In a Maze...

Chapter 2

It was complete chaos around the estate of Park Misook. The reporters and journalists were demanding any words even from the police, who were trying to handle them.

The sea of them could not be broken apart even by the continuous car honks. Minsoo had to find somewhere else to park the car.

"Gonna be a pain in the ass," he commented.

They left the car and got themselves ready to make their way to the house, through the crowd.

"Excuse me," Seongho tried to call the attention of the reporters in front of them, blocking the way. But he was ignored.

Hyunwoo stepped forward and tapped a man before him, on the shoulder. With a big camera on his other shoulder, the man turned around uncomfortably.

"Excuse me. We're the detectives from the law enforcement," he pointed at his detective ID card, "Can you clear the way?"

The man's eyes brightened and changed the camera direction to film the detectives, "Hello, I'm from Channel News. Could you give a clear description of how Park Misook was murdered? Do you have any clues about her murderer?"

In a moment, the detectives were surrounded by a bustling crowd of reporters and journalists.

"Please, could you give us a way? We can't answer any of your questions yet," Mark tried to handle the situation.

Questions did not stop but the detectives were also already forcing their way through the pushes and pulls of the crowd. The police met the detectives and gave them a way.

Around the house were Crime Scene barricade tapes and at the entrance of the house were the two policemen guarding it.

"Anything new?" Seongho inquired. The two policemen shook their heads; the detectives continued into the house.

At the foot of one sofa in the living-room, a middle-aged woman, with her pale face, was letting out her sobs. It was an elegant living-room, with a number of classic, impressive paintings hung on the wall.

Like every other estate in this district, Pyeongchangdong, in terms of beauty and sophistication, this one was not an exception.

"Are you Park Misook's housemaid? We're the detectives. Could you show us her room where she was killed?" Seongho said and the maid looked up at them, before hurrying to her feet and bowing to them.

She did not say much but led them to the room in question. The door was already opened wide and the whole room was lit.

"Here, sir. Her body has already been moved by the police this morning."

"Thanks," Seongho said, "What's your name?"

"You can call me Chunja, sir."

"Well, Chunja, where is it exactly that you found her dead? What spot?"

There were no more traces of blood on the floor and it would have been difficult for someone to point at the exact place. But she did it effortlessly. Just about one yard away from the foot of the bed.

Seongho asked her about the gunshot sound but she was certain she had not heard anything last night. She was a light sleeper, she said, and a gunshot sound could have woken her up in an instant.

Hyunwoo and Mark moved to the window and examined the shattered glasses. On the windowsill, there was no trace of footprints.

"Thank you, Chunja," Seongho said, "You can go now. But we'd like to ask you a few questions later. Will it be okay?"