Above and Below // SeongJoong

5. Rumors and Suspicion (2)

DISCLAIMER: I have limited knowledge of the law, so please excuse any mistakes or inaccurate representations of reality. This is fiction, and everything that happens does not reflect any real events.

-

The first instinctive reaction Hongjoong thought to give to his junior's fatuous comment was a chortle. "What are you talking about?"

Jongho only shook his head reproachfully and approached to tug the partner attorney at the arm. He closed the office door behind them without a word, peered outside the windows to make sure the secretary was not listening in, and dragged the latter towards the lounge area where guests were received. After both of them were seated on either side of the coffee table, he said in a deeper voice than usual, "Perhaps Mingi-sunbae was right."

"With what?" prompted the blue-haired man halfheartedly.

The younger licked his lips and scooted forward, almost sliding off the edge of the sofa. "His friend pulled him back at the last moment, but I'm sure you know whose name he was about to say."

Hongjoong did not think he had ever seen his associate this serious before, which made him realize this was not some silly prank or joke used to tease him. He recalled the memory of their visit to the hospital earlier in the day, particularly what Yunho said about Mingi's theories. He literally suspects everyone he comes across to be part of that Salgeum gang, even Seong–– Though he could not say that the idea never crossed his mind even once...

Still, it was too ludicrous for it to be true. "You're telling me you believe that Seonghwa is part of the Salgeum gang?"

Again, Jongho denied soundlessly. "I'm still a lawyer, I don't go around speculating things without proof."

The partner attorney leaned back with an eyebrow raised, intrigued to see what his junior had to offer. What he received in the end was more impressive than he had expected: not just testimony from one single witness, but actual evidence to corroborate the story.

"After you left," Jongho continued, "I found out from the others that Mr. Park Seonghwa asked you out. And seeing that the Salguem gang might be related to Miss Choi's breakup case now, I told Mingi-sunbae to tell me more about his suspicions and the rumors." With one hand, he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and rubbed his mouth somewhat apprehensively. With the other, he took out his phone and tapped on the screen a few times before passing it over. "Of course, it was too far fetched for him to accuse Mr. Park of being part of a gang right away, but after what he described and showed me, I think there is reason to be wary of the salon owner."

Hongjoong took the device from the younger, feeling almost hesitant to look down at the video. It was obvious that the person filming it did it in haste, almost fumbling to capture the scene; the footage started off shaky and obscured, the camera jerking from the ground to the sky and tilted to the side and back. Even so, he could tell instantly that the vantage point was the corner one block down from the street where Pets Park stood.

Once the camera leveled, five male figures came to view right outside the pet salon, seemingly in a conversation. Despite the poor quality from such a far distance and the dim lighting of the time of day, the partner attorney was certain that the one facing the road was Seonghwa, while the rest of the strangers stood side by side confronting him.

At first glance, there was nothing in the scene that was particularly alarming, and the only thing that caught Hongjoong's attention was the conspicuous long coat that the salon owner wore. It was pure white, stark against the dark of the surrounding sky, and reached the middle of the thighs. Something that he'd never seen the man wear and seemed unfit for a pet stylist.