Just as You Are || Death Note || L

Chapter 38: Right This way, Sir

"Columbus?!"

Katelyn couldn't believe it then, and she can't believe it now. In an attempt to learn something new about her situation, L has brought the both of them to her hometown. He had mentioned it, but she didn't expect it so soon after Light turned himself in.

Rain drops pitter against the window and the downtown lights sparkle off the wet road. The nightlife filters into the darkened car as they near the city's most extravagant hotel.

The low hum of the car and the padding of rain is enough to nearly put the woman to sleep. She's tired. Jetlag, right?

Just at the edge of sleep, the car comes to a stop. A valet opens the car door, the wind-swept air hitting them, and the two are greeted, "Good evening, and welcome to LeVeque. We'll have all luggage taken directly to your room once you've checked in, sir."

L hands the man the keys, and two others begin unloading their belongings. The inside lobby is massive, with the ceiling opening up as they approach check-in. L gives a false name for a double queen suite.

"Yes, sir. It'll take just a moment." The receptionist begins looking up the reservation. It starts taking longer than expected and man gives an apologetic look.

"Forgive me, sir. There seems to have been a misunderstanding. The reservation is booked for our presidential suite with a single deluxe king bed. I would offer to change it for you, but all other rooms are... occupied."

"It's fine, we can go somewhere else."

Given how late it is, combined with an already long trip, L sees no reason to waste more time going to a different hotel when they already have a room booked here, "It will suffice. It's nearly midnight and you need rest."

"Ryuzaki, a few more minutes won't hurt anything."

"That will do," He says to the receptionist. The man hands him a key card.

L begins shuffling toward the elevators, Katelyn following suit, dragging her feet from exhaustion. The lift to the top takes longer than she'd like to linger on. The elevator slows to a stop and the doors part, revealing a long hallway to either the left or right. They exit right and pass a lot fewer suites than expected. They come to the end of the hallway, the door to their room large and ornate. Pulling the key card from his pocket, he passes it over the doors sensor, and it clicks open.

Inside, the room is wide and spacious, with warm grey walls and huge bed with an intricate woodwork headboard. They're two armchairs along with a loveseat, a kitchenette, and an ensuite. Closely, she follows behind L, almost afraid of touching anything in the room, as to not cause undo damage or dirtiness. They step further inside and her eye spots a large jacuzzi tub that her head snaps toward. No, her eyes were not playing tricks on her. She can't begin to imagine how expensive this room must be.

L glances around the room, giving a satisfied hum, and turns for his bags, "You should sleep now. We have a busy day ahead of us." She pipes up to object, as he expected she would, "I won't be sleeping much tonight, if any. I have my laptop I'll be preoccupied with. Just because we're here, doesn't mean I won't be monitoring Light when I can."

"I should've expected as much."

L takes his things over to the desk and begins pulling out his equipment. She shouldn't be surprised; the man literally never stops working. She lugs her own bags over to the bed and shuffles through for her pajamas and toiletries. Katelyn retreats into the bathroom for a much-needed hot shower. Steam fills the room and the water soothing her cramped, tired muscles from the days long trip they've had. After washing away all dirt and grim, she finishes the essentials. The trapped steam escapes with the opening of the bathroom door, and Katelyn takes the few steps over to the bed and flops onto it.

"Can we sleep in tomorrow?" She mumbles under a pillow.

"Not if we want to be productive."

Groaning, she tosses in bed until she's comfortable, "No fair."

"Good night to you too."

-----

Hello again.