Connections are Found [Tokyo Metropolitan Police]

"Ah, been a long time, hasn't it, Matsukichi?"

Guy frowned, tipping his detective hat forward on his head. They had only just gotten to the police station, and they were greeted by one of Guy's old friends. "The name's Guy Kurasawa now... Remember that!"

"Right, right," the officer replied with an unconvincing nod, sitting across from the pair in the waiting room. "Anyway, what can we do for you today?"

Guy tipped his hat back up dramatically, before gesturing to Bayle. "Me and my friend here to solve the mystery of the Fiore suicides. Is there any sort of information you might be able to give us about it?"

"Like what?" the officer asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ah..." Guy mumbled. "What was it again?" He paused for a long time, remembering their discussion on the walk over. "Oh, yes! I believe it's something about a video tape. There is video of the time the suicides took place, isn't there? We'd like to take a look at that footage."

"Hmm..." the officer thought. "I might think about it. But first, I'd like to know who this lady is," he added, nodding in Bayle's direction expectantly. "So, who are you exactly?"

" My name is Bayle Falain. Last night one of the suicides happened in front of me. I've been pretty curious ever since so I hired Mr. Kurasawa to investigate it for me. If no one needs to view that tape, I'd really like to see it. " she smiled brightly at the officer.

"Oh, so you're that lady, are you?" the officer started, before getting quieter and leaning forward. "Alright, I'm not supposed to do it, but since I'm old friends with Guy, and you're an important witness, it wouldn't hurt that much."

He led them into a back room, to a TV stand and VCR set up in the corner. The tape was already in it, so he simply turned on the TV and pushed play on the TV.

The image they were treated to was an upward angle toward the top of the Fiore Cosmetics building. It was nighttime, and raining. Last night.

"This is the most recent suicide. It doesn't show much, but here goes nothing."

For several minutes, you couldn't see anything from the angle of the camera. But soon, a man came into view, stalking toward the railing. He calmly and purposefully climbed up and stood on the railing, swaying dangerously. As carefully as he could, he turned around, facing back toward the roof. Then, for a brief instant, Bayle thought she saw something strange. A blue tint around the man, perhaps... or maybe it was a reflection. The large neon sign that rose out of the roof behind him could have been playing tricks with her eyes.

He shifted his weight slowly back onto his heels until he had begun falling. It was only at that moment that everything changed. He flinched and reached upwards, in a vain attempt to grab at the railing. But, his feet slipped, and he went spinning downward out of sight in less than two seconds.

The officer stopped the video.

Bayle leaned in close to the t.v. when she saw the blue tint. She had learned to be very observant in her many travels and deals. After the video ended she leaned back in her chair. "Do you think you could rewind it and pause it right after he turns back around after climbing onto the railing? I thought I saw something strange."

The officer and Guy exchanged glances, before the officer rewound the tape and paused it right as the blue tint appeared around the man. Paused, it was still vague, but to Bayle's eyes, it was unmistakable. The man that committed suicide was rimmed in a faint blue light.

Guy scratched his chin as he studied the image. "What do you see?"

"Ohhh...we might have a bit of a problem gentlemen." she said standing up to point at the picture. " This here, is actually a faint light surrounding this man." She traced it with her finger to show them. " Now, I've not personally worked with any contractors, but, being a weapons dealer, I know several who have. This faint glow probably means that a contractor is controlling this person. It makes a lot of sense, considering how they climb up so calmly and then freak out when they begin to fall." She stood back and gave the T.V. a worried look. "Exactly which contractor could do that, and what power they might have though, is a little scary to think about..."

"Hold on, a Contractor?" Guy remarked. "But that's just an urban legend! They're not actually real, right?" He laughed at the idea, but saw Bayle's serious face. Then, he turned to his friend. "Right?!"

The officer avoided his gaze. "Well, I haven't seen one, persay..."

"Wait a minute." Guy looked back and forth between this. "You're really serious!! Even if what you're saying is true, what are we supposed to do about this?!"

" Well, I'm not sure, but I'm definitely going to start putting surveillance on that roof. If you'd like I can share the information with your department, officer. " Bayle offered. "If you also decide to survey it, please use the utmost caution. Unfortunately the Japanese government has left you pretty defenseless in case of such a situation as this." she flipped open her phone and had her secretary set up a meeting with the head of Fiore to discuss security measures in this particular building. " Well thanks a lot you two. This has been very helpful. Shall we be going, Mr. Kurosawa?"

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you to be careful," the officer implored her. "As an officer of the law I should tell you that setting up surveillance there is illegal, but..." He sighed and rubbed his head. "I'm old and impatient. I'd like to see this case solved. Good luck."

"Ah, before we go," started Guy. "I'd like to know more about Fiore in general. Do you have anything for me in that regard?"

The officer nodded and walked to a file cabinet, where he pulled out a few pieces of paper. "I can at least give you this much. It will tell you about who is running the company and the two people that died. It's not much."

"Any little bit helps."

After saying their goodbyes, Bayle and Guy walked out of the police office. "Well, if we're really dealing with a Contractor, this is going to be a case for the record books. Where should we head now?"

" Oh well of course I'll get Fiore's permission. Goodbye officer!" she said waving as she exited.

***

"Good thinking asking for those files. I had completely forgotten. I got a little caught up in the moment I suppose." she pulled out her phone, communicating again with her secretary. The meeting was a go, tomorrow at noon. It would be nice to have an extended lunch. " As for what to do now...I say we get some coffee and take a look at these files. I know a good place." She dragged the man to a chic coffee shop a few blocks away. After they ordered and sat down she asked. "Why did you change your name to Guy? I like Matsukichi."

"Haha! Well, I'm not sure if you would understand, but Matsukichi just didn't sound manly enough, you know?" said Guy, scratching his head. "Guy is such a masculine name! It's the kind of name people will respect in a detective!" Under Bayle's knowing gaze, though, he couldn't really keep that "manliness" up, and couldn't help but chuckle sheepishly. So, he got out the files and spread them on the table to begin reading them.

" Well Matsukichi does have a cute sound to it, but that's not always a bad thing. " she smiled at him and opened a file to look at herself. "Plus, especially being half American, Guy just sounds stupid."

"Ah, you really think so?" Guy asked nervously. "Maybe it's a culture thing, y'know? I just really like the sound of Guy, and that's what important! A man should have confidence in himself!" He resumed his usual posture that he considered manly. It was his best attempt at actually flirting with girls, though more often than not, it was completely useless.

Bayle tried as hard as she could, but she couldn't help but laugh a little at the man. It wasn't a condescending laugh, just one of true entertainment. "You are a charming man Matsuchiki-san. I'm glad that we met today." she squeezed his hand briefly and went back to reading her file. Even though he seemed to have made some bad choices, this man seemed to possess a trait that few people had, true confidence. She would make sure to pay him well.

Guy blushed heavily as Bayle held his hand, unsure of how to react. "W-Well, it's nothing really!" he decided to say, laughing awkwardly and rubbing the back of his head. "But, I'm glad to have met you too Ms. Bayle!"

Once they had turned their attention back to the list of employees, nothing really seemed to stand out. That is, until Guy, found the former executive of the company, Yuzuki Sakutarou.

"Hey, look at this!" Guy exclaimed, pushing the paper toward Bayle. "Yuzuki Sakutarou was an executive of Fiore Cosmetics, but he died one year ago. The widow that came looking for her cat was also named Sakutarou, and she said that her husband Yuzuki died one year ago!"

" Well that's very interesting...but I'm not sure what that would have to do with the missing cat or our suicides. What kind of connection are you making?" she was honestly asking. Even if he wasn't a good detective, he still was one, so he might see something she didn't.

"Well, I was thinking that perhaps the widow was hiding something... Her husband dies a year ago... And now, people in the same company are starting to die. Maybe it's related? And, I always found it odd that she should come to a detective to find a lost cat, rather than the police or animal control. My detective's intuition is going crazy about all this..." he added seriously as he stared down at the list.

" I see. Perhaps we should go talk to her?" She didn't really care what they did today, she just knew that tonight, she needed to be at that rooftop.

"That might be a good idea. We can get some more answers out of her that way. We've still got some time before nightfall, so shall we go now?"

He pulled out his cell phone, along with the slip of paper that had the woman's address and phone number on it. He stepped off to the side to call her, and returned a moment later.

"She said we can come over as soon as we can! Let's go ahead and go!"

" Definitely," she said closing her file and heading off. "Do you mind if I stop somewhere and get a new shirt on the way? I wouldn't want to make a bad impression on your client." she didn't wait for an answer as she ducked into a small boutique. She quickly selected red dress shirt, white vest, white pants, and a fedora to match Guy for fun, and they were once again on their way! It was odd how someone's murder could create such a fun day off for her.

"My, my," said Guy as he blushed. "That's quite a good look for you! You look like you could make quite an excellent detective yourself!" He gave a great belly laugh before they headed off toward the widow's estate. On their way, the clouds once again began to cover the sky, and it was raining by the time they reached the gate.

"Boy, the rain just isn't going to let up, is it?" said Guy as he rang the bell.

"Who is it?" the familiar voice of the widow called back.

"It's Kurasawa."

With a buzz and a click, the gate unlocked, and they watched as the main door ahead of them opened. However, rather than the widow, someone else entirely appeared, slinking ominously out from the shadows.



"...!" Guy ducked slightly behind the gate, but the maid was already slinking back into the shadows behind the door.

"Come in..." her voice echoed through the rain.

" Thank you," Bayle said as she waltzed in completely unafraid. She grabbed Guy by the sleeve and dragged him behind her. " Come now Matsu-san. " she said smiling deviously.

The maid was nowhere to be found as soon as they entered, but instead, the widow was waiting for them inside.

"Hello, Kurasawa-san. Oh, and who is this lovely lady accompanying you?" she asked cheefully, bowing to Bayle.

" I'm Bayle Falain," she said bowing. " I'm an associate of Mr. Kurosawa's. We had some questions we wanted to ask you regarding your late husband, if that's alright." she put on her sympathy smile for the widow.

"Of course. It's very nice to meet you, Ms. Falain. I'm going to go and put on some tea for everyone. In the meantime, feel free to make yourselves at home. The library is upstairs, and the parlor is downstairs, wherever you want to go. I'll see you in the parlor in half an hour."

With that, she left. Guy looked around, noticing the stairs directly before them that led upstairs. The parlor could be seen through a large doorway to their left.

"What do you think?" asked Guy. "Shall we do some investigating?"