BAD MEMORIES
Chapter 11: "Who Killed Who"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
"It's my considered medical opinion that Tezawa-Dono was poisoned."
The words were no sooner out of her mouth than Sailor Venus brought up her senshi communicator. Everyone looked at her.
"Artemis?" she said into it. "Connect my communicator to Superintendent Sakurada's cell phone." She looked up and noticed everyone was staring. "Sorry. After the whole business with Ace, I promised Sakurada I wouldn't keep her out of the loop again if I had knowledge of a crime." She looked back at her communicator. "And I'm kind of sure this qualifies."
"Well now we know the big secret someone was trying to protect," Jupiter summed up. "The question now is who. Because I have to think it's the same person who poisoned Tezawa-Dono."
"Or the person trying to stifle the inquiry knows who did do it," Mercury suggested. "But that is the more likely hypothesis, Jupiter. I'm curious as to why Tezawa-Dono was poisoned."
"Well, at least we know now that your father didn't kill him, Mamo-Chan," Sailor Moon said, looking up at her husband.
"That is a relief," Mamoru replied. "But it doesn't clear up what did happen. And it doesn't trigger any more memories for me."
Suddenly Sailor Mars knelt at the foot of the plot in which Midoki Tezawa was buried. Her arms went out at right angles from her body and bent at the elbow, bringing her hands together palm to palm before her face. The fire senshi's eyes were closed and she was softly mouthing a chant under her breath.
"Mars?" Sailor Moon inquired as the others looked on curiously. Venus was in the background, talking to Superintendent Sakurada as she gaped. For a moment, Mars ignored them all. Then her hands dropped to her lap.
"His spirit didn't linger," Mars said softly. Realizing for the first time that the others were watching her, Mars turned to them as she rolled to her feet. "I thought his spirit might be lingering on Earth, since he was murdered. I thought I might be able to communicate with that spirit. But he's passed on to the next life." She considered it for a moment. "He must be at peace with what happened."
"Well I'm not!" Venus proclaimed, her call finished. "I say we go over to Madame Tezawa's and ask her some pointed questions. Her daughter, too, and that doc if we can find him! There's a murderer out there and we are definitely NOT letting them get away with it!"
"What set you off?" Jupiter asked her as the others looked on. Venus read their faces and realized she was trying too hard.
"Sorry," she scowled. "It's just - - this is the first time I've felt normal since Ace blew town. It's really felt good being in the old short skirt and bows again."
Venus felt a hand come to rest on her shoulder. She glanced and saw it belonged to Jupiter.
"It gets better," Jupiter smiled.
"When?" Venus asked with a melancholy grin.
"When you least expect it," Jupiter told her. "Some day you'll be sitting at home fixing your breakfast and you'll suddenly notice that it doesn't hurt as much." She leaned in for emphasis. "And I KNOW what I'm talking about."
"Yeah, YOU probably do," Venus said, nudging Jupiter with her hip. Without warning, Sailor Moon's communicator signaled.
"Sailor Moon," they all heard Luna on the other end. "The apartment just received a call from Wakaba Tezawa. She'd like to talk to Mamoru as soon as possible."
Everyone looked at each other.
"Well, let's see what she wants," Mamoru said, bringing out his cell phone. "Could you give me the number she left, Luna?"
Michiru Kaioh was placing the evening dishes in the dishwasher. Haruka was in the living room, trying not to brood over the latest row with her parents concerning Junko. Despite her mate's mood, Michiru was glad to have her. The Formula-1 season loomed on the horizon and the prospect of another six months of Haruka calling twice a week as she hopped across the globe to defend her points championship did not appeal to the artist. The simple pleasure of looking across the dinner table at Haruka as she shoveled food in her mouth - - a habit left over from her runaway days that Haruka never quite shed - - seemed to grow more precious every year when balanced against the nights eating alone and waiting for a phone call.
And then the phone rang. Knowing Haruka was in the next room, Michiru went to answer it with a mood of puzzlement.
"Michi-Chan, I'm so glad I caught you!" the voice on the other end blasted with excitement. Of course, it was her easily excitable mother.
"Mom," sighed Michiru. "How many times have I asked you not to call me that?"
"Oh, don't be a damper!" Constance Kaioh huffed. "I just have the absolute best news to tell you! Your father and I took the plunge!"
"The plunge?" Michiru questioned. "You mean you're getting back together?"
"That's right! Kuni-Bear and I - - um, Kunihiko and I decided that it was best. After all, we do still care for each other, and we haven't found anyone else. We are different people - - he's tried to be less rigid and Lord knows I've finally figured out how much of my life I was frittering away with empty partying." She let out a dramatic sigh. "And, well, we're both not getting any younger. So we figured that it was pointless to waste the rest of the time we had on convention and hurt feelings and stuff that just - - no longer applied to us." She thought a moment. "Does that make any sense?"
"I think it makes perfect sense, Mom," Michiru smiled. "I think Dad was happier with you than without you. And I think you've discovered that you're happier with him than with those empty suits and ball gowns you used to travel with." She stopped to dab at her eye. "So when's the wedding?"
"Oh, there isn't going to be one," Constance told her.
"No wedding? Why not?"
"Oh, Michi-Chan, I've already had my wedding," Constance replied. "And your father doesn't see the reason to go to the expense." The woman giggled to herself. "I guess we're just going to be living in sin. Ha ha ha!"
"Mom, nobody thinks that way anymore," Michiru said, shaking her head despite the smile on her face.
"And it's about time, too," proclaimed Constance. "People peeking in other people's windows, trying to see if they were doing something they didn't approve of. Never did take to those kind of people. Oh, but are you and Haruka free Sunday night?"
"I've warned you about those sudden conversation shifts, haven't I?" Michiru said, trying to mentally catch up. "What's happening Sunday night?"
"Your father and I would like to have you two over for dinner," Constance explained. "It's sort of a celebration of our getting back together, and of you two staying together. Think of it as an anniversary dinner - - unless yours is on another day. Just when is your anniversary, Michi-Chan?"
"We'd be delighted to come, Mom," Michiru answered, surrendering to laughter now.
"Oh, wonderful!" cooed Constance. "We get to be a family again. And I just love spending time with Haruka. She has SO many interesting stories from her career on the race track. Casual dress, now. I want us to be just one big happy family having dinner on a Sunday night!"
"Feet on the ground, Mom," Michiru playfully reminded her.
"I guess I am building up my expectations again," Constance said soberly. "I guess - - I've got so much to make up for, that I want to do it all at once. One step at a time. We'll see you Sunday."
"Good-bye, Mom," Michiru answered. She paused with her hand on the phone after replacing the receiver. Maybe it could work. Constance had made an effort to change her ways. So had her father, though he'd only admit it under torture. He'd even accepted Haruka into the family. Maybe it could work this time.
And something else her mother said, about enjoying the years together while there was still time. Who knew how much time she and Haruka had left together, given their calling as senshi and the dangers Haruka faced on the track. It didn't make sense to waste six months out of every year they had together waiting on phone calls and missing her.
Michiru smiled to herself. Plus she'd like to see Europe again. Maybe she and Haruka would actually get the chance to see more of it than just the inside of a hotel room this time.
Out in the living room, Michiru found Haruka on her cell phone. The woman's lanky frame was reclining on the sofa, with one leg propped up to provide her with a surface to write in a little notebook.
"Sounds like a good deal," Haruka said to the mystery party on the other end of the phone connection. "Can I start drawing on that in anticipation?" She listened to the answer. "Nah, don't worry about it. I can cover it. It's just a matter of shifting around a few things. Let me know when it actually goes down. I can't buy the Reventon until then." She listened to the answer. "OK, bye."
"What's up?" Michiru inquired.
"That was a dealer I know," Haruka explained. "He's going to sell the Fiat for me. Says he can get a pretty good price. Says he knows a couple of collectors who might be interested. I could even clear a profit over what I originally paid for it - - although not as much as I could have because of the mileage it's got."
"Well it is used," Michiru said.
"Odometer's important to some collectors," Haruka shrugged. "They're looking for something to display, maybe sit in. Not me. I don't buy a car to look at it. I buy them to drive."
"Well I'm glad selling it isn't going to be a problem," Michiru said. "I'm sorry you couldn't give it to Junko. I know you really wanted to do that, but your father was right about the concerns he had."
"Don't worry about it," Haruka said confidently. "I've got that little problem all taken care of."
"Oh?" Michiru asked warily. "How?"
"I'm going to make them an offer they can't refuse."
Two cars drove up to the gate of the Tezawa mansion. The drivers of each got out and conferred.
"I don't know how Tezawa-San will respond if all six of us go in," Mamoru told Ami. "Maybe you three should wait out here."
"As you wish, Mamoru," Ami nodded. "And good luck. I realize that there are more important concerns involved now, but I do hope that our efforts result in the restoration of your memory as well."
"Thank you," Mamoru said gratefully.
After checking in at the gate, the car containing Mamoru, Usagi and Rei pulled into the mansion grounds. Makoto and Minako emerged from the other car and met Ami as she returned. Ami explained the situation to them.
"Sentry duty, huh?" Minako frowned. "Sucks I won't get in on any of the action."
"Hopefully there won't BE any action," Makoto replied. She pulled out her cell phone.
"Checking up on your kids?" Minako smirked. "You know, when Akiko's twenty and married, and you insist on going along on her honeymoon so you can protect her, you're going to really embarrass her."
"Shut up," Makoto groused, nudging Minako away with her hip. Ami smothered a smile.
Inside the grounds, Mamoru pulled up to the house and parked the car. As the trio disembarked from the car, they noticed both Wakaba Tezawa and the butler, Mitsuzaka.
"It's all right, Mitsuzaka," Wakaba told the butler. "I've been expecting them."
"As you say, Tezawa-Sama," the man said, bowing to her. He turned and disappeared into the mansion. Tezawa walked up to meet them at the top step. She was still in her business suit, a long-sleeved white blouse with a navy bow at the neck and a knee-length navy skirt tailored snug on her. She had shed the jacket, though.
"Thank you for meeting with me, Chiba-Sensei," Tezawa said. She didn't bow to him and Mamoru didn't press the issue, a concession to her standing in the home and in the world. "There's a room off of my father's old office where we can talk privately."
The room was small, but elegantly furnished with a coffee table and several plush Queen Anne chairs. A framed picture of two samurai locked in a duel, painted by one of the great Japanese masters, dominated one wall. No sooner had they sat down then Mitsuzaka appeared with a silver tray and tea service, and a dish of cakes. Mitsuzaka poured tea for everyone, then quietly left the room. Rei chose to stand by the door and observe. Usagi surreptitiously snuck a cake. Mamoru concentrated on Wakaba Tezawa.
"Your earlier visit got my curiosity aroused," Wakaba began. "I made a few inquiries on my own and the answers I've gotten don't quite add up. I think you were right about your father meeting with mine that day. And I'm beginning to think my father didn't die in quite the manner I've been led to believe." She shifted uncomfortably. "I apologize for my earlier manner, but my mother can be difficult sometimes, especially concerning this subject. I would appreciate it if you'd tell me what you suspect and what evidence you have to back it up. I know you're not obligated to me. I'm just trying to learn the truth, just as you are. Perhaps we can find the truth if we work together."
"All right, Tezawa-San," Mamoru nodded. "I have to warn you that you may not like what you'll hear."
"Noted," Wakaba replied.
"We've been investigating as well. It's been discovered that your father didn't die of a heart attack."
"I knew it!" Wakaba hissed. "I could tell Dr. Hitsugaya was covering. I could just tell! Do you know what he died of?"
"Cyanide poisoning," Mamoru explained. "Cyanide interferes with the oxygenation of the blood. Oxygen deprivation often leads to seizures and cardiac arrest. At first glance, and without a post-mortem, cause of death can seem like a heart attack. It's possible Dr. Hitsugaya didn't investigate enough . . ."
"No, he knew," Wakaba replied, some bitterness in her tone. "How did you learn of this?" She noticed everyone tense, particularly Usagi.
"Sailor Moon has become involved in the case," Mamoru told her. "Through their special powers, they were able to scan your father's grave and find the cyanide residue."
"Sailor Moon?" Wakaba gasped in surprise.
"And they've reported their findings to the police," Mamoru continued. "I wouldn't be surprised if they present you with an exhumation order sometime soon."
"That would follow," Wakaba reasoned quietly. She suddenly looked up at Mamoru. "Who poisoned him? Was it your father?" She paused a moment. "I asked my mother about it. She wouldn't confirm it, but I get the impression that they did have a confrontation. Unfortunately she won't say over what. She may not know." Wakaba swallowed. "Did your father poison him? I know from my own research that he was angry with Dad about something."
"I think I remember that," Mamoru told her. "But he had a gun tucked in his belt that day. It's not likely that he'd poison your father when he could more easily shoot him."
"No, you're right," Wakaba nodded. She seemed to grow sad. Rei reacted instantly. "But who could have done it? And why? I know my father had enemies, but . . ."
Mamoru's cell phone suddenly signaled. While Wakaba pondered and Rei studied her, Mamoru answered the call.
"Mamoru, this is Ami," he heard. "Artemis has tracked down the cell phone records for the private detective, Renji Yamanaka. Several calls were exchanged between Yamanaka-San and a number listed for the Tezawa address."
"Tezawa-San," Mamoru said, covering the phone. "Do you know a Renji Yamanaka?"
"No," Wakaba answered. Rei's stare bore in on her. "Who is he?"
"A private detective who has been trying to hinder our investigation. He's exchanged calls with a phone number listed for this address."
"Which one?" Wakaba asked. "We have a household land line, a business line for my father's office, and both my mother and I have cell phones."
Mamoru gave her the number. The instant she heard it, Wakaba seemed to shrink noticeably.
"That's," the woman struggled to say, "that's my mother's cell phone." She took a moment to steady herself. "But why would she be calling . . .?"
At that moment, Mitsuzaka the butler burst into the room as if demons were chasing him. Everybody turned to him in surprise and Usagi dropped her second helping of cake.
"Tezawa-Sama!" he cried out. "Come quickly! It's your mother!"
Concluded in Chapter 12