Phoenix Wright / Gyakuten Saiban, its settings and characters, are property of Capcom, and are being used here without permission.  This fic is rated R for now but that might change later.

 

 

Well Frogs

Chapter 7

 

 

The Tranquility Gardens Restaurant was as luxurious and refined as Odoroki had imagined.  Everything was polished and expensive-looking, the ceilings were tall and littered with chandeliers, and the staff was impeccably dressed.  It was intimidating, but more importantly, it was curious.  The Kitaki were yakuza, but considering their recent change of career, it seemed like a rather extravagant choice for a dinner outing, and not at all fitting in with their more traditional tastes.

 

As they moved through the entrance, Odoroki caught sight of another woman who appeared to be undergoing police questioning: a tall, bony woman with short, curly hair, dressed in a pale lavender suit.  She was crying almost uncontrollably, to the distress of the surrounding police.

 

Kyouya led Tsunekatsu, Koume, Odoroki, and a pair of officers into the restaurant's private dining section--the VIP room for its wealthiest customers.  Odoroki was almost afraid to sit down on the rich furnishings in his crummy jeans, but soon enough they were settled.

 

"You're not under arrest," Kyouya told the couple as he lounged in his own chair.  Despite being dressed as casually as Odoroki, he seemed to have no problem relaxing.  "Not yet, anyway.  But it does seem awfully suspicious that we get called to investigate the death of your worst enemy, and…poof!  Here you are."  Kyouya smirked.  "Saved me a trip across town, at least."

 

"My wife and I know nothing about that," Tsunekatsu assured.  "And we are no longer enemies of the Katagi."

 

"Oh, good."  Kyouya shifted, and to Odoroki's horror, put his feet up on the table.  It was certainly a rather laid back approach to interrogation.  "Then you won't mind telling me exactly what you did tonight."

 

Tsunekatsu's eyes were mostly obstructed by his thick brows, but his voice was not at all lacking in composure.  "We had a dinner reservation for tonight at six o'clock," he related.  "We arrived a few minutes early, and were seated.  We ordered, and ate.  And then Ms. Katagi became distressed, and the police arrived a few minutes later."

 

"That's really not as exact as I was hoping for," Kyouya said carelessly.  "You didn't even mention what you ordered."

 

Odoroki frowned, and though it technically wasn't his place to interrupt, he did anyway.  "Do you really have a reason to believe the Kitakis had anything to do with this?"

 

"It would have to be a hell of a coincidence for them not to be."  Kyouya folded his hands over his stomach.  "And there's also the matter of Ms. Katagi wailing 'damn those foxes!' a minute ago."

 

"That's not exactly evidence of anything," Odoroki was quick to point out.

 

"Isn't it?"  Kyouya looked pointedly at the Kitakis.

 

Koume straightened in her chair; unlike her husband, her demeanor was one of hard defiance.  "I did speak to Ms. Katagi tonight," she admitted stiffly.  "She came to our table just after we arrived and made an awful stink.  She was hysterical long before any murder--maybe you should be questioning her."

 

"I'll get to it," Kyouya promised.  He looked to Tsunekatsu.  "What did you think about this big stink?"

 

"I only saw her as she was leaving," Tsunekatsu replied.  "I was in the washroom."

 

"Ah, I see.  Let's try an easier one, then."  Kyouya brushed invisible dust off his shirt.  "Did either of you hear the gunshot?"

 

Both Kitakis answered negatively, and Odoroki again thought it pertinent for him to add a comment.  "I was in the park all evening, and I didn't hear any gunshot, either.  Are you sure that's what killed him?"

 

Kyouya chuckled.  "Oh yes, I'm pretty sure."  He curled his fingers into a gun shape and mimicked shooting himself in the head.  "No sign of the murder weapon just yet.  I take it you were searched…?"

 

"Yes," Tsunekatsu replied roughly.  "And no, they did not find anything incriminating on us."

 

"Good to hear."  Kyouya was interrupted then by the cheerful tune of his cell phone, which he dug out and answered.  "Garyuu.  Yes, Sticky Fingers?  Oh, really."  His eyes twinkled.  "Hold on, I'll ask him."  He looked to Tsunekatsu again.  "We didn't confiscate your cell phone, did we?"

 

Tsunekatsu's shoulders sagged just barely, but even that slight movement tipped Odoroki's bracelet off.  "No," the man replied, "you did not."

 

"Well, we are now."  Kyouya took his feet off the table so he could sit up and lean forward with his hand open.  "And you, too, Ma'am."

 

"I don't own a cell phone," Koume informed him tersely.

 

Odoroki frowned, watching very carefully as Tsunekatsu retrieved a rather old looking cell phone out of his robe and handed it over.  He was tense, as evidenced by the tendons standing out against the back of his palm as he obeyed Kyouya's order.  The realization made Odoroki's heart sink.  He is hiding something.  He…really wouldn't have done this, would he?

 

Kyouya hummed to himself as he tapped on the buttons, cycling through the phone's call history.  After reading off a few numbers to whomever it was on the other end of his own phone, he listened intently for a moment with a distinctly smug expression.  "All right.  Thanks, Detective."

 

Kyouya snapped both phones shut.  "So, Mr. Kitaki," he said brightly.  "Did you make any calls tonight?"

 

"Don’t you already know?" Koume snapped.  "You can't treat us like this.  If you're that convinced we're suspects, haul us in and get it over with!"

 

Kyouya laughed, which only worsened her temper.  "I'm sure we'll get to that, too," he promised as he pushed to his feet.  He pocketed the cell phones.    "But for now, why don't you two just sit tight and take in the charming atmosphere?  I need to ask Ms. Katagi a few questions.  If she's calmed down by now, that is."

 

Odoroki licked his lips.  "Can I stay here with them?" he asked.  "I have a few questions myself."

 

"I'm sure."  Kyouya tightened his ponytail as he headed for the door.  "Make sure the Kitakis stay put," he told the officers on the way out.  "No one else comes in here."  He smirked.  "And keep an eye on the lawyer."

 

Odoroki shot him a glare, but by then Kyouya was already slipping out.  Just what does he think I'm going to do?  He turned quickly back to Tsunekatsu; there was no time to waste.  "Mr. Kitaki…is there anything else you can tell me?"

 

Tsunekatsu sighed quietly, staring straight ahead.  "I'm very sorry, Mr. Odoroki, that you've been pulled into this."

 

"It's my job," Odoroki said with a faint smile.  It quickly faded.  "Did you really call Mr. Katagi tonight?"

 

He didn't answer right away, and so Koume took over instead.  "I know how it looks, but you know better, don't you?" she asked Odoroki hopefully.  "My husband did nothing wrong tonight.  We came here hoping to end this ridiculous feud!"

 

"Huh?"  Odoroki glanced between them.  "How so?"

 

Tsunekatsu at last faced Odoroki.  It was hard to determine an expression out of the mess of wrinkles making up his face, but he sounded very tired.  "Shouri Katagi and I arranged to meet here," he said quietly, as if not wanting the officers at the door to overhear.  "We were supposed to agree on a truce.  My family is not interested in their violence anymore."

 

"And?" Odoroki prompted.  "Did you meet him?"

 

"I called," Tsunekatsu admitted.  "He asked me to, so that his men wouldn't see us together.  But while we were talking, he suddenly hung up."

 

"And…you really didn't hear the gunshot?"

 

"No.  There was no such gunshot."

 

"I see…."  Odoroki rubbed his bracelet.  So he did call Mr. Katagi before he died.  It would be hard to convince Kyouya and the police that Tsunekatsu's motives in doing so had been peaceful, but that would be up to him.  "I'm sorry, Mr. Kitaki," he continued, "but I have to ask."  He took a deep breath.  "You really didn't do this, did you?"

 

"No."  This time there was no hesitation in Tsunekatsu's response, and no indication in his body language to indicate he was lying.  "I did not harm him."  He sighed.  "If only we had been able to settle these petty disputes sooner…."

 

Odoroki nodded to himself.  "Well…at least they haven't arrested you already, I guess."  Despite their dealings in the past, he still felt a little overwhelmed by what he was about to ask.  "You know, if they do…I'm sure you could find someone better, but…."

 

"Don't be silly," Koume admonished.  "You know very well you're the only lawyer we trust."

 

Honestly surprised by the declaration, Odoroki could only stare back as Tsunekatsu nodded and offered his own reassurances.  "You saved my son's life," he said firmly.  "I would never ask for anyone else."

 

Odoroki gulped, deeply moved by the trust being placed in him.  He had only been a lawyer for a few months now, but he was already coming to understand the deep bond shared by those of his profession and the clients they represented.  Tsunekatsu, a formidable man who in his life had faced many dangers already, was willing to place his life in Odoroki's hands.  Odoroki would have to respond with equal courage, and equal risk, in order to meet his obligation.

 

"I…understand."  He pushed up from his chair and bowed deeply.  "I hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does…I will do my very best to defend you."

 

*****

 

Akane stayed at the crime scene for as long as she could stand to, taking notes from the forensics officers and trying to work out the crime in her mind.  When the coroner was ready to take the body away she slipped out of the gazebo for a breath of fresh air.  It was growing dark in the park by then, and a few officers were fumbling with stand-up lighting to keep everything operational for the night shift. 

 

Someone walked into this park and shot the leader of a yakuza family, Akane thought grimly, looking over her notes.  A public place--and it was still mostly daylight.  If Shouri Katagi was killed through the bushes, his killer was out in the open.  She glanced around at the many other shrubberies and decorations that lined the path through the park.  Well, I guess someone would have to have been pretty close to notice the killer.  But still....

 

She rejoined a group of officers some yards away, who were keeping watch over the victim's son, Yuuri Katagi, and several other members of the "family."  The flashy young Katagi Underboss was in a foul mood, and his thin, grating voice made the hair on the back of Akane's neck rise.

 

"This is fucking ridiculous!" Yuuri all but squawked at the officers--after ranting for the past fifteen minutes at least, his voice was starting to break.  "If you'd just let us skip on outta here, we'd have your killer by now.  Strung up and gutted, even.  Every bone broken.  No one messes with the Katagi!"

 

"Mr. Katagi?"  Akane gathered herself up as she stopped in front of him.  Oddly enough, she felt somehow empowered--it had taken so much of her courage to confront another showy boy earlier that afternoon that she didn't suspect there was anything Yuuri could do to rattle her.   "I'm Detective Houdzuki.  I'd like to ask you a few questions."

 

"What, seriously?"  Yuuri rolled his eyes at her.  "Listen Missy, we could'a handled this shit by now if you weren't so busy being complete losers."  He pointed emphatically at himself.  "This is my old man we're talking about here.  If anyone's gonna bring in the dumb bastard who shot him, it'll be me."

 

Akane set a hand on her hip. "Well this is my scene, and you're not taking a step outside this park until I say so.  So you might as well cooperate."

 

Yuuri folded his arms and glowered at her for a moment longer, and then finally spat, barely missing her shoe.  "So?  Your questions?"

 

Akane managed not to smirk as she flipped to a new page in her notebook.  "You came here with your parents and your…associates, correct?  When was that?"

 

"Six," Yuuri grunted.  "I guess.  Dad loved this park…."  He kicked at the ground and scowled.  "Stupid shit idea, coming out here."

 

"And what happened?"

 

"He wanted some time alone.  Does it all the time--he likes it here.  He and his woman met here or something."  Yuuri rolled his eyes again.  "'Cept she said she was tired, so she went ahead to the restaurant, and Dad headed off."

 

Akane continued her note taking.  That explains why Mrs. Katagi was in the restaurant and not the park, I guess.  "And where were you during the murder?"

 

"I was getting this shit all over me," Yuuri muttered, pointing at his ruined shirt.  The fact that it was now un-wearable should have been a blessing, in Akane's eyes.  "Told the guys to fuck off for a while and got myself some shaved ice.  Last time I go there, I'm telling you.  Spent the whole time there trying to wash it off--ask the fuck in the PaPa hat, he saw me."

 

Akane glanced up.  "Naruhodou?  Oh, right."  If dispatch was right on the times, Naruhodou and his friends had run into Yuuri and his battle with the cherry stain just after the murder was called in.  "And that's when you found out about the murder."

 

Yuuri tugged one of his friends forward: a chubby man with a dark suit and too much gold jewelry.  "I…I found the body," he reported.  He looked awfully pale, and Akane didn't doubt that he was being truthful.  "We left the boss alone, like he said.  But he was gone a long time, so I went to see, and…"  He rubbed his mouth as if sick.  "And he was layin' there.  So we split up to tell the Missus and Yuuri here."

 

"I see."  Akane checked her notes: if they had indeed arrived at the park at 6:00 pm, and received the emergency call from the victim's wife at 6:30 pm, that left only a thirty minute window for the murder to have taken place. 

 

"Thank you," Akane told the men.  "But you're still going to have to come down to the station and each make an official statement."

 

"Oh come on," Yuuri groaned.  "Are you kiddin' me?  The son'v'a bitch who did this is out running around right now."

 

"Which is exactly why you're going downtown," Akane said boredly.  "There's no way we're letting you out on the streets tonight."  She signaled to the officers.  "Take them in, won't you?"

 

"You can't do that!" Yuuri continued to holler as the men began to lead him and his friends off.  "It was those Kitaki, I know it!  They're dead to the last man--I swear on it, you dumb bitch!"

 

Akane sighed as she turned away.  Though she hated to admit it, it could only be the truth: the only man or woman bold--and stupid--enough to kill a man like Shouri Katagi was another yakuza.  She had not been a detective at the time, but she had heard plenty about how lucky the department had been almost a year ago, when the shooting of Takita Kitaki had managed not to spark all out war between the families.  There was little chance of that being the case now.

 

"Detective!"  One of her officers came jogging over, clutching his radio.  "They've found the murder weapon."

 

*****

 

Odoroki left the Kitakis, determined to gather as much information as possible.  There was no guarantee that charges would be filed against the parents of his former client, but judging from Kyouya's manner earlier, there was a good chance of it.  He had to admit, it was rather obvious: two men who were well known as enemies, one dead, the other nearby.  By listening to the conversations between some of the still-detained guests and staff, Odoroki learned that most everyone had seen Mrs. Katagi march up to Koume during dinner, with many unflattering things to say.  It had drawn attention to the fact that Tsunekatsu had not been in his seat.  If the waiter's account was to be trusted, Tsunekatsu had in fact been away from his table for a quarter of an hour at least.  Much longer than necessary to visit the washroom.

 

He tried to overhear a bit of Kyouya's questioning with the newly widowed Kanako Katagi, but the prosecutor was much more on guard than usual, and spotted him every time he got too close.  He had to shoo Odoroki away several times before he gave up.

 

He was considering a plan to get himself to the crime scene when Akane entered through the back of the restaurant, which led to the garden, carrying in her hands a sealed evidence bag.  When she saw Odoroki she tried to bypass him, but he quickly intercepted.  "Detective?  Did you find something?"

 

"I'm afraid so," Akane reported grimly.  For a moment she looked indecisive, and finally she sighed.  "Well, come on, then, since your nose is already so far in this one."

 

Odoroki followed her back to the room where they were keeping the Kitakis.  Akane didn't waste any time.  She held up the bag, turning it so the one clear side was visible.  The contents appeared to be a handgun, and a rather large one at that.  It was also disturbingly familiar.

 

"Do you recognize this weapon?" she asked Tsunekatsu shortly.

 

Tsunekatsu stared at it, and his shoulders gradually lowered.  "Yes," he answered truthfully.  "I do."

 

"There aren't many guns like this around anymore," Akane continued.  "I can get some men to fetch a warrant and head over to your home to make sure, but why don’t you tell the truth now and save us some trouble?"

 

"It's one of ours," Tsunekatsu confirmed.  "But I've never used it."

 

Akane lowered the bag, looking strangely disappointed.  She signaled to the men who had been guarding the Kitakis all along; they, in contrast to their superior, were very smug.  "Take them to the station," she instructed.

 

"Wait a minute," Odoroki quickly interjected.  "You're arresting them both?  Without checking for prints, their alibi--"

 

"I have to bring them in," Akane reasoned as the Kitakis both stood.  "I've already got Yuuri Katagi swearing to kill every fox in town.  They're suspects, and they need to be in custody as soon as possible.  It's for their own good."

 

Odoroki tried to continue, but Tsunekatsu stopped him with a heavy hand on his shoulder.  "It's all right," he assured.  "I'll tell them everything I know."  He gave Odoroki a squeeze before letting go and surrendering himself to the two officers.

 

"This is outrageous," Koume hissed, though she followed her husband's lead.  "Mr. Odoroki--will you call our son?  Tell him and Mr. Akagami to go straight home!  We'll have this nonsense sorted out."

 

Odoroki fidgeted anxiously.  "Okay…"

 

He followed them all outside of the restaurant, under the eyes of the guests, the wait staff, the police….  There was a crowd of curious bystanders growing outside the restaurant as well, and they watched with fascination and even satisfaction as Tsunekatsu and Koume were escorted to a waiting squad car.  At some point along the way they picked up Kyouya, who hung back with Odoroki once they were on the sidewalk.

 

"He didn't do this," Odoroki said firmly as Akane passed some instructions to her officers.  "Mr. Kitaki didn't kill that man.  He and his family are clean now.  They don't have any reason to hurt anyone."

 

"I know you like this family," Kyouya replied, apparently sharing none of Odoroki's concern, "but you can't be that naïve.  The Katagi almost killed his son.  Do you really think he wouldn't take the chance to get back at them, if he could?"

 

Odoroki stood a little taller.  "That's exactly what I think.  They're good people."

 

This time Kyouya laughed, a thin, bitter chuckle so unlike the laughter he'd charmed his many female fans with.  "Just because his son almost dying scared him straight, it doesn't mean they're good people.  You're new, so maybe you wouldn't know, but I've been chasing people like him my whole career.  They're yakuza.  They don't change overnight."

 

"Maybe they do," Odoroki insisted.  "They're sorry for how things were before, and--"

 

"Sorry?"  Kyouya scoffed.  "If sorry were enough," he quoted, "we wouldn't need…well, Detective Nosey over there."  He smiled thinly.  "And what a shame that would be."

 

A black car pulled up to the curb, and though Odoroki recognized it, it wasn’t until Takita plowed out of the passenger seat that he realized the amount of trouble that was about to be started.  When Takita's wide-eyed gaze fell on his parents, who were being directed into the back of a police car, his face immediately flushed. 

 

"Hey!"  Takita wasted no time in stomping down the sidewalk toward Akane and her officers.  "What the hell is going on?"

 

Seeing as he'd taken it upon himself all day to look after everyone else, Odoroki broke away from Kyouya in an attempt to slow Takita down.  If he could at least disrupt the boy's momentum, maybe they could avoid a fight.  But Takita had no intention of being reasoned with, and as soon as Odoroki's hand touched his arm he shoved him off without even looking to see who it was.

 

Odoroki stumbled back, and would have been taken off his feet had he not bumped into the larger form of a man behind him.  "Whoa, there," a familiar voice said.  "You okay?"

 

Odoroki turned quickly, and was startled to find Naruhodou as the one who had prevented him spilling onto the sidewalk.  "Naruhodou?  What are you doing back?"

 

Naruhodou smirked.  "I'll explain in a minute.  In the meantime…"  He indicated the scene unfolding in front of them.

 

As Takita raised his voice to the officers, another figure was quickly moving up behind him: Tsudzuo, his fists already tense at his sides.  Odoroki tried to take a step forward, still vainly hoping to maybe help keep them from violence, but Naruhodou's sudden hands on his shoulders kept him back.

 

"Let them go," Naruhodou told him.  "You don't want to get in the middle of that."

 

*****

 

By the time Takita reached the group of officers hassling his parents he was almost literally seeing red.  The same fool detective that had arrested him only a few months ago seemed to be in charge, and the sight of her lazy eyes and stupid lab coat sent his blood boiling.  "What the hell is going on?" he demanded.  He reached for Akane's sleeve, but a nearby officer acted quickly, grabbing his wrist.

 

"Stand back, son," the man grunted.  "Police business."

 

"Let go!"   He managed to shove the hand off, but didn't try to reach for Akane again as he glared her down.  "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

 

"Your parents are coming down to the station to answer a few questions," the detective replied as if it were obvious.  "There was a murder here tonight.  If you'd like to make a statement--"

 

"Murder?  What are you talking about?"  Takita heard each word.  He even understood them, perfectly.  It was very clear to him what must have happened.  But his hands were shaking, and when he glanced to the police car window and saw his mother's face staring back at him with concern, he couldn't repress his anger.  This time he was fast enough that he was able to grab Akane's arm before her officers could stop him.

 

"My parents didn't murder anyone!" he shouted, glad to finally see the lazy expression leave Akane's face.  "You dumb bitch cop, you--"

 

Akane hit pretty hard for a girl.  Takita was still getting over the surprise that the sudden hot sting across his cheek was of her doing when two pairs of hands yanked him away from her.  Startled and agitated as he was, he couldn't get enough of his strength into his struggles, and this time was unable to break away.  His arms were twisted behind him, and a moment later he found himself being shoved up against the side of the police car.  The sudden impact of his chest against the solid vehicle frame sent a shockwave through him that made him see white.  Unable to draw enough breath even to curse, Takita sagged weakly in the officers' hold.

 

Takita wasn't entirely certain what happened next.  He was putting all his concentration on trying to breathe despite the pulsing, angry pain in his chest, and didn't pay any attention to the noise behind him until the hands holding him pinned were abruptly gone.  He braced his hands against the car but they were still shaky.  Just when he thought his legs might buckle a strong hand curled in the collar of Takita's jacket, holding just firmly enough to keep him on his feet.  The strength was familiar, and he twisted just enough to confirm with his sight.  "Tsudzuo…."

 

Tsudzuo stood protectively at his young master's side, keeping him steady as he faced down the surrounding police with steel in his gaze.   His voice was cold and precise. 

 

"Back off.  No one touches him."

 

 

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