His Obsession ➸ Taekook ✓

- Twenty-fourth -

Seokjin dropped into one of the chairs in the room, spinning around with eyes wide with admiration. He was soon joined by Namjoon and Soobin, who closed the door behind them for privacy.

"Wow, I didn't think you'd ever let me set foot in one of the police station meeting rooms, Namjoon!" exclaimed Seokjin.

"Neither did I..." sighed the man, the pain evident on his face.

Thinking about it, Namjoon thought it would be wiser if they could talk about the case alone, without anyone listening in and disturbing them. Especially as Seokjin apparently had additional information about the case. And to be honest, Namjoon was completely stuck. Despite the seriousness of the case, his resources were extremely limited and he was clearly not being given the means to solve this murder in the right conditions. So Seokjin's help could be a real plus, even if he was already tiring the poor inspector.

Namjoon took a seat on one of the chairs, followed by Soobin, who had remained silent until then. He was content to watch the two men without saying a word. They were amusing, their dynamic funny. And despite what Namjoon might have said, they seemed to get on strangely well.

"Well, you told me you had more information on the case." Namjoon began. What were you talking about?"

"Oh, you're not funny! We haven't seen each other for ages, the least you could do is check up on me!"

"I don't have time for this, Jin. This case has been keeping me up at night, so I need it wrapped up as soon as possible. So please don't be difficult."

The two men stared at each other for a few seconds, under Soobin's curious gaze, before Jin sighed and looked away. He quickly exchanged his comical air for a more serious expression, which would have terrified anyone.

"Can I know exactly where you are beforehand?" asked the detective. "Just so I don't repeat myself."

Namjoon turned to Soobin, and the young policeman immediately stood up, grabbing the file he had put on the table a few minutes earlier. He went over to the blackboard and began to hang up a few photos, along with some notes that he wrote with a marker.

"Including today's, we have four victims: Ham Hyunwoo, Nae Hojun, Lee Haneul, and Jang Hajoon." Soobin explained. "We still don't know anything about the last victim, but for the others, we've only found two things in common: they're all men, like Jang, and they're all from Busan. They all belong to different social classes, so their occupation or income are not indicative of how the killer would have spotted them."

"I suppose you've already investigated their habits and the people around them?"

Soobin nodded.

"Yes, but nothing came of it. They don't hang around the same area at all. Honestly, between them they cover most of Seoul, so it's not much use to us."

"I see. What about Busan? That's a bit of a coincidence."

"We looked there too, but got nowhere. They didn't go to the same schools, and went back to Seoul to study. And there too, they never met."

"And their relatives said nothing?"

"For the first two victims, there was no one left. As for Lee Haneul, his mother said she didn't know the other victims at all."

"Okay. Is that all?"

"For the moment, yes." confessed the young policeman, a little ashamed.

Namjoon turned back to Seokjin, his arms folded across his chest.

"So? You said you knew something we didn't. But what is it?"

"In reality, there's another victim."

The room fell silent again, the two policemen widening their eyes in surprise.

"Another victim? What do you mean, another victim? How do you know that? And who is it?" Namjoon was quick to question, shocked by this revelation.

"Hey, relax." Seokjin cut him off.

Under the anxious gaze of the two policemen, the detective reached into his bag and pulled out a file, which he placed on the table and opened slowly.

"I'd prefer to keep this between us, because, well, we can say that I didn't get this information through legal means."

Namjoon frowned, even more intrigued, but nodded anyway. Seokjin handed him the file, which he quickly grabbed and leafed through.

"It's Lim Juwon, he was killed a few weeks ago." he explained.

"Why haven't we heard anything about it?" Soobin asked.

"Because he's part of a gang. Kim Taehyung's gang, no less."

Namjoon stopped and slowly looked up at the detective, his eyes wide.

"Kim Taehyung? The Kim Taehyung?"

Jin nodded.

"So it's actually a gang war?" suggested Soobin, puzzled.

But the other two quickly shook their heads.

"No, it's unlikely. Especially as the previous victims had nothing to do with any gang." Seokjin replied. "No, in my opinion, it must have been a coincidence."

"But the real question," continued Namjoon, "is why the killer is still free, or alive. Kim Taehyung is without doubt the most dangerous criminal in Seoul, and such an affront would not have gone unpunished."

Soobin thought for a moment before speaking again.

"What if Kim Taehyung was the killer?"

- No, I don't think so." Namjoon replied immediately. "He's not the type to hide, and gang deaths are either untraceable or signed."

"On the other hand," continued Seokjin, "we can put forward another hypothesis."

He stood up suddenly, drawing the two policemen's attention to him.

"If the killer has killed again, despite the fact that by killing Lim Juwon he provoked Kim Taehyung himself..."

"Does that mean they've joined forces?" Namjoon added, with some uncertainty.

"That would explain the change in modus operandi." Seokjin continued. "We've gone from private murders, where the bodies were left in closed places, reserved for a smaller audience, including Lim, who was found in a hotel, to a public place, in full view of everyone. The killer gained confidence, and if Kim Taehyung didn't take action against him, it may mean that he came under his protection. What's more, the bodies had never been so mutilated. Jang is a first."

"But why? Why the sudden outburst? And why dump the body in the street, where everyone can see it? To provoke us? To send a message?"

Seokjin settled back in his armchair, twirling it around as he thought.

"Provoke the police? Hm, maybe, although I'd be surprised. He knows you're looking for him, but your investigation doesn't progress at all. In my opinion, you don't worry him in the least. But he may have a message to pass on. If the victims have nothing in common, it means we've missed it. Because there has to be one. And maybe Jang's murder is a message, and it was placed in this way and in this place to be seen and, above all, broadcast by the media.

"And who would the message be for, if not the police?"

"For the next victim."