Speech = ``…..´´
Thoughts = [… ….]
ºº
``So you found a body?´´
``Yeah.´´
``Like, like dead kind?´´
``Well, if you know someone with three holes in their head minus the orifices of their eye sockets, their ears, nose and mouth, then yes...the dead kind..´´
Jessica mused with a hint of humor in her voice as she did. Tilting her head a little bit to the side as she tried to find another spot of comfort as she leaned against the leather of her seat. Closing her eyes for a moment as she tried to relax under the curtain of smoke that now hovered in the enclosed space of the car.
The taste of ashes and cinders still burning from the mostly consumed tip of her cigarette feeling more like a cool and soft cushion than any other thing.
She would never say it, but...it was nice of the man for not caring about her smokes and letting her do as she pleased. Sometimes people needed water to keep themselves up while telling a story. She just needed smokes…
Simple, and far less convoluted to transport and carry oneself. She almost felt at ease...
``That's.., wow..I don't have words to say..´´
``Well, it is not like it was that big of a deal..´´
``Not that big of a deal..!? Not th-you know what miss? There are so many things with that sentence that I don't know where to start..´´
She opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was the reflection of the mans clearly stunned face in the rear-mirror. Her lips started to pursed upwards.
The man had some common sense stuck in his skull...
She liked that.
``Well, I don't know about your preferences sir, but taking a moment to breath in and choose the best part to start..´´
The taxi driver merely blinked at her for a few seconds as if she had grown a second head, before he burst with a fit of laughter.
She didn't joined in, but her expression softened a little more. It was not a bad laugh….
Not at all.
``That was a good one miss, but Jesus... it feels as if you are speaking about the weather. I don't know how there are people who can shrug off death like that.., you must either have nerves of steel or the biggest poker-face in history´´
The ghost of a smile started to appear in her lips, it was hard not to, especially when given a tender ego stroke. [Oh, please there is no need to sweeten things for me, sir…] Still, as appreciate as she was..., she merely shrugged as if it was not that important.
``Well, like preparing any meal, it merely takes practice…´´
``Ha! Wait until I tell that to my friends and see their reactions.., still, that doesn't...make me feel any better´´
The way he smiled clearly spoke otherwise, though a little by little, perhaps the thought that she was actually genuine about it was starting to settle in in his mind.
She took another puff of smoke, its thin, whitish trails of hot air howling and twirling in a hypnotic dance before her eyes. Her breathing slowing down, her heartbeat paused and at ease...
..
..
Well, it didn't matter what he believed...
Taking a small breath and holding her head with one hand, she looked at the road. They were still halfway to the hotel…, twenty or thirty minutes more before they arrived more or less. Perhaps more, the traffic was growing the more they closed in...
``It was not meant to be, merely informative…, but don't pay it much heed. The less you think of it, the more you can ignore it.´´
``I..well, that's actually a pretty good idea. Though...if you are already thinking about it, then it may not be that effective I am afraid..´´
``Yeah.., that...kinda ruins it, but do so anyway. One never knows when its going to work, no?..´´
That was the trick in itself. You had to try…, no matter how many times it took. One day, you may just reach what you were seeking. Peace, tranquility, or something else...it didn't matter.
Simple no? It only required for one to be patient most of the times if you were not lucky that is..
``Well said lass, though...perhaps taking into consideration you are detective of sorts you may have stumbled more than once or twice in situations like that.., so it makes sense´´
``Yeah…´´
``Still, I am surprise that of all people in that airport, the one I picked was a detective of sorts.., talk about luck there..´´
``One way or another, something must be done to pay the bills..´´
This time the two of them laughed.
With his lower, grumbling yet not so rough undertones of his ..
The higher, softer almost melodic pitches of her own voice..
It was refreshing the thought of sharing this moment with this total, yet affable stranger. Washing away whatever worries and bitterness had still tried to cling to her from Vermouth's failed attempt at "socializing".
It made her feel….human.
Times like these were hard to find, perhaps she would buy him a present for his troubles…, she knew that deep down, even this face could be a handful to deal with.
One had always to pay kindness with kindness, evil with evil.
``All too true, all too true. Still, now that I am thinking about it, since the proverbial cat is out of the box...´´
``Yes..?´´
``I don't know if its..bad to ask..´´
``But you are going to do so anyway...´´
``Strictly speaking….., how many bodies have you seen so far in your line of work?´´
She cocked her head to the side, away from the window and back to the man.
``Do you actually want to know….?´´
``R-right, dumb question…´´
…
…
``Still, the story so far was rather interesting I must admit..´´
``Every-time some must say I must admit, there is always a but following behind..´´
``But...where is the part where the boy turns full psycho and have no interest for human life?´´
She blinked, scratching the back of her head before shaking her head with mild amusement. Talk about a turn for the dramatic..
``I didn't say he went full psycho.., just hinted that he went full idiot at one time.., well, perhaps more than once..´´
``Ah, well...but when is that time? Sure, he was rude and intruded in your way... , but so far it doesn't sound as bad as you made me think of..´´
``At least you thought that he was rude…, I will take my victories where I can take them..´´
``Well, he sounds like the typical high-schooler, a bit...overconfident here and there yes…, but that is not that out of the ordinary, no? He is in his teens after all, people when they are young do stupid things.., I would know a thing or two about that...´´
[All too many times perhaps…] She thought with half a grimace, but kept that to herself, it was not like it would prove anything...
``I see.., a sound argument that which you have presented to me. Fine, lets wind back a little bit, you don't have to condemn his behavior, just tell me..if you were to replicate the same acts the boy did what do you think would happen to you..?
``You mean worming my way into the car, or following you to an apartment where there is a dead body?´´
``I would say both, but I think the prior would o well...for now´´
``Well, I would get kicked of the car without a second thought and if worse came to pass they could have threaten to call the police..´´
``Correct..´´
``Now, imagine that didn't happen and you are in a room with a dead body..
``Now are we to the second case?
``Yes…, you following so far?´´
``Of course..´´
``Now, what do you think would happen, no.., better yet...what would yo do?´´
``Scream..?´´
``Please, be serious sir...´´
``Erh.., right, then I would call the cops..´´
``Good, what else?´´
``I would make sure no one disturbs the scene..´´
``Nice, really nice...but there is something still lacking to it wouldn't you agree..?´´
``And perhaps... investigate the scene..?´´
``And are you qualified.., sir?
``Eh.., no..´´
``That's true…, a wise man knows what he can do and what he cant. Now, following that line of thought... is Kudo qualified..?´´
``He is a high-school detective.., he has solved cases, surely that counts for something...´´
``There is...and there will never be in the bible or any sacred book from hell or heaven that says and establishes than a high-school detective is an actual job. Period...´´
``But he is smart., like his father he has managed to solve cases…, by your own words..since he knows what he can do, surely he could do it..?´´
[Using my own words against me?]
``Being smart is not the key to all doors, sir.., besides, back then he had barely solved two…, do you think we should have hold a candle for him then..?´´
``Ah, well...thats true but-´´
``I mean, do you pay, treat and have to respect the decisions of children who play cops in the playground because they are "junior officers"
``No..´´
``Do we listen to the opinions of people who are not actual experts of some matters when we are in a pinch? Would you?´´
``No, I don't thin I would..but I-´´
``Don't give me and I or er…, you are just making it worse. Anyway, if he does want to be a detective, which given his present disposition that has not changed in the slightest, he should at least try to go at it the right way.., being clever and having a dress-code does not make you more qualified to do something than others..´´
[If that was the true then it would have been far easier for me back then when I first applied...]
``I don't want to but in, mam..but aren't those gross exaggerations..?´´
``I don't think they are, and even if they were... in a sense they serve to make the point more clearer than anything else…, if he wants to do what he likes, he should at least try to get a licensee first…, like I don't know...ANY other detective out there….!?´´
``I suppose... you are right..´´
``Its good to have found an understanding, and sir, please...don't interrupt me any more. I haven't finish my tale´´
``Oh...right, go on then...what happened next?´´
ºº
ºº
It did not took long for the police to arrive in to the scene, the sound of their sirens howling in the air long before the glinting, sporadic flashes of blue red light passed by the road leading to the building, bathing the lower grounds in the dual cold lights. The sound of wheels shrieking as cars that had been racing against time were promptly forced to slow down tons of steel in a few seconds while they tried not to make a fool of themselves in the process..with the following scent of burnt out wheels and tracks against the asphalt following afterwards almost immediately.
The last one was merely in her imagination, though. She had seen this scene play all too many times to get it wrong however...
Not even with the ichor of iron hovering in the air from the spilled blood that had already dried ad left its splatter on the once clean and spotless sheets of the bed.
After that, it was just a matter of time before she located the sound of multiple steps approaching fast at their direction announced their arrival on the scene. Be it by the short, hard echo of boots stomping hard on the crooked steps leading up or the way the gears of the elevators roared to life as those greasy old doors opened once again, delivering their new cargo into their chosen floor.
She had almost snorted at the way the blue heads had stormed the place as if they were a swat team, albeit far less organized and less armed….and with far less grace.
As always, the American police service choose numbers and speed over anything else rather than actual skills or tact when it came to enter into the premises of a murder scene where their abrupt entrance could disrupt something from the scene for later use.
And yet, funny enough they still were seven minutes late.
Her eyes blinked once, then twice while one of her hands descended down her side and into one of the pockets of her vest, fidgeting with the pack of cigarettes resting inside.
Traffic? Bad luck...? Who knew…, but seven minutes was a pretty large window of time to leave and disappear.
Her eyes started to close to a half lid, lines creasing her face in a peculiar, strange expression that none other than her would know its meaning before it disappeared with another thought.
It was no use, and of all things that had been laid down the table was the least important of them. Still, no immediate use did not mean that it was not useful at all, she would take that thought into consideration.
For later use, of course….
She pulled out the pack of darts from her pocket, her fingers clasping tightly around its boxy like shape before shaking it once, smoothly pulling out one of them, but not going as far to lead it to her lips.
Yes, that was indeed right.., right now, there were things that needed her utmost attention and it was imperative that she dealt with them. Starting with the red haired buffoon who was still staring at her as if she had just take a shit on his parade.
Slowly the room started to dim around her as her senses started to focus entirely on the man in question.
He was rather slender, a bit onto the extreme as the clothes he bore appeared to be a bit too large for his body, his hair fell over one side of his head in a poor attempt to make stylish the greasy stream of reddish hair. His cheeks sunken, making it easy to spot the bones underneath the skin who seemed to come a lit by the freckles that populated all over his nose and just below his eyes. His lips eternally locked into a frown that was a breath away from turning into a full blown grimace.
He walked like a drunk that tried to show off how sober he really was as his boots trampled over the carpet in an effort to not step over the papers that the other police officers had left behind to identify the scene.
In other words, she was not impressed...and the fact that he appeared to be the commanding officer of the blue boys here and now did not paint a good view of the situation.
She frowned, closing her eyes for a moment as she started to switch her attention away from said man and back to the work of the policeman that were wandering over the room. Noticing one last thing as she did that was amiss on the cop.
There was an air of foolishness wrapped around him.
Not aloofness, not coldness,...just foolishness. And that, as long as she knew, was never a good thing. To her patience anyway.
She sighed, grimacing internally and what was no doubt going to be a tedious conversation. Wiping a hand sideways, brushing to the side the stray golden locks of hair that threatened to hop and cloud her sight thanks to the motion of her neck as she turned on her heels to meet the man face to face instead of keep on stealing glances.
There was no point in ignoring the man any-longer, especially since she had already given notice that she had realized he was staring. To pretend she had not would do nothing to help the situation
She closed her eyes, then took a deep breath.
``Is something wrong, sir..?´´
``Is something wrong you say..?´´
The man parroted right away, with a pang of hostility drawing out from his tone, though albeit a weak one.
``Indeed, you have been staring for a while...don't you know that is rude to answer a question with another question?´´
She muttered sarcastically, her lips widening into a knowing smirk. Her words loud enough to catch the attention of one or two agents of the law, as-well as Kudo and Ran., but soon enough leaving the matter down and focusing back into their own tasks as they came to think of it as perhaps her attempt to break the ice between them.
But that would be nowhere near from the truth as only the officer she was talking to could notice the way her eyes shone.
And there was no mirth in them..
Whether it was because of the deadpan tone of her voice, or the sudden rebuttal to his nonsensical question, the man took a step back as if slapped by a hand. Before taking a step forward, his face creasing and growing redder on the spot.
She took a step forward. He took a step back.
She smiled inwards, taking one more step...noticing the discomfort and fury that seemed to be about to boil over the man. And then, she leaned just a little bit forward.., placing her hands over her hips, allowing the man to take a look at her chest.
Though it was covered now, it was easy to see that under the layers of thick cloth and brownish leather the size of what laid underneath.
The act making the man all the more flustered. Knowing that he was been toyed with, yet not really knowing how to react to it.
``So? Is there something I can help you with officer..? The strength of your glare has yet to abate..´´
``I..y-´´
``I am sure that I can offer my full cooperation to make matters far more easily comprehensible between us if you were to ask. After all, no one wants things to be more difficult than they have to be...´´
``Why y-fine!´´
``Fine?´´
``I mean no..!´´
``No..?´´
``I mean Yes! There is something clearly wrong..!´´
Each time the man tried to steer himself up, the more of a mess he made for himself. Jessica smirked once more, this time in the outside albeit briefly as she steered herself back to her standing position. Though not before stretching a hand forward in a passive, though formal gesture.
``Which is…?´´
``Why are you here..?´´
One of her eyebrows rose, almost humorous in essence as she stared down the officer for a few good seconds, the peculiar suddenness of the pause causing some of the men around to take notice of it and silently chuckle much to their superiors dismay.
Her lips turned into a thin line, pursuing downwards, but no one but herself noticed. She pulled her hand back to her side.
``I suppose your words are directed at the reason of our present presence in this place in this given moment. We are here giving the nature of witnesses of this crime, which mind you would have not been found without our participation until a while longer..´´
``Is that so..?´´
``Indeed, given that the man over there was already in the process of entering and figuring things out himself, strictly speaking.´´
``Strictly sp-what?´´
She shook her head, crossing her arms below her bosom, pressing them against her chest.
``It doesn't matter, its too soon to set the table. Lastly, I suppose that we have to identify ourselves for your report´´
``Yes, that is...accurate´´
The way he spoke betrayed that was not what he wanted to say, but he had not the guts to tell her that to the face just yet.
She shrugged.
``I see, then in that case, those two pipsqueaks are Kudo and Ran, they followed me against my wishes from the location I spoke with my client so I can testify they have nothing to do with this mess. The man with the grey suit is a friend of the victim, his name is Thomas. The man stated that he had come here all the way from work to check on his friend who he had lost contact with for a few days..´´
She cocked her head to the side, stealing a side glance of the black haired American worker. The man speaking with another officer who seemed to be questioning him.
`` I am sure you have already grown acquainted with the man..´´
The man nodded, albeit stiffly.
``That would be correct…, he was the most vocal of you four when I arrived´´
``Good, now.. and for last my name is-´´
She started to say, only for the man to rise a placating hand. A smug expression warping on his face.
``I know who you are and I would rather you did not tamper with any of the evidence.., this is my Scene. Got it, girly...?´´
One of her brows rose. [Talking about being rude…, aren't you?]
``I am afraid I cant do that. Love to, but cant...´´
His features started to harden with a frown, or...what she assumed was an attempt at it. He was so skinny and sickly that it was hard to know whether he was actually about to die over or not..
``Don t you know that tampering is a crime…?´´
``Intruding in the personal matters of a contract and threatening a law abiding citizen to look the other way around is another...´´
Only the latter could be considered as such, but she did not care. The smug of his face was wash away like sea foam..
``Intruding? Contract..? What are you-no, don't pull that bullshit, I am not stupid!´´
[Well, I didnt say that...but thanks to convey into the open what I am thinking. Still, it appears you are not stupid enough for such a bluff to actually work..]
Well, it was not like it was meant to work every time anyway. Still, it was such a bummer...
``Take it easy officer, that was not what I meant..´´
``Then how I was suppose to take it..? There is no way you just get hired to do a job and the man in question just dies.., it just doesn't work that way..´´
[If only you knew how normal that is? How many times that which you have said just happened..?]
`` Besides, haven't you thought of how convenient is to have a contract right of the bat and have the man here dead. It doesn't look good...´´
A particular glint shone from her eyes, she slowly tilted her head to the side, allowing her golden mane to cascade in that direction like streams of living sunlight.
[Oh? Now this is getting interesting...]
``You certainly have a wide imagination..´´
``Imagination? Ha! That is my career you are talking about..´´
A small smirk started to warp around the edges of her lips, the glint turning playful..
``If that is the case I would recommend not watching that many movies, they could cloud once judgment...making reality and fantasy mix when one less needs them..´´
``They are not that bad..´´
He really was not making his case any better.
``Anyway, I was hired to deal with a situation regarding the victim, we were the first ones to enter the premises and given my past dealings with the New York police department. I do believe I can work here...just like any professional in the line of duty.´´
``You are not a police officer..´´
``That is what I said "past dealings" sir.., also, I never claimed to be one..´´
``Well, that is all good and interesting bu-´´
``Of course, that may not matter much if you do have something to say against it.., isn't that right?´´
Even more lines started to crease his face. He reeked of confusion, fear..and something else.
Certainly it was not the cheap cologne he had dosed himself in...
``I am just doing my duty…, Now. Leave. The NYPD will take it from here...´´
He said with all the authority he could muster, yet only a glimmer of amusement and challenge started to come from her own eyes.
``Then I can not explain why such incessant need to push away a respectable, well known and useful detective who is offering her aid for free...unless you have something against it.., or in this case, her...?´´
``Mam.., quiet..´´
A wicked, diabolical smirk started to spread through her lips. Not taking any of its beauty, but increasing a feral likeliness to it.
``Of course, it should not make sense for something like that to happen. Riiiiiiiiight, officer?
He clenched his fist, he bit his lips, his pupils shrunk to pin size points that switched targets from her and those on the room, hoping that no one was paying attention to them.
``Shut. Up..´´
``Unless you want just the glory and want nothing to do with..other players, oh how clever of you, riiiiiiiight, officer? What a naughty boooooy…...´´
She mused, the playfulness in her voice by drawing her words out and the mannerism of placing one of her hands over his lanky chest making the scene all the more disturbing to the man given the way her eyes betrayed her intent.
She liked the way he was trying to worm his way out of her grasp.
A futile endeavor if he had known.
He was about to break into a rant, perhaps another useless pathetic mumbling, a last attempt to defend himself now that he was caught... yet his words were silenced when she pressed a gloved finger into his lips while her other hand graved his shoulder.
Sealing them shut, using the opportunity to lean closer and whisper into his ear..sharing with him something only for him and him only to know.
``Believe me, between you and me...who would they listen to? Who do you think the press would vouch for? A nobody with a badge...or the Golden Witch..?´´
She made sure to put all the strength, callousness and sensuality of a blade of steel kissing ones neck into the whisper. The hot, soft breeze slipping through her red lips brushing almost with tenderness against the coolness of his skin.
The words seemed to burn him, yet the mentioning of her given tittle by the world that had watched her growth as an insult, yet one she now bore with pride made the officer clench his jaw in almost stutter of fear. His skin growing all the more pale, his demeanor even more sickly that she would have been able to confuse him with a sheet of paper on the wind.
Funny enough, neither him or the world had known that the given name they had grant her...was one she had already taken so..so long ago, back in that cursed island.
And that cursed, useless, greedy family….
Anyway, that was a tale for another time.
``What? No words..? No accusations...?´´
He tried to push her, yet the act only made her grip stronger, making him flinch in pain.
``Ah, right...don't be afraid. You can trust me, I wont bite…, go on..speak, you have my permission...´´
``You..´´
``Moi..?´´
``You... can not be sure such gamble would work..´´
``Can you "gamble" on that..? Can you really though...? Is it not really funny to even consider that knowing who am I..?´´
``….´´
``Come on, at least laugh a little...´´
He tried to take a step back once more, putting even more effort to it, yet her grip did not release him, she did not even blink as her digits closed more and more and started to exert an unnatural amount of pressure on his bones.
``Fine, have it your way...still, can you be sure that the men that you brought would not share what they saw and heard you say here with others? Are you sure that what they will say will not be adapted. Is there no hint of belief that..perhaps...just one day, a group of stupid fans or bickering fools looking to look good would not make you an example of them?´´
The casual way she spoke would have make it hard to protect oneself from the sharp edge they carried.
It was an ugly thing this game only she played and won between the two.
To use a trick like this for her own benefit and...in a lesser manner her amusement for such casual situation instead of a more important one made the glee she could feel just a bit duller than it probably should...
But it worked…, and that was what mattered.
It was not the promise of pain that he had shared with him for his defiance against her, but rather the dread of uncertainty…., because whether he liked or not.
Humans were of all this miserable little seeding that they called a planet...a rather thrill seeking race. They did not care where they found their kicks, only that they did.
And would it not be interesting to look at if...for example a famous or infamous person give or take your point of view were to make a rant about being treated unfairly by the dominant male gaze of a certain officer?
Even if it was a lie, even if she did not care or put much to it...the amount of feathers such comment would rub in the wrong way would be humongous…and that would be what the people would pay attention to. Not because of what had taken place, but to who..
A change of the monotony everyone lived and shared, until they did not..
Soon enough, whether it was warranted or not it would not matter, the truth would not matter...only what people wanted to believe.
To play the demon and yet be treated as an angel. The thought made her almost smile, though out of bitter disappointment or genuine gratification was unknown.
Still, she was not gonna do that of course, the man did not need to know that though. The dread and uncertainty of what she would do next would be enough to keep the man in check and keep whatever envy and distaste he had for her at bay.
And so, he stared at her with widen eyes full of shock, fear and shame. His teeth gritted and seething with emotions that for once, he was able to control.
``You are insane…´´
``Well duh…, It comes with the job…´´
The man stared at her in silent astonishment. His face a blank canvas that tried and failed to express the myriad of thoughts that were clearly going through his mind. Unable to come out with a retort, or even a curse…
He just…. stood there. Still and unresponsive like a broken doll that hung from just one thin thread of string.
In a sense, it was a bit cruel of her to do this, perhaps...she even felt a pang of pity at the sight. This face was not heartless, far from it in fact...but right now she was feeling something far more stronger than mild regret. More enthralling that a wayward sense of empathy
She felt satisfaction..
Raw…
Crude…
Satisfaction...
A brief, yet no fleeting perception of glee from protecting and reminding the man that she was the one that mattered at the end of the day. All in the name of pride.
..
..
Her lips wanted to smile, but only through sheer force of will she shrunk and pushed the smirk of her lips into a thin, neutral line carved into her face.
Pride…, it was pride indeed the hand that moved her now, a key aspect of this face and one that she would protect no matter what. There were not written rules on how to get the job done. And she never failed.
But it was not like her to lash out so quickly...
After a few more seconds, the officer managed to regain his bearings, if barely. Something that she still found a weak sense of relish.
``Fine, I..´´
``You? What..?´´
``I will drop my issues with your presence. Its better that way...and less of a hazel as well..and argh, less painful...´´
``Ah, I see that you are wise as you appear..´´
``Very funny, but I can not deny that you win this time, mam…´´
``Win? I did not know this had turned into a competition? What did I win?´´
``Don't press it…´´
[As you wish..]
She stepped away, releasing the man from her grip, the lines that had warped on her features now gone, leaving room for a softer, more approachable side of her to come out.
With the matter done, she turned on her heels, giving the officer her back as she went to finally start doing her work.
``Anyway, I hope you may consider me as another party in this investigation. My findings will be given to the police so that no one thinks they are taking advantage of.´´
``Is that so...?´´
``Any problems with it?´´
``No, that...that is a rather generous offer. Still I should have you detain you for harming an officer.., fuck! That grip of yours is a real bitch..´´
She closed her eyes, smiling as she tilted her head to the side.
``Oh, but I was been playful, do you want to see me serious...? It would really pain me for you to misunderstand me..´´
``N-no, no thanks..´´
``Bummer, well..one can not win them all. About the other thing you were saying, I hear a but in there..´´
``Well…., I don't think it would be needed your aid this time madam. This case is quite simple than even a blind man could do it´
[Well, not every time you hear a potato boast like that..]
She stretched a hand towards the man, gesturing him with one finger while the other fell to grasp her right hip. Gesturing the officer to continue.
``Oh..? And why is that?´´
``Well, isn't it obvious? This is plain suicide…´´
Jessica could only blink once, then twice as she was still trying to get through her head what the fuck she had just heard. The gears inside her skull rotating into overwork as they tried to covey if she had just misheard him, or if he was just joking to get a reaction from her before he went and shared his actual findings of the case.
When she realized he was doing neither, she found herself resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. Sighing loudly she turned around to pick and light the dart she had pulled out from her pack of cigarettes a bit ago.
She had a feeling that she would soon need as many as she could from some imminent headaches.
Her gloved fingers picking the pack of boxes and pulling it back to its original place while a smoke remained dangling between her fingers. Lighting it up and breathing in deeply the acrid taste of cinders before a man could blink. A large puff of smoke slipping through red, soft lips and becoming a semi thick curtain between her and them for a second or two...
She didn't even attempted to be discreet about it as she felt a few pair of eyes look at her direction. Her heart slowing down instead of quickening its pace as a wave of coolness started to spread once again inside her.
Funny enough, she had expected either the fool or the parasite to criticize her chosen action. She was not prepared when she felt a hand softly grasping her shoulder, a hand belonging Ran.
``Ms..Jessica-san?´´
``Yes..?´´
``I..well, I wanted to ask you something..´´
``You just did..´´
``Eh?´´
A small chuckle slipped through Jessica's lips as she witnessed the dumbfounded expression of the girl. Ran really was like a pretty doll. So innocent and unblemished of taint..
``Nah, I was messing with you, what is it Ran?´´
``Do you really have to do that here? Smoking will hurt your health...´´
``And that is your problem? How..?´´
The brunette released her already weak grip, though she did not seemed ready to give up.
``Is not., I just wanted to help..´´
She tilted her head to the side, one of her eyebrows rose with bemusement.
``I see..´´
…
…
``Is there something else that you want to share..?´´
Ran started to laugh a little bit nervously, rubbing the back of her head perhaps in an attempt to held some composure about the situation. She shouldn't have to since she was not bothered at all, but she didn't say it to her..
It would have just looked rude...or perhaps make the girl feel worse. In that regard Ran and her sister were the same.
``Sorry, I know is not my place to say something like that, its just that you reminded me of my father.., that's it..´´
Jessica did not know what to say to that as she stared at the young girl with one rise eyebrow. Her head tilting to the side in what someone could have considered cute expression. Sometimes conversations like this came and went for no reason.
No, that was not right…They were far more common when she was in the presence of far more simple and...candid individuals.
A small smirk started to wrap around her lips as bemusement started to turn into mischief. Well, since she had offered, it would not be that bad to play just a bit.., right?
``I am not a man..´´
Ran looked at her in confusion, before realization struck and redness started to spread all over her face.
It was a rather cute thing to behold, if one were to ignore the panic now running through the girls very own veins.
``I-I know! Its just that he can not help himself to smoke all the time…, and sometimes he gets a bad fit of coughing and-..well, you know.., it always makes me worried when I hear about all those cases of lung cancer...´´
..
..
[Well, that was something...]
To think that the brunette was worried about her health…, would wonders and fools never cease?
Whether it was something the young girl had done out of principle given her words about her father or not It was not something bad to feel once or twice in a while.
In fact, the way the girl could turn from been filled with determination to a nervous wreck when she was flustered.. no matter how one looked at it, it was rather cute. But ultimately pointless.
However, her silence was taken as a sign of dissatisfaction to the teenager, who tried to bow her head immediately.
``S-sorry…, I should not have intruded and said something so carelessly..!´´
``Relax, its ok. I am not gonna bite you..´´
``Are you sure?´´
``Do I look like a shark to you?´´
She said before beaming a toothy smile as if to reinforce the meaning of her words. The question was so seemingly stupid and out of the blood yet spoken with such seriousness that it made Ran mind stop in her tracks.
By the time Jessica started to grin and the look of bafflement in Rans face turned into a sight of mild relief the tension in the air had already wash away.
``I see, hahaha...right, you are not a shark..´´
``Well, I am glad I was able to clear that up..´´
``Thank you..´´
``Well, don't fret much over it. Besides, thanks for the warning...but that is a me problem. I will make sure to do so out of your area if its make you feel better´´
``But you don't have to.., I can deal with the smell of smoke well enough because my d-.´´
Ran started to say, only for the blond detective to rise a placating hand, silencing the girl.
``First, I get it...second, I am not your father, third don't think much of it. Take as a gift for been nice...´´
With that said Jessica returned to the matter at hand, not waiting for any sort of response.
Luckily or not, she was not the only one aghast by the officers statement. Kudo was also in a similar state of bafflement, though the poor lad was doing a poorer job at hiding it. Ran, as expected did not seem to get the memo that something was wrong. She was merely looking curious at the three of them and smiling like the little sunflower that she was.
Ignorance was truly a bliss..
However there would be no time for musings when Kudo took a step forward, placing a hand over the officers shoulder, drawing his attention away from her and into the young, baffled face of the schoolboy who was taking the situation all too seriously.
``What do you mean by that, by suicide I mean...´´
``It means what it means..´´
``No, that's not I meant sir..I-´´
``Boy, aren't you a bit too young to be here? Where are your parents?´´
``Not here in the present moment.., but I have worked in other cases and there are some discrepancies on this crime scene-..´´
``The only discrepancies here is the fact that two kids are bothering me when they should be back at school!´´
``Sir, I am sixteen...´´
``And..?´´
Jessica pulled another cigarette when the first one became nothing but dusty embers underneath her shoe, holding it still between her fingers.. She took a moment to breath it in before leaving a puff leave by her lips.
``As much as I hate to say it, the brat is right, sir. What do you mean by suicide..?´´
``Well, he shoot himself. Shouldn't you know about this things, detective..?´´
``Don't get cute with me, officer...you know why I have to question you..´´
``I would rather you did not..´´
She smiled, a hollow thing…
``Yeah, every says that, that doesn't mean I have to listen to them. Don't take it to heart officer, is just how I work´´
He shook his head, sighing.
``Urgh, you detectives always thinking yourselves higher than the law´´
[When idiots take the spot light, allowing you to roam free is a crime on its own sir..my apologies for your parents] That of course, she did not share with him.
``Now That sounds like a you problem sir, but you haven't answer my question..´´
``Fine, you want my what I think?´´
``Yes, that would be really appreciated. If you could put aside whatever ominous, unnecessary remarks you are thinking about me right now if you can..please´´
Was her laconic reply, earning a few chuckles from some of the men around them, but whatever mirth they had found in her words, it was lost in the ginger who was glaring at her as if he had the power to murder her.
``He was in his room, it was closed from within given the fact that you had to climb up the balcony of the nearest flat to reach here. He has a gun in his hand and a hole at the side of his head..´´
She crossed her arms below her chest. ``That is painfully clear, we were here to test to that before you arrived..´´
``Then what else could it be? He was tired of living, he had some problems and life was not easy on him, so decided the easy way out..´´
Well, in a simple world..the officer would be right. If one were to blatantly ignored the train-wreck of things that pointed in the opposite direction that is.
Sadly, this was not a simple world. She was sure of that…
Kudo reared his ugly head once more, eyes lock into a soft frown.
``Surely you can not truly believe that..officer-san. There are several clues that point this is not a suicide, but rather a murder.., someone wanted to kill the man and accomplished it. We have to find the clues left behind to stop them...´´
The smile that should have wrapped around her lips was nowhere to be found. Her voice remaining silent…, but not her thoughts.
The ginger glared at the young boy with annoyance, before looking at her.
``Who is this one..?´´
``I am-´´
``I already said it, pay attention to when I speak. He is a brat, he is with me…, end of story´´
``Ah, well...even if he is with you, children should not be in a crime scene..´´
``I am not a-´´
``I know, I know...but the damn thing didn't want to listen to me. Still, I would rather have him here than not at all. Unless you were willing to take him home personally´´
The red head grimaced, not really willing to entertain the thought.
``Yeah, I would rather not..´´
``My thoughts exactly..´´
``Hey! I am still here...´´
``Now I guess that you think that he killed himself because he had a gun in his hand and a bullet in his head? Did I listen correctly to that?´´
``Yeah, what about it...?´´ He replied harshly, clenching his jaw.
[Oh, there is so much about it! You sloppy, dimwitted, son of a b-!]
``Well, as the boy said, there are a few things wrong with that assessment. Several to be exact that would make what you could consider as a coincidence...to a full blown blunder made out by another soul´´
``Such as...?´´
``Such as the way he is holding the gun.., don't you see there is something wrong..?´´
She said, walking away from the duo, gesturing towards the still limp corpse that remained as of yet untouched in his bed. Had it not been for the way his head had another hole to it and the dried blood staining the sheets underneath his head one could have thought he was just sleeping.
``What I am suppose to look at..?´´
``If you are idiot, then my hand. If not? Then at what it points at..´´
Her only answer was a petty grumble, but he did not raise up to the occasion. Good...
``He is left handed, and yet he is holding the gun with his right..does that ring a clue?´´
The way the officer looked at her did not spoke that he did. Well, it was to be expected...
``So? He could be capable of using both hands.., people are not just born to be right or left handed. Thought of that..?´´
She smirked, biting into the dart as she blew another puff of smoke.
``No, I don't think that is possible. There are no marks that speak of such thing in his right hand. Or even in his sleeves which should have small tears at least as-well specks of dusts from leaning on it at work or just a few small scratches on the fabric if he was using that hand just as much as his left one..´´
``Perhaps... it was just a new suit he bought just recently..´´
``Fair enough, but one that has only marks in one side of his body and not the other..?´´
She made sure to let it known how improbable that was. He merely shrugged.
``Perhaps you didn't look hard enough..´´
She smiled, though it did not reach her eyes.
``Right…., sadly its not just the lack of markings in his hands officer, there is more..´´
``Such as..?´´
``The distribution of the elements of the room...´´
This time Kudo was the one to press some sense into the thick officers head, though it was not welcomed.
``Child, whatever it is.. right now is not the moment. This is a suicide, its the only explanation of the facts´´
[One step forward, three backwards…, this is going nowhere]
``Wrong, its one possible explanation of some of the facts. You have got a solution that you like, but you are choosing to ignore anything that doesn't comply with that´´
Kudo stared at her with a frown, but in the end he relented as he shrugged.
``I would not have worded it that way...but she is right´´
``Oh, please...I have been working here for twenty five years. I would surely know a suicide case when I see it..´´
She tried to quell down the urge to chuckle on the spot, trying to clench her jaw and stiffen her lips if only for good measure, but it was for naught as a pang of laughter slipped past.
``Of course...of course you would´´
``What is it so funny..?´´
``Dont mind her sir..´´
``But I do mind..´´
``Its not much I am afraid officer. Its just..´´
``Just?´´
``That you wouldn't know the difference between a bear and a dog even if I were to hit you with it.…, no hard feelings of course..´´
``Why yo-´´
Kudo once again put himself between them in some foolish errand to act as the mediator.., or perhaps he just wanted to get things back on track.
Either thing would work just fine for her...
``Just like she said he was left handed, the position of the hole would have prompt the victim to make quite the contortion just to reach that position of fire..´´
``Left handed this, left handed that…, for fucks sake, you two are saying that he was left handed, how can you deduce that..? And don't say because you feel it to be right..´´
[You really have seen a lot of movies, haven't you..?] She shook her head, taking a step away from the bankers corpse..to stand once again between the two idiots.
``I am amazed that you have to ask that, you only have to look around….do so, and you will find the truth...´´
``Indeed, if you were to take a look you would quite a few things that are wrong if he was right handed, officer´´
``Such us...?´´
That shimmer in the young boys eyes told her that he had been waiting for that question all day long. Almost as if to do so had open the floodgates to some absolute truth that only he knew and was more than wanting to share.
Jessica sighed to herself, rubbing her forehead with one hand as she surrendered at what seemed inevitable
Walking away from the two without another word she set herself towards the deceased. The voices of the two becoming lost and muddled inside the walls of her mind as she pushed them aside.., though that did not mean that from time to time she heard something of those lines.
``There is a coffee table on the left hand side with also a coffee mug handle pointing at the left and not the right.
``I see…´´
She picked the dart between her lips and dropped it on the floor, crushing its dying embers under her heel before she drew another stick.
When someone died, normally people believed that their expressions were left calm and peaceful now that they laid on the ground, unbothered by the earthly grievances and pains that life had given them. Almost as if they were deeply asleep in the sweetest of dreams.
It was a poetic and kind way to see the passing of another…, she could understands why the need or belief of said thing.
But it was a lie.
The dead did not found peace, they were not given the chance to look at the darkness that ate them away with courage as their most primal instincts cried out in sheer despair of self preservation.
Peopled died all the time, and when they did..if they had the chance to visualize it...then they died afraid.
Of course, there could be exceptions to the rule…
In fact, one did not need to look far to find them, especially when Mr Monsoon was so willing to make himself said example.
The man was looking at the ceiling with his now milky eyes. Staring coldly and statically at the whiteness that stood above him. Almost as if disappointed that he had died and that the last thing he saw was the ugly undertones of white of a ceiling of a cheap apartment.
``Now, if you look away towards the phone, you can spot a pen over a sheet of paper on the left side because he would pick up the phone with his right and write down with his left..´´
``Well that is...rather interesting´´
``Inst it? I wonder why someone like a banker like him would have left this room in such poor state.., given that I belief it was only him who touched those items..´´
``He..didn't have enough time to put them back into their place?´´
``Well, I suppose is not that important right now..´´
Jessica approached a little more further, leaning a little bit forward onto the bed, her golden mane falling to the sides of her head like a cascade made of stars in the middle of summer. Stretching a hand towards the one the victim was holding the gun.
His body was cold like fresh fallen snow and his skin pale. Rigor mortist had already settled in given the way his digits did not tried to cling to the gun she was carefully wrestling away from his grip, which meant that he had died quite a long time ago. More than a day to be exact.
It did quite match with the fact that he had disappeared for two days…, so it was not that crazy to belief that he had died then. The weapon was an odd one too, given that it was a coltM1900, a semi-automatic pistol designed and produced almost a century ago.
True, many had been produced and it was not unheard of people finding them or just buying them at a rather cheap price if one were lucky. Still, she knew that most of them were either put in expositions nowadays...or kept by collectors.
Seeing that the mark of factory production of this very one was from the early twenties made her think more of the latter. If one were to be humorous about it, it could be factual to say that he had at least died with a relic in hand.
The scent of burn out gunpowder was there in the barrel, speaking that it had clearly fired at least once in a spam of two days before falling silent at last. Apart from it the gun was clean...which if he had used to kill himself would have been at least stained with some blood.
Another little detail that the killer had either not noticed or care to rectify once he or she had put the plan into motion.
She made sure to check the magazine of the gun before placing the tool inside a plastic box and storing it inside her left pocket. As expected, there was one bullet missing, and her previous and superficial scanning of the room had already told her what she had assumed at a first glance.
Peeking behind her back, she could still see the two still going on at it...
`` There are several more things that must be taken into consideration, like the reason for the murder and how they did it. Do you want me to go on.., sir?´´
``Boy...that is all and good, I admit it...but isn't this enough?´´
``Enough? We are merely at the first stepping stone.., we need to go deeper….´´
``Yes, I know...but does it need to be told now..´´
``Well, perhaps I can see why you may feel it that way..´´
``Thank you..´´
``But, since I started I might as well finish. We are already at the bottom of things anyway...´´
Stated Kudo, clearly having found a sense of gratification knowing that most of the people in the room where looking at him, avidly listening in. Jessica shook her head in a mild pang of dismay. She would have pitied the cop…, but better him than her.
Focusing on the body once more, her gloved fingers now brushed against the pale skin of the victims jaw, prying his mouth open with ease..and taking a good look inside what was now a dry thing.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she stretched her fingers inside, pushing the tongue away from where it had been stuck for a long while without use...and pick up something.
Pulling it out was easier than she had expected, it was not jabbed or thrust into the flesh, and seen how much care they had put to its location, it had remained mostly untouched by the elements.
It was a small cross made of iron over a circle of copper…, a set of inscriptions carved into the underside of one of the sections of the ring. Symbols that a human eye could not be able to perceive without the aid of a machine.
[Interesting….]
It seemed that she had been right on track with her first assumption.
Now, where would that lead her to...
She moved away from the corpse, signaling one of the blue boys to carry the bag with the gun with them, but keeping the ring to herself. She pulled of her phone and snatched a photo at it. Sending the picture to third person in her line of contacts.
She knew of the language, and it had been the first time she had seen it….but she was not completely sure if she would accidentally get the translation wrong with the primitive wording that had been engraved, and she would rather have someone else deal with it.
That was the point of management. You didn't do everything, you made sure that everyone could bear the weight of the task to make it go away faster. Without missing a beat she crouched on the ground and pulled out a small lantern.
Icy blue eyes glared at the floor, analyzing its surface and everything on it. Clothes.., torn things, rugs and other stains. Very few in number, and too small to draw much attention, and yet..
She lighted the hand-size portable lantern, a straight bream of light erupting from its core and illuminating a particular section of the are she was glaring. But it was not the white streak of light that now colored the wooden floor...but rather a purplish shade had taken its place.
Revealing what normal eyes could not.
A small, slender...in an almost perfect straight line that went right towards the bed where the dead had been left behind.
A line that was clearly made out of cleansed out blood.
They had transported the body, they had not allowed it to even touch the ground of the floor…., and yet they had failed to avoid any of the arterial fluid to spill out.
Something that would reveal more and more the hand the killer had to dealt the killing blow for there were few things that could make those markings.
``But the gun-´´
``He was waiting for the killer...´´
``What? Why...?´´
``He had been threatened..´´
…
…
Even though a part of her did not wish to intrude and just leave the two alone which would have been good for her temper, she...could not do just that. After all, would it not be seen like she was running away from a little child..?
Her faces had released her from the constrains of her own given mortal cognizance, but they had rules.
She could not just break them.
``Also, apart from every thing the brat said...the hole in his head lacks any burn marks from any sort of ignition done point blank range from any suicide attempt. The wound was clear of any gunpowder as-well. The bullet that took his life would also not match the caliber of the gun he holds now..´´
``Are you sure...?´´
``He has an antique in his hand, the bullet marks and casings that such a weapon would cause are quite different from today's weaponry. I am not saying that what he had been holding even until death was a flintlock, but close enough..´´
``Then why make the whole charade...?´´
``To distract you, by the time you would realize, it would be too late..´´
``Too late...? For what?´´
Was Ran who questioned out loud what many may have been thinking at the time.
Jessica shrugged.
``I don't know, something that they may have left behind..? Who knows, besides, I am a detective, not a seer. If you want to ask one, go to the closest circus...´´
``A pity..´´
Muttered the leading officer, though it was clear that he was not that bothered by it. Her lips grew a little more stiffer.
``Yeah, now…., does this help you understand that he did not commit suicide..?´´
``If it makes this boy stop talking, then yes, I..suppose you are right´´
``You know that I am here right..?´´
``Now that we know that, we have to state the following thing. He was not killed here…, so where did the killing happen..?´´
``Why would you think that…?´´
``You are speaking about the lack of blood, right?´´
She nodded.
``If one were to shoot himself or be shot, there would be a spray of blood as a result, specifically larger this time given that it was a head-shot.., brain matter would have spilled all over the place, staining both the walls and the sheets quite a lot..´´
``Perhaps it was cleaned afterwards?´´
``Perhaps, but not this time, in fact...this entire room doesn't look like anything of that ever happened.. Besides, it would be a hazel to not only clean it but change all the sheets stained with it if you were then going to leave the corpse bleeding all over them again..´´
``Well, then perhaps he was shot but the bullet did not go out..?´´
``And the blood coming out from the other side of his head? How that came to pass? Where is the hole that the projectile would have left in the walls after being fired? You can not cover that up with just a duster..´´
``What about furniture? Or just a picture hanging from them?´´
``If you were the body and you were shot...where do you think in this room would something like that be covered without making it too obvious..?´´
She was not saying that there was no way that trick could not have been pulled of, just that it was not feasible with the way the room had been distributed. Looking around, she was met with that confirmation that she had already known.
Most of the walls were laid bare, with barely any sort of decorations, and the only zone that was covered by a large wardrobe could not be moved since it was actually locked to the floor. You would need an axe or some specialized equipment at least to lodge it out of place…or perhaps just a ridiculous amount of strength.
And for a pencil-pusher that would have been quite the show..
Anyway, no matter what was what they made use of... they would still need to go through moving it in and out of the way.
Something that would be time consuming, heavy and bothersome for any assassin. So no, the hidden bullet hole somewhere in the room theory was a bogus..
``Ok, so it was not cleaned...what else tells you that he was not murdered here..?´´
She gestured at the room.
``There is also a rather lack of blood in the room, with the only exemption being the pillows where his head has been resting which are now drenched in arterial red.., the room is rather spotless. No scratches, no signs of violence, no bullet marks and no dried sprays of blood...´´
``But the room was closed from the inside, who could then kill him, close it and then leave..?´´
``You forget that I arrived here through the balcony of the next doors tenant. The fact that the balcony was open turns the suppose sealed room into a rather open one..´´
The distance between the two balconies was not as vast one, not at all. Someone could make the jump between the two sides, more easily if they were trained...or athletic.
It was not improbable that someone had used the short distance between the two balconies to move something. The blood marks on the floor was a clear give away that course of action was the right one.
But for now…, until she found the method of transport that would remain as merely a theory.
``Then...someone could have used the windows to either enter or leave the room after or to kill the man´´
``Correct..´´
``But, there is only one room that connects with the victims given that to the other side of the wall there is nothing but empty air and we are clearly not thinking that a ghost decided to kill someone´´
``Indeed..´´
``And that room belongs to the victims closest neighbor. The distance is short so they could make the travel rather quickly and without problem.´´
``Yes..´´
`` You think Ms Chen did it..?´´
Jessica did not answer right away. Not this time for that was a question she had been pondering for a while already.
She knew that the woman in question was dirty...she was sure of it. The scent of copper and iron emanating from the Chinese neighbor was too strong to think it was actually coming from the well ventilated room of the deceased.
Still, though she trusted what her guts told her..and they had never let her astray, she could not jump to conclusions. Not yet anyway, not until she found both the instruments she used and understood how she had killed him.
``I don't think anything yet, she can not be excluded from the list of suspects though.´´
``Ah, right...yes, that makes some sense. We will get immediately to interrogate her.. ´´
``Speaking of which...I would want to be present when that happens..´´
``I will see to it..´´
``I also want to hear it..´´
Jessica rubbed the back of her head with a bit of barely held contempt as she turned to regard Kudo once more. Why did she allowed him to follow her here?
She bit into the dart between her lips, almost crushing it in the process. Taking another breath of the smoke while at it though this one was far more strained than the rest...
``Kudo, for the love of god. Don't...´´
``Why?´´
``Just..just don't, we are working here.., so please. Dont...´´
``So am I..´´
``Really? Really now..?´´
A moment of passing doubt crossed the depths of his eyes, but perhaps it was just the light-work of the sun streaming inside the room.
``Look, I know you don't like me..´´
``What a great observation, what gave it away..?´´
``I don't know, the way you try to kill me with those eyes? Anyway, I can help.., in no time I would find the culprit so you really don't need to be here. I am pretty sure you would be better off bothering someone else...´´
She would have laughed on his face had it actually been funny. The boy had merely accomplished to wrap two cases in the spam of a week and he thought himself a master already? The vanity of the boy was only second to his father.
Yeah, like father...like son. Why did the world punish her with them? One was already too many…
Two were chaos.
``No, you cant…, leave it at that and return back to your mother. See a movie, read a book or knock yourself out with all that money that you have. The proper authorities such as myself will handle this case so there is no need for the likes of you to meddle any longer here..´´
``The likes of me..!?´´
She bit her lip. ``A brat, a child, there are so many other labels to call you...but I am not going to waste any more of both our times..´´
``I know I am young, but that doesn't make any lesser of a detective…!´´
``Correction, you are a child stalking people for murder cases who have yet to understand what is wrong to begin with that…!
``I don't stalk murder cases, they just..happen around me...´´
``They just happen around you? What are you, a god of death? No, don't answer that, the least I know the better..
``Well thats rude..´´
``And for one final time, stop playing pretend and grow up. I wont repeat myself..´´
``Pretend...!?´´
``Yes pretend..´´
``You, you…witch!.´´
``What now?´´
``Of all the things you could say…., I wont allow you to ridicule my dream.., especially coming from you..´´
She barely deigned him with a mere side-glance. Glaring at him with just held contempt, throwing daggers between the few seconds of silence between them before she spoke once more.
``I knew you were a fool, but I was not informed that you were hard of hearing too..´´
Kudo smiled back, but it was a hollow, strained thing...
``You know, I have the feeling that you have something personal against me..´´
``Bah, why would I allow such meager and illogical things like feelings cloud my judgment unlike others..?..´´
``Calling me now the unreasonable one, are you..´´
``At least you haven't a hair or two of sense in that thick skull of yours..´´
``And now she is saying that to my face..´´
She smirked, a toothy grin left behind.
``Better words than my fist, to be honest..I am being quite generous´´
Kudos eyes narrowed even further, his jaw clenching as lines marred his skin like folded paper. It was clear to her that her mere presence was nothing but a blight to the boy.
``Hmm, think you can threaten her as-well while you are at it..? Is that how you work..?Despicable….´´
Her lips grew stiff., her face locked in an unreadable expression, yet it would not hide for long what darkness was brewing inside.
She knew what was about to happen.
She knew that she could end things right then and there….
That there was no need nor gain to continue this already pointless argument.
That she could leave and let the boy stew in silence instead of throwing more wood to the fire for fires sake.
She could…., but she didn't.
Because once more pride would not let her.
Once more it pushed her forward...
``Why the bother, child? Are you gonna watch..? O is it that you are so squeamish to see how the sausages are made..?´´
``A true detective would not use mindless violence and foul tricks to do its job.., only thugs do those things..´´
``Is that so? And what would a true detective do..? Enlighten me..´´
``Do the right thing…´´
Her jaw clenched, her eyes narrowed into two thin slits of cold blue as she slowly turned around, meeting Kudos glare as she did.
Oh.., he really didn't just say that. He really didn't…
She took a step closer, and then another...the distance between becoming a wayward memory, the difference in height between them forcing the young schooler to cock his head backwards to not break their locked glares.
``Do the right thing, oh..what pretty little words...clearly spoken by a boy who have no idea of what shit he is spilling out. A third rate detective in a four rate novel.., the pages not even worthy to clean my own backside..´´
``Only a narrow minded beast would consider such thing.., I pity you..´´
She scoffed, pulling another cigarette from the box and lighting it. ``You really are full of yourself if you actually think that I give two shits about what you think...´´
``Why so defensive? Though I would not have expected less from a trigger happy brute..´´
``Better than a delusional little twat silver spoon-fed his entire life..´´
``Bullshit..!´´
``Truth..!´´
What had been once a discreet and private jab throwing..was now a full blown screaming battle royale. Everyone was looking at them.
``Are you quite done..? I have better things to do than continue this monologue..´´
``Tell me, do you even realize the lifes you have taken? The familes you have broken apart?
``Making me the villain now, are you? How petty and childish of you..´´
``Its not petty! You can not be judge jury and executioner when you want..! There are rules to follow..! The law for fucks sake! How can you even now belief you are a detective when you seem to be stuck playing a wild west movie at best...?´´
This time it was her who clenched her jaw, her hands balling into tight fists, the leather creaking under the sheer pressure.
She took a step forward and leaned down a little given the difference in size between them Her lips, soft and plump now twisted and crooked into the mother of all scowls.
``To think I would see it become it a reality. A fools errand in a foolish world with a foolish argument having foolish thoughts inside a foolish existence. There can not be something more foolish than that..´´
``What..?´´
Kudo muttered confused for a few brief seconds, a weakness that she exploited to the fullest as she stretched her hand like lighting and graved him by the collar of his suit. His body weightless under her grasp as she pulled him out off the ground and towards her, stopping only a breath away from her own lips, their eyes locked in a silent duel of dominance.
His defiant yet surprised…
Her wrathful yet so cold…
Had this been another face he would have died right then and there. There would not have been any more debate, there would not have been a debate at all of this meaningless exchange of words.
``You bloody, miscreant piece of ignoramus shitted out from a monkey...to your information, which I don't care whether you believe it or not, but I don't go all over the place firing like I were in a shooting-range without a care in the world! I am not one of your simple and cartoonish villains you like to read so far. Did you never learn to keep the sharpness of your tongue at bay or are you just that insufarable..?´´
She could feel their eyes darting from one another, she could sense the unease and nervousness in their bodies as they did not know what was about to happen.
The officer was calling her out to slow down...
Ran was trying plead them both to stop this nonsense..
Everyone was waiting for her reaction with fear, yet a not small hint of curiosity...
It would have been so simple. So fucking easy to do what she actually wanted.
..
..
But she was stronger than her desires. And so, with a tired breath she slowly dropped him back to the ground.
One day she would get back at him. One day. One fucking day was what it would take...
Sadly, today was not the day…
``Do whatever you want, but don't disturb me and my work any more..got it?´´
She did not wait for his reply or anyone elses.
She had a job to do..