When Victoria looked at the person before her she felt embarrassment and shock run through her, but felt more embarrassed. Taking a step back she stared at him panting heavily. It had felt like she’d just run the mile.

“Why are you here?” she suddenly asked.

“I should be asking you,” he replied.

Victoria turned around to look behind her and found no one or nothing there. She turned back to Donghae pressing her lips tightly together.

Minutes later Victoria found herself sitting inside a café with a warm cup of mocha in front of her which she found gladly warmed her up and calmed her nerves. She’d refused to speak to him about what had happened or why she’d been at the cemetery in the first place.

“Ok, fine don’t say anything,” he finally said. “But I’m curious about why you acted like you were being terrorized back there.”

Victoria lightly bit her tongue focusing her eyes on the golden framed doors, “It’s not your business. If you’re here to ask about where I was the day before Il Chung and Sandy’s deaths, then I don’t think you should be sitting here.”

He smiled at her, “Well, I really don’t see what’s wrong with following my suspect around.”

Victoria couldn’t help but want to send a glare at him, “I find it that you’re just trying to waste my time here.” Victoria got up from the table and couldn’t help but ask, “You’re paying, am I correct?”

Victoria stepped out the doors and was on her way back to Seoul wondering if there was a way she could conceal herself away from everyone.

/////

After paying he stepped out of the café to watch her car leave the lot then glanced at his watch.

After dialing Eunhyuk’s number Donghae said, “Hyukie, I guess I can’t go check up on your little sister tonight. I’m still in Incheon right now, do you want to go out for a drink?”

Eunhyuk met up with Donghae at one of those side stalls on the streets after 15 minutes.

“You finally made some time for me,” Eunhyuk greeted sitting down.

“I’m sad.”

“Why?”

“I can’t play with you anymore.”

Eunhyuk laughed, “Oh, I thought you were really sad.”

“No reason to be sad.”

“How’s your case coming along? I read about a homicide in the newspaper.”

“No luck.”

“Haven’t you always been lucky?”

“Yea, I have to agree I’ve always been lucky.”

“I can’t believe you’re admitting it yourself.”

“Why what’s wrong with being like this?”

“It tells me your mentality is still stable.”

Donghae let out a small laugh.

“You were upset the other day.” Eunhyuk said then watched as Donghae drunk down a shot of the soju. “Because Hee Sun mentioned the summer house. You know, if you’re clearly upset you should just tell her straight out you don’t like the mention of that city. We’re not strangers to each other.”

“I know.”

“I have two things left to ask you.”

Donghae waited for Eunhyuk to go on.

“Who’s that girl you keep ditching us for?”

“A psychology professor, the suspect we have listed for the homicide.”

Eunhyuk raised his eyebrow, “Seriously? That’s interesting, if I ever see her again I’ll ask her to check out my mentality.”

“Are you an idiot?” Donghae questioned.

“How was that slap the other day? I’m amazed it didn’t tear apart your fragile skin.”

/////

When Victoria arrived at her office the next day she found a bouquet of red roses on her desk welcoming her. Frowning she walked into the room lit with the rays of the sun coming in through the window. Picking up the roses she looked it wondering who’d sent it then found a white envelope on her desk that had been underneath it. Picking up the envelope she took out a small card.

It read:

“Do you remember me?”

Swerving around Victoria found In Ji in her office looking through some printouts.

“In Ji,” Victoria said. “Do you know who sent the flowers?”

“That’s a beautiful bouquet!” In Ji exclaimed as she got out from behind her desk and walked toward Victoria touching the tips of the roses.

“Did you see who sent the flowers?”

“I’m not quite sure. Isn’t it your boyfriend?” asked In Ji.

“No and the person didn’t leave behind their name.”

“Are you kidding me?” asked In Ji. “I’d be screaming if someone sent me such beautiful roses. They’re very pretty you know. You’re very lucky your boyfriend sent you such a gift.”

Heading down the hallway Victoria knocked on the side of Tori’s door before entering her office. Tori looked up with her black framed glasses on and smiled.

“Good morning Victoria.”

“Good morning. Do you by any chance see anyone who sent these flowers?” asked Victoria.

“A delivery man sent it this morning so I opened your office for him. I hope you don’t mind.” Then noticing the slight frown on Victoria’s face she questioned, “Is something wrong?”

Victoria stared at Tori for a moment then replied, “No.”

Victoria stopped in the middle of the hallway and wondered if someone was setting a prank on her. Donghae’s face appeared in her mind. That investigator had been annoyingly following her around the past couple of days, maybe he wanted to make fun of her or something. If it wasn’t him who sent the flowers who was it? Philip wasn’t the kind of person to send flowers out to anyone and he’d never do it in the first place. Just looking at the roses didn’t bring her any good feelings so she dumped it into the garbage in the middle of the hallway and hurried back to her office feeling the chills on her back.

/////

Kim Heechul sat at his desk in his small office at the criminal photography center glancing at photos he’d taken earlier during the week. They were of the leftover scene in the apartment where Victoria’s two friends were murdered. Looking at the blood shot on the ground made him want to puke, but the knock on his door interrupted him.

“Heechul don’t forget your appointment with the chief today. He just phoned in a minute ago saying he’s ready for you anytime.”

Heechul held up his hand and nodded then returned to his pictures neatly organizing them. After placing them into an orange envelope he headed out the door later arriving at the small Criminal Investigation building. Walking up the stairs he opened the door and headed down the narrow hallway which led to the reception area then to the small room where Donghae and the secretary sat. He had expected to meet with Donghae’s curious stares when he entered the room, but found that Donghae wasn’t at his desk.

“May I help you?” questioned Sasha looking up as he walked in.

“I can help myself,” Heechul replied walking toward Chief Kang’s door.

Knocking wasn’t of an interest to him that morning so Heechul just grabbed the doorknob and walked in to find Donghae and the chief speaking quietly about something.

“Ah! You’re here,” Chief Kang greeted.

Donghae turned to look at him with that smile on his face.

“Do you have the photos with you?”

“Yes, but they’re not of anything interesting,” Heechul replied handing the envelope to Chief Kang.

“So what do you guys have on the investigation so far? I’ve heard from the D.A. that it’s not suicide.” Heechul said flopping himself down onto one of the large single sofas. He could feel Donghae eye him.

“Yes, it wasn’t suicide. Donghae’s actually doing a checkup on our only suspect right now.” Chief Kang replied glancing through the pictures concentrated.

“The only suspect? Who would that be?” Heechul asked now staring at his fingernails as if uninterested.

“Their friend, Victoria Song.” Chief Kang replied.

Heechul immediately turned to glanced at both Chief Kang and Donghae so abruptly that it surprised them. He got off the sofa frowning deeply. “Victoria Song?!”

“Yes, why do you sound so shocked?” Chief Kang questioned now looking at Heechul filled with curiosity.

“It can’t be her! She wouldn’t do it! Are you guys crazy?!” Heechul exclaimed.

“You’re the crazy one,” Donghae finally spoke staring at Heechul with dignified eyes.

“You can’t really be suspecting her.”

“She’s already on the list.”

“But she would never do it!”

“How would you know?”

Heechul found himself tongue tied. How would he explain himself?

“Because…because I just know.” Heechul said.

Donghae smirked then asked, “How would you know? Can you tell me where she was Sunday night?" Donghae waited then continued, "I believe you can’t.”

Heechul couldn’t remove his eyes off of the man standing before him. They actually believed Victoria was the one who murdered Il Chung. Heechul felt shaken up. He couldn’t believe it. He believed Victoria wouldn’t be capable of doing such a thing.

“It can’t be her. She’s not like that!” Heechul found that his voice had become louder.

Donghae’s smirk disappeared and he frowned, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you defending someone you don’t know?”

Heechul opened his mouth and closed it without saying anything. He wouldn’t be able to explain himself to this newbie.

“Forget why, but I can tell you straight out Victoria is not like that. She wouldn’t hurt a soul,” Heechul stated then turned around, but stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Victoria? You call her by her name, Victoria?” Donghae asked in a low voice.

-------------------------

I'm planning to change the cover of this story, I figure the current one doesn't do this story justice