The Tenth Case (7)

The police car weaves through Gwangju's late-night traffic, its siren silent to avoid alerting our potential suspect. Despite the lack of audible alarm, the tension inside the vehicle is almost suffocating. Ko's hands grip the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white with strain. Her eyes are focused intently on the road ahead, occasionally flicking to the rearview mirror to ensure we're not being followed.

I sit in the passenger seat, a hastily compiled dossier open on my lap. The streetlights intermittently illuminate the pages as we pass, giving me brief glimpses of the information we've managed to gather in such a short time. In the back seat, Detective Kim and Sergeant Yoon are engrossed in their phones, coordinating with other team members and units, their hushed voices adding to the atmosphere of urgency.

"What can you tell me about her?" Ko asks, breaking the tense silence. Her voice is steady, but I can detect the underlying strain.