004 || video

[agentx13]

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?

Comments

[agentx13]

We need to establish an alibi. If there's anyone who can verify his whereabouts throughout the week, that wouldn't be bad, but if we can find out where he was and whom he was with when the spell broke down, that would be great. The guy we're looking for was fighting the attack victim at the time, so if we can get his schedule as close to then as possible.

And the killer had abilities. You might have to read his mind, but if we know he didn't have speedster abilities at the time, that's enough to clear him.

[superieure]

[Not too different from what she had in mind]

A few pointed questions to do the trick, then.

[agentx13]

Exactly. I think you'll manage.

One of the Hal Jordan's is also on the list - the one who might be an idiot. [ She pulls up the messages and steps aside to let Monet read them over. ]

I don't think it'll take much.

Billy Costigan may be more difficult. I'm still talking with him. It's amazing how upset people can get when you ask them who their lady-friend is and if she can vouch for them.

[superieure]

[Monet gives her a Look. Manage? Who does she think she's talking to? God, Monet misses Madrox. He indulged her.]

Might be an idiot? You're too kind.

[She glances over the texts briefly.]

Is Mr. Costigan tall enough or quick enough?

[agentx13]

[ She smiles. ]

Yes, that was often a complaint on my annual assessments.

Tall enough, yes. And he could have been quick enough, the week in question.

With the list getting shorter, we'll soon have to track down the people we haven't heard from. The more I talk to people, the more I think one of them is the killer.

Though part of me still hopes I get to slap Costigan.

[ After all, Sharon is capable of violence, and he's pissing her off. ]

Don't tell him I said that?

[superieure]

[Monet smiles back, it's faintly predatory. She's well aware people might be taking Sharon less seriously because she's a woman, and that kind of thing pisses M. off. It's an investigation. A hindrance for whatever reason is still a hindrance (Privacy, to a telepath who's perfectly capable of not-so-ethical acts? Yeah).]

Right. I've these two to interview - did they give you a time?

[agentx13]

[ Sharon checks the most recent messages and taps her fingers against the console. ]

Let me get in touch with the victims and see if they can clear Allen and Jordan. We both think they're innocent. Oswald, too.

I recommend going after Costigan, but I'm still talking with him. Let me see what I can get out of him. He did, however, mention two suspects with a history of conflict against the kedan - Percy Jackson and Hannibal Lecter. That history of conflict could help explain why the Emperor was targeted.

I'll work on clearing as many of the others as possible. But for now, it seems those are our best suspects.

And given that the second victim saw her killer wearing a suit...

Hannibal Lecter. Start with him. He's taller than Jackson, more intelligent, and more likely to own a suit.

He hasn't made contact, and I haven't seen him nosing around. The only way he'll expect to see us is if he did it, and even then, he might not expect we'll have narrowed it down so much.

[superieure]

The Emperor's not even of the same species. [She keeps getting stuck on motive. Augh. Why can't she just rip it out of someone's brain, she'll never know.]

I'll choose a time, and we can interrogate him.

[agentx13]

Good. I'll work on filling in the holes from this end.

[ Sharon crosses her arms and stares at the wall. She doesn't speak, but her body language says it's all. She's more than ready to dig up dirt on the guy and take him down. ]