Not really much to say this time around aside from a few character deaths. I don't own anything but the writing. Atsushi Okubo and JB Kohl own the characters and story respectively. And the names of songs I use for the chapter names belong to their respective artists. Read and Review, please!

She held out her hands to him, her dark hair sprawled out on the pillows. Her deep blue eyes invited him to lay with her. he closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, she was gone. "Damn it..." Soul swore. She haunted him. She probably would for the rest of his life.

Sunday morning. Seven o'clock in the morning. Nobody would call him. They'd all be at church. So he rolled over and attempted to go back to sleep. Until the phone rang. He reluctantly went to the phone and answered with a sigh, "Evans."

"This is Liz Thompson. We met at the asylum. Maka wants to talk to you," Liz said.

"She remember anything yet? Last I checked, she didn't know she was married."

"She remembers getting ready for the ceremony. that's all. She doesn't believe Kid is dead," Liz explained. "But really, Maka wants to talk to you. So if you're not busy..."

"I'll be there in a bit," he replied.

...

Maka had sat in her chair silently since requesting to speak with Soul. She was shaking and the detective noticed more bruises on her pale skin than the other day. "You wanted to talk, Miss?" Soul asked the widow.

Her sad eyes looked up at him. Lightly fingering a bruise on her arm, she said, "Kami... Kami was here... last night..." Tears began to form in the corner of her eyes. She let them fall freely. "She... I don't know how she got in... And she... pushed me... down the stairs... She said... that Kid belonged... with her..." The widow began sobbing. "Please... find my fiance! Kami must have taken him from me!"

Soul took her hand comfortingly. "Kid is dead, Maka. The police are trying to figure it all out. But Kid is dead. I'm looking for some letters Kami sent to him. If there's anything you know about them..."

"You're saying... Are you saying he... cheated on me?" she asked in horror. "No! You're lying! Kid isn't dead, and he didn't cheat on me! He wouldn't! LIAR!" She slapped his hand away and continued to sob.

He knew how it was to want to believe in someone wholeheartedly. But the evidence was there. Kami had said Kid belonged with her. And if... no, when he found those letters, there would be even more proof. But why had Kami attacked Maka? Kid was dead, so they had no man to fight over. And the woman sounded so weak and fragile over the phone... But did she really have something to do with Kid's murder?

As Liz's sister (Patty, right?) tried to calm Maka, Liz dragged Soul into the hallway. Slamming him into the wall, she demanded, "How much is she paying you?"

"I'm not at liberty to say."

"I'll double it. Whatever it is, I'll double it so long as you forget about these letters!"

"Why is it that no one wants these letters found?" Soul asked.

"Money's not enough? Fine. I'll give you myself. I have nothing else to give. But I'd do anything to keep you from tormenting that woman any further," she said, her arms wrapping around his neck. "So... do we have a deal?"

Soul leaned to place his mouth by her ear. "Hell no..." he whispered. Taking a step back, he took Liz's hands from his neck. "Have a good day, Miss Thompson," he said before leaving the building.

...

Soul woke to the sound of sirens. Looking out window, he saw many police cars light up the early morning darkness. The cars sped down the street to their destination. Throwing on some grubby clothes (when was the last time he'd done laundry?), the detective chased after them.

Ox Ford's home. Barricade tape. And Black Star. It all added up to Ox having been murdered. Black Star's voice could be heard shouting, "His friend, Kilik, is dead, too! Half of you go check it out! You deaf? I said go!"

Death the Kid was dead, and now his friends were dropping like flies? Ox had told him to stop looking for Kami's letters. Liz had as well. Soul was beginning to think something more sinister than blackening Kid's name was afoot. And Kami had to have something to do with it. What did she have against Maka aside from taking her man? And had Kami really killed those men?

The detective thought an interrogation session would be a good way to clear things up.

...

"You want to talk to me? Not Maka?" Liz asked, confused. Soul nodded. "So you meet me at the asylum?"

"You come here every day, right? Seemed like the most logical place to meet with you," he answered with a shrug.

"Seems to me you're here for more than a chat about the weather."

"Ox and Kilik are dead. I'm trying to look into these murders. So I have to ask: Have Maka and Kami met before the night Maka was pushed down the stairs?"

"Not that I know of. Why? You think Kami has another motive for attacking Maka? Or..." Liz let out a gasp. "Are you working for Kid's murderer?"

"I don't think Kami killed him. She loved him, so why would she? But I think she's associated with the murders..."

It was silent for a few minutes before Liz spoke again. "Maka's been acting strange lately. She's almost... happy..."

"Mind if I ask her a few questions?"

"Just don't upset her. I'll kick your ass if you do."

"A lady shouldn't swear, Miss Thompson," Soul replied, entering the parlor.

Maka and Patty were sitting at a table, the widow watching her friend draw. As Soul entered the room, Maka's eyes lit up. "Detective, Evans! Have you found my husband yet? He's been gone for so long. I really miss him."

Husband? So she now remembered the wedding but not her attack.

"I'm afraid Kid hasn't come back yet, Maka," Liz answered. Soul shot her a glare. She was only making the situation worse by lying. "Detective Evans wanted to ask you a little about Kami."

Maka's expression became serious. "What about her?"

"Have you met her before? Before she pushed you?" Soul asked.

"I... might have seen her once... maybe..." she answered, uncertainty in her voice. "If I have... I must have seen her long ago..."

"Any pictures or yearbooks or something like that?"

"All of her things were moved to Kid's house the day before the wedding," Liz interrupted. "She didn't have anything like that."

"Is there a possibility that something was left at her house?" Soul asked.

"She lived with her father. Spirit never kept any pictures," Liz answered.

"Not since he and Mama divorced..." Maka added sadly. "But I'll let you look if you want... Just promise me something, Detective... Promise you'll find my husband! Promise me that Kami Esteed won't bother me anymore!"

There was pain, fear, begging, determination... and did Soul see longing in those beautiful green eyes? "Forget about it," Soul thought. "So you're attracted to this woman. How many times has that happened to a guy?" He had to push the widow's green eyes from his mind and focus on the letters... Letters that would probably bring her to tears... She'd looked so beautiful when she'd cried a few days ago...

Pulling himself from his thoughts, he replied, "I can't make any promises, but I will do what I can."

"Thank you... so much... Papa should be going out tonight. At about ten o'clock. There's a key in the potted plant at the back door. I don't' think you'll find anything... but, better safe than sorry..."

…

The Albarn house was rather plain. A gray, one-story house with a small backyard. The plant Maka had mentioned was dead, and the key lay in the dirt in complete sight. Entering the house, Soul noticed that a thick layer of dust covered everything. Spirit must have never cleaned his home. Dishes were piled in the sink, and the garbage was overflowing.

He walked through more disgusting rooms until he found Maka's bedroom. An old dresser and bed were the only furniture in the room. Nothing hung on the walls, and the whole room was white. He searched through the dresser's drawers. Nothing. That is, until he found a photo in the bottom drawer.

It looked as though it had been cut out of an old yearbook. Liz had said Maka hadn't owned any yearbooks. Four boys stood near each other. They were unidentifiable due to the fact someone had put hatpins through their faces. Soul read the caption at the bottom of the photo. "Death the Kid, Ox Ford, Harvar de Eclair, and Kilik Rung help decorate for the Homecoming Dance."