I Can Hear a Serial Killer's Voice in My Head

I settle into the quiet corner of the station, spreading out the contents of the flasher's file on the desk before me. Jin Do-hoon. 32 years old. As I begin to sift through the documents, a picture of the suspect starts to form, but it's one filled with contradictions.

The first thing that catches my eye is Jin's educational background. He graduated from one of Korea's most prestigious universities with a degree in computer science. This isn't the typical profile of a common flasher. Someone with his qualifications should have plenty of job opportunities.

Yet, the next document states that he's currently unemployed. I jot down a note to investigate this discrepancy further. What caused a promising graduate to end up jobless?

I turn to the incident report. Jin was apprehended in a park on the outskirts of Gwangju after multiple reports of him exposing himself to passersby. The witness statements are consistent, describing a man matching Jin's description approaching people, opening his coat, and revealing himself.

The report notes that this is his first offense, which typically would result in a relatively light punishment - a fine and some mandatory counseling or education. It's the kind of case that would usually be processed quickly and forgotten.

Another document catches my attention - Jin's living situation. He resides with his mother in a modest apartment. I make another note. A grown man, highly educated, living with his parent and engaging in such behavior.

As I continue to pore over Jin Dohoon's file, a detail in the evidence report catches my eye. I lean in closer, my brow furrowing as I read:

"Suspect's mobile phone confiscated at the scene. Device contains numerous photographs of women, many of an obscene nature. Suspect claims all images were downloaded from the internet."

I flip back through the witness statements, cross-referencing them with this new information. None of the witnesses mentioned Jin taking photos during his acts of exposure.

I make a note to check if any of the women in the photos match the description of the witnesses or other potential victims. If they do, it could indicate a pattern of stalking or more serious offenses.

Jin's claim that he downloaded the images from the internet could be true, but it feels like a convenient excuse. A computer science graduate would know how to cover his digital tracks better than most.

I close Jin's file and head towards Han's makeshift office. I find him reviewing some paperwork at his desk.

"Han, I need to talk to this flasher, Jin Dohoon, in person. There are some inconsistencies I want to clear up."

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Han looks up, a glint of interest in his eyes. "Of course. I was hoping you'd say that." He turns to Yong, who's hovering nearby. "Officer Yong, could you fetch Jin Dohoon and escort him to the interrogation room?"

Yong nods eagerly. "Right away, sir!"

I thank Han and make my way to the interrogation room, arriving first. I settle in, organizing my notes and preparing my approach. Minutes tick by, but there's no sign of Yong or Jin. The delay is unusual, and a sense of unease begins to creep over me.

After what feels like an eternity, I decide to investigate. I step out of the room and immediately spot Han in the corridor, engaged in an intense conversation with someone I can't quite see. Yong is standing nearby, his head bowed and shoulders slumped, looking for all the world like a scolded child.

Curiosity and concern propel me towards the group. As I approach, I catch snippets of the conversation.

"...understand the protocol, but..." Han's voice is low, but I can hear the tension in it.

"...not possible at this time..." The other voice is unfamiliar, authoritative.

I clear my throat as I near them, causing all heads to turn in my direction. Han's expression is a mix of frustration and concern, while Yong looks like he wants the floor to swallow him whole.

"Is there a problem?" I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Han exchanges a glance with the man he was speaking to - a stern-faced officer I don't recognize - before turning to me.

"It seems there's been a... complication with interviewing Jin Dohoon," Han says carefully.

The stern-faced officer steps forward. "I'm afraid Mr. Jin is no longer available for questioning at this time."

My eyes narrow. "What do you mean, 'no longer available'? He's in custody, isn't he?"

Han clears his throat, his expression tight as he gestures to the stern-faced man beside him. "This is Senior Inspector Cho Sang-hyun. Inspector Cho, this is my colleague from Seoul."

I nod in greeting, taking in Cho's appearance. He's a man in his late 40s or early 50s, with a sturdy build that speaks of years of physical work. His eyes are sharp, assessing me with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

Cho steps forward, his voice firm and unyielding. "As I was explaining to Inspector Han, Jin Dohoon is not available for questioning at this time. I'm afraid I can't disclose the reason for this."

I feel a surge of frustration and am about to protest when I catch Han's subtle head shake out of the corner of my eye. The realization hits me like a bucket of cold water. This isn't just about Jin Dohoon anymore. We're in the middle of a power play.

Swallowing my initial reaction, I force a neutral expression. "I see. That's... unfortunate. We had some follow-up questions that could have shed light on his case."

Cho's expression doesn't change, but there's a flicker of something in his eyes - approval, perhaps, at my restraint.

"I understand your curiosity, Detective. But some matters are beyond our immediate jurisdiction."

I nod slowly, choosing my words carefully. "Of course, Inspector. We're still learning the ropes here in Gwangju. I appreciate your patience with us newcomers."

A ghost of a smile touches Cho's lips. "Gwangju has its own way of doing things. I'm sure you'll adapt quickly."

As the tension in the air slowly dissipates, I exchange a glance with Han. We've passed some sort of test, but it's clear that we're still outsiders here.

Cho excuses himself, leaving us standing in the corridor. Yong still looks uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot.

Han turns to me, his voice low. "Good call. We need to tread carefully here."

I nod and say, "What do you think is really going on?"

Han pulls me aside into an empty conference room, his voice low and serious. "They're playing a power game with us. The fact that they sent Senior Inspector Cho to shut us down shows they're taking this seriously. Whatever's going on, they want to keep us out of it."

I nod, processing this information. "I didn't find much in the file, but my gut tells me there's more to this case. We need to dig deeper."

Han sighs, rubbing his forehead. "I believe you, I do. But your 'gut feeling' isn't going to be enough to convince these people. They're being territorial, and we need hard evidence if we want to push back."

"I understand," I reply, determination settling in my chest. "I'll see what I can do to find something concrete."

As we leave the room, I spot Yong still standing in the corridor, looking dejected. I approach him, feeling a twinge of guilt for putting him in a difficult position.

"Officer Yong," I call softly. He looks up, his expression wary. "I wanted to apologize for putting you in an awkward situation earlier."

Yong shakes his head, forcing a small smile. "It's okay, Detective. I just wish I could be more helpful."

An idea strikes me. "Actually, there might be something you can help with."

His eyes light up with interest. "Really? What is it?"

I lean in closer, lowering my voice. "I was wondering if it would be possible to take a look at Jin's confiscated mobile phone. It could provide some crucial information."

Yong hesitates for a moment, clearly torn between his eagerness to help and his fear of overstepping. Finally, he nods. "I... I think I can arrange that. But we'll need to be discreet."

"Of course," I assure him. "This stays between us."

Yong glances around nervously before leaning in close. "Detective, I think I can help, but... can we meet after 6 PM? It'll be easier to access the evidence room then."

I nod, understanding his caution. "Of course, Yong. That works for me."

I pull out my phone and share my number with him. Yong quickly saves it, a look of excitement crossing his face.

"Thank you, Detective. I'm truly honored to work with you," he says, his voice filled with genuine admiration. Then, his eyes light up with recognition. "I saw you on the news, by the way. That live broadcast where you solved the case... it was amazing!"

I feel a mix of pride and embarrassment wash over me. The case that made me nationally famous - it seems like a lifetime ago now.

"Oh, that," I say, trying to downplay it. "It was a team effort, really."

But Yong is already shaking his head enthusiastically. "No, no, it was incredible! The way you put all the pieces together on live TV... I've never seen anything like it. It's part of why I became a police officer."

Before I can respond, Yong is already wandering off, leaving me standing there with a renewed sense of responsibility.

As I watch him disappear around a corner, I can't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia mixed with pressure. That case, that moment in the spotlight - it feels like it belongs to a different person now. So much has changed since then.

I shake off these thoughts, reminding myself to focus on the present. Yong's admiration is flattering, but it also raises the stakes. He's putting a lot of faith in me, and I can't let him down.

I check my watch. Several hours until our meeting. Time to prepare and to consider all angles of this increasingly complex situation.