Second Chapter
Apart from being disorientated there were no physical signs on Marcus to show of any fight or struggle. He sat in the holding cell demanding to speak with Garibaldi.
"The Chief is interviewing possible witnesses, he can't come now Marcus, just be patient" Zack replied testily. This seemingly clear-cut case was unsettling him, in light of the evidence, there was no way in hell that Marcus could be set free before his hearing, no matter how much they wanted to let him go.
Once Michael finished collecting evidence, he went to see Captain Sheridan and Ambassador Delenn. He did not feel comfortable with this case, not one bit, it all seemed cut and dry, way to convenient for his liking, he had seen enough perps in his time, from imbecile to genius, and crime scenes to know and feel that this was just too sterile to be true.
Hunches would not set Marcus free though, he needed something more concrete to go on, but what could be more set in stone than two witnesses saying they had seen him attacking the boy for no apparent reason.
"Well what have you got Michael?" Sheridan asked.
"All roads lead to Rome"
"What does that mean?" Delenn asked perplexed.
"I have witnesses who say they saw every thing, that Marcus attacked the kid and broke his skull, no if's but's or maybe's. On those grounds he's guilty as sin with no way out, he will be convicted.
"So what now, we leave Marcus locked up till his trial?
"I have my team going over the area with a fine tooth comb, maybe something might show up that got missed earlier, but as this case stands now, we can't let him out on bail, unless something comes up on the witness credibility checks to say otherwise, but don't hold your breath on that one."
"Have you questioned Marcus yet?" Delenn asked.
"Not yet, I'm just going to see him now."
"May I join you Mr Garibaldi?
"Yes sure, I got nothing to hide. Worried I might miss something?"
"I was not implying that you had or would Mr Garibaldi, but as Marcus is a Ranger, it is my duty to investigate this matter with or without your help."She replied demurely with a smile.
"Keep me informed Michael" Sheridan ordered."
Marcus was pacing his cell, frustrated, he did not remember a thing about the attack, except feeling horrified and disgusted, and wanting answers. He had to strike while the iron was hot, but could not do so incarcerated, he needed to speak with his contacts down below, and friends of the boy to try get a clear picture of what happened and why.
Garibaldi and Delenn interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh thank goodness about time, I thought you'd forgotten about me." He blurted out.
"I did not do it. I don't remember a thing. When can I leave? Places to go and people to see and all that. Haven't got all day you know."
Hold your horses Garibaldi said, holding up his hand, sit down and let's discuss this.
"I told you all I know which is nothing, I know, but every minute we spend sitting around chatting, is time wasted, and possible leads lost. I need to speak with my people."
"Your people being ?" Garibaldi asked
"My runners, the boy who I supposedly attacked, he was one of them."
"And what is the purpose of these runners and who are they?" Delenn asked
"They are lurker kids mostly, no work, no money, under age, parents either abandoned them or are dead. I give them odd jobs for small payments, a meal here a few credits there. They are a good bunch who don't want to survive by stealing or begging. They deliver messages, collect information, nothing major, but every little helps.
Can you give us names, Garibaldi asked.
"They won't talk with Security, they don't trust you, and finding them is next to impossible if they don't want to be found. It's imperative I speak with them, so when can I leave here?" Marcus asked again hopefully.
"I'm sorry Marcus, you can't, there are two witnesses that swear it was you, and we have been unable to talk with the boy yet, he's still in a coma.
Marcus got up from his chair dejected, his mind racing in every direction, trying to formulate how to continue this investigation from within his prison. He needed a go-between someone he trusted and above all, who trusted him. Zephyr, of course, she would never believe he'd hurt Lomax.
I have to speak with Susan, he blurted. She is the only one who can help me at this point, I need to get a message to one of my Runners.
Why the Commander? Garibaldi asked surprised.
" I trust her, she trusts me, but above all the person who im trying to contact will not trust anyone from security or the diplomats, it has to be someone station side, even then its debateable, but I have to try.
Garibaldi looked at Marcus thinking, the investigation as it stood, was all stacked up against him, what harm could it do to go along with this plan, can't make things any worse than they already are.
He spoke into his comm link to Ivanova, can you come down to holding cell 14, Marcus wants to talk with you.
'What the... Why?..., damn it, im in the middle of a million issues up here, he'd better have a good reason for dragging me away, she barked back irritated by the mention of his name.
Damn him, he was extremely gifted with the talent of annoying her, but how did he manage to bug her so much she wondered.
Ivanova glided briskly into the cell, hands clamped tightly behind the small of her back, chanting quietly, I will not throttle him , I will not throttle him, I will...
'Susan so good of you to come." Marcus smiled, relieved and happy that she had shown up so soon.
'What can I do for you?" she asked giving him one of her famous cold glares.
"I need a big favour"
"Why me?" She asked flustered, disarmed by his genuine warm smile.
"Because the person I need you to contact, who will help me prove my innocence, won't trust just anybody"
He could sense her hesitancy and asked if she thought he could be guilty of the charges, he needed to know how she felt or rather to hear her say she believed in him.
"I have to know Susan, because if you think i did it, then I can't send you, it would compromise my credibility and your's. Trust is a two-way street, the person I'm sending you to, will know I trust you one hundred percent, and that you also trust me, or I would not be sending you."
Ivanova looked him in the eye, Marcus was many things, mostly annoying and a pain in the butt, but he was not a cold-blooded thug.
"Who do I need to see and how do I get in contact with them?" she asked.
Marcus took that as confirmation that she believed in him, he would have preferred to hear it verbally, but this was Commander Susan Ivanova, the right hand of vengeance after all, her unquestioning willingness to go, proved where her feelings lay.
He took off his Rangers badge and stroked it affectionately with his thumb, a sign of respect for all it ment and represented, he handed it to Susan with a sigh. Take this to gray sector, maintenance shaft 44 junction box 89, mark the outside with a ß, wait 6 hours, then go back for a reply.
"That's all I have to do?" she asked flabbergasted "surely anyone can do that she snapped?"
"Like I said Susan, this is all about trust. That place is watched 24/7, if they don't trust who leaves the message, there will be no response, and the drop zone will be changed, making my chances even slimmer to prove my innocence.
Susan took the brooch and stuffed it unceremoniously into her pocket. "Fine I'll do it now." she said impatiently, wanting to get this over and done with as soon as possible, and get back to C & C. She would rather be dealing with crazy diplomats and impatient captains, instead of hanging around in maintenance shafts, on a fool's errand.