CHAPTER 47:
"The Houdini of Crime"
The entire building had an automatous Artificial Intelligence system that was installed after the incident with Jasper Yuta, but even without handcuffs Light had no inclination to leave the building or even attempt an escape.
Light knew what L meant by he would allow Light to be free one last time, but watched. Every other time, when he began to trust Light, something weird or bizarre took place, and Light had to be chained up again.
Light had been allowed to roam the building free under an experimental period just before Jasper Yuta and his gang attacked it, disabling its security systems, when he targeted Light for something in the past. Then there was the incident with Ken Kuzushi, where Light was forced to wear an ankle bracelet when he went to rescue his family in Hokkaido-Jozankei Forest, and Light lost it. And then, most recently, on Cameron Cross's yacht, where the entire crew mysteriously died with he and Misa being the only survivors after they were invited on board by its owner.
He felt like a trapped dog, but it was a cage he accepted. At least for the time being until he completely cleaned his name.
They took the elevator down to the lobby alone, hand in hand.
Light still felt the relationship was one-sided and the card in the manga book was not his idea.
He originally wanted to write From Light, but then it was Ryuzaki who suggested Love Light. Ryuzaki said it would be in Light's best interest if he wanted get married and have children one day. And after the reaction he got, Light mentally thanked the detective for his great insight.
"Oh, Light," Misa began, "thank you again for the wonderful gift. I'll cherish it forever."
"You're welcome," he said, when they arrived at the lobby, stepping out of the elevator.
They walked to the lounge and seating area. There had been a security desk with a holographic projection of a guard in the lobby, but it was removed due to its futility after the Jasper Yuta Case.
Light recalled he was a kid when he got the manga signed. It didn't mean much to him now, but when he was younger he spent hours in line to get it autographed. And, to a degree, to give it to Misa broke his heart, because he knew it wouldn't mean anything to her in a couple of days.
Just then, a courier arrived at the double glass entrance doors to the building carrying a boutique of red roses and a heart-shaped box of chocolates. He knocked. The courier was wearing a light tan uniform with a cap pulled over his eyes. Light wondered if it had anything to do with the gusty winds outside and that it was the courier's way to keep it from blowing away while his hands were full.
Couriers had to hard time on the streets in Japan, especially those who rode bikes or scooters with all the traffic. And then there was the weather.
Light looked at the courier and wondered if the man had made an error in location? Was he knocking—or rather tapping with his boot—to ask for directions? No one here ordered roses or chocolates, although he had thought it.
The doors had a restricted security feature protocol that prevented someone from entering the building without a keycard or access code, so no one could just walk right in. Watari had let Misa in earlier from the secondary control room the old man normally resided in, kind of like a gatekeeper house. However, someone could give access from within with a push of a button on the wall next to one of the doors.
The polite thing to do was to ask where the man was going and then usher him in the right direction.
"Excuse me, Misa," Light said. "I'll see what he wants…"
Light left her, then pushed the button on the wall that opened the double glass doors, giving the courier access to the building.
The wind blew ferociously, the surrounding buildings acting like a wind tunnel.
"Whoa! Thank you," the courier said graciously. He had a definite American accent and spoke English. Light could understand him easily. In high school, he was at the top of his ESL (English as a Second Language) class. "Some wicked wind out there, eh? Thanks buddy!"
"You're welcome," Light said. "But I'm afraid you may have the wrong address."
"Nope, don't think so," the courier said assuredly. "Flowers and chocolate for a Misa Amane at this address. Same name as that movie address…but what are the odds of that, huh? From some guy named Light. Probably a fan or maybe an admirer? But what a weird name, eh? Reminds me of a toy I once knew called Light Bright. A toy to entertain Autistic children, I don't know?"
Light frowned. The man was brash, that was for sure.
Misa took the flowers and then sniffed them. "Oh Light, you really outdid yourself. They're beautiful! The book, the card, the flowers and chocolate…I think someone is going to get a big surprise tonight."
"But, I…"
"Ain't that the truth? Lucky dog! A pretty girl like this one should know a few good tricks in bed to get you going, eh? And, tell you the truth, you do look a lot like that famous actress. But, of course, I already knew that."
Suddenly, the courier reached into his uniform jacket and pulled out a Gloc-7 pistol. He pointed it at Light.
He lifted his cap, but kept it on. The courier was a young-looking man, in his mid or even late twenties. He had reddish-coloured hair that may or may not have been dyed, like part of some disguise.
Misa dropped the roses and the box of chocolates. Light put up his hands slowly.
The courier appeared to look Light over from head to toe. "Boy, you are pretty tall, just like your profile," the gunman said. "And what a waste," he added, looking at the flowers and box of chocolates on the floor. "Those cost nearly two hundred dollars or close to twenty-two thousand yen." He shrugged. "But pennies on the dollar for what I'm getting for this job."
"What job? Who are you?" Light asked, hands up.
"My client put out a hit on you, Light Yagami, and offered me a large sum of cash on the spot. I was told where to find you, so there was no effort to get here, other than stealing this uniform and ditching the courier in some alley. The flowers and chocolate were obviously for someone else, I tossed the card. Sad to say, the person they were destined for will be disappointed. Doubly sad is, you'll be the second person I'll kill today. I've never been a killer, seems a little too high profile for me. But hey, everyone's gotta change it up a little to survive. Am I right?"
"Again, who put out a contract out on me?" Light insisted. "I haven't done anything to warrant such a thing?"
The gunman shrugged. "Not my problem," he said. "Wait! We've been talking for a short spell and I haven't introduced myself. Forgive my manners. I'm the man every media outlet is talking about, the Houdini of Crime, the Master of Disguises, and one of the handsomest devil's you'll ever meet. The media also has another name for me, too, but I don't care for it. My name is…"
"Bryant Harvey," Light said straightly.
Bryan Harvey smiled broadly. "Ah, so even my wondrous exploits have made it all the way to Land of the Cherry Blossom. I'm American, so I normally stick to home. But if the incentive is right, I step out of my comfort zone. Like now."
"Your criminal activity is known world wide," Light stated.
Bryant Harvey smiled again. "Yeah, I'm famous! I'm just like Kira in a way. Only I don't hide in the shadows like a coward."
"Rumour has it, you can't be killed by Kira. Do you and Kira have some sort of working partnership?"
"Well, you could say that. But I've noticed Kira has changed up his MO lately, like he's suffered some sort of personality change. I'm not sure of it myself. At first, he left me alone, and said that he would be in touch if I was ever needed. And if I wanted to live, I would not kill. He claimed he knew my real name, got in touch with me by encrypted text. So, I did what Kira asked. But, other than that, I never heard from him."
"And now?"
"There's this new person behind the reigns, so to speak. I can't explain it. And I just recently met someone who claimed to be Kira's associate. He gave me all your information and paid me a shit load of cash to kill you. Like I said, this new Kira is a whole different breed than the last one."
Kira's power can swing from person to person, that was one of Ryuzaki's theories, Light thought.
"Kira kills himself, he doesn't get others to do his dirty work for him," Light explained. "Who is this someone who wants me dead?"
"Here I invoke client confidentiality privilege," Bryant Harvey said, waggling a finger on his free hand. "Wouldn't want it to get back to Kira that I ratted out his associate. And unlike in the movies where a villain spews out a complete monologue telling the hero everything just before he's about to be killed, I'm not stupid. I'm just a guy being paid to do a job. I'll leave the hard thinking to others."
"I deserve to know who wants to take my life!" Light demanded.
Harvey laughed. "Actually, you don't. Let's just say, it will be one of life's great mysteries. Okay, enough talk. Time to get the job done!"
Suddenly, the elevator dinged in the lobby, and the doors began to open.
Bryant Harvey wasted no time and fired upon the elevator. He fired two shots, which caused its occupant to hug the walls.
Light snapped his attention to the elevator, but couldn't see who had come down.
"Stop it!" he shouted, and then, without thinking, stepped in the line of fire, stopping Harvey from shooting.
He looked back and saw his father peaking out from the elevator, then the doors beginning to close. His father protested, but Watari most likely overrode them to keep him inside. It was a good thing, too, he didn't want his father hurt. His father most likely saw what was happening, L monitoring everything on CCTV. But what could his father really do without a weapon?
Bryant Harvey looked impressed. "Pretty bold, I could've killed you," he said. "Trying to look brave in front of your girlfriend? The famous actress, and what a catch!"
Light gave him a harsh look. "I thought killing me was your plan? If I'm going to die, then no one else will."
"Yup, that's the plan, and that's what I intend to do. But don't be so quick to die, hero. Let's just say, heroes often fail. Don't believe everything you see in movies, kid—where a hero often come out on top." Bryant Harvey took a brief glance around. "First, what is this place? This isn't your typical commercial building. I heard rumours that this is where the great detective L is housed up in? Is it true? I would like to meet him."
Just then, a sound was heard from the speaker system of the building like someone was tapping on a microphone. Light looked at the nearest ceiling speaker, then at the closest CCTV. He noticed it had turned and was now pointed directly at them.
"Is this thing on?" came L's voice's. He cleared his throat. "Ferret, Bryant Harvey, or whatever you call yourself—this is L. I hear you want to meet me. Sorry, but that's not possible—let's chat instead. Murder and hostage taking is a nasty business and I would like to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed, if it can be helped? Let's talk. How much are you getting for this job? I'll double it."
To be continued...