Inspired mainly by the final scene in "Silence of the Lambs", and then it evolved. This is my first multi-chapter fanfic. It's all written, I just have to edit it, so hopefully updates will be regular.

Boredom

The phone rang.

He sat there, waiting to see if any of the other members would answer it. They didn't, of course… they were all out on break. This was the brief time in the day when Near was completely alone. It was something that he needed, though. Constantly being surrounded by people – regardless of how close they were to him – was irritating.

So each day there were an odd number of minutes when everyone just left.

And that was when the phone rang.

Near reached over, clicking on the voice-scrambler and recorder before speaking aloud.

"Hello."

…

"You still have it, don't you?"

Near blinked at the sound of the voice, but did not make his surprise vocal. He twirled a few strands of hair in a familiar attempt to calm his nerves.

"Where did you get hold of our number? Is this some kind of joke?"

"A joke? Perhaps… as for the number, I assume you remember handing it over to my colleagues and I…?"

His finger twirled faster, momentarily getting caught in the blond mess of hair. Still, he kept breathing at normal pace and was able to continue speaking calmly.

"You do realize I'm able to trace this number, right? I can see your location right now – " Near looked up at the monitors, which revealed where the speaker was calling from. "You're on the lower east side of town. Pay phones are rare this day in age, but it's still a possibility that's what you're using. Or, you just robbed someone of their cell phone."

"Very good, Near, yes…" he didn't specify which possibility was correct. "If you've figured out that much, you should be able to guess that this trace won't do you much good. I move pretty quickly these days."

"I see. Judging by your confidence, you're well hidden. So you might be staying somewhere on the opposite side of your current position. No… that's just what you'd want me to think…"

The voice on the other end cackled.

"Clever as always…"

Near gritted his teeth, fighting back the urge to sigh in exasperation. "Obviously you know the schedule of L and the task force. So whatever your reason is for calling, I suggest you make it brief."

Silence.

The young detective took a chance and gazed over at his action figure standing on the counter. Even at a moment like this… he wanted nothing more than to bring the toy closer to him.

"Near," finally the other voice spoke, breaking him away from his thoughts. "I can still taste you, sometimes… right between your legs… just the way you like it."

With those words, Near felt his stomach drop. He tried to convince himself that it was impossible, but after all he had been through – the discovery of Shinigamis and Death Notes – it was probable that it was leaked somehow… no. He thoroughly checked every aspect back then… even if he had been sold out, who was this person calling him now?

More importantly, what did he have to gain?

All this rushed through Near's head in under a second, enough time for him to decide he should go along with it. Quickly, he turned off the recorder before responding.

"I thought you played your part fair enough." He said. "Your team seemed to have no idea. Then again, you hadthem fooled for years… but I suppose they just saw what they wanted to see. You never were that great an actor."

The speaker did not comment on Near's remark. Instead, he continued his own.

"Not many people know what it's like to see a reaction on your face, Near. It's still a pleasant memory… having L's successor writhing beneath me."

Near looked back over at the action figure, wondering if he could reach it. Right as he was about to, however, his eyes caught sight of a dart laying close by. He picked it up and turned his chair, enough for him to face the dartboard while maintaining a grip on the phone.

"As I recall," he replied. "That's a memory we both share. You were once writhing beneath me as well."

"You never truly believed any of my promises, did you? That you would be at my side in the end?"

"No. Although I'm fairly certain you did."

"…But you went through with it anyways… you enjoyed it."

"I won't deny that. I still don't see what you have to gain from this knowledge, and I highly doubt you're recording any of our conversation… if you're trying to intimidate me, it's a waste of time."

"I've got all the time in the world, Near."

He threw the dart. It hit the board, not high enough for the bull's eye, though. He peered around for any others, but the darts all lay too far from him. With his free hand, Near once again started to twirl his hair.

"Why is it you're back?"

There was a snicker.

"Funny you should ask 'why' and not 'how'."

"I'm skeptical for the time being. After all, you and I both know that there's more to this world than what can be scientifically explained. However, if there's any chance of you being an imposter, I'm quite curious to know how you've obtained all these facts."

More snickering, followed by a small sigh.

"Rest assured, Near, it's really me. Well… to an extent."

The detective didn't bother asking what that was supposed to mean. He was certain he would not receive a direct answer.

"Well now," he began cautiously. "Need I remind you that my team will be heading back soon…"

"Oh, Near."

He blinked again, waiting for the speaker to continue. After a few moments with no answer, he wondered if perhaps he had been hung up on.

"Relying on your team again? Tell me, Near, is there anything you can do on your own?"

"What's that, a threat? As I mentioned before, you don't intimidate me. You never have, to be honest. And after that little stunt back at the Yellow Box, you never will."

"That's the difference between you and L, isn't it, Near? He was defeated because a part of him wanted to believe that someone like me had to be good."

"Thank you for that lesson on the inner workings of the former L, now if you don't mind – "

"And you, Near… you don't care for justice. Not by a general stand point, anyways… the only reason for doing this is because you're bored out of your mind."

"We have that in common. As soon as I figure out who you really are, I'm guessing 'boredom' is your overall motive. Some thing's never change."

"Don't act so high and mighty, Near…" the speaker's voice suddenly became cynical; the detective was truly loathing how he continuously repeated his name. "I've seen you. Away from your team, you're pretty defenseless. You became the third L knowing perfectly well it would require you to use only your head. You're a genius, Near… but you are still just a kid."

Now it was Near's turn to be silent.

He decided it was best not to keep going and let the speaker talk freely for as long as he wished… might get more information out of him that way.

As if reading his thoughts, the speaker suddenly spoke with that same awkward giddiness he had when the call first began.

"Well, I'd love to stay and catch up with you, Near, but I have a few more calls to make… Mikami is dead, correct?"

"Yes."

"I thought so." He wasn't making any efforts to hide his plans. Again, Near wondered if this was just a façade to lead him astray. "One last thing – as far as my motives go, only part of this is out of boredom. You still have something I want."

"Which is…?"

"The Notebook."

"I'm afraid that isn't possible. The Death Note has been destroyed."

"Adorable, Near, but we both know you'd never get rid of something like that. You also wouldn't be so keen on lying to me if we were face to face. Or mouth to body, rather… it always took touch to lure you out."

"Even if you had the Notebook, what would you plan on doing with it? True, many still believe you're not dead – but there's no chance you'll ever be able to pick up where you left off. We'd just catch you all over again."

"I'm afraid you're mistaken this time, Near."

His eyes narrowed. What was this guy planning…

"You see, I'm calling to inform you that once I get the Notebook, I will destroy it. That's all I can say. Don't make any rash moves on your own, though, and if you must contact me for any reason, you know how to reach me. Actually… I'm hoping you do. Good-bye, Near."

With that he hung up and the task force returned. Near erased the little he had recorded.