(Jared's POV)
16th April, 1:26 p.m.
Windibank's Pawnbrokery…
'Here we are again at the scene of the crime... Now to thrust these representation papers in Gregson's face and see what he makes of them!' Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself, before he spoke aloud. "Hello again, Inspector. Do you have a minute, please?"
"What is it now? You should go home and get some rest." Gregson said.
"Here you are, Gregsy! Here are the representation papers!" Iris chirped, taking out the representation papers out of her pocket.
"...Your Ladyship! Hooooooooooooooooooooow?! I don't believe it! How the devil did you get that stubborn little ragabash to sign that?! I salute you! That is good work, that is." Gregson said, happily.
"I can see you've been very busy here as well. How about some tea? It's a special blend designed to relieve fatigue!" Iris said, handing Gregson a thermos of tea.
"*Glug* *Glug glug glug*" Gregson said, drinking the tea. "Ahhh... Lovely! Well, let's see now... Yes... Yes! I hardly feel tired at all! I'm fit as a fiddle, Your Ladyship!"
"...Would it be alright if we investigated the scene of the crime, then?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Do as you please! You know where it happened. Through that door behind the counter." Gregson said, looking over at the door.
"Yup." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Yes, the storeroom... That's where I discovered Mr Windibank...and Gina.'
"Right, well...I'll be gettin' back to business then."
"Will you be investigating in the storeroom as well, Inspector?" Ryunosuke asked.
"If I'm perfectly honest, we need to wrap this up before long. Can't afford to spend too much time on it. But there are so many articles to go through, it's taking forever, even with the lads workin' round the clock. Which is a problem, 'cause there's another case the Yard needs to investigate urgently." Gregson said.
"Makes sense." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'That must be what Lord Stronghart meant by 'far more serious matters' before…'
"So what I'm sayin' is, don't get under my feet, sunshine!" Gregson said, angrily.
"Come then! Let us not waste any time!" Susato said, excitedly.
"Let's go over here." I said, walking over to the counter.
"There's the article ledger here, and Mr Windibank's notes, and...hm? What's this? It looks as though someone has left a little photographic print behind." Ryunosuke said, looking down at what is on the counter.
"Oh! Look on the back! There's some writing." Susato said, flipping over the photographic print.
"Is there? Ooh, show us, Susie! Show us!" Iris cheered.
"'15th February, 10:30 p.m. Article deposited: One gentleman's overcoat. Loan amount paid: 1 pound. Redemption deadline: 15th April, 10:30 p.m.'"
"A gentleman's overcoat pawned for a pound? Clearly it was a very fine coat. In fact, I think…" Ryunosuke said, his eyes widening.
"Yes! This must be the ticket for the overcoat that Ginny redeemed yesterday!" Iris said, worried.
"...And is still wearing." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. '...Which belonged to McGilded. I would never have expected the redemption ticket to be handwritten on the back of a photograph, though.'
"It seems Mr Windibank just used whatever piece of paper he happened to have to hand."
"But this photograph of a cat... It looks very familiar, doesn't it? I'm sure I've seen this exact same picture somewhere else recently."
"Oh! Yes, you're right! Very recently! It's the same as the one Ginny gave us earlier." Iris said.
"The print is a bit purr-fect." I said, happily.
"Of course! I was forgetting that she gave us that print!" Ryunosuke said, worried.
"Well what are you waiting for then, Mr Naruhodo?! Get it out!" Susato said, excitedly.
"Good luck, Ryunosuke." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Alright, alright, let the cogs turn…'
Ryunosuke took out the other photograph and we placed them side by side.
"Yes...they are exactly the same!" Susato said.
"It does look that way." I said, looking down at the pair of photographs.
"So Iris, about these two photographic prints... The one we found here on Mr Windibank's counter, and the one Gina gave us before... What is this amazing secret you mentioned that's hidden between these two identical prints?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Actually, that's not quite right." Iris said.
"Sorry?"
"If you look carefully...the two prints aren't the same. Not exactly."
"They're not?!"
"Have another look at them now." Iris said, looking down at the pair of photographs.
"..." Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
"Can you see that they're just slightly different from each other?"
"I...I think so…" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'It's very subtle though…'
"But what's the reason for the subtle difference between the two prints?" Susato asked.
"Ah, well! It's because they're a set, you see!" Iris chirped.
"Yup. It's like collecting toys or figurines and they come in a set." I said, smiling.
"No, I don't…" Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"This pair of photographs... ...is meant to be used in a stereoscope! Everyone in London is raving about them at the moment!" Iris cheered.
"Like they would be with virtual reality headsets." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Ah, a stereoscope. Why do I feel as though I've heard that word before recently?'
"Oh! Yes! That's what Mr Holmes showed us yesterday! You see? There it is, just over there!" Susato said, walking over to the stereoscope.
"Ah, yes, of course. That magical machine that makes pictures look almost real enough to touch!" Ryunosuke said, picking up the stereoscope.
"Hehehe." Iris said, giggling. "Well actually... ...it's quite possible to see the same depth in pictures even without one of those contraptions."
"What? Really?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Do you know how a pair of flat photographic prints can appear to have any depth in the first place?" Iris asked.
"No, I have no idea." Susato said.
"Oh, wonderful! Then I'll be able to tell you!"
"Go, Iris!" I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'She's over the moon, bless her. Should we let her explain, though? We really need to carry on investigating the scene…'
"I for one...simply have to know!" Susato cooed.
"Well, I know how they work." I said, and I looked down at the ground. "It's what is used for the concept of 3D glasses and the 3DS."
"Have you ever considered, Runo... ...how our eyes see depth in the world around us?" Iris asked.
"Well...I just open them...and it works." Ryunosuke said.
"But the reason it works, is because we have two eyes."
"Two eyes…" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Shocking…'
"If you try just closing one eye at a time, I think you'll see straight away. What you see with your left eye... ...and what you see with your right eye... ...are ever so slightly different. You get a different view with each eye." Iris said.
"Yes, the position of objects seems to shift slightly." Susao said, sadly.
"Exactly. And in your head, your brain uses that shift to estimate depth as it merges the two views into one. That's how we can sense depth in everything we see!"
"Haah...my brain really is amazing, isn't it? It does so much without telling me." Ryunosuke said.
"Ah, I think I see! So the pair of photographs... ...consist of a left eye view... ...and a right eye view! Is that right?" Susato asked.
"Oh, well done, Susie! You're so quick!" Iris said, excitedly.
"So, if you can persuade your brain to merge the two pictures together in your head... ...you'd be able to see depth in these prints?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes, Runo! You're beginning to understand!"
"And a stereoscope's function is to act as your brain and allow you to do just that?"
"Yes, but... ...as long as you have two images, two eyes and one brain... ...you can actually do it yourself, without needing a stereoscope at all!"
"You can? Really?!"
"Yup. Can we try it?" I asked, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"We can. Let's try it. Let's see if you can view this pair of prints without the help of a stereoscope!" Iris said, excitedly.
"Oh yes! I'm dying to have a go!" Susato cheered.
"I find virtual reality glasses cooler." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Susato-san really loves this kind of thing…'
"You need to be able to cross your eyes, that's the main thing. Can you three do that?" Iris asked.
"Cross my eyes?" Ryunosuke asked, as he thought this to himself. 'I, I think I can…'
"Watch me and see if you can copy! Make your eyes...do this." Iris said, crossing her eyes.
"Alright! Let me try!" Susato said, crossing her eyes.
"I did it." I said, crossing my eyes. "This feels weird."
"Are you ready, Mr Naruhodo? There! How's that?"
"Wonderful! Now it's your turn, Runo." Iris said, happily.
"The trick is to concentrate on looking at the bridge of your nose with both eyes at the same time." Susato said.
"It's simple enough." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. '...Not exactly an easy task when three people are staring at you cross-eyed.'
"Alright, that's enough practice. Now let's try it looking at the prints. Start by looking at one print and slowly crossing your eyes... You should see two overlapping images, like this. You try it now, Runo." Iris said, looking at the printed photographs.
"Good luck, Ryunosuke." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I'm just going to have to give it a try, I suppose. ...'
"Did the print split into two images for you? Now, the next step... ...is to put the pair of prints side by side like this, and then to try crossing your eyes again. The prints should slowly merge together... ...until... ...they form a new, single image in the centre." Iris said.
"Oh, yeeeeeeeeesss!!! Mr Naruhodo! Jared! It works! I can see it in the middle now! It looks so real! Oh, I could look at it all day!" Susato cooed, looking at the printed photos.
"I...wouldn't advise that. Your eyes might start to hurt." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"It would definitely hurt if you were using virtual reality all day." I said, frowning.
"Your turn, Runo! Pretend you're looking through the two pictures and slowly cross your eyes... Keep adjusting the position of your eyes until the two images overlap exactly in the middle." Iris said.
"Makes sense." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Like...this, is it? ...'
"There! You managed it! So now you know how stereoscopic images work." Iris said, with me seeing Ryunosuke's eyes cross eyed.
"Well...I don't know who discovered it, but it really is quite extraordinary." Susato said.
"Apparently, it was discovered in 1838." I said, taking out my iPhone 15 Pro Max and Googling it. "By someone called Charles Wheatstone FRS. He published the first description of his stereoscope in the 1838 volume of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society."
"That's amazing." Susato said, as I placed my phone back inside my sling bag.
"So what do you think of these stereoscopic prints then, Runo?" Iris asked.
"They're certainly amazing, but it isn't easy to get the knack of viewing them properly." Ryunosuke said.
"No, some people find it easier than others. But that's why contraptions like this exist. For people who find it tricky." Iris said.
"Oh! I recognise that. We saw one over there yesterday, didn't we? If I remember correctly, you press this little knob here…" Susato said, messing with the stereoscope and placing the photographs inside. "...then set the pair of photographs in this stand at the back and…"
"It's still amazing, even though I know roughly how it works now." Ryunosuke said.
"Well, London seems to agree with you. Stereoscopes are very popular at the moment. You can find one of these folding contraptions in lots of households in the capital currently." IRis said.
"But if these little machines are so affordable... ...surely there's no need to go around staring cross-eyed at pictures like you hate them."
"... But it's much more satisfying to be able to see the effect with your own eyes. Well, I think so, in any case."
"Agreed." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Stereoscopic pictures... I'd never even heard of them until yesterday. We've certainly learnt a lot about them. But I wonder if it's knowledge that I'll ever actually need…'
The second white cat photograph has been entered into the Court Record.
"Time to look at the ticket." I said, handing Ryunosuke the box that has the Pawnbroker's Ticket inside it. I then flipped it over to the side with the photo of the cat. "It's pawsome."
"This is an adorable little cat. I think it looks a little like Wagahai. I always thought that cats liked to curl up inside under the heated kotatsu blanket when it snowed. ...Maybe British cats are different. Actually, now we have both pictures... ...I could have another go at viewing them as a stereoscopic image." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'So, I need to cross my eyes and try to get the two cats to merge in the middle as one... It's such a hard thing to do. Whoever thought of this in the first place must have spent a long time staring!'
"It's better than watching paint dry." I said, handing Ryunosuke the White Cat Photograph #2 and the side with a photo of the cat.
"So this is the second of the two photographic prints of the cat. And it really does look like Wagahai. It looks exactly the same as the first photograph at first glance. I suppose that's what's so compelling. Actually, now we have both pictures... ...I could have another go at viewing them as a stereoscopic image." Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'So, I need to cross my eyes and try to get the two cats to merge in the middle as one... It's such a hard thing to do. Whoever thought of this in the first place must have spent a long time staring!'
"Yup." I said, looking at the side of the ticket with writing. "I don't know who'd watch paint dry. Other than PointCrow."
"This is the ticket that Gina brought in here yesterday." Ryunosuke said, looking at the side of the ticket with writing.
"Yes. Having been entrusted to her by Mr McGilded two months earlier. 'Article deposited: One gentleman's overcoat'." Susato said.
"And the other redemption ticket was in the pocket of that coat."
"Yes, for a 'small box', deposited two days before the omnibus incident."
"Yeah." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Could that have anything to do with all this...?'
"Maybe." I said, walking over to the bloody fingermark. "It is possible."
"Look, this dark red smear appears to have been made by somebody's finger." Ryunosuke said, looking down at the bloody fingermark.
"Do you think...it could be blood?" Iris asked.
"... Do you see any red mark as blood, Iris? That's a bit morbid, I think." Ryunosuke said.
"...But it's almost certainly blood, isn't it?"
"It definitely is." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Tsk, ten-year-olds today…'
"Iris is like Sheldon Cooper, a child prodigy." I said, while walking away from the bloody fingermark to the calendar.
"Ah! Look here!" Ryunosuke said, walking over to the calendar.
"Oh yes. A bullet hole. And I can see the bullet is still lodged in the wall." Susato said, sadly.
"Presumably Mr Windibank wasn't practising with his revolver in his spare time."
"Ah, well... ...Mr Holmes likes to practise in his drawing room whenever he can. He's very patriotic like that."
"Sorry?"
"It's all there in 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes', you know! Isn't that right, Iris, Jared?" Susato asked.
"Ah...did I write something like that? Partly in jest, perhaps." Iris said, shrugging.
"In jest?!"
"Well, he doesn't do it often. It is quite a dangerous pastime." Iris said.
"It is." I said, happily. "And it's only for the unsolved cases he shoots at the wall. Sherlock really doesn't do it often."
"He doesn't do it often? He shouldn't even do it once!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"Forget that for now, Runo. Let's examine this bullet!" Iris yelled.
"What's that around the bullet hole? Is it...blood?" Ryunosuke asked, and he thought this to himself. 'Hm, a suspicious red stain on the calendar…'
"Aha! I may well be able to help with that!"
"What?" Ryunosuke asked.
"There's nothing like the sight of blood to get the blood pumping, is there, Runo, Jared?"
"You're not wrong." I said, smiling. "Forensics did look fun."
"Ugh... I have a feeling I'm not as bloody-minded as the two of you, Iris and Jared." Ryunosuke said, annoyed.
"I'm afraid the sight of blood makes my blood run cold." Susato said, shivering.
"There you have it, you see! When it comes to blood, we're all different types!" Iris chirped.
"...Yes, what a...scientific observation." Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"So you need this!" Iris said, taking out a gun filled with paint.
"Oh no... What is that scary-looking thing?" Ryunosuke asked, looking down at the gun.
"Hm...Hurley and I haven't actually come up with a name for it yet. But as soon as you see it in action, you'll understand what it does. ...Watch." Iris said, spraying the bloody fingermark with the paint.
"...Oh!" Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'The colour of the bloodstain has changed!'
"There! Does it make sense now?" Iris asked.
"It does!" I said, walking over to the gun Iris is holding. "It's luminol! A future friend of mine, Ema Skye. She loves forensics. And she had a fingerprinting kit and luminol."
"Yes...I think I'm starting to understand…" Ryunosuke said.
"Good! It works on the principle that different people have different types of blood, you see." Iris said.
"Yes! How wonderful!" Susato cooed.
"The chemical it fires combines with the blood and makes it change colour. So you can identify whose blood it is that you're looking at in a flash!"
"Oh, what a fabulous invention, Iris!"
"Isn't it? Isn't it? I bet Ginny would say it's 'bleedin' great'!"
"Or bloody wonderful." I said, laughing a lot.
"So...whose blood are we looking at then?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... Well, all the chemical does is turn the blood a different colour, so... ...just find someone whose blood turns the same colour and you'll know who it belongs to...in a flash!" Iris said, shooting ink out of the gun again towards the bloody fingermark.
"... It's more like two flashes, really...isn't it?"
"One flash or two, this could well turn out to be a very valuable clue. So we must make a note of it in the Court Record!" Susato said, excitedly.
The blood sample has been entered into the Court Record.
"Let's keep testing and adding the results of any other blood analysis to the portfolio!" Susato cheered.
"As long as I have reagent left, sure." Iris said.
"Same." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. '…Actually, there's a stain on the back of that one photograph, isn't there? I think perhaps we should see if that can tells…us anything.'
"It should." I said, walking over to the bloody fingermark.
"Mr Naruhodo.. Jared…. ...I don't know if you've noticed, but there's something rather troubling here." Susato said, walking to the bloody fingermark.
"I have noticed." Ryunosuke said.
"Same." I said, looking down at the floor.
"The red smear, you mean?" Susato asked.
"Yes. It looks like blood, doesn't it?" Ryunosuke asked, as he thought this to himself. 'I wondered if Susato-san had picked up on that.' He then spoke aloud. "Well in that case…"
"Yes, we need Iris!"
"We do." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"We should show this to her before we forget." Ryunosuke said.
White cat photograph #2's information has been updated in the Court Record.
Changes evidence name from "White Cat Photograph #2" to "Pawnbroker's Ticket (Coat)"
"Iris, take a look at this." I said, handing Iris the Pawnbroker's Ticket that was inside the coat. "See anything there?"
"Oh! That looks like blood!" Iris cried.
"I would say it's from a gloved finger. Almost certainly a glove made of leather." Ryunosuke said.
"Well don't worry, Runo! You can leave the rest to me!"
"Look at that…" Ryunosuke said, while Iris shot paint out of the gun and the bloodstain changed from red to a different color.
"Yes, that's a colour we haven't seen before, isn't it?" Iris asked.
"It isn't." I said, sadly.
"We simply must add it to the portfolio of blood samples! It could be an important clue. Although...it would be nice to find out whose blood these different colours correspond to at some point." Susato said.
"..." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Well, this particular stain of blood…'
"Oh! You've had an idea, haven't you? Do you know whose blood this is?" Iris asked.
"I think I do." I said, frowning. "It is pretty obvious when you think about it."
"Yes, I have an idea whose blood it is. Not from the colour it turned, but with a little deduction." Ryunosuke said.
"That's right! I think it's clear." Iris said.
"Iris, you know as well?" Susato asked.
"You first, Runo, Jared. Who do you think it belongs to?"
"Alright, I believe that this is the blood of…" Ryunosuke said.
"Could it be 'Thrice-Fired' Mason?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"...'Thrice-Fired' Mason...?"
"Runo, you don't sound very sure of yourself, the way you trailed off there." Iris said, letting out a sigh.
"Well it was two months ago now, that case. And of course I'd never met the victim. So I'm struggling to remember his name. He was definitely 'Thrice-Fired', though." Ryunosuke said.
"The victim...of the omnibus case? Yes, his name was indeed Mr 'Thrice-Fired' Mason. But that would mean that this bloodstain... ...was left on the ticket two months ago!" Susato said, worried.
"Yes. I think it was. Gina brought this ticket here to Windibank's yesterday. I'm suggesting that the bloodstain was already on it at that time."
"So it's a smear of blood from the time that Mr Mason was killed two months ago!" Iris said, terrified.
"Something else is coming back to me now... Mr McGilded was also wearing leather gloves that night." Susato said.
Flashback…
"Now I ask youse, what good-hearted soul wouldn't rush to help a fella bleedin' from his stomach? I wasn't about to start worryin' about me gloves now, was I? I reached out to give the man a hand." McGilded said.
Windibank's Pawnbrokery…
"It certainly does look like a leather-gloved thumbprint, this mark. But we know that Mr McGilded had no injuries at the time, anywhere on his body. From which we can conclude... ...that any blood on the glove...belonged to the victim, Mr Mason!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"Mr Naruhodo! You sound just like Mr Holmes!" Susato cried.
"You really do, Ryunosuke." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. '...Minus the quirky slip-ups, I hope.'
"Yes, I think you're right, Runo!" Iris said, excitedly.
"Very well. Let's make a note of this." Susato said.
The details of the pawnbroker's ticket for the coat have been updated in the Court Record.
The blood samples portfolio has been updated in the Court Record.
"Let's look at this." I said, looking down at the Pawnbroker's Ticket that was inside the coat, and I flipped the ticket to the side with writing. "Hm…"
"Mr Windibank appears to have used the back of this photograph to write out a redemption ticket." Ryunosuke said, looking at the side of the ticket with writing. "He's written it very neatly, but still. Perhaps he ran out of paper, so had to use anything he had to hand. It's hard to know what's the front and what's the reverse side now…"
"Blood." I said, looking at the bloody fingermark. "Oh."
"So this smear is blood." Ryunosuke said, looking at the bloody fingermark.
"Yes. It reacted to the chemicals fired out of Iris's strange gun, so it must be. And it does look as though it's a thumbprint from a hand in a leather glove." Susato said.
"Ah... ...Mr Holmes wears leather gloves, doesn't he?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... He wears fingerless leather gloves, though. Fingerless."
"Oh, Sherlock. Let's go to the prison." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Oh dear, is someone a little upset?'
16th April
Local Prison, Cell 13…
"Gina doesn't appear to be here." Ryunosuke said.
"I believe she must be in questioning at the moment." Susato said.
"Oh, but...wait a minute…" Iris said, sadly.
"What is it, Iris?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Well if you examine the scene here carefully, there's another possibility, isn't there? Ginny could have slipped the key from the jailer when he wasn't looking and escaped!"
"That's something River Song would do." I said, happily. "Not Gina."
"Oh my!" Susato said, worried.
"Why, why would she do something like that? It would only make her situation worse!" Ryunosuke said, terrified.
"... Calm down, Runo! I was only joking of course!" Iris said, giggling. "Jared's right. Mels would break out of Stormcage when the jailer wasn't looking and escaped."
"... Oh. Ugh...you had me worried there. I thought it was a 'great deduction'."
"Yes, it must be your way with words, Iris. You're so wonderfully persuasive. Perhaps you don't fully understand the weight your words carry." Susato said, looking at Iris.
"Oh dear... I'm sorry. I suppose a light-hearted great detective is a contradiction in terms." Iris said.
"Well, in the same situation, I'm sure Mr Holmes would just have thrown his head back and guffawed." Ryunosuke said.
"I'm not entirely sure that's helpful, Mr Naruhodo…" Susato said.
"Well anyway, it looks like we won't be able to talk to Gina for a while. We should try to make progress with our investigation in the meantime."
"Yes. Come along then, Runo! Come along, Jared! Come along, Susie!" Iris chirped.
16th April
Windibank's Storeroom…
"..." Iris said, tears forming in her eyes.
"Iris…" I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Poor Iris... She's clammed up completely.'
"Iris is bound to find this difficult. After all, Mr Windibank's life was taken in this very room only last night." Susato said.
"..." Iris said.
"...Ah!" Gregson said, trying to run away after looking at Iris.
"Wait! Inspector!" Ryunosuke cried.
"What is it now, sunshine?" Gregson asked.
"You took one look at me and tried to run away!"
"You think a Scotland Yard inspector would run away from some jumped-up little defence lawyer, do ya?"
"Tobias! Focus!" I said, moving away from Iris for Gregson to see her. "Iris is upset."
"..." Iris said.
"I just!" Gregson said, looking down at Iris. "Well... ...I've never seen Her Ladyship lookin' like that before, is the thing. I didn't know what to say to her."
"I can't help but feel bad for her." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'So you weren't running away from me...you were running away from a ten-year-old.'
"I'm afraid this is all a little much for young Iris. Some gentle reassurance might go a long way perhaps, Inspector." Susato said.
"It really would. And Iris doesn't know if she can trust me or not. Talk to her." I said, looking down at Iris.
"Eh?!" Gregson exclaimed.
"..." Iris said.
"Erm... Ahem! Don't, um... Don't trouble yourself unduly, Your Ladyship. I mean...at least you're not dead, are you?"
"...I don't think that went very well." Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"... WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! Look! I'm in the middle of an investigation here, sunshine! And I told you not to get under my feet!"
"And we have investigating to do ourselves." Susato said.
"Yes. I'd like to hear more of what the socially inept inspector has to say." Ryunosuke said.
"Oh Hurley…" Iris said, tears forming in her eyes again.
"Iris…" I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'And enquire into how Mr Holmes's operation is going…'
"Why not ask about the crime scene?" I asked, looking down at the floor.
"So, Inspector, what do you make of the crime scene here?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Pshaw! You've got eyes, haven't you? Use 'em! It is what it looks like. Nothin' more, nothin' less!" Gregson said, angrily.
"... Iris, could you lend me a hand?"
"So, Gregsy, what do you make of the crime scene here?" Iris asked.
"Oh yes, Your Ladyship, do allow me to humbly explain!" Gregson said, excitedly. "Last night at shortly after the hour of one o'clock in the mornin', Scotland Yard police attended the scene. The one and only door to this storeroom was found locked from the inside."
"Another locked room mystery." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'So it was locked from the inside…'
"The lock appears to be broken now, though. Was that the police officers' doing?" Susato asked.
"Quite right, ma'am, quite right. We took the liberty of smashin' the door in...as humbly as possible." Gregson said, happily.
"Oh…"
"As you can see, the victim was discovered prostrate on the floor, um...thuswise. And next to the aforementioned body, we discovered the vile gutter-child."
"Are you talking about Ginny? She's my friend, you know, Inspector!" Iris said, worried.
"... Miss Lestrade - the hapless girl - was curled up on the floor, dead to the world." Gregson said.
'...She's still alive, you know.' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "Yes, when I saw her, she appeared to be unconscious."
"And I'm afraid to say...she had the gun that was used in her hand."
"No!" Iris said, terrified.
"Crap." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Presumably it's the gun that's still down there on the floor now.'
"In her pocket, we found the key to the door as well." Gregson said.
"What?! The key to this storeroom?" Ryunosuke asked.
"And you say...the storeroom had been locked from the inside, Inspector?" Susato asked.
"Correct. All of which leaves Her Ladyship's friend... ...in somethin' of a sticky situation, I'm afraid." Gregson said.
"..." Iris said.
"Obviously! ...My personal opinion is that it's all some sort of misunderstandin'!"
"Sure, it is." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Of course it is, Inspector. Of course it is.'
"Gregsy, do you know anything about Hurley? Is the operation finished? Is Hurley alright? Is he?" Iris asked.
"Um! Well, erm...the thing is, um…" Gregson said, using his hand to rub the back of his neck.
"Don't mince your words, Inspector! ...Please! Y-You don't mean to say that Mr Holmes is...is…" Susato said, sadly.
"Is Sherlock dead?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"No no no! The operation's done and dusted! It's just that...well…" Gregson said, frowning.
"Out with it!" Susato yelled.
"Yes, ma'am! They used somethin' called a general anaesthetic. It's the latest thing. Renders the whole body insensitive."
"The whole body...anaesthetised? Is that even possible?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes. It is. It's used in the future." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "For medical procedures."
"It means the operation can be completed while the patient is fast asleep." Gregson said.
"Goodness, in the Empire of Japan, we can just manage to provide laughing gas for a tooth extraction…" Susato said, her eyes widening.
"The trouble is, the latest thing isn't always the greatest thing, if you follow my meanin'. They couldn't get the medication to work at first, so it took hours for him to nod off, or so I hear. And now that the op's finished, they...they can't get him to wake up, apparently."
"Oh my!"
"No one knows if it's the anaesthetic still in his system, or if the bloke's just plain exhausted. But anyway, all they can do is stand back and watch until he comes round again."
"Hurley…" Iris said, letting out a lot of tears.
"The moment he opens his eyes, Your Ladyship, I swear I shall get word to you!" Gregson said, angrily.
"Sherlock does love showing off." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'What a surprise. Even in matters of life and death, Mr Holmes has to do things 'his way'.'
"The last time something like this happened, Sherlock was in his mind palace." I said, handing Ryunosuke the Pawnbroker's Ticket that was inside the box. "Here."
"Um, Inspector...what do you make of this?" Ryunosuke asked, grabbing the Pawnbroker's Ticket that was inside the box from me.
"Ah, what have we here, then?" Gregson asked, grabbing the Pawnbroker's Ticket that was inside the box. "A redemption ticket for an article deposited here, is it? Looks like someone ran out of office stationery and wrote the ticket on whatever paper was to hand. Yes, this is the ticket for McGilded's overcoat. The one that little diver turned up with yesterday."
"Oh, actually no, it's not." Ryunosuke said.
"...Really? Think you know better than me, do ya?" Gregson asked.
"No, I, I didn't mean to, um…"
"Runo's right, Gregsy. It isn't the same ticket." Iris said.
"Of course it isn't! Of course it isn't! I never doubted you, Your Ladyship! So, what's all this about then, if I might be so bold as to ask?" Gregson asked.
"This is a second ticket."
"A second one?"
"It seems that Mr McGilded in fact had another article in storage here at Windibank's." Ryunosuke said.
"... Is that right?" Gregson asked.
"It is, right." I said, smiling.
"...I think we need to discuss this further with the inspector, Mr Naruhodo, Jared." Susato said, looking between Ryunosuke and I.
"Agreed." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Oh good. Because he's ever so easy to talk to…'
"This ticket was in one of the pockets of Mr McGilded's overcoat." Ryunosuke said, looking down at the second redemption ticket.
"Eh?! You, you mean to tell me...?" Gregson asked.
"Yes, there was more than just the music box disk, it seems."
"Hmph. I should've insisted on the lads takin' it back to the Yard and examinin' it properly."
"Well, according to the details on this ticket... ...Mr McGilded deposited another article here with Mr Windibank." Susato said.
"Yes, I can see it written here. A small box, was it?" Gregson asked, looking at the second redemption ticket.
"Do you have any idea where it is, Gregsy? Any idea at all? It's another article belonging to Mr McGilded. It could be an important clue!" Iris chirped.
"Well, um, yes, erm... I, I suppose it could be…"
"..." Iris said, letting out a lot of tears.
"Please! Stop lookin' at me with those big, turquoise eyes, all full of hope and expectation! It's too much pressure! I'll lose me marbles, I will! I'll go barkin'!" Gregson said, worried.
"...This is no time for dog impressions, Inspector." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"That's enough sauce from you, sunshine!" Gregson yelled. "... There is one thing that springs to mind. Accordin' to this ticket, the redemption deadline's already passed, hasn't it?"
"Oh yes, of course. Articles are only held for two months." Iris said.
"So the small box will no longer be in here, then." Susato said.
"That's right. It's been forfeited." Gregson said.
"Which means, it could be on the shelves in the front of the shop, where the forfeited items are offered for sale!"
"Yes! The shelves in the front! We must search them at once!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"You're wastin' your time." Gregson said.
"Oh!" Susato said, worried.
"There are dozens of little boxes out there. Hundreds, even. We can't possibly know which one might've been McGilded's. That information's not written in the ledger."
"At least it's not billions of deadly black cubes taking over the whole world." I said, laughing a lot. "And yes, that will happen. Way past this time period."
"Ugh…" Ryunosuke said, annoyed.
"Well, I think we should at least have a look, just in case." Iris said, happily.
"Of course, Your Ladyship, of course! Very sensible of you, I'm sure!" Gregson cheered.
"Yup." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'This is getting old…'
"Ooo. That's where the body was found." I said, walking to the chalk outline. "Love it."
"Jared, do you like stuff like this?" Susato asked, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'The police have marked the position of the body with a chalk line.'
"Poor Mr Windibank... He was a nice old man." Iris said.
"Well, he was shot just once, through the heart. Most likely, the fellow died instantly. He wouldn't have felt a thing." Gregson said.
"..."
"This must be his blood, then." Ryunosuke said.
"Ah!" Iris said, at a loss for words.
"I don't like to ask at such a wretched time, Iris, but I wonder if perhaps-" Susato said, sadly.
"Don't worry, Susie! I'm ready for action!"
"So...now we know the colour the chemical turns when it reacts with Mr Windibank's blood."
"Hm...and it doesn't match our analysis of the bloodstain we found in the main shop."
"No. But let's add this sample to the others we've already collected, anyway."
The blood samples portfolio has been updated in the Court Record.
"It's not a great big threatening button. A great big threatening button which must not be pressed under any circumstances." I said, walking away from the chalk outline to the red chest. "Which is honestly a good thing."
"Out of all the articles in the storeroom... ...this is the only thing that shows any sign of being ransacked." Ryunosuke said, looking down at the red chest.
"Ah!" Iris said, in awe.
"What is it, Iris?"
"That's... That's the box file that my manuscript was being kept in."
"Oh!" Suato said, at a loss for words.
"Yup." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Iris's unpublished story. 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'... Surely that's not what all this…'
Flashback…
"Sorry, Iris, but if you ask me, 'e's sold it. Wivout tellin' you." Gina said.
Windibank's Storeroom…
"We must check inside the box at once!" Susato said, angrily.
"Yeah." I said, taking out my sonic screwdriver, turning it on, and using it to unlock the red chest. "There you go."
"Yes… ..." Iris said, opening the red chest to see her manuscript. "Ah!"
"It was there! Iris's story was there!" Susato said, terrified.
"Really? It was? Well, that's good news, isn't it, Iris?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Um...yes... I mean, of course I believed Hurley and Jared when they said they'd deposited it here, but still... ...it's a relief to actually see it." Iris said, frowning.
"Same." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. '...Really? Because that's not a very well hidden frown…'
"..." Iris said.
Iris's manuscript has been entered into the Court Record.
"A revolver." I said, picking up the revolver.
"This, this is a revolver. A real one!" Ryunosuke said, worried.
"And quite...quite possibly the murder weapon! Used to take Mr Windibank's life!" Susato cried.
"What's the matter, Susie? You and Runo look like you're about to faint." Iris said, looking between Ryunosuke and Susato.
"Well, it's just that...I've rarely seen a gun in the flesh!" Susato said.
"And I've...had issues with guns in the past. But anyway, we saw Mr Windibank with this yesterday, didn't we?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I shall have to take my own life!" Windibank said, aiming his gun by his head.
Windibank's Storeroom…
'It must be the same gun.' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself. 'And last night... ...when I looked through the spy hole in the door to the storeroom here... ...that was the same gun I saw...in Gina's hand.'
"Mr Windibank told us that he only ever had a single bullet loaded in his revolver, didn't he?" Susato asked.
"Well, it's empty now. The one and only bullet he had in his gun has been fired." Iris said, opening the revolver to see no bullets inside.
"Yeah." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'So we can be fairly certain...that only a single shot was fired from this revolver…'
"Gregson, take a look at this." I said, holding up Iris's Story Manuscript. "Iris's latest work!"
"Is, is that what I think it is?! Y-Y-Your Ladyship's latest?!" Gregson exclaimed, looking down at the manuscript.
"Yes, my latest story. It's called, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'." Iris said.
"A, a most fascinatin' title, Your Ladyship! Faaascinatin'! ...And, um... I don't suppose... Would there be any mention of my humble self in the tale this time?"
"Hm...good question. I can't really remember."
"I see, I see. Well, why would you, Your Ladyship? I'll just await its publication with eager anticipation!"
"You needn't worry, Inspector. I'm sure if you do appear, you won't be doing anything particularly remarkable." Ryunosuke said.
"...You lookin' to be arrested, sunshine?" Gregson asked.
"Ryunosuke…" I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I didn't mean it like that! ...And even if I did, you wouldn't have bitten Her Ladyship's head off, would you?'
*Dong* *Dong* *Dong*
"AAAAAAGH!!! I nearly jumped out of my skin there! How could Mr Windibank set such a wicked trap?!" Iris exclaimed.
"I...I doubt he set out to scare anyone." Ryunosuke said.
"Is that really the time? I think perhaps we should pay Gina another visit soon." Susato said.
"Oh?"
"Her trial is tomorrow. We must establish whether or not you will be defending her. I think we should ask her one more time. ...She may have changed her mind."
"..."
"Don't you remember, Runo? You told her she could rip up the representation papers if she didn't want you to be her lawyer." Iris said.
"...Really? Did I say that?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes." Susato said.
"You did." Iris said.
"The deadline for submitting the paperwork is fast approaching."
"It is." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'In that case, we had better hurry back to the prison and talk to Gina again.'
16th April, 5:41 p.m.
Local Prison, Cell 13…
"Ah, Gina, good... You're back." Ryunosuke said, happily.
"Ah! ..." Gina said, at a loss for words.
"The police must have finished questioning her, then." Susato said.
"Oh, how was it, Ginny? Was it awful?" Iris asked.
"Eh? Oh... Didn't bother me." Gina said, scoffing.
"Thank you for the papers you signed before. It meant we were able to investigate at Windibank's." Ryunosuke said, smiling.
"Oh...right... ..."
"Don't you want to know how we got on? We've been ever so busy." Iris said.
"... Wot's the point in askin'? Won't change wot everyone's sayin'. That I did it." Gina said.
"That's not…"
"..."
"Gina, we came to ask for your final decision." Ryunosuke said.
"Eh? Wot decision?" Gina asked.
"About tomorrow's trial. Will you let me defend you or not?"
"...!"
"I must submit the paperwork now if you'd like Mr Naruhodo to represent you." Susato said.
"Right...I see…" Gina said, letting out a sigh.
"Gina…" I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'She's really lost her fight all of a sudden. But I know what that feels like. The worry is just so hard to bear…'
"Come on. Why not tell her what we've uncovered?" I asked, looking down at the floor.
"..." Iris said.
"... Oh, alright then! Blimey, give it a rest wiv them eyes, Iris! So come on then, fill us in. Who done it?" Gina asked.
"Unfortunately we don't know that yet." Ryunosuke said.
"...You don't say."
"We don't know 'yet', Gina. But Mr Naruhodo - and all of us - know that you are innocent of this crime." Susato said.
"..."
"And while we haven't yet managed to work out who the real culprit is... ...there are a number of interesting facts that we have managed to establish." Ryunosuke said.
"Oh yeah? Like wot?" Gina asked.
"Oh. Everything!" I said, excitedly. "Tell her, Ryunosuke."
"Well, for example... ...the reason for you being there in the first place. I think I know now why you broke into Windibank's that night." Ryunosuke said.
"..." Gina said.
"Here you go." I said, taking out Gina's Representation Papers out of my sling bag.
"Gina, I'd like to thank you for signing these papers." Ryunosuke said, presenting Gina's Representation Papers to the blonde.
"If you wanna thank me, you can do it once you've got me off the 'ook." Gina said.
"Alright then. ... Wait, what?" Ryunosuke asked, as he thought this to himself. 'Shouldn't she be thanking ME then?'
"You know wot, Mr Narrow-'Oddo...? It ain't good manners to expect thanks if you do someone a favour."
"... I KNOW THAT!" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'She's as tricky with words as she is with her fingers.'
"That's a tsundere for you." I said, while I took out the Pawnbroker's Ticket that was in the coat out of my sling bag. "Cold on the outside, but warm on the inside."
"Do you see this pawnbroker's ticket, Gina? It's the one you took to Windibank's, isn't it? The one for that black overcoat that you're wearing now." Ryunosuke said, handing Gina the Pawnbroker's Ticket that was inside the coat.
"Eh? Wot, that? I dunno. They all look the same to me, those tickets." Gina said.
'Surely not…' Ryunosuke said, while he thought that to himself, before speaking aloud. "Well this one has a very obvious mark on it...that would appear to be blood."
"Eh?!"
"Does that ring any bells?"
"...I dunno. It all looks the same to me, blood."
"Oh, Gina…" I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'And they all sound the same to me, these answers. Suspicious.'
"We're trying to help you." I said, taking out Iris's Story Manuscript out of my sling bag and handing said manuscript to Ryunosuke.
"We found this in Mr Windibank's storeroom: The manuscript of Iris's latest story." Ryunosuke said, and he held up Iris's Story Manuscript.
"Ah! Oh...right. Well that's good then." Gina said.
"Curiously, the storeroom at Windibank's showed no sign of being ransacked for items of value or the like. With one exception: The box file that housed this manuscript."
"..."
"It was you, wasn't it, Gina? Who broke open the box containing this manuscript last night."
"Eh?!"
"You were determined to find out whether or not 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' was really there. That's the real reason you broke into the storeroom last night, isn't it?"
"AAAAAAGH!" Gina yelled, breaking down.
"Why don't you tell us what happened? Please." Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"Gina, come on. Why can't you let Ryunosuke represent you in court?" I asked, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"We already have the representation papers and other documents we need." Susato said.
"All we have to do is hand them to the court clerk. That is...if you'll allow me to represent you in court tomorrow?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... Nah. Don't bother." Gina said.
"Ginny…" Iris said, letting out a lot of tears.
"Rip 'em up and chuck 'em, would ya? Them 'respresentation papers' or wotever they're called. This cell ain't fancy enough to 'ave a bin."
"So...what will you do in court tomorrow?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I'll be fine on me own." Gina said.
"...I don't think you will be." Iris said, grabbing my hand.
"You really won't, Gina." I said, squeezing Iris' hand. "You're innocent in all this."
"Look, it don't matter. Wot's gonna 'appen is gonna 'appen." Gina said.
"Stop being so stubborn!" I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'This is one stubborn pickpocket.'
"Oh yeah, let's talk about Iris' manuscript. The Hound of the Baskervilles!" I said, looking at Gina.
"... Alright, yeah... This 'Baskervilles' story - it's the latest Holmes adventure, right? But it ain't been printed yet. So I figured...it's gotta be worth a fair few pieces o' silver, right?" Gina asked.
"Oh yes. At least five thousand pounds." Susato said.
"What?!" Iris exclaimed.
"So...you intended to sell Iris's manuscript, did you?" Ryunosuke asked.
"No... Ginny, how could you?"
"Wot? Wait! No, 'ang on! 'Course I weren't gonna sell it! All I wanted to do was find out if the 'mantelscript', or wotever ya call it, really was there or not. That's the only reason I was in the place!" Gina yelled.
"For Iris's sake...isn't that right?" Susato asked.
"Ah!"
"We knew why you'd done it from the start, Gina. Of course we did." Ryunosuke said.
"But…"
"I knew you wouldn't do anything mean like that, Ginny! I just knew it!" Iris cried.
"Well, um...erm…" Gina said, sadly.
"When I saw the manuscript in the storeroom, it reminded me of what you'd said the night before." Ryunosuke said.
Flashback….
"Grown-ups do a lot worse than that, believe me. Barefaced liars, the lot of 'em! You just ain't realised it yet." Gina said.
"..." Iris said.
"I'm tellin' ya, that 'mantelscript' ain't at Windibank's. You'd soon see if you 'ad a look!"
"... If I'm honest... ...I have wondered if Hurley and Jared are telling me the truth sometimes. I mean that I sometimes wonder if they might have hidden my manuscript somewhere. Somewhere I don't know. Even though it's wrong of me to doubt them…" Iris said.
Local Prison, Cell 13…
"..." Gina said.
"Oh, Ginny, that was so sweet of you!" Iris chirped.
"... Alright, alright... I'll tell ya why I did it. Just stop lookin' at me like that, Iris." Gina said, as Iris is still fixated on her. "It weren't because of Iris. That's not why I did it. I just...wanted to know the truth, that's all."
"You wanted to know if Mr Holmes and Jared were being honest? If they'd really deposited the manuscript at Windibank's?" Susato asked.
"...It's like I told ya the night before... ...I never 'ad a father. But Iris's lot ain't like mine. She's got 'er dad, only she can't see 'im. And I reckon that's gotta be 'arder." Gina said.
"...!" Iris said, in awe.
"That's why she writes 'er stories. They're about 'er dad really. That's wot it sounded like to me, anyway. Last night, when I was listenin' to wot you were sayin'."
"Stories...about Daddy...? ..."
"You mean they're not the adventures of a great detective... ...so much as the adventures of a great detective and his trusty partners?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Well, that's 'ow I see it, yeah." Gina said.
"... You're so thoughtful and so kind, Ginny." Iris said, happily.
"Yes. And we never thought any differently, did we?" Susato asked.
"Look! Give it a rest, will ya? I 'ate all this chummy nonsense! D'you 'ear? I 'ate it! I don't trust no one, right? That's 'ow I work. Cos if you don't trust no one, no one can let ya down! So leave me alone! Go on! Scarper!" Gina said, angrily.
"... ......" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'I hadn't noticed until now, but it's unmistakable. Right there on both sleeves of that overcoat... ...are some very suspicious red stains!'
"...Wot? Why are you lookin' at me like that?"
'I think it might be worth presenting some of our other findings in that area to Gina now…' Ryunosuke said, reaching into my sling bag to pull out the Blood Samples Portfolio and present said portfolio to Gina. "Those stains on the sleeves of your new coat, Gina... They're blood, aren't they? Not that I know whose blood yet."
"WOT?!" Gina exclaimed.
"B-Blood, Mr Naruhodo?!" Susato exclaimed.
"Yes. Blood." I said, changing my form from human to ghost.
"You don't appear to have any obvious wounds yourself, though. So could it be blood that spattered from Mr Windibank when he was shot last night?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Let's not beat around the bush here. This trusty friend of mine will get results much faster than anything else!" Iris said, taking out her grenade launcher.
"And don't forget mine." I said, while electricity came out of my body.
"Eh?! T-Take it easy, Iris, Jared!" Gina said, looking between Iris and I.
"Don't move, Ginny! I'm going to shoot!" Iris cheered.
"Oh…" Gina said, looking down at her coat sleeves.
"Oh my!" Susato said, her eyes widening.
"What the...? Forget the sleeves…" Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"...The whole coat is covered in blood!" Iris said, worried.
"Yeah." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Of course! The black colour of the fabric was masking the stains. That's why we haven't seen them until now!'
"And the blood has reacted with the chemical to turn a purple colour... ...which matches one of the samples we've already collected perfectly!" Susato said, terrified.
"Yes, now let's see...who had the purple blood? Aha! Yes, it was the brickmaker, Mr Mason. The victim of the murder case two months ago." Iris said, looking down at the Blood Sample Portfolio.
"..." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'I knew it…'
"Wot, wot are you all on about? The victim? Wot d'you mean?" Gina asked.
"... It's a rather uncomfortable situation, Mr Naruhodo, but I think this makes things quite clear. It means the omnibus case is finally solved. The truth about who really murdered the brickmaker, Mr Mason...is revealed." Susato said.
"Oi! Would someone explain wot's goin' on?! Stop tellin' 'alf a story!"
"..."
"Gina, it's time for the truth of the omnibus case." I said, sadly. "I knew all this time. But I kept it in because of spoilers and all."
"We can see now that the victim's blood is all over Mr McGilded's overcoat." Ryunosuke said.
"But in the trial two months ago, the defendant said this in his testimony…" Susato said, taking out her book.
Flashback…
"Now I ask youse, what good-hearted soul wouldn't rush to help a fella bleedin' from his stomach? I wasn't about to start worryin' about me gloves now, was I? I reached out to give the man a hand." McGilded said.
Local Prison, Cell 13…
"But if you look at this overcoat, it's clear... These stains couldn't have arisen from McGilded trying to pull the victim to his feet." Ryunosuke said.
"No. If that was what had really happened, the blood wouldn't have splashed all over the front of the coat." Susato said.
"The only explanation for this pattern of blood... ...is that it splattered over McGilded's coat when he stabbed the victim in the stomach!" Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'I've tried to run from the truth for long enough. But there's no escaping it now. The true culprit in that case - Mr Mason's killer...was Magnus McGilded!'
"Mr Naruhodo…" Susato said, letting out a lot of tears.
"...That horrible case is solved at last. And I... I helped the man walk free from that trial! I used all that twisted testimony and all that sham evidence...to 'prove' his innocence! ..." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'How could I have let that happen...?'
"Because it had to happen, Ryunosuke." I said, looking down at the floor. "It was a still-point time. It made it possible to make it a fixed point in time. And Magnus McGilded leaving the courtroom innocent became fixed."
"..." Gina said.
"Runo...did you believe him, though? Did you believe Mr McGilded was innocent?" Iris asked.
"... I believed... Or rather, I think I was trying to believe. I wanted to. Because believing in those you represent in court...is a defence lawyer's greatest weapon." Ryunosuke said.
"A weapon...?"
"..." Susato said.
"What is a lawyer's weapon?" I asked, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"Before we came to Great Britain, a great friend of mine taught me a valuable lesson…" Ryunosuke said.
"You mean Kazuma-sama?" Susato asked.
Flashback…
"Listen, Ryunosuke. We lawyers are only human. We can't know for sure what is the truth and what is a lie. Which is why we must resort to our primary weapon: An unwavering belief in our clients. That's all we really have." Kazuma said.
"...Unwavering belief?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Only when we truly believe what our clients tell us, can we fight with everything we have for their cause. In any battle, there can be no victory without faith. So I believe you. Unwaveringly."
Local Prison, Cell 13…
"... Hehe…" Gina said, giggling.
"What's funny, Gina?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Cor, sounds like in this Empire o' Japan you come from, everyone must be soft!"
"...!"
"Well, come on! Look at the mess it's got you into, believin' in that bogtrotter!"
"Yes...I inadvertently helped a murderer walk free." Ryunosuke said.
"..." Susato said.
"Ryunosuke…." I said, letting out a sigh.
"Well at least you've learnt yer lesson now, eh? Believin' in people's never worth it. Someone always stabs you in the back in the end. Soon as you let down yer guard...you've 'ad it. Take a leaf outta my book: Believe no one, get 'urt by no one." Gina said.
"..." Ryunosuke said.
"Gina...may I ask you something?" Susato asked.
"Wot?" Gina asked.
"I'd just like to make absolutely sure... What would you like us to do with these representation papers for tomorrow's trial?"
"... 'Ow many times do I 'ave to say it? Rip 'em up and chuck 'em away."
"Are you really sure that's what you want?"
"I bet that's wot 'e wants an' all now. Mr 'I'm-a-Believer' Lawyer over there."
"..." Ryunosuke said.
"Don't forget it was me in that trial two months ago. I led everyone up the garden path, didn't I? An' yer tellin' me you can believe in me after that? Not likely." Gina said.
"... Well, Mr Naruhodo?" Susato asked.
"Do you trust Miss Gina Lestrade?" I asked, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'A lawyer's primary weapon is an unwavering belief in his clients... Ultimately it comes down to whether or not I feel I can trust Gina after everything that's happened…'
Well?" I asked, looking over at Ryunosuke.
"I trust her." Ryunosuke said, happily. "Gina...let me say it again... Please allow me to represent you in tomorrow's trial."
"Eh? Are you 'alf-baked?" Gina asked.
"Not at all. You've not once admitted to committing the crime, have you? What's more...I believe that you're telling me the truth." Ryunosuke said.
"... Seriously, um...Mr Narrow-'Oddo... ...didn't you 'ear all of wot I said before? I'm a born liar. Fibs just trip off me tongue. And I'm a diver, don't forget. I pulled the wool over yer eyes two months ago and got you into all sorts o' trouble. Why would you ever trust me now? I just don't get it!"
"..."
"Gina…" Susato said, sadly.
"...!" Gina said, at a loss for words.
"...I do understand why you choose not to put your trust in others. But I assure you, there is more to this life than you yet realise."
"Wot d'you mean?"
"The world we live in... ...is full of people you would do very well to trust. People who won't ever let you down."
"Eh?"
"It's true that I'm just a student of law, and I'm certainly lacking in courtroom experience. But I can promise you this: Whatever happens...and until my very last breath... ...I am completely on your side!" Ryunosuke cried.
"... Wot...wot d'you expect me to say to that? ..." Gina said.
"Then it's decided. I will take these papers now and carry out the necessary preparations for tomorrow's trial. It would be a shame to throw them away now after it's been penned with your name so beautifully." Susato said, taking Gina's Representation Papers away from Ryunosuke.
"...Do wot you like. You Eastern lot are...are... I dunno wot you are! I don't get ya!" Gina yelled, and ran to the back of her cell.
"Gina…" I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Gina's taken herself off to the back of her cell. She'd never admit it, but I hope she's feeling relieved. That turned out alright in the end...I think.'
"...... ..." Susato said, looking over at Gregson. "Whoever's hiding there... ...show yourself at once! Eavesdropping is the height of cowardice!"
"Miss Susato?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"Somebody is there in the shadows. I can sense it. Somebody who wasn't there before!" Susato said, angrily.
"What?!"
"... ...Blimey, you're sharp, eh?" Gregson asked, revealing himself. "I s'pose you were usin' one of those mystic Japanese arts. Like the art of stealth I've heard so much about."
"...If anyone was being stealthy, it was you, Inspector." Ryunosuke said.
"Gregsy!" Iris cheered.
"Oh dear me, I am most terribly sorry, Your Ladyship! I didn't mean to startle you!" Gregson said, excitedly.
"How long have you been listening in on our conversation?"
"Good grief! Listenin' in?! No no no! I just got word that there were some visitors who were refusin' to leave even though it was after hours. I assure you, Your Ladyship, I only just arrived. This very minute! Not a moment earlier! That's all it is! Nothin' untoward! Nothin' at all!"
"After hours...? Is it that late already?" Ryunosuke asked.
"So then, I'll humbly excuse myself now, Your Ladyship. Ta-ta! Toodle-oo! Cheerio! All the best! Bye, by and by!" Gregson said, attempting to leave the room.
"See you, Tobias." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'That's a lot of farewells, and not one of them appropriate for 'Her Ladyship'.'
"Oh, but I wanted to have a chat!" Iris said, pouting.
"I'm, I'm terribly sorry, but time is pressin' at the minute." Gregson said.
"Oh, I see. ...That's a shame."
"If I don't get this emergency at the Supreme Court dealt with sharpish, Lord Stronghart will, well…"
"Emergency?!"
"Lord Stronghart?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Nothin'! Forget I said anythin'! Anyway...ahem! I'm off!" Gregson said, angrily.
"Alright, Gregsy, if you have to. But let's chat soon!" Iris chirped.
"Delighted! Charmed! Can't wait! If you please! My pleasure!" Gregson said, leaving the room.
"Very sus." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'That's a lot of pleasantries, and not one of them sounded sincere…'
"Gregsy's so funny! He says such silly things!" Iris said, giggling.
"It's certainly entertaining to see an inspector of the police fawning to a ten-year-old girl." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'But anyway, I wonder what this emergency is at the Supreme Court…'
"I must attend the court clerk's office now before it closes." Susato said.
"Yes, of course. Thank you, Miss Susato."
"... Kindly escort Iris home now, Mr Naruhodo, Jared. I shall meet you both there later." Susato said, leaving the room.
"And so our investigation came to an end. Susato-san went to file the necessary papers for my defence of Gina the following day. And then it hit me... I could no longer suppress the wretched feeling that had been gnawing away at my insides. Tomorrow...Susato-san would be leaving. Leaving Britain and making her way back to Japan. And Jared would also be leaving. Leaving Britain and making his way back to Remnant." Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
16th April, 11:13 p.m.
Naruhodo's Legal Consultancy…
"Naruhodo-san… Jared… ...it's been a very trying day, hasn't it? I do hope you're not too exhausted." Susato said, looking between Ryunosuke and I.
"What about the both of you, Susato-san, Jared? Today has been even more trying for you, I'm sure." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'Mr Holmes was shot before our eyes, Gina was arrested... ...all on the back of the news that Susato's father has fallen ill and that she must return to Japan at once. And that is on top of the fact that Vacuo is the only kingdom left and that Jared must return to Remnant at once.' He then spoke aloud. "Susato-san, I...hope your father recovers soon. And Jared, I hope you're able to beat Salem."
"Same here." I said, sadly. "Salem is immortal. She probably wiped out Patch. Oh, I hope Taiyang and Zwei are okay."
"Thank you for your kind words. ..." Susato said, frowning.
"..." Ryunosuke said.
"I wonder why it is... ...that so many thoughts rage in my head like a storm... ...and yet I seem unable to find the words to express any of them."
"I know exactly what you mean."
"Anyway, I have one final task to complete as one of your judicial assistants. Once that is done, I shall make preparations for my departure tomorrow."
"I'll prepare for my departure tomorrow too. I can travel through dimensions back to Remnant. Still, you're going back to Japan, Susato." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'One final task...?'
"I know, Jared. It's just two months since we arrived in London. But we've managed to establish this office. It was finally feeling as though we were settling in. I would be lying...if I said I felt no regret." Susato said.
"I'm so sorry, Susato-san…" Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"It's just so sudden. I really don't know what to think. I've had no time to gather my thoughts."
"... I know we've only been here a short time, but... ...in my limited experience of the courtroom, I feel I've learnt something."
"...And what would that be?"
"It seems to me...there are many facets to people's personalities."
"Facets..?"
"Oh, you mean what they front for their surface level personality." I said, happily.
"Exactly." Ryunosuke said, smiling. "And like a jewel, the light plays off them in complex patterns, illuminating their actions and their motives. But we see only see… …a small number of the total facets. And what is illuminated is only a part of the whole story."
"..." Suato said.
"What lies in the shadows? What do those facets we cannot see look like? Perhaps there are some parts we'll never lay eyes on, for as long as we live." Ryunosuke said.
"That's so true."
"It really is!" I said, excitedly.
"Sometimes I feel as though I'm blind to so much. But I keep hoping that one day it will all become clear. That all the facets will be illuminated, and I'll finally understand how everything fits together." Ryunosuke said.
"Naruhodo-san…" Susato said, sadly.
"I suppose what matters... ...is that we keep our eyes open, and keep moving forward. Even if the way sometimes seems dark."
"... It's amazing to think it's been just two months. ...You've grown so much."
"Sorry? I've what?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Oh no...it was nothing. Unimportant." Susato said.
"Do you know what time you will leave London in the morning?"
"Yes, I picked up my ticket earlier. And Jared called Captain Jack Harkness at some point. We shall be leaving here at 4 a.m."
"I see. Well, I'll escort you and Jared to the station."
"Absolutely not." Susato said.
"Yeah. You can't. Ryunosuke, you wouldn't be able to handle Jack." I said, laughing a lot.
"Sorry?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I'm sure you realise why we couldn't possibly let you do that. You have a very important day ahead of you tomorrow." Susato said.
'Gina's trial…' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "Yes, I know, but-"
"No buts. You can't mess this up, Ryunosuke." I said, crossing my arms.
"Naruhodo-san, every word you utter will have the potential to determine Gina's fate." Susato said.
"...!" Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
"You must get as much rest as possible. Even though, like us, we're sure you will find it hard to sleep. But please, for us...do try." Susato said.
"Um...you mentioned 'one final task' a moment ago. What did you mean?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Oh my! I nearly forgot! Please, I want you to have this." Susato said, walking over to her desk, picking up a stack of paper, and handing said stack to Ryunosuke.
"Oh yeah, I had River Song deliver this to me from Torchwood Three." I said, taking out a huge file out of my sling bag and handing it to Ryunosuke. "Typed it all out on my phone on the Torchwood software. And printers weren't invented yet."
"What is that?" Ryunosuke asked, while he thought this to himself. 'Some huge bundle of documents…'
"It's my notes...and Jared's notes…from the case two months ago. The murder that was committed on the omnibus." Susato said.
"...!" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'The McGilded case…'
"It seems to me that this case of Mr Windibank's murder - of which Gina is accused... ...is very much tied up with that omnibus case. In ways that are not yet completely apparent. So I took the liberty of consolidating my writings about the case for you." Susato said.
"And whatever details Susato might have missed, I covered it for you." I said, happily. "While leaving out the bits that could make things worse."
"..." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'With everything else they've had to think about... ...Susato-san and Jared have still managed to do this. And all neatly laid out for me in Susato-san's beautiful handwriting and modern printed text. '
"It was our pleasure. We can only hope that it will bolster your case tomorrow for Gina." Susato said, happily.
"Honestly. Same. I hope you win, Ryunosuke." I said, smiling.
"Thank you so much, Susato-san, Jared. I will do my best to use it wisely. You two really are the best judicial assistants in the world." Ryunosuke said, looking between Susato and I.
"Well...that's extremely flattering. But I'm sorry to say... ...that I've been a complete failure." Susato said.
"Ditto. Ever since Trenzalore, I've been a mess." I said, looking down at the floor.
"Sorry? I, I didn't quite catch what you said there." Ryunosuke said.
"Oh! ...Ignore us. We were just mumbling to ourselves." Susato said, grabbing my hand.
The McGilded case notes have been entered into the Court Record.
"Well...it's getting rather late. I think you should go to bed now, Naruhodo-san. Jared and I must finish packing up our things in our rooms." Susato said.
"Susato-san, Jared, I…" Ryunosuke said, looking between Susato and I.
"We wish you the very best of luck tomorrow! ...Good night." Susato said.
"Night, Ryunosuke." I said, squeezing Susato's hand.
"Wait! There's, there's something I need to say!" Ryunosuke cried.
"Haiiiiii-YA!" Susato yelled, doing the Susato Takedown and throwing Ryunosuke to the floor.
"What, what was that...?"
"A secret technique of mine... The 'Susato Shutdown'." Susato said.
"Shutdown?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... Please...we implore you... If we have to voice our goodbyes... ...we won't be able to hold back our tears."
"Sleep." I said, walking over to Ryunosuke and placing my hands on the sides of his head.
"... Susato-san… Jared…" Ryunosuke said, closing his eyes.
"Thank you, Ryunosuke. I might see you tomorrow." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"It truly had been a trying day. On our feet for hours... Getting Gina to open up to us... And learning the truth about that nemesis of a case. Physically and mentally, I was exhausted. And yet the idea of sleep seemed impossible. But I forced myself to close my eyes... ...eventually...my fatigue triumphed, and I fell into a deep sleep. ......... ...... ..." Ryunosuke said, as a voiceover.
17th April, the Small Hours
St Synner's Hospital, Ward 3…
"...Yes, I quite understand." Holmes said, looking between Susato and I. "To both of your respective requests."
"That is a great weight off my mind." Susato said, happily.
"And same for mine. The less my past self knows of this. The one that is working at Torchwood Three with Captain Jack of this time, the better." I said, smiling. "It's too early for the past version of me to know."
"I know." Holmes said. "Rest assured, I shall put everything in place, exactly as we have discussed. Between the three of us."
"Thank you so much. It has been an honour and a pleasure to be acquainted with you, Mr Holmes." Susato said.
"It was nice spending time with you, Sherlock." I said, walking up to Holmes for a hug. "You really are one of my best friends."
"On the contrary. The pleasure has been mine. I bid you farewell...and Godspeed... ...my dear madam and my old friend." Holmes said, looking between Susato and I.