only one photo of the couple together. It was just a formal picture taken with the officiant at the wedding hall.

We searched spaces where a stiletto could have been hidden, such as the master bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, even more thoroughly. During the search, I learned that the couple did not share a room. Not even a bathroom.

There were separate beds in each of their rooms, and Chief Tak’s room even had its own TV installed, making them look like completely independent spaces. Despite living in the same house, the couple’s belongings were not mixed at all. It was the typical appearance seen in the homes of wealthy, show-window couples.

We continued the search, but we could not easily find any core evidence. While Chief Song and I were fumbling around, Prosecutor Joo, who was supposed to be supervising, was away for a long time and was nowhere to be seen.

It was only after quite some time had passed that he appeared, wearing his neat suit jacket covered in dust. In his hands, he held an old box piled high with dust.

As he carefully opened the dusty lid, a sight of old items worn by the passage of time piled up came into view. I coughed from the dust flying about and barely managed to ask Prosecutor Joo.

“Where did you find that?”

Because Chief Song was right next to us, he answered in a very businesslike tone.

“Behind the closet. I’ve been to this house a few times, so I had noticed there was a hidden space. This was the only thing inside.”

We also photographed the contents of the box and examined the items inside. Inside were remnants of his life before marriage, starting with records of the investigation into whether Director Tak Sungwoong had killed Noona and his subsequent acquittal, followed by school-day photos, various diplomas, and personal letters.

From Chief Tak’s perspective, these must have been items he absolutely could not throw away. However, if nothing else, it was surprising that he kept his own acquittal document. Especially since it was a case where he had been suspected of killing Noona.

I muttered quietly.

“He must have an obsession. To think he is still keeping letters exchanged with Oh Jahyeon and his acquittal document hidden from his wife….”

“There are many criminals who keep them either out of anxiety that they might be seen if they throw them away, or simply as souvenirs. It’s fortunate for us, as it would be difficult to investigate if they destroyed everything thoroughly.”

Prosecutor Joo said calmly. Chief Song, who had read the old, faded acquittal document, opened his mouth with a look of great shock.

“He was suspected of this as a young child after his family died in his teens? Of course, it concluded with an acquittal, but there must have been a reason he was suspected….”

While Chief Song was aghast, Prosecutor Joo put the document back into the box and closed the lid.

“Let’s examine the rest when we get back to the branch.”

We scoured the house for evidence, checking on top of closets, under beds, and inside the sink. We did not find the weapon, but we discovered a pocket money ledger in the drawer of his high school senior son that looked exactly like an account book.

The pocket money ledger, with a crude design that one might buy at a stationery store in front of an elementary school, looked quite old. It was an item that seemed unlikely for a high school student to be using, and the units of the numbers written inside were large. We also photographed the pocket money ledger and put it in the box.

Chief Song and I each carried a blue box and followed Prosecutor Joo to meet Chief Tak. Prosecutor Joo informed him point-blank.

“We are also going to search and seize your car. It is included in the warrant.”

“Fine.”

Even though Chief Tak had broken into my house just a few days ago, he shamelessly wore a gentle smile. It seemed he wanted to maintain his image as a benevolent superior in front of other investigators since Chief Song was present. He walked obediently to the entrance and picked up the car keys from a small tray. Prosecutor Joo took the car keys he handed over, put them in his pocket, and then held out his empty hand again. When Chief Tak raised his eyebrows as if to ask why, he replied in a voice devoid of emotional fluctuation.

“You have one more car.”

“What…”

“The car registered under your wife’s name.”

“…”

“Give me your wife’s car keys. National Forensic Service staff are waiting downstairs. It doesn’t matter if you don’t give them to me, I can just take the car and open it.”

Chief Tak bit his lower lip hard, then let go and this time handed over another key from his own pocket.

“Then, excuse us.”

We followed Prosecutor Joo, bid farewell to Chief Tak, and left. Chief Song looked back once more, and only after the door closed did he slowly turn his head. He said in a voice mixed with pity.

“He doesn’t look well.”

“That’s to be expected.”

“I thought he was a good person…. The family must be very shocked.”