Phoenix: Chapter Fifty-one

He stood in the minimally furnished viewing room of the police precinct, watching Raine through a two-way mirror. Kiros hated this. She was crying, her head resting in her handcuffed hands. Her whole body shook as she sobbed, tears falling in between her fingers onto the smooth metal table.

"Where's Squall? Did I hurt him badly?" She wiped her nose on her arm. "Is Laguna with him?"

"Mrs. Loire, I need you to focus. What would possess you to shoot your own son in cold blood?"

Raine looked up at the detective, eyes puffy and red. "I told you, I don't know! I don't even remember how I got to the office, you have to believe me!" She looked to the man, her eyes pleading. "Please! Tell me that my son is okay! I need to know!"

The detective's answer was harsh. "You don't have the right to know that at the moment. Not until we get to the bottom of this."

Kiros cringed. He hated seeing Raine treated in such a cruel way, but the fact of the matter was: she had tried to kill her own son.

And she may yet succeed.

He looked down at his phone, willing Laguna to call with an update.

The detective began again. "Now, Mrs. Loire. Let's start from the beginning…again. You claim that you have no recollection of what went on during your morning after ten-fifteen or so. What's the last thing you do remember?"

Raine sighed. "Ward knocked me down. It felt like everything was hazy. I was seeing what was going on in the office…" She paused, her face wincing as tears fell from her eyes. "…I saw Laguna and Kiros helping Squall. But…it was like I couldn't move my body, even if I had wanted to. As the officers were pulling me away, I finally felt like I was in control again…and I realized what I had done." She sobbed, her body trembling.

"And you don't care to share why you shot him, Mrs. Loire? Or why you said, and I quote: 'Kill Squall Leonhart' and 'Payback'? Payback for what, Ma'am?" Kiros was thankful for the security cameras in Laguna's office. It had allowed them access to a key clue in the investigation. Otherwise, the only two people to hear those words would have been Laguna and Squall. The cameras also saved Laguna from having to be interviewed by the detectives. Kiros knew that having to relive the moments over and over again would start to take a toll on the bewildered President. He didn't know how much more Laguna could take.

Raine's eyes flashed with anger. "I told you! I don't know! I don't even remember pulling the trigger."

The detective lit a cigarette, then offered the pack to Raine. She waved him away with cuffed hands. "Alright, so what do you remember about your morning before you arrived in the President's office?"

Raine's voice was meek. "I woke up, Laguna and I had breakfast in bed, and he left. I took a bath, read a book and started laundry." She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. "Lionel, an intern from the Community office brought a package to me. The last thing I remember is opening it."

The detective took a puff on his cigarette. "What was in the box?"

"I can't remember clearly. The very last thing I can recall is slicing into the tape with a scissors and opening the top. There was a letter inside, attached to another box. Everything after that is black."

Kiros was intrigued. He leaned close to the detective in the viewing room with him. "Go to their apartment and find that box and letter. Look for anything else that might be evidence. Bring it to the lab immediately."

The man nodded and left.

"What did the letter say?"

Raine's face was frustrated. "I told you, I don't remember. The next thing I knew, Squall was lying in a pool of blood on Laguna's floor." Her voice trembled and it looked as if she were on the verge of a complete breakdown. "Please, I answered your questions. Tell me if my son is alright."

He couldn't stand this anymore. She was hurting, and even though he didn't know what would drive her to such terrible actions, she needed to know about her child. Perhaps it would help her to cooperate more if she at least knew the basics about Squall's condition. Kiros went to the door and opened it, stepping into the brightly lit interrogation room.

Raine began to stand, but was immediately thwarted by the detective. He looked at her sternly and made a motion with his hand for her to be still. She sat down once again, the metal cuffs clinking against the top of the table. "Kiros! Oh Hyne, is Squall okay?"

He said nothing as he walked towards the table. He motioned for the detective to leave, and the man huffed and snarled his lip, obviously annoyed that Kiros had barged in on his turf. When the officer was gone, Kiros sat at the table across from the frightened woman.

"Kiros?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He sighed, clasping his hands together on the tabletop. "He's alive…for the moment."

Raine hung her head. "How bad is it?"

"You shot him twice in the chest. He's in a coma right now."

Raine began to sob, resting her head on the metal table. "My baby…"

Kiros sat and watched as the woman in front of him cried. She was not murderer. There wasn't a cruel bone in her body.

"Raine?"

She lifted her head, revealing puffy, wet eyes. She looked so confused.

"This is the time to be completely honest with me. I'm here as a friend, not a detective." He reached out and closed his fingers around Raine's hand, her fingertips still stained with the ink they had used for fingerprinting. "I need to know that you're telling the truth. I won't be able to help you…or the family if you aren't one-hundred percent truthful." He exhaled sharply. "Now, where did you get the gun?"

"I don't know. The last time I touched a weapon was years ago. Ash wanted me to learn in case I needed to defend myself."

Kiros cocked his head. "Ash?"

"Yeah. He taught me because he was worried that if anyone ever tried to break in and he was incapacitated, that I would be able to…neutralize the threat." She cast her eyes down at her hands. Her voice was barely audible. "He told me I was a crack shot."

Ash's name coming up in the conversation intrigued Kiros. He needed to go back to his office and dig through the files taken from the dead doctor's lab. There just had to be something that he overlooked, some kind of clue that could potentially tie him—even if it was posthumously—to this crime. Kiros had really never believed in fate, or the faeries like his best friend, but something was definitely tugging at his brain. With the mention of Ash's name, it was like a light had gone off in his head.

Raine spoke again, her shoulders slumping. "Kiros, I love my son. I would never do anything to harm him." She began to weep. "I don't know what happened. It's like I lost time somewhere. There's a huge hole in my memory."

Kiros exhaled. Nothing in her voice gave him an indication of falsehood. She really didn't know what had happened. "Okay. I believe you. I'm going to do everything in my power to get to the bottom of this. I'm afraid you'll have to stay in custody. After all, this is an attempted murder investigation." He stood, letting go of her hand. "I'll be back later. I have a lot of digging to do."

"Kiros? Tell Laguna I love him. And that I'm sorry."

He nodded silently and turned to leave, Raine sobbing quietly behind him.

XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX

"If you'll all take your seats, I can begin."

The press pool quickly obeyed the Secretary, scurrying to their chairs and taking up all the standing-room space the small area allowed for.

Samantha Jorden tapped her notecard on the lectern and cleared her throat. "So we're clear before I start—I will not be taking any questions when I finish. Don't bother sending any inquires to the office either, they will not be answered." She took a long, deep breath and gazed out at the sea of reporters. "At approximately ten-forty-five this morning, SeeD Commander Squall Leonhart was shot twice within the office of the President. The suspect—who will remain unnamed pending investigation was immediately disarmed and taken into police custody. Commander Leonhart was rushed to Esthar Memorial Hospital where he is currently listed in critical condition following emergency surgery."

The reporters immediately erupted with questions, obviously not caring about the Secretary's previous request.

"Madame Secretary! Who shot him?"

"Where was he hit?"

"Was the President hurt?"

"Will Commander Leonhart survive?"

Samantha held her hand up. "I said no questions. I will hold another conference when new information becomes available. Do not go to the hospital. Any attempt to gain access to the building will be met with disciplinary action. Give President Loire and his family their space." She turned on her heels and walked purposefully back into the seclusion of her office, where she promptly vomited into her trashcan.

What a horrible day.

XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX

Kiros Seagill raced back to his office where he immediately began tearing through the files he had brought back from the Odine Complex. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for, but he worked with passion.

He rooted through the papers for hours, finally coming across the letter written on Laguna's official letterhead he had found in Ash's office. He opened the blinds to let in more light so he could read. His eyes bulged. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Doctor William Ash,

It has come to my attention that you have been engaging in unethical experiments, including: experimentation on children, the occult and vampirism.

Considering the circumstances, I have no other option than to expel you from the Science Ministry and the scientific community at large, as well as the city of Esthar. I hope your banishment will be an example to others who are considering participating in such nefarious endeavors. I cannot have such a horrible blemish mar the pristine reputation of Esthar's fine scientific community.

Attempting to enter the city will result in your immediate arrest. Your further penalty is to live out your days in the desert, knowing your own actions caused this outcome, and you are the only one to blame for this happening.

Do not reply to this message, as it will be seen by this office as a threat and you will be prosecuted.

President Laguna Loire

"What the hell is this?" Kiros read the letter over and over again, trying to remember when—and why- Laguna had sent it. His friend had told him he never knew of Ash, and even though Kiros knew Laguna's memory to be a bit sketchy at times, surely he would have recalled such a serious event.

He sat silently for a moment, staring out at the city. An idea then hit him so hard; he had to catch his breath. Odine had banished Ash years before this letter was sent. Why would Laguna need to cast him aside a second time?

"Oh my God…Odine." Thoughts flew around in his brain so fast he was having trouble processing them. He needed to talk to Laguna. If the president truly didn't send this letter, Kiros had an idea about who had.

A knock at the door startled him. "Come!"

Ward entered, gloved hands carrying a cardboard box sealed in an evidence bag.

"…"

Kiros jumped up and immediately cleared off the small table in the corner. "Set it down here. Is that it?"

Ward nodded and handed him a pair of gloves. "…"

"Yeah, thanks for dealing with the police. I know they aren't too keen on outsiders taking over their investigations and evidence. You didn't hurt any of them, did you?"

The large man winked as he watched Kiros carefully opened the plastic and lifted the container out. "Was there anything else? Where's the letter?"

Ward produced another clear bag, this one containing a white piece of paper. He also handed Kiros the file containing the hastily done evidence report. Kiros flipped open the folder and quickly skimmed the statement. "No fingerprints other than Raine's. Figures."

He handed the folder back to his friend and began investigating the box and letter. "Looks like a kid wrote the address."

Ward tapped Kiros' arm lightly and pointed to the box. He then made motions with his hands encouraging Kiros to open it. Inside was a metallic container. Lifting it out to inspect it closer, he could tell it was a top-of-the-line weapon case. He lifted the lid and was immediately hit with the scent of gun oil. He could just make out the outline of a pistol on the padded interior. "Well, it looks like we know where she got the gun. Something tells me this was not sent by a child. Let me see the letter." He placed the box on the table.

"…" Ward handed him the next piece of evidence.

Kiros removed the paper from the bag carefully. He unfolded it and nearly fainted.

[[[WE ARE WAITING FOR THE MANAGER TO GIVE US PASSAGE]]]

The breath Kiros had been holding finally let out as a surprised gasp. In an instant, everything snapped into place. Kiros let the paper flutter to the tabletop and grabbed Ward by the shoulders.

"I've seen this before! In Ash's notes!" Kiros ran to his desk, casting various files aside until he found what he was looking for. "Here! Right there in the margin. Raine had a dream with this phrase in it. I never paid any attention to it before." He plopped into his chair, his breathing ragged with excitement.

He sat for a long moment, letting all the information that was suddenly swirling around in his mind try and come together. Ward stared at him.

Kiros began to mutter to himself, trying to help his brain along. "Dream…she had a dream…sleep…sleep?" He sat forward in the chair. "The earpiece! How could I have been so blind?" He dug into his desk, retrieving the small box he had removed from Raine's nightstand. His mind raced as he tried to tie everything swirling around in it together. The next thought hit him so hard; it was as if Ward had punched him in the chest.

"Ash was an expert in subliminal messaging, man!"

He paced back and forth behind his desk thinking for a moment before charging at the hulking man and practically jumping into his arms. "Ward! I think I might have something. And if I'm right…Oh Hyne…"

XxX XxX XxX XxX XxX

The television was smoking on the floor, his shoe stuck in a gaping hole in the screen.

Ash stood in the small living room, his chest heaving with anger.

He's alive? He's ALIVE!

"You stupid bitch!" Ash flung the remote across the room, shattering a pitcher of water on the counter. The liquid flowed onto the floor, soaking the dusty floor mat. He seethed with fury, unable to breathe normally.

The only thing she needed to do was kill the bastard. One shot to the head would have done it. His brains would have been splattered all over Laguna's office, and possibly the President himself. He knew she was capable of hitting the target, he had watched her do it countless times.

"How could you fuck this up?" He screamed, and flying into a fit of rage, he overturned the chair he had been sitting in and lifted it from the floor. He hurled it to his side, where it hit the chipping plaster wall, particles of the flaky substance falling to the floor. He could barely see the hole it had made through his foggy eyes.

"All you had to do was kill him! One shot!" Ash charged at a full-length mirror that was hanging on an open closet door. He smashed his fist into the glass, cracking it. Droplets of blood began to roll down the damaged surface and onto the floor.

He didn't even feel the pain.

He stood there for a long moment, blood dripping from his hand. His mind raced, trying to figure out what to do next. Everything he had worked for was now lost. If Squall survived, his years of toiling would have been for nothing.

The ache in his hand released him from his thoughts and he entered the bathroom to find a towel to wrap his injury with. Standing over the sink, he carefully picked out the tiny bits of glass he could see shimmering in the light. When he was satisfied they were removed, he bound his hand tightly with a thin towel and sank to his knees.

He sat silently sat for a few minutes, trying to compose himself. Taking some cleansing breaths, he began to feel his body relax and his mind clear.

His eyes snapped open with a new thought. The Press Secretary said he was in critical condition. There might still be a chance that he would die. A sinister smirk crossed his lips as he wrung his hands together, ignoring the sting of the fresh wounds.

Squall not being killed instantly might actually be better.

If the young man languished for a few days, it would make for more drama—more sadness when he finally expired. Laguna would be devastated. Maybe he might even commit suicide. Ash laughed out loud at the thought. He imagined the President, grief stricken and unable to cope, flinging himself off of the top of the Presidential Palace. He wondered if his body would bounce.

He returned to the living room, scowling at the sight of his smashed television. He grabbed his phone and called X.

He would need another as soon as possible.

He had a death watch to keep.