( *Sunbae - someone higher in hierarchy in school or work, usually older.)
Soo Min wanted to complete the paperwork that was left after solving of her recent case but unfortunately the worst enemy, officer Min Joo Chan, came into the office holding a paper cup filled with instant coffee and as usual wasn't going to leave her alone. He finished his coffee, crushed the paper cup and dropped it into the nearby trash can, then approached closer.
- Yah, Kim Soo Min.- said Joo Chan, leaning lightly on her desk.- I heard that you managed to catch another criminal. How did you do it? By the power of your PMS?- he added clearly amused and pleased with the joke he had created. The muffled laughter could be heard from the others around the room. As she thought, after the departure of officer Kim, no one even intended to admonish Joo Chan. He was probably an idol for all of them.- Wow, sunbae*, great joke.- Soo Min answered with a distinct note of sarcasm in her voice, gently clapping her hands.- You just came up with it or did you sit and thought about it all day yesterday instead of working? I'll bet on the second option, because there is still no progress in the "Cherry Blossom Reaper" case, which you take care of.- she added, and a malicious smile appeared on her face. Everyone's surprised gaze turned to her almost immediately.- You little... - Joo Chan's face turned red with anger.- How dare you speak like this to a man older than you and an officer with longer job experience? Do you even know how hard this case is? Of course not, because you don't take care of it.- he continued speaking without taking his eyes off her.- Maybe I don't know this case so well, but I know one thing.- Soo Min replied getting up from the chair, resting her hands on the desk top and also looked him in the eye.- You can't solve a case if you're sitting in the office, thinking up stupid jokes, instead of focusing entirely on your work.- she added venomously. Surprised voices of the others watching their skirmish could be clearly heard.Joo Chan, obviously angry, punched the desk top with his fist.- You nasty little bit...- he began, but the firm voice of the Police Chief interrupted him.- Enough of these quarrels!- he said, then sighed heavily. Kim Dong Wook, 55 years old Chief Superintendent General, a head of Seoul's police agency, stood in the doorway, giving Joo Chan a scolding look. He was a tall and solid man with black, medium-sized eyes, very short cut black hair with gray ones barely visible with this hairstyle, but bald spots on his head were getting clearer every day. His face was a bit square, just like his features, skin was heavily tanned and wrinkled. By personality, he was somewhat similar to officer Kim Jung Ho, former head of Violent Crime Section, perhaps because they were once partners. However, Kim Dong Wook was a bit harsher, which is probably why he was promoted to the Seoul's police agency Chief Superintendent General instead of his partner, who was older than him by five years.- I'm really sorry, Chief.- Joo Chan said and immediately bowed remorsely.Soo Min didn't say anything, but she bowed low. Her expression expressed remorse, and that was apparently enough because he said nothing to her.- Officer Min, I have important news.- the Chief turned to him. Everyone present fell silent and listened attentively to his words.- Yesterday morning, Madam Lee, the wife of the CEO of a fashion house, arrived at our station.- he continued.- She reported the disappearance of her daughter, Choi Ye Eun. On Sunday she went with her fiance, in his car, to a charity event. She had an argument with him and left the party without a word. CEO Choi secretly sent a security guard to this party to watch over his daughter, but even he lost sight of her. When Choi Ye Eun did not return in the morning and did not answer the phone, Madam Lee began to call her friends, but no one knew where her daughter was, so she came to the station.- he added.- But why are you telling me this, Chief? I don't think the disappearance of this girl is related to the case I am dealing with now.- Joo Chan interrupted him.- I'm getting to that now.- the Chief Kim replied.- Yesterday morning, on the road leading to the house where the party was taking place, a passerby found a small bouquet of cherry blossoms, clearly sprinkled with blood. He notified the police and the bouquet was immediately tested to find out whose blood it was. Due to the fact that it was found near the place where Choi Ye Eun stayed for the last time, and a card with her name was attached to the bouquet, the tests were done to determine if it could be her blood. And just now the results came, unfortunately confirming this. That is why I collected all the information gathered so far regarding the disappearance of Choi Ye Eun and personally I wanted to give it to you.- he added, showing a paper folder, but when Joo Chan wanted to take her, he pulled his hand away.- What now?- asked Joo Chan, clearly annoyed.- When the Choi family learned that their daughter may be the victim of the "Cherry Blossom Reaper" they turned straight to the Commissioner General and asked that someone more competent take care of the case, because they see that it is still unsolved and are afraid that their daughter's disappearance will remain a mystery just as the previous ones.- explained the Chief.- That's why Commissioner General instructed me to change the detective. I want to note that I wouldn't agree if it were not for the pressure from the Choi family.- he continued, then looked apologetically at Joo Chan.- Therefore, forgive me, but I had no choice. I stand by the wall, do you understand?- and when he nodded, Chief continued again.- As of today, the "Cherry Blossom Reaper" case is transferred to detective Kim Soo Min.- he announced.- Why are you giving her the case?- Joo Chan asked indignantly.- Whether you like it or not, Kim Soo Min is currently the best detective in our Section. Also, I have to admit sadly that you haven't made much progress since you received this case.- the Chief admitted, sighing slightly.- Honestly from the beginning I wanted to give her this case, but Soo Min already had another one to solve back then. Therefore, please give her all files today, officer Min.- he added.- I understand. I will pass all the files to officer Kim.- Joo Chan surrendered, then turned to his partner.- Jung Mo-yah, help me.- he said, and they both headed toward their desks to get all the case files out of the cabinets.- I also have another matter directly for you.- Chief turned to Soo Min and she immediately focused all his attention on him.- Come with me.- he ordered, then went out into the corridor, and Soo Min followed him.(**NAME-ssi - a polite way of talking to people who you don't know that well.***Maknae - the youngest person of the group.****Hyung - older brother; a polite way a younger male calls the older male. )They went to the main part of the police station, specifically to Chief's office. When they entered the room, Soo Min immediately saw a young man sitting opposite the desk, who, seeing them, immediately stood up and saluted. He looked younger, but was a head taller than Soo Min, had black hair long enough to cover his ears, and the bangs fell slightly on his left eye. With this face he could successfully become a model, actor or even an idol. Only his silhouette matched the image of the model policeman almost perfectly - broad shoulders and arms, muscular body clearly visible through the tight black shirt he was wearing, plus well-developed legs. This man certainly ran fast, and it was high
After organizing all the files, Soo Min and Hyun Woo immediately went through them to thoroughly learn about the "Cherry Blossom Reaper" case. It all started at the beginning of the year, in January, about five months ago, since it was May now.The first victim was Lee Eun Jung, a 21 year old model from an agency run by a man named Seo In Sung. The next day after her disappearance, Eun Jung was found in the same place where she was kidnapped, with a slit throat. Next to her was a small bouquet made of artificial cherry blossoms, all petals sprinkled with the girl's blood. The marks on her wrists and ankles indicated that she had been strapped to something before death. The time of death was defined as five minutes before midnight of the previous day, i.e. exactly 5 hours after she has been kidnapped. Then it seems that Lee Eun Jung was transported to the place from which she disappeared, along with the bouquet. There were no witnesses, and CCTV in this place was located in a wa
The next morning, as it was decided earlier, Soo Min and Hyun Woo went out into the city. First they checked the CCTV footage from the area where the bouquet sprinkled with Choi Ye Eun's blood was left.Recording from the early morning of a day the bouquet was found showed a very similar view as previous recordings, on other girls cases - a fairly tall slim man in a gray hoodie, in latex gloves and a black mask on his face. Neatly stretched hood and mask made it impossible to see even a piece of his face, and the slightly stretched hoodie material also masked most of the details of his silhouette. It was hard to tell, but it seemed he wore the same sneakers as before, which, however, were barely visible under the material of dark denim trousers, which had clearly too long legs. As before, the figure avoided soft ground, walking only on the asphalt part of the road, clearly not wanting to leave footprints. In general, it moved so that even for a moment from under the hood did no
(*Sunbae-nim - even more polite way to call an older or more experienced collegue in work or school.**Noona - a polite way younger male call the older female, usually when they're close.)When they finally arrived at the station, Soo Min Soo Min took the disc and went inside. Knowing the building well, she climbed the stairs to the 1st floor without hesitation, and Hyun Woo followed her like a shadow. They entered a corridor at the end of which was a door with the inscription 'Cyber Security Division'. Soo Min put her ID card on the reader located on the nearby wall and pulled the handle, opening the door. Hyun Woo came in with her, closing the door behind him. Several people in the main office said hello to Soo Min, and she replied, Hyun Woo bowed every now and again, seeing curious looks on himself. The first thing he quickly noticed was that definitely more women worked here. Soo Min finally stopped at the next door
After eating, Soo Min and Hyun Woo got into the car and, having a guest list on hand, visited them one by one, asking questions about Choi Ye Eun. Unfortunately, only few people had direct contact with her at this event, and no one noticed her disappearance, except perhaps the bodyguard who was supposed to watch her. Many repeated that they should talk to Ye Eun's fiance, since he was with her most of the time. In any case, talking to the guests of the event did not bring much to the case and Soo Min felt that they were wasting time. The organizer of the charity party had a guest list that was checked both on entering and leaving. And the only person who didn't leave the party through the front door, with others, was Choi Ye Eun. So it was doubtful that any of the guests had something to do with her disappearance, or could be a witness. Ye Eun managed to walk away from the mansion a good few kilometres before getting into the mysterious car and disappearing.The security guard
The next morning, very early, Soo Min and Hyun Woo went to the residence of the Choi family, the family home of Choi Ye Eun, for the appointed visit.- From the information we gathered, there should be 3 people. Choi Young Sik, 60 years old, the head of the family and CEO of the fashion house. Next one is his wife, Lee Eun Hee, called by everyone Madam Lee, 47 years old. She used to be a very famous fashion designer, but now she practically gave up the spot to the Choi family's only son.- Hyun Woo read the information when Soo Min was driving.- And if we're talking about a son... His name is Choi Hyun Sik but for job uses name Hyun Choi, he is 27 years old. A very talented artist and the obvious successor of both father and mother. His designs are now the face of the Choi family's fashion house brand.- he added.- I hope we will find out something important this time. We miss some point of attachment in this case.- Soo Min replied, turning from the main street into a small
Soo Min was not very surprised by the passing views, she was in similar residences while solving her previous cases. However, Hyun Woo was clearly surprised by the splendor. In Gwangju he did not have the opportunity to visit such places, so he absorbed these views as long as he could. He only escaped from a light trance when Soo Min nudged him lightly on the shoulder with her elbow. At that time, they found themselves in the living room, where on the equally elegant sofa sat a couple dressed in clothes adequately to the luxury surrounding them. It was obvious that Madam Lee, Choi Ye Eun's mother, was tall even though she was sitting. Her figure was thin, skin was pale and kind of dry, she had black eyes and long black hair, but their dark blue shade indicated that they were clearly dyed. Madam Lee had very little wrinkles for her age, but it was certainly due to cosmetics and rejuvenating treatments. Her small movements were full of grace and she was dressed as befits a fashion des
- Okay, now we'll get to you, Madam Lee.- Soo Min said, looking at the woman.- But before that I would like to ask where is your son? We also need to ask him some questions.- she added.- Ah, it just came to my mind that Hyun Sik went to Gwangju days ago... My son has his summer house there, where he can peacefully make his creations.- said Madam Lee, slightly embarrassed that she had forgotten such an important detail.- It's okay.- Hyun Woo said suddenly.- It's Gwangju city in Gyeonggi Province?- he asked, and when Madam Lee nodded affirmatively, continued.- We will go to Gwangju later and talk to him there.- he assured, smiling slightly. One could see that after leaving of Mr. Choi, Hyun Woo regained some good humor.- Exactly.- Soo Min confirmed, glancing at her partner, then focused on the woman.- Your name is Lee Eun Hee, right? Mr. Choi's wife and a fashion designer. And you're a mother of Choi Ye Eun, on Monday you reported her missing at our station.- she ask