The air was still as Cherry stared out the window of the car, her eyes lost in thought. It had been over two weeks since they last pursued the case. Her health had forced them to take a pause, but the weight of unanswered questions had never lifted.
"Let's go to Nako's house," she said suddenly.
Kail glanced at her, concern flickering in his eyes. "But what about your health?"
She offered a weak smile. "I'm okay now. Besides, it's been half a month. We need to continue the investigation."
Without arguing further, Kail nodded and started the engine.
They arrived at the address in the early afternoon. The house stood quietly at the end of the street-a modest home with faded paint and cracked windowsills. They parked nearby and walked to the door. Cherry rang the bell.
A girl's voice called out from inside. "Coming!"
The door opened to reveal a young woman, her face tired but curious.
"Is this Nako's house?" Cherry asked.
The girl nodded. "Yes. I'm his daughter, Miny. Who are you?"
Kail stepped forward. "Detective. We're investigating a case. You father is a suspect in a murder."
Miny's eyes widened. "Murder? What are you talking about?"
"May we come in?" Cherry asked gently.
Miny hesitated, then nodded and stepped aside.
They sat in the small living room. Old photographs lined the walls, but the air carried the scent of abandonment.
"My dad hasn't been here in two years," Miny began, her voice quiet. "After my mom died... he changed."
Kail leaned in. "You mean he just left?"
Miny nodded, tears threatening to fall. "After Mom passed, he was broken. He barely spoke to anyone. One day, he left a note: 'Sorry, Miny. But I have to go.' Since then, nothing."
Cherry reached out gently. "Please don't cry. We're here to help."
Miny wiped her eyes and continued. "Before he left, he was trying to pay hospital bills. He promised me everything would be okay. But when he came home, he was hurt-bruised, limping. Then Mom died... and he just... disappeared."
Kail and Cherry exchanged a glance. Something wasn't adding up.
They thanked Miny and stood to leave. "If you hear anything about your dad, contact us immediately."
Back at the car, Kail turned to Cherry. "Wait here. I'll grab your medication."
But when he returned, the car was empty.
Panic rising, he scanned the area and spotted Cherry standing near a corner shop, holding a cigarette.
Kail approached, alarmed. "Are you smoking? But you don't-"
Cherry exhaled a puff. "This case... it's driving me insane.
Everything's a mess. I don't know where Nako is or how to find him."
She took another long drag. Suddenly, the cigarette dropped fron her hand. She coughed violently.
"Cherry!" Kail rushed forward and handed her a bottle of water. She drank, then vomited, trembling.
Without a word, he lifted her into his arms. "Let's go home."
That night, Cherry lay asleep in her bed, her breathing shallow but calm. The quiet was shattered by the creak of the door.
A figure stepped inside. In a flash, they pinned her down and pressed a pillow against her face. Cherry thrashed, suffocating.
Suddenly, the attacker was yanked backward-Kail.
He tackled the figure and tied them with rope. Cherry coughed violently as she sat up.
Kail rushed to her. "Your plan worked... But how did you know they'd come?"
Cherry, still gasping, pointed to her diary. "I noticed someone watching the house yesterday. I had to take the risk."
Kail inspected the attacker's leg. A visible wound.
"Wait... something's wrong," he muttered. "This leg... it's not male."
Cherry ripped off the mask. Kail did the same.
They gasped.
"Miny?!" Cherry stepped back in shock.
"You... you attacked me? First at your house, and now this?!"
Miny, tied and bruised, smirked weakly. "I didn't want to kill you. At first. But then that psycho boyfriend of yours-"
"He's not my boyfriend!" Cherry snapped. "Why did you do this?"
Miny coughed. "I got a call. Said if I killed you... they'd tell me where my dad is."
"How could you be so stupid?!" Cherry shouted.
Kail was seething. "She tried to kill you-twice. I'll end her!"
He lunged at Miny, gripping her throat.
"Kail, stop!" Cherry screamed. "She's our lead! We need her alive!"
He didn't stop. Rage consumed him.
Desperate, Cherry raised her fist-and punched him across the face.
Kail stumbled back, stunned. Cherry held her hand in pain.
"If you don't stop, I'll hurt myself," she threatened.
Kail dropped to his knees, tears streaming. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
He held her tightly, as Miny lay gasping, barely conscious.
Later, Cherry sat beside Miny.
"Tell me the truth. Why did you really attack me?"
Miny looked away. "I was desperate. I wanted to find my dad. They promised answers. They told me to take anything suspicious, so I grabbed his old jacket."
"Including the X-Bar permit?" Kail asked.
"I didn't know what it was. It must have been in the pocket."
Cherry nodded slowly. "So you're not the mastermind... You're a pawn."
Miny nodded, ashamed.
Cherry asked why did you kill Jennifer?
Miny said I did not kill Jennifer, I just asked you to kill her. I don't know who killed Jennifer.
Kail said and how can we believe you
She then pulls out an old phone or a USB drive and plays an audio or video recording with a date/time stamp. It shows her at the hospital, clearly not at the crime scene.
Cherry demands proof. Miny gives them hospital records or prescription papers photo showing she was being treated or visiting someone on the day of the murder.
Miny shows a series of anonymous texts or emails that say things like:
" I know about your dad."
"Kill her, and i'll tell you about your dad."
This proves someone is manipulating her killer or a bigger organization. possibly the real
Cherry, realizing Miny was a pawn, looks at the evidence and says:
> "She's not lying. Whoever's behind this... they're playing with all of us."
At first, Kail is still angry, but seeing Miny cry and nearly dying earlier, he calms down and admits:
"If she was the killer, she had too many chances to finish the job. She's scared... just like we were."
End of Chapter 5