A year has passed. Now it's 27 Yanuary (yes, that's this world's term for January) 19A-47. I solved more minor cases that I don't bother to tell because of how easy are them to solve. A bunch of idiots tried to hide their weapons under their hats. Until they realize that they aren't sidearms, and are too big to be hidden under hats.
But then a case came by this month, a murder of a man called Elijah Long. He is found dead in a vacant lot somewhere in Colloseo Street. He was found naked, and when the police's magic investigation group came by, they found evidence that Elijah had his spirit being drained away before finally dying, and then the body was mutilated afterwards. The case was named "The Black Orchid" because Elijah was last seen wearing an orchid on his suit. I was not hired by the police during the investigation because of them having their own new but faulty homicide detective section covering it. But then again, I shouldn't be talking that behind their backs, considering my father is the one that is the captain of that section after he got promoted.
Elijah is a known associate for the Heisenberg Family, owning a flower shop which serves as a front. Beneath his shop, during an investigation by the police, is a hidden torture room used by the family to set an example to those that defy them. They even filmed it, before sending the torture tape to the city hall, to frighten the mayor.
Now that a trusted associate is dead, the Heisenberg Family is now doubling their security on all their fronts and owned businesses, which includes the Courier Company that has those faulty delivery trucks, several automobile rental shops, and mechanic shops. The police and the family began to suspect that the Malzenos have something to do with the murder, but Lucrezia denied it as none of the family members are able to drain someone's spirit like that.
I sighed, as I finished my journal entry.
"Here you go, Takumi. Some coffee."
"Thanks, Grace." I said, taking the cup from Grace's hand.
"And here's some iced chocolate." She said, giving another cup to June.
"Thanks, Delaney."
"Hey, we've known each other for a year, let's just drop the last name act for now."
"Fine, thanks, Grace."
I took a sip of my coffee, before looking out the window behind me. Afterwards I finished it, and I stood up, taking my coat and hat before putting them on.
"I'm going out for a bit."
"Be careful, Tak!"
I went out to the streets and took my car before driving away. I was planning to visit Sara, who lived separately in a safe house (which is basically an apartment) that Lucrezia rented for her as she stayed in a hotel, guarded by her other guards. She can really read my mind, giving Sara a place for her to stay, and giving me the address afterwards. I stepped on the brakes as the radio on my car beeped, and I tuned it to the police notification radio.
"Detective Keiji Takumi, you are to be present at Central Police Station by the order of Captain Keiji Hiro."
"10-4. I'm on my way."
I skipped that part of the plan to tonight. I need to see what Dad needs from me. I drove towards the police station in Central district, which is located in a square shaped park named "Perkins Square". The station is on the southern part of the square. I drove there, and parked in the visitor's parking space near the sidewalk. I entered the station, and went up to the second floor where the homicide section is.
"Hey, look who's here, my hero of a son!" Dad said, hugging me.
"Hey..." I greeted back, and returned the hug.
"So listen, Tak, I'm hiring you to investigate a homicide case, which none of the people here wanted to do since they felt that this is a copycat. You'll be partnered with Nina "Lazy" Hattrick here." He pointed towards a napping woman of my age, with light gray skin, reddish hair and pointed ears. She is wearing a gray suit jacket over a white blouse, a gray skirt, and a gray fedora. An All Grey combo, minus the eyes.
Based on the appearance, she is a Dark Elf. Dark Elves are native to the volcanic regions of this world, and are said to be resistant to fire and heat more than the other elven races, however finding one here instead of the arson desk raises a mental question in my mind.
"And before you ask, Tak, she is here because she fails every arson case she gets. Now you're stuck with her. Take a seat next to her and see if you can wake her up."
"Alright, Dad."
I obeyed his words, and sat next to Nina before poking her in the left ear. It is to test the theory if elf ears are sensitive or not.
"What the-- who touched my ear? What do you want?"
Jackpot.
"The captain wants to brief today's case that is given to us."
"Us? Wait, aren't you the skipper's--"
"Yes."
"Oh great, now you're going to lecture me in his place then. He gave up on me, and I'm on the verge of getting fired or an early retirement with a good pension. I don't really care considering how many copycats we've got in recent cases."
"Hey, I'm not a lecturer."
"Hmm? Alright then, we'll hang out just fine if you loved leisure."
"To be honest, peace and quiet is often satisfying to be experienced... With loved ones like family."
"Family Guy, huh? Good on ya."
Dad smacks the blackboard with a ruler, and called out. "Keiji Takumi, and Lazy Hattrick, you're getting a new case. A murdered man on top of Connection Hill."
"On top of a lovebird hotspot? And you pinned me with him?"
"I don't mean the two of you will date, I never mentioned that. The modus operandi shows sign of The Orchid."
I raised a brow, while Nina sighed.
"Another one of these? Probably another--"
"Another word from you, then you'll be betrothed with Tak... Just joking."
"Don't scare me like that, Skipper."
"Well then, no complaints and get going!"
We were both kicked in the rear by my dad out of the office, and we walked back downstairs before leaving the station towards my car.
"Nice wheels. Better than the one I was stuck with which is... I mean was department issued."
"What happened to it, Lazy?"
"Shit happens. Some punks were paid by the Heisenbergs to teach me a lesson after I arrested one of their soldiers trying to mug an old lady just so that he can buy some Colombo Moon Sugar... You know how addictive they are when they are processed into sniffing-dust, taste-enhancers, and drinks."
"And that lesson involves that car getting wrecked with bats and crowbars?"
"Almost correct, they brought the car to the scrapyard and ended it right there. To think the chief blamed me for defending an old woman is outrageous. Heck, he even lowered my pay."
I drove my car to Connection Hill, with Nina beside me on the passenger seat. The trip takes around 15 minutes thanks to a traffic jam, and as a result I met an angry Rorik.
"What took you so long, Keiji?"
"Ever tasted traffic jam before, Rorik? I'm sure it tastes bitter."
"Very funny... Lazy? You're with him?"
"Skipper forced me." Nina replied.
"He finally decided on a potential wedding partner or something?"
"Rorik, she's not my type."
Nina balled her fists upon hearing that, and Rorik could swear that he can literally see a rage filled aura emanating from the Dark Elf. He shrugged it off as it's not his problem, and he then went straight to the point.
"Anyways! The body that we found here, the John Doe... He had his spirit drained forcefully, before the prick ends him totally by mutilating him. Sounds familiar?"
"Heh, maybe another copycat."
"There's more, Lazy. Look at his chest."
I tilted my head to see the naked corpse behind Rorik. His entire waist and hips are gone, and what remains is a bloody torso with it's limbs intact, and two severed legs. On his chest on the other hand, is a written message. I walked on closer to it, and read it.
"F word you, HB... L.A? HB is what's written on the Heisenberg Family's insignia. And L.A is this city, where the Don lives and has the most power than in any other places."
I wiped the writing using my finger, and upon inspecting it I deduced that it is a black pen that is used.
"Written using black felt tip pen. This is unlike The Orchid back then."
I inspected his head. He has short brown pompadour styled hair, and brown eyes. His face looked like it had sunken in on itself, which is the aftermath of having his spirit drained away.
There are some beings in this world that lived among the majority of sentient humanoids, and can suck away another humanoid's spirit. There are Succubi, Incubi, Vampires like Lady Malzeno (although they mostly went for blood, obviously), alraunes and their subspecies, and most deep-sea aquatic humanoids. I can strike out alraunes as possible suspects since they were mostly rooted to the ground.
"There's some bruising on his forehead."
"Struck with a metallic object. My best guess is a crowbar." Rorik said.
"You think a Succubus might do this?"
"No signs of their aphrodisiac body fluids, and if they indeed drained him by intercourse, we still need to find his hips."
I walked away from the body, and towards a tree, where a suitcase is found lying on the ground beneath it. I opened it, seeing that it is partially open, and found some interesting objects.
One of them being a black felt tip pen. It's a Porker 51 pen. I handed it over to Rorik behind me, and I rummaged through the suitcase to find a bar receipt. Why would anyone keep a bar receipt? Maybe he doesn't memorize the address well? But it did give me one place of interest, The Mamba Club.
"The Mamba Club, Kei? I know that place. I usually talk to that Lamia manager and played poker."
"...And drinking?"
"That, as well."
Makes sense. A Mamba is a type of snake, and Lamia are humanoids with the body of a snake from the waist down. Let's just hope that this manager isn't as fork tongued as any other stone cold scumbags.