MAY 20, 2012
12:00 PM
It was raining. Arthur checked his watch. Twelve exactly. Where was Kiku?
Someone cleared their throat behind him. He wheeled around, and Kiku was standing there with an umbrella. "Arthur-san, you will catch a cold if you do not keep dry."
Arthur smiled. "It is good to see you, Kiku. How exactly do you think we should go about this?" He nodded at the apartments around the area of the crime scene.
"Knock on people's doors, I suppose... Ask if they saw anything." Kiku smiled a little.
"Of course..." Arthur said, running a hand through his damp hair. This process was going to be awkward...
Kiku led the way into the apartment building. The doorman asked what their business was, and Kiku showed the man his badge. "We're investigating a crime that was recently committed outside this building."
"Oh, you mean that CREEP that assaulted Kevin?"
Arthur clenched his teeth and balled his fists. How could ANYONE say something like that about Alfred? He didn't even KNOW him! He glared at the doorman with a kind of ferocity that he didn't even know he could muster. Kiku glanced over at Arthur.
"Um… Please be more polite in the future about it. Thank you." Kiku bowed once to the man, and hurried along, Arthur trailing behind him. As soon as they were out of earshot of the doorman, Kiku turned to Arthur and whispered urgently, "You must not react this strongly, he wasn't worth it."
Arthur took in a deep, shaky breath before nodding.
They found the first door they would check and knocked. An old woman came out.
"Hello, how may I help you two gentlemen?" She said calmly.
"We are with the police, ma'am," Arthur said. "We are wondering if you saw anything the night the man was assaulted outside, or claims to have been…" He said, trying not to grit his teeth.
She looked shocked and raised her eyebrows. "Oh, my! No, I did not see anything, but that poor, poor man! It's so frightening to hear that someone so scary was so near to where we all live!"
Arthur crossed his arms and let Kiku talk. "Thank you, ma'am. We will be on our way."
"Goodbye!" The old woman said, and closed her door.
Arthur gritted his teeth again. He could tell this was going to be a very, very long day.
MAY 20, 2012
6:00 PM
Arthur exhaled slowly. It hadn't been a very good day at all. He'd spent the whole time listening to everyone talk about how awful Alfred was. Every last person was just as frightened as the old woman had been. He couldn't wait to just... go home.
Kiku patted his back. "We're nearly done, Arthur-san."
Arthur smiled a little at Kiku and knocked on the door. They waited a few moments before hearing a crash from inside, some coughing, then someone calling out, "I'M COMING! DON'T GO ANYWHERE! I'M ALMOST THERE! COMING!"
Arthur looked quizzically at Kiku, but he also looked equally as confused.
Then, a brunette man opened the door, smiling at them. "Ciao, you guys!"
"Ah... Hello there, sir..." Arthur said, a bit confused.
"How can I help you two?" The man had a heavy Italian accent, Arthur noticed.
"We are here to investigate about the man who was assaulted outside..." Arthur said, bracing himself for the exclamation of how awful and frightening Alfred was.
"Oh!" The man said, raising his eyebrows. "Alfred's innocent! I swear it!" He started to panic a little.
"Wha-" Arthur said, shocked.
"He's a friend of mine! I know he didn't do it! It was all John's fault, Signor!" The Italian was starting to tear up, and Arthur knew he had to intervene.
"Were you THERE that night?" Arthur felt very hopeful.
"Si! I saw Alfred running from the alley!"
Arthur did a victory dance in his head. He hoped that he could somehow get some evidence out of this guy... "What is your name?"
"Feliciano Vargas, sir!" He said, his hands still shaking with worry.
"Would you be willing to testify that he is innocent?" Arthur said, his heart racing.
"Si, I would. But I know someone who saw the whole thing, which is why I was out there in the first place!" Feliciano exclaimed.
"Oh?" Arthur was so, so happy. He would get Alfred out of prison. He could do it. This was all going so well.
"Si, my... uh... friend, Ludwig. We all go to school together, you see..." He smiled, a trace of something Arthur couldn't quite place in his smile.
"Okay, where is he?" Arthur said.
Feliciano smiled and held up a finger to signify Arthur and Kiku to wait a second. He turned around and called into his apartment, "LUDDY~! There are people here!"
A gruff, German voice called back, "I've TOLD you not to call me that!"
Feliciano laughed. "I know but it's so cute! Come over here!"
A few moments later, a tall, blonde, severe-looking man appeared behind Feliciano. He crossed his arms and acknowledged both Arthur and Kiku with suspicion.
"Hallo. What is your business here?"
Feliciano gasped and tugged on his shirt sleeve. "Ludwig, be nice! These guys are trying to help Alfred!"
Ludwig looked at us for a moment. "My name is Ludwig Beilschmidt." He stuck out his hand for a handshake.
Kiku took it first. "Konichiwa, Ludwig-san. I am Kiku Honda."
Arthur shook his hand. "My name is Arthur Kirkland. I am Alfred's lawyer. A pleasure to meet you, sir."
Ludwig nodded. What, Arthur wondered, was a man as serious as this doing in home of this silly little Italian boy?
Feliciano cleared his throat. "Well… come on in, you two!"