Chapter 42.2

Giving Him My Thanks (2)

“Well, as long as you all keep up the high standards of performance, promotions will come your way sooner rather than later.”

In order to become a member of the Metropolitan Investigation Division, you needed to have more than 3 years of field experience. Upon joining the Division, you would be responsible for larger cases, granting you further opportunities for rapid promotion. As such, most detectives held the ultimate ambition of rising to the rank of a Team Leader in the Investigation Division before retiring.

“So what you’re saying is, we can just keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

“That’s right. Only now, it will actually be part of your job description. I agree that your Violent Crime Task Force deserves this as a reward for rushing ahead of the pack, while the Investigation Division has merely been dawdling in comparison.”

These were unexpected words of encouragement.

“Well ultimately, it’s not up to me. What do all of you think about it?”

Team Leader nodded as he decided that this wasn’t a bad deal..

“What else can I say? Of course I agree. Isn’t this pretty much the same thing as a guaranteed promotion.”

“That goes for me too.”

As I said this, Black and Mong-Doo turned to look at me. Although it would have been nice if we could have all been promoted to the Investigation Division, for now I needed to stay in Suan to fish for any clues related to the Hae-Soo case. So I was also happy to accept this offer.

“Alright then. In that case, you all can take this chance to go on the paid vacation that got cancelled last time, and make sure to rest up fully before you return to work. Leave the rest of the casework to the secondary teams. You’ve earned it.”

“Yes sir. Thank you very much.”

We left the chief’s office and headed down to the main entrance of the police station. Upstairs, the last remnants of the Joongmae Gang and Jin Hwa-An were probably undergoing interrogation.

Who knows what that woman was thinking, but ever since she was arrested, she had continued to exercise her right to remain silent. This probably meant that she was determined to keep the secrets of the ledger that Wang Ong-Gu had taken with him to his grave. We had heard that she was getting transferred to the main headquarters, as they were the ones in charge of investigating Detective Wang’s crimes.

Black yawned in comfort as he stretched out his stiff shoulders, “Ahhhh. This weather feels sooooo good.”

With a clear sky and warm sunlight, it had been a long time since I’d had the chance to enjoy a peaceful day like this.

Holding up his car keys, Team Leader asked, “Who’s headed home for the day? Anyone need a ride?”

Stretching out the rest of the muscles in his body, Black started shadowboxing.

“I’m fine. I think I’m just going to jog home.”

“I’m also good. I’m taking my motorbike,” said Mong-Doo.

“Then how about you, Newbie?”

A luxury car pulled up at the front doors just as Team Leader finished speaking. The heavily tinted window rolled down to reveal that the driver was Chief Kim.

“I have an appointment at lunch.”

“Geez. You sure do keep yourself busy.”

“Since that’s the case, enjoy your vacation everybody. And, for Christ’s sake, let’s try not to call each other while we’re taking a break.”

“So according to what you said, Black-hyungnim, you aren’t allowed to call us if you get bored with staying at home.”

“You punk. If a married man like me has to call you, then that’s not an attempt to get in touch, but a cry for help.”

With a smile, I got into the car. A well-ironed suit of clothes and polished shoes were laid out on the back seat. I hadn’t been able to return home in a few days, so my clothes and shoes were a mess. As expected, Chief Kim’s tactfulness was as sharp as always.

While changing my t-shirt, I asked Chief Kim, “How is the thing with Aeryuwon going?”

“The president readily agreed to the request. He said that it’s not like you’re asking him for much, just to perform a good deed.”

I had asked President Go Dae-Man if it would be possible for the Gogwang Group to take over the operation of Aeryuwon. Well, all it would take for control of the orphanage to be handed over was a few donations. Congressman Jang Man-Chun still owed me a favour after all

Now they could get rid of the former name that had been stained by its sordid past and hang up a new sign, one with the name ‘Gogwangweon’ painted on it. The new name held the meaning that the orphanage should raise its children to rise high and shine brightly3.

I checked my 5 o’clock shadow in the rearview mirror.

“I had just intended on greeting him and maybe exchanging a few words, but now we’re even getting a meal together. Isn’t that going a bit overboard for a mere ‘thank you’?”

“You were meeting each other around lunchtime anyway, so I believe that it just worked out that way.”

I had made an appointment to meet with Nam Sae-Ha from Gunbaek Construction. Setting aside his cooperation during the Hwanak Neighbourhood incident, as a person connected to Hae-Soo, I would have been willing to meet with him even sooner if time had permitted.

“You can just head on in first, while I find a place to park. There should be a reservation under the name of the Managing Director Nam Sae-Ha.”

We had arrived at a high-end restaurant that served Korean cuisine. The restaurant was established in a modern-style Hanok4 built out of dark timbers.

Its elegantly sculpted garden caught my eye. In the center of the garden lay an artificial pond, whose rippling waters babbled with a refreshing noise. The pond itself was packed full of golden carps.

Following behind an immaculately dressed waiter, I was led inside.

Shhhh-

The door to the dining room slid open smoothly. I saw Nam Sae-Ha as soon as I entered the room. He had arrived earlier and had since been waiting for me. Judging from his face, he appeared to be in his mid-thirties, but his eyes belonged on someone much older. He looked like a person who treated most of the people he met with cold disdain, yet he could turn on the charm when needed.

Footnote:

3 Gogwang is written with the characters for ‘high’ and ‘bright’.

4 A house built in the traditional Korean style. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanok