Chapter 1: Connections

She awoke with a start, sweat dropping from her face down to her shirt. It was all too real, a dream too vivid like it was happening all over again. She reached down to her ribs, feeling the scars he left behind wondering how she never saw the warning signs.

She slowly pushed herself up, supporting herself with her arms while her head faced the ceiling. With closed eyes she took a few long deep breaths in an effort to calm her nerves. She tilted her head forward and moaned in irritation as she felt the sweat soaked sheets below her –

"These nightmares are killing me – will I ever get a normal night's sleep ever again?" She spoke to herself as she turned to see her alarm clock… July 1, 2002 2:30am. "Not even a full two hours of sleep, this can stop any time now…"

It had been months now since Mishca was rescued from the bloodstained apartment – she was hoping to have some closure on this by now – but her mind just wouldn't let it go. She shifted to the side of her bed, throwing her legs over the side lazily. She scanned the room, the moonlight made the room glow.

Her gaze stopped on a case file lying on her dresser. She quickly got up and paged through the thick document. It was all there - - everything he had said to her that night, every detail she could remember. He was deranged enough to think she would side with him after his explanation – what arrogance…

She flipped to a page labeled "A" scanning the page without really reading she caught the words "pressure" and "suicide" she kept flipping the pages, landing on a page that said "Whammy's House" she paused on this page, she remembered digging for information on this orphanage, it wasn't difficult to find in England, but getting anyone to give her a phone number besides the mainline was like pulling teeth and no one would give her the time of day there, they were locked up tight like they were protecting the most precious possession ever to exist. She kept flipping through the case file, and finally landed on "L" – there was nothing on the page besides the L and a big slash through the rest of the page. She deduced that it was more probable than not that BB had copied everything about L – right down to the way he bit his fingers - so it would be wise not to record any details about the greatest detective of the century – even if it could help, the danger it would cause wouldn't be worth it.

She sighed and walked to the bathroom, she removed her soaked clothing and started a bath. She was wondering when BB would put his plan into motion – he hadn't made a move since he told her that night – she wondered if it all was just a sick joke of a crazed maniac "no – he'll follow through with this and I'll be rearing and ready for him when he comes out of hiding…"

A few weeks later…

Mishca was sitting at her desk staring out the window at the LA skyline. Just moments before she had finished up yet another case – she got a hold of her contact and forwarded on the results – "another happy customer" she joked. Her phone rang…

"Mishca, it's Cadyacce, its best you make a second for this one"

"Alright then, go ahead"

"Remember when Tatum and I found you? Well, I don't know if you remember, but while you were heavily drugged at the hospital you mumbled things…weird things"

Bored, Mishca twirled in her chair - "I'm failing to see the relevance to this story Cadyacce, get on with it"

"Well, at the time I thought you were just drugged out of your mind and having a weird dream or something, but now I'm not so sure. That night in the hospital, you mumbled something about voodoo dolls, weird names and murder."

She stopped deadfast - "Did I?"

"Yes, well, like I said I thought you were just dreaming but…"

"But what Cadyacce?"

"Turn on the channel 11 news"

There was a pause as she reached for the remote – the TV clicked on and she flipped to the channel.

Breaking news… man found dead…. Believe Bridesmaid…freelance writer, Wara Ningyos found at scene…no sign of struggle, strangled to death…

"Wara Ningyos?"

"Yea… they're used for voodoo Mischa… you want to tell me your connection to all of this? Please tell me you're not involved, I would have to take you in you know, I'm in the Bureau and no matter how talented you are, fourth greatest detective and all that, I would still have to -"

"Don't be absurd Cadyacce, I'm not involved in the killings and this isn't big enough for the FBI to pay much attention too."

"Then is this the same –"

"I have to go now, thanks for the heads up, I'm on it."

"But –"

CLICK

A few days passed -It didn't take long to get what information there was on this killing, her connections were strong, not as strong as L's, but she still had some pull with the agencies and police. She compiled her notes…

"Date of murder… July 31st… mm" She paused as she ate a strawberry from the fruit bowl sitting on her desk – swaying back and forth as always. "Well known free-lance writer.. lived alone in a small house… address… address…where is that… ahh here we are… Hollywood Insist Street…that's not that fair from here… hmmm…"

Mishca slipped on her sandals and ran out the door with her kit. She reached the house in record time. The police line tape was still up, one police car guarding the entrance. Mishca was about to turn off the radio and engine but paused as she heard a breaking news bulletin come over the speakers – "August 5th, 2002 , we have just learned of a murder that occurred yesterday, victim, 13 years old, Quarter Queen... victim unconscious at the time of death…"

She shut off the car and sat there. She knew it was him, she knew it. But a 13 year old? How could he go that far? "Bastard!" She punched the steering wheel.

"… I can't do this… too close… too close…" Her mind raced thinking back on how she swore she'd never let her emotions get in the way again…

"If I find him… will I be able to follow through with it?" She stared out the window, but saw nothing.

"I can't take that chance – this needs to be flawless…"

Feeling like a failure she reached for her cellphone and dialed a long distance number. It rang twice,

"Whammy's House, this is Roger"

"Connect me to Mr. Whammy please"

"Young lady, I'm afraid that's not possib –"

"The fuck it isn't! This is an emergency, connect me now!"

"May I ask who is –"

"Just connect me damnit! People are dying!"

- pause -

In a safe house somewhere, origins unknown, a cellphone rings.

"Yes?"

"Watari – this is Roger, I'm sorry for contacting you but there is a persistent young lady who won't stop until she speaks with you"

"… that is not advisable Roger, you should not have called"

"Understood – but she stated it was an emergency – something about people dying"

"Emergency?" Watari paused… What is this?

"Patch her through, if nothing else I need to confirm she is not a threat to him."

"Very well"

CLICK

"This is Watari, what may I ask is your name?"

"You may call me Mishca, but please, names are not important and we're short on time. What is important is what I am about to tell you. It's in regards to one of your 'orphans" B, I think you call him. Please listen carefully –"

Watari's eyes widened as he slowly closed his cell phone. Is this woman serious? B wouldn't murder… no, he wouldn't go that far, would he?

He walked quietly to the other room where his prodigy sat slouched in front of a computer screen. Dark hair covering his tired eyes – but focusing so intently in the screen before him.

"L – There has been some development in regards to B. He's in LA – seems he is involved in 2 recent murders there"

L cocked his head to the side -

"Is your source reliable? .. mm.." he popped a candy in his mouth "This could very well be a trap, mm" he popped another candy in his mouth "regardless… this could be my only chance… set up arrangements for us to go to LA, I will find someone to be my eyes – I can't do this without the assistance of a talented agent"

"Yes, of course, right away"