tushanshu | 004 || video

004 || video

As some of you may know, I was hired to find the person responsible for multiple killings in September, along with an attempted homicide. That person has now killed the Emperor. [ There's a flash of something like remorse, but it only lasts a second before her jaw tightens. There's no time to feel guilty for not catching the person sooner. She has to stop him now, before he kills again. ]

I have a list of suspects. I've narrowed it down significantly. If you were one of the people I talked to about it, please see me immediately.

[ The message is simple, one she can essentially cut-and-paste to each person. It's short, but far from sweet. She doubts they'll appreciate it. If the killer is killing again, then they have to move to catch him, and quickly. So screw pleasantries. ]

Get in touch with me as soon as possible.

[ Sharon looks tired. She doesn't want to have this conversation, but it's part of the job. The horrible thing is, Barry seems like a nice guy. A good guy. But that doesn't mean he can't be a killer. ]

Barry, I hate to ask this, but do you have an alibi for the time when the Emperor was killed, and is there anyone who can verify it?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I started with a list of all the foreigners on the turtle and have been narrowing it down since it September.

Is there anyone who can verify that?

I'm not your guy. Sure. Not giving you their name though.

Then you're staying on the list as a possibility for being our guy. Would you be willing to answer questions from another investigator in person?

Who else you got on your team?

You can ask whoever shows up to question you. I'll be in touch.

I didn't do shit and you're already treating me like a criminal because I have people to protect? Fuck you. Arrest me and I'll talk to the police. I'm not going to talk to you one or one of your merry band of vigilante thieves just because you got it in your head that a list and follow through makes you an authority.

[ Deep breath. You can't break someone's nose through a console. Though that would be cool. ]

Cards on the table? I've got twenty-five people on my list left to clear, and I think twenty-four of them are innocent. I have to make certain, though, or else there's a chance I'll let the killer get away.

I've been looking into this since September, and yet most people seemed unaware of the killings until the Emperor was murdered.

I was hired to find the person who murdered two people and tried to kill another. I have no authority here, but I will do all in my power to find the person responsible.

Can you give me anything I can verify to clear you of suspicion?

I was publicly arrested earlier this month for assault. If I was a killer, the kind trying to pull off an assassination, do you think I would allow that to happen? Why don't you ask for my help instead of accusing me? Keep me as a suspect if you have to and let me provide information about the others on your list.

[ Really? This guy might be the killer, and he wants to know who else is on her suspects list? Why, so he can frame them later on? ]

Do you have any information you feel may be relevant concerning the others on the turtle?

[There's a short pause before Costigan bumps up the encryption and continues.]

Yeah. A lot of information, yeah. I used to be a cop. Old habits die hard.

I'm a government agent with a focus on terrorism and prevention. I'd be glad to have your thoughts on the matter, but I don't feel comfortable giving you the names on the list. Is there anyone in particular you suspect?

Terrorism and prevention? How's that working out for you? You don't trust me, I don't trust you. Either we work together or we go our separate ways. The new Emperor can have his people arrest me if he needs to.

Yes, only I'm still going to try and clear you, and from what I can tell, your idea of help is to get throw a hissy fit at every perceived slight. What, all this because I don't want to share a list of names with you? And this is supposed to help me trust you? I understand if you're unwilling to help, given your attitude, but I'd think, as a cop, you'd want to step up and try to get the job done.

[ Something tells her he's going to opt for the "separate ways" choice. ]

[Costigan hates texting more than necessary and switches to voice. He sounds only mildly irritated.]

Look, I asked for the list because I wanted to help if I could, like you said, but you don't trust me with it. Fine, sure. That's your choice. But you're pulling the same moves on me that I'm pullin' on you. You don't trust me with the list because you have no reason to. As far as I can tell, you're a vigilante. That means I've got no reason to trust you with my names either.

Right now, you're trying to clear me from a list of suspects that you made up. No offense, but it's kind of bullshit. Why aren't you working with the Emperor?

[ Her voice? Also irritated. Though she's trying hard to keep it in check. She's never been great at hiding her feelings, though, even for a spy. ]

A list I made up? It's a list I've narrowed down. I'm not putting names on it at random, and I'm not taking names off without reason.

And the Emperor is convinced a kedan is behind this, because only a kedan would break into the palace.

I would appreciate your help. And if you want mine, I'm not adverse to giving it. But there has to be a way to help one another without giving up the list.

[ If anything, his obsession with the list is making him more suspicious in her eyes. Why does he want it so badly, anyway? ]

But not with the help of the authorities.

Bullshit.

[There's a pause before he sighs.] Namorita Prentiss, Percy Jackson, and Hannibal all have a known history of conflict with the kedan.

[ Sharon's quiet for a couple seconds. ]

Namorita has been cleared. We're looking for a man.

[ She hesitates again. ]

Can you tell me any more about Jackson and Hannibal?

Sure, yeah. You tell me more about the evidence you've got and I'll tell you more about my suspects.

You've already got suspects?

[ She sounds a little impressed, actually. She hadn't been aware anyone else was working on the case before the Emperor had been killed. ]

Yeah. Yeah, don't you?

[Costigan didn't start investigating until the Emperor's murder, but he had access to a good amount of information. Besides, he prefers the 'shoot first, ask questions later' approach with issues like this.]

Yes.

[ Her eyes narrow. Okay. Obviously, neither of them wants to share much. One of them is going to have to make the first move. ]

How many do you have on yours?

Three.

Impressive.

Of course, if your three suspects are the same you told me about earlier, you can knock it down to two. We're looking for someone who was a man that week in September.

[ How the hell had he narrowed it down so quickly? What did he have access to that she doesn't? ]

Two are who I told you already. The third's someone else. I appreciate the tip, about it being a man.

You've got it down to three suspects but didn't know it was a man?

What sources do you have access to, Costigan?

[ And he's made a significant amount of progress in a very short time. What doesn't she know? ]

004 || video

text; piggyback encryption

text; piggyback encryption

text; piggyback encryption

text; piggyback encryption

text; piggyback encryption

text; piggyback encryption

text; piggyback encryption

text; piggyback encryption

text; piggyback encryption

text; 97% encryption

text; 97% encryption

text; 97% encryption

text; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption

audio; 97% encryption