~ The Accident? ~

In Dr. Shinrai's office sat the DiLaurentises, Tachibana, Aijima, Hotta and Kyoya. The others were asked to stay behind with Catalina.

"I am sure you are all upset." Tachibana started, "But we assure you that this is our duty to find out what happened to your loved one."

"I know how painful this experience may be for you all." Hotta added.

Kyoya glanced over the folders scattered over the table, "What have you found out about the driver so far?" he asked.

Tachibana opened one folder and read over the paper, "Well, sir, we've ran a background check on him using the DiLaurentises' employee files as asked. Because of this, we have found that this Arthur Cunningham did not exist. We are assumed he created this false persona in order to fit in with the staff at the DL Estate."

"With that said, there have been many DiLaurentis staff members that we've called in for interviews." Aijima said, "We've recorded each interview, there is a total of 310 as of right now."

"You managed to interview three hundred and ten people in about 5 hours?" Oscar asked in astonishment.

"Yes, as you may know, we take our job very seriously." Tachibana answered. "Besides, a huge amount of them weren't able to tell us anything as they does not working close enough to the family. In other words, a large chunk of the interviews are useless. However, there are about three you must hear."

"Okay then, let us hear it." Wesley said, his voice shaking as if he might cry.

Interview #306

Barbara Jackson

Catalina's maid

Hotta: Name?

Barbara: Barbara Jeanne Jackson.

Hotta: Position?

Barbara: Catalina's personal maid.

Hotta: How long have you been an employee for the DiLaurentises?

Barbara: 14 years.

Hotta: How would you describe your relationship with Catalina DiLaurentis?

Barbara: I was assigned to Catalina when she was about 8 years old. She was always sweet, kind, caring. By the time she got to middle school, she and I had conversations all the time about, you know, everyday teenage girl things. Things like boys, her appearance, and career ideas. She always shared how she felt about her need to be in public school and she asked me for ideas on how to talk her parent into the idea. She would ask me about my personal experiences in high school, she asked about my family, she even asked me what was my first career goal and why didn't I push to fulfill it. All while we painted each other's nails. I've always felt that she was different, you don't get something like this from a "rich kid" you know?

Hotta: Yes, please answer these basic practice questions truthfully so that we can test the lie detector.

Barbara: Yes sir.

Aijima: Are you 29 years old?

Barbara: Yes.

Aijima: Are you African-American?

Barbara: Yes.

Aijima: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?

Barbara: No.

Tachibana: You passed the practice test. This portion is very serious so add any detail you feel may be relevant as you are being recorded.

Barbara: Okay.

Tachibana: Have you ever interacted with Arthur Cunningham?

Barbara: Ar-Arthur Cunningham? Why, yes I have.

Tachibana: Was this a recent interaction?

Barbara: No. The last time I've ever interacted with him was about… Four years ago? Yes, four. Give or take.

Tachibana: You have not seen this man for those four years?

Barbara: Right... I don't believe anyone has…

Tachibana: Why is that?

Barbara: Mr. Cunningham is deceased. He died about four years ago to colon cancer.

Aijima: She's all green. She's good.

Tachibana: Thank you for taking this seriously. You may return.

~ Recording Ends ~

Everyone's faces were unreadable. Kyoya decided that maybe it'd be best if he held his questions for the end.

"We'll hold all questions until we've heard all three interviews." He ordered.

"Yes, sir."

Interview #16

Vincent Shore

Head of Transportation

Hotta: Name?

Vincent: Vincent Shore.

Hotta: Position?

Vincent: Head of Transportation.

Hotta: How long have you been an employee for the DiLaurentises?

Vincent: 22 years.

Hotta: How would you describe your relationship with Catalina and Oscar DiLaurentis?

Vincent: They call me their uncle. (Laughs) I love those two kids as if they were real family, ya' know? And I'm sure you've heard that a lot but I love working for them because they don't treat me as if I were under them. They treat me like an equal. They even remember my birthday. (Laughs weakly)

Hotta: Please answer these basic practice questions truthfully so that we can test the lie detector.

Vincent: Alright.

Aijima: Are you 41 years old?

Vincent: Yes.

Aijima: Are you American?

Vincent: Yes.

Aijima: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?

Vincent: No.

Aijima: Have you ever been on a boat?

Vincent: No.

Tachibana: You passed the practice test. This portion is very serious so add any detail you feel may be relevant as you are being recorded.

Vincent: No problem.

Tachibana: Have you ever interacted with Arthur Cunningham?

Vincent: Yeah. He and I have a history together, he was my best friend. I even got him the job with the DiLaurentises.

Tachibana: Have you interacted with him recently?

Vincent: Lord, no. Arthur died four years back in May. He had colon cancer. He'd been fightin' it for a good six years. He thought, hell, we thought he'd make it. One day, I went to check on him because he was still in his room at about 5 am on a weekday and that… that was unlike him. I barged into his room and saw that he was unconscious.

Tachibana: Is it true that you left the DiLaurentis estate to get a head start on transportation prep for what would have been a welcome back party for Miss DiLaurentis?

Vincent: Yes, of course.

Tachibana: Isn't it your duty to make sure she and her brother make it to school?

Vincent: It is… I feel terrible for not doing by job. But…

Tachibana: But, what?

Vincent: Pardon me for speaking ill of my employer's daughter but it was… that conniving eldest daughter.

Tachibana: Melissa DiLaurentis?

Vincent: She caught me as I was heading to the morning car, which is the Bentley. I usually go the car every morning at 6 am to vacuum it out, pick up any trash left behind the previous day, put away any precious items that I'm sure the kids had forgotten, and check for any safety hazards. She found me opening the truck for the vacuum and asked me what I was doing. When I told her that I was about to clean out the car, she told me that her father wanted me to work on transport for the evening ASAP and that he'd already set up my morning replacement.

Tachibana: So, after she'd given you the message you followed orders?

Vincent: Yes. I was a fool. Usually if there were any problems or random changes Mr. DiLaurentis would notify me personally unless he was out of town on business.

Tachibana: So, why didn't you contact him on your own?

Vincent: Well, I figured if he'd sent his daughter to deliver the message he must have been quite busy with the night's preparations as well.

Aijima: He's 100% green. You're good.

Tachibana: Thank you for your cooperation. You may return.

Vincent: Hey, uh. Do you know if employees are allowed to go to hospital to visit?

Hotta: Although, Mr. DiLaurentis was opposed to the idea he came around. There is block schedule of four. You must all go and return in groups. The maximum for each block is about 15-20.

Vincent: Thanks.

~ Recording Ends ~

Everyone sat quietly as they tried to register what they'd just heard. Tachibana noticed that once Melissa heard Vincent's voice on the tape she left. She was continuously making herself appear guilty at this point even if she had nothing to with it, her behavior grew speculation. Kyoya made sure his men had her under surveillance 24/7 from this point on. Kyoya himself was determined to prove she was guilty of this. How sick must you be to attempt to have you little sister killed? How could one person be so evil? Is she really that envious of her sister? Jealousy is such a repulsive thing.

"So… Melissa—"Oscar started.

"No! You older sister has no part in this. Don't you dare point a finger at her!" Grace yelled, cutting him off.

"But, Mom… Uncle Vinny just sai—"he tried.

"So, you're just going to believe that fool over your own blood? He's obviously lying to cover his own faults! If he'd been doing his job we wouldn't be here!" his mother continued.

"Dad, tell her—"

"He is to be released from his duties as head of transportation at the DiLaurentis estate and return to his home in the US!" Grace yelled.

"You can't just fire him! Kat and I love him, you even said yourself that he was one of the most trustworthy employees we have! Why does it seem that you've forgotten that?" Oscar argued.

"No, now you're just being unreasonable darling." Wesley stepped in.

"Unreasonable?!" she started, "If he'd been doing his job, he'd—"

"This man was doing his job, Grace! Put yourself in his position, if your employer's daughter came to deliver a message from her father or so she says; would you just assume she's lying or follow orders?" Hugh argued.

"What? So, you're on his side now?" Grace yelled.

"We have no choice but to trust his word, Mother! He passed the lie detector test 100% green!" Oscar yelled.

Kyoya was so shocked to see Oscar lose his temper, he's never witnessed him speak above an inside voice. It was to be expected though; he is practically on the verge of losing his sister. The bespectacled boy could tell that Oscar really did cherish his sister. Kyoya cleared his throat, "I'm sorry. I don't wish to interrupt but I do agree with these gentlemen. With all due respect, Mrs. DiLaurentis, you have no reason not to believe Mr. Shore's word."

"What are you all saying?!" Grace yelled with tear in her eyes, "Melissa tried to get her sister and brother killed?"

"Well, she is looking pretty damn guilty, mom! As soon as she heard Uncle Vinny's voice she nearly broke her neck trying to get the hell out of here!" Oscar argued back.

"Please, please. Oscar, stop swearing at your mother." Wesley said calmly.

Oscar grimaced, "How could you blame an innocent man for this? If anything he's helping us. If it weren't for him mentioning that in the interview there's no telling who'd you all would have pinned it one." He said with tears rolling down his checks.

"I know this is a hard thing to do but there is one more interview you must hear." Tachibana said, before asking everyone to return to their seats.

Interview # 220

Nikolas Ehrlichmann

Head of Security

Hotta: Name?

Nikolas: Nikolas Ehrlichmann.

Hotta: Position?

Nikolas: Head of Security.

Hotta: How long have you worked for the DiLaurentises?

Nikolas: Six years.

Hotta: We've read your employee files and we see that your father Ulrich Ehrlichmann was once in your position two years ago.

Nikolas: Oh yes. I trained under him for about four years.

Hotta: Four years?

Nikolas: Yes, he didn't want me working in this position until he felt I was well suited for the job. When he retired as Head he settled a basic guard as I once was. Mr. DiLaurentis was kind enough to let me feel in for my father.

Hotta: The Ehrlichmann family has been of service to the DiLaurentises for over 40 years, am I correct?

Nikolas: Yes.

Hotta: So, since your grandfather, all of the men of your family have worked for them at some point in time?

Nikolas: Yes, most definitely. Not only the men the women as well. Though, they're employed in a different field.

Hotta: How would you describe your time working for the DiLaurentises?

Nikolas: Wonderful. I enjoyed my time working as a security guard there. I've made it my personal duty to protect them anyway I can until the day I die.

Tachibana: Then you understand how serious this situation is…

Nikolas: Of course I do.

Hotta: Please answer these basic practice questions truthfully so that we can test the lie detector.

Nikolas: Yes, sir.

Aijima: Are you 22 years old?

Nikolas: Yes.

Aijima: Are your German?

Nikolas: Yes.

Aijima: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?

Nikolas: No.

Aijima: Have you ever been on a boat?

Nikolas: Yes.

Tachibana: You passed the practice test. This portion is very serious so add any detail you feel may be relevant as you are being recorded.

Nikolas: Okay.

Tachibana: Have you ever interacted with Arthur Cunningham?

Nikolas: Yes. He was the butler when I first joined staff. When he passed away, they hired another named Niles McLaren. He was there for about two to three months or so until he was caught stealing. So, then he was replaced by Donald Kaftan, who is currently the butler now.

Tachibana: Are you aware of the man who was hired as a temp that went by the name of Arthur Cunningham?

Nikolas: Yes, I did hear that. I figured that maybe the name changed plenty of times before the word reached me; you wouldn't imagine how many stories are going around that mansion that has been altered to fit someone's taste. But it never struck me as odd because I'd never seen the guy. I thought someone was bored and decided that they wanted to start up a rumor. That is until about a week ago.

Tachibana: Go on…

Nikolas: Well, the word around the mansion is that he's a distant relative of the former butler. I saw him and Melissa DiLaurentis in the hall; it looked like they were heading to the drawing room. I heard that he's usually wearing but his time he wasn't. Now this is what I think, somehow he got ahold of employee records or he has a connection to Wesley DiLaurentis' secretary and that's how he got the name. I've been around the actual Arthur far too much and he's never mentioned and Japanese family. This guy isn't from Manchester as he claims to be. He's Japanese. When I actually think about his face now, he bears a striking resemblance to that Japanese hit man sketch I've seen in the Sunday news online. Now I don't want to jump the gun or anything but this resemblance is uncanny. And this situation… It adds fuel to the fire you know what I mean?

Tachibana: Do you mean?

Nikolas: Hayai-gan.

Tachibana: He only hits if he's been hired.

Nikolas: Okay, yeah but what I don't get is what business does a man like him have in an area like this? So, that means someone within this estate hired him to do their dirty work…

Aijima: No deception indicated. He's all green here.

Tachibana: It seems you have enough information for us to continue this investigation with a strong lead. Are you willing to join us in this investigation?

Nikolas: Most definitely! Like I said I was born to protect this family. I will not stop until the person who did this to those kids suffers.

~ Recording Ends ~

Tachibana flipped through a couple of folders on the table, "Are there are questions?" he asked.

The others sat quietly, yes they had questions but they couldn't form the words to ask them.

"So, the Ehrlichmann family has served the DiLaurentis family for 30 plus years?" Kyoya asked, reminding himself to write these things down. "Is there a special reason for that?

Hugh cleared his throat, "I think I can answer that one. This goes back about 40-some years ago. It was when I moved to America. It was a cold winter night in New York, I forget where exactly but I was walking down the street and I saw a man, a tall and muscular man, sitting on the corner near a diner. I was curious as to why he was there, so I asked him. It turned out that he too had just come to America. His time there was pretty rough from what he'd explained. He was also sick with pneumonia. I took him in, my wife and I cared for him. Once he got healthy he asked if he could stay with us until he'd earned enough money to get out on his own. Naturally, I agreed. Eventually, he felt like he'd gotten enough to manage on his own. He swore to me the day he left that he'd be back and he'd be there for me and my family like mine was for him." He said with a faint smile.

"And he stuck by his word." Wesley added. "His name was Tobias Ehrlichmann, the father of Ulrich Ehrlichmann and the grandfather of Nikolas Ehrlichmann."

"I had no idea that was why they seemed so…" Oscar started. "So…"

"Devoted? Loyal?" Hugh suggested.

"Yeah." Oscar said.

"Well, know this as long as they are a part of this investigation, they won't sleep until it's over." Tachibana said. "I have faith that this will be solved before you know it. Now… In this folder there are photos that were taken at the scene. I know this will be tough to look at. If you don't wish to look at them simply slide them back over to me." He said sliding over five pictures. There were photos of the totaled Bentley upside down. All of the window were shattered or terribly cracked. The entire right side of the car was dented up or pushed in. He pushed over five more photos; these were of Oscar and a bloodied Catalina being pushed away on stretchers. There was a photo of an unknown car with a damaged front end. Oscar couldn't look at the photos, it was just too much for him to handle. Even his parents were crying.

"Mr. Oscar do you recall anything from the accident? Any faces or voices?" Aijima asked.

"Other than my sister… No. It's very foggy." Oscar sniffed.

"I don't understand what has happened. It's all so sudden." Wesley said.

"We understand that you still have you daughter to worry about. With that being said, if you have no further questions you may return to her. We will inform you as soon as we have enough information to solve this." Tachibana said.

"Thank you so much for your help gentlemen." Wesley said shaking their hands. "Oh, and Kyoya?"

"Yes, sir."

"You're dedication to looking after my daughter hasn't gone unnoticed. I'll be sure to inform your father about how helpful you've been to us." He said.

Kyoya stood up, "It's no problem at all." He said leaving the room.

Kyoya knew that he wasn't only helping out the DiLaurentises. He was also helping himself. As much as he wanted to believe he was doing this to benefit himself, he knew that he wouldn't be able to sleep knowing that the one girl he'd let run through his mind may not be here the next say to find out.

Author's notes: Hey there, reader! I love you so much, you know why? I love you because you've gotten this far in this fic of mine. It really means a lot. Tell me what you think about the new chapter! I know it's a bit late. For some reason I keep getting writers block -_-" I'm sorry to keep you hanging and that is why this one is actually a bit longer. You see, I was going to break this chapter up into two so that I could make it one of the "to be continued" chapters but I felt back so this is what you got! Yay! Right? Right? No? Oh. Okay then. Please, please, review even if you've review before. I'd love to know what you think about what is currently going on in the story. Oh and feel free to request some things. I'm currently considering adding fun extra chapters in between to give you a break on all of the dramatic things that are going on. If you think that be a good idea just PM me and I'll be sure to get back to you on that!