The Scarecrow (허수아비)

So, you're back. What about your thesis?

Thanks to you.

Did you solve my riddle?

It was 12 plus 2.

A total of 14 murders.

Are you saying there are five more unreported murders?

I knew you would figure it out.

I'll confess to the nine cases that are already public.

And I'll come clean about the rest, too.

Only if

you tell me your story.

What is it now?

Your story, Professor. You said you lost everything, didn't you?

I want to hear exactly what you lost.

One story from you,

for one hidden murder from me.

Sounds fair, doesn't it?

(Murders: 12 plus 2, Rapes: 19, Attempts: 15)

If you're not up for it,

I'll take them all to my grave.

All right. You have a deal.

Now, this is getting interesting.

You go first.

What is it you supposedly lost?

I lost my friend.

Excellent work.

I knew you would pull it off, Prosecutor Cha.

It was all thanks to you, sir.

Now that we've identified the culprit, catching him will be easy.

Now I can finally get a good night's sleep.

What are you looking at so intently?

You see this date?

It's the day Choi In Sook went missing.

- It is? - When Choi In Sook was murdered,

Gi Beom was with me.

But then why was Park Ae Sook's handbag at the bookstore?

If it wasn't Lee Gi Beom...

Could it be Lee Gi Beom's brother?

Hey, what are you talking about? Lee Gi Beom might not be the killer?

At the time Choi In Sook was murdered,

Gi Beom was with me.

Hey, buy me some more time.

I have the press conference in 10 minutes.

I was to say we identified the suspect.

Hey, what's the big rush with the press conference?

You're the one who said you'd close this case at lightning speed!

When did I say that?

Anyway, just stall them.

Or has your stab wound opened up again yet?

- Want me to rip it open for you? - Hey!

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

Anyway, just stall. Be vague. You know how.

- You're good at that. I'm leaving. - What do you mean, "stall"?

- Stall. - Hey, Tae Joo...

So, what are you announcing today?

Have you found the serial killer?

Over the past two years,

regarding the seven murders that took place in Kangseong,

we have identified a person of interest, but...

"But"? - "But"?

- "A person of interest"? - What is he talking about?

So you're saying you haven't caught him?

Father.

Stop by when you're in the area, all right? I'm bored.

Come on. You're much busier than I am.

I'm looking for patient Lee Gi Hwan. I need to see the patient list.

- One moment. - Hey, isn't that Detective Kang?

- A detective? - He leads the serial murder case.

Could you please introduce me?

What?

Hello. My name is Jo Yun Seok.

Please, have a seat.

Why would someone from the nuclear research institute want to see me?

There's a method that could narrow down your list of suspects,

- and I wanted to tell you about it. - Something like that exists?

It's called radioisotope analysis.

And what can you do with that?

Just like how we all have different fingerprints,

the elemental makeup of a person's hair is unique to each individual.

So you're saying,

by irradiating their hair and measuring the elements,

you can determine if they're the same person? Is that it?

Yes, and depending on the results,

we can even deduce their profession or their living environment.

Have you ever identified a suspect using this test?

- No. - Has it been admitted as evidence?

Not yet.

But there's a first time for everything.

A first time...

The Kangseong branch

of the Muwon District Prosecutor's Office announced

that they have identified the serial killer

responsible for killing seven women over the past two years.

The suspect is a certain Mr. Lee, a Kangseong resident in his 20s,

who runs a local bookstore.

Furthermore, a schoolgirl's murder on the 22nd

has also been attributed to this same Mr. Lee.

- You won't need my proposal. - The crime scenes were...

- That crazy son of a bitch... - around the Kangseong Village area.

He targeted women walking home alone from work or school.

After abducting his victims,

and binding their hands and feet so they couldn't resist.

He then sexually assaulted and brutally murdered them.

The killer

committed his crimes with increasing frequency,

- bodies were also found there... - Mom.

- Pull yourself together. - I don't need it!

Get out.

We are officially designating this as a serial murder case,

and to ensure that such crimes are not repeated,

we will conduct a thorough investigation.

We will do everything in our power

to see that justice is served.

The prosecution has placed Mr. Lee on a public wanted list,

and stated they will do everything they can to ensure a swift arrest.

All eyes are now on whether this will finally bring an end

to the serial murders in Kangseong for the past two years.

This is Kim Ji Hun, reporting for KDS.

It's ginger tea.

It smells nice.

What brings you here? I thought you were busy with the race.

Let's finalize your marriage talks with Chairman Kim's family soon.

That can wait until after the election.

And what if the election doesn't go our way?

We need to set a date now to lock them in.

So you found the serial killer?

Yes.

Good work.

Father...

Cha Si Yeong! You...

Detective Kang.

What do you think you're doing? I have a guest.

I don't have time to take a number and wait my turn, sir.

Please let me talk to Prosecutor Cha.

All right, I get it. We'll talk in a minute, okay?

He says it's urgent official business.

I guess this old man should get out of the way.

No, Father. You don't have to.

- Just a moment... - Don't bother to see me out.

Hold on.

Have we met somewhere before?

I don't believe so.

I must have been mistaken.

I'll be in touch.

Wait, Father...

Hey.

Why did you say that at the press conference?

I told you I needed to investigate further.

Look, I've been thinking about it.

The date on that photo of Lee Gi Beom.

That's when Choi In Sook vanished, not the day she died.

The body was too decomposed to pinpoint the exact time of death.

- Hey, what is that supposed to... - Like Choi In Sook's mother said,

her daughter could have run away from home.

There are just too many possibilities.

What's your deal?

Why are you suddenly being so unreasonable?

Who's being unreasonable? Is this about Sun Yeong?

What's that supposed to mean?

Sun Yeong is having Gi Beom's child, isn't she?

So I was right.

At Lee Gi Beom's house, I wondered if she had morning sickness.

What on earth is Sun Yeong going to do now?

- Why bring Sun Yeong into this? - Hey.

You're saving him for your future niece or nephew, aren't you?

- Don't be ridiculous! - Then what is it?

- Any suspects besides Lee Gi Beom? - That...

The killer is definitely

someone close to Lee Gi Beom. So I need to broaden my search...

Then go find the real killer!

Convince me with evidence.

That's what an investigation is, Tae Joo.

You darn commie bastard!

Today's the day, you bastard.

I've been too nice to you until now, right?

Let's go again.

Darn it. This is driving me nuts.

I said bring him in, not beat him to death!

My apologies, Prosecutor.

- Take that out of his mouth. - Yes, sir.

Your bookstore is full of surprises, isn't it?

Did you hear we found in your store?

Commie books, the victim's handbag...

It's a regular treasure trove in there.

I didn't do anything.

What did you say?

Say that again.

It wasn't me!

I think he might be for real.

- I don't think he's our guy. - But that's impossible.

No, just look at his eyes.

Do those look like the eyes of a liar?

Darn it.

He's no serial killer.

He's just a darn commie.

But Prosecutor, then who did it?

His brother, obviously. The shop is his, right?

That would make sense.

Your mother sure raised a couple of winners, didn't she?

One's a serial killer, and the other's a commie.