L Lawliet fan-fiction
The Second L
Chapter 1
The girl who lived
People die. That is inevitable. What is not, is dying because of someone else. Murder. People die in mysterious ways, some don't. Some, it is clear what happened, however unclear who did and why. That is where the police and detectives come in. That is why Chief Inspector Willowherb was standing over a corpse. It was the fifth dead body in the room. Two were children, three adults. He had seen this before, same MO. An entire family murdered. Again, exact same type of family. A mixed nationality family visiting their British relatives in England. All, cut threw the heart with a sort of blade, tortured, and then, head semi-severed with the same weapon. The only difference in this case, was that one of them escaped such a brutal fate.
Elisabeth Craig had made friends that day, at the park and played there longer than she should have, she arrived late . She sneaked out threw the backdoor of her grandmother's house, hoping that her parents wouldn't have noticed her being out after 6 o'clock in the afternoon. The six year old then climbed the stairs quietly, as she could hear her mother carving some chicken or beef. She turned left, into the guest room where she thought her elder brother and younger sister were. They weren't there. She heard a door shut. She decided to get changed, she had been playing rugby and she didn't want to leave evidence that she was at the park. She felt a bit upset that nobody was wondering where she was. She went back downstairs with her sketching book and favourite pencil, to draw her mum cooking. She went inside the kitchen, but nobody was there, the oven was switched off and the gas had been cut despite the pan filled with vegetables. They were unusually quiet, she thought that they might be playing a board game. She walked out,opened the door to the living room, and nearly blanked out.
She closed the door immediately, thinking she wasn't seeing things straight. She opened the door again but the same thing appeared, her family was no longer alive. Not one. She felt to her knees, not knowing what to do, tears started to form in the little girl's eyes. However she didn't speak. She cried out her Brother's name, her Sister' name, her Grandma', her Mum and her Papa, but they did not answer. She was all alone. « Would the murderer come back ? » She thought. Elisabeth loved detective novels and loved watching crime dramas. She remembered an episode were a boy was shouting his dead mother's name, hoping she would come back, however the only person who heard him cry was the murderer, and he came back and finished the job. She turned silent, she listened. She ran to the telephone, only to see that the line was cut off. She crept to the edge of the sofa, next to the window, she looked threw it, making sure nobody could see her. She was convinced that the murderer was the person that shut the front door, he could still be in the street, it had not been long, only 2 or 3 minutes. She picked up a pen, and noted everything she saw.
Luckily for her, her grandmother's house was the last house on the road. There were only three people in the street, the first person was a women, she was going in direction of the house. She had long brown hair with stripes of white, little make up, she looked in her early 30s. She was dressed as if she would be walking the dog, but she had no dog, instead she had a plastic bag with what would seam to look like alcohol. She looked depressed and eventually open the gate to a house and went in. Elisabeth deduced that the woman lived there. The second person looked like a man, he was going in the opposite direction of the house, he had trainers, a backpack, a raincoat, a hat and nice black trousers, what you would expect business people to wear. Elisabeth had a very good eye sight, and could see that the man, who was at quite a distance now had blond hair. She could see nothing more. The third person, was bold, his head was shinning under the summer' evening sunshine, he was wearing a white sleeveless shirt, baggy quaki trousers, and had a tattoo on his left shoulder, but he was the furthest away from the house and could not make anything of it. Or anything else that he might have on him No cars were passing by, nor buses. The street was quiet. Even the birds didn't sing.
Elisabeth crept away from the window. She had everything she needed to remember. She then looked for her father's mobile phone, it was broken as she expected. She then remembered that she could go outside, but she was too scared, maybe he was in the street, or in the garden, ready to kill her. She remembered that her father brought his computer with him for his work. She ran up stairs, switch the computer on. She found the internet icon and searched for the police e-mail address. She send a very brief message stating the fact that her family was murdered minutes ago in such place in such town and to bring help quickly. She then send an other one with everything she had noted down, making sure that even if the murderer did come back, he or she would be found.
Ten minutes later, sirens could be heard. The police rang the bell, Elisabeth ran downstairs and opened the door for them. She rushed into the first person she saw and burst into tears. The young lad didn't really know what to do, he picked her up, during that time, the other policemen went inside. One of them went back outside and vomited, probably because of what he saw. That was the last thing she could recall from that day, she passed out.
She woke up the next day at about half past nine, she had been sleeping for 11 hours now. She woke up in a police station, on a sofa, with a blanket covering her. She was moist around the eyes and realized that she had been crying. She remembered what had happen the day before and cried again, people heard her and soon two policemen came inside the room.
-Hello love, said the old looking policeman, I'm police Constable Collins. How are you feeling.
-...
-You don't have to talk if you don't want to darling, said the middle aged woman. I'm the head of this place, I'm superintendent Vander. I'll be recording everything you say, keeping everything you remember freshly. A social worker will be arriving shortly. Is there anything you would like ? Something to drink, to eat ? You must be hungry.
-I...I want...I don't know, I'm not hungry and I'm never thirsty.
-Okay, that's fine, Mrs Vander sat down next to Elisabeth, you were very brave, little girl, very brave indeed.
-No I wasn't, I should have gotten out of the house and cried for help, maybe the lady could have phoned for help, or maybe …
-Not at all, if you did get out, people wouldn't have done anything, people assume children like to cry wolf. The only thing that would have happen would that the murderer would have come back to try and kill you
-...I don't know...
A young women walked in
-Hello, I'm Miss Coble, the social worker
-Ah yes hello, Mrs Vander stood up and shook her hand, thank you for coming so quickly.
-No problem, she looked at the young child , hello dear, I'm Miss Coble but you can call me Phoebe. And what's your name ?
-I'm Elisabeth, Elisabeth Graig, but you can call me Lizzie …..if you want.
-Lizzie is such a beautiful name !
-Thank you, Phoebe is nice too
-I'm 24, what about you ?
-I'm 6.
-So Lizzie, would you like to tell me what happened ?
-I've already written everything to the police...I don't know anything else.
-When you went home, didn't you glimpse a figure ?
-No, none...
-I see...those tree people you saw, you're sure they were there ?
-Yes, I'm sure.
-Because you see Lizzie, the women you described said she only arrived at seven o'clock and the police couldn't find anybody that matched your descriptions.
-Then they should look harder, and that woman was lying. You can even ask my friends from the park that I left the park at ten past six. Their mother came to pick Adam and Nathan up and reminded us all what time it was. It only takes about ten minutes to get to my grandmother's house.
-Do you remember the surname of your friends ? Asked Mrs Vander
-No, but they go to the school next to the church.
-Okay, I'll go and call the school, checking for any brothers by the name of Adam and Nathan , said PC Collins, walking out of the room.
-Do you think you might have spaced out after discovering your family's passing ? You might have thought that only seconds passed whilst in reality several minutes passed ?
-So, you think I was confused and described unrelated people to my family's murder ?
-It as a possibility, I know you are not lying, but you might surely be mistaken.
-Miss Coble, said Lizzie, looking into Phoebe's eyes, Mrs Vander said earlier that adults assume children like to cry wolf. Are you one of those adults
-Of course not, I understand children.
-Then why won't you believe me ? You realise that I was there in the house, and send a message to the police only minutes after the fact that I discovered that my family was murdered in the living room. If I remember correctly, it was about 20 past six when I sent the second e-mail. And it wasn't one hour later. So that woman was lying and I wasn't.
-That is true, we arrived around half past six. When I knocked on the neighboring doors, the house were Lizzie saw that women seemed empty, however I remember someone peeking from the upstairs window. Who ever she is, she didn't want people to know she was there, or was the murderer.
-I find that quite unlikely, said Pheobe
-What I find unlikely is the fact that you knew her statement, said Lizzie. According to Mrs Vander, that lady didn't answer the door, so she couldn't have said anything to the police. I think you know her personally, and she asked you to make sure that she was out of the picture.
-Well ….I...I mean...
-That is quite true, said Mrs Vander, Miss Coble, how did you know that ? I think we should talk outside, privately
-Now now, that won't be necessary
-Oh I think it is entirely necessary, follow me, or do I have to drag you to the interrogation room ?
Phoebe looked scared, and followed Mrs Vander. Lizzie was alone again. She stood up, looked at the room. It was the waiting room, Southport was a lovely town, however, we couldn't say the same thing about it's police station. There was nothing to do in the room. She looked at the recorder that Mrs Vander had left behind. It was still running. Lizzie liked everything that was techy, probably because her father was an computer engineer. She picked it up, to her surprise, it wasn't old fashioned, unlike the police station. It was of good quality, it even transmitted as she could see the logo of "waves". She put it back, afraid of braking it and having to pay for it. She wasn't sure if she was aloud to go out of the room, so she stayed there. She spoke up
-Hello recorder ! Am I aloud to go out of this room ?
… no answer
-I know someone is listening to me, it's transiting to somewhere.
….no answer
-I'm hungry now, can I get breakfast ?
….. no answer
-I know that you can talk back to me. It's written on the back of the recorder.
…..still, no answer.
-Well I'm going out, if someone is looking for me, you can tell them where I am, I'm taking you with me.
She took the recorder and headed out. The police station wasn't that big, she could see the information desk from where she was standing. She headed of to the right, looking for the superintendent's office. Police officers were swarming the place, some were using computers, some were looking at files. Suddenly, superintendent Vander was talking to a man, she couldn't hear what they were talking about, but he looked pretty important. superintendent Vander asked everybody to stop what they were doing and listen to what that man, named C.I. Willowherb, had to say. Lizzie realised that something big was going on, and thought it was worth while to stay here and listen to what the big chap in the dark brown suit had to say rather than looking for a stupid room, she sat down next to a file cabinet and listened.
-Right, listen up you lot. Yesterday's murder was not unique! A serial of mass murder has been going on, all targeting families. So far, the only connection between the families, was that they were of mix nationality. All were visiting their British relatives. All died on the 3rd day of their stay in England. This time however, things are different: first of all, this is the highest location so far. The murders usually took place near Manchester, or within Manchester. We assume that the culprit lives near Manchester, but is trying to lead us further away from his house, not to arouse suspicion. I've been investigating these murder since the first of July, an today on the 23rd of July, I had yet again to inspect the same type of crime scene. However, the murderer will be caught this time, thanks to our eye witness, we have narrowed our search of suspects to tree people. One is the lady from number 36, who tried her best to avoid suspicion by bribing a social worker. Her age and real name are for the time being unknown. The second, is Gareth Fielly, 26, already convicted for theft and aggression towards foreigners in the area , he's part of the BNP and would explain his motive. The third man hasn't been found yet. The two suspects have been brought in custody. We are sure that Gareth Fielly is our man, he had the time and the motive to do so. He will be easy to trace as he has no car because he is unemployed. I will need your full cooperation on this case. Are there any questions?
-No sir!
-I have one, said Lizzie
-Lizzie, what are you doing there? Said superintendent Vander, she whispered to CI Willowherb that she was the girl that escaped being murdered
-I didn't like being in that room, but that still doesn't change the fact that I have a question. You said that he wanted to kill someone away from his home, why would he murder someone where he lived?
-Um...well, for the attention I guess, showing that he's playing with fire and winning.
-Also you said he had no car. However, when I saw that man, he wasn't carrying anything, and he was sleeveless, his arms was white as snow, no blood had touched him. So where did he hide the murder weapon and clean so fast despite the fact that he didn't use any water, and I'm guessing you didn't find the murder weapon in the bushes? Also, you said he was unemployed but was part of BNP Paribas, how can he be unemployed and be working at a bank?
-A bank? No darling, not the bank, BNP stands for British National Party, it's an extremist party
-Ohh, like le Front National in France? The horrible racists people?
-Yes, love. But yes you're right, he's actually the least likely suspect...
-You talked about Manchester, we were supposed to go to Manchester
-You did? Why, why did you change?
-Well, we were supposed to stay with Aunty Susan, she lives just next to Manchester in Bolton, but Sam and Rachel, my two younger cousin, fell ill. We didn't want to bother them so we went to Grandma's instead. Does that mean that Aunty Susan, Uncle Rob, Sam and Rachel should have died and not Grandma?
-I think that's enough questions, lets get you something to eat, said constable Collins. He picked her up in his armed, and sat her down in a chair in a fish and chips near by.
"There you go love, nice chips and cod, eat up!
-Thank you mister constable. She ate faster than he had expected, she was starving.
-Well well, the young lass was hungry, let me get you something to drink, what do you want?
-Some ribeena would be nice
-Coming right up.
-So little transmitter , would you like something to eat too?
-...
-Thought not.
-There you go. You're very intelligent for your age, you know that?
-You think so? People tell me I'm good at drawing, and maths, I was the best in maths this year, I got 10 bon points for my top scores.
-I don't know what a bon point is, but I'm going to say well done. When are you starting school again?
-In September, I'm going to go in CE1, I just finished CP.
-That sounds fun
-It's not fun apparently, but I like school so I might like it, but I don't think I will be going back to France, I don't have a car to go back, and I don't know how to drive. I'll have to go to school here.
-Don't worry, we'll get you back home!
-But my parents are dead, no one can look after me in France.
-Ah...yes...don't cry, I'm sorry, please don't cry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Look, let's get you back in side."
They went back to the police station. She stayed there the night again, not wanting to go to the orphanage. This time, they left Lizzie in Mrs Vander's office, not that the superintendent was there when she woke up in the morning. She found her sketchbook on Mrs Vander's desk, took it, and started drawing. Surprisingly, she still could draw after what had happened to her. She started to cry again, but wiped her tears right away. She decided that she will not cry until she would have found her family's murderer. She knew it had to be the first man, he was oddly dressed for someone walking in a residential street after work hours, not to mention he had a bag, a place where he could have hidden the murder weapon.
Now where to find him? He would not stop murdering people till he was caught. But there was something that Lizzie knew that murderer didn't : she knew that he, the murderer, met either her aunt or her uncle. They must have had a friendly relationship, because how would the murderer know her grandmother's address? And especially know that they weren't staying at her aunt's house? Maybe he did come to her aunt's house, saw that she and her family were not there and left to the correct house. To know if that was correct, she had to know at what time the other families where killed. Thankfully, Mrs Vander had left the murder case on her desk. Lizzie read what she wanted to know. To her surprise, the murders had all been done at the same time of the day, meaning that the murderer knew the change before hand. But who would have known that? They changed it at the last minute, the day before they arrived at their grandmother's house to be precise. Who would have known? Her aunt worked at home, and would have already bought all the food she needed for the week, so she couldn't have blabbed about it to cashier ladies/men and didn't go out of the house when her children were ill. Uncle Rob was a doctor so wouldn't have needed to go to one, and could have easily already have medicine for what ever illness Sam and Rachel had. He wouldn't have blabbed to his patients about his children's illness and the fact that the guests weren't coming at their house. So who could have known? A neighbor? No, they wouldn't have known the address, not to mention the fact that they could have gone to their other aunt, aunty Maria, so how did the murderer know where they went? Suddenly, she remembered something. Each time they stayed with Aunty Susan's family, they had to say or do grace before eating and wouldn't see the family on Sunday mornings because they went to church. Would her aunt have gone to church to pray? Lizzie didn't know much about religion, well actually she did but did not understand it. An other odd thing struck her, the gas was turned off in the kitchen. Knowing the fact that their grandmother didn't cook, she assumed that the person who cooked was her mother, however, knowing her mother, she always forget to gut the gas off, and it would be strange to turn it off because your family was being murdered. The person who turned off the gas must have been the murderer. With any luck, he might have left his fingerprints on it. She rushed out the room to see Mrs Vander carrying the transmitter with her. She explained everything to the superintendent, and of course Mr Willowherb because he was in the same room. As soon as she finished, Willowherb used the phone and barked orders, Lizzie was then led away from the investigation room, into a police car. Ten minutes later, Willowherb joined her, they were driving to Bolton, to see her aunt. Her aunt was aware of the fact that her sister and family had died except Lizzie, but hadn't been informed about Lizzie coming to her house. About one hour and a half later, they arrived at the Fluster's house. Willowherb knocked at the door.
"Hello, may I hel...oh Lizzie! I'm so sorry for you (she grabbed the child in her arms) are you alright!? You poor thing!
-Hello Aunty Susan, what church do you go to?
-Church? You want to go to church, well that is quite normal to seek God's wisdom in these time, I'll take you to my church, it's not far.
-Mrs Fluster, may I ask you if
-Not know Chief Inspector, I need to get my niece to church, you may ask all your questions after. I'm sure you have some for my husband, he's inside the house."
Willowherb nodded, and went inside the house. He knew that the small girl was cleverer than she looked, she didn't want to go to church to pray, she wanted to find the murderer. However, it was dangerous to let the girl go alone, but someone was apparently looking over her, so their ways parted. They arrived at the Church.
"Alright Lizzie, do you know how to pray?
-No.
-Well I could teach you if you wanted but it would be better to ask a priest, I'll go and get Father Havad, he's one of my friends, I've talked to him about all of you, you stay here and wait. (she left)
-Mmh, did you hear that transmitter? Mr Havad knew about us.
Her Aunt came back shortly with a man, working for the church apparently, he was blond, he match the man she saw the other day. Not only that, she was good with proportions, knowing to draw and all, he was the exact size as the man who walked away from the house. It was him.
"Well Lizzie, this is Father Havad, I'll leave you with him now, I'll be buying praying books over there, you have a nice talk with him.
-Hello little girl, I see you have come to pray, it is truly terrible what has happen to your family, but God works in mysterious ways.
-You're saying God killed my family?
-Of course not, God is here to protect us.
-Then why did my family die? So father Havad, why did YOU kill my family.
-Sometimes, when people don't respect God's wishes, they are punish. I am informed that your family didn't go to church.
-We're not religious, why would we go to church? So you killed my family because we didn't go to church?
-Your mother used to be religious, however, your aunt tells me that after her marriage she lost her faith. A lot of mix marriages lead to loosing their fate. If you had been to church, maybe, God would have protected your family, but it is of no matter now, you have decided to walk the right path and God will protect you now.
-My grandmother was religious, went to church, why did SHE have to die? You bloody lunatic, killing people because of their fate.
-I'm guessing it's because she did not try to convince her daughter to keep the fate, that she didn't bother. Anyway, she had a good life, a good christian life.
-Until she was murdered by some lunatic. Tell me something mister priest, do you have family.
-Yes I do.
-Are they all Christians?
-Yes of course, however, my sister has married into a Jewish family 2 months ago, but she keeps her faith, I remind her every day to pray to our God. You must do the same when you grow up and you shall protect your family that way
-But isn't the Jewish god the same as the Christian god? So that is what triggered your killing spree, you found it unacceptable that your sister married someone not christian and decided to kill everybody who did the same as her.
-We do it the proper way, now let me show you how to pray, come along child"
He led Lizzie in front of the altar, explaining what to do and what to say, she only half listened, only waiting to see CID Willowherb, and tell him to arrest this disgusting man right away. She had took the transmitter with her, and had Mr Havad's confession saved. Her aunt came back, Lizzie asked where the toilet was, and followed the directions given by her aunt. The two grown-ups started chatting. However, she run out the church and went to find Willowherb, she had enough of her family's murderer's present. She found him at her aunt's house, she explained him briefly of what happened and had proof, two policemen followed Willowherb and Lizzie into the church, who by the time they arrived had a better explanation.
"Chief Inspector, I told you I would talk to you later
-It is not you I wish to speak to, but Mr Havad, Mr Havad, I'm arresting you for the Graig & Richards murders, Salimm murders, Knobs murders, Hedge murders and Yupiters murders. You have the right to remain silent, everything you say might be taken as evidence against you.
-What? This is preposterous, why would I kill these people?
-You killed them because they "left" the christian way of life, just like your sister. And guess what, we have a eyewitness who saw you at the time of the murder.
-Oh really? Who?
-Me!"
She then kicked the murderer in the stomach, quite to everyone's surprise. Havad was taken to Manchester police station. By the time they arrived, prints from the cooker were back, and it didn't take long to compare them to Havad and see that they were identical. Elisabeth didn't stay with her aunt Susan. It as to sudden for her, and didn't believe that her priest had killed her family and all these people, instead, she was supposed to stay with her aunt Maria in Wales, but child administrations were against it, saying that she should go back to France, but then no because she had to testify in court, and then no again because the french system decided she was Britain's problem etc etc. They decided to let a live at her aunt Maria for time being. It was unclear what was to happen to the girl. As the last day of trial finish, Lizzie went back into the hall room where she was waiting for her aunty Maria. Aunty Maria was talking with a tall old man, nicely dress, and with a very neat mustache. I wonder who he is, probably an other social worker, I don't see why I can't stay with Aunty Maria, she said I could live with her for ever. They want to send me back to France in an Orphanage in the south of France. I don't want to go to the south of France, how am I supposed to see my family and friends? I come from near Paris, and my french uncle lives there also, I would rather go to an orphanage there. Strange, Aunty Maria seems happy, could they have decided to let me stay? She ran up to her aunt.
"Oh Lizzie, I'm so Glad you're here! You're going to stay in Britain!
-Really? That's great, wait, in Britain, does that mean not with you? Her voice sunk,as she talked.
-You'll be living with your aunt during the holidays, and in a special institution the rest of the time. Said the old man. My name is Watari, I shall be taking care of you. You have shown excellent logic and observational skill, and your school reports say that you are a straight-A student, and I'm glad to say you have been excepted into Wammy's House
-Wow, that's great, but why can't I always stay with aunty Maria
-I'm afraid it's either this or you going back to France my love. And look at the bright side, you'll be staying here with me for holidays, and you'll have special teachers to put you on the same English level as children here, and still have french classes. I here you can learn the harp at Wammy's House, didn't you want to learn to play the harp to be able to perform at the Eisteddfod?
-Really? Then yes I would like to go! When do I need to go there?
-I shall drive you up there on the 31st of August, classes start the next day.
-On the 31st? But that's two days after my birthday, can't it be later?
-I'm afraid not child, I shall see you in three weeks, good day Ms Hanes, Miss Graig.
-Isn't wonderful Lizzie, you're staying !
-I'm so happy! Can we go to the beach to celebrate!
Of course we can deer, of course we can"
Chapter 2
The quiet boy in Wammy's House
