As dawn breaks, officers begin trickling into the office. Their eyes widen as they spot me, still hunched over my computer, surrounded by empty coffee cups and discarded energy drink cans. I can hear their whispers, their not-so-subtle comments about my dedication or perhaps my desperation. But I tune them out, focused solely on the task at hand.
When Senior Detective Seo finally arrives, I waste no time. I approach him, my steps slightly unsteady from the long night, but my mind sharp and clear.
"Senior Detective Seo," I call out, my voice hoarse from lack of use. "I've completed the CCTV review. I have some findings to report."
Seo looks surprised, perhaps even a little impressed, but quickly masks it with a professional nod. "Go ahead," he says, leading us to a quieter corner of the office.
I clear my throat and begin my report: "Kim Yoon-jeong left school at approximately 17:10 yesterday evening. She then walked to the local shopping area, where she met up with her friend, Lee Kyung-ok, at around 18:00. They entered one of the shops together."
Seo nods, jotting down notes. I continue, "At 18:40, both girls left the store. Yoon-jeong then walked in the direction of her house, leaving the CCTV coverage area."
I pause, meeting Seo's eyes. "She didn't return home. I've checked all available CCTV footage from nearby areas, but there's no trace of her after that point."
Seo's brow furrows as he processes the information. "Good work," he says, almost reluctantly. "This gives us a clearer timeline to work with."
I nod, suppressing a yawn. "Is there anything else you need me to do? I'm ready to assist with the next steps of the investigation."
Seo hesitates, clearly torn between his personal feelings and the needs of the case. Finally, he says, "Get some rest. We'll need fresh eyes for the follow-up interviews. I'll have someone wake you in a couple of hours."
As Senior Detective Seo's words sink in, I feel a small surge of satisfaction. His instruction to rest so I can be fresh for follow-up interviews is a clear indication that he wants me involved in this case. It's a small victory, but a significant one given the recent tension.
Despite the exhaustion weighing on my body, my mind still feels sharp and ready. I turn back to Seo before he can walk away.
"Senior Detective Seo," I call out, "I appreciate the opportunity to rest, but there's one more thing I'd like to do first."
Seo raises an eyebrow, curiosity evident in his expression. "What is it?"
"I'd like to check all the number plates of the cars that appeared in the CCTV footage," I explain. "There might be a pattern or a vehicle that stands out."
Seo considers this for a moment, then shakes his head. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I can assign that task to others. You've been up all night. We need you rested and alert for the interviews later."
I open my mouth to protest, but Seo holds up a hand. "That's an order. Get some sleep. We'll need your sharp mind later."
Recognizing the wisdom in his words, and the olive branch he's extending, I nod in agreement. "Understood, sir. Thank you."
As soon as I enter one of the resting rooms, I fall into a deep, dreamless sleep almost instantly, my body finally succumbing to the exhaustion of the long night. It feels like mere moments have passed when I'm jolted awake by a hand on my shoulder.
As I blink away the fog of sleep, Senior Detective Seo's face comes into focus. He's holding out an energy drink, which I gratefully accept.
"Here," he says, his voice gruff but not unkind. "You'll need this."
As I crack open the can and take a swig, Seo clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable but determined to speak.
"Listen," he begins, his eyes meeting mine. "I want to be straight with you. I distrusted you in the beginning, and I'll be honest, I still have my doubts."
I nod, appreciating his candor. Seo continues, "But there's no question about your investigative skills or your tenacious efforts. I was wrong to exclude you earlier, and I apologize for that."
The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard. Before I can respond, he adds, "I'd like to formally invite you to join us on this case. We could use your insights."
For a moment, I'm speechless. Then, gathering myself, I reply, "Thank you, Senior Detective. I appreciate your honesty and the opportunity. I'm always happy and willing to help, especially in a case like this."
Seo nods, a ghost of a smile crossing his face. "Good. Finish that drink and gear up. We're heading to the scene where Kim Yoon-jeong was last seen on CCTV."
As I quickly prepare myself, I can see the rest of the team assembling. There's still some wariness in their glances, but the open hostility from before seems to have dissipated.
As we drive towards the scene, I mentally review the CCTV footage I've analyzed, preparing to offer any insights that might help.
As we arrive at the scene, the local police are already there, their vehicles creating a small sea of flashing lights. Senior Detective Seo immediately approaches them, and we gather around to hear their briefing.
After the local officers finish their report, Seo turns to us. "Alright, everyone. Let's spread out, knock on doors, and ask about Kim Yoon-jeong's whereabouts. Leave no stone unturned."
As the team disperses, I find my gaze drawn to a small mountain in the distance. It's not far from the scene, but it's in a direction that seems to be a blind spot for the local CCTV network.
Seo notices my distraction and approaches. "What are you looking at?" he asks, following my line of sight.
"That mountain," I reply, pointing. "I was thinking about the possibility of Kim Yoon-jeong being taken in that direction. It's the perfect route to avoid CCTV coverage."
Seo considers this for a moment, then shakes his head. "It's a bit far from the scene. For now, let's focus on interviewing people in the immediate area. We need to exhaust all possibilities here first."
I nod in agreement. "Understood, sir."
For the next few hours, we work tirelessly, knocking on doors and questioning locals. The sun begins to set, casting long shadows across the streets. Despite our efforts, we haven't uncovered any concrete leads.
As darkness falls, Seo gathers the team. "Alright, we should head back to the office and regroup," he announces, fatigue evident in his voice.
Just as we're about to leave, Seo catches me looking at the mountain again. He sighs, a mix of exhaustion and curiosity in his expression.
"That mountain is really bothering you, isn't it?" he asks.
I nod, not wanting to push but unable to shake the feeling.
Seo checks his watch, then looks back at me. "Alright, if you think it's worth checking out, we can do a quick drive there before heading back. It's a long shot, but at this point, we can't afford to overlook anything."
Grateful for his willingness to consider my hunch, I quickly agree. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it."
As we arrive at the base of the mountain, the fading light reveals a narrow path winding its way up the slope. Seo eyes it skeptically.
"Looks like people use this for hiking," he remarks, his tone suggesting we should turn back.
I shake my head, studying the path more closely. "I don't think so, sir. Given the size and condition of the path, it's not frequently used by hikers. This seems more like a private route, possibly used by the mountain's owner or caretakers."
Seo frowns, clearly torn between his desire to leave and his curiosity about my observation. "It's getting dark," he points out. "We should head back."
Determined not to give up, I pull out my flashlight. "I can make it quick, sir. Just a short climb to see where it leads. It won't take long."
After a moment's hesitation, Seo sighs and nods. "Alright, but we're not staying long."
We begin our ascent, the beam of my flashlight illuminating the path ahead. The climb is steep but manageable, and after about ten minutes, we round a bend to find ourselves facing an old tomb.
Seo nods, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You were right. This path was clearly made for family members or caretakers of the tomb." He turns, ready to head back down. "Good observation, but we should go now."
But I don't move. My body feels frozen in place, my eyes fixed on something beyond the tomb.
"Hey, didn't you hear me? We need to go," Seo says, his voice tinged with irritation. When I still don't respond, he walks over, following my gaze. "What are you looking at?"
And then he sees it too. There, laid out on top of the tomb, is a small body.
A girl's body.