Nine Puzzles
Hangang Police involved in murder, allegedly received…
…suspicions of sexual bribery…
Owner close to high-ranking…
Hello, guys!
I've been assigned to the Miyoung Lee case as of today.
My name is Lieutenant Ena Yoon. Nice to meet ya.
Where should I put my stuff?
Hey, Captain, what's going on?
The Chief ordered it.
Captain Jungho Yang.
Great. It's nice to meet ya.
Former chief of Hangang Police Station found stabbed at home
Crime and Punishment
Now where did I put it?
Hmm?
Got something to say?
You know I do.
Follow me out.
What's your reason for being here?
Hmm?
You scared we're gonna find you out?
You're so confident, right?
You've never once doubted yourself, have ya?
Maybe you should start.
That could help you find the answer.
You're here just to talk bullshit?
Hardly.
Why do you think I transferred here?
Here's what I think.
Hogeun, Dongsu, and Miyoung
are part of a puzzle that includes my uncle.
Their deaths are all connected.
You forgot about yourself!
I finally remembered.
What?
What did you remember?
10 years ago, in that living room, I was right there with the killer.
Stupid, right?
I was so scared that it might've been me that murdered him,
but it wasn't me at all!
It took you 10 years to remember that,
or have you just been stringing us along?
Or maybe you're feeling a little cornered 'cause of all of this.
Jeez, you're such a nag.
A nag?
You report to me, so you need to watch your mouth and speak respectfully.
- I don't wanna. - What do you mean?
I'm much older and more experienced than you.
God, you're such a boomer.
Superintendent Hogeun Hyeun
You wanna know the reason?
Yeah.
Have you read the paper?
"What is happening with the police?"
"Bar owner allegedly provided sexual bribes…"
This is just an ordinary case.
Why would a profiler take on a--
If it's so ordinary, why haven't we caught the killer yet?
Headquarters wants this case wrapped up as soon as possible.
She's here as your support.
Is that clear?
If you have time to barge in here…
at least barge in with a solid lead.
You gotta admit the timing of her assignment to my unit
is a bit weird.
Especially because she's so close to you.
You stupid little fuck.
So, tell me something, if you're profiling him, is he aware?
Well, he'll know soon.
He is a detective after all.
Uh… But why is he working as your partner then?
Firstly, he's very tenacious.
Obsessive.
Once he sets his mind on something, he just can't let it go.
When his lid comes off… he totally changes. Like that!
His "lid"?
Oh. You mean his hat.
So, does this make sense to you?
It's been 10 years. How'd I suddenly remember it?
Do I even have PTSD?
You finally remember what happened.
Shouldn't you be relieved?
Also…
Hmm…
My diagnosis has never been wrong.
Then why haven't I remembered until now?
Hmm.
Because of guilt?
Why would…
Perhaps because you couldn't look back.
Because I couldn't look back, huh?
What do you think would've happened
if I had looked back?
Would they have killed me as well?
That probably would've been the case.
But I guess…
I'm glad you'll be able to sleep more soundly.
I think you're just glad because I won't call you anymore.
Of course, there's that.
Dr. Lee.
You do believe me, right?
You said you remembered, and so I do.
Honestly, I don't think I can trust my memories… 100%.
Ciao.
She asked us to share case info today.
Where'd she go instead of looking at the files?
Oh, you know, she probably just went to lunch.
The case isn't exceptional, but she volunteered to help us out.
She'll do her part.
Then it's business as usual.
We'll continue to share information on the case.
I can't…
Do we really have to?
- It's your job. - Ah, come on.
Just do enough to humor her a little.
It's not a big deal. Don't be so sensitive.
We'll catch the killer anyway.
That's enough of that.
What don't we have the answer to yet?
Why'd the killer only take the resident card?
Let's focus our energy on that.
I'll request a second forensics analysis.
Youngha and Ro, I want you to go to the house and stake it out.
There must be something the killer had to take from there.
Lieutenant San, learn more about the string the killer used.
Any questions?
Well, it's not exactly a question.
When I was gathering dash footage,
there was this older guy there, and I overheard him saying that…
he always used to park where the victim was killed.
Then one day, whenever he parked there,
he'd find screws slammed into his tires and scratches on his car.
And at first, he didn't think much of it.
But the car only got messed up when he parked in that one spot.
It's a CCTV blind spot.
He said he had to park somewhere else ever since.
He sounded pretty angry.
Yeah, that's weird.
Coincidence?
No.
The killer planned this for a while.
Captain, I'll go check through the CCTV footage
of the apartment's parking lot.
- We might get lucky. - Okay.
Detective is a job where you save both the assailant and the victim
What are you doing in my seat?
Lieutenant Kim… is a Type T.
What are you talking about?
Personality type?
He's a Type T, right? Has to be.
He's got no empathy and never confides in anyone.
Well, I wouldn't say that, exactly.
He's pretty nice to me.
I think he's got an F side.
- Are you serious? - Yeah.
Do you know that I've been following him for the last decade?
Why you been following the guy?
When my uncle was killed, did Kim look into where he'd gone?
- Yeah. - I knew it!
Thanks a lot.
What the hell was that about?
She's the Type T.
Stop.
Can you zoom in on this part?
Can you make the screen brighter?
Now play it again, frame by frame, from here, okay?
Good.
Of the places that Miyoung went, this is the only one without cameras.
This is where the killer got into the car.
But why did they wait?
Why not kill her right then?
Whoa!
You figured out the killer got in the car first,
then killed her here.
I bet the killer's a perfectionist.
Almost compulsive, like you are.
The killer had already decided on the location of the crime.
Right here in this parking spot.
I've been thinking about where the killer would've had to have hidden,
in order to threaten Miyoung Lee and bring her back here.
A controllable space, with short travel distance.
Where would that have been?
I'm not really sure.
In the car.
So, the two of them could be alone.
I figure, they got in the car in a place that had no cameras,
like at the whiskey bar.
The killer must've waited there patiently
until Miyoung got into her car.
Staying silent,
maintaining complete composure.
One minute.
Five minutes.
10 minutes.
Finally, Miyoung got in the car.
Presenting the perfect chance.
All they had to do was kill her.
But… the killer paused again.
They waited until they got here.
35 minutes.
There must be a reason why she wasn't killed until they got here.
The woman on the puzzle piece is whispering.
Did the killer speak to her?
If so, what did the killer say to Miyoung as they traveled for 35 minutes?
And what did Miyoung say in response to the killer?
Was the answer important?
Or… was this location important?
Well, which one is it?
Hmm.
That's something we'll have to ask the killer.
What's that?
Last time, I didn't get a proper hello.
Let's stop by for a meal.
What are you talking about, huh?
Who is it?
Hello, good evening. Do you remember me?
Would you mind if I came up for a meal? I'm actually here with your son.
- Hey. - Oh. Okay.
Don't open the door, Mom.
I've been wondering about you.
Happy to see you.
I'm sorry, but I gotta say… the food is quite bland.
I think it needs more seasoning.
That's why I've been taking cooking lessons.
- I'm sorry. - Mm-hmm.
Actually, that's why he always orders out when he's here.
Is that why you don't eat?
You said I didn't have to worry about her.
Didn't expect you to come here for a meal.
She's just trying to profile me right now, is all.
Hmm!
You noticed that.
So, um… has he ever brought one of his girlfriends home to meet you?
You don't have to answer that.
Hmm… Well, that's a very private question.
Does the profiler need to know?
Yeah.
I'm kind of interested in Lieutenant Kim, you see…
Huh.
I've followed him around for a decade.
Have you really?
Oh.
Then I gotta make it a good answer.
Uh, he's been on dates with a few women, but he never brought anyone home before.
Ah. What about friends?
Has he ever brought any friends home? Am I the first one?
He brought a friend over for dinner once.
- Mm. - Ena, you're the second.
Who was the friend?
Mom, Mom. Could you please not answer that?
It was in his first year of high school.
One day, he suddenly brought a friend home.
And, uh, I found it a little bit weird
because it was someone I had never heard of.
I remember, during dinner, that boy said one thing.
"It really does."
Ah, Mom, I'm leaving now.
Come on, Ena. We're going.
- Why did he say that? - Hansaem had said,
"Mom's curry tastes just like black bean sauce.
But she just won't believe me.
So you have to try and tell her it's true."
That's why he brought his friend home.
That kid still comes by every now and then.
Once Hansaem takes your hand, he'll never let you go.
Thank you for the meal.
Ah! Goodness, you didn't finish your food.
You just said random things, right?
Why'd you do that? Why'd you say her curry
was like black bean sauce? That's not your style.
You wanted to protect your friend.
I guess that's the reason you said all of that out-of-character nonsense.
To keep your friend nearby.
That kid was unwell.
In many ways.
Hey, Curry Kim.
I really hope you'll take my hand too.
The puzzle piece came to me after 10 years,
and I finally remembered that the killer was lurking behind me there in the den.
I asked you before, why did I get the first piece of it?
Why was the puzzle piece sent to me?
Haven't you figured that out yet?
I'm known to the killer.
That was why I profiled you.
I'm not the killer, that much I know for sure.
And I know I'm someone the killer knows.
So I needed someone I could trust.
It's your turn now.
You can profile me.
Keep your eyes on me…
until you're convinced.
It's your turn now.
You can profile me.
Keep your eyes on me…
until you're convinced.
The One City building A
Level 2, parking lot
Miyoung Lee, age 43 A rope that can strangle her
The least amount of time, the least amount of force.
Obviously, the killer knew Miyoung Lee's life inside and out.
"Presumed suspect"
Why did he target her?
And also…
why my uncle?
Miyoung Lee incident profiling report
Ena Yoon: Aren't you going to keep an eye on me and observe?
Personnel file, Ena Yoon.pdf
Man… How the hell did you even find this?
It's just incredible, huh?
We should give him a new nickname. "The CCTV Master."
I couldn't've found this, not in a million years.
What about forensics?
They find anything?
They found a fingerprint.
Just a partial one though.
That's big news. Where was it found?
Victim's car. Driver's headrest.
Guess we missed it the first time 'round.
It needs analysis. I've sent it out to the lab.
Oh, that's great, Captain. The case just got easier.
What about her home? You guys find anything?
Nothing of consequence.
If we didn't find anything at her house,
then the resident card had nothing to do with it.
- So, why'd the killer take it then? - Yeah.
And why did the killer bring her to The One City
instead of just doing it right away as soon as she got into the car?
Well, I guess…
that's the motive for murder.
The Profile Report is all done.
Whoa, it's only been a day. You've got it already?
Miyoung Lee incident profiling report
"The crime scene exhibits a high level
of criminal knowledge and meticulous planning…"
"And the killer appears to have near-perfect self-control."
"Similarities have been identified with the murder of Superintendent Yoon.
Causing these murders to be…"
"A premeditated serial killing."
Yeah.
You've gotta be kidding me.
Yeah, tell me about it.
What's all this about serial killing?
And, uh, your suspect type is based on…
puzzle pieces?
We're not playing a kid's game here.
So… do these two puzzle pieces really exist or not?
It doesn't matter if they're real or not.
This puzzle piece wasn't found at the crime scene.
No evidence that this case is related to the other.
Ah, that's what I meant.
But these puzzle pieces are weird.
Why did they end up going to you?
Hard to say.
I don't have an answer for that yet.
I do know, that if the puzzle pieces hadn't come to me,
then I wouldn't have realized these killings were related.
However, when the MO of seven murders out of ten is the same,
is that enough to claim they were done by the same killer?
It is not.
But sometimes, we have to look at a series of traits,
a collection of unique characteristics that, when combined, point to the killer.
Both cases occurred in the victims' personal space
during a window of time when the victims were alone.
The victims were selected beforehand.
The killer patiently followed and observed the targets.
Then selected a CCTV blind spot.
After finalizing the plan,
the killer calmly waited for a perfect chance to commit the crime.
Then the targets were murdered in the shortest time with minimal force.
This means that the victims weren't murdered solely for the killer's pleasure.
All of this… tells me that the killer held
a deeply rooted grudge against the victims.
What strikes me as odd
is that these killings were carried out logically,
like an assassination.
These characteristics suggest a link between the two crimes,
revealing a serial killer.
The puzzle pieces were just the cherry on top.
So, do you still think I'm playing a kid's game?
Lieutenant Yoon, I respect your analysis,
but this is unreasonable.
Let's consider the puzzle.
The pieces are part of a larger picture.
They were made with the same material.
Do you have an opinion, Lieutenant Kim?
Do you share the same thoughts as these other guys here?
Well, my opinion doesn't really matter.
Your mind's made up it's a serial crime.
Just to be clear…
did you sign on to this case to catch your uncle's killer?
Lieutenant Kim, you don't believe this, do you?
Are you still not convinced?
Sir.
Did you volunteer to do this?
Well, I don't get to come here just 'cause I ask to.
I wasn't the first of us to volunteer, but….
Anyway… Yeah.
So then…
you came to look into your uncle and Miyoung Lee?
Yeah.
I understand how you feel.
However,
we're not in America.
What kinda lunatic would send a puzzle piece…
after they've killed someone?
And not once, but twice? Huh?
If you keep doing your job like that, no one'll like you.
Folks are already complaining about--
Hmm.
Then respectfully, leave me alone.
Wait, Ena!
Everyone, forget that report.
Yeah, no problem. We'll do it our way.
I mean, when did we ever listen to a profiler anyway, right?
What kind of a person do you think Miyoung was?
Why don't we forget the killer for a second and start over
by looking into the victim first?
This murder clearly wasn't accidental or random.
There must be a reason, some kind of reason, right?
Just like Ena said.
The killer must've had a reason to risk getting arrested. A motive.
A grudge.
It's hard not to agree with that.
We have to find out who Miyoung was to figure this out.
Oh.
I'm sorry for making you wait. Is this your first visit?
Actually, I don't have an appointment.
Can I sneak in a session?
Sure. Just fill out your personal information and this questionnaire.
Okay.
Sunshine Mental Health Clinic
Psychiatric assessment questionnaire
4. I have recurring involuntary impulses, thoughts, and/or images
True.
I agree with you… we need to discuss his reaction.
Miyoung Lee, current address, place of birth, family…
What about her brother in the Philippines?
Is he not back yet?
Well, uh…
I informed him of his sister's death,
but it seems the family cut ties a long time ago.
He didn't mention he'd return.
There must be a reason for their estrangement.
How about her father? Can we reach him?
Well, his cell phone's off,
and the phone rings at home but no one picks up.
Looks like we're gonna have to go visit him.
I'll go.
To Tongyeong?
Yes. I'll be back.
Just text me the address.
Yeah, there goes Lieutenant Kim, our department's best detective!
Go get them!
So, should I go with him too?
Man, I always draw the short stick.
Donghaeng-dong, Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province
Don't worry, I'll drive.
Take the chance to get some rest.
Sweet!
Why do you keep following me? Get out. Where's Lieutenant San?
I'm more helpful than that guy.
You don't even know where I'm going.
Aren't you on your way to meet Miyoung's father?
You didn't listen?
I told you to keep an eye on me, right? So, why aren't you?
Did you read my personnel file?
Your specialty is helping out a friend in need.
Think of me as that curry kid.
Let's go. We're losing time.
No, I want to go camping more than you do.
But we just got a lead on the case, and I have to work.
It's not like I don't want to go.
Why don't you all go to the campsite first and set up, okay?
- I'll try to resolve the case-- - Hey, San!
- San! - Hang on.
Yes, Hansaem?
Go camping, okay?
Hmm.
Ciao.
Hey, the case just got solved.
Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province
Why are you guys suddenly looking into the victim?
Does Miyoung's father know that his daughter was killed?
He doesn't know.
I'm curious why Miyoung didn't stay in touch with her father.
It looks like she cut ties with him since middle school.
Hmm…
No one has been home for a while.
Excuse me, sir, may I ask you something?
Sure.
Does the house above you belong to Mr. Lee?
Yes, it does.
I rang the doorbell but no one answered.
They wouldn't, would they?
No one lives there.
Oh, did he move?
Is there a way for me to reach him?
Well…
His number still works if you wanna call…
but I don't think he'll answer.
He's in a nursing home, you see.
I'm not sure if he'll respond, but you can try.
Is his condition that bad?
Oh, so you don't know.
Mr. Lee suffers from dementia.
That means he'll seem just fine one day,
but the next day, he won't speak a single word to anyone.
This way.
Oh.
You go on ahead.
Oh, dear, he must be hot.
He's wearing that jacket again.
Mr. Lee?
How are you feeling today?
Um, someone came to see you from Seoul.
Hello, sir. I came to visit regarding your daughter, Miyoung.
Sir, may I have a word with you?
Mr. Lee?
Well, bad luck.
It looks like he's not gonna talk today.
"Ways to communicate with a dementia patient"
Papa?
What the hell are you doing?
Papa. I'm here. It's Miyoung.
Have you been waiting long?
Hey, that won't…
Yes.
I wear this jacket you gave me…
every single day.
Gosh, I'm hungry.
- You're hungry? Um… - Yes.
Anything special you'd like to eat?
Jjajangmyeon.
- Jjajangmyeon? - Hmm.
Remember you loved to eat that?
You still remember that I used to love eating jjajangmyeon, that's cute.
Uh-huh.
- Excuse me. - Huh?
May I have a word with you outside?
- Oh, sure. - Great.
Could you tell me when did Mr. Lee come here?
Oh, honestly, he hasn't been here too long.
Um, I guess, he moved in about two months ago.
- Two months ago? - Yeah.
Well, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have been able to check himself in here.
Do you remember if there was anyone who helped him out?
Uh…
Uh, I'll have to go look.
I must have kept the guardian's contact. Um…
This person claimed to be his guardian.
He said he was a cousin who lived in his neighborhood.
- The same neighborhood? - That's right.
- Thank you very much. - Mm, sure.
Have I…
ever told you about Donghoon Yoon?
Donghoon Yoon?
Uh… yeah.
Do you remember?
No, I don't.
You…
broke up with that idiot, right?
You did, didn't you?
'Course I did.
You remember all kinds of silly things.
Do you…
remember his name?
I…
I don't.
Well, then what about him did you hate?
His face.
His face?
It gave me a bad feeling…
every time I saw him.
It seems to me like she had zero contact with her family.
Was there a special reason for that?
I guess, uh…
it was in her middle school days.
She left home then.
Ever since her mom died,
she couldn't pull herself together,
and she ran away.
Do you know if Ms. Lee ever visited her father after she ran away from home?
Seven years later…
she came to visit him once.
It was winter.
She got an expensive-looking padded jacket to give to Doowon.
Why'd she suddenly visit him?
She brought a guy with her.
They wanted to get married. That's what she said.
- A boyfriend? - Yeah.
Uh…
It was clear to me, Doowon didn't like the guy.
He said that Miyoung was gonna end up dead because of him.
Do you remember the guy's name?
Uh…
It's so long ago.
I'm not so sure.
By any chance, was that man a police officer?
He wasn't with the police.
He said he graduated from some fancy high school
and had his own business.
Oh, but wait.
He told me something else as well.
Miyoung came back a completely different person.
He didn't like that.
Wishing for luck this spring, may it bring prosperity and joy
Jesus!
Are you kidding me? What… What're you doing here?
You surprised me.
Let's get the guy.
What guy?
The man Miyoung brought home with her.
How did you know about that?
If she did bring him home, he would've left some kind of trace.
Yeah, but that happened 20 years ago.
You think there's anything left?
She only brought him here once.
Only one time?
Then why did he say "every time I saw him"?
- Huh? - "Every time I saw him."
"Every time I saw him… Every time I saw him…"
That's the reason.
Huh?
Isn't this a tattoo on his neck?
It looks like the kind of tattoo the yakuza get.
Lots of people get those tattoos these days.
- Oh, really? - Mm-hmm.
Anyway, all we have is this photo of a guy without a name.
How are we gonna find him?
I mean, we don't know anything about him. He could be Japanese.
Someone had to have seen him.
- Search the vicinity. - Yes, sir.
Now. Move it!
So, what did you talk about with Miyoung's father today,
for him to bring up that guy?
Do you think that old man…
will remember today?
When do you think he'll find out that his daughter is dead?
Will finding out now hurt him less?
Or will it hurt less to find out much later?
It'll hurt the same amount.
The time it takes to live through a loss like that is the same either way.
It doesn't matter if he finds out now or not.
His dementia might be a good thing.
Curry Kim.
Same goes for me too.
How do you think I felt when my uncle died?
Once I'm completely convinced that you aren't the killer,
I'll think about it then.
That's good.
There's some room for you to consider it.
Anyway, Miyoung's dad asked…
why I changed so much.
Gee, I wonder why he said that.
Maybe he's not that far gone.
Come on. That wasn't it.
He told me that after seven years,
his daughter returned as a completely different person.
Yeah, his cousin said the same thing.
Miyoung came back as a completely different person.
Why would somebody say that?
I ordered you a margarita.
It never occurred to me…
that my uncle could be someone different than who I knew him to be.
It's weird to think about.
I wonder what kind of person my uncle was.
When do we become a different person?
Do you think that's a bad thing?
Becoming different people is part of life, isn't it?
Hmm.
We all become different at some point,
just like how you're different now compared to your 19-year-old self.
We all go through certain life events
and meet certain people along the way.
What's important…
are the choices we make when we become different.
If you want to know more about that side of your uncle,
then maybe you should…
consider investigating the choices he made.
Hello?
Good morning, this is Lieutenant Kim from the Hangang Police Station.
Oh. Uh, how can I help you, Lieutenant?
I texted you a photo. I was wondering if you'd ever seen the guy in it.
Gimme a second. Let me have a look.
Whoa… you called me a lot.
Yeah, sorry about that.
Imagine that the man in the picture is about 20 years older than that.
Him…
You know this guy?
Yeah.
I've seen him before.
He came to the bar about a month after we opened.
He claimed that he used to know Miyoung when they were younger.
He said that he was happy for her.
He wanted to congratulate her.
He ordered the most expensive bottle of whiskey we had.
Then, like a month ago,
he came back into the bar again.
It had been a long time.
But… he seemed completely different.
He asked Miyoung to lend him some money.
He said she opened this bar with the money he gave her,
and the apartment was supposed to be his too, he made a huge scene.
I couldn't deal with him anymore, I wanted to call the cops,
but Miyoung stopped me.
She said he'd lose his shit if we provoked him.
Do you remember his name?
Yeah.
When Miyoung wasn't looking, he gave me his business card.
Told me to come by for dinner.
Here.
You said you were coming, so I dug it up.
"CEO Chimok Kang"
Yes, Captain?
We got a match on that partial print. It belongs to Chimok Kang.
He's in Seoul. 127 Hannam-dong.
We're on our way to his restaurant.
Youngha and Ro are at his house.
Can I help you?
Police.
Oh, may I help you, gentlemen?
- We need to check something. - Sir, wait!
Police business. Please cooperate.
Is Mr. Chimok Kang here?
Oh, Mr. Kang?
He is not here today.
I'll confirm that myself.
Maybe he saw us coming and took off.
Look around.
Whoa, you're not supposed to open those!
- What are you doing? - Don't touch me!
- Stop opening those! - Get off me!
You aren't allowed to do this in a private business.
If you keep touching me,
I'll arrest you for obstructing an officer.
Please cooperate.
Hello, Captain. He's not here either.
He didn't come home last night.
Yes, sir. Yeah.
Oh, I see.
I understand.
I'm sorry.
Uh, this is a little embarrassing,
but could I come inside and use your bathroom?