Episode 8: The Missing Heiress
Velvet dusk draped Seoul as neon lights bloomed across skyscraper glass. Inside CHIPER HQ, the air tasted of fresh coffee and coming storm.
Kevin stood by the panoramic window, city lights reflecting in his sharp gaze. Behind him, Alex's voice broke the quiet.
> "Got something. A missing heiress — Kang Sohee, 22. Vanished three nights ago from her father's gala."
Guen looked up from crime scene photos. "Police think it's an inside job?"
> "More like they hope it isn't," Dohee murmured, scrolling legal reports. "The Kang family sits too high for easy questions."
Minjae leaned back in his chair, grin lazy. "And where does CHIPER come in?"
> "Sohee's father doesn't trust police alone," Kevin said. "He wants quiet hands — off the books. That's us."
---
Miran set down a steaming mug before Guen, voice soft. "Any clues?"
Guen sipped, brow furrowed. "Only one: a glass hairpin found on the garden path. No blood. No forced entry."
> "So she walked out willingly," Minjae guessed.
> "Or was made to look like she did," Kevin countered.
---
Alex tapped keys; screens lit with security footage. "Look — Sohee at the ballroom door, 10:43 p.m. She answers a call, steps outside… then gone."
> "Caller's number?" Kevin asked.
> "Unregistered burner," Alex replied. "Signal bounces — clever hand."
---
Dohee drummed pen against folder. "Blackmail? Jealous rival? Political enemy?"
> "Or something else," Kevin murmured. "Tonight, we ask the family ourselves."
---
They arrived at the Kang estate past nine: marble gates, manicured garden lit by soft lamps, security discreet yet everywhere.
Inside, the ballroom glowed gold and crystal. Guests moved like drifting flowers — silk, satin, and secrets.
> "Try not to punch anyone," Guen muttered to Minjae, adjusting her midnight dress.
> "Try not to trip over your own heels," he shot back, offering his arm.
She scowled, took it anyway — for the cover, of course.
---
Kevin moved through the crowd in black tailored suit, every step sharp with authority. Eyes followed him — some with fear, some with fascination.
At the grand staircase, Sohee's father, Chairman Kang, stood waiting: silver hair, grave eyes, hands tight behind back.
> "Chairman," Kevin greeted, voice low. "We'll do all we can."
> "Do it quietly," Kang answered, gaze sweeping the guests. "Rumor can kill faster than truth."
---
Miran, in soft blue chiffon, drifted near the dessert table — seemingly shy, actually scanning faces, noting details.
Dohee mingled with lawyers and senators, voice polite, ears open for whispered gossip.
Alex, half-hidden near the band, typed on a slim device, ghosting through the estate's network.
---
Guen and Minjae slipped onto the garden balcony. Air smelled of jasmine and cold marble.
> "See anything?" Guen whispered.
> "Other than you in that dress?" he teased, grin wicked.
> "Foolish beast," she snapped, heat rising at his closeness.
Minjae's smirk softened just briefly. "Eyes open, ugly witch."
---
Kevin stepped beside them, gaze sharp. "Sohee walked out this door. Find why."
---
They searched lantern-lit paths. Gravel crunched underfoot; the estate wall rose high, shadows clinging to ivy.
Then Miran's voice crackled softly in earpiece: "Found something… west gate. Come."
---
By a half-hidden arch, Miran knelt, lanternlight catching in her hair. She held up a small velvet ribbon — torn, stained faintly with sweat and perfume.
> "Matches Sohee's dress," Guen said, breath tight.
> "And this," Miran added, lifting a second piece: tiny shard of black lacquer — a broken nail tip.
---
Alex's voice came over comm: "Cross-referenced guest list. Only one woman here tonight wears black lacquer nails — Yoon Haejin, rival's daughter."
> "Good work," Kevin murmured. "Keep digging."
---
Inside, Dohee cornered Haejin near the gallery, voice honeyed. "Beautiful nails," she complimented.
> "Custom set from Tokyo," Haejin preened.
> "Bit sharp for a party," Dohee noted, tone casual, gaze catching a fresh break on Haejin's thumb.
Haejin stiffened, smile cracking. "Excuse me," she muttered, stepping away too fast.
> "She's hiding something," Dohee whispered into mic.
---
Kevin moved to intercept, Guen a step behind. But Haejin slipped through a staff door, heels clicking sharp.
Minjae cursed, bolting ahead. "I'll cut her off."
---
In the service hall, footsteps echoed. Kevin turned a corner, caught Haejin's wrist.
> "Where is Sohee?" he demanded, voice a quiet blade.
> "I don't know—" she gasped, eyes wild.
Guen pressed closer. "Then why run?"
> "She asked me to help!" Haejin spat. "She wanted to vanish — tired of her father's leash. I just gave her a ride to the docks, that's all!"
> "Where at the docks?" Kevin growled.
> "Abandoned ferry, east pier," Haejin whispered, shoulders trembling. "Please — I didn't hurt her."
---
Minutes later, CHIPER's car screamed through midnight streets, city flashing past in neon blur.
Miran clutched her bag, heart hammering. "If she's hurt—"
> "We find her," Kevin said, voice iron.
---
At the east pier, wind whipped salt and rust into their coats. The old ferry loomed, hulking and silent.
> "Stay sharp," Kevin ordered, stepping onto creaking deck.
---
Inside, the dark smelled of old oil and river silt. Then — a gasp. A shape huddled near lifeboats: silk gown torn, makeup streaked.
> "Sohee," Guen breathed, rushing forward.
Sohee flinched, eyes wide. "Who—"
> "Friends," Guen said gently, hands raised. "Your father sent us."
---
Kevin crouched, gaze softening. "You're safe now."
> "I didn't mean it to go this far," Sohee whispered. "I just wanted to breathe — to be someone else, even for a night."
> "You nearly vanished forever," Kevin murmured. "Don't run again."
---
Sirens approached — police closing in. Guen wrapped a shawl around Sohee's shaking shoulders.
> "Let's go home," she whispered.
---
Back at HQ, dawn painted glass walls in pale rose. Exhaustion sagged every spine — but Sohee was safe, truth unearthed, mask torn.
Alex sprawled across two chairs, half-asleep. Minjae nursed bruised ribs, still teasing Guen. Miran passed coffee, shy smile trembling.
> "One case down," Dohee murmured.
Kevin's gaze swept the team — battered, stubborn, unbowed.
> "And many yet to come," he said, quiet pride warming steel.