I Can Hear a Serial Killer's Voice in My Head

Chapter 120: The Visit

I arrive at the police station early in the morning, my heart pounding but my exterior calm. As I approach the front desk, I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I know will be an uphill battle.

"Good morning," I say, flashing my badge. "I'm Detective Park Minjun from the Seoul Metropolitan Investigative Unit. I'm here to speak with Lee Chunsik."

The desk sergeant looks up, his face a mixture of surprise and suspicion. "Lee Chunsik? I'm sorry, but he's not available for visitors. He's in the middle of an ongoing investigation."

I nod, having expected this response. "I understand, but this isn't a social call. It's related to an ongoing investigation by our unit."

The sergeant frowns. "I wasn't informed of any involvement from your unit. I'm afraid I can't authorize this without approval from higher up."

"I see," I say, keeping my voice level. "In that case, could you please contact your superior? I'd be happy to explain the situation to them."

The sergeant hesitates, then nods reluctantly. He picks up the phone and makes a brief call. A few minutes later, a middle-aged man in a crisp uniform approaches, his face set in a stern expression.

"I'm Senior Inspector Jeon," he introduces himself. "I understand you're requesting to speak with Lee Chunsik?"

I nod, extending my hand. "Detective Park Minjun, Seoul Metropolitan Investigative Unit. Yes, I need to speak with Lee regarding an ongoing investigation."

Senior Inspector Jeon shakes my hand firmly but doesn't soften his expression. "I'm sorry, Detective, but even if you are from the Metropolitan Unit, we can't allow you to interfere with our investigation. Lee Chunsik is a high-profile suspect in multiple cases."

I take a deep breath, reminding myself to stay calm. "I understand your position, but I'm afraid I must insist. As a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Investigative Unit, I have the authority to pursue leads related to our cases, even if they intersect with ongoing local investigations."

Senior Inspector Jeon's eyes narrow. "And what case exactly are you investigating that involves Lee Chunsik?"

I meet his gaze steadily. "I'm afraid that information is classified at this time. However, I can cite the relevant regulations that grant me this authority."

Without waiting for a response, I begin reciting the specific clauses and regulations that Han and I had reviewed the night before. "According to Section 7, Subsection C of the Metropolitan Police Operational Guidelines, members of our unit have the right to interview suspects in cases that may have connections to ongoing metropolitan-level investigations.

Furthermore, Regulation 15-B states that..."

I continue for several minutes, laying out a comprehensive legal argument for my right to speak with Lee. Senior Inspector Jeon listens, his frown deepening, but I can see a glimmer of resignation in his eyes.

Finally, he holds up a hand to stop me. "Alright, Detective. You've made your point. I still don't like this, but it seems I don't have much choice. You can have 30 minutes with Lee Chunsik." .net

Relief washes over me, but I keep my expression professional. "Thank you. I appreciate your cooperation."

Senior Inspector Jeon nods curtly. "Officer Kim will escort you to the holding area. Remember, 30 minutes only. And we'll be monitoring the conversation."

I've overcome the first hurdle, but the real challenge lies ahead. In just a few minutes, I'll be face to face with the man who allegedly killed my parents.

We stop outside a nondescript door. Officer Kim turns to me. "Are you ready, Detective?"

I nod, taking a deep breath. "I'm ready."

As the door opens, I steel myself for whatever lies ahead. Thirty minutes. Thirty minutes to look into the eyes of a killer, to search for the truth, to maybe finally get some answers.

I step through the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest. The room is small and stark, with a single table and two chairs. And there, sitting on the other side, is Lee Chunsik.

I freeze, momentarily taken aback. This is not what I expected.

Lee Chunsik, the man accused of brutal murders and rapes, looks... gentle. Delicate, even. His features are fine, almost handsome, with a softness that seems at odds with his alleged crimes. He could be a character from a romance novel, aged gracefully into his late 40s. It's jarring, this disconnect between his appearance and the horrors he's accused of committing.

The door closes behind me with a soft click, leaving us alone. Lee looks up, his eyes curious.

"Who are you?" he asks, his voice surprisingly melodious.

I shake myself out of my brief stupor, reminding myself why I'm here. I sit down across from him, meeting his gaze steadily.

"I'm Detective Park Minjun from the Seoul Metropolitan Investigative Unit," I say, keeping my voice neutral. "I have some questions about your cases."

Lee sighs, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "I've already been through all this. Multiple times."

"I understand," I say, "but I need to hear it from you directly. Let's start with the Shin Miso case from 2015. Can you walk me through what happened?"

Lee leans back in his chair, his delicate fingers drumming on the table. Then he begins to speak, his voice taking on a detached, almost rehearsed quality.

"It was a Tuesday night. I saw her leaving work late, around 10 PM. I followed her to the bus stop on Gangnam-daero. When she got off at her stop, I..."

As Lee continues, describing the details of the crime with an unsettling precision, something clicks in my mind. At the exact same moment, Bundy's voice echoes in my head, perfectly in sync with my own thought:

"He's reciting it like a script."

I lean forward slightly, my eyes never leaving Lee's face. "Mr. Lee," I interrupt, "can you tell me about any details that weren't in your official statement? Something you might have forgotten to mention before?"

Lee blinks, his rhythm broken. For a split second, I see something flicker in his eyes - uncertainty? Fear? But it's gone so quickly I can't be sure.

"I don't understand," he says, his voice losing some of its melodious quality. "I've told you everything. It's all in my confession."

Lee's face contorts with frustration, his earlier composure cracking. "What more do you want from me?" he snaps, his melodious voice taking on a harsh edge. "I've given you all the details the police asked for. Every single one."

I lean forward, about to press further, but Lee continues, his words tumbling out in a rush.

"Are you trying to make me cook up more evidence? More statements?" He laughs bitterly. "Isn't what I've already shared more than enough to make me the murderer you all want me to be?"

The accusation hangs in the air between us. I open my mouth to protest, to explain that I'm just seeking the truth, but before I can speak, the door behind me swings open.

Officer Kim steps in, his face impassive. "Time's up, Detective. Your 30 minutes are over."

I nod slowly, my eyes still fixed on Lee. As I stand to leave, I see a change come over him. The frustration melts away, replaced by something else - a smug satisfaction that sends a chill down my spine.

Lee grins at me, a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. It's a knowing look, as if he's privy to a secret I can't begin to fathom. Then, just as quickly, he turns away, dismissing me entirely.

I walk out of the room, my mind whirling with questions. That grin, that sudden shift in demeanor - it all feels wrong. It's as if Lee dropped a mask for just a moment, revealing something darker underneath.

As Officer Kim leads me back through the station, I can't shake the feeling that I've just scratched the surface of something much bigger and much more sinister than I'd imagined. Lee's words echo in my head: "the murderer you all want me to be."

What did he mean by that? And why do I have the sinking feeling that the truth is slipping further away from me with each passing moment?

As I step out of the police station, the bright sunlight momentarily blinds me. I reach into my pocket for my sunglasses and feel my phone vibrate. Pulling it out, I see a text message from Han:

"How did it go? Any breakthroughs?"

I lean against my car, considering how to respond. The encounter with Lee was... unsettling, to say the least. But I'm not ready to share my suspicions over text. Instead, I type out a brief reply:

"Got to see Lee. Only 30 mins. Heading to the scene of his latest victim now. Will brief you later."

I hit send and slide the phone back into my pocket. The scene of Lee's latest alleged crime - it's not much, but it's a lead. Maybe there, among the physical evidence, I'll find something that the reports missed, something that could shed light on the inconsistencies I'm beginning to see.