2002 October 18, Never Never Land
The table was hard and cold, made from some metal substitute for wood. The rapping of her nails on it sounded sharp and precise, no life to the sound, it was empty and instant. Did not go past the present and lasted only a few moments. She coiled her nails inward to a fist and tapped heavily before one by one unfurling each finger and using them like instruments to be played with. The constant tap and rap she made appeared to unnerve the constable sitting opposite. She smiled to her self mentally; it was a trick that had served her well. The one treasure of childhood. No one dared questioned her when she sat and did this, it made a clear statement to any in attendance, do not mess with me 'my friend'. She'd entered the cell over an hour ago. She'd sat there for just over an hour, silently. The agent had started asking her of her involvement with her colleagues, of what she knew of them now. No one name was mentioned or asked about. He was playing the game, break her, make her, turn the info out.
So transparent, anyone would think she was one more suspect to be dealt with. She could laugh, did they not know she'd worked for the NSA for over 4 years, had seen Ramsey take part in this kind of charade every damn week, not to mention she had a good amount of training in psychology. Of course she could just smile anyway, see what amused him. How long til he gives up, what strategy next? Will it be blackmail, double bluff, guilt trip, bombardment, deprivation, good cop/bad cop..
He shifted in his seat, crossed his leg over right for the tenth time this hour. 10 more minutes, she'd break. Even one question and she'd be his, the door opened a millimetre still meant it was open.
Nah. who was he kidding, she wouldn't break. She was a disciplined scientist, the perfect government employee, a psychologist for hell's sake, she knew all the tricks twice as well as him.
He only had one card left. Sheer Shock.
He knew.
She didn't.
It would only work if the rumours intelligence had gathered were true, and he doubted she was a completely emotionless bitch, this fitted the bill exactly..now to business.
He hovered above for a few minutes, stretched and brought his hand over his mouth and yawned carefree. She watched his every move knowing he'd turned to plan B, possibly it was plan C, his last straw.
He pushed his clasped hand out and clicked his fingers effortlessly before sitting back down and smiling in standard government issue posture, check listing too, a malicious edge to his glower that said he'd got her.
"You are here in reference to the late captain F B. Parker and the circumstances previous to the incident which happened on October 17 at 04:00 hours at Hansen Island government medical institute." He took on a harsh bearing of indifference while spewing the statement, he didn't care, why should he. He knew it's worth; the human in question however had none in this. if at all. This only served his purpose, she would crack like a kitten as he offered his condolences and pried details out of her, all in the faith "of bringing the event to justice".
She stammered ".the ..the.Late.Mr.Parker....?" her head shook unsteadily a fraction to each side as she spoke.
One more victim of the scum, no doubt, he thought. Mind you she was no better than our captain dearest.he shouldn't be fooled by pretty features..she was a defector.do it once. could always be done again.
He breathed in sighing at how easy his job could be sometimes, it was all about how you approached each obstacle, he'd got his angle alright.
"The late captain Frank Bartholomew Parker, deceased as of October 17 04:15 hours. Found in his cell, slashed throat, suicide. used his uncut nails. That circumstance was unforeseen and regrettably the medics could not save him, perhaps if they'd been notified earlier but the five minutes between each check-up of the cell can make a substantial amount of difference as we can bear witness to."
Tears ran down her face, she stared blankly across the table, a sour anger emanating from her despite the plain face she put up.
"He is dead"
"Yes" he answered expectantly. Doubts began to form, maybe it wasn't the right swing on it. Damned disciplined bitch, holding out as long as he was. She shouldn't be playing the game, he was the predator not the prey. NO, she shouldn't, COULDN'T destroy his position, she only needed a few more guided pushes to the edge.
"Then it is no use to question me"
"On the contrary, we have reason to believe information was smuggled out previous to his death, with captain parker as the source. We need to find the recipient" He moved over, arms straight laced onto the desk and holding his position above her, over her statuesquely.
He would win
She raised her head in an instant and grinned laughing manically in his face, glimmering sheen of the water on her face still there.
"You have reason to believe information was smuggled out of a TOP security facility, given by a man the government has categorically labelled mentally unstable and barely coherent. And that subsequently he committed suicide, over a matter of what...exactly? Honour? FEAR?.CAPTAIN PARKER was already in the most demeaning place he could ever be, already in the most terrifying situation possible, he was also one of the most loyal people that has ever been in the service of this government. For 15 YEARS he gave all to this country, He put his life on the line every single day and near sacrificed his sanity and now..now.you talk of treason and suicide and try to tie this in with me, with one of our former colleagues. There is NO premise of which your reasoning is based on which isn't embarrassingly false and an insult to the fine employees of our government, who as of late are few and far between. Now, Mr. Kline, do not attempt to "console" me or question me further for you will meet a cold, hard IMPENETRIBLE brick wall of apathy. I DO NOT CARE about your superficial mission to solve this so called case. You have no idea of the meaning of this."
He smirked off her insult, she didn't matter. She was clueless, living in the past and on memories of what a man used to be, no knowledge of reality was in her vocabulary.
"It's Director Kline. and I do recall it seems rather strange shall we say, that you refer to our glorious government as "this government", that's mighty fine thin ice you're walking on there for a commie defector. Good seeing to you Miss Vukavitch."
He gestured to the men in black to take her away. Well, well he'd hit a nerve. A bit of fine tuning and he could find out everything, but she wasn't worth it, nothing she knew could play into this. Better off making it up, the truth certainly wasn't going to air here. He might even be able to pin her in somehow but then someone else might be better for that role. Someone who was more of a threat.
He shuffled reports on the desk briefly before opening up one and scanning the contents.ah.here we are.Doctor Andrew Owsley, a far superior contender. 5.4.3.2.1. score.