"You have my attention." Hongjoong adjusted his tie and leaned in, not giving Seonghwa an out now. This was his opportunity to get him to talk.

A flash of mischief sparked in the elegant cradle of Seonghwa's palm against his chin.

"Then excuse me for a moment while I retrieve the wine. Get comfortable." The polite offer came with the poison of a snake. While Seonghwa elegantly left the room to rustle through the cellarette, Hongjoong leaned back into the cushions. Speedy fingers jotted a few notes before he let the notebook disappear back into his pocket.

Seonghwa Park is hiding something.

Seonghwa Park dodges questions.

Invitation to drink alcohol.

By the time Seonghwa returned, Hongjoong didn't show any signs of activity. His smile was waxy when he accepted the glasses and held them for Seonghwa to pour. His scent surrounded Hongjoong like a lethal embrace. Was this how he fooled with victims? With tempting smiles and a divine grace?

Once Seonghwa sunk back onto the cushions, he toasted his glass to Hongjoong's.

"To a wonderful friendship. And a most fascinating conversation."

Somehow, Hongjoong hadn't regarded his smile as so chilling before. It was haunting on those serene features.

"Would you have drank with Mister May over a conversation as well? Surely, old people don't take well to liquor." Hongjoong took a small sip and the rich, fruity flavour was heavy on his tongue. As his body perked up at the poison, the keyhole peeper watched Seonghwa swirl his cup in his hand. His grin was out for no good.

"How about a little game, Mister Kim? You drink for every question you ask me and I drink for every of mine."

Hongjoong narrowed his eyes. Unless Seonghwa had something to hide, there was no need to coquet around the truth. This was a beast on the prowl.

"You go first."

Hongjoong wouldn't back down. This was his sincerity.

"Did Mister Jeong truly send you?" Poising the rim of his glass against his lips, Seonghwa studied Hongjoong's expression. Reading by himself if he told a lie.

"He did," Hongjoong replied, and Seonghwa sipped his drink. Whichever Jeong was in the circle of Mister May, he saved Hongjoong's puny little life.

"My turn." Hongjoong dedicated his undivided attention to the cunning widow before him. Didn't let the thorns on this black rose fool him.

"Do you profit off the deaths of your husbands?"

"What a crude question," Seonghwa snickered, but he entertained it. The alcohol loosened their tongues. "My grief outweighs my profit. You assume heart balm is everything, but these are human lives you stake on. Mourning."

Suspicious, Hongjoong sipped. He couldn't outright ask Seonghwa if he murdered someone. He might end up bleeding out over the carpet for that.

"Are you attracted to me?" Seonghwa sang and his earrings twinkled in the light of the afternoon sun falling through the windows. When his gaze reminded Hongjoong of his hot pants for this beauty, he glanced away. 

"Of course, I am. You know how lovely you are."

Satisfied, Seonghwa toasted his glass.

"I will take the compliment." Another sip.

When he made a face, Hongjoong had to chuckle.

"I seem to have an advantage in age."

If Seonghwa had less tolerance than him and Hongjoong pretended for bigger sips than he actually swallowed, that might be his strategy.

"Don't underestimate me, darling. I have more experience than you." A playful double meaning crooked his smirk. Heat filled Hongjoong's cheeks quicker now.

They bantered back and forth. Hongjoong asked where Seonghwa had been at the time of curtains and Seonghwa replied with utter innocence. He asked only ridiculous things back, how Hongjoong liked his eggs in the morning and what his favourite board game was. His questions confused Hongjoong and addled his mind along with the hooch.

But as time dragged on, Seonghwa sat poised and elegant. His glass was empty, and he refilled it at utter peace while Hongjoong swayed in his seat. Through his foggy brain, he didn't understand what was happening and why Seonghwa looked so tranquil. He merely gulped down more of the delicious wine. 

Seonghwa supported his chin in his hand and chuckled down at the gumshoe with the lidded eyes.

"You don't ask these questions out of curiosity, do you?" He purred and Hongjoong snickered foolishly. 

"'Course not," he slurred. "I have a plan." He giggled in secret since he would never share it with Seonghwa and the widow hummed, invested. When he came over, Hongjoong ogled at his beauty from up close. Tempting lips smiled like a hungry tiger when he patted his lap once he sat by Hongjoong's side. Hongjoong scrambled to put his head on the heavenly soft fabric. He groaned when nimble fingers caressed through his hair.

"Are you wearing gloves at home because you can't bear the blood on your hands?" He babbled, drinking before he even had his answer. This wine was so good.

Seonghwa massaged his scalp. Grazed his ears until Hongjoong shuddered and evaporated for him.

"I wore gloves to look pretty for you, detective," Seonghwa purred and Hongjoong giggled along. His eyes fluttered shut to the gentle touches, and he always wanted to stay here.

Why hunt this darb? Why pin atrocities on him? Wasn't it so much lovelier to stay here and jest together over some wine?

"Won't you tell me why you are investigating me? Is there a need for me to worry?"

"Noo, don't worry," Hongjoong protested. He flailed for Seonghwa's knee to pat it. He could fall right asleep here. Seonghwa's lap was so warm and comfortable.

"I'm here for you; you don't have to worry."

Seonghwa smelled so good. The colours of the room were beautiful. Why was Hongjoong here again? Just to feel good, for sure.

The laughter above was like that of angels.

"Then I will assume you won't try to harm me. It's a promise, right?"

"Yesss, a promise. No harm on a lovely dame. Even if he might be a man-eating vamp," Hongjoong swore up and down. His mother brought him up as a gentleman. No helpless, charming beauty who just lost his husband should be pressured like this.

Seonghwa was here, wistful before his window, with only paintings and the piano to remind him of his partner. While he was here, sipping wine and looking ravishing for no one but himself, Hongjoong's office tried to pin a murder on him. Men shouldn't bully helpless skirts, no matter the gender beneath.

A tear gathered in Hongjoong's eye and he wiped it. When Seonghwa cooed at him, the gumshoe shook his head.

"Never," he promised.

He drank some more, and he passed out on Seonghwa's lap. A minuscule tug on his pocket didn't bother him and the flicking of pages gave Hongjoong vivid dreams of chasing through crime scenes with his trusty notebook in hand. But the touch to his hair lulled him as if he were a child cosied up to his mother. Hongjoong had the best sleep in a long while and he was barely coherent when Seonghwa put his readings aside after a few hours and heaved him up.

"You must go home now, detective. I have matters to attend to," he purred at Hongjoong when he grumbled into his tattered shirt on his way to the door. Seonghwa helped him into his shoes and kissed his cheek. The warmth of his lips left a scorching mark and Hongjoong flushed to his collarbones.

"Are you planning the next murder?" He slurred and Seonghwa giggled at him. His fingers slipped a flat object into Hongjoong's pocket and patted it.

"Perhaps."

After flagging down a hack, Seonghwa got Hongjoong inside without hitting his head. He told the driver to bring Hongjoong to his home address. How did he know? The detective forgot.

Drooling over the seats of the taxi, Hongjoong had the loveliest dreams about the gorgeous widow.

Go to chapter 23