The drive to Kim Hana's apartment was quiet except for the hum of the engine and the occasional rattle of loose papers in the glove box. I couldn't shake the feeling that something crucial had been overlooked. If Taehyung was innocent, as he claimed, there had to be a thread of evidence somewhere—something we'd missed. And if he wasn't... well, I needed evidence to support my accusations.

When I got there, the building was looming in the gloomy evening light, the gathering darkness casting a shadow over its current exterior. As I walked inside the lobby, I noticed a deep quiet that contrasted sharply with the busyness of the city outside.

I flashed my badge to the guard on duty, who barely glanced at me before gesturing me toward the elevators. The crime scene was still cordoned off, though the initial rush of forensics had long since cleared.

The elevator ride to the twelfth floor felt longer than usual. I was looking at my weary, anxious reflection in the mirrored walls. I braced myself for what was to come as the doors swung open with a little ping.

The faint metallic smell of old blood still filled the air like a ghost the minute I entered Kim Hana's apartment. I looked around the room, soaking in the mess. Fingerprints dotted on surfaces, yellow tags indicating evidence spots, and the thin chalk outline where her dead body had been found were all still there, typical signs of an inquiry.

I began near the door, following the steps Taehyung explained during his interrogation.

"The door was unlocked," he had said. That detail still didn't sit right with me. Why would Hana leave her door unlocked if she was panicking enough to call Taehyung over?

I bent down to examine the lock. The forensics team had already checked for forced entry, and the report confirmed there was none. However, I found little scratches close to the latch when I ran my fingertips down the doorframe's edge, giving the impression that someone had tampered with it.

I put on some gloves and moved closer to examine the markings. Could this have been a lock-pick attempt? If so, why wasn't it more prominent?

I was a little startled as Jisoo's voice cut through my thoughts. "Find something?"

I turned to see him standing in the doorway, his usual laid-back expression replaced with one of curiosity.

I said, "Maybe," pointing to the marks. "Did the initial report say anything about this?"

He frowned as he moved in to look at the markings. "No... it didn't."

"Exactly," I mumbled.

As I made my way further inside the apartment, I looked about for any information that could have been missed. Aside from the bloodstains and evidence of a struggle that had happened, the living room was spotless. Not until I got to the little desk in the room's corner did I see something: a notepad with its pages open a little.

I flipped it open carefully. Schedules, meetings, and private notes were all written in a nice and professional style. But the writing becomes increasingly messy in the end.

They're watching me.
I'm not sure whom to trust.
The truth is risky.
Please, Taehyung-shi, help me.

The last entry chilled me to the bone. The day before Hana's passing, it was dated.

"Taeko," Jisoo yelled in an urgent voice from across the room.

"What is it?" I questioned, gently putting the notepad to its original position before moving across the room to where he was standing next to the window.

"Look at this," he said, pointing to the floor just under the curtains.

I knelt down and looked closely at the thin red line on the gleaming wood. Although it wasn't very obvious, it didn't match the other bloodstains in the room.

"That's a drag mark," I said, putting it together.

"Looks like it," Jisoo said with a frown. "But what was dragged?"

I got to my feet, my thoughts whirling. A picture started appearing from the evidence, but it was not yet complete. The hidden words in Hana's notebook, the scratches on the lock, and now the drag mark.

None of it was solid proof, but it was enough to say that there was more to this case than we had before thought.

When we left the apartment and entered the corridor, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that what I needed was just out of reach. Among the pieces I had found or had yet to find was the truth.

____________________________________________________________________

The air was thick with unanswered questions by the time we arrived at the station. I noticed a man in a fine black suit standing close to the front desk as soon as I entered the main hall. His slicked-back, coca-colored hair, which highlighted a rounded hairline that matched the oval-shaped face's smooth curves, made for a beautiful side profile.

His features were delicate and polished due to the small size of his nose and its little upturned tip. He has well-defined, big lips that carry a small natural pout that softened his otherwise disciplined looks. He radiated charm and calmness with his monolid eyes and softly arched brows, and his neat jawline flowed smoothly to his neck.

Who is this man? I thought, tilting my head as I observed him. He was speaking to another officer, who gestured in my direction—or was he pointing at me? I frowned, glancing over my shoulder, but there was no one else. When I turned back, the coca-haired man smiled at me.

"Who is that?" Jisoo whispered, leaning in from the side.

"I don't know either," I whispered back, my curiosity piqued.

The man began walking toward us, his steps confident but unhurried. His full lips curled into a polite smile as he walked up.

"You must be Officer Jin," he said, his voice full of surprise and enthusiasm.

With my brow still somewhat puckered, I nodded. I said, "Yes," in a cautious but respectful tone.

He bowed slightly, and he appeared perfectly suitable. "Hello, this is Park Jimin," he said, standing up straight and looking directly into my eyes. "I am Kim Taehyung's attorney."

I blinked, surprised for a second. This was Taehyung's attorney, finally. I couldn't help but wonder—who was this man, and how did he end up supporting Taehyung? His cool, collected manner stood in sharp contrast to the turmoil of the case.

"Hello?" Park Jimin waved his hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my daze. His polite smile remained, though his raised brows suggested mild amusement at my momentary distraction.

"I'm here to discuss the details of Taehyung's case with you," he said, his tone professional yet approachable.

"O-oh, y-yes," I stammered, quickly regaining my composure. "Please follow me." I gestured toward my desk, trying to shake off the awkwardness as I led him through the bustling station.

Jisoo followed close behind, his curious gaze bouncing between me and Jimin. I could feel his questions hanging in the air, but for once, he stayed silent.

As we reached my desk, I gestured for Jimin to sit down while I arranged the paperwork that was scattered all over it. I sat down opposite him after taking a deep breath. "All right, Mr. Park," I said, my voice more steady now. "What specific information about the case do you need?"

Jimin sank into the chair with a comfortable yet watchful attitude and radiated a calm yet determined spirit. He said with ease, "May I ask how he was directly arrested without concrete evidence before we delve into the details regarding my client's involvement?"

His question hit like a shot regardless of how smoothly he said it. My fingers tightened slightly around the pen in my hand. His sharp yet polite tone didn't hide the underlying seriousness in his words.

With calm, I let out a slow breath. I explained, "Mr. Kim was found at the crime scene.There was no sign of anyone else there at the time, and he was covered in the victim's blood. He became the main suspect in light of the situation."

Jimin's eyes flashed with what seemed to be an equal amount of mild doubt and interest, but his face remained almost unchanged. With an elegant voice, he said, "I know appearances can be incriminating, but Officer Jin, circumstantial evidence by itself does not warrant an immediate arrest. Beyond his presence at the site, was there anything else?"

I hesitated for a moment, and I knew he wasn't wrong. "Not yet," I said reluctantly, "but we're still investigating. This is an ongoing case, and we're waiting for further evidence, including CCTV footage from the apartment building."

Jimin nodded, like he were putting the pieces together one by one. "I understand," he said carefully. "So, you've based your case on your assumptions until then."

I understood he was defending Taehyung, no matter how it made the inquiry appear, even though the way he said it hurt. Nevertheless, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that he wasn't only there to find flaws in the case; he was also searching for something.

"Is this your first time handling a case?" he asked suddenly, his tone still polite but laced with a hint of sarcasm now.

Jisoo, who had been silently standing behind me, clenched his fists, clearly annoyed. "Yes, it is," I said quietly, straightening my back before he could say anything further. "I'm handling this case entirely by myself for the first time.

A little, almost knowing smile curled Jimin's lips. He said to himself, just loud enough for us to hear, "I can see that." It didn't seem like an accident.

"Excuse me?" Raising an eyebrow to be sure he hadn't misheard, Jisoo said firmly.

Jimin gave him a quick look, his smile growing a little. He got up from his chair and said, "I said,I'll see you tomorrow." Even though he spoke calmly, there was a sense of finality in his replies, as though the discussion had already concluded according to his wants.

With that, he gave a small bow and walked off, his elegant smile leaving Jisoo fuming and me silently thinking over everything that had just happened.

_________________________________________________________________________

Morning

The restless night gave little comfort, and the next morning came sooner than I had anticipated. I had been thinking about Taehyung, the case, and Park Jimin's scathing words nonstop. His confidence stuck in my head—not as arrogance, but rather as someone who was obviously skilled at manipulating a story.

Even though it felt more hectic today, the normal rush of life welcomed me as I approached the station. My eyes wandered the room as I walked to my desk, almost expecting to find Jimin sitting there with that same smooth smile.

"Morning," Jisoo's voice said as I sat down, coming from behind me. He was as worn out as I was, but his annoyance from yesterday seemed to have gone.

I said, "Morning," and leaned back in my chair, massaging the back of my neck.

"Any word on the CCTV footage?" I asked in a sharper-than-intended tone.

Jisoo shook his head and sighed. "I'm still waiting. All morning, I've been pushing them."

Of course. Another delay. It was annoying, but I couldn't let it stop me.

As I began sorting through the notes from the interrogation, a presence caught my attention. Turning my head, I saw him—the same perfectly poised figure from yesterday, strolling into the station like he owned the place. Park Jimin.

"Here we go," Jisoo muttered under his breath, clearly bracing himself for another day.

Jimin came over to us with the same relaxed face and gave us a little bow. He said, "Good morning, Officer Jin, Officer Park," with coax.

"Morning," I replied curtly, not wanting to talk too much in pleasantries.

"I trust the investigation is progressing?" Jimin asked, his tone polite but with a hidden undertone that made me feel like he was inspecting me.

"Slowly," I admitted. "We're still waiting on some crucial evidence, including the CCTV footage from the building."

Jimin raised his eyebrows, his look serious. "I see. I hope it is expedited quickly. "My client is eager for answers."

Eager for answers? I couldn't tell if he was genuinely advocating for Taehyung or if he was trying to make a point. Either way, I wasn't going to let him steer the conversation.

"Rest assured, Mr. Park," I said with confidence; "we're doing everything we can to ensure the case is handled thoroughly and fairly."

Jimin grinned softly, his eyes glinting with something I couldn't define. "Of course," he said, his voice silky. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Officer Jin."

With that, he leaned back slightly while remaining calm and composed as before. But something about him—his confidence, his subtle barbs—made me uncomfortable.

Wait, I hadn't even asked him why he was here.

As I looked up from the file, Jimin's eyes were still on me, as though he had been expecting the question before I even thought to ask it. "Well, I forgot to ask—why are you here, Mr. Park?" I said, my voice steady, but my curiosity now fully piqued.

"Finally, the question I've been waiting for," he replied with a sly smile and a stern look. "I'm here to offer my assistance in solving the case you're working on."

He paused; his smile faded somewhat and was replaced by a more serious face. "And also to inform you that the court trial will be starting next week. Didn't you get the notification?"

Wait—court trial? My chest tightened. Shit!

I turned my head sharply to Jisoo, whose wide-eyed expression mirrored my own shock. What the hell? Why didn't we receive any notices? Something wasn't adding up here, and it didn't sit well with me.

I looked back to Jimin, trying to maintain my composure. "Not yet," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the flood of questions racing through my thoughts.

"Very bad," Jimin replied, shaking his head in distaste. His gaze became serious as he went into his briefcase and brought out a stack of well-ordered documents, laying them in front of me. "You better take a look at these right away," he added firmly.

Jisoo leaned closer, his gaze narrowing as he noticed the paperwork. "You got permission to investigate the company where the suspect and victim worked?" he said, his voice tinted with doubt. His eyes almost came out of his skull.ad.

Jimin looked to Jisoo, his lovely grin returning. "That's something basic, Officer Park," he continued, his voice dripping with fake innocence.

Jisoo was working hard to keep himself from lunging across the desk, and I could tell. His fists clenched at his sides, and his jaw tightened as he gazed at the smug attorney. And, really, I couldn't blame him. Who wouldn't want to throw a punch at a lawyer who can so easily doubt your investigation abilities while keeping such an annoyingly nice demeanor?

I sighed and decided to step in before things got out of control. "But, Mr. Park, we are the police," I said, trying to reestablish control over the conversation. "This is our investigation, and we have procedures we need to follow."

Jimin maintained an unwavering grin. "Of course, Officer Jin," he answered calmly. "I fully respect what you do. My responsibility here is just to protect my client's rights while gathering any evidence that may be relevant to the case. After all," he said with a little tilt of his head, "a solid case depends on an in-depth knowledge of the investigation, don't you agree?"

I clenched my teeth and nodded slowly. "Agreed," I murmured, despite my growing impatience. "We will look at the files and proceed accordingly. Thank you for bringing it to our attention."

Jimin made a small bow, his calm unwavering. "I believe you will, Officer Jin. I'll leave you to your task then. "Good luck."

And then he turned and walked away, leaving both Jisoo and me staring after him.

"Sweet-faced lawyers," Jisoo mumbled under his breath while scratching his temples. "I hate them."

I had to agree.

I got up from my chair and took the keys off the desk. "Let's go," I said, turning to face him.

Jisoo's dark eyes met mine with a hint of irritation in them. "To where?" he said, his tone a mixture of doubt and tiredness.

"Didn't he say he got permission to investigate at the company?" Let's do it. It could actually help us," I said, my voice firm as I walked toward the door.

Jisoo looked at me, surprised by my determination. "Jin, are you serious about this? You understand it's not just a tiny business, right?"

I scowled softly and tilted my head. "Are you afraid?"

Jisoo scoffed and crossed his arms across his chest. "Afraid? "No," he said, his voice hesitating. "But how can you enter such an influential company without strong evidence? It is not exactly taking a walk in the park. "You know how corporate types can be."

I smirked, noticing his hesitation. "No wonder my silver-tongued lawyer irritated you," I said with laughter.

Jisoo clicked his tongue hard at the mention of Jimin. "Oh, please, don't even get me started on that guy," he said, his annoyance clear.

I giggled slightly before becoming serious. "Officer Park, we don't need evidence to investigate the employees or the company itself. We're not making any accusations; we're gathering information to better understand the suspect and victim's connection," I explained before turning to walk away.

Jisoo muttered and followed me, imitating my steps. "Fine," he muttered. "But if this turns into a publicity nightmare, you're handling the silver-tongued attorney."

With a smile, I pushed open the station doors and made my way to the car. "Fine," I said.