Sayu bounced the baby in her lap as the computer screen lit up behind him with an incoming call. Lifting the head seat quickly she stared at the screen in foreboding. "Agent C… What do you need?"
A deep voice spoke quietly. "Background check and airline tickets to Chicago."
"Chicago!? For what!?" Her voice exclaimed.
"The background check is for John Boudee." The voice responded flatly.
A slender man lifted his ringing phone to his ear. "What are the orders?"
A female voice came over the line. "You need to move! Now! Reaper has your scent! He's moving to engage! Get out of Chicago! Regroup in Los Angeles! JoJo, I'm serious! This guy is a heavy hitter! Even the Syndicate is afraid of him! He was one of their top assassins before he defected to Detective L and the Illuminati."
Beyond ended the call and smirked, ending his voice changing software. "And that, Watari, is how you solve sending C to Chicago. Reroute C to Los Angeles. His target will lead us to where the rats are hiding." The raven sighed out contently, his feet up on a desk, while tossing a stress ball up into the air while being stared at by an entire police precinct. "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you solve three cases at once." He shit a sly wink towards Sakura. "Ah! I suppose I shouldn't leave M in SanFran."
The raven lifted his phone up to his ear and chatted happily with another detective. Sakura shifted an uneasy glance around to the officers who wore expressions of disbelief. "Once C figured out that he and M were chasing the same guy, B pieced together the victim trend with our case and M's case. B believes the assailant from C and M's cases is the ringleader to ours."
"Well, not the ringleader, but up there in the chain of command. I believe the ringleader is right here. However, if we rattle them, they'll make mistakes and lead us to him, if nothing else you can hold him on conspiracy." B typed on a computer with lightning speed, sending his findings to Sayu.
"What if you're wrong, B?" The computer speaker questioned.
"That's just it Watari. I'm not. I've been tracking the routing numbers in a couple key persons of interest's bank accounts. And, unless these morons have family in Switzerland, which I doubt, and if they do, what do they do for a living? Regardless, they don't. And now, I've uncovered a much bigger piece of the puzzle."
Matt scratched his head in frustration. "Wait. Wait. Wait. We're dealing with Chicago gangs?"
Beyond sighed as he tapped his chin impatiently. "No. They were intended to take the fall, and if C would have been transferred to Chicago, that is likely what would have happened. However, that isn't stopping Chicago from being involved. I believe that is where R and N's victims are coming from. Meaning, people are getting scooped up from the streets, those who don't come willingly are either disposed of or used. Mrs. Sharp was infertile, there was no use for her. The husband wouldn't come willingly. Guided by C's detectives notes, Mr. Sharp was into some shady shit. That being said, the family originated from Los Angeles. Interesting that they seemed to leave in a hurry and hide in the middle of nowhere."
Light placed his hand on his chin and hummed. "So it's all confirmed to be linked? What about L's?"
L perked up. "Oh. He's involved. He's a rogue agent like C and M's. However, it seems whatever leash he was on has been broken."
C narrowed his eyes contemplatively. "This isn't the Syndicate. This Tartarus, they're a separate entity, perhaps trying to rally enough force to join the Syndicate? Figuring if they can replenish enough of the Syndicate's numbers, they'll gain the majority and assume control."
N raised an eyebrow and rubbed his lower lip with his thumb. "How do you figure?"
C continued with his arms folded. "B messed up. In his message to Jo, he said even the Syndicate is afraid of me. Which isn't a lie, but the phrasing doesn't align with the message coming from the Syndicate." B rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. "However, it still stirred the target and he immediately set forth for Los Angeles. Meaning, this is an associated group that still doesn't have established ground within the organization. So, I'm wondering, what sent L's target into a tailspin."
Light's eyes widened and he started ruffling papers around on the desk. He lifted a file and began reading it. "Mary Stills, Louisiana state driver's license, 42 years of age, blood type O positive. L, run that name."
L nodded and began typing on his computer. A screen lit up between Matt and Victoria, a screen mirror showed as the background search initiated from L's terminal. The computer chimed and a result showed. L hummed cryptically. "I see… she went missing four months ago, right when the slayings in New Orleans began."
Caspian wrinkled his nose and sighed. "A common Syndicate tactic. Kidnap those closest to the agent, hold them hostage and have them carry out orders. However, you never see your loved one again. Even after the mission is a success, because they're already dead. Instead, they guilt the members into believing they are unworthy of their loved one and trick them into abandoning their former life, converting them fully to the organization."
Victoria typed with lightning speed while scrunching her face in disgust, "That's sick."
L sighed and sent in his case files to Sayu and to the local police department. "I believe that the local police can handle my case from here. I am ready to convene with the next case."
Sayu paused for a while before answering. "Negative. You will be returning home. They're plan will fall through if all the pieces are not present. However, Gabrielle, I understand you have been instrumental in most of L's findings."
Gabrielle pushed L and his chair out of the way smiling brightly into the camera. "Yes, ma'am!" L slowly wheeled away with a pout.
Sayu smiled softly at her enthusiasm. "Then I extend the invitation to become a detective for our agency."
The caramel skinned woman hopped up and down in elation before settling herself and smiling brightly while bowing. "I accept! A hundred times accepted! Her hazel eyes gleamed as all the other camera feeds came into view, most of the detectives smirking at her outburst of excitement. "Oh… oh no… you all saw that?"
Matt chuckled. "They didn't. But, I did."
Gabrielle gasped, taking in the scene of the computer camera feeds. "OH WOW! You're Beyond Birthday!" Beyond blushed slightly and ruffled his hair in mild embarrassment. "I did my case study thesis on you! You're the very reason I wanted to become a detective! Trying to solve the complex patterns of serial killers is so fascinating!"
Sayu chuckled at the sight of a flustered Beyond and disconnected the other detectives. "Welcome aboard, Detective G. I'll begin your transfer paperwork from your precinct to our jurisdiction."