Chapter Twenty-Three:

"Captain's reports say you saw McDonnell down by the lake the day it happened," Brown went on. "You're sure he was alone?"

"No," Seto said, both because it was the truth and because he still believed Yuugi and Katsuya were in on it together and so putting the idea of more than one perpetrator in the officers' minds might be beneficial, though McDonnell's confession should already have done that. "Even without foliage, the brush was too thick for much of a view."

Brown nodded, taking notes. "McDonnell said someone paid him. That he was approached with the bribe on the twenty-second, the week before the party. Were you in London on that date?"

Reluctantly, Seto agreed that he was. "I was shopping with my younger brother for school things. He was to return to school on first, the day after the party."

"When did you return home?"

"I'm not exactly sure. In time for supper."

"Your staff and brother could corroborate?"

"Yes." They could, though it wouldn't matter much considering all would have good reason to validate Seto's story, true or not. He was sure Officer Brown knew that.

"Did anyone leave the party that you remember?"

Here, Seto lied. He could have easily have named Yuugi as having left the party and later rejoined, because he had, but he knew implicating Yuugi even faintly with zero evidence wasn't smart. He'd have known that even if Atemu hadn't stressed it to him.

"Not that I am aware of, but there were a lot of attendees."

Brown frowned slightly, but still nodded while writing. "Some of your peers stated the King's cousin and a man named Alfred Brown-no relation-both left during the festivities."

Seto was surprised someone else had said anything about Yuugi, but he didn't correct himself or make a comment. Brown continued.

"Alfred Brown left entirely, but to attend another function. Still, he could have had time to meet McDonnell." Brown flipped through his notebook, then withdrew a small photograph. He held it out to Seto. "Alfred Brown. Do you recognize this man?"

Seto glanced at the photograph, but he genuinely had no idea who he was and said so. The policeman took the photo back and returned it to his notebook.

"No matter."

Seto understood what was happening. Brown was undoubtedly at the top of the list of suspects. He'd been in attendance, he'd left, he was a man who was probably taller than McDonnell, and he was undoubtedly rich. He had the ability and means to put McDonnell in motion. The police were merely looking for the motive.

What could Seto do? The police were under immense pressure to get to the bottom of this, and a flimsy connection would probably be enough for them. Seto didn't know Alfred from Adam, so if he tried to vouch for him, the police would wonder why. And he didn't know if he dared to send a letter to Atemu. Even with Atemu's favor, he would be appearing to be beating the dead horse on Yuugi's guilt.

Seto had no recourse.

"Does nothing else stand out in your mind, sir? No matter how trivial?"

"No."

"Very well. I thank you for your time."

Seto left the Yard, quite sure that Yuugi and Katsuya would soon have their unfortunate scapegoat in a box.

Fifteenth February arrived. As far as Seto could tell, Alfred Brown had not been arrested, but he had been questioned even more than Seto, and the whispers were rampant. An op-ed had appeared in the paper, attempting to proclaim Alfred's innocence through a character defense, but that didn't mean much.

Mokuba had written home, having actually heard from Rose now. His letter was full of anger and hurt, again demanding Seto do something, and then outright accusing Seto of caring more about his pride than his brother. That stung as well as angered him, but his hands were tied on that matter, too. He couldn't very well beg the Kensingtons to see him, and not just for his pride.

To appease Alexandra a bit and to test her reports, Seto had attended her Valentine's function. Then after the sixth person had tried to fish details about the skating incident and McDonnell out of him, with one all but asking Seto if he had anything to do with it, he left early.

McDonnell's trial had not yet started. It was set for Monday, the twenty-second, allowing all Valentine's functions to be over with and to make sure the public had nothing else on their minds.

Yuugi and Katsuya were home. What happened next was anyone's guess.

What did happen next Seto could never have predicted.

On the eighteenth, he was heading from lunch to one of his business holdings to do his monthly check in on its operations when Katsuya himself stepped into Seto's way as he was crossing the street. Accompanying him were Brown and two other policemen. Seto's servants were pushed away by the two unnamed officers and Katsuya and Brown stepped right up to Seto.

Katsuya was in full uniform. He was unsmiling as Brown reached out to stop Seto. With extreme gentleness and deference, but clear firmness, Brown asked Seto to accompany them. A police carriage had pulled up and one of the two unnamed policemen opened the carriage door.

"What is this about?" Seto demanded, staring directly at Katsuya.

"Sir, really, you should first come with us-"

"What is this about?" Seto repeated, still looking at Katsuya.

Still unsmiling, Katsuya spoke quietly enough that no one but Seto, the policemen, and Seto's servants could hear. In view of his men and the public, he was acting exactly the way a proper constable would.

"You're under arrest for suspicion of murder, Seto Kaiba," he said.

"What?" Seto snapped. "You know I had nothing to do with Lady Helen's-"

"Get in the carriage, Kaiba," Katsuya said, voice a little louder. "I can put you in handcuffs if you're going to be difficult."

With little choice, Seto climbed into the carriage. One of the two unnamed policeman joined the driver in the driver's box, while Katsuya, Brown, and the other one got in back with Seto.

"What is the meaning of this?" Seto snarled as the carriage headed down the road.

Katsuya only stared at him silently, his face a stone mask.

"In due time, Mr. Kaiba," Brown said.

The ride to their destination took some time, and Katsuya and Seto never stopped looking at each other. Seto couldn't help but notice that Katsuya's façade was perfect. There was nothing on his face.

The carriage finally stopped. Seto was not exactly surprised to see that they had arrived at the Surrey House of Correction. It was a godawful gaol, and Seto had already heard from several sources that it was the current residence for McDonnell.

"Constable, I demand you tell me what is going on," Seto said.

Katsuya grabbed his arm. "Oh, I will, in just a moment. Come on, Kaiba."

The two unnamed cops and Brown were right behind them. Fuming, Seto yanked his arm from Katsuya's grasp, but followed him into the gaol. It reeked and there were screams and nutty laughter. Prison reform was on the rise, but at the moment, this was largely what was offered Britain's criminals.

That, or transport to Australia.

Katsuya led him down through the hallways, ignoring the catcalls and threats from inmates, to the end of one of the blocks, which was empty starting from the fifth cell down. Down there, on the left, was a cluster of policemen, one operating a clunky bellows camera. The group of five all snapped to attention as Katsuya approached.

"Sir, we've cleared out the prisoners, taken the photographs, and lain all the markers," one said.

"Good. Step back. Come here, Kaiba."

Seto stepped forward, dread beginning to wash over him.

"You wanted to know what for," Katsuya said as he stepped up beside him.

Seto peered into the cell. Spread eagle on the floor, eyes and mouth open wide, lay the body of Shamus McDonnell. It was not a gruesome scene. The hapless Irishman was unmarked and there was no blood except for a small, crown-sized spot slightly to the left of his breast bone.

Protruding from that spot was a thin, ornately carved metal blade.

Seto recognized it at once.

It was his missing letter opener.

tbc...