Cloud knocked on the door as he and Tifa waited anxiously.
They were outside Aerith's house, and their orders were to bring her in. Strangely, Cid's orders included that they didn't tell Aerith why they were bringing her in until after she was at headquarters. Tifa and Cloud knew that was the best way without a huge struggle.
Cloud stared at the house.
"Does she live here all by herself?" he asked. Tifa nodded.
"Elmyra comes around now and then," she said. "But Aerith lives here alone." Cloud knocked the door again, then heard footsteps approaching. The door opened.
It was Elmyra.
"Yes?" she said, looking at them. Tifa pushed Cloud aside and smiled at her.
"Hi, Mrs Gainsborough," she said. "Um…we need to have a private word with Aerith, please. It's very important." Elmyra shook her head.
"She went to work hours ago," she told them. "That was the last time I saw her today." Tifa's smile faded a little, but she stayed calm.
"Really…" she said. "So…she went to the hospital?" Elmyra nodded.
"That's what she told me." She glanced at Cloud. "Is something wrong?" Cloud sighed heavily, but smiled.
"There's just something we need to discuss with her." He exchanged a look at Tifa, then looked back at Elmyra. "Uh…we'll go see her at the hospital. Thank you." Elmyra smiled and nodded. She closed the door.
Tifa and Cloud started heading back to the car.
"This is getting really bad," Tifa muttered. "If she wasn't home when the murder happened, then…" Cloud placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Elmyra said she's at the hospital, working." He sighed. "As long as that's true, she'll still have a good alibi." Tifa shut her eyes.
"But it doesn't mean her name is cleared! She could have killed Scarlet when she came downtown this morning…"
"You said so yourself you only saw her from behind. You weren't even sure it was her." Tifa stopped and turned to face Cloud.
"And the odds of that?" she said. "Let's be realistic, kid." Cloud sighed heavily and dropped his gaze. He took out his cell phone and dialed the numbers slowly. He lifted his gaze to Tifa as he pressed the phone to his ear.
"Then why is Cid still trying to help her?" he said quietly. Tifa stared at him, the thought only just hitting her.
He was right.
"Hey, boss," Cloud said, jumping into the passenger's seat in the car. "Yeah, we're at Aerith's house, and she's not there. Her mom says she's been at work all day." Tifa hopped into the driver's seat and started the engine. "Yeah, already on our way, boss."
Cid slammed down the phone hard, making Zack beside him wince. Cid marched past him, shooting him a venomous glare.
"What the hell are you still doing here?!" Zack straightened up.
"I… uh… You didn't give me anything to do, boss…" Cid rolled his eyes. He went to Tifa's desk and scooped up an armload of files, thrusting it into Zack's arms abruptly. Zack stumbled back, very surprised.
"Now you do!" Cid said, dusting his hands. He slapped the back of Zack's head and went off. Zack groaned and rubbed his head.
"Yeah… thanks, boss…"
Tifa opened the door to the children's ward in Midgar Hospital and stepped inside, Cloud following behind her. She looked around.
Children were happily running around, even those with a cast or bandages. She smiled at them.
"Hey, Cloud," she said, looking at him. "Why don't you bring Aerith in? I'll go around and ask if anyone's been here with her all day." Cloud cocked an eyebrow.
"Really? Why?" Tifa smiled weakly.
"Well, I don't want to do it," she muttered. She beamed at him. "And I think you kinda have a thing for her." Cloud blushed.
"What…? No I don't!" Tifa just laughed. She patted him on the back and went over to the front desk where a young woman was sitting.
Cloud took a deep breath and adjusted his cap. He headed towards the door that all the children were coming from. He peeked in.
Aerith was sitting on the ground, holding a guitar and singing as several children sat in a circle, listening to her. She beamed at the girl closest to her, who was hugging a big teddy bear. Cloud sighed again and stepped into the room.
"Miss Gainsborough…" he said. Aerith looked up at him and smiled. She stood up.
"Agent Strife," she said. The children ran over to him, happy to see him.
"Yay! Someone else to play with us!" they cried happily. Cloud grinned nervously. He went over to Aerith.
"I'm sorry," he muttered into her ear. "But my boss needs to see you." Aerith frowned.
"Why?" She took off her nurse's cap and fixed up the pink ribbon. Cloud shook his head.
"He just needs to have a word with you about something important."
"Now?" Cloud nodded. Aerith stared at him, hurt. She looked back at the children, and sighed. "Just give us ten minutes."
"Miss Gainsborough, I have to follow my orders." Aerith glared at him.
"Ten minutes is too much to ask?" she exclaimed. She grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the children. "See that little girl?" She pointed at the one holding the teddy bear. "That's Jenny. She has a tumor on her heart. I got a call that she's going to have her operation today, and she has a 60 percent change of making it." She looked back at Cloud. "I've seen them come and go, Agent Strife, but I love that little girl. I went all the way downtown today just to buy her that bear for good luck." Cloud's eyes widened slightly. Aerith looked down at her guitar. "Please, just ten minutes. I'll sing her favourite song before I go." Her eyes saddened. "She only has three hours until the operation, and 60 percent to me isn't enough to tell me that I'm certain I'll see her little face again. Okay?"
Cloud swallowed bitterly, glancing back at the little girl. She was laughing with her friends, hugging the bear tightly. He felt sorry for her, and Aerith. Slowly, he nodded. Aerith sighed.
"Thanks," she muttered. She turned back to the children and put on a happy face. She sat down next to Jenny.
"Does anyone feel like a song?" she asked loudly. The children cheered. "How about Jenny's favourite song, huh? We all love Jenny's song!" Cloud couldn't help but smile.
Aerith began playing a fun tune on the guitar, all the kids swaying happily.
#Fly by Frankie
thinks he's superman
Like a child at the
wheel of a rocket
He comes round here
with a license to love
But I don't know
where he got it
I trusted you
offered everything
But I'm not sure you
deserve it #
She and Jenny sang together, looking over at Denzel and making cute faces.
#You tell me that
I'm lucky
But I feel like
giving up
cause a heart like
mines wasted on you
If you don't know
what you've got #
"Everyone now!" Aerith called out.
#You throw it
away
Throw it away
All the heart and the soul I've been
giving
You throw it away
Throw it away
Like its no big deal
you'll be missin
You throw it away
Throw it away
Run it
underground #
The girls all laughed, clearing enjoying themselves. Aerith laid her head down on Jenny's lap, rubbing it against her belly and earning a few giggles.
# Fly by frankies
got it in his head
That he's something I know that he's
not
He's like a blind bull in a china shop
When it comes to
affairs of the heart
You wouldn't know what love is
If it hit
you like a rock
And a girl like me is lost on you
If you don't
see what you've got
You throw it away
Throw it away
All
the heart and the soul I've been giving
You throw it away
Throw
it away
Like its no big deal you'll be missin
You throw it
away
Throw it away
Run it underground #
Cloud smiled as he watched, unable to help it. Seeing this side of Aerith, he wouldn't believe her to be a serial killer at all. His smiled faded.
# Every breath in
the park
Every dance in the dark
Every promise you make
You
go and throw it away
Every smile in the rain
You know its
always the same
You go and do it again
You go and throw it
away
You wouldn't know what love is
If it hit you like a
rock
And a girl like me is lost on you
If you don't see what
you've got
You throw it
away
Throw it away
All the heart and the soul I've been
giving
You throw it away
Throw it away
Like its no big deal
you'll be missin
You throw it away
Throw it away
Run it
underground #
All the children cheered and clapped, Aerith smiling shyly and bowing. She looked at Cloud, her smile disappearing a little. She put her guitar down and hugged Jenny tightly, as if not wanting to let go.
"Good luck for today, sweetheart," she said, planting kisses all over her. She pulled away, tears in her eyes. "Remember what I told you, okay?" Jenny nodded, beaming.
"Always remember to think happy thoughts." Aerith smiled tearfully and hugged her again. She stood up and looked over at Cloud. She nodded, reassuring him that she was done.
Tifa came in, holding an open notepad. She whispered a few things to Cloud, handing it to him. She smiled at Aerith.
"Come on, sweetie," she said, holding out her hand. "I'm here for you." Aerith took it, looking back at the kids. A tear fell from her eye.
"Be good for me, okay?" The children all nodded. They ran to her and all gave her a big hug. "I love you guys so much..." Tifa sighed and started pushing Aerith out.
Something definitely didn't feel right.
The picture of Scarlet's body was placed in front of Aerith in the interrogation room. She let out a gasp.
"Oh god," she muttered, horrified. "Scarlet's… dead?" Cid exhaled deeply.
"Your blood was found in the crime scene," he said. He glanced at Tifa through the two-way mirror. "And Tifa saw you there." Aerith looked at him, shocked.
"She…saw me kill her?"
"Not exactly," he replied. "She said she saw you in the area a few hours before the murder." Aerith glanced at the mirror.
"Well…did she see my face?"
"She said she saw you from behind. With a black ribbon." Aerith shot up from her chair.
"Again with the black ribbon?! I told you I don't wear black ribbons!" She went over to the mirror. "How could you say that, Tifa?!" Tifa looked away from behind it.
"Sit down, Miss Gainsborough," Cid said calmly. He sighed, standing up. "I'm afraid this time I really have no choice but to arrest you." He took out his handcuffs and put them on her. He frowned.
"What?" Aerith said, feeling uncomfortable at his gaze. Cid continued to stare at her, something not making sense. But then he snapped out of it. He signaled through the two-way mirror.
"Strife," he said. "Get in here." Cloud jumped up and ran into the room. "Please take Miss Gainsborough to her cell." Cloud sighed sadly and obeyed. Before he left, Cid slapped the back of his head with his hand. Cloud looked at him, even more confused.
"What was that for?" he asked. Cid then slapped the back of Aerith's head. She reacted the same way as Cloud. Cid stared at his hand for a long moment.
Tifa opened the door and stood to the side, clearing her throat loudly. Cloud looked over at her, nodding. He gently led Aerith out.
"I want to call my mother first," Aerith demanded. "She needs to know about this." Cid nodded slightly, not looking at her. As Cloud walked her away, Tifa looked back at Cid, Zack coming up behind her. They watched their boss.
"Something wrong, boss?" Zack asked. Cid continued to stare at his hand, but then shook his head.
"It's nothing," he said, brushing past them out the door. Zack gave Tifa a weird look. She just shrugged.
"One call," Cloud said, uncuffing her. He sighed sadly. "I'm sorry about this." Aerith just smiled.
"It's okay," she told him. "I know you're just doing your job." She reached for the phone before looking at him. "Do you mind?" Cloud blinked.
"Huh? Oh!" He backed away. "Sorry." Aerith smiled again. She took a coin out of her pocket and put it into the machine. She checked that Cloud wasn't listening, her smile vanishing.
She pressed the phone to her ear and dialed.
The phone rang loudly. Yazoo looked at it.
"Do you think that might be Scarlet?" he asked Loz beside him. He shrugged. Sephiroth motioned him to go pick it up, and he obeyed.
Slowly, he pressed the phone to his ear as Sephiroth and Loz looked on anxiously.
"Scarlet? Is that you?" A female voice came, but obviously not Scarlet's.
"Yazoo, right?" He frowned.
"Who is this?" The woman laughed softly.
"I'm hurt. You don't remember my voice?" Yazoo's breath was caught in his throat as he realized.
"You bitch…" She laughed again.
"Now, now. Be nice." Yazoo took a deep breath. He looked at Sephiroth.
"What do you want, Miss Gainsborough? How did you get this number?"
"From my good friend Scarlet, of course." She laughed. "Oh, she's dead, just to let you know." Yazoo's blood froze.
"Scarlet's…dead?" Sephiroth and Loz sat up, mortified.
"Yes, she is. And I'll say this again and I'm hoping for the last time that I want to meet up with your boss, not another one of his goons." Yazoo laughed wryly.
"But wait, aren't you in jail now? How the hell are you supposed to meet up with us if you're in jail?" She laughed again.
"Don't worry, just meet me outside the jail at 11pm tonight… Sephiroth. "
"Wait! I asked you how you'd meet us if you've been arrested?!"
"Don't worry about a thing. I've got it all planned out. I'll definitely be there tonight." At that, she hung up. Yazoo sighed and put down the phone, glancing at Sephiroth.
"I'll go for you, boss," he said. "This woman's really dangerous." Sephiroth nodded grimly. He threw Yazoo a gun.
"Not exactly how I remember Miss Gainsborough to be," he muttered. He leaned back and smiled mildly at Yazoo.
"Forget the agreement. As soon as you see her there, if she's there, shoot her on sight and get whatever the thing she has to see me about." Yazoo nodded, pocketing the gun.
"On it, boss."
Aerith emitted a weary sigh and hung up the phone. Cloud came back into view; the expression on his face telling her he had not overheard anything. She smiled at him.
"Okay, Agent Strife," she said, holding out her wrists. "I'm ready to go now." Cloud was a little surprised at how obedient she was being, but said nothing.
He led her to her cell.
Cid watched Aerith from her cell. It was a clean cell, bigger than an average one, clearing more than any criminal deserved. Still, Aerith refused to look at him or talk to him. Cid chuckled and turned to the ducklings.
"There's a little experiment I want to do with her," he said, pacing in front of them. "One of you stay with her tonight." He looked and studied each of his agents carefully.
First was Tifa. Aerith's best friend and most-trusted of the three.
"How about you, Lockhart?" he said. Tifa was slightly taken aback.
"I can't, Cid," she said softly. "I can't do this to Aerith." She looked down at Cloud. "I think Cloud should be the one to do it." Cloud and Zack frowned.
"Me?" Cloud said naively. Tifa nodded. Zack shot her an annoyed look.
"Why not me? Why the Probie?" Tifa scoffed.
"Aerith gets along with sensible men, Zack. Not immature teenagers-wannabes." Cid laughed. She was right. He grabbed Cloud by the wrist and handcuffed him to Aerith.
"What!?" he exclaimed. He blushed as he looked at Aerith. "I… I can't be here all night. I…I still have work to do…"
"This is work, Strife," Cid said. Cloud gulped and looked away.
"Yes," he said quickly. "Of course it is, boss." Cid stepped away from him.
"Don't let her out of your sight." Cloud nodded.
Cid glanced back at Zack and Tifa, then headed out the door. Tifa walked over to Aerith, giving her a smile.
"Don't worry," she whispered. "Cloud's a nice guy. You'll get along with him." Aerith smiled weakly. Tifa planted a kiss on her cheek and left with Zack. Aerith looked back at Cloud. She smiled. Cloud grinned bashfully at her through the bars and sat down on the chair.
"So..." he said. "Got a deck of cards?"
Cid suspects something, doesn't he? How will Aerith meet up wit Yazoo if she's cuffed to Cloud all night?
Find out, find out...
