Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked.

Chapter 4: The Wrong Suspect

The fire department and Glinda arrived in the forest just as one resident from the Vinkus see smoke from the forest and call them. By the time they arrive, the fire almost destroyed the trees its surrounded on and almost killed the animals near the vicinity. The fire department was able to take out the fire of the shack, but everything inside was destroyed from the fire.

"How is the fire, Chief?" Glinda asked the fire chief

"Well, since the weather today was mostly cloudy and the woods was perfectly standing, I would say the fire is committed by an arson."

"Do you know who you think might have done this?"

"No, I'm afraid we don't know who caused the fire. The nearest home is the trailer park but it is about 20 miles from here."

"Do you think it might have something to do with the Wicked Witch's murder?"

"Probably. We found the Scarecrow stuffed up in the supply closet and she was found near the shack. It doesn't make sense though. Why would someone burn something if they kill a person that is hated by the people?"

"Yeah. It doesn't make sense." Glinda sarcastically said and left.

"Where are you going Miss Glinda?"

"I have a meeting to attend to."

After interviewing over ten people today, Boq and Reeta went back to the Emerald Mirror office to publish the story for tomorrow's paper. "Okay which story we want to publish?" Reeta asked.

"Well, out of all the people we interviewed, the only people that seems interesting are Roger Tinker's and Allegro Aru." Boq said.

"What was the second one's story again."

"He claims that the Wicked Witch is speaking out to him in the spirit world."

"Alright, let's do Allegro Aru's story instead."

"But I did some research on him and he is really well known to all of Oz. He has a criminal background for scamming people that he claims he has a spiritual connection to the dead and getting money from the relatives of the dead."

"Okay, Tinker's story it."

"So how do we come up with the story about this Roger Tinker's person and his connection with the Wicked Witch."

"Why don't we just focus on Roger Tinker's past more and we do the Wicked Witch connection less."

"And how is that going to work?"

"Think about this man has invented a lot things in Oz that would make the Wizard envy him. If we do that, we can make him an unsung hero of Oz."

"I really like that. You should put what you said just now and it will get people interested in the story."

"Good idea. Now how do we headline this?"

"How about 'retired inventor knows something about the Wicked Witch'."

"We'll work on that later. Let's just focus on the story first."

It is night time and Glinda arrived back to the palace. She was told that she has an important client to see and Glinda was determined to meet him and might find something important about him. When she enters the castle, Glinda spoke to her secretary of she has anything else planned.

"Do I have any plans tonight, Evella?" Glinda asked.

"Nothing for tonight Miss Upland. But you have an appointment Master Scarecrow right now."

"Where he is right now?"

"He's downstairs in the white room with another person with him."

"Good to hear. You should get home now, Evella. It's getting late already."

"I hear you. Good night Miss Upland."

"Goodnight Evella." After Evella left the palace, Glinda went downstairs and entered the white room. When she entered the room, she sees the King of Vinkus sitting down with Fiyero standing by him. "Good thing I told your son over here to go to the forest earlier. Otherwise, you would be scott free." Glinda said as she's seating down. "Now tell me, what were you doing in the forest earlier?" Glinda asked him, but he didn't say anything. "You know, not talking will still get you arrested for not compiling to us. So you'll be safe and the only thing we'll do is charge you for illegal hunting. Now, what were you doing earlier."

"I don't answer to the likes of you. I'm a king, I don't speak with commoners." the King of Vinkus sneered.

"Actually, since your talking to the ruler of Oz, I am actually higher ranking than you. Now just answer the damn question."

The King sighed and decided to speak. "Not only I hunt regular animals, but I also hunt human type Animals. While I use a hunting rifle for normal animals, I prefer another way of dealing with the other type."

"You mean murdering them by sneaking from the back and stab them."

"That's correct."

"How long have you been doing this?"

"Since the Wizard declared them as a threat."

"That is a cruel way to deal with them."

"They are not people. And I know what you've been up to. Looking for the killer of your best friend and you aren't against all the time. I'm glad she's dead."

"Stop this now, father." Fiyero said.

"Why? She turned you into this and with her gone, there's no way you can turn back to normal. What do you see in that green witch?"

"Because... I love her."

The king gasped and didn't want to believe it. "But my boy, she turn into a straw man. Please tell me you're joking!"

"I'm not joking father. She turned me into a scarecrow because she saved my life."

"It's true, Mr. Tiggular. Fiyero really loves Elphaba. And I accept that. You're the same as the Wizard. You're just cold hearted narrow minded ruler who don't see other people as people than themselves. You may leave now but you may never speak to me again." Glinda said as she and Fiyero leave the White Room.

The next day, the Emerald Mirror published the story of Roger Tinker's account of him seeing the Wicked Witch and his past, but it didn't go as planned. Reeta saw the paper's headline and she was angry about it. She went to her boss' office to talk about the paper.

"What is this?!" Reeta said.

"I take it that you got today's paper. I had an editor do a few changes to your story."

"Few changes?! How about major changes! 'Local Man is a Traitor too Oz'. I didn't wrote about him being a criminal."

"Your story is a little boring for the readers. I added some surprise so people could read the paper."

"Yeah it surprised me alright. That you change it without my consent!"

"Look, Reeta dear, this is how the press works in this business. If you don't like, then deal with it."

"But what about Roger Tinker? You might ruin an innocent man's career. I did some research on him and he has a clean record."

"Not my concern. Now finish with the Percy Romana story and do some more dirt on Tinker. you got me Zif?"

As he is getting his morning paper, Roger Tinker ignores the papers headlines. Before going back to inside, he sees a crowd of people marching towards his house.

"What is all this?" Roger asked.

"Traitor!" the crowd shouted.

"I'm sorry what?"

"You're associated with the Wicked Witch! You should be dead a long time ago!" the leader of the crowd said.

Fiyero saw the crowd and didn't what the problem is. He went to into the crowd and stop them from almost killing Roger.

"Hey. Hey. What is going on over here?" Fiyero asked.

"This old man is a traitor! The Emerald Mirror published a story that says he is with cahoots with the Wicked Witch of the West and both plotted to take-over Oz." the leader of the mob said.

"What? That doesn't make sense. You might have known that I've been through the Wicked Witch's castle and came back alive and I know this guy is not an accomplice." Fiyero turned his attention to Roger and talked to him. "Roger is your name right? Do you have any connections with the Wicked Witch?"

"Actually… I have connections. But not as an accomplice, but an admirer. I didn't admire her for her wickedness, but her bravery against the Wizard. She fought the Wizard's animal policy and I see why she did it."

Eventually, the mob heard what he said and were disgusted. "Roger, you should leave Oz now. I don't people to attack you." Fiyero whispered.

"Oz is my home young one. And I don't want any of you 'Witch Hunters' to judge what I believe in her." The mob decided to leave him thinking he's not worth it. "Don't listen to those people, my boy. They just want to find people to blame their problems."

"I'll take note of that."

"Oh and by the way, what's your real name."

"Promise me you won't tell anyone?" Fiyero whispered.

"Of course my dear boy."

Fiyero looked around to see if the coast is clear. "It's Fiyero."

"Fiyero. Thank you for protecting me Fiyero. That name kind of reminds me of someone I used to know on the papers." Roger said as he went back to his house.

Fiyero arrived in the palace and saw Glinda working really hard on her office. "Hey Glin, how's the case?"

"Still the same. I don't find any new evidence since Friday." Glinda said.

"You need to eat Glinda. By the looks of it, you haven't eaten for a while."

"I don't have time to eat, Fifi. I have too much work as of now."

"Nonsense. I brought you a sandwich while I got here." Fiyero gave a sandwich and decided to eat it. "Maybe I should take over the case."

"No, I will.I have to do this in Elphie's memory." Just then, Evella knocked on the door which angers Glinda. "What is it now?!" Glinda shouted.

"Sorry Miss Upland. I'm just wanted to talk with the Scarecrow."

"What is it?"

"Do you know of a person name Roger Tinker?"

"Yeah. I just saw him moments ago."

"Well, the Gale Force took him to the Southstairs."

"What?! But he's innocent!"

"They told me he's a traitor of Oz. I can't do anything for that."

"I'm sorry but who is this Roger Tinker?" Glinda asked.

"He's an old man who's a supporter of the Wicked Witch, but he would never betray Oz."

"How would people know about that?"

"It came from the Emerald Mirror. You have to do something Glinda." Fiyero told her but Glinda just stares into him. "Glinda?"

"I'm sorry but I have to go to the restroom." Glinda ran out of the office and into the restroom. She turned on the sink to rinse her face. She went through her pockets and took out her medicine, but it's empty. Glinda looked at the mirror and she's getting dizzy again. She then regain consciousness and continue to look at the mirror.