Gabrielle hung up her phone, "He's landed." All the of the officers and detectives chatted loudly, excited for the arrival of the greatest detective in the known world. They would all whip their heads towards the door expectantly every time the door opened. Gabrielle smirked and folded her arms, 'Like hell would he come here with a madman loose.' She opened her mouth to reprimand all he junior officers and detectives when a computer turned itself on and fashioned the english gothic text, 'L'.
A synthetic voice came over the speakers, "Greetings. I have arrived and have safely set up where I will be operating from. Please send me any new data pertaining to our estranged delinquent." Gabrielle plugged in a flash drive and uploaded the files to the computer, "No need to go any further, I have access to your network."
All of the officers and detectives stared wide eyed at the computer, "Will we ever get to meet you?"
"No. Anonymity is my preference. I can't have ever Tom and Mary knowing what I look like. Though, it is distinctly possible you may pass me in the streets, assuming, I choose to leave my dwellings." Gabrielle's phone chimed with an address, "I will need everyone to play nice with him for now, until I can begin my assessment on our assailant. For now, I will sever communications. Should you need to pass anything to me, pass it through detective Morris." The computer shut itself down abruptly.
The group stared at her, some with admiration, others with wonder, but a few with jealousy. Another text message came to her phone, "Don't come empty handed." She narrowed her eyes in thought, 'Empty handed?' She widened her eyes in realization, 'It's rumored L loves sweets. I guess I could pick something up.'
A knock was heard at the door and Gabrielle let herself in. "Uh, hello?" She startled at the non-synthetic voice directly next to her peering into the bag she hand in her arm.
"What did you bring?" L's large dark eyes searched the bag for its contents only to have them pulled from his reach.
"Who are you?!" She shouted in shock.
L brought his thumbnail up to his bottom lip, "More importantly, are you detective Morris?"
She narrowed her eyes and growled more of a command than a question, "Yes. Who are you."
L smiled, "I am L. May I perchance inquire as to why you're withholding the items I seek?"
She blinked a couple of times in disbelief, "No way! I always pictured you… Uh, much different." Her bag of goodies was snatched from her arm and he was retreating back to his chair. 'The greatest detective in the world… Is that?!' She crinkled her nose and the sight of L fitting half of a Paczki into his mouth.
He sat haunched in his chair, happily wiggling his toes and stuffing the jelly filled cakes into his mouth. "At any rate, do you have any theories?" He managed between doughnuts.
She shook her head quickly, ignoring her slight disgust, "I always thought L would be handsome."
L smirked slightly, "You must have me mistaken for my husband. No. I've never been one for appearances. You're honesty is astounding, now, my question." He stared pointedly at her.
She stared back still in disbelief and shock, 'His eyes are like the abyss… That's definitely him, my father said, even as a child his eyes could see into your soul.' "No. We don't."
L nodded, "Good thing I do." He turned to his computer and wiped his hands before typing, "This is someone who wasn't born here, I believe there are circumstances that are some what out of his control."
"His?"
L stopped typing and smiled thoughtfully, "Well done. I'm glad you picked up that hint, no, we're not dealing with a female… Though, I suppose, you could potentially rule in female body builders…" He started typing again, "The coroner was right. We're dealing with someone who is, indeed, quite strong. The only suspect the police ever arrested wouldn't have been able to inflict so much trauma, regardless of how sharp the weapon was." He stopped typing, "I'm willing to bet this man thinks himself a god among men. I'm willing to bet he had survived a terrible ordeal and ran. Only to realize or hope to realize his own immortality. I assure you, no man is more than that, a man."
She sat herself in a chair in the room, "You don't believe in the supernatural?"
L sighed, "I didn't used to. I had a case in the past that changed that. But, why would be the question. One of your survivors, wounded him, forcing him to retreat and send his ominous letter. He had to reassure himself."
Gabrielle shook her head quickly, "Wait? What? You do believe in the supernatural?"
L sighed irritatedly, "I don't believe. I know. And, from the knowledge I've gained from that experience is that, the supernatural are not interested in taunting police or terrifying small children at night. They're much more sinister. However, as I said, this is a man. If you ask me if I'm religious I will throw you out."
Gabrielle sheepishly grinned, 'That answers that then.'
"From what I'm gathering, I believe that this is an outsider, he states that he will return to the city…" L held the piece of paper, in between his index finger and his thumb, that was a copy of the note and read it out loud.
"Esteemed Mortal:
They have never caught me and they never will. They have never seen me, for I am invisible, even as the ether that surrounds your earth. I am not a human being, but a spirit and a fell demon from the hottest hell. I am what you Orleanians and your foolish police call the Axeman.
When I see fit, I shall come again and claim other victims. I alone know who they shall be. I shall leave no clue except my bloody axe, besmeared with the blood and brains of him whom I have sent below to keep me company.
If you wish you may tell the police not to rile me. Of course I am a reasonable spirit. I take no offense at the way they have conducted their investigation in the past. In fact, they have been so utterly stupid as to amuse not only me but His Satanic Majesty, Francis Josef, etc. But tell them to beware. Let them not try to discover what I am, for it were better that they were never born than to incur the wrath of the Axeman. I don't think there is any need of such a warning, for I feel sure the police will always dodge me, as they have in the past. They are wise and know how to keep away from all harm.
Undoubtedly, you Orleanians think of me as a most horrible murderer, which I am, but I could be much worse if I wanted to. If I wished, I could pay a visit to your city every night. At will I could slay thousands of your best citizens, for I am in close relationship to the Angel of Death.
Now, to be exact, at 12:15 (earthly time) on next Tuesday night, I am going to visit New Orleans again. In my infinite mercy, I am going to make a proposition to you people. Here it is:
I am very fond of jazz music, and I swear by all the devils in the nether regions that every person shall be spared in whose home a jazz band is in full swing at the time I have mentioned. If everyone has a jazz band going, well, then, so much the better for you people. One thing is certain and that is that some of those people who do not jazz it on Tuesday night (if there be any) will get the axe.
Well, as I am cold and crave the warmth of my native Tartarus, and as it is about time that I leave your earthly home, I will cease my discourse. Hoping that thou wilt publish this, and that it may go well with thee, I have been, am and will be the worst spirit that ever existed either in fact or realm of fantasy.
The Axeman"
L looked up, "I have encountered a group named Tartarus. Foul they were, but mortal they are. I also believe that the 'relationship' with the Angel of Death is also a clue, I know a man who the previous group mentioned called the 'Reaper'. Perhaps…" L spun in his chair quickly and began typing. "I will contact you further when I have solved this further, I need to make a call that I would prefer that you didn't overhear. His letter is very sporadic, it doesn't fit just one pattern, thus leaving me to believe he himself is confused in this guise he's concocted."
Gabrielle blinked, "What did you even want me to come for if you weren't going to use any of my deductive abilities? I just sat here and listened to you!"
L blinked at her a couple of times, "You're always punctual according to your record, how else was I going to have my sweets arrive on time?"
'Oh! That monotoned little punk!' She stood up and glared at L, "Very well, detective. I will be in touch." Her words were laced with venom as she stormed out of the room.
L watched the door, then watched the cameras he had placed around his hotel. He sighed and the speakers began to ring. "S, I believe I may have an issue. I'm sending you my data."
"What's the matter, L?"
He nervously chewed on his thumb, "I believe I'm tracking a previous associate of C's."
"Oh… Yeah, that's a problem, I'll patch you through to him." The line dropped and began ringing again.
"L." A deep voice purred.
"C. I need all the information on those you've worked with in the past." L hugged his knees to his chest. "It's very important that I receive this information as timely as possible."
"I will type up my report and have it to you as soon as I can."
L nodded silently, "Thank you."
The line went dead and L sighed, "I always get stuck with the megalomaniacs." L glanced over to a larger box inside the bag and popped it open. His eyes went wider than usual, "A genuine King cake?" He smirked and grabbed his fork and pointed it at the cake, "You wouldn't know what's going on, right?" He smiled softly and stabbed the cake with a highly interested stare.
