Keeping an eye the 'foreigner' had proven a fairly painless assignment. Indeed, l'uomo in rosa had not left his hotel room since he was first seen entering it, some six hours ago. The only noticeable activity had been the room service delivery at around 1600 hours but other than that, "nothing to report" said the greybeard to his fellow undercover APTF (Angelo Protection Task Force) replacement. "It's been quiet. Mostly," he added with a yawn.

"What do you suppose he be doing, locked up in there with our Angelo?" asked the old woman who was settling down in one of the plump sofas of the hotel lobby, getting ready for her surveillance shift.

The old man snorted. "What do you suppose two studs do for six hours in a room which furniture consists of one single king-size bed?"

The woman blushed, hitting playfully on the other's arm. "You are incorrigible!" she admitted but went quiet after that. Someone was rushing down the stairs.

"Taehyung! Wait!" The charming black-haired foreigner could be heard two floors above as Angelo sprinted down toward the concierge, shirt unbuttoned and hair dishevelled.

Despite his flagrant hurry, he found himself greeting the two not-very-secret-agents with a sorry smile. "Perdonami, this tailing job must be quite a waste of your time."

Unsure as to the protocol in place when being exposed, the two elderly simply looked away, feigning sudden deafness.

"Please don't skip aperitivo on my account," Angelo added before facing the receptionist. "Buonasera. How can I make a long-distance call, per favor?"

The man motioned toward a booth on the side, just big enough to hold a single armchair. A black candlestick phone was resting on top of a console table. "Just ask for the international operator. They'll put you through."

"Grazie mille."

"What room should I bill the call to?"

"Mine," said Jungkook a little out of breath, as he reached the reception desk.

Taehyung turned around, eyes sparkling with endearment. He couldn't resist placing a soft kiss on the other's smirk. "We'll also need to address your sudden wealth because I know for a fact the earnings of a private detective cannot possibly cover all this — lavishness!" He gestured at their beautiful surroundings.

A pout showed up on the young inspector's face. "More talking means less lovemaking," he declared in all honesty, arms wrapping themselves around the other's waist.

"We could always multitask," Taehyung whispered, hands resting on his lover's biceps. Someone cleared their throat nearby.

Both men turned to face the rather flushed concierge who was kindly pointing toward a sign hanging on the wall behind.

"I have no clue what that says," Jungkook confessed.

Taehyung shoved him teasingly. "My dear Jungkook, you're going to get us arrested for public indecency!"

He reluctantly extricated himself from the other's embrace and headed toward the booth. "Just let me make that call. I really need to sort some things out."

Understanding, the young inspector let go of him and sat down next to the older woman who was still trying to figure out how to look unsuspicious. "Sooo, you're the relief?"

Blank stare.

"It's okay. I know you're doing this because you care for him."

Blink. Blink.

"I'm not here to hurt him. You don't need to worry about that. I'm no enemy."

Eye roll.

"Of course you're not willing to trust someone who doesn't even speak Italian. I get that. But you have to understand him and I go way back. Way way back."

Sigh.

"We're both orphans. We grew up together as best friends, until adoption that is. I figured I'd never see him again. And I missed him like crazy."

Concerned look.

"You cannot imagine the relief I felt when I finally managed to trace him back to Lord Ar—Never mind. I found him and then, something unexpected happened."

"Sì?"

"I'd naively thought we'd go back to being friends but that didn't quite go as planned because, well, he kinda swept me off my feet with his big lashy brown eyes, his dazzling smile, his playful manners."

Grin.

"And the dates he took me on were the best dates ever. (Not that I had dated much before him.) In short, this man is irresistible. Which is why I perfectly understand why you're all so fond of him."

"Jungkook?"

Taehyung had obviously hung up and was looking at him with curious eyes. "Why are you talking to Paola? She doesn't speak English."

The detective eyed the old woman who simply winked. "I wouldn't be so sure," replied the other with a smile. "Did you get a hold of Claude, by the way?"

"Yes, I did. You were right about Ash. She returned to the estate soon after I disappeared, which is why my disloyal butler didn't shut it down."

"I told you she had called several times. She was concerned about you and kept asking about your possible whereabouts. Were you able to talk to her?"

"No, I wasn't. Claude tells me she's on a business trip on the continent."

"Oh."

Taehyung shook his head in an attempt to get rid of the questions that bugged him. "How about we go grab a bite to eat?" he suggested, hopeful.

"Sounds wonderful!"

They were both walking out when the concierge called after them, waving a slip of paper in his hand. "Sir! Mister Jeon! This just came in for you."

"What is it?" Taehyung enquired, not yet sure whether the telegram Jungkook was presently reading was good or bad news.

"It's a wire from Lizbeth. Jimin wants me to call him ASAP at this number."

Taehyung remembered the reporter and recalled he mostly bared unwelcome news. He grudgingly followed Jungkook back to the phone booth and furrowed his brows as the other asked the operator to put him through to number 13, Hietzing, Vienna.

"Hello? I would like to talk to one of your guests. The name is Park Jimin — Sure, I'll hold."

"What is a Thames Herald reporter doing in Austria?" Taehyung mumbled, not enjoying the fact that Jungkook had a life outside of Riomaggiore. A life outside of Kim Taehyung. The nerve.

"Jimin? What's the matter?"

"Jungkook! Thank you for calling back. Did you find him?"

"You mean Taehyung? I did. Thanks for your concern."

"Is he with you by any chance? I really need to have a word with him."

"What? Why? What's going on?"

"Put him on the line. Now."

"Fine."

Jungkook handed the candlestick phone over to Taehyung who looked rather puzzled. The other just shrugged, equally clueless as to what the reporter was up to. "Taehyung speaking."

"KIM. FUCKING. TAEHYUNG! After all I went through to clear your name, you have some nerve! Keeping up with these shenanigans! To what end, this time, may I ask?!"

Taehyung winced at both the volume and harsh tone. "What are you talking about? What shenanigans?"

"Don't pull the naive card on me. It won't work. Man up and confess right now. Or better yet, give yourself up to the police, wherever you are! That'll save me the trouble of framing your ass for all these thefts."

"I honestly have no idea what you're on about and I suggest you bring it down a notch or I might accidentally hang up on you."

"The fucking PAINTINGS, Taehyung! They're missing and I know you're behind all this because who else in the world of crooks signs their mischief with the letters A. L.?"

—

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