Over and Out

Chapter Eight and a half

"I didn't really think they were stupid enough, but I think it might actually be her." Jungkook speculated, lifting his legs up on the table in front of him. "You would have thought they would be able to spare the one person who had actually made contact, but yet again their incompetence reigns supreme." From inside the room there was a window, that allowed him to survey the dancefloor. On the side facing the rest of the club, he'd noticed as they'd walked through the crowd, it appeared to be part of the wall, just a slightly different shade to the rest of it. He had noted, with slight regret, that had it not been business tonight, he wouldn't have been secluded in this dark, empty corner of the venue. The previous event had been a stuffy affair that even Taehyung had written off in record time, and part of him wished that they could simply forget about any official work and just go out on the dancefloor instead—but he knew that would cloud his judgement. Sighing, he tipped his head back, loosening the tie from his neck.

"Yeah, but remember you only saw her for a split second whilst sedated, and the person who I saw, if it's even the same person, was in a mask." Taehyung settled down in front of him, twisting around to also look out. From the window, they could just see the edge of the group they were watching, who seemed pretty regular at first glance. She was slightly obscured, leaning against the table-top, a pink bottle in hand, cool green silk replaced by sleek black and distracting ribbons. He'd caught a glimpse of her as they had made their way in, arms locked around another tall guy who seemed to also be in their little group. She had thrown her head back as she sang along to something, and the sight alone had made him stumble—though he was rue to admit it to anyone. His suspicions were backed up by Taehyung, who reported that the two of them had seemed the most tense of everyone on the dancefloor, actively surveying their entourage as opposed to the open curiosity of the rest of the room. While it wasn't much to go off, something in his stomach told him she was the right girl, and instinct had at least gotten him this far.

"I'm sure it's her, and even if it isn't that one's not exactly bad looking." He felt the corner of his mouth curl up as he got to his feet to get closer to the window. The sight of the man next to her casually touching her waist made him tense up, but he quickly unclenched his jaw when he realised it.

"Look, we're risking too much just being here, and by the looks of it they're onto us. We don't know how far they're willing to go, or what kind of backup they have hidden away. Tell me you're sure or I'm not bringing her in." Taehyung interjected, the voice of reason. "In fact, you still haven't told me why it is that you're so adamant on speaking to her. The entire strategy so far has been smoke and mirrors, and evasion. Why are we suddenly actively seeking them out, exposing ourselves like this?" Jungkook could see he was getting frustrated, as the other man got up to pour himself something from the drinks cart.

"Would it kill you to have some faith?" He started methodically rolling up his sleeves, the black ink unfurling down his arm as he worked. "If we are right about her, then look at the people around her. As experienced as I'm sure they are, they're pretty much fresh-faced in terms of the organisation, all sent to do the dirty work, the unregulated, after hours stuff. That's exactly what we're looking for, and what I need you to do is go keep them distracted while I'm talking to their friend, and try and find the loose ends, the things we can start tugging to make this whole thing unravel. Even if they don't give up their positions, I need you to go start spreading some thoughts into their minds that we can build on later. I trust you man." He grinned largely at his friend, the grin that made him look his age, like he wasn't the killer that Taehyung knew he was. He sighed as he stood up, making his way to the door.

"You're sure about her?" He nodded at the girl who was currently standing near the bar in the corner of the window. The group had been joined by two others, which worried Taehyung slightly—who knew how many more of them were dispersed throughout the place? From what he knew, the organisation certainly had the bodies available to source that.