Seokjin's office is exactly as I'd remembered it. Warmly decked in shades of dark green, and somber browns. It seems that even that giant, leather monstrosity of a chair is still here, and his desk hasn't aged a day.

But then, Jin did always take excellent care of his things.

"Why are you here?"

Jin's face is harsh, lines drawn tight by stress and grief. In this moment, for the first time, he actually looks his age of forty-two.

"You didn't call, or answer any of my calls, and you avoided me like the plague, " he continues. "So tell me why you're here."

"Jin, it's not-"

"Don't make me repeat myself Namjoon. I've had a trying week, and I didn't sleep a wink last night. I've got fifty unsolves cases, and a son who is repulsed by my very existence. I don't have time for pussyfooting. Be direct."

I swallow, and then sigh.

"The serial killer that murdered my family is at it again, " I reveal. "I'm not sure if you heard. Jeonguk, despite being the one that brought it to my attention, refuses to help, but I-"

"You were hoping I could provide you with clues."

It's an assertion, not a statement, and I respond by placing the coffee I'd brought for him on his desk.

"I can't just let it go Jin."

"And I can't help you either, " Seokjin replies. Rubbing the bridge of his nose with thumb and forefinger, he continues. "I know I taught you better than this. It's too personal, too raw for you. This case is better left to the professionals."

His words cut me to the quick.

"That isn't fair, " I growl, enfuriated by his snappy demeanor and easy dismissal. "Of all people, you should know how deeply Nari and Areum's loss hit me."

"You're right, " Jin concedes, eyes not softening in the least despite his assessment. "I do know. And that's why I also know you're unfit to catch this guy."

"With all due respect-"

"With all due respect, Namjoon, you've got a lot of guts waltzing in here and asking for a favor after the way you've ignored us for years. "

I frown. I'd like to deny his statement, and argue against it, but the truth is that he's absolutely right.

"Fine, " I relent peevishly, "I won't take up any more of your time then, sorry for wasting it in the first place."

Jin simply nods, not even bothering to look up from the stack of paperwork on his desk.

I backtrack to the door, and place my hand upon it's handle as Seokjin calls out to me once more.

"And Joonie, " he says softly, "thanks for the coffee."

I grunt, still too pissed to acknowledge his gratitude.

I swing the door open, and am immediately startled by the presence of a leggy brunette. She drops the stack of paperwork she'd been carrying, clearly just as startled as I.

Hand over heart, she bends down to collect her papers, nearly dropping the umbrella she'd slung over one arm in the process. For a moment, I eye the black and white hound's tooth patterned umbrella, feeling somehow as if I'd seen it before. Or, more specifically, it's handle seems incredibly familiar.

Made of a solid, glossy wood, it stands apart. But where exactly was it that I'd encountered such an umbrella before?

Troubled by my inability to recall something so seemingly simple, and nagged by the feeling that it's somehow important, I quietly bend down to help.

Though, by the time I do, she is nearly done.

"Sorry about that, " I apologize.

"No, " she replies with a blush, "that was my fault. Thanks for your help though."

She smiles flirtatiously as we stand, and I place the last of her papers back into her waiting hands.

"I'm Nina, " she announces, "I work the front desk."

"Namjoon, " I reply smoothly.

"Oh!" She exclaims, face lighting up with recognition and causing her to nearly drop her papers all over again in excitement. "I've heard about you! I'm so sorry about your family."

She adjusts the load of paperwork so that she can hold it with one hand for a brief moment as she hangs the umbrella on Seokjin's doorknob, teetering a bit beneath the weight of the stack.

"Are you planning on coming back?"

I frown, and shake my head.

"No, I work as a PI now." I reveal. "I'm actually here about a case I'm hoping to take on."

My eyes flick towards the umbrella once more.

"That Jin's umbrella?" I ask politely.

"Yeah, " she answers, "unique isn't it?"

"It is, " I muse. "How long has he had it?"

"Longer than I've been here, " she replies with a laugh, "haven't you ever seen him use it? There's an engraving on the handle with the date he received it, apparently it was a gift from his last wife for their anniversary. Surely you must have seen him use it at some point or another."

I don't remember having ever seen him with it before, but that would explain why it looks so damn familiar. Odd that my brain would fixate onto something so trivial.

I brush it off, and thank the young woman with a polite smile.

"I really should be going, " I declare, "it was wonderful to meet you."

"Likewise, " she smiles.

As I pass back through the office, I ignore Jeonguk and head straight for the front door. For a moment I think he might chase after me, but when I make it out the door and onto the sidewalk without being stopped, I realize that I'm in the clear.

By the time I arrive at my office, it's already dark. Nothing special, when you take into account that it gets real dark at around five o'clock this time of year. The rain beats a solemn staccato against the windowpane as I flip on the lights, and look around.

To be honest, I'm not even sure why I came here, as opposed to heading home for the night. Maybe because I can't think as neatly there?

But who the hell am I kidding? There isn't really anything to think about. Without speaking the the victim's families, I'm stuck at a dead end.

I have no clues. No leads. Nothing.

As I sit down at my desk I sigh. It's far too early to admit defeat, but I have to admit that I'm feeling quite discouraged. Again and again I've poured over what I know, but the guy is good.

He's never left a shred of evidence that could lead me to him, and I'd initially been struck with a sneaking suspicion. It's as if the guy knows exactly how to cover his tracks, and that alone makes him exceptional.

But then, there's also the question that's been nagging me since my family's untimely death.

Just how did the guy know I was linking all of his murders together?

And let's not forget, sending me such a message was an incredibly bold move. After all, up until that point, no one else had believed my theory. With that one action, he proved my hunch correct.

Which says to me that he is either cocky, or confident. Somehow, I think that it must be the latter.

Most serial killers, especially the cocky one's, tend to leave calling cards at the scene of the crime. It's a sick sort of pride that encourages them to do so, because even though they know what will happen if they get caught they still want to claim it. On a certain, inner level they want the world to know "I did this", and this is a factor that often contributes to their eventual capture.

Serial killers always, always fuck up. Eventually.

But this guy is cunning, and has no desire for recognition, apparently even on a subconscious level.

In fact, he seems more conscientious than most, never picking a victim of the same type and never within the same area.

The only connection between victims was their criminal history, but even that was varied as hell.

One of the victims that I recall, a young man with a multitude of tattoos, was a registered sex offender. Another, simple drug charges. It's almost as if the killer considers himself a vigilante of sorts, an idea that is only supported by the lack of calling cards, the clear lack of desire for recognition.

For him, it might be as simple as cleaning up the streets and removing those he considers filth.

I can feel the beginnings of a migraine, and I rub my temples diligently.

It isn't even as if I could begin to guess at where he might strike next. The city of Seattle is full of people with criminal histories, and I've never been able to map out a pattern before.

Which is why I so desperately need access to the latest case's information.