A/N: Last night, my boyfriend and I celebrated our half-year anniversary over dinner (it was his idea). Of course, I—being a person who lacks adequate social skills—struggled to make conversation, so there were many long pauses of painfully awkward silence. I seriously will never understand how some people are so good at talking on and on for hours...*sigh*

Chapter 16: One Of Them

George sat on the edge of his bed. Like the high-ranking Marine officer he was, he kept his blue eyes alert. Once or twice he glanced at his door, which was both bolted and locked. In the silence of his room, only the tempestuous howls of the wind could be heard, blowing around the snow-capped mountains. The general shivered before getting up and tossing a few more logs onto the fire.

Should he ring for a staff member to bring him some hot coffee? He thought for a minute, before deciding against it. Right now, being around others was the last thing George wanted. With a rheumatic grunt, he relaxed onto one of the plush chairs by the hearth. Staring into the fireplace, the general let his disturbed mind wander.

First, that ol' boy, Kameyama Noboru, got exterminated—and now that charming lady, Taniguchi Yayoi, wounded in the arm! This Jacklyn Ripper was a mad homicidal lunatic alright!

George's thoughts then turned to Ebisu Chikane. A pang of grief tugged at the general's heart in remembrance of that cheery girl's smile. He could almost see her amused face laughing at him in the fireplace. Her emerald-green eyes and sweet dimples... Oh yes, he liked Chikane—she was a good kid.

Her family were nice folks too—very friendly and always ready to have a cheery conversation. A far outcry from the typical reserved Japanese people one would meet. George remembered going with the Ebisu Family down to the beach a lot. Summertime meant playing in the water with Chikane and her younger brother; going for ice cream; long evening walks with Chikane's parents...

'I wonder what the Ebisu Family do now that she's gone...'

And to think that the wicked killer was in the same building as him now! With a frown, George went over to his vanity drawer and unlocked it. Taking out his revolver, the general sat in his chair again, before putting his firearm in his lap and opening up a copy of The Asahi Shimbun.

'No serial killer is going to get me; I'll see to that!'

In the grand foyer, Daisuke was leaning against the front desk with a glass of beer in hand. Compared to his usual professional appearance, he was starting to look more like a wild animal. His dark hair was more unkempt than it already was in the morning. He had unbuttoned the top two buttons of his white untucked shirt, showing part of his chest, which was once muscular and strong. With a drunken gaze, the middle-aged salaryman took another large swig of his beer.

A deluge of nervous speech burst forth from Hinata. "Taniguchi-san is one of my most frequent and respected clients. Although I don't doubt the media will make headlines of this, if she should ever reveal what has happened to her, I shall surely be put out of business! I will be blamed for allowing a serial killer to stay as a guest and then—"

"Oh, for God's sake, shut up, ol' man. I'm trying to think," Daisuke snapped.

Hinata's lips immediately sealed closed. For a long time, not a word passed between the two men.

Then the proprietor dared to venture, "Who of the guests could it possibly be?"

Instead of getting annoyed again, Daisuke responded, "I think that's what everyone wants to know."

Tugging his long dark ponytail nervously, Hinata said, "Nobody has any idea who it is. Not even Etou-san—and she has the most brilliant young mind I know in criminology."

A snort escaped Daisuke's nostrils. Part of him still couldn't believe that everybody was putting their trust in a middle-school student—even that police officer! Daisuke had heard rumours of the Minoseki Toji already, but...

"I wouldn't say so. That kid seems to have more brawn than brains," the salaryman said. "However, I can perceive there is one person with a very criminal-like imagination."

Hinata looked up sharply at Daisuke with a wide-eyed stare. "You mean you think you know who it is?"

His only answer was an intelligent gaze cast his way.

After the pandemonium concerning the attempted murder on Yayoi's life, Naomi went to her own room. Just a few minutes ago, the actress had rung for a maid to send her a cup of tea. Taking a sip, Naomi let out a sigh of contentment as the warm liquid soothed her throat. With critical eyes, she stared at herself in the mirror.

'This whole business is making me look rather hideous...'

From her bedside table, she took her diary and pen and began writing.

Such events have happened today! First, that perverted photographer was found murdered this morning and now that beautiful Russian-like musician has been wounded by the criminal. What's more, the police officer and those two girls—one who is apparently a great detective—think Jacklyn Ripper is among us! I had rather no reaction in particular. All I can think of is...if one happened to be a serial killer that relished ripping girls apart in dark alleyways, why murder a dirty old man in a secluded hotel?

Laying her pen down and snapping the diary shut, Naomi looked at herself in the mirror again. There was a cruel smile on her face. It was sadistic and calculating—the look of an individual who relished ruining other people's lives...

With a light sinister chuckle, the actress took another sip of her tea before hurling the teacup into the fireplace.

Kenzou sat listlessly with Mary, close to the lounge's large fireplace. The two said little to each other, more absorbed in the chess game they were playing.

It was the doctor that spoke first. "That general man you are friends with..."

Moving one of her pawns, Mary looked up with dazed eyes.

"Are you both in love?" Kenzou asked.

The English professor looked away before nodding gently.

"Two people who love each other very much ought to be together," Kenzou said, as he moved his remaining bishop.

With a huff of impatience, Mary said, "I have hardly any time left on this Earth. What's the point?"

"My point is do you really want to live the rest of your life with regret? And also make General Wilson bear the pain of heartbreak for the rest of his?"

Mary remained silent. She clenched her fists, turning her knuckles white.

Standing up quickly, she said, at last, "You are a kind man, Doctor Ishikawa, and I'm sure you are wise too. But you don't know everything."

Before walking away, she smacked her queen across from Kenzou's king. "Checkmate."

Kenzou stared after her retreating figure with narrowed eyes. The light reflecting off his glasses cast a glare, hiding his eyes.

"I'm afraid I know more than you think..."

There was little appetite for dinner that evening. Nobody was in the mood to socialize after the meal. Mechanically, they all one-by-one went upstairs to their respective rooms. The sounds of bolts and locks being turned came after, along with the moving of furniture. Kanami and Hiyori were the last to retire to bed. Officer Kuroda escorted them up.

"Get a good night's sleep, you two," he said.

Exchanging their goodnights with the police officer, the two Tojis entered their room with bloodshot eyes. After double-checking to make sure their own door was made secure, Kanami let out a loud yawn and quickly undid her tie.

"Kanami?"

"Hm? What's up, Hiyori-chan?"

Turning around with a grave face, the ebony-haired girl handed Kanami the piece of paper she found on the bed. By now, both of them had already become familiar with the handwriting.

Dear Etou Kanami:

It seems that perhaps you aren't as clever as people say. Such a fun day it has been, hasn't it? First, the murder of Kameyama Noboru; then you failing to prevent me from stealing the Origami Family diadem; and now the wounding of Taniguchi Yayoi. Shocked, were you? Well, let me warn you: this game is far from over. We've only just got started.

—Jacklyn Ripper—

That night, Kanami sat up in bed, fully awake with her bedside lamp on. She did not get undressed. With one hand, the Minoseki Toji stroked her sleeping girlfriend's silky hair—with the other, she tightly held Chidori.

A/N: Slightly nervous because I have a Geography final exam approaching this Saturday. It was a huge mistake on my part to think that it was all just about memorizing countries and cities, along with registering for that course. Yikes...