No blood, no fingerprints, no biological evidence at all. This psycho was very meticulous. Nari took another look at the body and lifted her hand to touch the girl's face. She was so beautiful and young. Probably in her early 20s. And she was mixed. She was half Japanese and half Pakistani. Her skin was a beautiful brown and soft as silk.

Nari tried hard not to let her emotions get the best of her, but it was so hard. It could have been Mimi on that table. She would have lost it if it was her. She couldn't even imagine what the victim's parents must be going through right now. She tried her best to hold her tears and left the room.

Hoseok and Soha were waiting outside and when they saw her, they gave her comforting smiles. She made the effort to smile back, but it didn't reach her eyes. She could never get used to this.

"Are you okay?" Hoseok asked.

This must be the thousandth time she was asked this question, but she was going to give the same answer, even though it was a lie.

"Yes, I'm okay. Let's check the rest of the evidence."

When they arrived at the Saitama police station an hour ago, the detective in charge had warned them that there wasn't much to go on, but they still insisted on seeing the evidence and the autopsy report.

It was the same as usual. The cause of death was hemorrhage. The victim was wearing lingerie and clean clothes. No hair, no DNA, no nothing! Both on the body and the clothes, there was no trace of him. How was it even possible? Was he a ghost? Did they waste their time coming here? Were they really going back home empty-handed?

Nari started imagining all kinds of scenarios. What if the killer wanted them here and they just fell right into a trap? What if they never caught him? What if he was with his new victim right now?

She tried to focus and forget about all those unwelcomed thoughts. There had to be something, come on. He wasn't perfect. He had to have made a mistake. Maybe they were looking at it the wrong way again?

"I mean" she started as she inspected the pair of jeans the victim was wearing, "Does this guy even exist?"

"Right? Is he a ghost or something?"

Nari couldn't help but smile. Once again, Soha voiced her thoughts.

Half an hour later, they were still going through the evidence even though it was... well, very little. Soha could sense the discouragement in her colleagues while the Japanese detectives were giving them the "I told you so" looks.

There was really nothing to go on. No clue at all! How was it possible?

Hoseok sunbae pressed his lips and two cute dimples appeared in the upper corners of his mouth. He was so cute when he was upset, she thought with an inner smile. And Nari, she looked like a ghost. She was so pale. She must have been really shaken up by the body and also the fact that the killer left her a message.

It felt personal this time. It was as if he killed the victim because of her. She wasn't okay, it was obvious. But she wouldn't talk about it. Soha wasn't sure if she should ask her again or just leave it alone. She was really worried.

She had heard that Namjoon was in town, maybe if they spent some time together, she would feel better? She was about to suggest Nari called him, but her phone started ringing instead. She took it out of her pocket and checked the caller ID. She rolled her eyes before picking up.

"Sir?"

"I told you not to call me that. It's weird."

"Well, you still haven't told me how else to call you?"

There was a short silence, then she heard him sigh.

"Anyway, how is it going?" He finally asked.

"As I told you an hour ago, we have nothing but I will let you know when we find something."

Okay, that came out the wrong way. She didn't mean to sound annoyed at him, he was her boss after all. But he called them every hour since they arrived. And why the heck was he calling her? Hoseok sunbae was right there!

"I wasn't talking about the case, though."

Did he sound hurt? No, she was just imagining things.

"Don't worry, we haven't done anything crazy. Yet."

She saw Hoseok smile at that and Nari looked up. She raised her eyebrow at her in a silent question and Soha worded "it's the vampire". Nari rolled her eyes as well. Soha had a silent laugh.

"Yet?"

"I have to go, we're busy here."

"You just said that you didn't find anything?"

"Sir, really, did you call because you miss us?"

He laughed that cute laugh of his and she could imagine his face light up thanks to his gummy smile, and his shoulders shaking like every time he laughed. Honestly, he was the cutest.

"I won't bother you any longer, Soha. I'll see you when you get back."

"Sure, sir."

"Don't call me that, damn it!"

Then he hung up. She looked at her phone with a frown. He sounded different just now when he said he'd see her when she came back. It sounded like a promise. Or maybe she was just imagining things again? She shrugged and shoved her phone back into her pocket before going back to work. She had a psychopath to catch.

"Wait a minute..."

Nari and Soha looked up at Hoseok, waiting for him to continue. He was focused on the pair of jeans Nari had in her hands a moment ago.

"Those jeans... They're new."

"Thanks for sharing, captain obvious," Soha murmured sarcastically.

"He always cleans the bodies and dresses them in new lingerie and clothes, sunbae. We all know that."

"Yes, kitty I know. But those jeans, do you know how much they cost? Just a pair costs at least 200 bucks!"

"What?!" Soha and Nari exclaimed at the same time.

"Wait, how do you know that?" Nari asked.

"My sister is a fashion designer and she would never shut up about it. Also, she loves to take me shopping and I can never say no to her... Anyway, I know this brand and their cheapest items are scarves. They usually cost 100 bucks or more."

"Well well well we just learned something, didn't we?"

"Our killer is a rich motherf**ker."

Hoseok gasped while Nari considered what Soha just said before suggesting "let's go through everything again and see if all the other victims wore such expensive clothes."

"We definitely should. I'll call Seoul, you guys call the others."

As Hoseok walked away, Soha turned to Nari with a sigh.

"Where do you want to start?"

"Anything new?"

"Not much, but..." Nari trailed off as she was trying to find the right way to put it. The two men on the screen seemed eager to hear what she had to say, though.

They were so cute and she couldn't believe she was thinking that at this moment.

"Who are you talking to?" Namjoon asked as he sat behind her on the bed.

His latest event was in Japan, precisely in Tokyo, which was pretty close to where the case happened so he came to visit her at the hotel as soon as he had some free time. They were just hanging out and he was trying to get her mind off of things when she received a video call from Jimin.

And of course, Taehyung was there, too.

"Ooooh, Nari noona your boyfriend is so handsome!" Taehyung remarked with a giggle.

"Wait isn't he the rapper? What was his name... Rap Monster, right?"

"Wow really? Noona! You're dating an idol?!?!"

"You're not an ordinary woman." Jimin teased as he wiggled his eyebrows at her and smirked.

"I told you she was out of your league."

"Shut up, you idiot."

Nari facepalmed while Namjoon was waving at them with a childish smile on his face. Jimin started fanboying and it was the cutest thing ever.

She was going to correct them about the whole boyfriend thing but decided against it. It wasn't important at the moment.

"Okay, guys let's be serious for a second."

"Right. You were saying that you guys found a clue?" Taehyung said returning his attention on her.

"Well, kind of. Apparently, he is rich. I don't know how important it is, though."

"Anything is important at this point, noona. If he is rich, we can narrow down his profession, for example."

"Right, rich and travels a lot..."

Jimin seemed to be thinking hard and he suddenly clapped his hands together.

"He could be working for the government? That would explain why he is so good at being under the radar. Like the secret services for example?"

"OR," Taehyung started as he cast his friend a dark look "he is really smart and you guys are screwed."

"Not funny."

"I wasn't trying to be. I wouldn't be surprised if his IQ was higher than average. I'm guessing around 150."

"Oh..."

Nari glanced at Namjoon, but he was focused on his phone. He probably didn't pay attention to their conversation, but she wondered what he would think if he actually heard it. He had something in common with their killer, after all, since his IQ was 148.

Anyway, that wasn't important either. This freaking killer really did travel to kill and that was alarming. He could be anywhere right now. He could even have left Japan already.

Damn it!

"What are you thinking?"

"That may be us coming here was useless? He could be gone already."

There was a moment of silence while Jimin and Taehyung exchanged another look, then looked back at the screen in the same movement.

"Noona, that's not possible," Jimin interjected while shaking his head.

"I agree. He dropped a body with a message for you, he'll definitely want to see your reaction. Actually, you might have met him already. If not, you will before leaving."

Nari had a mini heart attack when Taehyung said that. It's true that she wanted to catch that perverted psycho very badly, but the prospect of meeting him was still... scary.

"And he probably won't seem arrogant, at least not in front of you. He'll act clueless, charming, and friendly. He'll try to make you trust him. But of course, there is another possibility."

Nari raised her eyebrow at Jimin so that he could elaborate. She felt Namjoon put his chin on her shoulder and slightly turned to take a look at him. He seemed curious to hear what Jimin had to say as well.

So he's been paying attention?

The two cutie pies blushed when they saw him and Taehyung cleared his throat.

"Is it okay for him to... hear all this?"

"It's fine, he doesn't really care as long as I'm okay. Jimin, what's the other possibility?"

She felt Jimin hesitating, but he finally said, looking way too serious, worried even:

"There is the possibility that he's stalking you. He could be playing games with you and setting traps. If I'm right, he'll leave you a message again. He may even contact you directly this time. And..."

He stopped talking and looked at his friend. Taehyung didn't seem as unbothered as he usually was. He looked worried. And when he turned to the screen, he wasn't looking at Nari, but Namjoon. And when he finally talked, Nari's heart dropped in her stomach.

"If Jimin's guess is right, his end game could be you, noona. It may not have been the case at first, but it is now. He'll want you."

There was a silence after this and she could feel Namjoon tense behind her. She knew exactly what he was going to say, but she didn't want to fight with him. She was afraid, of course, but she would never drop this case. Never.

"Thanks, guys. I'll talk to you later."

"Sure. Take care."

"Bye noona. And hyung, I'm a big fan. Fighting!" Jimin added.

Namjoon smiled at that and waved them goodbye before the screen went black. She then turned to him, but he wasn't wearing the expression she had expected. He seemed worried, but there was something else she couldn't pinpoint.

She didn't have time to think more about it as he hugged her tight. None of them said a word and just stayed like that. She hugged him back and didn't want to let go.

He was so warm and he smelled so good. She felt safer in his arms than anywhere else. Now she realized how much she had missed him. And all her feelings were starting to awaken. Again. But she didn't want to think about it. Namjoon was just being a friend, so her thinking of him as more than that felt wrong. It felt as if she was trying to take advantage of him.

When he finally let go, he gave her the softest look and the sweetest smile.

"Let's grab something to eat, okay?"

She nodded and smiled back at him.

"Let me change first."

"Sure, I'll wait for you downstairs."

Namjoon was waiting for Nari in the lobby, but for some reason, he felt suffocated, so he went outside for some air. He wore his mask and leaned on the wall outside the hotel. It was a pretty modest hotel compared to the one he was staying at. Actually, it was more of a bed and breakfast, but it was cozy and cutely decorated.

He took a look at his watch and sighed. Why was she taking so long to change, though? It's not like they were going to a five stars restaurant...

He took his phone out and was about to text her when he felt something strange. As if someone was staring at him. He was wearing a mask, but maybe someone recognized him? Probably a paparazzi, he thought as he looked up. And that's when he saw the craziest, creepiest shit ever.

A man in all black, standing a few feet away. His piercing gaze was focused on him. He was tall and big enough that it was obvious despite his huge black hoodie. People around him didn't seem to notice his presence although he had purple hair. Or maybe they were just ignoring him. It was a rather busy street after all.

But that wasn't the crazy part. It was his face. He had a face that Namjoon knew all too well. And right now, he was terrified. He felt chills all over his body. Was he seeing things? Maybe it was his imagination. It's true that he had had that feeling for a while now. The feeling that someone was watching his every move.

He had tried telling his manager about it, but he dismissed him, saying that it was probably Dispatch trying to confirm his dating rumors.

The rumor started when a picture of him and Nari was leaked on the internet. That night, they had been out drinking with Jungkook and of course, Nari got drunk. He was trying to get a hold of her, but she ended up falling against him, her face in his chest. And he laughed at her... That's when the picture was taken. It was a relief that her face couldn't be seen.

He never addressed the rumor, but even ten months later, people were still talking about it. So it was no surprise that the paparazzi would be following him around to know more.

However, it was different this time. The feeling was too strong and scary. Just like what he was feeling right now as this strange man kept staring at him with his weird eyes. The creepy man smiled at him, then turned around before disappearing into the crowd.

Namjoon just blinked and there was no trace of him.

"Joonie?"

He looked down and saw Nari standing next to him. She was looking at him curiously.

"What's wrong? You look pale."

"It's nothing. Let's go."

He looked back again and shook his head. He was probably seeing things.

😏