A/N: What day is it today? It's Wednesday. What's the weather like? It's raining. It's the end of July and it's raining. Welcome to the UK, world. And why is XOs actually posting a little earlier than usual? I think I may have said so in my previous A/N last chapter, but I'll say it again anyway. It's my birthday today! I turn eighteen, and can finally be considered an adult! That's why all of you are being given this extra chapter, because your support is the equivalent of a birthday gift and I couldn't ask for anything more. Thank you very much for keeping with The Musical Massacre, and have a good day. Hopefully, it's not raining where all of you are, because apparently summer was only a week long here in England...

Without further ado, the extra chapter!

Chapter 10

Yong Soo finished school earlier that day, because his academic term had broken up for the Christmas holidays. Yao picked him up straight from school at around one, and brought him back to the Honda ramen bar for lunch. It was there that they feasted on the precious noodles, waiting for Mei to finish her workday. Now that Yong Soo had finished with school, it seemed Yao would be able to do more investigative searches with promised backup. It also meant he would see twice as much of Yong as he usually did.

It had been a week since he'd seen the Target. It was strange how occupied this case had gotten him. Not once had he heard about or caught sight of the mysterious masked man; Yao believed that, like last time, the case would go stale for a while, only to peak once more when he least expected it.

Yong Soo had been short of paper money, and since the Honda bar didn't accept cards for their quick ramen, he had been forced to change to the same pork ramen Yao ate.

"I only have ninety-five left," Yong held the little coins in his palm. "Here, Kiku, have a tip."

"I usually don't accept tips, but thank you…" Kiku took the money and dropped it into his pocket before turning towards more customers.

"That's me done for the week," Yong Soo laughed nervously. "I guess I'll just have to turn to my bank account. I'll probably head on over there tomorrow…"

Yao found it amazing how Yong Soo could freely talk about money. It wasn't a problem for him. Every week, he was guaranteed a safe twenty pounds from his parents – a safe supply of money that was unlikely to ever run out, since the Im family were successful. Yao could only envy someone like Yong Soo. He wished he had parents to ensure he always had funds coming in. As well as a well-stocked bank account. That would be nice…

After dwindling for hours at the ramen bar, Mei finally arrived after a long day of work. Yao always wondered what getting another job alongside his Private Investigator's career would be like, but whenever he saw how time consuming Kiku's job was, he was put off. He wanted to put as much into his cases as he could, without an outside force directing his life.

"Where are we going today?" Mei leant against the bar.

"I think we need to go back to the Edelstein household," Yao admitted. "From the sounds of it, Niklas Edelstein wasn't especially friendly with this Beilschmidt man…"

"What more can Edelstein tell us?" Mei huffed.

"Well, I was at Giuliano Zwingli's yesterday," Yao said. "He told me a little about what Gilbert Beilschmidt was like, aru. Apparently, he liked cleaning, so I wouldn't say he hated his job. On the idea that he truly is the murderer, this is probably something more personal. From what we've been told about Niklas, he treated his employees as inferiors. Beilschmidt wasn't the type of person to stand for that, aru."

"Does that really make it necessary to murder someone, though?" Mei looked sceptical.

"Not necessarily," Yao sighed. "I think it depends on the person… Which is why we need to find Gilbert Beilschmidt himself. He's the only one who can truly answer the questions we have, aru. If there's one person who will know where he is, it's Roderich Edelstein. I'm sure he has some personal addresses, and more."

"The last time we were there, Aniki, Roderich Edelstein kicked you out of the house," Yong Soo twiddled his thumbs nervously. "Will he let us back in?"

"If he truly wants to find out who murdered his father, he'll have to, aru," Yao said. "He might not be happy about co-operating, but I think he will either way."

"To the Edelstein household it is, then," Mei pushed away from the bar and waited patiently by the doorway.

"Hmm, perhaps I could offer some advice before you leave," Kiku raised his ladle to draw Yao's attention.

"What is it, aru?" he asked.

"Try not to be so blunt," Kiku said, wincing. "Remember, it's difficult to lose someone through natural causes – it's even harder if a death is premature due to outside forces. If you use more indirect questions that ease off on the emotion, Roderich and Elizabeta will be easier to talk to."

"Thanks, Kiku," he said, mid-way in the doorway. "I'll take that into account when speaking to them…"

He wasn't sure if a gentle approach was what was really required, but Kiku's advice was usually correct. It was difficult to ask questions concerning suspicions on those you loved. However, the topic of today was something considerably easier to mention. Gilbert Beilschmidt was a safe topic that didn't touch on the idea of Roderich's fiancée being the killer. Yao suspected that was the main reason his client had wanted to end the conversation there and then. He had breached a place that hadn't wanted to be touched, and Roderich had refused to believe in any possibility. It was perfectly understandable. Why would anyone be content to hear someone they loved be accused so blatantly?

However, Elizabeta Hédeváry was no longer the main suspect. It was Gilbert Beilschmidt. That would be something to take his client's mind off their previous conversation.

Yao unlocked the car and his team piled in. As usual, Yong Soo had failed to claim his front seat. He started the Old Civic's engine and reversed away from the Honda ramen bar. Taking a sharp turn, he started the laborious drive to the Edelstein city edge manor.

The car stopped just beside the fountain, just as it had last time. With a sigh, and silent prayer that this would go right, Yao stepped out of the car and approached the door once more. He lifted the knocker, frozen cold by the weather, and dropped it harshly against the solid oak doors. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he blew out a deep breath, and watched the cloud dissipate into the wind. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the clouds of breath puffing from a cold Mei and Yong Soo. They were left with a considerable wait before someone opened the door at last.

Yao wondered if it was some kind of silent punishment from last time, but how would Roderich Edelstein know who was at his door? He made a mental note to check for cameras on the way out. At the door stood the butler from before, his facial expression impassive. It seemed that an individual needed to offend the family at a much greater level to receive the glowering treatment. Giuliano Zwingli must've done something bad enough to the family.

"Ah, I assume you are here to see the Young Master?" the butler asked, and Yao nodded. "This way. He was expecting your return at some point."

Yao wasn't sure how he was supposed to interpret that, but he followed the butler nevertheless. The four of them wandered through the house, turning down corridors until the sound of piano drifting through the air could be heard. Yao felt the music to be strangely uplifting. The butler paused before a door that was left slightly ajar. The music was coming from within that room.

Softly, the butler played his knuckles across the door in a short, insistent rhythm, something that seemed strangely practised.

The piano playing instantly stopped. "Hello?"

"The Detective would like to see you," the butler said.

There was a pause, and a wait. It left Yao to question whether Roderich would even speak to him. He needed to have this conversation to progress.

"Come in," there was the sound of a shutting piano lid, and the voice's tone? Yao had to guess resignation.

Taking a quiet, yet deep breath, Yao pushed the door open wider and saw Roderich seated before a grand piano. The mid-afternoon sun shone straight into the room, with all its wide windows overlooking the grounds below that dipped down with a terrace and the house itself was surrounded by the same thick, tall hedge as in the front. The orange glow that cascaded into the room was both soft and intense at the same time. Yao imagined it was probably very scenic with the music in the room.

"Detective Wang," Roderich was sitting at the piano still, but he'd angled his body to face the doorway.

"Hello, Mr Edelstein," Yao said. "I'd just like to ask a few questions concerning Gilbert Beilschmidt."

"Oh?" his face expression changed from vague hostility to surprise. "Gilbert Beilschmidt?"

"Yes," he folded his arms. "We couldn't contact his phone, aru."

"At all?" Roderich's dark brows knitted together.

Yao shook his head.

"Do you… have the file with you?" his client asked. "I was sure that all information within it was accurate, but if I need to look over a few things…"

"That shouldn't be necessary, aru," Yao wandered into the room to glance out the window. "The number was correct, I would say. What isn't right is that Beilschmidt no longer seems to be using that phone…"

"What?" Roderich frowned. "As in…?"

"There's a chance he got rid of his previous phone, but I'm not one for jumping to conclusions," Yao said. "In other words, it would be good to know his address."

"The locations of our employees are very confidential," Roderich stood. "They're kept in a different folder entirely. However, if Gilbert Beilschmidt is truly someone you're looking into, I suppose I can get you the documents."

"It's important we see and speak to him," Yao said. "If that's possible."

"Very well, then," Roderich breezed past Yong and Mei, who had positioned themselves near the door and out of the way. His footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Yao met the other two in the centre of the room.

"Is it true that we've nearly found the culprit?" Yong Soo spoke in a loud whisper, the amazement on his face undisguised.

"Possibly, aru," Yao murmured in response.

Mei said nothing, just kept her gaze locked on the windows outside. Something still seemed to be bothering her, but Yao knew that asking her would get him nowhere. She was cryptic and preferred not to share details.

They dispersed around the room, taking in every little detail they could. Roderich was back within moments, a plastic folder in his hands. He laid it across the piano lid, and rifled through, until he came across a thin, single sheet of paper. Yao held out his hand for it, but Roderich didn't offer it towards him.

"I'd prefer if you took a picture, actually," he admitted. "I'm not one for giving away direct and personal details… A phone number is one thing, an address is something completely different…"

"That's fine," Yao took out his phone and stood beside Roderich, holding the device's camera over the address. "Us Investigasians respect the wishes of our client, aru."

As he was taking the photo, Yao noticed something on the sheet of paper that couldn't be left ignored.

"A suspension," he commented. "What was Beilschmidt suspended for? How long ago was this?"

"Oh, he had an argument with my father about starting a music career of his own," Roderich said absently. "It got a little bit rowdy, but nothing violent happened. He almost quit on the spot, but my father persuaded him to have a suspension where he could think things through."

"Did your father not want Beilschmidt to enter the music industry, aru?" Yao frowned.

"From what I've heard, Gilbert Beilschmidt isn't good enough to enter the music industry," Roderich replied. "I've had the exact same conversation with him, but he let it drop that time…"

"He wanted to start his own musical career," Yao murmured, snapping a photo of the address. "That's interesting, aru."

"Is it?" there was hope in his client's voice. "I suppose you notice things better than I do."

Yao patiently watched as Roderich tucked the piece of paper back into the plastic wallet.

"As for when it happened…" the Young Master paused in thought. "I think… about three or four months ago."

"So, quite recent, then, aru?" Yao put that piece of evidence in his notebook. "I see…"

"Ja, I guess," Roderich stared at the plastic wallet, a faraway look in his eyes.

"Thanks, aru, but one more thing," Yao said. "Did Gilbert Beilschmidt like his job?"

Roderich frowned and let out a long sigh. "Did he like his job? He always looked content and cheerful when he was working, and he often spoke to people he passed by."

"What about your father?" Yao asked.

"My father?" Roderich's eyes flicked to him. "As in, did Gilbert Beilschmidt like my father? Not really. But the feeling was mutual. My father disliked him, too."

"Right; thank you very much, aru," Yao dropped his notebook into his pocket, and let his phone join it.

Without another word said to one another, Roderich guided them to the door, rather than the butler. Yao's mind was focused on the given address as he piled into the Old Civic with his team. This was their biggest lead yet. All they needed to do was speak to Gilbert Beilschmidt and that could be their possible conclusion. Yao could envision it. If they were careful about their tactics, then they could frighten him into confessing. He liked the idea of that. He was sure it would work.

Yong Soo was sharing his enthusiasm. "I can't believe we've almost got the culprit! This is amazing, Aniki."

"I know right, aru," Yao smiled to himself. "That seven hundred and fifty quid is closer than ever."

Never once had his mind drifted away from the money. It had been his inspiration for this entire case. Without the money, his enthusiasm and motivation probably would've dropped, especially when working with infuriating musical divas like Roderich Edelstein. However, this would make him the richest he'd ever been in his entire life, save those blissful days when he lived with his parents. It was an incredible thought. Solving a murder case would also draw in a higher range of customers. His career would be booming.

However, someone in the car seemed to be lacking the same vigour and life as they were. He glanced briefly to his side to see Mei still wore a look of uncertainty.

"What's your problem, aru?" he asked.

"Me?" Yong Soo sounded hurt.

"No," he said. "Mei."

"Me?" she murmured. "I don't know. I feel like this is too soon, right?"

"Not really, aru," he shrugged. "This case has gone on for five days. In the aspect of crime, that's a significant time to get away with snuffing out the flames of another human's life. Two weeks usually makes a cold case. Any notable time longer, and the police force stop pretending there's a chance of anything else being found, aru."

She was silent for a moment. Yao wondered if she believed anything he'd said, but out of the corner of his eye, he could see her head bobbing. It seemed enough to keep her in the case – if that's what he really wanted. If Mei left, he'd get a little bit of the overall portions back. Yet, so far, she'd proved to be perfectly handy.

He kept monitoring the GPS system as he drove, given to him by Kiku for his birthday. Sometimes, they were stuck in a cruel traffic, other times freely speeding along vacant roads. It was getting darker by the minute, the sky overhead morphing into inky blackness. The stars came out the more rural they went. How far did Gilbert Beilschmidt live? How could he be so willing to drive at least an hour just to do a few hours of work? It made little sense to Yao.

The GPS finally turned him onto a secluded cul-de-sac and to a stop before one of the houses. Yao paused, hands on the wheel whilst the engine hummed. The lights in the house appeared to be off and there was no car in the drive.

"Suspicious," Yao turned off the engine and stepped out of the car.

The three of them made a quiet walk down the cobblestone and up to the front door, which was painted a pretty, pearly white. Yao raised a fist and hammered on the door, a frown on his face. Was life really going to dash his hopes like this?

"I don't know, Yao…" Mei glanced around, doubt in her eyes. "I don't think he's here."

"We'll check with the neighbours," Yao backed up and hurried along the side to another house. This time, his team chose not to follow him.

He knocked gently on this door, seeing the lights inside behind curtains. He waited as the door opened to reveal an elderly woman.

"Hello?" she said.

"Oh, hello," he replied. "I, um, just wanted to ask about your neighbour, um… Gilbert Beilschmidt?"

"Oh, Gilbert," concern appeared in her features. "Has something happened to him?"

"No, no, nothing like that, aru," Yao hoped. "Actually, I was wondering when he'd be back."

The old woman leant against her doorway and peered out slightly to look over at Gilbert's house, where Mei and Yong Soo were trying not to look suspicious. They looked extremely suspicious.

"He's been gone almost a week now, so I can't say I know the answer to that one," the neighbour replied with a frown.

"Gone a week?" Yao glanced at her once more. "When exactly did he leave, do you know, aru?"

"Saturday evening," she answered. "Myself and my husband noticed the headlights on his car, and then he was suddenly driving away. He's hasn't made an appearance since."

"Saturday evening…" Yao murmured. "I see. Well, thank you, aru. Thank you very much."

The old woman nodded and closed the door as he retreated back down the drive, joining Mei and Yong Soo on the pavement beside the car.

"He randomly disappeared," Yao explained. "I think we need to check his house through, aru."

"How are we supposed to do that?" Mei's eyes bugged out. "I'm not breaking and entering into someone's house."

"This is an official detective agency," Yao rolled his eyes. "We do have the rights to investigate houses."

"Only with their permission," she countered. "I'm not sneaking into someone's house."

"It's OK, I'm sure Officer Arsehole would let Harlot Mei go without a dent in her personal records," Yong Soo chuckled.

She glowered at him before turning her attention back to Yao. "Besides, how would we even sneak in? We don't have keys, there's no open windows and it's still early enough for people to be awake."

"That's simple, Mei," Yao stepped into the car. "We'll come back later and I'll show you something really cool, aru."

"It's probably illegal," she fretted. "We could get arrested for this. That old woman is probably keeping an eye out for when we come back."

"Stop worrying about nothing, aru," Yao clucked his tongue. "You're being ridiculous."

"We're acting like criminals," she bit her nail.

"Relax," Yao smirked. "I've done this many times and never once have I been caught, aru."

A/N: They fine his house, but the Janitor is not present? What's the meaning of this? Will the Investigasians and get inside Beilschmidt's house, and if they do... what will they find? Until next time!