Chapter 12 — Something Unexpected
The footage from the cameras located nearby and in the building where Seo In Sung's apartment was in were carefully checked and it has been noted that Seo In Sung was leaving every evening in times when the victims of Cherry Blossom Reaper were kidnapped, which only directed even more suspicion towards him. Even Soo Min, while hesitating, more and more often found herself thinking that maybe Seo In Sung was really behind it all. The worst part was that they still couldn't find a place where he could keep the kidnapped girls. A search of his apartment and modeling agency yielded no information, and based on current knowledge, Seo In Sung had no other property where he could hold the victims in.
As for Choi Hyun Sik's alibi from the days when the other girls disappeared, he was spending them at his residence in Gwangju. The security company easily made available the recordings from the camera located at the gate also from those days and, as with the previous footage from the Sunday when Choi Ye Eun disappeared, everything indicated that no one left or entered the property. Still, Soo Min wanted to search Hyun Sik's house because it was not 100% certain that there was no second gate. Although judging from the location of the house, the second gate would have to lead into the forest, as there were no other paths or roads on the maps except the one that led to the main gate. So he would have to go out on foot, because the car would rather not drive through such a mountainous and wooded area, and without any path.
As for the warrant to search the warehouse in which the Choi family fashion house stored surplus materials, this, surprisingly, was not detained. Therefore, the police searched the warehouse, and when it turned out that the inventory did not quite match what was in the papers, the security company admitted that it concealed from CEO Choi that someone broke into the warehouse sometime at the beginning of the year and stole some materials, mostly expensive silk and other valuable materials, but also some artificial cherry blossoms. During the interrogation of the employees who had the shift during this incident, it turned out that someone had miraculously circumvented the security, changed the camera image to the one from the day before and took the materials from the warehouse. According to their suspicions, whoever did this was using a hacker, and certainly a very good one, maybe even some kind of genius, because whoever hacked into the system didn't leave any IP address or something that could help finding the hacker. Also, security company checks did not find any fingerprints or other traces, which meant that someone had planned it carefully and was able to cover their tracks perfectly. However, when Choi Young Sik found out about what the police discovered, he immediately terminated the contract with the security company, not even wanting to hear their explanations. These were all excuses to him. The head of the security company said that it was because of Choi Young Sik's temperament that he did not mention the incident, because knew that if he had said it, Mr. Choi would have terminated their contract right away. CEO Choi was indignant that they had hidden such an incident from him, and angry with himself that he had been too busy lately to check what was going on in the warehouse. Although only Mr. Choi and his secretary had access to this warehouse, many people were aware of the existence of this place. They must also know that there were valuable things there, especially high-quality silk, which was expensive and could be sold for a large sum of money. However, the fact that someone had gone through so much trouble to steal this material seemed strange. The more so because artificial cherry blossoms, which did not have such a high market value, disappeared along with silk. To Soo Min, it looked like someone had stolen this silk and some other valuable materials only to make this incident pass as mere theft. But who could do that? Given the top three suspects, pretty much anyone could do it. However, after carefully checking each individual's alibi for the day of the incident, only Seo In Sung and Kim Young Chul did not have a good one. Choi Hyun Sik was at the company at the time of the theft, spending the entire evening there preparing the fashion show, and his associates and several models confirmed that he was with them. Seo In Sung left his office and claimed to have went into a bar for few drinks and then returned home by taxi because his assistant Kim Hyun Jung was doing the job he had assigned him. As for Young Chul, he spent that evening in apartment because he wasn't feeling well and couldn't help his parents in the restaurant. However, Soo Min did not even rule out Hyun Sik, as security company employees clearly said that someone had hacked into the system. Her and Hyun Woo were also given a report on the incident, which also included the opinion of the computer scientist who checked the system. And in fact, it showed that someone changed the image of the cameras, turned off the security and opened the door to the warehouse, leaving no tracks of who might it be. It was therefore clear that someone talented had to do it, and none of the suspects looked like a computer genius, so it was highly possible that if one of the suspects was involved in this incident, another person was helping.
Later Kim Hyun Jung's car was taken away from the mechanic by police technicians so that it could be carefully checked for any traces which could indicate that Seo In Sung might have used the car to kidnap girls and thus be the Cherry Blossom Reaper.
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Seo In Sung has just returned home after a hard day full of work. There were some important photoshoot's coming up, a big fashion show, and of course he had to take care of everything. Sometimes In Sung was fed up with it all, but was well aware that if he didn't take care of it himself there was no guarantee that everything would turn out perfectly. In Sung had some very good employees in his agency, but none of them seemed to possess his aesthetic sense. Therefore, no matter how tired In Sung was, he had to take care of the most important elements himself. Maybe he would not be so exhausted if hadn't had the police on his head with this case of Cherry Blossom Reaper. He hoped it would all end as soon as possible.
In Sung barely had time to sit down on the couch and put the reheated dinner on the table when his phone on the counter gave a brief vibration to indicate a text message. He sighed heavily in frustration, and rose from the couch, walking back to the kitchen where he had left his phone.
"If this is something stupid, I swear that I will rip off their heads..." he was talking to himself, very angry. Sometimes his employees bothered him with smallest things that they should be able to handle themselves.
In Sung grabbed the phone from the kitchen counter and returned to the living room, sitting on the couch. Then he unlocked the screen and checked his messages. When he saw the newest one, a shiver ran down his spine.
"Damn it... This again?" In Sung said in an almost whisper and clenched his free hand on the fabric of black elegant trousers. "Not only that I have a lot of work, the police on my head, and now this again? It was calm for so long... Why now? Fuck." he sighed heavily, blocking the phone screen. After sitting still like a statue for a long time with the phone in his hand, Seo In Sung finally got up, leaving the dinner on the table, and left the living room without even turning off the TV. In the hall he only took the car keys and his jacket, leaving the apartment.
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A search warrant for Kim Young Chul's parents' home and restaurant came shortly after a search warrant for a warehouse of the Choi family's fashion house. The search coincided with Kim Young Chul's interrogation at the police station, so Soo Min and Hyun Woo sent a group of policemen along with Kwon Dae Shim while they remained at the station, waiting for the suspect's arrival. And he arrived fifteen minutes early, and his face looked as emotionless as when they visited him. Young Chul was dressed all in black, with a hoodie and dark toned jeans. His hair was nicely arranged, and he had a mask on his face that he slipped over his chin as Soo Min and Hyun Woo approached him.
"Hello, Kim Young Chul-ssi, and thank you for coming." she said, looking at his emotionless face.
"Please come with us." Hyun Woo added and they walked down the hall to the interrogation room. As usual, Soo Min walked in with Young Chul, and Hyun Woo went to the next room, where another policeman was already sitting, ready to take notes of the interrogation and make sure that it was also accurately recorded by the camera.
Soo Min and Young Chul sat down at the table opposite each other, and Soo Min, as usual, already had a paper folder in front of her, which she had left in the room earlier this time.
"Kim Young Chul-ssi, we called you to the station because we discovered something that raises our suspicions." she explained at the beginning, looking at him carefully. "While checking the CCTV cameras around where you live and the places you are visiting, we found some disturbing footage. We noticed that you often go to the parks, dressed very similar to Cherry Blossom Reaper from the CCTV footage we have. Can you tell me more about it?" she asked in the end, taking from the paper folder the photos of Young Chul taken from the CCTV footage and those with the image of Cherry Blossom Reaper from recordings of kidnappings.
"What can I tell you, detective Kim... I just like to go for walks, and my psychologist thinks they'll do me good." Young Chul said, looking at her with a look that seemed... bored?
"I understand, but why are you going out dressed like that?" asked Soo Min, pointing to a photo of him.
"You know... When my case with Ye Eun came to light, that I was sued by her father and arrested by the police for breaking into Choi family's property..." Young Chul began, pausing for a moment to take a deep breath. It was obvious that talking about this was a bit difficult for him. "Although the police did not reveal my image or personal info, and I went to court in a mask over my face, some journalist discovered my full details with an exact photo of my face, and of course he put it in articles. My parents sued him for it and we won the case, but people already knew my identity." he continued. "And that's why I can't go out too much, and if I do I can't walk out without a mask on my face, because there are people who consider themselves true Ye Eun fans and can attack me, call me names or even beat me up." he explained more specifically, staring at the table top, but Soo Min managed to see the slight anger on his face.
"Okay, got it. Thank you for the thorough explanation and sorry if it brought up any unpleasant memories." Soo Min said honestly, because she really felt kind of sorry for this man. Yes, he did something wrong, but that doesn't mean this journalist should have released his personal details. In such situations, the fans were able to behave worse than the person they are trying to punish, and in addition feel that they are doing something good by destroying that person's life. And thus they show that they are no better than such a psycho-fans. Kim Young Chul has already been properly punished by the judiciary and has shown a willingness to engage in psychotherapy. The medical examiners made it clear that he was not completely sane and could not be treated on a par with people who had no problems and committed premeditated crimes.
"It's okay, detective Kim." Young Chul spoke up, looking up at her with something like longing in his eyes. "I understand that you are only doing your job. I know that my image in these surveillance photos may raise suspicions, but I'm really not a Cherry Blossom Reaper. I admit that I did a lot of bad things, but I'm not a kidnapper, much less a murderer." he assured.
"Okay, I understand. For my part, I can assure you that before we accuse someone, we will definitely check all possible leads." Soo Min replied, taking photos from the table and putting them in a paper folder, and then took out the photos of the car from the CCTV footage and the official model photo. "In that case, I would like to ask if you have had any contact with this KIA model? I know that you were not in possession of one, but have you ever driven such a car, borrowed from someone?" she asked another question.
Young Chul looked at both photos for a long time, clearly thinking hard about it. He seemed to be very focused while scanning the details of both photos.
"I knew a guy who drove such a car." he said finally. "From what I remember his name is Kim Hyun Jung. We met at the bar and had a little drinking together. That was before I had this case with Choi Ye Eun's father." Young Chul explained. "I remember he was complaining terribly about his boss, called him the worst and stuff. But after that I didn't meet him anymore since we didn't exchange telephone numbers or anything. I just remember that he was parking a car like this in front of the bar and getting out of it." he added.
"Are you sure you didn't meet again later? And that you didn't borrow that car from him?" Soo Min asked to be sure, not taking her eyes off the man.
"Yes, I'm sure." confirmed Young Chul, also looking at her. "If you ask him about me, he will probably not remember me. This guy drank a lot more than I did and I remember that I called him a cab. My house was not so far away from the bar so I went on foot." he continued. "The next day in the late afternoon I walked by this bar and his car was gone, so I suspect he came back for it." Young Chul added at the end.
"Okay, I understand. Then we'll check it out carefully and talk to Kim Hyun Jung. I hope he will remember something after all." Soo Min said, then took the photos of the cars and put them in a paper folder. "In that case, if you have nothing else to add, it would be all on my part." she added after a moment.
"I have nothing to add." Young Chul confirmed.
"Okay, then, as you are a suspect in this case, I only ask you not to leave Korea any time soon, ideally you should stay in those places we already know about." Soo Min said, looking at him. "Just in case there is any new evidence or another girl is missing." she explained.
"I don't want any problems, so don't worry detective Kim, I will comply with this request." Young Chul agreed without hesitation.
"It's great. Thank you again for coming to the station today and for answering our questions." answered Soo Min. "You can go now." she informed him, rising from the chair right after him.
They walked to the door and even though Kim Young Chul left the room first, but held the door for Soo Min.
"As I have the feeling that we will see each other again, see you soon, detective Kim Soo Min." Young Chul said mysteriously, smiling slightly, then bowed, pulled the mask over his face and walked down the hall to the main lobby. Soo Min walked a bit to see the lobby from a distance and saw the man leaving the police station.
See you soon? What did he mean? It might not have any other meaning than that he might be called several more times during the investigation, but Soo Min, watching this man, couldn't help but feel strange. While Hyun Woo was pretty sure Seo In Sung was the Cherry Blossom Reaper, Soo Min was more suspicious of Choi Hyun Sik or Kim Young Chul. Seo In Sung's assurances of his innocence seemed more credible to her than anything Ye Eun's older brother or Young Chul had said.
"Sunbae!" Hyun Woo snapped her out of her thoughts, walking closer. "It's interesting that both Seo In Sung and Kim Young Chul were possibly able to use Kim Hyun Jung's car. So good that our technicians are already checking it." he added.
"Hopefully we'll finally find some good evidence. And then we'll have to talk to Kim Hyun Jung again." replied Soo Min, then she patted him lightly on the shoulder and motioned for them to go to their Section's office.
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The next day, in the morning, a telephone report came to the Seoul Police Station from a couple who went hiking to Bukhansan National Park. It turned out that as they walked the less traveled path, they noticed something hanging on one of the trees in the distance. They descended from the path deeper into the trees to check, and when they got closer it turned out that the body of a man dressed elegantly in a black suit hung on a branch. The man had a noose around his neck and it looked as if he had hanged himself. The frightened couple immediately called the police and a patrol was sent there right away. Then it turned out that the man hanging in the park was Seo In Sung. When the police team notified the station about this, Soo Min and Hyun Woo immediately rushed to the scene. As they arrived to Bukhansan National Park, they received another call. Seo In Sung's assistant reported that when he checked the messages on his phone after arriving at work, he found a message from his boss in which Seo In Sung admits that he is the Cherry Blossom Reaper and can no longer live with what he done and it was generally a short farewell letter.
"What the hell is going on here?" Soo Min asked, clearly outraged when Hyun Woo told her exactly what the telephone conversation was about, because he picked up the phone while she was investigating the place where Seo In Sung's body was found.
"I don't know, but it's weird." Hyun Woo replied, hiding the phone in the pocket of his leather jacket. "So far I thought that Seo In Sung might be the one we are looking for, but his sudden suicide raises my doubts." he admitted.
"Another team is going to his house. Maybe they will find some traces there." Soo Min said a little calmer. "Because Seo In Sung sent a message, but he did not have a phone with him, only the car keys. And his car was found parked quite far from the Bukhansan National Park." she continued. "Seo In Sung sent a message to his assistant around 2 a.m. and according to preliminary analysis, he died around 3 a.m., that is an hour after that. His assistant didn't check messages until 9 a.m. because he was busy since the early morning and did it only when Seo In Sung didn't show up at work and he wanted to call him to see what happened." summed up Soo Min.
"Detective Kim, we were contacted by the second group, the one we sent to Seo In Sung's apartment." they were approached by a younger police officer who came here with a patrol.
"And? Do they have anything?" Hyun Woo asked, anticipating Soo Min's question.
"TV was on, some food untouched on the table. But there is no telephone or other traces." the young policeman answered.
"If Seo In Sung really is a Reaper and he killed himself because of guilt, why did he get rid of his phone?" Soo Min spoke up. "It's all too strange. Seo In Sung's body needs to be carefully examined to see if anyone was helping him in this 'suicide'." she continued, clearly distressed, although it was obvious that was trying very hard to remain calm.
"They've already taken the body and will probably take care of the autopsy today, because it's an urgent matter." Hyun Woo replied, looking at her. "Sunbae, don't be so nervous. We'll find out soon enough." he added, lightly stroking her back but he removed his hand fairly quickly, as wasn't sure if Soo Min would be angry. Fortunately, she did not react negatively to this gesture.
"Yes, you are right." Soo Min only sighed. "Let's get out of here now. There are no more traces left, now we have to wait for the lab test results and the autopsy." she added and they walked together towards the park exit, leaving the rest of the policemen to secure the spot.