With the rest of the team not getting the proper authorization and permission to come along, only Sooyoung, Yunho, Yoona, Heechul, Kyuhyun and Kris were able to accompany Siwon to where the supposed remains of Alice Kim were found; the last three having been able to tag along after much arguing and pleading on Siwon’s part about the necessity of their presence.

The body had been found in a vacant lot in the outskirts of Seoul, presumably abandoned late in the night when there were barely any people who passed the area. A huge crowd had already gathered the place when they got there, kept at bay by police officers as investigators went about their tasks, taking pictures, looking for evidences in the surroundings and whatever else there was for them to do.

The body had already been zipped up in a body bag, being carried away to an awaiting vehicle to take it for autopsy. Some had let out sighs of relief at the prospect of not seeing a dead body; Siwon leading everyone to where Kangta stood talking to two of his deputies. The Chief had left the station much earlier than they all did and was, without a doubt, able to see the corpse that had been dumped in the lot.

“Chief.” Siwon gave the proper salute to his senior. “Is it Alice Kim?”

The two deputies excused themselves and Kangta turned his attention to them; a frown marring his features. “I’m afraid so.”

“Any clues on how she must’ve died?”

“Oh, there are plenty of clues alright.” He ran a hand down his face. “The body was found mutilated and drained of blood. Whether she was mutilated first and then drained or vice versa, we don’t know yet.”

Heechul made a gagging sound as his hand flew to his mouth; wide eyes turning to Sooyoung, Yoona and Yunho. “I don’t know how you three survived with this kind of job.”

“To be honest, it doesn’t get any easier, no matter what they say.” Sooyoung sighed. “Can you sense her anywhere here?”

The shaman felt silent, closing his eyes as a look of concentration crossed his face. A moment later and he opened his eyes, frowning heavily. “She’s not here.”

Kyuhyun’s lips thinned. It’s Alice Kim’s body… or pieces of her body, I should say. Mutilated and drained of blood. Heechul can’t find her soul in the area.

What? Changmin’s voice rang in his head. Oh god. Who could this to her?

I don’t know, Min. I really don’t know.

“Looks like it’s time to inform the family.” Siwon rubbed his forehead and let out a shaky sigh before his eyes fell on Sooyoung. “Do you want to come?”

Sooyoung nodded easily. “Yeah.”

“Wait a minute.” Kyuhyun protested almost instantly and even Kris didn’t look so happy with the idea. “Sooyoung, are you sure about this? Those people… they’re about to find out that she was murdered. Are you sure you want to be there?”

“I’m sure, Kyuhyun. You don’t have to worry.” She smiled reassuringly for his benefit; one of her hands coming up to absently play with the angel winged pendant of her necklace. Kris hid a smile. “Besides, I know what it’s like to lose family… so suddenly.”

`~`~`~`~`~`

It had taken a grand total of two hours and forty nine minutes before the entire team was back in the station; Sooyoung quietly informing everyone that Alice Kim’s family had already been spoken to and that funeral arrangements were being made. The confirmed murder of Alice Kim had taken hopes that they would find the other girls alive, or at the very least, find the first three victims before Alice Kim alive.

There wasn’t anything they could all do except to look for a new lead in the case; Yoona suggesting that it might be best that they look over the evidences they have and see if the victims have anything else in common beyond the fact that they were all females and their age ranges. With numerous files spread across tables, sitting on laps and being sifted and sorted, the team went about to search even for a small, seemingly insignificant clue.

“No common friends, no common places they frequent in…” Amber groaned. “They’re just really five different girls living separately lives before all hell broke loose.”