A/N: I hope everyone had a good Christmas- I certainly did. This chapter is being posted as the Christmas special, so I hope you all enjoy and I hope this perfectly summarises the truth of the Musical Massacre!
Enjoy the rest of your holidays, and you should hear from me next Friday.
Chapter 27
It was the coldest morning Yao had experienced yet. With just five days to Christmas, the snow was falling in rapid heaps. The Old Civic was a long forgotten memory, abandoned at the Honda Ramen Bar, whilst he had walked up to the police station. He was without his assistants. The pair of them were in their respective homes, and would probably be there for the rest of the year. Their duty was done, and they were no longer needed to trek out into the hazardous weather. It best suited Yao anyway. In times like this, he needed a flexible schedule without needing to wait for the pair of them to reach the city from their individual destinations.
Kiku had been working at the bar when Yao had first come down. Curious about the case, for Kiku had been duly informed of what had happened on Sunday night, Yao had carefully said today was the day he would speak with Basch, and discover what was necessary.
He dragged his feet through snow covered streets. After the next flurry of snow on Sunday, the local council had given up on salting the streets. Although the system was disrupted, there was very little they could do, and it was preferred to save costs by reducing the amount of times they placed salt down. For any students still at school, they would be reducing the last few days had been interrupted with heavy snowfall. That meant there were no engines running to disturb the peace. Yao decided he really liked the city when it was like this. There was something about it that was truly splendid. Its silence wasn't eerie, but peaceful, and the forest of buildings added to the isolated feeling that this city belonged to him. Without the mammoth crowds of people, Yao felt like he owned the place. City dwellers roamed a little, but most were tucked inside, hiding in the warmth and underneath their blankets.
It was a twenty-five minute walk to the police station from the Honda Ramen Bar, so Yao's hands were frozen by the time he reached the facility. He wished he had some proper gloves, but the lack of time and money for the investment left him constantly short of cash he both needed and wanted. He pushed open the door of the stations and relished the blast of hot air that descended upon him from above. Breathing in, he trailed snow into the entrance room, and received glances from the few members of staff available despite the weather. Eyes drew towards him, but he walked straight up to the desk.
"Hello?" the receptionist asked, disinterested and assuming he had come to the police for some pointless reason.
"Hi, aru," he smiled, rummaging through his pocket and pulling out his ID. "Detective Yao Wang here; is Chief Officer Kirkland around?"
"He is, and he was expecting you," came the reply, and a brief call was made via the intercom. "He should be here soon. Just sit down in those seats over there."
Yao plopped himself down where the receptionist pointed, and stared around the entrance room. A couple officers casually chatted by the coffee machine, their expressions and hand movements indifferent to the world around them, and unaware of Yao's watching gaze. One also held a pastry of some kind – croissant or cheese danish, Yao could not tell – whilst the other fiddled with the machine, pressing the hot water button. Yao yearned for something hot to drink, but assumed the drink would cost around two quid, and his dwindling funds needed to be saved for when Mr Honda demanded his next rental payment.
"Having fun watching my team?"
He turned his head and saw Officer Arsehole awaiting him, leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face. The two policemen glanced towards them and shifted away with their coffees, suddenly detached from their conversation once again. Yao awkwardly stood.
"Staring into space, aru," he lied.
"Or do you want a drink?" Kirkland asked.
"No, I'm fine," Yao had swiftly learnt to never show weakness.
"This way, then," Kirkland motioned for him to follow. "We've had Zwingli under surveillance and its quite interesting what he's said so far. Shameless, really. He pretty much admitted his crime within the first five minutes, but as you wanted to take a look, we've postponed his trial until next week, Tuesday."
"That late?" Yao asked.
"Nobody likes working on a murder case late in the week, on a weekend or a Monday morning," Kirkland explained. "Judges are most diligent on Tuesdays, in my opinion. Say what you will, I tend to time the worst crimes for a Tuesday."
"As long as I get to speak with him, aru," Yao said.
"Naturally," Kirkland shrugged. "We've had him prepared in a questioning room. Honestly, ask him straight out whatever you want to know, and he'll pretty much tell you. I think he's given up; he knows he's done for."
"Right, aru," Yao frowned as he neared a room.
Kirkland shuffled his keys around, then turned the lock and opened the door. It was a small room, but its lack of furniture made it appear moderately larger than it actually was. The faint smell of coffee lingered in the air. A single table was placed in the middle of the room, and two chairs facing one another were placed either side. In one chair sat Basch Zwingli, staring defiantly into space, his hands cuffed together. There wasn't a single piece of recording equipment left on the table.
"I'll leave you to it, Detective Aru," Officer Arsehole closed the door, leaving Yao and Basch in private.
Yao gestured around the room and dropped down into the seat opposite Basch. "Nice place. Was it really worth it, aru?"
"Are you here to mock me, or find out the conclusion of Edelstein's case?" Basch leant back in his chair. There was no fear in his eyes, but instead undisguised superiority.
"No point withholding information from me, Basch," Yao rolled his shoulders back. "You've already told the police. I can get the information from them."
That wasn't necessarily true. Only members of staff could access private police folders, and permission to have the recordings was extremely rare. However, the public didn't know that, and Yao intended to keep it that way. What people didn't know couldn't hurt them.
"Who said I wasn't going to say anything?" Basch chuckled. "What do you want to know, Detective?"
"First of all, you really did kill Niklas, didn't you?" Yao leant back in his chair.
"Absolutely," Basch didn't even hesitate.
Yao raised his eyebrows, purely because Kirkland had been right about his brazen nature. He had never met a criminal so open about their actions before. He had never really met a criminal before…
"Why?" he asked. "Why risk all that lovely life with your father and sister for this? Was it really worth it?"
"Worth it?" Basch smirked. "Of course it was worth it, Detective Wang. Roderich falls into a state of disarray, their marriage is postponed, and I suspect its even ruined now."
"That petty?" Yao blinked. "Wow, aru."
"That bitch dropped me like a stone," he suddenly scowled, the indolent expression leaving his face. "She made it feel like she was in love with me, but it was all some front whilst her marriage was down in the dumps. She used me to pick herself up and now look at me; desperate for revenge and glad I got it."
"And you're convinced it was worth the Zwingli inheritance?" Yao asked nonchalantly.
"You think my father's going to leave me out of the will?" Basch snorted. "Think again. I killed his long term enemy and-"
"Shamed his family name in the process," Yao interrupted, and watched the young man's green eyes darken. "How old are you, Basch?"
"Twenty-three," he replied.
"That's younger than me," Yao mused. "Do you know how long you'll be in prison for?"
Basch shook his head.
"You'll probably get, like, twenty-five years in the least," Yao shrugged. "You'll be forty-eight by the time you leave prison. Was it really worth it?"
Basch remained silent. Yao had a feeling, when placed in perspective, the consequences of his actions weighed more than he could ever have imagined.
"If you don't regret it now, you definitely will later, aru," Yao warned. "But, for now, tell me what happened."
"Well, I'm sure Eliza's told you a lot already," he said.
"Tell me from your perspective, aru," Yao prompted.
"Right, well, we dated for about six months, where she suddenly ended it due to Edelstein proposing, at last," he glanced away.
"Did you know she was engaged?" Yao asked.
"Of course," Basch shrugged. "Didn't matter to me. It wasn't me who had anything to lose from our relationship. Eliza made it seem like she could carry the affair through, but she flagged and dropped out."
"So why kill her father in law?" Yao asked incredulously. "Or target her fiancé?"
"I wanted to hurt her by getting those she loved," he shrugged. "And what would be better than disposing of the man she chose over me? I was a desperate man, Detective Wang, possessed with the glorified image that, without Roderich, Eliza would come running back to me. That hasn't happened, but at least she's not with him anymore."
"How can you know that?" Yao said. "I haven't heard anything about them splitting up?"
"What kind of an idiot would stay with a woman who cheated on him?" he snickered. "That would be too idyllic."
"Why Niklas, then, aru?" he asked.
"I thought it was Roderich," Basch admitted. "I honestly believed I was following the right Edelstein. I didn't expect his dad to leave his own party, and they look so similar in the dark that, by the time I hit him across the head, it was too late."
"You hit him in the head and then realised it was Niklas?" Yao frowned. "And you didn't stop there?"
"He would've sued had I left him alive," Basch shrugged. "After that, it wasn't just about Eliza and my pride; it was about my family. The entire Zwingli reputation would be ruined had Edelstein suddenly come around raining down murder accusations and suing billions. Better I go to prison than my dad go broke. Money is competitive work."
"How did you know where to find Niklas?" Yao asked.
"Assumption," Basch replied. "I had heard there was a concert and a sixtieth, but I had no idea about times. I came late from the concert and early for the party. I waited outside the music theatre, hoping Roderich might have been clearing up the concert remains so his father wouldn't have to. I couldn't believe my luck when who I thought was Roderich arrived at the music theatre. I followed him in and offed him there and then."
"I suppose you didn't know about poor James on night shift, aru?" Yao frowned.
"I may have used my father's keys to gain significant access, but I had no idea about employee timetables," he laughed drily. "I assumed no one would be there, what with there being a party and everything. I thought I was alone with just Roderich, but I was so wrong."
"Where's the sheet music and pen?" Yao asked. "You must've taken those from him."
"Those?" Basch's eyes clouded over for a second. "Yeah, I remember those…"
"Where are they, aru?"
"I took them to my room in a hotel I'm staying at further north," Basch said. "I saw the pen and the music there and thought I could compete against Roderich using his father's great work. If I couldn't kill the man, at least I could outdo him."
"You say that now, yet you were caught in the act of attempted murder just three days ago?" Yao stated.
"True, but that's when I realised I made a crap musician," Basch replied. "I couldn't compete with Edelstein or win Eliza's heart back with music. It was in the north that I was able to quietly dispose of the rifle and old clothes without anyone knowing about it. It's quiet up there; there's less people to hide things from."
"And then you learnt Roderich would be alone on Sunday night, aru?"
"We're from the elite classes, Detective Wang," Basch explained. "Amongst us super rich, there will always be gossip. We have nothing better to do but wile the hours away talking about one another. I heard Roderich would be preparing the theatre for a set of Christmas concerts he had planned. It was the perfect opportunity, but it seems you figured out relatively quickly about my plans… How did you know I was involved, Detective? If Eliza couldn't make the connection, how did you?"
"Because I had someone watching you and Elizabeta that night when the pair of you met up, aru," Yao lied – Mei had gone through her own intuition, but he wanted to look cool and take the credit. "They recalled your argument and the affair was brought up. Elizabeta didn't tell us about your relationship out of her own will, aru."
"Because she was ashamed of it," he laughed bitterly. "She calls me a mistake, but she loved it really."
"That's not really any of my business, aru," Yao admitted.
"She accused me of murder back then," Basch rubbed his jaw. "I should've killed her there and then, really. Once you've murdered two people, a third doesn't seem that much of a deal. She also wouldn't have been able to tell you about our affair. The case would've gone cold, am I right, Detective?"
"Assuming Elizabeta kept your meeting secret, then-"
"Of course she kept it secret," he gave him a pointed stare. "Eliza wouldn't have told anyone about what was going on in her life if it concerned me. She detached herself entirely from me once she broke up with me. Sucks really. Nearly thirty years, eh?"
Was that remorse in the killer's green eyes? Yao couldn't tell, because he wore such a confident expression that subtle emotions such as regret were concealed. It was terrifying to listen to how convinced he was to see Roderich die. It only made sense, listening to him, why he decided to go for it and attack the man he despised before four other people.
"I think the only thing I'll really hate is what my sister will think of me," Basch admitted at last. "I got on very well with her."
"What you did was wrong, Basch," Yao explained. "If you're sister doesn't forgive you, don't be surprised, aru."
"Detective, I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't visit me in the next thirty years," he leant forward a little. "I just want to hear that Eliza and Roderich call off their engagement, and that their future together is ruined; that's all I want."
"You asked for too much, Zwingli," Yao sighed. "Learn to let the girl go, aru."
"Eliza could've done whatever she liked once she was secure with me," Basch said. "I liked her, sure, but when I first started dating her, it was really for the money. The Zwingli family was already financially set for generations, but the Hédeváry fortune isn't something to yawn at. Maybe Roderich will stay with her, but for the money."
It was then that Yao realised that Basch Zwingli was completely, and entirely, sane. His relaxed nature couldn't possibly have been that of a madman, and his sentences were more coherent than others. There was, however, something about him. Psychopathy, perhaps, because Yao detected practically no remorse from him for having killed a man. His only regret was having been caught, and his actions had been fuelled by a greedy desire. Yao couldn't help but feel mildly disgusted just looking at him.
"Money and a girl," Yao mused. "I suppose that added to the appeal, aru?"
"I have a temperamental nature, Detective," Basch smiled thinly. "I was sure I was in for the winning here. If Roderich left Eliza, I was still going to be there for her. She could've turned to me and things would've been so simple. I hadn't spoken to her in some months; she would never have made the assumption that I was the murderer."
"And yet she arranged a meeting with you?" Yao asked.
"Just for clarification," he shrugged. "But she really pushed me for answers, right, Detective?"
"I guess, aru…"
"I think it was an excuse to speak with me after so many years," he smirked. "Her marriage was probably in decline after Niklas' death."
"I think it would be wiser to say the bond between Roderich and Elizabeta strengthened after Niklas' death."
"I was tempted to blame my father for the murders," Basch avoided the subject. "If he was locked away, the Zwingli fortune was certainly mine, and he would probably die in prison."
Yao shot him an alarmed stare, which received the response of barked laughter.
"You honestly think I like my father?" he asked.
"You were with him that day I came round…" Yao mumbled.
"For the sake of seeing my sister," Basch replied. "My father could go to Hell for all I care. In case you hadn't noticed, we're like oil and water."
"You're very different," Yao commented.
"That's another way of saying he's personable and I'm a bastard," Zwingli sighed. "I get that a lot."
"You've murdered a man, Zwingli," Yao repeated. "You probably won't see your sister for a very long time, aru."
"That's the one regret I'll have," he said, and even then his words seemed empty as he spoke them.
"You officially murdered Niklas Edelstein and William James?" Yao asked.
"That was me," Basch's eyes were dark.
"Then my work here is done," Yao stood. "Goodbye, Basch."
The offender made no response, and Yao pushed open the door to find Officer Kirkland waiting outside. The Chief Policemen yawned, a cup of tea in his hands and locked the door behind Yao.
"See what I mean?" he asked.
"I do," Yao replied.
"Thanks for your work, I guess," Arthur said. "You actually semi-solved a case that didn't involve finding missing cats."
It seemed Officer Kirkland wasn't about to let go that Yao had only discovered Basch was guilty through personal experience.
"And I intend to solve many more," Yao smiled, ignoring the officer's words. "I'm done with him."
"Won't need to see him again?" Arthur offered.
"Not at all," Yao shook his head. "Until next time, Officer Kirkland."
"If there is a next time," Kirkland muttered.
Yao strode down the corridor and back into the entrance room. He noted the coffee machine was no longer attended, but resisted the urge to get himself a hot beverage. He would be back at the Ramen Bar in just under half an hour. He could easily get a drink at home, and he would save money doing it.
Yao smiled to himself as he left the police station, out in the blizzard. It felt good to finally have solved the case of Niklas Edelstein, the musical prodigy.
A/N: Thank you for your patience with this Fic, and until next time! This isn't quite the finish, but next chapter is definitely the end of the Musical Massacre. Thank you!