Chapter Eighteen: Death’s Feather:

8:00 a.m.

A body washed onto shore wrapped in black trash bags. The red cords around it were starting to break off. Two old fishermen spotted it washed up among the seaweed. Curiosity peeked; they walked over for a closer look. When they saw through the hole at the feet, it all became dead serious from there. One look at that pale ankle inside prompted a wide-spread panic throughout the beach.

*Setsuna*

I went down to the café in the hotel in hopes of finding Kiku there. Maybe she went down to have some breakfast on her own. When I walked through the doorway, the place was virtually empty. I bit my lower lip as I looked around. Maybe I should call her again, I thought. I debated this in my mind for a few seconds before I picked up the phone and dialed her again. I tapped my foot as the other line kept ringing.

Come on!, I thought. Please pick up! I need to hear your voice at least!

“Kiku’s phone!” her voice mail chirped again. “Sorry I can’t pick up right now. But, if you leave me a message, I might just get back to you. Your lucky item today is a brown cat.” Beep. I lowered the phone. Still nothing. Maybe someone here saw her. I scanned the room for any staff members in the café. I spotted one of the waiters cleaning the back tables. I raced over to him as I flagged him down.

“Excuse me,” I said. The man looked up and saw me. I made it over to him.

“Have you seen my friend?” I asked. “Her name is Kiku and she has short red hair to her jaw. Please think hard.” The waiter took a moment to ponder my question. He finally shook his head.

“No,” he said. I bowed my head at him.

“Thank you, sir,” I said. I turned and walked out of the café. She didn’t come here and she wasn’t back in her room. Where did she go?

8:10 a.m.

The police arrived on the scene. Crime scene taped decorated the beach. A small crew gathered to have a look. One of the cops kept them back from a distance. After they photographed the body, the coroner cut open the bags. The body looked to be female in her late twenties. Time of death estimated between nine p.m. and midnight.

*Setsuna*

I went out to the bar. Maybe she was waiting for me there. It didn’t look as crowded as it did last night. I guess people were waking up for the morning. I took my seat at the bar. The bar tender looked up at me from cleaning a glass.

“Can I help with you with something, miss?” he asked. I shook my head at first. But then, I paused and placed my hand on the counter.

“Hey, have you seen my friend come by here?” I asked. “Her name is Kiku and she has short red hair to her jaw and is really loud. Has she been by here recently?” The bar tender thought about my question for a long moment. He finally shook his head at me.

“No,” he said. “I did see her last night with some guy.” My attention perked up sharp.

“A guy?” I asked. “What did he look like?” The bar tender smiled at that question.

“Rather handsome guy,” he said. “Short dark hair and rather pale.”

“Was he in all black?”

“Yeah.”

That answer began to make me fear the worst. I looked closely in his eyes.

“Did you see where they went?” I asked.

“Yeah,” the bar tender replied. “He went to the pachinko parlor across the street and she went out to the beach.”

“And they went separately?”

“Yes.”

I sat back, relaxed. Good, she didn’t go off with him. But, where was she now? Maybe Kiku was on the beach and might come strolling in to find me. I decided to send a text to see. I pulled out my phone and began to write.

Hey, I’m in the hotel bar. Text me back when you get this.

Sestu-chan

I sat back and waited after I hit send.

8:17 a.m.

By this time, the local reporters made it here. Female victim had no id on her. All she had on was a short jean miniskirt and a white tank top with a plastic rainbow on the chest. Her shoes might have come off during the wrapping of her body. No defensive wounds on her hands. There were no other wounds on her body either. Definitely dead before she hit the water and wrapped up in the garbage bags. The police suspected no foul play. However, they cannot be certain until they get the body back to the lab for autopsy.

*Setsuna*

Suddenly, I heard a cell phone buzz. At first, I thought it was my own and Kiku had texted me right back.

That was fast, I thought. But then, I noticed that I had no new messages and my phone was silent at the moment. What the…?, I thought. I used my eyes to trail the noise. Just a few inches away sat another cell phone. Shock came over my face as I recognized it. That’s Kiku’s phone!, I thought. But wait, what was it doing out here? That girl is never without her phone. I tried not to think the worst.

Maybe she’s just in the bathroom, I thought. But even then she would still take her phone with her. I shut my eyes in worry. That’s when it got worse.

“Oh crap, it’s time for the news,” I heard the bar tender say. I heard him flip on the TV.

“Two local fishermen have found a dead body washed up on the beach this morning,” I heard the news anchor lady say. I don’t know what it was, but I just happened to open my eyes and look at the TV. All of my doubts came true with what I saw. The body that had watched up on shore was my dear friend, Kiku. My stomach turned as I got a good idea of who did this to her. Bastard!, I thought. That bastard!