A/N: I'm sorry. Where have I been? Not here, that's for sure. I have no excuse. I've just been so lazy. I went to visit my friend in the south of England, and it's thrown me completely off kilter. I was supposed to update on Saturday night, but I've just been so lazy. I even had the chapter, sitting in my documents, not being posted. All I can do is apologise. I'm so lazy that I couldn't even be bothered to log on to a website- how bad is that? The fortunate thing is, I have tomorrow's chapter ready, and I'll still post that tomorrow, so double the fun, eh? Also, the Christmas chapter is ready, so that'll be posted. And yeah, basically. My life in a nutshell: putting off really simple tasks for absolutely no reason.

On the bright side, I'm ready for Christmas: had a hair cut, and finally had my ears pierced!

Without further ado, the late chapter! Thanks for your patience!

Chapter 25

Mei hurried up from her house to the Old Civic. She was wearing a thick coat, but her hands were bare and pale by the time she reached the car. Her hair was flustered from the wind, falling across her face, and she had a bitter expression, both from the cold and possibly from the earlier bickering. Yong Soo's presence in the front seat did nothing to lighten her mood, as seen by her throwing open the car door in unexplained rage. The force of her actions made Yao worry that she'd break his car. She would have to pay for it, if that were the case, no doubt.

She slid into the back seat, just where he could make eye contact with her from his position as the driver. Her intentional intimidation was working. Yong Soo was rigidly sitting in his seat and didn't even take the opportunity to boast this time. Yao waited for her to strap herself in.

"Quickly, before this useless car's engine freezes," she muttered, fiddling with the belt.

"It's not that bad, aru," despite its faults and failures, the Old Civic was like a child to Yao; it was only natural he felt the need to defend it against Mei's vicious onslaught. "As a matter of fact, it's never broken down in the winter before, aru."

That was a lie. He had missed many a course or meeting during the winter when his unfaithful car had sputtered out and its engine failed him. However, he forgave it, as it was the only salvation he had and provided him an immediate method of transportation without having to borrow Mr Honda's car, as well as use his house.

She seemed sceptical; he could see it in her eyes. And she was right to think whatever she wanted, because her opinions on the Old Civic were probably correct.

The car set off, away from the house, and down the murky roads, into the shadowy depths that lay beyond. The trees that surrounded Mei's house loomed over them, and flurries of snow dropped onto the windscreen. The wipers slid across the glass, eradicating the very presence the snowflakes attempted to leave. The lights were on, the sky was dark, and Yao felt increasing anxiety building up inside of him, although he couldn't explain why.

He couldn't say for sure when the last time he felt nervous was. He would assume it was probably his final exams in university, but even that was a blur now that he was in the working world, and moreover, the crime world. Perhaps it was asking Mr Honda if he could move in and rent? No, that wasn't it, because Kiku had asked on his behalf. His presence was supposed to be temporary, and that was what Kiku had said – "just a brief stay; temporary, dad" – but it became evident that, in the terms of two students, temporary meant permanent, and Yao had stayed. So, no, it hadn't been asking Mr Honda if he could stay.

"Red light," Mei and Yong chanted, and he jerked to a stop.

"Can't you drive?" Mei groaned at the sudden halt. "Pay attention to the road, otherwise you'll have Mrs Im to answer to."

He barely acknowledged her, before returning his gaze to the road. This was his first murder case. It hadn't quite gone as planned, but he had to assume murder cases rarely went smoothly. He didn't want it to go wrong, that was all. He wanted it to go right, so that he could at least have a good reputation. Now that he'd been introduced to a considerable number of the elite class, he had to maintain his status amongst them by impressing them with his career. He could envision it now: money rolling in by the seconds, a tailored suit just to his liking, and he could even have his hair trimmed more frequently. He would probably keep his beloved trench coat; like Sherlock's hunter's cap, his precious trench coat was his signature item.

They arrived at the Edelstein house much quicker than he'd expected, or maybe time passed quicker with nerves? Sitting in the car, the other two got out straight away.

"We don't have time to sit around," Mei said. "She's definitely here, but we don't want to get shut in this house with a murderer."

She had a point, and Yao happened to value his life.

"What's gotten into you?" she demanded as he stepped out of the car. "You're here, but you're also away with the fairies."

"I'm just tired," he lied. "Besides, this is an important interview, aru. It could go wrong and that would be the end of my career."

That seemed to hit someplace home, because her gaze softened and she offered a reassuring smile. "You've already accused her in front of Roderich; I don't think things can get much worse."

He nodded as he closed the door, and the pair of them approached the front door. Yong Soo bounded on his other side and the three of them stood before the door. Snow fell upon their shoulders and peppered their dark hair, until Yao finally lifted a gloved hand to the knocker. His fingers curled around its bronze sneer, and raised it at a right angle degree. The eyes of his assistants were on him.

Yao knocked three times, short and simple with each hit. Then he returned his hands to his pockets. The three of them waited, the cold winds biting their faces.

There was a momentary pause before Elizabeta opened the door. Her hair was damp from swimming, and she'd thrown a light dressing gown over herself. For a moment, her expression was one of agitation, but then soon turned to confusion to see the three Investigasians standing on her doorstep.

"Detective Wang," she held the door open, wide. "What honours do I have of seeing you here? As you know, Roderich's not here right now."

"Good," Yao strode inside. "I want to talk to you."

Her hand tightened on the doorknob. "Me."

"Yes, aru," he nodded. "Would you prefer we stay here, or are you fine with us being in your living room?"

"No, please; make yourselves comfortable," she gestured towards the sitting room, but the look in her eyes made it clear she had detected an unfriendly motive. "Can I get any of you something to drink?"

"We're fine, aru," he said, quickly, before Yong Soo got himself poisoned. "Thank you."

The four moved into the living room, where they made themselves comfortable. Elizabeta avoided direct contact with the sofa, instead spreading her dressing gown out around her. She was still wearing a swimsuit, and the faint smell of chlorine drifted up into the air now that there wasn't any wind present to blow it away.

"What are you here for?" she asked bluntly. "What have you come to tell me? Is Roderich dead? Is that's what's happened?"

"Not at all, you'll be glad to hear," he said. "However, I'm here to ask you straight: where were you at the time of Niklas' death?"

"His party," she replied.

"Do you have an alibi?" he asked.

"I flitted around loads of people," she answered. "My position was never stationary, so everyone will say they've seen me at different times. What is this, Det-"

"Did you get on with Niklas?" he continued, regardless of her discomfort.

"We got on fine," she said coolly.

"And what about you and Roderich?" he asked.

"M-me and Roderich?" she swallowed.

"Yes; is your marriage stable, aru?"

"Of course it is," Elizabeta bristled. "Has that anything to do with my late father-in-law, Detective Wang?"

"Falling marriages can lead to anything," he said. "Would you kill Niklas Edelstein, Miss Hédeváry?"

"Detective Wang, I would never do such a thing," she paled.

"Would you hire someone else to do it?" he asked.

"Of course not," she stared at him. "I would never wish for Niklas to have died. I love Roderich, and I've never had anything against his father. The pair of them were close. Poor Roderich has been so hurt because of this. I could never hurt him in that way."

"Do you know why the gun is clean then?" he gestured behind her, and she turned, an incredulous expression on her face.

"Roderich cleans it," she whispered.

"But you said the glass case meant it was dirt protected…" he leant back into the sofa. "Did you clean it, Miss Hédeváry?"

"I haven't touched it," her voice took on a hoarse tone. "Roderich would never kill his father."

"Roderich was at the party the entire time, aru," Yao shook his head sadly. "Francis is his alibi. What about you, though?"

"I wouldn't kill Niklas," she insisted. "Have you come here just to throw accusations at me? Is that was this is?"

"Have you seen the special pen Niklas uses?" Yao ignored her.

"He has a special pen?" she looked clueless.

"What about sheet music?" he asked. "Did you take that?"

"I don't play an instrument, Detective Wang," she scowled.

"But did you take the music?" he asked.

"No," she sighed. "No; just, please… Before I call Roderich…"

"This is a simple interrogation, Miss Hédeváry," Yao shook his head. "Lots of people go through this. You can't possibly hope to hide behind your fiancé in order to avoid the law? Without him knowing what you're capable of?"

"I didn't kill Niklas – you've got it all wrong," she outburst. "What proof can I give you other than my word? Do you really have that much evidence against me other than a lack of an alibi?"

"What were you doing at Giuliano Zwingli's house that day?" Yao asked.

Her face fell for a moment, before she averted her gaze. "I was…"

"He said you were asking 'unfriendly questions'," he prompted.

"I wanted to know if he'd done it," she answered.

"Are you sure?" Mei suddenly asked.

Elizabeta's green eyes suddenly flicked to her. "What?"

"You seemed unsure at first, only to latch onto something Yao said…" Mei noted. "Just saying."

"No, I…" Elizabeta was growingly increasingly uncomfortable.

"Is there some kind of connection between you and the Zwingli family we're not aware of?" Mei asked.

"Apart from the obvious tensions between Giuliano and Niklas, of course not," Elizabeta's mouth twisted into a vicious grimace.

"Where were you Monday night?" Yong Soo, wedged in between Yao and Mei on their sofa, was pale, and his eyes were wide.

Elizabeta froze as she laid eyes on him. Her expression was neither hostile nor friendly.

"Monday night…?" her eyes drifted across the room. "Visiting... visiting one of the girls on my team. That's when she told me there was a swimming tournament."

"What's her name, aru?" Yao asked.

"She's called… she's called… Angela," Elizabeta swallowed.

"Angela had a surprisingly masculine voice," Mei tapped her chin. "Apologies if I've made the assumption that being on a woman's swimming team makes her a woman?"

Elizabeta's mouth dropped open and fraction. "You were following me."

"We're sorry, Miss Hédeváry, but you were our number one suspect for a very long time," Yong Soo admitted. "We don't know what we witnessed, but if you can explain it to-"

"Please don't tell Roderich," tears tumbled from her eyes and Elizabeta hastily set about wiping her face and trying to turn away from them. "Please; I'll tell you, but you can never let Roderich know."

"If this is something to do with his father's murder, Elizabeta, Roderich has full rights to know the truth," Yao warned.

"I understand, but it's nothing to do with that," she cried bitterly. "Oh, damn. Can I get a tissue? I'm so sorry."

"Please," Yao felt his cold heart melting in pity that he'd reduced a woman to tears. "Do."

"I'll get them," Mei offered. "Where are they?"

"There's some in the kitchen," Elizabeta gestured to the doorway. "Just across from here."

Mei stood and was gone. Yao allowed Elizabeta some time to recollect herself, which happened moments before Mei returned with the tissues. Their client's fiancée gently blew her nose and blinked the water from her eyes with a deep exhale. An air of resignation hovered around her.

"Are you ready to tell us, aru?" Yao asked kindly.

"Promise me that Roderich won't know what happened," Elizabeta said, the hints of warning in her tone.

"He won't hear a word, unless this directly connects to his father's death," Yao explained patiently.

"Very well, then," Elizabeta swallowed. "I was at the Zwingli household because I was trying to find Basch – do you know Mr Zwingli's son?"

"I met him," Yao shrugged, recalling the uncharismatic young man with the vicious expression.

"I was trying to find him that day, and he was also the person I called to meet me on Monday night," she sighed.

"We're very sorry for following you that night," Yong Soo admitted sheepishly.

Elizabeta offered him a brief, thankful nod. "Well, I'm not exactly on good terms with him, as you may imagine."

"Your conversation was very…" Mei paused to think for a moment. "Personal."

"I was having an affair with him some months ago, but I called it off," Elizabeta flushed with embarrassment.

"A Swiss lover?" Yao frowned, puzzled. "Really, aru?"

Mei shot him a chilling glower and he clamped his mouth shut.

"It was a difficult time in our marriage…" she cringed. "Roderich's father wanted him to go to Austria to start a career with a new concert hall he planned to build there, and Roderich, who kissed Niklas' shoes in whatever he did, was more than willing to go along with it. But Austria? I had no intentions of leaving here; I love London far too much to let it go. I must admit, I was unfair to him, because I understand he loves his music and wants to pursue it; I wanted to stay because I had my kickboxing classes, and my swim team; all my friends were here, and I knew, as we had been in a relationship for some years, that I was likely expected to go to Austria with him. It was one of those permanent moves; I wasn't ready to leave this life behind. I also wasn't ready to leave Roderich..."

"That's understandable," Yao admitted; he could never imagine being obliged to leave somewhere he loved for the sake of someone else.

"I'm glad someone does, because Roderich certainly didn't," she huffed. "The conversation ended there between us, and he hasn't brought it up again, although I suspect he and Niklas continued fantasising over this new hall they had in mind."

"Something tells me you're still a little bitter about this, Miss Hédeváry…" Yong Soo commented.

"Of course I am," she shrugged. "It was a rough stage of our relationship, and was very close to being the last stage of it. Basch was… a comfort out of many. He was there when I needed him, and it was a way to escape the rough patch I was having with Roderich. It was quite shameful of me; really, he was just out of university when I met him, twenty-two and a little naïve of the world around him. But he was also not Roderich, and that was the point about him. We met at a bar after one of my swimming tournaments when I was out with celebrating a decent victory with the team, and it hit off from there."

"But you obviously broke it off, aru," Yao shrugged.

"Yes, three months ago," she nodded, distant. "We were dating six months, and then I broke it off."

"Six months is a long time," Yong Soo's eyes widened. "You were also arguing with Basch?"

"No, not at all," she shook her head. "The relationship was still going well with him; but it was guilt, and a sudden love for Roderich once again. It was like a part of me was reminded of who I was actually with, and I was able to see the good in him again. You see, I broke it off with Basch a little after Roderich proposed to me and we got engaged. Suddenly, I couldn't bear a life without Roderich, and I was terrified of losing him."

"A good relationship that was broken off…" Yao pondered. "I assume Basch was angry about that?"

"Furious," Elizabeta shrugged. "Mei heard our conversation. We've been bitter to one another since. But it seems he still wants me back."

"But you're with Roderich for sure," Yong Soo frowned. "He's too late."

"Unless Roderich were out of the picture, aru," Yao furrowed his brow. "Which doesn't explain it; why Niklas, and not Roderich? It can't be Basch… He's too disconnected, aru. You're right that this won't be related to the case..."

"Roderich looks like Niklas, doesn't he?" Mei suddenly stood up.

Elizabeta swallowed. "Their resemblance was uncanny. Although Niklas was getting silver hairs and he looked much older when they stood side by side."

"Had Basch ever met Roderich before?" Mei questioned.

"Huh?" Elizabeta's eyes glazed over as she considered the question. "Not until after Niklas' death. I mean, their fathers knew each other, but the two had never met..."

"And his reputation as a musician?" Mei seemed increasingly anxious.

"Had already begun before his father's death," Elizabeta smiled proudly.

"With the piano," Mei added.

"As the 'Young Master'," Elizabeta wore a fond expression. "He had quite a reputation, yes."

"And what about this…" Mei glanced around. "In a dark theatre, on the night of Niklas Edelstein's sixtieth birthday, something that would probably be known to the Zwingli family, it would be very difficult to see the grey hairs and age difference. And why would the old man leave his own birthday party? To sit at the piano and compose an unfamiliar piece of music? Naturally, anyone could assume Roderich left to create a surprise composition for such a big decade of his father's life."

There was a pause as Yao let her words filter through his brain. The more he thought about it, the more clear the clumsy murders fit into place. Elizabeta paled almost instantly.

"You mean… the murderer may not have meant to kill Niklas, but instead Roderich?" her mouth hung open.

"Mei, you have no proof," Yao gawked.

"Well, it's evidently not Elizabeta, and the only person we haven't questioned is Basch," Mei folded her arms. "His motive seems legitimate and-"

"That doesn't matter right now," Elizabeta leapt to her feet. "All that matters is if Roderich's OK. He's probably all alone, setting the theatre up right now, as we speak."

"Alone, aru?" Yao blinked.

"Yes, he prefers to plan it out without the interference of others before he has members of staff construct the orchestra, et cetera," she tied the dressing gown around her and strode towards the doors. "But he's not much of a fighter, Detective Wang; if something were to happen to him because of me, I could never forgive myself – never."

"You can't go out like that in the cold," Yao followed her and watched as she pulled on a pair of boots. "You'll get sick. The weather out there is brutal."

"I won't rest until I'm sure Roderich is alive and well," she insisted and threw open the door, the wind howling past and lifting her hair from her shoulders.

He could see her teeth chattering, but she strode out of the house before he could stop her. However, Yao could see where she was coming from; if Basch was the killer, and was aware of Roderich's being alone, then there was a chance that the Edelstein line was in danger of being completely wiped out.

"Get in the Old Civic," he called after her, unlocking the car.

She paused and looked at him, a determined expression in her eyes. "Thank you for everything, Detective Wang."

A/N: Thank you for your patience. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Thank you and until next time!