Chapter 5 - Pigs In Uniforms

( *Sunbae - someone higher in hierarchy in school or work, usually older.)

Soo Min wanted to complete the paperwork that was left after solving of her recent case but unfortunately the worst enemy, officer Min Joo Chan, came into the office holding a paper cup filled with instant coffee and as usual wasn't going to leave her alone. He finished his coffee, crushed the paper cup and dropped it into the nearby trash can, then approached closer.

- Yah, Kim Soo Min.- said Joo Chan, leaning lightly on her desk.- I heard that you managed to catch another criminal. How did you do it? By the power of your PMS?- he added clearly amused and pleased with the joke he had created. The muffled laughter could be heard from the others around the room. As she thought, after the departure of officer Kim, no one even intended to admonish Joo Chan. He was probably an idol for all of them.

- Wow, sunbae*, great joke.- Soo Min answered with a distinct note of sarcasm in her voice, gently clapping her hands.- You just came up with it or did you sit and thought about it all day yesterday instead of working? I'll bet on the second option, because there is still no progress in the "Cherry Blossom Reaper" case, which you take care of.- she added, and a malicious smile appeared on her face. Everyone's surprised gaze turned to her almost immediately.

- You little... - Joo Chan's face turned red with anger.- How dare you speak like this to a man older than you and an officer with longer job experience? Do you even know how hard this case is? Of course not, because you don't take care of it.- he continued speaking without taking his eyes off her.

- Maybe I don't know this case so well, but I know one thing.- Soo Min replied getting up from the chair, resting her hands on the desk top and also looked him in the eye.- You can't solve a case if you're sitting in the office, thinking up stupid jokes, instead of focusing entirely on your work.- she added venomously. Surprised voices of the others watching their skirmish could be clearly heard.

Joo Chan, obviously angry, punched the desk top with his fist.

- You nasty little bit...- he began, but the firm voice of the Police Chief interrupted him.

- Enough of these quarrels!- he said, then sighed heavily. Kim Dong Wook, 55 years old Chief Superintendent General, a head of Seoul's police agency, stood in the doorway, giving Joo Chan a scolding look. He was a tall and solid man with black, medium-sized eyes, very short cut black hair with gray ones barely visible with this hairstyle, but bald spots on his head were getting clearer every day. His face was a bit square, just like his features, skin was heavily tanned and wrinkled. By personality, he was somewhat similar to officer Kim Jung Ho, former head of Violent Crime Section, perhaps because they were once partners. However, Kim Dong Wook was a bit harsher, which is probably why he was promoted to the Seoul's police agency Chief Superintendent General instead of his partner, who was older than him by five years.

- I'm really sorry, Chief.- Joo Chan said and immediately bowed remorsely.

Soo Min didn't say anything, but she bowed low. Her expression expressed remorse, and that was apparently enough because he said nothing to her.

- Officer Min, I have important news.- the Chief turned to him. Everyone present fell silent and listened attentively to his words.- Yesterday morning, Madam Lee, the wife of the CEO of a fashion house, arrived at our station.- he continued.- She reported the disappearance of her daughter, Choi Ye Eun. On Sunday she went with her fiance, in his car, to a charity event. She had an argument with him and left the party without a word. CEO Choi secretly sent a security guard to this party to watch over his daughter, but even he lost sight of her. When Choi Ye Eun did not return in the morning and did not answer the phone, Madam Lee began to call her friends, but no one knew where her daughter was, so she came to the station.- he added.

- But why are you telling me this, Chief? I don't think the disappearance of this girl is related to the case I am dealing with now.- Joo Chan interrupted him.

- I'm getting to that now.- the Chief Kim replied.- Yesterday morning, on the road leading to the house where the party was taking place, a passerby found a small bouquet of cherry blossoms, clearly sprinkled with blood. He notified the police and the bouquet was immediately tested to find out whose blood it was. Due to the fact that it was found near the place where Choi Ye Eun stayed for the last time, and a card with her name was attached to the bouquet, the tests were done to determine if it could be her blood. And just now the results came, unfortunately confirming this. That is why I collected all the information gathered so far regarding the disappearance of Choi Ye Eun and personally I wanted to give it to you.- he added, showing a paper folder, but when Joo Chan wanted to take her, he pulled his hand away.

- What now?- asked Joo Chan, clearly annoyed.

- When the Choi family learned that their daughter may be the victim of the "Cherry Blossom Reaper" they turned straight to the Commissioner General and asked that someone more competent take care of the case, because they see that it is still unsolved and are afraid that their daughter's disappearance will remain a mystery just as the previous ones.- explained the Chief.- That's why Commissioner General instructed me to change the detective. I want to note that I wouldn't agree if it were not for the pressure from the Choi family.- he continued, then looked apologetically at Joo Chan.- Therefore, forgive me, but I had no choice. I stand by the wall, do you understand?- and when he nodded, Chief continued again.- As of today, the "Cherry Blossom Reaper" case is transferred to detective Kim Soo Min.- he announced.

- Why are you giving her the case?- Joo Chan asked indignantly.

- Whether you like it or not, Kim Soo Min is currently the best detective in our Section. Also, I have to admit sadly that you haven't made much progress since you received this case.- the Chief admitted, sighing slightly.- Honestly from the beginning I wanted to give her this case, but Soo Min already had another one to solve back then. Therefore, please give her all files today, officer Min.- he added.

- I understand. I will pass all the files to officer Kim.- Joo Chan surrendered, then turned to his partner.- Jung Mo-yah, help me.- he said, and they both headed toward their desks to get all the case files out of the cabinets.

- I also have another matter directly for you.- Chief turned to Soo Min and she immediately focused all his attention on him.- Come with me.- he ordered, then went out into the corridor, and Soo Min followed him.