Chapter 3

Comfort

L's POV

My heart broke knowing how upset she was.

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

A chime on the computer went off. K was contacting me. I stayed off the camera as I answered.

"I'm K. How do you do? You're L?"

I put on my mask.

"Yes."

I sat in the chair and looked at the screen. A young woman in a lab coat was on the screen.

"I'm L. How do you do?" I asked.

"Thank you for letting me know about Watari. It surprised me."

She seemed truly sad about Watari's passing.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

I wasn't interested in having a full blown conversation with this woman.

"I'm researching infectious diseases. Something happened and I need your help."

"My help? Why?" I asked.

"A new, devastating virus was discovered. But, my partner who developed the antidote was murdered. The data is missing and I need you to find it. Mankind must be saved!"

I thought about it for a few seconds. If there was a chance that Elena could be infected…

"I see. I will need you to provide me with details. Please come over at noon tomorrow."

"Yes, I will. Tell me where to go."

"I'll send you a map. See you then."

I sent the map and ended the call. I played the video back and saw something out of the corner of my eye. A reflection of four other people. One of them holding a rifle. Whatever she wanted, she intended to get it even if she had to use force.

"Who was that?"

I looked at Elena.

"K. She's coming here tomorrow at noon. Look at this."

She walked over and saw the reflection.

"What do they want?"

"I believe it's connected to the disease in Thailand. She told me she was researching infectious diseases and that her partner had been murdered."

"Looking at that, I think she murdered him."

"Maybe. She said she wanted me to find the antidote data."

She nodded and started to turn away. I gently took her wrist in my hand.

"Look at me."

She looked into my eyes and I stood up.

"Please, believe me when I say if there'd been another way, I would've done it. I hate seeing you upset, Elena. Do you really think I wanted things to be this way?" I said softly.

"No." she whispered.

I leaned a little closer.

"I don't want to die knowing you're upset with me. Please forgive me for what I've done."

I could see all the pain and sadness in her eyes. I couldn't stop myself from moving even closer.

"Please."

She lightly touched my cheek with the tips of her fingers.

"Ah… Excuse me?"

She moved back and I hid my frustration. A cab driver was at the door.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

He held up a computer chip.

"I was told to show you this."

I sat down in the chair.

"I have no idea what that is."

"It looks like a computer chip." Elena said.

I looked at her and she shrugged.

"So, this isn't it either. Damn."

He seemed frustrated and tired.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I've been driving all night. I've had it. Only talks to her bear… I give up."

"Bear?" Elena asked.

"A teddy bear. The passenger is a girl. She's looking for a man named Watari. I guess this isn't it. Thank you for your time."

"Say something." Elena told me.

"Would you please let that girl in? Elena, go get her?"

She nodded and walked out the door.

Elena's POV

A young girl came to the door. She looked like she'd been crying.

"Hey there. I'm Elena. What's your name, sweetie?"

"Nikaido Maki."

"Maki? That's a nice name. Come with me."

She followed me silently.

"Maki, are you alright? You look like you've been crying."

She didn't answer me and I didn't push her. I opened the door and brought her inside.

"Thank you."

She gave L the computer chip along with a case containing what looked like a syringe. She then told us what happened to her father, Professor Nikaido.

"What is it? Some medicine?" she asked.

L shook his head.

"No, this is a virus."

She seemed confused.

"A virus?"

"Yes. And at all costs no one must possess the antidote."

I sat down across from Maki.

"One who possess it will be impervious to the virus. That why Professor Nikaido trusted Watari with the virus and destroyed the only antidote he developed… along with himself."

My eyes widened.

"L!" I hissed.

He looked at me and I shook my head. I touched Maki's hand.

"I'm sorry, he's a little socially awkward."

She nodded but didn't say anything. Tears welled in her eyes and I sighed. I smacked L over the head before put my arm around her shoulders.

"I'm so sorry you had to see all that, Maki. I know how you feel. I lost my parents too."

She hugged me and I put my arm around her. L got up and started putting sweets on a skewer. He came over and held it out to her.

"Here."

She looked at it but then shook her head. L didn't seem to know what to do, he did look a little guilty though.

"I'll take care of her." I told him.

He went and sat back down in his chair. I rubbed Maki's back and tried to calm her. She looked up very suddenly.

"What time is it?" She asked.

"It's eight." L said.

She took her temperature and then wrote it down.

"MY dad's orders."

She started to cry again and I hugged her. The boy came out and slowly walked over. He started to cry with her and L looked at me. I shrugged.

"Sometimes you just need to cry." I told him.

He looked away again and I put my hand on the boy's back.

"Are you trying to make her feel better?"

He nodded. I smiled but then an alarm went off.