The Prosecutor’s Office’s Proposal Chapter 163

“What are they saying?”

“They said they managed to get in touch with someone who used to work there back in the day. They want to meet this weekend.”

“Did you show them a photo of Chief Tak Sungwoong?”

“Yes. They said he looks familiar.”

“If things go well, we might be able to find the son.”

“Probably.”

Since I had been rapidly losing hope in the forensic results, I desperately clung to this sliver of hope. I prayed earnestly in my heart that we would be able to find the son.

Prosecutor Joo briefly briefed me on what had happened while I was out executing the search warrant.

“I got a call from the National Forensic Service this afternoon. They said some of the seized evidence seems to have been contaminated by the investigators. They’re going to filter it out by comparing it with the DNA of the staff members collected previously.”

It was relatively common for evidence or crime scenes to be contaminated by investigators, police, or paramedics. However, since it wasn’t an emergency search and seizure, creating such a cumbersome situation was a mistake regardless. I apologized to Prosecutor Joo immediately.

“I’m sorry. I checked that everyone was wearing gloves and protective plastic covers on their shoes, but it seems there was a gap.”

“It’s alright. It might have been contaminated by someone else, not you, Investigator Lee. And since we all pored over them for a long time after arriving at the prosecutor’s office, it could have been me or Prosecutor Yoon.”

Chief Song, who had been working diligently across from us, raised his head with a worried expression.

“Oh dear, could it have been me? I tend to be a bit clumsy…. Everyone else is so meticulous that I wonder if it was my mistake. Prosecutor Joo or Officer Lee, you are both very attentive. Prosecutor Yoon and the other investigators are as well.”

“I don’t think so. Chief Song, you are meticulous as well.”

Despite Prosecutor Joo’s reply, Chief Song shook his head firmly and let out a light sigh.

“I’m worried. What item was contaminated?”

“I think they said it was Chief Tak’s blue jumper. Even if it was you, Chief Song, I wouldn’t say anything, so don’t worry.”

Watching his expression as he answered Chief Song with a smile, I suddenly felt a strange sensation, too.

Was this the feeling Prosecutor Joo usually feels toward me? I pressed my lower lip with the tip of my blunt ballpoint pen, then let go, alternating my gaze between Chief Song, who was getting ready to leave, and Prosecutor Joo, whose face had already lost its smile.

“Then I will be heading out now. Prosecutor, Officer Lee, good work.”

Chief Song left the office after leaving a cheerful greeting.

We waited for the door to close before turning our eyes to the monitor at the same time.

“Prosecutor, I will pick out the suspicious parts from the texts and send them to you via messenger.”

“Did you find something already?”

The tone, which had become soft and comfortable, unlike when others were present, asked. His gaze had also relaxed, becoming significantly warmer.

Of course, within that comfort, a strange tension that only the two of us left in the office felt was also lingering. It was the result of us always being conscious of each other with our entire being.

I tried hard to focus on reviewing the files instead of his handsome appearance or sharp suit, and replied.

“It’s one month before the obstetrician was murdered.”

Prosecutor Joo rested his chin on his hand and scrolled the mouse wheel while checking the text history I had sent.

“These are Oh Jahyeon’s texts. ‘It seems they are in contact,’ ‘We have to do something’…. She must be talking about her husband and the elderly doctor.”

“There is also a part where she worries that if her husband finds out the truth, he will tell his father everything.”

“Cleverly, all the important words are missing.”

“Chief Tak must have made her be careful.”

“What about the elderly doctor’s cell phone?”

“It seems it cannot be restored.”

“…This is driving me crazy. It would be so much easier if even just the circumstances of the elderly doctor and the husband being in contact surfaced.”

“But Prosecutor, tomorrow is my last day of work, so I’ll have to step away from the investigation. What should we do?”

At those words, Prosecutor Joo frowned and shook his head lightly.

“It’s not happening—Officer Lee, you are not stepping away. Work from home and help me.”

“I don’t want to step away either, but I’m worried because it will be a problem if I get caught working while under suspension.”

“Think of it as helping me. It’s hard to investigate alone. As of now, I can’t even trust Yoon Gyuho…. If we’re not careful, it feels like the past cases won’t even make it to trial.”

Prosecutor Joo responded in a way that sounded as if only the two of us were investigating. Even though there were several people involved in this case if you included Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho and the other investigators.

In Prosecutor Joo’s world, it seemed that the only people who had their feet off the ground and were sinking into the deep sea were Joo Taeson and Lee Chaeha. They were the only partners they could trust and work with. The one and only lover, and the one and only colleague.

I hesitated for a moment before asking him a question. This was because there was one strange hypothesis I couldn’t shake from my mind. The shadow in Room 614 that I had seen once was also weighing on my mind. The silent black gaze that had been watching me.

“By the way, do Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho and Prosecutor Yoon Soyeon look alike externally?”

His black pupils peered into my inner thoughts for a moment. His firm lips moved slowly.

“They don’t look alike. They were fraternal twins.”

“I see.”

“By any chance… are you suspecting Yoon Gyuho?”

“Just a little. I think the possibility is low.”

Prosecutor Joo chewed over my words slowly, but soon shook his head.

“No, those two are definitely siblings.”

“Can I erase the possibility?”

“Yes. I don’t think there’s any way that could be true. Even if Yoon Gyuho could be a mole for Tak Sungwoong, he cannot be his son. The stories about their childhood that I heard from Prosecutor Yoon Soyeon couldn’t be lies. Prosecutor Yoon Soyeon was the one who was discriminated against. I found out late that their birthdays were different, but it was a plausible explanation.”

Among the personnel currently on the investigation team, Prosecutor Joo Taeson was the only one who had seen those two in person. He was also the one who knew their personal stories.

Although he had misjudged Chief Tak, I wanted to trust his other judgments. It was trust in the Joo Taeson I respected. After nodding in agreement, I carefully chose words that would be helpful to him.

“Then, I will work as hard as I can even while under disciplinary action. If we dig a little deeper, we will be able to file an indictment, so hang in there.”

“…I wonder if that will really be the case.”

“You’re being skeptical today.”

“A little…. I thought the circumstances of planning the crime would come out more clearly from the cell phone.”

“It seems they used burner phones or made calls for the important details even back then.”

“That must be it. Now there are no more places to get a warrant.”

“We searched everything up to Chief Tak’s in-laws’ house and Oh Jahyeon’s parents’ home, but nothing came out.”

“I should also consider the possibility that he used a different awl for each case and disposed of them each time. The fact that he had a syringe could have just been a coincidence.”

“He definitely has the awl, too. Criminals can’t throw away souvenirs. You know that.”

“I’m just saying we should keep the possibilities open. It’s a weapon that was last used 7 years ago; who knows where he hid it? I was hoping it would come out of his parents’ gravesite, which showed a reaction on the lie detector test, but that’s a bust too.”

He clicked his tongue briefly and added in a listless tone.

“It seems Chief Tak’s wife is making a scene about wanting a divorce. Even if they were a ‘show window’ couple, it seems she can’t stand her husband going to prison.”

“Does that weigh on your mind?”

“No, it’s a relief now that the truth is known. It’s better for her that way, too.”

Perhaps my expression had darkened a bit, as he rested his elbows on the desk and stared intently at me.

“Why? Does it weigh on your mind, Officer Lee? You look like it does.”

“I know it’s the right thing to do, but I always feel troubled for the people who inevitably get hurt.”

“You still have a warm heart after being treated like that by people. If I had been ostracized for my whole life, I would have fallen into misanthropy.”

“…Is that a bit strange?”

“No, it’s your strength, Officer Lee. I want to kill all the people sitting in high positions just because Officer Lee received disciplinary action.”

Having reached a clean conclusion about every phenomenon as usual, he turned his eyes back to the monitor.

“Prosecutor! What should we do about Officer Lee? Since today is the last day, shouldn’t we all eat a meal together this evening?”