“Looks like you always make the right choice to go walking around,” Heechul told himself then took a breath and walked toward her clutching onto his camera.

“Here,” he said holding the cup toward her and felt even more sorry when she glanced up at him with watery eyes.

Embarrassed she quickly wiped her face and got up from the ground.

“I didn’t even take a drink out of it, it’s yours,” he said urging her to take the cup from him and when she finally did he couldn’t help but feel happy. “What are you doing out back alone?”

“Just…some air.” she replied quietly. “Who are you?”

Heechul quickly felt his happiness dissolve but then encouraged himself silently. She probably never really remembered him anyway, not after she’d gotten together with that Han guy.

“Kim Heechul,” he replied gladly extending his hand out for her to shake.

“Victoria Song,” she said shaking his hand.

Of course he knew her name. He recalled it from the bottom of his heart and wherever he went he wouldn’t forget that name.

“You don’t…remember me?” asked Heechul hesitantly.

He watched as her eyes fluttered then she frowned a little, “I don’t remember anyone with that name. Have we met before?”

Heechul smiled and glanced at the ground, “Never mind. You might recall me someday, but it doesn’t matter now.”

The confusion on her face made his heart sink. So she didn’t remember him…

“Well…if that’s all then I’ll go back inside,” Victoria said.

“Yea…you should head back in,” was all Heechul was able to bring himself to say. Disappointment flooded through him as he watched her go.

/////

When the sky had almost darkened Victoria finally retreated to her vehicle to find Melodix curled up in the passenger’s seat asleep. She started the engine and began her drive to Seoul. As the car went further and further down the highway Victoria couldn’t help but feel an urge to stare into the rearview mirror to steal a last look at the city she was leaving behind. She grew up in Incheon and had lived in Incheon ever since she’d been born. All the deaths of her family members happened in Incheon, but she still loved the city because it sheltered her and gave her memories.

She arrived at her apartment near midnight and moved all her luggage in. When she walked into her bedroom after setting Melodix down in the other room she was glad that she’d made the decision to have the truck bring her bed into the apartment earlier during the day. She was exhausted and was looking forward to laying down and grabbing a night of calm sleep.   

Victoria awoke early the next morning and went shopping for some grocery then returned and made herself some breakfast. After unpacking her luggage she rearranged the furniture in the living room and finally sat down to catch a breath. She grabbed a sandwich for lunch and was on her way to the new university. Checking out her new office and filling it up with books would be one thing she needed to get done before the fall semester began.

The two large doors welcomed her as she made her way toward the elevator and toward the faculty office where she met some other professors. After retrieving the key to her room from the main office she walked in to find herself standing in a small squared room. A desk sat before her and a computer sat to the computer’s right. An empty 6 foot shelf stood to the right calling for her to quickly fill it up with psychology books.

“Miss Song?” a voice came from the doorway.

Victoria turned around to see a slender woman standing at the door neatly dressed up holding some papers in her hand.

“I saw that your door was open so I wanted to welcome you.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m also a psychology professor. If you need any help don’t hesitate to ask me. My office is right next door to yours,” she told, “my name is Seo In Ji.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’ll certainly come ask you if I need anything and you can just call me Victoria. Miss Song sounds too formal for me,” Victoria introduced herself.

“Tori at the end of the hallway has your fall classes all scheduled and I’m sure she’ll bring it to you. She’ll also need you to tell her your office hours,” In Ji went on.

“Thanks. If I’m not here in the meantime could you take the papers for me? I’m going to run back to my apartment and grab some books I left behind,” Victoria told.

“I will. Have you just moved into town?”

“Yes.”

“You can go ahead, I’ll watch your office for you.”

Victoria entered the elevator and was on her way back to her apartment figuring that maybe that new school year wouldn’t be as bad as she thought it to be.

/////

Donghae sat leaning back in his chair as he stared at his Facebook page on the computer screen. The chief had said he’d assign him some investigation to do but the chief hadn’t even arrived at work yet.

“Get me some coffee, Sasha,” Donghae called out. “I’ll fall asleep waiting for Chief Kang to arrive.”

“We’re all going to fall asleep dear,” Sasha’s monotone voice entered his ears then she got up from her desk.

After she set the coffee on his desk Donghae took a sip of it before his phone began to ring.

“Lee Donghae speaking.”

“Nurse Goo gave me a message the other day. You have some questions about Miss Victoria Song?” the other person said.

“Oh yes. Are you the doctor that met with her before Monday?” asked Donghae hoping that he’d get something.

“Actually she did come to our emergency treatment center Sunday, but I’m not allowed to give out our patient’s personal records,” the male voice informed, “you can probably speak to the doctor who met with her but he’s on vacation right now.”

Donghae bit his bottom lip, “When will he be back?”

“Maybe Monday next week. I still have your card here so I’ll leave a note for him and have him contact you as soon as possible. Is that alright?”

“That sounds great, thank you.” after Donghae hung up he began thinking. It’d be at least a seven days wait or more before the doctor would be able to get back to him. But he wanted the information about where Victoria had been and he wanted it fast. He needed to find out so that he’d know whether or not to leave her on his suspects’ list, but other than her who else would remain a suspect? Surely, Il Chung and Sandy had no enemies. Donghae grabbed his phone and got up from his desk just as Chief Kang walked in from the doorway.

“Where are you going?” asked Chief Kang.

“Business,” Donghae replied.

“I want to talk to you first.”

Donghae closed the door after him as he entered the chief’s office. The chief remained still in his position and didn’t turn around until a minute later.

“I met with Il Chung and Sandy’s parents early this morning. They are traumatized and shocked by their children’s sudden deaths, but neither side of their families believed that anyone would resent them.”

“I know chief.”

“But we couldn’t find any clues in that apartment either and Il Chung has never purchased any armed weapon. Both his and Sandy’s records are clean.”

Donghae felt a tinge of nervousness and doubt climb in him.

“Your suspect Victoria Song, have you looked into her?”

“Yes, I have. Both her parents died in a fatal car accident when she was 13 and after that she was taken into the care of her aunt who died 7 years later. I’m still trying to find out where she was the day before she supposedly discovered her friends’ deaths, but then even so she may not be the culprit.”

“We can’t go assuming everything, Donghae.”

“I understand chief. I’ll look into it until I find something,” Donghae assured or until he discovered something that would prove her innocence.

Again he parked his car before the gates of the apartment building and walked through it. The yellow tape in front of the door that barred anyone from entering Il Chung and Sandy’s apartment was still there. He walked up the concrete steps and stopped before the apartment door hesitating at first. He wondered if she would greet him politely as usual after he’d suddenly insulted her the other day. Clearing his throat he rung the doorbell but he heard nothing. He rung the doorbell again and again then started wondering if she was out taking the dog on a walk, but a woman’s voice told him it wasn’t it.

“You’re looking for Victoria again?” it was the same small woman who had approached him a few days ago.

“Yes. Did you see her go out anywhere?”

“She’s not here anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“She packed up and left.”