By: Wintry Evolution
25/12/2002
Chapter 1
Friday, Dec 11, 15:45:01
The hooded figure edged closer to her and her fearful eyes darted around her surroundings, searching for a way out. Unfortunately, it was a deserted area and no one in their right frame of minds would come unless they were… up to something bad. Her heart lurched in horror at the words. She did not want to die here. It would be so undignified.
"Why are you doing this?" She cried, hoping to buy her some time.
The knife glinted brightly under the hot afternoon sun and the girl shielded her eyes with her hands instinctively from the brilliant flash of light shining her way. The next thing she knew was an unbearable streak of pain shooting through every fiber of her body and again and again… until she could feel it no more…
* * *
Saturday, Dec 12, 09:50:54A tall, strapping man at 1.88 meters, with blazing red hair, mischievous eyes and a boastful, know-it-all demeanor that belied the true talents and wit hidden beneath his exterior, Hanamichi Sakuragi, had, on purpose, altered the volume of the ringer of the cordless telephone from "low" to "very high"; evidently with the intention of blasting his colleague awake when someone called later.
And someone did.
In the silence of the room, it sounded like a police siren but unfortunately; his colleague did not stir from his slumber. Unknown to the redhead, Kenji Fujima had worked till late in the night with his younger sister on her project, which was due later this morning. Therefore, he was stealing some sleep now before the next client walked into their office.
Their office was located on the second floor of a building, an isolated infrastructure from the busy shopping paradise further down the street. In this particular building, there were obscure shops that sold potted plants and flowers that sometimes bite when they were in a bad mood; second-hand goods, which were so ugly and torn that nobody in their right frame of minds would buy them and it was a real wonder how the shop could still survive after so many years; books so antique that some of the words in them had already faded away. There were only three floors in this place; the ground, first and second floors. People, who had been here before would always tell you, "Never take the lift. Climb the stairs instead." That was how unreliable the lift was. Sometimes it could break down five times in merely an hour alone.
Anyway, their office was called 'Super Duper Hyper Private Investigations'. And below that name was written, 'We pride in efficiency, accuracy and the truth. We investigate anything from kidnappings to murders. Don't hesitate to come in.'
Right now, only Sakuragi and Fujima were present; another two of their friends had gone gallivanting to goodness knows where.
At this moment, Sakuragi was glaring at his peacefully sleeping counterpart with outrage. How could he sleep when the ringing tone was set at its maximum volume? That was the tenth time it had rung during the past half-hour and Fujima never stirred once from his sleep. Urgh! Very miffed, the redhead grabbed the receiver and shouted very rudely and loudly into the phone.
"HEELO, GOOD MORNING! SUPER DUPER HYPER PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS! HOW CAN I HELP YOU?!!!!"
On the other end of the line, a feminine voice screeched like a hyena once he had finished, "My dog's lost. Ruthie's lost. My poor dog…"
"Please, Mdm, we're not a lost and found agency. Let me…"
"You don't understand. She's kidnapped…"
Oh man, who would want to kidnap a worthless dog? The redhead hit his forehead with the heel of his palm and leaned his elbow against the table cluttered with lots of paperwork and snack wrappers. Go find someone else… He waited for a chance to squeeze in a word of his own but she was speaking way too fast for him to do so.
Exasperated by the woman's never-ending description about her beloved dog, Sakuragi had ceased his concentration on her voice and was handing his now awakened counterpart a piece of paper. On it was written in squiggly handwriting, 'Mrs. Smith. Ten AM'. It was one of the many clients, who had rung earlier.
However, before Fujima could read the message, the door burst open. The door wobbled dangerously, as if protesting the treatment meted to it. A well-dressed lady, adorned with glittering, gold rings that held diamonds bigger than that of Fujima's thumb and large, dangling earrings that pulled viciously on the poor ear lopes, entered the small, cramped office. With extreme distaste written plainly over her face, she glanced at the untidy tables and bare walls, as though it was beneath her position to be seen here at all.
Courteous as always, the brown-haired boy rose, walked briskly towards her and invited her to have a seat while motioning Sakuragi to pour a cup of coffee for the client. The lady sieved a bright pink handkerchief with the initials of A.S. sewn at the edge of it and wiped the seat with it before sitting down.
Rolling his eyes upwards, Sakuragi blanched in undisguised revulsion at the action.
"I'll come straight to the point," the woman said in a high-pitched voice, "I want you to follow my daughter."
"Mdm…" Fujima started.
"Mrs. Smith."
"Mrs. Smith, what specifically do you…?" Fujima asked politely.
The lady fumbled in her bag and took out a photograph, "Everything. I want you to follow her twenty-four hours a day. This is her picture."
A pretty blond girl of eighteen smiled back at Fujima. She looked slightly nervous, her hands clasping the hems of her skirt tightly, although her smile seemed to dispute that fact. She had none of her mother's taste of jewelry though, preferring to dress in a simple white t-shirt and blue skirt. Her face was small and with all that long blonde hair swirling about her, it made her face appear even smaller.
"Where does your daughter usually hang out?"
* * *
Saturday, Dec 12, 09:51:21"Body found in the woods. Send one officer over here, will you?" A deep low growl was heard at the other end of the telephone.
"WHO can I send? There's nobody in the police station right now, it's the holiday season, kids are breaking into the convenience stores down the street, brawls over girlfriends, every officer available is dispatched to deal with those idiots," An exasperated Constable Kiyota gestured wildly into the telephone but the effect was lost on the person at the other end of the line, "AND you want me to send another one to you, Inspector Maki?"
Author's notes:
Merry Christmas, everyone! J Hope you enjoy reading this first part. Please do read and review! Thank you very much!