Dangerous Investigation Diary

Ep. 31 ° Family Arson Murder Case (2)

After the investigation changed direction, I handed over the on-scene investigation to the investigators and left the scene. In an arson investigation, the first priority after the on-scene investigation is to hear the victims' statements after they've recovered and to determine the relationships involved.

To do that, he needed to hear the statements of Ayoung's family, who were currently hospitalized. Thinking he needed to get a more detailed statement from Ayoung, Officer Kim started looking up the contact information for Ayoung's aunt, while Officer Jeong started the car and prepared to go home.

하여주 [28]

"....."

김태형 [29]

"Officer Ha, what are you doing?"

하여주 [28]

"...I just feel so sad when I look at this house."

하여주 [28]

"Well... I don't think it was necessarily a harmonious family, and it was probably a family on the verge of collapse."

김태형 [29]

"You can feel that too? That's awesome."

하여주 [28]

"No, it's not like that... I just feel that way."

김태형 [29]

"Oh, right. Detective Jeong said earlier..."

My story was cut short there, as Officer Kim changed the subject and handed me some painkillers. The house itself, not necessarily because of the fire, gave off a sad and unsettling feeling. I hadn't yet received a statement about the family history, but I was already feeling that way.

Even after taking the painkiller, I stood there for a while before, at Officer Jeong's urging, I turned my back on the burned-out house and headed toward my car. I knew I'd have to listen more closely to know what was inside, to see if my feelings were correct. Not wanting to see that house any longer, I closed my eyes tightly as the scenery passed by through the car window.

The interrogation room was always a heavy atmosphere. They'd even turned on a few more lights for the young student, but the gloomy atmosphere of the space made it all worthless. Fearing unnecessarily frightening, they had only a few interrogators assigned: me, Detective Kim, and Detective Park.

김태형 [29]

"Hello Ayoung~ See you again?"

전아영 [19]

"hello..."

김태형 [29]

"What would you like to drink? Cocoa? I have some snacks too!"

전아영 [19]

"Oh, it's okay..."

박지민 [29]

"Eat, relax."

Ayoung declined Officer Kim's offer of something to eat to relax, but Officer Park, already enjoying a cup of cocoa, placed it in front of Ayoung. It was Officer Park's typical style. Cold yet warm, like Officer Min, yet different.

김태형 [29]

"Ayoung, how is your family doing?"

전아영 [19]

"Recovering, everyone..."

김태형 [29]

"I see. That's fortunate-"

전아영 [19]

"Right..."

김태형 [29]

"Um... do you know us? Have you seen it in the newspaper or on TV?"

전아영 [19]

"Yes... I've seen it. Team 1..."

김태형 [29]

"Oh, really?! Awesome."

김태형 [29]

"Then, is there anything you want to say to us?"

김태형 [29]

"We need your statement so we can solve this case against your family, as you've seen elsewhere."

전아영 [19]

"....."

박지민 [29]

"You don't have to tell me now."

박지민 [29]

"This is our office number."

박지민 [29]

"Call me whenever you want to talk, whenever you have something to say."

전아영 [19]

".....yes."

하여주 [28]

"...Then, shall we go?"

박지민 [29]

"Okay. Calling Team 2..."

전아영 [19]

"excuse me...!"

김태형 [29]

"Huh? Why?"

Officer Park, who was about to call Team 2 officers to finish the interrogation and bring Ayoung back, stopped when he heard Ayoung's voice. Officer Kim, about to open the interrogation room door, turned toward Ayoung and answered.

Ayoung, who had been speaking with great interest, hesitated to speak, perhaps feeling burdened by the three people's gazes simultaneously focused on her. We waited for her for a very long time. After about 30 minutes, she finally spoke.

전아영 [19]

"...our mom and dad, mom and dad..."

박지민 [29]

"...Mom and Dad? Why are your parents here?"

전아영 [19]

"My parents said..."

김태형 [29]

"...what?"

전아영 [19]

"Fire... My parents set it off."

전아영 [19]

"It was because of me..."

하여주 [28]

"...uh?"

김태형 [29]

"...Cocoa, try eating more. Ayoung, ah, this too..."

Unexpectedly flustered by Ah-young's unexpected bombshell, Officer Kim stammered, sat her down again, and gave her a small snack. Then, he brought one of the Team 2 members standing guard outside into the interrogation room, and led Officer Park and me out.

Even after leaving the interrogation room, we stayed silent for a while, walking down a hallway a little further from the interrogation room. The possibility that the young girl's carefully considered words were a clever lie was slim, and Ayoung's trembling eyes and the gloomy atmosphere of the house suggested otherwise.

박지민 [29]

"...What are you going to do?"

김태형 [29]

"I don't know. I was just so flustered..."

박지민 [29]

"What if I just come out like that?"

박지민 [29]

"How do I get back in?"

김태형 [29]

"Oh, I don't know... Interrogating is so difficult..."

박지민 [29]

"What's wrong with veterans, so what are you going to do about it?"

김태형 [29]

".....Officer Ha."

하여주 [28]

"yes?"

김태형 [29]

"What do you think should be done?"

It was an unexpected question from Officer Kim. I'd been thinking that his mental state had been weakening recently, but to think he was even relying on me... I was a little surprised, so I couldn't say anything and pondered for a long time. What would I have done?

하여주 [28]

"...Officer Park, Officer Kim."

박지민 [29]

"huh?"

하여주 [28]

"Can I go and question Ayoung further?"

The officers' eyes widened slightly in surprise at my unexpected suggestion. Soon, Officer Park, for the first time in a while, smiled brightly and patted my shoulder, while Officer Kim, with a worried voice, even choked back tears, offered me encouragement.

박지민 [29]

"Have a nice trip-"

김태형 [29]

"Can you really go alone...? I'm not worried, but..."

하여주 [28]

"What are you doing crying like that, Officer Kim~"

하여주 [28]

"I'll do my best. Go to the office first."

박지민 [29]

"Okay, if anything happens, radio me right away."

박지민 [29]

"You didn't forget to press the earbuds, did you?"

하여주 [28]

"Okay. I'll be back-"

I headed to the interrogation room alone, desperately hoping that this time, it would be a prudent, not a reckless, decision. I had to do my best to ensure that this additional interrogation would be the key to solving the case.

김태형 [29]

"We're here-"

민윤기 [31]

"Officer Ha."

박지민 [29]

"Ayoung went for further questioning."

김남준 [30]

"You sent the child alone?"

김태형 [29]

"Yes. Because he said he wanted to..."

정호석 [30]

"Do you really want to send it alone? What if something happens?"

박지민 [29]

"Hey... she's a 19-year-old girl, and Officer Ha is so good at it."

김석진 [32]

"Don't you remember last time? I sent you to buy coffee."

김태형 [29]

"Ah, Inspector - we decided not to talk about that!"

전정국 [27]

"But further questioning? What's going on?"

박지민 [29]

"Ayoung... said something a bit shocking."

박지민 [29]

"Sergeant Kim, that guy suddenly showed up."

김태형 [29]

"Oh, I'm so embarrassed..."

김석진 [32]

"Why didn't you answer?"

박지민 [29]

"That's right. He's been acting strange lately."

김남준 [30]

"...I hope you do well, Officer Ha."

정호석 [30]

"Then- Officer Ha."

Even as they spoke, the Violent Crimes Unit 1 raised the volume of their radios, worried something might happen to Officer Ha. They wanted to better receive any incoming calls. Still, Officer Ha performed well during the interrogation, and a mixture of anxiety and anticipation lingered in the Violent Crimes Unit 1 office.

I know my seniors well. They endured the incidents that arose when I was sent away alone, and they must have been worried about even going to the interrogation I'd been praised for. But I knew full well that they expected me to do well, so I had to do a good job during this interrogation.

하여주 [28]

"Sergeant Kim, thank you for your hard work."

김연지 [26]

"Oh, Officer Ha! You're here!"

하여주 [28]

"Okay. Go now, thanks."

김연지 [26]

"Okay! I'll be going now-"

Officer Kim of Team 2, who had been watching Ayoung, left, leaving me in front of her. Ayoung had already downed a cup of cocoa, and the bag of snacks Officer Kim had hastily given her was empty. I felt a little less tense. It seemed I was the one who was actually nervous, so I clutched my notebook tightly.

하여주 [28]

"Ayoung, did you eat all the cocoa and cookies?"

전아영 [19]

"yes..."

하여주 [28]

"Are you feeling a little more relaxed?"

전아영 [19]

"That person treated me well, so I feel a little...?"

하여주 [28]

"Really? I'll definitely tell you later."

I set down my notebook, now tattered from clutching it tightly, on the desk and picked up a pen I'd kept in my pocket. It was a new pen that Detective Jeong had bought me while I was hospitalized, after seeing the pens that Team 3's Chief Choi had destroyed while investigating the puppet suicide case.

My notebook was also trampled at that time, so this is the new notebook that Detective Jeong bought me, but it's all crumpled... I'll go buy one after the incident is over.

하여주 [28]

"Um, Ayoung! What we were talking about earlier..."

하여주 [28]

"Can you tell me more?"

전아영 [19]

"Ah... yes. That's it..."

As soon as Ayoung opened her mouth, I hastily pulled out the camera and recorder I'd forgotten about, asked for Ayoung's permission, and started it up. I guess I still have a long way to go before I become a veteran.

전아영 [19]

"Uh... so, my parents had a complex about their academic background..."

전아영 [19]

"So, he pressured me, the only one among his children preparing for college."

전아영 [19]

“But I was originally in the top tier.”

전아영 [19]

"But recently, my grades have dropped a bit since I started a new school year..."

전아영 [19]

"When my parents saw that, they got really angry and said they were going to kill me..."

Parents obsessed with college entrance exams. This was my first time investigating a case, but I've encountered them before. I didn't have any friends in school, but eavesdropping on the conversations of kids around me, I've heard many cut ties with their parents and live independently even after college.

하여주 [28]

"...so?"

전아영 [19]

"I think setting the fire was a kind of shock therapy to bring him back to his senses."

전아영 [19]

"I bought the oil about a week before the fire..."

전아영 [19]

"He threatened to set fire to the oil if I didn't study..."

전아영 [19]

"I'm so scared to see my parents..."

하여주 [28]

"...Yeah, that's right."

하여주 [28]

"For now... let's end today's interrogation here."

하여주 [28]

"You seem very tired today, so go home and get some rest."

하여주 [28]

"I may call you again later, but you must be present then too."

하여주 [28]

"You understand?"

전아영 [19]

"yes..."

하여주 [28]

“You worked so hard today, Ayoung.”

하여주 [28]

"The police officer who was with you earlier is outside, so take the car and go."

하여주 [28]

"I'm busy with work, so I'll be going now."

전아영 [19]

"thank you..."

I grabbed my camera, recorder, notebook, and pen, dropped Ayoung off at Team 2's Kim Sun-kyung, and headed to our team's office. I was eager to quickly report the statement to my seniors, as it could potentially lead to a prime suspect.

하여주 [28]

"Seniors!"

The scene I saw as I kicked open the tightly shut door was a little disconcerting. No, it was extremely disconcerting. Sergeant Lee of Team 3, who had been suspended, was confronting Sergeant Jeong. His teammates were trying to intervene, and Sergeant Jeong's face was swollen.

I had a feeling that something was wrong between the two of them, and I kind of expected it would explode like this someday, but this... is way beyond my expectations.

이수담 [29]

"Why can't you speak? Tell me!"

정호석 [30]

"Ha... Stop it and get out. Can't you see I'm working?"

정호석 [30]

"If you were given a disciplinary action, why did you come here?"

The conversation, which was conducted without formality or courtesy, was blunt and sharp, and it seemed as if they weren't on good terms. Unable to grasp the situation, I stood for a while at the door, until Officer Kim took me out.

정호석 [30]

"...The youngest is here. Stop it and go."

정호석 [30]

"Now I have to start the real work."

이수담 [29]

"Is that him? Looking at the picture, it looks exactly like him?"

정호석 [30]

"Hey, Lee Soo-dam."

이수담 [29]

"I told you, I still like you!"

이수담 [29]

"But you got a girlfriend? What do you want to do with me?"

정호석 [30]

"I don't like you. How many times do I have to tell you?"

정호석 [30]

"And the heroine and I have no relationship. Don't even think about harming me."

이수담 [29]

"Heroine? You're so sweet, I could die."

The officer, shaking with rage, left the office with heavy steps. Officer Jeong sighed, relaxed his body, and sat down to exhale. Then, a loud noise was heard outside. Hearing the noise, all the members of Team 1 of the Violent Crimes Unit hurried out of the office.

Officer Kim, who had gone outside, was holding Officer Lee's wrist and glaring at him. Officer Ha's cheek was swollen red and even dripping with blood. Seeing his teammates emerge, Officer Ha raised his hand to cover his swollen cheek, but Officer Jeong stopped him.

정호석 [30]

"Why is your face like this?"

하여주 [28]

"Oh, no. It's just..."

김태형 [29]

"This guy is totally crazy."

김태형 [29]

"Why are you hitting that kid? Are you crazy?"

김태형 [29]

"Don't you know you're currently being disciplined?"

김태형 [29]

"Think before you act, for your own sake."

이수담 [29]

"What did I do wrong? He wagged his tail first!?"

이수담 [29]

"I knew it when I started going to the hospital because I was always getting hurt."

이수담 [29]

“You knew that Hoseok oppa would take care of you, so you got hurt like that, right?”

이수담 [29]

"What's so good about a kid like this..."

김태형 [29]

"Watch what you say."

이수담 [29]

"You tell me, do you like Hoseok oppa?"

하여주 [28]

"....."

이수담 [29]

"See, you can't speak. Right?"

이수담 [29]

"Just do your job properly. You're trying to date when you can't even do anything right..."

정호석 [30]

"...Officer Ha."

하여주 [28]

".....yes."

정호석 [30]

"Don't cry, you did nothing wrong."

Sergeant Jeong, perhaps frightened, silently cupped Officer Ha's cheeks as tears streamed down his face. He looked into his eyes and tried to soothe him. He then turned his back on Officer Lee and covered Officer Ha's ears. He was also fidgeting, afraid to even touch Officer Ha's still-painful shoulders.

이수담 [29]

"Look at that. That thing again!"

정호석 [30]

"Don't touch the baby, it's still sick."

정호석 [30]

"And if you come back again, I will kill you with my own hands."

이수담 [29]

"Huh, Oppa...!"

정호석 [30]

"Get out, now."

Sergeant Jeong led Officer Ha by the hand and headed to the infirmary. Officer Jeong's trembling hands spoke volumes about his relationship with Sergeant Lee, but Officer Ha didn't ask any questions for Officer Jeong's sake. At the moment, Officer Jeong's feelings were more important than investigating the case or verifying the facts.

_ Number of characters: 6196