Malaysia Golden Ground Locked Room Murder Case - File 2

"Give me the place card Tatsumi…" he said in his mind, giving his poker face.

"Rook, I will do an accusation. I accuse Mrs. White on doing the crime, in the kitchen, using the rope."

Rook almost burst in victory for what he heard. Now that the cards he has, has been eliminated, both of them had one move left.

"I refuse. I have the rope card. I will turn to accusation as well; Mr. Green did it, on the conservatory, using the candlestick…"

Tatsumi inspected the eliminated cards they had left. Again, even in the board game, he lost. He gazed at the board game and yes, he was tricked by Rook's fake careless actions at first. He thought that he giving off the clues were advantages to him.

"Tatsumi, remember this…in a murder scene, a detective must look unto the second or different perspective. See, if the crime scene gives too many clue or evidence that are suspiciously easy to find, the crime is engineered and might be altered. For example, in a murder. The man kills the victim. He plants certain evidence. Then you investigate. You found some samples, DNA and other things. You will be surprised to see an impossible image on your scanners. Why? Because the criminal planted it. It does not mean that when clues are given to you at ease, means that you are on the victory of solving it." Rook lessoned.

A ring from the agency's gate doorbell stopped Tatsumi on listening to Rook's lessons. "Coming…!"

Tatsumi was the one who went outside to see who that was. Rook was left on the table where the board game was. He made an impish tricky grin.

"Actually Tatsumi, you won the game! Ha-ha-ha…I tricked you…! I lost, and you didn't even bother to check my cards…! True, I have the rope card, but you forgot it was already eliminated beforehand, but I tricked you by saying that I have the rope card today…that means my remaining cards were only two."

Rook burst out laughing alone, loud on the agency.

"Hana! It's you…you never told us and we should have seen you at the Narita airport…" Tatsumi welcomed, as he carried her baggage and welcomed her inside the agency.

"I don't have much time to tell and I was really tired walking. Come to think of it, I was even confused at first and about to ride to Sano."

"What..! That's somewhere in Kansai International Airport…"

"Uh-huh. Glad I still remembered Funabashi…so, is detective Rook inside?"

"Yep. Do you hear the loud laugh inside, that's him."

Tatsumi opened the door going to Rook's agency and helped to place the baggage and place it near the flower pots, where the tall plants decorated the room's walls.

"Rook, I am pleased for you to meet my best friend…Hana…"

"Greetings, Hana. I have heard about you from Tatsumi…" Rook said and offered a shake hand. Hana accepted his offer and introduced herself to him.

"So he's detective Rook, the one you told me who solved the morbid Blue Mansion Murder Case..huh…he's cute…but Tatsumi-pon is more cuter and handsome!"

Rook's crestfallen face began to sulk. "We are talking about introducing me here and we went into the handsome thingy…you're a cheater Tatsumi, since when did you became more handsome than I do…" Rook joked on his mind and looked at him.

Tatsumi noticed Rook was laughing just a while ago. He looked at the board set and saw that the rope card was already eliminated from the middle installment of the game.

"Rook, you cheater…I won!"

"You won, but you gave the victory to me!" Rook teased.

Hana laughed at them both, as Tatsumi tried to catch Rook, who was running about in the agency, teasing him.

Rook stopped and halted him. He was panting because of tiredness and stopped for a while. "W-we should make a tea for Hana…" he said, catching his breath.

"Y-yeah…" replied Tatsumi. He sat on the sofa for a while and rested. After a couple of minutes, he went to the kitchen and prepared tea for the three of them. Hana's happy face turned serious when he returned with the tea and placed it into the agency's main table. Rook welcomed her to seat with them and talk about her plans.

"So, are you going to visit the new flower yard here in Funabashi?" Rook suggested to her. Hana took a sip of the coffee and smiled.

"Tatsumi-pon really knows my type of tea!" she remarked.

"Tatsumi-pon?" Rook asked on his mind and looked at Tatsumi who was happy talking with his best friend.

"I want to see the new theatre they just built…" Hana asked.

"Ah, the one owned by the rich politician, Ryuunosuke Kusanagi. You want the new movie…? That's the hotspot."

"I also want to visit the new park and try playing with the arcade games! Tatsumi-love, you'll join with me, right?" Hana asked and looked at Mark with her charming and joyous face.

"Tatsumi-love?" again, Rook asked on his mind.

"A-ah…yes…yes..I would of course. Funabashi has really changed when you went to Malaysia after our high school. There's the Makuhari Meese now, where Rook's favorite singer performed lately."

Rook nodded in agreement. It was only a week ago when his favorite singer had concert.

"But aside from that…" Hana cleared her throat before she continued speaking, drank the last of her tea and faced Rook, who was happy looking at them both with Tatsumi.

"I want to consult this matter of case to you, detective Rook…"

Rook changed his mood. As if he is a small child who is about to be given a new toy. His interest fired up when he learned Hana has a case for him. Whatever it is, he must know it.

"Yes. It's a case I want to end for the rest of our family's life."

"What case is it?"

"Our family's first mansion, called the Golden Ground Mansion has become a mansion of mystery and death. My uncles friend, Sir Claudius, was found dead on our guest room. The doctor checked the body but he cannot tell how he died. He checked the body again in the autopsy and found that lately, Sir Claudius has suffered liver and kidney damaged through metabolized phosgene. But after two days, my friend's mom, who also were a guest in that time, was hanged upside down."

Rook and Tatsumi looked at each other. Other than visiting them, there was more that they should look, the case…and they must solve it.

"So, when did this start?" he asked.

"It started to happen last month. Our family's friends and relatives have decided to stay on that mansion to talk about the business and computer transactions they are going to do. I heard from dad that my friend's mom, didn't want the business transaction because of the alleged anomalies that the other members were involved. I also heard that there was a fight. That is when the murders start to happen."

"Murders! The police said they were?"

"Yes. The police had found traces of murder inside, such as, footsteps from an outsider, who came inside the room. that is when they conclude it was murder."

"A single clue concludes to murder? That's a very reckless move."

"Please, detective Rook, I was asked by my dad to come here to ask you to solve the case. We've heard of your name after the Blue Mansion Case and the recent robbery case in the international news. Dad knew you were the son of the late detective, Gradd. He knows you can solve the case."

"Wait, wait, wait…", halted Tatsumi, "so this will be a trip to Malaysia then?" he asked.

"Yes! that's right!"

"Malaysia…"

Rook glanced outside from the window. They must leave the agency for a little bit.

"I accept the case. I am more interested on the phosgene…if my deductions will cross upon the case, your mansion's problem would be solved."

"Not to mention my grandfather, would give 7 million yen as a payment of your participation after you have given light of the case…"

"7 million yen…!" asked Rook, his eyes sparking in amazement of his fee. The sparking eyes of merriment glowed upon his face.

" I accept the case…I accept!"

Tatsumi and Hana were very happy to hear that from him. They both prepared to go to the park. Hana wanted to enjoy the beauty of Funabashi's tourist spots first before they are going to face the real problem of reality, the murders which changed the normal circle of their lives.

MALAYSIA

Two tall towers, pine with its pin, with bridges that connect them, gleaming lights upon the buildings and lighten roads have charmed both Rook and Tatsumi's eyes.

"Rook, look at that…the tower's so tall…!", said Tatsumi, pointing at the tall tower near them.

"It's like the one in Tokyo, isn't it?"

"That's right."

Hana stared at them, amazed at the towers and other buildings around. She dialed a phone number on her cellphone. She called the family driver to stop by to their location and drive them to the Golden Ground Mansion.