Changing a person's
fate is no easy task...

...especially when
their fate is "death."

The scene at the other
end of the line is pretty
much what I expected.

All except for one thing...

Cabanela:
Nooo! Lyyynne!
Hang in there, baby!


Pigeon Man:
It looks like some piece of
trash shot her from the top
of the pile of garbage outside.

Pigeon Man:
Here, let me take a look at her.
Maybe there's something I--


Cabanela:
Sorry, can't allow
that, Pigeon Man.

Cabanela:
I investigate and you
"superintend." You have
your job, and I have mine.

Cabanela:
Let's leave each to his own
profession, shaaall we?


Pigeon Man:
Yeah? Well, here's
what I think.

Pigeon Man:
How much of a "pro" can
you be if you let her get
shot right in front of you?


Cabanela:
I--!

Pigeon Man:
Anyway, have it your way.
I'll stay out of your hair.


Cabanela:
Doc, what took you so long?!
Quit draggin' your feet!


Doctor:
Who are you to shout at
me? Now, let me have a
look at the victim.


Sissel:
(I haven't even looked yet,
but I can already tell you
she's dead.)

Sissel:
(Her second death
of the night, actually...)


****

Cabanela:
How about it, Doc?!
Can you save her?!
She's not breathing...

Doctor:
Afraid I'm not a
miracle worker.

Doctor:
Only thing we can do
now is curse the aim of
the one who shot her.

Cabanela:
Lyyyne... How could I let
this happen to you...?

***

Blue Detective:
I want to be a legendary
detective someday.

McCaw:
Oh yeah? In that case, you
oughta start doing whatever
you can now to prepare.

Blue Detective:
To be honest, I already have.

Blue Detective:
I've started practicing some
awesome dance moves to do
while I'm investigating.

McCaw:
Say what?

Blue Detective:
Inspector Cabanela already
nabbed the title of "Legendary
Stair-Stepping Detective"...

Blue Detective:
So I'm gonna be the "Legendary
Investigating Detective"!

McCaw:
I'm starting to feel
a little worried...

McCaw:
Worried for the future of this
nation's police organization,
that is...

****

Sissel:
What's up with this
blinding pink notebook?

Sissel:
Somebody stuck it
behind the bookcase
at a haphazard angle.

Sissel:
Maybe that's the
superintendent's
way of "tidying up"...?


****

Sissel:
This must be... a
basement. There's that
old man from before.

Sissel:
I can't see very well in this
darkness, but it looks like
a pretty strange room.

Sissel:
(But never mind this... I'd
better go see about Lynne.)


****

Sissel:
(Unconscious this time as well, eh?)

Lynne:
Where... am I...?

Sissel:
...!
(She's coming to?)


Lynne:
What happened to me?

Sissel:
........

Lynne:
Excuse me...

Lynne:
Are you ignoring me?


Sissel:
Oh! Uh, sorry...

Sissel:
I'm still not used to talking
with dead people, you see.


Lynne:
"Dead"? So I'm dead, huh...

Lynne:
...Hmm. Try as I might, I can't
seem to remember who I am.


Sissel:
(She's starting to
remind me of me.)


Lynne:
Who am I?!

Sissel:
Everybody seems to call you
"Lynne," if that's any help.


Lynne:
"Lynne," huh? Pretty cute name.

Sissel:
And, apparently, you're
a detective, too.


Lynne:
"Detective"...? You mean that
super-cool kind of cop that solves
crimes and upholds justice?


Sissel:
Sounds like a pretty
subjective description, but,
yes, that kind of "detective."


Lynne:
........

Lynne:
Hey, wait a minute...

Sissel:
...!
Are you starting to
remember something...?!


Lynne:
There's no time to lose!

Lynne:
Something really unusual is
going down in this town tonight!


Sissel:
(Yeah, I certainly won't argue
with the "really unusual" part.)

Sissel:
That's not your face, you
know. Take another look.
You're the dead one.


Lynne:
Oh...! Right, of course. It'd
be pretty heinous if I looked
like this, I guess, wouldn't it?


Sissel:
(I don't know if "heinous"
is the right word...)


Lynne:
There! Now THIS is more like it!

Sissel:
("Something really unusual is
going on in this town tonight"...)

Sissel:
(Could it have anything to do
with my death, I wonder?)

Sissel:
Tell me... What IS going on
in this town tonight...?


Lynne:
Don't ask me.

Sissel:
Huh?

Lynne:
I can't remember a thing...
I think it's probably
'cause I'm dead.

Lynne:
Grr! Everything is so confusing!
Can't you do something?!


Sissel:
(Hey! You're asking
the wrong guy.)

Sissel:
But I've got some things
to ask YOU about.


[About me]

Sissel:
I'm looking for the answers
to the questions, "Who am I?"
and "Why was I killed?"

Sissel:
Do you know anything
that might help me?

Sissel:
The only thing I know right now
is that my name is "Sissel."


Lynne:
Your name is "Sissel," huh?

Sissel:
I think so. It rings some
kind of bell, anyway.

Sissel:
I think I was killed tonight,
while I was meeting with you.

Sissel:
So you must at least
know me... I think.


Lynne:
I was meeting with you...?

Sissel:
Yes, in the junkyard outside.

Lynne:
........

Lynne:
Yeah... It's coming back to me...

Lynne:
I remember now!


Sissel:
I knew it! I knew you
were the lead I needed!


Lynne:
But I'm so sorry.

Lynne:
I don't think I can help you.


Sissel:
W-Why not?

Lynne:
'Cause I don't know you.

Sissel:
Wh-What do you mean?!
I thought you said you
remembered me?!


Lynne:
No, I said I remembered something.
I remembered the fact that I don't
know you.


Sissel:
No way!

[Lynne's death]

Lynne:
So I died, huh?

Sissel:
Yes, apparently.
I'm very sorry.


Lynne:
How could this have happened?
And after I just passed my test
finally this year?

Lynne:
My exciting career of
catching the bad guys
had just begun...

Lynne:
And now look at me! Why did
I have to go and die, in an
old junkyard like this?!


Sissel:
(Poor kid. The shock
is setting in...)


And so I told her everything
that happened tonight.

About ghost tricks, possessing
and manipulating objects...

And about going back four
minutes before a person's death.

Sissel:
This actually isn't the first time
you died tonight, you know.

Sissel:
You were already shot and
killed once before tonight.


Lynne:
And... you saved me...?

Sissel:
That's right. You don't remember?

Lynne:
........

Lynne:
Hmm. Yes, I think I do
remember something like
that happening... vaguely.

Lynne:
Yes, I did get shot! By a blue
man dressed all in black.


Sissel:
(I guess this means that
even if a death is erased,
the memory of it remains.)


Lynne:
So I died twice already tonight...

Sissel:
(Wish I knew what to say to
her... Guess I'll just have to
wait until she recovers a little.)


Lynne:
........

Lynne:
Hey, I bet that's some kind
of record, don't you think?!


Sissel:
Uh, yeah, you're probably right.
(Looks like she's pretty
much
recovered already...)


[Two strangers]

Sissel:
So you don't know me, huh?

Lynne:
Nope. Wish I did.

Sissel:
So do you suppose we're
just two strangers who
happened to meet tonight...?


Lynne:
No way. I don't think
it was any accident.

Lynne:
Why in the world would I
be way out here in the middle
of nowhere for no reason?

Lynne:
I was asked to come here tonight.


Sissel:
"Asked to come..."? By who?

Lynne:
Can't you kind of guess
where this is going?


Sissel:
You're kidding. Y-You mean...?

Lynne:
Bingo! By you.

Sissel:
I asked you to come
here?! But why?!


Lynne:
That's what I was going to ask YOU.

Lynne:
Why did you ask me to come
here tonight? Way out here
in the middle of nowhere?


Sissel:
You gotta be kidding me!

Sissel:
(It goes without saying
that I don't remember!)


Lynne:
Grr! Everything is so confusing!
Can't you do something?!


Sissel:
Mmm...

Sissel:
Lynne.

Sissel:
I'm not saying you owe
me or anything, but I
have a favor to ask.


Lynne:
What is it?

Sissel:
In the next four minutes, you'll
probably come back to life.

Sissel:
When you do, do you think you
could try to find out about me?
Before tomorrow morning?

Sissel:
Who I am, and why I was killed?


Lynne:
........

Lynne:
I'm really sorry.

Lynne:
But I can't make any promises.


Sissel:
Why not?

Lynne:
I don't remember very
clearly right now...

Lynne:
...but I think I was investigating
a case tonight.

Lynne:
A case that is very, very
important to me.

Lynne:
So even if I come back to life...

Lynne:
...I don't think I'll have time to
find out anything about you.


Sissel:
........

Lynne:
I know that's a terrible thing
to say to the person who
saved my life once already...

Lynne:
I'm really, really sorry.


Sissel:
I see... That's too bad...

Lynne:
But I'm afraid I'm still
going to ask you...


Sissel:
Ask me what?

Lynne:
Ask you to save me.

Lynne:
Even though I probably
won't be able to help you...


Sissel:
........

Lynne:
I know it's selfish of me.
I really apologize.

Lynne:
But... I just can't die.
Not yet. Not like this.

Lynne:
I'm investigating something
important tonight.

Lynne:
I think maybe that might be
the reason I was killed.

Lynne:
But I still want to solve the
case, in spite of all that!

Lynne:
Am I out of line?


Sissel:
........

Sissel:
Didn't I tell you a minute
ago you don't owe me?


Lynne:
Huh?

Sissel:
I'm certainly not gonna
treat your life like some
kind of bargaining chip.

Sissel:
I'll save you. What you do
after that is up to you.


Lynne:
Thank you.

Sissel:
So, you ready to go back?

Sissel:
Back to four minutes
before you got shot?


Lynne's second death...

I'm heading back in time
now to rewrite her fate.

Faced with those circumstances,
she could've just lied and
promised to help me.

But she didn't.

That's when I knew
I could trust her.

Lynne:
I have a bad feeling about this...

Officer:
Yes, sir!

Officer:
Detective! Is everything okay?


Lynne:
Oh...! Uh...

Lynne:
...I was hungry! So I was trying
to get something delivered...!


Officer:
What?! Don't do that!

Lynne:
Oh, I'm sorry...

Officer:
You should leave jobs like
that to me! Is chicken all right?

Officer:
One chicken dinner.


Lynne:
Oh, that's okay! Ha ha! I'm not
feeling very hungry anymore!

Lynne:
I would like to go back to the
station for a minute, though.


Officer:
You would? Oh, uh... I'm afraid
I can't let you do that.

Officer:
Inspector Cabanela is on his
way. He'll be here any minute.


Cabanela:
Evening, patrolmaaan.

Officer:
Good evening, Inspector
Cabanela, sir!


Cabanela:
Nice work. Now, do me a
favor and take a little patrol
around outside, would you?

Cabanela:
Thaaat's a nice fellow.


Officer:
Yes, sir!

Cabanela:
Yo. How's it goin', baby?

Lynne:
Inspector Cabanela! What
are you doing here...?

Lynne:
I thought the Special Investigation
Unit had an important top-secret
assignment tonight?


Cabanela:
What does that matter
at a time like this, when
my Lynne's in crisis?


Lynne:
I appreciate it, sir!

Lynne:
Wait a minute... Did you
just say "crisis"?

Lynne:
Don't tell me I'm
being suspected...?!

Lynne:
Suspected of shooting
that pointy-haired
man in the red suit?

Lynne:
I mean, I've never even
met the guy before!


Cabanela:
Hmm... "Never," baby?

Lynne:
Oh! Well, uh...

Lynne:
Before tonight, I mean. He
asked me to meet him here.

Lynne:
He said he had important
information about the big
case I'm working on.

Lynne:
He's the one who
contacted ME!


Cabanela:
I see, I seeee... But
it's funny, isn't it?

Cabanela:
I took a look at the list
of cases your station is
handling right now...

Cabanela:
...and I didn't see you listed
as "involved" on any "big cases."


Lynne:
...!

Cabanela::
You know I don't suspect
ya, baby. Just tryin' to
clear things up.

Cabanela:
You're not the type to
ever shoot anybody.

Cabanela:
Heeey, who knows ya
better than me, baby?

Cabanela:
You know, if anything ever
happened to you...

Cabanela:
...I'd never be able to look
HIM in the eye again...


Lynne:
Inspector Cabanela, I'm going
to ask you a question.


Cabanela:
Yeah? And what's that?

Lynne:
And I want you to
answer honestly.

Lynne:
Is it tonight? Is that
when it's happening?


Cabanela:
I have nooo idea what
you're talkin' about, baby.

Cabanela:
Get down!


Sissel:
It seems to me that "baby"
IS INDEED under suspicion.


Lynne:
By Inspector Cabanela?!
No! He's not like that!


Sissel:
Just for the record...
Did you shoot me?


Lynne:
Me?! I would never
do anything like that!


Sissel:
(Anyway, it looks like the
hitman fired from outside.)

Sissel:
(It'd be hard to prevent the
bullet from coming in, though...)

Sissel:
In any case, let's just give it
a try. Our "four-minute game"!


****

Lynne:
You know what?
I have an idea.

Lynne:
The guy who shot me
is outside, right?


Sissel:
Looks that way, yeah.

Lynne:
Instead of trying to
stop the bullet once
it gets in here...

Lynne:
...wouldn't it be more fun
to go out and stop the guy
who's shooting the bullet?


Sissel:
("Fun," she says, with eyes
gleaming. Oh, boy...)


Lynne:
You can use the telephone
to move around, right?


Sissel:
That's right. And I know the
telephone number to the
junkyard pay phone, too.


Lynne:
I don't want to
get shot again.

Lynne:
You know what they say,
about 3 strikes and you're
out...


Sissel:
As long as you don't become
a ball player, you'll probably
be "safe."

Sissel:
(But the telephone
thing's a good idea.
Maybe I'll give it a try.)


****

Sissel:
What's up with this
blinding pink notebook?


Lynne:
Oh, that's mine. Isn't it
adorable? Hee hee hee!


Sissel:
Why isn't your adorable
notebook in your pocket?


Lynne:
I panicked, okay?! Don't
you shove things in the
bookcase when you panic?


Sissel:
Who were you
calling, anyway?


Lynne:
It was personal business.

****

Lynne:
Hey! Don't scare
me like that!

Lynne:
You could shorten my life!

Lynne:
Poor little me...


Sissel:
(Um, your "life" is already
over, actually...)


Lynne:
You don't have to rub it in!

****

Sissel:
What could this be? It looks
like a giant nail clipper.


Lynne:
You think so?

Sissel:
Do YOU know what it is?

Lynne:
*sigh*

Lynne:
Why did you have to ask me?!
Couldn't you see I was
looking away evasively?!


Sissel:
Huh?

Lynne:
It's... one of those science-y
things that scientists use.

Lynne:
Ordinary people like us don't
have to know what it is!


Sissel:
(I don't remember
what "science" is...)

Sissel:
(...but it's apparently
something Lynne
doesn't like very much.)


****

Lynne:
These pictures are old.
What are they of? Little
fragments of rock?

Lynne:
And the fragments
are glowing... Do you
know what these are?


Sissel:
Sorry, but I've lost my
memory. Probably not
the best person to ask...


Lynne:
That's okay. I was only
being polite. I didn't
really think you'd know.


Sissel:
(Ouch. This lady's
tongue can be sharp.)


Lynne:
Uh, I can hear what you're
thinking, remember?


Sissel:
I know.

Lynne:
Good one.

****

Sissel:
I can't hear from here.
Better get closer...


****

Officer:
They ordered me here to
stand guard over this
rookie detective, Lynne.

Officer:
Now that I'm really looking
at her, she sure is cute.

Officer:
They told me to call the
detective outside if she
did anything suspicious...

Officer:
So here I stand.

Officer:
Hey, maybe I need to call the
detective outside after all...
She's so beautiful, it's criminal!


****

Lynne:
Say, did you hear what
the officer just said?


Sissel:
Yes. Strange taste
that fellow has...


Lynne:
His taste is perfectly
normal! Hmph. But,
anyway, not that part.

Lynne:
The part about the
order he got.

Lynne:
The order to telephone
outside if I did anything
suspicious.


Sissel:
("Telephone," huh?)

Lynne:
I was acting really
suspicious a few minutes
ago, but he didn't call.

Lynne:
He should've been
more observant!


Sissel:
(So if the police officer sees
anything suspicious...)

Sissel:
(...this state of affairs
might change...)


****

Sissel:
That's funny...

Lynne:
What's the matter?

Sissel:
This telephone doesn't seem
to be working right now.

Sissel:
(Usually, the telephone
line glows red, but it's
dark right now.)


Lynne:
What?!

Sissel:
Apparently, in this
"four minutes
before death" world...

Sissel:
...we can't just use the phone
lines whenever we want.


Lynne:
You're kidding, right?!

Sissel:
(As long as the lines are
"closed" like this, it looks
like we can't go anywhere.)


Lynne:
But I want to stop
that criminal!


****

Lynne:
How strange... Did you see
Inspector Cabanela?


Sissel:
Yeah, I'd say he was pretty
darned strange, indeed.


Lynne:
No, no. That's not what
I mean. I'm talking
about my notebook.


Sissel:
Notebook?

Lynne:
We lit it up for him, plain
as day, but... nothing.

Lynne:
It's not like Inspector
Cabanela not to notice
something.


Sissel:
Well, he's a weird guy.
What can I say?


Lynne:
That's all you're going
to focus on, isn't it?

****

Sissel:
Apparently, the hitman fired
from outside in the junkyard.

Sissel:
Probably the best thing to
do is go out there and
stop him directly.

Sissel:
But, in the past, I can't just
use the telephone lines
whenever I want...

Sissel:
(Hmm... I'm guessing the only
way is to get somebody to call
the junkyard...)


****

Chef:
Hello! The Chicken Kitchen!
You want chicken? We got
your chicken?


Officer:
One chicken dinner, please.

Chef:
Would you like an order
of fried chicken with that?


Lynne:
Oh, that's okay!

Chef:
Hello...? Where would
you like that delivered...?


Chef:
........
They hung up.

Chef:
♪La la la! What does it matter,
a chicken order or two lost?

Chef:
♪If it were three orders,
that would be a different
story, though! La la la!


****

Lynne:
We just popped over here
while we had the chance,
without much thought.

Lynne:
But this isn't where
the hitman who's
trying to kill me is.


Sissel:
Clearly.

Sissel:
(We probably oughta
hurry back.)


****

Sissel:
Hmm... That's funny.

Lynne:
What's the matter?

Sissel:
This telephone doesn't seem
to be working right now.

Sissel:
(Usually, the telephone
line glows red, but I
don't see it now.)


Lynne:
But we came here
by telephone line!


Sissel:
Apparently, in this
"four minutes
before death" world...

Sissel:
...we can only use the lines
while the telephone is
being used to make a call.


Lynne:
You're kidding, right?!

Sissel:
(As long as the lines are
"closed" like this, it looks
like we can't go anywhere.)

Sissel:
(I guess we'll have
to start over...)


****

Sissel:
In the past, I can't just
use the telephone lines
whenever I want.

Sissel:
But that doesn't mean I
should use one whenever I
get the chance to, either.

Sissel:
(I need to get to where
the hitman is somehow.)

Sissel:
Let me try this again.
Maybe I'll find my chance...


****

Sissel:
No sense in going over
to the restaurant now.


Lynne:
Right. Can't eat
chicken if I'm dead.


Sissel:
That's not what I
was talking about...

Sissel:
(The place we need
to be now is...)

Sissel:
(...outside in the junkyard,
where the hitman lurks.)


Lynne:
And the only way to get
there is to use the
telephone lines!


****

Officer:
Huh?

Officer:
That's Lynne's notebook.
Hey, wait a minute...

Officer:
I thought she was practicing a
dance move when I came in...

Officer:
Nope. That was definitely
suspicious! No question!

Officer:
I'd better report this!

Officer:
I wonder if I can make the
call without her noticing?


****

McCaw:
What's up?

Officer:
I've been watching Lynne
just like you told me to...

Officer:
...and I noticed something
suspicious!


McCaw:
You did?! So Inspector
Cabanela was right...


Officer:
She was hiding her notebook
when I came in!


McCaw:
Her notebook, eh?

Officer:
Yes, sir!

Officer:
In a very suspicious manner! And
in a very conspicuous place!


McCaw:
Anything else?

Officer:
Um, let's see...

Officer:
It's pink, and it's a notebook!


McCaw:
Anything else?

Officer:
Um, let's see...

Officer:
Come to think of it, she was using
the phone when I came in, too,
and referring to her notebook.


McCaw:
Okay, someone will be over later.
Don't let on you noticed anything.


Lynne:
Hey, look at that! The phone
line is glowing red!


Sissel:
...!

Lynne:
I bet it would work
if we tried it now!


Sissel:
I bet you're right.

Sissel:
The detective he's talking
to is outside in the junkyard.


Lynne:
And that's where
the horrible hitman
who's after me is, too!


****

Ray:
I've been waiting for you.

Lynne:
Eek! Wh-What are you?!

Lynne:
A desk lamp... that sounds
like an old grandpa...?


Ray:
Just call me "Ray."

Lynne:
"Grandpa Ray"...?

Sissel:
(You just have to get the
"grandpa" part in there
somewhere, don't you?)


Ray:
We're souls. We can choose
any appearance we like.


Sissel:
Which means you have no
intention of showing us what
you really look like, right?


Ray:
........

Ray:
Now, then. About that
gunshot that took your life...


Lynne:
...!

Ray:
I heard it way up on the upper
level, a scant few minutes from
now.

Ray:
The hitman is probably getting
his rifle ready right now.


Lynne:
All right, I'm going in! I'll get him
with those "ghost trick" thingies!


Ray:
I'm very sorry, young lady...

Ray:
...but you don't have
those powers.


Lynne:
What?! Why not?!

Ray:
I'm afraid I don't know the reason.

Ray:
But only a special few have
the powers of the dead.


Lynne:
What?! Are you saying I'm
not special?! That's not fair!


Ray:
Anyway, we don't have much time.

Ray:
Come on and hop in.


Cabanela:
Carry on, boooys.

****

Lynne:
That horrible hitman that's
after me is upstairs, isn't he?


Sissel:
Yes, apparently.

Sissel:
(In other words...)

Sissel:
(...we can't stop him if
we stay down here!)


Lynne:
Let's go, then!

Lynne:
I'm not really big on the
idea of getting shot again.


****

Sissel:
It's no use.

Lynne:
What's the matter?

Sissel:
This telephone doesn't seem
to be working right now.

Sissel:
In the "four minutes before
death" world, we can't use
the phone anytime we want.


Lynne:
I think it's a message
from the gods.


Sissel:
Message from the gods?

Lynne:
That's right. They're telling
us to stay right here and
find that horrible hitman!


Sissel:
That's a very personalized
and specific message
from the gods, isn't it?


****

Lynne:
There he goes.

Sissel:
Yeah. We should
get going ourselves.


Lynne:
It feels like we lost,
you know?

Lynne:
And if there's one thing
I hate, it's losing a race.


Sissel:
I wasn't aware we were in
a race with the inspector.


Lynne:
Think barber pole stripes;
you're red, and he's white,
and it's a race to the top!


Sissel:
(*sigh* Maybe I should just
indulge her and try again?)


****

Sissel:
The gunshot came from
somewhere way overhead.

Sissel:
If we want to stop him, we
have to go to where he is.

Sissel:
But we'll have to find him first...

Sissel:
(We have to look for the right
timing that will open up a path
to where the hitman is.)


****

Lynne:
Well, we made it! Now
it's time to hunt down
that horrible hitman!


Sissel:
He must be around here
somewhere, preparing
to take his shot.

Sissel:
There isn't a lot of time.
Let's try to find him, fast.


Lynne:
I'm going to make good and
sure he understands...

Lynne:
...what happens to people
who point guns at others!


Sissel:
(There's a gleam in her eye
that's absolutely blinding...)


****

Lynne:
Look! There he is, way up
there! The horrible hitman!


Sissel:
(I think his name is actually
"Tengo," but I guess that
doesn't matter.)


Lynne:
C'mon! Let's go grind
him into pieces!


Sissel:
I wish you wouldn't
use such violent
expressions. Besides...

Sissel:
(I don't see any cores
that'll get us over there.)

Sissel:
(I think we might've missed
our chance already.)

Sissel:
(Timing is everything.)


****

Sissel:
Hmm. He's saying something,
but I can't hear him from here.


****

Sissel:
Even if we block his shot,
that'd only buy us a little
more time.

Sissel:
It doesn't look like we can
discourage him from shooting
completely.


Lynne:
The only way to deal with evil
is to crush it completely!


Sissel:
(This lady detective is
just a little excessive...)


****

Tengo:
I see my target.
Time to go to work.

Tengo:
I'll be head of the
hitman division by next
month now for sure.


Lynne:
There he is! The horrible hitman!

Sissel:
(I think his name is actually
"Tengo," but that doesn't
matter now.)

Sissel:
We have to stop him
from shooting... fast!


****

Tengo:
Musings of a Hitman, Part 1.
When I fire a bullet, I put
my heart and soul into it.

Tengo:
The bullet is my soul. The shot
is the expression of my soul.

Tengo:
That's why I never
waste bullets. Besides...

Tengo:
...I'd have to put the extra bullets
down as an extra expense and
accounting never likes that.


Lynne:
What the heck is that
idiot blathering about?!


Sissel:
Hey, don't get mad at me!
(We have to stop this guy.)


****

Tengo:
Musings of a Hitman, Part 2.
To fire a bullet, I need a stable
location and a stable income.

Tengo:
When I aim my rifle, the
location I choose has to
be stable and unwavering.

Tengo:
Otherwise, any small
external influence could
cause me to miss the target.

Tengo:
Likewise, worries over an
unstable income could
also cause me to miss.


Lynne:
What the heck is that
idiot blathering about?!


Sissel:
Hey, don't get mad at me!
(We have to do
something... fast.)


****

Tengo:
Musings of a Hitman, Part 3.
When I fire a bullet, I should
always draw in my chin.

Tengo:
"A rifle is impartial when it metes
out damage. It can hurt the
hunter as well as the hunted."

Tengo:
That's a quote from a hitman
who bit his tongue due to the
shock of the kickback...

Tengo:
I have no intention of biting
my tongue. I only want my
bullet to bite my prey.


Lynne:
What the heck is that
idiot blathering about?!


Sissel:
Hey, don't get mad at me!
(Uh-oh. We're running
out of time...)


****

Sissel:
There. We put a stop
to that shot at least.


Lynne:
We did it! So I'm safe now, right?

Sissel:
Well, that changed your fate a
little, but it didn't avert it
completely. We're not done yet.

Sissel:
The hitman is a professional. And
he really, really wants to be head
of the division, apparently.

Sissel:
(I doubt blocking a shot here and
there is really gonna stop him.)


Lynne:
If you want to rough him
up a little bit, I promise I
won't put it in my report.


Sissel:
Let's think of something else
before he gets a shot in!


****

Tengo:
"If I want that position,
I have to be careful of
even the least bit of light."

Tengo:
Division head is my ambition
for this year. Next year, my
motto will be...

Tengo:
..."If I want to be director,
I have to be careful of even
the least bit of scandal."


Sissel:
So it sounds like he won't show
up in spots where a light is on.


Lynne:
And, next year, I'm going to
spread some nasty, scandalous
rumors about him!


****

Sissel:
Huh. Nothing happens.

Sissel:
That's funny.

Sissel:
I thought this lever was
for swinging the crane
arm around?


Lynne:
I'd like to swing that
horrible hitman around!


Sissel:
(Hmm. This crane...)

Sissel:
(I wonder if there's some
other way we can use it?)


****

Lynne:
Oh! Look at that! One of
the lights went out.


Sissel:
There are three lights
here all together.

Sissel:
Apparently, we can't have
all three of them on at
once.


Lynne:
Our station is crazy
cheap when it comes
to electricity.

Lynne:
Just so another detective
could see what he was doing
the other day...

Lynne:
...I had to pedal my bicycle in
place to work the headlamp.


Sissel:
A very sad tale indeed.
(Sounds like they're taking
things way too far.)


****

Officer:
Hey, did you turn that
flashing light on?


Officer:
Wasn't me. It went off
all by itself. Scared the
heck out of me.


Officer:
Well, just make sure you
lay off it. Don't wanna
waste any electricity.


Officer:
Have things gotten that
tight? That's pretty sad.


Officer:
They're really puttin' the
squeeze on us lately about
using too much power at sites.

Officer:
They won't even let us use
all of our searchlights at once.


Officer:
Oh, boy...

Officer:
We oughta be free to do
at least that much, especially
on a dark night like tonight. 


****

Officer:
Hey, I told you to
lay off that thing!


Officer:
And I told you, it wasn't me!

Officer:
Uh-oh... I think I might know
what's going on here...

Officer:
This is the work of... you know.


Officer:
What? Hey, shut up!
You're creeping me out!


Officer:
But you know as well as I
do, the only explanation
for mischief like this is...

Officer:
...Inspector Cabanela!


Sissel:
So they tell tales about him
as though as he's a ghost, eh?


Lynne:
But Inspector Cabanela is
really a very nice person!


****

Lynne:
Look! One of the
lights went out!


Sissel:
There are three lights
here all together.

Sissel:
Apparently, we can't have
all three of them on at
once.


****

Sissel:
Uh-oh. The umbrella got
knocked way over here...

Sissel:
(Now we can't go anywhere.)


Lynne:
Guess that's what you
get for touching Inspector
Cabanela's umbrella.

Lynne:
He's always setting
up traps for people.


Sissel:
Darn. Now what?

Sissel:
(Probably should've saved
this umbrella for when
we really needed it...)

Sissel:
(Maybe we should
start over?)


****

Lynne:
........

Lynne:
Wow. Such power...
and speed.

Lynne:
I bet that would put a nice
stop to my horrible hitman.


Sissel:
If it just stopped him,
that would be fine.

Sissel:
But if it killed him, would
I be obligated to save him?


Lynne:
........

Lynne:
Anyway... let's just focus
on the "stopping" part.


Sissel:
(Apparently, thinking about
things too deeply isn't
something you like to do.)


Lynne:
Just the right amount.
That's the way detectives
think about things!

Lynne:
Now, c'mon!
Let's do this thing!

Lynne:
Ooh, I just love stamping
out evil! It makes me
feel so alive!


Sissel:
(Except for the fact
that you're dead.)


****

Tengo:
Hmm. This is quite a
distance from the target...

Tengo:
But I can't work under
a spotlight after all.

Tengo:
Never mind. A shot like this is
nothing for a man of my skill.


Lynne:
"Mr. Division Head" seems to
like dark, gloomy places.

Lynne:
I'd be happy to throw him
in a dark, gloomy cell!

Lynne:
C'mon, Sissel. Get him!


Sissel:
(Hold up! When did I
become HER assistant?!)


****

Officer:
Did you hear a scream just now?

Officer:
I'm telling you, it wasn't me!

Officer:
Nobody said it was.

Sissel:
There.

Sissel:
We found a nice dark spot for
our gloom-loving hitman.

Sissel:
I think your death has
just been erased. Again.


Lynne:
Why not, I wonder...?

Sissel:
Huh?

Lynne:
Why don't I have
powers like yours?

Lynne:
If I could do things like
you do, it could really
help me pursue my case...

Lynne:
Why only the "special few," huh?
It's not fair!


Sissel:
(That's the same thing
the little doggie said, too.)

Sissel:
Well, I'm jealous of YOU, actually.


Lynne:
You are? Why?

Sissel:
Because your life can be saved.
Even if you die again tonight.

Sissel:
I can save you with
my ghost tricks.

Sissel:
Nobody can save my life, though.


Lynne:
Oh...

Sissel:
(These powers of the dead...
why have they chosen me?)

Sissel:
(Will I find the answer to
that question tonight?)


Lynne:
Sissel... I'm so sorry.

Sissel:
Well, you're free to do
as you please now.

Sissel:
I guess this is
goodbye, Detective.


Lynne:
Will we ever see
each other again?


Sissel:
If you ever want to see me
again, all you have to do is die.


Lynne:
Okay, got it!

Sissel:
(I was kidding.)

Sissel:
Well, guess we'd better be
getting back... to the present!


Sissel:
Lynne has escaped death
for a second time.

Sissel:
But that doesn't mean she's
out of the water yet.

Sissel:
I'd better go see how she's doing.


Ray:
Well...

Ray:
...it looks like "congratulations"
are in order.

Ray:
You erased yet another death.


Sissel:
But I haven't gotten any
further in solving my
own mystery, though.


Ray:
But that woman holds the
key. Don't forget that.


Sissel:
Lynne, huh?

Sissel:
Now that she's alive again,
she's probably still being detained
in the super's office.

Sissel:
She won't be able to pursue
her case without the
freedom to move around.

Sissel:
(I'd better go back to the
super's office and see her.)


Ray:
That sounds like a good idea.

****

Sissel:
It looks like the novelist
is still taken up with her
prime minister.

Sissel:
The "atmosphere" is so thick
in this room, it's enough
to make your eyes smart.

Sissel:
I think I'd better leave,
before this air
suffocates me...

****

Minister:
Maybe I was wrong...

Minister:
Maybe Emma was right...

Minister:
Maybe it was a mistake
I was ever born at all...

Minister:
But wait a minute. If I'd
never been born, Amelie
wouldn't be here right now!

Minister:
*groan* It's gotten to the
point where I don't know
what my mistakes were...!

Minister:
What defines a
"mistake," anyway?

Minister:
If something isn't right, does
that make it a mistake?!

Sissel:
I'm out of here.

****

Sissel:
The entrance to the
nearly-deserted park...

Sissel:
The detective who was
ordered by Cabanela to
perform a stake out...

Sissel:
...is nowhere to be seen.
Maybe he's in the restroom?

Sissel:
I wonder if that strange
young man followed
him in there...?

****

Sissel:
I don't see any
customers hungering
for chicken tonight.

Sissel:
(I hear singing coming
from the kitchen.)


Chef:
La la la! Tonight, I'm in love!
In love with you and only you!

Chef:
My darling Miss Chicken!
Let me shower you with gifts
of salt and pepper! La la la!

Sissel:
He's not a bad singer.
(But I guess I'd
better be going.)


****

Ray:
Oh, back again?

Sissel:
Yeah, just checking to
see if anything's new.

Ray:
Well, let me see...

Ray:
A moment ago, your corpse
was taken away by the police.

Sissel:
It was? Oh.

Sissel:
(I guess I'll never see
my poor corpse again...)

Ray:
Nothing is permanent. We
lose everything in the end...

Sissel:
But there are some things
we can get back. Right, Ray?

Ray:
I suppose you are right.

****

Sissel:
I don't see any
customers that have a
date with chicken tonight.

Sissel:
(I hear singing coming
from the kitchen.)

Chef:
La la la! I love you!
I swear it's true!

Chef:
I truly love you!
By my goose bumps,
I swear! La la la!

Sissel:
He's not a bad singer.
(But I guess I'd
better be going.)



I decided to go back to the office
where Lynne was being detained.

With her changed fate, her
story was sure to change, too.

And maybe that would lead
us in some new direction...

Now that Lynne is alive again,
I wonder what's she doing?

She said she was investigating
an important case tonight.

Could that case be connected
to me in any way...?