06-Aug-2000
Category: Mystery
Rating: PG
Pairings: Sally + 5
Warnings: AU
Feedback: C&C
Notes: This is my attempt at a mystery as part of J. Wakabayashi's fic challenge. I've written the whole thing up, but I'm posting in parts. Part three is the hunt for clues begin, legally and illegally.
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belongs to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency and are only being used for non profit entertainment purposes.
I coughed on the tea I had been sipping. "A MAN? How can you be so sure?"
"Simple observations. Her hands were rather large for a woman ..."
"Surely, there are women with large hands?"
"Possibly, but would they be wearing a dress with such a high neck?" Sally smiled, "The style is for a fairly high neck but her dress had the neck uncomfortably high. Her nails were too short, and every now and then I could see slight breaks in concentration of her facade."
"Are you saying she's ... umm, I mean HE's an entertainer?"
"I don't think so. I believe it's a lifestyle choice."
"How can she ... he possibly think to get away with marrying into a wealthy shipping family?"
"I suspect that's what this blackmail business is truly about, don't you?"
"Where do we start, Po?"
"Let's track down the thievery in Hyde Park."
"How can we be certain that really happened if he's lying to us about who he is?" I asked.
"Because she, and I think from now on we will continue to call her a "she" needs our help. I don't think she lied about the essentials of the crime at hand, only on the context."
So with our coats in hand, Po and I set about investigating the incident at Hyde Park. First, we went through the legal route. We met up with an Inspector Peterson.
"Look if it ain't the yellow patrol!" he laughed in our presence. "What would you be wanting now?"
Sally acting unfazed because she had heard worse from our so-called friendly constables asked, "Do you have any reports of a purse being stolen in Hyde Park on the week of August 6th?"
"Maybe I do, maybe I don't. What's it to you?" He asked obviously enjoying his little game. I was ready to beat the man senseless, but he is the law. Doesn't mean I couldn't accidentally trip him though.
The inspector held the records book in his hands and continued to laugh at us. Sally was trying to hold in her contempt, but I didn't bother to. So on the pretense of tying my shoe, I slammed my fist into his kneecap, injuring but not breaking it.
He dropped the records book and clutched at his knee. "Ow! You bastard! That hurt!"
"So sorry," I say with a sneer. Sally had picked up the book and was looking over the records. I knew she would only need a few seconds so I bought her time. "I guess my head bumped into your knee."
"I should have you arrested for assaulting a police officer!" he yelled.
Sally having finished reading the book, looked over to the inspector. "Assault? I didn't see anything. Are you alright Mr. Chang, did you hurt your head?"
I pretended to feel my head for bruises. "I think I'm okay, Miss Po. But I think I need to see a doctor just to be on the safe side."
"Let's do that then. Inspector," Sally smiled handing him his record book. "We'll come back another time to look at that record book."
"Yeah, do that," he sneered at us.
As we left the police station, Sally finally let out a laugh. "I can't believe you did that, Wufei!"
"He should be glad I didn't aim a little higher, don't you think?"
"You're evil, Mr. Chang!" She guffawed.
"Thank you, Miss Po."
With that we headed back to Baker Street to seek out those who like to help our competitor. The Baker Street Irregulars. They weren't just working for Holmes but anyone with a couple of guinea to spare for information. Our favorite informant was a young boy with golden hair. We saw him running a game of three card monty. The suckers he took had left in a huff. Po and I approached him.
"Hello Cat."
"Miss Po. Chang. Up for a game?" asked the young blonde with a dirty complexion.
"Well, that all depends on what I hear," Sally demurred.
"Don't be silly, Miss Po, this game is a racket." I said angrily. I don't mind paying for information, but losing it in a game where you can't win is just plain stupid.
"I'll play you fair, Miss," Cat smiled. He almost looked sincere, but I wasn't convinced.
Sally put down a guinea by the center card. "Heard anything about a purse-snatching in Hyde Park last week?"
Cat flipped over the other two cards to reveal two aces. The center card was the queen. "You win, Miss!" he said aloud. Then in a lower voice, he asked, "What was the haul?"
Sally moved her money to the left card and added another guinea. "Nothing major, only a few pounds and a letter."
Cat lifted the cards. Sally was a loser. "Sorry Miss," he uttered. "Who was the mark?"
Sally put another guinea on the card to the right. "No one important yet. But she's slated to marry someone with money."
Cat flipped over the cards. "Loser! Sorry again, Miss." Then he leaned over, "I heard that was a weird job. Someone paid for the job to be done. My friend got to keep the money as long as the pidgeon got to keep the letter."
Sally smiled. "On last time!" She placed a guinea by the middle card again. "Do you have a name for me?"
"Merquise. At least that's the name he gave my friend," he whispered. "Oh Miss, I'm so sorry. You lose again."
"Ah, I guess it's not my day, young man." She turned and left. I followed.
"He couldn't have meant Zechs Merquise, the undersecretary to the Exchequer?"
"This case continues to get interesting, doesn't it Mr. Chang?"
"But why would he be involved?"
"I guess we're going to have to find out."
End Part Three
(:./babaca/purloined3)
