The ride didn't take long – Gil's standard issue skycar was surprisingly fast – but the two detectives appreciated what was likely to be their last piece of downtime before the investigation began. The journey also gave Garrus a chance to ask why the Executor mentioning 'the coffee machine' had made Gil so tense.
"There's actually a not-so-funny story about that, Garrus-" Gil began.
"Really?" The Turian's subvocals created a mocking tone that was clearly lost on the Salarian, who continued anyway.
"Yeah, but to cut it short: I needed something to perk me up so I could get through all my paperwork. I don't remember the details, but Chellick says I got pretty crazy."
"How crazy?" Garrus inquired. Before Gil could answer, the skycar touched down just outside the two-storied house from the briefing.
"The crime scene! Let's go, before you find out more about my 'dark past'!" Gil deflected, his voice an attempt to be ominous that merely earned a chuckle from Garrus.
The two exited the skycar and advanced up the sweeping driveway leading to the scene, taking in the sights of the neighbourhood, aptly named Tranquillity Lane. It was the one Garrus had passed through earlier in the day day. It was oddly quiet. All the children were probably at their private schools, learning to be as superior as the Asari councillor, and the parents were in their cushy diplomat jobs, working 5-hour days betraying their constituents.
Quarn certainly picks the right targets.
True to the briefing the house fit the MO, and from what the owner (an Elcor diplomat) had told Garrus during his questioning, it seemed Quarn was uncatchable, despite his purportedly massive ego.
"Angrily: The cad had even asked me if I wanted insurance for any, Disgustedly: 'damage caused'."
"Ok, sir. Did he leave any contact details, an address perhaps?" Garrus was stretching, and he knew it.
"Barely concealed rage: Of course not, Detective. Do you think me to be stupid enough to not inform you had such an event occurred?"
Garrus was quick to apologise and continued.
The 'interrogation' continued in that fashion for a while longer, with Garrus learning nothing new, until Gil came back from his evidence sweep upstairs, and pulled Garrus to one side.
"We didn't find anything useful upstairs, but here's the bag if you want to look through yourself," the Salarian whispered, handing Garrus a grey pouch, "we need to wrap this up and report back to Pallin."
"Sure. Okay. I'm getting nowhere with this guy anyway."
Garrus opened the pouch to find several pieces of paper, scrunched into balls and with some rips in the sheets.
Now there's something you don't see every day, our hero internally remarked at the sight of the ancient documenting method. Datapads were almost universally used to store information in 2178, as paper degraded much quicker than metal and holograms, but for a cost, paper mailing was available by request. Straightening out the sheets, the Turian detective fond none he read of any interest, although he had to brush up on his Asari to actually read the document as, unlike holographic interfaces, paper wasn't compatible with his translator. The last sheet, however, did pique his interest, and read:
Dear Mr Kedunne,
As per your last e-mail, we will now send all future updates regarding your policy by courier, and on paper. We are also delighted to inform you that you have successfully switched coverage plans from Basic to Comprehensive. At the cost of an extra 2 credits a month, all of your personal possessions are now covered for fire, theft, water damage and misplacement for a cash lump sum of 20,000 credits payable upon closure of a relevant C-Sec investigation.
Fortune be upon you,
Fedori Risk Analysis & Insurance
The son of a bitch.
"So, Mr. Kedunne, when the Turian offered you insurance, did you take it?" Perhaps Garrus should've given Rolan more credit; this seemed like a victimless crime. He would offer his victims insurance so that they didn't suffer any real loss from the scam, while he ran off with the dough. The only loser was the insurance company.
"No." The first thing Garrus noticed was the lack of a modifier. Something's up, he realised. Add that to the blatant lie the Elcor had just pulled, and Garrus was mad.
"So why did you just change your policy with Felori RAI on the day he came to see you? Do you know what I think, Kedunne? You've been working with him since he came to your door," Garrus accused, advancing towards the Elcor until there was little space between them, "you're an accomplice in fraud. That's six years in the pen, Kedunne. On top of that, you'd be looking for a job the minute you got out. Say goodbye to Tranquillity Lane and the Presidium. "
"With restraint: You are correct Detective. I worked with Quarn."
"Then where can we find him? You tell us this and we can cut your sentence to an unofficial warning." The cerulean Salarian offered, flying into the space between Garrus and the Elcor. Gil's interruption had startled Garrus, but he nodded in agreement and levelled his gaze back on the hulking alien opposite him.
"I do not know." The Elcor replied, eyes on the floor.
"BULLSHIT KEDUNNE! Tell me now, or I will feed you my lunch!" Garrus retorted, his mandibles gesticulating wildly and his voice flanging as he leant closer to the large creature.
The elcor stepped back and winced, contemplating the image the detective had presented: an elcor spluttering around, his corruption burning from the inside out as the allergic reaction ravaged his body. "Cautiously: You make a compelling argument, Detective. Despondently: You will find Quarn at the Starlight Lounge."
The Starlight Lounge was something of an institution on Zakera ward; it had been founded in the year 725 CE by Elani Contari, a highly-decorated Asari commando, to mark the end of the Krogan rebellions. The matron soon won over the more affluent population of Zakera with the promise of good drinks, classy entertainment and a dash of her charming hospitality. When she passed on, and her daughter Tevana took over, the Lounge continued to provide great service, including a line-up of almost exclusively Asari singers, in order to cozy up to emissaries and give the rich another area in which they could ignore the taxpayer.
A remarkable story.
Rolan Quarn thought so too, reflecting at his table, drink by his hand, and basking in the leisure his line of work allowed him. He was enjoying himself too, until he noticed a waitress approaching him, probably to collect on his tab. A perfect time to apply his craft. Activating his omni-tool and bringing it up to the side of his face, he yelled,
"No, Sparatus! You must tell the Primarch to sign the treaty now! It is vital to the council that these measures go ahead unobstructed! It would devastate Asari high command!"
"General Septimus?" Quarn turned to look at the waitress as she nervously tentatively approached him, and then waved her off.
"Yes, to obstruct this would allow the Batarians to pillage the Traverse - there would be unimaginable consequences. Do the words 'political shit-storm' mean anything to you?" The con man resumed, feigning irritation with the waitress and the imaginary councillor on the other end of his call.
The waitress took the hint and left, muttering obscenities as she went. Quarn smiled lightly as he watched her go.
Gil didn't spend too much time getting the skycar to The Lounge. He was anxious to get to Quarn before he could leave. He'd already warned Garrus about Quarn's skills, but took the time to remind Garrus of what the barefaced Turian could do as a con artist. The list included, but was not limited to: accessing restricted areas, taking people's money and leaving them smiling, assuming another's identity and job, and even one case of escaping C-Sec by pretending to be a waxwork figurine.
When our two intrepid investigators reached The Lounge, Garrus was stunned at the error of his original presumptions regarding the establishment. It was a large, rectangular building covered in a variety of bright fusion lights and holo-patterns, giving the place the feel of a classy nightclub even during the citadel's day cycle. It looked like hedonism given form.
Garrus soon found that the inside was just as luxurious as the outside; glossy purple walls with sleek Thessian curves surrounded an elevated stage for cabaret, swamped with tables in a central viewing area, and two raised viewing areas at either wing. Once he had taken in the setting, he noticed two things immediately.
The beautiful Asari singer crooning to the bar and radiating sex appeal.
Rolan Quarn.
The detective turned to Gil, who made gestures indicating to circle Quarn at either side and corner him at his table in the right wing. They moved simultaneously, eyes flicking between each other and Quarn, the two of them getting closer until Garrus finally came down in the chair opposite Quarn, with Gil at the barefaced Turian's side.
Quarn nodded at Garrus, and then turned to Gil. "Officer Melarn. We meet at last. I believe you have been in pursuit of my acquaintance for some time. But do you mind telling me whom you have brought with you today?"
"This is my partner, Garrus Vakarian," Said Gil, with a nod of acknowledgement towards Garrus.
"Vakarian, hmmm? How fortuitous. Your father never caught me, you know."
Garrus scowled at the mention of his father, as Gil began applying the handcuffs to Quarn. "Rolan Quarn, you are under arrest for six counts of burglary, six counts of obtaining money through deception, three counts of evading arrest and six counts of impersonating a Citadel Council official. You have the right to remain silent, anything you do say…" Garrus' mind drifted away from the arrest, joining his eyes in focusing on the lovely Asari singing. Her deep violet skin blended into the stage curtains, and her voice spoke to his body, soothing all its tensions. He had goosebumps.
Spirits, now that's a woman.
It may interest the reader to know that the arrest came through cleanly, and it eventually transpired that the Elcor diplomat was a part of Rolan's crew from the first burglary, socialising with and pointing out affluent targets for Quarn to rip off. The two had only been caught as Quarn and his friend decided they'd do the same gig to themselves, and claim the insurance. They'd hoped to keep the information of the extranet by using paper mail, but didn't hide the documents well enough.
If Garrus knew how many forms there were to fill out back at the academy, he would've probably let Quarn go.
Final tally
Rolan Quarn: Seven to fifteen years in a mid-security Traverse prison.
Sensu Kedunne: Six years in a C-Sec prison, and barred from the Presidium for life.
Gilbert Melarn: Clearance record increased from 67.785% to 68%.
Garrus Vakarian: First case a success. Fitness for higher duty to be re-evaluated in coming weeks.
-A/N- There we go! First case is a success. Things will get a bit darker from here on out, and Garrus won't always win. Please review and tell me what you liked or didn't like in this chapter.
P.S: If it reads like Garrus is an inveterate womaniser in this story, that's because he is – I wanted a flawed protagonist.