The Bandits of Sawtooth Mountain

7. Investigation

"So... Tell me more about yourself, Jongho." Hongjoong batted his lashed coquettishely at the dancer, having propped his upper body up on the counter of Yeosang's inn. He thought it accentuated his hips quite well but Jongho was still busy with jugging a whole bucket of water after one of his performances.

"Not much to tell, Sheriff. I sing, I dance. I make people laugh. What else do you need to know?"

Hongjoong was fascinated by the muscled chest peeking out from the low cut of the red dress, flimsy sleeves wrapping around his thick arms like another skin. How did he even get that on and off? It was amazing.

"Since when have you been doing this?", Hongjoong gently continued, nodding at Yeosang when he pushed a glass of something over to him. The bartender just rolled his eyes at that.

Hongjoong focused Jongho again, not wanting to blow his cover by asking Yeosang about his life too directly.

The younger man had just finished his bucket, roughly wiping his lips with the back of his hand. He put the bucket down on the floor next to him, his eyes lazily sweeping through the nearly empty inn.

"Since a long time ago. Mom trained me to be a singer, I took her position when the bandits took her." He shrugged, Hongjoong quickly noting that down. It gave him a good reason not to be a bandit. He would have probably protected his mother then.

"Hmm and ever had any run-ins with the bandits? Personally?"

Jongho huffed at that, turning around to show his back to Hongjoong. Hongjoong lifted his brow at the sight of the tight corset hugging his sturdy waist and the black ink covering his bare shoulder blades.

He had the tattoo of some sort of bird, stretching beautifully over his back and from his close position Hongjoong could easily see that it was covering scarred flesh, a deep wound having opened his body quite roughly once in the form of a cross.

"I spent my fair share of time being used as their scarecrow. Any more questions you need to ask?" He sounded quite annoyed by the impromptu interview and Hongjoong forced himself to a quick smile, retreating immediately after.

"No, thank you. Please tell me anything that might seem suspicious to you."

Jongho took off with a grumble, taking his own drink with him to put down at the piano to go talk with the guy manning it for the remainder of his break.

Hongjoong smoothly slid closer to Yeosang, grinning brightly when the man just rolled his eyes at him.

"I'm a bartender, since I was born and no. I told you they never come here."

Hongjoong chuckled, flicking over to the page dedicated to the man.

"You have to admit that sounds too good to be true. However, I will go easy on you, as you are clearly a friend. Can you tell me exactly what your jobs in the city include? I know that Jongho sometimes has gigs outside too. Do you run errands?"

"I do literally everything, Sheriff. The snow shovelling, watering the flowers, fishing, sometimes I also entertain our many tourists. Just how do you think these questions will lead you to an answer?"

Hongjoong gave him a patient smile, grabbing his glass to let the liquid inside swirl around a bit.

"What do you reckon I do? I gotta start somewhere."

"I don't see the point in wasting time like this. Hunt them down instead of making the whole city turn against each other. Did you hear how Mary's parents had to lock themselves in because the people wanted to skin them alive? This is dangerous, Sheriff Kim."