The Witness ➳ Taegyu

6. A Letter

A/N: This won't be that long of a story. While it has the potential to be over forty chapters, I don't think it will be longer than thirty. In terms of words, it will probably be around the same length as Cherophobia. More chapters, but shorter chapters. I just have everything planned out and there won't be that much plot to get through.

*Later that day*

"So why are you here if you're not involved in this case?" Beomgyu asked while playing Uno with Rosé. "Don't you have cases of your own to be working on?"

"Today is my day off." Her answer made less sense than any one he was expecting. "I like coming here to harass Taeyong on my days off. He's a fun person to mess with." She put down a "+4" and Beomgyu glared at her. "You're fun to mess with too."

They continued a vicious game of Uno until Taeyong slammed his hand down on the table across from them. "Please! I'm trying to do research!"

Beomgyu apologized profusely while Rosé giggled. "Why is the case even ongoing? We figured out who killed her and why," Beomgyu questioned. He wanted justice to be served, and it seemed like that was more important than continuing to investigate.

"It's not just about her anymore." Taeyong sighed and stood up to hand a paper to Beomgyu. "This is a list of victims who were attacked by Black Reaper a few years ago. There have been no confirmed reportings of murders by them since then. Not until Park Eunae. She was killed because of an order from one of the commanders. We're trying to figure out why every other person died. Why they stopped killing until her. What she did was a complete violation of their rules, but still. There has to be something that made them come out of the shadows."

The fact that they were so secretive and didn't kill people as often gave Beomgyu enough of an explanation as to why he didn't know of them before. If they were gonna be killing more often now, did that mean more people would have to be protected?

"From our understanding, Black Reaper's overwhelming power comes from money and property that they own," Rosé explained while continuing the game. "They only ever killed if necessary, and it was mainly done by Lee Seojun, or under his command. They don't kill recklessly. They kill to protect their gang, and to make sure they're still sitting on mountains of cash."

Beomgyu narrowed his eyes. Before, Taehyun said he wasn't allowed to tell Beomgyu anything about Black Reaper's motives unless the chief gave him permission to. Rosé was just so willingly telling him.

"Are you allowed to be telling me this?" He asked.

Rosé bit her lip and turned to face Taeyong. "Did I go too far?"

"Yup."

"Then why didn't you stop me?!" She ran over to grab his collar and he just stared up at her. "Psh." She pushed him back and crossed her arms. "You moron. This is why we can't work together. You're too humorous in your own sick and twisted way that can end up getting us killed."

"I'm too humorous?"

"Yes! Very darkly humorous at that! If I run my mouth in front of a higher up in Black Reaper, I'm sure you wouldn't stop me just because you think me spilling secrets is funny! Well guess what! You wanna know a joke that can make you mad?! Your face is funny!"

She stared at him with blown-wide eyes while waiting for his reaction and Beomgyu's jaw dropped.

These were the people protecting the city?

Oi vey.

Soon later however, Rosé frowned when she saw Taeyong look genuinely hurt and she hugged him, making his chair fall. Beomgyu gasped and ran over, only to see them... continuing their hug.

"Wha- are you guys okay?"

Rosé stood up and helped him do the same. "Of course. This moron acted like his feelings were hurt just to get me to stop and let him work I bet." He nodded softly and she rolled her eyes. "Then get back to work. I won't stop you."

"Are you two together?" Beomgyu asked, making them both look at him appalled.

"I would never date a colleague, let alone someone like her."

"I have no such interest in men."

It was later explained to him that the two of them had actually been best friends since high school. They fought like brother and sister, but made one hell of a team.

Taehyun finally came back from wherever it was he went and stared at the three of them with his hands in his trenchcoat's pockets. "Seojun killed a man. He left a note asking for you, Beomgyu. Would you like to read it?"

With a shaky hand, Beomgyu took the fine piece of paper from him and read it.

'I understand that you were close with Eunae. I'm sorry that she met her demise right in front of you. Unfortunately, her death was unavoidable. I know that the police will read this letter too. That's perfectly fine. This message is for them as well. My boss wants our name to be on the map. In order to do so, we will continue to eliminate the people who get in our way. We will do it in a matter so that the bodies can be easily found, and everyone will know who we are. Everyone will know how powerful we are, and that we run this city. Beomgyu, this is your opportunity to live if you join us. If not, you, and everyone you love, will die by my hand. You have my word."

Taehyun took the paper and folded it up to put it back in his pocket. "They know your name because Mrs. Park mumbled it when she saw you as you were running away. They know you're here. That's why they gave the police this letter. Why they want you is unknown."

"Everyone I love?" Beomgyu whispered while Taehyun went to get coffee. "My parents. My friends. Why? Why does it have to be me? It isn't fair!"

Rosé walked over to hug him and he started crying. "You're right," Taehyun said. "It isn't fair. None of it is fair. But the truth about it is, nobody knows your face except for that one woman. They only know your first name too. You know how common your name is, Beomgyu?"

"They know that he goes to that school though," Taeyong stated.

"That's true. However, I've already worked with SNU's president to erase all of his data and trace inside the school's system. Everything he's ever done at that school is stored on paper documents and will be restored when it's safe. Everything he does from this point forward will be saved, but not submitted into the school system until it's safe. His professors have been told about this. I also did a data scan online. There is not a trace of Beomgyu in any part of the city that could possibly give Black Reaper the whereabouts of his parents. And there's nothing online to give away who his friends are either. He's doesn't get very personal on Twitter. It's a BTS fan account."

Beomgyu looked at him in shock and Taehyun stood in front of him. "I-"

"What is it?"

Did he seriously doubt Taehyun before? Did he ever have any doubt for this man's ability to protect him?

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For doubting you."

"You doubted me?"

He... didn't know?

Beomgyu didn't say anything in fear that he would've Taehyun upset, but the officer just laughed. "That's understandable. Don't worry. You're safe with me. And by the way... don't go off talking to your friends like that again, okay?"

His eyes widened as Taehyun walked away. He totally thought that Taehyun was too distracted to fully realize what Beomgyu was doing. It happened hours ago.

Taehyun remembered something so small, just like that?