The Cop Is Too Strong [EN]: Chapter 41

Shin Hae-soo leaned against the wall, blinked twice, and pushed himself off.

“Detective Shin?”

“Ah, I’m fine. So, did any evidence turn up?”

“Evi…dence?”

Team Leader Im looked doubtful. Hae-soo realized his mistake at her reaction.

There weren’t any circumstances indicating murder yet.

“Ah, when I saw her before, she didn’t seem like someone who would commit suicide, so I’m considering the possibility of murder. The scene…”

Hae-soo looked around, and Team Leader Im quickly caught on and said,

“We preserved it as much as possible, just in case. The scene shouldn’t be contaminated.”

“Good job.”

Soon after, Team 1 members arrived and, following Hae-soo’s instructions, searched for traces of murder. They collected hair, fingernails, and small items as evidence and also took fingerprints. The noose was also sent as evidence.

Although not yet confirmed, the hair all matched Shin Yi-ra’s in length and color, and no suspicious evidence was found.

Since Shin Yi-ra had no family, Hae-soo sent the body directly to the National Forensic Service, requesting,

“Please analyze in detail whether she was dead before hanging and whether there are any unusual aspects from the perspective of someone committing suicide.”

-Yes, understood.

Team 1 collected CCTV footage and black boxes, gathering back at the police station to begin the tedious analysis.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

The team leader, with lifeless eyes, muttered while reviewing the CCTV footage,

“But, Detective Shin, looking at the scene, it was clearly a suicide. You’re acting like you’re sure it’s a murder and investigating?”

“Father…”

“Huh?”

“It’s the same as Father’s death. The veranda in the master bedroom, the clothesline, even the way the noose was tied… Stop.”

At Hae-soo’s words, the youngest member instinctively pressed the space bar to stop the video. The video showed a man wearing a hood.

It wasn’t clear which floor he came from, but he was captured leaving the building around the same time as Shin Yi-ra’s death.

“Follow that man.”

“Yes, understood. He turned this way…”

“Jeongju Road, file 16.”

“Ah, yes.”

While checking the hooded man’s movements with CCTV, the team leader stroked his chin with his index finger and narrowed his eyes.

“Definitely suspicious, isn’t he?”

Oh Gyeong’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“This bastard is only going through blind spots or angles where his face isn’t visible. He definitely knows the CCTV locations.”

“It cuts off here.”

The CCTV footage stopped at an alley without cameras. From there, the area was wide, and there were residential areas, making further tracking difficult.

“If this person disguised it as a suicide… he’s a professional.”

A professional wouldn’t commit a disguised murder for no reason. There must be a reason.

Hae-soo suddenly remembered Inspector Park Young-cheol’s words.

-If there are no circumstances or evidence, you have to find the culprit in the victim’s life.

Hae-soo jumped up from his seat.

“What, why?”

“When you’re stuck, you have to hit the ground running.”

“Aish…”

To find any possible clues, Hae-soo left the team leader in the office to analyze CCTV footage, and Team 1 headed back to Shin Yi-ra’s house.

There, they investigated Shin Yi-ra’s clothes, shoes, phone search history, belongings, and everything related to her life.

However, no records were found that could be suspected as a motive for the crime.

The call history only contained men like National Assemblyman Kim Sang-tae, and there were no suspicious contacts.

The only suspicious thing was that Shin Yi-ra frequented a high-end bar called Red Moon, which they learned about while investigating Kim Sang-tae.

The same method of death as his father’s, Red Moon written in his father’s notebook, and Shin Yi-ra also frequented Red Moon.

The deaths of the two people have Red Moon as a common denominator. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

However, no matter how much they searched, they couldn’t find any place called Red Moon.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.

“Tae Han Min Guk (Republic of Korea)”

The team leader gave the youngest member a thumbs up.

“Our youngest is a patriot? How does a young guy know this?”

“Hyung [older brother/colleague], that’s not important right now. Can’t you see Hae-soo’s serious face?”

“Yeah, I do. So, Red Moon, that place is definitely suspicious. It’s not coming up, so it’s even more so.”

“It seems like she didn’t have any male relationships other than customers. That Jin guy probably wasn’t a customer. Should we meet him?”

Hae-soo pondered deeply and then got up.

“I’ll go visit the prison.”

*

The visiting room at Gangjin Prison.

There were no partitions between the visitor and the inmate.

Creak.

Former National Assemblyman Kim Sang-tae appeared. He raised one corner of his mouth upon seeing Hae-soo.

“Why would the person who put me in here come to visit?”

Hae-soo nudged the shoulder of the prison guard who brought him.

“Turn off the CCTV and eavesdropping.”

“Yes, Detective.”

At those words, Kim Sang-tae flinched and awkwardly sat down.

“Shin Yi-ra is dead.”

“…What?”

“It’s a murder disguised as a suicide. Do you have any idea about it?”

Kim Sang-tae’s pupils trembled slightly.

“I, I don’t know anything.”

“Think carefully. If the person who killed Shin Yi-ra is someone related to you, you’re next. I can protect you.”

Kim Sang-tae looked behind him, glanced around, and leaned forward to speak quietly.

“How…?”

“I’ll move you to a prison without a trace and have you stay in solitary confinement until the case is closed.”

“So, solitary? That’s a bit…”

“The choice is yours. Whether to die like this or live.”

“Ha… I never thought I’d get so dirty involved.”

He looked around and cautiously opened his mouth.

“So, how I knew that girl, that woman…”

Kim Sang-tae followed his fellow training institute classmate, a senior prosecutor, and somehow ended up entering Red Moon.

All the women he passed in the hallway at Red Moon were beauties that would make anyone’s eyes widen. Kim Sang-tae had been to many ‘Ten-percenters’ [high-end hostess bars] in his own right, but that place was a first.

“…When you go there for the first time, they take your phone. If you contact them with that, they’ll pick you up wherever you are. Of course, I went there often. I thought it was heaven, not knowing it was hell disguised as heaven.”

From entry to exit, privacy was perfectly protected, so Kim Sang-tae, as a National Assemblyman, didn’t feel burdened.

“…The manager is a woman in her forties called Madam Yoo. Shin Yi-ra and the other women there are very afraid of Madam Yoo. It’s not obvious on the surface, but you could feel a great fear deeply rooted in their hearts, in their eyes, tone, and small actions towards Madam Yoo…”

He imitated the women, taking on a frightened look and hesitating where to put his hands.

“I don’t know about others, but I’m good at observing people, so I could tell. It’s not just a simple employer-employee relationship.”

Kim Sang-tae was explaining with excitement, as if it was the first time he had spoken so openly about Red Moon, even without Hae-soo leading him on.

“There are a lot of guards there, especially those called ‘chiefs.’ Just making eye contact with them makes the hairs on your skin stand on end. That Jin guy was one of them. The chiefs usually aren’t visible, but since I often looked for Shin Yi-ra, I saw him often.”

“So Jin is also from Red Moon.”

“That’s right. Anyway, it’s a scary place there.”

Kim Sang-tae crossed his arms, as if he had said everything he needed to say, and avoided eye contact.

Hae-soo reached out, grabbed his chin, and looked him straight in the eye.

“Is that it? You have to tell me everything so I can protect you. The reason you pressured the police and protected Shin Yi-ra, the thing you were trying to hide even as you went to prison, you have to tell me.”

“That’s obviously…”

Kim Sang-tae looked at Hae-soo’s expression, gave up, and blurted out the words.

“It’s a video, what else… Those bastards have all the videos. They even recommend drugs and get you addicted, making their customers slaves. Of course, I refused the drugs. That’s too obvious.”

He waved his hands, vehemently denying it. Hae-soo raised his hand, gesturing for him to continue.

“I thought, I’m in trouble. These guys are really scary. They’ll do anything. But when I realized that, it was already too late.”

If his words were true, it was impossible to estimate how many political and business figures had weaknesses held by Red Moon.

He thought it was an independent film, but it was a blockbuster.

“Where is Red Moon?”

“I don’t know. They pick you up in a car with heavily tinted windows and the driver’s seat blocked off with an iron plate. There was no need to worry about anything like that when moving…”

The service started from the car.

“You shouldn’t just barge in there, right? And it’s a referral system.”

“Referral… Is there anyone you can refer?”

“I only know that senior prosecutor. I don’t even know if he’s still alive.”

Approaching the senior prosecutor could raise suspicion. Kim Sang-tae is the only Red Moon member he knows.

Then, Kim Sang-tae spoke urgently.

“I heard from Shin Yi-ra that there’s only one way…”

***

The Violent Crimes Unit office at Gangjin Station.

Team 1 detectives were huddled together, whispering.

“…It seems like that would work.”

“Hmm… It’s a good plan, but the most important thing… the money?”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Is that rumor true, that he’s a hidden son of a wealthy family…”

Shin Hae-soo stopped Oh Gyeong’s words.

“The youngest and I will enter the scene.”

At Hae-soo’s words, Oh Gyeong became agitated.

“Why! I can do well too!”

“Oh Gyeong, you’re already out of the picture here. My heart is also set on it, but… we’re support.”

“Sob.”

Oh Gyeong pretended to wipe away tears. The youngest member jumped up and shouted with overflowing enthusiasm.

“Just leave it to me! I’ll do my best!”

*

[Queen Club]

Thump, thump, thump.

The music from the club could be heard outside. Young men and women were lined up on either side of the club’s main entrance, and several guards were waiting.

-Actor entering.

-Okay.

Vroom-

From afar, a low, deep exhaust sound came with a bright red sports car. The emblem of a horse rearing up on its hind legs stood out.

The sports car seemed like it was just passing by, but suddenly it rushed towards the club.

Screech-!

“Whoa-”

“Heop.”

The sports car stopped right in front of the club, slamming on the brakes. People were scared of being hit.

The driver’s seat opened, and a man in a bright red suit got out. It was Shin Hae-soo, neatly dressed with a vest and tie.

From the passenger seat, Woo Gang-cheol, the youngest member, got out wearing a two-button striped suit. The muttering of curses at their physiques instantly disappeared.

Hae-soo leisurely scanned the gazes looking at him. As soon as he made eye contact with one of the guards, he raised the car keys high.

“Catch the keys-!”

Hae-soo threw the car keys from above as if he were playing baseball. The guard was startled and spread out his hands.

Clack-

Fortunately, it landed right in his hand, but it was thrown so hard that he almost dropped it. This one car key was worth millions of won [Korean currency, roughly equivalent to thousands of US dollars]. He struggled with both hands and barely caught it again.

Oh Gyeong and the team leader, who were watching the scene through Hae-soo’s shirt button, shouted simultaneously.

-Ooh! Rich brat concept!

-Yo! Ssa-ga-ji [rude/disrespectful]!

< #41. Actor Entering. > End