Cat's Cradle

I: The First Chapter

I hated interrogations. The chairs were always unforgiving metal, the rooms were always freezing and smelled like public restrooms, and it was impossible to get comfortable when your wrists were cuffed to the table. The upstart detective asking questions didn't really help either.

"Pretending to be an entertainment company falls under fraud and embezzlement, which lands you about eight years total," he said, reading off a Kumamon notebook. His outfit was a bit bland, but you couldn't really go wrong with a polo and a convenience store coat. "You get another  ten  years for unfair trading, and then five years for breach of trust."

His face was kinda homely, as if he'd be either the idiot comedic relief, or the kid Park Seo-joon has to save from being bullied in a drama.

"And that's only for your most recent scam." The sad mop of hair across his forehead really needed help. Growing it out probably would have fit him better. "We're aware of the fact that you've amassed over 5 billion won through your past schemes, and we're also aware of the fact you're hiding more in offshore accounts. That means you're pretty much facing life."

I adjusted myself in my seat, the chains clinking lightly against the table. "Do you think we could take these off?" I asked, raising my wrists to show him the handcuffs. "I'm having a hard time getting comfortable right now, Inspector...?"

"Inspector Kim," he said impatiently.

I nodded. "Inspector Kang."

"Kim. It's Inspector Kim. And have you been listening at all? You're facing a lifetime behind bars."

"Oh dear. That doesn't sound very pleasant." I added a fake shudder for effect.

Pinching his nose, Kim exhaled slowly. "I thought conmen were supposed to be charming."

"It's probably because I'm a conwoman." I shrugged. "Just a suggestion."

"I don't get paid enough for this," he muttered. "Here's the deal—"

I clapped my hands excitedly. "Ooh, I love deals!"

"Please, please shut up." Kind of rude of him to get annoyed at me for not talking, then have the audacity to be annoyed at me for talking. "You're going to infiltrate the Min family. You're going to gather information. Then you're going to pass it on to us."

My nails suddenly became very interesting.

"In exchange, you won't have to go to prison, and we'll even pay you a large sum of money. And I'm sure you'll have plenty of fun scamming another wealthy family."

Pursing my lips, I glanced up at him. "See, here's the thing, Inspector Kang—"

"It's Kim."

"See, here's the thing, Inspector Kang. I like being free. I like money. And I like scamming rich people."

Kim furrowed his brow. "Okay...?"

"But what I really love is not dying slowly and having my body dumped in the Han river." I folded my hands together. "The Min family is not another bunch of rich fools. They're a mob. And mobs like killing people slowly and dumping their bodies in the Han river."

"We're paying you 10 million won," Kim quickly added.

"I do love money. But I'm quite obsessed with myself, which means I'm also a bit attached to being alive."

"So it's a yes?"

I pretended to mull it over for a moment before shaking my head. "Actually, I think it's a no, dear." Yawning, I did my best to recline. "That was a great talk. Can I go home now?"