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James Fallon

It barely takes Dawn twenty minutes to make her way back, but by the time she does she's panting.

"I ran back" she says as I let her in "I wanted to get back before Matt, and besides, this city is creepy at night".

She comes in and sets her laptop on the coffee table; she must have stopped by her hotel earlier, because this is all she has with her.

"Ready?" she asks cheerfully "We should have plenty of time, I waited for Matt to come out, but he took too long so I left. He was probably talking to someone, but it should be fine. He won't dare mess this up; it would make him look too suspicious". She opens her computer, pulling up several screens and typing feverishly. "Anyways, I've got everything set up. Know what you're going to say?".

I nod. I do know what I'm going to say, but that doesn't make it any easier. What if I get tongue-tied? What if I mess up and they figure out I'm just a kid, then they don't take me seriously? What if they recognize me? Sure, sooner or later I'm going to have to come clean, but I wanted it to be in person. I wanted it to me on my terms. Dawn steps away from her computer and looks at me expectatly, but I don't react. The same bone-deep feeling of dread from last time seems to have taken over again. Pure anxiety takes over my mind, and all I can think of is all the things that could go wrong.

"James?" she says softly. Her face is pinched up a little, and she seems to be scrutinizing me. "You can do this". She says in an even softer voice, as if she can read my mind. As if to guide me, she reaches over and grabs my upper arm, leading me until I sit on the couch. Not even bothering to look at me beforehand, Dawn looks at the number she wrote on her hand and punches it into her computer. The computer makes a ringing sound, immitating a phone. I feel like my heart has stopped.

"Just relax" Dawn says softly. She hasn't let go of my arm. I don't know if this is a mistake, or something she's doing to calm me down. "The microphone is near the camera on the top. It's sensitive, so you don't have to lean in to it". The ringing continues, and she sqeezes my arm slightly; as if she's trying to hold onto me. "There's a voice filter installed on here, and they can't trace this call. I made sure of it. They won't know it's you".

The ringing stops. For a second I think, or maybe hope, that no one will answer. But I can hear background noise; other people talking. Some seem almost framilar, like I've met their owners before.

"Hello?".

It's my father's voice. I take a deep breath. I wasn't aware I was digging my nails into my palms until now, and I force myself to relax.

"Detective Fallon?" I say. My voice cracks, and I can hear how I sound with the voice filter through the speakers. They don't pick up the slight falter in my voice, but it makes my voice sound deeper and rougher.

"One of them".

I almost slap myself for being so stupid. Yes, I know both my parents are detectives, but I never really thought about the fact that they go by the same thing. To me, they were only ever 'Mum' and 'Dad'. I know it's not a big deal, but I still feel stupid for not specifying one.

"I need you to follow my instuctions carefully" I say "get your wife, and take her out to your car. Lock the doors, roll up the windows. I'll give you further instructions from there".

"And why should I listen to you?".

I make a mental note to tell Matt off if he's proven innocent. If he would have given the phone to mum, she might have challenged it as much. She might have known I was the caller from yesterday.

"You can trust me. I am the confidential informant who contacted your wife yesterday" I say awkwardly. It feels strange to say 'Your wife' to my dad. At the same time, the word 'yesterday' seems strange to me too. Was yesterday really the day I called for the first time? It feels like it happed a lifetime ago! "I am someone you have met before, someone you trust. I assure you, my identity will be revealed in time".

Dawn's grip on my arm tightens. I know this is risky information to give out, but it's the only way I can think of to convince him. He doesn't respond, but I can hear his say something in the background. My mother's voice responds, and after a moment the background noise of people talking fades away. I hear a car door open, then another. Then the sound of both being closed again.

"Okay, we're in the car. What do you want?" I hear my father say. I've never heard him speak this way, never heard him sound so intimidating. I wonder if this is how he interrogates criminals; because whether I knew him or not I'm certain I would be trembling if he spoke to me like that in person.

"I—I need you to make an arrest" I stutter.

My mother responds this time, perhaps she can tell by my voice that I'm afraid of my fathers tone. I've heard her voice become harsh before, but this isn't how she speaks now. Her voice is gentle; reassuring. "We can't make an arrest without a probable cause".

"Please" I say. That's one thing I never took into account. How many other holes in my plan will come up? "This is important. Lives are at stake. I'm asking you to go around the law a little. Do you really want to let another person die? What if this killer starts preying on the innocent? What if—" I don't know why I add this last part, but I know I've said the right thing as soon as I do "—what if they went after your sons?".

There's a long pause, I think I may have struck a nerve with that last part. "What do you need us to do?" my mother says after a long time.

Beside me, Dawn sighs with relief. When I look over to her, she's smiling. "You did it" she mouths. It was only a simple phone call, but she looks almost proud.

"I need you to arrest a girl named Sayu Kagami. I belive there are two killers, and that she is the second".

"And the first?".

I take a breath, ready to unleash a bomb. "Your eldest son, Matthew".

It's my father who speaks first. "No!".

"You can't be serious—".

"Matt would never—".

They keep going off like that for a while. I let them. It's beginning to frighten me that Matt might walk in on this, and I start to wonder why we didn't do this somewhere else.

"Please, listen" I say after a while. I'm surprised at how quickly they both become quiet. "I have been keeping an eye on your son—"

"For how long?" My father interrupts. "You can't just call us and start making accusations—".

"Please do not interrupt" I say, cutting him off. He doesn't say anything else. It feels weird, having this authority over them. I wonder if this is how teachers feel when they reprimand someone for speaking out of turn. "This is the only way to prove his innocence. Personally, I don't want to believe your son is a killer. But in the past week he's been keeping odd hours, I even caught him making a mysterious phone call on a disposable cell phone once. I do not wish be believe it…but if you do exactly what I say we'll know one way or the other by tomorrow night".

There's another long pause. I can see it now, my parents silently communicating in the dark car. My father's face set, my mother looking at him with her piercing gaze.

Someone, my mother I think, clears their throat. "We're listening".

"The I need you to arrest a girl named Sayu Kagami, then take her to a location I will disclose to you at the end of this conversation. Tell no one where you are going. If desired, you may bring a few trusted people with you. But take in mind everyone you bring may be putting their lives on the line".

Beside me, Dawn lets go of my arm and goes to the window, making sure Matt isn't coming back. But I ignore her and continue.


Matthew Fallon

I see little of James the next morning, the same for Dawn. I'm glad I don't. After the death of that Chihiro woman yesterday, he's been giving me knowing glances every time I see him. He can't possibly know…can he? No, it's ridiculous. There's no way he could have made that connection; her body hasn't been found yet…that I know of. Even if it is, they can't trace it back to me. They probably won't be able to get prints or DNA off of her even if they do find Chihiro, the ocean will have taken care of that.

"Matt!".

I whip around, where James is just coming in the back door. It's obviously raining, for he's dripping wet. His tiny cell phone, also drowned-looking, is in his hand. That's odd, James hates cell-phones. He has one for emergency calls, that's it; he never uses it. 'Distracting little noise makers' he calls them. His voice is panicked.

"What's wrong?".

"Didn't Mum and Dad just call you?". His eyes are deep with worry, his voice shakes. This is not an act…or is it? James is smart, and although he's a bad liar, a few well-rehearsed lines and he could pull it off.

"No" I say, getting up quickly from the couch as if in panic. Two can play at this game.

"I think they're in trouble! They just called me and told me to fetch you, then gave me an address and told me to come!".

I stare him down. Is that sweat from nervousness, or just rain on his face? His eyes lock on mine. I want to demand to see his phone, make him show me proof in whatever way possible; but instead I say "Why would they need us?".

"Is this really the time to ask questions?" he says "we need to go!".

I don't respond for a second, but rather stare him down. Is this a trap? If it is, it'll take a lot more than that to get me.

"Matt!"

"Fine" I say eventually. Honestly, what harm could this do? Sure, compared to James, no one would say I'm smarter. But in the past week I've learned things; things that can't be read in a book. I can probably outsmart James, just like I did with the phones. Deciding I would rather not become completely soaked like James, I grab an umbrella from the closet before heading out. He walks close to me as we make our way through the streets, almost trying to drag me so I walk faster. I let him lead the way, which works out until we reach what looks like rows upon rows of storehouses. At times these things must be full of merchandise for nearby stores, but now, since the winter holidays are past us, my guess would be most of them are empty. I know from the stories my Mum and Dad tell that nothing good ever happens at anything that's abandoned. Suddenly, James bolts, like a dog let off of its leash. Maybe I'm wrong about my Mum and Dad…did he hear something?

"James!" I yell, but he either ignores me or can't hear me above the rain. The rain is so heavy I can't see him anymore when he gets a few feet away, and I start to panic. Yes, just the night before I had the horrible realization that if it comes to it I may have to kill him, but he's still my little brother! And if I could avoid him losing his life, I would. Abandoning the umbrella on the muddy ground, I full-on sprint after him.

"James!" I call after him, and as I follow in the direction he went I hear a door open. I can see it in the distance, and I'm sure that it's James going inside. He slams the door behind him, but it's not long before I open it right back up.

I'm not sure what I expected to see, but it certainly wasn't this. James and Dawn stand not far from me, and a few feet to the right of them is my Mum, Dad and that woman who insisted I call her Blaise yesterday. None of this would have been as much of a shock to me, had my dad not been pointing his gun right at me; positioned just right for a kill shot.

"…Dad?" I manage to choke out. Do they know? Is this why James brought me here? In that case, I played right into his hands! Either way, I know he won't shoot. I'm his son.

That's exactly what I'm thinking, that I'm his son, when the sound of a gun being fired fills the room.

"Matt!" someone screams, half-tackling me, half hugging me. It's Sayu, she has come to my rescue out of nowhere. I had expected her to jerk forward as the bullet hit, to hear her scream; but there's nothing. I look up at my father, his face is set; and I know what he's done. He shot a blank…but why?

"Dad?" I say again, because that's all I seem to be capable of saying. I glance at my mum. Her eyes are wide; watery almost.

"Tell me, Matt" James says. Of all the people here, he easily looks the calmest. Of course, he always does. Stupid perfect little James. "You said you don't know Sayu…so why would a stranger try and take a bullet for you?".

It suddeny hits me. This was James's plan all along; to use Sayu to finally prove my guilt. They probably arrested her, had her waiting at gunpoint in the corner; waiting for me to come. "I don't know, why don't you ask her?" I say, playing dumb as I nod down to Sayu. My voice shakes, but hopefully it'll only be interpreted as fear from thinking I was about to be shot. Sayu, who's still hugging me around the middle, tightens her grip on me like a small child.

"Matt, the answer is written on your face" James says calmly.

I can't help it, my jaw drops in horror. Maybe my face doesn't give away anything, but if he's trying to get to me, it's working. It feels like my words are no my own when I yell "Sayu, you idiot!" as I push her away.

"Matt…" she says softly, blinking away tears.

"This is a trap!" I yell. I'm not sure why I'm yelling, because this entire warehouse is deathly silent "James is only trying to frame me!".

"Matthew…" my mother whispers sadly. I know I'm done for; she never uses my full name. I've never seen her look so defeated…but I don't care. She takes a step towards me, then another. If it were anyone else advancing towards me I might have tried to escape; but I'm frozen. She comes closer, gently pushing Sayu out of harms way as she does. She puts her hand on my shoulder, and up close I can see she's practically on the verge of tears. But that's my mother though; she never actually cries. "It's over".

Something about those two words triggers something in my brain. It can't be over! It'll never be over, don't they understand? Her gun is in her hand, which is hanging limply at her side; as if she hoped she wouldn't have to use it. If it were anyone but me she might have been more cautious, but in one sweeping motion I rip it from he hand and get as far away as I can. The smart thing to do would be to run to the door, but I know Blaise's gun must have already locked on me. I fear she won't hesitated putting a few bullets in my back. So I push myself away, getting to the opposite wall. My mother looks horrified, and I don't even look at my dad or Blaise; my eyes lock on James.

"That's right, James" I say. I'm barely aware of what I'm doing, as if I'm merely a puppet and someone else is pulling the strings; but the next thing I know I'm aiming the gun at James. Vaguely, I know, he has to die. I don't have a choice. "You were always right".


James Fallon

I don't know the boy who stands before me. He looks like Matt; but in a way it's not him. His eyes are wild, untamed. He's practically hugging the wall, and in a way he reminds of of a wild animal. Something feral and dangerous. Dread fills my stomach when I see he's aiming the gun at me.

"What can you do? Kill me right here?" Matt challenges. He's only looking at me, as if it's just the two of us in this room. Of course, this is what it comes down to; him and me. "Hear this, James; I'm not only a killer, but I am also a hero! I am the one who's been maintaining order. I am justice! The only hope for this city; for the world. Someone who can work above the law, who can do what our mother and father can't!". I look over at my Mum as he says this. 'Mother', it's such a cold word with no sense of affection in it. In a way, when she hears this, her face almost turns to stone. I hear a click; Blaise and, surprisingly, my dad have their guns trained on Matt. Not to kill, but aimed at him all the same. "Killing me? Is that really the right thing to do?" Matt continues. "Ask anyone if killing criminals is just; they'll always give the same answer. That killing anybody is wrong. But they know; they know that some don't deserve to live, but they're too afraid to say it! This world is rotting away! Somebody has to do this! When I first killed that mugger all over a week ago, I knew I had to do it. That I was the only one who could! I understand that killing people is a crime. But there is no other way! The world has to be fixed! We can't go on like this! And only I can do it! Who else could have done it and come this far? Who else would have the strength to keep going?".

I can't believe what I'm hearing. The words seem to reach my ears, but my brain is unable to process their meaning. "You're just a mass murderer" I say calmly. For some reason I feel like my words are not my own. Like someone else is speaking through me. "In the end, you're nothing more than a serial killer. A deluded mass-murderer. That's all you are. Nothing more and nothing less. An animal".

"Who are you calling an animal? I put the monsters of this world down! I never killed the innocent!" Matt yells.

"What about Chihiro Matsuda?" I comment. I don't know for a fact that Matt killed her, but Blaise said she saw a woman matching her description leave with him last night. She was reported missing this morning; and she had a connection to one of Matt's victims. "That woman you killed in cold blood?".

For a second, Matt seems almost shocked that I know about her. Finally, he says "She was a fool. She thought she was seeking justice, when all she did was get in the way of it. I admit her intentions were good. But this is why the world cannot continue on like this! Wrongdoers must be stopped! I'm the one saving this world from evil and ridding it of fear! And anyone who opposes me is just as bad as a criminal!" He seems to look to Dawn, who's standing slightly behind me. "I know you understand, you said so not long ago, so help me!".

I don't look back at Dawn to see her reaction. Instead, I look straight at Matt. "I don't even know you anymore" I say quietly.

As if this has set off some kind of horrible reaction, Matt fires his gun at me. I know what he's going to do just before he does it, and I get out of the way just in time. I don't look back to see if it hit anything, because I'm too focused on what's ahead. The moment Matt fired at me, Blaise and my Dad fired at Matt. Not to kill though. Two bullets, supposedly from Blaise, plant themselves in his right shoulder. One goes in his left leg. The force causes him to jerk back, and he screams in pain before collapsing to the ground. In all the confusion I hear the door open, and I know Sayu must be escaping. But that hardly matters to me now. My brother is huddled on the ground, whimpering like a wounded dog.

"Sayu, where are you? Where's my dad…? Mum…? S...Someone... It hurts... w…what do I do...?" He whimpers. I know these are not the words of my brother. Matt would never say anything like that; never show any weakness. It's not him who I'm looking at, who my parents have rushed forward to help. The real Matt was never shot. Now that this is over, all I can hope is that I can find the real Matt again.

"…J…James…" I hear someone call behind me. I look back. All the color is flushed out of Dawns face, both her hands are over a spot on her stomach. She looks down and takes her hands away; and I see that her hands and shirt are dyed red. She was standing behind me. The bullet that had been for me had hit her. For a second she looks at me, and the next thing I know I'm diving forward, catching her before she falls to the ground.


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