A/N: Wow, sorry for the late post! I've had a busy three days. I know it's big in America, but we've also got prom in England, too, and that was on the 1st of July for me, on Canada's birthday- so happy belated birthday Canada. The next day my friend and I went to see none other than Florence and the Machine. She was amazing, and absolutely one of the most talented singers I've ever seen. Her voice is amazing, and so similar to the recorded music. As for yesterday, I spent it with friends as I probably won't see a lot of them throughout the summer!

So, today I finally post the next chapter of Investigasians on America's birthday! Happy Independence Day, America- I will be celebrating with pizza and Prosecco. Without further ado, enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter 6

It was at five in the afternoon that Yao met with the other two. It was suddenly colder than it had been, the city seeming to have seen a drop of three degrees at least over the night. It had been unfortunate that Yao had been the first person there, as he'd been left standing miserably in the cold for around ten minutes before Yong Soo and Mei arrived. Today was the day they'd confront the mourning couple; it was the third day of the case and they'd already shown significant progress. All he needed was Lei and Lien to get back to him about their assigned duties.

Once he had his team, he swiftly assembled with everyone in the back room. The Investigasians were now all reunited, and Mei was their new member. After pleasant introductions between her with Lei and Kasam, Yao was confident they'd be able to make an efficient team.

"So, what are the results?" he asked them all.

"I still need more time to assess the security footage," Lei said, putting a hand to his chin. "Some of the cameras were damaged whilst filming, and others switched off; I just need to scour through the files that might actually reveal something."

"Alright, so I shouldn't expect to see the footage today?" Yao checked.

Lei shook his head with a frown. "Not yet."

"In that case, I'll keep you a little busy," he said. "I'd like to inform you all that we discovered the janitor's corpse yesterday."

He watched as Lei's eyes widened. "What?"

"Precisely," he said, but held his phone out to Lei. "I took photos of the crime scene I'd like you to analyse and view."

"Right," Lei plugged his phone into the main computer where his digital searches and duties were carried out – Yao believed the laptop was for leisure time. "If I just…"

Yao watched the screen light up before he laid eyes on Lien, awaiting her answer.

"I have the research conducted from crime scene number one," she explained. "Also, I have some data on the corpse of Niklas Edelstein. I still have yet to come up with the analysis of crime scene two, but if you give me some time, I think I can get that done for you today."

"Excellent," he smiled, pleased by the fast results. "I, Yong Soo and Mei were headed towards Edelstein's house to speak with him and his fiancée. Since we're all busy, we may as well go to do our own things. Lien, we'll be back later to hear what you've pieced together."

She nodded, turning towards her forensics desk, angling her desk lamp towards her work. Lei handed the phone back to him, documenting the photos of the second crime scene onto his computer forever. It was time to set off and perform the duty they'd needed to do since the beginning: talk to the client.

"Roll out," Yao said to the other two, and they set off.

"Good luck," Kasam called after them as he seated himself at his desk once more.

It was still bitingly cold when Yao stepped outside. He was met with a gust of wind buffeting him in the face, and the unpleasant feeling of it creeping down the back of his coat. He pulled it tighter to his body and approached the Old Civic. He swung into the driver's seat, just as Mei held her position in the passenger one. It seemed that Yong Soo probably wouldn't be getting his sidekick's seat back with Mei around. Yao knew Mei would treat him like an idiot if he brought it up as well.

Without hearing or receiving any complaints from his team, Yao set off towards the beautiful house just outside the city. It was an hour's long drive. Usually, he and Yong Soo wouldn't have a problem – his sidekick would entertain himself. However, Mei had a terrible habit of switching between two stations that played the hit music songs. She would suddenly turn station if the adverts began, or if a song she disliked started. It was slightly annoying, but it was the only thing that kept her entertained, if a song she liked was beating around in the background.

The hour's drive passed by much sooner than Yao had expected, especially when the tall buildings around them collapsed into rolling fields. He arrived at Roderich's impressive house outside the city.

Calling it a "house" seemed an understatement. It was more of a stately manor, hidden and secluded by a fence of trees and low cut hedges. Fourteen windows at the front of the house overlooked a fountain surrounded by small hedges, and lines of pear trees led up to the front door itself. Yao jerked the Old Civic to stop just inches from the fountain. The parking was spacious at the manor, and the flashy black Rolls-Royce Phantom didn't have any trouble sharing the concrete surface, with its delicate rectangle shapes cut into it, like bricks. Yao knew the car was a Phantom, because it was his dream car.

"That's a nice ride," Yong Soo gawked.

"Your dad has a Mercedes," Yao glowered. "Don't complain."

"I-I wasn't, Aniki," the young man grimaced. "I was just… looking."

"Well, if their car is here, it means they're home," Mei got out the car. "They've probably been alerted to our arrival."

"That's true," Yao said. "They even have a BMW. That's nice…"

"Those two cars put together probably cost more than my lifestyle," Mei sighed.

"My lifestyle is around eighty-five quid a month," Yao chuckled. "I am a very lucky man in that sense."

She rolled her eyes and followed him up the stairs that led up to the front door. It was painted black, and made a solid, rich sound when Yao dropped the golden knocker with its wolf's head down three times. He could hear it echo expensively on the other side. The house was big enough to fit a small audience, he was sure. He had dreams to live this lifestyle in the future, but for now, he was sharing a room with his best friend from high school and his car was an Old Honda Civic. He felt he had a long way to go.

There was a pause, and then the door opened to reveal a butler in expensive attire, an empty tray held in his hand. He was an aged man, with ice blue eyes and a clean shaved face. He had little hair left, but what he did have he'd kept trimmed and brushed back.

"Hello?" he asked, slightly agitated to see three random strangers at the door.

"Hi," Yao held up his ID. "I'm Detective Wang. I was hired by Roderich Edelstein on the case of his father's murder. Is he in at the moment?"

The butler glanced into the house before dragging his gaze back to the three of them. "He is indeed."

"May we… speak with him?" Yao asked.

"Of course," the butler allowed the three of them into the house. "However, he's currently-"

"Ah, don't mind me," a strong, bold voice chimed. "I'm just passing through."

Yao turned his head to see a man possibly in his late forties or early fifties. He had golden blonde hair and green eyes that were dark and minty. A wide smile with very white teeth was stretched across his face, which crinkled the corners of his eyes. He was a man who had aged well, because although he looked older, he didn't look worn or weathered. He was clothed in an expensive suit, his shoes polished so much they shone in the chandelier light. A silvery watch hung from his wrist and held the keys to a BMW in hand.

"Oh, hello there," he said.

"Hi," Yao said politely.

"Giuliano Zwingli," he held out his hand, a ring shining on his index finger.

"Yao Wang," returning the shake, Yao also offered a smile.

"I was just paying my condolences," Giuliano glanced over his shoulder with a morbid shake of his head. "What a terrible thing to have happened… Niklas and I… We'd come to know one another after the many years."

Although he was offering perfectly pleasant conversation, the butler was boring into the back of his head with a gaze Yao could only describe to be pure malice. Yao had heard of the name Zwingli just as he had heard the name Edelstein. He had been sure that the two families had been musical geniuses, rivals throughout history, but if the two men had patched up their family conflicts in their generation, Yao wasn't going to be the one to complain about it. Giuliano Zwingli was also famed for his golfing reputation and had received many medals over the years. He was well known across the city.

"I must be off," Zwingli smiled, slipping past Yao and Yong Soo as he headed towards the door. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," the butler replied stonily, as Yao lifted a hand, and watched the door swing shut behind him.

"I should've gotten an autograph," Yong Soo sighed. "My dad loves golf. Especially Zwingli."

"This way, then," the butler gestured further into the house, his earlier expression replaced with the same cool indifference as before. Yao could only wonder about that as he followed the man into the living room where both Roderich and Elizabeta were.

"Is this a good time?" Yao asked as the butler left the room, closing the door behind him.

"We've just had a visitor but, ja," Roderich replied, breathing in deep. "I suppose you met him on your way in?"

"Giuliano Zwingli?" Yao nodded. "Yeah, I thought-"

"Detestable man," Roderich took a sip from his china teacup. "My father reviled him as much as I do…"

The comment surprised Yao. It conflicted entirely with what Giuliano had just said, as well as Elizabeta's first comment about Niklas Edelstein not having enemies.

"Please, do take a seat," Roderich gestured to the sofa across from him and his fiancée. "Earnest will be bringing tea for you as well."

Yao thanked him as he dropped down into the sofa. It was comfier than his bed, but he couldn't blame Kiku and his parents for that. There was something about the extremely wealthy that made them applicable for this kind of heavenly lifestyle. It wasn't just the money. You could have money and no taste. Their ability to decorate these manors in an established and sophisticated way was what impressed Yao the most. The selection of fashionable furniture with the highest comfort level showed careful, selective spending, another thing Yao could appreciate. From what he'd seen, he liked Roderich's financial eye.

"So, what brings you here?" Roderich asked.

"Just to ask a few questions," Yao said. "First off, did your father have any enemies?"

He saw Elizabeta cast him a suspicious glance. Although Roderich had been in the room when he'd first asked the question, the Young Master had barely been in the same room. His mind had been in a completely different place.

"Well, I wouldn't say my father was enemies with Giuliano," Roderich pondered. "But they've never liked it each other. To say they were enemies is an overstatement, and to say they disliked one another was an understatement. The Zwingli family has always rivalled us Edelsteins, because Giuliano was a musician and a performer, just like my father was."

"Thank you," he jotted that down in his handy notebook, Elizabeta's gaze falling on each of his movements. "I just want to ask what kind of person Niklas Edelstein was."

The question was directed to both the Young Master and his fiancée.

"What kind of person?" Roderich seemed thrown by the question. "Well…"

"He was very much like Roderich," Elizabeta answered.

"Would you say he was a perfectionist?" Yao asked.

"A perfectionist?" Roderich licked his lips in thought. "Ja. He liked everything to be in order. Very much like… well… me."

"Would you say your father was personable?" Yao asked. "As in, was he charismatic amongst those he knew well?"

"Not really," Roderich admitted. "Well, not at all. My father was a very proud man. If he saw someone as inferior, he would treat them that way. He was very old fashioned like that. I…" he sighed. "I think maybe his personality didn't put him in favour with many people."

"Do you say that with anyone in mind?" Yao asked, picking up on the uncertainty hidden beneath the Young Master's voice.

"Well, ja," Roderich shifted in his seat as Earnest placed delicate cups and saucers before Yao and his team. The dark liquid swirled in its cup, but a small milk jug and a bowl of brown and white sugar cubes were also provided. "Staff in general. There were times when he would come to blows with them…"

"I'm sure Officer Kirkland has told you about William James," Yao frowned.

"He did indeed," Roderich sighed. "It was such a shame. He was such a pleasant man, but was there at the wrong time…"

"I need to know," Yao tapped his notebook with his pen. "What hours did James work?"

"His work hours were from ten at night to two in the morning," Roderich said. "It's a big theatre."

"I see," Yao noted that down.

"We were told the janitor found Niklas Edelstein's body in the morning, around seven," Yong Soo frowned. "But the janitor was dead?"

"Oh, James was on night shift," Roderich seemed surprised. "There's another janitor who works the day shift."

"There are two janitors?" Yao's pen hovered over the notebook.

"Ja," Roderich's cup hovered inches from his lips as he assessed Yao and his team. "Why?"

"I didn't realise," Yao lied, wondering if their janitor theory could be rekindled, only with a different man. "Do you have any details on this other janitor?"

"He's an employee at the theatre, so… ja," Roderich placed his cup on the table. "I'll go grab his file now."

He stood and left the room, leaving Elizabeta alone with the Investigasians. She held her cup tightly in her hands and stared after the door Roderich had disappeared behind. Her jaw was oddly set. She seemed upset about something, but Yao doubted him asking Roderich the same question would offend her that much, would it?

"That's a nice gun, there," Yong Soo broke the silence, nodding to a pistol in a glass frame behind them.

Elizabeta turned in her seat to look at it. "Yes. It's been in Roderich's family for some years now."

"Does he use it?" Yong Soo asked, and received a bemused stare from her. "I mean for target practice, Ma'am. My father did that, and I had lessons from him once or twice one summer…"

"Ah, I think hunting rifles are mainly used for that sort of thing," she smiled kindly. "But, no. Roderich hasn't had a single interest in it since he received it on his eighteenth birthday. Like his father, and his grandfather, he merely has the gun for ornamental purposes."

"He has a good eye," Yao commented.

"I don't know my guns well, but he had it framed to prevent it getting dusty," she explained. "I think it was a good idea, but it does give him a reputation with guns that he just doesn't have when new guests look around the house."

Yao refrained from writing anything down. Although he would've liked to see if the glass case had been recently opened, he felt Elizabeta would find it strange. Perhaps this was the very same gun used to blow open the back doors. He shared a brief, subtle glance with Yong Soo.

"This whole house is extremely nice, if I'm honest with you," Yong Soo continued, gazing around the room.

"Oh, thank you," she seemed surprised. "Would you… like to take a look around?"

"We would love to," Mei beamed, looking around in awe.

"Yeah, sounds good," Yong Soo stood.

"I think I'll wait for Mr Edelstein to get back," Yao nodded. "But thank you, aru."

He watched the three of them of the wander out of the room. He waited until he was sure they weren't nearby when he dashed towards the gun and peered at the frame. Its polished surface indicated it had seen a recent clean. With a furrowed brow, he reached back behind the piece to feel for dust. His hand came away spotless.

"Hello," he turned to see Roderich standing in the doorway. "Is everything OK?"

"I was just looking at this gun," Yao nodded towards it. "Is it new?"

"Nein, my family have owned it since my great-great-great grandfather," Roderich said. "It's very old."

"Wow," Yao mused. "It looks very new."

"I polished it the other day," Roderich replied. "My father loved it as an ornament. He gave it to me on my eighteenth birthday. He wasn't much of a hunter or gun enthusiast as older members of our family were, but he loved the look of it. Here's the file you wanted."

Yao took the yellow folder Roderich held out towards him. It was labelled 'Employees'.

"The man you're looking for is Gilbert Beilschmidt," Roderich instructed. "That file has his details. I haven't actually contacted him since he found the body, but as far as I'm concerned he was going to recover from the shock. I didn't feel the need to contact him and with another death having been discovered, the theatre still hasn't opened for employees to continue their work. In other words, I haven't seen or heard from him since Saturday."

"I see," Yao nodded.

"If you'd like, you can hold onto that file during the case," Roderich offered. "It might be easier if you have the details to refer to whenever."

"Thanks, aru," Yao tucked it under his arm. "I think I will. Do you want it back after the case is closed?"

"That depends," Roderich sent him a knowing smile, although it was strained. "May I ask where everyone else is?"

"Looking around the house," Yao said.

"Then I need to ask something," Roderich closed the door to the living room and lowered his voice. "Did you find my father's pen?"

"Pen?" Yao's brow furrowed.

"He had a lucky pen," Roderich explained. "He brought it around with him everywhere. It was a special ink pen given to him by my mother. He treasured it as his muse. Did you find it?"

"There was no pen mentioned when we gave an initial inspection," Yao frowned and was sad to see the Young Master's shoulders deflate. "However, if a pen is found, I'll most certainly let you know about it."

"If you do find the pen, and it isn't vital to the case, might I have it?" Roderich looked forlorn. "It's… the only thing that will truly find me solace, knowing his muse, and the most important item mother left behind, was in safe hands."

"I see…" Yao said.

"He wrote his own music, you see," Roderich suddenly brought a hand to his mouth and drew in a deep breath. "I'm sorry. Please excuse me."

He promptly left the room, whilst Yao looked at the folder once more. It was mustard and had seen many a year pass, as it appeared a little battered. However, the idea that the janitor was the killer suddenly seemed all the more possible. Yet other suspects had arisen. It was no longer possible to point the finger at one person when so many people had suddenly appeared in the scene of Niklas Edelstein's life.

Yao seated himself at the sofa, and Roderich returned to the room, his face displayed nothing once again. He sat opposite Yao, composed as an aristocrat.

"Is there anything else you'd like to know?" he asked.

"I'd like to know your whereabouts the night your father was murdered," Yao said, keeping a straight face.

"Oh, the police asked this…" Roderich put a hand to his mouth. "I… after his performance, we were to hold a party for his sixtieth birthday. Well, I believe that's where I was at the time of his murder, but the authorities didn't have an exact time. I was there until… oh… maybe three in the morning? That's when it petered out."

"What about your fiancée?" Yao dropped the question.

Roderich blanched. "Elizabeta? She came to the party with me."

"Were you with her the entire time?" Yao asked.

"Well, no," Roderich shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "We did go separate ways, but Elizabeta would never have left the party as one of the hosts."

"These are just standard questions, Mr Edelstein," Yao said. "In no way do I suspect Miss Hédeváry. These merely give me a basic idea of where everyone was so I can confirm who didn't do it."

"Well, OK, then," Roderich said. "I didn't see her for most of the party. It began at midnight and ended at three to four, depending on which guests left. My father was there from… twelve to one thirty. He was old, and said he liked to sleep."

"And yet he went back to the music theatre?" Yao asked.

Roderich nodded.

"At what times did you see Miss Hédeváry during the party?" Yao continued.

"Elizabeta did not kill my father," Roderich said sternly.

"I understand this, aru, but these are just-"

"Standard questions?" his tone had become suddenly cold. "Ja, well, I'm giving them the standard answers they need. My fiancée didn't go back to the music theatre. I'm sure all the party guests could give you an alibi for her during the entire night."

"Your fiancée is not a suspect," Yao insisted, even though his words differed to his thoughts.

"Then stop treating her like one," the Young Master folded his arms, and Yao could see why a janitor would want Niklas Edelstein to kick the bucket, if he truly was the same as his son.

"One more question, Edelstein," Yao warned, as Roderich stood.

"What?" he said coldly, holding the door open for him to leave.

"When did you and Elizabeta get engaged?" Yao asked.

"Why is that relevant?" Roderich snapped. "If you think it's in any way related to my father's death, I think I can give you enough evidence to show it isn't. We've actually been engaged eight and a half months now. Is that good enough?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, aru," Yao stood.

"Is everything OK?" Elizabeta's voice could be heard from outside, and Yao peered round to see her standing on the staircase with Yong and Mei behind.

"Ja," Roderich looked over his shoulder, dark purple eyes stormy as they locked with Yao's. "Detective Wang was just leaving now. It seems he's finished with his questions."

A/N: Oh dear- bad start... But there's a lot of cards on the table! Thank you for your patience and for reading Gakutalia. Until next time!