Miho the Killer
Chapter 55: Under Control

Chapter 55: Under Control

I had no idea what the old man was playing at. Surely, like that time when I was getting interviewed at the police station, if I were pressed with direct and sudden questions by Choi I would collapse and my answers wouldn’t hold up against his scrutiny. Wasn’t that why Shin came to my rescue?

Why is he now trying to put me in this situation again?

Despite what Shin said to Detective Choi, to my eyes, this guy was very smart and perceptive. He did get straight into how I was somehow present as a witness in two murder cases and another man I knew disappeared on the night that I was supposed to meet him.

Coincidences.

There were just too many of them for anyone to ignore, let alone a Detective.

We settled down in a private room at an upmarket barbecue restaurant which proudly displayed a sign outside that they only sold top class Korean beef - 1++ grade.

Shin ordered some Soju and beer, surely to make those bomb cocktails.

"So how have you been, Senior?" Choi asked while we were waiting for our drinks to come.

"Is this part of an interrogation?" Shin joked.

"Haha, please don’t get me wrong. Just asking if you’ve been alright."

"Well, the private sector has been good for me. Definitely more money."

Was Shin in law enforcement before? Is that how they know each other?

"I see. You are right. The pay for the police isn’t so... well, you know what it’s like, haha."

"Have you ever thought about leaving and doing something else?"

"Senior, I’m not as capable as you. Not many policemen succeed after leaving the life of a public servant. Besides, the only thing I look forward to is my pension, hehe."

Choi was cozying up to the man who had been strangling him less than an hour ago.

"Ah, don’t say that. I can ask around for you if you want, you know? I do have some connections."

"I really appreciate the offer, but I’m fine for now. Maybe if the Chief blocks my promotion or something then that’s my cue to leave, but otherwise I’d better stick to it."

"I can help you with that too." Shin grinned.

"Haha. Is this a bribery or threat?" I felt Choi’s words weren’t entirely humorous.

"It’s charity. That’s all."

"I still have a long way to go but I know there is no free lunch, Senior."

"But there is free dinner!"

Then both men burst out laughing.

The drinks came and Shin filled the beer glasses with Soju, filling up to about half way - this is going to be a strong one... he then topped it up with beer, and slammed a spoon down into the glass to hit the bottom of the glass, which made it all fizzy, ensuring that the Soju and beer got mixed well.

"Cheers!" The old man proposed.

"Cheers!" Choi and I followed his lead and downed the drinks.

"Kaaaaaaah" The Detective and Choi let out the obligatory ’kaah’ together.

"So, let’s get straight to the point - but before we start," Shin wasted no time after the first glass was finished and started to mix another one.

"Please allow me to explain the back story a little to give you some context."

Right. I had better listen carefully. Shin’s going to give me a hint as to how I should shape my answers.

"Sure thing, Senior."

"I can’t exactly tell you the exact details of Miho’s father, but as I said back at the hospital, let’s just say he was my partner many years ago. I say ’partner’ but in truth, we were more like brothers."

"I see."

"Then something very unfortunate happened. Things went wrong in a job. I could - no, I SHOULD have died, but Miho’s father saved me - at the cost of his own life."

"I’m terribly sorry to hear that."

"He died in my arms - literally. His last wish was that I look after his one and only daughter, Miho - the girl you saw at the hospital today."

"I understand."

"That’s why I treat Miho like a niece. I have been looking after her ever since."

"You are such a good man."

Yeah, a good man. Sure he was.

"Then Miho, maybe due to losing her father, started to develop some... mental issues. She got really withdrawn. Sometimes she functions well enough, but sometimes... as you saw today, she’s really unwell."

"That’s very sad, indeed."

"Yes. Very sad. Then came Ms. Han here - wait, didn’t you say you met Miho in your office when she was doing the Chinese delivery part-time work?"

Thanks, old man.

"Yes. There used to be a lot of over time work at my previous job and we ordered Chinese delivery a lot."

"Is that so? How did you end up becoming friends?" Choi nodded his head and asked me.

"Er... we just kinda got talking for one reason or another. She was very funny. I had no idea she had depression back then."

If the Detective looked into Miho any further and found the record at Dr. Yang’s clinic, he’d find out that Miho had bipolar disorder. This back story could explain how ’depressed’ Miho could also be outgoing and end up getting close to a worker in the office she was delivering to.

"I see. And then what happened?"

"You see, I was surprised when Miho told me she was moving in with her new friend in Shindorim. I mean, it all felt sudden, you know?" Shin answered on my behalf.

"You two got that close so quickly?" But of course, Choi directed his question to me.

"Ms. Han, I know it’s very personal. But please trust Detective Choi here. I can vouch for him. He’s a good man you can trust. Anything you say to him will remain strictly confidential, isn’t that right, Detective?"

The old man was clever. Show honesty while leaving out details - it was the best way to mislead because it was technically not a lie.

"Of course, Senior. But Ms. Han, you don’t need to tell me something you are not comfortable with. I already appreciate it very much that you are doing this."

So I decided to throw a straight fast ball.

"We fell in love."

I blushed as I said this. This wasn’t an act either.

"Oh... I... I see..."

Yes, it indeed was something very unusual in Korea.

"Gees, I didn’t think I would come out like this to someone I barely know, haha... I haven’t even told my parents." I spoke another truth.

"I... really appreciate your honesty, Ms. Han. Things make a little more sense now."

"Well, so you see, Hakguen. My niece is ’special’ in many ways. She really needs all the support she can get. She is vulnerable. That’s why I kind of lost my temper and acted a little aggressively toward you earlier. I’m really sorry about that." Shin’s ’apology’ now came across as very sincere, and his actions more justifiable.

"Right, I’m sorry to ask another insensitive question, but - could you give me some details on what happened on the day President Park got murdered in your previous job?"

Now I felt more confident and felt I could get things under control.

"I already gave my witness report at the police station on that day and to be very honest I do not wish to recount the details now... but... it deeply affected me."

"Of course, I’m sorry it was an inappropriate question over the dinner table."

"It’s OK."

"I’m sorry again, but could you tell me something about the day your friend was... hurt at the restaurant as well?"

"I made a witness report on that too... it was actually at your police station."

"You are right, I’ve seen the reports."

"Then maybe you shouldn’t be so insensitive and ask the poor lady to recount the details, eh?" Shin steered the conversation away a little.

"But Ms. Han, maybe you can tell him what happened after because that is something the police haven’t heard"

And before I could answer myself, Shin set up the next stage of the conversation for me again.

"Detective, it was like. - poor Ms. Han here was so affected that she had to go see a shrink herself. I was the one who introduced her to the clinic that Miho had been going."

"I hope it’s helping you, Ms. Han. You have my deepest sympathy.

By now I understood the direction this conversation should head toward.

"Thank you... what happened was, the doctor told me it was because of the shock. I mean... it’s a bit embarrassing to say, but I went to McDonald’s a few days later to make a police report, pretty much saying the same thing I said at your Gangnam Police Station. I THOUGHT I was at the police station."

"Is that like... a hallucination?" Choi really didn’t expect this.

"That’s what it was, yes. So I have been visiting a psychiatrist since then."

"You can check with the McDonald’s staff to verify, Detective. And check Ms. Han’s hospital visit records."

"I see, I see. Thank you, Senior Shin."

Shin had this under control now.

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