Transcript of Audio Tape #1
Interview with Adrian Shepherd
March 18
"This is Mikel Jervich, Senior SeeD in charge of Special Investigative Committee Alpha. I'm here with Adrian Shepherd, its about 9:32 A.M., and the tape is rolling. Beginning interview NOW."
(A dull clunking noise as recorder is set on table)
MJ: So, Adrian, Gordon was a good friend of yours?
AS: One of my best friends.
MJ: Ok, well...in your statement it says that you and Gordon worked together. Could you explain for the tape?
AS: Yeah, we were bouncers at a bar in Timber.
MJ: And what bar is that?
AS: The Bouncing Turtle.
MJ: Oh, I like that place.
AS: Yeah, they got good music. And the waitresses...
MJ: Anyway, who do you think is responsible for Gordon's death?
AS: Seifer Almasy.
MJ: You say that with such certainty. What makes you think Seifer killed him?
AS: Because of the event in the bar a few weeks ago, I think Seifer had a sort of grudge on Gordon. I also heard that Seifer has a...violent history.
MJ: You make an excellent point. But there is no hard evidence that Seifer killed him as of yet. Do you stand by your accusation?
AS: Absolutely. The only thing you need is a motive, and Seifer has one, however petty.
MJ: Alright, I think that's all I need to hear for the moment. Thank you, Adrian. And stay in Garden until this whole thing is over.
*BEEP*END TAPE
* * *
Transcript of Audio Tape #2
Interview with Seifer Almasy
March 18
"Mikel Jervich again, and I'm here with Seifer Almasy. Time is 10:01 A.M., and here's your interview..."
*Muffled Thud*
MJ: Now, Seifer...your statement was somewhat...uh...vague. Can you tell me where you were and what you were doing before you met Miss Trepe yesterday morning?
SA: I got up out of bed, showered, shaved, and then walked out. Not much to it.
MJ: I see. Now, were you acquainted with the deceased?
SA: No, I'd never seen him before in my...hey, what are you writing?!
MJ: Nothing.
SA: Nothing?! You were just writing something on that pad.
MJ: Just notes on this conversation. Not important right now.
SA: Bullshit it's not important right now! Lemme see...
(Sounds of a short scuffle)
MJ: Sit down! SIT DOWN! There, now...just stay seated and answer my questions, please.
SA: Fine.
MJ: Were you thrown out of the Bouncing Turtle...uh...a few weeks ago?
SA: Who said I was even there?
MJ: Answer my question.
SA: YOU answer MY question.
MJ: No!
SA: Fine, I won't answer yours.
MJ: Dammit, Almasy! Answer my question or I will arrest you right now for contempt!
SA: Alright, alright...calm down, old man. I believe I did go bar-hopping in Timber awhile back.
MJ: And you were thrown out of the Bouncing Turtle?
SA: I guess that might've happened at some point.
MJ: I see, and...can you tell me what happened that night?
SA: I don't quite remember too clearly. I was shit-faced, y'see.
MJ: Don't lie to me!
SA: I'm not! I was so drunk I had a hangover for a week afterwards!
MJ: NO! Gordon Kayle was the bouncer who threw you out, was he not?!
SA: Whoa...was he?
MJ: YES!
SA: Hmm...I suppose this looks extremely bad then, seeing as how Gordon's been murdered.
MJ: It would seem so.
SA: I didn't do it though! I swear!
MJ: So, you were in your dorm before 7 yesterday morning, and you met Quistis around 7?
SA: Yeah.
MJ: Do you know of anyone who could confirm that you were not, in fact, in Instructor Trepe's classroom, murdering a bar bouncer who had angered you in the past?
SA: ...no.
MJ: Alright then. I believe we've established motive...
SA: Motive?! I didn't even recognize the guy! The evidence is purely circumstantial!
MJ: Yes or no, you are to come with me right now.
*BEEP*END TAPE
* * *
Transcript of Audio Tape #3
Interview with Quistis Trepe
March 18
"Mikel Jervich again, here with your much-awaited next interview. It's 12:23 P.M. and I want some lunch, so lets get this on."
*CLUNK*
MJ: Miss Trepe, according to your personal statement, you met Mr. Almasy on the way to your class a few minutes before 7 A.M.?
QT: That's correct.
MJ: Did you notice anything unusual about him?
QT: What do you mean?
MJ: Well...did he look flustered? Tired? Spattered with blood?
QT: What?! You don't think Seifer murdered him?
MJ: Miss Trepe, according to our information, he's the only suspect.
QT: But that's impossible...why would he kill Gordon?
MJ: We do have evidence of a motive being present.
QT: And what would your motive be?
MJ: I'm not at liberty to divulge it right now.
QT: ...
MJ: Miss Trepe, please stop glaring at me.
QT: I'll vouch for Seifer. He's changed since the Sorceress War, and there's no way he would do something this stupid. I know.
MJ: Miss Trepe, your personal opinion of the suspect won't carry much weight in a court-martial.
QT: Oh, it won't?
MJ: ...
QT: ...
MJ: Right, well, I have a few more questions...could you take a look at this?
QT: Gordon's post-mortem?
MJ: Exactly. Flip through it, please.
(Short pause)
MJ: Now, you've been a SeeD since you were fifteen and an Instructor since you were seventeen, correct?
QT: Right...there was a short time when I lost my Instructor license.
MJ: But you got it back?
QT: After the Sorceress War, yes.
MJ: So you are an experienced expert in weaponry?
QT: ...yes.
MJ: And are you aware of the type of weapon Mr. Almasy specializes in?
QT: ...the gunblade. But he's not the only one, not by far. Other students...
MJ: I'm aware of that. But, is Gordon Kayle's wound the type that could easily be caused by a gunblade?
QT: ...yes.
MJ: And do you, or anybody you know, have any way of vouching as to Seifer's whereabouts before 7 in the morning yesterday?
QT: ...
MJ: Miss Trepe? Are you alright?
QT: Fine...no, I mean...I don't know.
MJ: Alright then. Thank you, Miss Trepe.
*BEEP*END TAPE
* * *
Transcript of Audio Tape #4
Personal Notes of Mikel Jervich
March 18
"Mikel Jervich here. It's about 6:30, I just finished dinner, and I suppose I should ramble into this microphone for a bit before I type up my next report. For posterity's sake."
"Current suspect is Seifer Almasy, aged 19, 6' 2", 190 lbs. Recently graduated into SeeD and has a rather...uh...checkered past. However, I have been advised by Cid to not let his past bias my current handling of his case."
"Seifer was incarcerated late this morning with much difficulty and continues to struggle. He continually complains that he is being framed and that there is no evidence against him. He is at least half right."
"Adrian Shepherd supplied us with a motive. True, it's a petty and unclear motive, but I'm a drowning man grasping at straw's here. Seifer continues to profess that he had no idea he was thrown out of a bar by the victim, nor that he has any memory of a conflict with the victim or his friend. I'm willing to put that down to the fact that Seifer was imbibed at the time. Aside from all that, though, evidence is thin. I had some tests run on his gunblade. They found A LOT of blood residue, but none that matched Kayle's DNA. Also, a search of his dorm room turned up nothing. No bloody clothes, no alternative murder weapon, no pink frosted donuts. Nothing."
"Sure, I have my doubts too...but he is the only one close to being a suspect. Absolutely nobody else we know of was in the area at the time, and apparently everyone besides Seifer thought the kid was a saint."
"That's all I got to say for now. Jervich out."
*BEEP*END TAPE
* * *
BALAMB GARDEN JUDICIARY TRIBUNAL
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE ALPHA (SICA)
Second Report
March 18
Subject: Gordon Kayle, 18 yrs old, Junior SeeD cadet. Found dead in Instructor Trepe's classroom 6:57 A.M., March 17.
Suspect(s): Seifer Almasy, 19 yrs. Old, SeeD operative. Unconfirmed alibi.
Motive: Report of past altercation between suspect and victim in a Timber Bar. Violent history of the suspect suggests that this is a revenge killing over a petty offense.
Evidence: None, pending further investigation.
It is the current opinion of this committee that Seifer Almasy was the only one with a motive to kill Gordon Kayle. Mr. Almasy was known to be in the area at the time of the murder, and had the training and weaponry to execute the murder. However, there are still no eyewitnesses and no murder weapon has been discovered and confirmed.
Mr. Almasy has been incarcerated with the intention of holding him until the investigation is complete. This committee requests that the court- martial be delayed until hard evidence is discovered.
mj/xh END REPORT
* * *
Interview with Adrian Shepherd
March 18
"This is Mikel Jervich, Senior SeeD in charge of Special Investigative Committee Alpha. I'm here with Adrian Shepherd, its about 9:32 A.M., and the tape is rolling. Beginning interview NOW."
(A dull clunking noise as recorder is set on table)
MJ: So, Adrian, Gordon was a good friend of yours?
AS: One of my best friends.
MJ: Ok, well...in your statement it says that you and Gordon worked together. Could you explain for the tape?
AS: Yeah, we were bouncers at a bar in Timber.
MJ: And what bar is that?
AS: The Bouncing Turtle.
MJ: Oh, I like that place.
AS: Yeah, they got good music. And the waitresses...
MJ: Anyway, who do you think is responsible for Gordon's death?
AS: Seifer Almasy.
MJ: You say that with such certainty. What makes you think Seifer killed him?
AS: Because of the event in the bar a few weeks ago, I think Seifer had a sort of grudge on Gordon. I also heard that Seifer has a...violent history.
MJ: You make an excellent point. But there is no hard evidence that Seifer killed him as of yet. Do you stand by your accusation?
AS: Absolutely. The only thing you need is a motive, and Seifer has one, however petty.
MJ: Alright, I think that's all I need to hear for the moment. Thank you, Adrian. And stay in Garden until this whole thing is over.
*BEEP*END TAPE
* * *
Transcript of Audio Tape #2
Interview with Seifer Almasy
March 18
"Mikel Jervich again, and I'm here with Seifer Almasy. Time is 10:01 A.M., and here's your interview..."
*Muffled Thud*
MJ: Now, Seifer...your statement was somewhat...uh...vague. Can you tell me where you were and what you were doing before you met Miss Trepe yesterday morning?
SA: I got up out of bed, showered, shaved, and then walked out. Not much to it.
MJ: I see. Now, were you acquainted with the deceased?
SA: No, I'd never seen him before in my...hey, what are you writing?!
MJ: Nothing.
SA: Nothing?! You were just writing something on that pad.
MJ: Just notes on this conversation. Not important right now.
SA: Bullshit it's not important right now! Lemme see...
(Sounds of a short scuffle)
MJ: Sit down! SIT DOWN! There, now...just stay seated and answer my questions, please.
SA: Fine.
MJ: Were you thrown out of the Bouncing Turtle...uh...a few weeks ago?
SA: Who said I was even there?
MJ: Answer my question.
SA: YOU answer MY question.
MJ: No!
SA: Fine, I won't answer yours.
MJ: Dammit, Almasy! Answer my question or I will arrest you right now for contempt!
SA: Alright, alright...calm down, old man. I believe I did go bar-hopping in Timber awhile back.
MJ: And you were thrown out of the Bouncing Turtle?
SA: I guess that might've happened at some point.
MJ: I see, and...can you tell me what happened that night?
SA: I don't quite remember too clearly. I was shit-faced, y'see.
MJ: Don't lie to me!
SA: I'm not! I was so drunk I had a hangover for a week afterwards!
MJ: NO! Gordon Kayle was the bouncer who threw you out, was he not?!
SA: Whoa...was he?
MJ: YES!
SA: Hmm...I suppose this looks extremely bad then, seeing as how Gordon's been murdered.
MJ: It would seem so.
SA: I didn't do it though! I swear!
MJ: So, you were in your dorm before 7 yesterday morning, and you met Quistis around 7?
SA: Yeah.
MJ: Do you know of anyone who could confirm that you were not, in fact, in Instructor Trepe's classroom, murdering a bar bouncer who had angered you in the past?
SA: ...no.
MJ: Alright then. I believe we've established motive...
SA: Motive?! I didn't even recognize the guy! The evidence is purely circumstantial!
MJ: Yes or no, you are to come with me right now.
*BEEP*END TAPE
* * *
Transcript of Audio Tape #3
Interview with Quistis Trepe
March 18
"Mikel Jervich again, here with your much-awaited next interview. It's 12:23 P.M. and I want some lunch, so lets get this on."
*CLUNK*
MJ: Miss Trepe, according to your personal statement, you met Mr. Almasy on the way to your class a few minutes before 7 A.M.?
QT: That's correct.
MJ: Did you notice anything unusual about him?
QT: What do you mean?
MJ: Well...did he look flustered? Tired? Spattered with blood?
QT: What?! You don't think Seifer murdered him?
MJ: Miss Trepe, according to our information, he's the only suspect.
QT: But that's impossible...why would he kill Gordon?
MJ: We do have evidence of a motive being present.
QT: And what would your motive be?
MJ: I'm not at liberty to divulge it right now.
QT: ...
MJ: Miss Trepe, please stop glaring at me.
QT: I'll vouch for Seifer. He's changed since the Sorceress War, and there's no way he would do something this stupid. I know.
MJ: Miss Trepe, your personal opinion of the suspect won't carry much weight in a court-martial.
QT: Oh, it won't?
MJ: ...
QT: ...
MJ: Right, well, I have a few more questions...could you take a look at this?
QT: Gordon's post-mortem?
MJ: Exactly. Flip through it, please.
(Short pause)
MJ: Now, you've been a SeeD since you were fifteen and an Instructor since you were seventeen, correct?
QT: Right...there was a short time when I lost my Instructor license.
MJ: But you got it back?
QT: After the Sorceress War, yes.
MJ: So you are an experienced expert in weaponry?
QT: ...yes.
MJ: And are you aware of the type of weapon Mr. Almasy specializes in?
QT: ...the gunblade. But he's not the only one, not by far. Other students...
MJ: I'm aware of that. But, is Gordon Kayle's wound the type that could easily be caused by a gunblade?
QT: ...yes.
MJ: And do you, or anybody you know, have any way of vouching as to Seifer's whereabouts before 7 in the morning yesterday?
QT: ...
MJ: Miss Trepe? Are you alright?
QT: Fine...no, I mean...I don't know.
MJ: Alright then. Thank you, Miss Trepe.
*BEEP*END TAPE
* * *
Transcript of Audio Tape #4
Personal Notes of Mikel Jervich
March 18
"Mikel Jervich here. It's about 6:30, I just finished dinner, and I suppose I should ramble into this microphone for a bit before I type up my next report. For posterity's sake."
"Current suspect is Seifer Almasy, aged 19, 6' 2", 190 lbs. Recently graduated into SeeD and has a rather...uh...checkered past. However, I have been advised by Cid to not let his past bias my current handling of his case."
"Seifer was incarcerated late this morning with much difficulty and continues to struggle. He continually complains that he is being framed and that there is no evidence against him. He is at least half right."
"Adrian Shepherd supplied us with a motive. True, it's a petty and unclear motive, but I'm a drowning man grasping at straw's here. Seifer continues to profess that he had no idea he was thrown out of a bar by the victim, nor that he has any memory of a conflict with the victim or his friend. I'm willing to put that down to the fact that Seifer was imbibed at the time. Aside from all that, though, evidence is thin. I had some tests run on his gunblade. They found A LOT of blood residue, but none that matched Kayle's DNA. Also, a search of his dorm room turned up nothing. No bloody clothes, no alternative murder weapon, no pink frosted donuts. Nothing."
"Sure, I have my doubts too...but he is the only one close to being a suspect. Absolutely nobody else we know of was in the area at the time, and apparently everyone besides Seifer thought the kid was a saint."
"That's all I got to say for now. Jervich out."
*BEEP*END TAPE
* * *
BALAMB GARDEN JUDICIARY TRIBUNAL
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE ALPHA (SICA)
Second Report
March 18
Subject: Gordon Kayle, 18 yrs old, Junior SeeD cadet. Found dead in Instructor Trepe's classroom 6:57 A.M., March 17.
Suspect(s): Seifer Almasy, 19 yrs. Old, SeeD operative. Unconfirmed alibi.
Motive: Report of past altercation between suspect and victim in a Timber Bar. Violent history of the suspect suggests that this is a revenge killing over a petty offense.
Evidence: None, pending further investigation.
It is the current opinion of this committee that Seifer Almasy was the only one with a motive to kill Gordon Kayle. Mr. Almasy was known to be in the area at the time of the murder, and had the training and weaponry to execute the murder. However, there are still no eyewitnesses and no murder weapon has been discovered and confirmed.
Mr. Almasy has been incarcerated with the intention of holding him until the investigation is complete. This committee requests that the court- martial be delayed until hard evidence is discovered.
mj/xh END REPORT
* * *