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A satisfying ping shattered the silence, yanking Vienna from her thoughts.

"Got him!" Garcia's voice rang out, triumphant, like he'd just won the lottery.

Vienna leaned over his shoulder. The map of Ravenport's Art Quarter appeared on the screen, a green circle pulsing steadily around two buildings.

"Your guy's in this 40-meter radius. Or at least his phone is," Garcia said, hammering the keyboard like a pianist on crack. "We're talking precise triangulation, high-accuracy mode."

Vienna squinted at the screen, the green glow reflecting off her face. "What's in those buildings?"

Garcia's eyes stayed on the screen. "One's got a boutique, a beauty salon, and a couple of offices. The other, across the street, has a coffee shop, an art supply store, and an art gallery."

Vienna mulled it over.

A beauty salon? Right, because Jungkook's all about that manicure life. An art supply store? Nah. Offices? Maybe. He could blend in there.

"What did I miss?" Yoongi's voice cut in, cool and calm as ever, like he'd just strolled in from a coffee break.

Vienna straightened. "Garcia, send me the location." She grabbed Yoongi's arm; no time for hesitation. "We've got a lead."

She threw a glance at their captain. Namjoon, standing by, gave a firm nod. "Go get him."

Heading out, Vienna felt the change in the air, a crackle of something big about to break. "Yoongi, we need to cover both buildings fast." Her mind was already mapping out the strategy. "I'll take the coffee shop and the art gallery. You handle the other building."

"Got it. Keep in touch. If anything feels off, don't go in alone."

"Thanks for the motherly advice," she shot back with a smirk. "Let's just hope his phone isn't sitting in a trash can somewhere."

They exited the precinct, the door closing heavily behind them. The outdoor heat smashed into Vienna like a wall. She winced, the sun blazing off the pavement.

"This could be it, Song. Stay alert," Yoongi warned as they reached the car.

"Yeah, yeah, I've got this," Vienna replied, sliding into the driver's seat. "Just hope I don't have to chase him through this oven of a city."

With the engine roaring to life, they tore off, the city blurring as they sped towards Art Quarter. Vienna felt the familiar rush of the chase, adrenaline zinging through her veins. This was it. Their moment.

"Art Quarter, here we come," she gripped the wheel tighter. "Let's see if our guy has a taste for culture."

Stepping out of the car, Vienna felt the heat and humidity slap her like a pissed-off ex. The stench of hot pavement and exhaust fumes invaded her nostrils. Sweat began to bead at her temples, but she kept her blazer on to conceal her weapon and badge. She watched Yoongi dart across the street into the boutique, then took a deep breath and headed towards the coffee shop.

Inside, the cool air felt like mercy. The place was nearly empty, the hum of a refrigerator and the soft murmur of a radio the only sounds. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries was almost enough to make her forget why she was there.

Vienna scanned the room: a few small tables, a cozy corner with plush chairs, and a counter where a barista stood, grinning broadly as she approached.

"Hey there," he greeted, his tone cheerful. "What can I get for you?"

Vienna met his enthusiasm with a flat stare. "I'm looking for someone," she said, her voice cutting through the pleasantries. "Asian, full sleeve of tattoos."

The barista's grin faltered, disappointment flickering across his face. "If you're looking for a boyfriend, I'm single," he quipped, leaning against the counter with a flirty smile.

Oh, fantastic. Just what I need — a lovesick barista.

Ignoring his pitiful attempt at charm, Vienna slid her phone across the counter, showing a picture of Jungkook. "Have you seen this guy?"

The barista's smile dropped, replaced by confusion. He studied the image before shaking his head. "No, I haven't."

Vienna's eyes swept the room again, taking in every detail.

If I were a criminal hiding in a coffee shop, where would I be?

The shop was simple: a few patrons scattered at tables, a chalkboard menu behind the counter, and a display case with pastries.

Determined to be thorough, she said, "I need to check the bathroom."

The barista's eyebrows shot up, his posture stiffening. "Uh, sure. It's back there," he pointed towards a door at the back, his hand trembling slightly.

Vienna made her way to the bathroom, her steps barely audible on the carpet. She pushed open the door, greeted by the sharp smell of cleaning products and stale piss. A man at the urinal turned, glaring at her intrusion.

"Hey! Dicks out here!" he snapped.

"Nothing I haven't seen before," Vienna replied dryly, her eyes scanning the stalls. She quickly checked each one, finding nothing unusual.

Seriously, people. It's a bathroom, not Fort Knox.

Satisfied, she left the bathroom and returned to the front of the shop, her gaze locking onto the barista once more. "If you see him, call this number," she said, scribbling her contact info on a napkin.

The barista nodded, taking it with a slightly bewildered expression. "Sure thing."

Vienna stepped outside, the heat hitting her once again. She glanced across the street, where Yoongi was just emerging from the boutique, shaking his head slightly.

She walked over to meet him. "Anything?"

"No sign of him. How about you?"

"Nothing. Just a clueless barista and a bathroom check," she replied, glancing back at the coffee shop. "I'm heading to the art gallery next. Let's hope our guy appreciates fine art."

Yoongi nodded. "Be careful."

"You too," she said, turning towards the gallery.

It was one of Ravenport's most renowned and trendy spots. The tinted windows revealed nothing, so Vienna pushed through the door, savoring the blast of cool, clean air. The faint sound of classical music played in the background, adding a serene touch. The gallery was expansive, its walls adorned with a diverse array of artworks, each under soft, flattering light.

She allowed herself a quick glance around the gallery, noticing the eclectic mix of people. Most were engrossed in the art, oblivious to her presence.

Good.

She needed the element of surprise. As she moved deeper into the gallery, a painting caught her eye—a Mona Lisa reimagined as a banana. She approached it, barely containing a chuckle as she read the title on the plaque: "The Bananalisa."

Really? This is art now?

Her lips curled into a sardonic smile.

Vienna took a moment to scan the people in the gallery. A young receptionist behind the front desk was visibly distracted, her gaze fixed on something—or someone—in the distance. Vienna followed her line of sight and froze.

Jeon Jungkook. We finally meet.

He was hard to miss, his tall frame dressed in black drew the eye. Jungkook was deep in conversation with a short, round man in a suit. His brow and lip piercings were catching the light like metallic stars. His boyish grin was disarmingly out of place with his sophisticated turtleneck.

She shook her head.

Get a hold of yourself, Vie. He's a suspect, not a date.

She forced herself to focus, despite the electric tension in the air. This was no time for distractions.

Jungkook might be attractive, but he's still the person of interest in our case.

And then he looked at her.

The moment their eyes connected, Vienna's heart skipped a beat. Jungkook's conversation stopped mid-sentence, the gaze of his dark eyes fixing on her with an intensity that felt almost physical. In that charged moment, it was as if the rest of the gallery had vanished. She felt a flush creep up her cheeks, her heartbeat erratic, caught between wanting to close the distance and maintaining control.

Fucking great, now I'm a deer in headlights. Fantastic.

She mentally kicked herself, struggling to regain her composure.

All those years of training, and here I am, starstruck by a criminal. Get it together, Vienna.

She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the heat of his gaze that pinned her in place. Her body felt like it was melting, caught in the magnetism of his stare.

Her brain kicked into overdrive, mapping out escape routes and sizing up potential threats. The front entrance was too obvious. The emergency exit at the back—likely alarmed. She needed to keep him in sight, ensure he had no chance to flee.

Come on, Vie. Move.

But her body refused to comply.

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A/n:
It's finally happening!!!
🤩🤩🤩
I can't describe how much
I was looking forward to writing Jungkook and Vienna's
first interaction!
I hope it's everything
you're hoping for 🥹😏

And these are all the participants in my crazy "become a character" idea:

1. gabbie_star
2. kookyreveriee
3. jklovergirlie
4. H0lly_here
5. DreamyM74
6. bangtanlexy
7. Eshu07
8. imbunnywifey
9. fluvery97
10. stillwithkook_
11. namjoonsmezybrain
12. Minty2009_02_08

NOTICE: dear delulus, the applications have been closed.

I'll announce the winner at the end of the next chapter!

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