XXXXXXXXXXX
Return To Me
XXXXXXXXXXX
The dismal office the Chief had given him was painted a light grey, with one solitary floor-to-ceiling window, which faced the main road. On the small wooden desk sat a desktop computer, a notebook lying open, and a stack of papers sitting under a putrid green glass paperweight. In a corner, the air conditioner was blasting at medium, and there was a swivel chair in the middle of the office. A bookshelf, bursting with books was in a corner, with yet another stack of papers under a paperweight that was shaped to look like a tuft of grass. A few pens were lying on the papers, but some had fallen onto the top of the bookshelf. But most importantly almost everything in the office seemed to be covered by a perfect layer of dust – the office being deemed unimportant enough that the cleaning lady had been skipping it routinely. Still, for all the general discomfort this office offered, here was where he would meet Chiyo and – in his opinion – that was fine.
As he sat in the black, worn pleather office chair, he glanced over at the skinny window awkwardly placed in the center of the wall. The material they'd used to protect it from scratches had yellowed with time to the point where it created a very sickly looking yellow glow over the already somewhat filthy room. It appeared they had been using it as a place to store outdated research materials – no longer needed thanks to the invention of the internet but still perhaps needed for reference from time to time. Sighing, Ryo got up and made his way over the bookcase. Several of the books looked at least mildly interesting - rules of evidence and the criminal code notwithstanding there were a couple books on forensics and even one concerning autopsy results. Picking up one of the newer looking volumes, Ryo flipped through it idly – stopping every so often at a grotesque picture to scrunch up his face before flipping once more.
It wasn't until she spoke that he realized she was behind him.
"What are you doing?" she asked quietly – making him jump and nearly drop the heavy volume onto the ground.
"Just, uh, looking through these books," Ryo answered nervously as he quickly placed the book back on the shelf and gestured to the seat behind the desk, "Please sit. Sit. I have some questions."
"I'm not going out with you," Chiyo responded in an irked tone as she moved to the seat and narrowed her eyes as she lowered herself into the chair, "If this is some scheme…."
"It's not," Ryo answered quickly, "I wanted to ask you about my case."
"Your case?" Chiyo snorted, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You found me. In an abandoned warehouse you were the one who found me," Ryo said in a earnest tone of voice, "And your boss told me you don't remember any of it. I don't either. I thought…well maybe that you'd remember something. Anything."
"I found you," Chiyo repeated quietly as she gave him a quizzical look before her eyes widened in understanding, "Your case is the one they won't let me see."
"They still haven't found anything," Ryo continued, "The man who did this is still out there somewhere. I was already going to hire a bodyguard but now I have to bring him with me everywhere."
"The man outside the door," Chiyo observed, "He seems like he could do some damage if someone were to take him on."
"He's also kinda an ass but a protective ass nonetheless," Ryo laughed quietly before adding in an imploring tone, "Why do you think it is neither of us remember anything? Everything just goes blank and yet I've talked to the doctors who all remember me responding normally more or less."
"My partner said the same thing," Chiyo admitted, "He said I acted a little strange but not enough to worry about it."
"Now why would that be? It's more than just a coincidence," Ryo pushed, "I want answers and I'm sure you do as well."
"What makes you think I want answers?" Chiyo asked suspiciously, "I don't even remember your case."
"Your boss said you had to undergo psychiatric evaluations. You were taken off the case," Ryo informed her bluntly before adding in a softer tone, "Don't you want to know why?"
Sighing heavily, Chiyo chewed the inside of her cheek as she appraised the earnest looking man before her. He seemed to honestly care about her predicament. He had the same questions she'd been asking herself for the last month or two. They had indeed met before under strange circumstances. Maybe…maybe just maybe…
"Yes," Chiyo finally answered – figuring honesty was the best policy, "But I can't go through official channels. They haven't let me near that case file. They keep saying I get too personally involved in cases like that."
"Like that?" Ryo asked slowly, "Like what exactly? Are there other cases you can't remember?"
"No," Chiyo clipped back sheepishly – pausing a moment before adding quietly, "I keep trying to reopen my father's case and my brothers."
"Well I have money," Ryo said then – quickly continuing his sentence when she gave him a disgusted look, "No. No, you misunderstand me. I want answers for what happened to me. I can hire a private investigator. While he's at it, I can have him look into your cases as well. More bang for my buck to have him working three cases at a set rate rather than just one."
"You'd do that?" Chiyo asked suspiciously, "What's the catch? I already told you I'm not interested."
"No catch," Ryo replied earnestly, "I respect that you aren't interested. I do. Perhaps we can be friends if nothing else but let me do this for you. It's the least I can do for the woman who saved my life."
Relaxing slightly, Chiyo considered his offer for but a moment before she nodded, "Alright then. Why don't we have dinner tonight? I'll bring what I can about my father and brother's cases and we'll go from there."
"Splendid," Ryo sighed in relief as he gave her a charming smile, "Where can I pick you up?"