Chapter 12: A Chop in the Night
Festa was asleep until she heard a sound from the living room. It was one she wasn't familiar with. It must have been around two in the morning, but she couldn't tell if someone was in the apartment, or if Ben had tripped in the kitchen. He still slept on the couch, but it was out of character for him to be up now.
She didn't want to startle him, but was curious why he would be wondering the kitchen. She heard a click, it must have been his pistol. He only carried it when he was going out of the investigations department. Which meant that he had some kind of assignment outside of his normal duties. It was something she wanted to investigate.
Festa put on her uniform quietly. She put her hair in a bun, as she had always done. Once she heard the front door close and lock she exited her room. Major Hughes said she would be going out on some cases in the future, but she wanted to know what Ben was doing, and if she could help.
She followed Ben in the dark and kept her distance. It was clear that he wasn't going to Headquarters. As she walked her steps were delicate, the gravel under her feet was barely heard shuffling. Ben looked as though he was on a mission, walking with purpose.
The location was a prison, next to the fifth laboratory. Festa had never gone to this area of town herself, mostly because she felt at night it was too risky to walk alone, and that area of the city was not well lit compared to the library by the government buildings.
Festa saw that Ben met some people at the door. They were military personnel. She waited as they talked. But when the door was about to close she grabbed the handle so it wouldn't lock. Once she was certain they had left she opened the door and looked for signs. She wandered the area, listening to voices to figure out their location. She knew that the more violent criminals were kept underground, and with no one on the main level it was clear that was where they were.
It was strange that the prison was practically empty. Almost like the life had been sucked out of it. She knew there were more prisons in Central, and maybe this was one they were closing. But Festa wasn't sure why Ben would be here if it was empty?
Festa found a door that was slightly ajar. She careful opened it and tip toed down the steps. The voices grew louder and Festa followed them. There was finally a sign of life.
"We should kill him now. He isn't going to say anything else." It was a voice she didn't recognize.
"Just give him time he's bound to snap." It was Ben.
"Time is something we're running out of." It was the first voice again. Festa was now by the door, debating whether or not to open it. She figured if they caught her now she wouldn't have to worry about consequences later. That, and she was too curious, she had to know what was going on. She opened the door.
"Hello, boys." They all turned. There were four in the room including Ben. One was a young Lieutenant smoking his cigarette, another was older with grey hair, and the last had glasses and black hair. She saluted and stood in the doorway. The room was small with two tables and a recording machine set up. Through the glass she could see prison cells, and one had a chair in front of it.
"What are you doing here?" Ben asked.
"Well, she gets points for confidence." It was the Lieutenant.
"Please, Havoc." Said the older gentleman. "Sergeant Maccabi do you know this soldier?"
"Yes, Falman. She lives with me." Ben was angered. This was his chance for a promotion, and Festa may have just made that goal impossible.
"Isn't she a little young for you Sergeant?" It was Lieutenant Havoc. He had pulled out his gun.
"It's not like that I swear." Festa said. The Lieutenant began to polish his gun, he had no intent to fire. "It was just strange for Ben to be out so late, and I wanted to make sure he was okay."
"I see." The Warrant Officer and Sergeant Major giggled. They thought that clearly Festa was just an over obsessive girlfriend.
"I know what you're thinking and it isn't like that." Ben took a deep breathe. "I took her in after Horace Farlock was killed in battle." Festa didn't know why he would say that now, but she felt that she should leave if it meant digging up old wounds.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting." She turned her back but then heard a voice.
"Wait." The Warrant Officer stopped her and looked her in the eyes. "You're the bugler's sister?"
"Yes." Festa responded.
"Then maybe she has some of his communication skills." It was the Lieutenant.
"Lieutenant Havoc you can't be serious?" Ben spoke. The Sergeant Major sat silent in his corner, most likely listening to audio tapes.
"What? At this point none of us have gotten more than one confession." The Lieutenant paused. "Ms. Farlock, your brother could have been a good diplomat with how he spoke. You seem tough, I don't think his words will scare you."
"You want me to interview an inmate?" Festa paused.
"It's not going to be easy. He has only told us about three of the murders and where the bodies are. But we know that there are at least two more bodies missing." Falman said, in a cold voice.
"We're ordered to execute him at sunrise. We have about four hours until then." Havoc was still polishing his gun.
"I can try but I'm not sure if it will help."
"Great. Now go get a confession." The Lieutenant dragged her out to the door. Ben followed to warn her before she opened it.
"Festa." Ben stopped her. "This man is a serial killer. If he says anything that scares you, just signal us."
"Understood." Festa opened the door and Ben closed it behind her. She walked down the alley, which was empty except for the one prisoner.
"I wonder who they sent now? I hope they're young. The fresh meat always keeps better."
Festa stopped. She almost turned around, but then she remembered the Fuhrer's letter. She had to experiment with fears. She felt what had happened with Colonel Mustang wasn't as strong of an illusion because she was afraid. Festa couldn't turn away from this, she would have to learn to not be scared when investigating the fears of others. She had to be strong and listen. Get two confessions, find the bodies. That's what mattered now.
"Well isn't this a pleasant surprise?" It was Barry. He was quite skinny, with shaggy hair. The prison outfit didn't seem to fit his smile. Festa wanted to ask about the girls right away but felt that the others had already done that. She wanted to begin soft. Festa took a seat in the chair, with her arms crossed.
"Hello Barry. Or do you prefer to be called Barry the Butcher."
"Neither." He said. "That's not my name. They got my name wrong!" Festa had to stay calm.
"I'm sorry about that. Even the newspaper can make a mistake." Festa didn't want to blow this, she could see their faces in the window, out of the corner of her eye. She had to keep going. "What do you want to be called?"
"You're asking me?" Festa thought that was strange, wouldn't that be the first question the others would ask?
"The others just called me Barry. But I'm not just Barry. I'm Barry the Chopper, not the butcher. I chop. That's what I do! " So the press had gotten his name wrong, or the name that he wished to be called. He didn't seem to know he was being executed. And what if that were true? She had to act sympathetic to win his trust.
"I know that's tough." She paused. "Living with a name that is not true to who you are." Festa clenched her side, grabbing the watch. She unfolded her arms.
"Maybe we can make a deal." Festa said.
"What kind of deal?"
"I'll tell the press to change your name in the newspapers if you tell me a story." She wasn't sure if it would work. But Festa thought maybe he would talk knowing people would know him as Barry the Chopper. The others could hear what was going on, and Ben was confused.
"What the hell is she doing?" Ben asked.
"Taking the soft approach." Falman said. "She's comfortable. If he says something that scares her she'll let us know."
Ben had to trust the others. They each got one confession but it wasn't enough. He wanted to make sure Festa wasn't in over her head. She was always willing to go above and beyond what she was asked to do just as he had done. They were both stubborn but Ben understood that there came a time to wait while Festa kept trying to please the high officials.
"What story? There are so many." He was smiling. Festa had to keep him this way. She smiled.
"Just your life. I always hate talking myself. And you're the focus. I want to know how it's done." He lost his smile and stared at her.
"Why would you care? You're just like them. You just want me to tell you about the bodies. They were frightened, but then they send scared little girl. Like the rest." He chuckled. "I'd love to see you in pieces like them, screaming for help, when no one would come…" He rambled on. Festa almost broke and Ben could see it.
"He's not going to talk now. We need to get her out." Ben wanted to open the door, Falman blocked his path. He was mad the Lieutenant would recommend such an idea. She was still young, she didn't need to be exposed to this.
"Wait, Ben." Havoc said. "You told me she was an entertainer right?" Ben nodded.
"Yes, but…"
"Then let her improvise." Ben obeyed him reluctantly and let go of the door.
Festa had to think of a comeback. She had to lie, act like an admirer. She stood up and took off her blue jacket, and untied her bun. He was not going to hurt her, he couldn't with words. So she had to be strong. Festa glared and him, he kept rambling until he met her glance. She then laughed herself.
"I'm not a little girl." Festa paused and sat further back in her chair. She maintained her eye contact. She put her hands behind her head.
"But why would you care about me?" She smirked.
"To be honest I have always had an interest in anatomy. I was a dancer for most of my childhood." Festa had to be convincing, and using her past as a connection was an easy way to get him to open up.
"So you're quite flexible." He licked his lips. Festa leaned forward and clenched her fist. She was close to getting him to talk. "What type of anatomy?"
"Everything really. Mostly muscles and tendons. It was fascinating how many operations can go on with a human body, and how easily they can be destroyed. How the blood would run out."
"They were all fragile." Festa had him, she just had to let him keep talking. Over the next two hours Barry the Chopper went on. At first he told how he killed his wife, and his reasons behind doing so. He didn't get much respect and was seen as invisible by his family. It was frightening how interested Festa was with how the victims were murdered. Ben was almost convinced that he was living with a psychopath. Festa was able to get four more confessions, and knew that if they were to get the print changed in the newspaper she would want to get there as soon as possible. It would be sunrise in two hours.
"I appreciate your time Barry. But I have to go." She put her uniform back on.
"But wait, I want to talk more."
"Barry the Chopper, I have to get your name to the press." It was the truth. He crumbled in his chair.
"You think like them, what do you see?" She stopped, He looked into her green eyes. "And I want the truth." Festa had heard a lot in the past two hours. He wanted the truth, so she spoke.
"Honestly, I see a man who was unable to defend his family. Though he tried, his wife and others didn't notice him because they thought he was worthless." Festa paused. "But, by chopping others up, he found he was more powerful than he imagined." Festa smiled back. He was laughing. Ben saw the smile and went to open the door. He had heard enough.
"I like you." He paused. "You understand me." He began to chuckle again. "I'm sure you'd make an excellent chopper!"
"Well, I try not to kill people." She couldn't believe what he was saying. She wasn't a killer. She was just getting a confession.
"You should. It's exhilarating. " Ben came down the alley. He grabbed her wrist.
"Festa, it's time to go." Ben pulled her down the alley as Barry screamed asking her to come back. When they got to the room and shut the door, Ben didn't let go.
"What was that about?!" Festa screamed.
"How about you? Do you actually believe he was right to kill all those girls?"
"No! But I got him to talk didn't I?" Silence fell. Ben let go of her wrist. He just wanted to be reassured that she wasn't insane, that she wouldn't kill. He remembered men at Ishval turn mad for blood, and the interview exposed a side he had not seen.
"You did."
"Ben you know what my parents did to me. But that doesn't mean I'm going to go on a murderous rampage."
"Look. You seemed to really believe what he was saying. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't true."
"Don't worry. I'm fine." Festa paused. "But I did promise I would change his name in the newspaper."
"He'll be dead before he sees it." The Lieutenant said, loading his gun.
"I know. But in case he decides to haunt me, I better keep my promise." Festa left the room.
"She's tougher than I thought."
"Yeah. I guess." Ben sat down. They still had to locate the other bodies. But the recorded evidence would help their investigation.
Festa ran through the streets. She had to make it to the print office before they wrote the wrong name. She wasn't sure why she was doing this, probably because she never wanted to break a promise. Though she felt a dark presence behind her she just kept running from the shadow, it would not stop her.
The next morning Festa was called directly to Major Hughes' office. She knew she would be in trouble for trespassing and was expecting a demotion. She sat in the chair and waited for the worst.
"I heard that you interviewed Barry the Chopper last night." He gave her the newspaper, she made it in time. "It looks like you got him to talk." But Major Hughes seemed to be unaware. Festa didn't want to be a liar.
"Major Hughes. I wasn't supposed to be there last night."
"Really?" He said. "Because Lieutenant Havoc said in the report he asked for extra reinforcement. And that Sergeant Maccabi recommended you." He paused. "But, if your story is the truth…"
"Oh no that's right. Ben just wasn't clear why I was going there last night. He said it was a patrol." They had her back. She felt that the Major probably knew it was a lie but it seemed to help the investigations department.
"All right. Well, then I can tell you the good news." He looked at her fixing his glasses. "You seem to have a knack for interviewing. You showed little sign of distress and controlled the situation. So your new assignment is to interview inmates, particularly those who have been convicted of war crimes."
This was great. Festa was thinking that by doing this she could be less afraid. Maybe she could find a pattern to the madness. The interview with Barry the Chopper gave her an idea. The prison cell would contain someone so they could not escape. If she could figure out how to create a chamber, something were a person would be surrounded by their fear, then she would have something to present to the Fuhrer when her review came in six months.
"Thank you, Major. I gladly accept." He smiled.
"Good, you won't be seeing me around much anymore." Festa was surprised.
"Why's that?" He jumped from his seat.
"I found out Gracia is pregnant. Three months! She could have our little angel any day now!"
"Major, it takes nine months to grow a child." Festa had to break it to him.
"Have you ever been pregnant?" She sighed.
"No, but I understand if you have to be home more often. Don't work too hard."
"And you do the same." She left the room, happy that she wasn't in trouble and that she could
continue her career and research. Thanks to Ben and Lieutenant Havoc for covering up she could rest easy. When she left the office, Ben was waiting outside the door.
"Thank you." Festa said.
"You don't need to." He said. "You're good at it. Just be careful. There are a lot of crazy prisoners."
"I can handle it." She paused. "If not I can let you finish them off."
"Right." Ben chuckled. Festa walked away into the cabinet office. He hadn't realized how fast she had grown up. This wasn't the little girl he saw dancing at the festival. She had become a fearless young woman who could hold her own. But he was afraid of who she might interview. Especially one alchemist in particular that would have her seeing crimson as he had during Ishval.