locked inside the dark

SQUEEZE

Thomas Jefferson said that he found that the harder he worked, the more luck he seemed to have.

Park Jinman thought it was bullshit. He didn't believe in such a concept as luck. He believed that luck and fate were concepts invented by people who were scared and lazy. Park Jinman was in his middle forties and thanks to that mindset and hard work, he was the CEO of a furniture company that allowed him and his family to live comfortably. He has never been worried about sleeping with an empty stomach or that one day someone would come to tell him he had to leave his house. He also had a supportive wife he loved very much and two children that were his greatest pride.

It rained a lot that day. He reminded himself to thank his wife tonight because without her he wouldn't have brought an umbrella and would be soaked. He entered the building, went to his office, greeted his employees on his way and locked the door behind him. As usual, he checked his emails and the files Nayoung, his secretary, would have put next to his computer so he wouldn't miss them. After some hours that seemed to be days, he stood up and admired the grey sky and the water falling in Seoul. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't hear it. Something had come from the storm drain, climbed through the lift and finished its way into the ventilation system. When Park Jinman heard it, it was too late.

Hongjoong arranged the dark brown hair falling on his forehead and took a deep breath before pushing the door of the restaurant. His eyes travelled the room, looking for a date - or should he say his meeting. Hongjoong found the man reading a file, his lips pressing on the white cup of coffee. Hongjoong stayed a few seconds to admire his beauty.

Beauty was something Hongjoong couldn't see often now. Hongjoong has seen a lot of things, a lot of horrific things he didn't believe he could bear. But, that was a part of the conditions he signed for when he joined KQ.

He finally approached his friend and sat in front of him.

"Thank you for coming Hongjoong," his friend stated before putting the file away and meeting Hongjoong's eyes.

"Anything for you Seonghwa," Hongjoong answered with a playful smile. "I assume you are dealing with something very difficult if you call for my help,"

Seonghwa cleared his throat and played nervously with his black tie. Hongjoong and he knew each other for around ten years now. They met when they were trainees to enter the National Intelligence Service. Hongjoong dropped out to enter another service but Seonghwa stayed there and managed to enter the NIS.

"I just believed this case" Seonghwa put his thin fingers on the beige folder, "is more of KQ's field than the NIS'"

Hongjoong raised an eyebrow. Seonghwa slid him the folder. Hongjoong took it, brushing Seonghwa's hand, and opened it.

The folder contained pictures of a man, Park Jinman, drained in his own blood and who was missing a liver. Park Jinman was the CEO of a furniture company. Being the CEO meant he worked longer, arriving before everyone and leaving after everyone. He always closed the door of his office, even when he was inside. His secretary was the only one who had a spare key and she was the one to find him. No one entered the office before her, in the afternoon.

"No entry points and no weapons," Hongjoong voiced.

"We looked everywhere but we don't understand how the killer could have entered without anyone seeing him. And the liver... The killer must have to remove it with his bare hands," Seonghwa added.

Hongjoong nodded, still examining the pictures.

"How many others?" Hongjoong asked.

Seonghwa's eyebrows slightly raised. He didn't expect Hongjoong to understand that it was a serial killer. But they both knew Seonghwa wouldn't have called him if this murder was an isolated case.