PROLOGUE

The numerous splashes of blood covering the tile walls appeared black under the red fluorescent lights. Fast-paced electronic music blared from right outside the door, filling the entire club with lively energy, but the sound of a human skull colliding with tile created an entirely different atmosphere inside the bathroom.

"I know you brought the sample. How many more times do I need to bash your fucking head in before you tell me who you gave it to?"

The voice that spoke was female and of a harsh, smoky quality. It seemed that the speaker was caught between frustration and a sense of sadistic thrill.

The doctor, however, was clearly not enjoying himself at all.

"Already…told you…I don't…have it…"

"Bullshit."

A manicured hand grabbed the man by his collar and shoved him forehead-first into the mirror. Several cracks spread across its surface on impact. The feminine voice was dropped to a whisper.

"You want me to kill you. You want to die with the information you have in order to protect your family. I know how it goes, Dr. Park."

His face was pressed harder into the glass, causing hairline cracks to race to the edges of the mirror. Blood ran down the mirror and fell as droplets on the dirty sink.

Dr. Park did not reply.

"How about I show you the little trinket I've been keeping in my pocket? It might get you to talk."

Dr. Park's head was pulled back just enough for him to see what was being held in front of him. He squinted with his left eye, which only had blood in it— not glass shards like his right eye had.

It was a fingernail.

A real, human fingernail with holographic polish on the top side and dried blood on the bottom.

"Park Yu-jin books an appointment at Identity Nails in Ishimi District on the first Tuesday of every month at four P.M. She sees the same nail tech for every appointment: Mia Hong. While most clients at Identity Nails ask for acrylics, Park Yu-jin does not. Instead, she asks for high-dollar polish on her natural nails, because she spends a small fortune on her natural nails to keep them strong and healthy. Her friends are quite envious of her nails, and she makes sure that she tells everyone who compliments on her nails that they are not fakes. They are her pride and joy." She paused. "So they were the first thing we removed."

Dr. Park still did not respond. Instead, he slowly fell to his knees, hitting his jaw on the edge of the sink on the way down.

"As beautiful as she is, Park Yu-jin isn't very clever. She has cheated on all of her exams for the past six years, and yet, she still manages to keep her place at one of the best schools in the city. I wonder how that is possible?"

"Please…"

Dr. Park began to cry for the first time since the interrogation began, but it was of little use.

"You may have a doctorate and a stable job, Mr. Park, but you don't make enough to pay for your daughter's tuition and personal expenses on top of your wife's gambling debts. So, you had to use your skills a different way…"

"Okay!"

The plea broke through the air. Sobbing, Dr. Park crawled to rest his chin on bloodied rainboots and beg for mercy.

"I gave the sample to Khaimov! Well, not directly Khaimov, but to one of his—"

"But you work for the Foxes. Khaimov doesn't do business with the Foxes…not in the past decade. Are you double crossing? Why betray your wife's former syndicate? Are you upset that they caused her suicide?"

The doctor fell silent, but before more than thirty seconds could pass, a second nail was dropped on the floor.

"Khaimov is able to quadruple what the Foxes could ever afford to pay me. That, and he offered personal security for my daughter and I."

"Well, it looks like you won't need security for you and your daughter anyway—"

"Wait," Dr. Park interrupted as he pulled himself into a kneeling position, "I'll pay my taxes. I'll serve as long as you need me to. You can kill me, even. Just please—"

"I'm not with the police."

Before Dr. Park could utter another word, he was grabbed by the collar again and shoved into the mirror repeatedly, until none of the mirror was left on the wall.

The doctor fell to the floor. Pieces of glass cracked under his limp body.

He was searched. Stripped of all of his personal belongings.

And then he was left to rot in the germ-ridden bathroom of Club K.