The Prosecutor’s Office’s Proposal Chapter 156

Prosecutor Joo and I, who had been resting my hand on his fingers, both froze instantly like stone statues. The skin all over my body tingled with a sharp sensation.

“What are you talking about? You only took the interrogation files for Officer Lee Chaeha a few days ago; it makes no sense to have already concluded that there are grounds for charges.”

— You people were the ones who messed with the Chief Prosecutor first.

“I only investigated because there was a crime. Do not take retaliatory disciplinary action against a member of my office. Just take me instead….”

— Prosecutor Joo, you are a prosecutor. That’s outside the scope of this discussion.

“Chief.”

— Whether there’s a crime or not, you touched a family member, and a Chief Prosecutor at that—do you think the other prosecutors will just sit still? The public opinion is not good. You just need to endure a few months as an example. Understand that. I’m telling you this in advance out of consideration for the fact that you’re my junior from university and have been in the field for eight years. Explain it well to this investigator.

“I cannot endure this. I will file an objection.”

At Prosecutor Joo’s answer, I tightened my grip on the finger I was holding and held him firmly. His dark pupils finally turned toward me. The deep gaze, which looked half-brown in the sunlight streaming in from outside, was smoldering, consumed by the emotion of rage. I slowly shook my head.

‘Don’t.’

I mouthed it to him. The Chief of the 1st Division’s shouting erupted from the speaker.

— If you even file an objection to this, I can’t protect you either. I barely managed to compromise on giving him a suspension as an example until the case is closed, rather than making him strip off his robe. Do you understand?

I whispered silently, mouthing the words.

‘I’m fine.’

Prosecutor Joo was gripping the steering wheel so hard the veins on the back of his hand were bulging, and he finally managed to open his mouth.

“I understand.”

The call ended, and a heavy silence filled the car, pressing down on both our bodies. Prosecutor Joo could not say a word to me.

My whole body felt heavy as if soaked in water, so I leaned my back and head against the passenger seat and looked up at the blue Haneul visible through the windshield. It felt as if the blue Haneul was pouring down like seawater, ready to crush us who were already sinking.

A few weeks of time were given until the suspension. Prosecutor Joo had barely been managing his mental anguish, which was difficult to bear, but after receiving the contact from the Chief of the 1st Division, his mood sank to the point where he was untouchable.

It wasn’t the case, but he seemed to blame everything on himself. It was too harsh to hold himself responsible for the corruption of the organization, but given Prosecutor Joo’s personality, it seemed difficult for him to simply accept it and move on.

Prosecutor Joo could not completely hide his darkened expression. He did not raise his voice or act irritable just because he was in a bad mood, but the entire office felt the unusual atmosphere. Even the usually carefree administrative officer No Seonhui had been watching him closely for days without knowing why.

A light knock echoed through the heavy air of the office. It was Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho who poked his head in.

“Pro Joo, Chief Tak and Oh Jahyeon have volunteered to appear, saying they want to confess.”

“That obediently? Where are they now?”

“In my office. Since it’s certain that an arrest warrant will be issued, it seems they are making a move in advance to reduce their sentence.”

“To act so soon….”

Prosecutor Joo pressed his lips with the back of his pen out of habit and fell into thought for a moment. It hadn’t been long since the search and seizure. If they had already grasped all the keys we held, the pool of mole suspects narrowed down to a few.

Someone who could leak to Chief Tak what evidence we had in our hands. The list of suspects was the same as the last time our plan to request a warrant had leaked.

It had to be Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho, Chief Song Haneul, or another member of the office. Who on earth could it be?

Prosecutor Yoon was acting unnaturally optimistic.

“Why think about it that much? You would have seen the outcome once you saw the search and seizure anyway. It’s not like Chief Tak doesn’t know how the Prosecution Office works.”

“…I will handle the interrogation.”

“I’ll do it. Pro Joo, you don’t have to step up.”

Despite his active dissuasion, Prosecutor Joo shook his head lightly.

“It’s fine. I’ve sorted out my feelings.”

Prosecutor Yoon turned his eyes and glanced at me. His gaze seemed to be asking me if it was really true, as if he had noticed that I was close to him. It was abrupt.

Was it that obvious that we were close, or had someone tipped him off? I didn’t turn my eyes away and met Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho’s gaze.

Prosecutor Joo told Prosecutor Yoon as if announcing it.

“Then, let’s indict the Koryo-in case first, which has already been confessed to and had the evidence organized today. On charges of attempted murder, disposal of a body, and violation of the Narcotics Control Act.”

“What? You said you suspected the President Kang Woosung case and the doctor grandmother case. In the last meeting, you said we should investigate everything slowly and then indict, and now you’re suddenly saying let’s do it right away?”

I was more surprised than Prosecutor Yoon by his decision.

It was a case we had been waiting for for a long time. Since the two of them came to confess, we would soon be able to begin an investigation under detention. It would have been sufficient to proceed with a thorough investigation while they were detained for a while, and then indict them on recent criminal acts if all else failed.

It was a hasty decision, uncharacteristic of Prosecutor Joo. I had a hunch, and a heavy lump of lead settled in my chest.

He replied in a calm tone.

“The other cases are so old that evidence is scarce and we don’t know when they will be solved, so I’m saying let’s indict on the certain ones first.”

“You didn’t even listen to me when I kept saying that.”

“As Prosecutor Yoon said, we can do additional indictments later, so let’s just finish it quickly.”

The face of Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho, who confirmed that Prosecutor Joo was sincere, visibly brightened.

“Okay, Pro Joo. I thought it was better that way from the beginning.”

“Officer Lee, how long will it take to complete the documents?”

I, who had been listening to every conversation with my head bowed, lifted my head sharply at Prosecutor Joo’s question and replied.

“The mobile phone forensic results haven’t come out yet, but if it’s okay to attach that evidence late, I can write the indictment in two days. Once the indictment is completed, we can send the case directly to the public trial office. All other data organization is finished.”

“Let’s do that. Then I will go to Prosecutor Yoon’s office and meet the two of them.”

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

As soon as Prosecutor Joo went out, Officer No poked her head out from behind her monitor. Her face was filled with an uncharacteristic look of worry. Just by looking at Officer No’s eyes, I realized what she would say next. It seemed words were already circulating internally.

“Officer Lee, is the rumor true? That you’re being suspended.”

There was not even a hint of the sarcasm I had seen from former colleagues. I observed the expression of Chief Song Haneul sitting right next to me particularly closely, but he truly seemed to be looking at me with concern. So, with a spirited smile, I nodded as if it were nothing.

“That’s right.”

“No, why? It hasn’t even been that long since they collected the materials; why did they make such a hasty result?”

“I don’t know very well, either.”

“And the Prosecutor?”

“I asked him to let it pass as quietly as possible. Our office is already noisy enough internally as it is.”

“…The suspension will be lifted soon. If people say anything, I’ll take your side, so just think of it as taking a break.”

At the unexpected comfort from my colleague, a sad emotion that had been clinging to my chest welled up. I lowered my head lightly as my eyes felt slightly hot, which I couldn’t believe.

“Thank you. I won’t worry. And I didn’t do anything wrong, either.”

Chief Song affirmed my words in a more spirited voice than usual.

“Of course. We all know how well Officer Lee works.”

I smiled shyly and swallowed hard with difficulty.

Prosecutor Joo was not seen until lunchtime. I fiddled with my phone wondering if he would contact me, but there was no news. It was because of work, so I didn’t feel any resentment. At least I was glad I had lunch with Chief Song and Officer No without feeling lonely.

When I returned after brushing my teeth, Prosecutor Joo had come down to Room 512. As soon as he saw us coming in after lunch, he gave us work instructions.

“Chief Song, please check how much the forensic results have progressed and get the results from the phones that have finished analysis first.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Chief Song bowed his head.

“Officer Lee will go with me to the interrogation room. We need to finish the interrogation.”