Page 95 of Perfect Happiness
Min-young brought her lips to a sharp point and looked at him.She either had no idea what he meant or was just pretending not to know.
“How did you get my phone number and address?”
Aha...She mouthed as she lifted her chin.
“Is that so important?”she asked with a look of innocence.“What’s important is that we’re here now.”
Eun-ho could guess that Min-young and Yuna were not that close.And it wasn’t simply that they weren’t close; they probably had it out for each other.From what Eun-ho saw, Min-young Seo and Yuna Shin were of the same ilk: people who thought the world revolved around them.Of course, he would need to see more before he could tell who the superior narcissist was.
“You seem to have received the help of a professional.I doubt my wife gave you that information, neither is there anyone around me whom you would be close with.”
She again answered this question with another question.
“Didn’t you come here today because you were curious about what I had to say?”
“I didn’t come here to hear your story.Neither did I come here to answer your questions.I came here to find out why you’re snooping around.”
“Aren’t you even a little suspicious of your son’s death?”
Her voice seemed agitated.
“Do you really think you killed him?”
Eun-ho cheeks were starting to burn up.They might even be visibly red.He could keenly sense the eyes of the people sitting around and behind him.Instead of answering her question, he lowered his eyes.He inhaled through his teeth, letting out a slight hiss.Even the neighborhood dog would understand this as a warning sign, but Min-young didn’t seem to notice.
“Are you always such a heavy sleeper?Don’t you think it strange that you slept through everything?”
“I could report you to the police right now.For invasion of—”
“That night, did you drink something before going to bed?”
Eun-ho could feel his chest starting to pound.How did she know?
“What do you mean?”
She didn’t answer him.She just studied his face, a smile in her eyes.He tried his hardest not to look impatient.
“Your wife.She wasn’t home on the sixteenth of November, was she?”
Eun-ho could feel himself becoming more and more frustrated.How long was she planning on only asking questions and not giving answers?
“Yuna isn’t a stay-at-home mom.She’s not home on weekdays.”
“That’s not what I’m asking.She didn’t come home that evening, right?She was with my brother.”
Eun-ho closed his mouth to prevent the gasp from leaving his mouth.It felt like a hook had suddenly been stuck in his side.What made her so certain?
“According to the police, the last place my brother used his credit card was at a McDonald’s in Kyochon.They say he bought a Happy Meal.I doubt many grown men enjoy Happy Meals.”
Eun-ho leaned against the back of his chair and sunk deep into the seat.
“He bought it for Jiyoo.He must have met Jiyoo.And there’s no way Jiyoo came alone.Yuna brought her.The last time I talked to my brother on the phone was at 2 p.m.Although we didn’t really talk for long.He hung up on me, and his phone has been off ever since.”
She let out a dry cough twice and reached for a cup of water.She lapped at the water the way a cat would.A few moments later, she continued.
“This is what I think happened.My brother was already riding in Yuna’s car when he received my phone call.She picked him up where there weren’t any security cameras.The reason he hung up on me was because of her.I’m not sure if you know this, but my brother had fought a long time in court just to see Jiyoo.He probably didn’t want to upset Yuna.It had been three years since he last saw his daughter.He probably wanted to make sure he could keep seeing her.They say my brother’s cellphone signal cut off in that area.It wasn’t just that he hung up on me.He turned off his phone.He’s been missing ever since.”
Eun-ho thought about that picture of Jiyoo and her father.Where had it been taken?It didn’t look like a hotel.Was it a vacation home?Or perhaps ...
