Circumstantial Evidence

Chapter 4:  Meeting the Briefs

The Brief's Satan City Townhouse…

It was about 6pm when Videl and Gohan drove into an exclusive upper class neighborhood on the outskirts of Satan City. To say it was posh, would have been an understatement. Trees dotted the rich, green landscape. Every lot was over a few acres in size, and isolated from its neighbors. The houses themselves were enormous. Almost all of them seemed to be of a classical or eighteenth century baroque style that screamed old money. The neighborhood was so exclusive that there was only one real-estate agency that sold houses in the area, and it was controlled by a committee made up of several of the most prestigious residents of the area. The entire idea behind it was to keep the undesirables out. Even Videl's father had not been able to purchase a lot here simply because he was too 'new' money and didn't have the connections necessary.

The house that the two detectives pulled up to was one that stood upon one of several hills that overlooked the rest of the area. It wasn't nearly the size of the other homes nearby, perhaps half the size of the Satan mansion. Moreover, it was almost dull compared to the other homes in the area. The only thing that made it stand out was the beautiful garden that could be seen on one side of the house.

Videl got out of her car and took a look around. "Well… This is a surprise. I expected the Briefs to be living in a giant mansion three times the size of any of the others."

"That's not their style," chuckled Gohan. "Everyone knows who lives here… and the outside doesn't matter. Just wait until you go inside."

"You've been here before, Gohan?" asked Videl shaking her head.

"Yeah… a few times," answered Gohan with a little smirk. He'd been here a few times this week.

"Damn Gohan… I can't believe I'm doing this," said Videl as she began walking up towards the front gate. It was maybe fifty yards away from the street.

"Cold feet Videl?" laughed Gohan. "That's not the you that I remember."

"Christ Gohan, I'm about to go barge in on the BRIEFS. Even I can get into trouble over this. If this goes wrong not even my dad will be able to bail me out of this."

"Don't worry about it, Videl. I'll make sure you'll be ok." Gohan couldn't help but find this a bit amusing. Bulma's desire for privacy had created a mystique around the Briefs that had been completely blown out of proportion. Over the years she had slapped law suit after law suit against all the major media companies and then strong armed them to leave her alone causing a reputation of ruthlessness to develop. Gohan, of course, knew better. Bulma was quite ruthless when she needed to be, but in normal circumstances she was one of the most caring persons Gohan knew. Even if Videl had come without him, Bulma would probably have answered her with politeness and respect. However, Bulma wasn't the person he was worried about. Nope, it was a certain Saiyan Prince and not the lavender haired one.

"Sure you will Gohan… sure you will. I'm glad at least you're confident," said Videl as she rang the door bell. "Well here goes nothing."

Gohan stretched out his ki senses to see if anyone was home. Sure enough, he felt Vegeta's ki in the area that would be the gravity room. He also felt Bulma's ki approaching the front door from what he knew was the kitchen. He figured that she was in the process of cooking dinner for the family. He idly wondered if he could stay and catch a snack. Bulma's cooking wasn't as good as his mother's, not even close in fact. However, it was better than the pasta he had been planning to make for himself when he got back to his apartment.

The door slowly opened to reveal Bulma in a green dress. Her hair was cut short, and despite her forty odd years she was still a stunning woman. Videl had never met her in person and was quite shocked to see how young Bulma looked.

"Hello," came Bulma's vibrant soprano. "Can I help you with something?"

"Hello Mrs. Briefs," said Videl, her voice steady and strong despite her nervousness. "I'm Videl Satan and this is my partner Son Gohan. We're detectives with the Satan City police and investigating a murder. Would you have a moment to spare to answer some questions?"

Bulma didn't say anything as she noticed Gohan standing to the side and behind Videl. Bulma knew who Videl was, of course, and moreover she knew that she had been a friend of Gohan's during high school. She also knew that today was Gohan's first day on the job and she wasn't quite sure if this was a joke, or if it was serious. "Is this your idea of a joke?" she asked but at Gohan, not Videl.

"No ma'am," said Videl taken a bit aback. "We're very serious."

"It's about a murder investigation, Bulma," interjected Gohan as he stepped up.

"Gohan…" hissed Videl. She was appalled at his familiarity with Bulma. It bordered on rudeness.

"Murder?" asked Bulma her eyes widening. Her mind quickly reached the most logical conclusion and anger sparked in her eyes. "I swear… How… how… that… ma-" she began sputtering.  

"Calm down, Bulma," said Gohan as he stepped inside without any apparent invitation. "It's not what you think… we don't know if Vegeta had anything to do with this." He was unable to elaborate further due to the fact that his attention was drawn away by the aroma drifting into the entrance way from the kitchen. "That smells delicious Bulma. What are you making?"

"Pot roast…" grumbled Bulma. Turning to Videl she said, "Come on in, no need to stand in the doorway."

Videl gulped and entered. What the hell  is Gohan doing? He's going to get us in trouble, she thought, misconstruing Bulma's frown as anger at Gohan's presumptuous actions. She was about to say something but Bulma was already walking away with Gohan on her heels. Not knowing what else to do, she followed.

"So… What exactly are you investigating?" asked Bulma as she led them to the kitchen where she threw on an apron and went back to cooking as if it she did it everyday. This totally shocked Videl. Bulma Briefs? Cooking? Where was the cook? Why on Earth would the richest woman in the world cook herself?

"Well Mrs. Briefs… An employee of Capsule Corps, Amanda Rochester was found murdered earlier today. We were hoping that you could tell us something about her," said Videl.

"Amanda Rochester?" said Bulma furrowing her brows in thought. "I've met her a few times, but I know more about her through employee evaluations than anything. You might have to ask Krillan, but I doubt he knows too much about her either."  

Videl was about to question further, but then she saw Gohan open up the fridge in the kitchen. She was so shocked that she gagged on what she was about to say. Oh my god… What is he doing!!!

"GOHAN!" said Bulma sharply as the spatula she was holding came whizzing down striking Gohan's hand before he could reach in. "You MAY stay for dinner, but don't you dare snack before. If Vegeta or the kids walk in and see you eating, I won't have any food left at all."

"Yeoch Bulma… I was just going to get some juice!" explained Gohan hastily.

Bulma hmmphed in a very Vegeta like manner and then turned back to her cooking causing Gohan to grin like a little school boy. He reached in, grabbed some OJ and then got a couple of classes. "Want some Videl?"

"Uhhh Gohan… What are you doing?" Videl's voice was nearly a shout. She couldn't believe that Gohan was just rummaging around the Briefs' kitchen as if he lived there.

"Getting some juice? Gotta re-hydrate since it's so hot out," he said with the biggest grin on his face. He knew exactly why Videl was fuming, but he figured he'd string her along for a little bit longer. It was quite amusing.

"Videl you are free to stay for dinner as well, Lord knows that there is more than enough food to feed you," added in Bulma while shooting Gohan a sharp glance.

"Uhhh… Thank you Mrs. Briefs," she said not knowing what else to say. It wasn't everyday one got an invitation to sit down to dinner with Bulma Briefs. However, she was getting angry. Gohan acted so casually here and Bulma hadn't seriously rebuked him in any way other than in a manner that indicated great familiarity. There was something going on here, and she would get to the bottom of this.

"Please just call me Bulma… Mrs. Briefs sounds so old, and I already feel my age enough," she replied. "Waking up next to my husband reminds me of that every day. Anyway, tell me about what happened to Amanda. What happened to her?"

"Well… We found her dead this afternoon. She was shot in the mouth with a rifle," explained Videl. "We have very little information to go on and were hoping to get a few leads from Capsule Corporation."

"So why are you here then instead of at the downtown office?"

"We went downtown first, Bulma," said Gohan, "There was a new receptionist and she didn't recognize me. So she refused to let us in and threatened to sic those rabid lawyers of yours on us."

"Really… why didn't you call Krillan?"

"I figured I'd come out here and get a free meal," smirked Gohan as he opened the cabinets and began to set the table.

"Ok… anyway, if you guys need anything from Capsule just let me know. I'll put a call downtown to make sure that you have access to everything." Turning to Videl, she added, "Provided that everything you find there is kept confidential unless it deals directly to the case, understood?"

"Of course, Mrs… I mean Bulma. Thank you for your help…" replied Videl. She had just begun to help Gohan set the table when she heard a gruff masculine voice slice through the air behind her.

"Woman, who the hell is this?" came the voice of the Saiya-jin no Ouji as he strode into the kitchen. Videl whirled around only to be caught like a deer in headlights by the dark piercing gaze of the Prince of all Saiyans. It seemed as if those onyx eyes ripped into her soul, revealing every dirty secret, every shame that she ever had and then threw them mockingly back at her.

Videl staggered back in shock, only to find herself leaning back into Gohan's broad chest. She felt him put a comforting arm around her. Recovering from her shock, she began to look over Vegeta. The man was simply Adonis personified. His tight shirt did little to hide his muscles. His body was perfectly built, and perfectly in proportion. Moreover, he seemed little older than Gohan. No wonder that Bulma woke up in the morning feeling a little old.

"Vegeta," said Gohan in a respectful manner, but with a bit of rebuke. "This is Videl, my friend and partner. We just dropped by to see if Bulma knew anything about Amanda Rochester."

"What about the whore?" he sneered as he moved around the table and sat down at his usual place at the head of the table. 

"Uhh… Did you know her Mr. Briefs?" asked Videl a bit hesitantly. There was just something about the man that unnerved her. Every instinct in her body was crying 'danger' whenever he turned his dark gaze upon her.

"Yes," was his only reply.

"Would you care to elaborate on that?" said Videl irritably. This man was beginning to get to her. His arrogance and the effect that he was having on her was beginning to get on her nerves.

"The Rochester girl was a whore, she threw herself at any man who stirred her desires, and bedded with them if they would take her."

"Did she make passes at you, Mr. Briefs?" continued Videl. 

"I am a desirable man," responded Vegeta. And to the unspoken question, "I would never lower myself to bed such a slut. Besides I felt that that pathetic weakling needed a boost to his flailing ego." That Pathetic Weakling was, as Gohan and Bulma knew, Vegeta's term for Yamcha.

"How come you never told me about this, Vegeta?" asked Bulma. She wasn't really angry, but she did seem slightly upset. It surprised Videl that Bulma had such faith in her husband. It was as if she wasn't concerned about him sleeping around at all, and with a man like Vegeta, it seemed that she should have been.

Vegeta raised a questioning eyebrow at his wife. "Woman, you're always rummaging around in my head. You should know this already."

Bulma just shrugged at his comment and was about to reply when she was interrupted by the banging of the front door.

"Mom… Dad, we're here," came Trunks' adolescent voice. A few moments later he entered the room. Videl saw that he was a sharply dressed young man. He was extremely handsome for a boy his age, and she knew that when he got older he'd be even more of a lady 'killer' than his father. Behind him walked the most adorable little girl of about eight years of age. Obviously Trunks' sister, and the daughter of Bulma and Vegeta, her blue hair was tied back in a ponytail. She wore a school uniform, and skipped into the room with a carefree attitude that Videl truly envied. Upon seeing Videl, she turned a questioning look at her father.

"Daddy, who's that?" asked Bra shyly.

"Why Princess, that's Gohan's future mate," answered Vegeta with an evil smile. His comment, of course, caused Gohan to gag on his juice and flush brightly.  

Videl didn't quite understand the comment, but it was obviously a joke and she passed it off as such. She wasn't sure if she should continue questioning Vegeta with the children in the room. Besides, with full access to Capsule Corporation, and Vegeta's description of Amanda, Videl was already quite pleased with what they had accomplished. There were a few things that were bugging her, but she would deal with that later.

"Brat," came Vegeta's voice bringing her out of her revelry. She noticed that he was addressing Gohan. "You should be aware that the woman you were investigating was heavily into narcotics. I do not know how much, but I do know that she was involved."

Gohan simply nodded, and  Videl was about to ask another question, but then Bulma brought out the food. Once that was done, any conversation with a Saiyan was brought to a screaming halt as their attentions were focused on one thing, filling their stomachs.

~

Hours later…

Videl cruised down highway 76 on her way home. She loved the feel of the wind blowing in her face as she drove. For some reason it relaxed her and she really needed relaxing at the moment. She had dropped Gohan off at the station earlier, and was now on her way home. As she drove, Videl mulled over the days events.

Dinner with the Briefs had been rather uneventful. She had watched as Vegeta, Trunks, Gohan, and Bra had downed enough food to feed a party of fifty, or maybe sixty. It had been bewildering, but she had kept her astonishment to herself. On the other hand, her curiosity about what Gohan kept secret had been rekindled, and was in fact blazing more than ever.  

His relationship with the Briefs really bothered her. She had spoken to Bulma during dinner and she had revealed to Videl that Gohan's father and her had been very close friends. The Capsule Heiress considered Gohan a foster son, and considered herself his god-mother. It was a bit upsetting to Videl that Gohan had never confided any of this to her in High School. Though, she could understand that he wanted to stay out of the limelight. In the end, she couldn't really begrudge him that as she, too, would have kept her relationship with her father a secret if she could have. However, what really ate at her was the similarity between Vegeta, the Children, and Gohan's appetites. She had always just written it off as a peculiarity of Gohan's, but now she knew there was a deeper mystery to it.

It wasn't only Gohan that bothered her. The Briefs themselves were disturbingly vague as well. Bulma seemed normal enough, but her husband was a completely different story. The man simply sent shivers down Videl's spine. There was something of a dark aura around him that just scared you. He was one of those people that you knew could squash you in a second, and if you crossed him, wouldn't hesitate to do so. Moreover, they were hiding something. Her gut told her that they were involved in something and that the Rochester murder may have been connected. Whether the Briefs were guilty themselves, she didn't know. However, she did have a source that could shed some light on whatever activities the Briefs were up to. So there was now one more stop before she could go home.

~

Bulma laid comfortably back on plush ottoman couch. She sipped quietly on a frappucino while she reviewed several reports that had been faxed to her about the daily operations of Capsule Corp. So absorbed was she in her reading that she didn't hear Vegeta enter the room.

"Woman," he said as he sat down on a recliner opposite of her. "We need to talk."

Looking up, Bulma saw that something was bugging him or rather she felt that something was. To try to gauge Vegeta's mood by facial expressions was nearly impossible. They fluctuated from angry, to slightly more angry, to really angry, to an I'll kill you angry. Luckily she had her bond and almost twenty years of experience to help unravel the enigma that was Vegeta. Sadly to say, she really wasn't even close to figuring him out despite being one of the foremost geniuses in the world. That was probably why she loved him so much, she thought to herself.

"What's bothering you Vegeta?" she asked as she sat up.

"I think you should tell the boy about our operations."

"Why?"

"Because this investigation will undoubtedly uncover some of the dirtier things you've been involved with. It would be better for him to hear it from you than find out for himself."

"I don't know Vegeta… I rather not tell Gohan anything unless it can be helped. He's too much like his father, and I rather not get him involved."

"The brat has more brains than his father could ever hope to… I merely offer you my advice."

"Alright… I'll think on it. We'll see what happens."

Vegeta nodded, and then left the room, leaving Bulma pondering on how to explain some of her activities to the very law abiding Gohan.

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A/N: So, some further Intrigue, and Videl got to meet the Briefs. I hope this chapter was entertaining, and that you all enjoyed it. I don't know when the next chapter will be out since I have school and I have to finish up aBMT. So, expect periodic updates, but not regular ones.

Please leave a review with comments, and questions or anything you disliked… that latter would be great.

Ciao,

Cka3ka