My Calling Is Profiler [EN]: Chapter 61

“Over there, they said that a woman named Han Gyuri received 50 million won as a down payment and ran away.”

“And that’s it?”

“Yeah, well, that’s about it. It’s not like this is the first time something like this has happened.”

Giving an advance payment isn’t illegal, but it’s usually money given for illegal purposes. Because of this, the police often assume that the person took the money and ran, and if that’s the case, they don’t investigate.

“Why didn’t they report it?”

“Well, they know they won’t get the money back anyway.”

Even if they report it, the police won’t investigate properly. This applies not only to the woman but also to the business side, so they don’t bother reporting it.

Moreover, even if they do report it, it’s clear that the money was given for illegal purposes, so they can’t deny that.

“So, they usually don’t report it.”

Park Do-joon nodded inwardly at the police officer’s words, who shrugged as he spoke.

‘That’s right.’

But that’s what made it suspicious.

‘There’s no rule saying they can’t use that to their advantage.’

Would the people in the industry not know such a common rule? Of course, they know. It’s not like it’s a rare occurrence.

‘The statement itself is simple.’

In the first place, this statement isn’t very reliable.

No, it’s not helpful. The important thing is to identify the person involved.

“I’d like to go there and check things out.”

“That’s not difficult. They’ll be open for business today.”

“I understand.”

Park Do-joon nodded and went outside.

***

“I’m Jo Sang-gyu from the narcotics unit. I heard you needed help?”

While the team leader was checking records at the police station, he requested assistance from the narcotics team, and they sent someone over.

“I’m Park Do-joon. But you’re from the narcotics unit?”

“Well, the bar scene doesn’t really operate in our area. And if it’s a GHB [gamma-hydroxybutyrate] case, it’s classified as a drug, so we can step in without any issues.”

He scratched his head awkwardly as he spoke.

“By the way, Pink Club? What kind of name is that?”

Jo Sang-gyu chuckled as he looked at the sign. Of course, they can name their store whatever they want, but it’s not a name that would attract many people.

“Well, if our assumptions are correct, does the name even matter?”

“I guess that’s true.”

Their common method is to use touts [people who solicit customers, often aggressively] to lure drunk people into the bar, drug their drinks, knock them out, and then overcharge them.

Of course, they don’t care about the name.

Even if they named it ‘Neighborhood Pooch,’ the drunk people wouldn’t remember.

“Let’s go in.”

Park Do-joon took the lead and went inside, where they met a man.

“We’re not open yet.”

“Police.”

Park Do-joon showed them his ID. The man squinted at it and approached.

“Are you the owner here?”

“Yes, I am. What’s this about?”

“We’re here about the missing Han Gyuri.”

“Not missing, she ran away, that bitch.”

“Ran away… Are you sure?”

“I’m telling you, she ran. It’s not like this is the first time….”

He grumbled as he spoke.

“What am I supposed to do about a woman who took the advance payment and ran?”

“But why didn’t you report it?”

“There’s no way. It’s not like there’s anything I can do by reporting it now. And the police don’t investigate properly anyway.”

“I see. So, how long did Han Gyuri work here?”

“A month or two? Then she said she needed money urgently, so I gave it to her, and she just took off.”

The man spoke as if he was annoyed, and the rest of the story was mostly the same.

“Alright. I think we’ve talked enough.”

“Next time, please give us a call before you come.”

“Sure, I will.”

Park Do-joon nodded and came out, and Jo Sang-gyu, who followed him, quietly approached and asked.

“What’s strange? It’s no different from the case records I received.”

“I know. What I’m paying attention to isn’t what he said, but his actions.”

“His actions?”

“Yes, whether he’s hiding something.”

“Do you think he is?”

“Yes, he’s hiding several things.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, he’s good at lying, but not to me.”

Park Do-joon said nonchalantly, looking at the Pink Club from a short distance away.

“He said he was the owner.”

“So?”

“He’s not the owner. He’s probably a figurehead.”

“A figurehead?”

“Yes, what kind of owner comes to work and cleans?”

Koreans love to throw their weight around. Most Koreans, if they have even a tiny bit of power, try to use it to boss people around.

“The owner doesn’t come to work earlier than anyone else to prepare for business.”

But he came to work early and prepared for business before any other employees?

“It might be possible in a small restaurant, but in a place like this room salon [a type of Korean bar with private rooms and hostesses], the owner’s power is absolute. In a place like this, taking the initiative to clean is an act that provides the other party with an excuse to disregard you.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes.”

That part doesn’t make sense, but that’s not the only strange thing.

“And he seemed quite annoyed with me.”

“Why? Isn’t it because you were interfering with his business preparations?”

“No. The fact that I revealed my identity as a police officer is a kind of pressure.”

“Pressure?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean?”

“Money received as an advance for an illegal transaction can’t be recovered. But I never once asked in this question whether it was payment for prostitution.”

Nevertheless, the guy who claimed to be the owner said it was money he couldn’t get back anyway, establishing it as a payment for illegal activities.

“That means he doesn’t care about the money.”

Not caring about not getting it back, that means a lot.

“He was annoyed when we went to see him. But he’s officially a victim. But at the same time, he’s someone with a weakness he wants to hide.”

As a victim, he should have tried to appeal his innocence. At the same time, he’s a criminal who brokers prostitution.

In that case, how would that person act?

“He probably would have tried to appeal his innocence in any way possible and gain my emotional sympathy.”

That’s the only way his criminal activity wouldn’t be punished.

The behavior pattern he showed wasn’t normal, either as a victim or as a perpetrator.

“But he was annoyed by the appearance of the police. Usually, that happens when they don’t want to escalate the case.”

“That means?”

“Han Gyuri didn’t run away.”

It’s likely that Han Gyuri was forcibly taken away by them. Considering that, his strange behavior is explainable.

“But I still don’t understand.”

“What?”

“If he’s a criminal, shouldn’t he have shown that he was wary of us?”

But although he showed that he was annoyed, I didn’t get the feeling that he was avoiding us.

“That’s why I’m saying he’s not the owner.”

“Huh? Oh, right. You said he was a figurehead, right?”

“Yes, and no one tells a figurehead about serious crimes. Because the figurehead could turn on them.”

And he could tell the police about the human trafficking as a condition of negotiation.

“He probably doesn’t know the details because he’s a figurehead. It’s very possible that he actually thinks she ran away with the money.”

But it’s not his money, and they’re not pressuring him to get it back, so he probably just chose to brush it off because it was annoying.

“So, you can’t trust the documents.”

“That’s why profilers have to come to the scene.”

No matter how much technology develops, no matter how well the photos are taken, the analysis of the atmosphere and the moment-by-moment actions that are felt at the scene must be done right there.

“Hmm, human trafficking… Looking at how things are going, it’s clear that a proper investigation isn’t being conducted in the current situation.”

If a woman is reported missing, the police will probably conduct a proper investigation.

But if a woman is said to have run away with money, the chances of a proper investigation are greatly reduced.

“So, you think there’s a high possibility that human trafficking took place at that Pink Club?”

“Probably.”

“But where to? Oh, of course, I’m not saying that human trafficking doesn’t exist now. But does it make sense to hand her over to another business to get the money? Usually… you know?”

The places where they sell women they’ve taken advantage of like this are usually rural areas or Japan.

But realistically, rural areas are impossible.

No matter what, it’s undeniable that they gave 50 million won as an advance. The account transfer details remain.

No matter how annoyed the police are, they won’t just believe the claim that they gave the money without any evidence.

But sell her off to a rural area? Of course, there are bars in rural areas, but they don’t make as much money as in Seoul.

Honestly, if she’s an ace in Seoul, it’s more profitable to keep her and get the money back than to send her to a rural area.

“And there’s no way to get to Japan.”

If she just screams for help when getting on the plane, all the problems will be solved. So, they smuggle her in? Of course, they could.

But in those cases, they usually don’t do it with just one or two people. The price of a smuggling ship isn’t cheap. Naturally, they try to move a large number of people at once. The possibility of taking one or two people to Japan isn’t high.

“If they were going to commit such a crime, it would be much easier to just kidnap someone indiscriminately.”

It’s easier for them to just kidnap someone and put them on a boat instead of giving them money.

“So, where would they send her?”

“I don’t know.”

Park Do-joon thought for a long time. Where would they have sent the victim?

“Oh, by the way, did you see the photo?”

“I did. She was quite a beauty.”

Han Gyuri, as seen in the photo, is definitely a beauty who stands out among others. Being an ace isn’t just about being good at talking.

Park Do-joon had many thoughts as he heard those words. This case definitely has many strange aspects.

‘Where would they send her? That doesn’t make sense.’

Lock her up and extort money? Of course, that’s possible.

‘I can’t say that forced prostitution doesn’t exist at all.’

Prostitution is illegal. So, even if customers ask for help, they don’t help them.

There was actually such a case. They kidnapped a minor and forced her into prostitution, but even when she asked the customers to call the police, no one called the police. Rather, they told the kidnappers about it, and they beat the victim.

And other guys gave money and raped the victim, who was covered in bruises from being beaten.

At that time, there were police officers, prosecutors, judges, and doctors among the customers, but no one reported it.

Eventually, hundreds of people came and went until one person couldn’t stand it anymore and reported it.

‘It’s definitely possible.’

Park Do-joon thought that possibility was good.

“But looking at that CCTV footage, she followed them quietly. Why did she follow them like that?”

“It’s a realistic problem.”

People who have debts to them. If they swarm around and tell them to follow, most women can’t resist.

They don’t have the strength to resist either.

A Profiler’s Calling