"Where is he?" Seungwan immediately asks in haste. She won't waste any more time standing here when she knows that she has to go to Yoongi right now.

"He's in his office-" She does not give Taehyung the chance to even finish since she immediately heads down one of the corridors of the precinct that leads her to the personal office of Yoongi. "Hey, Seungwan-shi!" Taehyung exclaims, following after her.

Seungwan stalks down the short corridor and it does not take long for her to arrive before the door of Yoongi's office. Without any hesitation, she raises a closed fist and raps on the door. At first, it was timid but then her knocking grew a bit louder. "Mister Min? May I come in?"

"Seungwan-shi," Detective Kim utters, almost out of breath from catching up to the woman's fast steps, "He's not allowing anyone inside the room now."

Seungwan refuses to look at the man and continues to knock. "I'm going in," she declares.

"No, Seungwan!"

The door suddenly opens just as Seungwan was about to wrap her fingers on the doorknob. The two stand there, stunned, looking at the man who is standing on the other side of the now opened doorway.

The woman stops dead in her tracks. Upon meeting the gaze of the lieutenant, she notices that he seems normal like usual. She thought he would have been more distraught or bothered with what had happened, but his facial expressions and eyes are not giving anything away.

Even Taehyung is as shocked as her. "Suga?" He utters his hyung's name, astonished that he is out of his office earlier than expected. The guys are used to Yoongi staying in his office alone for the whole day, three days at most, when a new case primarily concerning him happens. They can't even do anything to get him out of his office unless they had to leave the precinct due to the Chief's orders. Things have changed a bit when Seungwan joined the team, but now that the crime scene has his name written all over it, the mere reality of him locking himself up in his office was bound to happen. The fact that he's out earlier than expected is something that Taehyung is not prepared for.

"Wendy, Taehyung? What are you doing standing outside my office?" Yoongi asks, looking at the two with an eyebrow raised.

"Y-Yoon- Mister Min," Seungwan starts, almost saying her nickname for him out loud. "I-uh, I just wanted to check on you-"

"Check on me?" He interjects then scrunches his brows at her. "I know what you are referring to," he scoffs playfully, bringing his arm to the side to grab his coat that was hanging on the wall adjacent to the door. "None of you don't have to worry about me. Nothing can change what happened. What's done is done."

Despite how nonchalant he sounds, Seungwan knew better. It could be a coping or defense mechanism for him. And she found it painful for him to have to go through this. "Yooni..." she murmurs under her breath, her tone almost pitiful.

Yoongi heard her and he did not like how she sounded. "Come with me," he grunts. His gaze on her then turns stoic. "Before visiting the radio stations, we must pay the bereaved family a visit."

"Suga, you don't have to force yourself at this moment," Taehyung suddenly chimes in, "I can get someone else to visit the bereaved family while the others are with forensics at the crime scene-"

"Whose name was written on the letter left by Ryon In-Su?" Yoongi all of a sudden spits out coldly, causing the other man to freeze in his place.

His harsh yet painful words render Taehyung speechless, even Seungwan.

Yoongi continues in the same intensity, "Mine, right? It's only beneficial that I go and pay my respects. Of course, they would wonder who Lieutenant Min Yoongi is, right?"

"Yooni..." Seungwan whispers softly from his side.

Yoongi catches her worried gaze for a moment before averting his eyes and shaking his head. "Anyway," he continues levelly, "I think Wendy and I should leave now." He walks past Taehyung without sparing him another glance. "We'll be back in a few hours. Take care of the guys for me. I can handle myself."

------------

The mother of the victim did not speak at all. The father did his best to keep his tears at bay, but they kept on pouring down his face.

Despite the stark difference in their reactions, both were empty shells of who they were.

Yoongi had to deeply bow before them and apologize sincerely. The mother did not say anything nor did she even look his way, the father accepted his apology yet started to cry all the more.

The victim, their daughter, was only on her way home from work just like all the rest of the days for a year.

"Why did it happen to her?" The father wouldn't stop crying, "Why my daughter? Why her?"

Yoongi did not allow Seungwan to enter the house with him for this reason. With those words alone from the father, Seungwan would have burst out crying and console him which may lead to false promises.

He needed to stay strong and not show that much emotion. Having his name written on Ryon In-Su's letter is enough for him to know that the parents do not trust him. He knows that there is this huge part of them that blames him for the death of their daughter. Even if it is entirely untrue, it is not right for him to defend himself knowing that these parents recently lost a child.

"How did they know about the letter?" Seungwan asks as Yoongi drives the both of them to the first radio station they planned to visit.

"It was shown to them. They have every right to know," he mutters dismissively. He is not in the mood to talk to anyone right now. And it's not as if he could kick Seungwan out of his car. He would have done that months ago, but now it's different. She's apparently now considered his partner and it's a rule to always stick with one's partner whether it be in good or bad times.

He does not know what else to say. What is there to say? He is not one for idle chatter, nor is he the type to initiate one. Seungwan is not saying anything more which is beyond her usual self.

Yoongi just can't think of being the conversationalist now. His heart is achingly feeling heavy. He did not like visiting the parents of the newest victim. It brought memories he did not want to relive at all.

His umma was an emotional wreck and his appa did not have the strength to say anything. He locked himself in his room when the police came to their house, but he could still hear their muffled voices through his open window.

After a few minutes of quiet conversation between them and his parents, his umma then broke down in hysterical sobs. He knew his appa was holding her in his arms and crying as well.

The young Yoongi squeezed his eyes shut and curled himself inwards, wrapping his arms around him as he laid on bed.

He did not know what to feel...or perhaps...he couldn't feel anything.

He tried to sob like his parents, but nothing came out. His throat and eyes were just dry. Even if he forced himself, nothing would come out.

What the fuck was wrong with him? Does he not feel any kind of sadness for his noona?

He was shivering on the bed and as the sobbing of his parents grew louder, their wails of grief echo through their walls that Yoongi could even feel the vibrations of it. He covered his ears, burying his head in his arms.

He could not take it. He does not want to hear them anymore. Why can't he be like them? Why can't he cry out loud for his noona?

Yoongi felt his teeth clench as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"Why her?" The father of the victim asked...

His voice echoed in the lieutenant's mind. Those two words wouldn't stop replaying in his head.

Slowly, the voice started to morph to his parents' voices.

Why her?

Why our daughter?

Why our Sun-ja?

He abruptly stops the car at the side of where they currently are and it apparently is at a bridge.

"Yooni?" Seungwan exclaims as he suddenly opens the car door. The blaring of horns from other cars passing by them rings above the air. "Yooni!" Her cries for his attention fall short on deaf ears.

Yoongi does not care if there are cars around him. He's not blocking the way for him since he's stopped in the farthest lane so fuck them if they get bothered by it.

I should have killed Ryon In-Su that day. I should have not hesitated, whether it would have led me to jail. Fuck that. I would rather go through that than see another family suffer like mine.

I should have done something. Those parents lost their daughter because of me.

Upon reaching the railings of the bridge he rests both hands on them and digs his fingers deep into them despite it starting to hurt. Then at the top of his lungs, he releases a loud shout into the air.

It was one fill with pure anguish and pain. As it echoed throughout, anyone nearby would have heard the anger, frustration, despair, and...grief laced with it.

It hurt him so much to relive that memory, to relive the pain.

He thought he was prepared. He thought he wasn't fickle.

He thought he had grown out of the weak young self that stayed cooped up in his room, wallowing in his dead thoughts and reactions.

Yoongi has been wrong the whole time.

Suddenly, the lightest touch of someone's hand resting on his right shoulder takes him away from his reverie.

He glances at it before trailing up to see Seungwan smiling softly at him and holding up an open jar of Tiger Balm in her other hand.

"W-Wendy..." he breathes out, his voice feeling a bit hoarse.

"Here," she whispers, gently bringing the Tiger Balm closer to him. "I heard that it can calm one's self."

"I'm sure you made that up," he grunts.

Seungwan does not retaliate, to his surprise. Instead, she keeps silent but the gentle smile on her face has not disappeared.

Yoongi sighs under his breath and, without a word, takes the small jar from her hold and brings it near his nose. He inhales it and the cool yet subtly sweet scent of the balm fills his nostrils in an instant.

She's right. It could calm one's self. No wonder why she always has it with her.

"...Is it helping a bit?" She asks quietly from his side.

"Surprisingly, it is."

Her smile grows a bit wider. "I'm glad."

Yoongi then sets his lips into a tight line and gives back the jar to the woman. He first throws a glance towards Seungwan but almost immediately looks straight forward again. "Did you overhear us back at the house?"

She shakes her head. "I only heard someone crying."

He hums in assent. Heaving another heavy sigh, he leans forward on the railings. "...My parents also acted that way when the police came to our house that day."

Seungwan then asks in a whisper, "Unpleasant memories must have resurfaced, then?" She places the cap over the jar to seal it.

"No one deserves to go through such a traumatic experience, Wen," He cries softly, "...I could have done something. I had Ryon In-Su in my grasp years ago, but I couldn't bring him to jail. There was not enough evidence for me to do so. I should have moved right away, I should have-" He stops, his voice breaking as his emotions get the best of him. He leans on the railing, his head hangs low so that his hands could hold it on both sides.

It was Seungwan's first time to see him in such a state. He has never been this vulnerable before. Sure, he may have had some times when his weakness would show up, but it would be immediately masked after a few moments. Now, he is not hiding anything. And for once, Seungwan does not know what else to do.

She purses her lips, thinking hard while feeling how her heart ached for the man who is wallowing in his own guilt. "I," she begins in a small voice, "I may never understand you and I doubt I ever will. I can't promise a lot from my side, Yooni."

Yoongi grows quiet and gradually he looks up to face her. Tears are welling up in his eyes.

Seungwan bravely takes a step closer to him. "But if there is one thing that I am sure of, it would be the people around you. You have the guys and now, you have me." She does not avert her gaze from his wistful eyes. "So we are going to do everything together to finally capture Ryon In-Su and avenge the deaths of all those young women, especially your noona's." Suddenly, she raises a closed fist, except for her pinky as it stands straight. "This is my promise to you."

"A pinky promise?" Yoongi mutters unsurely.

"One of the best ways to seal an oath. I have never broken a pinky promise and I never will." She waves her pinky in front of him. "I will stay your partner even when you get sick of me. I'm not going to run away, Yooni. If there is something constant in your life, it would be my presence," she utters with growing conviction. "I have nothing but an oath to you, and I would want you to seal it with me."

Yoongi peers into her eyes then looks at the outstretched pinky before him. He looks up at her again. "You promise?" he breathes out and wraps his pinky around hers to finally seal the deal.

"I promise."

------------

"If you have been paying attention to our news and current affairs, there, unfortunately, has been another victim of this so-called 'radio killer'. This happened five days ago and I have sent you reading material through your beadle." Seungwan stands professionally before her class and moves on to the next slide of her presentation. "The readings I gave you contain special information regarding the crime scene and the evidence found in it. As always, I expect that you have read through the material and came up with some questions or hypotheses to share with the class."

Being part of a class that is taught at night is either a hit or miss because it's either the students are prepared and refreshed from a late afternoon nap or completely exhausted.

Thankfully for tonight, it's a participative lecture.

"A bit of an oversight for those who were not able to open the material yet, though heed this as a warning if this happens again. I will start deducting points for class participation for those who cannot answer my questions." She raises a stern eyebrow at her class, taking her time to look at them before proceeding. "How about we start with some simple questions. Raise your hand if any of you noticed a change in the newest crime scene."

Most of the class raise their hands, with only around five or six students still going through their notes - presumably, the reading material.

"Okay," Seungwan nods, genuinely impressed that they have read the material. "Let's continue, who would like to say to the class what that particular change was? Anybody? No need to raise your hand."

"Modus operandi, ma'am," one student instantly utters for the class to hear.

"Exactly!" Seungwan exclaimed, snapping her fingers out of acknowledgement. "It's nice to know that most of you have read the material. I typed down there that there was a change in the note the killer left for the police. Instead of the usual note with song lyrics on it, there was a letter. Though I did not place the exact words written on the letter for you to see, one can deduce that it clearly is different from the other notes with song lyrics on them." She watches how her students are looking through the reading material again.

Seungwan chooses to continue with the lecture, "Who would like to discuss the sudden change of a criminal's modus operandi? What could be one of the points that make them change it?"

The class is quiet for some time and the professor does give them time to skim through the material.

When a minute passes and no one has answered yet, Seungwan asks again, "Anyone? Again, this question is mainly for discussion, discourse between me and you. Do not be afraid to raise your hand and-"

"Ma'am?" One student timidly speaks up from the back of the classroom. She gradually raises her hand to the air.

Seungwan had to crane her neck a bit to see who called for her attention. "Ah!" She exclaims softly in recognition of the student. "Ae Ra, would you like to share your thoughts with the class?"

"Ma'am, t-this might seem a bit far-fetched-"

"Don't worry," Seungwan reassures her with a gentle grin on her face. "I would still like to hear your thoughts regarding this."

"Well, ma'am," Ae Ra starts, "What if...or maybe the person who committed the most recent crime is a different person..."

"Different person?" Seungwan repeats, almost out of wariness. "Ae Ra, would you like to further elaborate on that?"

"It's like a copycat killer, ma'am. Um, I remember the Zodiac killer who was rampant in the '60s, and people never caught that person. Then there was this guy in 1996 who was copying the way the person in the '60s did their crimes. The 1996 guy was caught though if I recall correctly."

"Yes, Eddie Seda," the professor chimes in, now starting to allow herself in deep thought. "He was infamous for being the Zodiac copycat killer."

"Yes, ma'am, that was he." Ae Ra then bites her bottom lip. "Am I making sense, ma'am?"

Seungwan crosses her arm in front of her. "A lot, actually," she truthfully tells her. "So, in the context of our 'radio' killer, you're suggesting that there is someone copying him?"

"Maybe...yet not exactly at the same time, ma'am. What is in my mind is...what if he does not work alone?"

It hits her almost like a eureka moment.

The fact that Ryon In-Su might be moving so incredibly fast and hiding so inexplicably well might not be because he has been doing this for years, decades perhaps. But it might be because he's not the only one...

She needs to tell Yoongi about this fast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you liked this chapter!

I posted a new Wenga book (though, it's going to be a short story) entitled, "Beyond the Last". I hope you can check it out ♡

Also, if you're a fan of squid game, i made a jun-ho x reader fanfic (because i am absolutely in love with the character) ♡

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