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

I continue to flip through the documents, my heart racing with each new revelation. The next page is a medical report, detailing Jo Mal-soon's mental health history.

My eyes scan the clinical language, piecing together the tragic story. Jo has been struggling with severe mental health issues for years, her condition rendering her incapable of making clear decisions. The diagnosis is complex, involving a mix of disorders that have effectively isolated her from reality.

I turn to the next page, and my breath catches. It's a series of financial records, meticulously documented. They show a pattern of withdrawals and transfers from Jo's accounts, all authorized under her name but... the dates. The dates align perfectly with Choi's rise in the police force and his increasing influence in the community.

My mind reels as I connect the dots. Choi reconnected with his mother, not out of familial love or duty, but as a means to an end. He's been exploiting her funds, using her diminished mental capacity to gain control over her substantial assets.

The next document confirms my suspicions. It's a breakdown of the church's finances, showing how funds have been funneled through various accounts, all leading back to initiatives and projects that benefit Choi's position and influence.

I lean back in my seat, overwhelmed by the implications. Choi, the man I've been investigating, the figure at the center of this web of deceit, has been manipulating his own mother's wealth and identity to build his power base.

The church, which I had thought was a separate entity, is just another piece in Choi's elaborate game. He's been pulling the strings from the shadows, using Jo's name and resources to create a facade of legitimacy.

My hands tremble slightly as I turn to the next section of documents. What greets me sends a chill down my spine - these are copies of internal police reports, some dating back decades. As I scan the pages, a disturbing pattern begins to emerge.

The first report catches my eye immediately. It's from a case I vaguely remember hearing about when I first joined the force - a high-profile drug bust that made headlines. But the details in this report don't match what was publicly released. Names have been changed, key pieces of evidence omitted or altered.

I flip to the next report, and then the next. Each one tells a similar story - cases manipulated, facts twisted, justice perverted. And at the center of it all, one name keeps appearing: Choi.

Some reports show how Choi redirected investigations away from certain individuals or organizations. Others reveal how he fabricated evidence to secure convictions against seemingly random targets. With each page, the scope of the corruption becomes clearer, and more horrifying.

But Choi wasn't working alone. Other names appear alongside his - fellow officers, judges, even politicians. It's a web of collusion that spans years and reaches into every corner of the justice system.

My mind reels as I try to process the implications. How many innocent people have been wrongly convicted because of these manipulations? How many criminals have walked free? The scale of the deception is staggering.

As I continue to read, I start to see how Choi used these manipulated cases to build his power base. Each twisted investigation, each false conviction, served to increase his influence and protect his allies.

But then, buried among the reports, I spot something that makes my blood run cold. It's a case file from the year my parents were murdered. With shaking hands, I pull it out, dreading what I might find.

As I begin to read, I can feel the foundations of everything I thought I knew crumbling around me. The truth about my parents' death, the real reason behind their murder, is finally coming to light. And it's far more terrible than I ever imagined.

I flip through the pages of the report about my parents, my heart pounding in my chest. At first, the information seems to align with what I already know. My father, recruited by Choi, went undercover as a factory worker to infiltrate a drug gang. This much I had pieced together over the years.

But as I read on, my blood runs cold. The official story, the one Choi had told me time and time again, was that my father's cover was blown, and he was killed by the gang in retaliation.

However, the report in my hands tells a different, chilling story. My eyes fixate on a single word, typed in cold, impersonal font: "eliminated."

Not "killed by the gang." Not "murdered in the line of duty." Simply "eliminated."

The implication is clear, and it sends a wave of nausea through me. My father wasn't killed by the drug gang. He was "eliminated" - by his own side.

I frantically scan the rest of the report, looking for more details, for some explanation of this cold, clinical term. But there's nothing. No elaboration, no justification. Just that one damning word.

The realization hits me like a physical blow. I feel my chest tighten, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Suddenly, a wave of emotion overwhelms me, and I can no longer hold it back.

A guttural cry escapes my lips, echoing in the confines of my car. Tears stream down my face as I pound the steering wheel in anguish and rage. "No! No! No!" I shout, my voice cracking with each exclamation.

The pain is raw, primal. It's as if I'm losing my parents all over again, but this time, the betrayal cuts even deeper. My body shakes with sobs as years of pent-up emotion pour out of me.

I'm not sure how long I sit there, consumed by grief and anger. Eventually, the storm of emotions begins to subside, leaving me feeling drained but oddly clear-headed.

With trembling hands, I wipe my face and take a few deep breaths. I need to approach this rationally now. I'm still a detective, and this is still an investigation.

I turn my attention back to the documents, forcing myself to view them with a professional eye. Many of the reports are detailed and appear genuine. Official letterheads, proper formatting, signatures that look authentic.

But as I sift through them, I notice inconsistencies. Some are merely photocopies, their origins difficult to verify. Others are handwritten notes, their authorship uncertain.

A knot forms in my stomach as I consider the legal implications. Would these documents hold up in court? Do they have the power to bring down Choi and his collaborators?

I'm not sure. Many of them could be dismissed as hearsay or inadmissible due to their uncertain provenance. The copies and handwritten notes, in particular, would be easy for a skilled lawyer to discredit.

Yet, even if they're not legally actionable, these documents provide a roadmap. They point to official records that must exist somewhere, to witnesses who could corroborate these accounts.

I lean back in my seat, my mind racing. These documents may not be the smoking gun I hoped for, but they're a start. They're threads I can pull, leads I can follow.

The truth about my parents' death, about Choi's corruption, is within reach. It may not be as simple as presenting these documents in court, but I'm closer than ever to unraveling this conspiracy.

With renewed determination, I gather the documents, careful not to disturb their order. I may not be able to use them directly, but every piece of information they contain is precious. Each detail is a potential key to unlocking the truth and finally bringing justice to those responsible for my parents' deaths.

I start the engine, quickly organizing thoughts about next steps. First stop: Kang's house. Even though he said he'd be gone, there's a chance he might still be there. If not, maybe I can find some additional clues.

Next, I need to contact a lawyer. These documents are explosive, but their legal standing is questionable. I need professional advice on how to proceed.

Finally, I'll head back to the station. I need to cross-reference these reports with the official records. If there are discrepancies, that could be the key to building a solid case.

I pull out of the parking spot, my determination growing with each passing moment. But as I accelerate down the street, a figure suddenly appears in front of my car.

I slam on the brakes, the tires screeching against the asphalt. My heart pounds in my chest as I narrowly avoid hitting the person.

Explore more at m,v l'e-NovelBin.net

"What the hell?" I mutter, trying to catch my breath.

I peer through the windshield, trying to get a better look at the figure. As the person turns to face me, my blood runs cold.

It's Choi.

He stands there, calm and collected, as if he hadn't just nearly been hit by a car. His eyes lock onto mine.

For a moment, time seems to stand still. The documents that could destroy him are sitting on the seat beside me. The truth about my parents' death, about his corruption, is finally in my possession.

And here he is, standing right in front of me.