The tension in the air is palpable as we all gather in the conference room. Inspector Han stands at the head of the table, his face a mask of barely contained frustration. His normally immaculate suit is slightly rumpled, betraying a sleepless night. Beside him is Chief Inspector Jang, her presence a clear indication that this isn't a routine meeting.
Her crisp uniform and stern expression command attention from everyone present.
The team shuffles in, exchanging nervous glances. Detective Kim leans over to me, whispering, "What's going on? Why is the Chief Inspector here?"
I shrug, maintaining my carefully neutral expression. "We're about to find out," I murmur back.
Chief Inspector Jang clears her throat, silencing the room. "I'll cut to the chase," she begins, her voice sharp and authoritative. "In light of recent... revelations, an official investigation has been launched into the handling of Detective Sung's case."
A collective intake of breath fills the room. Detective Lee drops his pen, the clatter echoing in the sudden silence.
Jang continues, her gaze sweeping across the assembled team. "Specifically, we're looking into how and why this case was transferred from the local police to Inspector Han's team. There are concerns about potential conflicts of interest and procedural irregularities."
Inspector Han's jaw clenches, a muscle twitching visibly. His hands, resting on the table, curl into fists, but he remains silent.
"As such," Jang says, her tone leaving no room for argument, "effective immediately, this team is being removed from the Kim Eunji investigation. The case will be transferred to Inspector Seo's team in the Violent Crimes Unit."
The room erupts into chaos. Detective Park jumps to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "This is outrageous!" he exclaims. "We've been working this case for weeks!"
"Sit down, Park," Han orders, his voice strained.
Chief Inspector Jang raises her hand, silencing the protests. "Furthermore," she continues, her voice rising slightly to be heard over the commotion, "Detective," she nods in my direction, her eyes cold, "you're officially off the case. Given your initial involvement as a person of interest, it's been deemed inappropriate for you to continue on this investigation."
I nod solemnly, ignoring the sympathetic glances from my teammates. Detective Kim places a comforting hand on my shoulder, which I shrug off gently.
As Chief Inspector Jang turns to leave, Inspector Han steps forward. "Chief, with all due respect, this team has made significant progress. Removing us now could jeopardize the entire investigation."
Jang pauses at the door, turning back to face Han. "Your concerns are noted, Inspector. However, the decision has been made. I suggest you focus on cooperating with the internal investigation." With that, she exits, leaving a stunned silence in her wake.
The dam breaks. Voices rise in angry protest, questions are shouted, and frustration permeates the air. Han tries to calm the team, but his own anger is evident in the tightness of his voice.
"Everyone, please!" he shouts over the din. "I know this is unexpected, but we need to handle this professionally."
Detective Lee scoffs. "Professionally? They're accusing us of misconduct!"
"Not us," Detective Kim interjects, glancing at me. "They're targeting the detective."
Amidst the chaos, I remain seated, outwardly calm. My colleagues shoot me confused glances, probably wondering why I'm not as upset as they are.
Little do they know, this is all part of the plan. The seed I planted in Hong's mind is growing, and I'm confident it will bear fruit soon. Kim Eunji's carefully constructed facade is about to crumble, and when it does, the truth will come to light - with or without our official involvement.
As the meeting breaks up, Han approaches me, his voice low. "You're taking this awfully well," he observes, a hint of suspicion in his tone.
I meet his gaze steadily. "Sometimes, sir, you have to take a step back to move forward."
Han's eyes narrow, but he doesn't press further. Instead, he says, "I want you in my office in ten minutes. We need to talk."
I nod, watching as he strides away, his posture rigid with barely contained anger. Detective Kim approaches, concern etched on her face.
"Are you really okay with this?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
I offer her a small smile. "Trust me, Kim. This isn't over yet."
I make my way down the corridor towards Inspector Han's office, my footsteps echoing in the now-quiet precinct. The tension from the earlier meeting still hangs in the air, almost tangible. As I approach, I can see Han through the frosted glass, pacing back and forth, his silhouette a blur of restless energy.
I knock softly, then enter at his gruff "Come in." The office is dimly lit, with only the desk lamp providing illumination. Han gestures to the chair across from his desk, his face a mask of barely contained frustration.
"Sit," he commands, lowering himself into his own chair with a heavy sigh.
I comply, maintaining my composure as I settle into the seat. The leather creaks softly under my weight, the sound unnaturally loud in the tense silence.
Han leans forward, his elbows on the desk, fingers steepled under his chin. "I want to know exactly what you've been up to," he begins, his voice low and intense. "There's more going on here than you're letting on, and I—"
Suddenly, the door bursts open, startling us both. Officer Cho stumbles in, his face pale and his breath coming in short gasps. He's clutching his phone tightly, knuckles white with the force of his grip.
"Inspector!" exclaims, his voice cracking with urgency. "Sir, there's been a development."
Han rises to his feet, his earlier interrogation forgotten. "What is it? Spit it out!"
Cho swallows hard, his eyes darting between Han and me. "It's Kim Eunji, sir," he says, the words tumbling out in a rush. "She's... she's dead. Apparent suicide."
The room seems to tilt for a moment as the weight of Cho's words sink in. Han's face drains of color, his earlier anger replaced by shock.
"Suicide?" Han repeats, his voice barely above a whisper. "Are you certain?"
He nods vigorously. "Yes, sir. Local police just reported it. They found her in her apartment about an hour ago. Pills and alcohol, they think."
The shock of Cho's news hangs heavy in the air of Han's office. Han's face is a mask of determination as he turns to Cho.
"Cho, I need you to make contact with the local police immediately. Get every detail you can about the scene, the circumstances, everything. Go!"
Cho nods briskly and turns to leave, but I speak up, my voice steady and clear. "Inspector, is that going to be okay? We've been taken off the case. We don't have the authority to investigate anymore."
Han's eyes meet mine, curiosity rather than suspicion glimmering in them. "That's not really what's on your mind, is it?" he says, his voice thoughtful. Cho hesitates at the door, looking uncertainly between us.
"Go, Cho," Han orders, maintaining eye contact with me. Cho nods and rushes out, closing the door behind him.
Han takes a step closer, his gaze inquisitive rather than accusatory. "This suicide... is it connected to what you've been working on? The plans you've been making?"
I meet his gaze unflinchingly, my posture straight and confident. "I took some initiative, yes," I state firmly. "I believed it was necessary to move things forward."
Han's eyebrows raise slightly. "You went to talk to Hong, didn't you? What happened after that? What did you set in motion?"
I nod, my voice steady. "I did go to Hong. I thought I could steer things in the right direction, bring the truth to light. But this..." I pause, my resolve momentarily wavering. "Kim Eunji's suicide? This was not part of the plan.
Not at all."
Han studies me for a long moment, his expression more intrigued than angry. "So you were pursuing your own line of inquiry," he says finally, his tone measured. "And now we have an unexpected development."
I lean forward slightly, my conviction evident. "I stand by my decision to act, Inspector. But I never intended for this outcome."
Han nods slowly, processing the information. "Intended or not, it's happened. And now we're in a complex situation." He paces behind his desk, his mind clearly working.
Han gives me a long, appraising look. "I believe you," he says thoughtfully. "But we need to tread carefully from here on out. There's no telling how far the consequences of your actions might reach."
As we sit there, the weight of Kim Eunji's death hanging between us, I remain outwardly calm. But inside, I am considering all the possible implications of this unexpected turn. One thing's for certain - this case has just become far more complex than either of us anticipated.
Han and I exchange a quick glance before moving towards the door. As we step out of his office, we're immediately hit by a wave of commotion. The previously quiet precinct is now buzzing with activity, and at the center of it all is Cho, his voice rising above the din.
"Inspector Han!" Cho shouts, spotting us as we emerge. His face is flushed with excitement, phone still clutched tightly in his hand. "Sir, there's more!"
We quickly make our way over to him, the other officers parting to let us through. Han's voice is taut with tension as he asks, "What is it, Cho? What have you found out?"
Cho takes a deep breath, his eyes darting between Han and me. "The local police, sir. They found something at the scene." He pauses, the gravity of his next words evident in his expression. "They found a suicide note."