MISPER
On Zero
''I'm telling you, I don't know!'' Reo exclaimed for the hundred times. He was sitting in the interrogating room, distraught and frightened.
Misaki and Ruka were the ones interrogating him. Tsubasa was sleeping in the spare room at the station, too tired to continue working. Misaki and Ruka did not play good/bad cop – they were experts in psychology and knew to behave and to read the guy inside out.
Currently, he was panicking.
''Mr Mouri. We have a tape of you and Persona talking about Mikan Sakura. And you are trying to lie to us that you don't know where he is?'' Misaki replied calmly.
''Yes! I don't know! I admit, I worked with him, but I never ever in my life killed a person. I'm not a murderer!''
Oh, but you are, Natsume thought by himself while he was watching the interrogation through the glass. Reo Mouri was a murderer even if he, himself did not dirty his hands with blood. He enabled Persona to do whatever he wanted and worked with him in the business of selling babies to naive people. And killing young mothers.
''What is it that you actually do by this… agreement?''
''I'm just a link between the customer and Persona. I contact Persona if there are people willing to pay for a child outside the law system and he provides a baby. I… don't ask questions… If the business runs and there's a steady income…''
''You do know that you participated in several murders, baby trafficking and kidnapping? If you're lucky, you'll get the chance for a complaint for a life sentence. But most probably not. Young mothers Mouri. Young mothers. Persona slaughtered them all just so you could get a child for your illegal trafficking.'' Misaki went on, her voice not wavering. She was staring at him in pity, while Ruka waited.
Reo groaned and buried his head into his hands. ''I didn't know he was killing anyone until I heard about missing pregnant women. I thought he kidnapped them or arranged a trade between desperate parents who wanted to get rid of a child… I didn't know… I didn't know…'' he muttered, crying into his arms.
Ruka sighed, glancing at Natsume through the window. Reo Mouri really did not know where Persona was. He was using him for doing the dirty work, but he seriously did not know what had been going on at the beginning. He was one of those stupid people who only saw money, not carrying about how it was earned.
They let him cry for a bit.
''All right, Mr Mouri. You'll give us the names of all your customers. The whole list. And we'll think about leaving you out from the charge of murder. You'll still have to go to jail for co-operating with Persona, illegal human trafficking and tax fraud. We'll go through all of your accounts, your computer and every other possession. Once this is all done, we'll have another talk.'' Misaki told him and stood up, Ruka following. Reo did not look up. He was still crying into his arms on the table.
The two police officers walked out of the room and went to the other where Natsume, Jinno and a few others were watching through the glass.
''What do you think?''
They were all silent.
''We'll search everywhere until we find them.'' Was the only thing Natsume said before he walked out angrily. The others watched him go, not saying anything for a moment.
''This case is getting to him.'' Ruka pointed out concerned.
''Obviously. Sakura-san was a great help to us, and we… We screwed up.''
They all nodded.
Outside, Natsume walked into the loo and splashed water over his face. He leaned on the sink and stared at his reflection in the mirror. He looked like death. Red eyes, black rings under them, pale skin and dishevelled hair. He was exhausted, angry, and desperate to find the girl. He wanted to find her. He wanted to scream, fight, and do something, just to find out where she was.
When he noticed his eyes welling up in desperation, he closed them tightly and took a few deep breaths. But while his eyes were closed, his mind provided a clear picture of Mikan Sakura and her beautiful belly, smiling up at him.
He did not want her to die.
He wanted to find her, help her, then ask her out and be with her. He liked her. And she had liked him. He knew that. She let him know. And he let her slip away, disappear.
He did not know how he would react if they found her dead. He did not even want to think about that. He had to concentrate, focus. He had to do something.
He leaned back on the sink, his eyes glaring at his reflection.
He would find her. He would find her and then he would handle Persona.
He will do everything; everything in his power that will help him find her.
Mikan Sakura will not die on him, dammit!