Chapter 13 - The Choi Family: Part 2

- Okay, now we'll get to you, Madam Lee.- Soo Min said, looking at the woman.- But before that I would like to ask where is your son? We also need to ask him some questions.- she added.

- Ah, it just came to my mind that Hyun Sik went to Gwangju days ago... My son has his summer house there, where he can peacefully make his creations.- said Madam Lee, slightly embarrassed that she had forgotten such an important detail.

- It's okay.- Hyun Woo said suddenly.- It's Gwangju city in Gyeonggi Province?- he asked, and when Madam Lee nodded affirmatively, continued.- We will go to Gwangju later and talk to him there.- he assured, smiling slightly. One could see that after leaving of Mr. Choi, Hyun Woo regained some good humor.

- Exactly.- Soo Min confirmed, glancing at her partner, then focused on the woman.- Your name is Lee Eun Hee, right? Mr. Choi's wife and a fashion designer. And you're a mother of Choi Ye Eun, on Monday you reported her missing at our station.- she asked after a while.

- Yes, that's right.- Madam Lee confirmed.- Ye Eun always came home after those parties, and if she stayed with someone for the night she called me. That's why when my daughter didn't come back and wasn't answering the phone, I got seriously scared. I called all her close friends, but nobody knew anything about her whereabouts, even that fiance of her. That's why I went to the police.- she explained.

- I understand.- Soo Min replied, glancing at the same time whether Hyun Woo kept up with taking notes. Mr Choi spoke much more slowly, Madam Lee almost sputtered words at a very fast pace, clearly moved by the whole matter.- Where were you on Sunday evening when your daughter went missing?- Soo Min asked her the same question she asked her husband before.

- I was at home, of course. My friends came to me, so we sat in the living room and sipped tea, watching our favorite drama on TV.- answered Madam Lee.

- Have you noticed someone suspicious who was hanging around your daughter? Or maybe you suspect someone from friends or co-workers?- Soo Min kept asking.

- In my opinion, there are a lot of such people.- Madam Lee confessed.- My husband downplays everything and relies only on his bodyguards. But I watch closely even those whom he considers to be friends.- she continued.- First, this unfortunate Ye Eun's fiance. Jang Chang Ho has always been a troublemaker. In his history he have partying, drugs, numerous affairs and God knows what else. No matter how his father tries to keep an eye on his son, I don't trust this boy anyway. He just uses Ye Eun to improve his reputation. Unfortunately, Chang Ho's father, Jang Chang Woo, is my husband's lawyer, and his office works for our fashion house. And my husband had devised a plan with Chang Woo that our children would get engaged and this would help each party. I just don't know how a relationship with Chang Ho would help my Ye Eun, but well... I do not want to argue with Young Sik, no arguments would reach him anyway. When he decides on something, he can be stubborn as an ox.- she sighed lightly.

- Ok I understand. But it seems to me that you are slightly out of the subject, Madam Lee. - pointed out Soo Min.- Do you have anyone else in mind?- she asked after a while.

- I'm so sorry, detective Kim.- Madam Lee answered.- And yes, there is one more person, probably the most suspicious of them all.- she continued.- My husband would never have pointed this person because he is his business partner... But I saw how this person behaved towards Ye Eun and I never liked it. His name is Seo In Sung, owner of a modeling agency. Many of his models work with our fashion house.- she added.

Both Soo Min and Hyun Woo, hearing the familiar name of the man, immediately focused.

- What kind of behavior towards Ye Eun do you specifically mean, Madam Lee?- asked Hyun Woo, once again surprising Soo Min with his commitment.

- Seo In Sung acted as if he were obsessed with my daughter.- replied Madam Lee.- Already at the first meeting he praised her beauty and wanted to be a model at his agency. Ye Eun refused, but he continued to make the same offer on each meeting. At larger parties, he was insolent enough to grab my daughter's hands, embrace her, touching the waist, thighs, and even the buttocks. But the worst of all was the way he looked at her. Certainly not like you should look at your friend's daughter. Sometimes it looked like he was undressing Ye Eun with his eyes.- she continued, clearly moved at the thought of these memories.- And also that he called her 'my princess'... It was all so strange, but of course my husband couldn't see anything. And when I told him about these behaviors, he told me that I'm unjustly accusing his friend.- she sighed heavily.

Soo Min looked at Hyun Woo significantly and he also looked at her.

- I also heard Seo In Sung was once accused in this case.- added Madam Lee.

- Yes it's true. But unfortunately there was not enough evidence to convict him.- Soo Min replied.

- I think it really could have been him tough.- said Madam Lee, looking at Soo Min.- Nobody else comes to my mind. Even those haters or psycho-fans of Ye Eun would not be able to do such a thing. Most of them were teenagers, practically children, I saw them at the court when my husband sued them.- she noted.- Therefore, please, question him again and thoroughly search all corners of his estate.- she added pleadingly.

- We'll do it for sure, don't worry about it, Madam Lee.- assured Hyun Woo.

- And so we were going to talk to him again.- Soo Min interjected.- It turned out that other victims, who were not models, also knew him. Adding your observations to this, Seo In Sung will certainly be interrogated by us again.- she assured.

- Thank you very much.- Madam Lee answered.- I hope this case can be resolved as soon as possible and Ye Eun will come back safe and sound.- she continued.- And of course the other kidnapped girls, too.- she added quickly.

- We will do everything in our power to find missing girls and punish the "Cherry Blossom Reaper" as soon as possible.- assured Hyun Woo, giving the woman a smile.

- Madam Lee, do you have anything else to add? Any other things that could help us?- asked Soo Min.

- I'm afraid that nothing else comes to my mind right now.- a woman answered.

- In that case, this will be all on our part.- Soo Min announced.- But of course, if you would remember something, please call on the number we contacted you with yesterday.- she informed.

- Okay.- Madam Lee nodded slightly.- And I will call Hyun Sik right away and tell him that you will visit him in Gwangju, so that he wouldn't go anywhere and just stay home.- she added after a moment.

- We will be grateful.- said Hyun Woo, getting up from the couch, hiding his notebook and pen.

Soo Min also stood up, bowing slightly to Madam Lee. Hyun Woo did the same shortly after her. Then Madam Lee gave them detailed instructions on how to get to her son's summer house in Gwangju, and as it turned out, that wasn't an easy ride since the house was located in the remote area.

- Goodbye.- then everyone present replied in turn, then the housekeeper walked the detectives to the door.