CHAPTER 40:
"The Gifted Few"
Mogi had been standing aside for most of the discussion. The hefty detective handed L a computer tablet. Light caught a glimpse of it before L took it. It was on the website Wikipedia. The big man was quiet, but he was always working.
He must have been looking something up while we were all talking? Light thought.
L began reading what was on the tablet and suddenly his eyes lit up with an explosive awe.
"Ryuzaki, what is it? What did Mogi give you?" Light asked.
L smiled, then said, "Thank you, Mogi. This will be extremely helpful."
The detective smiled mildly. Mogi rarely ever spoke, the quiet giant type. He stood back.
L held the tablet up with two fingers, fore and thumb, as if it were a very valuable piece of crystal-ware.
"This everyone," L began, "is perhaps the breakthrough we've been looking for. Mogi just handed me information that could have far reaching implications for the secret behind Kira's powers, supernatural in nature. Kira is killing criminals again—I loosely refer to him as a Third Kira; he started when Light was still incarcerated—but this may solve something for us here and now. I've heard of this and I'm glad I was reminded of it. It's called Savant Syndrome. It's a medical condition whereas someone with significant mental disabilities demonstrates certain abilities, akin to Autism, that are far in excess of what we know as average and often related to memory. For example: rapid thinking—like Light demonstrated for us with Draycott's clue—map making, artistic ability, musical ability, any combination of other things. AKA: The gifted few."
Light replied, "Forgive me in advance if this sounds a bit narcissistic, but are you inferring that the Savant Society could be made up of highly intelligent people like some sort of elitist social club?"
L shrugged.
Light continued. "If we take this into account, what if these cryptic messages aren't a warning, per se, but informing Kira that the Savant Society is interested in recruiting him? Demmy has infiltrated this cult somehow…and here he found Dana." Light paused, mused. "No wonder Dana disappeared without a trace five years ago. If she got involved in the Savant Society, or any member of her family did—I know her father was deeply involved in large financial circles—and she left with him…maybe against her will…and unable to tell anyone…"
"Light, you're rambling again," his father said.
"Oh, sorry," Light said, "just trying to reason things out loud."
His father put a hand on Light's shoulder. "I know how much you cared for Dana," he said. "And trust me, I know Demetre cares for you, too. I think he hopes in getting these messages out to someone who can decipher them, like you, because perhaps he is putting out a warning? Not only to Kira, but to any one else that may be caught in some sort of crossfire. But it may just be a theory?"
"Theory or not, it may be valuable to the Kira Case, Dad," Light said.
"Demetre has had a lot to deal with lately," Soichiro went on. "The death of his grandfather, for one, at the hands of Kira, and maybe the Savant Society does want Kira to join them, and Demetre needs help to stop them? I know Demetre loved his grandfather very much and he was devastated when he died. His grandfather was killed for a crime falsely accused of. If Kira ever regretted anything, I bet he regretted that kill. That's if Kira knew the significance of the kill?"
L waved a hand in the air as if to shoe away something negligible. "I would disagree with you on that point, Mr. Yagami. Kira is a psychopath, he wouldn't and doesn't care. Kira kills anyone to serve his agenda even if it's to generate fear—those twelve FBI agents, for example."
L continued, "But returning to the original topic. Light, what you proposed that the Savant Society may be some sort of elitist club for intellectuals is quite probable. But I would say they're not just intellectuals, but people with special gifts. And they are very much aware of how much power they wield. I know a few people with special gifts that you'd think was improbable. If Demetre Draycott has gotten involved with the Savant Society, Light, then the question is why? I much admit, though, these messages are brilliant."
"Yes, I agree," Light remarked with a hint of jealousy. You've always been my most worthy rival, Demmy.
L smirked. "I'm glad you're on our side, Light. If you were Kira and saw these messages, understood them, then I'd be in the fight of my life. Kira, the Savant Society, and whatever else is awaiting us out there…" L breathed out. "And I thought I only had to contend with Kira. Maybe I should just go hide under my bed for the duration of this investigation? It's beginning to sound like a scary coup d'etat against me."
"Ryuzaki, that isn't funny," Soichiro said.
Light frowned. "Once again, Ryuzaki, I'm not Kira. Get that through that thick skull of yours!"
Ryuzaki cocked his head. "My head's pretty hard," he said, rapping the right side with his knuckles. "There's still a three percent chance that you are. Live with it."
Light rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever, Ryuzaki," he said. "Demmy may need my help and I would like to help him." And I want to see Dana again. "Do we have anything of substance about the Savant Society? Maybe we should reconsider our decision to visit the Savant Mansion?"
L put up a hand. "Wait," he started. "Despite us talking about it before, this new information warrants extreme caution dealing with the Savant Society now. Demetre Draycott's messages are red flags, warning us to stay away, but also, possibly, telling Kira that they want to make contact. And I'm curious, do members of the Savant Society have a similar power like Kira? Instead of going off half-cocked, can you somehow relay a message covertly to Demetre to say his message was received?"
"Sure," Light said, "but it may take some time. I need something secretive that only Demmy will know, so he knows it's coming from me. Our annual sabbaticals are out, Dana knew about those. So, I bet the Savant Society does, as well…"
"Tell me about your friend, Demetre Draycott," L asked. "Your friend right now is an enigma in our fight against Kira and I need to know a possible motive why he would get involved with the Savant Society? What may have drawn him to them? I was only able to speak with him a short time after I caught him watching the abduction of Misa Amane at your university, so I wasn't able to get a complete picture of him."
"He's a very good friend, Ryuzaki," Light said, almost defensively. "He's been at my side through the good and bad times, especially when Dana left. He's my closest friend in the world. And if push came to shove, I bet he would even put himself in harms way for me."
"I see," L said. "And if he knew certain things about you, would he protect you even then?"
"What are you implying?"
L waved it off. "Never mind, just thinking out loud," he said. "Go on."
"Um, Light," his father spoke up. "I need to tell you something. I only recently found out. I'm not sure Demetre even knows. His parents wanted to keep it from him until the time was right. It would have devastated him, but then Kira stepped in."
"What is it, Dad?" Light asked, a little concerned.
"Demetre's grandfather was dying of terminal cancer," Soichiro revealed. "I was told it would have been a considerably painful death and there was nothing the doctors could do. I don't know the medical term, but it had something to do with the blood."
It was a good thing he was sitting, because Light thought he was going to collapse.
"So, without even knowing it, Kira did Demetre's grandfather a favour, so to speak," L remarked. "Reminds me of your friend Maverick Hachiko when it was found out that he had brain cancer, but only after he died. But mercy killings aren't Kira's style."
Light looked up from his shock. "It doesn't make it right, Ryuzaki," he said. "Murder is still murder!"
"No, it doesn't," L replied. "Now, at the risk of sounding impolite…Light, I need you to make contact with Demetre Draycott. Watari and I will continue to investigate the Savant Society, but from afar. Matsuda, please contact Mr. Aizawa. I know he's helping Ms. Amane at the moment, being her chaperone today for her movie shoot. You are her Manager, Matsuda, but Aizawa said he wanted to a little fresh air today."
"Sure, what should I say to him?" Matsuda said.
"Just to be prepared for some difficult times ahead," L said.
To be continued...
(Author's Note: "The Case of Jasper Yuta", 'The Kuzushi Affair", and "Crossing the Line" all take place after this chapter.)