Under the strong, focused light, a strange shadow appeared in the center of the beige paper.
This odd phenomenon caught Jodie Starling's attention.
Back at her place, she immediately sat at her desk, turned on the lamp, and placed the diary under the light for a careful inspection.
The result was the same—the last page of the diary was peculiar.
Yet the surface of the paper still felt perfectly smooth to the touch.
Jodie Starling quickly had a thought.
In an intelligence agency like the FBI, invisible ink was not unusual at all.
Agents with some seniority, such as Io Hutchinson, would very likely use such a method if they wanted to pass secret messages through a diary.
Jodie first tried a UV light. Finding no results, she then took a lighter.
As the flame warmed the paper, gradually the letters emerged, freezing her expression:
"Beware of James Black!"
The car accident on the Bunkyo Ward expressway had dominated the news for several days, and the police had confirmed the list of casualties in the crash.
"Currently, we strongly suspect this is a revenge incident."
"Among the deceased in this accident was Jack Walz, a former Navy SEAL captain. It is said that eight years ago, he had a fierce conflict with one of his subordinates, a sniper named Timothy Hunter."
"Regarding Timothy Hunter's background…"
[...]
"Real estate developer Hiroaki Fujinami, investment company president Hitoshi Moriyama, and recently publicized former American soldier Bill Murphy were also victims of this revenge case."
"No matter the pretext, the culprit blatantly violated Japanese law, involving many innocent people, causing enormous damage and impact on Japanese society. We will not tolerate this."
"Currently, the Tokyo police and American officials have formed a special investigation team, and the culprit is expected to be arrested soon."
[...]
These days, the television keeps replaying these canned news reports.
Gin's cold eyes stared at the TV, only glancing at Hayashi Yoshiki when a police officer appeared to speak on screen.
"Was it you who did this?"
His voice sent a chill down the spine.
A massive chemical tanker explosion, a large-scale crash caused by chain reactions...
No brains required to suspect it, all points to Cointreau, even Vodka could accuse him of everything.
"Don't always suspect me whenever there's a big accident."
Hayashi Yoshiki didn't care about Gin's icy stare.
Looking at the drink on the bar as if wanting to examine it more closely, his eyes softened, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth:
"If Chianti's operation goes smoothly, then everything I've prepared won't be needed, right?"
"Hmph."
Upon hearing Chianti's name, Gin's expression immediately soured.
Because of the sniper attack on Suzuki Tower, she had been going crazy lately...
Of course, it was even more likely she couldn't accept the humiliation of failing to kill Jack Walz.
"If I'd known, I'd have let Korn do it."
"Did they identify the sniper at Blue Sky Pavilion?"
"What, want to avenge Chianti?"
"Don't be stupid!"
Gin shot a sharp glance at Hayashi Yoshiki.
A sniper who came that close to hitting Chianti under those conditions...
Although the shot missed, it was almost perfect,
which meant the sniper was nearly on par with Shuichi Akai himself—
Gin was naturally interested.
If only they could recruit him into the Organization...
"Unfortunately, my original plan was to have Chianti kill Jack Walz first, then provoke that sniper and lure him to that stretch of road to kill him."
When Hayashi Yoshiki said this, his eyes briefly darkened, but soon a bright smile returned:
"But since Chianti failed, there's no choice but to use him on Mr. Walz."
Though fleeting, Gin did not miss that detail.
For this murder-obsessed maniac, having the intended victim escape would make him extremely upset, even furious.
That's why he hastily used the accident, originally meant for the mysterious sniper, on Jack Walz instead.
Gin hadn't forgotten the time he first witnessed Hayashi Yoshiki's abilities, and the suspect perfectionism and OCD reaction he displayed...
Watching Hayashi Yoshiki smile so pleasantly now, Gin sneered inwardly—quite the actor.
"What's wrong, Mr. Vodka?"
"N-nothing."
Startled by the sudden call, Vodka quickly forced a simple smile and denied it.
But Hayashi Yoshiki stared intently, his eyes narrowing noticeably.
"I feel like you're thinking something rude."
"W-What!?" Vodka's voice changed pitch, sounding dry:
"Don't overthink it, Cointreau!"
"Then why are you sweating so much?"
"I-I'm just—"
"Cut it out, Vodka."
Gin interrupted coldly, cutting off Vodka's startled voice:
"Don't make any rash moves after identifying that sniper. The Organization is very interested in him."
"Alright... but rather than having me investigate, it might be easier to use Chianti as bait to catch the target."
Upon hearing this, Gin really lowered his head to consider the feasibility.
Meanwhile, Vodka wiped sweat from his forehead with a tissue, gratefully glancing at his big brother:
He had indeed been thinking that Cointreau was crazy—
The sniper hadn't provoked him, yet inexplicably was prevented from avenging and then set up to be killed...
How unfair is that life?!
But he only dared to sympathize silently in his heart.
If it were he who really provoked Cointreau, he might not even survive thanks to big brother...
His eyes, behind sunglasses, carefully watched Hayashi Yoshiki raise his glass and down his drink.
"Heading back?"
"Yeah, I still have things to do later, and it's easier to catch a taxi earlier."
Hayashi Yoshiki said as he stood from the bar.
Gin said nothing.
Though he thought it was a bit ridiculous for Cointreau—an Organization member—not to drink and drive.
But given Cointreau's special official status, there was nothing more to say.
After leaving the Organization's bar, Hayashi Yoshiki took out his phone and glanced at it.
Jodie: "The last page of the diary used invisible ink. I've restored the text."
Seeing no further messages, Hayashi Yoshiki couldn't help but smile widely.
Everything was going smoothly, even surprising him.