Reminder of the Heart: A Detective's Case - Chapter 7

The bomb squad member showed Jun a trigger. The door wasn’t the trigger at all. When Jun first entered the room, it was motion which set off the timer. Jun didn’t realize it because of the wire. He figured it was when he opened the door. Under the bomb was a piece of equipment that seems to be in the beta stage. It was a motion detector device. It was tiny and it was not known in public yet. ~ Who would be to access this sort of prototype? ~ Jun questioned himself. The bomb squad member went into more details and informed him all the materials were stolen. It was reported a couple of weeks back to the police department. It bothered Jun and now, he has to research further about this person. Questions came up in his mind: How did he get access to the motion device prototype? Why steal the basic items? What’s the connection to him, Mao or her family? He assumed it was a convict that was prosecuted by the Inoues. He was apparently wrong. He figured the person had a clean record after all this. The mystery will not get solved quickly as he hoped. ~ Mao is not going to be thrilled about this. Maybe I have to stay with her in her apartment instead. ~

*******

It was already 20 minutes, waiting outside the door. Sho was getting impatient while Mao kept asking him questions. He sat on the floor because he was getting annoyed.

“Ok… one more question…” Mao was persistent.

“It’s cold out here and I’ve answered a lot of questions.” Sho responded.

“Why come here if you know Jun’s apartment is next door?” Mao still held the pistol close.

Sho honestly didn’t know that it was Mao’s apartment. He looked at the e-mail he had in his hand and looked at the numbers. He stood up quickly, looked at the door and saw the numbers were wrong. He was still quiet and in shock.

Mao was impatient, “I’m waiting! You have 30 seconds to answer me.”

“Wait! I apologize!” Sho bowed a lot in front of the door. She watched and sighed. ~ I guess he really didn’t know this was my apartment. I need to ask Jun about him later. ~ As a result, to Sho’s surprise, she opened the door, hiding the pistol behind her.

“Uh… I am really sorry.” Sho still bowed.

“It’s ok. Come in.” She moved out of the way for him to enter. He nodded and walked into her apartment. After he walked in, she locked her door and then went over to her couch.

“Look, I have to give Jun some information about what I found.” Sho seemed shy around her. He looked at the package. ~ This is his client? She’s beautiful. ~

“Well, you can tell me about it, too.” She placed the pistol on her coffee table. It caught Sho’s attention. He knew it was Jun’s pistol and this was the first he’d ever given it to a female. He remembered that Jun never shared his weapons with Yukie.

“It’s quite… well…. very complicated. Is it ok if I sit?” Sho eyed the spot next to her. Mao crossed her legs, looked up him and nodded. ~ Baka… he seems to be Jun’s age and he acts like he’s in high school. ~

“What time will Jun be back? It’s imperative I talk to him.” Sho looked in front of him and didn’t want Mao to see his blushing face.

“I don’t know. He called me earlier and maybe here late for dinner.” Mao wanted to question him more, but she felt bad now since he sat out there for a while.

“Ok. Well, I cannot stay for long and may have to give you the package to give to him….” His voice was deep and unemotional.

“Why don’t you stay till he comes back? Besides, I know you complained it was cold outside.” She got up and walked over to the kitchen, “Have some tea with me.”

“You sure?” Sho arched his brow and wondered why she was all of a sudden nice.

“Yes. Besides, you can tell me all about it…” She smirked as she got a kettle and her tea set.

“I don’t think-“ Sho was about to start until Mao cut him off.

“I will understand it. I’m the daughter of the famous Prosecutors. I’ve trained myself for most evidence of cases thanks to my parents.” She turned her head and shot a glare at him.

“Ah yes. How could I underestimate you?” ~ Boy, she’s quite intimidating but I find that cute…. Sho… don’t think of thoughts like that at a time like this…. ~ He gulped silently and sighed.

“So yes for tea then?” Mao smiled innocently.

“Yes. Thank you.” He felt himself become warm. He quickly got up and took off his trench coat, hat, and sunglasses, revealing a dark blue vest, buttoned up black shirt, gray neck tie, and black slacks. After, he placed the trench coat nicely on the side of the couch. Next, he unbuttoned his vest and took it off. He folded it and placed it on top of the trench coat. He loosened his tie after, unbuttoned the top 3 buttons of his shirt, and folded his sleeves up to his elbows.

His appearance awed Mao and distracted her from filling the water in the kettle. ~ Wow… are all of the men on the police force this good looking? ~ The kettle was getting heavy and water spilled on her hand. She turned her head quickly and it was overfilled.

“Crap….” She poured some of the water out and turned off the sink.

Sho turned his head and worried, “You need help?” His eyes were as dark as night, and his hair was styled like a gentlemen.

“No no no.. I’m fine….” She put the kettle on top of the stove and turned on the temperature knob.

He watched her and smiled, “Well, if you got it, I will wait then.” Sho walked around the room.

“Not to be blunt, but I don’t trust you to look around….” She said, walking back to the couch.

He nodded and then sat back on the couch, “Do you want me to start explaining what I have found out?”

“Please…. I hope this will answer some of the questions.” Mao sighed.

*******

Jun was outside of the building, smoking his 4^th cigarette. The information given to him was a lot to take in. Nino and Ohno kept him company while he looked up at the sky.

“I’ve never seen you this deep in thought, Jun…” Ohno noticed as he took a puff of his cigarette.

“There’s a lot that doesn’t make sense. I don’t know if you both fully read about the case.” Jun looked at both of them.

“We read all of it while you were in the building before telling us to call the bomb squad…” Nino held up the file, “It’s supposed to be a convict the Inoues prosecuted?”

“Yes, but it’s not after all this.” He put out the cigarette in a nearby garbage ashtray.

Ohno arched a brow, “Really?”

“Correct. The person we were looking for is not the one. What I have figured out is that the person doing this has a clean record and knows his way in and out of the police force.” Jun answered.

“Knows his way in and out of the police force? Could you explain that further?” Nino asked.

“Basically, either the suspect works for us or he’s part of some business that may be helping the police force in general….” Jun closed his eyes, “I can’t believe this. I thought it was so simple, but I’m really stuck.”

“Calm down. We’ll figure this out in no time.” Ohno smiled as he tried to stay positive.

“So, that can make any one of us suspects?” Nino pointed to himself and Ohno. Jun nodded while the other two looked at each other. “Oh boy…” Nino said and decided to have another cigarette.

*******

Two hours went by. Mao looked at the package that Sho given to her earlier. She was surprised from all the information he explained. ~ It’s someone in the police force or used to work in it. This is not going to go by Jun very well. ~ Her stomach started to growl, and she decided to make something to eat. The front door clicked open, and a smile formed on her face as she looked in the refrigerator.

“I’m here.” Jun just plopped on the couch and closed his eyes. He was exhausted from the whole day of investigation.

“Sho came by and dropped off a package for you.” Mao explained as she went over to him.

“He came here?” Jun arched a brow and wondered, “I gave him the address to the apartment I was staying at. It wasn’t here.”

“He read the numbers wrong, and I let him after making him stay out there for 30 minutes. I wasn’t sure if he really knew you.” Mao explained.

“Torturing him, eh? Well, it’s always good to be sure.” He finally broke a small smile. “Did he forget to call me, too?”

“Yes. He seems to be a very intellectual guy but seems to be always out of it from what I gathered.” She still was sketchy about Sho.

“Oh, he’s always been like that. He gets into his work so much that he never thinks of the normal things to do like call someone to inform them of new information, etc.” Jun picked up the package and opened it.

“He explained to me that the person we’ve been looking for is wrong. The person either works in the police force or used to work with them before.” She watched him.

“He’s correct. I’m really upset to know that. It just means that everyone I work for is suspicious.” He took out the papers and the evidence he gave Sho to look at.

“Look. I can make something for us to eat because I’m starving. You seem like you want to be alone, though. If you do that, I would suggest going into your apartment.” Her stomach was growling more.

Jun looked up and then turned his head to her, “No. I wanted to ask you something actually.” He got up and walked towards her. His face was turning pink cause what he was going to ask seemed to make him embarrassed.

“What is it?” Mao’s heart skipped a beat at that second.

He stood in front of her and sighed, “Since this case is not all it seems, would it be okay if I actually live with you until it’s over? You’d be protected more.”

Her eyes widened and mouth dropped. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for something like that. ~ I…. I feel like I should just let him after all I’ve heard about him today. Ugh… why does he have to be so hot? ~

“I take that as a no?” Jun couldn’t read her facial expressions.

“Wait. Give me a second.” Mao breathed a bit.

He nodded. ~ I’m being too upfront with her. Crap…. ~ He looked to the side and pretended nothing was going through his head.

Mao, on the other hand, thought it might be a good opportunity for him to open up to her. Then, she looked at him directly in his eyes, “Please stay here.”

“You sure?” He was expecting an answer of rejection.

“Yes. I think I’d feel better, knowing that I could trust you and get to know you better in the process.” She wanted to give him a big hug but held herself back. Instead, she got a surprise from him.

Jun grabbed her and hugged her tightly to him. “Thank you…” He whispered into her ear. ~ I will not let anything happen to her. I think… I’m falling for her… ~ Mao couldn’t figure out if she was happy or confused. A tear came out and rolled down her cheek. She hugged him back.