to capture a killer

killer on the loose

ONE

It's not ideal that Seoul Station is packed to the brim when she's been called in last minute at work. She swerves through crowds of people, apologising here and there when bumping into them, doing her best to catch her train on time. She just about makes it.

Her phone is ringing non-stop, but she isn't keen on answering until she can say she's two minutes away and actually mean it. It's fifteen minutes later when she picks up.

"Yes-- yes-- yes, I know. I'm two minutes away."

She doesn't even have time to stop and buy a coffee at her favourite café, instead, speed walking into the building across the street and into the elevator. She bounces her leg impatiently whilst waiting for it to make it to the top floor.

"Morning Somi," she smiles at her co-worker. "Are you coming in?"

"Yeah, I was actually waiting for you," Somi tells her.

"Oh," Lisa replies before pushing open the door of the meeting room, both of them entering. She avoids eye contact as she takes a seat.

"We've had the meeting on hold, Lisa," a woman says from the head of the table.

"I'm really sorry, the station was mad," Lisa replies gingerly.

"Anyways, let's get started," the woman clapped her hands together and stood from her seat. "As most of you know, I'm Detective Kim Jisoo, head of this department, and I'm going to be overseeing the case we've been assigned."

The detective approached the projector and grabbed the remote. Clicking a button, the wall lit up and various gasps and groans echoed throughout the room.

"I know," Jisoo commented. "Not a pretty sight, is it?"

The image showed three dead bodies, all slit from their throats and lined side by side, their clothes drenched in their own, and probably each other's, blood.

"These men all had one thing in common--" Jisoo paused, "--they were all lawyers that had been assigned with bringing Japanese drug lord, Itsuki Sakai, to justice."

"He's in Japan though, isn't he?" A young male detective asked from his seat. "What does he have to do with us?"

"Good question, Bambam," Jisoo acknowledged. "Mr Sakai was actually arrested on Korean soil, after being caught along with other drug traffickers at a meeting. It was a happy mistake. The recreational department is certain he was there to discuss importation into Korea."

"What's that got to do with us though?" Bambam asked again.

"Nothing," Jisoo replied simply. "Our concern is these men here," she gestured to the image. "Or rather, their killer." There were a few puzzled faces around the room as Jisoo went on to explain. "We suspect that the killer is a trained assassin - a killer for hire. She's been operating around all over Asia, possibly global, for the past two years, that we are aware of. She's highly skilled and, as of yet, unreachable, though she does have a signature. Every single body that we've associated with her has had their eyes left open, but a red cross on each eyelid."

"How many bodies?" Lisa asked.

"Including these three, thirty-two." Lisa took a sharp gasp of air at Jisoo's answer. "For now, we suspect she will stay in Korea."

"Why's that?" Lisa inquired.

"Because-- there was a witness." A quiet rumble of murmurs rung out through the room. "A cleaning lady. Nanno Chen. We suspect she'll be targeted and we're keeping her under strict watch. As of now, she's in the hospital. Seeing the bodies sent her into shock. And we need you, Lisa, to speak to her."