Money Loving CEO's Detective Lover

Chapter 102: 11:59 (19)

The neighborhood was quiet as the residents slept blissfully. There was only one working streetlight while the rest were out of order. The road was dark but a lone figure was walking along it as quietly as possible. Hwang Junho had his hoodie up as he made his way to his destination.

"Where is he?" he muttered to himself. He was carrying a bag on his shoulder and stood under the lamp, checking his watch. It was past 2 AM and he was waiting for someone. His patience was running out as he tapped his foot.

Suddenly he heard the scrapping of feet approaching his way. A person shrouded in a long shawl came into view. Junho groaned as the man stood in front of him.

"What's with the weird getup?" he scoffed. Underneath the shawl was a man in his fifties. He had snowy white hair and a portly stature. His neck was hidden beneath his chubby face and he walked with a limp. But the man's attire made him stand out the most.

He wore a set of mismatched clothes. The red top was too tight for his body shape and he wore very loose yellow pants with them. There were colorful beads around his neck and there were strangely shaped bracelets on his wrists.

"Junho!" the man exclaimed. "My buddy!"

The man attempted to hug Junho but he backed off, feeling irritated.

"You look like a fraud, Shijin," Junho scowled. "What's with the strange clothes? I thought you wanted to stay anonymous."

"I like the dress," Shinjin grinned. "It makes me feel young."

"Makes you look like an old hag."

"You're just jealous that you can't pull it off!"

"I don't want to wear such filthy clothes!" Junho said in aghast. "But enough of that nonsense. What news do you have?"

Shinjin smirked. Lan Shinjin was a freelance exorcist who had been working with Junho for the past two decades. They had first met when Junho was chasing his wife's killer to Country A. Even though Junho had almost caught the ghost at that time, the spirit had managed to escape and almost killed Junho. If it was not for the timely interference from Shinjin, Junho would have died that day.

"You sure are obsessed with that spirit," Shinjin sighed. He took out a file and handed it to him. Junho glanced through it. He raised his eyebrows as he read the documents. 

"This" he began. "That spirit is controlling other spirits now? How?"

"Who knows," Shinjin shrugged. "But the method of killing is the same."

Junho picked out the photos of the crime scenes. One spouse killed the other but have no idea how or why they did it. Who would believe that a spirit made them do it?"

"How do you know these people were possessed?" Junho frowned. "There could be a chance they're lying! After all, this spirit could possess anyone."

"For some reason, this spirit is targeting married couples," Shinjin said thoughtfully. "In some cases, it's the husband being possessed whilst in others it's the wife. In short, he's got something against married couples."

"But why these people?" Junho demanded. "Why was it Suna? What did she do to him?"

"Only he can tell that," Shinjin sighed. "The only reason I thought these people may have been possessed is because all of them had one thing in common. It was the smell of sulphur which lingered in the air after they killed their husband or wife. And that they saw a white orb leaving their bodies after they were done killing. In your case, the orb left your wife's body after you..."

He did not dare to go on. Junho's face hardened and his fingers were clenched into a fist. Shinjin cleared his throat.

"I tried contacting a few of the inmates," he went on. "Most don't even remember what they did while the others were reluctant to even believe that they were possessed. But there was one who looked nervous as if he wanted to say something. I think he'll talk if we coerce him."

"Where is he now?" Junho asked.

"In a prison right outside the city," Shinjin replied. "If we go tomorrow, we can meet him."

Junho was a little hesitant. That would mean he must go into a police protected area and he was not sure whether he could take the risk. He knew that his son was out for his blood and had spies all over the city. So far, Junho had kept his head down, trying to find that spirit and prove his innocence. 

But that ghost was hiding behind his army, watching his every move. There was no way to find him and Junho was at his wit's end. 

"When will this end?" he lamented. He shook his head in despair. His son loathed him and his daughter does not even know of his existence. He does not even know what his little girl looked like. She must have grown up and forgotten all about him or like Minho, she must also hate him.

"I want to see my family again," he admitted. "I want to return to my wife's grave and finally face her! But until I find her killer, I can't even do that"

He leaned against the lamp pole and sat on the ground, exhausted. Shinjin pitied the man. There was a time when Hwang Junho had everything but in one night, he lost it all. His family, his friends, his reputation. Most importantly, he lost his heart. After being accused of his wife's murder, he had lost all hope. His wife may have been possessed but he was the one holding the knife that killed her.

"Finding him won't be easy, Junho," Shinjin told him. "That spirit is too powerful and deranged. You can't fight against him on your own. You'll need someone who would be able to see him. If only that girl still had her powers. Why did you let her give it up?"

"Gayoon had suffered enough," Junho said flatly. "And I am not going to trouble her anymore."

"What about her daughter?" Shinjin asked. "It would be a waste to let that ability go to waste-"

He faltered under Junho's angry gaze. "Let me be clear," he warned. "Do not go near Gayoon or her daughter. We will find that spirit without their help. I don't want Gayoon to suffer nor do I want to involve her daughter. So don't go looking for that child. Understood?"

Shinjin gulped and nodded. Hwang Junho may not have his influence anymore but that man was no less dangerous. 

"I'll take this and talk to that inmate," he announced. "Thank you for your help."

With that, he turned on his heels and left the exorcist behind. I will find you, Junho swore.