Chapter 4

The confrontation with the police force went exactly as L had predicted, as had the meeting with the five who stayed. While L was relieved by the accuracy of his foresight, he was also bored. He had taken the Kira case because it seemed exciting and difficult. So far, the case was thrilling- his colleagues were not.

The five men who had stayed weren't bad officers, to be sure. Each of them nhad earned their spots as detectives and each of them had proven their dedication to the case by staying despite the possible danger. No, the problem was that despite L being the World's Greatest Detective, they didn't trust him! Every theory he created had to be explained and dissected before the Task Force would reluctantly follow orders.

L cringed when he thought ahead to the Task Force's reactions when he would declare the Chief's son as a suspect. He would have to make sure Watari would be in the room to defend him from the angry officers, just in case.

After a quick glance around the room, L settled back into his seat, satisfied that everyone was working hard. They had been confused when L had ordered them to look into criminal deaths not due to heart attacks. He hadn't bothered to explain his reasoning since it would only lead to more questions, but his mind went back to the report on Light Yagami. Kira had already shown that he could control a person's actions before their death. If L could prove that Kira could kill in more ways than just heart attacks, then it would strengthen his case against Light.

It was too much of a coincidence, he mused, that Kira had begun experimenting after Light had obtained the name of the FBI Agent, and even more so when Kira had thrown his tantrum after the week of careful and precise planning. Something had gone wrong for the killer, and although L had no proof, he was 87.3% positive that it was due to the agent's fake I.D.

Which, by the way, he still hadn't figured out. It had been almost two weeks since he had called the Director of the FBI and Watari still hadn't found the mysterious contact. It was unlike his guardian to take so much time on a simple project, and L was beginning to get impatient.

Whoever this person was, they ahd a good grast on the Kira case and Kira's abilities. It was possible he or she would make a valuable addition to the Task Force. Maybe then, L would have an ally to help convince the other members of his theories.

"Um, L sir?"

L looked up from where he had been staring blankly at his laptop screen to find Matsuda shifting nervously in front of him. The man's voice was soft like he didn't want the others to hear and he was leaning a bit too close to L for comfort.

"Yes? What did you find?"

Matsuda thrust a few sheets of paper at L, his eyes glancing toward the Chief before settling back on L.

"You said we were looking into other criminals who didn't die from heart attacks, right? I was searching through the ones who had committed crimes but who were not yet in jail. I found one who was hit by a car after a failed bus-jacking."

L raised an eyebrow as he flipped through the pages. It seemed Matsuda had stumbled upon the same incident that Raye Penbar had reported. And that meant the reason for Matsuda's skittishness…

"I went through the passenger list just in case we needed more information and…"

Matsuda paused and looked at the Chief again. L waited patiently for the information he knew was coming.

"Light Yagami was on that bus," Matsuda whispered. L nodded to himself, pleased that someone other than him had made the connection.

"Was there anything else about the incident that caught your eye?" he asked. Matsuda bobbed his head in affirmation.

"Yes, yes. You see, the criminal, Kiichiro Osoreda, had no history of robberies that involved a third party. When he made the heist, he would enter the building, wave a gun around, maybe shoot it a couple times, and take the money himself. Never has he ordered for the money to be brought to him.

"On top of that, the report stated that Osoreda started hallucinating during the hi-jacking but no drugs were found in his system during the autopsy. Besides, his symptoms didn't match up with any drug we have in the system. It just doesn't make sense. If Kira was involved with any criminal's death that didn't involve heart attacks, it would be this one."

Matsuda finished his report, breathless in his anticipation for L's response. L was quick to give him one.

"Very well done, Matsuda. You may share this with the others, but please keep the fact that Light was on the bus to yourself. I need to figure out where he factors in."

The young detective practically beamed at L's praise, but there was an uncertainty in his eyes.

"Do you think Light is involved?" he asked. L shrugged and picked up his plate of cake, carefully cutting a small slice and balancing it on his fork.

"Light Yagami is currently my number one suspect."

Matsuda made a strange choking noise but didn't protest, his mind still on the report he had just given. No doubt he was wondering what other evidence L had to make his suspect Light so strongly. However, Matsuda just sketched a light bow and made his way back to his computer.

L watched him go, studying the way the young man picked his way around the candy wrappers and loose papers in the room with the ease of youth. Despite his reputation for air-headedness and uselessness, L knew that Matsuda was much smarter than he appeared. There was a reason he made detective at such a young age, and this was it. Matsuda had the ability to see beyond coincidences and make connections with lightening quick reactions. It was his personality that made others overlook his skill. L was grateful that Chief Yagami had seen Matsuda's potential. Otherwise, the police force would have missed out on a very skilled detective.