"Thank you for your report, Yesung. Keep looking,” Chief Park ordered as he hung up the phone. ​

"Still nothing?” Sooyoung murmured. She was seated next to Jessica, who had rushed over the moment her sister’s funeral was over and now sat huddled with her cardigan wrapped tightly around her shoulders, even though she wasn’t cold. ​

"I can’t believe I let this happen.” Leeteuk raked his hand through his hair yet again, causing it to stand up once more. ​

“No, it’s my fault,” Onew piped up. The criminal psychologist had arrived the moment he heard what was going on, rifling through all of Taemin’s files. “I should have seen this coming. This is my area of expertise.” ​

"It isn’t either of your faults, okay?” Sooyoung snapped. “Stop acting like she’s already…” She bit her lip, unwilling to finish the sentence as she cast a glance at Jessica, who had grown even paler. “Want some coffee?” The model nodded wordlessly. “Come on.” Jessica rose to her feet and silently followed Sooyoung out of the room.

​As soon as the two of them were gone, Onew turned towards Leeteuk and opened a folder. “Chief, look at this. I should have realized this earlier-” ​

“Onew, stop.” The chief shook his head as he passed a hand over his face. “This isn’t your fault, okay? We didn’t know-” ​

“I should have known!” Onew snapped. “I should have looked at his profile more closely. I should have…I’m supposed to realize…” ​

Chief Park slowly turned around. “What are you talking about, Onew?” ​

"Lee Taemin was a time bomb,” Onew said quietly. “Haruki’s rejection just lit the fuse.”  

“Donghae?” Jiyong frowned as the detective peered into his hospital room. The hacker looked odd in a pale blue gown with snowflakes on it, but Donghae knew it wasn’t the time to comment. “What are you doing here?” ​

“You were stabbed,” Donghae replied. “Remember? In your apartment? And-”

​“No, I know what I’m doing here,” Jiyong retorted. “What the are you doing here? Did you find Haruki?” ​

Donghae shook his head, stomach churning at the thought that his partner had been missing for three hours now. “They’re still looking for her. In a kidnapping, there’s usually-” ​

"There is nothing ‘usual’ about this case!” Jiyong yelled, sitting up violently. He winced and grabbed at his chest, but waved off Donghae’s concerned look. “Get the hell out there and look!” ​

"I don’t know where to look!” Donghae hollered. “Damn it, everyone keeps asking me where they think Taemin would have taken her and I have no idea! I’ve been on this case for so long, but all those months of work were a complete waste! He had everything planned out down to this moment and he left a trail of dead-ends for us to chase.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Jiyong, I have no idea where she is.” ​

"Give me my laptop,” the hacker ordered, holding out both hands.

​“What?”

​“My laptop, idiot. I know you brought it here.” Jiyong pointed at the bag behind Donghae. “Give it to me. Now.” ​

The detective reached into the bag and pulled out the computer. “What do you need it for?” ​

"Well, I figured as long as I’m stuck here, I might as well catch up on my gaming,” Jiyong replied, rolling his eyes. “What do you think? I’m finding your partner!”

​“I just said there’s-”

​“Nothing but dead-ends, yeah, I heard you,” the hacker replied as he typed in his password. “I don’t believe that. Even the most organized of killers have been caught because they were too careful.” He looked up from the screen and pointed at the detective. “Ted Bundy lived in a fingerprint-free environment. Wiped every single print from his crime scenes and every surface of his house. That’s one of the things that made him look guilty.” ​

"He also killed over a hundred women and escaped jail twice,” Donghae retorted.

​“The number was never confirmed,” Jiyong countered. “Alright, if we plot the places where the victims are from…” He his teeth as Donghae leaned over his shoulder to look. A random scatter of dots appeared on the screen. “That’s all over the city. Can’t narrow it down.” ​

“Wait. His obsession is with Haruki, so zoom in on her apartment and a couple blocks around it,” Donghae ordered. Jiyong nodded. “Try plotting the points where the victims were found.” ​

Jiyong did as he was told and five points appeared within the highlighted area. “Now if we discount Gyuri…” Donghae murmured, pointing at the screen. “They were all found within this three-block radius. I can’t believe we didn’t realize this before.” ​

“And since it’s broad daylight, it has to be an abandoned building,” Jiyong continued. ​

"But close to a place with lots of people so no one would be suspicious of finding a car parked there,” Donghae added. ​

Jiyong paused in his search and frowned up at the detective. “Couldn’t he just park and carry the body?”

​“That would be too risky over more than a block,” Donghae replied. “At least, I hope that’s what he thought. Because at this point, I’m not sure about anything anymore.” ​

“Done. I’ve got three hits. A dental surgery clinic. An old office building and…” Jiyong hit the return key and turned the laptop towards Donghae. “An old warehouse. They closed it down two years ago. The building’s slated for demolition, but the city hasn’t gotten around to it yet.” ​

"Odds she’s there?” ​

“I give it fifty…sixty percent, tops,” Jiyong replied. ​

“Good enough. Thanks.” Donghae spun on his heel and raced out the door.  

“All the pieces are right here,” Onew explained as he spread the papers across the chief’s already messy desk. Chief Park, Sooyoung, and Jessica all leaned over to look. “Father abandoned the family when Taemin was about eleven. His mother completely dominated his life, wouldn’t let him even think his own thoughts.” ​

"Explains why he’s such a wimp,” Leeteuk muttered. ​

"I.Q. tests show he’s brilliant, but check out his school records.” Onew tossed a file onto the table. ​

"Mediocre performance. You’d expect better from someone who could plan all…” Chief Park made an all-encompassing gesture with his hands. “…this.”

​“He used to be in drugs, remember?” Onew asked. ​

"He means the drug department,” Sooyoung explained to Jessica. ​

"They said he isolated himself from others. He had a record for poor performance and he didn’t work well with others,” Onew murmured. ​

"How the hell did they let him take the detective’s exam?” Leeteuk demanded. “If he was so bad, how did they let him get promoted?” ​

“They thought the mental challenge of being a detective would stimulate him,” Onew replied. The chief threw the file down on the table in disgust and turned towards the window, rubbing his forehead. ​

“How come there are no criminal records?” he finally asked. ​

"Not every serial killer exhibits rebellious and unusual behavior as a child,” Onew replied. “Jeffrey Dahmer always said he was just like any other kid when he was little.” ​

"Who?” Jessica whispered. ​

"A big-time murderer,” Sooyoung replied.

​Leeteuk sighed as he turned away from the window, still shaking his head- it was a wonder his neck hadn’t come unscrewed yet. “He was a complete wimp! How could he-” ​

“That’s precisely the reason we all looked over him,” Onew whispered. “I wouldn’t know without talking to him, but…” He sighed. “My theory is that he began to think that no one in the world would ever understand him and so he began to withdraw further. The first day he arrived, the other guys started teasing him. Before he could snap, Haruki stepped in, told them to knock it off. He saw something similar to himself in her. And he grew attached. Fixated, even.” ​

"He cried whenever the boys taunted him!” ​

"So he could get Haruki’s attention,” Onew explained. “Serial killers tend to be very good liars.” He gestured to the table. “All of this falls in place. I characterize him as a ‘power seeker killer’.” ​

"What does that mean?” Jessica asked.

​“It’s what it sounds like,” Onew replied. “He likes having total control over his victim’s fates.” ​

Chief Park’s phone rang and he instantly snatched it up. “Hello? Donghae! You…you know where she is? Roger that, I’m sending all available units there, stat, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He nodded towards Sooyoung, who d for her own cellphone, but not before putting a reassuring hand on Jessica’s shoulder. ​

"We’ll do everything we can, I promise.” ​

“That’s the most you can promise,” Jessica whispered to herself as the other three turned away.  

“Third time’s the charm,” Donghae growled as he pointed his revolver straight at Taemin’s head. “You’re really good at making me chase dead-ends. A dental clinic. It’s fitting, really.” ​

The boy just smirked as he lowered the ice pick to Haruki’s throat. “Go ahead, Donghae,” Taemin taunted. “Shoot me, and she dies, too.” He pressed the pick down just a little bit and Haruki couldn’t help flinching. ​

“You know what these are capable of?” Taemin continued as Donghae’s eyes focused on the bead of blood forming on his partner’s neck. “Breaks up more than just ice. It’s a mafia weapon. Pierces bone wonderfully.” He nodded to the weapon in the detective’s hand. “Drop your gun.” ​

Donghae hesitated and glanced over at Haruki, who shook her head slightly, although the movement caused the ice pick to cut deeper into her skin. Donghae hesitated and lowered the gun just a fraction. Frowning, Taemin reached for his belt- no, that was her belt. She recognized the pink stripe she’d painted on the baton to keep the other detectives from borrowing it. ​

Almost carelessly, Taemin drew the gun and fired. Donghae’s Glock fell from his hands, his arms flailing as red mist sprayed out from his chest. His body seemed to fly into the air, lifted by some unseen force. He jerked ungracefully before collapsing onto his back. His head bounced off the floor once and one arm limply dropped to his side. ​

"No!” Haruki yelled, slamming her hands against the armrests and jerking against her restraints. “Donghae. Donghae!” Taemin spun around angrily, but his eyes softened when he saw the trail of blood on her neck. ​

"You should be more careful, noona,” he scolded almost playfully as he set the gun down and brushed the blood away with his thumb. He smiled at her as he his finger. ​

"I thought you weren’t licensed to use a gun,” Haruki whispered. She didn’t even know what she was saying anything, but her voice was eerily calm. She had to keep talking- as long as his eyes were focused on her face, he wouldn’t notice that she’d managed to shake the scalpel into her hand and was now cutting at her leather straps. She needed to get to her partner and get him out of here. ​

He had to be alive.

​“I’m not, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how,” Taemin replied. “You taught me, remember?” Smiling, he reached out to her cheek. ​

"Get away from her, bastard,” Donghae rasped. He glared at Taemin from where he’d raised himself to his hands and knees, one arm pressed to his stomach. The rookie clicked his tongue. 

​“So annoying. Should’ve finished you off first,” Taemin hissed, leveling his gun at Donghae’s head. ​

Suddenly, he screamed out in pain, clutching his shoulder. His hands closed around the handle of Haruki’s scalpel and he slowly drew it out, staring at her in shock. Haruki quickly untied her other hand and rolled off the chair, away from Taemin’s grasp. “Donghae, run!” she yelled. ​

"Noona…” Taemin whispered, holding the scalpel in his hand and turning it over in his fingers. He looked genuinely hurt that she’d stabbed him, and Haruki glanced at him in spite of herself. ​

He’s crazy, she reminded herself. He’s lost his mind, he needs to be locked up- ​

And it’s your fault. ​

Taemin’s shock quickly morphed to rage as he lunged at her with the ice pick. Stunned by pity and remorse, Haruki didn’t have time to dodge aside as he shoved her into the wall, pinning her hands behind her back and damn it, was that stupid song still playing? ​

"Guys won’t leave her alone ​

Her heart’s shaking- I know her true feelings” ​

"I just wanted us to be together,” he hissed through his teeth and she turned her face away when he got too close. ​

“Taemin, please-” ​

“That’s all I ever wanted,” he snarled. “But you kept hurting me- I’m tired of you hurting me! And I won’t let you hurt me anymore.” ​

“Stop! No!” ​

Haruki shrieked as Taemin raised the ice pick into the air and brought it down on her head. She twisted her head to the side and the pick slashed her cheek. Stars sprang into her vision as a tear of pain mixed with the blood running down her cheek. Before he could strike again, she hooked her foot around his ankle and brought his knee up, knocking him to the ground. She leapt over him, but he grabbed her ankle and sent her crashing to the ground. ​

"And I think I’m gonna hate it girl ​

The end is coming” ​

Haruki kicked Taemin’s hand off her foot and sprang to her feet, staggering to her partner’s side. “Donghae, come on, we have to get out of here! We have to go!” ​

She pulled on his arm and Donghae grabbed onto her wrist to haul himself to his feet, when a shot rang out. The bullet narrowly missed Haruki's hand as she instinctively released her partner and raised both hands in the air. Donghae dropped to the ground again and she stepped in front of him, slowly approaching Taemin, who kept his gun trained on her. ​

“Taemin, please-”

​“Get away from him.” ​

"We can make this all work, you don’t have to do this-” ​

"I’m warning you, get away from him.” ​

"He needs a doctor. Let him go and I’ll do whatever you want.” She didn’t dare glance over her shoulder at her partner, out of fear that Taemin would snap. ​

"You’ll do whatever I say,” Taemin growled. “But he’s not leaving. I’m destroying everyone that you cared about in this city so you’ll have no reason to come back.”

​“Perhaps to her, I’m nice but no fun ​

Her gestures are telling me that’s the issue” ​

"Taemin, please,” Haruki whispered again as she continued walking towards him slowly, until the gun was aimed right at her chest and Donghae was completely hidden from view. ​

The rookie seemed to hesitate and he lowered his gun just a fraction. “Noona…” ​

"Game over, Taemin,” Donghae called. Taemin looked over Haruki’s shoulder to see the older man smirking at him and holding up a walkie-talkie. The rookie’s eyes widened as he reached for the spot where Haruki had always stored it, only to find it missing as Haruki snatched the gun from his hand. “Out-dated, but still useful. Reinforcements should be here in thirty seconds.” ​

"Grabbed it when I tripped you,” she whispered. He gave her the look of a puppy whose favorite toy had just been taken away and she felt herself soften. The kid she’d tried to protect was still in there, she could see it.

​“Look,” she said softly. “You can get help. We’ll make sure you get help. Everything is going to be okay-”

​“Shut up!” he hollered, his face twisting in rage. Lunging at her with the desperation of someone who had nothing to lose, he tackled her to the ground and knocked the revolver out of her hands where it slid several feet away across the ground. He closed his fingers around her neck. ​

"Thirty seconds is plenty of time,” he hissed. ​

"Keep thinking about you ​

Keep dreaming about you” ​

As she struggled to throw him off, Haruki managed to yank her baton out of her back pocket. With as much force as she could muster at that awkward angle and with her mind filling with fog, she cracked Taemin over the head with it. ​

With a dazed grunt, Taemin released her. Shoving him off and coughing for air, she half-crawled towards her gun, grabbed the handle and rolled so that she was pointing the gun at him. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she could hear sirens approaching. Somewhere in her mind, she knew that the fight was over and that she’d won. ​

But none of it registered as she looked at the monster lying on the ground in front of her, vulnerable. ​

His eyes widened further as he looked at her, slowly raising his hands above his head. “Noona,” he whispered. ​

She leveled the gun at his chest and fired. ​

"Noona neomu yeppeo…”

A/N: No spoilers, please! Just one chapter left before I'm finally done with this thing. It's almost over!