Fourth Chapter: Dance With The Devil:

Marluxia stood at the window, watching Larxene screech around the drive in her new car. He winced at the sound of squealing tires as she executed a turn never usually seen outside of films. Axel lounged in a chair, fiddling with his hair.

"With Hollow Bastion out, you could probably pull out a new club with little opposition. Spit in the eye for Xemnas too – means he'll have to work harder to compete when he gets out."

"I did have something in mind. Finding the location is important though, and nothing has come to mind yet."

"What are you looking for? I might know somewhere." Axel faked nonchalance, sensing his first in.

"Privacy. Security. A way out. I don't want to get caught out like Xemnas. Somewhere hard to surround."

"Inner-city is probably best too. People are getting jumpy about heading out of the city and into the dark." He stared at Marluxia offhandedly. "You know they found bodies on the grounds?"

Marluxia chuckled. "I'm really not surprised. But it wouldn't be Xemnas who put them there, just flunkies taking advantage of the space. Those meadows are irresistible for dumpers." Axel nodded. It wouldn't do to underestimate Xemnas in that respect. It was also a warning to Axel – if he was in, he was in. Marluxia knew hwo to make people disappear just as well as Xemnas. "Alright then, central, urban."

"The dock renovations are still underway. Plenty of time to buy up a block or two. Plus, nobody will be looking at a lot of builders round there right now. You could make some additions without too many questions..." Axel gesticulated vaguely.

"Whatever are you accusing me of Axel?" Marluxia smiled without looking back.

"They've had to revamp the sewers round there. Should be pretty easy to dig a path out into them. For escape. Or you could connect some basements." He shrugged. "Whatever you have in mind."

Marluxia turned away from the window as Larxene abandoned the Maserati for another. The valet jumped away from her as she came near, as if she was spitting sparks. He pretended to contemplate Axel's words.

"I'd need some people. My business is still largely legitimate, my skill base is limited."

"If you're thinking about stealing talent from Xemnas you might have some problems. Riku is holding onto them like a terrier right now. I imagine it'll be a while before anyone gets out. I'm still not sure how you got me out." Or why. Axel tried not to look too deeply at his new employer. Asking questions this early might be imprudent. It had become obvious shortly after leaving the precinct that this wasn't just a drugs bust.

"And who would I hire? Demyx?" Marluxia grimaced. "Almost anyone of any use is too loyal to Xemnas. I have no desire to be sold out." He sat opposite Axel and poured a drink for them both. "Not everyone got arrested though."

"Yeah? Who made it out?" Axel sat up, interested. As far as he knew, everyone had been hauled off, no exceptions.

"The security booth was empty. Well. Half empty. Zexion was out for the count, but there should have been someone else up there, shouldn't there?" Axel couldn't see Marluxia's eyes through the sweep of hair, but the way his skin crawled told him instinctively that they weren't happy.

"... Roxas. Little techie kid. You've got techs."

"Not like him. Do you know where he was educated? But that's not really the point. The point is, that he wasn't there. So he's smart."

"Yeah, he is. You thinking of hiring him?"

Marluxia ignored the question. "I don't like that much smart disappearing into thin air."

Axel shrugged again. "He'll be around somewhere. Scared. He's new to all this, a big kick off like that probably sent him down a hole for a bit." He was suddenly concerned for him though, thinking of Roxas trying to get out in the middle of a raid, Zexion unconscious behind him... it must have been a close call if Zexion had been hit.

"You knew him quite well didn't you? I saw him with you at the bar sometimes."

"Yeah, we hung out a bit on slow nights. He's a nice guy, little clueless but fun for it." He shifted uncomfortably. "Lousy bartender though, if you're hiring."

Marluxia smiled without humour. "You ever see him outside of work?"

"Not so much. Xemnas kept him busy. What's this all about really? You thinking of hiring him?" He smirked, trying to break the atmosphere that was getting colder by the minute.

"I already have."

"You could make a guy jealous like that you know."

"Think of everything he's seen working there. He knows who works with who. Who's given money where. He could implicate innocent businessmen in certain transactions, Axel. He is important." "I want him found."

Axel sat to attention again, sensing the predator circling. "Yes, sir." Axel felt too hot, and suddenly far too close to Marluxia. For the first time, this freedom shebang was starting to feel a little uncertain

"And dead. I believe I can trust you in that." Axel gaped at him, nonchalance disappeared. He had the feeling of a cornered animal. This was not the kind of business he could back out of easily. If Marluxia wanted Roxas dead, Axel was going to be intrinsically involved.

"He's not a rat...sir... I know him. He could be useful."

"He doesn't have to be, to be a threat. He has already run from me, he won't be so quick to accept me as you. More's the pity." He smiled a crocodile smile that made Axel's insides clench. "Find him for me."

His smile didn't fade, even in the face of Axel's apparent discomfort. "Think of everything he's seen working there. He knows who works with who. Who's given money where. He could implicate innocent businessmen in certain transactions, Axel." He laughed. "What did you think we'd do, ask him to come back?"

One last sally for the sake of friendship. "And if I could persuade him?"

Marluxia's face froze, the smile fading into the cast of his face. He pulled his hair back, locking his eyes against Axel's with the haughtiness of a king. "I am not telling you to persuade him. Do not mistake this relationship for one of mutuality. I am ordering you to kill him, Axel. There is no compromise in this."

Axel's freedom had dwindled into the tiniest fragment of a glimmer as long as he could leave this room. The imperative burned into his brain along with the realisation of just how many weapons there were in this room alone, let alone along the corridors, halls and stairs he had to take before he could get out. He stared at Marluxia, realising rapidly that his hands were no longer on the desk, and the motors outside had gone dead.

"Okay."

Marluxia smiled again, as Larxene slid in through the door. "Good."

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Kairi placed the cup of coffee next to Sora's head, nestled in his arms. He had spent all afternoon sitting in on interviews, liasing with everyone from lawyers, to the mayor, to the garbage crew who wanted to know when they could get out to pick up the rubbish from the closed club. His fringe rose and fell around his eyebrows with every gentle, sleeping breath. She almost reached out to brush it away, conduct be damned. He was still so young, something they always forgot, at least until it came time for someone to point the finger for something – too few police, too many mistakes. He took on every complaint and accusation himself, and spread the compliments out throughout his force. The kind of policeman nobody thinks exists any more. Still, he wouldn't forgive her for letting him sleep.. She stretched out her hand again -

"I'm awake." He grumbled into his elbows.

Kairi recovered from the shock by offering the coffee again. "I brought you something to drink. And an alibi." She winked. "Seems like you could use a little break."

Sora sat up and stretched, the bones in his fingers and neck crackling in protest. "What have I still got left to do today?"

Kairi nodded at the stack of paper on his desk. "That, for a start off."

Sora groaned theatrically. "Paperwork? Really?" He looked up at her with a glint in his eye. "I don't suppose you...?"

Kairi laughed. "I suppose I could give you a hand. In the name of productivity." She pulled half the stack over to her and started reading through it. "Don't forget your coffee."

He took a deep, appreciative gulp and grabbed the rest of the paper. "You missed debriefing today," he noted. "Remind me to reprimand you."

"It was nothing I haven't heard before. 'Well done', 'don't talk to the press'... Riku cannot spell worth a damn you know." She said, circling something.

"Marluxia came in today."

"I know. I tried to listen by the door but Riku shuffled me off with make-work. What the hell did that creep want anyway?"

"Axel, mostly. And to show off."

"Flaunting his supposed innocence." She shook her head vehemently. "There is something wrong with that man and you know it."

"No, I suspect it. And there is a big difference."

"The difference that allows you to slap some silver on his wrist and throw him in with the rest of those idiots?"

"That's the one."

She shuddered. "I just can't feel right letting those two walk out of here. If nothing else, the roads would be a lot safer without Larxene out there."

"I know what you mean. Marluxia is one of those people you can't imagine not being involved in something like this. It sticks in my teeth.. but we have no proof."

Kairi didn't respond, staring down at her forms for a minute. "Is this the complete role call from yesterday?"

"Should be." He glanced over the paper in her hand. "Why?"

She flicked the paper over again and counted. "You're missing one. Roxas... something. I don't remember his last name." She frowned. "He was definitely there when I made the pre-bust rounds.

"Who is he?"

"Techie."

Sora waved it off. "Probably went off sick and is loitering back in case he gets pulled in."

"Not Roxas. I don't think Xemnas ever let him off the compound."

Sora stared at her, surprised at her sudden serious tone. She was chewing the end of her ponytail, frowning at the forms. "You're sure?"

"Definitely." She stared back at him, the wet tip of her hair still sticking to her lips. "Find Zexion's interview."

Sora shuffled through and handed it to her. She read quickly, eyes flicking through for one name. "Ah! Here we go. Zexion says that Roxas was in the security booth with him. He heard a loud bang... and remembers nothing else. We thought he was sitting too close to the door, got hit when we came in."

Sora turned to his filing cabinet and flicked through until he pulled out a folder. "Wakka and Celes took that room didn't they?" He ran his finger down the words, grappling with Wakka's renowned enthusiasm as to punctuation and sentence structure. "They only found Zexion in there. Celes is a thorough officer, she will have searched that place with a fine-toothed comb."

"...He wasn't there." Kairi said. "How... how did he get out before us? He must have had fifteen, twenty minutes tops before we came in to get him, and if he'd gone out any of the exits we would have picked him up..."

Sora breathed deeply, his mind opening up the possibilities and answers. "He must have known we were coming."

"You think he was our anonymous tip?"

"Possibly. At the very least, he knows some way to get on and off that property that I want to know about. Very quickly." He glanced up, grinning. "Tell me everything you know about him, in five minutes or less."

"Won't even take that long. We did an initial rundown on him when we were in the planning stages, but we got very little. I filed a report you know," she pouted. "All neatly and properly too."

Sora was already ahead of her, rummaging in the cabinet again. "Go on."

"We found a few names. He went to DiZ, graduated with full honours. Lived with a one Hayner Digenti, but the association seemed to fall through. Met one of Xemnas' girls there, Namine. We assume she got him the job. No criminal record, no real family record. At least one parent dead, the other absent. That's the sum of it."

"Alright, and what's not on the record. You knew him well?"

"Not well. He seemed pretty quiet, pretty innocent." She shrugged apologetically. "He was in the booth a lot."

"Anyone else know him?"

"Zexion, I'd presume. Namine. Vexen might know a thing or two. Axel would be your best bet though... he helped out on the bar sometimes. They took breaks together."

"We'll talk to Zexion again. Delicately. I don't want our interest showing. Namine we already released. Anyone that cries that much cannot be a criminal mastermind..."

"Axel?" Kairi prompted.

"Gone."

"GONE?" She surprised herself with her own volume, leaning in and lowering her voice. "Gone? How come?"

"He made bail. Marluxia. They had a previous association. Riku didn't like it much, but he could afford the bail, and the guy was just a glorified busboy. Most he woulda known about is how much Xemnas spent on Atlantian wine last year." He looked at her in surprise, as her face took on the characteristic shade of someone about to get very, very angry. "What's wrong?"

"Do you bother to read any of my reports?" Her voice took on that shrill tone that really dug into his ear drums. Sora hastily took his coffee out of the line of fire, warding her off with it as she leaned over into his face. She was rapidly gearing up for an extended shouting session.

"I read them, Kairi. I do. But I have to read Riku's too, and all the internal memos... it must have slipped out from under me."

Kairi became painfully aware of the bags under his eyes, and the non-case related paperwork bundled up in a corner of the room.

"I'm sorry for shouting." She laid a hand on his shoulder, comfortingly. "But please believe me when I say this is important. Axel might look like a goof, but people really talk to him. Before he hooked up with Xemnas, he used to be a go-to guy. According to old reports, we've even used him before. It could be worth locating him again, before Marluxia gets him out of our reach."

Sora stared at the report, resting his head in his hands. "He probably knows a thing or too about Marluxia we could do with knowing. If we could get it out of him." He sighed. "Get Riku in here. Get notices out for Roxas and Axel. Dig up Namine again too, I want her close in case I need to ask questions."

"I'll get in a jumbo box of tissues then too." Kairi paused by the door, grinning from ear to ear. "This is a good move, boss."

"I'm not old enough to be 'boss' yet." He smiled back, letting her excitement wake him up. "Go on, get gone."

He sorted Roxas and Axel's files together on one side of the desk, Marluxia's next to them. He stared at them for a moment longer, before turning to the even bigger folder, labelled Xemnas. It was a start, but in the wrong direction for the prosecution. For now.