2. Postponement (2) Detective Han

"Just a moment."

Sun-woo's brother stopped mid-sentence to answer a phone call.

"Congrats for what... Catching the criminal is a celebratory matter? That murderer was already facing life imprisonment, and with our father's murder added, won't he get the death penalty? Do they still execute nowadays? That would be a relief. Anyway, thanks! I've been busy taking calls all day, even had visitors... Sure, let's have a drink at my place next time."

After hanging up, he went to the kitchen and returned with instant coffee in a paper cup.

"Sorry, what were you saying?"

"I'm sorry, I can't drink coffee."

Sun-woo's brother raised his eyebrows and sipped the coffee I had declined.

"I was wondering if I could get in touch with Sun-woo. Do you know where he is... or maybe his phone number?"

"I lost contact with Sun-woo too. Mom wants to see him, but there's been no news. Calls just say the number doesn't exist... Maybe he still holds a grudge against the family. We should wait quietly. It's been almost 5 years since we reported him missing."

He spoke, glancing at the calendar on the wall. My mouth suddenly felt dry."A missing person report? So, the police haven't found him?"

"Yeah. The police checked his phone records, even exit records... nothing. It's like he vanished, hoping no one would look for him. Poor guy."

He went into an adjacent room and brought back a business card. 'Seon-tak Kim, Real Estate Consultant,' it read on golden paper. It surprised me that people still used such cards. Seon-tak's name reminded me of the fun stories Sun-woo used to share.

"If you hear anything about my brother, please contact me. I'm concerned, but Mom really misses Sun-woo. She wishes to see him at least once before she passes..."

His eyes reddened quickly. Seeing him, I felt tears welling up and looked away.

"When was the last time you saw Sun-woo?"

"I can't remember. You know, after Dad passed away, things were chaotic. I visited Sun-woo's apartment one winter, but it was all cleared out. I thought he would come back soon."

A faded family photo, almost black and white, lay among the pots on the windowsill. Seon-tak sat in the middle, with his mother and father hugging his shoulders. Sun-woo leaned out awkwardly from behind his father. The unbalanced family photo seemed unlikeable to Sun-woo.I gave Seon-tak my number, asking him to contact me if he found Sun-woo, just as he requested. Leaving the villa, the walk to my car felt longer than before.I spotted the bus stop where Sun-woo and I used to wait. Our uniformed figures on a clear day flickered like a mirage. The nearby plane tree stood bare, its once lush leaves gone. Even for this ancient tree, misfortune hadn't come slowly.Before getting in my car, I photographed Seon-tak's card and tossed it into a convenience store trash can. Maybe Sun-woo, like Seon-tak the Real Estate Consultant said, didn't want to be found, forgotten by all. If so, was his promise to call me a lie to bind me?

*

Heading home, I turned towards the police station.As evening approached, the darkness deepened. The central police station was relatively brighter, thanks to the headlights of passing cars on the six-lane road and lights spilling from buildings. The sliding gate at the entrance was firmly closed. I parked in an emergency spot and headed to the building marked 'General Affairs Office,' but a large sign read 'Office Operations Suspended' and directed to use online services. I drove back to the entrance. As I reversed and braked, a man from the main building ran towards me, startled.

"What's the matter?"

I rolled down the window and looked up at him."

I have a question about a missing person."

"Please file it in the online office or contact the call center."

He hurried back to the building as soon as he finished speaking. Desperate, I called after him.

"The Namyeon River murder case!"

He stopped abruptly. I continued, more assertively.

"Kim Sun-woo, suspected in that case, is missing. You know about it, right?"

"Wait here."

He signaled me to wait and started radioing someone. Soon, another man emerged from the police station. Balding, he walked pigeon-toed, hands in his pockets.

"A journalist? From where?"

He peered into my car.

"No, not a journalist. I wanted to inquire about Kim Sun-woo. He's missing, do you know his last whereabouts..."

Before I could finish, he turned away. Just then, a siren began to wail, a sound I despised, yet in that moment, I welcomed it. I rolled up the window and locked the door. The man returned hastily, pulling at my passenger door.

"Please, let me in until this noise stops."

He sat down in the passenger seat.

"Who are you?"

I asked, knowing he was police.

"Didn't you know?"

"I'm not sure."

He fumbled in his jacket pocket, looking embarrassed.

"Damn, forgot my card."

How often do you meet two people still using business cards in a day?

"Ah, I'm Han In-cheol, detective in charge of the Namyeon River case. But why ask about Kim Sun-woo? You're not a journalist."

Hope finally seemed to emerge.

"I want to meet him, but can't contact him.

""What's your relationship?"

"A friend."

Detective Han looked skeptical.

"Can I know his exit records or last known location?"

"Can't share unless you're immediate family. Ask his brother about his last whereabouts. I think he filed the missing report."

He stared out the window, droplets falling and evaporating.

"His brother doesn't know either. Is the missing person investigation ongoing?"

"Oh, come on! Who investigates adult disappearances, especially years old? Do you know how many reports we receive? Just today, over a hundred. Who can handle all that? Many officers have left, and those remaining are deployed to handle these rioters, SEDs or something. There's hardly anyone left. Watch the news. Don't you have a TV at home?"

Detective Han sneered. I felt a sudden sting - I really didn't have a TV.