Day 2. Part 4

Disturbing is the best word to describe what Aru saw: Hinata's face turned a ghastly green, her schoolbag fell on the cold asphalt, and her hands began to shake.

'I said, GET in!'

Mr. Tsukishima jumped out of his car – more barking from the backseat. He slammed the trunk shut, dragged Hinata inside. The dogs went silent. He got behind the steering wheel and drove away, leaving Hinata's schoolbag abandoned on the road. Aru looked at Mao.

'Should we call the police?'

She blinked, then snatched her phone.

'Of course!'

Mao dialed 1-1-0, and soon the cops were on their way. As they waited by the gate, the schoolday forgotten, Mao hugged Hinata's schoolbag close to her chest. Aru kept taking furtive glances at her.

'Hinata's going to be fine,' he said.

Mao just gave a distant nod, nothing else. Nothing else was needed… When the cops arrived two minutes later, parking in a hurry, Aru gave Mao's hand a little squeeze. She looked up.

'Hello! Akise Aru and Nonosaka Mao? I'm captain Kurusu, pleased to meet you,' said the tall man who'd come rushing up to them.

He twisted and untwisted his lip, trying to look sympathetic, but failed to hide his enthusiasm. The man was giddy with excitement, perhaps a little too happy... Behind him the car's engine purred, a young man in the driver's seat patiently waited.

'We're going to find her, Mao, we're going to bring your friend back home. I spoke to her mom on the way here – says she and her father aren't on the best terms. That true?'

Mao gave a timid nod.

'Good. That actually makes our work easier – your friend's disappearance has been filed as a simple kidnapping case. Which means I got all my best men working on it, right now, no more stupid delay.'

Aru frowned, something was fishy about this guy. They couldn't have started an investigation that soon. No, he knew it took more time than that. But the captain gestured at his car, and told them to follow.

'And this here is my personal assistant, Nishijima,' said captain Kurusu, nudging the driver.

'Hey,'

Mao murmured a soft 'Hi' as she climbed into the backseat, while Aru gave a curt nod. The car hit the road as soon as Kurusu slammed his door shut. It was no ordinary police car – this one looked just like any other civilian vehicle. Except for the bullet proof glass, Aru noted, stroking his finger over it.

'My team has tracked your friend's phone – we're using it to find out where he's taking her,' Kurusu continued.

While Mao kept nodding and voicing soft, gentle replies, Aru stared out of the window. Trees and houses flew by, every now and then he saw some people. They were heading to Sakurami City's Center…which seemed strange, an odd place to hide, especially for someone as extravagant as Hinata's father. The car came to a sudden stop. Aru's head jerked forwards, stopping inches away from the front seat.

'What in Hell did you do that for?!'

Everyone in the car was silent. Other vehicles honked their horns and avoided them, as they had stopped in the middle of the road, under a traffic light. Nishijima gestured at the GPS navigator system.

'We arrived.'

Captain Kurusu got out of the car. He surveyed the area, ignoring the incoming traffic and angry drivers – Aru followed his gaze. Nothing, nothing, nothing…there! Panting on the crosswalk, sat a large dark greyhound, wearing a chord around its neck. Mao gasped.

'Hinata's cell phone!'

The dog got up and made a run for it, dodging cars until it reached the pedestrian walk. And before they knew it, the dog was out of sight, dissolved into the crowd.

One hour later Aru watched his coffee grow cold at the Police Station. Captain Kurusu kept pacing back and forth, stopping and abruptly barking at his subordinates when he saw fit. Mao refused to eat or drink, all she did was keep Hinata's schoolbag close to her chest. This waiting game continued till they got 'the call'. Which basically meant the lookout team had done a lousy job of detaining Mr. Tsukishima when he arrived home. Captain Kurusu rubbed his palms together, and in less than five minutes they were out in the car, speeding no less.

'How may I help you?'

A large, exquisitely dressed older man opened the door. His whiskers were finely cut, longish hair combed back, and waistcoat tailored. He even wore a black bow tie. Kurusu nearly pushed himself inside, but the man did not budge.

'I believe you don't have the authorization to enter my house, nor did I invite you. Now tell me once again: why are you here?'

Kurusu jumped back, bristled.

'You know perfectly well why we're here.'

'No, I don't.'

'The abduction of a young girl, that's why! Where is Hinata?'

Mr. Tsukishima concentrated, scratching his chin with a manicured finger.

'My daughter? She hasn't been abducted. Why, she's up in her room…last time I saw her, she looked fine.'

'Then how do you explain THIS?'

Captain Kurusu pointed at Mao, who still held Hinata's schoolbag in her arms. Aru winced, especially when he noticed fear in Mao's eyes. He wanted to comfort her, but this wasn't the place.

'She dropped it when you forced her into your car! We have witnesses.'

Mr. Tsukishima shrugged.

'Teenagers… You know how they are: never listen, always rebellious,' he said, shaking his head, keeping a firm grip on the door frame, not letting Kurusu pass.

'You abducted her from the school grounds! During a school day.'

Mr. Tsukishima let out a deep, melancholic sigh.

'First of all I couldn't have 'abducted' Hinata – I'm her father. Secondly, my car was parked on a public road, which implies my daughter had already left the school premises, by herself. Your arguments are invalid, and as I don't even have your name, sir, I'll have to ask you to leave.'

He was about to slam the door closed into their faces, when Mao jumped forward, shouting at the top of her lungs.

'Hinata needs her books! Please let me give this to her,'

Everyone but Kurusu held their breaths, watching the stately man, who coughed and scratched a little under his chin. His feet were firmly rooted in the ground, while Mao's legs trembled with nervous hope.

'Fine.'

Mr. Tsukishima tilted his head back, inside the house.

'Hinata, your school friends are here.'

There was no reply. Aru wondered if the real Hinata was actually kept here. What's to say this man wasn't putting up a show?

'…they've brought your bag,'

Footsteps came down the hall, punctuated by barking noises. Could it be…? Aru frowned. When Amano had warned him of 'something strange' happening around Sakurami City, this had been the least of what he'd expected. It was downright weird. Hinata coming out in pajamas with a nightcap on, refusing to hug Mao, and claiming that everything was fine. Her eyes were dull, empty. She looked like she had faced death and lived. White, like a ghost…and usually Hinata's skin was such a rich color of brown – of caramel, of sweet toffees. But now, she just wasn't Hinata anymore…

Mao cried on the way back in the car, Nishijima dropped her off first. Meanwhile Kurusu Keigo kept muttering stuff under his breath, like the man was ranting on someone. 'Keigo' was Kurusu's first name, apparently, because that's what Nishijima had called him right before the former took a swing at Mr. Tsukishima's fence. Keigo's fist left quite the dent in it. Aru sighed. It was time for him to go home, the police car had already rolled right into his neighborhood, and familiar corner shops lit up the streets. Then Aru saw one thing he wasn't supposed to see – Kurusu's phone.

[Tomorrow.

Akise kid knows more than he lets on – keep an eye on him.

Two days later.

Analysis comes back from the lab – Hiyama wasn't killed by a gas explosion

Next week.

I know who killed Hiyama – it's …]

Aru immediately thanked Nishijima for the ride, and bolted out the car. He fumbled with his keys, trying to appear calm, but was certain his voice had given him away. He knows, he already knows! Kurusu knows everything. Aru got the front door to budge, and quickly locked it, leaning his back against it. Small feet in navy blue socks came down the stairs, followed by bare skin and khaki green shorts… Aru watched the boy move closer, till there was no more than two feet space between them.

'I think I believe you now'

[End of Seventh Chapter]