Dangerous Investigation Diary

Ep. 59 ° Prestigious Kindergarten Child Abuse Case (2)

As I entered the office with the sturdy Detective Kim, there was another face I hadn't seen in a long time. It was the former Detective. Although he had a cast on his arm, his condition seemed to have improved a lot.

김태형 [30]

"What's wrong, Officer Jeon! Are you okay?"

전정국 [28]

"Are you here? I stopped by for a bit since I'm getting discharged from the hospital tomorrow."

One arm was in a cast, and the other arm was holding a contract to join the 1st Violent Crimes Unit. It was an awkward yet familiar office scene, and it didn't feel bad. It reminded me of a phone call I had with the former officer a few days ago, which was very different from how he looked now.

김석진 [33]

"The former police officer gave me the documents and left..."

김석진 [33]

"Sergeant Kim, have you contacted Kang Seon-il yet?"

김남준 [31]

"They said they'd arrive in 5 minutes."

김석진 [33]

"Then... In five minutes, Police Officer Park and Police Officer Kim will go to the first interrogation room."

박지민 [30]

"Please include Officer Ha as well."

김석진 [33]

"It's been a while since we last questioned Officer Ha. Are you okay?"

하여주 [29]

"It's okay. This is where a position like mine comes in."

김태형 [30]

"As expected, nothing has changed since a year ago."

전정국 [28]

"How have you all been?"

민윤기 [32]

"We're... okay."

민윤기 [32]

"Are you doing well? Someone who wasn't like that got hurt."

전정국 [28]

"I was a bit too pushy."

전정국 [28]

"Sometimes, because they can't adapt, they run wild and things like that."

전정국 [28]

"Anyway, things have improved a lot now."

정호석 [31]

"That's what I'm saying, you were in rehab for six weeks?"

정호석 [31]

"Gibs Puller, be careful for the time being."

정호석 [31]

"Because you have to take care of broken things for a long time."

전정국 [28]

"Listening to Officer Jeong's nagging, I really feel like I'm back~"

전정국 [28]

"I'm going to go now. I don't have much time left before I have to go out."

전정국 [28]

"Good work everyone~"

It was true that Officer Jeon had a hard time adjusting to Team 2, but he looked so happy at the moment. After seeing Officer Jeon off, who looked so bright, we also started preparing to question him. Every step of the process, from taking out pens and notebooks to taking out recorders and cameras from the equipment compartment, was exciting.

하여주 [29]

"Shall we go?"

김태형 [30]

"Okay. I'll be back-"

김석진 [33]

"Have a nice trip."

It's the first interrogation in a year, and the eighth case and first case I've faced as part of the Violent 1st Team. I'm going to open the door.

As I entered the first interrogation room after a long time, an eerie cold yet familiar atmosphere filled the room, and in the middle of it all, there was a mother of one of the students from Somang Kindergarten sitting there. She was the same person who first reported this incident.

김태형 [30]

"hello-"

김태형 [30]

"Are you Mr. Kang Seon-seon?"

강선을 [38]

"hello."

박지민 [30]

"We will begin the questioning regarding the child abuse incident at Somang Kindergarten."

박지민 [30]

"We..."

Inspector Park stopped talking as if he felt a little strange while trying to introduce himself. I could totally understand how he felt. In his stead, Inspector Kim returned to the Violent Crimes Unit 1 and fiddled with his badge again before opening his mouth.

김태형 [30]

"I am Sergeant Kim Tae-hyung from the 1st Violent Crimes Unit."

박지민 [30]

"...I am also from Team 1, Police Sergeant Park Ji-min."

하여주 [29]

"I am a police officer from Team 1 of the Strong Forces."

강선을 [38]

"Ah... wasn't Team 1 of the Strongest Forces gone?"

김태형 [30]

"Oh, it happened because the country was a mess."

김태형 [30]

"If this case is investigated, it will be covered in the news, but you found out about it first."

강선을 [38]

"Congratulations. I'll be cheering you on."

하여주 [29]

"Thank you. I will now begin the interrogation."

박지민 [30]

"What is your name and age?"

강선을 [38]

"Oh, I'm Kang Seon and I'm 38 years old."

박지민 [30]

"Please also tell me your children's names and ages."

강선을 [38]

"My name is Yang Ji-hyun and I am 6 years old."

김태형 [30]

"I'm going to Somang Kindergarten... What class was the 6-year-old class?"

하여주 [29]

"It's the Starlight Class. Is that right?"

강선을 [38]

"That's right. I started going this year."

박지민 [30]

"When did you first suspect child abuse?"

강선을 [38]

"Well... I haven't been here for long, so it wasn't long before I became suspicious."

강선을 [38]

"Jihyun started going in March, and she started coming with bruises all over her body."

강선을 [38]

"When I asked what it was, he said he fell and hit something..."

강선을 [38]

"Why are there so many excuses..."

강선을 [38]

"So I contacted the mothers of the Starlight Class, and they said that the kids there also get hurt often."

강선을 [38]

"Then I said, shouldn't I tell the teachers..."

강선을 [38]

"Even if I call, I'll get the same answer. And kindergarten tuition isn't cheap..."

강선을 [38]

"For one reason or another, they just leave it alone now. From what I see, it seems like they just want to believe it."

강선을 [38]

“I reported it because I thought that telling the kindergarten wouldn’t do anything about it.”

김태형 [30]

"Do you have any pictures of Yang Ji-hyeon's bruises?"

강선을 [38]

"Yes, there are. There are also some from other primitives."

강선을 [38]

"Jihyun came with me today."

김태형 [30]

"Can we see the wounds directly?"

김태형 [30]

"Sergeant Jeong, we have an excellent medical team member on our team."

강선을 [38]

"I'm fine."

하여주 [29]

"Please bring Yang Ji-hyeon to the infirmary on the second floor."

강선을 [38]

"yes."

박지민 [30]

@ "Sergeant Jeong. Please take a look at Yang Ji-hyeon's wounds."

박지민 [30]

@ "Please come to the infirmary in 10 minutes."

정호석 [31]

@ "All right."

Chief Kim went with Kang Seon-il to pick up Yang Ji-hyeon, and Chief Park and I arrived at the infirmary first. At that moment, we ran into Chief Jeong at the door, and when the three of us entered the infirmary together, we saw the person we had seen last time sitting on a cot wearing a gown.

김원필 [31]

"Oh? It's been a while, everyone. Are you hurt?"

정호석 [31]

"Hello, Officer Kim."

김원필 [31]

"Yeah yeah... Hmm. Officer Haejoo! I saw it before and next to him..."

정호석 [31]

"Oh, this is our team's Sergeant Park Jimin."

정호석 [31]

"This is medical team's Lieutenant Kim Won-pil."

박지민 [30]

"Hello, nice to meet you."

김원필 [31]

"Nice to meet you. Take good care of our Jung Kyung-saeng."

정호석 [31]

"I can do it on my own-"

Seeing Sergeant Jeong laughing and joking around, unlike when we were in the Strong 1st Team, made me realize that we had been torn apart. It was a completely different atmosphere from Sergeant Park, who hesitated just by introducing himself.

김원필 [31]

"Sergeant Ha. Chief Inspector Park was very worried."

김원필 [31]

"I'll contact you occasionally... Oh, and this officer too."

김원필 [31]

"He's originally a very affectionate person, but Inspector Park is really unexpected."

하여주 [29]

"I feel good~ I'll contact you soon!"

김원필 [31]

"Yeah. By the way... why did you come here?"

정호석 [31]

"We are investigating a new case. We have received a report of suspected child abuse at a kindergarten."

김원필 [31]

"Wow, I really hate those guys who beat up kids! So?"

정호석 [31]

"Would you like to come see it with me, Officer Kim?"

김원필 [31]

"Okay, it's me."

Just as we were finishing up the statement and explanation of the situation, Officer Kim, Seon-il Kang, and Ji-hyeon Yang entered the infirmary, and we started preparing to look at Ji-hyeon Yang's wounds.

Detective Jeong, wearing a bright headlight and glasses, sat down on a folding chair. He then sat Yang Ji-hyeon on the bed in front of him. Detective Kim, standing next to Detective Jeong, also had his innocent eyes closed a long time ago.

정호석 [31]

"Are there three bruises in total? How old are they?"

강선을 [38]

"All three have been around for about a week or two."

강선을 [38]

"There are no pictures of what happened in March... It's from April."

정호석 [31]

"Can I see the picture?"

강선을 [38]

"Here it is. If you scroll down, there are pictures of other natives."

정호석 [31]

"thank you."

Sergeant Jeong, who was looking back and forth between the photo he had received and the wounds on Yang Ji-hyeon’s body, frowned and exchanged glances with Sergeant Kim. Sergeant Kim seemed to be thinking the same as Sergeant Jeong, as his expression did not look all that good.

정호석 [31]

"... In the photos of other primitive people's wounds, there are also traces of being hit with a tool."

정호석 [31]

"Jihyun Yang's bruises don't look that good either."

정호석 [31]

"It wasn't just a simple fall or bump, it was a clear bruise."

김원필 [31]

"Jihyun, your wounds really do look like bruises from falling."

김원필 [31]

"I don't know if he got pushed and fell, or if he actually hit something."

김원필 [31]

"But in the photos of other primitive people's wounds, tool marks were clearly visible."

김원필 [31]

"I guess I can use this as evidence later when I need it."

김태형 [30]

"Thank you for your cooperation."

김태형 [30]

"Both Kang Seon-seon and Yang Ji-hyeon can go home now."

김태형 [30]

"We will do our best to resolve the issue quickly."

김태형 [30]

"This is my business card. Feel free to contact me whenever you need me."

김태형 [30]

"Please go in carefully-"

Chief Kim sent Kang Seon-seon and Yang Ji-hyeon away with his usual friendly smile, and we also started to slowly organize the interrogation equipment. In one corner of the infirmary, Chief Kim and Chief Kim, who had not been able to give their names earlier, were talking.

김원필 [31]

"Hello - nice to meet you."

김원필 [31]

"Medical Team 1, this is Superintendent Kim Won-pil."

김태형 [30]

"Oh, hello!"

김태형 [30]

"I am Sergeant Kim Tae-hyung of the 1st Violent Crimes Unit."

김원필 [31]

"You're such a great person~"

김태형 [30]

"You are no pushover either, sir."

정호석 [31]

"The atmosphere is good-"

정호석 [31]

"Let's go. To report."

하여주 [29]

"yes-"

박지민 [30]

"Oh, right."

박지민 [30]

"Sergeant Min asked me earlier to bring Officer Ha up to the rooftop after the interrogation was over."

하여주 [29]

"Yes? Me...?"

김태형 [30]

"Oh, I think so."

정호석 [31]

"Really? Then come back quickly."

하여주 [29]

"Oh, yes... I'll be back."

정호석 [31]

"Officer Kim, I'll see you later."

김원필 [31]

"Yeah, yeah. I'll see you guys later too~"

After saying hello to Inspector Kim, I left the infirmary and headed in a different direction from my seniors. No one but Inspector Kang knew about the incident where Inspector Min slapped me in the hallway last time... I felt heavy every step I took, not knowing if he would scold me again or apologize.

When I went up to the rooftop, I hesitated when I came face to face with Officer Min, who was engulfed in cigarette smoke. In a way, it was because he got angry that day because of my smoking. Actually, when I think about it, my reaction wasn't that light. If I think about it, it was my fault.

When I met his eyes, Officer Min put out his cigarette on the rooftop wall and immediately started chewing some refreshing-smelling gum. It seemed like Officer Min, who never smoked, was having a hard time adjusting to the new team.

민윤기 [32]

"...you're here?"

하여주 [29]

"Yes. But you didn't quit smoking?"

민윤기 [32]

"It just... happened that way."

민윤기 [32]

"I called you because I wanted to apologize for getting angry at you and hitting you before when I got excited without realizing it."

민윤기 [32]

"I'm sorry. I was sensitive about that back then..."

민윤기 [32]

"When I heard that you smoked, I thought you were going crazy."

하여주 [29]

"...No. I also talked back unnecessarily."

민윤기 [32]

"Is it really a pin...? No, right?"

하여주 [29]

"...No. I met Superintendent Kim and Officer Kim before I met you, Inspector."

하여주 [29]

"I just came back from talking to my seniors who smoke cigarettes and I smelled like cigarettes."

하여주 [29]

"I could have just said I didn't do it... I'm sorry for getting upset for no reason."

민윤기 [32]

"No. I can't accept an apology because I feel sorry for you."

하여주 [29]

"...I have a question. Can I ask you?"

민윤기 [32]

"What is it?"

하여주 [29]

"...Don't you miss the strong team?"

In fact, it was a question that ran through all of my seniors. I opened the Pandora's box called the team evaluation report, and I was curious about whether I had really lost all affection for this team. After hearing my question, Officer Min did not answer, and then he said something with difficulty.

민윤기 [32]

"...I'm sure everyone feels the same way as me."

민윤기 [32]

"You will never know what that feeling is."

민윤기 [32]

"...Let's go in. I need to report too."

In the end, the conversation ended without any results and all we got was an apology. At least, this wasn't what my seniors and I really wanted, for the team to be reunited.

I left my empty feelings on the rooftop and headed to the office, looking at the back of Officer Min, who looked lonely today. Someday, we too will be whole.

Long time no see... Has it been a month? 🥺 First of all, I'm so sorry 😭 I've been busy adjusting since the semester started, so I haven't even thought about writing 🥲 I'd like to thank everyone who waited for me 🩷🩷

I had a blank period and came here because I thought of writing, and it was sitting there proudly 🥹 I was so happy! Thank you 🍀

I challenged myself for season 2 with the theme of a dangerous and desperate new story of the first team of the strong, but it wasn't easy to draw the characters' emotional lines 😢 But since I started it, I'll try to finish it safely 🫶🏻

Thank you to the strong 1st team and their strong supporters, and to those who believed in me and ran with me until the end! I love you, Adi 🩵🩵

_ Number of characters: 5373 characters