Evidence

"You know each other?" Sayu sounded confused.

Sounds being the key word here, L thought, watching the girl's facial and body language. She was trying to keep her face blank, but the tilt of her head indicated that she was well pleased with herself. So, more than a pretty face. Perhaps. Maybe I'm just looking for trouble. Still, the questions she had asked him on the plane—all seemingly casual—were the sort of things that could possibly build up a profile.

She is Light's sister. It isn't paranoia to keep an eye on her.

"Um, I met him once," Light said, giving L a searing look that quite plainly said that he would pay for giving him a hard time. L couldn't help grinning; it was too easy to provoke Light. It was definitely one of the perks of working with the brunette, who could be fussy and irritating.

"Yes. I was part of an exchange program a few years ago. I stayed in Tokyo for awhile, and I got accepted into To-Oh."

"Did you really? I never heard of you."

"I was only there for a semester. I came down with pneumonia and they sent me home," L said. "My health is very…ahh…delicate, so they sent me home."

Sayu pursed her lips. "Oh, that's too bad. Still," she elbowed her brother, "I cant believe Light didn't tell me about you."

"So, Sayu, let's get you home," Light said, the epitome of a good big brother. "Err…Ryuzaki. How long will you be in Tokyo this time?"

L shrugged. "Probably a month or so. I'm here with a few...associates of mine, to meet with the Yotsuba group. We're considering merging."

Sayu raised her eyebrows. "You're a CEO?"

L winced. "No. My guardian—he adopted me when I was three—is the CEO, and he wants me here. I'd rather be in San Diego, but…" he shrugged.

Light rolled his eyes. "You're such a slacker, Ryuzaki. I bet you didn't even finish your business degree when you went home."

"My health is delicate, remember?"

Light snorted. "Not that delicate." He checked his watch. "Come on, Sayu. Ryuzaki, I'll call you later, okay?"

L smirked. I bet you will. "Yes, I'll be there any time. See you around."

"Yeah, see you." Light led Sayu away, to go get her passport checked. L let him walk a fair distance away, then beckoned Mello and Matt over. They came quickly, despite Mello's scowl.

"Yes?" he asked tersely.

L gave him a playful push, leaning over to whisper in his ear. "You and Matt go through customs….you'd better come up clean, too…"

"What do you think we are, kids?" Mello snorted.

L ignored this. "Once you get through, Mello, you're to follow the Yagamis, particularly Sayu. Quietly."

Mello nodded. "Got you."

"Matt, you come with me. I'll give you orders once we're in the limo."

"Right." Matt tucked his Gameboy into his pocket."Can do."

"Good."

Light waited until he got home to call L. With Soichiro and Sachiko distracted by Sayu, he went upstairs and dialed the number, waiting while the phone rang and rang. He was about to hang up when L picked up, innocently saying, "Yes, hello?"

"Where are you?"

"In the hotel."

Light rolled his eyes. "Look, L, I've got about two seconds to give you this information, so you better be ready."

"I'm ready." L's voice lost it's teasing tone.

"Right. I located another case."

"Where?"

Light named the hospital. "The man was committed by his girlfriend a few days ago. High fever, flu-like symptoms. He fell into a coma yesterday and died at…guess what? Precisely 8:30 AM. An hour and a half later than the last one."

There was the sound of keys tapping. "Ah, yes. Inoue Reiji, 27 years old. Has a history of gambling and was charged once with battery, but got off on a technicality."

"So what do you think?"

"What I've thought from the beginning. Kira."

"Come on, L. Higuchi was arrested and—"

"But we never found out how he killed. He refused to speak of it, even when they put the fatal injection in his arm. Besides, I've always believed that the power Kira has is passed from person to person."

Light rolled his eyes. "By that reasoning, I was Kira when you suspected me."

Silence.

"Oh, come on. Not this again. I'm part of the NPA. I cant be Kira."

"Not any more."

Light sighed. "Look, I'll call you again if I find out anything else. Oh, and L?"

"Yes?"

"I'm not—and I never was—Kira."

He hung up before L could respond. Arguing with L was like banging your head repeatedly into a brick wall in hopes that it would fall down.

Totally futile.