Chapter 06

Words: 1748

Dan yawned, glaring at his alarm clock which wailed arrogantly from his bedside table. He groaned and slammed his hand down on the button, silencing his clock. He had some practise tests to do for his finals and he had only revised a little.

Quickly he got to work getting dressed and writing a few names in the death note. He ripped out two pieces of the death note just in case. 

"What's going on with you Dan? You haven't stopped writing criminals names in the death note for two days straight, so what are you trying to prove? I don't see the point in writing these names weeks in advance. I've never seen the death note used like this." Ryuk's gravelly voice asked.

"Consider it insurance. Suppose the son of the detective superintendent of the NPA was hospitalized, if criminals stop dying at the same time, it wouldn't be difficult to connect the two." Dan replied confidently.

"So that's what this is." Ryuk grumbled. 

"Are you sure that I can use any date as long as it's before the end of a person's predetermined lifespan?" Dan asked curiously.

"Well, I can't guarantee it because we shinigami don't normally work that way but I suppose any time before the end of their lifespan should work." Ryuk replied.

Dan narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "I really can't count on you, can I?" Dan huffed.

"You got that right." Ryuk chuckled.

~

"I'd like to place wire traps and surveillance cameras in both house holds."

"I don't have to tell you how offended I am to learn my family is under suspicion. Having said that, make sure you install them every where. I don't want any blind spots in the house and that includes the bathroom." Mr Howell spoke up looking furious and miserable at the same time.

"Thank you very much. That was my intention." Phil replied, although he could feel the familiar taunt of guilt tingle his spine. He was going to be spying on his best friend, his room mate and he was making his father spy on him. "As a courtesy to the chief and his family, only he and I will conduct surveillance on their home as well as his eldest son's apartment. Jim, how long will it take to prepare the wire traps and cameras we need?" Phil asked his assistant.

"Well tomorrow, I can set them up at any time provided we know when both houses will be empty." Jim replied, tapping away at his computer.

"Thank you that will be very helpful." Phil said and sat down on the sofa.

~

Dan stretched his sore limbs as the apartment came back into view. He had read the article about the investigators coming back in but he doubted it was true. Why would they need that many when they had L? Dan wasn't going to be stupid and underestimate him again, so he wans't going to fall for his trap.

"See you tomorrow Dan." His university friend, Louise, smiled before heading a different direction.

"Yeah, bye." Dan replied tiredly. He got his keys out and took the elevator up. 

"I could so use an apple right about now." Ryuk groaned. 

Dan ignored him and continued to the 15th floor where his and Phil's apartment was. Jingling his keys on the way, he walked to the last door on the right and slotted them into the lock. He opened the door wide, taking his shoes off first and letting Ryuk in before closing the door. 

He walked up the stairs into the living room and set his keys on the table. He looked over to the fruit bowl, ready to give Ryuk an apple but it was empty.

"Oops, looks like I forgot to go shopping." Dan thought and walked off to his room. He was about to turn the door handle when he paused for a second, his eyes widening a tad. He calmed his breathing and slotted his key into the lock, unlocking his door and closing it behind him.

"Hey, do you wanna play some video games?" Ryuk asked excitedly. 

Dan, however, ignored him and stretched, dropping his bag next to his desk and flopping back on the bed, yawning. 

"Oh, come on it's been a while." Ryuk insisted. Dan still didn't say anything, just sat back and closed his eyes. "You listening?" Ryuk asked impatiently.

Dan got to his feet and walked over to his wardrobe, taking off his jacket and placing it inside. He then walked over to his desk. "Hey Dan!" Ryuk tried again. He flipped the lamp on then went back to his door, sorting out the handle to his setting and putting a new piece of led in the hinge.

~

"I don't believe it. I never knew he went to such great lengths. What could he be hiding in there that he doesn't want anyone else to see?" Mr Howell questioned as he and Phil watched the video. Phil sighed.

"It's not so unusual, Dan's always been very private. Plus he's a teenager on the verge of adulthood, there's plenty of stuff he could be hiding something." Phil pointed out. 

Mr Howell sighed and glanced at Phil. "Look Phil-" Phil looked at him, "-Sorry Ryuzaki, isn't this weird for you as well? I mean I know it's just us right now and they shouldn't be listening in but ... my son is your best friend is he not?" Mr Howell questioned, looking a little angry.

"Yes, he's my best friend, but like you are doing I'm suppressing these emotions so I can solve the case. I'm very aware that it makes me a little uncomfortable and to be honest I wish I wasn't here right now." Phil replied, keeping his face blank and staring at the screen although he was feeling sick inside. Mr Howell's face softened.

"Sorry, I'm forgetting my place." He sighed.

"It's not your fault, anyway, have you talked to your son about the investigation at all?" Phil asked, going back into professional mode.

"No of course not. I've never once revealed classified information to my family. Besides I don't get to see them too often these days and usually as soon as I get home all I can do is sleep." Mr Howell answers, looking mildly upset.

"I understand." Phil replied, looking back at the screen.

~

"So where are we going?" Ryuk asked, as he followed Dan down the street. He didn't answer. "Dan! Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you or I'll get mad!" Ryuk grumbled. Ryuk watched as Dan quickly checked his clothes for something.

"It doesn't look like these clothes have been bugged ... I think we're safe." Dan thought.

"HELLO? Yoohoooo!" Ryuk started waving his hands in front of Dan's face.

"Listen to me, there's a very strong possibility that there are wire traps and maybe surveillance cameras hidden throughout my house." Dan spoke up, halting Ryuk's frantic movements.

"Really? But that piece of paper that you put in your door was still there wasn't it?" Ryuk asked, his attention caught.

"That's true but I left the paper in a way that would be obvious to anyone entering the room. The real test is the handle." Dan explained.

"It is?" Ryuk asked.

"When that door is closed, the door handle will automatically return to a horizontal position and won't go any higher than that ... but whenever I close the door I adjust it slightly, instead of letting it sit horizontally I lower it by at least 5 millimetres. When I get home and I try to open the door, if the handle is all the way up I can be fairly certain that someone was in my room. That method alone doesn't tell me if my door was actually opened." Ryuk listened in fascination. "So, I put a mechanical pencil led in place as well."

"So what do you do with it?" 

"It goes on the hinge. After I close the door I take the pencil led and rest it on the hinge in such a way that it will break in a way if the door is actually opened by anyone. Normally I'd take it out myself when I get back home. When I got home from uni today, I noticed that the pencil led was broken." Dan explained.

"Now that you mention it, I do remember that." Ryuk thought aloud.

"First the door handle then the led, I know someone was in there today."

"Maybe it was a friend? Family member?" Ryuk suggested.

"They wouldn't have noticed the paper, what's suspicious is that someone took the time to put it back in the door." Dan's eyes narrowed in thought.

~

"What did you write on that piece of death note paper?" Ryuk asked as they made their way home.

"All in good time." Dan smirked. "By the way Ryuk, what about your apples?" 

"Apples?" Then realization hit him and his eyes widened. "That's right, surveillance cameras! Once the apple's in my mouth no one can see it but while I'm holding it, it looks like it's floating."

"I thought so, you told me that shinigami can't die. So I guess it won't kill you to stop eating apples for a while." A small smile graced Dan's features.

Ryuk's facial expression widened in panic! "Don't you think that's a bit much? Come on! I never told you this, but apples are to me what's cigarettes and alcohol are to humans. Do you see what I'm saying? I even get withdrawal symptoms!" Ryuk exaggerated.

"Oh yeah? What kind of symptoms?" Dan asked.

"My body gets all twisted, I do handstands, it's not pretty!" Ryuk exclaimed, giving Dan an example as turn flew upside down.

"I don't need to see that." Dan retorted.

"I know." Ryuk replied, going right side up. He looked a little deflated.

"Ok, here's the thing. Unfortunately I already gave L the hint that shinigami love apples. I just can't afford to take the risk." Dan put simply.

"When did you..."

"If it's so important for you to eat apples, you'll have to find out where ALL the camera's are hidden. If you're lucky you might find a blind spot where you can eat them without being seen." Dan suggested. "Alright? Lets go."

"Yeah a camera search!" Ryuk announced, flying behind Dan as they entered the building. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thoughts so far? I'm enjoying writing it! :D

~HelloAnonymousWriter~