I burst through the doors of the Seoul Metropolitan Police headquarters, my heart pounding in my chest. The familiar buzz of the precinct fades into white noise as I make a beeline for the elevators.
"Hey, Detective! Welcome back!"
"Good to see you, how've you been?"
Colleagues call out greetings, but their words wash over me without registering. My mind is fixated on one thing: Choi's office. The painting. I need to see it.
I jab the elevator button repeatedly, impatient. When the doors finally open, I squeeze in, ignoring the startled looks from the officers already inside. As soon as I reach Choi's floor, I'm out, striding purposefully down the hallway.
I vaguely register Choi's secretary rising from her desk, her voice concerned. "Detective, do you have an appointment? Senior Superintendent Choi is very busy today-"
I brush past her, my hand already on Choi's office door handle.
Suddenly, a familiar voice cuts through my single-minded focus. "Detective Park! What are you doing?"
It's Han, his voice sharp with alarm. But I can't stop now. I'm so close.
"Detective!" Han calls again, louder this time. I hear rapid footsteps behind me, but I've already pushed open Choi's door.
The office is empty. My eyes immediately lock onto the painting behind Choi's desk. There it is - "The Torment of Saint Anthony." I step forward, my hand outstretched.
Suddenly, I feel a firm grip on my arm, yanking me back. It's Han, his face a mixture of concern and frustration.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he hisses. "You can't just barge in here!"
"I need to see it, Han," I mutter, trying to pull away. "The painting. It's important. I have to-"
"You have to calm down," Han interrupts, his grip tightening. "You're not thinking straight."
I shake my head, still struggling. "You don't understand. Choi... my father... the ritual..."
Han's brow furrows in confusion. "What are you talking about? You're not making any sense."
"Let go!" I shout, finally wrenching my arm free. "I have to see Choi!"
Han takes a step back, his eyes widening as he really looks at me. I can only imagine what he sees - wild eyes, disheveled appearance, manic energy.
"Okay," he says slowly, as if talking to a spooked animal. "Okay, let's just take a breath here."
But I'm already turning back to the painting, my fingertips just inches from the canvas.
What happens next catches me completely off guard. I feel a splash of cold liquid hit my face, shocking me out of my frenzied state. I blink rapidly, water dripping down my chin, and turn to see Han standing there, an empty cup in his hand.
"What... what just happened?" I stammer, suddenly aware of where I am and what I've been doing.
Han sets the cup down on Choi's desk, his expression a mix of relief and exasperation. "You tell me. You came in here like a man possessed. What's going on?"
I slump against the wall, the adrenaline draining from my body. "I... I found something. About my father. About Choi. I thought...
I thought the painting..."
Han sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, let's get you out of here before Choi or anyone else shows up. Then you're going to explain everything to me. Understood?"
I nod, suddenly feeling exhausted.
As we walk down the hallway, ignoring the curious stares of our colleagues, I realize how close I came to ruining everything. Han's intervention, as jarring as it was, might have just saved my investigation - and my career.
"Thanks, Han," I mutter as we step into the elevator.
He nods, his face serious. "Don't thank me yet. You've got a lot of explaining to do."
***
Han closes the door of the small conference room, his face a mixture of concern and frustration. He gestures for me to sit, then takes a seat across from me, leaning forward with his elbows on the table.
"Look," he begins, his voice low and serious, "I've given you a lot of leeway with this Choi investigation. I've trusted you, backed you up. But if it's going to lead to scenes like what just happened in Choi's office, I can't keep supporting you. You understand that, right?"
I nod, shame washing over me. "I'm sorry, Han. I got... carried away. It won't happen again."
Han sighs, rubbing his temples. "It better not. You're walking a thin line here, and stunts like that could jeopardize everything."
A moment of silence passes between us before Han speaks again. "You do realize the atmosphere around here is tense, right? With Lee's death and all?"
I blink, suddenly realizing I've been so caught up in my own discoveries that I haven't even considered recent events.
"There's clearly a lot you need to catch up on," Han says, leaning back in his chair. "But first, I need you to tell me what you've found. What drove you to storm into Choi's office like that?"
I take a deep breath, organizing my thoughts. I decide to share the key points, carefully omitting any mention of the voices or supernatural elements.
"Okay, here's what I've got," I begin. "First, I've gathered testimonies against Choi - from Lee before his death, from retired detective Heo, and from Kang. They all point to Choi's involvement in some serious misconduct."
Han nods, his expression grave. "Go on."
"Secondly, I've uncovered a link between the prison where Lee was held, Lee himself, and a church. The church's ownership leads back to a company that seems to be controlled by Choi."
Han's brow furrows. "That's... intriguing. What kind of link?"
"It appears the church was providing 'support' to the prison, but it might have been a cover for something more sinister. I'm still piecing that part together."
I pause, then continue, "Lastly, I have documents from Kang that show Choi has been manipulating cases for years. Fabricating evidence, redirecting investigations - it's all there, Han."
Han leans back, his face a mask of concentration. "That's... that's a lot to take in. Do you have solid evidence for all of this?"
I nod, "Most of it. Some pieces are still circumstantial, but it's all pointing in the same direction."
Han is quiet for a moment, processing everything I've said. Finally, he speaks, "Okay. This is serious stuff, no doubt about it. But we need to approach this carefully. No more impulsive actions, understood?"
I nod emphatically. "Absolutely. I know I messed up earlier, but I'm focused now."
Han leans forward again, his voice low and intense. "Alright. Here's what we're going to do. You're going to write up everything you've found - every detail, every piece of evidence. I want it all documented. Then we'll decide on our next move together.
Agreed?"
I freeze, caught off guard by Han's words and the hand on my shoulder. I turn to face him, searching his eyes for any sign of hesitation.
"Han," I begin cautiously, "are you... are you considering launching an official investigation against Choi?"
Han holds my gaze steadily, his expression serious. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I need to see everything you've found first, review it thoroughly. But..." he pauses, taking a deep breath, "if what you're saying is true, then yes. There can be no exceptions, not even for someone in Choi's position."
I feel a mix of relief and concern wash over me. "Han, I appreciate this, but you don't have to get involved. This could be dangerous, and I don't want to put your career at risk."
Han's eyes harden slightly. "Listen to me. If Choi has actually done all the things you're alleging, it's not just about careers anymore. It's a slap in the face of everything we stand for as police officers. It's a betrayal of public trust. We have a duty to deal with it, no matter who's involved."
I'm momentarily speechless, moved by Han's commitment to justice. "I... thank you, Han. Really."
He nods, then his tone becomes more businesslike. "Don't thank me yet. Here's what I need you to do: document everything. Every piece of evidence, every testimony, every connection you've made. I want it all laid out clearly and concisely."
"Of course," I nod, already mentally organizing the information.
"Once you've done that," Han continues, "I'll review it all. If it holds up, we'll organize a team to consider launching an official investigation. But remember, this stays between us for now. We can't risk tipping off Choi or anyone else who might be involved."
"Understood," I say, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "I'll get started right away."
As I turn to leave, Han calls out one last time. "And Park?"
I look back at him.
"Be thorough, but be quick. If even half of what you've told me is true, we might not have much time before Choi or his allies make a move."
I nod gravely, the weight of the task ahead settling on my shoulders.
As I sit down at my desk and open a fresh document, I take a deep breath. It's time to lay it all out, to build a case so strong that not even Choi can wriggle out of it. The real work begins now.