A/N: This fanfic is nearly drawing to a close. There is only this chapter left, along with three more. I still am trying to figure out how to write the fourth fanfic for this series. However, before I start that one, I may write a few one-shots unrelated to the Toji No Miko murder mystery series. Or I may take a quick break from writing. We shall see.

Chapter 18: Man's Last Words

"Morphine tablets, sir."

Wiping his glasses with a cleaning cloth, the medical examiner squinted his eyes slightly, setting his mouth into a brusque frown. He picked up a small bottle of painkillers on George's bedside table and handed it over for Officer Kuroda to see for himself. The policeman read the label carefully before checking its contents.

"Pills were switched out for the stuff, alright," he grunted.

"I don't doubt we'll also find traces of the stuff when the autopsy is done," the medical examiner agreed.

"Mm. I'll leave you and the others to it. Need a word with Kanami-chan and Hiyori-sama."

"Of course, sir."

Closing the door softly behind him, Officer Kuroda stepped out into the hallway where the two Tojis were waiting. He discovered that they were not alone when his gaze fell on the crowd of people around them. Waiting anxiously, the other guests along with Hinata stared at the police officer with frightened eyes.

"It was an overdose, sir?" Naomi asked, in a hushed voice.

"His painkillers were replaced with morphine tablets," was the police officer's grave response.

He looked with pitiful eyes at the only person crying among the group. Her face hidden by a handkerchief, Mary's body shook as she sobbed uncontrollably. The sounds coming from the English professor were like the howls of a mournful dog. She occasionally let out a strangled cough from choking for air. Using her uninjured arm, Yayoi rubbed the American lady's back hoping to comfort her through soothing gestures.

"Who here has brought morphine tablets?" Officer Kuroda demanded.

"I think I can answer that for you," Hiyori said with a frown. "When I searched Doctor Ishikawa's medical bag, I found a small bottle of them."

All heads shot towards Kenzou, who automatically braced himself from those deep hostile glances. The doctor straightened his back and tilted his chin up slightly.

"I always carry them, along with other medication," he said, defensively. "I administer them to patients in terrible pain. For God's sake, I have a license!"

"So, they are yours then?" Officer Kuroda asked. "Will you tell us where those morphine tablets are now, Doctor?"

"Why Hiyori-sama just told you—in my medical bag!" Kenzou cried.

"We shall have to confirm that..."

In a silent procession, they all moved towards the doctor's room. Confidently, Kenzou took his medical bag from under his bed and began rummaging through it. However, after a few seconds of being unable to find it, his grumpy expression altered into one of increasing alarm. In desperation, he turned the whole thing upside down and shook it, dumping everything onto the floor.

The morphine tablets were nowhere to be found.

"Someone must've stolen them!"

All eyes attacked the panic-stricken doctor, as he weakly took a step back. "Why should I wish to intentionally switch the medication of a man I never before? I didn't even know he took painkillers in the first place. If anything, the general must've stolen them himself."

Kanami arched an eyebrow. "You mean committed suicide?"

Equally unconvinced, Daisuke made a short explosive sound through his nose. "Damned queer for a man like him to just do away with himself."

"I don't believe that suicidal idea for a second," Hiyori snorted.

Officer Kuroda said, "Neither do I. For one thing, my colleagues and I searched General Wilson's room just now—and his room key is missing."

"So, in other words, the killer took the key with him—or her," Kanami mused aloud.

Her words triggered another round of blubbering from Mary. Pursing her lips, Naomi patted the English professor's shoulder, before holding her in a gentle side-hug.

"There, there, darling," the actress said. "Come to my room. What you need is a warm cup of tea to calm you down and—"

"NO!"

The outburst was so sudden and unexpected that it took everyone aback. There was no mistaking the inconsolable sorrow in Mary's eyes, tinged with fear.

The strawberry-blonde curls of her wig quivered as she said, vehemently, "I won't be alone with any single one of you. I won't. I won't! George is now dead and—"

She never got to finish her sentence due to having to blow her nose again. The pitiful face of the general's former lover was all red and her eyes swollen with tears that refused to stop streaming. The reality of George being gone forever made Mary feel as though her whole world had shattered into pieces. They would never be together again. She would never again see those charming blue eyes; that wide smile that'd stretch from ear to ear; nor hear his deep hearty laugh... Mary's chest tightened painfully in remembrance of his proposal to her. If she had reconsidered his offer, it was too late now. In her heart, she herself had died with George.

After staring at the miserable woman, Officer Kuroda let out a sigh. "In the meanwhile, Doctor Ishikawa, I think it would be best if all your pills and tablets were kept under lock and key for the time being. Fujimori, please put them in the front desk safe and have the key given to me. I do not want anyone touching them."

Hinata inclined his head. "Right away, sir."

The body of George Wilson was taken away by the Ibaraki Police not long after. From the hotel entrance, Mary watched them drive away until the vehicles disappeared out of sight. She was so numb that she didn't even feel the frigid cold as snowflakes continued to fall down on her. The English professor wanted nothing more than for this to just be a nightmare. George would come from his room after a nap and bound down the grand staircase. They'd embrace and kiss and then...

"Carter-san, please come inside," came Hinata's urgent voice from behind. "It will not do for you to catch a cold out here."

Seeing that the woman refused to move, the hotel proprietor held her by both shoulders and firmly pulled her back indoors. He led her into the lounge where everyone was waiting. Yayoi and Naomi did not hesitate to go to their grieving fellow guest's side. Together, the two women guided Mary to one of the sofas and sat with her.

"Carter-san, do have some spirit. You've had rather a shock," Daisuke said.

However, Mary shook her head, pushing away the brandy he held out to her.

"Sozhaleyu ob utrate, dorogaya. I know it hurts," Yayoi said. "Although he was a stranger, I'm sure I can speak for all of us that he seemed a jolly good man."

"George was all that remained of my childhood. He was a reminder of the girl I once was...and now, he's gone forever," Mary said.

Pursing her purple lips, Naomi attempted to get through to her. "Carter-san—"

But Mary only stood up abruptly and said, "I want to be alone if you please," before running upstairs in tears.

Shaking their heads, Kenzou and Daisuke left the lounge, the latter commenting, "Poor girl."

"Obvious that she loved the ol' chap," the doctor agreed.

Naomi watched them leave, her narrowed eyes mainly fixed on Kenzou. "It was definitely him."

Yayoi stared at the actress, trying to contain her astonishment. "Do you really think—"

"Definitely."

Sitting at the same mahogany table where they conducted their interview, Kanami, Hiyori, and Officer Kuroda were talking in low voices. Officer Kuroda took out the cigarette he had in his mouth before speaking.

"I just had a word with Fujimori before my colleagues left. He checked with his staff members and there's no master key missing. Means that the killer must've probably picked the lock somehow, took General Wilson's key after murdering him, and then locked the door with it. If Jacklyn Ripper is indeed an expert at lock-picking, I don't doubt that's how she was able to easily access other rooms around this damned place."

"Who had the best chance of killing General Wilson undetected though?" Hiyori questioned aloud.

"This morning, we were all together in the lounge..." Kanami murmured. "First, Carter-san and Shinbo-san left to prepare themselves for going to the onsen."

"And Shinbo-san said she had to 'do something'. Something that she did not specify as to what that task was," Hiyori interrupted, suggestively.

"Right...then Hashimoto-san left next to read a book in his room," Kanami continued.

"Then, the doctor, the general, and last of all, Taniguchi-san," Officer Kuroda finished.

Deep in her thoughts, Kanami pulled at her front bangs as she stared out one of the lounge windows. Her shrewd eyes looked at the image of the large room reflected on the glass. Just by looking at it, she could see Naomi and Yayoi still on the sofa. And closer to the Minoseki Toji herself were her other two investigators. Kanami drew her eyebrows together, watching her reflection do the same.

She turned back to Hiyori and Officer Kuroda with a purposeful glance. "I noticed at breakfast that General Wilson looked troubled."

"Troubled?" Hiyori repeated. "But he was talking and laughing as merrily as a—as a—"

She struggled to make up a simile, but Kanami and Officer Kuroda understood. Giving up, the Origami Head added, "He was in animated conversation—well, save for when Hashimoto Daisuke and Doctor Ishikawa made those comments about Western countries."

"Yes, I know," Kanami said. "However, this happened after that. I heard General Wilson say something partway through the meal. He mentioned something not making sense..."

"What didn't make sense?" Officer Kuroda questioned, curiously.

The Minoseki Toji shook her head. "He didn't say. He just said out loud, 'It doesn't make any sense...' and that was it."

Lifting her now intense light-brown eyes to her fellow investigators, she added in a hushed voice, "His words must've been heard by someone and brought something to light."

"But what?" Hiyori asked.

"That, Hiyori-chan, is the question that puzzles me the most."

A/N: BTW, what Yayoi said in Russian to Mary is, "My condolences for your loss, darling." I used the romanization version to help in terms of pronunciation for my English readers. Although, my Russian is still very rusty. :P