ATZ Special Unit

twenty

Chapter 20: "Just Watch"

"Okay.. so.. tell me again. I wasn't listening."

Hongjoong groaned, dropping his head onto the coffee table next to where his laptop still sat open. Mingi stifled his nervous laughter as he glanced at the screen, showcasing a few encrypted files.

"I will only be repeating this once more. The clue for this file is, 'my old friend' which.." Hongjoong pandered, waiting for Mingi to catch up. "Oh! Okay, I got it. Would you use Lyn or his whole government name?"

Hongjoong shrugged, "We'll try both and find out. I'm just.." he paused, raising his head to observe his computer again, bottom lip between his teeth out of nervousness. "I'm anxious. I don't know what we'll find at the end of that password."

Mingi rested a very gentle hand on Hongjoong's shoulder. "That's why I'm here. Nothing is too crazy for us when we face it together. Right?" When the younger smiled, Hongjoong almost smiled himself. It did feel better having someone else to endure it.

"Right.. Well, lets do this."

***

"Alright, after our recon mission this past Saturday, we've concluded that our main suspect is Kim Linsuk, aka Lyn. Here's what we know of him.." 

Wooyoung was leading today's meeting as he'd done research just for this purpose. Sitting in was Hongjoong, Seonghwa, San, Jongho, and Chief Namjoon. As Wooyoung went through the slideshow, he continued.

"Linsuk is a CEO of three different companies, a production company, water and oil reserve, and a smaller business that deals in trading. He built the smaller business, but otherwise, he inherited most of his fortune and work through family."

"Here's the kicker, Linsuk has already been suspected of murder and being associated with the mafia, before his official murder charges that landed him in jail. Those older claims were seemingly overlooked because.."

Wooyoung switched to a picture of an old article, there was a picture of Linsuk's mugshot and a burnt building. "15 years ago, Kim Linsuk would commit homicide and arson. The victims were a man and his wife, both renowned scientists."

"I honestly didn't look too much into their case, I mostly looked at his sentencing and court files. He was supposed to be put away for life, but was offered parole a year ago, leading to his release." 

Wooyoung sighed, obviously conflicted, "It also seems his business interactions have resumed like normal. This conference was supposedly to help bring in more partners. But.." Wooyoung trailed off, unsure if he should even state his own thoughts on the matter.

"But?" Namjoon urged Wooyoung to continue. The hacker smiled thankfully, "But I can't help but find it extremely fishy. With the code I received about this conference, it was clear someone is trying to tell us something. That was only confirmed this morning."

"San received a USB this morning and a few pages displaying blueprints of a building. Same note as last time, 'I thought this may be helpful for your case.' I checked the USB, it's an extensive and very specific hacking code."

Wooyoung pulled out the blueprints and passed them around. "This blueprint? It's to one of Kim Linsuk's trading office buildings. Massive building. It's treated like some sort of headquarters for all his business ventures."

Seonghwa quirked an eyebrow, looking up from the paper at Wooyoung. "What are you getting at here?"

Wooyoung shrugged, "I think this anon wants us to sneak into this building, hack the main frame system and find whatever this man has hidden." Wooyoung paused, remembering something peculiar. 

"I'm thinking we have more than just a murder on our hands. Listening to the recording from the conference, it seems their businesses are planning something big, and with this anon actively trying to expose it, the 'something big' can't be good."

San wrinkled his nose, "And how can we just trust this anon?"

Wooyoung gave a reassuring smile, "I checked this USB left and right for anything fishy, it's completely safe. Plus.. I just have a hunch."

Namjoon snorted, "A hunch.. how very Wooyoung of you."

"Yeah, well, sometimes my hunches are correct."

Hongjoong sighed, gaining everyone's attention. "So the USB is safe, how do we understand these blueprints or even get into this building?"

Wooyoung smiled, seemingly grateful Hongjoong asked. "Well that's just it! If you look on the blueprints, there's multiple lines mapping out the best entry and exit points. Ofcourse, this is only one step, we need a full plan to-"

"And you already have one, don't you?" Seonghwa said with and amused expression. 

Wooyoung nodded sheepishly, "It does need fine tuning from everyone and people need to decide what they want to do, but.. yes."

"Well?" San inquired, "What's your plan, Woo?"

"Okay! So-"

***

Seonghwa was about to leave for the day when he noticed San was sitting there at his desk still. Analyzing a piece of paper and zoning out. The office was nearly empty, aside from the two of them and it was quiet.

"San? Whatcha got there?" Seonghwa asked, curiously.

San jumped slightly and sighed upon seeing it was just Seonghwa standing there. "It's the note from this morning.. I can't help but feel the handwriting is familiar somehow?" Seonghwa quirked an eyebrow. "Oh?"

San offered the paper to the detective and Seonghwa looked it over carefully. It was familiar to him too. "Huh.. how odd, I recognize it from somewhere too.. Have you checked the cameras?" Seonghwa noted, handing it back to the officer. 

San nodded, "I have, but there's literally nothing out of the ordinary. People pass by my desk a lot more than I thought, but still, there was no deliberate view of someone putting the paper on my desk."

Seonghwa pondered it a little, but couldn't figure it out. It was like the idea was just in his reach, but not quite there yet. "Huh.. Well, maybe they'll reveal themselves sooner or later. It must be unsafe to be sneaking these clues to us."

San put the paper into the file for the case before putting it in his filing cabinet and locking it. "Do you really think Linsuk is our guy?" San asked suddenly, as the two were walking out of the building together. 

At the question, Seonghwa is brought back to that stairwell with Hongjoong, to the time in Hongjoong's living room. There were things Hongjoong still didn't talk about and the detective wasn't sure when he'd get details, but...

"I wouldn't put it past him." Seonghwa said, simply. San noticed his eyes had darkened a little as he said, "I just know he should still be behind bars." It was a little out of character for Seonghwa, ever the eccentric individual, even when it came to his job.

It seemed that maybe Seonghwa knew more about this guy than San did and that disturbed him a little. Ultimately, San chose to let it go, maybe he felt passionate about it knowing the guy was let out far too early and easily. 

"Let's hope we can get him then, huh, Hwa?" 

Seonghwa looked over at the other, they'd stopped just before they had to part ways to reach their allotted vehicle. He offered a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, thank you, San." They bid farewell to each other, Seonghwa getting into his car quickly.

Letting out a sigh, he turned the key to his car. 

"We'll get him, Joong, just watch."

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shorter chapter hehe, im tired T^T

steam le sserafim's  'CRAZY' EP yall -- it slays so hardddd