Chapter 13:

"Subterfuge"

Days after Light spoke to the lawyer that Aizawa suggested and discussed his options on a defence stratagem against Beyond Birthday, also speaking with NPA Internal Affairs, although they weren't a lot of help, Light received permission to see Beyond Birthday at the maximum security prison he was being held with his lawyer in tow.

Light went through a couple of levels of checks. He had to relinquish his gun and cell phone—the prison was very strict—only then was he able to proceed to the lower levels of the prison. He cursed security for taking his phone. He planned to take a secret snapshot of Beyond Birthday for later to show Misa to write his name in the Death Note.

Beyond Birthday was housed like a caged animal in a 20x20 transparent polymer cell with four wall exterior cameras mounted and pointing at him at all times. A small "viewing area" resided in front where the door was situated with a biometric, handprint locking system.

Beyond Birthday was able to roam. He had a cot, bathroom facilities, even a television. Light was angry. These days, criminals were treated better than the homeless.

Light noticed when he stepped into view, that BB had a stack of books on the floor near his bed. The top book was the exact same Sayu had bought Light at the Hospital Gift Shop when he was recovering from an unknown sniper assassination attempt through his apartment window. He had been wearing a light kevlar vest at the time, but the recoil of both shots, and the surprise of it, still caused him to stagger back, and fall. He hit his head on edge of his computer desk, and was rendered unconscious and bled out from a small wound.

Beyond Birthday lay on his bed with his arms folded behind his head, eyes closed, but it was clear that he knew he had visitors. The only noise in this isolated boxed cell room was from quiet ventilation in the ceiling. BB wore an orange jumpsuit, trite in Light's opinion; it didn't suit the man, even unbecoming. He had a black heart, so black suited him best. According to a psychological profile Light developed, Beyond Birthday was a man with many trades. And he could manipulate anyone. In a way, he shared traits with Kira.

The uniformed police officer who escorted Light and the lawyer to this place banged on the glass encasement with a shock-stick, and said, "Get up, BB! You have visitors."

BB turned over. "Tell them to come back tomorrow. I'm not in the mood, nor am I appropriately dressed to cater to them," he added facetiously. Then turned, even smiled. BB sniffed the air. "On second thought, that cologne is uncanny. I'd know it anywhere: Bleu de Chanel. An opulent and aromatic fragrance with a woody smell—from the U.S., if I'm not mistaken?"

Light's mouth tightened. He had been wearing that cologne when he and Misa were kidnapped by Beyond Birthday, weeks ago. Misa had bought it for him. "You know your fragrances, well, Beyond Birthday, or shall I call you Rue? Prisoner 56091 is most suited, I think."

"How pithy," Beyond Birthday replied, then sat up in bed. He smiled devilishly, the right side of his face folding in like a waxy, burnt doll. "Just call me BB, all my friends do," he said.

Light's eye twitched. Something about the phrase: "All my friends do," bothered him. It reminded him of someone else. Another enemy Light wished he could deal with finality. However, he put that aside for the moment and focused on the current situation.

"Let's get to the point," Light said, reaching into his suit jacket pocket, bringing out the legal suit papers against him. "What the hell is this for? We have you dead to rights!"

BB chuckled. "Do you now? It's all about perception. I was defending myself from you. You attacked me. I've done nothing wrong. I was on the roof for a smoke using the Stair Access door. I was in the hospital to visit a sick friend. The police have mistaken be for a someone else. I burned myself, but I'm not this person you believe I am." BB smirked. "And whatever else you may think I've done is circumstantial without eye-witness testimony."

"Bullshit! You tried to kill me twice!"

"You accuse me such, but where is the proof? You have no evidence I've committed any crime. You have unreliable accounts and bias judgement. Since I'm representing myself, your written reports about both incidents are erroneous at best. I have these burn scars, and you clearly wrote in your deposition of someone unburned."

Light looked at the papers. "Representing yourself?" He looked at the lawyer's name and then cursed. "You used an anagram for a legal name."

Beyond Birthday laughed. "You catch on quick," he said with a mocking tone.

Then: "As for this 'shooting incident' you claim that took place in your apartment, or this kidnapping charge on a previous incident you claim thereto I was involved—you claim the person in question was wearing a mask—hereto, your case is flawed, with all details in doubt. You have the wrong man, detective. That is why I'm suing you for false arrest."

Light slammed his hand against the cell enclosure. "Your accomplice, Onyx, was on the roof, killed by your other associate, who has now gone MIA; Raven. Onyx was with you during the kidnapping matter. I stated that in an incident report. And you were jailed in a Los Angeles jail for horrific crimes. There is plenty of evidence to send you back there to face the death penalty. You're not going to talk your way out of any of it. You're going to pay for your crimes."

A thin smile broached BB's face. He stood. "Councillor, your client is clearly unsettled," he said to Light's lawyer. "His emotional state is precariously close to impermanence and his accusatory tone can be grounds for liable towards deformation, even prejudice. I have reviewed Detective Yagami's reports, and there are many inconsistencies, even possible false reporting within, as he attempts to connect cases to myself, to events in Japan, and to those that occurred in Los Angeles years ago that I did not engage in. I have access to police reports under supervision thereof the events in Los Angeles as I'm representing myself. I have highlighted these impositions and have presented them back for review. Inaccurate reporting, even perjury, is grounds for dismissal of the case. It could even get Detective Yagami a visit from Internal Affairs and termination. Such charges, therefore, against me will be dropped henceforth."

"Bastard!" Light said, slamming his fist against the enclosure. BB was very smart.

It occurred to Light that the lawsuit was nothing but a red herring to stall BB from being sent back to Los Angeles. And it was even being used to mock Light and the legal process as a whole. BB had managed to find loopholes. BB knew there were no cameras on the hospital roof top and his claim that Light attacked him could even prevent his extradition.

BB had him—on all accounts.

And without L to testify for the D.A. in Los Angeles, the case would collapse like a deck of cards despite Beyond Birthday previously incarcerated for the crime.

A new disposition of the BB Murder Case would fall short, as well, without detail information of it, and the charges against him and his criminal record may even be absolved.

BB had this planned perfectly and he used Light to get it done.

It was a revenge in its own rite.

BB would not only humiliate Light, but also the NPA, the Kira Task Force, and even L, causing a cascade of embarrassment and mistrust all around.

The man was a diabolical genius!

Light had to admit a slight admiration for the man.

But something wasn't right. Light was missing something. What was this face-to-face truly about then with the lawsuit being a farce? BB wanted Light to come here.

Light wanted to talk to Beyond Birthday alone.

The uniformed officer retreated, even the lawyer took a couple of steps back, reserved and quiet. Light turned to his lawyer. "I would like to speak with BB alone." His lawyer was aghast. The officer didn't react. "I know my request is strange, but I insist. You can watch us on the cameras in the security control room. There are sensitive details about the case in Los Angeles that are highly confidential. I need to confirm a few things with Beyond Birthday in lieu of L not being here in person and they are for my ears only."

"But sir," the lawyer said. "This is unorthodox and unwise. I assure you, anything said here will remain in the strictest confidence as per council and client privilege."

Light ignored him. "These cameras don't have sound, correct?" He ask the uniformed officer.

"Correct, sir," the officer replied. "They're only picture. This is a brand new state-of-the-art cell for highly dangerous offenders, the audio hasn't been installed yet. I was told to remain here."

"You can tell your superiors that I requested you leave, my right," Light said. "Nothing untold will happen, I assure you. Please vacant the room, both of you. Thank you."

Shocked, his lawyer complied with Light's instructions. The officer also left, locking the door behind him. This left Light and BB alone.

For one minute, Light gauged the other, without a sound or movement. Neither one of them moved. Light then reached to his collar and pulled at it, as if loosing it. He dropped his arm, waited for just a moment more, and then said, "You're very clever, BB. You thought of everything, worked out all the angles, and undermined my trust and believability with others. I must commend you."

BB shrugged. "We can't all be stark geniuses," he said. "I learned from the best."

"Indeed," Light said back calmly, but annoyed. "We both know this lawsuit was subterfuge to get me here, so let us speak candidly. What is this really about?"

Beyond Birthday became perturbed. He then looked up at one of the cameras, then back.

"Don't worry about the cameras," Light told him. "Ryuk is in the security room as we speak. I showed him how to record and then loop that last minute of use of us just staring at each other on a continuous feed. You're not the only one who can anticipate things. They believe we're just standing and staring at each other. They may not have audio, but our lips can still be read."

"I'm impressed. Even more so that you managed to persuade a Shinigami to help you. Brava!"

"'A' said: 'The experiments never stopped…'. What did he mean?"

BB hesitated. His eyes suddenly became cold. "There are far greater evils in this world than even you can conceive, Yagami. Best you don't get involved. Just keep to your own little world and kill criminals. You have no idea how many monsters there truly are out there. Just note, my besiege with you will have to wait. Kira is trivial now. I have bigger fish to fry with 'A'."

Light eyed him with annoyance. He clenched his jaw. How dare it be suggested Kira was only a third wheel in a sortie! "How can you confront 'A' if you're stuck in here?"

BB looked around. "There is always a way out of any cage," he said cryptically. He looked back. "That little stunt with the helicopter on the hospital roof was merely theatrics, killing me would be perfunctory. 'A' has to make it worth his while. It was all about robbing me of you, but your Shinigami robbed him of the pleasure. He'll be back. He's not finished with either of us."

"Tell me where 'A' is and maybe I can arrange a little accident?"

BB let out a loud laugh. "I don't think so, not with your child-like sense of justice," he said with a good heaping of sarcasm. "'A' and the Good Doctor are mine to kill. Our history goes far beyond even my grudge with L, or even yours and mine."

Light frowned.

For the next fifteen minutes, Light used methods and manipulation to try to coax information out of Beyond Birthday about 'A' and the 'Good Doctor', but his lips were sealed.

Light then moved on to the Los Angeles BB Murder Case. He needed new details to write a deposition as L that only L and BB would know. But BB blocked there, too.

The entire visit was awash.

Light then left with his lawyer with nothing to show for his efforts. But knowing Beyond Birthday was laughing behind his back as he departed, it irked Light to no end.

To be continued...