Part Ten:
"Confrontation"
The moment Demetre Draycott entered Shinto Izanagi's office, he knew exactly what had to be done. He and Leopard Nétè crossed the large office of the CEO of the Tsuku-Yoki Corporation which took up a quarter of the top floor and then stopped at the metal door that lead to Izanagi's private penthouse. The door had a bio-metric lock, and of course, Demetre had full access.
"So, this is Mr. Izanagi's private residence?" Leopard Nétè asked. "And he invited me?"
"Oui," said Tréy Cottré, Demetre donning his French Nationalist accent. "He wishes to speak with me about an issue and he wishes to thank you for introducing him to Mr. Leandro."
Demetre had concocted the new identity of a French Nationalist to remove himself from his old identity. He was later introduced by Shinto Izanagi as both the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the Tsuku-Yoki Corporation. Demetre invented a background that would stand up to scrutiny if investigated and he waged the New Kira Task Force under Near already had done so.
Demetre Draycott was dead, he was now Tréy Cottré, faking his death after his parents' deaths. There had been nothing to go back to, or to keep. So, the best thing was the begin new—like Light.
Demetre took few online business courses and earned himself a degree. He even picked up a few law courses, but stopped short in taking the Barr Exam which would have made him a lawyer like his father. He was smart, perhaps even smarter than Light. But he downplayed that kind of narcissism because Light had an acumen for different fields that he lacked. Not everyone could know everything.
When he was younger, he wondered if he would make a good lawyer like his father. Unfortunately, after picking up the Death Note that fateful day in the alley when he was walking home from Hachiko Square after he witnessed the Second Kira's declaration with hundreds of others on a large television screen on the side of a tall building, his plans were equivocally changed.
It didn't come without immense sacrifice. And a long lost love of his life Dana Chika was killed by an ex-NPA officer with an axe to grind. He hunted for Zurn Wellington for years, and went through countless hurtles with both the Savant Society and the League of Darkness, but while his efforts aided in both cults annihilating themselves, Zurn was still on the loose.
Demetre didn't kill for vengeance, and he still had strong religious convictions, but that didn't mean he did believe he could use the Death Note to its utmost advantage.
He learned over the years, thanks to Geist, that the Death Note had other attributes, that could be used in other ways without senseless murder. He employed these methods and had managed to crush a lot of his enemies: people who wanted him dead and those who wanted to harm Light. Light was his closest friend. They became friends at a young age when he moved to Japan with his family from America because his father's law firm wanted to open up a branch in Japan. Demetre's father was the best choice and the family moved to Japan without issue.
He first met Light in a neighbourhood playground—
The bio-metric sensor beeped which allowed access for Demetre and Nétè to enter.
Geist had not joined Demetre in the elevator on their way to the top floor. His bulk and weight would be too much for it to handle, so he had gone up ahead, and he now materialized in Shinto Izanagi's apartment when the door opened after Demetre's palm print was recognized.
Things were about to get interesting, Demetre thought.
Light witnessed Demetre and Leopard Nétè enter into the foray of his penthouse through a CCTV surveillance system from a private server on his personal laptop in his Study. He had followed them the entire way from the outside office lobby, entering his office. But there were no cameras in his personal office for security reasons, so he had to pick up the feed again on his own server in the foray.
As expected, from the expression on his face, Nétè appeared stunned and impressed by what he saw, as he looked around the foray, stopping a few metres from the Study doors. Shinto Izanagi's residence took up two-thirds of the top floor of Tsuku-Yoki Tower.
With a single glance by Demetre at the nearest hidden camera as Nétè was distracted by the luxury of the penthouse therein, Light saw a strange look in his friend's eyes. It was a look of urgency. Light took a moment to review Leopard Nétè's dossier and financial records which were easily obtained. "Hmm," he sounded, acknowledging something on the screen. "Now this is interesting…"
Ritchie stood next to the double doors as Light positioned himself to greet his guest in the Study. His new mask, one of light steel. Something about the situation told him that he required a good quality mask with more durability. He hadn't worn this mask before, it was designed and crafted by Dr. Lovecraft.
Light gave Ritchie a nod and he opened the Study doors. The moment that happened, Leopard Nétè turned towards them, standing next to one of the half-moon couches. Tréy Cottré—Demetre—stood a meter away. Demetre gestured Nétè towards the Study and Nétè walked over.
Geist was in the foray as well, but only Light and Demetre could see him. He stood back.
Light noticed Nétè's awe of the Study's stunning interior, Shinto's inner sanctum. No one had been in Shinto Izanagi's private residence other than his closest acquaintances. Nétè looked at the large animal mosaics on the wall and the Wall of Masks with one's no one had ever seen in public.
There was an eerie silence. Light watched Nétè closely, analyzing the five foot, eight inch man. Leopard Nétè was a good worker, his records showed that. But now, they showed something else. And all respect Light had for the man was abandoned. And with the recent 'Freedom First!' fresco, someone had to pay for the embarrassment. Leopard Nétè would be that man.
Leopard Nétè swallowed hard. He looked nervous.
Demetre shut the double doors, Geist stayed outside, if needed.
Demetre stood in front of the doors as if he was a lowly security guard. Demetre knew what Light wanted. Nétè looked back a little jittery, his eyes wide. Nétè turned to the CEO, standing up straight.
"You have a very nice home, Mr. Izanagi," Nétè said, obviously wishing to get on the boss's good side right out the gate. "Mr. Cottré said you wished to see me, Mr. Izanagi?"
Light stared at Nétè through the mask. If the eyes were truly the window to a person's soul, then Light was looking into the very essence of a lair.
Light/Shinto reached across his desk and picked up a small gold weight that sat next to the justice scale on his desk. He silently gave it to Ritchie, who then gave it to Leopard Nétè.
Nétè looked confused. "Sir?"
"Justice is only balanced when truth is achieved," Shinto said, his voice box reverberating the sound. He sounded robotic, monotone. But he didn't care. "Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Nétè?"
"I—I don't understand, Mr. Izanagi?" Nétè asked, the gold weight held loosely in his hands.
"The weight in your hand, Mr. Nétè, place it on one of the scale trays please," Shinto told him.
Nétè blinked, he obviously didn't understand, but h put the small weight on one of the trays. Light made quick observation of which one. Nétè placed it on the left tray and the scale dropped to the left hitting the surface of the oak desk. The justice scale was just not for show, a symbol of justice, but it was also a used as a kind of polygraph test.
The scale was made from a special material brought to the Human World by Morph that weighed the weight of a person's soul. The deeper the drop, the heavier the onus, and from the way the scale reacted, Leopard Nétè had a heavy burden. Light already knew what that was after reviewing Nétè's records.
Silence waited Nétè. Shinto made eye contact was Nétè. A small bead of sweat was seen streaming down Nete's right temple and the man swallowed gulped. "Sir, I don't understand what's going on here? Have I displeased you in some way? If so, I'll try and make amends."
Shinto stapled his fingers, elbows on desk, he remained silent for a few moments and then looked at Leopard Nétè straightly. "Amends, Mr. Nétè? Oh, I believe we have an issue that needs addressing. And it involved Nicholas Leandro. Remind me, Mr. Nétè, you come from a background of finances, correct?"
"Yes, sir," Nétè replied. "Both my father and mother are financial agents. I followed in their footsteps."
"So, you know your way around, say, investment portfolios, and can analyze the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments, even access them when needed, correct?"
"Y-yes, sir, I can," Nétè said, a little nervously.
Light analyzed the situation and took into consideration Nétè's body language. As a former police officer, Light knew how to judge a person simply by reading their stances and gestures. And Nétè seemed to look befuddled. "Did Mr. Cottré inform you why I wanted to see you?" Light gave a slight glance to Demetre.
"Yes, sir," Nétè said, "to thank me for acquiring the services of Nicholas Leandro, if I am correct?"
"Indeed," Shinto said. "Thanks are in order, Mr. Nétè, that is for sure. But we seem to have a problem."
Nétè gulped. "P-problem, sir? With what, may I ask?"
"With someone in personnel," Izanagi added.
"May I ask with whom, sir? I'd deal with him or her immediately," Nétè said. "Mr. Cottré is a very busy person as your right hand man, but as his assistant I have the ability to help him when needed when it comes these sorts of matters, along with my other duties as a financial consultant."
Nétè seemed to ease, Light observed. His body language and even his face appeared to take into a belief that he was not the centre of ire of the boss, and that someone else was.
How little he was wrong.
To be continued...