Dangerous Investigation Diary

Ep. 30° Family Arson Murder Case (1)

A vacation I'd been forced to take from the superintendent. It wasn't a fixed period of time, but it wasn't all that great. The longer it went on, the longer Jeongguk's unconsciousness would last.

For several days, the entire Strong Team 1 practically lived in the hospital. They didn't even bother going to their parents' house, instead sitting around Jeongguk's bed, chatting and even trying to talk to him. They felt like he'd respond immediately.

김태형 [29]

"...Our Jeongguk, wake up quickly and go to the investigation~"

김남준 [30]

"The vacation isn't all that fun, thanks to you..."

하여주 [28]

"...I'm going to go get some fresh air for a bit."

As Yeo-ju left the hospital room, Yoon-ki, who had been watching her for a while, rose from his seat and left. He seemed to have followed her. The atmosphere within Team 1 had been volatile for the past few days. Just a few minutes before, they were laughing and chatting, but the mere mention of returning to work quickly brought the situation to a halt.

김석진 [32]

"...If you had experienced the moment when our team was recognized, you would have smiled for the first time in a long time."

김태형 [29]

"When are you coming, Jeon Jungkook..."

If only I could have blamed you, if only I could have pressed you like I did when the heroine was hurt. Wouldn't that have been better? The fact that we can't blame you or scold you is making things even more painful. Please, don't take too long.

Unlike the hospital with its well-equipped facilities, clean white design, and impressive surgical track record, I was faced with a shabby rooftop. In fact, I'd recently started smoking, secretly from my seniors and the older man. I thought becoming a police officer would improve my mental health, but it had the opposite effect.

I put a lit cigarette in my mouth, inhale, and exhale. A wisp of smoke wafts through the air, then vanishes. I stare blankly at the burning end of the cigarette I'm holding. It was the best way to clear my mind of clutter. It was my own escape. If it's an excuse, it's an excuse.

민윤기 [31]

민윤기 [31]

".....Please do it."

하여주 [28]

".....Ah, that's it."

민윤기 [31]

"...Get out. When on earth did you start to bleed?"

하여주 [28]

"It hasn't been that long..."

I put out my cigarette as soon as Officer Min told me to. It was because I sensed something was wrong when Officer Min, who clearly kept a close eye on his work and personal life, called me by my name instead of my rank in a public setting.

민윤기 [31]

"...Do you know what I was thinking when I was telling my kids not to smoke because of their lung health?"

민윤기 [31]

"I was hoping you wouldn't be touched."

민윤기 [31]

"If you have any difficulties, tell me. Don't do things like this."

하여주 [28]

"...I'm sorry. I feel like all my worries just disappeared once I smoked..."

민윤기 [31]

"...Let's go down. Get rid of the smell. I'll keep your secret."

하여주 [28]

"thank you..."

From nagging me about quitting smoking to insisting I keep secrets, I knew it was just Detective Min's way of worrying, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment. Couldn't he have asked me what was bothering me? Of course, that wasn't the case right now.

It's been a little less than a week since I was forced to take leave. Officer Jeon still hasn't regained consciousness, and everyone is still feeling a bit shaky. The vacation feels good for only a day or two, and the time I can chat and lighten the mood only lasts for three days.

My hospital stays were gradually decreasing, and one or two team members even stopped by their homes for the first time in a while. My shoulder pain was gradually improving, but I still wasn't ready to go to the scene of an incident. And the frequent discharge from Sergeant Kim's burn wound was making things difficult.

Perhaps our spirits had been shattered from the moment the bomb exploded. The recovery process was even more painful and bitter than the immediate aftermath of the accident. And that day, even Inspector Kim, who had endured for so long, had gone home, leaving only the three injured team members.

Since it was my first personal time in a while, I asked my seniors to bring me the investigation logs I'd been writing. From the Black Rose murder case, my first serious case, to the department store bombing case I started and Detective Kim concluded.

I was excited to see what kind of case the next investigation log would be filled with, but I was also afraid that something similar would happen this time, and that if I jumped into a case while I hadn't fully recovered my mind, I wouldn't be able to demonstrate the same abilities as the previous Strong Team 1.

전정국 [27]

"Youngest, what are you doing?"

하여주 [28]

"Oh, I was looking at the investigation log... huh...?"

As I was concentrating on the investigation log, I heard a familiar voice above my head and answered it in a familiar manner. Then, when I heard a voice different from that of Sergeant Kim, I stopped answering and raised my head. There, I saw the face of the former police officer, who was quite gaunt, but still clear-sighted.

하여주 [28]

".....What? I'm a police officer?! No, Jeongguk..."

하여주 [28]

"When did you wake up?!"

전정국 [27]

"Just now~ It's been a while."

하여주 [28]

"What the heck, really..."

전정국 [27]

"Crying...?"

김남준 [30]

"Umm, heroine... what's going on... Jeon Jungkook?!"

Whether it was my startled scream or the sound of my crying, Sergeant Kim, who was sleeping in the next bed, woke up, and I greeted Officer Jeon in a half-asleep state. The sound of him coming down from the bed with a thud told me how surprised Officer Kim was to see Officer Jeon.

하여주 [28]

"How much, really, am I..."

김남준 [30]

"Why are you so late, Jeon Jungkook..."

전정국 [27]

"I'm sorry~ I guess I just wanted to rest."

Seeing the former officer, the thought that I might soon be back in full force made the fear that had gripped me until then disappear, leaving only anticipation and excitement. The feeling of facing these people and the prospect of working on the next case was indescribable.

After a week of mandatory leave, we all gathered together at the Violent Crimes Unit 1 office for the first time in a while. Officer Kim, Patrolman Jeon, and I were allowed back on the premise that we wouldn't be directly involved in the situation, but would be supporting the situation from behind the scenes. The office was bustling with activity for the first time in a while.

박지민 [29]

"Ah! That's my breakfast, Officer Kim!"

김태형 [29]

"What should I do? Why is it so frustrating between us?"

박지민 [29]

"Ha... I really can't leave you alone after work."

정호석 [30]

"Officer Ha, move your arm. Is it fixed properly? How does the pressure feel?"

하여주 [28]

"Everything is fine! Thank you-"

정호석 [30]

"If you bleed or feel pain, tell me right away."

정호석 [30]

"Sergeant Kim, you too, former police officers. Don't just sit there and let the water run wild. Tell me."

김남준 [30]

"Okay, you nag~"

정호석 [30]

"Even if you worry, it's chaos."

전정국 [27]

"Sergeant Jeong, I'm out of ointment, so I'll get some later..."

정호석 [30]

"Oh, yeah, yeah."

민윤기 [31]

"Inspector, Kim Hyun-seong was sentenced to three years in prison."

김석진 [32]

"What? You're crazy."

김석진 [32]

"If there were more casualties besides our children, they would have been beaten for 10 years."

민윤기 [31]

"Hey, where did the personal information get revealed-"

민윤기 [31]

"We are also investigating the stalking case against Park Soo-yeon."

김석진 [32]

"That's good. Is Park Soo-yeon okay?"

민윤기 [31]

"I think so. He's a very mentally strong person."

김석진 [32]

"Oh, well, it ended well..."

정호석 [30]

"Detective Min, please prepare the dispatch instructions."

정호석 [30]

"This is the first incident in June-"

민윤기 [31]

"Oh my... I understand."

김태형 [29]

"Officer Ha! Can I ask you to look over my investigation log again?"

김태형 [29]

"It was hard to wrap things up during the department store incident..."

하여주 [28]

"Hahaha, yes, Officer Kim~ I'll do it!"

박지민 [29]

"Hey, Officer Ha, you can't even use one arm!"

Yes. It still hurts to move my arm, so I had to wear a cast to immobilize it at the insistence of Sergeant Jeong. Thanks to that, I practiced writing with my left hand during my leave, in preparation for when I returned. Now, I'm pretty good at it.

I opened my mouth to refute Officer Park's concerned rebuke of Officer Kim, but the sound of a siren soon filled the office. It was a long-awaited sound, a long-awaited sight. I had missed them terribly.

정호석 [30]

"Incident number 2002do259, Jeongha Housing, Jeongha-dong. A fire has been reported. Dispatch immediately."

민윤기 [31]

"Strong Team 1, prepare to deploy."

김남준 [30]

"...a fire incident?"

김석진 [32]

"If it's a fire, why are we..."

정호석 [30]

"There was a fire last night, and there are suspicions of arson, so we have requested an investigation."

박지민 [29]

"You know that in case of a fire, everyone wears gloves and a mask, right?"

박지민 [29]

"Fire incident equipment is stored in storage compartment 4-"

So, I was assigned to investigate my first fire case as a police officer, an arson case that might have been fueled by someone's resentment. I had to demonstrate that the Violent Crimes Unit 1 hadn't collapsed because of this incident, so I prepared for my dispatch with a strange, inexplicable nervousness.

Just a few days ago, a house that had been a warm and cozy home for a family had been charred to a crisp by a small spark, leaving nothing behind. Only those who had suffered burns, those in intensive care units due to smoke inhalation, and those still traumatized by the fire remained.

김석진 [32]

"Hello, this is BU Police Station Violent Crimes Unit 1."

김연지 [26]

"Hello, seniors!"

With Team 3 suspended and Team 2 somewhat busy, we've been seeing them more frequently on-site recently. They even helped evacuate customers and employees during the department store bombing. This time, they arrived ahead of us and were investigating the cause of the fire.

김태형 [29]

"Hey, Officer Kim? Long time no see~"

김연지 [26]

"Hello, Officer Kim!"

김태형 [29]

"Who was the first to report?"

김연지 [26]

"Oh, he'll be here soon... over there!"

In the spot where Officer Kim was pointing, there was a young girl with a youthful face. She looked exactly like a high school student. She was probably the one who lived in the house where the fire broke out.

김연지 [26]

"I'm a bit behind on my team work... I'll go first!"

전정국 [24]

"Okay, see you later-"

김태형 [29]

"Yeah... what's our friend's name?"

Officer Kim, bending down to meet the smaller child's eye level and asking him affectionate questions. His seniors teased him for crying like an amateur during the interrogation of Kim Hyun-seong, but on set, he was a true professional. These are the words that best suit Officer Kim.

전아영 [19]

"My name is Jeon Ah-young..."

김태형 [29]

"Hmm~ How old are you?"

전아영 [19]

"I'm 19 years old..."

김태형 [29]

"I'm at an age where I should be focusing solely on my studies, but..."

전정국 [27]

"Oh, we have the same last name?"

The former officer tried to lighten the mood by making a joke, but Ayoung didn't respond or even smile. She just looked uneasy and precarious. The shock of the fire must have been quite severe.

김태형 [29]

"I'm going to ask you a few questions now."

김태형 [29]

"Can you answer?"

전아영 [19]

"yes..."

김태형 [29]

"Okay, thanks."

As soon as Officer Kim finished speaking, Officer Jeong turned on the recorder, and Patrolman Jeon picked up the camera. Officer Kim had a habit of not going to the interrogation room when obtaining statements from young people, but rather doing it on the spot. Perhaps he didn't want to create a sense of discomfort.

김태형 [29]

"Do you remember when the fire happened?"

전아영 [19]

"Yesterday, when I got home after work, it was probably around 11 o'clock."

전아영 [19]

"I grabbed the doorknob to get in, but it was hot..."

김태형 [29]

"Yeah~ Who was at home?"

전아영 [19]

"Everyone except me... Mom, Dad, older brother, older sister..."

김태형 [29]

"You three siblings? Awesome."

김태형 [29]

"So, where are all your family members?"

전아영 [19]

"I found it relatively quickly..."

전아영 [19]

"He's not in critical condition, but he's currently hospitalized."

김태형 [29]

"I see. I'll ask you more details later, okay?"

전아영 [19]

"yes..."

김태형 [29]

"Thank you - where do you have a place to stay?"

전아영 [19]

"Yes, I decided to stay at my aunt's house for a while."

김태형 [29]

"Thank goodness. You're so brave-"

김태형 [29]

"Go now. You must be surprised. Go and get some rest."

전아영 [19]

"thank you..."

Ayoung walked over to her aunt, who had been waiting for her, and at the same time, the recorder and camera stopped working. Officer Kim, who had been smiling brightly, also withdrew his smile and straightened his back, which had been bent down to meet her eye level.

김남준 [30]

"First of all... I think we need to investigate whether it was arson or not."

김남준 [30]

“Because the direction of the investigation has completely changed.”

민윤기 [31]

"Okay, everyone wear masks and gloves."

Now it's time to delve deeper into the case. This is our sixth case under investigation, and we'll discover just how fiery and horrific it truly is.

The house was already unrecognizable, having been the site of the initial fire. The wallpaper had melted away, and the furniture was blackened with soot. The first thing I noticed was a broken picture frame containing a family photo on the floor. Half of it was charred, but...

정호석 [30]

"...Officer Ha, what are you doing?"

하여주 [28]

"...Oh, because there's a family photo."

That family photo particularly caught my eye because, for a family photo, it felt awkward, and the family members' expressions looked gloomy, as if they'd been forced into the photo. Wasn't that a happy family? My situation is similar.

하여주 [28]

"Don't you look a little... sad?"

정호석 [30]

"I see... I guess so."

정호석 [30]

"You really seem to be sensitive to people's expressions."

하여주 [28]

"...Me?"

It made sense. Ever since I was little, I'd been so observant of every single expression, so even the slightest sigh made me flinch, and I could sense every subtle shift in facial expression. Yes, it made sense.

정호석 [30]

"Once this incident is over and we get back, let's decide on a position."

하여주 [28]

"Huh? Really?"

정호석 [30]

"Yeah, but if you solve it without causing an accident, that's fine."

하여주 [28]

"Of course~ What can I do when I'm sick?"

김남준 [30]

"Huh...? Inspector Kim!!"

김석진 [32]

"Oh, why!"

김남준 [30]

"There is an empty oil can on the veranda."

The small talk with Officer Jeong was interrupted by Officer Kim's urgent shout, and the team gathered on the veranda. An empty oil can sat in a corner of the veranda. It wasn't even the cooking oil commonly found in homes, and the translucent can looked suspicious to anyone.

김석진 [32]

"Detective Min, collect the evidence."

민윤기 [31]

"all right."

김석진 [32]

"Officer Jeong, are you ready?"

정호석 [30]

"It's been a while, so I'm a little nervous-"

정호석 [30]

"Case number 2002do259, fire at Jeongha House in Jeongha-dong. This case has been converted to arson."

The discovery of the empty oil drum completely changed the course of the investigation, and Detective Jeong officially announced it. This was the first arson case. I hope to conclude this case safely and without injury.

The sixth case, 'Family Arson Murder Case 🚒', shall we run with the entire Violent Crimes Team 1 after a long time?!

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