Namjoon leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled thoughtfully as he glanced over his notes from the group interview. The quiet hum of the precinct buzzed around him, but his focus was only on the case. Across from him sat his two most trusted colleagues—Jisoo and Hoseok.

Jisoo, seated directly across from him, was sharp-eyed and dressed in her standard police attire. As the precinct's representative on the case, she was known for her no-nonsense approach, and her ability to read people almost immediately. With her short, neatly tied hair and a gaze that could slice through anyone's defenses, Jisoo had an instinct for when someone wasn't telling the whole truth—a skill that had served her well in countless investigations. Now, her lips curved into a slight smirk as she tapped her fingers thoughtfully, waiting for Namjoon's take on the interview.

Beside her sat Hoseok, the department's go-to tech expert. A bit more casual in appearance, Hoseok wore a black hoodie, comfortable jeans, and a beanie pulled low over his head. Known for his relentless energy and his knack for handling any technical situation thrown his way, Hoseok was the brains behind their surveillance, communication, and data analysis. His hands were quick on any device, fingers drumming with a rhythm that matched his focus, and his expertise had cracked open more than a few cases in the past.

Namjoon exhaled, looking between them both as he started to speak. "That family dynamic... it's something else," he began.

Jisoo smirked, her sharp gaze flicking to Hoseok for a moment before returning to Namjoon. "Not exactly the picture of a united family, huh?" Her tone carried a hint of sarcasm, though Namjoon knew her well enough to sense the keen attention she was giving every detail.

Hoseok leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, fingers resting just above the keyboard of his laptop. "What did you make of Roseanne? She barely said anything the entire time."

Namjoon nodded, frowning slightly. "Exactly. It's like she was almost...removed from it all. She sat there in silence, observing everything but not really engaging. It was as if she didn't want to be a part of the conversation." He tapped his pen thoughtfully. "I got the sense she was holding back, but I don't know if it's reluctance, fear, or just indifference."

Jisoo raised an eyebrow, jotting a quick note on her notepad. "Could be all three, knowing families like that. You mentioned she's adopted—maybe she feels like an outsider."

"Maybe," Namjoon conceded, though something about Roseanne's reserved demeanor lingered in his mind, a faint whisper of something unsaid.

Hoseok drummed his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze flicking back to his screen as he typed. "What about Yeri? I read in the file that she's the fiancée of Jungkook, Bang's youngest son."

Namjoon exhaled, recalling her downcast gaze, the way she'd kept her hands tightly clasped in her lap. "Yeri... she looked like she was on the edge of saying something but stopped herself. It's like there's something she's hiding, or maybe someone she's trying to protect."

"That could be worth following up on," Jisoo remarked, adjusting her badge slightly as she studied her notes. "People usually hold back for a reason."

Namjoon's brow furrowed as he turned his thoughts to Jin and Irene. "And then there's Jin and Irene. Neither were exactly forthcoming. Jin's answers were evasive, and Irene... there's a defiance about her, as if she's challenging anyone to find her weak spot."

"Irene," Hoseok repeated, almost to himself. "She was Bang's daughter-in-law, right?"

"Right," Namjoon replied. "Married to Jin. She carried herself with this... confidence. But there was tension between her and the others. There's some history there we're not seeing."

Jisoo shrugged. "That family's practically a powder keg waiting to blow. Someone's bound to crack under the pressure."

"Then there's Jungkook," Namjoon continued, recalling the youngest son's subdued demeanor. "He shut down almost immediately. I'm not sure if it's a mental health issue, or if there's something more to it. He clearly didn't want to engage."

Hoseok raised an eyebrow, his fingers hovering over his keyboard. "He might be dealing with trauma or guilt. Either way, it's a loose end we need to understand."

Namjoon nodded thoughtfully. "None of them were of much help today. They were guarded, tense—like they were all tiptoeing around something. But it's that silence that speaks loudest. There's a lot under the surface that I can't ignore."

~•~ 

As Namjoon continued his reflections, he couldn't ignore the mounting pressure from the media. 

Bang Si Hyuk's sudden death had sent shockwaves through South Korea, stirring the public's imagination and igniting a relentless media frenzy. News headlines speculated wildly: "Murder or Suicide?" , "Big Hit Entertainment's Future Hangs in the Balance" ,  and "Secrets Behind South Korea's Power Families?" 

Every media outlet was eager for the smallest morsel of information, and reporters were stationed outside the family estate, capturing any comings and goings.

"What's the latest on the media front?" Namjoon asked, looking over at Hoseok, who had been monitoring press coverage closely.

Hoseok smirked, typing a few commands on his laptop. "It's intense. They're all over it. You'd think it was the trial of the century. Every station has been running round-the-clock updates, and they're practically dissecting every single family member's past."

Namjoon sighed. "And the Bang family? How are they handling it?"

"They released a statement early this morning," Hoseok replied, pulling up the file. "It's your standard boilerplate—expressing shock, sadness, and gratitude for the public's support. They're calling for privacy during this difficult time and say they have faith in the authorities to handle the matter."

Jisoo rolled her eyes. " 'Faith in the authorities.' Of course, they'd say that now that they're under a microscope."

Namjoon scanned the press release on Hoseok's screen. The wording was formal, carefully curated to portray a grieving family enduring a tragic loss. But he couldn't shake the feeling that the statement was crafted with far more calculation than genuine grief.

"Who delivered the press release?" he asked, noting the signature at the end.

"It was put out by their family spokesperson," Hoseok replied. "Though I heard Irene was behind most of the drafting. Fits, doesn't it? The statement reads like a corporate report—every word deliberate, cautious."

Namjoon nodded. It was just as he expected from Irene. Calculated, precise, and devoid of any vulnerability that might expose her or the family's delicate position. He glanced back at his notes from the group interview. "The media is going to keep digging."

"Could be useful," Jisoo remarked, her gaze sharp.

Namjoon exhaled thoughtfully. "I will conduct those one-on-one interviews soon. Between the media attention and the internal family tension, someone will reveal more than they mean to."

He glanced over the statement one more time, noting the overly polished tone. This wasn't just a family grieving a tragic loss. This was a family used to protecting secrets—secrets he was determined to uncover.

~•~

Namjoon arrived at the Bang mansion again that evening, his purpose clear. The tension from his earlier visit lingered in the air as he stepped inside, and within moments, Jin and Irene approached him. 

Jin's expression was guarded, irritation evident in the tightness of his jaw and the way his shoulders squared in silent defiance. Irene, on the other hand, looked openly displeased, her lips pressed into a thin line. 

"Detective Kim," Jin greeted him, voice curt. "We've already spoken to you this morning. Is another round of questioning really necessary?"

Namjoon remained calm, meeting Jin's gaze evenly. "I believe it is," he replied. "There are details we didn't have time to address earlier. It's crucial to get a clear picture of everyone's perspective."

Irene crossed her arms, her narrowed eyes reflecting impatience. "I don't see what you hope to accomplish by interrogating us again. This is already a difficult time for our family, and these repeated intrusions are making it worse."

"I understand, Mrs. Bang," Namjoon replied, keeping his tone respectful but firm. "But I'm here to do my job. The more thorough I am now, the faster we can find answers—and the faster your family can have some peace."

Jin exhaled sharply but nodded. "Fine. Let's just get this over with." He gestured to follow him, leading him to a nearby study.

Namjoon decided to start with Jin.

"You mentioned he was stressed—did he confide in you about any threats?"

Jin crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "No, he didn't talk to me about threats. He was focused on the company, on expanding it. I already talked about this."

"Did he have any recent business deals that might have gone wrong?" Namjoon pressed, sensing Jin's evasiveness. 

"Not that I know of," Jin replied sharply, irritation creeping into his voice. "Look, I can't keep tabs on every single thing happening at Big Hit."

Namjoon noted the defensive posture but decided to change tactics. "How were your relations with him? Did you ever argue or disagree about the company?"

Jin's eyes narrowed. "We had our differences, but I respected him. He is- was my dad. Why are you asking me this?"

"Just trying to understand the dynamics here," Namjoon said, maintaining his calm demeanor. "It's important to know if there was any friction."

Jin's jaw clenched as he shifted uncomfortably. "He was the one in charge. I supported his decisions, but lately... I don't know. He seemed different, more guarded."

"What do you mean?" Namjoon inquired.

"Just—he was secretive about things, and I couldn't help but feel like there was more going on than he was letting on." Jin's voice dropped to a whisper as if the walls had ears.

Namjoon leaned in, sensing he was nearing something significant. "What kind of things?"

But before Jin could respond, the door swung open, and Irene stepped inside, her presence commanding. "Are you done here? We have more pressing matters to attend to."

Namjoon exchanged a glance with Jin, who shifted uncomfortably at her interruption. "We're wrapping up," Namjoon assured, keeping his expression neutral. He knew he'd have to let this go now, and follow up with Jin later- somewhere private, "Thank you for your time, Jin."

"Right." Jin stepped away, his posture visibly less relaxed as he exited.

Irene wasted no time in addressing Namjoon. "If you're done interrogating my husband, I suggest you move on to more important things. We have a family to protect."

Namjoon met her gaze steadily. "I appreciate your concern, Mrs. Kim, but this is crucial to the investigation. You must understand that everyone is a potential suspect until we determine otherwise."

"Suspect?" Irene scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "You think any of us would harm Bang? He was family."

"Family can often harbor hidden resentments," Namjoon replied evenly. "Tell me, did he have any enemies in the business world? Any of his partners he had disputes with?"

Irene's expression hardened. "You should ask someone who actually knows his business dealings. I'm not privy to that information."

Namjoon noticed the tension in her demeanor, the way her hands tightened into fists. "You were close to him. Surely you had some insight?"

"Close?" she snapped, her voice rising. "You know nothing about our family. I might not have always agreed with him, but I would never wish him dead."

Namjoon sensed her frustration but pressed on. "Did he ever express fear or anxiety about his life or company? Perhaps something he wanted to keep from others?"

Irene hesitated, a flicker of something passing across her face. "He was paranoid, always looking over his shoulder. But that's the nature of the business, isn't it? If you're not careful, someone will stab you in the back—metaphorically, of course." Her lips curled into a sardonic smile.

"Metaphorically, or literally?" Namjoon replied, watching her closely.

"Take your pick." She waved him off dismissively. "I'm done here."

With that, she turned sharply on her heel and walked out of the room, leaving Namjoon with a knot of frustration and curiosity. The intensity of her emotions only confirmed that there was more beneath the surface. 

~•~

Next, he requested for Yeri, whose demeanor had intrigued him from the beginning. She walked in with her hands locked- thumbs twitching. Her eyes were blank, devoid of any emotion. She looked lost, and the contrast to the high-pressure environment was stark.

"Miss Yeri," Namjoon began softly, hoping to ease her tension. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to her hands. "Sure."

"I know this is a difficult time, but I'd like to ask you some questions about Bang Si Hyuk," he said, settling into the chair across from her.

Yeri swallowed hard, her eyes glistening. "He was a good man. He didn't deserve this."

"I agree," Namjoon said gently. "Can you tell me about your relationship with him? Did he confide in you about any problems?"

Yeri hesitated, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. "He was always supportive of me. When I first joined the company, he took me under his wing. But lately, he seemed... different." 

"Different?"

Yeri bit her lip. "He seemed a bit distant. And there were times when I saw him arguing with people at work, but it was always about business. Nothing that seemed personal."

Namjoon nodded, filing away her comments. "Do you think anyone could have wanted to hurt him?"

Yeri's eyes welled with tears, but there was a certain tremble in her voice, as if she was struggling to talk, "I don't know. It's terrifying to think about. He was just... he was kind to me."

Changing the subject, he asked, "Were you involved in the decision making process for the company?"

"I.... I may have been a board member, but he almost.... never took my opinions into account," Yeri paused, her voice coated with false mirth, "Jin and Irene mattered to him more anyway."

Now this- was an interesting detail. 

Namjoon started calmly, "I see. So your position in the company.... it was only an honorary role?"

Yeri flinched. Her eyes didn't meet his, but the answer was clear. 

In a small voice she said, "Not initially. No. Only when I got engaged...." Yeri trailled off, not attempting to say anything further.

"Thank you, Yeri," Namjoon said, "If you remember anything else, please don't hesitate to reach out."

She nodded, her gaze already far-away, "Of course."

~•~

Jungkook slowly walked in, his hands shoved inside his jeans pockets- and an unpleasant look on his face. It was clearly visible that he'd rather be anywhere else  than give this interview in that moment. 

"Jungkook," Namjoon began gently.

"Detective," he said, his voice quiet and hoarse. 

Namjoon noted how Jungkook settled into a chair across from him, the distance between them large as he dragged it out. "I know this is hard for you. I just want to ask a few questions about your father."

"Right," Jungkook murmured, his gaze dropping again. 

"Did you see or hear anything unusual leading up to his death?" Namjoon prompted.

Jungkook shook his head, visibly struggling. "I... I don't know. I haven't been around much. I've been dealing with... stuff." His voice broke slightly, revealing his discomfort.

Namjoon nodded, choosing his words carefully. "I understand. It's okay to take your time. But any detail could be important."

"I just... I didn't see him much lately. He was busy with the company, and I've had my own issues," Jungkook admitted, his tone almost defeated.

"Are you saying you were not in contact with him at all?" Namjoon pressed gently, sensing Jungkook's hesitation.

"Not really," Jungkook replied, his tone full if self loathing. 

Namjoon felt a pang of empathy for the man, recognizing the internal battle he was facing. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. But if you think of anything that might help—"

"I'll try," Jungkook interrupted, his voice suddenly firm. "But it's just... I didn't see anyone around him that seemed suspicious."

Namjoon nodded in response.

He tried a different approach this time, "You mentioned he didn't involve you in the business much"

Something flickered across his eyes, and his response came short, "Yeah."

"Why is that?"

For a long moment he didn't say anything. 

Then, Jungkook let out a strangled breath, and rubbed his hands across his face. 

His voice was rough when he spoke, "I guess.... I never got along with my dad. Not after my mom's death anyway. And once I made it clear that I didn't want to try and mend things, he distanced himself from me and deemed me incapable of handling the stress that came along with holding a high position in the company."

Jungkook looked up at him, his expression making it clear that he had never said this out loud to anyone yet. 

Namjoon nodded, and in a soft voice he questioned, "Is that the reason you took your mom's maiden name? Your mom's death." 

"Yeah."

"Thank you, Jungkook. I appreciate your honesty," Namjoon said, noting the brief flicker of determination in Jungkook's eyes. "If you remember anything, I'll be available."

"Yeah, sure," Jungkook replied quietly, his gaze drifting back to the floor as if retreating into himself.

~•~

Finally, Roseanne was sitting across him, Bang's last family member- his adopted daughter. Her fingers were intertwined as she stared out the window. 

Roseanne was strikingly beautiful, with a strong presence and an air of mystery surrounding her. Her long, blonde hair framed her face, enhancing her fair complexion, and her expressive eyes were filled with an intensity that drew him in.

"Miss Roseanne," Namjoon began.

She turned to face him, her gaze piercing. "Detective Kim."

"Thank you for agreeing to speak with me," he said, sitting in a chair opposite her. "I know this is a difficult time for you."

She nodded slightly, her posture rigid. "Let's get on with it. I don't have much to say."

Namjoon studied her for a moment. "Can you tell me about your relationship with your father? Did he confide in you about anything concerning?"

"He didn't confide in me. He was my adoptive father, not my real one," Roseanne replied bluntly. "I was never part of the business or the family drama. I was just

... there."

"Did you notice anything unusual about him in the days leading up to his death?" Namjoon probed, sensing there might be more beneath her guarded exterior.

"No, I didn't," she replied, her tone clipped. "I was busy with my own life. He was just.... No, there wasn't anything unusual."

Namjoon raised an eyebrow, sensing her defensiveness.  "He was your father, even if you were adopted. Surely there were moments that felt personal?"

Roseanne hesitated, "When... when he'd just adopted me, he was..... nice. He'd often do things with me that normal dads did. Ice creams, stuffed toys, football... all that. But as time passed, it's grew less and less.... until it all just stopped. I...." She immediately stopped talking as she realised how much she had said.

"My personal relationship with him isn't going to help you solve the case."

With that she stood up, and headed to the door- ready to leave.

"Roseanne, I understand this is hard for you," Namjoon said gently, trying to connect with her. "But anything, no matter how small, could help."

She slowly turned and studied him. 

Hazel eyes met brown- and a decision was made. 

Roseanne said in a low but firm voice, "I can help you in understanding our family relationships- with the exception of mine with Bang, but I do not have what you seek. I never had any involvement with the company and our family's finances or operations. Nor did I spend much time with Bang in his last days.

Our family is not what it seems, Detective Kim."

And with that, she left the room without a single glance back. Her heels clicking against the floor- the echo was  heard throughout the study. 

~•~