A Somewhat Unusual Lawyer - Chapter 8

That evening, seven o’clock.
The doorbell of Nam Da-reum’s house rang loudly.

Ding-dong- Ding-dong- Ding-dong-

At the doorbell that sounded considerably urgent, Nam Da-reum stopped what he was doing and ran to the entryway.
Opening the door, he saw Lieutenant Jin Pil-seong and Inspector Jang Joo-young with both hands full of food.

“Welcome.”

Jin Pil-seong shoved the load filling both his hands onto Nam Da-reum and said.

“Oh my, Lawyer Nam! I wanted to bounce over here faster, but our Inspector kept telling me to catch every single typo in the report before leaving… I seriously almost ran late. But, I’m sorry, can I use the bathroom first!!! It’s an emergency!”

Without even waiting for an answer, Jin Pil-seong dashed across the living room straight to the bathroom.
Jang Joo-young let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded and cautiously stepped into the living room.

“Excuse me. Lawyer Nam. His entrance was too noisy because of that punk.”
“Ah, not at all. It’s nice to have it bustling after a long time. It’s fine, so please make yourself at home.”

Nam Da-reum answered with a smile.
Jang Joo-young set the plastic bags he brought down on the dining table.
Inside the bags were two old-fashioned whole fried chickens bought from the traditional market, tteokbokki, and four cans of beer.
While Da-reum transferred the food onto plates he had prepared in advance, Jang Joo-young glanced out the window and asked.

“It seems the upstairs neighbors are still quiet?”
“Yes. It seems they haven’t returned yet.”

Jang Joo-young pulled out a chair, sat down, and replied.

“When I asked around during the inquiry last time, I heard the two of them do building cleaning agency work as a pastime. They said they usually return after eight o’clock, so we’ll have to wait a little longer.”

A moment later, the bathroom door was thrown open, and Jin Pil-seong appeared with a much lighter complexion.

“Ah, I feel like I can finally live now! I thought I was a goner. But Lawyer Nam, your house is truly cozy and nice. For a house where a bachelor lives alone, isn’t it too clean? Do you own it?”

Jang Joo-young wrinkled his brows and gestured toward Jin Pil-seong.

“Stop spouting nonsense and sit down.”
“Ah, yes. Let’s eat quickly. I’m so hungry my stomach lining is about to stick to my back.”

Jin Pil-seong grinned and opened the chicken box. Jang Joo-young was about to pick up a piece of chicken but stopped, looking at Da-reum opposite him, and asked lowly.

“By the way, Lawyer Nam, where is your younger sister? Did she leave already?”
“Yes. She packed her bags and I sent her off this afternoon. For the time being, she plans to commute to school from my maternal grandmother’s house.”

At that sound, Jang Joo-young nodded as if relieved.

“That’s a wise decision. In a situation where it’s unclear who the culprit is or what their motive is, it’s anxiety-inducing to leave a student alone in this house. Furthermore…”

Jang Joo-young slightly looked up at the ceiling and added his words.

“…because the question hasn’t been resolved yet.”

Just then, Jin Pil-seong deboned a chicken piece and abruptly raised his head.

“So, the upstairs elderly couple’s son is the dismissed police officer, right?”

Nam Da-reum popped open a beer can, slid it in front of Jin Pil-seong, and answered.

“Yes.”

Jin Pil-seong took a large gulp of beer and continued speaking.

“I looked into it a bit before coming over. This Han Jae-soo is an exceptional guy.”

Da-reum’s eyes widened.

“Are you saying he was that competent?”
“It’s beyond just competent. Even without graduating from the police academy, if someone hired through the regular recruitment for constables rises up this much, they’re considered the next-generation ace within the organization. If it’s shooting, it’s shooting, if it’s close combat, it’s combat. They say if a violent crime scene broke out, the higher-ups unconditionally looked for Han Jae-soo first.”
“Ah, he was an elite.”
“Yes, yes. His period of service is only 8 years, but he was promoted straight up from Constable to Sergeant, wasn’t he. Usually, to reach Lieutenant, you have to expect an average of 15 years. It was like that for me too.”

Jang Joo-young also quietly added his words.

“It’s certain that he was a talent cherished dearly like gold and jade at the Daejeon Agency. Inspector Ahn, who I talked to on the phone earlier, also said the entire agency felt like a house in mourning when that punk took off his uniform over the bribery case.”

Jin Pil-seong tore off another bite of chicken and continued speaking.

“They say his zero-point shooting is amazing, and especially his knife-wielding skills or suppression techniques were unparalleled. There’s no talent like him even among the promising ones, so I really can’t understand why he did such a thing.”

At that moment, Nam Da-reum recalled the gestures of the man who had attacked him.
The trajectory of the blade that precisely dug into his abdomen.
And the heavy murderous intent that pressured him.
Nam Da-reum slightly set down the cup he was holding.

“Why would such a promising person receive bribes.”

A heavy silence covered the dining table.
Jang Joo-young slowly opened his mouth with his arms crossed.

“It’s just my guess, but it seems he thought he had no higher place to climb. Asking around, it seems Han Jae-soo tried ceaselessly to transfer to the police academy. Although he failed everything as a result. While doing so, it seems he turned his eyes elsewhere… It ended up with a bad result like this.”

Jang Joo-young hesitated for a moment, then looked straight into Da-reum’s eyes and continued his words.

“I’m sorry to say this to you, Lawyer Nam, but I still don’t want to completely give up on the human named Han Jae-soo. On record, he was a righteous police officer. Whether he made a mistake blinded by a moment’s temptation, or if there’s an inside story we don’t know about… I want to meet him directly and verify. You might think I’m covering for him because we’re fellow police officers though.”

At Jang Joo-young’s sincere confession, a strange silence flowed.
The one who broke the atmosphere was Jin Pil-seong.

“Inspector, please direct those feelings toward me! Don’t worry about a dismissed punk, I’m saying please recognize the feelings of me who suffers next to you!”

At Jin Pil-seong’s banter, Jang Joo-young tossed him a chicken leg.

“Got it. You punk. Take this. A chicken leg. It’s my heart. You punk.”
“Well, since you’re giving it to me, I won’t refuse?”

It was when the atmosphere was loosening up with laughter going back and forth.
Thump. Clack.
The sound of a door closing rang out from the ceiling along with a heavy vibration.
The gazes of the three men simultaneously turned toward the ceiling.
Han Jae-soo’s grandparents had returned home.
Jin Pil-seong wiped his hands with a wet tissue and stood up from his seat.
Then, he looked at Nam Da-reum with a regretful face and said.

“The noise between floors in this apartment is considerable, huh? Thanks to that, we caught the timing amazingly well.”

Jang Joo-young also put on his outerwear and looked at Da-reum.

“For now, let’s go and come back before it gets later, then finish eating?”

Nam Da-reum left words of request for Jin Pil-seong and Jang Joo-young, who were hurrying.

“Just in case, don’t mention the incident downstairs for now, and how about approaching them saying you need his contact information regarding his intention to return to the police force or to explain the disciplinary action? I think they’ll lower their guard that way.”

At that sound, Jin Pil-seong nodded and praised Nam Da-reum.

“Oh, that’s good? Shouldn’t you have been a detective instead of a lawyer, Lawyer Nam?”

Jin Pil-seong gave a thumbs-up and picked up the fruit basket he had prepared in advance.

“Let’s go!”

The three men headed upstairs carrying the fruit basket.
In front of the door of Room 2202, Jin Pil-seong cautiously stepped aside.

“You ring it, Inspector Jang.”
“You always. Make me do what you could do yourself.”

Jang Joo-young glared at Jin Pil-seong for a moment, then raised his finger and pressed the doorbell.

Ding-dong-

Along with the bell, the sound of someone moving could be heard.
A moment later, along with the sound of dragging slippers, the door opened with a clack.

“Who is it?”

It was Han Jae-soo’s grandmother.
The white-haired grandmother poked her head out with a face clearly showing signs of fatigue.
Jang Joo-young gently offered her a greeting.

“Hello. Grandma. We are the police officers you met during the investigation last time. You remember, right? Would you have a moment to spare?”

He finished speaking and held up the fruit basket in his hand.
The grandmother seemed on guard, but her expression softened a little when she saw the fruit basket he was holding.

“Oh my, what’s all this… Why have you detective gentlemen come again saying you have more business… Come in for now.”

The inside of the house was messy.
Moving boxes piled high, filling the living room.
Wrapping paper, tape, and even unorganized clothes.
Seeing bundles of tape and newspapers rolling around, Jin Pil-seong’s eyes widened and he said.

“It seems you are preparing for the move yourselves. Without calling a packing and moving service…”

The grandmother took the fruit basket and replied.

“Aigoo, detective gentlemen. In a situation where every penny is precious, how could we call such a thing. My old man and I have to pack slowly by ourselves.”

The grandmother grumbled as she peeled off the plastic covering the fruit basket. Seeing her take out apples and put them on a plate, it seemed she intended to serve them to the guests.
Jang Joo-young quickly approached the kitchen and stopped the grandmother.

“Ah, please don’t give this to us. You and Grandpa, please eat it between yourselves. We’re just going to ask a few questions and leave. It won’t take long.”

At that sound, the grandmother replied with drooping eyes.
“But guests have come… We can’t just offer nothing…”
“Ayy, it’s fine. It’s fine.”

Jang Joo-young ended up pulling the grandmother’s hand and sitting her on the sofa.
The grandmother slumped down on the sofa as if exhausted.
Jang Joo-young cautiously opened his mouth to bring up the main point.

“Grandma, it’s nothing else, we came because of your grandson, Mr. Jae-soo.”

At that moment, the grandmother’s hands stopped dead.

“Jae-soo? Why, has there been another accident?”

Beyond her calm voice, fear was laid underneath.
Jang Joo-young gently shook his head.

“No. There hasn’t been an accident. This time, within the police, they are asking about his intentions regarding a re-examination of his disciplinary action and his return. Since Mr. Jae-soo was such a competent talent, it seems the higher-ups find it a pity too. That’s why we came today. The story is complex, so it’s a bit difficult to convey the details to you, Grandma. We thought if you let us know his contact information or where he is currently staying, we would go directly and meet Mr. Han Jae-soo ourselves.”

The grandmother’s pupils trembled slightly.

“Oh my… They’re going to let him return to the police? Is that possible?”

In the grandmother’s voice, disbelief-like joy and worry were intersecting. Jin Pil-seong chimed in to give her reassurance.

“Grandma. Don’t worry in advance. For now, we’re just going to ask about his intention to return.”

The grandmother forced a smile, but her eyes were full of worry.
Jang Joo-young cautiously asked again.

“By any chance… could we get his exact address or contact information?”

The grandmother hesitated for a long while, then wiped her eyes with her wrinkled hand.

“If you give him one more chance, we’d be grateful… I will try to persuade him well too. Our Jae-soo these days… is really suffering a lot. He’s staying at a gosiwon (small, cheap living quarters). The address is… oh my, I can’t remember it right away. Wait a minute, I need to look for the text message.”

Her voice was deeply imbued with worry and affection for her grandson.
Having finished speaking, the grandmother slowly rose from her seat and headed to the room.
Da-reum was quietly watching that sight from one side of the living room tangled with boxes.
Even without using the word love, people reveal their love in their own ways.
And very occasionally, there are times when that love reveals itself in a very extreme form.
Giving up one’s life without hesitation.
Or turning a blind eye to a loved one’s crime until the very end.
Da-reum stared at the name of the crime faintly floating above her forehead.

[Crime of Concealing a Criminal]

It seemed the grandmother was closer to the latter.