by

detectivephiliac:

image

I believe he did on the way to the crime scene. He took a nap for a good chunk of the trip… I believe that could have been when he changed, if my theory is right. Prior to that, he was very interested in my help on the case and was the one to call me about it, but once we arrived he seemed a bit less than enthusiastic. That seemed to be the only time he changed.

“This is becoming increasingly more concerning." 

Hakuba uncrossed his legs, then stood, stretching his limbs as he settled into a pace in front of the fireplace. One hand moved behind his back, the other took his chin between the pad of his thumb and the crest of his index finger. 

"At best, we have a colleague who, through various circumstances, could easily be accused and potentially charged with some very serious allegations. At worst…”

He looked back at her, frowning.

“…We have a colleague who is guilty of these crimes, whether he knows it or not. Thus, I feel it prudent to recommend that, unless there is further evidence to be discussed at present, we commence with our investigations and reconvene as soon as possible. I will get the medical records and whatever I can in terms of police reports. I do not wish you send you to observe Hattori-san alone… Are you to contact him again? Did he know that you were coming here?”

by

detectivephiliac:

image

… Yes, I should have expected that type of reaction after saying such a thing…

image

It’s… a bit remarkable, so please bare with me. I suppose it might be easiest to start with…

image

I am acquainted with some people who have experienced memory loss in various forms. One of these was a manual memory wipe – where someone took out selected memories from the person. When I first heard of Hattori-kun’s case, I briefly considered this possibility. But after investigating with him and hearing your testimony, I’m more inclined to go with a second theory…

Simply, I’m thinking a split personality. I know someone who is experiencing this, and both personalities have completely separate memories – they remember nothing from when the other is in control. The switch is triggered by a loss of consciousness or a sneeze in this person’s case, but, if this were the case for Hattori-kun, it could very well be different…

*She stops and looks at Hakuba to gauge his reaction and allow him a moment to express his own thoughts.*

Hakuba listened in silence as the young woman spoke, elbows perched upon arm rests, fingers steeped in front of his chest. Despite the incredible information, he kept his expression carefully neutral, nodding here or there, but otherwise remaining impassive as he collected, tagged, and sorted the presented information.

When she paused, he pursed his lips, then nodded once, inclining his head thoughtfully.

“I can see how your theory would fit in this situation. It would certainly explain a few things about his behavior – both previously in my interaction with him, and from what you’ve described.”

He considered a moment longer, uncrossed his legs, then crossed them again the other way, shaking the anxiety from his muscles.

“Kirigiri-san, what did Hattori-san say about the lighter, specifically? The headache he experienced when I showed it to him seemed similar to the one that he felt after I’d provoked him in the cafe. I wonder if that’s the…” Hakuba let his words trail, letting his mind catch up with his theories. “…Ah, did he have a headache when he-  did he seem to change in your presence?”

by

phantom-thief-kid:

image

KID waited a bit, keeping a mental tally as he kept up his act. It was a ritzy place, so it made a bit of sense that Hakuba would choose a place like this. That would mean the room would be nice, at least.

A couple of minutes and a brief conversation later, Hakuba returned with two card keys. He nodded to his ‘client’, keeping his professional air strict and straight. “Thank you for waiting, Doito-san, If you’ll follow me, we can begin momentarily.”

He motioned for KID to follow him and made his way toward the elevators. This particular hotel he did know at least relatively well… well enough to know where the elevators to his particular floor was. 

Here, on the ‘case’, Hakuba walked with confidence and authority. No hesitance as he pressed the button to summon the elevator, glancing to his client with a polite nod. 

“After you.”

The doors opened. 

by

phantom-thief-kid:

image

“…I see. How about a pseudonym of mine, Katsuki Doito, at least when we’re out and about? While we’re on the subject, may I ask what you prefer to be called by?” KID walked just behind Hakuba, a grin still on his face.

He would ask about the client stuff later. For now, getting close to the hotel, KID put on an expression more apropos for a person who was consulting a detective with a reasonable track record. It was time to change mannerisms. Eyes shifted around just a bit, not quite wanting to make contact with others’ gazes, and he added a nervous tick of biting his lip just so.

Hakuba let out a breath of relief. KID was willing to play the game. Good. 

“Just ‘Hakuba,’ with or without any honorifics you feel comfortable attaching. Otherwise, ‘detective’ on its works. just fine, Doito-san.”

He lead the way to the hotel, and stepped around the valet parking, his own expression returning to one of strictly business. Professional, polite, but all together reserved. He held the door for KID, but was soon relieved of the duty by one of the hotel’s attendants.

“Ah, thank you. This way, Doito-san… I’ll get us checked in if you want to wait right here.”

The hotel lobby was large and open, with the wall facing the drive made entirely of large glass panes. Expensive and pretentious, just like the detective who nodded at KID before stepping away to speak with the girl at the reception desk.

by

detectivephiliac:

image

More to it…

*She refocuses on the question that she was asked.*

image

I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. I… I don’t know. Hakuba-san, I don’t entirely think it’s Hattori Heiji-kun’s fault. I have a few theories… But I’m to entirely sure about them right now, to be honest. It feels like I’m close, and I even have pieces of evidence to support them but… I’m not sure. Perhaps this case just reminds me of…

image

…No, nevermind. That’s a different story entirely…

And just when it looked like things were wrapping up…

Hakuba leaned back in his chair, raising a brow at Kyouko, preparing to get settled in for the time being. 

“You can’t really throw out a tease like that and expect a detective not to chase it,” he remarked dryly, but then softened his expression with a sincere smile. 

“Please, Kirigiri-san, do elaborate. If we’re to solve this case and clear Hattori-san of potential charges, we will have to pool information. Please finish your thought.”

by

kazuha–toyama:

Kazuha was breathing heavily – her heart beating erratically inside her chest as she listened carefully to her surroundings. She’d heard Hakuba call her name and soon after seen him crouched defensively in front of her but Kazuha couldn’t tell if there’d been anyone else in the vicinity. She was worried and shaking profusely as she momentarily held her breath.  

Kazuha hadn’t moved but shifted her eyes in all four directions until spotting a carefully rigged crossbow. Once she’d seen this – she had let her breath carefully escape her trembling parted lips and tried to regulate her breathing. 

Kazuha didn’t say a word – she was in a shock like state but she had managed to take the handkerchief from Hakuba and hold it – semi tightly to her wound. Kazuha’s hand was unsteady as she tried to press harder, however, the harder she’d tried to press the more unsteady her hand became – it even slipped from her face a few times smudging the blood in unnecessary areas. 

Kazuha was numbed – her whole body. She’d felt as if she’d been in a dream like state or some kind of sick twisted warped reality as she’d carefully listened to Hakuba. Heiiji…? Kazuha thought to herself for a moment before responding.

“I-I…I can" 

image

 

Kazuha’s eyes held nothing but a cold blank stare, but her mind was like rushing water. She could have died… Hell if someone had been there – they both would have died…

Hakuba studied the girl’s face, then let out a breath. She was in shock. She  wasn’t going to stay calm. He had to take care of this. He reached out with his hand and took the handkerchief, guiding her hand if necessary, to hold it to her face. 

"I’ll call… Heiji first, all right? Just relax. I’ll handle this.”

With his free hand, he fished his phone out of his pocket and quickly pulled up the number, then brought it to his ear, and waited. Five rings and the answering machine picked up. Of course Hattori wouldn’t answer his call. He hadn’t expected him to. His expression remained calm and even, and he forced a small smile.

“Ah, Hattori-san… yes, this is Hakuba Saguru. I’m with Toyama-chan presently, in the Aikido studio… Yes. There’s been an incident…”  He continued to speak as if he’d actually connected with the other detective, leaving a lengthy voicemail of their supposed conversation. “I’m calling the ambulance now, but as soon as you can get here, the better. Yes. She’ll be fine, but do hurry.” A pause. “Yes. Of course." 

He ended the call, and looked back to the girl.

"He’ll be here as soon as he can. Hold the handkerchief, all right? See if you can keep pressure on it while I look for a medical kit..”

Pulling his hand free, Hakuba glanced at the blood before straightening up, and pulling off his suit jacket. This he laid on top of the girl to keep her warm and, hopefully, stave off some of the effects of the shock.

“Stay here. Relax. I’ll be right over here.”

Armed with his phone, Hakuba approached the area where the crossbow mechanism had been set, and called direct number for emergency dispatch.

by

detectivephiliac:

image

It would be a big help if you could do that, Hakuba-san, thank you.

And he didn’t say what it was – I had admittedly been interrogating him a bit much at that point so I didn’t want to force anymore stress onto him… From the look of his composure, however, it wasn’t something good. He had gotten a phone call and became extremely tense. He left almost immediately after that in a rush.

“I will do so, then, as soon as I can.”  Hakuba frowned, brows furrowing in concern. “This is all a tad… alarming, I suppose, to put it lightly.” Lightly? Incredible understatement. The male detective sighed, leaning forward to set his tea cup down again, then his phone.

“I wonder what he’s gotten himself mixed up in- if anything. Hattori Heiji is many annoying things, but I can’t imagine him… Well, he…" 

But then, he had attacked Hakuba when provoked. And Hakuba himself was only an obnoxious gnat when compared to, say, an actual criminal. If someone really wanted to hurt Hattori, it would be easy to pin him by the trigger and get blackmail evidence of his behavior. Had something like..? No… No, Hattori was a brute but he was no murderer. He could have killed him if he’d decided to, but he hadn’t. No… 

"No, there must be more to it. I’ll start at the hospital, then revisit the scene. What will your next step be, Kirigiri-san?" 

by

phantom-thief-kid:

image

“I understand. I may be a thief, but I don’t wish to cause you problems. We’ll leave it for the heists, yes?” KID glanced to Hakuba. He noted the looking, but didn’t say anything. As the elevator opened up, he walked out and headed through the front and out to the street.

“So, my friend, where is the place? I am not really a traveler around here…” Well, that was indicative, but it was utterly pointless, as Hakuba already knew. If he didn’t, then Hakuba was incredibly obtuse and that would require him not to be a detective at all.

Hakuba followed KID out to the street and continued walking down the sidewalk, glancing backward. “This way. It’s a short walk." 

He could have called them a taxi, but it really was only three or four blocks from their present location. The detective kept his pace measured to ensure that KID would walk with him, at which point he offered a guarded sort of hopeful smile. My friend. What had KID meant by that, exactly? If it held any special meaning at all… 

"Ah – what am I to call you, by the way? As a client of mine, you’re of course granted rights of anonymity… but it will seem strange if I don’t refer to you by name casually after check in." 

by

detectivephiliac:

image

Sorry, I haven’t gotten around to that—

*—More like it hadn’t crossed her mind, since she was feeling particularly attached to her theories, but they’d probably be good to check out—*

—But he told me that he was found by a patrol car passing by. I feel that doesn’t entirely add up when you put the fire and the fact that the culprit didn’t outright kill him into the mix… We had a discussion about it, but his missing memories helped us get nowhere.

“Indeed… it all sounds rather suspect. I could pay the hospital another visit to gather information and then go over the results with you, if you like. I do have a certain amount of sway when it comes to personal records by throwing the family name around…”

It wasn’t something that Hakuba liked to do, but it was definitely something that came in handy in situations like this.

“Did, ah, Hattori-san say what matter pulled him away during your investigation?" 

by

kazuha–toyama:

As they arrived to the building Kazuha strutted up the the front door and tugged on it. It was locked. She sighed heavily and went around towards the back where she had easily opened the side window and climbed in.

“Hurry, Hakuba-kun! Don’t wanna get caugh’ do ya?” Kazuha laughed lightly and ran down the hall and too the back of the building – pausing every so often to let Hakuba catch up. As they arrived to her locker Kazuha couldn’t believe her eyes – all of her belongings thrown to the floor and scattered about. The door to her locker wide opened and inside… A note.. One she had not been familiar with.

image

“Oi…Hakuba-kun…” Kazuha whispered lightly biting her lip as the fear within her gut grew larger and larger. She hadn’t even wanted to look at what the note said – she’d decided this was no prank!

“I have a bad feelin’ le’s jus’….” Kazuha said taking baby steps toward her locker before being cut off by a strange click sound. As she turned to see what the sound was – something had speed past her face and a loud bang was heard.

Kazuha was knocked against her locker, her cheek was intensely throbbing – there was blood gushing from it as Kazuha lifted her hand to the wound and touched it lightly. It was almost numbed. When she pulled her hand away to look at it Kazuha’s eyes had been wider than ever before as she stared in awe at the thick deep red blood on her finger tips.

So much for this having not been a dangerous investigation. Breaking in through the window had been bad enough – but not the worst idea, really, as it would have to be assumed that the darkened hallways and off hours meant that they could investigate without being interrupted. But proceeding onward had yielded nothing more than a deeply unsettling feeling and then the dark locker room? While Kazuha went ahead, the detective began to take in the surroundings, pulling up his cellphone to open up the flashlight application when the sound and clatter pulled his attention.

Dammit! 

“Toyama-chan!” Hakuba cleared the distance between them in a sprint and took a position of defense in front of her, crouched, holding his breath for a moment to listen for their attacker. 

But after a moment, nothing happened… and the detective frowned, shifting his position to search the floor with the assisted light. Ah- there. 

A cross bow’s arrow, just feet from them. He looked around the room and saw a glint up ahead, which matched the trajectory. No person, just a mechanism. Hakuba took a deep breath, then turned and knelt next to Kazuha, looking her face over quickly before pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, which he offered to her.

“Apply this to the wound, keep it tight. It’s a graze- ricocheted from the locker, it looks like. I’ll dress it later." 

He had a lot to do. Phonecalls to make. A perimeter to secure. The arrow could have easily killed the girl had it been set up just a little bit differently. But he hesitated. It would do him no good if the girl freaked out on him. Calm, sound minds were far more easy to manage. 

"I’m going to call for security, and then I’ll try Hattori-san, all right? It looks worse than it is, just stay calm. Can you promise me that you will stay calm, Toyama-chan?”