'Normally we would take official statements from you individually at the precinct,' Fisk explained as they all sat down around the table. 'But clearly we're doing this differently. So how did you picture this, Mister Lightwood?'
'There's another room back there,' Alec nodded towards the only other door in the room. 'The only exit is a vent shaft that runs over this room. If you need individual statements you can take them there. Either me or Luke is going to be in this room at all times and none of us leaves for the corridor unless it is altogether. You can accept those terms or leave.' Magnus gave Alec a pointed look at his tone, but Alec didn't notice as he was staring down Fisk, who he definitely trusted least.
'That seems fair,' answered Wilson. 'How about we start with you, mister Bane?' Alec met Magnus eyes and gave an encouraging look before Magnus nodded in agreement and led the way into the back room. There was a bench and a chair and Magnus immediately pulled up the chair so the two detectives could take the bench. Wilson put down a voice recorder.
'For the record, we're recording this interview with Magnus Bane after the incident on June fourteenth. Officers present are detective Wilson and detective Fisk. We will now begin the interview.'
'Very formal,' Magnus remarked. He had slipped into the casual persona he portrayed to the outside world. Very few would recognise it for the defense mechanism it was.
'Mister Bane, could you describe the events on the twenty fourth of June for us, please?' Fisk asked.
'Very well,' Magnus leaned back in his chair. 'As previously planned and discussed with her fosters, my good friend Catarina and her husband Will, my bodyguard Alec and I went to take Madzie out for dinner. She's of a rather shy nature and they were hoping to expose her to more outward impulses. The three of us were walking together and we were maybe four minutes from the apartment, about as far from the restaurant when Alec received a phone call from his adoptive brother. I don't know what the call was about, but it concerned their youngest brother, Max, to whom Alec is legal guardian.
'He fell behind slightly during this call, but that was not unusual and we couldn't have walked much more than a few meters ahead. Out of nowhere Alec suddenly calls for me and when I look up I see him sprinting at us. I noticed the car coming in far too late, but Alec leapt and pushed both me and Madzie out of the way. We hit the pavement and see Alec collide with the ground. I immediately make my way over to him. He is alive and awake. I tried to ascertain if he had a concussion, but he brushed me off, claiming that he was fine.
'He asked if the driver was indeed gone from the car and as I look over there is no sign of the driver. Alec took this as a sign that we needed to get off the streets. I helped Alec to his feet and we picked up the phone he dropped as we started making our way back. We heard the police arrive, but Alec was adamant that we first get to safety. So we make our way back to my apartment, where we treat Alec's injuries and start contacting those who need to be informed, including detective Garroway who got us into contact with you.'
'Did mister Lightwood give you any reason for not approaching the police on site?' Fisk asked.
'He wanted to get off the street first. He was afraid that if we approached the police we would be detained for questioning. The reason we reached out to Luke was because we were aware we had just walked away from a crime scene.'
'How long has mister Lightwood been in your employ?'
'A little over three months. I've known him for three weeks more than that.'
'And how is your relation with him?'
'Why do you ask?' Magnus was now getting suspicious.
'We're just trying to get the full picture. Detective Garroway informed us that mister Lightwood has been living with you and there is a rumour going around that the two of you would be in a relationship?'
'That is idle gossip, reinforced by a rather poor attempt of mine to get one of my stalkers off my back. It is what I hired Alec for. Three months ago I was too terrified to leave my apartment or let anyone in. After hiring Alec, that changed. I could go to work again, attend events, visit my friends. Alec changed me. He's a good person.'
'We understand that he has done a lot to help you,' Wilson now cut in. 'We just have to explore all avenues. The sooner we can eliminate mister Lightwood as a suspect, the easier it will be.'
'A suspect?!' Magnus almost yelled. 'Are you insane? He saved our lives! He was way out of dodge and he ran to push us out of the way. I would be dead if it wasn't for him.'
'We understand,' Fisk said. 'But you have to admit that it is suspicious that after weeks of you walking out in public together the car strikes at just the moment that he falls behind. He doesn't want to talk to authorities and even as he saves your lives, he comes out of that car accident with surprisingly few injuries. Most people would be in the hospital. '
'I'm chalking that up to luck and possibly some skill of Alec.'
'Were you aware that he is in quite a large amount of debt?'
'I am,' Magnus replied.
'He took this job of becoming your live in bodyguard after you offered him a substantial amount of money for it. Do you believe he could be incentivised to compromise that by a financial inducement?'
'No, Alec would never.'
'Were you aware that during the investigation into his parents' death, mister Lightwood was also considered a suspect?' Magnus froze at Fisk's question.
'I will not entertain this line of questioning any longer,' Magnus spoke firmly. 'You can chase anyone in my life. I've met some truly awful people and though I don't believe any of them would want me dead I'd rather entertain that notion than sit here and listen to you slander Alexander. You are underestimating his skill and overestimating his greed. If he wanted me dead, he would not have tried to time a car accident, I would be dead. But I'm not, instead I'm doing better than I could have hoped after what I've gone through. And he adores Madzie. If just for that, believe me when I say that Alec couldn't have had anything to do with this.'
'And if you consider the possibility that he was not saving your life but only Madzie's?' Fisk pressed. Silent fury was all that was left in Magnus. His fuse was very very long. He was a patient man. But when you pushed him too far, his temper was rivalled by none.
'Get out.'
'Mister Bane,' Wilson tried, but Magnus was having none of it.
'I'm not talking to you,' he said firmly before turning back to Fisk. 'I want you to leave and not come back into this building, ever.'
'You can't ban me from this building!'
'I own this building so I can and I will. Leave!
'Mister Bane that seems a bit excess-,' Wilson once again tried to defend her partner.
'Excessive?! And what do you call the line of questioning your partner just put forward? You have no reason to suspect Alexander beyond wild speculation and yet your partner has the gall to ask me these questions. Alec is far and beyond the best person that I have ever had the good fortune of meeting. And yes, his life has been rough and he is in a tight situation with money. But he is not the sort of person to go to such drastic lengths to get money, which, by the way, I would gladly give him if he asked for it. But he doesn't. He stays quiet, carrying the burden all by himself because that is who he is. And yet your partner dares accuse him of being an accomplice to my assasination? And you don't stop him? What is excessive is my patience with the both of you. Be glad I'm only asking him to leave and not you.'
There was a knock at the door followed by Luke's entering the room: 'Is everything okay in here?' His eyes flicked from Magnus who was still glaring daggers at the two detectives, to Fisk, who seemed furiously torn between getting up or remaining, and Wilson, who had her hands up in a placating way.
'Evidently not,' Magnus stated as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes not leaving Fisk. Luke stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
'Shouldn't you be guarding them?' Wilson asked.
'The only way to stop Alec from bursting in here was to go myself. You are not exactly being quiet. What is going on?'
'Your colleague decided that the best way to start this investigation is to accuse Alec of not only attempting to kill me, but also orchestrating the car accident of his own parents six years ago.'
'That is not what I said,' Fisk defended, but Magnus was having none of it.
'Then what exactly did you mean to achieve by informing me of his being a suspect in a six year old case that was classified as an accident?' Magnus turned to Luke: 'If you wouldn't mind escorting him of the premises, detective Garroway. I would like to try to get through this interview without filing a rather serious lawsuit against the NYPD.'
'Fisk get up,' Luke said.
'What?! Why?!'
'Because you were completely out of line. Wilson, I presume you can handle this on your own?' Wilson nodded as Luke followed a begrudging Fisk out of the room. As the door opened Magnus caught a glimpse of Alec and Madzie standing just outside it. The worry was evident through the stoic frown to Magnus and Magnus could do nothing more than to give a small nod in reassurance before the door closed again.
'I apologise for my partner, I didn't think he would take it that far,' Wilson spoke.
Magnus sighed heavily with an exasperated edge to it: 'As long as I no longer have to entertain those ridiculous notions, it is all good. Please, continue.'
Wilson hesitated as the annoyance in Magnus was more than evident: 'Of course. You said you were being stalked?'
It was only fifteen minutes later that Magnus left the backroom to the relief of his friends. Fisk was nowhere to be found and Alec had slipped almost completely back into the stoic mask he had worn when Magnus had first met him. Clearly, Alec was incredibly worried about Magnus and his reappearance had only lessened that slightly.
'Magnus!' If Madzie hadn't been in Alec's lap, he would have most certainly stood immediately. 'Are you okay?'
'I'm fine, Alexander.'
'I'd like to talk to Madzie next if at all possible? I presume you'll both want to be present?' Wilson gestured at Catarina and Will who both nodded before getting up and turning to Madzie. But Madzie made no move to join them. Instead she shook her head and tightened her hold on Alec's arm.
'It's okay Madzie, they just want to talk,' Catarina tried, but Madzie shook her head more firmly.
'You don't have to be afraid, Madzie. Your mom and dad are coming with you,' Wilson added as Catarina and Will made their way over to her, holding out hands for her to take. Alec had loosened his hold on her, but she was firmly clamping his arm around her.
'No.' Wilson didn't understand, but Catarina and Will were taken aback by Madzie's speaking at all.
'What's the problem, sweetheart?' Will kneeled. 'Can you tell us?'
'I wanna stay with Alec.' Five sets of eyes turned to Alec who now took hold of Madzie and with some effort turned her around in his lap so he could look her in the eye.
'It's just for a little bit. And I promise I'll be outside the whole time.' Madzie once again shook her head adamantly and Alec could see tears starting to appear. There was definitely more going on.
'Come on, Madzie, it is not so bad,' Catarina coerced. Wilson, Will and Catarina tried, even Luke attempted, but Madzie was only getting more and more upset. The only thing they were getting from her was her shaking her head and occasionally saying Alec's name. Alec tried to figure out what was going on in her head, but he couldn't figure it out. And then Will reached out to lift her from Alec's lap.
'NO!' They had never heard such volume come from Madzie. 'Alec! Alec, please!' She struggled against Will's grip, reaching out desperately for Alec, managing to grab hold of his shirt and suddenly it clicked.
'Stop!' Alec shot to his feet and wrapped his arms around Madzie, taking her from Will's shocked grasp. His ribs hurt like hell, but he gritted his teeth and held her tightly. She cried, but calmed down from her panicked reaction almost instantly as he sat down with her again. She had her face buried in his borrowed shirt and left out soft sobs as Alec softly petted her hair.
'It's okay, Madzie. It's okay. I've got you and I'm not going to let you go, okay. You can stay with me. I promise they won't take you away.' Wilson was about to protest, but a very sharp look from Alec quieted her. Madzie was quieting down a little and Alec set her in his lap so she wasn't crushing his ribs as much. It took a moment for him to regain his breath, but then he pulled her back a little.
'Madzie, can you look me in the eye?' She was a little hesitant, but very slowly looked up to meet Alec's soft and sincere expression. 'I'm going to be honest. I will not lie to you and I love you very much. You know that right?' She didn't respond, but kept on looking at him. 'This is not like last time. I'm not going to let them take you away from me again. The policewoman just wants to talk to you about what happened yesterday. Just like she did with Magnus. Catarina and Will are going to be with you and I'll be right here. They cannot take you anywhere without getting past me. Do you understand that, Madzie?'
Madzie nodded, but more tears sprung to her eyes and her hold on Alec's shirt didn't lessen at all: 'Don't leave me.' Alec released a breath and pulled her into another painful hug that he needed just as much as she did.
'I won't,' he pressed a kiss on top of her head. 'I promise, I won't.'
They sat like that for a few moments, Madzie still quietly crying in his shirt, before Alec looked up: 'I'm sorry, but if you make her leave me right now, she's never going to trust anyone again. Do you mind taking our statements together?'
Before either of the detectives could answer Catarina asked: 'What is going on, Alec?'
'Iris died in her sleep. Madzie was staying with us when after two days I started to get worried and called the police. They entered the apartment and found Iris. They first carried out Iris and then came to collect Madzie. They dragged her from our apartment kicking and screaming, calling my name. That was the last time I saw her until you came with her to our doorstep.' Alec was good at hiding his emotions, but Magnus caught his eyes going glassy and his voice becoming slightly unsteady. 'I didn't put it together until you tried to take her away again.'
Madzie buried herself deeper in his arms. Catarina and Will couldn't help but stare at them, realising the gravity of the situation but not knowing what to do with it. Magnus found his body moving all on its own, taking a seat next to Alec and putting a hand on Madzie's back. The little girl looked up and met Magnus' eyes still sniffling. Magnus didn't say anything, but just looked at her softly rubbing her back. One of Madzie's hands let go of Alec's shirt and reached out towards Magnus. He didn't know when this understanding had come, but somehow he knew exactly what Madzie was asking. Careful to not jostle Alec's injuries, Magnus free arm wound itself around Alec's waist as the other wrapped around Madzie's shoulder and he leaned in to let the girl hug him back.
Luke and detective Wilson stood awkwardly at the side, not really knowing what to do and with questions on their mind, but not willing to disturb the moment they were witnessing. It was Alec taking a deep breath and hissing in pain that broke the moment. Magnus and Madzie both released their hold to assess the damage.
'I'm fine,' Alec answered the unspoken question through gritted teeth. 'Could do with a nap, but we'll get to that after we're done here.' He looked up to Luke and detective Wilson. 'Listen, I know it is not protocol, but right here nothing is. You think you could ask me the questions here? I don't think Madzie is going to be up to answering questions anyway and I have nothing I can't say in front of these people.' Wilson shared a look with Luke who shrugged.
'Fine, we'll do that,' Wilson gestured for everyone to once again take a seat and took one opposite of Alec, Magnus and Madzie. Magnus helped Madzie into a position where she was still in Alec's lap, but no longer brushing up against his bruised ribs.
'If I may ask,' Wilson started. 'What exactly is your relation to Madzie?'
Alec gave a look to Catarina and Will: 'It's a little complicated. I've known Madzie for nearly two years. I watched her when her foster at the time, Iris, couldn't. When Iris died, Madzie was put back in the system and they wouldn't let me get a new contact.'
'She ran away from her previous foster several times in order to find him,' Catarina supplied. 'It is how she ended up with us.'
'We met up again when Catarina came to the apartment with Madzie a little over a month ago.'
Wilson nodded: 'And you live with mister Bane, correct?'
'No.' Magnus tried not to be startled by Alec's answer, and only barely managed to keep the surprise from his face. 'I live with my siblings, including my twelve year old brother for whom I'm legal guardian. My work just brings me over to Magnus' place at pretty much all hours, which is why I have some items at his place as well as a place to sleep.' The way the words were brought was very direct, but Magnus realised just how carefully they had to have been chosen. There was not a single lie in there, but it definitely concealed the real situation. But he now also understood why. Alec was Max' legal guardian, if word got out that he was not living at the same place as Max that could spell trouble for them.
'I understand, could you recall for me the events on the twenty fourth of June?' As Alec dutifully did so Magnus eye drifted over to Luke who was looking rather concerned. Clearly, he knew a little about their situation, probably through Jace, and it got him confused about some of the things Alec was saying. Fortunately, he didn't seem to want to mention it in front of detective Wilson.
'I presume you have already discussed possible suspects you had in mind?' Wilson now looked between both Alec and Magnus who shared a look.
'Aside from Micheal, none of your other stalkers have the means or motive to want to kill you,' Alec said. 'And you said that none of your business contacts made sense. Aside from that there's only one name left to mention.'
'And that would be?'
Alec gave a pointed look at Magnus who seemed to understand: 'Camille Belcourt. Although she has much better ways to get to me than to try and kill me.'
'Who is she?'
'A former lover of Magnus',' Alec supplied.
'And a raging manipulative bitch,' Magnus added.
'Magnus, language!' Magnus simply shrugged at which Alec rolled his eyes and turned back to Wilson. 'I do have to say that if you're intending on looking into Camille, I'd like to be notified so I can intensify security. Camille has a vindictive streak and while she's definitely not stupid enough to try and kill Magnus while being investigated, she is probably going to try and cause some trouble.'
