Chapter 14 - Lawyer Jang

Before visiting Choi Ye Eun's older brother in Gwangju, Soo Min and Hyun Woo stopped on the way at the office of Jang Chang Woo, lawyer of CEO Choi and at the same time the father of Ye Eun's fiance. After they showed their badges and said why they came, the lawyer's office receptionist - a pretty, tall, slim girl with deep black eyes and long dark brown hair tied in a high bun, dressed in an elegant dark-blue suit with a skirt long a little bit above the knee - asked them to sit on a small sofa in the waiting room, while she called the lawyer Jang.

Soo Min observing this girl came to a somewhat gruesome conclusion - Ji Won, because that was the name on the plaque attached to her clothes, would be the perfect material for the next victim of the "Cherry Blossom Reaper". By the type of beauty and age, as she certainly wasn't more than 25 years old, this girl fit the profile of previous victims very well. And certainly this receptionist was not the only girl to suit the preferences of this criminal. That is why Soo Min flinched at the very thought of how many young women could still disappear or be murdered. They had to find this man soon and finish what he was doing once and for all.

- Lawyer Jang can meet you now.- said Ji Won, approaching the corner of the room, where a 'waiting space' was arranged from several small sofas and a table.

Soo Min and Hyun Woo stood up, following the woman as she led them to the big door leading to the main office, where all the lawyers rooms were located. Until now, this door was closed so that no unauthorized person could enter further. The receptionist opened the door for them and gestured that they could enter.

- Lawyer Jang resides in room 10, at the very end of the corridor.- Ji Won informed them.

- Thank you.- Soo Min said and entered the room, Hyun Woo after her. The receptionist bowed slightly, then closed the door behind them so that she could calmly return to her desk.

They quickly found the Jang Chang Woo's room, it was the only door at the end of the corridor, additionally the number 10, engraved in gold color, was clearly marked on it, and his name was clearly written on a plate under the number. Soo Min knocked on the door lightly.

- Please come in.- soon a male voice could be heard.

Hyun Woo grabbed the door handle and opened the door, letting Soo Min in first, which caused a slight surprise on her face, but it quickly disappeared because Soo Min focused her attention on the man sitting behind the desk. For a man his age, and Jang Chang Woo was already 55, he looked really young, like a 45 years old at most. When he stood up to say hello to them, his well-built silhouette immediately caught the eye, visible despite the black suit and white shirt he was wearing. He also had a dark red tie on, with golden cuff-links, black leather shoes and and expensive looking watch. But despite this Jang Chang Woo looked more like a commando from an action movie than a lawyer. Even his face had a very masculine features, and a light beard yet added him the seriousness. Soo Min finally understood why he was called 'the beast' in the industry. Not only was he a devilishly good lawyer, but also definitely a strong man, who was arousing respect already by his very outside appearance. It even came to Soo Min's mind that he would be a great police officer and could easily compete with her colleague from the Violent Crime Section, Min Joo Chan. She suspected that in terms of strength he could even beat him, because unlike Joo Chan, the Jang Chang Woo's lower body was as well built as the upper. He really looked like a very solid stone column and if Soo Min was to be completely honest with herself, Jang Chang Woo seemed to be a very attractive man for her. For the first time in a long time, she was really interested in someone from the opposite sex. Maybe if it wasn't for the fact that he was more than 20 years older and already had an adult son, she might be tempted to date him. But Soo Min quickly shook off these thoughts, which were definitely inappropriate, especially considering that she was at work now.

- Welcome to my office.- lawyer Jang gave them a hand in greeting, first to Soo Min, then Hyun Woo.- Please, sit down.- he led them to two small couches facing each other, separated by a low table.

- My name is Kim Soo Min, and this is my partner Jung Hyun Woo.- she introduced them, when everyone took their seats, and Hyun Woo immediately took out the notebook and pen, this time completely assuming his role right away.

- Lawyer Jang, after the disappearance of your son's fiance, Choi Ye Eun, the case of "Cherry Blossom Reaper" has been handed down to us. Therefore, we will have a few questions for you first and then also for your son, Jang Chang Ho, especially since he was one of the last people to see her and he was probably the closest person.- Soo Min continued, looking at the man.- Is he present here today, as you assured yesterday when we called you, lawyer Jang?- she asked finally.

- Naturally. At the moment he is helping lawyer Kim in organizing the documents, but when you finish asking me questions, I will call him immediately in here.- lawyer Jang assured, making himself more comfortable on the sofa.

- Good.- Soo Min answered and breathed lightly.- Then let's start with what exactly links you with the Choi family?- she asked after a moment.

- Well, my office deals with fashion house affairs, and I personally am the CEO Choi Young Sik's lawyer. And privately, we know each other quite well, and we planned for our children to get married in the near future.- answered lawyer Jang.- I must admit that the engagement mainly helped my son, as I am now watching over him and make sure he doesn't commit the same stupid things he did before. That's why I sent him to study law and between classes Chang Ho helps me and other lawyers in the office. It was not easy to persuade him to do all this, but fortunately I have my own ways, even if they were a bit drastic.- he continued, but seeing Soo Min's suspicious look, he straightened up right away.- But of course it wasn't anything illegal, I assure you. I'm a lawyer after all.- he added quickly.

- I understand and hope so.- answered Soo Min.- Well, let's move on... Where were you on Sunday evening when Choi Ye Eun went missing, lawyer Jang?- she asked later.

- I was at home, but I reviewed documents for Monday, because in the morning next day I had an important court case.- he answered.

- Next thing... Lawyer Jang, when you met Choi Ye Eun, did you see anyone suspicious hovering around her? Or that any of her friends to behave strangely?- she asked him more questions.

The man thought for a long moment, frowning. He put his legs together, rested the elbow on his thigh, slightly supporting head on his hands. This elegant pose didn't suit such a 'big' man, so he looked a bit comical this way. Finally the man moved, straightening again on the couch.

- To be honest, I have never seen anything abnormal.- lawyer Jang confessed after a while.- From what I saw, Ye Eun was surrounded mainly by people she could trust. And complete strangers never had the chance to hang around her. Although she clearly did not like it, her father always sent bodyguards, often in disguise so that Ye Eun would not discover their presence.- he continued.- But there was one person who could arouse suspicion. Seo In Sung, owner of a modeling agency that works with the Choi family fashion house.- he announced, looking at Soo Min.- Generally, I got to know him way before I met Mr Choi and I knew Seo In Sung was a weirdo... But when was around Ye Eun, he did not behave properly.- he added.

- What exactly do you mean, lawyer Jang?- Hyun Woo interjected.

- How to put it delicately...- a man wondered for a moment.- In general I know that Seo In Sung wanted her to be a model at his agency. But at times it seemed to me that he was interested in Miss Choi not only because she captivated him with her beauty... It seemed as if he was flirting with her, sometimes even looked as if he wanted to rip her clothes off. Madam Lee, wife of Mr Choi, tried to talk to him about it, but Young Sik did not listen to what she said, was only angry that his own wife insulted his friend with some strange accusations. Therefore, I myself did not even try to talk to Mr Choi on this topic.- lawyer Jang explained briefly.- But now that I think about it... I regret that I ignored it then. I have the impression that Seo In Sung could be involved in this whole matter. Especially that he has already been considered a suspect, right?- he asked after a moment.

- That's right.- Soo Min confirmed with a nod.- But because of lacking the hard evidence, we had to release him.- she added, sighing slightly.

- Well, in my opinion, only he from the Ye Eun's surroundings, looks like a potential suspect.- lawyer Jang summed up.

- Okay, I wrote down your suggestion.- said Hyun Woo.- Seo In Sung will definitely be interrogated by us again.- he added.

- One more thing... When we talked with Mr Choi earlier, he told us that you have been taking care of his lawsuits against Ye Eun's haters.- Soo Min spoke up.- Mr Choi said that you have the list of their names and contact information, lawyer Jang. We would like to talk with them too, since we should check out if someone among them might have something to do with that case.- she explained.

- Yes, yes. Naturally.- lawyer Jang got up from the couch and went to one of the cabinets, opening it and taking out the paper folder with a few pages of documents.- Mr Choi called me before he drove to work and told me to prepare the list since the detectives will be visiting me later.- he took the folder and came back to sit at the couch.- Most of the haters are teenagers and I doubt they would be able to be the criminal in "Cherry Blossom Reaper" case but, especially among the psycho-fans, few were middle aged men so maybe you could find someone suspicious.- lawyer Jang put the folder on the table and moved it towards them.

- Okay, thank you very much.- said Hyun Woo, taking the paper folder.

- Do you know anything else that could help us, lawyer Jang?- Soo Min asked, looking at him hopefully.

- No, I'm afraid that's all I can help you with, detective Kim.- he answered.

- Well, in that case, these will be all the questions we had for you.- announced Soo Min.- If we can, we would like to talk with your son privately now.- she asked.

- Of course. I will call lawyer Kim, and when Chang Ho appear, I will leave the office for a moment. I need a small break anyway.- lawyer Jang admitted, then got up from the couch and went to his desk, picked up the phone and dialed the extension number.- Taek Jun? Send me Chang Ho here, the detectives came to talk to him about the disappearance of Ye Eun.- he said, then listened for a moment.- Tell him to come to my office now.- lawyer Jang added, then hung up.- My son will appear in a moment.- he turned to Soo Min and Hyun Woo.