Chapter 3

Chapter 3

My head throbbed with a sudden realization.

Could it be that, back then…

The killer had been targeting her from the start?

Fifteen years ago, Captain Liang told me that they had vetted every potential suspect from Shihan’s social circles, including the person who had lured her to the park. One by one, they had all been cleared.

There was also no evidence of anyone following Shihan on her way from the mall to the park.

Because of this, the police believed the killer had most likely chosen a victim at random in the park that night.

In 2011, with sparse surveillance coverage and an insufficient DNA database, it was impossible to narrow down the scope of suspects immediately.

That was why the case had remained unsolved for fifteen years.

Now, I could be certain of two things.

First, the killer had targeted Shihan from the very beginning.

Second, they had entered the park through the Southwest Gate, just as she had.

But right now, the priority wasn’t analyzing the killer-it was helping Shihan escape.

Shihan’s current position was at least a five-minute walk from the West Gate.

If she tried to run, she would definitely be caught before she got there.

And the surrounding area was completely deserted.

I whispered to her, “Shihan, stay crouched down. Now, turn down your phone volume and don’t make a sound.

“I’m going to ask you questions. If the answer is yes, tap the microphone once with your finger. If it’s no, tap it twice.”

I held my breath, pressing the phone tightly against my ear.

“Can you see them right now?”

-Tap, tap.

“Can you see any lights over there?”

-Tap, tap.

It seemed they didn’t dare use flashlights openly to search for her. The grass in the bamboo grove was deep; as long as she stayed hidden, there was a high probability they wouldn’t find her.

“Good. Now, put the phone face down on the ground. Slowly take off your down jacket, turn it inside out, and bury it in the grass.”

I remembered that on the day Shihan was murdered, she was wearing a pure white down jacket with a black top underneath.

Even without lights, white would be very conspicuous.

Taking off the jacket would, firstly, allow her colors to blend into the surrounding darkness.

Secondly, it would make it easier for her to move if she had to run later.

Once Shihan picked up the phone again, I continued, “Next, let down your hair and pull it forward to cover your face…”

Just then, I heard Shihan’s breathing begin to tremble violently.

My heart trembled along with it.

“Are they there? Have they appeared?”

A few seconds later, from the other end of the line, came a single sound-

Tap.