Dahye glanced toward Eunhye. Her sister was standing behind Officer Han, her hands hovering over his neck.Don’t, she wanted to say. Eunhye smiled.
“And when was the last time you saw Mr. Jang?”
“I’m not sure. It’s been a while since we stopped seeing each other.”
“Give us your best estimate.”
“A month ago? Maybe longer?”
More scribbling. Dahye blinked, trying to read his miniscule writing.
“You were the woman in the video that was leaked, right?”
“Sir?” Dahye stammered.
Officer Lim looked apologetic. “The family hired a private investigator to find the identity of the woman in the video. That’s why we’re here.”
“Yes,” Dahye said, suddenly angry. “It was me. So what?” Eunhye’s hands were nearly touching Officer Han now. He shivered and looked around, the corners of his mouth turning downward.
“We’re not here to upset you,” Officer Lim said gently. “We’re trying to get to the bottom of what happened.”
“Oh,nowyou’re trying to get to the bottom of things! What about when I went to the police to ask them to help me when it first happened? I still haven’t gotten a call from—whatever his name is. Your boss.”
Officer Lim cleared his throat. “Miss Park,” he said. “Please. There’s no need to get hysterical. We’re here to talk about Jang Hyukjoon. Now. Were you angry at Mr. Jang over what happened? Did you want to hurt him? Get revenge?”
“No. I loved Hyukjoon.”
The two officers looked at each other. “Loved?”
“Love,” Dahye stammered.
Officer Lim opened his mouth to say something, but just as he did, a loudthumpcame from Dahye’s bedroom. Officer Lim’s head snapped toward the sound, his hand moving to the gun.
“Is someone here with you?” he asked.
“No, I’m by myself,” Dahye said, trying to stay calm. “That was probably the neighbors. The walls are thin.”
“Then you won’t mind if we take a look around?”
Dahye gritted her teeth. “Be my guest,” she said, hoping Junyoung had taken her threats seriously.
Officer Lim pushed her bedroom door open. “If there’s someone in here, come out with your hands up!” he said loudly.
Time slowed. Dahye leaned against the wall to steady herself. Eunhye was muttering, the water dripping from her body. Officer Lim took one step into her room, and right there, on the other side, was Junyoung, lying naked, gagged, and bound, his face covered in blood. Somehow the bastard had managed to get out of the closet.
Dahye stumbled backward as the officers turned, their mouths dropping open in shock. Officer Lim began to draw his gun. At his feet, Junyoung gurgled, choking on her sock. AndEunhye—Eunhye began to scream. To chant. “KILL THEM ALL!” Her hands closed around Officer Han’s throat, and he dropped to the ground, swatting at the empty air, trying to break free from the invisible hands that were choking him.
Even now, Eunhye was so beautiful. And, as Dahye watched her, she realized that the two of them were more similar in appearance than she had originally thought. She could no longer tell whom she was looking at anymore.
“Drop to the floor,” Officer Lim screamed at Dahye. “Hands up! Put your hands up!”
Eunhye—or was it Dahye?—smiled, and then she lunged toward Junyoung’s naked body, her fingers clawing at his throat.
There was an ear-splitting blast. The noise ricocheted off the walls as the acrid smell of gunpowder settled in the apartment.
When the smoke cleared, Officer Lim stood with the gun clutched in his hands. Wisps of gray floated gently from the end of the weapon as blood leaked from the ragged hole in Dahye’s chest. She stood completely still before slowly crumpling to the floor. She was making awful, inhuman noises that made the hair on Junyoung’s neck stand on end.
At first, he thought she was crying. And then he realized she was laughing. Her mouth was cracked wide open in a smile. She was so terrible, this crazy bitch, and when she reached for Junyoung, he shrank away. He couldn’t believe he had ever loved her. When she grew still, he was flooded with relief.