As I hurry towards the nearest police station, my mind is racing with thoughts of Lee So-hyun and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her disappearance. The streets around me blur into a haze of neon lights and shadowy figures, my feet carrying me forward on autopilot as I try to make sense of the pieces of this puzzle.
Suddenly, Bundy's voice interrupts my train of thought, his tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "So, what's your plan here, Park?" he asks, his words echoing in my mind. "This isn't even your official case. Why are you getting involved?"
I pause for a moment, considering his question. Why am I so invested in finding Lee So-hyun? It's not like I have any personal connection to her, beyond the fact that she's a friend of my grandmother's.
"I'm not entirely sure," I admit, my voice barely audible over the sound of my footsteps. "But Jung and Lee are both connected to my grandmother, and I feel like I owe it to her to help in any way I can."
Bundy chuckles, the sound more amused than mocking. "Ah, so you're playing the dutiful grandson card. How noble of you."
I bristle at his comment, but I can't deny the truth in his words. "It's not just about being a good grandson," I argue, my voice growing stronger. "It's about doing what's right. If something bad has happened to Lee So-hyun, I can't just sit back and do nothing."
Bundy is silent for a moment, and I can almost feel him mulling over my words. "Fair enough," he says at last, his voice tinged with a hint of respect. "But you do realize that this could get messy, right? If there's foul play involved, you might be biting off more than you can chew."
I nod, my jaw clenching with determination. "I know the risks," I say, my voice steady and resolute. "But I'm willing to take them. I can't just turn my back on this, not when there's a chance I could help."
As I step into the small, dingy police station, I'm immediately struck by the sense of weariness and resignation that hangs heavy in the air. The officers here have been working in this place for what feels like an eternity, their faces etched with the lines of long hours and thankless work.
It's the kind of place where dreams of advancement and recognition go to die, where the only reward is the steady paycheck that keeps food on the table and a roof over one's head. Whether the officers have given up on their ambitions or simply lost the will to chase them, it's hard to say. Perhaps it's a bit of both.
As I approach the front desk, a familiar face looks up from a stack of paperwork. It's Officer Dong, a man who's been a fixture at this station since I was a teenager. He's an old acquaintance of my grandmother's, and he greets me with a warmth that feels out of place in this cold, impersonal space.
"Park Minjun!" he exclaims, his face splitting into a wide grin. "I heard you joined the big leagues over at the Seoul Metropolitan Investigation Unit. Congratulations, my boy!"
I nod and force a smile, but my mind is already racing ahead to the reason for my visit. I don't have time for small talk, not when Lee So-hyun's life could be hanging in the balance.
But Officer Dong seems intent on catching up, peppering me with questions about my new job and reminiscing about old times. I try to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand, but he keeps veering off on tangents and anecdotes.
Finally, I decide to be direct. "Officer Dong," I say, my voice firm but respectful. "I'm actually here on an urgent matter. It's about a woman named Lee So-hyun. She's a friend of my grandmother's, and she's gone missing."
Dong's face grows serious, and he leans forward in his chair. "Missing, you say? That's a grave matter indeed."
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest. "I know it's not my official case, but my grandmother is beside herself with worry. She's asked me to look into it, and I couldn't say no."
It's a small lie, but one that seems necessary to get Dong's full attention and cooperation. And it works. He nods slowly, his expression one of understanding and concern.
"Of course, of course," he says, his voice growing more business-like. "Let me see what I can find in the database."
He turns to his computer and begins typing, his fingers moving with a surprising agility for a man of his age. After a few moments, he frowns, his brow furrowing with confusion.
"That's strange," he mutters, almost to himself. "There was a missing person report filed for Lee So-hyun about ten days ago. But…"
"But what?" I ask back.
And I feel a chill run down my spine, a sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach at his answer.
"It looks like it was retracted just a day later."
"Retracted?" I ask, my voice tight with worry.
I lean forward, my eyes locked on Officer Dong's face as I try to process the information he's just given me. A missing person report, filed and then withdrawn within a day? Something about that doesn't add up.
"Officer Dong," I say, my voice low and urgent. "Is there any way you can give me more details about this case? I know it's not my official investigation, but I have a feeling that there's more to this than meets the eye."
Dong hesitates, his expression torn between his desire to help and his duty to follow protocol. "I don't know, Park," he says, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "This isn't your case, and I could get in trouble for sharing confidential information."
I nod, understanding his position. But I also know that I can't let this lead go, not when it could be the key to finding Lee So-hyun and bringing her home safely.
"Please, Officer Dong," I plead, my voice filled with a quiet desperation. "I give you my word that I won't do anything to compromise your position or the integrity of this station. But I need to know more if I'm going to help find Lee So-hyun."
Dong sighs, his shoulders slumping with the weight of his decision. But after a long moment, he nods, his expression resolute.
"Alright, Park," he says, his voice low and conspiratorial. "I'll tell you what I know. But this stays between us, understood?"
I nod, my heart pounding with anticipation as Dong begins to speak.
"The missing person report was filed by a man claiming to be Lee So-hyun's husband," he says, his eyes scanning the file on his computer screen. "But oddly enough, it was withdrawn by that same man just a day later."
I frown, my mind racing with the implications of this new information. Why would a husband file a missing person report, only to retract it so quickly? Was it a false alarm, or something more sinister?
"Can I see the details of the husband?" I ask, my voice tight with tension. "Maybe there's a clue there that can help us understand what's going on."
Dong nods, turning the screen towards me so that I can read the file for myself. But as my eyes scan the information, I feel a jolt of surprise and confusion course through me.
The name listed as Lee So-hyun's husband isn't Jung, the man I met at the apartment just hours ago.
It's a different name entirely, one that I don't recognize.