Chapter Text
He could easily recognize this ugly mug even after more than ten years. Even in this state. Although it was clear from the face that its owner hadn't adhere to a healthy lifestyle, and alcohol and cigarettes (and maybe drugs) had aggravated the already not very pleasant features, but this, without a doubt, was him.
Keum Seongje was always sure that this bastard would end up like this. But honestly he was a little surprised that it only happened now and not five, eight or ten years ago. The moron had never been smart and had had a really bad temper, so it would not be strange if this had happened much earlier. But okay, it happened today. And now Ha Heecheol, also previously known as Helmet, was lying between trash cans in an alley behind some dirty bar. He had no signs of life, but a couple of new holes in the body. The exact number would be determined by the medical examiner, of course, but there were at least five. There was quite a lot of blood.
It was a strange feeling. He had never been close with Helmet, but seeing someone he knew in such a situation… During six years he was working in police, Keum Seongje had never had a case involving people he knew. Although there were many people in his past with undoubted criminal potential, so it was a matter of time when someone who hadn't learn from the defeat of the Union would be found in some alley with his throat cut open... But still it felt weird.
Keum Seongje stopped looking at the corpse and turned to the team.
"How was the body found?"
Yoon Eunho, the newest member of the homicide team, consulted his notebook.
“At 6 am the cleaning lady was taking out the trash and found him. It seems, he was already dead."
“Did no one show up until six in the morning?”
“The bar is open until 5 am. Usually no one shows up here until closing time. For employees there is a smoking room inside, and if you want to smoke outside, it is easier to go to the main entrance. So we hardly have any other witnesses. At least no one has confessed yet."
Keum Seongje wanted to smoke very much right now, but he always took his job seriously and never smoked at a crime scene before the experts finished their work. And he also wanted some water. And a headache pill. And some sleep. He shouldn't have agreed to go for the second round with Hwangmo yesterday, but they'd seen each other so rarely in the last couple of months… (Hwangmo became a young father and was too responsible not to share all baby-caring work with his wife. In fact, his wife literally had kicked him out of the house yesterday with parting words not to return sober.)
Anyway, the sooner he finishes here, the sooner he will get his cigarette.
"Any guesses about the time of death?"
This time it was Kang Nogyeong, the forensic medical examiner on duty, who answered.
“About 4-5 hours ago. From 2 to 3 am. We'll find out more after autopsy."
"Yeah, thanks. Who is working in the dissecting room today?”
"The Old Pak."
Keum Seongje grimaced.
"Crap. This pedant hates me."
"That is not surprising. Once you wanted to punch a corpse.”
“This corpse was waiting for cremation anyway. And it was necessary for the investigation.”
"How could that be related to any investigation?"
“Anything that helps me stay calm helps the investigation! And I needed to let off steam. The assholes from the central bureau were unbearable."
“You also slept in the morgue several times.”
“It's quiet there. It's a perfect place for nap."
"As you say. Anyway, try to be polite today.”
"As you say!"
The squad on duty was already finishing up with evidences and photography, so there was no point in staying.
“Check the security cameras here and around the alley exit. And ask the bar staff. Maybe he was there. Someone could see him. I'll be back to life in half an hour and we’ll be in touch."
______
About an hour later, on his way to the dissecting room, Keum Seongje was hurriedly finishing his coffee, because he had a very good idea of the expression of the honored medical examiner’ face if he showed up like that. He was just taking his last sip as he opened the door.
“I’m really sorry, Mr. Pak! I promise I won't come up to the table with the cup."
At this moment he noticed that the man who was inspecting instruments for autopsy didn't look like the named old dushbag. This man was shorter and thinner. One could even say he was really delicately shaped even though he was wearing the medical gown and the disposable protective suit.
"You are not The Old Pak."
The man at the table answered, continuing to study the instruments.
“You are very observant. As expected of a homicide officer."
It was said in a very polite manner, and it obviously sounded like an insult, but Keum Seongje had two years of anger management therapy behind him and almost a half a liter of coffee inside. So, he just took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“And I really appreciate that you understand the inappropriateness of coffee during an autopsy. So please throw the cup in the bin in the hallway."
The man in the medical gown finally looked up from the table and turned to Keum Seongje. At that moment, Keum Seongje thought that perhaps he should have added some whiskey into the coffee (there was a flask hidden behind the folders in Captain's office and Captain never checked his own cabinet). He definitely should have, because he wasn't ready for this.
One.
It was like deja vu. As if he had been sitting at the bus stop in front of the cram school just yesterday.
Two.
He felt a bloodthirsty smirk trying to break into his face. He heard his own insane laughter inside his head.
Three.
He could almost feel the flowerpot on his foot again.
(But remember, two years of anger management therapy!)
Of course, more than ten years had passed. And they had been even on the same side in the last battle with Na Baekjin and the Union... But, firstly, it was the fucking White Mamba, and secondly, the second person from his past in a couple of hours. What were the odds, huh?
Keum Seongje smirked and hid the empty cup behind his back. He wasn't sure Mamba had recognized him. Most likely he had (he seemed to have an excellent memory, right?), but nothing could be understood from his face. As during almost all their interactions in the past. Keum Seongje remembered only two expressions on the face of Eunjang's former student: the usual and "someone is going to die now." It seemed (he wasn't sure since he was quite a mess after exchanging greetings with Ji Hakho) that the snake was clenching his fists nervously during the fight between Pak Humin and Na Baekjin, but his face remained almost emotionless even then.
Keum Seongje felt that the duration of silence was already enough, and that Mamba wouldn't take the initiative and just keep looking at him with those eyes of his. (Does he blinked at all? What a real snake he was!)
"Where else one could meet the deadly White Mamba, if not in the morgue! Long time, no see!"
Keum Seongje nodded towards the table where Helmet's corpse was already waiting.
"It's like a weird high school reunion, don't you think?"
Mamba blinked. (Oh, he actually was able to blink! Not exactly a reptile, wow.)
"I will appreciate it if you can act more formally at work. You can use the full name, which is Yeon Sieun, or you can address me as medical examiner Yeon. The name is not visible right now, but it is actually written on the gown, so it is easy for you to read it if you need to."
"So off work I can call you Mamba?"
"I hardly think you will need my name off work."
"Ah, what a pity! I thought we could have a beer or two and talk about the good old days!"
Keum Seongje smirked. Having a drink with Mamba while chatting about some nonsense - that would be a really strange reunion! Even stranger than the current situation.
"If you really want to talk about the good old days, I will give you a lecture about the specifics of injuries from flowerpots depending on the material they are made of. But later. Now we have work to do. So, please, throw the cup into the bin in the hallway and put on a protective suit. Or would you rather stand on the other side of the door?"
"Your word is my command, Mr. Medical Examiner!"
Five minutes later, Yeon Sieun started the body's examination.