Episode 2 of "Nine Puzzles" unfolds as the clock strikes 11:15 PM, with I-na stepping into the posh apartment complex known as The One City. She is well-aware that Han-saem pays a weekly visit to his mother who resides here, yet tonight, fate has him indoors, indulging in a refreshing shower at precisely 11:20 PM. Upon her dismissal by Han-saem's mother, I-na embarks on a fruitless search for her car, her memory failing her at this crucial juncture. Her wanderings lead her to an unexpected discovery: the vehicle of a bar acquaintance, its headlights piercing through the darkness, revealing a harrowing sight within—the girl, Lee Mi-young, the bar owner and a fellow resident of The One City, lifeless, her neck brutally constricted by an unseen force.
With trembling hands, I-na dials 911, and by 11:50 PM, the authorities arrive, including Sergeant Nam, the same female officer she had encountered at the supermarket. By the time Han-saem joins the scene, I-na has vanished, leaving behind a trail of frantic texts at 11:38 PM, detailing the grim find.
The investigation unravels a tale of affluence and mystery; Mi-young, a woman of considerable wealth, lay dead, yet nothing of value was disturbingly missing. Estimates place her time of demise somewhere between 10:10 PM and 11:30 PM. Han-saem's skepticism lingers—it seems too convenient that I-na stumbled upon the body. Yet, I-na, unperturbed by his suspicions, shares with him the revelation of the second puzzle piece, insisting that a serial killer's hand is behind both the murder of her uncle, Dong-hoon, and now, Mi-young.
Han-saem doubles back to his mother for clarity, who guesses I-na's visit to be around midnight. He delves into the CCTV footage, discovering Mi-young's car parked in a strategic blind spot. Issuing a directive to Choi San to scrutinize every dashcam recording, Han-saem embarks on a solo mission to track I-na's every move. The surveillance tapes reveal her entering the building at 11:21 PM, her steps hurried, her mind racing with the grim discovery she had just witnessed.
Next, Han-saem pays a visit to Dr. Lee, I-na's therapist, presenting her with the enigmatic puzzle piece. However, she remains tight-lipped, revealing nothing. Meanwhile, the physician who had initially invited I-na watches Han-saem depart with a knowing glance. Yang, disapproving of Han-saem's renewed focus on I-na, urges him to concentrate on the victim instead. Serendipitously, I-na arrives on the scene, having discovered his visit to her therapist. Han-saem inquires about her reasons for ringing Mi-yeong's doorbell after the murder, to which she evades a direct answer, sharing her hypothesis that the murder transpired at precisely 10:32 PM. He dismisses her theory, leaving her feeling frustrated and unheard.
Determined to uncover more clues, Han-saem heads to Mi-young's bar, Gryphon, only to find out that there are no CCTV cameras present. On the night of the murder, there were four patrons, and Mi-young had engaged in conversation with a tall, muscular male customer, possibly a policeman. As a precautionary measure, Han-saem inquiries about I-na, but the bartender draws a blank. Intriguingly, a number called Mi-young at 8 PM and left a missed call at 9:45 PM. This number belongs to Hyun Ho-geun, the precinct chief and Dong-hoon's friend. Hyun claims he called to make and subsequently cancel a reservation, but Han-seom treats him with suspicion, incensing Hyun.
Trailing the same path, I-na confronts Hyun with questions, yet her demeanor remains amicable, easing his tension. Her sole intention is to unravel whether Mi-young and Dong-hoon share any concealed ties, but Hyun dismisses such notions. Meanwhile, Han-saem subjects every policeman visiting Griffin to scrutiny, earning him a reputation far from favorable. Yang, one among them, displays understanding amidst the situation. News of the internal investigation leaks, attracting relentless reporters like hounds. Frustrated, Hyun orders Yang to conclude the probe within a week. Griffin's manager finally unearths the name of a client – Commander Dong-su.
Dong-su steadfastly asserts his departure at 9:30, as Mi-young needed to conclude her evening early. Han-saem's thoroughness irks Dong-su, who feels insulted by his treatment as a suspect. Sergeant Nam grapples with guilt for neglecting to check on Mi-young's speeding vehicle. She inquiries Han-saem about the murder's locale, surprising him as he pondered the parking lot. Han-saem faces graver issues as neither Dong-su nor Hyun possess alibis. However, Yang discovers a pivotal clue – Mi-young's resident card is missing.
Elsewhere, I-na conducts a seminar on criminal profiling, elucidating its role in capturing serial killers. Post-seminar, she draws parallels between Dong-hoon's and Mi-young's murders. Both premeditated and clinically executed, the lone connection between them is the enigmatic puzzle.
As the rain pours at the conclusion of Nine Puzzles Episode 2, I-na urges the caretaker to stay, yet she departs regardless. The door clicks shut, and I-na's memory resurges, recalling Dong-hoon's murder. In the mirror's reflection, she glimpsed a figure lurking in the adjacent room. Before the lights flickered back, he vanished, leaving behind the sound of the door locking.
