Black, Blue, and Gold (Book 2)

Turning Over A New Leaf (Part 7)

Lisa's phone rang just after she pulled the handbrake, finishing parking her car. She saw the name and sighed. "Yes, Chu?"

"Inspector Manoban, I need you to come in today." Jisoo's tone was far from friendly or casual.

"I know. I'm already at the parking lot. I'll be there in a minute."

"Good."

Jisoo then ended the call without another word.

Lisa knew she was in for a rough afternoon. She shook her head.

Jennie chose to stay silent all the way into the building. She went to Lisa's desk and sat down, watching Lisa strolling straight into Jisoo's office. She saw Chanyeol and Jongin at their desks. "How bad is it?" She asked in a low voice.

The two boys looked at her then shook their heads.

Jennie winced, diverting her eyes to the closed door and silently hoping that it wouldn't be too bad for Lisa and Joonmyun.

—

Lisa took one quick deep breath before she knocked at the door and opened it.

Several heads turned, looking at her. One person was seated, looking down at his hands.

Lisa closed the door behind her. "How bad is it?" She asked Jisoo.

"You tell me. He's your responsibility, Inspector Manoban," answered the captain coldly.

Chaeyoung and Seulgi said nothing, stealing quick glances at each other and sending Lisa warning signals through their eyes and animatedly moving eyebrows.

Lisa already knew the severity of the problem and the impending consequences even without the silent warnings from her friends. "What happened, exactly?" She asked the young man still staring at his own hands.

Joonmyun slowly lifted his head. He didn't look at Lisa. "I made a mistake, Inspector. I let personal feelings cloud my judgment." He gulped.

Jisoo handed Lisa a tablet. "The formal complaint. Filed by the post office manager."

Lisa stepped forward and took the tablet. She began reading the complaint email, detailing how an officer of the law had abused his authority by barging into a public service institution and impolitely demanded to see a staff member that was no longer employed there. It also mentioned how said officer began ranting loudly about the inefficiency of the postal service that had resulted in it aiding a crime, thereby disturbing and intimidating not only every staff in the post office but also innocent bystanders, citizens who were there. The manager made sure to emphasize how those accusations had offended not only him but also the entire South Korean postal service, which served the same people that the police agency was serving, and that it was disgraceful to hear such accusations coming from a ranked law enforcement officer.

Lisa took a deep breath. "Is all this true, Joonmyun?"

The young man clenched his jaws and nodded regretfully.

Lisa shook her head. "Why didn't you talk to me first?"

Joonmyun didn't answer.

"Since you claimed responsibility for him, Inspector Manoban, you are to issue a formal and official apology to the manager of the post office and every staff there," said Jisoo. She looked directly at Lisa. "Then go there to apologize to them in person." She took the tablet back. "And get the manager to drop this if possible. It's embarrassing and tainting our track record." She almost slammed the device on the table. "I've said what I wanted to say to Assistant Inspector Kim. He will be removed from the case effective immediately."