Chapter 204 - Rescue (1): The Missing Piece

Hyun Jung was studying the pictures in front of him. The spy planted in Ziko's gang had sent him the photographs of the location Ziko was seen at. It looked like somewhere outside of Seoul. 

"Sunbae?" 

He looked up to see Eli. They were at the police precinct, in between their duties. 

"Weren't you supposed to guard Dasom?" he asked in surprise. 

"I was asked to change shifts with Officer Choi," she replied, sitting next to him. "His wife is about to give birth so he asked me as a favor. But what are you looking at?" 

Hyun Jung looked around before handing her the picture. Eli studied it. 

"That's Ziko," he said, pointing at the grey haired man. "He was last seen at this building outside Seoul. It seems like he frequents that building a lot." 

But Eli frowned. "This place…" she began. She lowered her tone. "I know this place!" 

Hyun Jung straightened up at those words. "You do?" he asked in astonishment. "How?" 

"Wait, I'll be right back!" she said before hurrying off into the file storage. She came out a few minutes later, holding a large file. 

"This," she pointed at one of the doc.u.ments. "Three years ago, I was investigating a case. A man, Shin Woojin, had come to me asking to find a missing detective. Apparently, this person was supposed to give him some information but suddenly went missing." 

"Which detective were you looking for?" Hyun Jung demanded. 

"Goo Soo Bin," she revealed. "He was a renowned detective in Busan and was last seen in Seoul. He was supposed to meet up with Shin Woojin but he suddenly disappeared without a trace…"

Hyun Jung stood up, pacing back and forth. "Goo Soo Bin…he had information on the Cartel!" Hyun Jung stated. "We looked for him in Busan but we never found him. He was at Seoul all along?" 

"He was last seen in that area," Eli said. "I tried to get a search warrant from Sergeant Deokwha but he refused."

"Sergeant Deokwha refused to give the search warrant?" Hyun Jung asked, leaning forward. "Why?" 

"I don't know," she admitted. "He said that there isn't enough evidence. But it was strange. After all, a detective went missing! He should have given priority to the case." 

"What happened to Shin Woojin?" Hyun Jung demanded. 

"Shortly after filing a complaint, he went missing too," Eli said. "I looked for him at many places. His hometown, family, friends, Kwon Mansion-" 

"Wait, Kwon mansion?" Hyun Jung interjected. 

"He worked there for many years before retiring," Eli revealed. "He was a butler there. But when I enquired, they said the owner of the mansion had passed away and Kwon Jiwon had not been in contact after his grandfather's death. Besides, he was in the USA for a concert during that time so it was difficult to get in touch with him. By the time he arrived in Korea, Sergeant Deokwha forced me to close the case. "

Hyun Jung had to think fast. "Eli," he said. "Investigate Sergeant Deokwha." 

Eli did not question because he was thinking exactly what she had suspected for a while. Sergeant Deokwha may be a spy for the Cartel. 

"Dig up anything you can get on him," Hyun Jung stated. "Financial transactions, meetings or anything we can use as leverage. Secondly, keep a surveillance on the building where Ziko frequents. Get in touch with the CEO of Abyss and seek her assistance. I'm sure she can help you get into that building." 

Eli nodded. Hyun Jung took the file from her and skimmed through. Is Butler Shin was looking for Goo Soo Bin, no doubt he knew about the box. If his theory was right, Goo Soo Bin was alive and inside that building. Which meant the corpse found at Hann Constructions was… 

With a heavy heart, he dialed KJ's number. 

…. 

"I understand," KJ said in a hollow tone. 

"Will you be alright?" Hyun Jung asked from the other end of the phone. 

"I'll be fine," he replied. "Take care." 

He hung up the phone and buried his head in his hands as he replayed the conversation in his head. The corpse at Hann Constructions may have been Butler Shin. That may explain why there was a lack of DNA evidence. 

Butler Shin was not a mere butler but also one of his grandfather's most trusted men. Over the years, he had spied on many of his enemies and hence left no trace of his own existence in order to help Kwon Jinhyung. KJ wanted to kick himself for not suspecting this. 

Mirae walked into the garden, a shawl wrapped around her body. She saw KJ walk out to receive Hyun Jung's call. 

"What happened?" she asked as she sat beside him on the patio. "Why do you look so worried?" 

"The corpse found at Hann Constructions…" KJ said. "It may belong to Butler Shin."

Mirae gasped. "How can you be so sure?" she asked. "What if it was Goo Soo Bin?" 

KJ narrated his conversation with Hyun Jung. Mirae was shocked at the sudden development. Butler Shin…was dead? 

"We should have suspected this all along," KJ lamented. "He had access to my grandfather's office when he worked for us. He may have found out something and was killed by the Cartel. Probably by Shun Oguri." 

"He was a good man," Mirae said, holding his hand. She tried to console him but her own tears would not stop falling. Butler Shin was a great comfort to her after grandpa Kwon took her in. He used to visit her regularly to check up on her. He became a confidante over the years and she was sad to watch him leave when she was sent for army training. 

"We have to find Goo Soo Bin," she stated after a while. "If he's alive, then only he can tell us what Butler Shin knew. The mystery of the picture in that box. Only he can tell us. We have to find him KJ. For the sake of Butler Shin." 

KJ nodded. "Let's rescue him," he decided.