DEATH NOTE
Another Kira, another killer
Part 2: hal rinder
I decided that the first place to start off my investigation of Matt's death was with the one person that Mello got information from during the Kira Case.
Hal Rinder.
I talked to her through a voice call on webcam since the SPK had arranged for her to take over a homicide case in Milan.
"Hal, when was the last time you talked to Mello?" I asked, knowing that they obviously must have had some sort of conversation before my first meeting with Mello in 7 years.
Hal looked confused. I could see that she was alone in her room as I instructed for her to be and most of the lights were on. She scratched her head then said,
"I haven't talked to him ever since the Kira Case. I thought Mello was dead. He is dead, isn't he?"
I sighed. I was the only person so far that had this theory of Mello being alive. Everyone else knew Miheal Keehl as a dead man.
"Hal, I have this theory that Mello is still alive."
Hal looked even more confused than before.
"What? Didn't Kira kill him?" she shifted in her chair, "Assuming he is alive, why hasn't he contacted you? And who died in that truck instead of him?"
"Those are very good questions, Hal, but I prefer to take on this case alone. I'm investigating the death of his best friend."
I could tell Hal was about to ask a question but I held up my hand.
"You're wondering why Mello would kill his best friend. Well, I'm not really sure. But I do know that somehow, Mello got the Japanese police to shoot Matt believing he was a kidnapper and a rebel to Kira. Why and How Mello did this are critical questions that need to be answered. So is finding out who the person Takada killed with her piece of the death note instead of Mello."
"And telling his family."
I raised my eyebrows. I didn't think that a member of a mafia would have a wife and kids. I mentioned this to Hal and she sighed, proclaiming she was just joking.
"So, you wanted to know when my last contact with Mello was."
"Yes," I replied and then, "He followed you into your apartment, didn't he?"
Silence.
"Hal, did Mello point his gun at you and follow you into your apartment?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't tell me this because?"
"Near, I said this then and I'm saying this now. I'm not on you or Mello's side."
"This isn't the Kira Case, Hal. It's not about Kira, it's about Mello."
Hal fidgeted in her seat, "Still-"
"You work for me. I'm the leader of the SPK and this is our assignment. Your going to tell me everything that happened between you and Mello right now or your fired."
Hal sighed and looked straight into the webcam.
"Okay, Mello came into my apartment. He pointed his gun at me so I had to do what he said…."
-Flashback-
Hal: Near has thought of your getting in touch with me, he seems to have never imagined we had already met though.
Mello: I knew he would do so.
Hal: Now that you don't have the notebook, you can only threaten me with your guns. You cant puppeteer me, and also you can be traced easily if you use a gun. From now on, I have to install monitoring cameras in my room by myself except the bathroom.
Hal: What are you going to do? Are you going to be living in the bathroom?
Hal: I'm all right. I don't dislike you.
Hal: Also, Near says the second L might be Kira.
Mello! The second L?!
Hal: Hey, watcha going to do?
Mello: Hal, which side are you on? Mine or Nears?
Hal: Didn't I tell you a week ago? I'm not either side. Both you and Near want to catch Kira. You are, so to speak, like-minded, aren't you?
Mello: ……
Hal: Hey, tell me your plan. Are you slipping away? If so, Ill tell Near that you were hiding in my bathroom and I met you and told you what I had to say. Or should I make another chance for us to meet?
Mello: Hal, go back to the SPK headquarters.
Hal: What? I have no reason to go there now.
Mello: [Points gun] Make one up.
Hal: Okay, okay. Stop pointing that thing at me.
-End Flashback-
"And that's when Mello saw you…"
"For the first time in seven years," I completed.
Hal nodded and typed. Probably working on a report.
I was still utterly confused.
"But if that was the last time you two had a full conversation……this isn't making sense. Is there a reason Mello killed Matt?"
Hal looked up, "You mean besides framing him?"
I shook my head.
"I don't think Mello would frame his best friend. There had to be a reason. Besides, I'm pretty sure Mello felt some remorse. Nobody deserved to die like that."
"Your right. Maybe you should learn more about Matt and Mello's relationship?"
I sighed and muttered, "Not something I'd want to do."
"What was that?"
I shook my head again, "Nothing, nothing. Get some sleep. It must be past midnight over there."
"Yeah, it is. Well, I hope I helped. Good night."
"Yeah, you did. Bye."
I sighed again and turned off the computer. I knew exactly what I had to do.
Tomorrow I would go back to the Whammy Orphanage. Time to do a little digging into the past.
