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

After our visit to Soo-yeon's house, Han and I find ourselves in his office, the weight of our recent discoveries hanging heavily in the air. Han closes the door, ensuring our privacy, and we both sink into chairs, exhaustion etched on our faces.

Han breaks the silence first. "We need to investigate the church. Thoroughly. No more tiptoeing around."

I nod slowly, but a nagging worry gnaws at me. "I agree, but... what about Choi? Won't a direct investigation of the church tip him off?"

Han leans back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin. "I've been thinking about that. But given what happened to you so far... it's pretty clear Choi already knows we're onto something."

I consider this for a moment. "You're right. He's probably been watching our moves this whole time."

"Exactly," Han says, leaning forward. "So we might as well go all in. What we need to focus on now is figuring out exactly what this 'program' at the church is all about. What are they doing to people like Soo-yeon? What's the endgame here?"

I nod, my mind racing. "And how does it connect to Lee and Choi? There has to be a link."

Han stands up, pacing the small office. "That's what I'm thinking. If we can uncover the dark secrets behind this church program, it might lead us to understand the connection between the church, Lee, and Choi."

"But," I say slowly, voicing the concern that's been nagging at me, "even if we uncover all of that, will it be enough? We still need concrete evidence of Choi's manipulation of past investigations. The supernatural element... it's not going to hold up in court."

Han stops pacing, his expression grim. "You're right. And that's the tricky part. We're essentially running two parallel investigations here. One into the church and its... let's call it 'voice cultivation' program.

And another into Choi's professional misconduct."

I lean back in my chair, feeling the weight of the task ahead. "So how do we proceed?"

Han returns to his seat, his face set with determination. "We split our focus. I want you to lead the church investigation. You have... unique insights that could be valuable there."

I nod, understanding his implication. My personal experience with the voices could indeed be crucial.

"Meanwhile," Han continues, "I'll focus on Choi's past cases. We'll dig into every investigation he's been involved with, looking for patterns, inconsistencies, anything that might point to manipulation or cover-ups."

"It's a lot of ground to cover," I say, feeling both daunted and oddly exhilarated by the challenge.

"It is," Han agrees. "But we don't have a choice. Whatever is going on here, it's bigger than just one corrupt cop or one strange church program. This could be a systemic issue that's been festering for years."

I answer, my resolve strengthening. "You're right. We need to uncover the whole truth, no matter where it leads us."

Han leans forward, his eyes meeting mine. "This won't be easy. We're likely to face resistance from all sides. Are you prepared for that?"

I take a deep breath, thinking of my father, of Soo-yeon, of all the victims whose faces now adorn our investigation board. "I am. We owe it to them to see this through."

Han nods, a small smile breaking through his serious expression. "Good. Then let's get to work. We'll brief the team in the morning, assign tasks. For now, go home, get some rest. Something tells me we're in for a long and difficult road ahead."

As I stand to leave, Han adds, "And... be careful. Choi might make a move. Watch your back."

I nod, the gravity of our situation settling over me.

***

Next day, Han approaches my desk, his expression determined. "Any thoughts on how we proceed with the church investigation?"

I look up from the stack of testimonials we've gathered. "We've got solid evidence, Han. The victim statements, the online flyers, the pattern of suspicious activities. It should be enough to justify an investigation."

Han nods, "I agree. The problem isn't lack of evidence. It's getting the approval to move forward, given the legal protections churches have."

I lean back in my chair, voicing my main concern. "And there's Choi. If we apply for official approval, he's bound to find out. He could shut us down before we even start."

A small smile plays on Han's lips. "That's where I come in. I've got some connections in the higher-ups. People who owe me favors and, more importantly, people who aren't in Choi's pocket."

My eyebrows raise in surprise. "You think you can get us the green light without Choi finding out?"

Han nods confidently. "I can try. It won't be easy, and we'll have to move fast once we get approval. But I think I can make it happen."

I feel a surge of hope. "That would be huge, Han. If we can get inside that church legally, with full investigative powers..."

"We might finally get the answers we've been looking for," Han finishes.

I stand up, energized by this potential breakthrough. "What do you need from me?"

"Compile all our evidence into a comprehensive report," Han instructs. "Make it airtight. I want to give my contacts something so compelling they can't possibly say no."

I nod, already mentally organizing the information. "I'm on it. How soon do you think you can set this in motion?"

Han checks his watch. "Give me the report by end of day. I'll make some calls tonight, try to set up meetings for tomorrow. With any luck, we could have approval within 48 hours."

The speed of it all is dizzying, but exhilarating. "And the team?" I ask.

"For now, this stays between us," Han says firmly. "The fewer people who know, the less chance of it getting back to Choi."

I nod in agreement. "Understood. I'll get started on that report right away."

As Han walks away, I turn back to my desk with renewed focus. This is the chance we've been waiting for. If Han can pull this off, we might finally be able to uncover the truth about the church, about Choi, about everything.

I begin organizing our evidence, my mind racing with possibilities. Whatever we find inside that church, I know it's going to change everything. And this time, we'll have the full weight of the law behind us.

The next 48 hours could be the turning point in our entire investigation. And I'm determined to make every second count.

***

The early morning sun casts long shadows as our convoy of unmarked police vehicles pulls up to the church. My heart pounds with a mix of anticipation and nervousness as I step out of the lead car, Han right behind me.

"Everyone clear on their assignments?" I ask, surveying our team. They nod, their faces a mix of determination and tension.

Han approaches, holding out a document. "Here's the warrant. We're good to go."

I take a deep breath, still somewhat in disbelief that we've made it this far. Choi's silence throughout the process has been unnerving, but there's no time to dwell on that now.

"Alright, team," I announce, my voice steady despite my inner turmoil. "Remember, we're looking for any documents related to their counseling program, financial records, and anything that might link them to Choi or Lee. Be thorough, but respectful. This is still a place of worship for many people."

The team nods in understanding. I turn to face the church, its imposing facade looming before us. "Let's move."

We approach the main entrance, our footsteps echoing in the early morning quiet. I knock firmly on the door, wait a beat, then call out, "Police! We have a warrant to search the premises!"

After a moment of tense silence, we hear movement inside. The door opens, revealing a startled-looking young nun - the same one who had tried to turn us away before.

Her eyes widen as she takes in the sight of our team. "What's going on?"

I step forward, presenting the warrant. "We have a legal order to search these premises. Please step aside."

She hesitates, clearly conflicted, before reluctantly moving to let us in. As our team files past her, I can't help but notice her eyes darting nervously towards a corridor leading deeper into the church.

"Han," I mutter, "take a team down that hallway. I've got a feeling that's where we need to look."

Han nods, signaling to a group of officers to follow him. I turn to the young nun. "Where's Sister Agnes? We need to speak with her." .net

The nun's face pales. "She... she's not well. She can't receive visitors."

"This isn't a social call," I say firmly. "Please take me to her."

As we move through the church, the sound of our team searching rooms echoes through the halls. I can't shake the feeling that we're on the verge of uncovering something big.

We reach Sister Agnes's room, and as the door opens, I brace myself for whatever we might find inside. The truth we've been seeking for so long is finally within reach. Whatever happens next, I know our lives will never be the same again.

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