Amor y Muerte
Written by: E
Chapter 1
Young
I'd only worked with him once before, and that was in Chicago. Now he wanted me to pack and fly to Japan! The only reason I agreed was because the money was good. My brother wasn't too crazy about the idea, but he went without a fight. He paid for us to fly first class and even paid for our hotel room.
"So who is this guy anyway Maria?"
"He goes by L. I've never actually met him, only followed orders made by a voice from a computer. He really is a genius though."
"So out of all the other FBI agents, why did he pick you? I know you're good and all, but why not someone who didn't have a life back home? And what about Ricardo?"
"Honestly, I don't know. It'll probably be the same thing again. Voice through a computer. As for Ricardo, I don't think that's going to work out. Let's just leave it at that."
He frowned.
"It seems really sketchy. I wouldn't trust someone I've never met. I mean, how do you even know it's a guy? It could be a woman for all you know."
I nodded.
"True, but he's the world's best detective. If he's been called on a case, it means it's pretty serious."
"So why couldn't I stay home?"
I arched my brow as I looked at him.
"Because you're not even nineteen and I'm in charge."
He growled before putting his headphones in. I smiled a bit and looked out the window. He had a point. Why did I trust someone I'd never met? I sighed and went back to my book.
L's POV
I knew there was a ninety-five percent chance I would have to show my face. However, calling in agent Salazar almost guaranteed my safety. She was the strongest agent I'd ever met… for a woman that is. She was incredibly dedicated, and she never failed to find whoever or whatever she was looking for. That was one of the biggest reasons why I was flying her out to Japan. I knew she was bringing a young family member. A younger brother, only eighteen. I knew she wouldn't let me anywhere near him, nor anyone else for that matter. She was reluctant to tell us at the agency about him in the first place. I'd put her in the same hotel I was staying at and in the room next to mine. I had to show my face to her. From what I'd seen, she was very loyal. And I doubted that a woman like her would work on a case this dangerous without knowing who she was working with.
She would be arriving some time that night, but I would wait until that morning to call on her. She would need rest after such a long flight. She spoke four different languages and she was more than capable of defending herself.
I would show my face for the first time.
"Bring it on, Kira." I whispered.
I wasn't expecting the knock on the door, but I knew it was her. I expected her to want to see me tonight instead of waiting until morning.
"Come in, the door is unlocked."
I took a deep breath and then turned. A young woman came into the room.
"Sorry, but I got a note saying to come to this room in the morning. I needed to see who you were, for safety purposes."
"You must be agent Salazar. I am L."
Her eyes went wide.
"Is this some sort of a joke?"
"I don't joke."
She looked me over.
"What is my full name and where was I born? L knows this information. He insisted upon it when I worked with him."
"Your name is Maria Elena Salazar. You were born in Durango, Mexico in nineteen -eighty-one. Your parents were killed in a bank robbery and you have been on your own since the age of eighteen. And now you are twenty-five. And that you raised your brother alone."
She slowly nodded.
"Alright then, L. It's an honor to meet a detective such as yourself. You can call me Elena."
I nodded and she smiled a bit.
"If you need to rest after your flight-"
"No. I slept on the plane."
"Very well."
"Yeah, I need to know more about this case."
"Of course."
I handed her one of the files and looked her over. She wore heels so she was several inches taller than me. If I stood up straight I would be the same height, about six feet. She had very long, very dark hair tied back in a braid. She wore one necklace, a large watch and her ears were pierced several times. Her eyebrow was also pierced. She was a very beautiful woman, and extremely good at her job.
"You're younger than I thought you would be, senor. Much younger."
"Twenty-four. And I could say the same about you. Young, beautiful and you raised a younger sibling on your own. Admirable."
"Thanks."
Her eyes never left the pages she was looking through. I told her to sit down.
"Coffee?"
"If you don't mind." She said.
She was a woman, so I had to at least try to act like a gentleman.
"Maria? ¿Estas ahi? No me siento bien." (Maria? Are you in there? I don't feel very well.)
I looked at the door.
Elena's POV
I sighed and looked at L. I was about to translate but he just nodded.
"Let him in, take him to the other room."
I was shocked.
"Are you sure?"
"I've told you before I don't joke. I trust that you will not betray me."
I smiled a little.
"Thank you, senor."
I hurried to the door and opened it.
"Vamo."
I led him into the bedroom and got him some water.
"Entonces, ¿conociste a L?" (So, did you meet L?)
I bit my lip. L's identity had to be kept secret.
"No. Conocí a su suplente, el Sr. Ryuuzaki." (I met his stand-in. Senor Ryuuzaki.)
He smirked.
"Tal como pensé, esta L persona es probablemente un tipo viejo y asustado." (Just as I thought, this L person is probably a scared old guy.)
"Alejandro!"
"Just saying."
"Ugh. Get some sleep. You'll feel better later."
He groaned and turned away. I smiled a bit before going back outside.