I’m Obsessed With the Suspect - Chapter 41
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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41
However, contrary to Yushin’s expectations, Cheong-a was only able to check the contents of the USB the next morning.
“Ugh, I’m tired.”
She had stayed up almost all night the day before. On top of that, after downing strong soju, she only got two hours of sleep. After that, she had to go to headquarters to meet Yeonhui and then go to work at the PC bang again.
‘It’s a miracle I’m even awake. Good job, me.’
Cheong-a patted herself on the shoulder a couple of times and hurried to get ready for work.
Only then could she spare a moment to sit in front of her computer. It was the moment she sat in front of her laptop with coffee in one hand while drying her hair.
“Huh? What’s this?”
As soon as the USB was inserted, a folder automatically opened and a file began playing.
There, CCTV footage from the day Cheong-a took Hong Sehwan out of the store was playing.
Cheong-a gripped the end of the towel she was using to dry her hair tightly.
She had to swallow her surprised breath many times while keeping her eyes fixed on the monitor.
Once when she saw the footage clearly showing her kicking Hong Sehwan’s shin to bring him to his knees and striking his neck to knock him unconscious.
Again when she saw the scene of her escaping through the back door and throwing Hong Sehwan into Inkyu’s car.
Finally, what took her breath away the most was the footage showing the outside of the store’s main entrance.
It was the moment she confirmed the face of Narcotics Unit Chief Park Kwangho there.
“Ah…”
Cheong-a let out a short sigh.
Her confused mind was quickly organized.
The reason the 1st Team was dispatched to the PC bang.
It was clear that the Narcotics Unit had sent them to the PC bang.
‘Don’t tell me these guys wiretapped my phone…?’
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have suddenly thought to search the PC bang without any evidence.
It felt like the scattered pieces of information puzzle had suddenly come together.
And one piece that remained without fitting anywhere.
That was Min Woo-jin.
−If you’re caught on camera working part-time, the police will bother you again. I deliberately chose footage where you appear less. Grateful, right?
He had definitely said that.
Originally, there wasn’t a single CCTV among the more than ten that didn’t capture Cheong-a’s appearance.
“The story about going out the back door too…”
It was only possible because Wujin knew about this entire situation.
Who the people dispatched to the store were, what reason they came there for. And even that it would be troublesome if Cheong-a encountered them.
‘He knew everything and helped me.’
Cheong-a immediately picked up her phone.
The ringtone continued for quite a while, but Wujin didn’t answer the phone.
Current time: 7:50.
For Wujin, who worked as a night manager, it would be like the middle of the night.
「Please call me when you wake up. I need to talk.」
After sending the message, it was already time she couldn’t delay any longer. Cheong-a grabbed her hair that she hadn’t even finished drying and headed out to work.
***
“Good morning!”
After clocking in, Cheong-a quickly sat down and checked the night duty records and case reception status.
And her eyes stopped while scanning through the case log.
A group assault that occurred in Chinatown early this morning.
Since the people involved were suspected to be organized crime members, it was a case that had been transferred from the detective division to the violent crimes division.
Cheong-a jumped up from her seat and rushed over to Hong-nam.
“Team leader. Can I take charge of the neighborhood canvassing for this?”
Hong-nam stuck his head out to check the case Cheong-a was requesting.
“It’s Chinatown. What are you going to do there from this early morning?”
“The chairman of the merchants’ association here goes out to pick up goods in the morning. I have some connections with him. If I catch him when he goes out and have a chat, I think we’ll get answers quickly.”
“Really? Then you take charge of it.”
“Thank you! I’ll be right back!”
Cheong-a rushed out of the office like the wind, got in her car, and took out her phone.
The recipient was Yeonhui.
「The phone wiretapping might be from the Narcotics Unit.」
Cheong-a looked down at the screen and waited for a moment, but no reply came back. Headquarters usually held a general meeting right after work started, so she was probably attending that.
Cheong-a gave up waiting for a reply and typed an additional message.
「Look into that on your end too. The ones who planted the wiretap seem to be completely different people」
「And Min Yoo-shin from Boksandae has a younger brother. Min Woo-jin. This also needs investigation」
「010-XXXX-XXXX」
「That’s his number, and… actually, I’m not sure if he’s really his brother or not. That’s just what he claims」
「I’m going to interview Rachel」
After sending the last message, Cheong-a threw her phone onto the passenger seat and started the engine.
It would take a little more time for responses to come back from Min Woo-jin and Yeonhui.
And it wasn’t like she could chase after the Narcotics Unit right now and ask ‘Did you guys wiretap me?’
The only place she could ask questions was with her.
Rachel.
Cheong-a’s destination was naturally decided to be Ganghwa-do, where her villa was located.
But to cross over to Ganghwa-do, which wasn’t her jurisdiction, during work hours, she needed an excuse.
That’s why the Chinatown canvassing was a perfect case.
‘About an hour or two should be enough, right? Hmm, I need to hurry.’
***
Chinatown Jungwha-ga Street.
A black SUV entered the quiet street.
Not many stores were open at this early morning hour. Only occasionally could you see merchants cleaning or wiping their signs.
As Cheong-a got out of her car after parking, a middle-aged man who was sweeping in front of his store recognized her.
“，(Oh my, the crazy woman is here).”
A young man carrying goods from the next store tilted his head.
“A crazy woman came?”
“Shh! …It’s the moth from Central Police Station.”
“Moth? You mean the moth who saved Chairman Jang’s son during the shopping district fire last year? Whoa. She doesn’t look like much but she’s amazing.”
The middle-aged man pointed at Cheong-a walking with big strides with a small chin gesture and continued.
“Don’t even mention it. She came out carrying a middle school kid on her shoulders and bundles of money in both hands, I thought they were filming a movie.”
“Money?”
“Yeah, our Merchant’s Association’s rotating savings fund.”
“Crazy.”
The young man gripped his broom tightly with both hands and followed Cheong-a with his eyes.
“But why do you call her a crazy woman?”
“Ah. Her previous nickname was Soju Bottle.”
“Soju Bottle?”
Then suddenly the middle-aged man shuddered and averted his gaze.
“Qu-quiet down. L-let’s not ask about that.”
Cheong-a, who had somehow approached within arm’s reach of the two men, greeted them with a bright smile.
“Hello!”
“Oh, my. Detective, you’re here.”
The middle-aged man greeted her while pretending to be pleased and watching her reaction.
“Chairman Jang is at his store, right?”
“Yeah. Go ahead.”
“Yes, thank you! Have a good day.”
The place Cheong-a entered was the largest Chinese restaurant at the entrance of Jungwha-ga Street.
“Chairman, good morning!”
“Oh my, what a surprise. What brings you here so early in the morning?”
Jang Daeyong, who had been sitting at the counter counting bundles of money, greeted Cheong-a with a complicated expression.
Cheong-a paid no mind and pulled over the chair closest to the counter, sitting down as she spoke.
“I heard there was a group assault incident nearby last night. Did it affect your business at all?”
“No, no. The detectives came and sorted everything out in no time. But why are you here?”
“Really? I need to get the CCTV footage from Geumsan Banjeom right over there. I came to ask for your help, hehe.”
“Ah, is that so? Got it, got it.”
Chairman Jang stuffed the cash into the safe and hurriedly looked for a pen, nodding as he took notes.
“I’ll have them prepare the footage by lunchtime, so Detective, go take care of your other business now.”
“Huh? But shouldn’t we go greet them together?”
“No, no! Mr. Wang went to the hospital, yes, the hospital right now. I’ll call you when he comes back to the restaurant later, so hurry along now, go on.”
Chairman Jang rushed out from behind the counter and urged her on, almost pushing her back.
“Eh. Why do I feel like I’m being kicked out?”
Cheong-a tilted her head in confusion.
“Oh. What are you talking about? I know better than anyone how busy you detectives are, that’s why. I’ll get the CCTV ready and even get a statement, then call you right away. You trust me, right?”
It was strangely excessive kindness.
However, since Chairman Jang was definitely not the type to cover for gangsters, it was simply a matter of saying thank you.
Anyway, it bought her time to go to Ganghwa-do, so it was good news for Cheong-a.
“Hihi. Thank you! Then please call me later!”
“Yes, yes. Be careful and hurry along!”
As Cheong-a left the restaurant, the elderly chef who had been cleaning up in the kitchen chuckled and poked his head out.
“Your son who’s been waiting like a moth to a flame will come down soon, so why did you send her away so quickly?”
“Tsk. Be quiet! If our Junmo confesses and gets hit with a soju bottle, will you take responsibility for that, old man? Huh?”
“As if she’d hit a student, heh heh heh.”
Chairman Jang shook his head vigorously and trembled all over.
“Ugh. The child I raised like a precious jewel had to fall for a woman like that…”
“Heh heh heh. It’s only natural to fall for someone who saved your life.”
The chef laughed as he stared intently at the entrance where Cheong-a had left. His gaze watching her disappear beyond the glass window was quite different from his affectionate demeanor from moments before.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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