Case 10: The Killing Chain

"What are you doing?".

"Picklock".

Troy burst into panic, "What!? Are you crazy!!".

"No one answered the bell so something was up! My instinct tells me it's another case!" Rae answered ecstatically.

"Picklock is illegal!'' he scolded me.

"Oh you can cover my back won't you, partner?", Rae gave him a thumbs up. "The security camera is located forty-five degrees on my left, so you can position yourself there".

"What gives you the idea that I will help you!? And who taught you to pick locks!?" Troy asked, frustrated.

"Oh I did, well I learned from Youtube if that's what you're asking. I already experimented with my picklock ability on my flat keyhole, no big deal. I did one time and ended up locked inside my flat for the whole day. Fortunately, I got my keyhole fixed by the next day, ''Rae bragged like it’s an achievement. 

"And what gives you the idea that you will help me? Well of course to find the truth behind this serialized murder case" Rae flashed an arrogant smile toward Troy.

"Is that something to be bragged about?", Troy is perplexed. "And no! I won't help you!".

"Of course it is! It's the biggest accomplishment I ever had! Besides, it's a nifty skill!" Rae grinned proudly.

"Are you planning to be a burglar!?" Troy once again scolded her.

"No, but it is fun! Troy is such a downer lately, isn’t he?” Rae pouted in sarcasm.

"Hearing it from you makes me have this weird feeling like I wanna punch you” Troy growled.

However, after she examines the door, she realizes that there is no keyhole for her to pick locks. The door key uses a keycard. Fortunately, there are no signs of break-ins.

Troy holds his laugh, he resists to laugh in front of her but she knows he's secretly mocking her.

"Laugh all you want Troy, I have another ace card in my sleeve".

"What ace card?".

She pulls out an anonymous card from her pocket, it's a special card she has kept in her possession for emergencies. Troy looks at her strangely, he doesn't seem to understand her UNO reverse card, the card purpose in this investigation

"This is a multipurpose card", Rae smiled as she put the card in front of the door card reader, and then the door immediately unlocked by itself in a blink of an eye.

Troy is surprised, he widened his mouth fit enough for flies to enter freely. "Wait, wait, wait that's illegal! What kind of card is that!?'' he whispered. "Ahh let's just say this card has the function to synchronize the algorithm of every card reader door", she smiles proudly. "This is 2021 Troy, nothing is impossible my friend".

Troy looks scared and soon keeps his mouth shut afterward. Rae opens the door slowly, but even as she opens the door they don't sense a single soul passed by, the serene environment is odd and suspicious. They walk in further to Yoo Jae Sung flat, the room is spacious and big as expected of a rich executive family. The living room smells rich, a golf bag neatly placed next to the blu-ray television set.

"This is weird" Troy finally spoke. He pulls out his gun from his socket.

"I have a bad feeling,'' Rae muttered under her breath. She follows Troy's previous action, which is to pull her gun out from her socket.

Her hunch is confirmed. When they reach the dining room area, which is located after the living room. They found a corpse on the floor, in bloody and gruesome conditions. The victim is Yoo Jae Sung's father.

"Wait, how about his mother?", Troy asked worriedly.

"Go check the other room, Troy, I will check the body and call backup,'' the female detective commanded.

"Roger that", he replied hurriedly. She kneeled and touched his wrist for a pulse. "He's long gone", she pondered. Rae also noticed his temperature was quite cold, moreover, the air conditioner made her unable to estimate the time of his death. This case might be more than she thought it would be.

Troy suddenly ran to her with a calm expression. "Rae, his wife is on the bed, she seems to be in healthy condition but she's asleep".

"She's in deep slumber huh, strange,'' she thought to herself.

"I'll call a reinforcement, secure the crime scene Troy", Rae ordered the rookie police.

* * *

"Another murder case huh", Jae Min came along with Sarah, another member of Inspector Vaan’s investigation team. Jae Min is disgusted by the state of the corpse, he almost puked himself. Rae examines the corpse carefully, there were no signs of struggle and fight. "He was killed unprepared", Troy took the words from my mouth.

"You're observant Troy, ten points to Troy", Rae smiles at him. "Anything else you notice Troy?".

Troy kneeled and furrowed his forehead, he checked the corpse attire and the postures of the corpse. The man wore purple pajamas and he died with his chest faced downwards.

"This posture indicated that he might be murdered unprepared, possibly from behind,'' the female detective answered before Troy could answer. "He's also-".

"There's a curl on his pajama pants, and his pants were pulled downwards, showing a little bit of his butt line", Troy cut her off. "I don't like where this is going, Rae".

"I agree, but the method of the killer is rather different than usual", she strokes her chin. "What do you think Troy?".

"Yeah, the culprit dropped lots of evidence. He manages to hide the victim's time of death but he's unable to clean the crime scene which tells me that he's in a hurry".

"Points taken Troy, you're quite observant", Rae smiled to the rookie police.

There are no signs of Cannibal killer teeth marks on the victim, was it done by a different person? Only God knows what happened in this cursed building, not until the results come out clean.

Jae Min watches us from afar with a grin. Sarah followed his gestures.

"My, my what do we have here? A new love blooming?'' Jae Min grins. Sarah plays with her long dark hair playfully, "Shouldn't we leave them alone Jae Min?".

"This lady is not even close to Jae Min, but she dares to touch him? You're not even close with him, how could she!? Well, to be honest, it's not my concern but still, I sensed she's giving a 'hot' vine, that sly woman" Rae thoughts to herself. "And what's with the hair? Is she trying to attract Jae Min or something?".

Sarah is Inspector Vaan underlings, she’s a woman who likes younger innocent men. Rae could have guessed that Jae Min is Sarah’s type. She twirled her ridiculous brunette wavy hair to entice Jae Min.

"Ugh shut up! We're not lovers okay!", Troy pout. "Why aren't you saying anything Rae?".

He looks at Rae strangely. "Why? Cause it's not important right now?".

Troy scowls at her in defeat, probably upset. Jae Min beams at her enthusiastically, he circled his arm around Rae’s neck.

"You're being 'overly' friendly my dear assistant, get off from me", she glares at Jae Min.

"Oooh, what's this? Do I smell love blossoming between Ms. Rae and that rookie?"Jae Min teases them.

"No", Rae replied short. "Just get off from me".

I could feel Sarah and Troy glare from the distance. Rae understood why Sarah would glare at her, but she couldn't think of a reason why Troy would glare at Jae Min. When the female detective was about to say something, Troy pulled the detective off from Jae Min forcefully.

"What are you doing?" Rae sighed at the rookie.

"Nothing! Stop playing around and focus on the crime scene!", Troy pouted. "Tch", she clicked her tongue. Sarah coughed awkwardly, "Guys, Inspector Vaan will come here shortly".

Jae Min, Troy, and Rae widened their eyes surprised.

"I received a call that he will check the crime scene", Sarah fidgeted. Everyone was fidgeting nervously. If Inspector Vaan knows that Rae’s broke in illegally, she wouldn’t hear the end of it.

"My dear assistant, I have to buy a frappuccino", Rae walked fast from the crime scene.

"Huh? But how about the crime scene? Who will report it to the Inspector!?", Jae Min asked.

"Oh why of course it's you, my dear friend, Jae Min", I patted his shoulder. Troy follows her from behind, "I'll go with Rae".

Just when she was about to escape, Jae Min pulled her coat. "Whoa, wait a minute, how did you and Troy break-in?" He gave her an uncomfortable look. "How can I explain it to Inspector Vaan?", Jae Min glared at the female detective.

"Just tell him that I'm the one who did it, what's so hard about it?", Rae asked the uneasy man in front of her.

"Huh!? If that happens you'll get the punishment! Or maybe worse, got taken off the case!" Jae Min panicked

She pats Jae Min shoulder with a smile.

"Come on, remember your favorite quote? 'My friends are my power! This is your chance to shine and defend me! Make up an excuse! Ciao!" Rae made her escape along with Troy who followed her trails. 

“COME BACK HERE MS. RAE!” Jae Min shrieked in horror.