Disclaimer : I do not own Death Note, neither do I own the caraters, the only thing I own is this fan fiction. Please leave reviews I would really appreciate it ! Have a good read :D
Chapter 8
The Deadly Cruise
Weeks later
L woke up at around four o'clock in the morning. Lizzie was still sleeping, evidently, he wasn't tired anymore and decided to go out of bed, sadly, Lizzie was holding him quite tightly. She had been doing so as of late, she had noticed the fact that she helped L sleep soundly. This was beginning to bother L, he didn't want to depend on her. He managed to get out of her arms and went out the room. He walked quietly downstairs, and ran outside in the garden barefoot. It was still dark, Autumn had already begun,so the sun wasn't going to show up any time soon. L ran, back and forth. He needed to get stronger, he now ate, all he needed to do now was train. He didn't want to be weaker than Lizzie, they were fairy equal in mind, but she had the upper hand went it came to physical strength.
He continued his exercise until he was tired, he took a shower and instead of going back to bed, decided to sleep on the sofa. He needed to overcome his nightmares and fears. She wasn't coming back, she couldn't hurt him anymore. He layed down, and waited for the dreams to come back, he was ready to fight them.
L, come here. I need you to look at this test, you have five seconds per answer, you need to get a perfect score or else, you know what happens!
Yes Oka-san!
Well done L, you've got it all right! I knew you weren't useless, here, have some blueberry cheesecake.
Thank you Oka-san!
I'll be back with your brother shortly, he must have finished by now! […] HOW DARE YOU ! MY OWN SUN! CAN'T EVEN DO A TEST RIGHT! STOP CRYING [she hits beyond] YOU'RE A DISCRACE! I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS [repeatedly hits Beyond's stomach with her foot ] YOU LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT! How dare you do this! Now, this is the last mistake you will ever do! You hear me! Now, I'm not giving you a knife this time, you're going to choke your kitten to death! Don't you say "I'm sorry" and plead when you don't even mean, you ungrateful little swine! Now go! Go on! I SAID DO IT [she hits him till he's bloody] How could I have given birth to such an incompetent boy
Oka-san he's only four, please stop, he'll try his best!
Do you want to kill his kitten for him then L? No? Thought not! How dare you ,L, defy my authority! I see you finished your cake, it's so sad that your never EVER going to eat again! Off with you to your father!
Please no, I don't want to go in the cells, please!
It's not an option, it's an order! Guillaume, take him downstairs and leave him rot next to his father, his brother will be joining them shortly as soon as he's done what he has been told.
No please no! Please!
[…] L, is that cough cough is that you?
Yes father it's me, Beyond will be coming soon too
I'm sorry cough couch, I didn't think you would be coming, I ate all I have been given yesterday
It's alright father, I ate before. Have you managed to figure out how to get out of here?
I'm sorry y son, I have not. Your mother has made it impossible for me to get out, she occasionally lets me out to help her team with the new chemicals, but beyond that, we can't get off this bloody ship.
I heard oka-san's colleagues say that we would shortly be arriving in Hong Kong to deliver the new chemical to one of the mafia bosses. Maybe the Chinese police will catch them and free us.
I would hope so,but cough couch, I doubt it, they might be able to arrest the mafia, but your mother is too clever to get caught.
Beyond is here, he's covered in blood
My poor son, how are you feeling
I'm fine compared to you
What do you mean Beyond?
You're going to die tomorrow
Stop saying things like that Beyond! Otto-san won't die! We'll get out of here
Shut up L! I hate you! Mother loves you more
No she doesn't, and it's your fault I'm here in the first place, I'm the one who's supposed to be mad!
Because of you my Ally's dead by my hands! I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU
Stop hitting me Beyond! Stop it! STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT
L woke up. It was the first time he managed to get so far in one of his nightmares, but still, it wasn't enough, it scared him to much. He hadn't been sleeping for long, only twenty minutes, he tried to sleep again but the nightmare started at the same point and ended the same way, at around six, he decided to wake Lizzie up. She had had enough sleep in his opinion, and anyway, she needed to play chess against him. So he woke her by throwing a book at her, from experience, waking her close hand was a bad idea. The result was immediate, she was up in an instant and started calling him names. After she had calmed down, she agreed to play with him, this continued until she needed to get washed, dressed and went to breakfast together.
They went to classes, nothing out of the ordinary. Just after dinner, Watari came and see both of them.
"Children, I have a surprise for you.
-What is it?
-We've been invited on a cruise!
-Really?! Why?
-An old friend of mine invited me, he said he needed some help.
-What kind of help?
-The kind of help you give to the police. We'll be aboard his ship, so don't worry, it will be safe. L, you will pass as my grand son, Lizzie, you will be Lancelot's sister.
-Why can't I be your granddaughter?
-Because we don't look very much alike, besides, you will be exploring the ship. My friend Roger Ruvie is having problems with his company as of late. He wishes to retire, but has no children of his own, he'll be choosing his successor this evening. However, he has been receiving threatening letters, with murdering intent. The culprit has still not been found. It is believed that his oldest nephew, Albert Ruvie, might be designated as his successor, however, his oldest niece, Rose Ruvie, and youngest nephew Trevor Ruvie, also would like to replace him. His vice president, Mrs Tobblestone has got all the qualifications for the job and is liked by everyone in the company. His wife, Joan Ruvie, who's twenty years younger than him, wishes to take care of the company in her husband's place. What do you make of that?
-Well...I don't know the contents of the letters, so I can't deduce anything. They all seem to have a motive.
-As for the letters, I haven't seen them myself, Roger will e giving them to us on Sunday.
-I see, why hasn't he contacted the police?
-It wouldn't be good publicity for his company.
-I see, we'll do it then...but why does Lizzie need to snoop around?
-Ah! That is because murder is involved. You see, we will be on board the Swift Sovay.
-And?
-Well, for the past five years, each time my friend Robert is on board his beautiful Swift Sovay, somebody accidentally dies, usually guests, but two months ago, a guest and a crew member died. The crew member was stabbed not far away the first body. The woman looked like she had died from a heart attack. Robert believes that somebody is deliberately killing off important guests, either to incriminate the company, either because it is easier to kill someone at sea.
-Were there any connections between the victims?
-None, except the fact that they could be a nuisance to the company.
-So, wasn't the killer working for your friend Robert?
-It is unlikely. I will let you investigate for now, you have three days to prepare, we will be leaving Sunday morning. Oh, and by the way, my friend will be addressing me as Quillish Wammy, that is my real name.
-Oh, why do you call yourself Watari then?
-For protection purposes, now that you mention it, you two should also find yourselves an alias. Good luck children, and good night!
-Goodnight Mr Watari...I mean, Mr Wammy!
-Mmmh, so, what do you think about the case Lizzie?
-I don't know, I don't have enough information to solve this puzzle. I mean, we don't even know when did the threatening letters started, neither do we know what do the letters say, how they were received and how many of them are there.
-Indeed, I think we should concentrate ourselves on the murders that have already happened. It seems that Wata...Wammy has left the case file here. Let me read it to you to go faster
Case file #personal_affairs0234
The Deadly Cruise
On Saturday the 8th of October 1997, Miss Amelia Skivinsky was found dead in her cabin on the Swift Sovay. It seems that she had been drinking too much after complaining to the company the loss of her shares, and slip on a bathroom carpet in her cabin bathroom. The police concluded that the death was accidental, as all the people who had a motive had an alibi, no physical contact had been made with the victim, and that the manner of how she died looked accidental.
Robert found it unusual because there was no bathroom carpet in her room as he had planned the furbishing of his newly bought ship.
On Friday the 14th of February 1998, Mr Hermosa Ramirez, Robert's close friend from Argentina, known for his kindness, philanthropy, and was thinking of buying his friend's company who was having financial difficulties at that time and the fact that he didn't know how to swim was found dead in the ship's swimming pool.
Robert asked for a police investigation, the police stated it was an accident, he had fell in the pool and died.
On Tuesday the 2nd of May 1999, Mrs Biyu Zhao, fellow big shareholder of the company and friend of Robert's, was found dead in the sauna. The coroner said that she had died because of the heart attack, probably caused because of being exposed to heat for so long..
Robert didn't understand why his friend would have gone in the sauna as she hated hot places.
On Monday the 27th of March 2000, Mr Ethan Walker, a young Australian inventor was found electrocuted in his cabin bedroom after experimenting his new invention, which had worked every time before that dreadful afternoon. He died of a heart attack.
On Sunday the 4th of December 2001, Miss Sophia Moore, a famous modern painter from America was found dead after tripping over her sketchbook , falling down the stairs and have a heart attack. Twenty minutes after her death occurred, Mr Rhys Jones, the ship's navigator, was found stabbed in an escape boat. The body had been moved to that location. The police haven't caught the culprit and had found no motive.
Starting from the 4th of January 2002, Robert Ruvie had been receiving threatening letters. They arrive each Tuesday at Mr Ruvie's private house. The letters will be shown the the W.I.'s consultant(s) on Sunday the 25th of October 2002, on board the Swift Sovay. The consultant(s) will receive the invitation(s) for the Natural Wildlife Preserve of Canada Exposition which will take place that very same day on Mr Ruvie's ship.
Robert Ruvie has asked the Wammy Institution to help him found the serial killer of the Swift Sovay. And to found out who his threatening his life. Mr Ruvie will pay handsomely for the Institution's help.
"Wow, this ship must be cursed!
-Don't be silly Lizzie, there's no such thing as a curse.
-Can't take a joke can you? Well, the murderer sure looks busy!
-Indeed, it's clear that the stabbed navigator wasn't planned, he saw something he shouldn't have.
-That's so sad! Well, the motive is a puzzle on the other hand.
-Why do you think that? It's obvious that the murderer is killing off people who are too involved with the company, our murderer and our mystery mean poster might be the same person.
-But how's a painter and an inventor have to do with it?
-...
-I'll look up their biographies, they might have been connected to the company in some way.
-No, I'll do that, why don't you go to the morgue and investigate.
-The morgue? I'm pretty sure the bodies are already buried!
-Why? The investigation isn't concluded, why would the family want to leave the case unsolved?
-Because they want their dead relative to be at peace, not looked like a prosecution exhibit.
-Oh...well according to this report, Miss Sophia was a organ donor, because of administration problems, the body was never sent back to America and will be given to London Hospital for medical students to test on. So you CAN go to the morgue.
-Wow, that was lucky, okay, see you later!
-Ummh"
Lizzie went to London Hospital. Arrived there, she was denied access. Oh yeah...children aren't allowed here, rats! Lizzie had an idea, she climbed threw a window, crept forward, took a body bag, and jumped around the corridors in search of the morgue. Despite this very weird way of investigating, nobody seemed to have noticed her. She finally arrived in the morgue, only to found that the body that she had been looking for was missing. She went out of her body bag and looked for the classrooms in the hospital, after ten minutes, she found the night-class she wanted to "attend". She went in without anybody hearing her and hid behind a desk.
"How weird, even though this body is one year old, it smells of almonds! How odd!"
"As you can see, she fell down some stairs, hence the horizontal bruising on her body."
"She hit her head pretty hard, the neck is broken"
"But the heart is the cause of death, she died from a heart attack, who can tell me why ?"
"It's because bla di bla bla di blabla [words Lizzie didn't understand]"
"Correct, now, as you can see, when I'll open up here, the skin will be green, so don't be afraid...uh? How odd, it's yellow! This corpse is really unusual"
The doctors and medical students blabbed on for a while, as soon as they left, Lizzie looked at the corpse. It wasn't a pretty sight but still, she had to get used to it! As the doctor had said, underneath the skin, the skin was yellow. She looked at the corpses hair...it had slightly changed color, was it normal for dead people to change hair color? As the doctor had said...the corpse was weird. She had not died of a heart attack, someone had made it happen. She heard noises from outside the classroom and decided to leave before getting caught. She returned home.
"Nitrobenzene!
-I'm sorry what?
-I've been looking up what could have caused the weirdness of the corpse. By the way, next time, bring your phone with you, your camera won't be enough sometimes!
-Fine, so...what's nitrobenzene?
-Nitrobenzene is an organic compound. It is a water-insoluble pale yellow oil with an almond-like odor. It freezes to give greenish-yellow crystals. It is produced on a large scale from benzene as a precursor to aniline. In the laboratory, it is occasionally used as a solvent, especially for electrophilic reagents.
-Okay, so that would explain the almond sent and yellow color, but how did it kill the victim ?
-Nitrobenzene is highly toxic and readily absorbed through the skin. The oil is readily absorbed through the skin and may increase heart rate, cause convulsions death.
-Ooooooh, so that why Sophia died from a heart attack...why didn't the coroner found that out ?
-Takes a long time to show up after a person's death. We're lucky we analysed the corpse a year after the event otherwise we would have got the same results as the coroner.
-I know
-I'm guessing that the murderer could have easily put some nitrobenzene in Sophia's paints, and that's how she got into contact with it.
-Indeed. As for the other murders, I'm guessing the culprit used the same method.
-He or she must have been close by in order to clean up after him/herself. He needed to make sure the police didn't find the source of poison. Also, he or she needed to electrocute the Australian seconds after his death to link the two.
-Indeed. I wonder however how the first victim died...she didn't die from a heart attack...I will have to talk with the inspector. The first victim always gives the most information. It might be possible that poison wasn't used on the first victim.
-Hang on a minute, if nobody's dead this year, maybe somebody is going to get killed at the Cruise Party!?
-That is a possibility, it might be Roger the murderer is targeting this time. I checked on the links between the inventor and artist, both were potential problems for the company. The inventor had a revolutionary idea that would leave Mr Ruvie penniless, and the artist was getting married, believe it or not was Trevor's ex girlfriend, she had important information about his families secrets.
-I see...so how many people knew about her relationship
-It was kept quiet, but her sister, Anabel had told the police. Only the family must have known.
-So we're eliminating Mrs Tobblestone as one of our suspects?
-I would say so yes.
-Wait wait wait! What about Mr Watari, most of Roger's friends are dead on that boat. What if it's how they invite their pray?
-...
-L?
-...That is actually a high possibility...We'll have to ask Watari...I mean Wammy to keep covered at all time.
-I agree...By the way aren't we supposed to get ourselves fake names?
-Indeed, I was thinking of taking the name L.
-L? But that's your name
-Yes, but it's not a proper name
-We're supposed to have realistic names, otherwise it will raise suspicion
-Well Lancelot's named after a legend!
-People might really really like Monty Python
-That's silly!
-It's not! Anyway, when we do online case, we're "L", but not when we're on the field, we need proper alias
-"We"?
-Well yeah, you know when we did those cyber investigations, we were called "L".
-I know that, but that was me, not you PLUS me
-What? We did the investigation TOGETHER, why don't I get any credit?
-...
-Lawliet!
-...but you're not called L, your name's Elisabeth, you should be called E
-I'm Lizzie too! So I can be L as much as you. Robert and Rosie are called R on their cases, why can't we be "L".
-Well...okay...
-Good...As for my alias I was thinking about Erza.
-Why?
-Because Erza sounds nice, people can assume it's either Greek, Russian, German or Celtic. Therefor I can use it anywhere. As for the surname, Lancelot doesn't have one, I don't see why we would need one.
-Well you can choose one for me because I don't know.
-How about ….Lucas? Quite an international name
-Fine. But after that, we're known as L, okay! And I'm the fist L and you're the second L
-Fiiiiine, now let's get on with the case, gosh, look at the time, it's nearly one o'clock in the morning! Let's go to bed
-No, we've got a case to solve!
-We also need sleep, and besides, our information won't be accessible at this time of the day.
-All right..."
They went to bed together, Lawliet didn't want to test his fighting nightmares abilities tonight, he needed to solve a case first.
The next day, Lancelot went to the police station to get the information the children needed. In the meantime, their investigation couldn't move forward, so they decided to bake and think of all the possibilities. Wammy was out for the moment, and they needed to question him about his friend Robert. Was he friend of foe? They also wanted to announce their aliases. Bored waiting for the cakes to bake, Lizzie asked L do go outside and play for once. He refused immediately. She then carried him outside on her right shoulder. L wasn't amused.
"Oh come on L! You never go outside! You're nearly as pale as me, and people usually insult me as "aspirin" "snowball" or the occasional "yogurt"! Do you really want people to start calling you that too?
-Course not! Besides, I don't talk to other people so it doesn't matter. And I'm naturally pale, I'm three quarters Japanese and a quarter English.
-Anyway, as this is a risky mission in my opinion, it would be good for us to train.
-Fine, let's race.
-We need to warm up first, otherwise we might pull a muscle
-Fine
-So, what sports did you used to play?
-None
-None? Well, did you watch sports on the telly?
-No...well actually yes, there was this Brazilian man that used to monitor me, back when I was being held captive by my mother, who watched capoeira fights.
-Wow cool, my aunt's Brazilian, the one who's married to my french uncle, she won a medal in that sport. So do you know how to capoeira ?
-In theory yes, I haven't tried it on someone yet.
-Well, try against me! Come on!
-I don't want to
-Well, if somebody attacks you on the boat, you're going to need to know if you actually know how to fight
-Aren't we're supposed to warm up
-We've done enough warming up, let's fight"
And so they did, L actually did know how to put it into practice, however, Lizzie was the better fighter and dodge all the attacks. She still complemented him on his fighting skills and that he should train more. They raced as promised, the gap was smaller than Lizzie had expected it to be and assumed that Lawliet had been practicing.
"It's not fair, you always win!
-Train harder!
-Let's play a sport you've never played!
-We'll...that's going to be difficult, I've played nearly every sport.
-Badminton?
-Yup
-Cricket?
-Yup
-Golf?
-Yup
-Football?
-Yup
-Handball?
-Everything with "ball" in it!
-Tennis?
-...Nope, never played tennis
-Alright, we'll play tennis"
And so they did. They were both pretty good at it, Lizzie's aim was allover the place but she compensated by running around fast and throwing hard. On the other hand, l was steady, and carefully planned his attacks, it was more of a game for Lizzie than it was for L. In the end, L won.
"I won!
-Wow, you're great!
-...thank you!
-You should join the tennis team! You'll meet new friends, AND it will help you get stronger and faster
-...I don't know
-Sure you should, otherwise the next time we'll play I'll beat you, I now know how the bloody ball goes where, so I won't go easy on you next time!
-Fine, I'll join the stupid tennis club
-Good, by the way, I think it's time to get the cakes out!"
And so they did, Watari joined them for their late breakfast. He answered all their questions and gave in the report from Lancelot. He agreed to the aliases and to the fact that he needed to be careful during this operation. As for the first victim, she was drunk when she died, so it would have been very easy to push her and kill her. They looked for the pharmaceutical companies that sold nitrobenzene. They found two who were nearby, and asked to who they had sold. They never reveled that information so Lizzie and L had to hack in their server.
Nearly all the clients were universities or industrial companies, how ever a certain Jack Smith had ordered 10 doses of it ten days before the murder. This Jack Smith looked even more suspicious because of where it was delivered to : Victoria Station. Lancelot was sent to retrieve the CCTV from four years ago.
Lancelot sent the video footage to L's computer, the person who picked up the package was none other than Albert Ruvie.
"So, Albert Ruvie was trying to secure his legacy by bumping off anybody getting in his way! How awful!
-Therefore, he won't be killing off his uncle who's about to nominate him as successor
-Yeah, so he's not the one sending letters...
-Indeed, we'll have to get that information tomorrow, in the meantime, I'm guessing we can call in the police and arrest Albert
-We can't do that L!
-Why not!?
-He'll never be convicted! We need to catch him in the act!
-But he's not going to kill anyone anymore, he's finally got the company!
-What if we ask Robert to change his plan, ask him to nominate his vice president in stead.
-Why her and not his other nephew or niece?
-Because they've never worked in their lives, they only spend! I've looked at their bank account, they keep spending like there's no tomorrow, at least Mrs Tobblestone actually cares about the employees and knows how to manage a business.
-Huuum...true...go tell Watari about this, in the meantime, I'll write out the report"
They went their separate ways. Having nothing else to do, Lizzie decided to do her homework and play the harp. By then, L had finished writing the report and listened to Lizzie play. The next day, they went on the Swift Sovay . People from all over the world had come. The ship was going all the way to Norway. This gave enough time for Lizzie to catch Albert in the act, and L to find out who was sending the letters. Wammy and L went out first, people knew him as one of the best inventors in the world and were delighted to meet his grandson. Lizzie on the other hand, was smuggled in with Lancelot as the ship's crew.
"Aaaah Wammy, there you are! Thank you so much for coming!
-There is no need to thank me old friend!
-I'll be welcoming everybody for half an hour, I'll be joining you shortly.
-Of course, come on Lucas, let's go see the exhibition."
And so they did, in the meantime, Lizzie inspected Albert's room . Nothing was out of the ordinary as of yet, his luggage hadn't been sent yet. She scanned the room nevertheless. She went out as soon as she finished and hid somewhere. She waited until Albert's suitcase came, or the man himself.
"Terribly sorry for keeping you waiting old chap!
-Don't worry, so this is Lucas, he's here for the case
-A boy? You know, the last time you told me about your institution, I thought you were joking, but when my step-brother talked to me about your wonders, I aught to give it a try. You have managed to solve it I guess?
-Actually my friend, a boy and a girl.
-Well, where's the girl?
-She's trying to catch the culprit in the act.
-You see Sir, as you thought, these people were murdered. Albert killed them by poisoning them
-Albert? Why?
-To insure he'll get your company. We've sent him an e-mail in your name stating you're actually thinking about giving your company to Wammy.
-Why?
-Because we needed to catch him in the act. If you chose him tomorrow, he wouldn't need to kill anybody. By not choosing him, he'll have to make a move
-I see...and are you sure?
-Yes, he was the one who ordered the poison under a fake name and received it. He was also the only one with the medical knowledge of such a poison. We also saw in his bank account that HE was the one that paid, and was not set up by someone else.
-I see...so I should appoint my niece as my successor?
-No...we've looked in everyone's bank account. Your sister's children spent all their money and wouldn't know how to look after your legacy. I would advise you to choose your vice president. As for your wife...I'm guessing you know that already.
-Very true. I also know she's cheating on me, an other reason why I don't want the company. But what about the person who's sending me those letters?
-I'll have to take a look at them Sir.
-Oh, of course, here there are.
-...
-So?
-...
-Finished?
-Sir, those are different handwriting
-Indeed indeed, and none match my niece's or nephews'. Or wife!
-And they don't have murder intent in them, they only wish that you do not let go of your post. I'm guessing these are from your employees. They don't won't your nephew to replace you because they know that he doesn't have what it takes to look after a company.
-Extraordinary
-I beg your pardon
-I actually recognised one of the handwriting's and guessed just as much, that they didn't want me to leave.
-So why did you ask for our help?
-I wanted to see if you were the real deal, you see, I want to join Wammy and help him look after his orphanage.
-I see.
-Well, you only needed ten seconds, I spent months, so, Wammy, I accept the post you've given me!
-Good. By the way, Robert, don't touch any yellow paint, or anything liquid for that matter!
-Is the poison yellow then?
-Yes"
Albert's suitcase had been left inside his cabin. Albert was in the room with L. Lizzie opened the suitcase, recording everything. She put gloves on, just in case the poison had spilled. Inside the suitcase was quite a big amount of cigar packs, clothes, money, random things, and a black box. She opened the box and found what she had been looking for: inside was a new flask of nitrobenzene...It had been opened presently. Albert had poison on his person, Wammy was in danger.
She called in Lancelot to go and save Watari Why would he have taken the poison so soon if not to put it inside the food that is being served now? In the meantime, Lizzie called the police. Lancelot rushed over to Albert, searched his pockets and found the deadly poison. Thankfully Wammy hadn't eaten the food, as he wasn't certain if curry was supposed to smell of almonds.
Albert was cuffed and Mrs Tobblestone was designated as successor. The rest of the cruise was lovely and L and Lizzie enjoyed their time eating the finest Belgian chocolates.
At the same time, in Magadan, Estern-Russia.
-Ms Beyond, we'll be leaving the port soon.
-I know...interpol has once again sent us a spy.
-Your son is a genius, he always know when somebody lies about their name!
-He's my son after all! My favourite son, Beyond, where are you?
-I'm here mother. When is L coming back
-Really soon honey...Really soon, I know where he is, we're going to England!"