*** My 3rd gift. I didn't lie when I said 'something special for their birthday'. I told you a week ago? I hope I'm not going too fast, o_O ***
Chapter XXXVI: A Helping Hand
3rd March 1890
The wedding starts in 7 hours. They had all the time in the world to interrogate. The problem they had was, it's hard to investigate a case, when you're not even sure there is a case.
Rin and Len enjoyed their warm drinks in the outdoor cafe, Len tried to concetrate. Hard. Len wore his right arm, but some people recognized him. They kept staring at him, whispering. His face was too recognizable, and that wasn't good. News spread fast. Len knew well that the mayor doesn't want to see his face anywhere in town, and if the mayor hear the 'rumour' that he's in Anrosia, he'll tightened the security, which will make it absolutely harder to get inside the wedding. Unlike their first case, it was easy to come inside the party. Too much attention is bad.
"Finish your hot chocolate and let's go. Staying in one place for too long isn't good." Rin realized what Len was feeling. People kept staring at him, she understood that. So she finished her hot chocolate in 4 gulps and she stood up from her seat. Len put the money on the table, and they walked in moderate speed out from the café.
"I think I should consider on wearing a disguise when we're doing a case." Rin agreed. Solving a case is a big deal. Rin reads the newspaper from time to time, and she always see Len in the headline. Not always, but, getting a headline once can get you a few days of fame, getting headline frequently, can get your face stuck in everyone's head.
Just as he said, Len went inside a shop, and when he got out, Len wore a simple hat. Rin thought he'd get something more 'disguise like', but instead he only bought a simple leather hat.
"Too much accessory isn't good. It'll attract attention." Len realized Rin was staring at him with a look that says 'Is that enough?'.
"Anyway, let's start interrogating."
They walked for 1 hour and 30 minutes. After another few minutes of walk, Len stopped right in front of the park, where the wedding will be held. Everything seemed so bright, the park sparkled with white and red decorations. White wooden chairs laid out in rows of 5, with a silver ribbons tied out in every chair. Red roses were put here in there. Candles were ready to be light, the wedding takes3F With so many people, it'd be hard to commit a murder. Or maybe it isn't a murder case, a robbery place at night time after all. There was a small stage, with a painting of the bride and the groom placed there. Thomas & Catherine.
Len noticed the park was an open field. How's the culprit going to attempt a murder there?
"Have you found anything?" Len kept on looking at the park, and Rin wondered if he found out something.
"Not yet. I'm just wondering how can you do that in public." Now that Len mentioned it, he was right. It seemed almost impossible to do anything there. Rin began to wonder if there is a case. Well, they knew one thing. It's too late to back down and return to the mansion now.
"Who might you be?" A woman asked from behind them. They've been looking at the park for more than 2 minutes. Rin and Len turned around simultaneously and, almost immediately, Len knew she was the bride. How did he know? Because her face was in the painting on the stage of the park.
"I received an invitation." Len showed her the envelope, and thought it's the perfect time to interrogate. "And I think the park is a wonderful place to hold a wedding." He commented to show his 'friendliness'. Len hoped in his heart that she doesn't realize who he is.
"It's too bad though, the wedding is going to be canceled." Catherine looked down, upset, miserable, and sad. She looked at the sky, there were dark clouds, meaning it'd rain. They couldn't start the wedding if it rains.
"I'm sorry if you come all the way here for nothing. But, don't worry. It's just going to be delayed for one day, that's all. I didn't expect rain at all." Rin felt something on her hand. Water. Drops of water are falling from the sky, also known as rain. It wasn't 'rain' yet, it's still drizzling.
"Oh, dear…"Catherine looked at the park, the stage, the chairs, the roses, they're going to be wet, and the people who were supposed to take them away in storage hadn't arrived. Tragic.
"Do you want me to help you put those decorations somewhere dry?" Len offered, it's a good chance to make a good impression.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't let a guest do…"
"And you expect me to walk back to my inn and do nothing? Please let me help. I trust you'd do the same for me if you're in my wedding." Catherine was about to argue more, but Len already walked towards the wedding and took some of the vases filled with red roses.
"So, where should I put these?" Rin walked towards him and helped carrying some vases as well.
"To my house." Catherine smiled, she was glad to found someone so nice who volunteered to help her. Or so she thought.
It's going to rain, can a circus tent hold a rain? Maybe it could, but maybe it couldn't hold a heavy rain with storms. Kaito opened his umbrella and protect his research. Kaito promised to give his research to Gakupo. He's probably waiting inside the circus' tent right this second.
He entered the circus' tent, and looked for Gakupo. It isn't hard to look for someone like him. Gakupo wore the same costume as before.
"I told you I'd come." Kaito showed him the leather folder in his hand. His research data was inside the folder, and Gakupo couldn't wait to see what Kaito found.
"Is there anywhere we can speak in private?" There were a few people, a part from the circus. Is it okay to talk about something like that in public?
"Let's go to the cages, where we store our 'unusual creatures'. People rarely go there." Gakupo lead the way, the folder in his hands. Can the inside of the folder help him find his sister?
It was quiet as expected. Kaito was bothered a little, surrounded by 10 unusual creatures. Wait, 10? Wasn't it 11? Someone that has photographic memory would remember something like that. It isn't important. It's time to explain to Gakupo a few things he found.
"Your sister disappeared at 25th of June. You report to the police about her missing didn't you? Then I realized something. So many children, from 7-13 years old, they're missing as well. I remember your sister is 12 years old, and the other children who were kidnapped, they're children as well." Gakupo looked at the documents. They're all children, boys, and girls. Is this a coincidence?
"Do you think there's a connection between them and my sister? Other than for them being children?" Something was wrong. It's a strange coincidence that people who went missing in the list were all children.
"There is. They go to the same dame. I'm thinking of going there, and ask for some information. There's a chance that they know something we don't." A dame is a school for young children, a free charity school run by women. Kaito went to a school because his parents had enough money, so he never went to a dame before.
"I'll come with you!" It's not a request, it sounded like Gakupo was begging him for going.
"I don't mind you going, but will your boss mind?" An extra hand wouldn't hurt. Two are always better than one.
"I'm not the star of the show, so they wouldn't mind. Where is this dame?" He's one step closer to finding his sister, this might be it.
"It's a long walk from here, 4 hours from here maybe? We better going before the rain gets any worse."
Rin delivered the last chair. She was soaking wet, but it's worth it. Catherine gained their trust, and thought they weren't bad people, which they weren't of course. Rin felt bad that she did something good just so they could interrogate her. Len who realized the 'bad feeling' patted her in the shoulder and whispered.
"You'd do that if you were there too, wouldn't you?" That's true. Rin would help her, even if she had to have wet clothes.
"If you want a change of clothes, I have some. I'm not sure if they're the right size, though." Catherine served them warm tea near the fire place to prevent any of them to have a cold.
Everything was stacked perfectly on the corner of the room. Now the living room was crowded with decorations, chairs especially. Rin couldn't believe it fits. The chairs, the tables, the ribbons, the roses, everything. Her house was smaller than Rin thought it would be. It's probably half the size of Miku's inn.
"I'm really sorry I caused you a lot of trouble, when I don't even know your name." Is it a good idea to tell her his name? Hopefully, it's a good idea. Just in case, Len won't tell him his surname.
"My name is Len, and this is my…" Saying 'assistant' isn't such a good idea. Saying that will lead to questions. "Friend. Her name is Rin. You don't mind if I bring someone to your wedding do you?" He wasn't lying, Rin is his friend. He'd known each other for quite a while, so, she's a friend.
"After what you've done, I don't mind if you invite hundreds of your friends." She gave them each a smile. The interrogation starts, now.
"How long have you known each other, you and Thomas? From the painting over there, it seems like you know him ever since you can remember." Len looked at the painting, it was a bit wet, but it still looks presentable.
"For 6 years. I used to work as a secretary in his truffle company, then, we met."
"I've tasted his truffle before, it was delicious."
"So, was it love at first sight?" Catherine blushed when he said that, which probably means, yes. It was love at first sight.
"I remember it like it was yesterday. I was walking down the stairs when I saw him. Thomas said good morning and asked how was work. I recognized his face, he was the owner of the company. Seeing as he was so formal I answered back. A second later he giggled. He wasn't the boss, he was the CEO. I swore Thomas looked just like the owner, and then he told me the owner, Timothy, was his twin brother. He fooled me well. That time I couldn't tell which one was which. Now, I know well who's who." Perfect. Catherine told them more than enough information. The greedy part in Len still wanted to know more. There's a chance the mayor will come inside the house and kick them out from his house, but Len still wanted to know more.
"You became friends immediately? I'd be friends with him if he's that lively."
"I agree. I'm so glad I met him on those stairs. I'm disappointed that the wedding has to be delayed, but at least…" They heard the door opened. Len hoped in his heart it wasn't the mayor. There are so many things he needed to know.
'Please… Not the mayor.' Len was ready to jump out the window if the mayor was there. They were at the second floor, it's not really high up. Wait, what about Rin? His thoughts fade away as soon as he saw who it was.
The man stepped inside the room, he looked vaguely familiar. Len looked at the painting on the corner, it was the broom. Thomas. Len wanted to breathe out a sigh of relief, but then they'd suspect something.
"We have a guest?" His voice sounded friendly, just like how he was described in Catherine's story.
"They helped me put the decorations and everything inside. They were a big help, really." Thomas gave him a smile as a sign of thanks. Then his smile fades away.
"I'm sorry the wedding has to be canceled." Guilt was in every word mentioned by Thomas.
"It's not your fault it rains. Let me get some more tea." Catherine stood up from where she sat and went to the kitchen. Len thought, Catherine didn't recognize him, will Thomas recognize him?
"You must be a lucky man to marry her. She just told us how you both met." Len made another conversation / interrogation. This time, from a different source.
"Well, I tricked a lot of people that I'm the boss. One time, I even yelled at a random person and he thought I was the boss. It's hilarious. Especially when they realized I'm not him." He looked like he had a good time fooling people.
"So you're identical twins?" Thomas nodded.
"No one can tell us apart, even our parents sometimes. We're completely different in personalities, but we have the exact same face. It's fun watching people confused."
Len looked around the room, what else should he ask? He couldn't ask anything personal yet, like, how come you're a CEO while your brother's the owner?
"Anyway, I'm forever grateful that you helped Catherine carry all those furniture back. Is there any way I can help you?" A request? That's perfect. Len had one thing in mind.
"Yes. Do you mind if I have a tour of your house? It's such a unique house, and I'm quite interested in interior decorating." Such a lie, Rin thought. If you're so interested, why not put some furniture in your own mansion? Rin commented in her head.
"You want a tour of my little house?"
"The rain hadn't stop and I thought we could talk while we walk around. I don't bring an umbrella with me, but if you don't want, then I could go back to the i…"
"No, no, it's not that I don't want you to have a tour. I just don't know what you can see here. If you want, I'll be happy to be your guide for the day." Perfect. Len thought.
"Good. Do you play any musical instrument? I love music." Len tried to sound less suspicious. A random person asked to have a tour in his house, is considered as suspicious.
"Then we share something in common. I love to play the violin in my spare time. Let's go there first, to the music room."