05: Sludge and Sleuth
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"Yoongi, check this out!" Vienna's voice sliced through the office's usual monotony, catching Yoongi mid-sip of his third cup of the office's infamous sludge.
Yoongi trudged over, looking as weary as ever. "What is it?"
"Michele's phone records show she made a call to an unknown number just after Lisa had left that night," Vienna said, pointing at the log. "And there are multiple calls to and from the same number a week prior to her disappearance. Each lasts for over three minutes. We need to trace who this number belongs to."
Yoongi leaned in, his brow furrowing like a detective who'd just caught a whiff of something fishy. He nodded briskly, scratching notes in his weathered notebook. "I'll get tech on it immediately."
As he walked away, Vienna sucked in a deep breath, the weight of the case - a concrete slab on her chest. She picked up her phone and dialed Senator Kim's office, hoping to snag someone who knew more than they let on about Michele's work and any sticky situations she might have been in. After successfully setting up an interview she called the medical examiner.
Right, now let's talk to Hoseok.
The phone rang twice before he picked up, his voice filtering through the line like he'd just run a marathon. "Detective, what's up?"
"Hoseok, I need an update on the autopsy," Vienna said, the leather of her chair creaking in protest as she leaned back.
"I should have it done by 9 am tomorrow," he replied, his tone brisk and professional.
"Great. We'll meet you at the morgue tomorrow morning then," she said, jotting down the time in her notebook. "Thanks, Hoseok."
Ending the call, Vienna rubbed her temples.
I need to talk to Lisa Choi, too.
Finding Lisa's number buried among paperwork, Vienna drummed her fingers nervously on the desk as the phone rang.
"Hello?" A cautious voice answered.
"Lisa Choi?"
"Yes."
"This is Detective Vienna Song from the Missing Persons and Homicide Unit with Ravenport PD," she announced, her voice firm and businesslike. "I'm on Michele Park's case and need to ask you a few questions."
"Of course," Lisa replied, her tone tinged with concern. "Anything to help Michele."
"Can you swing by the precinct tomorrow at noon?" Vienna asked, striving to inject reassurance into her words.
"Yes, I'll be there," Lisa agreed, relief filling her voice.
"Thank you, Lisa. See you then," Vienna concluded, ending the call with a decisive click.
She scribbled a note about the scheduled interview and stretched, just as Yoongi returned to his desk, looking even more weary than before.
"What's wrong?" Vienna asked, glancing up from her notes with concern.
"They've conducted the door-to-door," Yoongi sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
"And?" Vienna prompted, sensing his frustration.
"And nothing. No one saw or heard anything unusual," Yoongi admitted, his shoulders slumping. "Oh, and the jogger who found the body came in to give a statement too, but he didn't notice anyone around."
"Damn it," Vienna muttered, feeling her own frustration bubbling up inside her.
She needed more coffee—or perhaps something stronger. Returning from the break room with two mugs of the office's notorious sludge, she set one down on Yoongi's desk, its dark surface swirling ominously like a storm cloud.
"Anything on the financial records?" she asked, her voice edged with anticipation.
"Thanks. Actually, yes," Yoongi replied, turning his screen toward her. "There's a withdrawal of $1500 from an ATM near her campus a day before she disappeared. Could be nothing, but it's a hefty sum for a student."
Vienna furrowed her brow, scrutinizing the call log from that day. "Look! It coincides with one of the longer calls to that same number."
"Could she have been blackmailed?" Yoongi speculated, his voice low.
"I've arranged for Kim Seokjin's campaign manager to join us for an interview tomorrow. Hopefully, he can shed some light on this," Vienna said.
Yoongi took a sip of his coffee and grimaced, setting down the mug with a thud. "God, this is terrible. I need a real drink. How about we put a pin in it and unwind for a bit?"
Vienna smiled, a flicker of relief in her eyes. "You've read my mind, partner."
Leaving the documents scattered on their desks like the aftermath of a paper storm, they said quick goodbyes and made their way out.
A short drive down the street brought them to The Hive, a trendy bar nestled near Grove Park Station. Neon lights pulsed through the tinted windows, casting a vibrant glow onto the sidewalk. Inside, eclectic music mingled with the low buzz of lively conversations, while the appealing aroma of craft beer and gourmet street food beckoned them in.
The atmosphere in The Hive was chic and welcoming, a stylish escape from the day's harsh realities. They found a spot at a sleek corner table, settling into the modern, comfortable chairs. Yoongi waved to the bartender, signaling for two beers without a word.
"So, how's Kang?" Yoongi asked, leaning back in his chair, his exhaustion momentarily masked by the relaxed setting.
Vienna sighed, her gaze drifting into her beer. "I haven't heard from him in days. It's driving me nuts."
"I see you're still harassing him with calls and texts," Yoongi teased gently, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Don't worry. He's probably just buried in homework."
"Yeah, I know. But still..." She trailed off, taking a sip of her beer. The cold liquid offered a brief distraction from her worries. "And how's the family?" she asked, shifting the focus away from herself.
"Chaotic, as always," Yoongi chuckled softly, his voice a low rumble in the bar's ambient buzz. "Yoona is teething, and it's a nightmare. But Jisoo's been amazing, handling everything like a pro."
"That's great to hear," Vienna replied, her smile genuine. "Remember when she used to joke about having kids? Now look at her, super mom."
"Yeah, back then I figured you'd be the first one to settle down," Yoongi retorted lightly, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise.
"Hey, I've got my hands full with this job. Plus, I like sleeping through the night," Vienna shot back, a playful spark in her eyes.
"Sleeping? You?" Yoongi laughed, genuinely amused. "I didn't know detectives even knew what that was."
"Touché," Vienna smirked, her lips curling with wry amusement. "But seriously, it's good to hear Jisoo's handling it well. I can't imagine dealing with teething on top of everything else."
"It's a challenge, but we're making it work," Yoongi said, his usually stoic expression softening as he spoke of his family. "You should drop by sometime. Yoona misses her auntie Vie."
"I'd love that," she replied warmly, a glint of comfort relaxing her features at the thought. "Maybe this weekend if we're not buried under paperwork."
"Deal," Yoongi nodded, lifting his beer in a silent toast. "To surviving another day and uncovering some damn answers tomorrow."
"Cheers to that," Vienna agreed, clinking her glass with his, the sound echoing softly in the cozy bar.
As Vienna savored the cold bite of her beer, she stole a glance at her partner over the rim of her glass and couldn't help but smile.
No matter how crazy things get, I can always count on him.
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A/n
Hey guys!
Which duo do you like more:
Vienna and Yoongi
or
Jungkook and Taehyung?
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