Okay, I've been taking too much of a break from this. If I don't continue with it, I will never get to the other three parts. So...here's chapter 10!

Choosing

Part I: "Place Your Face"

Chapter Ten

Mello sat in front of his laptop with a chocolate bar in his mouth as he reviewed over the video files. The list Reign/Leila/Laura Kain had given him was a list of stores that were around the facilities that were destroyed. Each store had another thing in common; they had set up security cameras on the interior of their buildings as well as hidden ones on their exterior walls. Cameras that would take a very pristine and analytical eye to spot.

It was in this area he found Shroud to be a rather sloppy bomber. He had evaded cameras visible to the naked eye, but only people like him, L and yes, even Near, would notice such cameras. The fact Leila had noticed them was another factor that proved she deserved to be in Whammy's House. The cameras did help paint a better picture of Shroud. His face didn't show, the videos were in black and white, and there was no sound, but Mello was able to get the criminal's height. With that done, Zachary Mildreph was cleared of suspicion, since he had half a foot on the other two.

Now, Thomas Reed and Richard Leeward were under surveillance, but the two were both politicians and whichever one was Shroud knew from their little interrogation sessions the other day that M was on to him. Naturally, Shroud was going to have to sneak past them somehow, but the question on how and where he'd strike next was the real question.

Then there was his eye witness. As much as Mello didn't want to think about the girl, he couldn't help but feel pissed off at the bastard named Gordon down at Marian Feelix. Sure, Mello knew Leila did multiple things in order to survive out on the streets, but...for her to be working the way she was counted against Labor Laws, didn't it? The blond didn't know her salary, but he was willing to bet it was below minimum wage. And Gordon, the damn prick, was most definitely abusing his position over her and squeezing every last drop our of Leila throughout her workday.

No wonder Leila wanted to leave.

Now that Mello thought about it, how did Leila find out who L was, and how did she corner him into making a deal with him? L took great precautions to make sure no one found out who he was. Numerous aliases, constantly moving between hotels, no GPS, avoiding cameras, always using disposable cell phones, changing his voice when making contact with the public, and having the best computer software available in order to make sure he doesn't get hacked. Leila...didn't have much. True, she was a very intelligent and witty girl, it didn't explain how she found out what no one else could.

Mello shook his head, deciding now would be a good time to make a report to L, especially seeing that there was nothing else before him in order for him to incriminate one suspect. He turned on his camera, waiting patiently for the capital L to appear. "I take it you've made progress." Came the cryptic voice.

The blond nodded. "We are now down to two. It seems as though one of the mayor candidates are up for grabs." He stated.

L let out a small chuckle before asking: "Why don't we have one, yet?"

Mello rolled his eyes. "I don't have any evidence to incriminate one of them. And neither one of them are displaying the angered, driven psyche of our bomber."

"By your description, you think you would have poked at the loser of that election." L commented.

"I would, if not for having gotten a good look at who the loser is as a person. If he were doing this, he would have lashed out at the current mayor by now, but he hasn't. By his claims, he's been busy working on community projects, and from what I've gathered, he's serious about it. He's even been helping clean up the damage and volunteers some nights at the hospitals where the victims are being treated."

"Yet, not at the same time as the bombings? That's a bit too much of a coincidence."

Mello snorted. "So's the mayor not being busy at any given time of the bombs with no alibi to stand for him. Besides, I can't point it at the current mayor because he is also not angry, but is still very calculative." He explained.

"A pickle." L stated, sounding amused. The blond only hummed in agreement. Where was the rage in these suspects? Something was missing, here, he just had to find out what. "How's Leila doing?" L asked curiously.

Blinking a few times, having been caught off guard by the question, Mello replied: "I don't really know. I met up with her at her job at a music store, and it didn't seem like she was having a good time, especially when some employee threatened her with taking away her paycheck. She seemed happy while playing her last song, which was played around the same time I showed up."

"Do you know what the song is?"

Mello shook his head. "I haven't even begun searching for the name. It's obviously a rock song, not more than five years old, and a song she's deemed a personal favorite of hers. I'd dig up answers, only I've been preoccupied with looking for more evidence." He informed the man.

There was a pause there. Mello imagined that L was most likely biting his thumb, as he normally did whenever he was planning or just concerned. By his curiosity in Leila, Mello was wagering both. "If you want, I'll start looking for the song. It shouldn't take me long, and I'm sure you've been busy sifting through the facts Leila has given you with your first meeting."

Now that caught the blond off guard. He missed something? "Damn it!" He mentally cursed. However, Mello did manage to calmly respond to L's proposition. "I would appreciate that. Thank you." Now, Mello had a lot of pride on him, and he would have been able to find the song with as much ease as L, but he didn't want to without knowing what it was during his conversation with Leila that he missed. What was there that he didn't get?

Mello sent L a copy of the video of Leila playing her violin and dancing outside of Marian Feelix. With a brief goodbye, the two returned to what they were doing before. "Charles!" Mello yelled, frustrated once more. The man stepped into the room, surprised the teen was now yelling. Mello had been able to contain his rage, and when he hadn't, he restrained from taking it out on people or on the walls, which was a good thing. Clearly, the boy's patience seemed to be reaching its limit. "Get me some damn dinner! After that, I don't want you bothering me for the rest of the night, got it?"

Charles was silent for a few minutes before responding. "Uh...of course, Mello. What would you like?" He asked out of courtesy.

"I don't care, just get it ready for me!" And with that, Mello went to the bathroom for another hot shower.

I did not expect this chapter to take so long, but it's better than forcing it out of me in a week's time. I do have the next chapter in mind and am working on it as we speak. Hopefully, I'll have it up before Thanksgiving. Don't hold me to it...

~ K. Fang-sama