Although there really wasn’t a reason to do so, I waited until we drove far away enough from Gangnam Police Station in Shin’s car before bursting out.
"What the heck was that?!"
"What are you on about?" Shin spoke keeping his cool.
"Do you know how dangerously close I was to getting found out?!!"
My hands were trembling in sync with my heartbeat. All the fear and anxiety that were paused during the mont of confusing relief by Shin’s ’rescue’ now flowed out.
"Relax. I ca to help you out. You got out scot-free. Shouldn’t you be grateful?"
"You KNEW this was going to happen, didn’t you?"
"Not to this extent. I didn’t think Choi had matured to be that sharp. He’s beco a fine cop now."
"How-, how do you even know that guy? And who was that you ca in with?"
"I know Choi because I know him. The other guy’s Chief Yu - Chief of the Organized Cri Division."
I settled back down to my seat for a mont, and jolted back up, leaning over to Shin. The old man imdiately put his arm up to form a guard for his face. Maybe he was expecting I’d throw a tantrum again and slap him.
"Since when did I beco a suspect for ORGANIZED cri?!"
"Calm down, lady. It’s you, , and Miho. That sounds like a small organization, doesn’t it?"
"That’s not even funny!"
Shin looked at the side mirror on the left before turning on the indicator and changing the lane. He always drove very safely.
"This case was always going to fall under their hands."
"Then why did you get into this?!"
"? You are the one who wanted Kwon dead."
I punched the glove box in front of in frustration.
"I won’t forgive you." I felt bitter.
"What for? I saved you. And is this the thanks I get?"
"Oh, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, for getting involved in ORGANIZED cri."
Shin looked at , rolled his eyes, and looked ahead to keep his eyes on the road again.
"Right. I’ll run it through for you."
"Please go ahead. Because you’ve really lost here."
"Just think a little, Ms. Han. Why do you think I had your bag snatched near Seolleung Station?"
"The hell I know."
"Which district is Seolleung?"
"Gangnam."
"Why do you think I asked you to et Kwon in Apgujeong?"
"Maybe you just wanted to have a nice al in a posh restaurant."
Shin chuckled before continuing.
"Let ask you again. Which district is Apgujeong?"
"Gangnam."
"Do you see what’s going on here?"
"Enlighten ."
"Where did your friend - I’m sorry for your loss - got done by Miho?"
"Apgujeong. Yes, I know it’s in Gangnam."
"And which police station would handle cris that happen in Gangnam?"
Then it clicked in my head although I didn’t fully understand the implications of the answer to this riddle.
"Gangnam Police Station?"
"Bingo."
I glanced over at Shin again and he was grinning.
I didn’t find it so funny.
"So you WANTED Gangnam Police Station to handle these cases."
"Yup."
"Why?"
"You saw why. So I can co to bail you out if needed."
Now my frustration turned into curiosity.
"How did you do that?"
"You saw it. I know so people there."
"How do you know them?"
"An arm and a leg?"
"They are for Juho."
"Glad you didn’t forget that end of the bargain."
I looked out of the window and saw that we were not heading to Paju, which was sowhat expected considering that Shin said he was moving sowhere else with Miho. But I didn’t know where we were heading to.
"Where are we going?"
"We are going to see Miho."
That brightened my mood imdiately. After all that I’ve been through since moving out of Paju, this was the first ti I got to see my kitten again. But then I rembered sothing.
"I thought you said I can’t see her for a while."
"That was the plan. But things have changed a little."
"What changed? Not that I’m complaining."
"Well, first of all, I told them back at the station that we were going to see my ’niece’ afterward. So we do have to go see Miho."
"Is she really your niece?"
Shin turned to look at as if I was an idiot. I probably was.
"No."
"Right."
"Secondly, she’s not in a good condition."
"Is she hurt?!" Blood rushed to my head.
"No. Worse."
"What is it?!!"
"She’s not quite been herself. She seems to be very down."
"Oh no..."
"She wouldn’t speak. She wouldn’t eat. She doesn’t even want to make eye contact."
"Even to you?"
"No. She won’t even look at properly."
"What happened?"
"It’s just Miho being Miho. She’s always been like this sotis. It usually passes after a while but I’m worried that it’s happening now. This can’t be good for her recovery."
I did read up a little on bipolar disorder after learning that’s what she’s been suffering from, and even to a non-expert like , it did sound like so form of depression.
"How long does this last, when she gets into... this mood?"
"Anything from a few days to a few months."
"MONTHS?!"
"Yes. And we can’t have that now."
"Do you think it will help when she sees ?"
"Beats . Maybe yes, maybe no. But even if it doesn’t, I need you to look after her while I’m away for the rest of the week."
"You’ll be away?"
"Our plan remains the sa. You still have to go to Lilly Garden on Friday night - that’s only two days from now - and I will pick you up at 2:00 AM on Saturday. Just as planned."
This brought to the question that I should have asked from the start.
"What happened to Kwon?"
"He’s still alive."
I said nothing and closed my eyes. All I could think of were the mother and daughter I saw on the subway on Saturday night on my way back ho.
"I’m almost done with him. The guy was loaded as I suspected. But there’s still so more we can squeeze out from him."
"What have you been... doing to him?"
That was probably the question I shouldn’t have asked since the answers were not sothing I could stomach.
"I will spare you the details. But you will see him on Saturday. At my Studio. Of course."
Did Shin expect to see Kwon getting killed...?
"I... didn’t request to see him die."
"Oh, I thought you’d want to? Considering it’s for revenge at all."
He was right, but I still wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do.
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