Total words including author's note: 5042

Chapter Four

"You are definitely right, mademoiselle. Let's go back inside." said the detective as he holds the magician's hand and pull her gently back inside the mansion where the scream of a woman that disturbed them came from.

Whispers can be heard everywhere while a lot of people surrounds one area. He excuses himself and starts walking through the crowd, still holding Rosalia's hand. As they go near the main area, he suddenly smells a familiar strong irritating odor. His eyes widens as they both reach the front, along with the magician who gasp while covering her mouth after seeing a man who is lying on the floor, died in brutal way. The detective immediately pulls Rosalia closer for a hug, in order for him not to see such horrific death.

"Don't look..." he whispered to her with a serious tone, Harley Hartwell is also there together with Sebastian Hainse, currently staring at the both of them. But he knows that there is no time to create a childish argument so Sebastian decided to let it pass till they solve the crime, Harley and Sebastian walk towards the both of them with a serious expression.

"What happened?" asked Jimmy while looking at the both of them

"The victim's name is Ronaldo Agrest, a 33 years old, famous business man in the France. The witnesses said that he suddenly collapse in pain, as his mouth starts to produce bubbles. Also, some parts of his skin are burnt" Harley said while looking at the victim that already has yellowish colored eyes, his is holding his burnt throat, some parts of his skin are burnt while there are mixture of bubbly substance and blood that came out from his mouth.

'That odor...could it be?' he thought to himself as he stare at the victim

"Hey, Harwell, Hainse. That strong and irritating odor, it is not just me, right?" he said as he turn his gaze to them

"Yeah, we can also smell it even without getting near the corpse" Hainse said as he removes his mask. Jimmy and Harley did the same to have a better look on the crime scene

"As I thought, he was killed by making him drink hydrofluoric acid that is mixed on his wine" Jimmy said and pointed out the broken wine glass near the victim's body,

"We have thought the same thing" said Sebastian as he looks at the corpse and to the people around them while wondering something,

'Who would painfully and brutally murder someone like this?'

The British goes closer to the body of the victim to have a closer look, he frowns as he quickly cover his nose because of its odor. Exactly like what Jimmy observed, the victim's eye has turned yellow; throat is burnt till it melted including his skin.

'Died 5 minutes after drinking a wine that has large amount of hydrofluoric acid'

Noticing the sudden silence, Harley cleans his throat to break the silence. He looks at everyone with full of suspicion as he starts to speak,

"Is there anyone here who knows who the victim's friends, colleagues, or family members who have been with him?" asked the dark skinned detective, some people looks at him and raised their hands. Harley quickly walk towards those people and asked for some information.

On the other side, a woman is staring at the magician with narrowed eyes, she gasp as her eyes widens after identifying who she is.

"Y-you...you..." said the woman with a stuttering voice. Jimmy, who was still hugging Rosalia, quickly notices it as he raised his eyebrows and hugs the magician tighter.

"That girl over there, I know you!"

She exclaimed with a terrified tone, Rosalia looks at her, surprised and confused on the way she acted and by the tone of her voice

"I'm sure... you're the one who killed him!"

"Wait wha—"

"You little witch! You killed him with your witch craft, detectives I'm sure about it!"

The lady exclaimed again, not giving the magician a chance to explain her side. The lady hold onto Harley's sleeves while tugging it as she points the magician out, which made him sweat dropped and slightly surprised on the sudden accusation she made.

"Hey, mademoiselle will you please calm down first? What's with the sudden accusation about her being a witch and killing the victim?"

Jimmy suddenly asked giving her a disbelief looks, knowing that witch doesn't exist and that the lady couldn't kill anyone. He felt Rosalia clutches his coat slight as she turns her gaze to the woman who suddenly accused her.

"Mademoiselle, excuse me for being rude but your mouth have stated things that are not true, I'm an aspiring magician who uses magic tricks and illusions to impress people."

Rosalia defended herself which made the lady's cheek flare up in embarrassment but still chose to point the magician out.

"You know the victim, right? I even saw you two having a fight. You were shouting at him while he on the other hand is trying to keep his temper!"

With that, Rosalia started to get pissed as she remains quiet, trying to control her temper. She really dislike it when she's being accused on something she knows she would never do and also being accused as a witch is one of what she dislike.

"Who wouldn't get mad if someone tried to molest you?"

Rosalia said, her voice suddenly cracked as it turns weak, she took a deep breath as she looks at the lady who accused her. Their eyes widens from the surprising revelation she made, while two of the detectives mentally cussed at the dead man for doing something unforgivable to their fair lady.

"That guy attempted to molest me when I was asked to deliver flowers that he ordered, he asked me to come in and that was the moment on where he tried to get his hands on me. Luckily, I have escaped. I came back next morning to confront him from what he tried to do"

She explained, shivers runs down through her spine and she felt her eyes starts to build up tear which she tried to stop after remembering the terrible memory that have happened to her. The memory is still fresh on her mind especially that it has only happened on the previous month.

"But still, despite from what he has done, the thought of killing someone never bump into my mind. I never use my magic tricks to do dirty things like murder."

Rosalia's statement have made the lady lost her word, but still remained persistent and continue to accuse the magician,

"Still, you have the motive to kill him,"

The Dark Knight or Jimmy on the other hand, stare at his angel, currently shivering from her own statement that have made her remember about that horrible and unforgivable memory that the victim have gave her. As much as he wants to be angry from what happened to the magician, he knows that he couldn't do anything anymore to punish the victim since he's already dead; he just soothes the magician back in a gentle way, to keep her calm.

"You can't just accuse someone without any valid and concrete evidence; do you have any evidence that the lady right here killed the guy who molested her?" Jimmy said and holds the magician tightly while giving the lady who accused his angel for such crime a serious glare.

"She uses magic, who knows that she is just deceiving us, saying that her magic are mare tricks and illusions even if she is already using her power that can bring danger to all of us, she used witch craft to kill him!"

The lady exclaimed again while pointing at the magician, the detective smirks as he chuckles slightly,

"Mademoiselle, I am certain that what you have just said is not a valid and concrete evidence. Let's start from your accusation of her being a witch, the illusions that she is showing to everyone as an entertainment are just mare tricks that I can unlock, witch crafts and magic such as dark magic or red magic doesn't exist. She also couldn't kill him in a normal way because she was with me the whole time, she couldn't have commit the crime because she never left my side" Jimmy explained and conclude that have made the lady who accused the magician quiet for the conclusion that the detective have made, she ended up just giving the magician one deadly glare.

Sebastian on the other hand agrees to everything Jimmy said, even if he dislike the fact that his flower lady is being held by the other detective right now, and the fact that she was with him the whole time, the British detective thinks that it is better that way because the accusation about the magician will be more invalid, especially that he also thinks that the magician would never commit such crime even if she got molested. He turns his gaze back to the people who raised their hands a while ago and gave them a serious look before he speaks.

"All those people who raise their hands, we need to get your information, including where you were and what you were doing 7:50 in the evening, before the crime happened"

"In short, all the suspects for this murder"

Sebastian said while giving them a serious expression, Harley looks at Sebastian an goes closer to him to whisper something,

"Hey, aren't we going to count that lad—"

But before he could even continue, the British detective gave him a deadly glare which made Harley shocked with his sudden attitude, but Sebastian apologized immediately after realizing what his rude attitude.

Jimmy and Sebastian took a deep sigh; there is only one thought in that is dominating their urge to solve this crime,

'I will definitely catch the culprit to prove that this azure blue eyed magician in innocent, no matter how it takes'

Moments later, the police arrived at the crime scene as the investigation continues; they questioned all of the suspects including Rosalia for the complaint of the lady who accused her to the police. Jimmy and Sebastian let them question the magician for the assurance that she is innocent. Seven people have been concluded as a suspect, those people who raised their hands and Rosalia. The police and the detectives asked them to state their name, relationship to the victim and where they were and what they were doing before the victim died.

The magician who is in between Jimmy and Sebastian spoke first, "I am, Rosalia Kuroba, 22 years old, I work on a flower shop and sometimes was asked to deliver flowers to our customers, I met Mr. Ronaldo Agrest during the delivery and there...he tried to molest me but I managed to escape. During the crime I was with Monsieur Jimmy, I was with him all the time, dance with him, even monsieur Sebastian saw it then Monsieur Jimmy and I went to the garden afterwards" she said while looking directly to the officers, Jimmy gently caress the magician's back as comfort.

"I'm Robert Agrest, 55 years old and elder brother of the victim. I was with him when we arrived but departed after meeting some acquaintances, I haven't saw him around until...until I was informed that he is already dead. I would never try to kill my brother, we were close since we were kids." The old man that has a resemblance of the victim said while looking down on the ground.

"I'm Anastasia André, 24 years old, I am Mr. Agrest's assistant, he has always been nice to everyone and I never had the motive to kill the man who gave me shelter and gave me job. I really think that it is that witch who did all these trouble! I am sure that she's the one who killed Mr. Agrest, I'm sure about it!" said the woman who accused the magician earlier, while giving her a deadly glare. However, the magician kept herself quiet instead of fighting back.

"I'm Antoinette Thomas, 30 years old. I'm a family friend of the victim. A-and I was the one who's with him when he suddenly collapse on the floor. I already know that something's strange while we were having conversation. But I swear that I didn't kill him!" said the lady with blonde hair, terrified and nervous.

"I am Arthur Moreau, 36 years old. I am the victim's best friend. I was with Antoinette and Ronaldo minutes before he died but I excused myself to go to the toilet. Ronaldo has an arrogant and nasty attitude but he is a good person inside, I didn't have a motive to kill him because he was like a brother to me since we've been friends since childhood." said the old man with grayish hair as he clutches his fist, "I just hope that his death will be brought to justice"

The detectives are now observing suspect's expression and thinking on how could the culprit possibly put the deadly chemical on the victim's wine glass that is already placed on the victim's table together with the wine bottle, according to the person who held this masquerade ball, Sebastian Hainse.

"Hey, Kudo. Do you already have an idea about this one?" said Harley who went beside Jimmy who is currently thinking.

"I'm still unsure about this one. Everyone could have done the crime especially if they are close to the victim. How did the culprit mix such large amount of deadly chemical to the victim's drink without being seen by such large amount of crowd? The culprit must have deceived the victim" said Jimmy while rubbing his chin as he thinks of a possible answer to his questions

"By everyone, ya mean that she, your lover could also commit the crime" said Harley while pointing at Rosalia who gave him stare as she blinks her eyes in confusion. Jimmy gave Harley a deadly glare,

"She was with me the whole time, she couldn't have killed the victim" Jimmy said but his ears slightly flared up when he realised the other thing Harley have said, "And she is not my lover, Hartwell" he emphasizes and shook his head

Harley looks at him as he gives him a nervous laugh when he saw his reaction. He just shook his head as a thought comes out on his mind. He look back again to the crime scene to check if there is something may lead on the culprit.

On the other side Sebastian remains standing. His golden hawk eyes are looking at the victim who beside the broken wine glass, where the content was spilled on the floor.

'For sure the chemical was mixed in the wine but how come the culprit managed to mix the chemical without getting noticed?'

The cowlick haired detective starts to think about the wine and the chemical, based on asking Antoinette Thomas that said that the victim drinking Constantia wine, a wine from 1685 in South Africa.

'Obviously, the chemical is mixed from the wine. Could it be that it is already mixed in the bottle...no if it is then other people who drank that wine should be in the current state of the victim'

Jimmy turn his gaze on the long table where different wine glasses and bottle alcohol beverages are displayed that has labels of its brand name on each. He then looks at Harley who is looking at the table of the victim. Harley is staring at the table and looks at the glasses that are half empty.

"Oi Kudo, look at this" he called Jimmy who instantly walks to confirm if he has found something

"What is it, Hartwell?" asked Jimmy while looking at his co-detective who is currently crossing his arm, still staring at the table.

"Have you noticed this one?" Harley pointed at the wet mark on the table's cloth that is in circular form, it wasn't that wet already because it is quite dry already but it is visible.

"It probably came from the wine glass of someone"

Sebastian suddenly spoke which made Harley surprised on his sudden appearance on his side. Jimmy nodded in agreement; he noticed that there is only one wet mark on the table cloth.

'Could it be?' he thought as a smirk suddenly forms on his lips.

Jimmy starts checking each glass that is placed on the table, the glass that the suspect used. Sizes of their glass are similar but there is no sign of it being wet. He then turns his gaze on the victim's brother and walk towards him to ask him some few questions.

"Mr. Robert Agrest, can I have a private conversation with you?" he asked the victim's brother who nodded in agreement. The gentlemen excused themselves and walk farther to make sure that no one will overhear their conversation.

Jimmy asked the brother of the victim question to confirm the building theories and reasoning in his mind. He listened to Robert Agrest's answers carefully and realised something really important about the case. He grins widely and thanked the victim's brother and told him that he can go already.

While the others are looking at them curiously, Antoinette requested for water since she feels thirsty, Anastasia volunteer herself to get the water for Antoinette. She gets an empty glass and gets poured water from the pitcher, the water accidentally spilled on the table that has made her drop her purse.

Sebastian quickly helped her the moment he saw it, he walk towards her and gets the pouch for her, and he notice something strange while holding the lady's pouch. She immediately gets her pouch from the blond detective and thanked him; she quickly went towards an Antoinette to give her the glass of water she requested.

Few moments Jimmy asked the officers to gather all the suspect who are now starting to complain because it is already late and they still have to settle some other things.

"Isn't this investigation done yet? I had to go back home, I'm sure that my wife is already waiting for me" said by Ronaldo Agrest,

"I have something to finish at home too, are we not clear yet?" said Antoinette while looking at the detectives, the other suspect agreed except for the magician who is sitting quietly.

Jimmy clears his throat as he start to speak, "Sure everyone could now go home, after we lure the mastermind of this inhumane activity"

What Jimmy said has caught the suspects' attention. Smirking, Harley and Sebastian stand beside Jimmy as Inspector Bisset walk toward the detectives.

"Monsieur Kudo, does this mean that you already know who's the culprit behind this horrific crime?" he asked. Jimmy smirked arrogantly as he looks at the suspects,

"Yeah, I understand everything now, which among this suspects the culprit is and how the culprit killed the victim without getting noticed, it is a really basic yet tricky technique that have made us confused. All the culprit need is an ice and a frozen hydrofluoric acid. According to the victim's brother, the victim like to drink his wine cold, so all the culprit has to do is to put ice and the

frozen hydrofluoric acid on the victim's wine glass to mix with his wine." he said as he looks at Harley, giving him a sigh that it is his turn to speak.

"To prove what Kudo said, wet marks can be seen on the table cloth were the victim's wine glass is place, the beverage would moist in cold and as the ice melt it water substance from its moist would fall down from the glass that would create a wet mark on the table cloth, isn't that right, Kudo?" said Harley with a wide grin on his face.

"But who would do such a thing?" asked inspector Bisset while looking at the three

"We are certain that the culprit is just among these suspects. The culprit is a person whom the victim could boss around. The culprit was ordered by the victim to put on ice on is wine, that gave her the change to perform the crime," Jimmy said while looking at a lady who is currently shivering in nervous after her schemes got discovered, "The person who killed Mr. Agrest is you, Anastasia André, Mr. Agrest's assistant. I can't think of any other person that you" he said while giving her a serious glare.

"You planned this by freezing hydrofluoric acid and mix it with ice to put it on Mr. Agrest's wine, you were given a chance to perform the crime when he asked you to put ice on his wine and tried to frame up Rosalia Kuroba by saying that it is done by a witch." Jimmy continued, the lady clenched her fist and looks at the cowlick haired detective.

"T-this is ridiculous! I wouldn't do something like that, not because I'm the one who put on ice on his drink it doesn't mean that I killed him!" she defended herself as she turn her gaze to the magician, "Aren't you just protecting this witch right here?! She could have done it, yet you are too blinded on proving her innocence! You don't even have any other evidences that I did it!" she said and laughs

"I do... your purse" he said that have made the lady froze, "I saw Hainse pick up your purse so I guess that he should be the one who should explain it" he said as he gaze at Sebastian,

"When I helped you pick up your purse I can smell a strange scent from your purse, it have the same irritating odor, just like what you can smell from the victim's wine glass and body, you must have realised that you have an extra piece of the frozen acid so you decided to put it inside your purse, it is a bit dry when I felt it and because of its contact to your purse, my hand didn't got burnt" Sebastian said that have made the lady speechless

"If the officers did an inspection on your purse, it will still point you out because traces of the chemical will be discovered, so give yourself up" Jimmy said while looking at the suspect, the inspector ordered one officer to get the woman's purse for inspection and the woman didn't insisted and gave it to them as she fall down on her knees and starts crying.

"H-how could you, Anastasia? You were his most trusted employee" asked the victim's brother who is currently standing beside her.

"Remember that man who works for Mr. Agrest before who committed suicide two years ago? He was my brother" she said while looking at the floor, "Our mother was sick that time and Mr. Agrest wouldn't give him his promised salary for the month that was meant to use for my mother's treatment but...that cold hearted man said that he would only give it if he proved how much he needs it, even death. My brother did everything but he wasn't satisfied for his efforts! My mother ended up dying from her illness and my brother felt guilty so he took his own life...it is all that nasty man's fault!" she said and starts crying hard, her reason have made everyone feel pity for her, even the detective and especially the soft hearted magician who's tears dropped.

Jimmy saw it and walks towards the magician to comfort her, "Ms. André, no matter what your pushed you to do such crime, there is still no point on fighting back with violence to the person whom have sinned to you, killing is still an inhumane act, no matter what your reason is, you deserve to be put in prison. For killing someone and trying to blame an innocent person for your own fault" Jimmy said while looking at the culprit who is now being arrested by the officers

"I didn't want to blame her, but I had to survive. I also didn't intended to kill him, all I want to do at first is to bring him down, yet someone told me to do the technique I just did and blame it to that girl" she said as he looks at both Jimmy and Rosalia and smile, "You are one lucky woman" she said before they finally brought her to prison.

The officers thanked the detectives for another job well done. After some short interview from some journalist that went to the party so that their job will be put on the front page of the newspaper, Jimmy, Rosalia, Sebastian, and Harley are the only ones who are left at the party's venue.

They were in awkward silence so Harley decided to break it, "So, mademoiselle," he said as he turns his gaze to the magician, "So you are the girl who has inspired Kudo to attend this party." He continued that have made Jimmy's eye widens and gave him a deadly glare.

Harley noticed the expression his best friend made and flashed him a teasing smirk instead of feeling threatened by those deadly glares the sharp eyed detective gave him. The magician looks at the two confusedly and tilts her head. She also noticed Harley looking at her from head to toe, like he's observing her. Jimmy just let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

"Inspired?" the lady finally asked while giving Jimmy a curious expression that have made him sweat drop, knowing that the magician is already curious and he can already imagine himself being tied upside down again, the worst part is his 'supportive' best friend will be going to laugh at him till he run out of voice.

'How will I even explain it to her?' he thought to himself again and starts thinking of a proper explanation

He got interrupted from his busy thought by a familiar voice of someone. He looks at Sebastian whom is now holding Rosalia's hand as he kissed the back of it. His eyes narrowed after seeing an obvious tint on the lady's cheeks in embarrassment.

Harley goes towards Jimmy as he nudge at him, showing a teasing and annoying smirk as he whispered something to him that have made him a bit frustrated.

"Don't let your dove's wings get clipped by someone else, Kudo. Look at them"

Said Harley as he currently point at the British detective and the magician with his lips. Without thinking twice, Jimmy walks towards the both quickly with a deadly glare, he holds Rosalia's wrist which have made the both a bit surprise with his sudden appearance.

"Again? Why won't you at least give me a chance to talk to her?" Sebastian said as he holds the magician's arm tightly, but not enough to hurt her as he wrapped his free hand to her shoulder. Jimmy wrapped an arm on the magician's waist. The two exchanged deadly glares with each other that have made Rosalia looks at the both feeling uncomfortable with their current situation.

"Geez, two birds are fighting for a little grain. I see now, why don't you both just share?"

The two passed their glare to Harley after he said the thing about sharing,

'Sharing will never be an option'

Jimmy thought to himself as he frowns at his best friend who is currently laughing at the both of them. Jimmy sighs and shook his head as he turns his gaze back to the magician.

"Monsieur Jimmy...et Monsieur Sebastian, I want to move freely, if you both don't mind" Rosalia said as the both snapped back in reality and let go of the magician's waist and arm but both are still holding her hands, the magician sigh in relief.

"And Monsieur Jimmy, don't you have something to say to Monsieur Sebastian?" Rosalia continued that have made Jimmy remember the promise he made to the magician.

He looks at the British Detective then to the azure blue eyed magician,

'Is it really necessary to apologise to him?' he thought to himself and tried to speak, the lady gave him a 'do-it-now' look. He sighs and forces himself to say those five words to the British detective, who is now curious.

He took a deep breath before speaking, "I'm...sorry for being rude" he said in force. Rosalia gave him a gentle squeeze on the hand while smiling brightly that have made the cowlick haired detective feel soft. The British detective on the other hand got surprised but still managed to let out a chuckle.

"You are forgiven, Mr. Dark Knight, but please let me have a talk with this lady. You wouldn't mind it, right?" Sebastian said, emphasizing the last phrase he said which have made Jimmy feel irritated. He let out a sigh and let go of the magician's hand after seeing her flash him a pleasing expression. He bow down on his waist and hold the magician's hand and kissed the back of his hand for the last time.

"This is not good bye, I will see you again, milady" he said and let the magician's hand go. He bit his good bye to the British Detective and walk back to his best friend who is still wearing a teasing smirk.

Harley put his arm on the top of Jimmy's shoulder and messes his hair, "So you are just going to let her go with— ouch, that hurts, fool!"

He exclaimed when Jimmy purposely step on his feel and starts to walk away,

"Let's go now" Jimmy said that have made his Harley follow him

Jimmy and Harley left the mansion where the ball happened. Jimmy has one thing in his mind not that he knows the lady's name.

'I will make sure that we'll see each other again, Mademoiselle Rosalia Kuroba.'