The Tenth Case (14)

I clutch the phone tightly, Ko's words hitting me like a punch to the gut. "What do you mean he's been released? That can't be happening, Ko. Not now."

Ko's sigh crackles through the line. "I know. Believe me, I'm as frustrated as you are. But the rule is the rule. We couldn't hold him any longer without more substantial evidence."

I run a hand through my hair, pacing next to my car. "But he's still a suspect, right? We're not just letting him walk away?"

"Of course not," Ko assures me. "He's still very much on our suspect list. We'll keep monitoring him closely. But legally, our hands were tied."

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. "It might be more than that now, Ko. We might need to act fast."

There's a pause on the other end. "What do you mean? What did you find out?"

"I think we need to get in touch with the Busan police," I say, my mind racing ahead. "We need to collaborate with them, and quickly."