I clench my fists, my patience wearing thin. "Enough with the cryptic remarks, Bundy. Just say what you want to say."
Bundy's voice takes on a tone of mock hurt. "Oh, you're no fun today. And here I thought we had such a good rapport."
"Bundy," I growl warningly.
"Fine, fine," he relents. "If you insist on being so dreadfully serious. I found it strange that Lee's DNA was discovered only in the evidence collected and stored by the police."
I frown, flipping through the file. "What's wrong with that? The police collect evidence all the time."
"True," Bundy drawls. "But don't you find it odd that it's only in their evidence? Not in any other samples?"
I'm about to dismiss his comment when something in the file catches my eye. My heart starts to race as I read through the details more carefully.
"Lee Chunsik," I mutter, "confessed to 16 murders and 9 rapes. But... his DNA was only found in 5 cases, not including my parents'."
"Go on," Bundy urges, his voice uncharacteristically serious.
I continue reading, the realization slowly dawning on me. "Out of the 24 total cases, some evidence was collected and stored by the National Forensic Service. But from those samples... nothing was found. Lee's DNA only showed up in evidence collected and kept by the police."
"Bingo," Bundy says softly. "Now you're seeing it."
I lean back, my mind reeling. "But that doesn't make sense. If Lee is the killer, his DNA should be present regardless of who collected the evidence. Unless..."
"Unless?" Bundy prompts.
"Unless the evidence was tampered with," I finish, barely able to believe what I'm saying. "But that would mean..."
"That would mean corruption within the police force," Bundy concludes. "Quite the can of worms you've opened, isn't it?"
I stare at the file, feeling like the ground is shifting beneath me. "But why? Why would anyone do this?"
"Oh, I can think of several reasons," Bundy muses. "To close cold cases quickly, to cover up for someone else, to further someone's career... The possibilities are endless, really."
I shake my head, trying to clear it. "This is insane. I need to be sure. I need to double-check everything."
"Of course you do," Bundy agrees. "But be careful, my friend. If what we suspect is true, you're not just dealing with a killer anymore. You're potentially up against a system that's willing to frame a man for multiple murders."
As Bundy's presence fades, I'm left alone with the file and a growing sense of dread. What started as a search for my parents' killer has suddenly become something much larger and far more dangerous.
I pace my room, the implications of what I've discovered weighing heavily on my mind. Two possibilities stand out, each more disturbing than the last:
Someone within the police force tampered with the evidence. This would explain why Lee's DNA was only found in police-collected samples. But it also suggests a level of corruption that's hard to fathom. Who would do this, and why? Someone at the National Forensic Service altered the evidence. This seems less likely given the strict protocols in place, but it can't be ruled out.
If true, it would indicate an even deeper level of conspiracy.
I run my hands through my hair, frustration building. This needs to be double-checked, but how? I can't just waltz into the evidence locker or the NFS labs. And questioning the report... that means essentially accusing Choi of incompetence at best, complicity at worst.
Choi, who's been nothing but kind and supportive. Choi, who gave me the opportunity to join the unit, who shared this information with me when he didn't have to. The thought of going behind his back feels like a betrayal.
But then I think of my parents. Of the other victims. If Lee isn't the real killer, if the true murderer is still out there... The idea is too dreadful to contemplate. I can't just let this go. I owe it to them to find the truth, no matter where it leads.
I sit on the edge of my bed, full of thoughts. I need help, someone I can trust implicitly. Someone who might understand the delicacy of the situation.
Before I can second-guess myself, I reach for my phone and dial Han's number. It rings twice before he picks up.
"Park? Everything okay?" Han's voice is groggy, and I realize it's later than I thought.
"Han, I'm sorry to call so late. Can we meet? It's important."
There's a pause, then Han's voice comes back, more alert now. "Sure. Where?"
I think for a moment. "My grandmother's restaurant. It's closed now, but I have a key. We can talk privately there."
"Alright," Han agrees, sounding concerned. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."
***
I arrive at my grandmother's restaurant first, unlocking the door and flipping on the lights. The familiar scent of spices and soy sauce fills the air, usually comforting but now doing little to ease my nerves.
Han arrives a few minutes later, his face etched with concern. "What's going on, Park?" he asks as he sits across from me at one of the tables.
I take a deep breath and lay out everything I've discovered - the discrepancies in the DNA evidence, the strange pattern of Lee's confessions, and my suspicions about possible tampering. Han listens intently, his expression growing more serious with each detail.
When I finish, I look at him pleadingly. "I need your guidance, Han. What should I do?"
Han is silent for a long moment, his fingers drumming on the table. Finally, he speaks, his voice low and measured. "I think you should dig into this. But... not too openly. At least not at first."
"What do you mean?" I ask, leaning forward.
Han sighs, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Look, as your supervisor, I know this case is about your parents. It's natural for you to want more information. We can use that."
I nod, beginning to understand. "So, under the guise of 'getting more information'..."
"Exactly," Han confirms. "I can officially allow you some time to look into the case further. If you find any leads, any inconsistencies, we can use that as justification to dig deeper."
Relief washes over me. "Thank you, Han. Really. I know this puts you in a difficult position too. You're essentially going against Choi's orders as well."
Han shrugs, a small smile playing at his lips. "Sometimes doing the right thing means bending the rules a little. Besides, you're not the only one who wants to see justice done."
He leans back in his chair, thinking. "You should start by meeting Lee Chunsik. Talk to him directly. See if his story matches what's in the file."
I nod, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "I'll do that. First thing tomorrow, I'll request a meeting with him."
Han smiles, then glances around the restaurant. "Now that we've got that sorted, got anything to eat around here? I'm starving."
I can't help but chuckle. "I can whip something up quickly if you'd like."
Han raises an eyebrow. "You can cook? Since when?"
"Grandmother made sure I could feed myself," I explain, already moving towards the kitchen. "How about some doenjang jjigae? It won't take long."
"Sounds perfect," Han calls after me.
A few minutes later, I return with two steaming bowls of soup. Han takes a spoonful and his eyes widen in surprise. "This is actually good," he says, sounding impressed.
I smile, sitting down across from him. "Thanks. It's my grandmother's recipe."
Han slurps another spoonful of the doenjang jjigae, nodding appreciatively. "This really is good," he says, before his expression turns serious again. "Listen, about meeting Lee Chunsik..."
I lean in, sensing there's more to come.
"The police overseeing his case will probably say no at first," Han continues. "They don't like outsiders poking around their high-profile cases. But don't back down."
I nod, absorbing his words. Han sets down his spoon and looks me directly in the eye.
"Remember, you're part of the Seoul Metropolitan Investigative Unit. We have the authority to look into any case we deem relevant to our investigations. Use that."
"But this isn't officially our case," I point out.
Han smirks slightly. "Not yet. But given your personal connection and the potential links to other unsolved cases, we can make a compelling argument that it should be."
I feel a surge of determination. "I understand. I'll push for that meeting, no matter what."
"Good," Han says, picking up his spoon again. "Be persistent, but professional. Don't give them any reason to file a complaint. Just state your case clearly and firmly."
"I will," I promise. "And Han... thank you. For everything."
Han waves off my gratitude with his free hand. "Don't mention it. Now, is there any more of this soup? I think I could eat another bowl."
As I get up to refill Han's bowl, I feel a renewed sense of purpose. Tomorrow, I'll face whatever obstacles come my way. I'll meet Lee Chunsik, and I'll start unraveling this mystery. No matter what it takes, I'm going to get to the bottom of this. For my parents, for justice, and for all the unanswered questions that have haunted me for so long.