Chapter 3
Lawliet vs Lizzie
How dare he ! No wonder he doesn't have any friends, accusing people all of a sudden. I only wanted to understand him and help him! What a brat! I hate him! I'll show him that I didn't cheat. Humm, so my case is the AZS fraud one.
Let's see what it's about...huum huum, big cosmetic company...big revenues and big profits...not that many staff and buildings in Europe but still do better than the leading cosmetic companies...get their finished products from Rotterdam even though their manufacture apparently makes everything inside the country...alright, something is obviously fishy, I'm guessing that's the only information at my disposition for now. Let's see if that company has a web-page...ah! They do! So, yeah, very proud of making everything inside of Britain, one of the leading brands, very charitable, very environmentally friendly, use only natural ingredients from Britain bladibla... Well, that's very nice and all, but I doubt everything comes from Britain, let's see the ingredients...sodium tallowate, sodium cocoate, water, sodium chloride, sodium silicate, magnesium sulfate, and variant fragrances...umm...I'm pretty sure Britain doesn't have coconuts... so where on earth do they take it from? Let's see their figures : make more than 5000 tons of soap per year, not to mention the other products they make and sell. But this is impossible, if we look at the figures from the other companies, they do the same thing, but need more manufactures and staff. AZQ must be hiding manufactures in the Netherlands, that make the products and get the necessary ingredients from hot countries to make their products. But how do I prove that?
"Is everything going well Lizzie? Asked Watari
-Mr Watari! Um yes I'm alright, I'm just doing my homework.
-Are you fitting in ?
-Yes, I've made plenty of friends, everybody is nice, except the three jealous boys in my criminology class
-I see, would their names be Peter, Bill and Yassin?
-Um, yeah, that's right, they were trying to bully Lawliet as well!
-I know, that have been doing it for a long time, they have gotten detention each time, do not worry, and they are not allowed to approach him, but they keep trying. I heard you helped out Lawliet the other day, it's nice knowing he's finally making some friends.
-He's not my friend, I've tried my best to be nice with him and try to understand him, but he never talks to me, and when he does, it's to insult me.
-He insulted you?
-He said I was stupid, but I said the same thing back so we're even don't worry.
-Why did he say that?
-Because I wanted to know why he never eats.
-I see, you were worried and he pushed you back.
-Um...do you know why he never eats? I mean, I do know he does eat sometimes, like the time he ate my cake but...
-Lawliet ate?
-Yeah, the first day I arrived here. We were both in the library, and he seemed hungry so I gave him my cake and he ate it.
-Intriguing, it's the first time I've heard he volunteered to eat.
-But why doesn't he eat? I know he has a eating disorder but his "status" doesn't match with the illnesses
-I'm sorry child I can not answer you, it's private. How is your homework going along?
-Well I would say, I know why there is fraud and assume where the fraud is taking place, but I haven't found any concrete proof of it. Would it be possible for me to use the telephone to call up the company?
-I see, you're working on the AZS case, well, I don't see why not, there is a phone in my office, the office door is always open, do you remember where it is?
-Yup, thank you again Mr Watari, bye bye!
-Goodby child!"
Lizzie walked to the office, she had written down the number of the company on a piece of paper, she walked inside the room and there, at her surprise, she saw Lawliet, looking threw what seemed to be an atlas.
"What are you doing here? She asked
-Finishing off my case, I've nearly finished, came here to ask me for some help have you?
-NO! I came here to use the telephone, I've also nearly finished I'll have you know!
-So you say, but I'm sure you haven't even managed to understand the reason of your case!
-Yes I have! The company lies and makes huge profits!
-Well done, you've understood the meaning of "fraud".
-Shut up! I've only started, I already know where to look to find the proof that they are lying.
-Good, you're at a police level, I'm sure they've already done that and haven't found that proof, so you searching is pointless.
-No it's not, I still need to know as much as the police if I want to solve this case. And it doesn't matter if I haven't finished the case on the first day, I still have two weeks to complete it!
-So you're just all talk and no action, typical!
-What? What on earth are you talking about?
-You said you wanted to solve this case before me, I know it's impossible but to give up so easily is just boring
-(Gasp, she had forgot she was competing against him) Yeah well, I forgot about you, you're not the most important person on earth after all. But yeah, I'm still going to beat you! At least I'm not looking at a boring old ma that doesn't have to do anything with my case
-This map has everything to do with my case, the victim's destination was Cuba, therefore, I'm looking at a map of Cuba.
-But didn't the newspaper say that didn't even leave England? They were only going there for their holidays, how would Cuba affect their murders?
-You are stupid so you don't know why. (Lawliet stood up, he didn't crouch this time, and had his back straight, he was slightly taller than Lizzie. He crossed his arms and stared at her).
-I'm not stupid, you are!
-Am not!
-Yes you are! You don't sit straight so you'll be a cripple when you grow up, that's stupid!
-I'll have you know it helps me think better!
-No it doesn't! It hurts your back and it's very rude to sit like that !
-How would you know?
-Because it's common knowledge!
-Oh really? So why is it I've done the three quarters of my case and you have only done ten percent of yours? Admit it, you're too stupid so you cheated on me and now you can't even solve a single case!
- You're a super-sonic-idiotic-overloaded-candy-coated-disconnected-brain infected-mushball head! For the last time I did NOT copy on you! Now if you excuse me, I'll be telephoning!"
That last insult left Lawliet quiet, he went back to his atlas and Lizzie went towards the telephone. She saw a transmitter on the desk, the same kind she had used back in the North of England. She also saw that this transmitter could also be used as a voice changer. This was perfect, she could play as an adult and not a child. She dialed the number of the company. She set the voice changer to law, she would be heard as an old rusty old lady. She made her call and talk about the things she wanted to know, said she was a reporter and asked all sorts of helpful question to her case, as Lawliet said, it didn't really help her, but at least she new more about where the distribution was taken to : London port.
That's it! I'll go down to the port tonight, we don't have classes tomorrow and nobody checks if we're in bad on time. Nobody will see me as I'm small, I'll take the new camera I got for my birthday, a cricket bat from the gym just in case and some food! I won't be beaten by Lawliet! He may know more about written facts, but I know more about the outside world. Let's see the expected arrivals for tonight from Rotterdam! At one a clock in the morning, at NESPP, the Maltese "Dumlupinar" will arrive at Vopak London Dock 2... Um...AZS usually get's their production in the day time at Vopak London Dock 2. But why on earth would the ship be Maltese? It's probably not the right boat...hang on wait a minute...I must check on the incoming ships from the storm in January, I think I remember a weird named ship...let's see alt + f ….YES there it is the Dumlupinar, they must have used this boat because he could manage tough withstand needed their "safe" production on time. I'm getting somewhere!
Lizzie still had time on her hands before the night trip, she decided to know more about the Netherlands, and where in that country could the manufactures be. She searched the old and unused manufactures. She found none that could have been possible. Maybe the manufacture isn't in the Netherlands, maybe the production his sent twice, first to Rotterdam, and then to London to avoid suspicion. The ship the company uses is Maltese, maybe the production was made in Malta? She looked for abandoned manufactures, the place was swarming with them, which ones would AZS use? She checked how many people had a job near the factories, usually, they didn't, even though Malta is a beautiful and touristic place, the economy wasn't doing to well over there because of corrupted parliamentarians. However, in Masalforn, ten closely built unused factories used to be the only job giving place of the nearby population. Indeed, two years ago, two out of twenty people from the nearby villages had a job. Now, everybody seemed to have one. It wasn't logical, no job was available near those villages. Lizzie checked the port, if any boats from there were going to Rotterdam. Surprisingly, no information was available.
Fishy, you're obliged by law to let the public know about arrivals and departures, somebody has either been blackmailing or bribed. This was definitely the location of the missing soap factories. But why won't the company let the public know about this, it's not as if it bad. Maybe I should check out the local working unions to know how they are treated at work...Yes, this is going to be difficult, I don't speak their language. I'm sure there's a Maltese teacher in this place.
She printed everything that looked interesting and looked for a Maltese teacher, thankfully, one was teaching here and was delighted to help. The content of the documents were pretty obvious, need more businesses in the area, the population has to work for the same company that doesn't pay well and fires people when ever, they don't use environmentally friendly procedures etc.
Lizzie then proceeded to complete the case file, writing everything relevant, filling the blanks that needed to be filled, the incriminating proof etc. All she had to do now was to prepare for tonight, she took her bag and headed to the gym to get herself a cricket bat. Doing so, she went back to her bedroom, and put everything she needed inside her bag, she then went downstairs for dinner.
She had three hours to spare, three hours to do her homework, play the harp and draw, she manage to do all three just in time. I was ten past midnight, she needed to get out. She went down to the kitchen to get some cheese and crackers, just in case she would get hungry. She went inside the kitchen and heard a noise. Drats, somebody's there, I'll have to do without it. However, that somebody closed the kitchen fridge and walked out the kitchen, Lizzie took a glimpse and saw Lawliet with a piece of cake in his hand. That annoying Lawliet, he isn't even eating properly, he's supposed to eat five fruit and vegetables a day, and what does he eat? Only cakes...he's missing out on so many delicious dishes, including cheese and crackers, as he's not here anymore, I should search for it now. She did so, put the C&C in her bag and went outside, climbed the gate, and headed for London Port. She arrived ten minutes early, enough time to find herself a decent place to spy, she had found binoculars in her bedroom. Why on earth would people leave binoculars in children's bedroom? Anyway, I'm glad they did, I'll be able to see better. Ah ha, a boat is approaching, and guessing from it's speed, will be arriving in ten minutes. I'm glad I'm used to boats and stuff, never thought it would come in handy.
Lizzie waited for the ship to stabilise and took a photo, thankfully, nobody saw the flash. Seriously, we're in 2002, why don't we have cameras without flash that can take pictures in the dark? The transporters were taking off huge packs of the contents of the commodity of the ship. She needed to know what was inside those packs! She crept down, making sure no cameras saw her and went near the transporting lorry were everything was being delivered, she jumped inside the lorry and looked for an easily openable pack. She found none, and had to open one by force, by then, a man was coming back, she had to hide. The man put the merchandise in the lorry and went back. She had little time, the lorry was nearly full, she opened a box, saw the logo of the AZS company and the goods inside, took a few photos, hid again, and jumped out of the lorry. She brushed against the lorry, making sure nobody could see her , but pumped into somebody.
"Now what have we here, said a big man
-A dog, she replied
-A dog? More like a little lad that didn't mind his own business, the man took Lizzie by her hood, Lizzie was in mid air
-I assure you, sir, I'm a dog.
-Oh really, is it because you bark?
-Not really, she bit the man's hand, landed on the floor and ran as fast as she could.
-Oh, you're not getting away that easily you little cunt!"
he chased after, even though Lizzie was fast for a seven year old girl, she wasn't really a match for a grown man, he was catching up to her, and his mates were following the pair, knowing this was bad for them.
No no no no no, I can make it, I can run inside that hole in the fence I came from and loose them there, I shouldn't have gone alone, not the brightest idea oh but wait! I took my transmitter with me, I'm sure it's still on, maybe Watari knows I'm in trouble, I hope he does. She ran and ran but the big man caught her again
"Stand still you bloody cunt! As before, he was holding onto her by her sweatshirt
-Not in a million years, she slid away from her sweatshirt and ran away from him, barely making it to the hole in the fence
-You get back here or I'll kill you! The man followed, the hole was too small for him and was stuck. His mate stepped on him and went over the fence. Lizzie ran into an alleyway, hoping it wasn't a dead end. It was. She needed to hide, they were coming, she went underneath a car and hold on to the machinery. She could only hope for the best, her bag was getting heavy, she might be strong, but could not stay in that position for too long.
"Where did the brat go?
-He must be here somewhere, I think he turned left!
-He's not here Fronzu!
-Look next to the bins and the cars, he couldn't have gone far!"
The men searched the alleyway, Lizzie's hands wanted to collapsed, but Lizzie forced herself against the car. Finally, the men left, hoping to find her somewhere else. When she couldn't hear anymore footsteps, she let go, landed on her back, and started going towards the wall. She had to climb it, they might come back any second now, and she heard one of the men talk about having a gun and might actually use it on the brat that got away. Thankfully, the wall was old, had plenty of place to put a child's foot, she climbed the wall with a bit of haste but managed it quite well. She finally got at the top of the wall when she heard
"There!"
They saw her and were going to climb the wall, she couldn't just jump of the wall without hurting herself, but she hadn't had time to climb it down. The men had caught up and were trying to climb, she saw one of the men was preoccupied with something, charging a gun. She knew she had no other choice. She took her cricket bat from her bag and jumped on the man with the gun, crushing him to the ground, he was in shock but lived, he dropped the gun. Her fall was broken by the now unarmed man, she took the gun and pointed at the other men
"Right you lot! I've got the gun and the bat, so don't even think about doing anything! She cried
-Put that thing down boy, you don't won't to hurt anyone. He said
-Sorry mate, put I think you need to go to the optician, I've already hurt somebody, and I think that if you don't send him to the hospital, he might get some serious brain damage. She advised
-Put the god damn gun down! He demanded
- Nope! You know what I know and you want to kill me, why would I listen to you? She asked
-Look kid, you don't know nothing, and besides, nobody will believe your sorry arse anyway, who do you think the police will believe? A mad boy with a gun or a very successful business like AZS? He questioned
-AZS? I was talking about me stealing some fish. What's AZS? , she lied
-You...wait, you're not looking for...oh...well bog off you little piece of shit, you weren't even stealing from the right lorry! He yelled
-Shut up you stupid insect!" she cried back
She took several steps back, and started running towards the end of the street, turned left, and headed towards her final destination : Wammy's House. Thanks to her little scenario, the employees weren't chasing after her now. That or they were scared she would use the gun. She arrived back home, it was nearly three o'clock in the morning, she went back the same way she had left. She had finished her case. Take that Lawliet! I finished before you!