Chapter 147 - Busan Trip (4)

"Goo Soo Bin?" KJ frowned. "You think he could have broken into my grandfather's office?"

"It's an educated guess," Ash said. "But it's a possibility. He has been missing for the past three years. And your grandfather's office was set on fire during the same time. Can't be a coincidence."

"But he was a police officer," Mirae reasoned. "His DNA should be in the police system! That corpse's DNA was unidentifiable."

"It's the Cartel we're talking about," Ash countered. "They could have easily removed any records of his DNA. Goo Soo Bin probably discovered something and was killed."

"But why would he go to Hann Constructions for that?" KJ questioned. "He could have come straight to me. Or contact Secretary Lee."

"He could have been summoned there by someone," Ash said. "He went there, thinking that people in Hann Constructions were trustworthy and ended up dying in that fire…"

"It's a possibility," Mirae agreed. "But we should still investigate the matter. Goo Soo Bin's files may give us some clues?"

"We'll go through these tonight," KJ said. "There has to be something in these files. I'm surprised the Cartel did not take these away." 

"Maybe they didn't know about these?" Mirae suggested. "As you said, a prestigious Police Officer was living in a small place like that. Maybe he was hiding and venturing into Hann Constructions got him caught?"

They fell into a long silence, each lost in their own train of thoughts.

"Will that girl be alright?" Mirae suddenly asked. "She is suffering through a trauma. Staying there will only make her condition worse."

"Keeping her there won't be safe," Ash agreed. "Besides, she probably even knows that her father was investigating the Cartel. If they catch her, they won't spare her this time."

"I'll tell Hyun Jung to admit her to a rehab," KJ said. "I'll pay for it. She can get admitted under special protection. She won't be able to stay like that for long. I'm still amazed she survived after her father went missing."

The other two simply nodded. The rest of the journey went on in complete silence.

….

"So you're saying you found her unresponsive, Officer?" one of the doctors asked.

"Yeah," Hyun Jung said. "I came to visit her father and found her unconscious."

The ambulance arrived five minutes after KJ, Ash and Mirae left for the hotel. Hyun Jung stayed back to handle them. The girl was unconscious but not in danger. However, her heavy drug use was an issue and her inside organs were heavily affected. 

Hyun Jung accompanied the paramedics to the hospital. The girl was under observation in the ICU.

"Will she be alright?" Hyun Jung asked. 

"She needs rehab," the doctor said. "There are signs of self harm on her body and the drugs have poisoned her system. It will take almost up to a year for her to be detoxified. The process will be a hard one unless she's willing to try."

Hyun Jung nodded. 

"Meanwhile, we'll need a guardian to sign these," the doctor said, handing Hyun Jung some forms. 

"Her father is missing," Hyun Jung informed him. "And she has no known kin since she was living all alone in that place."

"You can sign on his behalf as a guardian," the doctor said. "Fill in these details, please."

He pointed out the points for Hyun Jung to fill up. The latter thanked the doctor and signed the form. He submitted the papers to the reception and set off again towards Detective Goo Soo Bin's house. This time, he decided to ask the neighbors.

He knocked on the door right next to Goo Soo Bin's unit. A middle aged lady opened the door.

"Yes?" she frowned.

"I'm Detective Hyun Jung," he said, holding up his badge. "If you don't mind, can I ask you some questions about Detective Goo Soo Bin? He lived with his daughter at that house back there."

He pointed towards the said house.

"Ahh, you're looking for the detective?" she realized. "I'm afraid I can't say much. But the old man around the corner may know something."

She pointed in the direction. "Go straight and take the first left," she said. "You'll find a small grocery store. Old man Shun sits there. He was close to Goo Soo Bin. He's a little hard of hearing so you'll have to speak loudly."

"Thank you," Hyun Jung said, bowing down. He set off towards the direction of the grocery store. 

It was not a long walk. Upon reaching the shop, he saw a man in his sixties sitting there, reading the newspaper.

"Ahjusshi," Hyun Jung called him. The old man did not hear him and kept on reading his paper.

"Ahjusshi!" he called loudly. The old man turned towards him.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Hyun Jung," Hyun Jung replied, holding up his badge. "I'm a detective!"

"Huh?" the old man leaned in to hear properly. Hyun Jung patiently repeated his introduction three times before the old man finally realized that he was a cop.

"A Detective?" he frowned. "What do you want?"

"Can you tell me about Goo Soo Bin?" Hyun Jung said loudly. "He has been missing for the past three years. Did he say anything to you before he went missing?" 

The old man froze. He suddenly stood up, a mix of fear and anger in his eyes.

"I don't know!" he shouted angrily at Hyun Jung. "Get out!" 

He hurled towards Hyun Jung, who barely managed to dodge the old man's assault.

"Get out!" the old man yelled but Hyun Jung did not leave. The old man tried to attack him again but he managed to pin his hands.

"Ahjusshi!" Hyun Jung shouted as the old man struggled to hit him. "Goo Sia is in the hospital!"

The mention of Goo Sia managed to make him pause.

"S-sia?"

"She's in the hospital!" Hyun Jung yelled. "I took her there! She needs her father and you seem to know his whereabouts! So please calm down!"

The old man stopped fighting but was still looking at Hyun Jung suspiciously. "Who are you?" he demanded.

"I am Detective Hyun Jung!" Hyun Jung said loudly. "I need to find Goo Soo Bin! Did he meet you before he went missing?"

"I can't tell you!" the old man shot back. "I won't tell where he went to anyone except Kwon Jiwon! He told me to contact Kwon Jiwon if anything happened to him but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get past his security guards!"

"Kwon Jiwon?" Hyun Jung frowned. "I know him! If he comes here, then will you tell him everything?"

"You do?" the old man asked. "Bring him here first, then I'll believe you!"

Hyun Jung was not surprised by the old man's reluctance to share information. It was natural of him to be suspicious. He took out his phone and dialed KJ's number.

KJ, who was about to start skimming through the files with Ash and Mirae at his hotel room, heard his phone ring.

"Hyun Jung," he informed the other two. 

"Pick up," Mirae nudged.

"Hello," he said, picking up the phone.

"KJ, come back to Goo Soo Bin's place," Hyun Jung said. "Alone. I found someone who may know where Goo Soo Bin is but he'll only tell you."

"I'll be there," KJ said immediately. He hung up the phone and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Ash asked in surprise.

"Hyun Jung found something," KJ answered, wearing his jacket and mask. "I'll head back there. You guys keep checking the files."

Before either of them could say anything, he hurried out of the room.

…..

An hour later, he pulled up in front of Goo Soo Bin's house. Hyun Jung was waiting outside of it.

"Follow me," the latter instructed. He led KJ to the old man's grocery store.

"You are Kwon Jiwon," the old man said. "The Nation's Idol."

"You have something for me," KJ stated.

"Ehh?" the old man tried to hear what KJ just said.

"You gotta talk a little loudly," Hyun Jung said. "He's a little hard of hearing."

"You have something for me!" KJ yelled at the old man.

"Ah yes!" the old man replied. "The night Goo Soo Bin disappeared, he came running to me. He told me to find you and give you something!"

"What did he give you?" KJ demanded. 

"Wait here," the old man said. He shuffled back inside. After a few minutes, he emerged, holding a box. He handed the box to KJ, who studied it.

The box was locked with an electronic password. It was a small box, almost the size of KJ's palm. He frowned.

"This…" he muttered.

"What is it?" Hyun Jung asked.

"This is some seriously advanced technology," he said. "I only know of one firm which makes technology like this."

Hyun Jung studied the box closely. KJ was right; it was not the type of box which would be found easily on the market. 

"How did Goo Soo Bin come across an expensive thing like this?" Hyun Jung wondered. 

"I don't know," KJ said. "But this...this box...he could have only gotten it directly from the manufacturer."

"Who is the manufacturer?"

KJ looked at him straight in the eye. "ENT Conglomerates. This is made by Song Tamlin's company."