The Prosecutor’s Office’s Proposal Chapter 92

Since I had no intention of being swayed by my uncle’s family again, I did not show any emotional agitation. I maintained a firm voice and answered consistently.

“I cannot help you. I am just a company employee. I work at the district prosecutor’s office.”

— Wait a second.

In the end, my aunt’s phone was handed over to my uncle.

— Lee Chaeha, it’s your uncle.

At the sound of my uncle’s voice coming through the phone, my body went cold out of habit, and my fingertips stiffened. I had thought that even if I faced him now, I would be able to control my fear well, but it is a pitiful thing that even at this age, his voice still sounds terrifying. I am twenty-nine now, but my age was of no use.

This time, too, I answered as calmly as possible.

“Yes, Uncle.”

— That prosecutor’s name is Yoon Gyuho.

Yoon Gyuho…. It was a familiar name.

“I am not an investigator for Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho. I already explained everything to my aunt. I am just a Grade 8 civil servant. I have no authority to help you, and it would be much more helpful for you to hire a good lawyer.”

— Chaeha, please….

“I will hang up now.”

I didn’t know about my aunt, but my uncle’s voice was so terrible that I couldn’t bear to listen any longer. I hung up the phone right then and there.

I don’t know why they are making such requests of me, a mere investigator. People who don’t even deserve my help, one after another in just a few days.

As I lifted my body from the bed to moisten my dry throat, the voice of Baek Youngjun that I had forgotten brushed through my mind.

‘The prosecutor who called me is a person named Yoon Gyuho.’

I paused for a moment.

How can a prosecutor named Yoon Gyuho investigate the people connected to me in succession? And only picking out the people around me who have committed crimes at that.

Is it all a coincidence?

Feeling dazed, I opened a bottle of water and drank it. After wiping the water that flowed down my chin, I checked the time on my phone. It was 2:00 PM.

Perhaps because my uncle’s voice had stimulated painful memories for the first time in a while, my fingers trembled slightly. My mood was terrible. I didn’t want to stay alone in the cramped official residence, so I changed my clothes and hung my investigator ID around my neck. However, I didn’t have any suitable outerwear to wear out. Since the only decent coat I had was left at Prosecutor Joo’s house, I had no choice but to take out an old coat with frayed ends.

I dropped off Prosecutor Joo’s dirty padded jacket at a dry cleaner near the residence and headed to the office. When I appeared in the prosecutor’s office without warning, Prosecutor Joo looked up at me, bewildered.

“Why did you come out? Your annual leave has already been processed, so go home and rest.”

“That’s not it; I stopped by for a moment because there was something I needed to take. Hello, Senior Clerk, Chief Song.”

The eyes of Officer No and Chief Song, who saw my face, widened. Chief Song asked with concern.

“You said you were hurt during the stakeout, was it your face?”

“I’m alright. I just got scratched a little.”

I smiled slightly at the two who were worrying about me, went to my seat, and put the photo of Koryo-in Mr. Kim into my wallet. Prosecutor Joo scanned me with suspicious eyes, wondering what I was doing. His complexion, despite staying up all night with me, was still perfectly fine. I had worried about him being sorry for me resting alone, but I, who had come out after getting some sleep, looked sicker and more lifeless. It was probably because of my pale complexion. It could also be because of the call with my uncle.

I stared at the blue thimble sitting lonely on my desk and spoke to Prosecutor Joo.

“Prosecutor, has the murder weapon for the Han Sujin case been found?”

In fact, that wasn’t the question I really wanted to ask. I wondered if Prosecutor Joo still occasionally put his finger into my thimble when I was away. Like that day I caught a glimpse through the crack in the door.

I heard his voice, neat as always.

“Chief Song went with the police this morning and retrieved it.”

“That was work I was supposed to do…. I am sorry, Chief Song.”

Chief Song waved his hand with a good-natured smile.

“No, it’s not. Helping each other with work is only natural. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. Everyone is busy, so I feel embarrassed to be resting alone.”

“Embarrassed, what do you mean. Officer Lee, you were on overnight stakeout duty. Of course you should use your annual leave and rest. I always rest on days like that too.”

“Thank you. Then I will see you tomorrow. Also, Chief Song, could we talk for a moment….”

Seeing me about to leave, Prosecutor Joo braced his hands on the desk as if to stand up. But my timing in calling Chief Song was slightly faster. At the moment I felt sorry, Chief Song willingly rose from his seat.

“Sure. Shall we talk as we go out? I happened to need to stop by another department.”

“Yes.”

His large hand fell from the desk, and Prosecutor Joo ultimately did not rise from his seat. I turned around as I closed the office door with Chief Song. I met a gaze that seemed to be burning through the crack in the door. I wondered if he had been trying to see me off, but I had lost the way to verify it. I sucked on my lower lip slightly out of regret and then let go.

It was my own doing. There was something I absolutely had to confirm with Chief Song, so it couldn’t be helped. Since Chief Song had kindly suggested going outside first, I was saved the trouble of making an excuse. Leaving the regret behind, I opened my mouth.

“Chief Song, do you happen to know Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho?”

“Yes, I know him.”

“Is Prosecutor Yoon and Prosecutor Joo close?”

No matter how much I thought about it, the only person I could think of who would decide to take revenge on someone who bullied me was Prosecutor Joo Taeson. Even if he sometimes treated me carelessly, there was no one else who would care about me. The only person with the status to ask something of Prosecutor Yoon was Prosecutor Joo Taeson.

Of course, the investigations into my uncle and Baek Youngjun could have coincided by chance. However, an investigator should not easily conclude that things are just coincidences.

Chief Song looked around, stopped for a moment, and put his hand to my ear. It was awkward to have someone other than Prosecutor Joo whispering to me, but as it seemed like important information, I swallowed hard and obediently held out my cheek with the bandage on it. Chief Song’s cautious voice reached me.

“Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho and Prosecutor Yoon Soyeon are fraternal twins. The case involving Prosecutor Yoon Soyeon… you know it, right?”

My pupils, which had been resting on the cold hallway floor, trembled rapidly. I carefully parted my lips.

“Then, the relationship between the two of them is….”

“It’s not good. But why do you ask?”

“Oh, no. I just wondered if you were close with them.”

“That wouldn’t be it.”

Chief Song shook his head firmly. The question I expected returned.

“But why Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho?”

I brought out the excuse I had prepared in advance.

“It looks like there might be a case where I need to cooperate with Prosecutor Yoon Gyuho, so I wanted to get a feel for the atmosphere in advance.”

“Was it that case where you seemed to have discovered something while watching the CCTV footage the other day?”

“That is….”

I opened my lips unintentionally. Chief Song was the first close colleague I had ever had, and he was someone who didn’t notice the scarlet aura floating around me.

But this time, a warning alarm louder than before began to ring as if it would shatter my mind. That alarm was none other than Prosecutor Joo’s voice.

‘Officer Lee.’

The Prosecutor Joo Taeson in my memory called me and advised:

‘From now on, trust no one.’

I soon smiled and shook my head.

“It turned out to be nothing. It was someone unrelated to the case, but their attire was similar, so I mistook them. You know there are still many parts of the CCTV footage that are blurry.”

The elevator arrived just in time. I boarded it immediately. Chief Song waved his hand with a light smile from the other side, saying he had business on the upper floors. His friendly gesture put me at ease.

“Rest well and see you tomorrow, Officer Lee.”

“Yes, Chief Song.”

I bowed my head and pressed the button for the first floor. Thinking just in case, I took out my phone, and there was a text from Prosecutor Joo.

Why the whispering in the hallway.

When did you see that?

Answer when you’re asked.

I just asked about something I was curious about.

It’s unsettling to see Officer Lee getting along well with a colleague.

I thought he said it was a good thing that I was getting along with Chief Song the other day. Even he was the one who said it didn’t matter if we slept together.

Don’t worry. We are just colleagues.

Your tone is stiff every time. What did you come by to take?

I was bored, so I wanted to think about the case.

See you later.

Yes.

With no one watching, I pushed my lips out, then answered with a polite expression again.