Chapter 4: Framed
A/N: So here's the next chapter of Game of Lies. I have to admit that I'm so happy to be returning to this saga and hope that I can get more chapters out at a faster pace, but we'll see. I have been dealing with personal issues, so my writing might have to be put on hold once my father comes home though I will try my best to get some writing done. Thanks to those who have read and reviewed thus far. It means a lot to me that you're enjoying this story.
Disclaimer: TMNT and all related characters are property of Nickelodeon. I only own the plot and any characters not associated with TMNT.
Leo sighed as he gazed at the television set. He could hear Mikey doing flips as punishment for going out to see his friend when they were all supposed to be grounded for lying to Splinter about going on patrol. Leo was still fuming about that whole mess. Not only had it resulted in all of them getting punished, but it had also been a waste of time because Jason was obviously lying about where Robyn was. Yet, Donnie believed that it was a good lead and wanted them to go there on a wild goose chase. He was obviously doing this as a result of his affection for April.
A noise interrupted him as Miwa cleared her throat.
"What are you watching?" she asked him.
"Fixer Upper," Leo answered.
She giggled. "I never thought of you as the type to watch Home and Garden Television," she teased. "Are you thinking of asking them to fix up the Lair?"
"I think they only work on homes in Texas," he answered. "This channel was on when I turned on the TV. Maybe Donnie was watching it."
"Are you still mad at him?" asked Miwa.
"I just think he's making a big deal out of nothing," replied Leo. "Jason doesn't sound like the type who wants to give anyone any valuable information. He's playing with us, and if Donnie's not careful, he's going to fall into a trap."
"Leo, you didn't see Jason's eyes when I was interrogating him about Robyn. When he mentioned Florida, he had this glint in his eyes."
"You think he was telling the truth?"
"I was raised by Shredder, Leo. I know how to spot when people are lying to me."
"But what if we go down there and she's not there? She could have been down there temporarily and then left."
"Maybe, but I think it's worth a shot."
Leo was about to respond when his phone rang. "Hello?" he asked.
An automated voice came on, saying that he was receiving a call from the jail and would he accept. Leo did so and thought maybe it was Jason.
"Leonardo, it's Kirby," a new voice said.
Leo's eyes widened in shock. "Kirby?" he repeated. "What happened?"
"I'm in jail," Kirby answered. "They say they have evidence that proves I killed Robyn."
It took some time for Leo to process this. "What sort of evidence?" he asked.
"I don't know, but they just arrested me! You have to help prove that I'm innocent!"
"I'm going to call Alison and Jack over here right away. They'll know what to do. Just hang in there, Kirby. We'll fix this." He hung up after the call cut out.
"Leo, who was that?" Miwa asked.
Leo didn't answer as he called the others into the room. Everyone hurried into the room as quickly as they could, anxious looks on their faces.
"What's going on, Leo?" Donnie demanded.
"Kirby just called me," Leo replied. "He's in jail and charged with murdering Robyn."
"They arrested him?!" Donnie gasped. "On what evidence?"
"He wouldn't say," Leo told them. "I'm going to call Ali and Jack and see if they can come over to sort this out." He hit Jack's number and waited.
"Jack Kurtzman," Jack answered.
"Jack, it's Leonardo. Kirby O'Neil called me from jail and said that they arrested him for murdering Robyn. Do you know anything about this?"
"Yes, we do," Jack answered. "We'll meet you at the Lair so we can explain what's going on."
"Please hurry," Leo begged them.
22222
Jack and Ali arrived at the Lair looking a little stressed out. Ali was carrying something though the Turtles had no idea what it was.
Raph crossed his arms over his chest. "So, what's the story?" he demanded.
"Kirby was arrested last night for Robyn's murder," Jack answered.
"But how can that be?" Don protested. "We saw her in that warehouse! She was alive!"
"That is very questionable at best," Ali said. "Your systems were filled with cyanide poison, so it could be that you hallucinated her."
Leo's blue eyes widened in shock. "You don't believe us?" he said.
"We're trying to, but the evidence doesn't lie," Jack said.
"And what evidence is that?" Splinter inquired.
Ali held up what looked like a notebook. "We found this in the warehouse," she answered. "It's a journal Robyn wrote after she was captured by Kirby. She wrote that Kirby captured her and tortured her as revenge for killing April and that the four of you were involved as well."
"Robyn wrote about us?" Leo gasped. "What does that mean?"
"So far, the police aren't interested in the four of you, and we're going to try to convince them that Robyn made you up. However, her journal lists details about the four of you that she knew when she met you, so it could be very hard for the police to think that she just dreamed the four of you up. And I'm sure they'll question Kirby about you as well.
"Kirby would never sell us out," Mikey declared.
"He might if he's asked or has to swear under oath in court," Ali pointed out.
"So you have a dumb journal," Raph scoffed. "That's not enough to convince anyone she's alive."
"We also have this," Ali said and produced a small plastic bag. The Turtles looked inside and found a small tooth.
"Is that Robyn's tooth?" Don asked.
Ali nodded. "It was found on the floor of the warehouse," she confirmed.
"Robyn could have planted it there before she escaped," Miwa said.
"The court won't believe that," Jack pointed out.
"So, you believe Kirby killed her using us as accomplices?" Leo demanded. He was hurt that the two detectives would think so badly of them like this.
"We don't want to jump to conclusions, but everyone else seems to think that way," answered Ali. "We're going to do all we can to help Kirby, but there's only so much we can do."
"We interrogated Jason Biggerstaff," Don said. "He let slip that Robyn could be in Florida. Maybe you should look there."
"Not this again, Donnie," Leo groaned.
"Why do you insist on doubting Jason's word?" Donnie demanded.
"Because he's insane!" Leo fired back.
"Leo's right on this one," Jack said. "Even if Jason did tell you this, his words won't hold up because of the fact that he's a mental patient and the court won't take anything he says seriously."
"So, what can we do?" Leo asked.
"You boys need to lay low," Jack said. "We'll handle things from our end and keep you posted on what we find and what we're going to do. We don't want you to be involved with this right now."
"We're just supposed to do nothing?!" Raph yelled. "That's not our style!"
"Raphael, Kurtzman has a point," Splinter admonished him. "The four of you are under suspicion and if you are discovered, you will be in danger. Let the detectives do what they need to do."
Raph let out a grunt of frustration, but he didn't challenge his father's order.
"Keep your chin up," Ali said. "I'm sure things will work out." With that, she and Jack left the Lair.
"Well, that sucked," Raph grumbled as he stalked to his room.
Leo agreed with his brother, but he knew that the detectives were right. What worried him the most was that Robyn had written about them and probably had details that could destroy them and expose them to the public. If the police delved further into the investigation, then their family was in grave danger. He half expected his phone to chime with a text about how they were all putty in Robyn's hands, but his phone stayed silent. All they could do now was sit helplessly and watch as Kirby was brought before a judge and jury on charges that were false. Leo had a feeling that things were not going to be good for any of them as long as Robyn had her way.
A/N: And another chapter comes to a close. I had a lot of fun with this one and hope you enjoyed it too. I'm still working on outlining more chapters and the only reason I'm even posting this is because my dad's in the hospital and not at home so I have time to write again. Needless to say that having him home has been very draining though I hope things get better in time. Feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.