MISPER

The Findings

Natsume, his team and other forensics inspected the whole apartment and found many evidences against Persona. Fingerprints, samples of blood, hair, and many many pictures. There was a huge map covering the other side of the bedroom with red dots marking different places around the countries. The police soon discovered that these were the places were different women had disappeared.

It was all around Japan.

''This is so sick.'' Natsume muttered as he stared at the huge map. Around him, police officers were working and buzzing around the appartment to get everything they needed.

Tsubasa Andou, and Miskai Harada, his partners nodded and looked at the pictures. ''This is really sick. Why would anyone do that?'' Misaki asked, grimacing at the sight of lacerated women.

''Better question is, where is Persona?'' Andou noted, thinking hard about it. He stared at the map now. ''So the red dots are for places where he had killed the women. We checked that. What are the yellow ones for?''

They all thought hard.

''Hey…'' Misaki realized something. ''Have you noticed these yellow places are all near the maternity hospital?'' The men stared. And really. It was like a circle around the hospital. ''Maybe these are the places he kidnaps them from. Like a park or near a shop. Places he know the women would go to alone, because they do it every day. Because they feel comfortable going there alone. He's stalking them, so he knows everything.''

''That could be it. So these are all potential kidnapping places. And we can say for sure now that Yuka Sakura had somehow witnessed his crime. She was not pregnant, but she did work at the hospital, so there's a chance she caught him and he had to… Well… We can't say yet what he had done with her. But we can start with these yellow dots.'' Natsume concluded.

He and his team later on discussed how to work now. There were several places with yellow dots, but where to start and when? They were all sitting or standing in the biggest office of the police station, photos and maps covering all empty spaces of the walls, and discussing the matter.

''We need more people, that's for sure. We'll call neighbour stations to lend us officers and we'll have them all watching the dotted places.'' Natsume instructed. ''Persona already know we know. He disappeared so we'll have to keep our eyes open for him. Everyone here knows how he looks like. We won't inform the public yet because chaos will break out. Once we get a clue of where he is, we'll make it official.''

He thought more about it. ''He might have someone who helps him. I'm not sure how he would do all this alone. We're not even sure about the motive and reason… For now, we all watch these places. The other group will be looking deeper into the cases of already deceased women. The laboratory is working full time. We'll soon receive the news who was in that flat and what he was doing. I suspect that nothing had been done there, because he most probably brought them all to another place. We'll see.''

Everyone nodded and went to work on the case.

Andou and Misaki stayed behind. ''What about Miss Sakura? We've got to provide protection for her.''

Natsume nodded. ''Yes, I'll contact her and from now on she won't be allowed to rummage around by herself.'' Misaki and Tsubasa nodded and went to work. Natsume fished out his phone and walked out of the room, calling Mikan.

''Hello?''

''Hello Miss Sakura. This is inspector Natsume Hyuuga. Can I talk to you in private now? Can we meet somewhere?'' he told her directly.

She was silent for a few moments. ''Uh… All right. I'm at home. Should I come to the station?''

''No no. I'll come visit you. I'll be at your place in a few.''

''All right. I'll be waiting.''

''Okay. See you.''

''Bye.''

Natsume made his way out of the station, and drove to Mikan's place.

Once he arrived and parked the car, he took a look around. It was a nice neighbourhood with parks for children and a few schools nearby. The apartment complex Mikan Sakura lived in was a tall building with at least 30 floors. Her room had the number 59. He walked into the building and took the elevator to the 5th floor. He rang the bell and she was quick to open the door.

''Hello!'' she greeted him and invited him in. Her flat was small but comfortable. The kitchen, the dining room and the living room were all one big room with the couch and TV on the one side, the table in the middle, and the kitchen at the other side. The toilet and the bath room were in one room on the right from the entrance door, and there were two other rooms to the left. Natsume guessed it was Mikan's bedroom and the room for the child.

He sat at the table as she was making tea.

''What happened, inspector?'' she asked once the tea was made and she served it. She sat down opposite him, wearing comfortable clothes, and a tired expression.

''We found Persona's flat, but we're still waiting for the laboratory results. I will have to ask you miss Sakura that you, as from right now, stop meddling. It's too dangerous.'' He told her directly.

She stared at him, her big eyes boring into his. She sipped at her tea. ''So he's a murderer?'' she guessed, still calm.

''I can't tell you much, but yes, he's a murderer.''

''But you didn't find my mother.''

''No. We're still looking for her. There must be another place where he spends his time.''

Mikan nodded, surprisingly passive. ''You know…'' she started, looking straight ahead at nothing in particular. ''I had a hunch this was not just kidnapping. And I… I think my mother is alive, but… With each second… I start doubting…'' Natsume knew that this was the phase of either giving up or fight. She was in the middle, struggling.

''There's another thing – the real reason I want you to back off. It seems he's… That he's kidnapping pregnant women and murdering them. And you're the daughter of the woman he most probably kidnapped, so… We'll give you protection 24/7 until we find him.'' Natsume told her and waited for her reaction. It seemed she did not hear him.

''Miss Sakura?''

''Yeah…'' she answered, her thoughts absent. ''I understand. Who's going to protect me?''

''We'll send two officers to stay around this place and then two others for the night shift. They'll be right behind you from tomorrow on.''

Mikan nodded, caressing her belly. Then she suddenly blinked in surprise and looked at him in shock. ''He's kicking.''

''What?'' Natsume was confused.

''The child's kicking.'' She smiled brightly and looked down on her belly.

''Really?'' Natsume smiled, seeing her so happy for the first time. It made him feel better.

''Yes! Feel it-'' she grabbed his hand and put it on her belly. Natsume felt embarrassed for a second, shocked that she would do that, but then he felt the kick. And another one. And he could not help himself but laugh. ''Wow… That's… Wow…'' he caressed her belly and felt the baby move around.

''It's the first time.'' He heard her voice near his ear and he looked up. She was smiling brightly, and she was so near his face, he got a little confused for a moment. Then he realized where he was and what he was doing and quickly moved away. He should not behave like that in front of his… What was she? A victim? A client?

Mikan noticed his abrupt change and shyed away. She cleared her throat and sipped at her tea again. ''It's a strange feeling.'' She muttered.

''I believe you.'' He cleared his throat and stood up. ''Now, please be careful. The officers will come tomorrow and you-'' he frowned at her. She blinked at him innocently. ''If you've got something to tell me, do it now. Don't do anything reckless until tomorrow.''

She gave him an easy smile. ''I'm just a pregnant girl, inspector Hyuuga. I can't really do much.''

''Not much, my ass.'' He muttered to himself, already knowing she was going to do something. He stared at her pointedly, but she held it. Then he sighed. ''In any case, Mikan, call me. All right?'' he demanded.

She pressed her lips together but did not say anything.

He sighed and made his way towards the door. She walked behind him.

''He's currently missing. We're looking for him and there's no doubt he knows we're tailing him, so, please – once again – tell me if you have found out something.'' He turned to her one more time. She munched at her lip for some time, until she caved.

''I… I think I know where we should look…''