I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation. Then, I step out of my car and approach the two women quickly before they can separate.
"Ms. Lee Hong-sook? Ms. Min-ji?" I call out, causing both women to freeze in their tracks.
They turn to face me, shock and fear evident on their faces. Min-ji recovers first, her expression morphing into anger.
"You followed me? What kind of police are you?" she spits out, her voice trembling with rage.
I hold up my hands in a placating gesture. "I apologize for the deception, but this is a matter of utmost urgency. Ms. Lee, I really need to speak with you."
Hong-sook takes a step back, her eyes darting around as if looking for an escape route. "I told you on the phone, I have nothing to say about Kim Su-chul."
"Please," I implore, "I wouldn't have gone to these lengths if it wasn't critical. Lives could be at stake here."
Min-ji steps forward protectively. "You have no right to harass us like this. We've done nothing wrong!"
I can see I'm losing them. In a split-second decision, I decide to play my hunch, hoping it doesn't backfire.
"Ms. Lee," I say, my voice low and urgent, "your child might be in danger if we let Kim go free."
The effect is immediate. Hong-sook's face pales, and she grabs Min-ji's arm for support. "What... what are you talking about?" she whispers.
Min-ji looks between us, confusion replacing her anger. "Hong-sook, what's he talking about?"
Hong-sook ignores her friend, her eyes locked on mine. "What do you know about my child?" Her voice is barely audible, a mix of fear and suspicion.
I take a deep breath, knowing I'm about to cross a line. "I know that you and Kim had a baby together," I lie, watching her reaction carefully.
Hong-sook's eyes widen, and she exchanges a quick glance with Min-ji. It's clear I've hit on something true, even if the details might not be exact.
After a long moment, Hong-sook seems to deflate. "Min-ji, you should go," she says softly.
"But Hong-sook-" Min-ji starts to protest.
"It's okay," Hong-sook interrupts. "I'll be fine. I... I need to talk to the detective."
Min-ji hesitates, then nods reluctantly. She shoots me a warning glare before walking away, looking back several times as she goes.
Once Min-ji is out of earshot, Hong-sook turns to me. "There's a coffee shop around the corner. We can talk there."
I nod, relief washing over me. As we walk, I can see Hong-sook's hands shaking slightly.
We enter the small, dimly lit coffee shop and find a secluded booth in the back. After ordering two coffees, an uncomfortable silence settles between us.
Finally, Hong-sook speaks. "How did you find out about my daughter?"
I choose my words carefully. "We've been investigating Kim Su-chul in connection with some very serious crimes. In the course of our investigation, we uncovered information about your past relationship."
Hong-sook's fingers tighten around her coffee cup. "What kinds of crimes?"
I hesitate, then decide on honesty. "Multiple kidnappings, possibly murders."
She gasps, her face draining of color. "No... that's not possible. Su-chul was many things, but he wasn't... he couldn't..."
"Ms. Lee," I say gently, "I need you to tell me everything you know about Kim Su-chul. Anything could be important."
Hong-sook takes a shaky breath. "We met at the factory, like Min-ji told you. Su-chul was... charming at first. Attentive. But things changed after I got pregnant."
She pauses, lost in painful memories. I wait patiently, not wanting to push her.
"He became controlling, paranoid. He'd accuse me of things, get angry over nothing. One night, he..." she trails off, her hand unconsciously moving to her arm, as if remembering an old injury.
"Did he hurt you?" I ask softly.
Hong-sook nods, tears forming in her eyes. "That was the night I left. I was seven months pregnant. I couldn't... I couldn't let my baby grow up in that environment."
"And after you left?"
"He tried to find me at first. Kept calling, showing up at places I used to go. That's why I moved, changed my number. Eventually, he stopped. I thought... I thought it was over."
I lean forward, my voice gentle but urgent. "Ms. Lee, does Kim know about your daughter? Has he ever tried to contact her?"
Hong-sook shakes her head vehemently. "No, never. As far as I know, he doesn't even know she exists. I've done everything I can to keep it that way."
I nod, processing this information.
"Ms. Lee, I know this is difficult, but I need to ask - where is your daughter now?"
Hong-sook's eyes flash with fear and suspicion. "Why? You said she might be in danger. Is Su-chul after her?"
I choose my next words carefully. "We don't know for certain. But if there's any chance Kim knows about her, she could be at risk. We want to make sure she's safe."
Hong-sook is quiet for a long moment, internal conflict clear on her face. Finally, she speaks. "She's with my sister, in Busan. I... I couldn't keep her with me. It wasn't safe."
I feel a pang of sympathy for this woman who's clearly been through so much. "Thank you for telling me this, Ms. Lee. We'll make sure she's protected."
I take a sip of my now-cold coffee, considering my next move carefully. The information Hong-sook has provided is invaluable, but I feel there's one more crucial piece we need.
"Ms. Lee," I begin gently, "I know I'm asking a lot, but would you be willing to share a photo of your daughter with me? It could be essential for ensuring her safety."
Hong-sook's body immediately tenses, her eyes widening with fear and suspicion. "A photo? Why? I've already told you where she is."
I lean forward, keeping my voice low and calm. "I understand your hesitation, I really do. But if there's any chance Kim might try to find her, having a current photo could be crucial for our team to identify and protect her quickly."
Hong-sook shakes her head, her hands gripping her coffee cup tightly. "I can't... I've spent years keeping her hidden, safe. How do I know I can trust you with this?"
I take a deep breath, knowing I need to choose my words carefully. "Ms. Lee, I swear to you on everything I hold dear that my only concern is your daughter's safety. We're dealing with a potentially dangerous situation, and every piece of information could be the difference between keeping her safe and..." I trail off, not wanting to voice the alternative.
Hong-sook is quiet for a long moment, internal conflict clear on her face. I can see the battle between her instinct to protect her daughter's privacy and the growing realization that working with the police might be necessary.
Finally, she speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. "If I do this, if I show you her photo, you have to promise me something."
I nod, encouraging her to continue.
"Promise me that you'll do everything in your power to keep her safe. And promise me that this stays between us. No one else sees this photo unless it's absolutely necessary."
"You have my word," I say solemnly.
With shaking hands, Hong-sook reaches into her purse and pulls out her wallet. She hesitates for a moment before extracting a small photo and sliding it across the table to me.
I look down at the image of a smiling young girl, probably around eight years old, with her mother's eyes and a bright, infectious grin. The resemblance to Hong-sook is clear, but I can also see hints of Kim Su-chul in her features.
"Her name is Min-joo," Hong-sook says softly. "She's nine now. That photo was taken on her last birthday."
I nod, committing the image to memory before carefully handing it back to Hong-sook. "Thank you for trusting me with this. It means a lot."
Hong-sook takes the photo back, her fingers lingering on it for a moment before she tucks it safely away. "Just... just keep her safe, please."
"I will do everything in my power," I assure her. "Now, is there anything else you can tell me about Min-joo? Any distinguishing marks, favorite places, anything that might be relevant?"
Hong-sook thinks for a moment. "She has a small birthmark on her left wrist, shaped a bit like a crescent moon. And she loves the beach - my sister often takes her to Haeundae Beach in Busan."
I jot down these details, nodding. "Thank you, Ms. Lee. This information could be crucial."
We both stand, sensing that our conversation has reached its natural conclusion. As we walk out of the coffee shop, I turn to Hong-sook one last time.
"Thank you again for your cooperation. I know how difficult this must be for you."
Hong-sook nods, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. "Just find him, detective. And keep my daughter safe."
"I will," I promise. "We'll be in touch if we need anything else. In the meantime, if you think of anything, no matter how small, please don't hesitate to call me."
I hand her my card, which she takes with a shaky hand.
"Goodbye, Ms. Lee. And thank you."
As I watch Hong-sook walk away, I pull out my phone to update Ko.
After two rings, she picks up.
"Ko speaking."
"It's me," I say urgently. "I've got crucial new information about Kim Su-chul and-"
"Hold on," Ko interrupts, her voice tense. "Before you go on, there's something you need to know."
I feel a sudden sense of dread. "What is it?"
Ko sighs heavily. "Kim's been released on bail. We couldn't hold him any longer without more substantial evidence. The legal time limit was up."