AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart
Chapter 33
written by LoveCR2 -- 2005
edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017
"Like I said, it was lover's spat, not a crime... People get confused about things all the time, right?" -- Bae In-Soo
SEOUL PRE-TRIAL DETENTION CENTER, UIWANG ...
"Isn't it a bit after office hours for a shyster like you to show up now?" Bae In-Soo jokingly reproves the lawyer, after duly noting his expensive suit, as they sit across a table in a sparsely furnished conference room of Seoul's main jail. "And when did the court start assigning public defenders who can afford gold cufflinks?"
The man smiles back at In-Soo. "Apparently you have a benefactor interested in seeing that justice is done in this case."
In-Soo leans forward with interest. "Now you're talking. What gives?"
"I persuaded the Assistant Prosecutor to drop the blackmail charges this afternoon," the lawyer informs him, "after securing a statement from their star witness. The good nun-to-be refused to testify against you, claiming that she believes in 'complete forgiveness, like I've received from God'. Without her on the stand, all the Prosecutor has is a tape recording, which we can reasonably claim is fabricated evidence."
In-Soo shrugs. "Like I said, it was lover's spat, that's all, not a crime."
"And on the charge of attempted murder," the lawyer continues, "The Assistant Prosecutor dropped that, too. It seems the so-called 'eyewitnesses' all want to either recant their initial statements, or don't recall what they thought they saw."
In-Soo shrugs again. "People get confused about things all the time, right? I tell you, it was a matter of misidentification all along."
The lawyer eyes him carefully. "The Prosecutor wanted to open a probe on possible witness coercion…"
"Don't look at me!" In-Soo retorts, his smile coldly smug. "I've been safely locked up here the entire time, no threat to anyone."
"Of course," the lawyer concurs. "Which is why I was able to have you released tonight."
He stands and closes his briefcase with a snap. "Shall we go out, Mr. Bae? You're a free man now."
20 MINUTES LATER ...
In-Soo and the lawyer come out of the prison gate together. The street outside is quiet at the late hour, and the streetlights cast a cold white glare onto them.
"Your benefactor sent a car," the lawyer says as he motions toward a black limo idling at the curb, where a tall, beefy man in a black suit stands impassively, sentry-like.
"See ya later, then," In-Soo immediately starts off for the car.
The guard opens the front passenger door and wordlessly motions for In-Soo to get in, then closes the door and resumes his previous stance.
Separating the front and back seats is a black smoked-glass panel, hiding the identity of whomever In-Soo is meeting with. "Thanks for the 'get out of jail free' card," he cracks a joke.
"It's not entirely free," a deep male voice responds from the car speakers. "The party I represent has a certain job for you."
"And what if I turn down that job?"
"Uncertain memories can be as readily recovered as they are lost," the voice warns.
"Just speculating," In-Soo quickly changes his tack. "Actually, I could use a good job right now, given I'm currently unemployed."
"I'm glad you've decided to see things appropriately. A down payment for your services is in the glove box."
In-Soo pops the glove box open. Inside is a thick white envelope and a cell phone. He takes out the envelope and opens the flap, to see it is stuffed with 10,000 won notes.
"So, what's the job about?" In-Soo asks.
"We'll be in touch, Mr. Bae. In the meantime, stay out of trouble," the voice orders.
In-Soo smiles as he picks up the cell phone, "What trouble? I'm the model of good behavior."
Without notice, the car door opens, and the guard motions for In-Soo to get out. Closing the door with a shove, he circles the car and gets in the driver's seat.
The car drives off as In-Soo watches from the curb, hefting the thick envelope in his hand.
"Like the man said," he chuckles, "It looks like justice was done in this case..."