Chapter 3- Gangs and teens

-Sheriff, could I have a word with you?- Dami said for the fifth time sitting in a cold bench in the sheriff's office. No one had come to tell them what happened ever since they got out of the school. Jennie was sitting at the end of the bench, trembling in fear. Chan was biting his nails in the other end; he always did so when when was anxious. San was sitting beside Dami, horrorstruck. A deputy had taken BamBam to question him, and the sheriff refused to talk to them, despite Dami's insistence.

About half an hour later, BamBam came back to the room, and Sheriff Jin finally let them go. Dami, however, wasn't too eager to leave with her questions unanswered.

-Please don't make this more difficult Ms. Lee- said the young sheriff with a hand in his head.

-You're the ones making his difficult, and if I didn't know better, I'd say you're hiding the information to the public. And this won't stand. Either you tell me everything and stop being so shady about this or I will get you kicked out of the sheriff's position- finished Dami with a cold stare.

-Fine, but BamBam goes home, and I was hoping one of you could take him home.

-I'll do it- said San, standing up and going out of the office.

-Well, as you may know, your detention teacher was murdered yesterday, and we suspect that it was the same guy who killed Ms. Kim Taeyeon. There are little leads however, and the Sons aren't very helpful to disclose details of Wendy's behaviors before her disappearance. To be sincere, we're stumped. We need a better detective on this case. The one that was investigating was bought off by Mrs. Son as soon as the case opened. I've done whatever has been in my power to keep the case open, but if we don't find significant evidence, the case'll be shut down.

-Well, if you're looking for detectives... - Chan said looking at Dami.

-Wait. What, me? You wish, I might be good, but I'm not your best bet.

-Well, do you know someone that is our best bet?- Sheriff Jin asked raising an eyebrow.

-Maybe, but I can't promise you she'll come cheap.

-Fine by me as long as she does the job.

-Fine, well then, we better go see her tomorrow, I'll meet you at the town's northern end. She lives there.

The next day

At the northern end of town, Jennie, Chan, Sheriff Jin and Dami waited to meet the detective. Jennie was chatting with Chan while Jin checked his phone to see that everything was going well at the station. Dami stared into the street in front of her. Suddenly, five engines were heard roar from the other end of the street. A few seconds later, the roaring became deafening and five cars approached the position where they were. When they were in front of them, the cars came to a halt, and the car bringing up the lead opened its back doors. Out came a girl the same age as Jennie like the rest of the teens and another guy. The second one was a few years younger than Jin, but his appearance made him look about the same age as the sheriff. The girl had short blonde hair and was wearing narrow sunglasses. Dami reached out to the girl and she embraced her in a friendly hug. They exchanged a few words and then she looked upon the group of people that came with Dami. She recognized the sheriff and saluted him lightly. She looked at Chan for a few seconds and then stepped up to him. She stared into his eyes for a few seconds and then approached Dami. She said in a voice a little bit too loud.

-So, Dami, this is the boy you told me about. Kang Yuchan, right? You li-. She was saying until Dami hit her in the side with her elbow, red in the face. The girl finally turned her attention to Jennie, who was staring at her, open-mouthed.

-What's the mirreina doing here?- asked the girl with a cruel tone.

-Manners Soyeon, she's Jennie and she doesn't bite if you stay at a safe distance- Dami told the girl, smirking a little.

Jennie stayed open-mouthed, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Soyeon was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen. She immediately felt a crush since she saw Soyeon climb out of the car. Jennie felt a knot in her throat that made her unable to speak. Soyeon approached her and stood right in front of her. She raised her finger to Jennie's chin and closed her mouth. She winked at her and turned around. Jennie gulped and released a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

-So, what'd you call me here for?- Soyeon asked Dami, leaning on the car.

-Well, Soyeon, if I may- said sheriff Jin clearing his throat-, it's me who asked for your assistance.

-What for?

-Well, word has reached me that you're the best detective in Whamesbury. And I really could use your help in solving a case.

-You mean the Son case right?- Soyeon said not bothering to look up.

-Yes, I'm afraid.

-10 grand.

-Excuse me?

-10 grand is what I want for helping you solve the case.

-No way.

-Have luck finding a better detective then.

-Five.

-Eight.

-Six.

-Seven.

-Deal- Jin finished, ruffling his hair and sighing heavily.

-Well, I guess that settles it. Pick the three of us at Whamesbury High tomorrow afternoon so we can get started- Soyeon finished as she got in the car and took one last look at the group of people she had just met. She prepared herself for what would come. She waved at Dami and drove off.

Dami went back to the station with Jin to fix some paperwork before Soyeon came the next day. Chan agreed to walk Jennie home. About halfway through the trip they were silent, but after stopping to buy coffee and some biscuits, Jennie couldn't keep silent.

-Um, Chan-Jennie said while holding her coffee in both her hands, Chan hummed through a mouthful of biscuit in response.

-Can I tell you something and you promise not to tell anyone?

-Sure.

-Well, do you remember that girl from earlier, the blonde one from the car?

-Who? Soyeon?- Chan answered after gulping his biscuit. Even with the mention of her name, it made Jennie's cheeks turn pink. She hid it by taking a quick gulp of her coffee before talking again.

-Yeah, well, she, er, s-s-she. Oh my god, Chan I-I-I, I think I like her- Jennie finished with a heavy sigh. Chan almost choked on his coffee after hearing the words come out of Jennie's mouth. As Jennie quietly sipped her coffee, Chan tried to wrap his head about the conversation.

-I had no idea- Chan said dumbfoundedly.

-Me neither. I mean she's so beautiful and so...

-Well, I don't know what to say. I've never had a girlfriend, nor liked someone.

-It's OK, I only wanted to get it off my chest. But to be fair, I was pretty convinced that you and Dami were, y'know... something.

-What? Me and her? Pfft, no way, we're just friends.

-I'm just saying. If you did try to become something, to me, you're endgame.

-Well, it's nice that you think that, but honestly, I don't think I'm the best that she can find. I mean, I'm not ripped, or talented. I feel like friends is all that we're meant to be.

-10 bucks you end up with her in less than a year.

-Are you seriously betting on whether I get together with someone or not?

-I am, so you takin' it or not?

-Fine, but just so you know, you just lost 10 bucks.

Chan saw Jennie get safely to her house and then went off to his own. As he walked down the street to his house, he noticed someone who had been following him closely. He let the person get closer to the point that Chan was only two steps away from the stalker. He turned around and quickly pulled the stranger into a headlock.

-C-c-calm do-down, it-it's me J-Jun-said the boy, struggling to get out of Chan's firm grip.

-My god Jun, don't ever f*cking do that again.

-Sorry OK?- said Jun as he caressed his neck.

-Soo... what 's up?

-What's up? I'll tell you. I haven't heard from you in days. First you vanish without a trace the first day of school and only appear hours later. Then, you randomly decide to get into a fight with Choi San and after you get detention a serial killer tries to kill you. And to top it all, you leave today at dawn with Lee Yubin, Kim Jennie and the sheriff, and only come back after walking your little girlfriend to her house. It's like you forgot about me. And you replaced me with no other than the girl that made my life impossible in middle school. Or did you forget about that too?

-Jun I...

-Save it. I'm going to Donghun's.