Some questions don't fade.
They stay.
Quiet.
Persisten
Kang Ha Eun sat in front of her laptop, staring at the same files again.
Victims.
Locations.
Timelines.
Nothing connected.
Nothing made sense.
She leaned back slightly.
"…there has to be something."
Her eyes moved slowly across her notes.
Then—
She paused.
"…the families."
If the victims had nothing—
Maybe the answers were around them.
That thought was enough.
Later that day—
She stood in front of the first house.
The same house the police had already visited.
She hesitated briefly.
Then knocked.
The door opened slowly.
"Hello… I'm a reporter," Ha Eun said carefully.
"I just want to ask a few questions."
"I already spoke to the police," the man replied.
"I know," she said softly. "I won't take much of your time."
A pause.
Then—
"…okay."
Inside—
The air felt heavy.
She asked the same questions.
"Did she mention anyone new?"
"No."
"Anything unusual?"
"No."
Same answers.
She thanked him and left.
Second house.
"She was careful," the woman said.
Third house.
"She didn't go out much."
Fourth house.
"No strangers."
Nothing changed.
No connections.
No clues.
By the time she stepped back onto the street—
She exhaled slowly.
"…still nothing."
The same result as the police.
She started walking.
⸻
A nearby coffee shop caught her attention.
She stepped inside.
⸻
Warm.
Quiet.
"Can I get a coffee?"
She moved aside, waiting.
"Americano."
She froze slightly.
That voice—
She turned.
Kang Min stood a few steps away.
A brief pause.
"Oh… hi," Ha Eun said.
He nodded slightly.
"Hi."
They stood there in silence for a moment.
Then—
Ha Eun spoke.
"…about the Ghost Eyes case."
Kang Min didn't respond immediately.
"I've been looking into it," she added.
He looked at her now.
Properly.
"You shouldn't."
"I just want to understand it," she said.
"It's not something you get involved in."
She held his gaze.
"Then tell me something about the Ghost Eyes case."
"No."
The answer came immediately.
"It's confidential."
A pause.
Ha Eun exhaled slightly.
"…I thought so."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then she added quietly—
"Please don't tell Ara."
Kang Min looked at her.
"About this… about me asking you about the Ghost Eyes case."
A brief pause.
"…okay," he said.
Relief showed slightly on her face.
"Thank you."
He added,
"But stop digging into it."
She didn't answer.
Because she wouldn't.
Kang Min continued,
"This isn't a normal case."
"I know," she replied.
A short silence.
Then he said—
"Be careful."
This time—
Simple.
Direct.
Ha Eun nodded slightly.
"…I will."
Their orders were called.
They picked up their drinks.
No more words.