Hi all! Just a small info. Some new characters on the way. Sorry for making the plot a bit complicated but it's needed, also because I have a new story in mind and this is going to save up a lot of explanation in the future. Or the past. Whatever, I hope you are going to enjoy these chapters anyway. Back on track next week, with some twists too.
Thanks for reading 😘
A candle throws its light into the darkness
In a nasty world, so shines the good deed
Make sure the fortune, that you seek
Is the fortune you need
_Ben Harper_
- Aizawa PoV -
"That guy is getting on my nerves".
Nervously I keep looking through the report, knowing too well that there's nothing useful in there.
My brain is too busy in badmouthing Nate. If I hated L at the beginning there is no way, and I say NO WAY, that I am getting to like Nate.
"He was boosted having an affair with the daughter of the president and now he refuses to talk to us?! That's called childish!"
"Matsuda we all think the same, there's no need to whine like that"
"I guess not. Why L and Anna are investigating on the disappearance of that girl?! That's not our business! We have enough problems trying to solve this case!"
"We are just trying to track down the kidnappers. We have not many trials leading us to whoever is bringing back the criminals, anyway"
That's the point. Even if we want to look the other way, we are forced to follow this path. I want to find something regarding Amane, and this is just a way like any another to get there.
"In other words we must help Nate?!"
"No. Not in a million years"
Both I and Matsuda turn to face L. Somehow I expected a part of him wanted to help his successor. That answer though...it makes me think that he is angry at Nate as well.
"So what if we find Layla? You are not going to give her back to your pupil?"
"If we can track down the kidnappers we are going to follow the trails leading to Amane. Nate can do whatever he wants. Afterwards. First we finish what we are doing"
"Is it my impression or you are a little surly dear?"
"I indeed am. Of all wimen, why he had to pick Whalls's daughter?"
"Poor boy! Because he's in love!"
"He should have looked over her then"
"Fine but it's a really strange coincidence that Layla was kidnapped"
"I don't think Amane knows, we are talking about a retarded model by the way..."
"So why did she kidnap Layla in your opinion?!"
"She reasons very simply...let's see...she wanted to make people cry for Kira to be back and to do that she needed time to revive many criminals. She needed a place where to do it as long as possible. In Japan it was too complicated with your HQ. She hid in the Usa and she kidnapped Layla to continue her plan undisturbed. That's it"
"That's not simple. Anyway it would be a very unlucky coincidence for Nate..."
"Who cares?"
"You are mean L!"
"You are too soft Anna!"
Despite the situation it's quite entertaining to see those two arguing. They keep teasing each other all day. It makes me wish that my family was here as well. Even if my wife would get bored in a couple of hours and we would end up wrestling.
"There is another problem Aizawa. We cannot expect the American government to support us if things get more complicated"
Mogi is down-to-heart as usual. I accepted the black ops condition hoping that, in case we found some irrefutable evidence, we could rediscuss the terms of the collaboration. But if we find something that could endanger Layla, now there's the risk that we get kicked out of the country. Sure thing the Fbi director let us investigate to not ruin the long lasting collaboration we created, but in truth he expects Nate to rescue Layla first. By the way, if Nate investigated undercover and didn't find a thing yet, in Whalls's opinion why should we?
"I already talked to Russia and China. I informed them that we are on this case, at my request they will help us"
L is talking with a straight face. To him saying that Russia and China are at his mercy is the same as saying the weather is good.
"I am waiting an answer from UK and France as well"
"And when did you do that?!"
"One hour ago"
Ide laughs like a kid. I am sure he couldn't wait to hear such a thing.
"And what did you say?"
"The truth"
"Which is?"
"That I am Coil"
"Nate won't be happy to know that"
"I can do whatever I want with my aliases. He's lucky that I didn't use my first name. He's not supposed to belong to any country. Most nations rather avoid clear conflicts of interest"
That's a very polite way to say that sharing the bed with a president's daughter is not the most appropriate thing a detective can do.
The best outcome would be that Nate saves his girl and everyone's happy but...
"Eureka! Hope you like treasure hunting guys!"
Anna jumps on her feet, clapping her hands overjoyed.
"What are you talking about?", I ask studying the girl. She's happier than a kid a the candy store.
"The kidnappers just contacted the president. I couldn't intercept the call, because it was too short, but I overheard it. The lexicon of the the criminal was very acculturate and old style... I dare say quite familiar"
Anna swings her fingers in the air, making her ring glitter.
"What?"
I don't get the connection between the ring and the kidnappers.
"An old friend of us. Welcome back to this world Adrian Cruz!"
"Are you sure? That is called luck!" Even L seems happy now.
"I'm 70% sure... once in a million times we can be lucky!"
L and Anna smirk, clearly understanding something that we don't.
"Guys, you lost us!", Ide complains.
"A very famous smuggler, he can make disappear anything in his hands. Light killed him in August 2004. A smart move for a retarded model to make him kidnapp Layla. No one would think that the culprit is a smuggler..."
"...except someone than knows him very well!"
"And you guys are friends of that man?!"
Matsuda rolls his eyes and falls on the couch. I know that this is not exactly the development he expected when he discovered about the reviving criminals. He still considers this case HIS case. But personally I think that the support given by L and Anna is a blessing. If things go smoothly they already found the culprit. We are police agents, our priority must be justice. If he is looking for self realization he should change job. I want to solve this case fast and let the world go back to normality.
"Cruz was the leader of a huge contraband operation, but was betrayed by one of his men, which made his name to a very strict government. I bargained the conditions of his arrest in 2002, saving him from the death penalty. He deals with any kind of valuable goods. Arms, drugs, artworks, cars, animals...anything. But he has a soft spot for gems. And a total dedication for certain kinds"
"If we follow those shiny crumbs they are going to lead us strightly to Tom Thumb! Awww, I would like matching earrings...!"
Anna giggles evilly playing with her ring. Her behavior can only mean that the gems L is talking about are of the same sort as the one on her finger.
"Can I have a look at your ring for a moment Anna?"
Anna's eyes widen up. She doesn't seem very happy about it. If I asked her to strip down I would have probably obtained a better reaction.
"Hands off my bling blings Aizawa!"
"I'm not going to run away with that"
"I said no!"
"Anna he just wants to look. Please take it off"
"But L..."
"I'll look for the earrings ok?"
"Yay! Heart shape!"
"I know"
"Over one carat"
"They don't grow on trees, you should change color..."
"And no double names! No purplish reds, no reddish browns, not-"
"Come back to planet Earth and take that ring off, Gollum!"
"Ufff..."
Like a child having to let go of her favorite toy, Anna makes a face and takes off the ring, passing it to me. I didn't know about Anna's passion for red diamonds. I thought L just gave her a very expensive ring.
Ide and Mogi lean over to study the stone as well. Matsuda gave it a glimpse and now continues to work on his computer. I don't know if he wants to behave like a First Lady or whatever. But I sincerely doubt that he has ever seen a stone of this kind before, and if we have locate Cruz he better move his ass.
"Matsuda quit what you are doing and come here. You must learn to tell apart a gem from piece of glass"
Unwillingly he drags himself next to me and tries to get familiar with the stone.
"A ruby. Wow. Can I go back to work now?"
"This is a red diamond. Speaking of US Dollars, you must add few zeros to the cost of a ruby, if it's a good ruby"
"WHAT?!"
Ide grabs the ring and rises his hand to see better.
"THIS MICROSCOPIC THING COSTS TENS OF THOUSANDS DOLLARS?"
"That one is valued around three millions and a half"
I rush to give back the ring before Ide drops it in shock. Wow, I expected a big number but...
"And Cruz likes to collect red diamonds?!"
"No, being a businessman he likes to trade them. If a red diamond is on sale be sure that he is around. That's the easiest way to catch him"
"Great. We have to gather info on every auction going on in the black market. Every seller, every owner, every theft going on. Let's find this Cruz quickly!"