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 two is the start of Sally's true case.
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters belongs to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency and are only being used for non profit entertainment purposes.
One cold, wet day in London, Po and I had a visitor. After our housekeeper, Miss Une assured us that this person found the proper detective agency, we sought their audience in the sitting room.
A long haired woman, with amethyst eyes looked at us nervously. "Would you be Miss Po and Mr. Chang?"
"Yes, what can we do for you Miss..." Sally said with ease as she lead our visitor to a chair.
"Miss Maxwell. Duo Maxwell."
"May we interest you in some tea, Miss Maxwell?" I asked. I often feel obligated to play subservient to Sally, although our partnership is that of equals.
"Yes, please." I ring the bell for Miss Une to bring us tea and quietly watch Sally observe our visitor. I don't know what she sees. However, I know we will play the game of what did you notice that I may have missed after our client leaves.
"Miss Maxwell, you seem to be distressed. From your agitation I deduce it could be one of two things, you have had something taken from you, or you are being blackmailed."
Miss Maxwell jumped slightly and paled even lighter that her already gossamer complexion warranted. "Actually, both assessments are correct."
Ah, parlor game time for my part, "Po, how did you know?"
"I'm afraid it has more to do with woman's intuition. Miss Maxwell keeps clutching her purse as if afraid it will be taken. I don't think she feels we'll be the thieves, but it's a natural reaction one may have when such a thing has happened to them."
"And the blackmail?"
"Inspired guess. If something was stolen she would simply go to the constable. However, this item must be of utmost importantence to bring it to a detective agency's attention."
"My purse was stolen from me a week ago while walking in Hyde Park. After that time, I've been receiving mysterious notes demanding I pay the sum of £200. I don't have that kind of money," The auburn beauty said, with her eyes downcast.
"What exactly was taken, Miss?" I ask, wondering what could be so important that it demanded almost two years worth of wages.
"A letter."
"A letter?" I'm was now even more curious.
"I'm to be engaged to Trowa Barton. But before that engagement, I was secretly involved with someone else. This letter was a letter of farewell. I know I should have destroyed it, but I kept it because ..."
"Because you still love the gentleman in question," Sally concluded.
Tears welled in Miss Maxwell's eyes. "Yes," she whispered.
"Why was your affair secret?" I asked, never truly understanding the duplicity of women. Sally looked at me like I'm an imbecile.
"It was complicated. He is not of the same social standing and he is also married. Don't get me wrong, Miss Po, Mr. Chang. I do care for Trowa, but my heart still ..." She stopped as if lost in memory, before returning to the present, "Will you take this case?"
"Yes, of course, we will. You know our rates?"
"Yes, I do. Can I ask that you--?"
"Keep it discreet? Of course, you have our assurance of that."
"Thank you, Miss Po and Mr. Chang." She gathered her things and Miss Une showed her out.
"Okay Wufei, tell me your observations."
"Well, she was very pretty."
"Nice way to state the obvious, Wufei. What else?" Sally smiled.
"I wonder about this social standing statement. She didn't look particularly wealthy, why is the blackmail price so high?"
"I suspect her fiancé is probably fairly well off. Doesn't the name Barton ring any bells with you?" Sally inquired.
"Don't mean Barton as in Barton shipping? Wait, are you saying she's marrying THAT Barton?"
"No, I would suspect this gentleman is a son of the magnate, wouldn't you think?" Sally smiled again at my small faux pas.
"What about the mysterious lover?" I asked.
"What about him?"
"Surely there's more making him mysterious other than the fact that he's married?" I challenged.
"Chang Wufei, our Miss Maxwell is even more mysterious," Sally infused.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"She has another secret that she is keeping from us and probably more than a few other people as well."
"What secret would that be?"
"Why the fact that she is a man." Sally smiled triumphly.
End Part Two
(:./babaca/purloined2)
