Coffee House wasn’t very crowded and for once Ravi was glad for that. The busy hour had already run through it and all that was left were a few stragglers who didn’t have better places to be. Ravi didn’t want anyone overhearing them as they spoke but since his text messages to Hyuk had gone unanswered, they’d had to come to him. Punk was probably studying or something, that or somehow news of the case had already leaked to the media and people were cutting their ties with him.

He didn’t want to think about that. Couldn’t think about that. He wasn’t alone, he reminded himself aggressively. Eunchan had been nothing but supportive, even though he hadn’t given all the details to his boss. It had been enough to have the older man giving reassurances that no matter what, he was on Ravi’s side. And then there was Hongbin, even if he had committed a crime, Ravi was certain that Hongbin would have been on his side all the way to hell. Plus Taekwoon was in the mix just as much as he was, they were both a victim of circumstance, and Ravi was determined that they wouldn’t be trapped there.

“Oh look who shows up to flaunt his boyfriend to all of us who had to work today.” Hyuk announced his, Taekwoon, and Hongbin’s arrival to the rest of the staff. It had taken approximately a half hour after that first shared break before it had circulated inside the workers that Ravi had hooked up with his tall, dark, and mysterious latte customer and despite his attempts the correct that he wasn’t sure if they were dating (though it felt like it) the term ‘boyfriend’ had stuck. “Why would you come here on your day off, hyung?”

Feeling a little self conscious, Ravi ducked his head low to try and avoid suspicious looks he wasn’t getting. From what he’d picked up on the news, all that had been announced was that Kim Woobin had died at the theatre, cause was being ‘investigated’ and that the production was shut down for the time being. “You didn’t answer your texts,” he hissed accusingly while he waved Hongbin and Taekwoon back to the table in the rear of the store. The only one pulling any attention anywhere was Ravi himself. “No one’s dropped by, have they?”

“I was working, hyung, you know we’re not supposed to have our phones on us.” Hyuk rolled his eyes but pulled his phone out of the apron pocket anyhow. “Jeez, eight missed messages, why didn’t you just call the work line?” Ravi blinked a few times while Hyuk’s cheesy little grin spread over his face, “you’re so funny sometimes.” He flicked through the messages that Ravi had left him. “Anyhow, yeah, someone came by looking for you but I told them you were off today.”

The saliva in his mouth dried up and if possible he ducked his head lower. “Who was it?” Visions of the police storming the cafe filtered into his head before he shook them away. That kind of only happened in dramas and comics. A feeling like he knew he was being ridiculous but couldn’t stop settled around his shoulders. Get a hold of yourself, Wonsik.

“I don’t know, one of those rapper guys that drop by every now and then.” Hyuk shrugged and leaned back against the counter, “Something about a no show last night? He seemed like a jerk. I challenged him to an impromptu rap battle but he wouldn’t go for it.” The boy giggled to himself and struck a pose, thumb and forefinger framing his chin, “Probably too scared cause he knew he was dealing with the real rap master.”

“Aish,” Ravi winced but chuckled as well. “If it was just that prick then that’s okay.” The thought of Hyuk throwing down in one of his ridiculous raps against him was hilarious though. If one bent out of shape sore loser was all he had to be concerned about, Ravi would have given a sigh of relief. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. “You’re off soon right? I could use your help with something.”

“Trouble in paradise?” Hyuk pursed his lips and tilted his head over to where Hongbin and Taekwoon were seated. “Your roommate zooming in on your territory, hyung?” Ravi laughed but it was a little empty; it felt something more like the other way around. With Taekwoon there all day, he hadn’t had the chance to tell Hongbin about the night he’d spent with him. It didn’t feel like he was hiding it, but neither did he like feeling as if he was maybe keeping it from him. Later, he promised himself; it wasn’t going to be weird, he hoped.

“No,” or well not exactly. It was complicated and he had bigger things on his plate than that. “Something way worse, whatever, just clock out, grab your book bag, and meet us over there okay?” He’d had to assure the others that Hyuk could be trusted not to leak any information before they’d agreed to talk with him about everything. Hyuk was studying criminology (or was it psychology? Sociology? Anthropology? One of those -ology things.) in school and as it stood, the only person Ravi could think of to go to for help.

“Ohhhh I get to meet Tall Double Shot Latte with Cat--” Ravi slapped a hand over Hyuk’s mouth before he could finish his words. Taekwoon was never allowed to know that he had such a ridiculous name for about six months around the coffee shop. The laughter in Hyuk’s eyes made him think that it was going to be a lot easier said than done keeping it from him though.

“His name’s Taekwoon, okay? Never say that other name again.” He gave the kid another warning look before shaking his head. “Oh and get me a double shot latte, milk tea, and jasmine tea before you clock out too. Stick it onto my account.” He’d worry about it later when their manager was sure to make a fuss about using the ‘personal’ account for friends orders.

It was a little weird, seeing both Taekwoon and Hongbin at the table that he’d shared with each of them individually but not together. But not weird in a bad way, the same as it’d been different to see Taekwoon kiss Hongbin good morning. Ravi just kept waiting, expecting that prick of jealousy to surface or for it to get weird. There was, of course, the plan and all, but he was only one human Ravi, there were certain reactions he expected. Expected so that he could deal with them, but they just didn’t come. Was it because he was romantically inclined toward them both, some caveat in the rules of life that said one romantic interest plus another romantic interest plus affection between said romantic interests equaled a ing okay? Did the jealousy just cancel itself out somehow?

Whatever, it wasn’t something he was going to question. The plan, he reminded himself, was working; that was the important bit.

They waited for Hyuk to arrive with his book bag slung over his shoulder, offering a short bow before sitting down. “Hyukkie, this is Taekwoon-ah.” Ravi made short introductions, feeling like somehow Taekwoon could read his mind and knew that literally hours maybe even days had been spent gossiping and speculating about him with Hyuk behind the counter. “Taekwoon-ah, this is Hyukkie.”

“Hello,” Hyuk offered a quiet sort of wave before he sat down next to Ravi, Taekwoon gave only a slight nod in return. “Good to see you again, Hongbin-hyung,” another wave but Hongbin responded with a dimple popping smile. “So, what is your giant huge issue that required my immediate help? Need help making a new rap?”

“Funny,” Ravi rolled his eyes and settled close to the table. “This is serious.” And it must have shown in his face because Hyuk’s easy smile melted away to a face of concern. “Have you heard anything about the incident at the Victory Theatre?” Even though the place was relatively empty, he kept his voice down.

“Someone died right? Hey, weren’t you going there??” Realization dawned and Hyuk tilted his head to the side. “Hyung, what happened? Are you okay? Hongbin-hyung you were there too right?” It took him a minute to get all of his worry and questions out of his system.

They brought him up to speed on the facts, after getting him to promise to keep it all to himself. The details that hadn’t been released to the public and the interviews both Ravi and Taekwoon had with the police. “You’re studying criminology, right Hyukkie? You can help, can’t you?” But the younger man just sat there with a contemplative look on his face, chewing on his lower lip and brows drawn in concentration.

He didn’t speak, only reached into his book bag and pulled out a large five subject spiral bound notebook and pen stuffed inside the ring binding. “Okay,” he started, face still determined, “I’ll help but only because the idea that you could have murdered anyone is almost as hilarious as your hair making you look street.” A small smirk finally broke through to bring out his youth again and Ravi let the dig about his hair slide.

Hyuk opened to a new page of his notebook, diligently marking at the top ‘Investigation Squad Alpha’. “Now we sound like an anime.” Hongbin giggled and turned his head so he could read the page better.

“You've got to start somewhere.” Hyuk chimed and then put his game face back on. “So, we need to start from the high perspective. If we’re going to solve this let’s start from the top. Suspects, two things, means and motive. Could they have done what needed doing and why would they do it. We’re probably not going to have each piece but let’s start there. We can eliminate as we need to.

“Means, could they get backstage, to the roof, and also into Taekwoon-ssi’s dressing room to plant the gun. Also could they remove the other prop. That’s probably going to help limit some of the suspects. And then motive, that’ll have to be speculation for the most part. We’re not the police we can’t really interview people.” Hyuk frowned. “Man, I hope doing this doesn’t damage my chances on the civil servant exam.”

Ravi laughed nervously, he had no idea, “No one’s going to know you were doing this unless you tell them, Hyukkie.” It was the best consolation he could offer. “Okay, but there was a lot of staff and cast backstage, it could be anyone.”

“Not everyone could have slipped into my dressing room though.” Taekwoon added, face serious. “If Ravi-yah came into my room right after intermission started, and was there until I arrived, then the gun could only have been planted after that.” Ravi had never thought of that and his face lit up. “And by the time we were all called out by Manager Hakyeon, there were only a few that might have gone in there. The police took half the staff for questioning in a different room, and found the gun before the second half went.”

“So that should help clear me, right?” Ravi asked hopefully.

“Only if they don’t believe you brought the gun in yourself,” Hyuk answered but noted down the information. “So who does that leave left?” All eyes turned to Taekwoon.

“The main cast, the director, a few minor cast members and that’s about it. They took most of lighting, props, hair and make up for questioning first.” Taekwoon frowned and took a sip from his drink.

“I know it’s an obvious question, but did you see anyone hanging around your room?” Hongbin offered an apologetic smile for asking. “Did you go back in there?” But the other man only shook his head in the negative, frown still in place.

“So, who is that then? Sorry, I don’t know who was in the play.” The youngest shrugged but held his pen at the ready.

“Lee Jaehwan, actor. Kim Himchan, actor. Im Yoona, actress. Hwang Sejun, director. Seo Inguk, actor. Yook Sungjae, actor. Park Sooyoung, actress. Hmmm,” Taekwoon paused in ticking off each person from his fingers, re counting. “Cha Hakyeon, theatre manager. He was running around as well.”

Each name read went into the notebook, space left between names to add in both motive and means. “So, that gives us ten suspects to look at.” Hyuk announced while filling in what blanks he could with the information they had.

“Ten?” Ravi’s head perked up, “I counted eight.”

“You and Taekwoon-ssi make it ten.”

“But we didn’t do it, Hyukkie!” Just being considered at all was making Ravi’s head spin.

“I know, but the police don’t, and we have to approach this from the same view if we want to clear you.” Hyuk didn’t even look up as he added both Ravi and Taekwoon’s names to his list. “If we can eliminate you using clues and evidence then we can convince the police of it too. Don’t worry, hyung, I don’t think you killed anyone.”

But Ravi didn’t look happy with being on even a hypothetical list of murder suspects. “So where do we start then?” Hongbin asked, determination setting his mouth into a thin line.

“Inconsistencies and motives.” Hyuk wrote both words at the top of the page and circled them. “Motives, did anyone in the cast have any issues with the victim?” Maybe it was to keep it all from getting personal, or maybe he was trying to sound professional, but Ravi noticed that Hyuk wouldn’t say Woobin’s name. “Was there any bad blood between anyone?

“And inconsistencies, the missing prop gun for one. Where did it go? Could the real murderer have taken it with them from the theatre? Or is it still there somewhere? Why haven’t the police found it?” Hyuk looked to all of them for answers.

“Wait,” Hongbin frowned, one brow quirking up on his handsome face. “There was only one prop gun, the whole time I mean. During rehearsals there was only one?” Taekwoon nodded. “But I saw two. When I was going around this last week during rehearsals, I swear I saw two props. I thought you just had a spare in case of problems.”

“Can you prove that?” Hyuk asked brows raised.

Hongbin bit into his lower lip and sighed, “I don’t know. But I know there were two.”

“Then that’s the first mystery we have to solve.” Hyuk announced.