Bad X Bad: My Dear Hana - Chapter 80

His phone rings suddenly. He furrows his brow. Who could it be? The number is new. He has only given his personal number to a few people only.

[Prosecutor Im?]

Do Sejin.

Im Jihoon recognizes the voice right away. “Mr. Do, did something happen? It’s quite late.”

[I found something recently. I need to talk to you.]

“Do you want to meet me now?” Im Jihoon asks him with a smile.

[I am driving right now. I will arrive back in the city within an hour. If you are fine with meeting me now…]

“Can you come to WS apartments? I live here. We will talk at my house.”

[We can meet tomorrow morning. I don’t want to intrude.]

“No, it’s okay. I can’t sleep anyway.”

He often suffers from insomnia.

[Okay, I – Tell him that I am also coming – No, I will drop you at home first. – Prosecutor Im, this is Ahn Hana. I hope that you have coffee at your home.]

The call is hanged up. Im Jihoon looks at the phone blankly. Lawyer Ahn is also coming. Does he has coffee? He needs to check.

Im Jihoon doesn’t want his wife to wake up. So, he goes out and waits for them near the entrance. After around one and a half hour, he sees the car coming. Do Sejin and Ahn Hana step out of the car.

“You two don’t look good.” He looks at them with concern in his dark eyes. “Did you fight?”

“He was just being nosy,” Ahn Hana murmurs and looks away.

He gives him the photos. “Someone like him must have been obsessed with her since her 100th-day birthday.”

Im Jihoon’s glances at the child’s scribbles behind one of the picture. “Let’s discuss this at my home.”

Do Sejin hesitates. “Will your family be okay?”

“They will be fine. Come with me.” Im Jihoon grins at Ahn Hana. “Lawyer Ahn, I do have coffee. I also know how to make it.”

At his apartment, he signals them to become quiet. He guides them to the study room and closes the door. He puts down the pictures on the table and says, “I will come back in a while. Take some rest.”

Ahn Hana and Do Sejin sit on the chair. Ahn Hana is gazing at the bookshelf, reading the names of the books. Do Sejin looks around. The study room is a mess. There are piles of papers and thick books of codes. On the bookshelf, there are books only related to law and crimes. As he has expected, this is prosecutor Im’s study room.

Im Jihoon comes back with a tray of coffee cups. He offers them one each. “I hope that you like it. I am not a best coffeemaker in this house. I doubt that anyone can make it better than my wife.”

“You didn’t have to trouble yourself, Prosecutor Im.” Do Sejin glances at Ahn Hana. “She’s just being unreasonable.”

Ahn Hana knows that he’s not talking about the coffee. She ignores him and takes a sip.

“It’s better than what I make.” Ahn Hana looks at him deeply. “There’s nothing much to say. Do Sejin believes that the killer had known me since I was a few months old. The killer must be a neighborhood boy who moved away when he was young. He wrote those words behind the photos he had taken of me.”

“He should be around 40 and his height is about 6’1”. You must have seen him on the video,” Do Sejin tells him. “He likes reading philosophy. He met Noe Kyung Hee at the library. We have some grasp of his personality. He must be someone good with technology, explosives, and chemicals. He is someone who knows how to remove his traces. He must be rich if he can manage so much.”

“Lawyer Ahn, do you perhaps remember the person now?” Im Jihoon asks her hopefully. “Even if you remember his family name, it would help us a lot.”

“I remember.” She gazes at him with her incomprehensible dark eyes. “I have no interest in revealing it to a prosecutor.”

Both men become quiet. They stare hard at her thoughtfully.

Do Sejin hasn’t given up on her. She might say things like this. He knows that there’s hope. If he is wrong, he will still protect her. This time, he won’t let the killer have her. He won’t fail her and his daughter.

“If that’s your decision, we can’t force you,” Im Jihoon says tiredly after a long time. “You have been through a lot. There are victims who often suffer from Stockholm syndrome. I won’t force you. I advise you to see a therapist to figure out your true feelings.”

“I don’t need a therapist to tell me how I feel.” Ahn Hana’s red lips curl up into a smile. “I love him. Only him.”

Im Jihoon looks away and picks up the coffee cup. He takes the sip. It’s too bitter.

There’s a knock on the door before it opens. Im Jihoon’s wife steps inside while rubbing her left eye.

“Honey, it’s late. Are you done with your work?”

She’s surprised to see Ahn Hana and Do Sejin. Puzzled, she looks at her husband. Did he invite his colleagues for a work sleepover again?

“Ji Hye, this is Lawyer Ahn Hana and Lawyer Do Sejin. We are discussing a case.” Im Jihoon introduces them first. “This is my wife, Ji Hye.”

Ahn Hana and Do Sejin give her a subtle nod. Im Jihoon laughs nervously. His wife might get mad at him later for sneaking people into the house.

Im Jihoon’s wife notices the coffee cups. His husband is really a workaholic. What will she ever do about him?

“Please continue with your discussion. I will leave now,” She apologizes before going back to her bedroom.

“There’s nothing more to say. Thank you for meeting us at this time of night.” Do Sejin shakes Im Jihoon’s hand. “We will leave now. I will call you again if I find something.”

“Thanks for coming to me first.” Im Jihoon walks them to the entrance. He takes a glance at Lawyer Ahn. “Lawyer Do, Lawyer Ahn needs a lot of care. You should keep a watch on her.”

Do Sejin sighs and thanks Im Jihoon. Im Jihoon watches the car until it disappears from his sight.