DELUSION [ CHAPTER 12 ]
LOST
“Published this?....But...Detective...”
“Rei....”
“Oh...okay...Rei...If you publish this in the paper? Wouldn’t people know I’m a suspect? I have a reputation...as an Idol I guess...my company...”
“Calm down Ryosuke....I published it but not mentioning your name...... read it yourself...I put it up on some blogs as well...”
Yamada stared at Rei who was smiling to herself. “I’m such a genius...desho?”
He blinked.
Rei smiled. Ren and Tomo had gone down to get some refreshments. Yamada had been given new apparel to clothe him in, as well as now the freedom to sit in a very cosy lounge, where Rei was lounging around fantasizing about something he didn’t want to think of. The lounge was round, themed in dark brown, filled with a strong scent of coffee and with a small television hanging on the wall.
Yamada opened the newspaper and scanned the page Rei had given him.
“A week ago from this date, the police suspect a female college student, working part time at a 24 hour grocery mart named Matsunaga Yumi disappeared at the bus stop in the suburbs of Tokyo. The police found blood stains at the bus stop and many other clues leading to a number of suspects. After interrogating quite a few of them, one suspect admitted seeing an incident occur and agreed to give the details of the crime. However, those details have not yet been published by the Special Investigations Unit, and that very suspect is still in their custody. Apparently, he remembers the face of the criminal and has agreed to stay with the police until the complete sketch of the criminal’s face can be formed in hopes to locate Matsunaga Yumi, or whatever is left of her. Other details remain unknown.-reuters.”
Yamada looked up Rei who was watching him excitedly as he read. “What do you think?”
“Urm...I am not...I don’t remember anyone? Who’s sketch...”
“That’s the brilliance of this!! Criminal thinks somebody saw him, comes to kill you, we catch him!”
Yamada blinked. “Rei san....”
“And I have a strong feeling the criminal knows you. Everybody does. He would definitely do something. Nobody else knows it’s you except him. Yumi....and us.”
“Rei san...”
“Hmmm?”
“Whatever’s left of her?...That’s a little...”
“Awesome? I know...I love this...”
Yamada stared and silently moved back to the paper as Rei laughed to herself.
“You’re pretty...by the way...”
Rei stopped. She stared at him blankly. “Excuse me?”
“Nothing...” Yamada shrugged and went back to the paper.
“Did you just say I’m...”
“I said that to shut you up. Your laughing was creeping me out...”
Rei narrowed her eyes. She stood up and stormed out muttering something that sounded suspiciously like... “Boys...”
Yamada sighed. No matter how disturbing it was to be made bait by a 'girl' detective, this was definitely a step closer to solving this case. He just wanted it to end quickly so he could go back to the boys. He stood up. The boys! Just the mere memory of his friends brought back a smile on his face. He hadn’t talked to them for a while. And now in the silence of this lounge, with Rei outside who looked as if she was looking for a gun in one of the drawers, he could call them. He quickly went to his bag and scanned it for his phone, which to his dismay wasn’t there. Then he ran to the pants he wore before and turned out the pockets. It wasn’t there either. He stopped smiling. Something did not feel right.
“Watcha looking for boy?” Ren came in holding a cup of coffee, and stared at Yamada tearing the pockets of his bag apart.
“Sensei...did you guys take my phone?”
“Urrr no....you didn’t have it on you when they took you in... is it at home?”
“No...I never leave my phone at home. Did I forget it at the company?”
“Then maybe your friends have it...cheer up, we’ll get it for you... but I don’t think you are allowed to use it...”
“Okay. Thank you...”
Ren moved out and stared at Rei in bewilderment, who was still busy going through her drawers. Yamada sat down helpless on the couch. He never left his phone anywhere. He was sure he had it on him. He always did.
“...where’s my phone?”