Reeled In

‘Dongsik’s eternal love MINJEONG’ confronted Juwon from Inspector Lee Dongsik’s phone.
It didn’t seem like the type of epithet Inspector Lee would have saved voluntarily to his contacts. Yet Minjeong, whoever she was, must be special if he’d allowed it to remain.
Instead of Foreign Affairs, Juwon is assigned to Seoul Met's RIU straight out of graduation, where he is paired with top detective and known lunatic, Lee Dongsik.

Notes:

My love always to Liz for holding my hand and listening to me have feelings about this fic for months before I actually finished it. I appreciate your comments and reactions more than I can appropriately express.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

‘Dongsik’s eternal love MINJEONG’ confronted Juwon from Inspector Lee Dongsik’s phone. It didn’t seem like the type of epithet Inspector Lee would have saved voluntarily to his contacts. Yet Minjeong, whoever she was, must be special if he’d allowed it to remain.

The call ended.

The screen displayed ‘(1) missed call from Dongsik’s eternal love…’

Lee Dongsik swaggered back with the forensic report. “What’s with that face, Inspector Han? Did I somehow get your coffee order wrong?”

They’ve been partners only for five months. It was long enough that Dongsik wouldn’t take offence if Juwon didn’t answer. Juwon was certain Dongsik expected no answer.

“Your girlfriend called,” said Juwon.

“Girlfriend?” Dongsik replied. He smirked when Juwon stood up; coffee cup in hand. “Tell the pretty barista I said hi.”

Juwon left without comment and sent a text to his father. ‘Updates on the transfer?’

Han Gihwan sent back two messages. ‘One month.’

Then: ‘Wrap up any outstanding cases before you leave. Do not leave a blemish on your record so early in your career.’

The washrooms were at the end of the corridor. On the left, past the two vending machines.

Juwon’s coffee cup bore a blue sun encircled by yellow stars; the logo of a café he’d been enjoying recently. It was near his apartment, which made it a shame. But there were plenty of other places to get coffee.

He upended the cup over the sink and binned it; pretty barista’s KakaoTalk ID and all.

Inspector Lee Dongsik had been infamous long before Juwon had been assigned to Seoul Metropolitan’s Regional Investigation Unit straight out of graduation.

The maverick detective who’d worked his way up from West Gyeonggi’s Violent Crimes unit to be the leader of Team One of Seoul Met’s RIU. The loose cannon with the highest arrest rate. A notoriously unpredictable nut job even the street thugs thought twice about crossing.

While Juwon could appreciate someone who got results, Lee Dongsik had a playbook that set his teeth on edge. He flouted procedure as if it were a competition. He goaded his fellow officers but was friendly with petty criminals. He played mind games with witnesses he suspected were hiding something from him and did worse to suspects he wanted to trick a confession out of.

In his first week, Juwon tried. He gently reminded Dongsik of the legal statutes, hoping to impress. In response, Dongsik took to violating regulations even more flagrantly and putting his wrists out to Juwon, “Go ahead. Cuff me.”

It was insulting, infuriating and the rest of the team was no help whatsoever, claiming that as the team maknae, the youngest and most junior member, Juwon had no right to complain.

Juwon tried asking for a new partner several times but after Chief Nam made it clear that Juwon had to get along with Dongsik or leave, Juwon put in the call to his father to expedite his transfer to Foreign Affairs.

Until then, Juwon was stuck with Dongsik who, although purportedly had no social life, had an ‘eternal love’ called Minjeong.

And if Kwon Hyeok asked him one more time if he was okay, Juwon was going to start blocking his calls.

Then some idiot started poisoning club-goers in Gangnam.

“Fainting, dizzy spells, vomiting.” Dongsik read aloud as if Juwon didn’t have a copy of the same report.

The effects of the drug were relatively mild. The danger was what it left its victims exposed to. Robbery, stolen identities, physical battery and sexual assault. Team Two was pursuing the culprits behind those adjunct crimes.

As part of Team One, Chief Nam had tasked Juwon and Dongsik with identifying and apprehending the poisoner. Which was why Juwon, to his utter disgust, found himself in a nightclub called Intro Lounge on Saturday night.

It was every bit as revolting as Juwon had imagined it would be. Bodies sliding between the bar and dance floor, stinking of sweat and perfume. Juwon wanted to hose them all down and send them home. Instead, he sat at the bar watching the club manager, Kim Sanghee, mix a martini. She had agreed to play bartender so she could signal him should she spot any of their persons of interest.

It was Dongsik who had set up this agreement but Juwon had no idea where he was. Even though Juwon had arrived a full hour before the agreed upon time, Dongsik had phoned him the minute he walked through the doors. “I saw you. Can you watch Kim Sanghee-ssi while I wrap up some business?”

“What business?”

“I can’t tell you right now.”

“We are partners,” Juwon had gritted out. “How am I meant to be of help if you don’t tell me what you’re up to?” But Dongsik had already hung up.

Juwon would report this if Chief Nam still bothered reading his complaints against Dongsik. And so, Juwon had to play the thankless role of stoic stakeout, sipping on iced lemonade while fending off the sloppy advances of intoxicated clubbers.

Feeling another warm body approach him from behind, Juwon said, “I’m not interested. Please find someone else.”

“I know. But until your transfer request is approved, you’re stuck with me,” said Dongsik.

Juwon whipped around so quickly he nearly fell off the stool.

Dongsik steadied him by the elbow. “Did you think I wouldn’t know? The chief complains to me every other day that I’ve driven away the unit’s best recruit. But how can we compete with the Foreign Affairs division with their elite officers and links to Interpol? It’s a great place to climb the ladder.”

As usual, Dongsik ran his mouth. He might be wrong where it mattered but Juwon didn’t see the point in correcting him. He snatched his arm back. “Where were you?”

“One of my informants was helping me narrow down our list of suspects. We only need to be looking out for one individual.”

Juwon fumed. “Couldn’t you have told me that earlier? I’ve been sitting here thinking I’d have to conduct this operation on my own.”

“My informant isn’t someone I could turn my back to. I risked my neck just calling you. You understand, right?”

As if Juwon had a choice. Dongsik often made unreasonable requests that turned out to be reasonable. He always ran ahead and Juwon was sick of playing catch up but admitting as much would make Dongsik smug beyond belief.

Dongsik said, “I’ll make it up to you. I’ll take your place here. You can watch the perimeter instead. There’ll be fewer people hitting on you there.”

Juwon got to his feet, relieved. “Don’t take this as an opportunity to score, Inspector Lee.”

“You think someone will approach me? What am I saying? Of course they will. I’m wearing my leather jacket.”

Dongsik’s leather jacket actually fit him, unlike the loose parka Juwon was used to. Paired with his slim-cut jeans, Dongsik had a distinctly cocky air about him tonight. Juwon was about to tell him how desperately unattractive that was when a young woman slammed into Dongsik’s side, squealing, “I found you!”

Dongsik peeled her off. “Minjeong? What are you doing here?”

Juwon stared.

And stared.

This was Minjeong?

This girl young enough to be Dongsik’s daughter was his eternal love?

“Oppa said you’d be here,” said Minjeong, her words and feet unsteady. “It’s strange to think of you clubbing so I wanted to come see. How come you don’t dress like this at home? You look handsome.”

“Who the hell bought you drinks?” demanded Dongsik.

A panicking young man emerged from the mass of people trying to order from the bar. “There you are!”

Dongsik grabbed his shoulder. “‘Oppa’, hm?”

The young man, Jihoon, blanched. “Hyung, no! You know she calls me her minion. It was Jeongje-hyung. He accidentally mentioned your operation and she threatened to come alone.” He explained how Minjeong was already drunk when he’d met her at the subway station and that she had likely come from a different party.

Dongsik narrowed his eyes at Minjeong. “You’re going to be grounded for so long you’re going to wish you stayed in Manyang.”

Minjeong shoved at him. “I’d like to see you try! I’m the great Kang Minjeong. Not even a serial killer could keep me down.”

“What the hell is going on?” Juwon demanded.

Minjeong fixed a coy smile on Juwon. “Who’s this? What’s your name? Can I call you ‘oppa’?”

Juwon stiffened, “I would prefer it if you didn’t.”

“Please?” Minjeong made her eyes go round and large.

“No.”

Minjeong wrinkled her nose. “Ditch him, Dongsik-ssi. I like Sangyeob-oppa better.”

“Let’s leave hyung alone and go home,” said Jihoon.

Minjeong threw off Jihoon’s arm. “No! I want to dance with Dongsik-ssi. We’re getting married one day. We need to practice.”

Dongsik leaned towards Minjeong. “He’s not there. He’s never been to our home.”

Minjeong blinked rapidly. “That’s true, isn’t it? He wouldn’t even know the way.”

“That’s right.”

After Minjeong and Jihoon left, Juwon waited for Dongsik to explain the bizarre exchange. But he didn’t even try. In fact, he pretended it had never happened at all.

So Juwon made a mental note to check on Kang Minjeong. He loathed using police resources to look up a civilian unconnected to a case but if Lee Dongsik was involved with a minor, Juwon had a civic responsibility to look into it.

He had to shove that memo to the back of his head, however, because later that night, they caught their suspect red-handed.

Choi Eunwoo was 22. Headstrong with a history of brawling and public disturbance. Before getting a job as a manager in a supermarket warehouse, he’d worked as a nightclub bouncer but kept getting fired for getting violent with the patrons. He had bulging biceps incongruous with his small frame, which he’d adorned with badly done tattoos. Insecure and lacking the self-awareness to recognise it, he was nevertheless quite eager to talk about why he was in the Intro Lounge earlier that night.

“What have I done wrong? What I’m giving those idiots isn’t much worse from what they’re already putting into their bodies,” said Choi Eunwoo. He gloated about how the poisoning was part of a group operation that ran out of an encrypted KakaoTalk group chat he’d found on a forum. A recipe for the poison was shared in the chat and all members had to do was inform the group after an operation was conducted. “We’re performing a public service! Those people clubbing think they’re safe so we’re bringing attention to how they should keep their guard up. Shouldn’t you acknowledge some good has come out of what we’ve done?”

“Do you buy it?” Juwon asked as they left the interrogation room.

“Do I believe he’s an asshole? Absolutely,” said Dongsik. “But someone who talks that big doesn’t usually give credit to another person. I want to have a look at this group chat.”

“I’ll ask Digital Forensics to send us screenshots.” Juwon had submitted Choi Eunwoo’s phone forensic analysis when he’d gone to ask KCSI about the drugs from Choi Eunwoo’s apartment. “I’ll tell them to comb the chat for a profile that jumps out too. If Choi Eunwoo isn’t claiming credit, maybe he’s protecting someone.”

“What did KCSI say about the drugs?”

“That they’ll delay our report if I ask again.”

Dongsik clucked his tongue. “Ah, that Gong Yoojung. Where does she get off on bullying us? Anyway, good work, Inspector Han.”

Across the bullpen, Inspector Lee Sangyeob sulked. “Three years I was your partner, hyung. I don’t think you’ve ever praised me like that.”

The bespectacled Inspector Kim Chankyeong balled up a piece of paper and lobbed it at Sangyeob’s head. “Why do you want to be praised by this nut job?” He had a right to be irate. He was, after all, Sangyeob’s current partner. “If you took initiative like Inspector Han here, I’d praise you all you want.”

Chief Nam came out of his office. “Stop acting like children. You’re giving me a headache. Dongsik, Inspector Han, go home and get some rest. You’ve been up all night.”

“That’s not necessary,” Juwon said at the same time as Dongsik interjected, “But I just had some coffee.”

Chief Nam cooed. “Isn’t this partnership working beautifully? Why are the two of you so set against it?”

“Because Dongsik-hyung misses me.” Sangyeob ducked as both Chief Nam and Dongsik threw paper balls at him.

As they continued to tease Sangyeob, Juwon left.

Five months and the casual banter between his teammates still grated. He tried not to let it. Eight years in England and being the only Korean in his year group in Eton, Juwon was used to being the outsider.

Still, he’d seen the people who got accepted into the Foreign Affairs division. People with resumes like his. Top marks, foreign education, probably accustomed to being the envy of others. Juwon was sure he’d feel more at ease there.

“Inspector Han, hang on. I’ll walk out with you.” Dongsik caught up to him with long strides. “You may be good at your job but you need to work on treating your partner better.”

“Please save it for when we’ve gotten some sleep, Inspector Lee.”

Dongsik tsked. “You lose all your manners when you’re tired, don’t you?”

“I said ‘please’.”

“Thank you for not mentioning Minjeong to the chief, by the way.”

“I knew I’d forgotten something.” Juwon turned back.

Dongsik grabbed Juwon’s elbow; eyes flashing.

Juwon stared at Dongsik’s hand on him. He didn’t think Dongsik had ever gotten physical with him before. “Take your hands off me,” he said coolly.

Dongsik smiled and dusted down Juwon’s sleeve. “I just wanted to tell you not to get any ideas. Minjeong is my ward.”

“What?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. Her mother isn’t in the picture and her father isn’t in a position to take care of her.”

“But you have no dependents.”

Dongsik’s lip curled. “Ran a background check on me, have you? Who do you think she is then? Were you going to report me for minor abuse?”

“You’ve never given me a straight answer before. I don’t have to trust a word you say.”

“Because you said you weren’t interested in my personal life.” Dongsik shrugged. “Do what you like, Inspector Han. I wanted to tell you about Minjeong because you looked so jealous when she showed up.”

Juwon straightened. “You’re imagining things again. I will report you for slander.”

“Make sure that you do. I’m sure Chief Nam would love reading that complaint.”

Sleep evaded him. He was too keyed up. From thinking of witty retorts he could have thrown at Dongsik. From wondering what Dongsik was like as a guardian. He’d seen Dongsik care for their team; buying Kim Chankyeong hangover curses; helping Sanyeob out with paperwork. But being a father figure to a teenage girl was altogether a different ball game.

Giving up on rest, Juwon hopped onto his exercise bike and only stopped when KCSI sent him the forensic analysis on Choi Eunwoo’s drug.

“Looks like Inspector Gong can’t resist a pretty face, after all,” said Dongsik. He had picked up after one ring. Evidently, he hadn’t napped either. “Meet you back at headquarters?”

Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, the case had been reassigned to Cybercrime.

According to Chief Nam, it was because the group chat had been taken offline. The Deputy Commissioner thought the job of tracking and apprehending its users was more suited to Cybercrime’s skill set.

Dongsik snorted. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s why..”

“If you have an issue with it, take it up with the Deputy Commissioner,” Chief Nam said.

So Juwon did.

“Digital Forensics found the recipe for the poison floating around in the group chat,” said Han Gihwan over the phone. “You could get the ingredients from any drugstore.” Which would make it difficult to track if someone got a hold of the recipe and decided to go on their own poisoning spree. “The Commissioner is under pressure to contain this which he cannot if the RIU kicks up a fuss.”

“Who conveyed this information to the Commissioner? Was it you?”

“Just sit tight and wait out your weeks. Han Juwon,” Han Gihwan added in warning when Juwon didn’t reply.

“If you don’t want me to stir up trouble, speed up my transfer.”

“You were the idiot who chose the RIU in the first place. Why are you so eager to leave now?”

“Does it matter?”

Han Gihwan sneered. “At least Hyeok still knows how to be filial.”

It was old; this pseudo-competition Han Gihwan insisted on between Juwon and Kwon Hyeok. Except Juwon wasn’t currently in the mood for this, so he said, “That’s nice.”

Inspector Gwon Hyungsoo of the Cybercrime unit clenched his square jaw. “What do you think you’re doing, Inspector Lee?”

“What am I doing, Inspector Gwon?” said Dongsik as if he wasn’t currently engaged in a tug-of-war over a manila folder.

With his carefully styled hair and shiny shoes, Gwon Hyungsoo likely fancied himself a ladies man. He was anything but slick now as he tried to wrestle the folder from Dongsik’s surprisingly strong grip. “There have been no more poisonings. There’s nothing else for the RIU to do.”

“There’s plenty I could do. I could colour code these files. Run this against the recent occurrences of violence incited by text-messaging group chats to see if there is a pattern. I could even take Choi Eunwoo out to lunch since I have so much time now.”

“Lee Dongsik!”

Juwon thought it nice not to be the victim of Dongsik’s antics for a change. That said, if Gwon Hyungsoo tried to strangle Dongsik, Juwon would have told him to get in line. Surely Juwon had priority as Dongsik’s partner.

“You were far more polite when you thanked me for not filing that public indecency charge after I found you drunk in Noryangjin,” said Dongsik.

Gwon Hyungsoo turned red. “How many times are you going to bring that up?”

“This is the last,” Dongsik promised. “You’re in line for a promotion. I wouldn’t dare blackmail a senior inspector. I’m not asking for much. I just want to be kept in the loop. Our Team Two is still investigating the crimes branching from this.”

“It’s one collar. Let it go.”

Dongsik bowed. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

Gwon Hyungsoo stormed off, folder in hand.

“Was it necessary to antagonise him like that?” asked Juwon. “At the rate with which you make enemies, someone’s going to come at you with a knife soon.”

“Are you worried?” Dongsik said.

“I’m your partner. I have to stop them even if I think you deserve it.”

“Only five months together and you’re willing to take a knife for me. I’m touched.”

“Stop taking things out of context.”

Dongsik ignored him. “It’s pretty hot today, isn’t it?”

Bewildered, Juwon said, “It’s summer.”

“Shall we go get some ice-cream?”

“No.”

Twenty minutes later, Juwon was standing under an umbrella outside a convenience shop as Inspector Park Eunyoung of RIU’s Team Two explained her working suspicion that the muggers she was pursuing were working with the poisoners.

“We checked the CCTV footage. In two instances, they were clearly watching the club’s entrance for people who looked off-balance. Some of the people they accosted were just plain drunk, which is why this is just a suspicion. Oh, thank you, sunbae-nim,” she said as Dongsik passed out ice-cream from the shop.

“Have you given their phones to Digital Forensics?” asked Juwon.

Park Eunyoung nodded. “But anything they find, they’ll give to Cybercrime first. In the meantime, my team and I are combing through their records the old-fashioned way.”

“I don’t understand. What’s so wrong with Cybercrime?” said Juwon.

“You haven’t told him?” Eunyoung asked Dongsik.

“Told me what?”

“It’s melting, Inspector Han,” said Dongsik. Juwon stared at the ice-cream sandwich held out to him. “What? Do you not eat ice-cream?”

The last time Juwon had this particular ice-cream, it had been before he’d left for London. His nanny had given it to congratulate him on a perfect score on his math exam.

The red bean paste was sweeter than he remembered.

“The problem with Cybercrime is that they’re always fighting with Foreign Affairs for crimes that take place on the Internet,” said Dongsik.

Eunyoung hummed in agreement as she warmed the chocolate Papico ice pack with her hands. “Foreign Affairs answers to Interpol for all topics pertaining to cyberbullying, within Korea and globally. They end up taking all the shiny online-related cases and leaving the duds for Cybercrime. I’m not saying they haven’t got good detectives but Foreign Affairs gave them bad cards.”

“Don’t badmouth them in front of Inspector Han,” Dongsik said. “He’s joining their lofty ranks soon.”

Juwon frowned. “Badmouth them all you want. It will be good for me to know their weak points before I join them.”

A phone rang. Eunyoung checked hers before saying, “I think it’s yours, sunbae-nim.”

Oh. That’s right. It’s Wednesday.

Dongsik stared at his phone as if he wasn’t going to pick up. But he always did. Because it was Wednesday.

“Excuse me.” He binned his half-eaten ice-cream and retreated.

Juwon noticed the tradition of Wednesdays around the third week of being Dongsik’s partner.

Dongsik had left his phone on his desk; a bad habit for anyone, much less a police officer. So Juwon knew the call was coming from a number Dongsik hadn’t bothered saving. Odder still, it was from a landline.

Dongsik let it ring six times before retreating to a private corner. He was barely gone a minute.

“An ex you’d prefer to avoid?” Juwon asked.

“Something like that. They won’t leave me alone. Won’t give me what I want either.”

“A prime example of those clingy relationships you once mentioned I’m poorer without. Aren’t you quite the hypocrite?” Juwon scoffed.

Dongsik smiled. “You’re right. I’m in no position to give you advice.”

“Maknae!” Lee Sangyeob said sharply when Dongsik went to the vending machine.

Juwon resented that term, that tone, from Lee Sangyeob.

Three years out of the Police University and still, Sangyeob embodied the stereotype of the bumbling buffoon. He made errors in reports regularly and was always the last to catch on. Rumour was that Chief Nam made the team stop calling him ‘Burden’ right before Juwon joined to help him save face. It still slipped out sometimes and it was extra telling that Sangyeob never noticed.

They found a quiet corner in the corridor.

Sangyeob said, “You know about hyung, right? Knowing you, you’d have researched him before you even joined the team.”

Juwon confirmed this.

“Then, back off.”

Juwon blinked, surprised by the hostility. “I’m his partner now. If anything, you’re the one who should back off.”

“You don’t get it. The call was from a landline number ending with 8369, right? That bastard makes the call every Wednesday at the same time from prison.”

“Prison,” Juwon said slowly.

“Yes. It’s exactly what you think.”

In Juwon’s background check, it had been impossible to miss that Lee Dongsik had once been the prime suspect of a murder that had shaken up his sleepy hometown of Manyang, Munju. His twin sister, Lee Yuyeon, had disappeared the same night a waitress called Bang Juseon had been murdered.

Even more impossible to miss was that the case had only been solved last year when the local grocer, Kang Jinmook, had been caught burying a fingerless sex worker in an abandoned deer farm in Munju.

Kang Jinmook who had been Dongsik’s close friend. Kang Jinmook, who had set up his grocery with the help of Dongsik’s parents, who had taken care of the ailing Mrs. Lee while Dongsik completed his military service. Kang Jinmook who was apparently making use of his weekly phone call to harass Dongsik.

“Why does he even pick up?” said Juwon.

“Lee Yuyeon-ssi is still missing. That bastard’s told us where all his other victims were buried but he’s holding hyung’s sister hostage in exchange for his wife’s whereabouts. She’s the one he’s wanted to kill all along. Yoon Mihye. She left him seventeen years ago, right before he started killing. Of course Dongsik-hyung wouldn’t tell him where she is. But every week, he calls and repeats the offer.”

Juwon exploded. “That makes even less sense! If Inspector Lee isn’t planning on acquiescing to his demands, then why…”

It was insulting, the way Sangyeob looked at him. Like he was the slow one.

“It’s ‘hope’, Inspector Han. Hyung has been looking for his sister for seventeen years. He’s not going to cut off the only person who knows where she is. So leave him alone, alright? I know you two don’t get along but find some sympathy in that cold heart of yours and let Dongsik-hyung be.”

Perhaps Lee Sangyeob was right. Juwon was slow.

Dongsik had practically spelled it out for him but it had taken another Wednesday phone call for Juwon to understand that Minjeong was Kang Minjeong. An emancipated minor because her father was serving four life sentences but who, in reality, was living with Dongsik and by the sound of it, was currently arguing with him over the phone.

Juwon lifted his head and noticed the sun had set and that everyone else had gone. His stomach protested, having subsisted on a pathetic lunch of sandwiches and a bottled protein shake.

Given the choice, he would have brought the files back to his apartment where he could spread them out on his table with a bottle of wine and stretch out in clean loungewear. But Dongsik had insisted that they had to do all this tedious haystack-combing together because what if he needed the files Juwon had taken for the night?

Juwon was contemplating which restaurant he was going to buy dinner from when Dongsik grabbed his parka and said, “We’re eating at my place.”

“What? Why?”

“If I don’t go back now, I’m going to find that girl clubbing and I don’t have the energy for that tonight. Come on, Inspector Han.”

“Absolutely not.”

“I’m taking the files with me.”

“Do what you want. I’m done for the night.” If Dongsik thought Juwon was going to fight him for breaking his own rules, he had another thing coming.

“Okay then. I wanted to discuss how Choi Eunwoo’s brother did military service with one of the muggers’ uncle but I guess that can wait until tomorrow.”

Juwon gaped at Dongsik.

“You drove, right?” said Dongsik.

Juwon opened his mouth before remembering how tired he was and sighed. “Yes.”

Dongsik’s flat was small. With his salary and Seoul’s prices, it had to be. It was a one-bedroom with a sitting area that doubled as a dining room and, judging by the futon folded in the corner, Dongsik’s bedroom. Every corner bore signs of two lives struggling to accommodate one another. Idol group posters battled for wall space with framed ticket stubs for old rock concerts and jazz bars; manuals on police procedure on the shelves with exam prep workbooks and volumes of manhwa. Only in photographs did Dongsik and Minjeong find unity; a much younger Dongsik holding a little girl’s hand and a more recent picture of them in this very apartment.

Juwon had the stray, utterly mortifying thought that if he ever wanted to sleep with Dongsik, it would have to be at his apartment.

Minjeong ushered him towards a plate of sorry-looking carbonara. “Dongsik-ssi said you like Western food so I ordered from the nearest Western place. It’s pretty cheap,” she warned.

“When did I say that?” said Dongsik, arranging their stack of manila folders next to him as if Juwon would make off with them the minute he turned his back.

“Last week. I asked you if you brought him to our favourite seolleongtang place and you said he didn’t take a single bite and that he must prefer Western cuisine since he grew up in England.”

“You remember that but not the stuff you need for your exams?”

“I remember that too. I was just hungover that day,” she muttered.

Juwon’s certain the sauce for his pasta had curdled. He nudged the plate away.

“You ordered bad food on purpose to punish us for keeping you in, didn’t you?” Dongsik asked Minjeong. “The joke’s on you because I can eat anything. Inspector Han, what are you doing?”

In the time it took to toss out the pasta and wash the dishes, Juwon’s delivery arrived. Perhaps it was pretentious to have ordered steak but if he had to be here, he wanted food he enjoyed.

Minjeong shot Dongsik a guilty look.

“It’s just a couple of steaks. I can afford to repay Inspector Han,” said Dongsik testily.

“I could help out, you know. If you’d let me work part-time. The convenience shops are always hiring.”

“Focus on your studies. You only have a year before the CSAT. Don’t you want to get into a good university?”

“It’s not fun any more! I eat half my dinners alone. Now you won’t even let me hang out with my friends.” Minjeong pouted. “If this is how our future married life is going to be, I want a divorce.”

Juwon understood where Minjeong was coming from. A lonely girl raised by a serial killer and who found security with Dongsik. A country girl dazzled by the city’s rhythm and was more than happy to explore what was on offer if Dongsik wasn’t going to be home anyway.

Juwon wasn’t fond of his partner but he wasn’t going to insult Dongsik by thinking he didn’t already know all that.

Still, before he could stop himself, Juwon said, “Inspector Lee is your guardian. Please stop going around saying you’ll marry him. I nearly rang him up for statutory rape.”

Stunned silence as Minjeong gaped at Juwon, finally broken by Dongsik folding in half with laughter.

“How dare you - are you threatening my Dongsik-ssi? I don’t care how expensive this meal is. I’m not eating it. Dongsik-ssi, stop laughing!”

Dongsik wiped the corners of his eyes. “I thought the two of you would get along since you’re both brats but I guess you’re too similar.”

Juwon said, “In what manner do you think -”

Minjeong said, “I’m not as rude as -”

“Kang Minjeong, Inspector Han is older than you. Show some respect,” said Dongsik.

“I’ll consider it. If you let me go to Mari’s birthday party tomorrow,” said Minjeong.

Dongsik ignored her and turned pointedly to Juwon. “This steak is nice, Inspector Han. Where is it from?”

“Yanghwa-ro,” said Juwon.

“Please, Dongsik-ssi. Yeongjin-oppa is going to be there,” Minjeong pleaded.

“You’re still grounded,” Dongsik reminded her. He smiled at Juwon. “There’s a place on there that does good nangmyeon. Remind me to bring you.”

“There’s no need,” Juwon assured him.

“Dongsik-ssi,” Minjeong whined.

“I insist. Nangmyeon tastes better in the summer, ” Donsgik said to Juwon.

“Are you really that clueless!” said Minjeong. “Bring him to Mad for Garlic or something. They have outlets everywhere. They have steak and wine.”

“Yah, where are your manners today?” Dongsik scolded.

“You’re hopeless at securing your own dates so you’re punishing me too?”

“You make your dates bring you to Mad for Garlic so you’d have an excuse not to kiss them, don’t you?”

“I wouldn’t make Inspector Han bring me there. He even eats like a prince.”

“Inspector Han is probably up to his eyeballs in potential matches as high-spec as he is without you joining the race,” said Dongsik.

Juwon froze. “Did you check up on me?”

“Of course a young master like you would have suitable matches lined up. Good girls who studied overseas, whose fathers own one of the top 50 companies.”

Minjeong clapped her hands. “Wow, it’s like in the dramas. When you get married, will it make the news?”

“Please refrain from making assumptions about me,” said Juwon acidly.

Dongsik might be right but Juwon hadn’t dated any of the women Han Gihwan had thrown at him. So much of his life was already decided by a man he barely tolerated. Juwon would be damned if he let Han Gihwan foist a stranger upon his personal life too.

“La Planque,” Minjeong said to Dongsik. “It’s a French restaurant in Itaewon and it has really good reviews.”

“Okay,” said Dongsik. “Get Yeongjin to take you there once you’re done being grounded.”

Minjeong groaned into her hands.

“Nah, he’s not my type,” Dongsik had declared when Chief Nam was rearranging teams after Juwon first joined. “The rest of you can have him.”

“Didn’t you put in a request for a new partner last week? I thought you would jump at this chance,” said Chief Nam.

“Hey,” Lee Sangyeob protested.

“Don’t get flattered. I file that request every month,” said Dongsik.

Juwon was used to being dismissed by seniors who thought this would put him in his place. He’d learned that staying silent was as good as backing down, so he said, “It’s alright. I don’t like nut jobs anyway.”

His relationship with Dongsik only deteriorated from there; Dongsik calling him ‘young master’ despite how it aggravated Juwon; Juwon rejecting all attempts to learn about Dongsik despite knowing how much stock Dongsik put by partners learning everything about each other.

“I don’t do clingy relationships. A simple give-and-take will do,” Juwon told Dongsik. “Once we spend more time together, we will inevitably find our own rhythm.”

Dongsik sneered, “Rich, coming from someone who hates spending time with me.”

They both requested a change of partner so many times Chief Nam banned them. “One more word on this and I’ll personally marry the two of you.”

Juwon seriously considered giving in and calling his father.

Han Gihwan had wanted him in Foreign Affairs. Juwon had chosen the RIU because he’d wanted to make his mark on the local scene before impressing the bigwigs for his father. He wondered now if it was a mistake; if it would be less painful to swallow his pride and ask for a transfer before Lee Dongsik weighed him down like a stone around his neck.

“What’s with the juniors these days? My new partner isn’t cute at all.”

Juwon froze in front of the vending machine, a cold can of coffee sweating in his hand.

It sounded like Dongsik was coming out of the lift.

“His father is the Deputy Commissioner. Why would he need to act cute with you?” said Inspector Kim Chankyeong. “I heard he graduated top of his class. Perfect scores on his fitness exam and everything. What score did you get, Sangyeob?”

Lee Sangyeob, who had nearly failed to graduate with his cohort, said, “Don’t you think it’s disrespectful of him to refuse to accept Inspector Lee as his hyung? They’re partners now. I called you ‘hyung’ from day one.”

“Like I said, not cute at all. The only good thing about him is his face,” said Dongsik.

The group walked past without noticing him.

Afterwards, Juwon examined his face in the toilet mirror. It was a good-looking face. Many girls had told him so before.

The lips on this good-looking face now curled as he imagined outsmarting Lee Dongsik. He imagined how those brown eyes in that older, un-beautiful face would round; how that mischievous smile would drop when Juwon made a connection before Dongsik did. Broke the case wide open as Dongsik watched in awe. Then, right when Dongsik realised how fucking valuable Juwon and his good face was, he would transfer to Foreign Affairs.

That was what Lee Dongsik deserved.

The Cybercrime office was situated on the other side of the building, accessible through a different set of elevators. Foreign Affairs was on the same floor. Through the frosted glass, Juwon could make out figures gesturing towards a projector screen. Dongsik didn’t wait for him; charged ahead to Inspector Gwon’s desk and folding his arms on top of his cubicle wall.

“You didn’t return my calls. I was starting to get lonely. Who else would go drinking with me in Noryangjin?” said Dongsik.

Gwon Hyungsoo’s face fell. He dragged Dongsik out into the corridor, away from his colleagues who were already looking at him askance for associating with the lunatic of the RIU.

One of these colleagues approached Juwon with a solicitous smile. “Inspector Han Juwon, I hear you’ll be joining our side of the building soon. It’s much cleaner, isn’t it?”

“Do we know each other?”

“My father plays golf with the Deputy Commissioner. Assistant Inspector Won Minjae at your service.” The man bowed and extended his hand.

“Pardon me, I need to see what my partner is up to.” Juwon ducked into the corridor in time to hear Gwon Hyungsoo update Dongsik.

Apparently, the person who had started the poisoners’ group chat was a software developer by the name of Hwang Inguk, who had attended the same high school as their arrested poisoner, Choi Eunwoo. Unfortunately, Hwang Inguk wasn’t available for questioning.

“His sister found him dead from an overdose on Tuesday morning,” said Gwon Hyungsoo.

“Foul play?” said Dongsik.

“The drugs were prescribed to him for his heart. As were the sleeping pills. He just took too much,” Gwon Hyungsoo said dispassionately. “Choi Eunwoo claims he didn’t know Hwang Inguk had been involved at all. He won’t say more than that.”

“What’s your next course of action?” said Dongsik.

Juwon didn’t blame Gwon Hyungsoo for being annoyed. After all, he wasn’t a part of RIU’s Team One. Still, he answered. “Choi Eunwoo is going to plead ignorance for a lighter sentence. So we’re going to trace down all the users in the chat and shut the case.”

“But you don’t even know why the poisonings began. You haven’t identified the chemist,” Juwon blurted.

KCSI’s Gong Yoojung had been confident. The person who’d come up with the poison had a background in chemistry. The poison had been potent enough to incapacitate but not enough to do lasting damage to a healthy body. Add to that the ubiquity of the products required to make it; there was no way a software developer, or a high school-dropout like Choi Eunwoo, could have lucked into such a concoction.

Gwon Hyungsoo massaged his forehead near his receding hairline. “The Commissioner wants this case closed as soon as possible. Leave it alone.”

Han Gihwan was of the same mind. He called Juwon shortly after. “I thought I told you to sit quietly until your transfer. Why am I hearing that you’re bothering Cybercrime officers?”

“Inspector Lee insisted. It would look strange if I asked to stay behind,” said Juwon coolly.

“Inspector Lee,” said Han Gihwan flatly.

“Is this the first you’re learning who my partner is? Best forget it immediately. I’ll have a new one soon.”

“Han Juwon, did you forget who is granting favours here?”

“Of course not, father. Sorry.”

“Don’t let Lee Dongsik drag you into this. I won’t have that lunatic ruining your career before it even begins.”

The ER ward of Inje University Hospital was thankfully quiet so the nurse had time to speak with them.

She peered at the picture of Choi Eunwoo on Juwon’s phone and said, “Yeah, I know him. He was always coming round the flat, trying to get Yejoon’s attention. New tattoos, new girls, new stories. Yejoon didn’t have the heart to tell him he wasn’t impressed by any of it. He did let Yejoon practice his tattooing on him though.”

Juwon frowned. “Last I checked, Bong Yejoon-ssi listed his occupation as a construction labourer.” Which would mean it was unlikely he had the medical qualification required to tattoo anyone in South Korea.

The nurse raised a challenging eyebrow.

He sighed. One problem at a time. “Has Bong Yejoon-ssi been in touch with you recently?”

“Not since I signed the divorce papers,” said the nurse.

“How long ago was that?”

“Three weeks. Maybe four?”

“Was it an acrimonious divorce?” asked Dongsik.

The nurse paused. “Why do you want to know?”

Dongsik shrugged. “You divorced less than a month ago. According to your colleague, you had a fainting spell brought on by fatigue two weeks ago. You were married for five years. It's a little strange your ex-husband didn’t reach out to check if you were alright.”

“Our relationship had fallen apart long before I asked for the divorce. Even then, Yejoon is not the type of person who cares,” said the nurse.

“Then why did you stay with him for five years?”

The nurse’s stance turned defensive. “Am I under suspicion for something? I’m pretty sure you have to tell me if I am.”

“You’ll have to forgive me. I’m a curious person by nature,” said Dongsik.

Juwon put on his sunglasses as they walked out of the hospital into the unforgiving afternoon sun.“You’re going to get stabbed with a scalpel. She’ll know where to cut too."

“A city full of CCTVs and cars equipped with dashboard cameras and somehow Bong Yejoon manages to be a ghost?” said Dongsik.

They had looked for Bong Yejoon at his last known address but a new family lived there now.

“He could be operating under an alias. Fake papers are easy to come by if he knows who to contact,” said Juwon.

There was nothing solid currently connecting Bong Yejoon to the poisoning case. But the relationships that did were far too coincidental. His nephew, Bong Kwon, was one of the muggers in the offshoot crimes, and he had served his military service with Choi Eunseok, who was Choi Eunwoo’s older brother. To add to that, Bong Yejoon’s supervisor at the construction site claimed he hadn’t reported for work since Monday.

“We should talk to Choi Eunseok,” said Juwon. “According to the reports, he and Bong Yejoon had been close when they served together.”

“Yes, why don’t you try asking your father to talk Cybercrime into letting us near the case,” Dongsik looked across the street and then up at the sign of a family restaurant. “This is it.”

“What?” said Juwon, but Dongsik was already entering; a blast of cold air hitting Juwon as the glass doors slid open for Dongsik.

A meek-looking man waved them over to his table.

“Inspector Han Juwon, meet former Assistant Inspector Park Jeongje. He owns the café right across the street.” Dongsik pointed out the window at a trendy establishment called Oh My Deer.

“I told you it’s a bistro,” Park Jeongje complained.

“It has coffee and sandwiches on the menu. It’s a café.”

“Why are you going around introducing me by my former title anyway?”

“Poor Inspector Han wouldn’t know how to relate to you otherwise.” Dongsik sat down, ignoring Juwon’s glare. “I asked Jeongje to check the CCTV he set up outside his café. It’s close enough to the hospital that if Bong Yejoon had visited his ex-wife, he might’ve passed by.”

Jeongje stirred his milk tea. “I found something more interesting. This is from the shop camera last Tuesday.” He slid a tablet towards Dongsik. “It’s hard to tell with the cap and the beard but it could be him.”

The man was wearing a baseball cap and flannel. He was tall; perhaps as tall as the 185cm listed in Bong Yejoon’s profile, and he had the strong arms of a labourer. It was a good fit.

“Good job, Jeongje. Thanks,” said Dongsik.

“Don’t mention it.”

“Jihwa said you were doing well. I’m glad you look it.”

Jeongje patted his stomach. “I’ve put on weight. Stress eating. A customer said they liked the drawings in the bistro so she commissioned a piece.”

“Perks of working in Insadong. That sort of thing actually happens.”

The conversation between them, natural though it sounded, felt forced. As if both were choosing their words with utmost care.

“I have to get back,” said Jeongje.

Juwon watched the two of them speak outside the restaurant. Dongsik lit a cigarette and patted Jeongje, who flinched but didn’t protest the hand on his back.

Juwon knew about Park Jeongje. The man who had seen Lee Yuyeon’s murderer but could not remember. He’d resigned from the force after Kang Jinmook had been arrested and had been seeking therapy for his lost memories since.

Park Jeongje had followed Dongsik into the police force and then out to Seoul. Even after having seen the two of them interact, Juwon could not tell if it was guilt or friendship that chained Jeongje to Dongsik.

Tearing his gaze away, Juwon called Kwon Hyeok. “I need you to run a background check for me.”

“Hello to you too. I’m busy, thanks for asking. What are you up to?”

Juwon looked at the footage on the tablet in which a familiar person had just entered Oh My Deer. “Kim Sanghee, 28 years’ old. Manager of Intro Lounge, Nonhyeon i-dong, Gangnam. I need the information as soon as possible.”

“Why can’t you just use the police database for this?”

“Hyung,” said Juwon.

“I see. This needs to be off the record. Fine. I need you to come with me to an event.”

“Not interested.”

Kwon Hyeok snorted. “Did you forget how favours work?”

Juwon refrained from clicking his tongue. “You’ve been a prosecutor for three years. Do you really still need me to make an impression?”

“Promise you’ll come and I’ll get you that information by today.”

“Fine,” Juwon bit out.

At the very least, Kwon Hyeok was obvious. An evening helping prop up his ego in front of his superiors was fair price if Kim Sanghee was hiding something noteworthy enough for him to bring to Dongsik.

Juwon was already planning how he would make the reveal when the sound of breaking glass made him look up.

A waitress was apologising profusely while Dongsik held his hands up and insisted that everything was alright. Accidents happened.

“This is actually my first time here. I wonder what’s good,” Dongsik said upon returning to the table. He flipped through the menu. He bounced his leg. “On second thought, let’s go eat somewhere else. I’m craving nangmyeon.”

Juwon said, “Inspector Lee —”

“Don’t tell me you don’t like nangmyeon,” Dongsik said.

Juwon struggled for what to say. Because he’d caught the way Dongsik had stared at the waitress’s hands. He’d seen pictures of Dongsik’s family. He knew exactly who the waitress looked like.

‘Hope,’ Lee Sangyeob had said.

Juwon swallowed. “Nangmyeon sounds good.”

In the second month of their partnership, Dongsik received a strange call.

Juwon was used to Dongsik receiving calls and text messages at all hours of the day. Informants with tips, thugs who wished to intimidate, the odd personal message that prompted a private smile. Still, this one stood out.

The voice was so shrill with terror, Juwon could hear it despite the call not being on loudspeaker. “Help, there’s a whole gang tailing me!”

“Where are you? Give me your location!” said Dongsik.

Which was how Juwon ended up in a back alley in Itaewon, rescuing a stranger from fans who put the word ‘overzealous’ to shame.

The stranger in question was an extraordinarily beautiful, extremely familiar young man. In fact, Juwon had most recently seen him on a billboard, advertising his own phone to him.

“What are you doing alone? Where are your bodyguards?” Dongsik asked.

“I wasn’t supposed to be back in Seoul for another day but I really missed my boyfriend. If my manager found out, he’d be furious,” said the young man shamefacedly. “Sorry I called you so suddenly. I panicked and the first thing that popped into my head was how Jihoonie once said you were with the police and that you could be trusted.”

“Be more careful next time. You know how the sasaeng fans can be.”

“I promise, hyungnim.” The man hesitated. “Is it okay if I call you that?”

“Sure.”

The man beamed. “You were so cool back there, hyungnim. If I ever get cast as a police detective in a drama, I’ll call you for notes.”

After Dongsik procured an autograph made out to Minjeong, they dropped the man in front of his building.

Juwon remembered researching this particular building when he’d been apartment-hunting. He’d liked how the lifts were all keycard-access and that even the concierge wore gloves. He also remembered it being out of his price range.

The car was quiet with the man gone.

Dongsik reached across the dashboard. Juwon thought he was going to dispel the silence with the radio but he only decreased the fan setting of the air conditioner; the night chill having fully set in.

“You can ask, Inspector Han. I know you’re dying to,” said Dongsik.

“Not really.”

“A dongsaeng of mine used to be in an idol group with him. I can’t remember when he introduced me. It was some time ago.” They stopped at a red light. Dongsik rubbed his chin. “He’s grown even more handsome since.”

“He claims to have a boyfriend but from the way he was fawning over you, I’m sure he would be open to your advances.”

The idol, whose name was Shin Kangjoon, probably wouldn’t hesitate to call again now that he knew Dongsik was generous enough to come running.

“Don’t be snippy just because you weren’t the most handsome person in the vicinity for once, Inspector Han. You know that for me, there’s only you,” said Dongsik.

“Just keep in mind that a police officer dating an idol is a scandal waiting to happen. The light is green now.”

“Who says I’m dating?”

Not just dating an idol. Dating, period.

“If it were a female idol, would your answer still be the same?” asked Juwon.

“Why, Inspector Han. I believe that’s a personal question. Are you finally interested in learning about me?”

“Not in the slightest.”

Dongsik sulked. “You could stand to be a little cuter.”

Out the passenger seat window, chain restaurants and luxury goods stores whizzed past. People navigated the sidewalks without bumping into each other despite having their faces in their phones. A young woman in a light trench coat leaped off a bench to embrace a taller man.

Juwon closed his eyes. “Is it because you’re waiting to find your sister?”

It was the sort of question that would usually result in him being shoved against the wall or his collar being grabbed. Thankfully Dongsik was a careful driver. Juwon trusted his clothes would remain safe and un-creased.

Dongsik said, “Sangyeob should have kept his mouth shut.”

“I would have figured it out regardless.”

“Maybe. If you had cared to find out.”

“It doesn’t make sense; living for someone who’s dead,” said Juwon.

“Is this your way of encouraging me to ask Shin Kangjoon out?”

“I won’t cover for you if the paparazzi catches the two of you. He’s much younger than you too.”

“He’s the same age as you,” Dongsik pointed out.

“Are you trying to make me jealous? He’s richer, more handsome and my age. Sorry, but you’re not my type,” said Juwon.

“Shame. You are mine.”

It started to rain. Juwon concentrated on the water drops sliding down the window instead of how warm his cheek felt in his hand.

He waited the following weeks to see if Dongsik would contact Shin Kangjoon but the only personal calls Juwon saw him make was to someone called Jihwa. And of the calls he received, the only ones Juwon remembered were the ones on Wednesday.

(And when three months later, ‘Dongsik’s eternal love, MINJEONG’ flashed across Dongsik’s phone, Juwon poured his coffee down the sink, thinking, ‘You liar.’ )

Juwon was starving. For all its luxury, the only food served at the Kwon Hyeok’s event were the hors d’oeuvres that travelled with their waiters and Juwon did not trust those to be uncontaminated. It didn’t help that champagne was the only drink on offer. The organisation hosting this was that obnoxious.

Juwon longed to duck out - even convenience store kimbap would do - instead of nodding at yet another gormless individual whom Kwon Hyeok assured him was very important. But just as he was about to make his excuses, Kwon Hyeok introduced him to Congressman Shin and his nephew -

“Inspector Han?” said Shin Kangjoon, looking resplendent with his hair done up in wax and wearing a tailored double-breasted suit. “Fancy running into you here!”

The congressman made puzzled noises. “How do the two of you know each other?”

“He helped me out of a tight spot with the fans once.”

“Our Juwon is a model police officer,” Kwon Hyeok said. As he went on to ask the congressman about the infrastructure bill that has been in the news recently, Shin Kangjoon stepped closer to Juwon.

“It’s been a while. Five months?” asked Shin Kangjoon. It had been three. “You look well.”

“Thank you. So do you,” said Juwon.

“How is Dongsik-hyungnim?”

“You have his number.”

Shin Kangjoon smiled bemusedly. “Why? Has he been waiting for me to call?”

Juwon couldn’t deny he was curious how Dongsik would react to earnest romantic interest from Shin Kangjoon. As evidenced by how many eyes were on him right now, Shin Kangjoon possessed an intoxicating mix of fame, riches and beauty. Would such a potent combination be enough to pique Dongsik’s interest? Or would his dedication to finding Lee Yuyeon prevail?

The congressman broke away from Kwon Hyeok. “It’s been good speaking with you, Prosecutor Kwon, but I think CEO Jung has been waiting quite a while for us now. Kangjoon, shall we?”

Clearly, Shin Kangjoon was to his uncle what Juwon was to Kwon Hyeok tonight.

Kwon Hyeok muttered under his breath, “I was supposed to introduce you to the heir of the Kang Pharmaceuticals tonight but I don’t think she’ll even remember your name with that peacock present.”

Juwon blinked. “You asked me here as a favour to my father?”

“Don’t be like that, Juwon. I got you Kim Sanghee’s file, didn’t I?”

Kwon Hyeok had.

Juwon had needed him since he wasn’t meant to be on the poisoning case but he doubted Cybercrime would have cared to look into Kim Sanghee.

They wouldn’t have found out that she used to live next to Bong Yejoon and that he had planned to meet her on Tuesday. The same Tuesday Hwang Inguk was found dead.

Kwon Hyeok peered at Juwon. “You’ve been acting strange lately. Did something happen? Does it have to do with that partner you keep complaining about?”

“I’m leaving,” said Juwon.

“Wait, I have to get you a face-to-face at least!”

Juwon snatched his wrist from Kwon Hyeok and brushed off the imaginary dirt. “The deal was that I’d come tonight. I never said anything about staying. Goodnight.”

He stalked out of the grand hall. Out of the glittering façade of the Yeouido Marriott towards the valet’s desk and found Dongsik there instead, snacking on walnut cakes.

“Hungry?” Dongsik held out a paper bag from a street vendor. “Don’t worry. Only the ahjumma making it touched it and she was wearing gloves. You need to eat better, Inspector Han. There’s no point looking that good in a suit if you’re malnourished.”

The ham-and-cheese sandwich was still warm. Juwon practically inhaled it.

“How did you know I was here?”

“Did you really think you could spend a whole day in a snit and I wouldn’t follow you to find out why?”

“Stalker.”

“Partner,” Dongsik corrected. He gestured towards the glass doors with his chin. “If attending these events annoys you, you could just stop.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“That’s only true once you are no longer my partner.”

“Enough with that nonsense about how partners should know everything about each other. We didn’t do that and our teamwork was still fine!”

“You’re the one who’s transferring out.”

Dongsik’s gaze was dark. He closed the distance between them, held the lapels of Juwon’s dinner jacket.

For a panicked moment, Juwon thought Dongsik was going to kiss him. Was already planning how he would get them out of the public eye and into his car.

Dongsik simply closed the jacket tighter around Juwon’s body. “Bundle up. It’s quite cold tonight.”

A simple text message greeted Juwon that morning.

‘Not coming in today. Fever.’

So Juwon conducted the interview with Kim Sanghee without Dongsik.

After that however, the day loomed long and empty. As he made a list of inquiries to pursue following Kim Sanghee’s testimony, Dongsik’s desk exerted a black hole-like gravitational pull over Juwon’s attention. He ate his packed lunch at his desk and went through his notes, and realised that it’s been a while since he’d had an afternoon meal in silence.

“No matter how many times you look at his desk, he won’t magically appear,” said Chief Nam. “Ring him.”

“Sir?”

“Make sure he’s taking care of himself.”

“The chief told me to call you,” Juwon said as soon as Dongsik picked up.

“What does ahjussi want? Doesn’t he know Dongsik-ssi is sick?” said Minjeong.

“Kang Minjeong-ssi? Are you with Inspector Lee?”

“Yep. I skipped class to keep him alive. He better appreciate it.”

In the background, Dongsik said, “Don’t believe her, Jihwa. She just wanted an excuse to skip.”

“It’s not unni. It’s your work wife checking in.”

“Give it here.” Dongsik’s voice was raspy. “Are you missing me, Inspector Han?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. The chief asked me to call you.”

“Why?”

Juwon couldn’t remember if Chief Nam had provided a reason. “I can’t find our copy of Bong Yejoon’s profile.”

“I must have brought it home with me when we had dinner. Come over. While you’re here you might as well tell me what Kim Sanghee said. Bring all the copies of the files I made.”

Technically, Sangyeob had made them. Juwon had been surprised Cybercrime hadn’t caught on with how frantically Sangyeob had worked the photocopier while Dongsik distracted Gwon Hyungsoo. (Juwon had just taken a photo of everything because he wasn’t an idiot. But he had to give it Sangyeob: paper copies were nice to have.)

“What do you think I am? An errand boy?” Juwon said.

Dongsik chuckled. “Drive safely.”

It meant nothing. Dongsik said that to everyone.

“Alright,” said Juwon, tucking the files under his arm; Bong Yejoon’s profile carefully camouflaged in the middle.

Dongsik spread the case files open over his lap, on a futon that was already cooling from his sweat. Juwon tolerated it for all of ten minutes before demanding where the fresh bedding was kept.

“See how much better he takes care of me. This is why I’d marry him over you,” Dongsik said drolly.

Minjeong, stirring the pot of under-salted jjuk on the stove, stuck out her tongue.

“Enough. Jokes like that aren’t remotely funny.” Juwon gingerly sat down cross-legged on the floor after he’d cleaned it with an antibacterial wipe. “Will you pester your next partner this much too?”

“You break my heart,” Dongsik said.

Minjeong brought over a bowl of the porridge. “I’m going shopping with Mari.”

Dongsik blinked. “You’re still grounded.”

“You want me to stay?”

Technically, they needed her out of the way if they wanted to discuss the case. Juwon preferred her to be out than to keep her in her bedroom with headphones on.

Minjeong slung her bag across her shoulders and made for the door. “I’ll be back for dinner. Don’t discuss ‘work’ too hard, okay?”

“This kid. Does she think I’ll try something funny when I’m running a temperature?” Dongsik huffed.

“You’re out of aspirin by the way. The bottle in the toilet is empty,” said Juwon.

Dongsik held out his unlocked phone, his other hand busy scooping porridge. “Could you help me ask Minjeong to get some?”

‘Get aspirin,’ Juwon sent to Minjeong.

Minjeong responded with a ridiculous sticker of a bunny giving the ‘okay’ sign with its anthropomorphic hands.

“You’re cute when you’re confused,” said Dongsik out of nowhere.

Juwon handed back the phone. “Don’t think you can get away with spouting nonsense just because you have a fever.”

“Yes, yes,” said Dongsik in a long-suffering tone. “So, what did Kim Sanghee have to say?”

“Not as much as I’d hoped,” admitted Juwon.

According to Kim Sanghee, Bong Yejoon had contacted her out-of-the-blue and requested to meet at Oh My Deer last Tuesday. He had something sensitive to discuss; something he’d rather do in-person. But before he could reveal anything, he’d received a text and left, flustered.

Juwon had rechecked the footage Jeongje had provided. Bong Yejoon had indeed left the premises in a hurry after checking his phone.

“She said she hadn’t kept in touch with Bong Yejoon since he moved away but I’ve looked through her SNS feeds and the fact that she’s the manager of Intro Lounge is obvious,” said Juwon.

“You think Bong Yejoon called her to warn her about the poisonings. He might have known that Choi Eunwoo would be there that night,” said Dongsik. “It’s far too coincidental that Hwang Inguk was found dead that same day. We need to piece together where Bong Yejoon went after he left Jeongje’s café and what he did.”

Even with a fever, Dongsik was sharp.

Noticing that he’s been clearing his throat for a while, Juwon fetched him a glass of water.

“Are you this gentle with everyone with a fever?”

There was something in Dongsik’s voice that made it difficult to look him in the face. “I’ll wash this.” Juwon took Dongsik’s empty bowl to the sink. While he was there, he rearranged the spice rack, alphabetically and then made sure all the labels were facing out. But when he returned to Dongsik, the strange mood was still there. “I’ll leave you to rest,” he said.

“Why are you so intent on Foreign Affairs all of a sudden?”

“Inspector Lee.”

“Anyone with half a brain can see that you do good work with us. Look at the closing rate of our cases even with all our arguing. Foreign Affairs do not need another elite even of your calibre.”

Juwon gaped. “You expect me to believe you want me to stay? After months of getting on my nerves? And all those requests for a different partner?”

“I know your type. You can pretend not to care about the ladder but you still want to climb it to prove you’re better than everyone else. You can’t do that with me. I’m too much of a loose cannon with too many enemies. That’s why I tried to get you paired with Chankyeong instead. I don’t know why the chief is so stubborn about this and now he’s blaming me for driving you away.”

“Stop acting as if you know everything. You said it before. I’m going to Foreign Affairs to make a name for myself.” Juwon knew his privilege. Most rookies requesting a transfer to the most prestigious division in Seoul Metropolitan would be shot down, regardless of shining credentials. But because of who he was, because of whose son he was…

“Han Gihwan.” Dongsik enunciated each syllable, as if introducing the name to a small child. “Your father could have gotten you that cushy spot in Foreign Affairs from the get go. You weren’t assigned to the RIU. You chose our unit. And why does anyone choose the RIU?”

Juwon had seen the knife of Dongsik’s deductive skills in the lines of enquiry in their investigations; against suspects in interrogation rooms. How sharp and clean it felt slicing him open.

“Why don’t you just tell me what you want from me?” said Juwon.

A complicated expression passed behind Dongsik’s features but it was gone before Juwon could parse it.

Dongsik sighed and touched his forehead. “Could you fetch me a cold pack? There should be one in the fridge.”

Juwon protested, “Inspector Lee.”

Dongsik smiled placidly. “Good job on Kim Sanghee, by the way. Really impressive.”

It was not Dongsik’s annoying playbook that had driven Juwon to ask for that transfer. It really wasn’t.

About two months ago - three months into their partnership - Juwon had stayed at his cubicle later than usual, researching an underground gambling ring that operated out of Apgujeong. The lights had switched off; part of the building’s energy-saving initiative. Juwon was about to wave his arms and reactivate the lights when he heard Dongsik in the corridor.

“Oh, Jihwa-ya. I’m still at work. Inspector Han stirred up some trouble in Apgujeong so I’d to make some calls to make sure those punks didn't get any ideas. Yeah, I can’t risk doing them at home or I’d be overheard. What about you? Have you spoken to Jeongje? ” Dongsik asked the mysterious Jihwa. “I see. That’s good. No, not yet. I’ll swing by Insadong one of these days. Take care.”

There was real warmth in Dongsik’s voice. None of that artifice Juwon found grating.

Bristling, Juwon surprised Dongsik in the corridor. “I never asked you to protect me. Don’t do anything unnecessary.”

It might be that Dongsik couldn’t shift gears quickly enough because his voice was still warm. Still earnest as he told Juwon, “It’s not unnecessary.”

And no, this small thing wasn’t what had shaken Juwon’s resolve. People did things for him all the time. Juwon just needed to figure out what Dongsik wanted in return. So he paid closer attention.

Jihwa was Oh Jihwa. A detective attached to the Gyeonggi West’s Munju Violent Crimes unit and Dongsik’s childhood friend. Jeongje was Park Jeongje, also a childhood friend and an assistant inspector at the Munju police station until a year ago when he turned in his badge.

‘Witness to the abduction of Lee Yuyeon,’ read the notes in Park Jeongje’s file. ‘Testimony unreliable as subject’s mind was addled by an antidepressant, which reacted badly with the alcohol in his system.’

A deer. Two men ran over a deer, 20-year old Park Jeongje had said in his testimony.

Was one of those two men Lee Dongsik? then Inspector Nam Sangbae had asked.

I can’t - I don’t … I don’t remember the faces. But there were two cars. And the deer was on the road.

And where was Lee Yuyeon? Was she one of the men?

No! The men were tall.

Like Lee Dongsik?

After Kang Jinmook had been apprehended, Park Jeongje had sought out therapy to help him make sense of what he’d actually seen that night. Since then, he’d moved out of Munju to open a bistro in Insadong.

Armed with all this information, Juwon waited. Perhaps Dongsik would ask a favour regarding Lee Yuyeon’s case, or perhaps even an introduction to a better treatment for Park Jeongje since hypnotherapy was not as effective as he’d hoped. Juwon even prepared himself for a promotion request, as incompatible as that was with his profile of Dongsik.

Instead, one day, Dongsik placed a coffee cup with a blue sun on Juwon’s desk. “This is the place you like, right? It was on my way today.” Dongsik sipped from his own cup. “It’s good.”

It was early summer. The light caught the hazel in Dongsik’s eyes and made him look soft and warm and welcoming. He looked rather like someone Juwon looked forward to seeing every day.

Against his will, Juwon reassessed their every interaction thus far. The looks, the teasing. How even the way Dongsik got on his nerves could, from another angle, look like flirting.

It’s likely because Dongsik was the person he was spending the most time with these days. The way Dongsik doled out small kindnesses like afterthoughts and had a philosophy Juwon couldn’t yet figure out, so Juwon spent even more time mulling over him.

But just because he knew how and why it was happening didn’t mean he could at all stop it.

The hook had gone into him without his realising it and as with all fish, by the time he felt the tug, it was too late.

Then Dongsik said, “I had the barista draw something cute for you.”

Juwon turned his cup and saw a name and KakaoTalk ID scribbled in black marker.

“She’s been making your coffee for weeks but she’s been too shy to introduce herself,” said Dongsik.

Juwon drew back his hand.

The landline rang with a request for Dongsik to pick up a forensic report from the KCSI office. In the short time that he was away, Dongsik’s phone lit up.

‘(1) missed call from Dongsik’s eternal love MINJEONG.’

The proverbial nail in the coffin.

Except it was somehow worse.

The picture of Dongsik and Minjeong in that tiny apartment spoke of how they had only each other. The absence of anyone else in the frame screaming of their respective orphanhood.

And in that same apartment that struggled to fit two lives, much less three, with eyes gleaming with knowledge and a head burning with fever, as Dongsik said, “I know your type,” Juwon felt the line tugging vigorously.

So he had to run. Fast.

Dongsik was back in the office the next day, still a little pale but stubbornly helping Juwon piece together Bong Yejoon’s movements before and after he arrived at Oh My Deer. They were squinting at multiple CCTV footage on Dongsik’s laptop when Inspector Park Eunyoung approached.

“Sunbae-nim, Inspector Han, you’ve got time, right? We have two leads and we need help running the other one down.”

“Shoot,” said Dongsik.

“Hwang Inguk and Choi Eunseok,” said Park Eunyoung.

The first one was the founder of the poisoners’ group chat. The one who had died of an overdose. The second one was…

“Choi Eunwoo’s older brother?” said Dongsik.

“I’ve been suspecting for awhile now that there was a third party involved in Hwang Inguk’s death and Bong Kwon pretty much just confirmed it. In fact, he said Choi Eunseok was just as guilty for what happened to Hwang Inguk as the one who killed him,” said Park Eunyoung. “My team will be reinvestigating Hwang Inguk’s death. Can you take the lead on Choi Eunseok?”

Finally garnished with an excuse to hunt down Choi Eunseok, it held with their luck then that Choi Eunseok was nigh unreachable, having switched off his phone. Dongsik sighed. “Ah, Eunyoung. I should have known Team Two wouldn’t just hand over an easy lead.”

To make matters worse, Han Gihwan appeared on television later that day. “On the terrible poisonings in Gangnam, I am happy to announce that our Cybercrime unit has successfully identified and apprehended every user of the group chat in question. I would like to thank Inspector Gwon Hyungsoo, without whom we would not have been able to close this case with such speed.”

Juwon stared at the bowls of gomtang and the platter of raw fish Han Gihwan had ordered for their table. The problem could have been circumvented if he’d simply arrived at the restaurant before his father placed their orders. That said, how difficult was it to remember Juwon hated meat in his broth and anything raw?

Beside him, Kwon Hyeok was a simpering presence and no help at all, blathering about how the heir for Kang Pharmaceuticals wasn’t due back in the States for a few more days. He promised that he could finagle a meet-up under the guise of a private tour of the exhibition that just opened up in the Arario Museum. “CEO Kang’s daughter has a membership to the MoMA so it’s likely she’d accept.”

Han Gihwan nodded approvingly before pivoting his attention to Juwon. “And you? Have you heard any chatter since Cybercrime closed the case?”

“Announcing that to the media was premature. We still have not pinpointed what set off the poisonings,” said Juwon.

“It was necessary to make a statement to curb public panic.”

“What if another poisoning ring starts up? By declaring we’ve solved the problem, you leave us open to look negligent if this happens again.”

“Juwon,” Kwon Hyeok muttered in warning.

Han Gihwan drew away, face blank. “Here I thought we would be having a pleasant meal where I could tell you that I was able to expedite your transfer. You were going to start at Foreign Affairs next week. I suppose it was too much to expect even basic gratitude from you these days.”

That barb should sting, yet Juwon found himself impatient more than anything. “Leaving the RIU now would have been irresponsible anyway. I have open leads to pursue. As you said, I should finish what I start.”

“Any lead you have you should give to Cybercrime!”

“Is there a reason why you’re actively trying to stop me from doing my job? Why don’t you just go back to arranging my personal affairs with Prosecutor Kwon? That seems more your forte.”

Han Gihwan slapped the table. “You have no idea how much work I’ve put into this. You don’t want to meet the women before, that’s fine. But Kang Shinhye doesn’t care if her husband doesn’t spend any time or attention on her. Do you know how rare that is? When else are you going to find as good a match? A position in the RIU isn’t nearly enough to impress her.”

Juwon scoffed. “Do you hear yourself?”

“Juwon-ah,” said Kwon Hyeok in a conciliatory tone.

The number that flashed across Juwon’s phone was unfamiliar. Nevertheless, he answered the call.

“Inspector Han, are you near Majang?” asked Minjeong.

Juwon frowned. “Are you drunk?”

“Don’t insult me. We were just opening our second bottle of soju when Mari’s boyfriend came over and she sexiled me.”

“Then go home.”

“No. If Dongsik sees me like this, he might ground me again. I cannot be grounded again!”

Juwon bit back a sigh. “I thought you said you weren’t drunk.”

“I was thinking if you lived close by I could just come over to your place and nap. I was supposed to be sleeping over at Mari’s.”

“Where are you?”

“Majang.”

“Yes, I know but where — just send me your location.” Juwon grabbed his jacket.

“We’re not finished,” said Han Gihwan.

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell Cybercrime about the lead and go on whatever stupid date Prosecutor Kwon manages to arrange. Is there anything else you want from me?”

Both gomtang and badly made pasta turned his stomach. But at least one had consideration put into it.

Minjeong slid into the passenger seat of Juwon’s car cradling a bottle of soju.

“Are you kidding me?” said Juwon.

“I paid for half the soju we were supposed to drink tonight. I’m taking my share,” said Minjeong defensively. “Nice car, by the way. I can’t wait to see how fancy your apartment is.”

“Tuesday night is an unusual time to be out drinking.”

“I’d be partying if it weren’t for the stupid poisonings. I know how to be responsible too.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Juwon pointed out. “Did you learn that bad habit from your guardian?”

“What’s so wrong about drinking on Tuesday?”

The benefit of driving someone who travelled the city zoning out in the bus or subway was that Minjeong couldn’t recognise the roads Juwon were taking and therefore couldn’t tell that he was actually driving her home. It didn’t seem to matter to Minjeong either way where they were going. She busied herself finding the correct button to switch on the radio and fiddled with the dial until she heard a song she liked, which, despite her idol group merchandise, was a blues ballad about trap doors and staircases that led nowhere.

“Dongsik-ssi told me to call you if I can’t reach him. That means I can trust you, right?” Minjeong said.

“You waited until you were drunk in my car to ask me that?”

Minjeong giggled. “You don’t give straight answers either. Is that why you and Dongsik-ssi get along so well?”

“I can still throw you out of the car,” said Juwon.

“It’s a compliment to be compared to my future husband!”

“Last I remember, he said he’d marry me over you.”

“So? You’re not proposing to him,” said Minjeong

“Who says I’m not?”

“Don’t you dare! Argh, you’re so annoying!”

“Why did you call me? I’m sure Inspector Lee Sangyeob was free. Didn’t you say you liked him better?”

Minjeong pouted. “Don’t bully me. I’m drunk.”

It was a little while before she spoke again. By that time, they were passing through Seodaemun; Dongsik’s apartment only one district away; the police headquarters two right turns.

“Do you know about Wednesdays?” she asked.

Come to think of it, the last time Juwon had seen Minjeong spectacularly drunk was on a Tuesday as well.

“You shouldn’t get drunk just because you dread what happens the next day.”

“Dongsik-ssi never mentions it in front of me but I can tell when my father’s called. I’ve known Dongsik-ssi all my life. I know the face he makes when he’s thinking about his sister.” Minjeong shifted in her seat so she was facing Juwon. “Tomorrow, when it happens, can you tell him to give my father what he wants? It’s not like he can do anything to my mother from prison.”

“And what if he can? What if something happens to her? You would carry that guilt for the rest of your life,” said Juwon.

Minjeong shook her head; her hair sliding against the smooth leather. “She dumped me with a murderer and didn’t look back. Why should I look out for her when she never did that for me?”

Distantly, Juwon wondered if Yoon Mihye had truly left by choice. Perhaps she’d been compelled to leave and had tried bringing Minjeong with her but Minjeong, perhaps too young, too scared, had not reached back to take that outstretched hand.

“Would you tell Dongsik-ssi?” Minjeong murmured drowsily before passing out.

Minjeong was awkward to carry the way most drunk people were. All limbs and faltering steps which was a journey and a half in itself even though the lift did most of the work.

Recognising that she was home and forgetting she didn’t want to be there, Minjeong tried to jam her keys into the doorknob. Juwon snatched them from her before she could make a ruckus and silently unlocked the door, shouldering it open.

This was not at all how he imagined his Tuesday night would be. At least Dongsik would be so embarrassed by his ward’s conduct that he would try to be nice to Juwon tomorrow.

As Juwon edged from the doorway towards the sitting area with Minjeong slumped against his side, it became clear that she wasn’t the only one who thought drinking on a Tuesday night a good idea.

On the table were crushed cans of beer; Dongsik steadily making his way through a fourth can. Propped against an unopened can was his phone, on which he was conducting a video call with Oh Jihwa, who had opted for a bottle of makgeolli instead.

Oh Jihwa was beautiful in an intimidating way. Her brusque manner of speaking did much in the way of warming her up so that she came off like an approachable and trustworthy older sister. It made sense that she was the one to whom Dongsik poured out his woes.

“You said he was a pain in the ass and a distraction. Why are you working so hard to make him stay now? Even all the way here, hearing what you’re doing makes me cringe.”

Dongsik ran his free hand down his face. “I don’t know. I think I just wanted something for myself. Minjeong will be starting university soon and eventually she’ll have a job and a life of her own.”

“That’s not for at least 5 years.”

“And then what? I don’t want to be scared to go into a family restaurant because there’s someone who looks like Yuyeon. I don’t want to wake up every day grateful it isn’t Wednesday and waiting for it to be. Jihwa-ya, I’m tired of living like a ghost.”

The ensuing silence was stifling.

If she was there in person, perhaps Oh Jihwa would have hugged him or patted him on the shoulder. As it were, all she could do was bow her head and give her friend’s pain the respect it deserved.

“And Inspector Han?” she said eventually. “How will he help you with that?”

Juwon became aware then that he had been holding his breath. Heat suffused his face and there was a pulling sensation in his chest that was impossible to ignore. Then he saw that self-deprecating smile on Dongsik’s face and his chest constricted further.

Dongsik said, “You’re right. I’m being pathetic. But I don’t know what to do.”

Fortunately, Juwon did. He knew exactly what to do.

Kang Jinmook looked every bit the unassuming small-town grocer he had been before he was handed four life sentences. Even in prison browns and the thick glass between them, he didn’t feel like he could be a serial killer. Then he smiled and that impression washed away like dust in rain.

“Do you know why I’m here?” asked Juwon.

“I can’t imagine. The only people who ever want to visit me are journalists and that’s not allowed.” Kang Jinmook had a way of speaking that left oily trails on Juwon’s skin. It must be a purposeful affectation. After all, he had passed all these years unsuspected. It had only been chance and an out-of-town detective needing directions that he was here.

“Do these journalists know you’ve been harassing Inspector Lee regularly since your incarceration?”

Kang Jinmook’s smile widened. “Would you tell them for me? Dongsik’s been so uncooperative. All I want is to know where my wife is. Is that so wrong?”

“I do not remember seeing a marriage certificate in your file.”

Kang Jinmook pressed closer. “She promised a life together with me raising our daughter. Doesn’t that sound like a marriage to you?”

“If I’m honest, I don’t care. I’m sure you can tell my small talk needs work. So let’s cut to the chase. I want you to tell me where you buried Lee Yuyeon,” said Juwon.

Kang Jinmook went silent, which was surprising. Surely he’d expected this. “Dongsik didn’t tell you everything I said during our weekly calls, did he?”

“Pray tell, what has he neglected to tell me?”

“I’ve already told the police where I buried all the people I’ve murdered.”

Kang Jinmook thought he was being clever?

“Regardless of whether or not you were the one who killed Lee Yuyeon, the fact is you know where she is buried,” said Juwon.

“Why should I tell you anything I haven’t told Dongsik?”

Juwon held up an envelope. “Yoon Mihye’s location.” He took the paper out of the envelope slowly, like a burlesque dancer showing a bit of skin. Kang Jinmook leaned forward hungrily; the leg of his metal folding chair making a harsh scrape against the concrete. Juwon dropped the paper back in. “You get this after you tell me what I want to know.”

“What are you getting out of this, Inspector Han? Do you think Dongsik will thank you?”

“I’m here because Kang Minjeong-ssi wants you to stop calling.”

“Ah, Minjeongie,” Kang Jinmook cooed. “She used to be such a good girl. I wish she wasn’t so noisy.”

Gut instinct was something Juwon would develop with more experience. But even with a meagre five months of active duty under his belt, he felt certain then that if Kang Jinmook had not been caught when he had, he would’ve killed Minjeong eventually.

It was no wonder Minjeong kept talking about marrying Dongsik. Even with Kang Jinmook in jail, she still felt the need to tie herself to the man who made her feel safe; to be as far away as possible from the father who’d been waiting to murder her.

Juwon handed the envelope to the security guard and told Kang Jinmook. “He’ll give it to you after I leave.”

“I commend you, Inspector Han. I knew you were Dongsik’s new partner but the guards told me who you really are on my way here.”

Juwon regarded him with bemused scorn. “You think you, a lifer, can use the fact of this exchange as blackmail against me because of who my father is? You won’t even get the chance to try.”

Kang Jinmook laughed so hard his shoulders shook. He took off his glasses and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “Yes. Because of who your father is. Because Han Gihwan is the one who killed Yuyeonie.”

Juwon turned the temperature until his shower was scalding hot, unable to shed the notion that he wouldn’t feel clean until he’d peeled away one layer of skin.

“Your father ran Yuyeon down with his car that night in 2000,” Kang Jinmook had said.

It was like slow-acting poison, shutting down Juwon’s organs one-by-one.

His father had been stationed in Munju in 2000. Han Gihwan had hurriedly sent Juwon off to England and his wife to the mental hospital, as if getting them out of the way so he could rush to close the search for Lee Yuyeon. He’d also failed to mention the role he’d played in her case despite knowing who Juwon’s partner was; had expedited Juwon’s transfer out of the RIU so quickly. As if he were scared.

It was all so sickeningly possible as much as it was absolutely implausible.

“Proof? You can find that on Yuyeon’s body,” Jinmook had said.

Juwon stumbled out of the shower, feeling no less disoriented. He wavered, phone in hand. He wanted to call someone and demand they reimpose his comfortable understanding of the world.

But as much as Juwon wanted Han Gihwan to prove Kang Jinmook was lying, he was in no fit state to do battle with his father and Dongsik -

Dongsik…

“Why are you telling me this?” Juwon had asked Jinmook. “The agreement was for information of Lee Yuyeon’s location. Didn’t you say you won’t tell me anything you haven’t told Inspector Lee?”

A toothy grin. “Dongsik knows.”

It had been a blow almost as gut-punching as the accusation against his father.

Dongsik knew.

Dongsik had known all this time Juwon’s father was a suspect for his sister’s murder.

Was that why he wanted Juwon to remain in the RIU?

Has Juwon always been a means to an end?

He fell into a fitful sleep, waking up early the next day to the news that Kang Jinmook had been found dead in his cell and to a new voice message; the last call Kang Jinmook would ever make.

“Tell Dongsik to check the boiler.”

Lee Yuyeon’s body revealed exactly what Kang Jinmook had said it would; that she had died, not by his hand, but of a car collision.

Park Jeongje’s testimony about the two unidentified men on the night in question. Kang Jinmook’s pre-mortem accusation. A prison guard admitting he’d let a former thug called Lee Changjin into the cells on the night of Kang Jinmook’s death. Lee Changjin laying all blame at Han Gihwan’s feet.

All this had been more than enough to open an investigation.

In Juwon’s Ethics class at the Police University, the lecturer had said that for every crime, there were two injured parties: the victim of the crime itself and the dignity of the country. “We need to uphold the latter by doing our job well.”

The lecturer had never told them what to think if it was the police themselves committing the crime. There was no manual for Juwon to consult in the event that his father, the Deputy Commissioner, ran over a fingerless girl in the middle of an unlit road in Manyang in 2000. No advice on how to react when Lee Changjin provided a dashboard camera recording of Han Gihwan fleeing the scene of the crime, leaving Lee Changjin to take care of the body. Lee Changjin had only failed to do so because he’d heard someone in the reed fields and gone to investigate.

What Lee Changjin had found was a disoriented Park Jeongje, addled by a bad combination of alcohol and antidepressants, unable to tell apart truth from hallucination. As Park Jeongje scarpered, dropping Dongsik’s guitar pick, and Lee Changjin gave chase, Kang Jinmook emerged from the reed fields to steal Lee Yuyeon.

“Those reed fields,” Lee Changjin snorted. “They hide a multitude of sins. There was practically a whole concert audience hiding there that night.”

In the aftermath, both Lee Changjin and Kang Jinmook had lied independently about Park Jeongje’s involvement to extort from his mother, the Munju Councilwoman Do Haewon. Lee Changjin got a heavy discount on prime Munju real estate while Kang Jinmook received access to the deer farm to bury his victims.

(“I did it for you!” Do Haewon cried as the police led her to the patrol car. Park Jeongje sank to his knees; blood draining from his face. “I thought you killed Yuyeon. I kept silent about Kang Jinmook to protect you!”)

But before any of this unfolded under Chief Nam’s investigative zeal, Juwon drove to Manyang and found his way to the basement of Dongsik’s family home.

Dongsik was standing so stiffly Juwon feared he would crack like the wall the Munju KCSI officers were carefully excavating.

All came to a standstill when they uncovered a pair of skeletal hands; fingertips missing and clasped together with one finger wearing a ring with a red glass bead.

The KCSI officers protested as Dongsik rushed forward but Chief Nam and Oh Jihwa held them back.

Carefully, Dongsik held his twin sister’s hands for the first time in seventeen years and said, “So you’re here, Yuyeon-ah. You’ve been here.” He cleared his throat. “Have you been cold since I haven’t been home much? Sorry. I was in Seoul. I didn’t -” His voice broke, his head hanging. “I promise I didn’t know.”

Juwon knew that, out of respect, he should be mourning the late Lee Yuyeon and how her life had been cut tragically short. But all he could think of was how Lee Dongsik, who had at first seemed so larger than life, who broke all the rules in Juwon’s playbook and got away with it, who defied odds on the regular, now seemed as fragile as a sparrow with a broken wing, and Juwon was seized with the inexplicable and overwhelming desire to protect Lee Dongsik forever.

Except that this time when Dongsk requested a change of partner, Chief Nam approved it.

“Sir!” Juwon said the moment Chief Nam gave him leave to speak freely in his office.

“What is the problem? You’re going to Foreign Affairs in a few days. I was going to have to assign Dongsik a new partner anyway.”

The fact was Juwon wasn’t certain about his transfer. With Han Gihwan under investigation, Juwon was effectively consigned to limbo. More importantly, and Juwon couldn’t believe he genuinely considered this more important, Chief Nam was talking away what slim pretence Juwon had to cling onto his fraying relationship with Dongsik.

After Lee Yuyeon had been cremated, Dongsik confronted Juwon. “Do you remember that first week I offered for us to get to know all about each other? I could have told you then. I kept offering and still you decided you knew better and went behind my back.”

Oh Jihwa pulled him off Juwon. “Why are you acting like this? Were it not for Inspector Han, we still wouldn’t have known where Yuyeon was.”

“Were it not for Inspector Han visiting Kang Jinmook, Han Gihwan wouldn’t have gotten spooked and sent your ex in to kill him. Kang Jinmook was supposed to pay by rotting in prison for the rest of his life. He doesn’t get a shortcut. Not him.”

“Dongsik,” said Jihwa, stricken.

Dongsik rounded upon Juwon again. “Was it that unbearable being my partner, Inspector Han? Did I annoy you so much that this was how you wanted to get back at me?”

Jihwa scolded Dongsik. “You bastard. Think how hard this is on Inspector Han. He has to live with the fact that his upstanding father is actually a cold-blooded murderer. Remember how long all of us were in shock when we found out about Jinmook? How Minjeongie was in those early days?” Jihwa turned to Juwon. “Han Gihwan was your only family, right? He was all you had?”

Unbidden, Juwon thought about that picture of Dongsik and Minjeong in that cramped apartment. How even though it had been just the two of them, they filled the frame.

Now Chief Nam was telling Juwon, “Just forget the poisoning case. We can take care of it. Put this all behind you like a bad dream.”

“Please, sir. Let me fix it,” said Juwon.

“Yoon Mihye has been dead for years. Car accident. Dongsik had planned to keep that from Kang Jinmook forever to torture him. I should thank you for breaking that cycle. Kang Jinmook, that bastard - he isn’t hurt by the same things as you and me. As Dongsik.” Chief Nam’s eyes glinted with knowledge. “Work hard in Foreign Affairs and make us proud, Inspector Han. There’s nothing to fix here.”

Juwon did not mention that the photograph, cramped as it was, had looked like there might have been enough space in the frame for just one other person. Maybe.

But that was all a moot point now.

Because Juwon was the son of the man who had ruined Dongsik’s life. He had less than no rights to him.

Juwon miscalculated a step and nearly bumped into an old woman on the street. Thankfully, she stepped out of the way and gave him enough room to recover.

“Are you okay, young man? Aigoo, look at you. When was the last time you’ve eaten?” she asked.

The problem was he couldn’t sleep. Or rather, he’d sleep in fits and starts with vignette dreams of finding his mother buried in the wall of the family house. He might have gone to check and was reassured to find her safe in a family plot, overlooking a hill. He also might have lingered on the more pleasant vignettes which consisted of him and Dongsik in a car, on the way somewhere for a case. Nothing happened. Except that Dongsik was there and not upset with him.

Juwon might have typed, re-typed text messages he never sent. Rants. Entreaties. Apologies. Some were all three. Most of the time, he typed as far as ‘Inspector Lee’ before changing his mind and loathing himself for his indecisiveness.

Juwon wasn’t losing his mind. He just needed another coffee, which he would get after this. He looked up at the large yellow sign that said ‘Eagle PC’. He’d visited five other internet cafés with no luck.

Thankfully, Choi Eunseok was here.

After flashing his police ID, Juwon was given the manager’s office where he placed the fidgety Choi Eunseok in the easy chair, where he couldn’t escape without rounding the desk. “Any reason why you haven’t been answering your phone, Choi Eunseok-ssi?”

“I didn’t save your number. I thought you were one of those annoying journalists looking for a soundbite about my brother.” Choi Eunseok’s gaze flickered towards Juwon. “But I guess I don’t have to explain what that situation is like to you.”

Indeed not. Juwon had had to threaten the swarming journalists with legal proceedings before he could clear his complex’s parking lot. Juwon crossed his legs and placed his clasped hands atop his knee. “You think you can take that tone with me because my father is being investigated for manslaughter?”

Choi Eunseok bowed his head. “I wasn’t talking to you in any particular way. I’m just curious why you’re looking for me. Did Eunwoo do something else?”

“You’re very different from your little brother, aren’t you? He spent his teenage years collecting misdemeanour charges. You, on the other hand, were shortlisted for the Sejong regional Warcraft team. Then a year ago, you decided professional e-sports wasn’t for you and became a day trader. A semi-successful one at that.”

“I don’t understand. What are you getting at?”

“I’m the one who doesn’t understand. Your brother is very likely facing jail time and here I find you in a PC bang eating cheese sticks, watching a drama.”

“Eunwoo fucked up. That has nothing to do with me.”

“Was that the attitude you always took with him? I’m not surprised then that he went to Bong Yejoon-ssi for brotherly approval instead. Your CO from the military said the two of you became close after he …” Juwon pretended to consult his phone. “Wow. He saved your life when someone accidentally used live rounds during basic training. How heroic.”

Choi Eunseok stiffened. “This is a violation of my privacy. I will report you. I’m sure the journalists who are so eager to talk to me will also love to hear how you broke the law to frame an innocent man.”

“I doubt you read the existing articles of law to even understand which I’m breaking if I was breaking any. But let me assure you of this: helping cover up Hwang Inguk’s murder is most certainly breaking the law.”

“I don’t know who that is.”

“Really? The way you looked at the door when I mentioned his name tells me otherwise. Where were you last Tuesday morning before four and six am?” asked Juwon.

“I was sleeping. At home. Just like everyone else.”

“Can anyone corroborate that?”

“Like I said I was sleeping!” said Choi Eunseok.

Juwon quirked a brow. “But don’t you live with Choi Eunwoo-ssi? Does that mean you cannot vouch for his whereabouts during Hwang Inguk’s time of death either?”

“You - if you think I did something wrong, come back with a warrant.”

Choi Eunseok was right. Unless Juwon could pin something on him or had a warrant, Juwon couldn’t do anything.

It had been a gamble to confront him like this; one that Juwon had taken because after consulting his profile, Juwon pegged him as someone skittish enough to speak more than was wise. So he pushed. “Tell me one last thing before you go, Choi Eunseok-ssi. Did you really think you could hide Bong Yejoon forever?”

Choi Eunseok laughed and wrenched the door open. “This isn’t Psychometrica. It’s real life and you need more than speculation to convict me of anything. I’m not saying another word without a lawyer.”

On his way out of the internet cafe, Juwon told the manager not to let Choi Eunseok leave the premises and made a call. “We need a tail on Choi Eunseok. I spooked him. He’s still at the Eagle PC bang in Mapo-gu. I’ll keep an eye on the entrance until someone gets here.”

Inspector Kim Chankyeong replied, “Inspector Han, aren’t you off -”

Juwon hung up and phoned Kwon Hyeok.

“I’ve been waiting to hear from you. How are you holding up?”

“I need an arrest warrant for Choi Eunseok, 27, day trader.”

“What? Does this have anything to do with abeonim?”

“The warrant, please. In return, I’ll make sure to tell any journalist you had nothing to do with my father beyond a professional capacity.”

“Hang on a second.” Kwon Hyeok inhaled. “Maybe it hadn’t always been right, the way we did things. I’m your hyung. I can help you out.”

“Then the warrant. Thank you.”

Oh Jihwa had asked Juwon if Han Gihwan was all he had. Juwon could have Kwon Hyeok too if he wanted. But they were such an ill fit that Juwon didn’t see the point. Perhaps one day, they would manage beyond civility. But for now, Juwon just wanted to know if Choi Eunseok had killed Bong Yejoon.

He squinted at his phone.

ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychometrica: A 2016 supernatural police drama, starring Shin Kangjoon, as an aspiring criminal profiler who gets visions when he touches the bodies of murder victims.

Correction. Juwon would like to know where Choi Eunseok could have buried Bong Yejoon.

“Couldn’t stay away, could you?”

Juwon didn’t realise Dongsik was speaking to him until he came up beside him, peering down at the site where the KCSI team was supervising the excavation of Bong Yejoon’s body from the cement.

They had scoured the CCTV footage around Choi Eunseok’s apartment on the last day Bong Yejoon had been seen alive; the Tuesday he had arranged to meet Kim Sanghee at Oh My Deer. In the footage, Bong Yejoon came to the apartment building but there was no trace of him leaving.

Juwon, however, noted that at dawn on Wednesday, a ping off a cell tower placed Choi Eunseok at the construction site south of the Han river in Guro-gu. They’d searched the surroundings optimistically before turning to the cement the workers confirmed had been wet on Tuesday night.

“Surprised to see me?” said Dongsik.

“Good morning, Inspector Lee,” Juwon replied.

Dongsik’s note of teasing could mean he was open to resuming amicable relations. But he’d used this tone with Cybercrime’s Gwon Hyungsoo too. With the gangsters and prosecutors and lying witnesses and before they knew it, they had to give Dongsik what he wanted.

As Bong Yejoon came out of the ground, Juwon wondered if this conversation would end with him promising to excise himself from Dongsik’s life.

“I leave you alone for two days and you find our missing person and make a major break in the investigation. If these are the results you bring, maybe I should leave you alone more often,” said Dongsik.

Juwon braced himself.

“But if I did that, your death might be the next one I investigate. When was the last time you ate, Inspector Han? Your clothes are practically hanging off you!” exclaimed Dongsik.

“You didn’t have to cut your bereavement leave short for this,” said Juwon, refusing to lower his guard.

“The chief was the one who forced the leave on me. Nothing for me to do anyway. No social life, remember?”

The KCSI team zipped Bong Yejoon into a black body bag and transported him to their van.

Dongsik pocketed his phone. “The patrol officers just picked up Choi Eunseok. He’s waiting for us at the station. Let’s go.”

They came separately, so they left for the station separately.

At a red light, Juwon checked the mirror in the sun visor of his car. The circles under his eyes were pronounced; his complexion a little sallow. He wondered if he should stop by a pharmacy for concealer. He wasn’t all that vain but it wouldn’t do to look weak during an interrogation. Or should he leave it be? He couldn’t deny some part of him liked the idea of Dongsik fussing over him. It was tenuous proof that Dongsik still cared.

His phone rang and, distracted, he answered it without checking the caller’s identity.

“The Deputy Commissioner wants to meet you,” said Kwon Hyeok.

“Fuck off,” Juwon snapped.

“Juwon.”

“You know I’m not interested.”

“Don’t you want to hear what he has to say? Maybe he has a good reason for covering up what he did the way he did.”

“Would you like me to record this call, Prosecutor Kwon?”

“Shut up, Juwon! You were just a child in 2000. How can you be sure you really know what happened back then?” Kwon Hyeok collected himself. “Just hear him out. What could it hurt?”

“He had no interest in explaining himself. He just wants me to do something for him.”

“That’s how it’s always been. You’re the one throwing a tantrum because you don’t like it anymore.”

“Didn’t you say that maybe it shouldn’t have been this way? What happened to wanting to help me, hyung,” said Juwon, spitting the last word in a way he knew would make Kwon Hyeok wince.

“You’re still such a kid. Go visit your father.” Kwon Hyeok gave him the name of the detention centre and hung up.

Juwon would admire Kwon Hyeok for his new backbone were he not sure that Han Gihwan promised him something in exchange. The world as they understood it might have turned upside down but people like them remained disgustingly predictable.

Juwon had half expected for Sangyeob to sit in for Choi Eunwoo’s interrogation the way he had when he’d cross-questioned Kim Sanghee while Dongsik was ill. After all, Dongsik’s request for a new partner had been approved.

Nevertheless, Dongsik sat down next to Juwon easily and said for the benefit of the voice recording, “This is Inspector Lee Dongsik and I will be observing this session.”

“Could you move your chair to the left please, Inspector Lee? Your knee is knocking against mine,” said Juwon.

Dongsik scooted away, taking with him the distracting heat along Juwon’s thigh.

Choi Eunwoo stretched his neck side to side. After many nights in a detention cell, his back must be stiff. Juwon didn’t need Choi Eunwoo to be uncomfortable to break him but why look a gift horse in the mouth?

“We’ve brought you back here because there are new developments in the case,” Juwon informed him. “To begin with, are you aware that your older brother, Choi Eunseok, has been brought in on suspicion for the murder of Bong Yejoon?”

It was a thing of beauty to see a man who thought he had nothing to lose suddenly realise the game they were playing was quite different.

“What are you talking about? Yejoon-hyung isn’t dead,” said Choi Eunwoo.

“He very much is. We recovered his body at 9:05am today at a construction site in Guro-gu.” Juwon laid out the pictures taken by the KCSI team.

“No. Yejoon-hyung is a big guy. He couldn’t…” Shaking handcuffed hands pulled the photos closer. Choi Eunwoo recoiled from the one which showed Bong Yejoon’s slack face clearly; dried cement caking his features. “Why Yejoon-hyung? He didn’t do anything. This has nothing to do with what I did. You have to find who killed him!”

“Didn’t you hear me? We have. It was your brother.”

Choi Eunwoo shook his head vehemently. “He wouldn’t. He couldn’t have. Even if - even if he had got the drop on him, he wouldn’t have been able to do it. Yejoon-hyung saved his life.”

“Then why did Choi Eunseok stab Bong Yejoon five times and drop him in wet cement?” asked Juwon.

From the corner of his eye, Juwon saw Dongsik struggle against a smirk. The NFS was still cleaning Bong Yejoon’s corpse so a cause of death hadn’t yet been provided. But like Juwon, Dongsik must have thought five stab wounds sufficiently theatrical.

Choi Eunwoo covered his face. He was a child, really. A child who thought causing chaos and making adults panic was a sign of power. “Does Yeaji-noona know yet?”

Yeaji?

Dongsik typed out a message on his phone under the table and angled it towards Juwon. ‘Moon Yeaji. Bong Yejoon’s ex-wife. The ER nurse we talked to.’

Juwon had a working theory. That Bong Yejoon had found out about Choi Eunwoo’s plan and knowing Eunwoo was going to poison club-goers at Intro Lounge, contacted Kim Sanghee to warn her. If Bong Yejoon could get Kim Sanghee to help him stop Eunwoo, there was no need to get the authorities involved.

In the CCTV footage of Oh My Deer, Bong Yejoon had looked at his phone at 2:45pm and left immediately. Shortly before, Kwang Inguk died of an unlikely overdose.

Perhaps Bong Yejoon had drawn the line at murder. Perhaps before contacting the police, Bong Yejoon had gone to confront Choi Eunseok, to see if he had helped Eunwoo in any way. To see if in saving Choi Eunseok those years ago, Bong Yejoon had unwittingly contributed to this terrible turn of events.

To Choi Eunseok, however, who had always been at odds with his younger brother, who had seen Eunwoo loudly fawn over Bong Yejoon, it must have felt like a decisive moment to prove his fraternal love. Bong Yejoon was divorced and childless. No one would miss him.

So where did Moon Yeaji figure into all this?

Juwon closed his eyes, exhaling.

The chemist.

He gathered himself and leaned his arms on the table. “Considering that the couple separated a while ago, I’m sure she wouldn’t be too heartbroken by the news. After helping come up with a poison that caused civil unrest, expecting her ex to come away unharmed is quite the selfish expectation, don’t you think, Inspector Lee?” Juwon turned to find Dongsik smirking at him. “Alright then, let’s go pick her up.”

“No, wait. You can’t shock her like this. She’s pregnant!” Choi Eunwoo blurted.

Which was how Juwon found himself in the questioning room with a silently weeping ER nurse, looking much diminished out of her scrubs and washed out in the room’s fluorescent lighting. She had taken the news of Bong Yejoon’s death hard. Officers from the other department had even peeked in due to the volume of her wails. She’d calmed down in the interrogation room. Unfortunately, with her calm came the wisdom to say nothing without a lawyer.

Still, Dongsik was obligated to try. “When did you find out you were pregnant?”

Nothing.

“Was it after Bong Yejoon-ssi left you?”

Still nothing.

“He left even though he knew you were pregnant.”

Moon Yeaji crossed her arms and looked off to the side.

“But you still loved him anyway,” said Dongsik.

After half an hour of this, Dongsik ended the session.

Juwon followed him out of the building for some fresh air. “Do you think she helped Choi Eunwoo because she was upset?”

Dongsik watched the other men smoking in the allotted spot on the pavement across the street longingly. Maybe he was trying to quit because while he fingered the box of cigarettes in his pocket, he never took them out. He offered to get them drinks from the convenience store instead.

“I’ll get it,” said Juwon. “What do you want?”

“Banana milk.”

Juwon refrained from commenting on how unexpectedly…cute the idea of someone like Dongsik drinking banana milk was. He paid for their purchases and went to sip his own iced tea at the table provided.

“Maybe Moon Yeaji felt helpless,” said Dongsik. “She was about to be a single parent, working a busy and stressful job. So she lashed out.”

“Are you sympathising with her?”

“Should I?” Dongsik chuckled. “I have no sweetheart to go on a rampage over.”

“I met Shin Kangjoon-ssi the other day. He asked about you.”

“He’s a good kid.” Dongsik shrugged. “I heard your transfer has finally been properly approved. Congratulations.”

Incidentally, the Foreign Affairs team had called Juwon just before he had gone in to interrogate Choi Eunwoo. Juwon had been too stunned to say anything other than, “Alright. Thank you.”

“When is your last day with us?” asked Dongsik.

“They gave me until the end of the week to wrap up this case.”

“So soon. I guess despite everything, Foreign Affairs can spot a valuable recruit when they see one.”

Juwon waited for Dongsik to say more. To persuade him to stay again. To, at the very least, poke fun at how his efforts to convince Juwon had failed. Because the alternative was Dongsik actually wanting Juwon gone.

“You have a bright future ahead of you. I look forward to it,” said Dongsik.

Juwon was convinced it would have been less painful if Dongsik had kicked him in the stomach.

Being rich and the Deputy Commissioner had its perks. Namely that Han Gihwan’s cell was the most comfortable detention cell Juwon had ever seen. The officer who showed Juwon in even bowed at Han Gihwan as if there weren’t bars separating them.

Juwon dragged the visitor’s chair closer and sat down. “What do you want?”

Han Gihwan scoffed in disbelief. “I had to force you down here and you still don’t have the decency to show some manners?”

“The expensive schools you sent me to taught me that only my betters deserve manners.”

“You are a rookie cop with barely an accomplishment to your name. You are not better than me.”

“I haven’t killed anyone, so yes, I am.”

“It was a mistake.” Honest words filled with regret.

Yet, Juwon knew Han Gihwan that the regret had everything to do with not being aware Lee Changjin had proof of that night and nothing to with Lee Yuyeon’s tragic death.

It reminded Juwon of Kang Jinmook. Was the way he’d put on the demeanour of an unassuming small-town grocer so very different from how Han Gihwan styled himself as a dignified high-ranking officer of the law?

If this was debated in Juwon’s old Ethics class, who would his lecturer say had done more harm to society?

Who had done more harm to Lee Dongsik?

“What,” said Juwon more tersely, “do you want?”

As it turned out, Han Gihwan wanted Juwon to destroy evidence. Currently, the most damning one was the dash-cam footage Lee Changjin had submitted. If Juwon could get rid of that, Kwon Hyeok would take care of the rest. Someone could be bribed into saying that Lee Changjin was lying; that Han Gihwan had been home the night Lee Yuyeon died.

Han Gihwan would also like Juwon to take the stand. The judge would not trust the word of the defendant’s son who had only been seven at the time but it would sway the jury in Han Gihwan’s favour.

Juwon said, “Are you hearing yourself right now? What happened to all those talks you used to give me about upholding the integrity of the law?”

“You have conveniently forgotten the talks I’d given you on protecting the family name. You think anyone will touch you if I get indicted? They will bury you so deep in busy work you won’t even get a step on the ladder no matter how long you stay in the force. You could be the smartest, most promising officer and they still won’t promote you because of whose son you are. So think of this as doing a favour for yourself even if you decide you are an ungrateful and unfilial son of a bitch.”

“Wow.”

Han Gihwan stared.

“Wow,” Juwon said again. “I think that’s the most you’ve ever said to me in a single breath.”

“Han Juwon.”

Juwon smiled. “Do you know how the word for ‘law’ comes from the Chinese character for ‘haechi’? That ox-like creature is meant to tear apart dishonest people with its horns. Indiscriminately. Despite what you might think, I’m not in any danger. You want me to fool the haechi? Wave a red cloth on your behalf? Then offer me something.”

“What?”

Juwon opened his arms. “Isn’t this how it works? You give me a world-class education; I win prizes at these institutions to garnish your reputation. You hire expensive nannies to take care of me; I show up at your press ops looking fit and healthy. You send me to the nation’s best police academy, I graduate summa cum laude and help you become Deputy Commissioner. But as you cleverly pointed out earlier, you are now in my debt. You have made me the son of a murderer who abetted a serial killer. Yet you want me to do something for you for free?”

Han Gihwan snarled, “I gave you the best chance at life! You have brains and talent and I made sure you wasted none of it!”

Juwon pushed his chair back. “If this is how you’re going to be, then there’s nothing to talk about.”

“Han Juwon!”

“Stop it. My name isn’t some incantation you can use to make me follow your orders. Come to think of it, I should probably change it. Mother’s family name is Lee, isn’t it? Lee Juwon. What do you think?”

“Fine!” roared Han Gihwan. “Tell me what you want, you selfish wretch.”

“I want you to stop interfering with my life. No more dictates of what I’m to do to help you in your stupid dream to become Commissioner. No more pretending Prosecutor Kwon is anything more than a pawn in your pathetic attempt to make me competitively filial. And no more blind dates with daughters of men I do not care about. I do this for you and you leave me alone for the rest of my life.”

“I understand. The minute I’m exonerated, you’re free to do as you wish,” Han Gihwan promised.

Juwon held up his phone to show he’d recorded the exchange. “I will hold you to that.”

That night, he let himself into the evidence room and pocketed the flash drive containing Lee Changjin’s footage.

The moment Choi Eunseok had found out what his brother had done, he’d willingly stepped in front of the haechi. Not out of love but blind panic. He hadn’t known what he was doing.

But Juwon did.

When the day came, Juwon would brace himself for the goring.

After lawyering up, neither Choi Eunseok nor Choi Eunwoo cooperated with any more questions. So it came as a surprise when Moon Yeaji’s attorney reached out with the claim that she was willing to cut a deal.

“Just when I thought this case was over. How about it? One last interview with Moon Yeaji tomorrow morning?” said Dongsik. It was night and he didn’t want to come into work right now because he’d been drinking.

Juwon himself was halfway through a bottle of wine so he said, “Sure,” and then, “Are you alone?”

Dongsik chortled. “Is that a personal question? We’re no longer partners. You don’t have to ask.”

“I—”

The door phone rang.

Juwon was too surprised to do anything for a time because his door phone never rang. His only visitors had been his father and Kwon Hyeok and the receptionist knew to let them both through without informing him.

Juwon prepared for a reprisal from someone connected to the Choi brothers, or even Moon Yeaji. However, the receptionist assured him that of his visitors - for there were two of them - one was a teenage girl demanding to be let up because Juwon had broken her husband’s heart.

“I knew it would be amazing,” said Minjeong, face pressed against the window at the view of the city sprawled out before them.

“Don’t,” said Juwon.

“Hm?” Minjeong knocked over the papers Juwon had stacked on the window seat.

Juwon massaged his forehead. “What are you doing here?”

“We thought you might be drinking alone and we were right!”

Park Jeongje arranged bottles of makgeolli and some dried squid on the coffee table next to Juwon’s wine. “She found your address somehow and threatened to come by herself.” He examined the label on Juwon’s bottle. “Wow, a 2010 Barolo.”

“You don’t have enough chairs.” Minjeong dragged the easy chair from behind Juwon’s work desk.

“Did you even wash your hands?” Juwon snapped.

“Oops.”

Juwon threw up his hands. “You’re obviously here to tell me something on behalf of Inspector Lee. Let’s not prolong this.”

“Dongsik didn’t send us any message. Did he say anything to you, Minjeong?” said Jeongje.

“Nope,” said Minjeong.

Juwon hesitated. “How is he?”

“A mess. But I guess you wouldn’t know. Knowing him, he’d put on a good show for his wife.” Minjeong found the glasses and poured out the makgeolli.

Jeongje blinked. “Wife?”

“Inspector Han is his work wife.”

“He’s getting a new partner soon,” said Juwon.

Chief Nam was probably waiting until Juwon left for Foreign Affairs before doing the reassignments. Once Juwon joined Foreign Affairs, he would be taking a different set of elevators up to work but he would still share a lobby with Dongsik. If they came across each other there, would Dongsik wave hello? Or would he pretend he didn’t know Juwon?

Juwon drained his glass.

“Hey Inspector Han, do you think Dongsik is mad at you?” asked Jeongje. Juwon’s incredulity must show on his face because Jeongje laughed. “I’m just saying. I was the reason Dongsik became the prime suspect of his sister’s murder. It was because of me he had to run to Seoul. Also because of me that Yuyeon was out that night she died. Then it was because of my mother that Kang Jinmook escaped for 17 years. Do you think Dongsik is mad at me? He says we’re still friends.” He laughed.

“This is my home, not your therapist’s office,” said Juwon. “If you’re going to continue, please leave.”

Jeongje snorted, helping himself to more makgeolli. “Dongsik was right. You really are a brat with no manners.”

Juwon pointed to the door.

“Jeongje-oppa, what are you getting riled up for? We haven’t even opened the dried squid.” Turning to Juwon, Minjeong said, “He has a point though. Do you think Dongsik-ssi is angry at you, Inspector Han?”

“He told me he was. So yes, I do,” said Juwon drily.

Minjeong hummed. “When we found out that it was my father - that it was Kang Jinmook, I mean - Dongsik didn’t say anything. The two of them had been so close. But when we found out, Dongsik-ssi didn’t even raise his voice. So I asked him, ‘Aren’t you angry?’ He said, ‘Of course I am! But what good would screaming and raging do? It won’t make anything better.’” Minjeong wrinkled her nose. “I screamed. I raged. I made him collect me from clubs all over Seoul.”

Juwon knew how to read between the lines. But it was unlikely that Dongsik had been putting on an act when he’d lost his temper with him. He pointed at Jeongje, “You are his childhood friend,” at Minjeong,” and you are practically his child. We are not the same. When he tells me to fuck off, I believe he means it.”

“This is hopeless. Come on, Minjeong,” said Jeongje.

Minjeong shook off Jeongje’s hand. “He did it for you. If he stayed your partner, you’ll always be reminded of what your father did. You’d always feel sorry towards Dongsik-ssi. Right? He told me you’re smart and capable. That you’d have a shining career no matter where they shove you so even though it’s obvious he likes you -”

“What?” said Juwon.

“You’ll forgive him, won’t you?” she asked.

“Forgive him? No matter how you spin it, Han Gihwan is guilty. He killed Lee Yuyeon and sent Lee Changjin to kill Kang Jinmook. Dongsik-ssi is the one who needs to forgive me.”

“And?” Minjeong said so shrilly, Juwon worried about the neighbours. “What good is it for you to wrap yourself in all that guilt? None of it is even your fault. Is it my fault I didn’t notice my father was murdering people while he was raising me? Is it Dongsik-ssi’s fault he didn’t know his sister was buried in his family basement this whole time? Is it Jeongje-oppa’s fault he couldn’t remember what happened that night? Why are innocent people so stupid!” Minjeong began hitting Juwon with her fists. “You’re supposed to be smart! You studied overseas and graduated from that elite university top of your class! What are you doing?”

Ever since joining the RIU, since becoming Dongsik’s partner, Juwon had experienced many firsts and this - a young woman physically trying to beat some sense into him while crying - was definitely a first.

Juwon caught Minjeong’s hands and settled them in her lap. “I’ll talk to him. I will,” he added at Minjeong’s disbelieving look. “So stop feeling sorry towards Inspector Lee. Like you said, none of it is your fault.” He was the one who had decided to visit Kang Jinmook. Minjeong shouldn’t feel guilty for it.

“It isn’t,” Jeongje said firmly, drawing Minjeong’s attention. “Of course, it isn’t, Minjeong-ah. Dongsik’s heart would break if he knew you thought that.”

A few more tears slipped past Minjeong’s cheeks even as she chortled.

They left shortly after, realising that there was no recovering after that awkward mood. Juwon tidied up after them; restacked the papers Minjeong had knocked over, wiped down the coffee table where the bottles of makgeolli had left wet rings because Jeongje hadn't bothered with coasters. Then, with nothing left to distract him, he sat down with his phone.

Even though it's obvious he likes you.

Juwon's thumb hovered over Dongsik's name.

He likes you.

She'd said it so casually. As if it was an established notion.

He likes you.

Juwon threw his phone onto the sofa.

There were two CCTV blind spots in the precinct of the headquarters. One was a corner by the evidence room in the basement, which was out of the question. The second was the space between the water tank and the entrance to the roof, which would have been locked were it not for the smokers coming up here for the illicit cigarette or two.

“What is going on in that pretty head of yours, Inspector Han?” said Dongsik. “I thought you’d be eager to submit Moon Yeaji’s confession, notarised and all and close this case.”

Juwon fingered the seam of his trouser pocket. “Do you think she really loved him? It all felt like one big show to me.”

Moon Yeaji had admitted to creating the poison and nothing else. She claimed that Choi Eunwoo had asked her for the poison but didn’t tell her what it was for and that she had never even met, much less spoken to Hwang Inguk.

From what Juwon could tell, Hwang Inguk had coded the encrypted group chat for Choi Eunwoo but then got cold feet. So Moon Yeaji really had nothing to do with his death. But Juwon didn’t buy the rest. Moon Yeaji knew how much Choi Eunwoo hero-worshipped Bong Yejoon. She knew how making the young man a criminal would hurt her ex-husband.

Dongsik shrugged. “Who knows. People feel attachment, express love in different ways. Best leave that to the sociologists, Inspector Han. It has nothing to do with apprehending criminals. We don’t need to understand her. We just need to preserve the balance of justice.” Dongsik smiled, teasing. “Doesn’t that sort of answer make you proud of me?”

Juwon took a deep breath.

Dongsik straightened. “Everything alright, Inspector Han?”

“Inspector Lee-“

Dongsik’s phone rang. He’d taken to switching off the silent mode when they were in headquarters so it now played the obnoxious theme song of an old variety show, which meant Chief Nam was calling.

“No, I haven’t gone on my lunch break. Why do you want to know where I am? Am I in trouble?” Dongsik raised his eyebrows at Juwon. “Lee Changjin’s recording is missing? Of course not, I haven’t been in the evidence room at all!”

Juwon heard Chief Nam threatening Dongsik over the line.

“Why would you have to check the CCTV?” Dongsik snapped in response. “Don’t you trust me? I’m sure it’s misplaced somewhere. You know how disorganised that room is. Complain to the Head of General Affairs or something. I’m taking my lunch break now!” Dongsik hung up and rounded upon Juwon.

“Inspector Lee, hear me out,” said Juwon.

“Inspector Han,” said Dongsik and Juwon didn’t think he'd ever been on the receiving end of this Dongsik. The Lee Dongsik who compelled criminals to cooperate and liars to tell the truth. Full of gravitas and don’t-fuck-with-me energy. The infamous nut job of the RIU. “What have you done?”

Juwon tried to swallow but his mouth was bone dry. “Han Gihwan reached out to me to make the recording disappear. If there’s no recording, if he paid the right people, chances are he’d be exonerated.”

“Han Juwon.”

“I could never figure out what it was you wanted, so I thought maybe it’d be this,” said Juwon. “It’s the oldest law on record. An eye for an eye. I could give you the passcode to his house and make it look like a home invasion. They wouldn’t even investigate his death too closely because they’d rather the scandal go away.”

“Give me the flash drive, Juwon. We can put it back now. No one will know. Even if the chief suspects, I’ll make something up,” Dongsik promised.

“I can’t.”

“Juwon!”

“I don’t have it!” Juwon insisted.

He hadn’t even left the evidence room before he’d turned heel and returned the flash drive. He just couldn’t do it. No matter the justifications, he couldn’t stand the idea of helping Han Gihwan walk free from the stand after what he’d done.

“Then where is it?” said Dongsik.

“I put it back in the box. You were right. The evidence room is a mess.”

Holding Juwon’s gaze, Dongsik called the Head of General Affairs. “Inspector Jung, how are you? I heard that an important piece of evidence from my sister’s case has gone missing.” He listened intently to the reply. “See, that’s why I keep saying your department needs a better organisation system. If you’re not going to let us back up digital evidence on our devices or a cloud server, you need to make sure you know where it is at all times! Yes, yes, let’s grab a drink sometime. Thank you.”

Dongsik hung up and sighed. “No offence, Inspector Han, but if you aren’t here to pass me evidence illegally, then what am I doing here?”

Juwon tried again to swallow. “I need to ask you something. Yesterday, Kang Minjeong told me…”

“Ah, that brat. I knew she was up to trouble,” said Dongsik, hands on his hips. “What did she say?”

The words had played on loop all last night and this morning. Juwon needed to know. And if he’d misunderstood, if Minjeong had gotten it wrong, well, he didn’t want it on camera.

“Inspector Han?” said Dongsik.

“I know I’m still in your debt. If you could just add this to it…you can take what you want from me later,” Juwon said haltingly. He leaned in.

“Juwon,” Dongsik growled.

As Juwon kissed him, Dongsik’s hands came up to cradle his face.

Juwon drew back, surprised by the welcome; then felt, heard Dongsik’s sharp intake of breath as Juwon moved in again, kissing Dongsik’s upper lip. It was so soft; such a contrast to the scratch of his facial hair.

“You pervert. You brought me up here to have your way with me.” Dongsik sank his teeth into Juwon’s lip. Juwon groaned. “You said I can take what I want.”

One of the benefits of his studio apartment, which Juwon had neglected to appreciate, was how short the distance was between the front door and the bed.

Juwon let Dongsik press him into the mattress. The clash of familiar and unfamiliar disorienting; the comforting smell of his blanket, the strangeness of Dongsik’s wet tongue in his mouth.

Dongsik made his way down Juwon’s body.

Juwon pulled him back up for another kiss. “Tell me what you want.”

“Take off your clothes.”

Even for someone who’d never been in a relationship, Juwon knew this was fast. Knew that most couples didn’t go from first kiss to sleeping together within the span of an hour. Doubt niggled whenever Juwon had a free thought to spare. Fear that it would hurt. Worry over how Dongsik would react if Juwon didn’t enjoy it. If Dongsik himself would enjoy the sex with him.

So even as he arched back onto Dongsik’s cock, forward into Dongsik’s hand, he wondered, Is this supposed to be like this?

“Turn around,” Dongsik rasped, arranging Juwon on top of him.

Juwon rocked in time with Dongsik’s strokes, biting his lip to stop the low whine in the back of his throat. Resting against Dongsik’s propped up legs, he asked, “How do I feel? Do you like being in me?”

“Didn’t peg you for dirty talk.” Dongsik bucked so that Juwon bounced a little.

Juwon winced as the jut of Dongsik’s hip jammed up against him. He tried repositioning himself but lost balance and fell off.

Dongsik curled up in laughter.

“Shut up,” Juwon snapped, cheeks burning.

Smiling fondly, Dongsik cupped Juwon’s cheek. “Sorry. Do you want to stop?”

Juwon turned his face further into that hand. Felt the scratch of the callouses on Dongsik’s palm against his cheek. From his training with the gun? Or was it from the fishing trips Juwon vaguely remembered him mentioning during their stakeouts?

“Young master, please tell me what you want. I can’t read your mind,” said Dongsik.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Or what?”

Juwon was suddenly reminded of that night in the club. Dongsik with his leather jacket, those form-fitting jeans, that smirk. It had been dangerous to entertain any such thoughts then but Juwon could fully admit now: he’d wanted to fuck him in the club. He’d wanted to push Dongsik into that writhing mass of dancers and put his hands under Dongsik’s jacket and feel that torso for muscles Dongsik’s loose shirts had sometimes hinted at.

Those lean muscles were on full display now. Juwon ran a hand over Dongsik’s stomach, near where his cock was standing up, proud and achingly hard. Dongsik’s breath hitched as Juwon stroked it.

“What about you? Did you think of me that night in the club?” Juwon asked.

“You looked good.” Dongsik panted heavily as Juwon continued to pump him. “Were you trying to impress me?”

“No.”

Dongsik laughed. “Well I was trying to impress you. You look so good all the time. Wondered if I could make you think I look good too.”

Juwon kissed him. Sloppily. He lined up Dongsik’s cock to his entrance and sank down, rode him hard. He’s used to the movement now. It was tiring but nothing compared to the hours he’d spent on the exercise bike. The ache was good; the slide and friction just this side of pleasurable.

Dongsik flipped them again, lifting Juwon’s legs onto his shoulders; forced Juwon’s hips higher and slid home.

Juwon scrabbled for purchase on his sheets as heat rushed straight to his cock.

“You look so good, Juwon-ah.” Dongsik rocked into Juwon in tiny thrusts so that the heat just kept building. Juwon wanted to ask him to slow down but when he opened his mouth, drool escaped and mortified, Juwon tried to get away. He turned and found himself caged in by Dongsik’s arms. “You said I could take whatever I wanted.”

He had.

Juwon squeezed his eyes shut and bore down on the next wave of pleasure.

Dongsik’s teeth grazed over the shell of his ear. “Open your eyes.”

“Stop talking,” Juwon gasped. “I can’t focus.”

He tried to remember what had felt good the last time he’d had sex but Dongsik kept grinding against his prostate. Juwon’s nails bit into Dongsik’s arms.

‘Hang on,’ Juwon wanted to say. ‘Hang on just a bit.’

But then Dongsik moaned right next to his ear and Juwon came.

“Fuck.” Dongsik groaned against the crook of Juwon’s neck, speeding up his thrusts into Juwon’s pliant body.

Juwon was still shivering when he felt the condom grow warm with Dongsik’s spill.

It was gross. That, the wet of cum on his stomach, Dongsik’s warm breath against his neck. The endorphins rushing away could not compete with his revulsion.

He counted to ten and patted Dongsik’s shoulder awkwardly. “I’m showering first. The spare towels are in that cupboard. Don’t take the white ones. Those are mine.”

Dongsik gaped and laughed. “Couldn’t you wait until I pulled out to say that?”

Juwon’s phone was ringing. An unfamiliar landline number.

Juwon let it go to voicemail before searching the number online. Naver spat back out the name of Han Gihwan’s detention centre.

Dongsik emerged from the bathroom, drying his hair with a grey towel; his shirt was halfway buttoned up. Juwon traced the line of Dongsik’s neck with his eyes down to the centre of his pectorals before realising he was staring and pretended to be thinking of something else.

“We should go back to headquarters. I need to submit my report. Why are you laughing?” asked Juwon.

“Because most people won’t be thinking of going back to work after sex,” said Dongsik.

“And?”

“It’s cute.”

Flustered, Juwon said, “No, it’s not.”

Dongsik took a hanger from Juwon’s wardrobe, slung his towel through it and hung it off the back of a chair near the window. Juwon took out the foldable drying rack from the back of his cupboard and hung the towel there instead. As Juwon straightened, Dongsik tucked hair behind his ear and kissed him.

“You’re always cute,” he said.

“Don’t lie. You find me annoying,” said Juwon.

“With you, ‘annoying’ and ‘cute’ are two sides of the same coin.”

“Then your coin would be ‘frustrating’ and ‘crazy’.” Juwon’s phone rang again. He ignored it.

Dongsik quirked his brow. “Someone you’re avoiding?”

Juwon laughed to himself. He supposed it was his turn now.

He had gotten derailed. The sex had felt good. Even now, Juwon felt a frisson of arousal watching Dongsik’s back muscles shift under his shirt. Juwon moved before he could overthink it but hesitated a hair’s breadth away to make sure Dongsik wanted the kiss.

Dongsik considered him. “Honestly, I hadn’t expected you to be this meek in bed.”

“Do you not like it?”

That was apparently the wrong thing to say because Dongsik’s face became inscrutable. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

It’d be easy not to do this. To push this discussion for another day when Dongsik’s guard was lower. But Juwon knew if he didn’t ask now, he’d set a precedent for backing out of asking and he’d never know. And he needed to know.

He cleared his throat.

“After what Han Gihwan did, and the way I interfered in your affairs without consulting you, I know I have no right to demand answers from you,” said Juwon. “But did you approach me at first because of who my father is?” When Dongsik didn’t answer, Juwon pressed, “Was that why you tried to get me to stay with the RIU? Did you want to keep me there so you could get to Han Gihwan through me?”

Still Dongsik gave no response.

“Dongsik-ssi…”

“You said you know you’ve no right to an answer, so why are you expecting one?” Dongsik said.

Juwon flinched and drew back. “Understood.”

“No, that’s not -” Dongsik scratched the skin below his lip. “I like that shy side of you but I’m not interested if you’re forcing yourself. You want answers from me? Go ahead. Demand them! Yes, I planned to use you because you were Han Gihwan’s son.”

“When were you planning to ask me about it?”

“I already did! On our first day, I said, ‘You’re the Deputy Commissioner’s son, aren’t you? Did you know your father was stationed in Munju in 2000?’ and you just said, ‘Really? I don’t really remember. I was in England that year.’ It was infuriating. Here I thought I finally had an in and you knew nothing!”

Dongsik’s deadpan impression of Juwon would have annoyed him at any other time but now,

“Our first day?” Juwon gaped, “I could have been lying to you.”

“What kind of detective do you take me for? It’s obvious you and Han Gihwan don’t get along. Why would he tell you anything? So you if you slept with me because you thought you owe me something - ”

“You were angry at me. For going behind your back,” Juwon reminded him.

“I have enough people who stick to me because they feel they’ve done wrong by me. I don’t want you to be one of them. Not you, Juwon-ah.”

The tug in Juwon’s chest was so sharp it practically hurt.

“Then this is okay?” Carefully, Juwon placed his hand over Dongsik’s.

Dongsik lifted his gaze and there was so much open hope on his face that the protective urge Juwon had first felt in Manyang swelled again.

The hook snagged hard. It felt like an open wound. But this time, when the line pulled, Juwon went.

The swoop in his stomach, the clear air in his lungs.

It felt like flying.

Months later.

Special Inspector Min shook his head. “It looks like we have another one.”

Juwon looked up from the files of past cases Foreign Affairs wanted him to study up on. “Where is it?”

“Daegu. The RIU there is requesting all the information we have.” SI Min angled the tablet towards Juwon, showing him an open folder of digital documents. “You worked the original case. Is there anything we should add?”

Poisoning groups have been popping up here and there, using the same recipe. Pharmacies had been told not to sell them to the same person but that did little to halt its progress. So Foreign Affairs had stepped in to stop the epidemic, especially before it could jump borders.

Juwon was fairly confident SI Min had everything but he also knew Dongsik had been following the cases because the man couldn’t resist a good puzzle. He might have found something else. “Let me double-check with my former partner.”

SI Min huffed in amusement. “You can just say you want to go see him. I’m not going to hold it against you.”

Juwon protested, “Inspector Lee could have some new insight.”

SI Min made a shooing motion with his hand. “Tell that lunatic I said hi. And to stop blackmailing Senior Inspector Kim. He’s about to burst a blood vessel.”

When Juwon stepped into the RIU office, Dongsik said, “Did you style your hair differently?” in lieu of a greeting.

“I used less wax. I ran out.”

“I can get more for you after work. I’m getting Minjeong’s shampoo too so it won’t be out of the way.”

It wasn’t easy to get rid of the uneasiness; years of people doing Juwon unnecessary favours just to get on his good side. In fact, Juwon was about to tell Dongsik there was no need when Dongsik added, “Let me do this little thing for my darling, okay?”

Juwon blushed to the roots of his hair.

Sangyeob clapped his hands over his ears. “What?”

“I told you,” Inspector Kim Chankyeong drawled, balancing himself on the hind legs of his chair. “You honestly aren’t made out for this, Sangyeob-ah.”

Sangyeob was on his way out of the RIU himself, having finally acknowledged that detection wasn’t his strong suit. The unit was currently waiting on an inspector from the Yongsan station as well as Oh Jihwa, who’d agreed to come out to Seoul after much pestering and wheedling from Chief Nam and Dongsik respectively.

Sangyeob jabbed a finger at Juwon’s. “That time you told me to back off Dongsik-hyung, that was because you were jealous?”

“We’re sending over an info package on the Gangnam poisoning MO to Daegu. Is there anything you’d like to add that isn’t already on file?” Juwon asked Dongsik.

“Yeah. Anua pulled their heartleaf toner after we told them it’s being used for homemade poison but the Shin Kangjoon fan clubs might have a stash because he accidentally mentioned that he uses it. He’s from Daegu too so it might be worth checking out if anyone’s approached the fan clubs to purchase from them.”

Juwon typed all this out in an email to SI Min. “You seem to be keeping close tabs on Shin Kangjoon.”

“Have you seen his new drama? He played an amateur detective but he still called me to get notes.”

Juwon knew better than to rise to such an obvious goad. Still. “Is that so? How very solicitous of him. You should have dinner with him tonight instead. Thanks for the update, Inspector Lee.” Juwon turned on his heel.

“I booked La Planque,” Dongsik called out in a sing-song. “Eight pm. Don’t be late.”

“I hate double dating,” Minjeong told Jihoon, “but we can’t afford this place on our own so just bear with it.”

Juwon considered Oh Jihoon as he cut his steak into same-sized bites. He recognised him belatedly as the young man from the nightclub. The one who’d let Minjeong walk all over him. Juwon was considering the wisdom of this pairing when Jihoon casually let slip that his older sister was really excited to be working with Dongsik again.

“You’re Detective Oh’s little brother?” said Juwon.

“Duh,” said Minjeong with an eye roll.

“Manyang is a small town. A very small town. Don’t worry, I’ll bring you,” Dongsik promised. “Next weekend?”

“We’re going to that jazz bar on Sunday,” replied Juwon.

“The one after that then. Remember to book your leave.”

“I will. Stop nagging.”

“After all those times you nag at me? No,” said Dongsik petulantly.

Juwon happened to know that Dongsik actually liked it when he nagged. He could see more evidence of it now from the way Dongsik’s lip curled.

“It’s good to see you like this, hyung,” Jihoon said suddenly. “Happy, I mean. Everyone is really relieved.”

Dongsik clucked his tongue. “What nonsense. I’m no different from before.”

Juwon agreed. “Still leaving your socks all over the place. Still chewing with your mouth open. Still antagonising your fellow officers.”

“I hate double dating,” Minjeong reiterated while Jihoon simply grinned.

As they exited the restaurant into the bustling Itaewon street, Juwon realised belatedly that it was Wednesday and not once had Dongsik stared at his phone. However, Juwon had. At Kwon Hyeok’s number, which remained blocked.

Maybe one day, he thought. But not now. Not when Han Gihwan was still appealing his prison sentence.

“Juwon-ah!”

Juwon turned and there was Dongsik, hair tousled by the autumn wind and illuminated in neon from the surrounding shops. He seemed a mirage of a tired mind, of wandering too long alone in the city.

“Let’s go Juwon-ah. It’s getting late.”

“Are you coming over?” asked Juwon hopefully.

“After I make sure this one gets to bed. Alone.” Dongsik nodded at Minjeong who stuck out her tongue while Oh Jihoon babbled on about how he would never try anything with Minjeong until she came of age.

Minjeong looped her arm around Juwon’s elbow. “Come on. To commemorate our first double-date.” She held up her phone, the camera app open, ready to capture all four of them in one frame.

Juwon was already in the shot. Still, Dongsik snaked an arm around his shoulders and pulled him tight against his side. “Is this alright, Inspector Han?” he murmured close to his ear.

The resulting photo remained, for a time, the only picture in which Juwon was smiling.

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