Uncover

9.

Everyone was brainstorming about how the stalker could've escaped or who her accomplice could be.

"Aah!!" Chenle suddenly exclaimed. "I remember now! I saw a man near the reception today... the entire time I was there, he was glancing at only me." Chenle said.

"Oh yeah, even we felt someone was following us, all the way from the reception to here." Haechan added.

"Could it be them?" Jeno asked.

"He does sound suspicious. Either he is the accomplice or someone hired by the actual culprit." Jisoo suggested.

Just then the door opened and a voice cut through their conversation. "If anyone here is suspicious, that would be you guys." Everyone turned to look at the owner of the voice.

"Oh, Detective Doyoung!" Jieun said cheerfully.

"Detective?" Haechan asked confused.

"Wait isn't he-" Bomin started to speak but got interrupted by Jaemin. "Are you the one who got injured? You look completely fine though."

"No. No. That's not me.... fortunately. The detectives in question would be, Yuta and Sicheng. As for me...." Doyoung bowed. "I'm Detective Kim Dongyoung, Violent Crimes Unit, Neo City Police. You can call me Doyoung. Nice to meet you all."

"And why should we trust you? For all we know, you could be the accomplice and are here to finish this girl off." Renjun said coldly.

"Point taken." Doyoung brought out his Police ID and showed it to Renjun. "Are you convinced now? Wow, you kids are scary." Doyoung said shaking his head and taking a seat.

"Now tell me, who are you guys and how do you know Jieun?" Doyoung looked at Bomin and Jisoo. "I know about them." He looked at Chenle, Jaemin and Jeno. "You boys, I want to know about you all." 

He then turned towards Renjun. "Especially you. What is your relation to Jieun?"

For the first time in many years, Renjun wanted to say something but did not know what to say. 

Who am I to her? No one. Who is she to me? No one. And yet...  

"Ah, he is Jisung's friend. He's..." Jieun hesitated and glanced at Renjun. "He's family. So is everyone else in this room. No need to be suspicious of anyone here, Doyoung." She said with a smile.

Renjun just blankly stared at Jieun. Family? Did she just-  "You are no one to me. Don't say my name." 

There was an awkward silence. Jieun felt hurt by Renjun's words but still gave a small smile. "Doyoung, what about my brother?"

"None of your concern." A voice said.

Two people entered the room. Jungwoo and an older boy. Doyoung got up and nodded his head at the older one. Meanwhile Renjun narrowed his eyes at Jungwoo, remembering him as the boy he had seen at the reception.

Jieun was startled, "Oppa?" and Jisung 's face hardened. "Why are you here?"

Jungwoo scoffed. "I have no desire to be here." He pointed at the other man. "Ask him."

"Hello everyone. I am Detective Jung Jaehyun from the Violent Crimes Unit." Jaehyun bowed. "I've been assigned to keep an eye on Jungwoo." He then turned towards Renjun and smiled showing his dimples. "Didn't expect to meet you here, Renjun-ah."

Jaemin and Haechan dramatically gasped. "Renjun you know someone besides us?"

Renjun glared at both of them before turning to Jaehyun. "I don't know you." 

"Because you never attend the family events dear cousin."

Renjun just raised an eyebrow. "Uncle Daehyun's son? Jaehyun hyung?"

Jaehyun's smile widened. "You do remember me." 

Everyone, even Jungwoo, was taken aback by this revelation but Renjun remained unbothered.

Jaehyun just chuckled. "You are still the same. Anyways, all of us are here because Taeyong had something important to discuss. It's about the stalker girl."

"Did you get any clues about her?" Jisoo asked.

"Sort of. Just a few minutes ago, a car accident was reported." Doyoung said explaining.

"So? What has that got to do with this?" Haechan asked confused.

Jaehyun sighed. "The victim is a young woman in her twenties."

"I don't understand. Why-" Bomin stopped wanting for either Doyoung or Jaehyun to continue.

The door opened and this time Taeyong entered followed by an elderly man.

Jieun, Jisung and Haechan gasped. Jieun and Jisung were surprised to see their dad and Haechan was shocked to see Taeyong.

"Dad? Didn't you have some work in Busan? When did you get back?"

Jieun's dad made his way towards Jieun and sat down beside her bed. "I came yesterday itself. I am sorry for not coming to see you sooner. I was busy helping with the case."

Jungwoo scoffed. "Your son is also hurt you know. But how does it matter to you? You only care about those two."

Jieun's dad gave a small smile. "That's not true Jungwoo-ah. I worried for you as well. I love all of you equally."

Jungwoo gave a scorned look. "Stop pretending." He muttered. 

"Dad you knew about the attack on noona and Jungwoo hyung?" Jisung asked.

Jieun's dad nodded. Jisoo raised her hand. "Hang on, uncle Jongin does that mean you came back because of the attack?" Jieun's dad nodded again.

"Excuse me sir, but if you were in Busan, how did you-" Jeno asked carefully.

Jieun's dad chuckled. "I'm a retired detective young man, I have my ways." He looked at the four boys. "And you all are?"

Jeno, Jaemin and Haechan introduced themselves. Renjun just bowed and said his name.

"Well Jisung, nice friends you've got there. Eun-ah if you want to introduce any one of them, I wouldn't mind." Jieun's dad said teasingly.

"Dad!!"

Taeyong cleared his throat. "Teach, I think we should tell them already."

"Tell us what? Dad, what is it?" Jieun asked in a low voice.

"I believe, Doyoung and Jaehyun told you about the car accident and that the victim was a woman?" Everyone nodded their heads, waiting for him to continue. 

"Well my dear, this woman is the same girl who attacked you and Jungwoo."

Everyone in the room was shocked meanwhile Renjun just sat there with an emotionless face staring at Jieun's father. 

"This is.... unexpected." Chenle and Jaemin breathed out. 

Taeyong stepped forward, with his hands in his pocket.

"You know what's even more unbelievable? She was murdered."