Detective Walters looks at Emiko while she fiddles with her hands, nervous beyond belief. He raises an eyebrow, "So you came here from Tokyo by bus? Mam I find it hard to believe that you're here all over the news, with footage and witnesses, and you just arrived here from Tokyo." He throws his hands out, showing her footage pics of the events. "If you just arrived here, then explain this?"
Emiko looks at all the pics, her eyes getting wider than before, shaking her head. "No. That's not me! It's not me!" Licking her dry lips she cuts her gaze back up at the detective. "Look you would think if someone like me was kidnapped, that I would never be seen again. They would have killed me, raped me, or held me captive! I just arrived here." She pulls out her phone, "You can even track my phone. You can go through all of it. But I'm telling the truth!" She's close to coming to tears, "Why would I survive this ordeal, and Aiya wouldn't? Why would they let me live? Why would they let me go? It doesn't make sense."
The man picks up the phone the woman flung at him from across the table. "We'll do just that, but be warned if this phone pings you at that Ice Cream parlor, or that school, you should know what you're looking at. Don't you?" He holds up the phone, his face grim but set straight. "You'll be looking at prison time on multiple charges if your phone reveals those locations. Are you willing to have a polygraph test performed?"
"Why would I be criminally charged? I don't understand any of this!" Emiko yells out, throwing her hands in the air.
"The way this looks like, the way this case is going; it looks like a staged kidnapping." The door opens with an officer coming into the room where the phone is handed off, and the officer leaves the room. The detective pulls out a file, "Now are you aware of the kids going missing here in Yokohama? I'm sure you have, for the news has been aired all over Japan."
The woman shakes her head, "Yes I have been hearing about them, but I wouldn't do that to Aiya. I love Aiya, and she's like my own daughter! You have the wrong person." She pokes the pic of her supposedly being dragged out of the car. "That woman in this pic isn't me!"
The detective shrugs, clearing his throat. "Then who is it? Can you tell me who looks exactly like you? Do you have some secret twin you're not telling us about? Because that can only be the only explanation."
"No, I don't have a sister. But I know that is not me in this footage." She gets closer to him, "Look my car was stolen a few days ago, that's why I had to take the bus here. I have the police report and everything in my purse. How can that be me in my car that was stolen a few days ago?" She gave him a serious gaze, biting her lip in frustration.
"Then let me see it, and we'll get in contact with the Tokyo police division. See if this checks out." The detective motions at her while she pulls out some documentation and shoves it at him.
"Here's your proof! You'll see that it will check out. I know what happened to me and my property. I'm not stupid." Emiko bites out at him as he puts the documentation in a bag, and sets it to the side.
"I'll ask that you don't get grippy with me mam. I'm just doing my job." He leans forward, his fingers crossed in front of him. "Did you ever hate Aiya? Wish that she wasn't alive or that she would just disappear? Or is it that you were jealous of Hinata's daughter, and made it so no one can have her?"
Emiko gives him a look of fury, shooting up from her chair. "I loved that girl! I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt her or Hinata! And you dare sit here and accuse me of something I have no involvement in?"
"I never accused you of anything. I just simply asked some questions. Now when people get defensive, it shows they got something they aren't telling us. Do you have something you've got to hide?" The detective gives her a stern gaze, motioning to the chair. "Now sit back down or we'll be forced to restrain you."
Emiko sits back down, an angry look on her face. "I'm defensive because you're trying to make me confess to something I did not do! Anyone would be!"
"As it stands everyone is a suspect in this case. You and the mother Hinata are being looked at for our two main suspects. This case, the kid was the target. Here you are in the flesh but yet where is the kid?" The detective motions at her.
"I don't know where she is. I just got here in Yokohama tonight. I haven't seen her since last year. How can I know something that I have no experience or knowledge of?" Emiko resorted, huffing under her breath. "Why aren't the other missing kid cases being looked at like this one?"
"The difference you ask. The difference is only the kid was taken, no one extra. The kid disappeared, and the person that kidnapped them is never seen again. No one knows who the person kidnapping the other kids is. No one can seem to identify them. The difference here is you and Aiya were both taken by masked men, and hours later you show back up." He put emphasis on the 'you', when he was explaining it to her, pointing at her. "Aiya never came back. See where I'm going with this? See the difference now?"
"And that's my fault? Clearly someone is trying to set me up! I don't have anything to do with this! I don't remember it."
Walters just makes a sound underneath his breath, as he collects his files. "You're free to go for now, but remember to come in tomorrow for that polygraph test. There is a high possibility that if anything is found on that phone, that you will be arrested with kidnapping of a minor." He stands up, walking over to the door, and opens it. "Maybe tomorrow you'll be ready to tell us the truth. Lying gets you nowhere."
Emiko huffs collecting her things, and marches out of the police station. She was angry beyond belief. As she was marching down the street with no regards of where she was going, she bumps into someone. Looking up she spots a tall woman, with long red hair, and green eyes. The woman had been munching on some gum, popping a bubble from her lips.
"Oh I'm so sorry about bumping into you. You're not hurt are you?" Emiko asked the woman in a hurried rush.
The woman shook her head, "No. You're fine." She raises an eyebrow, "What's got your panties twisted into a bun?"
Emiko waves a hand in front of her face not wanting to speak about before. "Oh nothing, it's nothing to be worried about. Just something stupid."
The woman shrugs, "It didn't look like nothing. What? Did your boyfriend run away on ya? Did your husband cheat on ya?"
"No. I'm not married, and I'm currently not dating anyone right now." Emiko told her in a low tone.
"Such a shame." She heard the woman say, feeling a hand on her cheek. Looking up she sees the woman leaning down. "You're such a pretty thing. Anyone would be lucky to have you." She licks her lips, "I'm jealous. I really am."
"Wait…" Emiko stops and backtracks. "Are you into me? Do you like girls?"
The woman leaned away, a smile on her lips. "Why whatever gave it away?" She takes out a slip of paper, and hands it to Emiko, "If you're interested in a good woman. Call me. If not, I won't be disappointed if you're straight."
Emiko looks at the number in shock, it had hearts and kisses all over it. "What's your name?"
"Just call me Night Owl. I'm not comfortable giving out my real name to someone this early in a relationship. Hope with time we'll be good lovers." Night owl coos out, blowing a kiss before stopping realizing something. "Well that's if you're even into me or willing to give me a chance. Though I understand if you're not comfortable giving me your name. What nickname should I call you?"
No. My name is Emiko." She told her, wanting to see if the woman recognized the name.
"Emiko? That's a cool name. Always thought that would be a nice name to call my future daughter." She laughs with a hand wave, "Well that's if I ever get pregnant, but never got around to it. I've never been into men."
"By chance do you read or watch the news?" Emiko asked her, a little sketchy that this woman did recognize the name, she to would accuse her of the crime.
Night owl shakes her head, "No. Not that I ever recall. The only reading I do is romance novels, and scandalous novels. I don't watch much television either, I listen to podcasts and music more than anything. Though most of the time, I'm out in a bar with a drink in my hand." She looked at Emiko, "Why did you ask?"
Emiko sighs knowing she can't keep the woman from the truth. "Look. I'm in the news right now. The police are looking at me as a suspect in a little girl's disappearance. I don't want to give your hopes up, but there is a possibility of me being charged for something I didn't do. So please, find someone else. I don't want your hope and your heart crushed."
A familiar look comes across Night owls face. "Oh your Emiko that's in the news?" She comes closer cupping her face. "I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Have the police uncovered every possibility?"
"No. They keep accusing me of this! I don't know what to do. Someone has set me up! I have been in Tokyo since a few hours ago. My car was stolen, and I haven't seen that girl in a year!" Emiko bursts out in tears, "I don't know what to do."
Night owl hushes her, "It sounds like you need a drink. You'll figure this one out, I'll even help. I've got some friends in the cops division that can pull some strings. All you gotta do is ask, and I'll deliver."
Emiko lets the woman lead her to her apartment crying, not knowing what to do. Next thing she knows she's waking up in a large king sized bed, naked and the sheets covering her body. She shoots up to see a nice apartment, with her clothes scattered around the room. The door to a bathroom opens, with the Night Owl in just a pair of underwear and a t-shirt. Her hair was slightly damp indicating that she had just got done with a shower.
In horror Emiko blurts out, "Did we have sex?!"
Night owl raises an eyebrow, "Lord no. I took you to my apartment last night, and I opened a bottle of wine to help settle you down. You got really drunk, started trying to have sex with me after letting out your bottled up emotions. Then as you flung off your last piece of clothing, you stopped and threw up in a potted plant. I cleaned you up, and slipped you into the sheets while I cleaned up the plant." She chuckled, "Didn't know I would meet such an eccentric drunk."
A huge blush overtakes her face. "Oh my god…" She looks back at the other. "I hope I wasn't too much of a drunken mess."
"No. That's the most fun I've had in awhile. You sure are a lucky gal whoever ends up hooking up with you." Night owl laughed out loud. "Now get dressed, I'm taking you out for breakfast. You really need it." She walks over to a pile of clothes, throwing them on the bed. "Hope you don't mind but I looked at the sizes of clothes that you wore, and found an outfit that my cousin bought for me, and they didn't fit. There yours, you can keep 'em."
Emiko nods in thanks, "Thanks so much. You don't mind if I take a shower do you?"
Night owl shakes her head, going over to her dresser. "No, not at all. Go right ahead. There is plenty of hot water for a nice bath right now. Lord knows you need it." She turns her back to Emiko, motioning for the other to get the clothes and go to the bathroom. "Oh and if you need a place to stay, you're welcome to stay here, but I'll warn you. I work about 8 hours a day. Today is my day off, but I go back to work tomorrow. I know it sucks." She told her in a pouty tone.
"I'll be off my feet in a few days, promise. Thanks for the offer, I didn't know where I would go." Emiko told her peeking out from behind the door. The other turned around finally with a warm smile.
"It's no biggie. Take as much time as you need. Later I'll give you a tour of the house."
Emiko then thinks of what she was told the day before, inflating into herself. "Wait. I have to go by the police station and get a polygraph test, and find out the results of what they confiscated from me." She swallowed thickly, "I'm afraid they'll do something and try to arrest me for this."
Night owl crosses her arms, "Well they can't get you for something that you have factual proof on hand. The report on your car, and your phone that you had on yourself all that time. Now can they?"
Emiko shakes her head. "No, but they may try to plant something. Just be prepared for me not coming back. I really do appreciate your hospitality. I'm thankful for it, so thank you."
Night owl walks forward, "Look. If they do anything, I will help you fight this. I know some important people in power, and we'll get out of this together." She bites her lip, "My mother, she was an advocate for women's rights, and the false accusations against them. I was her only child, and my father I never knew. He left like the piece of shit he was when I was only 3 years old."
"Was she your only family? What about any grandparents?"
Night owl shook her head. "Yeah she was. My father's family didn't want anything to do with me and my mother. My mother's family, her mother, had killed herself back 41 years ago. Her father was a famous doctor, named Lin or Jin, she wasn't sure, but she never liked either of them. She just heard about her real parents from the foster home she had been in since she was a baby. Everyone had screwed her and me over, so she thought she should fight for other women for a change. She raised me on her own."
"Where is she right now? That's if you don't mind me asking you."
Night owl sighs, "She suffered from a heart attack a few years ago in her late 30's, and never recovered from it. I'm 23 years old. She had me when she was fairly young, I think she was a teen mom." She smiles up at Emiko, "But I'll continue my mother's work through more advanced means if you know what I mean."
"Thanks. I really appreciate it. I'm going to take a shower, and think of the positives today." Emiko tells her, before closing the door and running to a hot bath.
tThat morning Atsushi had gotten up, took a shower, and cooked breakfast for him and Aku. The other was currently in the shower, as Atsushi checked his phone. Since last night there hasn't been another text message from 'Mysteryland', it made him wonder why. Clearly whoever was behind this persona wanted to torment him, and took great pleasure in it. But it was like the work of the devil when a ping comes through his phone, and that nickname flashes across his screen. Opening it he reads:
From:Mysteryland
To:Tiger Boy
[You and Aku were so cute together last night, you know that? Makes me both mad and happy that you're so happy. On one hand I want you to bleed but on the other hand I want you to be happy. Whatever shall I do?]
-Insert Photo of Atsushi and Akutagawa in the same bed together-
Atsushi pauses, his mind and body filled with dread. It was like a wave of ice overtook his insides. I slept in my room last night. I never went into Aku's room. That means that's not me in that bed. It's Mysteryland.' Nearly dropping his phone, he types out in a hurried mess.
From:Tiger Boy
To:Mysteryland
[Where did that pic come from?]
From:Mysteryland
To:Tiger Boy
[Whatever do you mean? It was last night of course! Aku was so warm, and smelt like fig tea. Now is the time you realize that this is the game. Are you real? Is he real? Is anyone around you the real them? Next time when you two hit first basis in bed, is it going to me or is it going to be him? Or perhaps will it be you who's not the real thing? Oh my word, this will be so fun1 I was just kidding about the rules last night. Anything goes. How long until all that trust goes away like a bag in the wind?]
[But first do you agree to play?]
From:Tiger Boy
To:Mysteryland
[No, I don't want to play! This is sick!]
From:Mysteryland
To:Tiger Boy
[Well you should have told me last night. I already started the game, so game on.]
From:Tiger Boy
To:Mysteryland
[This isn't funny. You never told me what the game was last night, nor gave me a choice in the matter. I do not consent to this game. And I will not participate in this!]
From:Mysteryland
To:Tiger Boy
[Oh it doesn't matter if you did or not because if you don't play you may wake up one day to your boyfriend's throat slit. Do not tell him about this, for if you do, that little girl from before I'll mutilate her, and send you the video. Of course I won't kill her. After all you do know that if a cat catches a mouse, they always toy with it first before ever killing the poor thing, that wishes it were never born. So don't tempt my hand.]
[Do you understand me, you little bitch?]
Atsushi doesn't know what to do. He bites his lip as he sets down the phone. He then gets a ping on his phone, looking down he sees it was a video sent. Hesitantly opening it he witnesses a dark room with the same little girl sitting in the middle of the floor. She looked rugged, her hair looked like it had been cut very choppily, and she was skinnier than before, she just wore rags, with shackles on both wrists and her ankles. There was nothing in the room that he could pinpoint a location, it looked like there were trash bags torn apart and put up on the walls, as well as the floor being covered in a blue tarp. Then footsteps were heard, with someone coming into view with an all body black suit. They looked like the grim reaper, with a gas mask covering their face, but no skin was shown, no hair was shown.
They walk up behind the girl, squats down behind her, cradling her head. Then they spoke but their voice was being used under a voice changer. It was deep, and a very low but sophisticated pitch. "Did you think I was kidding?" They take out a long but crude knife running it under the girl's chin. "Wouldn't her throat be so pretty cut open?" They put the knife to the girl's throat, drawing a thin line of blood. "Do you understand me now?" They tilt their head, "You have till the count of five to answer, or she'll never be able to scream again."
They start counting when Atsushi grabs up his phone giving a quick reply, his heart racing in his chest.
From:Tiger Boy
To:Mysteryland
[Yes, yes I understand! Just please don't hurt her!]
A ping is heard on the other end as the person pulls out a burner phone. They laugh, breaking the phone in half, and torching it. "Game on then. Remember I have that yes. Tell her bye for me." They run their hands down the girl's chin, that's bawling silently. "Till next time you are a lucky contender." The video cuts off after that.
Atsushi stares at the last text he sent Mysteryland, his heart was beating a million miles a second, as he had to sit down, his head buried in his hands. He knew he had to show someone the video, but Mysteryland being in Aku's bed last night scared him to death. How did they even get into the apartment? He didn't know who was who, they could be anyone.
It's then a knock comes to the door, and he rushes to present himself in a good way while he checks to make sure the rice cooker is done, and runs to the door. When he opened it, he saw Dazai standing outside with a bag, the other holding up the bag. "We got to talk. It's another child case." He just marches into the place, plopping down on the couch just as Aku comes out from the hallway dressed in a loose pair of black pajama pants, and a long sleeve shirt. Come to find out Akutagawa would wear normal clothes outside of his work clothes when he was in the comfort of his own home. The other looks at Dazai, "Dazai-san what are you doing here?"
Atsushi closes and locks the door behind himself, going over to the kitchen. "I thought we were on the case of the Heartstring murders?" Atsushi wondered, asking the older man, while coming up to the rice cooker. "Oh, do you want some breakfast? We're having tea on rice."
Dazai plopped the files on the coffee table. "If you will, I would love a bowl. I was kicked out this morning by the chibi, and he refused to serve me breakfast." The suicidal man pouts out, acting his normal self. He crosses his feet, "I think I'll pour all his fancy white wines down the sink later, and fill them up with water as payback."
Akutagawa sits in a recliner, setting the towel he had over his shoulders on the arm of the chair. "Make sure to tell him to send me an invite to your funeral when he kills you for it."
Dazai crosses his arms, "He's too short to kill me."
"He's not too short to take you down a peg or two. Hope you're not going to miss your knees." Aku coughed out. He summoned Rashoumon to turn into a tray so Atsushi could set the tea and bowls on it to bring over. After everyone has their respective tea and rice, sitting in the living room does Dazai get serious again. Atsushi slumped at that, he felt better when everyone was more loose and lighthearted.
"Atsushi you asked if we were still on the Heartstring Murder case? We are still on that case, but since the murders have stopped, the case is going cold. The police are pushing for that case to be put on the back burner and try to solve these missing kid cases. The one from yesterday that's been all over the news is a strange one." Dazai said, holding up a finger, and pulling the file open.
"How is it weird? The woman and the child were both taken, and haven't been found yet." Atsushi asked, his mouth full of rice.
"Then you haven't heard yet have you?" Dazai asked him once more.
Atsushi pauses looking at the other, Aku follows, in confusion. "Heard what?"
"The police haven't given the public an update yet until they get more evidence and more of the story, but hours after the kidnapping the woman, Emiko, reamurged being found on the side of the highway. Later on in the police station she said a few days beforehand her car was stolen, the same one in the video. She said that night she had gotten off the bus from Tokyo. She told the police that she hadn't seen the little girl or her mother since last year. But she has no memories of that kidnapping, and she was unharmed. The police confiscated her phone and her report of her missing car. Later on today they told me they are going to have her come in for a polygraph test." Dazai detailed out.
"So it looks like a staged kidnapping?" Aku asked the man. "If she was behind this, what reason would she have to play dumb?"
"The thing is, what if she wasn't part of it?" Dazai retorted, a smile on his face.
"What do you mean by that?" Atsushi asked him.
"Just think about it. In one case all those missing kid cases, someone that no one could identify would come pick up the kid, claiming they knew the parents. A few cases it was in the form of a fictional character in a book. Though schools have gotten tighter on who picks up who now, and my suspicion is these people know that fact. So they are getting craftier in how they are obtaining the kids. But then again she could be involved, and the people are going to pin the crime on her." Dazai flicks through another file. "They could have wiped her memory and let her go. Or she could be faking not remembering the events. Those are the two possibilities right now. The police are reeling towards her faking a kidnapping of a minor."
"That seems like the most realistic approach to the case. The kid was an ability user, around 7 years of age. Though what would be her reason for faking a kidnapping?" Akutagawa asked, finishing off his tea on rice, setting the bowl to the side, and picking up his piping hot tea.
"There could be many factors, but the police believe that she was jealous over the girl, and got her out of the picture so no one could have her. They believe that she's either keeping the girl somewhere or had her killed." Dazai explains to them. "At the same time, they are looking at the mother too. They think either she is working alone, or together with Emiko. But they have no evidence from the mother's side. While the kidnapping was happening, her alibi checked out, but they are not taking her off the suspect list yet."
"So they don't believe this case is like the others? Or linked somehow?" Atsushi asked slowly, having finished his food, and sat back.
"No. For one the other cases had only the child taken, and the kidnapper never made light again. Secondly none of them were an active kidnapping crime captured on footage, they were just escorting the kid or walking up to the kid convincing them. Thirdly, the parents had nothing to do with the crime, the kid was taken advantage of when they were busy or at work." Dazai clears his throat. "The police and school staff have thought that things would be safer if the school closed down until the cases are cleared up. Everything will be done through homeschooling, and online classes." He stands up patting his stomach, "Well I have to go check up on the updates on the police involving this case. I'll text or come over when I have something else." He collects the files, tucking them under his arm. "Breakfast was good, thanks for the meal." He heads to the door, and before Atsushi can blink an eye the man is gone. His steps going down the metal stairs are heard, fading away.
Atsushi looks over to Akutagawa, his hands resting in his lap. "Well I got a few errands to run today. I got to get some laundry done." He collects the stacked up bowls and cups, going back over to the kitchen island, setting them in the sink.
"Atsu. Why did you come into my room last night? Well not that I mind." Aku asked him the question he feared.
So he made up a lie. "Oh I got a little cold last night. I was nervous about sleeping over here since it was my first night." He told with a fake cheer in his tone. On the inside he was feeling grim, angered over the fact he couldn't tell him anything despite having something that could crack some of the cases wide open. But he believed what Mysteryland had told him. 'I don't want to wake up to see Aku's throat slashed, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I wouldn't want to be the reason someone died, or the reason someone is suffering even at this moment. I can't let him find out, I have to keep him safe.' He thought while he ran some hot water to wash the dishes, his mind never wavering from the threats, the picture, and that video.