"Sergeant Abberline! This is unjust and unnecessary!"

Freddie didn't react. Yes, his job might be on the line, but he wasn't going to let this go.

"Commissioner…" he sighed wearily, "… you have been stealing and experimenting on dogs. And, the police force and the Creed are currently investigating the murder of a eugenics club member, who was expertly dismembered… you are a member of the same club and you worked as a coroners' assistant for a time, didn't you? Clearly you have the necessary skills." He gestured at the dog parts all around him, straightening up when the Commissioner glared at him.

"What reason would I have to kill Linus?!"

"Maybe I can interject here?"

All eyes turned to Ezio, who emerged from the shadows, still dressed in his smart suit, his eyes intensely focused on Baldwin.

"You had a meeting with the Judge shortly before his death. His daughter states that he was upset because of something that was said or done during that meeting."

"Nonsense! Lies!"

Ezio raised an eyebrow in disbelief, "Oh? Convince me."

"Well, one, I didn't know that dogs were stolen!" The Commissioner protested, "I hired a local man to get them for me, and I thought he was doing it legally!"

"Convenient… Do you really want to tell me that you didn't recognise the Mayor's wife dog? She always carries it with her." Here, Ezio gestured behind him, where officers were removing the dogs, including a very happy Desmond.

The Commissioner ignored him, "As for my experiments, then I really don't expect you lot to understand."

"Developmental biology." Leo gently moved past his boyfriend, straightening up in an attempt to appear taller, "The study of the embryo and the growth of unborn organisms."

"…. Very good Mister Da Vinci." The Commissioner leaned forwards, "Imagine it! Being able to predetermine physical characteristics when someone's still in the womb. Athletic ability. Intelligence. Height. Hair and eye colour, even sexuality! We can already see the gender, why not everything else! Those who wouldn't benefit society, who would only burden society, would never be born again."

"So, you believe all this work here to be noble?" Ezio asked, having already tensed at the mention of sexuality.

"It's more than noble! It's revolutionary! One day, it will ensure the very future of mankind." The Commissioner then turned to Freddie, "Sergeant Abberline. I've answered all your questions, now remove these handcuffs!"

….

"I'll have your badge! I haven't done anything wrong!"

Freddie smirked as he slammed the cell door shut, "Sorry Sir, but I don't consider theft and animal cruelty to be nothing."

"So, what do I do?"

"Talk to your neighbour…" Freddie gestured at the local man the Commissioner hired, "… maybe about dogs?"

….

"Sorry Abberline, but the Commissioner is right. You don't have anything on him."

Freddie's mouth gaped open in shock and protest. "But… the theft! Animal cruelty!"

"Minor charges Abberline, minor charges." At Freddie's disappointment, his Captain sighed, "Look, I don't like the idea of our Commissioner going around, playing at being Dr Frankenstein either, but there's nothing tying him to the murder of Judge Malling! Unless the Assassins have something to add?"

Both Freddie and the Captain turned their attentions to Connor and Ezio, who had to admit, they had nothing either.

"We have some… nagging questions as well." Ezio sighed, "Like- "

"- Why would he cut up the body in a way that would draw attention to someone like him, someone who has that experience?" Connor sent Ezio an apologetic look for interrupting, the thought having just come to his mind.

Ezio waved it off, "And why was the victim beaten so brutally? The killer must have angry, but at what?"

"Precisely!" The Captain almost seemed to sigh in relief, "The Commissioner doesn't seem angry at all, more… curious. I'm sorry Sergeant, but you've got to explore other avenues."

Freddie nodded, silent for a time, before a thought suddenly occurred to him. "The Commissioners' experiments look expensive… he probably has someone financing him, unless the pay for Commissioners is about ten times better." He turned to the Assassins, "Any clues?"

Ezio and Connor glanced at one another, before Ezio pulled out his phone. "I'll text Arno…" he muttered, "… he needs to stop moping about anyway."

…

"Of course I funded the Commissioner's work!" Dr Warren Vidic exclaimed, "Why wouldn't I? Surely you understand just how significant his experiments are."

Even though he only get the basics from Ezio, Arno's only belief was that the experiments were nothing short of horrific.

"I find them… troubling."

There. That was as polite as he was willing to be.

"Troubling?!" Dr Vidic frowned, "How? They're for the greater good!"

"Where's the line between human and animal? And what's to stop it from being crossed?" Arno asked, thinking back to Malik's words when this whole thing first began.

/"We've often suspected Dr Vidic of kidnapping potential assassins and subjecting them to DNA experiments, all in the name of science…. Not that we've ever been able to prove it." \\

"Ridiculous…" Vidic snarled, "… I would never experiment on humans! To suggest I would is just scare-mongering!"

"Whose to say that line hasn't already been crossed?"

"By Baldwin?"

"Or one of his associates."

Silence. Slowly, Vidic pushed himself to his feet, glaring at Arno. "You are treading dangerously close to slander… don't make me draw up a law case against the Creed."

Arno was non-plussed, shrugging lightly at the threat. "If there is any connection between you and Linus Malling, I will find it Doctor Vidic. Of that you can be sure."

"… Then I have nothing to worry about."

…

"Please don't tell me, that's what I think it is."

Ezio glanced between the vial of mucus and Ziio, wincing at the unimpressed look she was giving him.

"It's mucus… but I'm giving this to you for a good reason, honest!" He held it up towards the light, "I spotted some pollen in it, and I think it could help for the case, And who knows plants better than you?"

"Connor."

"Connor's busy with dogs…" He pouted, making his eyes as big as possible, "… please? Look, we have a microscope and everything."

"I don't need something like that… hand it here."

As Ziio carefully examined what was in the mucus, there was a knock on the door, prompting Ezio to spin around… and resist the urge to groan.

"Miss Stillman… I thought we asked you not to interfere anymore?"

She sniffed, turning her nose to the air as she took a seat, "I'm here on behalf of the Eugenics society. Despite the disaster caused by your little friend last night, many of us believe that the Creed should link with us, and therefore we would like to have a meeting with your elusive council."

"… Pardon?"

"We've researched all of you, the Young Assassins, the Council, everyone. As much as I hate to admit it, there are some good genetics in there, despite the occasional black mark."

Ezio could practically hear Ziio growling behind him. It wasn't hard to guess what Miss Stillman was referring to.

"The invitation is always open." Miss Stillman pushed herself to her feet, "Think it over. Think about what's best for the Creed."

And then she was gone.

"You're not considering it, correct?" Ziio almost immediately asked, chuckling when Ezio mimed gagging.

"Not a chance in hell." He muttered, "But I'll tell the Council anyway. They need a laugh… what about the sample?"

"Now, that is interesting…"

…

"Let me guess…" Dr. Vidic stormed down the stairs, glaring at Ezio, "… you want to harass me as well?"

Ezio didn't look at him, his fingers brushing over the white flowers in the hallway. "I just want the truth Doctor."

"The truth? What the hell are you talking about?!"

Ezio spun around, eyes darting to the shadows, where he knew Evie and Edward were waiting. "A pollen sample was taken from Linus Malling's body. It has been confirmed as being from the very rare, Phantom Orchid. Coincidently, you have that plant…" he gestured at the flower behind him, "… in your very home."

He made his way closer to the Doctor. "Doctor Vidic. Linus Malling came to visit you shortly before his death, maybe even just before, something which you failed to mention. Why is that?"

"… I am getting tired of defending my every move to the Creed!" Vidic snarled, "So if you're going to arrest me then- "

As though spurred on by a cue, Evie and Edward dropped down and grabbed Vidic's arms.

"Doctor Vidic… you are under arrest."