I approach the detention center, my heart pounding with anticipation. The same officers who detained me yesterday are at the front desk. Their eyes widen in recognition, but they say nothing. One of them simply nods and gestures for me to follow.
Yesterday, I was a troublemaker. Today, I'm here with official permission. The sudden change must be baffling to them.
We stop in front of a nondescript door. The officer unlocks it and steps aside, allowing me to enter. As I step into the room, my eyes immediately lock onto the figure sitting at the table.
Lee Chunsik.
He's staring at me, his face a mask of calm curiosity. It's unnerving how collected he seems, given the circumstances.
I need to make every second of this meeting count. The questions swirl in my head:
Is Lee connected to Choi? How? Why is he making these false confessions? What could he possibly be getting in exchange for taking the fall for so many crimes?
I sit down, never breaking eye contact with Lee. The silence between us is thick with unspoken questions and hidden truths.
"Mr. Lee," I finally say, keeping my voice steady. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."
Lee's lips curl into a small, enigmatic smile. "Detective," he replies, his voice softer than I expected. "I must admit, I'm curious about what brings you here."
I lean forward slightly, my mind racing to formulate the right approach. I need to be careful, strategic. One wrong move and I might lose this opportunity forever.
"I'm here," I say slowly, "because I believe there's more to your story than what's been told. And I think you know that too."
Lee's expression doesn't change, but I notice a slight tensing in his shoulders. It's subtle, but it's there.
"Is that so?" he says, his tone neutral. "And what makes you think that, Detective?"
I take a deep breath. This is it. The moment of truth. Whatever I say next could make or break this entire investigation.
"Because, Mr. Lee," I say, my voice low and intense, "I think you and I both know that you're not the monster they're making you out to be. And I want to understand why you're letting them do this to you."
Lee's laughter echoes through the small room, catching me off guard. "Detective," he says, shaking his head, "you're wasting your time. I've confessed to my crimes. What more do you want?"
I take a deep breath. This is it. My last chance. I have to take a risk.
"I know what Choi offered you," I say, my voice steady despite my racing heart.
Lee's face remains impassive, but there's a flicker of something in his eyes. Curiosity? Fear?
I press on, "I know because I'm hearing them too."
For a split second, Lee's composure slips. His eyes widen, his jaw tightens. But as quickly as it appeared, the reaction is gone.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Lee says, his voice flat.
But I've seen enough. I lean in, lowering my voice. "The voices, Lee. The ones in your head. Choi promised he could make them stop, didn't he? In exchange for your confession."
Lee remains silent, his eyes never leaving mine.
"I know because my father went through the same thing," I continue, the words tumbling out now. "Choi offered to help him too. But it was all a lie. He just used my father, sent him on an undercover mission that got him killed."
I can see Lee's breathing has quickened, though he's trying to hide it.
"Choi doesn't know how to stop the voices," I say, my voice urgent. "He's just using you, like he used my father. But I can help. I've learned to live with them. You don't have to do this."
The silence that follows is deafening. Lee stares at me, his face unreadable. I hold my breath, waiting. If anyone overheard this conversation, they'd think I was insane. But I know I'm right. I have to be.
Just as I'm about to give up hope, Lee breaks the silence.
"You're only half right, Detective," he says softly.
My heart leaps. "What do you mean?"
Lee's words hit me like a physical blow. "What Choi offered wasn't how to stop the voice," he says, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. "He offered to teach me how to hear them."
I sit there, stunned into silence. My mind struggles to process this information. "You... you want the voices in your head?" I finally manage to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lee's lips curl into a chilling smile. "Why, you ask?" He leans forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It's for fun, that's all."
I feel the blood drain from my face. The realization crashes over me like a wave of ice water. I'm sitting across from a true psychopath, someone who craves the very thing that's tormented so many others.
Lee's eyes narrow with curiosity. "Tell me, Detective, how do you feel about hearing the voices?"
I pause for a moment. I need to be careful here. This is an opportunity to manipulate Lee, to get more information. I force my face into an expression of misery.
"It's... it's terrible," I say, my voice trembling slightly. "That's how my father was tricked by Choi's lie. He was desperate to make them stop."
Lee tilts his head, a puzzled expression crossing his face. "But you just said you've learned to live with it."
I nod slowly, choosing my words carefully. "Living with something doesn't mean you're happy about it. It's a constant struggle."
Lee leans forward, his interest clearly piqued. "How did you start hearing them? Tell me."
I see my chance and seize it. "Actually," I say, lowering my voice, "I learned from my father. Before he... before he died."
Lee's eyes widen with intrigue. "You learned? From your father?"
I nod, maintaining eye contact. "Yes. And... I know how to teach others."
The room falls silent as Lee processes this information. I can almost see the gears turning in his head, weighing the possibility that I might be able to give him what he wants.
"You could teach me?" Lee asks, his voice a mix of skepticism and barely concealed excitement.
I lean in closer, my heart pounding. This is it. My chance to gain his trust, to uncover the truth. "I could," I say softly.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I'm about to do. It's a risk, but it might be my only chance.
"Lee," I say, leaning forward, my voice low and intense. "I have an offer for you."
His eyebrows raise slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"I can teach you how to hear the voices of serial killers," I continue, watching his reaction carefully. "But in exchange, you need to retract your statements. Tell the truth about the crimes you didn't commit."
Lee's expression shifts, a mix of intrigue and skepticism crossing his face.
"Think about it," I press on. "You're likely facing a life sentence. And then what? Choi could easily let you rot in jail without keeping his promise. What's the point of hearing those voices if you're locked up for life?"
Lee's eyes narrow, considering my words.
"But if you take my deal," I continue, "you could get a reduced sentence. And you'd still be able to contact me, to learn what I know."
I can see the wheels turning in Lee's mind. He's interested, I can tell.
"With my method, you'd have access to what you want, and you wouldn't be throwing your life away completely," I add, driving my point home.
Lee opens his mouth to respond, but before he can speak, the door swings open. Two officers step in.
"Time's up," one of them announces gruffly.
As they move to escort Lee out, I lock eyes with him one last time. "Think about it, Lee," I say urgently. "Please, think wisely."
Lee's gaze lingers on me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without a word, he allows the officers to lead him away.
As the door closes behind them, I slump back in my chair. I've laid all my cards on the table. Now, all I can do is wait and hope that my gamble pays off.
The silence of the empty room presses in on me as I contemplate the gravity of what I've just done.
The faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional distant footstep in the hallway only serve to accentuate the crushing quiet.
I sit motionless, my breath shallow, as the full weight of what I've just done settles upon me like a heavy mantle. My fingers drum nervously on the cold metal table as I contemplate the precarious nature of this bluff. If he sees through my deception, if he calls me out on this outrageous claim, everything could crumble.
But if it works... oh, if it works. The potential payoff tantalizes me, dangling just out of reach like a glittering prize. If this audacious gambit succeeds, it could be the key that unlocks the entire case.
Whether it leads to the truth I've been seeking or to my own downfall remains to be seen. But one thing's for certain - there's no going back now.