Memory Lane

3:46 a.m.

"There we go." He closed the compartment door tightly, sighing as he put the key back into his pocket.

He walked back to the metal table, putting on some latex gloves before placing her body on the freezer. One by one. First her limbless torso, then her arms, her hands, placing them together like a jigsaw puzzle, slowly and with grace. He placed her organs last, her kidneys her stomach, her lungs and her heart. Lastly, as if it was a cherry on top of an ice cream, he placed her head and scratched it with a small scapel, hoping she would not be so recognizable. He closed the freezer with a thud and locked it before rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand, clearing up his sweat with a sigh.

The door opened with a beep and Kaleb entered the lab. He smiled at him as his eyes fell on the freezer and a soft laugh left his lips.

"Her legs?" He asked with a glint on his eye. "I trust you did a fine job, Lumps? Phil wanted to do the chopping but I'm actually glad you got to do this one."

"I put them on the box, Mr. K." He answered, making his voice sound hoarser than it actually was. "Phil likes to chop. I slice."

Kaleb laughed and walked towards Lumps, unaware of the small drop of cold sweat falling down the nape of his neck as he approached. He sighed in glee and dusted his jacket off before putting a hand on top of the freezer and looking at Lumps in the eyes. The same cold and threatening glare he layed on the detective some hours ago.

"Open it."

Lumps was not surprised, he knew Kaleb trusted in nobody but himself, but he had also prepared himself. He couldn't screw it up. He removed his latex gloves and unlocked the freezer with a psht, letting all the water vapor come out to the surface. It was beginning to stink.

He observed as Kaleb peeked inside, counting the fingers in her hands and caressing her naked torso with his fingertips, rubbing at the nipple longer than the other parts of her body. Lumps felt sick as he watched him. His breath caught in his throat as a frown formed itself upon Kaleb's face.

"How come our pretty detective's face is scratched?" His voice came out quiet but tense, his jaw clenched tight. "She has cuts on more than half her face."

"I had more fun than I meant to." Was all Lumps said, controlling his voice as much as he could to make it sound hoarse and dry.

"Fun?" Kaleb scoffed and approached Lumps with a threatening manner, he put an arm around his broad shoulders and pulled him in so that his ear was right next to his mouth. "You dare touch one of my bodies again and it'll be you in that freezer, capiche?"

Lumps gulped the accumulated saliva on his mouth and nodded, genuinely scared. He knows what Kaleb is capable of doing, oh he knows alright...but soon all of this would be over and he could go back to his office, forever this time.

"Leave." Kaleb let go of his shoulders and closed the freezer with a thud. He dusted off his jacket again and headed to the door once agan. He turned to look at Lumps one last time before leaving. "Phil will wrap up our little gift and deliver it, you can leave now."

It wasn't till Kaleb left the lab that Lumps realized he had been holding his breath. He took a long breath and removed the labcoat quickly, Phil would be coming soon. He made sure his clothes were clean as he approached the door.

"There's an exit on the other end. Leave now. I'll explain later."

And he cut the lights off and closed the door behind him.

6:08 a.m.

Lawyer Cho Kang Min always got to the firm earlier than anyone, even Chief Shindong himself always came 5 minutes or so later. Today was not any different. He fixed his tie one more time before exiting his white car and heading towards the entrance. He sighed as he thought of Min Young. She was a very good friend of his, always handling the small stuff. Now, the first big case she was asigned to seemed to be the worst. She shouldn't have to face these things all alone, and her romance with Lee Hyuk Jae...well, it just wasn't convenient.

Drowned in his thoughts, Kang Min didn't notice the huge freezer in front of the firm. He nearly tripped as he bumped into it. Rubbing his shin with a small gasp escaping his lips, he noticed the freezer had a note on top and as he read the handwritten message, his hair stood on end.

A gift from an admirer. Keep up the good work. :)

The case Min Young got involved in was no secret to the rest of the lawyers in SJ Offices. So naturally, Kang Min's stomach turned and his mind once again started a game of catch with his thoughts. He sank to the ground on his knees and got his phone out with shaking hands. He did not touch the freezer, he was too afraid. He dialed 911.

1:48 p.m.

In the middle of SJ Offices, hidden from the mourning staff outside, a call was taking place.

"No, you don't get it. I need you to let him know."

"Sir, I understand they had a relationship but he's not in a position to--"

"Look, we both know he needs this...Or has he told you anything?"

"...We've only had a few meetings, I'm sure I'll get him to open up."

"You really don't understand, do you? We don't have any more time. And  Byung Do will be playing prosecutor."

"Oh Byung Do? Why would Clementine's get involved?"

"It's a long and irrelevant story, let's not drift off....Look we have no more time. Tell him. This is an order."

"Sir--"

But the other end hung up.

6:34 p.m.

Visitor time ends at 5:00 p.m. But exceptions take place when it's not a personal meeting. This one was in a way a very personal meeting, but the officers did not need to know that.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Lee." Higgins stood up, pulling back the metal chair on the floor with a sound. "I have to make a call and in a few minutes you can consider yourself a free man."

But Lee Hyuk Jae did not find that important, not anymore. Nothing was important anymore. Not without her.

"...Can I see her?" He had been considering this for a few hours. He remembered her with love, he cherished his memories of her, from when she was alive of course. So did he really want to see her? In that form? Completely...destroyed? But yes, he had to. More than wanting to see her, he needed to. "Please."

Higgins was surprised. He had considered what he would do if he asked for it, but somehow his mind had discarded the thought completely along with the alternatives and responses to it. His mind was blank.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Mr. Lee." He managed to say. "And even if it was, I am not allowed to show you her, or anyone for that matter."

"But you saw her, didn't you?" The jealousy in Hyuk's voice was ironic and completely uncalled for. Yet in a very strange way he was against the idea of so many people looking at her, even if they sere supposed to do so. He couldn't be the only one to not see her. "Please, Lawyer Higgins...she was my everything."

Higgins sighed. He could sense the pain in Hyuk's voice and was surprised to feel pity for him. A man of few words, he had no idea what to do.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lee. Only her relatives can see her..." He was uncomfortable.

"Her family?" Hyuk looked up, startled. "Have they gone to see her?"

"It is...a delicate situation, Mr. Lee." Higgins wanted to get out of that room, he noticed he had been holding his breath. "Ms. Man was not very...acquainted with her family. It seems her only registered relative is an uncle, we have contacted him, he's living in Barcelona with his fifth wife and wants nothing to do with her."

Hyuk Jae had no idea. And it made him cringe with anger because the only truth he was facing now was that he really didn't know anything about her. He had claimed her his, he had loved her with all his being...yet they were still complete strangers. And now, he would never get to know her better.

He shed a tear, feeling numb and empty. Higgins stared at him uncomfortable, he was tired and surprised himself. He hadn't expected the detective to be killed suddenly...and in such a grotesque way, but working in those fields makes you stronger in a way. Even though one will never be ready to face the dark part of someone else's mind and the people's world.

"I...I have to go report your testimony to the court and SJ Offices." He cleared his throat as he stood up, this time Hyuk said nothing. "I will come back tonight hopefully, and we can get you out."

There was no response from Lee Hyuk Jae. His eyes were drifted off into space, as if he had entered his own world in his mind. The tear he had shed had already dried up making a small trail of his skin darker than the rest. Higgins felt pity for the man, but he knew nothing he said would make him feel better, still he whispered.

"Thank you for cooperating, Mr. Lee." And he left the room, making eye contact with an officer who nodded and made his way to the room he just exited.

•■••■•

I am so so so sorry for leaving you guys hanging!! Things have been pretty crazy in my life but oh well.Hopefully this chapter will give you a better insight in what is going on~Promise to update this week!♡♡♡