A: since I've been gone a long time and I want to finish this soon, I'm uploading this with chapter 4. So banzai, you get a 2 in 1 deal… Tell me how you like the story so far. Thank you…

On a side note, Rima Fujita is one of my favorite artists... and she's mentioned here.

Thanks for the reviews & the guys who read but were too lazy to review.

Disclaimer: I don't own DDS… and the name Joe Shimamura which is from Cyborg 009.

THE SECRET OF A PERFECT MURDER…

CHAPTER 4: The Suspect

"I can't believe he still believes Joe is the perpetrator" Kuniko said for the hundredth time after they left the dressing room "I mean, he wasn't even supposed to be in the city, so it couldn't even be planned beforehand…"

"Please STOP whining" Saburamarou interrupted her, wrinkling up his nose, then to Ryuu he said "look those hot babes, they're ogling at my sexy body"

Ryuu ignored him, unaware of the obvious carnal stares the babes were sending at him. He was thinking about the mystery. Kyu had already pinned the murder on Joe, the only one with the motive but it was impossible. If he had murdered Maya within the two minute period, he must have used a very clever method. But that seemed improbable since the lie detector test had come out negative…

"KYU, RYUU" a cheerful voice yelled over all the commotion in the room, a few eyebrows were raised in annoyance but the lively blonde ignored everyone and abruptly hugged the blue haired boy enthusiastically, who shot out of his thoughts instantly.

"Did you see? Did you see it?" she asked animatedly, her eyes shining with delight. She let go of Ryuu and hugged Kyu, who blushed profusely.

"Huh?" Kyu shook his head giddily.

"I shot my first scene just now" Aliie let a squeal and started hopping with a helpless looking Kyu.

Kuniko stifled a laughed "congratulations"

"Oh thanks, I'm Aliie Suchihira, what's your name?" She held out her hand at Kuniko.

"Kuniko Touya, nice to meet you"

"You too" Aliie smiled giving her a great hug "it's so nice to meet real people in the studio, everyone here is so plastic"

"Plastic?" Kyu asked amused.

"Um… everyone is so… synthetic as in very conceited and cynical, also very boisterous and self-absorbed…" she made a face and sighed "I thought everyone would be nice like Joe"

"You like Joe a lot, don't you?"

"Uh huh" she nodded her face brightening up "I like him a lot, he's really great. I've read all his biographies, news and gossip and everything…"

"Then you'll know a lot about his wife too?" Ryuu asked her a sudden suspicion forming in his mind.

"Yup. Maya Kasumi, born in 1983. Her father was the famous actor Munakata Kasumi but she didn't have much acting talent. She only appeared in two films, one a lame horror and a comedy, both flunked so she then changed her career to modeling. She met Joe at the age of twenty and they married in the December of 2004 in-"

"That's good" Kyu stopped her quickly "Want to go for coffee?"

"Sure, there's a café at the end of the block specially reserved for the actors and crew of the series" Aliie took both Kyu's and Kuniko's hands "… ya know for privacy and stuff… come on, I'll treat you guys"

"Are you sure this is alright?" Kuniko bit her lip nervously. The place was filled with actors and other famous people. It was unnerving to see so many beautiful people in the same room.

"Sure. Wanna go to the back, there's a real cool mural I wanna show you, come on" she pulled them in before anyone could object.

The inside was different from the lively outside; it was filled with dark murals which loomed over the tables in a sinister way. The mural Aliie wanted to show was the face of a manga child shedding her tears in to the sky where they turned to stars… And the coloring was also very unpredictable with dark hues then bursts of bright reds and yellows. It would be wonderful to look at in the night.

"It's very amusing" Kyu commented

"Yeah but inspirational" Aliie shook her head knowingly "the murals were painted by Rima Fujita, so it's really valuable"

"Wow" Kuniko whispered looking around at another mural, this one with a woman disappearing into a rose bush "it's really nice"

"Shall we sit?" Ryuu asked Aliie who took them to the very back of the room.

"Here, sit. I'll just go to the ladies' room for a sec okay?" Aliie grinned "I won't be long, so stay here please"

"Wait" Kuniko cried grabbing her arm "I'll come too"

"Okay, you guys wait for us okay?"

And they were gone just like that, Kyu turned towards Ryuu "Do you think they'll come back soon?"

"No"

"I thought so" he said with a sigh.

There was a silence in which both the boys dwelled in their thoughts when suddenly a suspicious voice called from the front of the room.

"Is anyone in here?"

Another voice answered "No, it's closed in the afternoons" then there was the sound of footsteps proceeding into the room

"Quick, let's hide" Ryuu hissed, quietly stepped under the table cloth pulling in his best friend with him.

The sound of footsteps stopped, another noise of chairs being drawn out sounded and the two sat down.

"So how have you been these days?" an unfamiliar voice asked. "Is there something bothering you?"

"Crap, really crap thank you" the other voice, a woman's swore in an ironic voice "first of all the murder and then half the extras cancelled out saying they didn't want to work with a potential murderer… humph that little snot is trouble even though she's now dead"

The man sighed "You're still bitter, does Maya still bother you that much. You should forget about the past"

Kyu nudged Ryuu.

There was the sound of something dragging along the table "I can never forgive her for what she's done. Never… and you know what's ironic?" the woman let out a whinny of a laugh "She had it coming for a long time"

"Chiza, you should be wary of saying such things, especially at this time when everyone is searching for Maya's killer."

Chiza let out a huff "does it matter? we're still in this trouble because of her. And to makes matters worse; Joe brings this stupid blonde to the shoot as an extra. She's so stupid that she can't say two lines without messing up. I'm telling you I'm so wound over the edge that I'm –"

She stopped as the door opened.

"Oh, Ms Koura, what are you doing here?" Aliie's usually cheery voice sounded slightly dented.

"Leaving" the woman said coldly, with a brisk nod, she left the room with the strange man. Ryuu and Kyu poked their heads from under the table.

"What are you doing?" Aliie placed a tray on their table, her eyes were strangely glazed. She looked almost sad, looking the opposite of her usual self.

"Looking for Ryuu's contacts" Kyu joked grinning at her.

"Oh" she fumbled with her handbag "I have a torch, here"

"It was a joke Aliie" Ryuu said staring at her intently "Why was Ms. Koura angry at you?"

"It's nothing, she hates everyone basically. She probably just targets me because Joe approves of me. They had a kind of a history, I don't know about. Ms Koura is probably attracted to Joe, he's the only person on the whole set who is treated justly by her"

"Sorry, I'm late guys" Kuniko hurried through the door looking harassed "there was a great line at the salad counter"

Aliie blushed "I forgot they had the self service here. I didn't want to disturb you guys so I got you some cheeseburgers and Pepsi, is that okay?"

"Its fine, thank you" Ryuu nodded at her.

"Yeah, you've done more then enough" Kyu added, and a silent look was exchanged between the boys

They just might have found another suspect.