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 seven Sally and Wufei fingers the blackmailer and all is revealed.
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belongs to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency and are only being used for non profit entertainment purposes.
The witching hour had begun. Cramped in our little sitting room was Heero Yuy, Zechs Merquise, Trowa Barton and Duo Maxwell.
"I wanted to keep this little gathering intimate because this whole affair has been nothing but intimacies," Sally began.
"When Miss Maxwell arrived in our offices a few days ago, Mr. Chang and myself were at a dilemma. We knew that Miss Maxwell was keeping a secret or two from us. But we weren't asked to solve those. We were only asked to discover a blackmailer. Of course the problem with blackmail is dirty secrets have to be revealed."
"Miss Maxwell was relieved of her purse which contained a few pounds and one incriminating letter from Dr. Yuy. Our sources tells us this robbery was set up by one Mr. Merquise."
Zechs jumped from his seat, "They are lying! I had nothing to do with any robbery."
"Oh yes, I'm afraid you did. But I wasn't sure of your motives," Sally said.
"What do you mean, Po? Wasn't his motive to protect his sister, Relena Peacecraft?" I asked stumped.
"If the letter was stolen and destroyed, certainly that would be the motive. But he didn't destroy it. He tried blackmailing Miss Maxwell with it," Sally reasoned.
"What! Zechs? Why?" cried Duo.
"Why indeed, Mr. Merquise, shall you tell her or shall I?" Sally said.
Merquise looked angry, but defiant, "Oh by all means, I want to hear your reasoning."
"Fair enough. It's simple, Miss Maxwell. Merquise was in love with you. I'm sure you didn't return his affections, so he turned bitter and wanted to hurt you. However, when he read the letter and he was probably more shocked than anything."
"You can say THAT again. How could I have loved a freak like that!" spat Merquise.
Duo's face paled and she looked down. "Zechs, I told you long ago, I didn't have feelings for you. Why couldn't just accept that. Why did you have to do all this?"
Trowa took Duo's hand. "It's okay, darling."
Zechs laughed. "He doesn't know, does he?"
"Know what?" Trowa challenged. Duo looked momentarily panicked.
"Miss Maxwell, you should tell him," I said gently. I'm only sorry she was being forced to tell him in front of us.
"I was born with an abnormality..."
"You can say that again, sister!" Zechs snorted.
"Be quiet, Merquise!" Trowa shouted, "Maybe we can discuss this in another room."
"No," sighed Duo, "Everyone in this room knows anyway. I was born with both male and female organs."
Trowa looked momentarily stunned. "Can something be done medically?"
"Surgery can take away the less dominant characteristic," Heero Yuy said. "Unfortunately in the case of Miss Maxwell here, the surgery would result in her becoming a man."
Trowa looked at Yuy before looking back at Duo. "Is this true?"
"Yes," Duo said, with tears in her eyes. "I wanted Dr. Yuy to remove the male organs. I want to be your wife more than anything Trowa. He refused to do the surgery!" She burst into tears.
"Is she in any health danger if nothing surgetically is done?" Trowa asked Yuy.
"If nothing is done, she'll live a long life."
Trowa raised his fiancee's chin to face him. "Duo, I love you more than life itself. I don't care about your abnormality. I still want to marry you."
Duo looked at Trowa with amazement. "But you'd be marrying a freak of nature, Trowa."
"No, I'd be marrying the woman I've loved since I was fifteen."
"What about your father? If Zechs found out about this, surely someone else will try to blackmail us!" Duo said.
"We'll worry about that when and if the time comes," he smiled. He turned to Sally, "What happens now?"
"Now we decide if we should have Mr. Merquise arrested for blackmail!" Sally said.
"You do and I tell all the newspapers about Miss Maxwell's secret!" Zechs yelled in panic.
"If that happens, we'll have to also tell the papers of your infatuation with Miss Maxwell. Then it will either play out in the rags as a jealous lover full of sour grapes, or your social card in prison would be rather filled."
Zechs looked defeated.
"It's up to Miss Maxwell and Mr. Barton now."
Duo looked at Zechs, "Give me back the letter so I can destroy it and I won't have you charged."
Trowa glared at Zechs, "You're lucky she's so forgiving. I'd let you swing from nearest tree for the distress you've given her, you blackguard!"
Sally looked over at Zechs. "Well, I know you wouldn't be stupid enough to leave the letter in an unguarded place. It's a safe assumption it's on your person right now. May we have it?"
Zechs reached into his jacket pocket and handed Sally the letter.
"Miss Maxwell, check to make sure this is your letter."
Duo did. She also let Trowa read the letter. "No more secrets, my love." Then she took a match and set it on fire. It continued to burn in the ashtray.
Yuy glared at Merquise, "I can't believe you did this, Zechs. Relena would be hurt to know this."
"Oh, like you having an affair with a circus freak wouldn't upset her!"
"Gentlemen, I'm afraid you are going to have to resolve that problem on your own," Sally said.
The two men related through marriage left glaring at each other.
"Miss Po and Mr. Chang," began Duo, "I don't know how I can ever thank you."
"Miss Maxwell, I must confess this has been a confusing case, but I'm happy we were able to resolve it for you," Sally smiled. "You are fortunate to find a good man like Mr. Barton here. I don't know that you would find many who would be so understanding."
Duo smiled at Trowa. "I know. I am lucky."
My curiosity still had to the better of me (NO! not about that!). "Why did you chose our agency rather than Mr. Holmes?" I asked.
Duo blinked. She shyly smiled, "I did go over there first. But he said he found "women's cases" to be boring and uninspired. He suggested you wouldn't have anything better to do and I should take my case to you."
Sally laughed. "His loss."
Owari
(:./babaca/purloined7)
