A/N: Sorry about the lack of communication last chapter, but I get so excited about having a new one done I forget to add these in here. We're up to the double digits, and the second arc is pulling towards its climax! Things are getting easier and easier to write the closer I get to the parts I already have planned out, so updates will remain pretty steady. I have been known to hit random roadblocks, though, so if I ever seem to just go away bear with me - this shant be abandoned for any reason! I'll finish it on napkins if I must. Well, here you go!
Another Death: The Andrew Powers Case
Chapter 11 – Visitors
July 1, 2027, 5:17PM.
Kevin G was dropped off in the parking lot of the large apartment building after another busy morning. Having their plans interrupted yesterday, the KIC members were forced to change arrangements, repack, and rearrange rides all morning long. Kevin, real name Kyle Powers, had to cancel and buy new train tickets as well as get a new taxi. But he made it, albeit a day later than planned, and was already heading up the stairs.
He arrived at the proper door number on the balcony, when a man with very long, black hair and slightly outdated glasses approached from just down the hall. "Hello, you must be Kyle!" he said amiably with his hand extended. The smile spread across his face was so wide it pinched his eyes shut.
"Um, yeah, hi. And you are?" he responded uncertainly.
"I'm terribly sorry, how rude of me! I just come up shouting your name without even introducing myself. I'm Jack Johnson, Andrew's neighbor and coworker."
"Oh, yes Jack. Andrew's told me about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Andrew's cousin, Kyle, but it seems you already know that."
"Yes, he told me you'd be arriving today. He's not actually going to be in for another ten minutes or so, so he asked me to invite you in until he gets off work."
"That must be on account of the sudden change in plans I pulled. Work held me, you see. I hate to be a nuisance."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, don't worry," he said as he waved Kyle into his own apartment. Andrew will be back from work soon he thought then it will be easy to keep this guy entertained while I just keep the notebook for the weekend. Things will go very smoothly if they keep up like this. "This is my little place, I know it's not much but you should make yourself at home."
Kyle walked over to the couch as he looked around at the dull room, with no decoration more extravagant than a framed painting of a pond and geese. "I see, uh, you and Andrew share tastes in interior design," he commented as he recalled his last visit to Andrew's nearly identical home.
"Oh yes, I don't put much thought into my apartment; so long as I can eat and sleep here it's good enough for me. Did you want anything to drink?"
"No thank you, I'm fine."
"So work's been keeping you busy lately?" he called as he came from the kitchen to sit down.
"Yeah, it feels good to get out after being stuck in our office for two weeks."
"That must have been rough. What could you possibly do in a police office for two weeks straight?"
"I'm not supposed to talk about it."
"Of course, sorry."
"No, you didn't mean it." Jack awkwardly took a drink as Kyle sat watching the news. The headline read: Kira Ends Gang Attack on New York Shopping Center with Minimal Injuries. Jack quickly turned the channel.
"No need to watch that stuff on your visit, is there?"
"No, I see enough of it everywhere else."
Just then the front door opened up to a tall man with brown hair. He looked up and let out a moan, "Oh God, Jack, don't tell me you're boring the man."
"Of course not, Andrew; he hasn't been here long enough yet."
"Andrew!" Kyle said as he stood up, eager to get out of the conversation with Jack. "It's good to see ya."
"Good to see you too Kyle," he responded as he gave his cousin a brief hug, a mask of joy on his face. "Hey Jack, we're going to head over to my place for now. Feel free to come over once you're done with…whatever it was you were doing tonight." He shot him a brief glance as he led Kyle back out onto the balcony.
Jack nodded back, "Of course."
"Hey Andrew," Kyle said as they walked towards the door, "I was thinking. If you didn't have anything planned for tonight we should go down to that fantastic restaurant you showed me last time. You know, the one down in Lincoln City."
"Um," he hesitated. This isn't expected. He needs to be at my apartment at 8:30, otherwise the whole thing will be for naught. Lincoln City's not more than a thirty minute drive, it's 5:42 now, if I make sure we don't stay long I can still pull it off. He'll be suspicious, or at the very least upset, if I try to deny him a good time. "Sure that sounds good. I love that place too, but would you be terribly upset if I had to be back home by 8:20? There's a show starting at 8:30 I was looking forward to tonight you might be interested in."
"That sounds fine; it's not so great that I could stay for hours anyway."
"What is anymore?"
"You got that right."
The two of them got into Andrew's car and drove down to their new destination. Upon arriving Andrew checked his watch again. Only 6:18 he thought perfect. If I keep this up the night will only go as planned. Seated at their table, Andrew continued his perfect façade of normality, and asked what any normal curious citizen would ask someone with Kyle's occupation.
"So what is happening with the Kira case?" he asked in a notably low voice.
"Andrew, you know I can't tell you about that. People are staking their lives to crack it and I could be jeopardizing their security by simply bringing this up."
"Aw, c'mon Kyle, it's just me. What harm could I possibly do? I'll keep the lips zipped perpetually, I swear."
"No, I'm sorry but that's out of the question. Especially in a public place. The case is not allowed to leave the headquarters, and for all I know my boss could even have me tapped," he said, feeling his upper thigh where he had applied the patch that morning.
"Is it that extreme?" Andrew asked innocently.
"Andrew, the maniac's killed almost five-hundred people in little over two weeks. And the worst part is, people are starting to like him for it. Yes, it's that extreme, our crew isn't going to simply let us tell everyone what we've been up to, we could get discovered and killed. I personally don't like the thought of being Kirad."
"I'm sorry, Kyle, I should've known better. I won't bring it back up." Ironic, he doesn't want to be killed by me. But who's this boss of theirs? It certainly can't be Nate River, he's dead. I can't ask anymore though, or he really will get suspicious. The two ate their dinner while Andrew periodically checked his watch. Finally, at about 7:40, Andrew finished up and suggested they get going. The drive back was slightly rushed on Andrew's part, making Kyle a little nervous as they passed cars on the highway pulling eighty. "So, uh, is this show of yours that important?" he asked as he held the handle on the ceiling.
"Yeah, I've been looking forward to it for a couple weeks now," he said with a smile, "It's a retrospect of the first Kira's killings, with inside reports from the police and everything. It's the first public unveiling of some very interesting facts is what the commercial said."
"Hate to break it to you, Andrew, but that's probably a load of crap. The police haven't divulged anything about the previous case, the method, suspect names, anything. They certainly wouldn't pick now of all times to start."
Andrew slowed down to the speed limit and looked disappointed. "That's a shame; it sounded pretty authentic on TV, too. Well there goes my plan for the night, you wanna go back and find a bar?"
"No, really I just need some rest. We can go back and watch it anyway, I'm sure it will be interesting."
Andrew grinned to himself and kept driving forward. Excellent. He doesn't suspect a thing, and we'll arrive with ample time for Jack to come and visit. They arrived at almost quarter after eight, and Andrew got out with the keys left in his ignition.
"You forgot your keys," Kyle said as Andrew kept walking towards the steps.
"Don't worry about it, I leave 'em in every night. This is a trustworthy neighborhood."
"Whatever you say," he dismissed as he followed him up to the apartment.
8:18. It's almost time. "You want anything to snack on or drink?" Andrew called from the kitchen.
"I'll take a beer if you have it, but no food." Kyle sat down on the recliner in front of the TV. "That place filled me up, I think I'm good for the rest of the weekend."
"Ha, really. That steak was enormous. Not so good on the wallet though; I'll have to run to the bank tomorrow."
He sat down with two bottles and handed one to Kyle. He flipped on the TV and checked his watch again. 8:23, any minute now.
"So how's work been going for you?" Kyle asked as they waited through commercials for the fake program to start.
"Boring. I was in sick for a few days a couple weeks ago, but that was more fun than staying at the office eight hours a day."
"I imagine. Offices bore the shit out of me, and yet here I am living in one," he said dismally as he shook his head.
8:27, three minutes. "But at least it's for a good cause."
"Yeah, you got that right. I just wish the whole thing was over; it's a stressful job. But here I am bringing it up again after that terrible scolding I gave you. Shame on me."
"Don't worry about it, you didn't even say anything I didn't know." 8:30. Bingo, here it is.
"Hey, what's this?" Kyle said. "This is some stupid infomercial, where's the special you told me about?"
"I don't know, what a crock!"
Just then Andrew's unlocked back door that led to the hallway burst open and Jack Johnson entered. In his hands were a pen and a bright red notebook. "You are both evil in the eyes of the god Kira! You shall be punished for your transgressions!"
"Jack!?" Andrew cried, "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"Andrew Powers!" he shouted as he scribbled in his notebook, "Your cousin has condemned you! Die at almighty Kira's hand!"
"No!" Kyle roared as he pushed his finger against his thigh and pulled a handgun out of his jacket. "Drop the weapon!"
Jack continued to write fervently with a twisted sneer torn across his face.
"Drop it or I swear I'll shoot!"
"No!" Andrew ran to tackle Jack, but fell short as he tripped over the rug while clutching his chest. He squirmed on the floor for a few seconds before dropping and staring lifelessly up at Kyle.
"Andrew! Damn you!" But as he pointed the gun back up at Jack the man fled out the door he had entered. Kyle began to give pursuit, but stopped in his tracks. He dropped the gun, and on some innate impulse ran out the front door to the balcony and down to Andrew's car. He opened the still-unlocked doors and started it with the keys left in the ignition. He then proceeded to drive with full speed toward San Francisco.
--
Zeke followed the odd tracer on the screen with interest. "Ichigo, were you able to contact Kevin yet?"
"No, he activated the system an hour ago but his phone is turned off. I've had the others head to the location the system was triggered, though."
"No. Have them come here."
"Here, Zeke?"
"Yes. His location on the map has been heading toward our San Francisco office steadily since he activated it. I have no idea why he wouldn't just call us, but there is something not right that needs to be addressed."
"How quickly should I summon them?"
"Immediately and as soon as they can get here. He seems to be in a car, so he won't arrive until early tomorrow morning, perhaps three or four. Have them come by the fastest and most convenient means available."
"Yes sir."
--
July 2, 2027, 2:57AM.
Kyle drove rapidly towards the building all night long, arriving early the next morning as Zeke predicted. By that time only David, Kathleen, and Logan were able to make it to the headquarters, and the lot of them were standing with Zeke and Ichigo outside the building. They saw the sports car speed up the road and pull sloppily up to the curb, Kevin G as he was known to them staggering out looking shaken.
David ran to catch him as he stumbled towards the group. "Kevin! What happened? Is it Kira?"
"Y-Yes!" he said between heavy and labored breaths, "Yes! Kira! I saw him! He killed my cousin, he attacked me! It was Kira! I s-saw him!"
"Please calm down," Zeke said as he approached.
"J-Jack Johnson!" he continued on nonstop, "Jack Johnson! Apartment number 22 of 1341 Fourth Street in the town of Nelscott, Oregon. Jack Johnson! Apartment number 22…"
"Kevin! Kevin! Snap out of it!" came Logan's fruitless attempts to stop him.
"Enough," Zeke said to him, "Damn, he can't stop. Someone write down what he says!"
"J-Jack Johnson is Kira! I saw it! He killed my cousin! Jack Johnson, apartment number 22 of 1341 Fourth Street in the town of Nelscott, Oregon! Jack J-J-John-urg!" just then the man collapsed and stopped moving and breathing.
"Kevin!" came the desperate shouts from the three KIC members. "Kevin!"
"Oh my God, he's dead!" Kathleen cried out, looking away.
"Jack Johnson…" Zeke said thoughtfully as he stared at the sight crumpled on the ground before him. "Jack Johnson…"