Family Ties 58
Sorry for the delay in getting this part posted. Unfortunately my long time beta Yami_tai has had to resign her position and I've been on the hunt for a new victim... err... beta.
Many thanks to the lovely Tai for putting up with me for so many years and I'll miss her betaing for me. *snugs tai*
A warm thank you to Sakura - aka Eternity for stepping up to the mark and taking over as my new beta. I hope I don't drive her to insanity too soon. ~_^ *snugs Sakura*
Part 59 will follow within the next 24 hrs. *grin*
Enjoy...
“Family Ties”
January 2007 ShenLong
Chapter 58
“Agent Summer?” Une questioned to the three agents in the foyer as they entered the forensics section of Preventer. The requested agent quickly moved forward and took them down a long corridor to the last room on the left.
Stepping inside, Agent Summer closed the door behind them and then moved to stand behind the table at the side of the room. “Commander, agents,” he acknowledged. “We have finished the forensic side of the investigation into the accident involving the senator known as Jefferies...”Agent Summer went on and explained step by step their findings. It was a long and technical explanation, some of it going completely over the agents heads, but they all got the basic idea.
“To sum up; a crude bomb was made and placed in the asphalt. When the senator’s car passed over it, the device was detonated by a person or persons of which we have one possible suspect. The resulting explosion caused the tire to blow out and the steering column to be damaged. With the car disabled in such a manner the driver lost all control and the vehicle slammed into the side support of the bridge killing the senator in the process. It was a deliberate and calculated attack.”
“The second bomb?” Une asked, although she’d already been briefed, the other agents didn’t know.
“We found a second explosive rigged to the underside of the bridge and believe it was planted there as a back up. Should the first detonation have failed to take out the car, the second most certainly would have. The explosives division disarmed the bomb and during the process one of the agents came forth with some interesting information.”
All four agents looked expectantly at Summer.
“The agent believed the bomb to have been built by one of our own; specifically, one Agent Night.”
Heero felt as if he’d been sucker punched. The color had drained from his face and he had difficulty breathing for a moment. He felt a reassuring grip on his elbow and looked to see Chang standing beside him, onyx eyes filled with worry.
“How can you be so sure?” Quatre asked, a dangerous tone in his voice.
“The explosives experts were trained on a device the same as the one found at the scene. The agent in charge of the training was one Agent Night. Also, we checked for fingerprints and DNA - there was a positive match. Therefore we also assume the bomb that took out the car was built and detonated by the same person.” The weight of the situation fell heavily on the shoulders of Duo’s ‘family’, each finding it hard to come to terms with Summer’s words; but the evidence was there in black and white, no disputing it.
“Duo would not have done this deliberately.” Heero’s words were barely a whisper.
“Deliberate or not, the fact still remains that Agent Night was responsible either directly or indirectly for the death of Senator Jefferies,” Summer stated.
“That may well be, Summer, but we have reason to believe that Agent Night was forced into this,” Une snapped.
“Of course, commander. I'm just here with my teams to present the forensic facts. I most certainly hope that Agent Night is cleared of any charges that may be laid against him.“
“Thank you, Summer.” Une turned back to her team. “My office, now.”
The group left and went back to the commander's office to discuss the findings.
Sitting in Une's office, Une picked up a sheaf of papers and glanced over them before addressing the agents. “These are the autopsy reports on Jefferies and the L3 ambassador. I'd like for you all to read them.” Une handed them each a copy and sat back to wait.
Ignoring the report on Jefferies for the moment, Heero and Wufei concentrated on the L3 ambassador's report. Reading through the evidence and then the final conclusion, both men had to agree with the findings. The ambassador had been murdered by the same person who had committed the L1 ambassador's murder.
“Look at the time of death,” Wufei muttered. “Then take a look at the time of death for Jefferies.”
Heero did and saw what Wufei was driving at. “We need to check the maps of the areas where both murders were committed.”
Seeing her agents were picking up on something, Une let them go to their own offices to continue their investigation.
* * *
“Do you think it's possible that Duo could have killed both men?” Quatre asked as they entered Heero and Duo's office.
“Hai, but I need to check the maps,” Heero booted up his computer and with Wufei looking over his shoulder they brought up the maps they needed and combined with the information they had from forensics and the now known location of where Duo was being held, set about trying to see if the proposition was possible.
Fifteen minutes later they had their answer.
“Given all the relating facts, it is possible for Duo to have committed both murders,” Heero conceded with a sigh.
Wufei elaborated a little further for Trowa and Quatre. “This is where Maxwell was being held,” he pointed to a spot on the map. “This is where Jefferies had his accident, and here is the ambassador’s residence. Given the time of death for each of the victims, there was enough time for Maxwell to get from here to here and commit both murders in the time frame.”
“There’s no disputing the evidence, that I agree on,” Quatre began and then frowned as his mind ticked over. “Do you seriously think they will charge Duo with three accounts of murder?”
“Winner, this is peace time, not war. You kill someone in war and it’s called serving and protecting your country. You kill in peace time and it’s called murder.” Chang let the words speak for themselves. He wasn’t trying to be cruel, but facts were facts and that was how the law worked.
“But surely given the circumstances,” Quatre began but didn’t get the chance to finish as Trowa spoke up.
“What Wufei says is true, but there are extenuating circumstances here and that is what we need to gather evidence for; to prove Duo was forced into this, that he had no choice in the matter.”
No one voiced the concern that they had to find Duo first before he could be charged.
Heero changed the topic. “We need to inform Une of this and also the address’ of the two senators that are missing from that rebuilding scheme.”
“Let’s move then,” came Wufei’s reply and all four left to return to Une’s office.
* * *
Dekim Barton.
Duo’s blood ran cold in his veins when he identified the person standing on the podium. This whole mess was getting deeper by the minute.
Standing on the catwalk, he glanced again at the assembled group. They appeared to be a motley looking lot and from what Duo could tell, most were from L2. Their stance, the way they interacted all screamed ‘L2 trash’ to him. Duo was no stranger when it came to the ‘refuse’ of L2; the drug dealers, thieves, thugs and so forth. All seemed to carry themselves in a certain manner. He gave up on that train of thought when a voice began to speak, hushing the crowd.
“Welcome all. I have been informed by the senior officers that your training is almost complete.” Barton paused for a moment and scanned the crowd. “Unfortunately, due to some outside interference, our plans have had to be pushed forward slightly. This won’t be a problem providing you all continue to train hard, it will mean that the regime will be stepped up a little and phase two will commence a month earlier than first planned.”
There was a low murmuring through the crowd before they fell silent again.
“Some of you will be shipped out in the next twenty-four hours, the remainder will continue their training here and be moved out at a later date. Your senior officers will let you know all the details. Good work, men. Keep it up and soon the Earth and Colonies will be yours.”
The crowd burst into a series of applause and cheers, Dekim taking a bow and then leaving the podium.
// Shit! // Duo thought to himself. This was a whole lot bigger than he’d first thought.
“Move!” came the order from behind and Duo was pushed forth, his thoughts still playing around in his head.
* * *
Having informed Une of their findings, the commander agreed with them, including Wufei’s concerns regarding Maxwell’s possible charges for murder when he was eventually found and returned. Seeing the concern in all the mens’ eyes and the anxiety in Yuy’s she was quick to reassure them all that she would be doing everything in her power,and use all of the Preventers resources to insure that Duo would not be prosecuted for those crimes. She couldn’t give any guarantees though, just the promise to do all she could.
Having been given the information regarding Wainright and Richards, she thought for a moment before making up her mind. “Barton and Winner, I’d like for you two to check this out. Please, go to the residences and if the senators are there, bring them in for questioning.”
“And if they’re not?” Trowa questioned. He really didn’t expect to find either senator at home.
“Then you are to search the premises for anything, anything at all that could relate to the investigation. I’ll contact our legal section and have the appropriate paperwork drawn up immediately to give you access to those residences and the power to execute a search.”
“Thank you, commander.”
“Yuy, I want you and Chang to remain here. I’m expecting the autopsy result on the male brought in from the terrorist group; also some of the forensic results should be just about ready too. I’ll need you both to investigate further.”
“Yes, commander.”
The four agents split to attend to their assigned tasks.
* * *
“This is it,” Quatre remarked as Trowa brought the vehicle to a stop outside a modest looking home.
“You got the paperwork?” Trowa asked as they stepped from the vehicle and approached the front door of the residence.
“Yes.” Quatre held up the papers. Pushing the doorbell, the pair waited. The sounds of footsteps could be heard and then the door opened to show a middle aged woman standing there.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“Good morning, ma’am. I’m Preventer Agent Air and this is my partner Agent Space. We would like to speak with Senator Richards please,” Trowa said in a calm tone and showed his badge, Quatre doing the same.
The woman looked at the badges and back to the agents. “I’m afraid the senator isn’t available right now.”
“Oh. Could you tell us when he will be available, this is of some urgency,” Quatre stated in his soft tone. He also turned the charm on, baby blue eyes and gentle smile were applied in full force.
The woman didn’t stand a chance against the puppy eyed look.
“The senator has gone away on holidays and I don’t expect him to return for at least four weeks,” she said.
“I see. You wouldn’t happen to know where he went on vacation or a contact number at all?”
The woman shook her head. “No, I’m sorry, he didn’t leave any details with me.”
“Okay. Well, in that case would you mind if we came in and checked around. This is in relation to a Preventer investigation and we believe the senator could have some evidence that will help us in our cause. I do have a search warrant.”
The woman looked a little hesitant at first, but when Quatre mentioned the search warrant she opened the door wider. “Of course, come inside.” She stepped back and allowed the two agents to enter.
As they moved inside, Quatre handed the woman a copy of the warrant. “Could you show us to the senator’s office, please? I think that would be the best place to start.”
Taking the warrant, the woman scanned it quickly and then placed it on the hall table. “Follow me, gentlemen.”
* * *
Duo, Duric and Farrow were escorted along the catwalk and through a series of tunnels, coming out into another section of the former garbage collection structure. During their ‘walk’ several of their captors had left them and now they only had Young, Sampson and Zaheer covering them. Coming to a halt, Duo spotted the figure of Dekim ahead of them in the small room to the side.
“In here,” Young barked, Duo and the others obeyed.
Barton turned around slowly and let his eyes wander over the three people standing before him. “They don’t look all that dangerous,” he snorted, “or that intelligent either. Are you sure you have the right people?”
“Yes,” Sampson replied. “There is no doubt that these are the ones who tried to disrupt the funding and are responsible for the assassination of the L1 ambassador, and so I’m informed, the L3 ambassador too.”
Barton stroked his chin, deep in thought. “Then their looks are obviously deceiving. I thought there would be more of them.”
“There were. Unfortunately, two were killed when we went in to overpower them. This one here,” Sampson pointed to Duo, “was found in the basement, says he was being held hostage by the others and he’s the one who took out the ambassadors.”
“Really?” Barton cocked his head. “Either he’s lying or he’s a damn good infiltrator. What about the other two?”
“We haven’t interrogated them properly yet.”
“I see.” Dekim turned to Zaheer. “You have four hours to get what information you can from them. I don’t care how you do it, but I want them all able to function at the end of it. I may have a use for them and if I do I’ll need them in one piece and able to work. If they don’t cooperate or turn out to be useless, we will dispose of them later.”
“Understood.” Zaheer turned and gave the three a positively evil look. Farrow whimpered, Duric shot a death glare at the burly man whilst Duo remained impassive - although inside he was as tense as a bow string.
“Take them away.”
Young assisted Zaheer to escort the three out of the room and deeper into the garbage tunnels of the L2 colony.
* * *
“Thank you, ma’am, you’ve been most helpful,” Quatre said as he and Trowa left the residence of Richards. Between them they had the senator’s computer, several discs and quite a few files from the senator’s filing cabinet.
“What’s the betting that Wainright isn’t at home either?” Trowa said as he slipped the car into gear and drove for Wainright’s residence.
“I refuse to bet with you, Trowa, and I would have thought you’d learnt your lesson in regards to betting,” Quatre huffed, remembering the several bets Trowa had taken with Nurse Brown, not to mention Duo during Duo’s last pregnancy.
“I didn’t mean in the literal sense, Quatre,” Trowa replied a little sheepishly. Yes, he’d been unlucky enough to lose a few bets in the past; but maybe his luck would change. “Given Richards has flown the coop I’m pretty certain that Wainright won’t be back any time soon.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re right, but we still need to check.”
Trowa drove on keeping his thoughts to himself.
Sure enough, they were greeted at Wainright’s residence with a similar picture to Richards. No, the senator wasn’t at home, he was away on vacation. No the housekeeper didn’t know where he was going or when he would be back and neither did she have a contact number or name of a place he would be staying at. She was also reluctant to let the agents in, even after they had shown her the search warrant.
Eventually they managed to gain entry to the premises and once more removed computer discs, a hard drive, laptop and several files to take back to HQ for further investigation.
“I’ll contact Une and let her know what we have and ask where she would like us to take it all,” said Quatre as Trowa drove them back to Preventer.
“I wonder how Heero and Wufei are getting on?” Trowa mused as he drove.
“I’m sure we will find out once we get back,” Quatre replied and then placed his call to Une. Moments later he closed his cell and pocketed it.
“Well?”
“We’re to take all the stuff to the lab where either Heero, Wufei or another from the team will take a look at what’s there.”
“Okay. Any news on Yuy and Chang?”
“No, Une didn’t say anything other than they’re still investigating. Once we’ve dropped the stuff off we’re to report to Une.”
“Sounds good.” Trowa continued to drive.
* * *
Heero and Wufei had read through the autopsy report on the man brought in from the house where Duo and the other had been held and were on their way to the medical section to question Sally over a few things. Sally had arranged to meet them in the doctors lounge.
Entering the lounge, Heero immediately made a beeline for his son who was crawling around the floor, Sally’s eagle eye permanently on the child. Scooping Keitaro up, he pressed a kiss to he child’s forehead and then cradled him against his hip.
Sally smiled and took a seat, Heero and Wufei following suit.
“Before we go onto the other stuff, I just want you to know that I’ve given Keitaro a full examination and he’s perfectly fine. Happy and healthy with no sign of any physical or mental trauma,” Sally informed Heero.
“Arigato,” Heero replied
“Now, you wish to discuss the autopsy report on the guy brought in?”
“Yes.”
Sally went through the entire report with the pair, answering questions as she went. After roughly five minutes the agents were satisfied they had all the information currently available.
“Any idea on who he was?” Wufei asked.
“Not as yet, but I did send DNA samples and also fingerprints to the forensics section and they were running them through the database. They may have a positive ID on him by now.”
“Thank you.” Wufei stood and turned to Heero. “Yuy, I think we should pay a visit to forensics again, see what they have managed to discover not just on this case, but on the ambassador’s murder too.”
Reluctantly, Heero kissed his son again and then left him in the capable hands of the doctor.
* * *
Zaheer and Young took their captives through the tunnels and eventually came out in another old sorting area. They were marched through to a small room and forced to sit. Young tied each of them to the chairs they were in, only then did he remove the manacles and chains from wrists and ankles.
Zaheer cracked his knuckles as he looked to the three. “Now, we can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way. It’s entirely up to you.”
Farrow whimpered, the look of fear flashing in his eyes. Duric remained stubbornly silent, glaring at the man. Duo felt the bile rising in his throat.
“I’d start with him,” Young said and pointed to Farrow. “He looks that much of a wimp that he’d spill his guts quick enough.”
Zaheer’s eyes narrowed and he moved towards Farrow. Farrow was shaking uncontrollably from head to toe, small cries escaped his mouth as he tried desperately to control himself.
Closing the distance between them, Zaheer brought his face close to Farrow’s and spoke. “I will ask the questions, you will give me the answers. Right?”
Farrow nodded.
“Good. Let’s begin.”
* * *
“Ah, Agent’s Day and Fire,” Summer greeted as Heero and Wufei arrived back at the forensics department. “I was just about to page you.”
“You have something?” Chang asked.
“Yes, yes we do. We were able to lift fingerprints from the keyboard at the L3 ambassador’s residence. They match with Agent Night’s.”
Whilst they were all pretty sure it was Duo who had assassinated the L3 ambassador, to have it confirmed seemed to send another nail into the coffin of the case that would see Duo charged with murder.
“You’re sure?” Heero questioned.
“Positive.”
“We also have a positive ID on the John Doe that was brought in from the Nevada residence and ID's on the other people that were there.”
~ * ~
tbc...