"I was just doing my job, Mr Brian."
"Doing your job? DOING YOUR JOB?! You aided and abetted a terrorist! You killed people for him!"
"And I'd do it again. Now, are you going to arrest me or not?"
I know what's going to happen next. The mole's going to incapacitate Brian and murder his wife on the way out. It'll be two whole seasons before Brian gets his revenge. And to think the mole seemed to be an innocent witness up to this point.
This is what I love so much about shows like these. Their delicious, juicy plot twists.
I bite into another tortilla chip as Winona walks in.
"One second, Winona. Just let this episode finish up."
She gives me a knowing smile and waits.
Once the credits are rolling, I turn off the TV and leave my room.
"Hello everyone." I say to the team.
"You sure did keep us waiting." Harrison Akame says, sounding a little annoyed.
"Ah, yes I was watching a serial. You know, the one with that Counter-terrorism agent, Brian Mills. Anyway-"
"Didn't that show end two years ago?" Matsuda says.
"I was watching the DVD. Now, how about we discuss yesterday's incident?"
"Yeah, it looks like Kira's finally losing it." Naomi says. "He just murdered seven FBI agents for no good reason!"
"Kira doesn't do anything without a good reason, Naomi." I reply. "He's going on the offensive."
Naomi's expression promptly changes once she realizes what I'm talking about.
"Yes, I'm glad you're remembering. These seven FBI agents were part of the team I sent to investigate the NYPD all those months ago."
"So, Kira's starting to directly target the people investigating him now?" Matsuda says.
"Yes. So far, he's restricted his targets to these seven people so that we won't be able to trace it back to him. Virtually anybody in the NYPD could have served as a leak for the information about them. After all, when Anna Akame..."
Anna Akame. She was the one who blew the lid off my investigation to begin with. Is she also the one who killed those people?
"Yes, my daughter told me that she was being stalked, that's how we found out that you were spying on the NYPD." Harrison says.
"Yes. I think we need to consider Kira's motivations for this increased aggression." I say, pacing the room. "Obviously, this is an intimidation tactic. He's telling us that he won't hesitate to kill anyone who tries to stop him. Not something that I fully believe, but-"
"What? What do you mean you don't believe that?" Kate says, sounding shocked.
"You people are really messing up my train of thought." I say, sighing. "Anyway, like I was saying, Kira will not kill absolutely anyone who opposes him, as Kira has people he cares about. If that wasn't the case, his power would have already driven him mad."
I pause, expecting someone to say something to the effect of-
"But...but he has been driven mad, just look at what he's done!" Congratulations, Matsuda.
"No. Is he drunk on power? Yes. Is he foolishly trying to impose his vision on the world by force? Yes. But he's not mad, Matsuda."
"And the only reason for that is...that he has people he loves?" Naomi says.
"Yes. And as long as they stay around, he can keep rationalizing his behavior. Which is why the seven agents killed were single people with poorly documented social lives. We can safely assume that Kira did not personally know them, and that he assumed that not many would miss them. But regardless, until we can be certain of Kira's identity, none of us are safe. If Kira is not amongst the family or friends of any of you people, your lives are in serious danger. However, let's not dwell on that anymore." I say, sitting down on the couch.
"Kira is trying to scare us into backing off. I'm fairly certain that if we don't apprehend him soon, more law-enforcement officials will continue to die. But of course, if anyone feels that the alternative of leaving the whole law-enforcement business to Kira is the best option, you're free to leave anytime."
Nobody moves. Or laughs. No sense of humor.
"So, we'll need to start by testing each and every theory we have on which leak Kira could possibly have exploited to keep track of our investigation. The simplest theory, of course, is that Kira knows one of you people." I say, pointing to the investigators. "And testing this theory should be just as easy."
"What do you mean?" Harrison says, leaning forward.
"Well, if we keep constant, discreet surveillance on the people close to you, there's a realistic chance of catching Kira in the act."
"You mean stalking them, like you tried to do with us?!" Naomi says.
"Exactly." I reply, looking her in the eye. "Kira's been abusing the trust of those close to him this whole time. I find it only fair we abuse whatever trust he may have towards those he loves."
"An eye for an eye." Kate says. "An ugly tactic, but I think it's a necessary one. Every minute we don't stop Kira, people will die, and that includes people like us."
"The surviellance won't be permanent. A week or so should be sufficient for me to discern any meaningful changes in Kira's patterns. If Kira can't keep killing the way he has because he's being watched, all we need to do is conduct a search on the most likely suspect."
"But L." Harrison says. "I don't think your earlier methods of stalking will work. We're functioning independently of the actual NYPD, and if they get any complaints..."
"I understand, Mr Akame. Our surveillance will have to be thorough, without being too intrusive. I think dealing with immediate family members should be simple enough, if you can install hidden cameras in your homes. As for friends or distant relatives, that might be a little more complicated. But let's take a step-by-step approach and start with the immediate family members first. Now, who among you all live with your families?"
Harrison, Naomi and Elton's hands go up.
"Naomi, you only live with your fiancee, correct? So, bugging your house should be incredibly easy. However, given that Kira's most likely a high school student, I doubt watching over your fiancee will turn up anything. Regardless, take him out on a date sometime soon so that Winona can get around to bugging your house." I say to her.
"And as for you two, Harrison Akame and Elton Coil, you both have kids that go to high school, correct?"
"Yeah, I have my daughter, Anna..." Harrison says, clearly uncomfortable. He knows that she's a suspect in this investigation.
Naomi's visibly unnerved as well. Interesting.
"And, as for me." Elton says, with a nervous chuckle. "Both my kids are in high school. Their names are Robert and Kelly Coil."
"And you have another kid living with you, right, Harrison? Benjamin Akame, a software engineer?"
"That's right." Harrison replies.
"Very well, then. When your kids are out on work or in high school, I suggest that you people draw your wives out of their homes. Once that is done, Winona can bug your homes as well. Any questions?"
"This...this will only go on for a week, correct?" Harrison says.
"Yes. One week, maybe less. If we come up empty, we'll have to consider other possible suspects."
"I understand."
I wave goodbye to Elaine and Ursula and I arrive at my house. I must say, I am impressed with Ursula's ability to keep a secret. Though I've been able to pick up on every conversation she's had after coming home, none of them have even hinted at what I made her do on the subway. Her loyalty to Kira could prove useful even later on.
But I'm a little surprised that nobody's home today. Hmm...
Anyways, I use my key to open the door and walk in. I go up to my room and-!