Bad Influence- Chapter 7
Perfectly legit, sir
Rozi
** Well, another suitcase in another hall, take your picture of another wall… er… I'll stop with the Evita references. Right then, it's all going DARK… did Angua really go Wolfgang? Or is something else going on? *Twilight Zone theme* Do do do do do do… *hits her head on the wall* Sorry peeps! I'm going slightly mad… I'm going slightly mad… it finally happened- *gets dragged away to have her pills administered* **
** You'd thought you'd heard the last of me?! Well, I'm back! WMHAHAHAHAH!!!!! It's about bloody time I updated right? I have had a bunch of college work to do and I am going to finish this fic if it kills me! I don't care if people don't read it; I am GOING TO FINISH IT SOME HOW!!!!... Hah. **
School had become hard for Elsa, it had been two days since they had first brought her mother in and her father felt that this was no excuse to skip school. Rex had to agree, but even he looked slightly withdrawn in the lessons.
Both of them had watch their mother steadily worsen, she got her sense of smell back and Igor said her lungs were healing, but she had not come out for the medical cell for the last two days, their father had visited her, but she refused to see him. She was barely eating, she just wanted drinks of water to soothe the scratching coughing fits she launched into on a regular basis.
Elsa stared blankly ahead and thought 'This is probably the last time I'll see the school, last time I'll sleep in my bed tonight.'
She turned to see Sam was looking at her, he smiled brightly and mouthed "You okay?"
She nodded, though quiet plainly she wasn't.
She looked over at Rex; he looked so solemn and distant. He was writing and working, but he did not seem to be really concentrating.
Elsa thought of her dad, he had tried to make every thing look like business as usual, but even he was feeling the strain. Bags were forming under his eyes and both of them knew he wasn't sleeping.
Mr Vimes was very helpful, he was really trying to help out on the case and he had stayed at the murder scene all night looking for clues. Carrot had always said that Vimes was a great man and she was beginning to believe him.
That man from the Times had published an article about a suspicious murder, but it had largely gone unnoticed so far, but that was because Mr De Worde had put that the Watch had little or no information on the murder but they had arrested a suspect 'who was to be named at a later date'. He had also put the story on the middle pages of his paper rather than on the front page. That should keep the lid on things for a while, but soon people were going to catch on. It wouldn't be long, Elsa knew it.
She heard a silence descend onto the room, and realised that they class was looking at her, she glared back.
"Miss Elsa, are you planning to answer the question?"
Miss Sto Helit stood over her with an unreadable expression.
Elsa looked up with an icy stare in her eyes; Susan's expression did not change.
"Well?" She said.
"I wasn't listening Miss," Elsa said coldly.
Susan shook her head "I guessed as much, you are to stay after class."
Not a muscle, not a flicker on Elsa's face suggested that she cared.
Rex turned round and tried to catch Elsa's eyes, Sam did the same, but she bowed her head to the floor.
A few whispers bubbled up from the classroom behind her, from several directions, but they quickly subsided when met with the heavy gazes of Rex and Sam.
"Settle down, we could do without that," said Susan calmly, "now, does anyone know the answer to the question?"
School dragged on for what seemed like far too long for Rex, Elsa and Sam. Elsa stayed in the classroom for the whole day it seemed, Rex and Sam waited patiently outside the classroom for her at the end of the day.
"Your dad won't be happy," said Sam.
"I know, neither will yours," Rex replied.
They leant against the wall in silence, Sam coughed "Um… Rex…"
"Yes?"
"Does Elsa really have to go if… you know…it happened?"
Rex didn't reply for a while, he seemed to be concentrating at the floor for a moment in deep thought and then said "Dad wouldn't want them to go."
"Would he stop them?"
"I… think so…"
They stood in silence once again both hoping Rex was right.
Susan sat at her desk and tried to meet Elsa's gaze, but it was fixed to the floor. Susan had to be the first to admit she was not always the best person to comfort a depressed child, but she had done it before with some success. She waited for someone to speak.
Unfortunately it turned out to be her.
"Elsa, are you going to talk to me?" Asked Susan.
"No."
There was another pause.
'She's doing what Dad does, the silent treatment,' thought Elsa, 'except…'
Except Susan's silences some how emphasised that time was passing, lots of it. She could hear the loud tick of a clock.
"Um…" Elsa began.
"Yes?"
"I… mother…she's…"
Susan nodded "I heard, your mother is not doing terribly well and rumours are beginning to spread."
Elsa didn't say anything.
"I want to help," Susan reached into her desk draw and pulled out a tiny hour glass, "I think there's a way that you can at least gather evidence for your mother's case."
'Guilty or innocent,' Susan added mentally.
Now Elsa looked up "Really?"
"I want you to go to Treacle Mine road, get there for precisely… five o'clock… you'll meet someone who will assist you. Ask him about the murder. If you can persuade him, tell him Susan sent you and get your brother to ask the questions."
Elsa leaned forward "You know someone who was there?!"
"Oh yes,"
"Why?"
"It's his job to be there."
Elsa burst out of the classroom, followed by an astonished Rex and Sam who had to run to keep up.
"Elsa!" Sam cried when he finally caught up, "What's the matter? Where're you-"
She didn't answer and carried on going.
"Elsa," Rex ran up stood in front of her, "What's going on?"
She stopped and tried to push past them without success.
"We've got to get to Treacle Mine road!" She snapped, "Come on!"
"But Dad's probably worried-" Rex began.
"I don't CARE! This is important! It could help mother, you have to come with me!" Elsa tugged at Rex's sleeve angrily "Rex!"
He stared at her, something like disbelief in his eyes, but he could see his sister's desperate expression.
"Elsa… I want to help mother to, but-" he begun.
"Then move! Miss Sto Helit said we'd meet someone who could help us! Please Rex, I need you to help, you're important to this!"
He looked to Sam, who shrugged and then back to Elsa. "Why do you need me?"
"You're good with people," said Elsa irritably "come ON!"
Angua felt better, she wanted to get up, but when she tried, either her legs would buckle under her or Cheery would insist she had to return to bed. Her head still pounded, but she was beginning to get things into focus faster now.
She couldn't remember anything still, that worried her more and more. She could feel the wolf stir excitedly at the possibility it had made a kill.
All that blood, that chase, the sound of screaming and the flash of pearl white teeth-
She shut her eyes and tried to shut it out, but it was no good, it came back in a shriek of brutish rage.
Yet…
She had a feeling, just a feeling, that she didn't do it! She had a motive true enough, but what good would it have done her if she had carried it out? None, she and her daughter would have been run out, she would lose the love and respect of her son and husband-
But what would that matter to a monster? They don't care who they kill or the consequences. A monster kills for the fun of it, for the sheer joy of spilling living blood.
Wolfgang's probably laughing at me, she thought, he always said that it would happen to me one day.
Gods, what if she turned when Carrot or Rex had been near?! They were human; they were perfect targets for a werewolf- NO!
Rex…. Her son, her child, her baby! Even a wild werewolf knows not to kill their own children, but… it didn't matter to my mother did it? She let Wolfgang kill Elsa without a second thought. But I'm different! I love my children, I would never ever even think of killing them! I wouldn't…
But… if I didn't… then who did? Who else could it have been? Who else was there? Apart from me… she tried to think back to that night… there was me, D'mitre and… someone else! They set off the silver nitrate, they were the ones who beat her nearly to death, and they killed D'mitre!
Another werewolf perhaps? No, that wasn't right, what about the silver? They wouldn't have survived, or at least wouldn't have been able to get away so quickly. So what else could it have been? A man? Well, the silver gas would have got them to; it would have suffocated them to, unless they were skilled alchemists or something and knew what they were doing. But they wouldn't have been able to account for the attack… what had happened? She was on her way; she had passed the bridge, and then bumped into someone… It was dark, but she was able to- No, she couldn't remember their scent, they must have had one, but she couldn't define it, but they had walked straight past her anyway. Then she fell forward and there was a sound of breaking glass and then burning… oh Gods, that burning smell, then the burning air, like being trapped in a fire. The air heavy and boring into your lungs, your eyes, your skin all on fire! She felt the wolf scream and wriggle, like a wounded animal and she tried to think rationally through the burning… That shadow, who ever it was, they had something to do with it. They must have had a scent, but she couldn't remember! All she could smell was burning and her own pain… but… something came back to her slowly…. Like a new fragment of the picture, a clue, fitted somewhere.
Lavender, she liked that smell, it was sweet and comforting. She felt her eyelids ache and she begun to fall asleep again. She hadn't been so tired in her life! Not since when she was expecting the twins, that had drained every scrap of energy right out of her. She had never wanted to get up, she had just wanted to sleep… to sleep…
A noise and commotion upstairs caused her eyes to snap open; she could hear loud, angry voices.
Rex, Elsa and Sam screeched to a halt outside the entrance to Treacle Mine Road, Elsa looked around and stepped in saying "Hello? Is anyone-"
Rex winced and Sam's face drained of all colour. Elsa looked down and saw it.
She had never been a fan of cats, obviously, but looking down on the pathetic discovery even her inner puppy felt a little pang. A small, dirty cat with mattered black fur lay still on the cobbles, breathing awkwardly.
"A dead cat," said Sam unimpressed, "what good's that going to do?"
"It's not dead," said Elsa, "but it's dying, it doesn't make sense…"
AHEM.
They turned; a tall robed figure was coughing politely.
IF YOU WOULD EXCUSE ME? I HAVE A RATHER PRESSING CALL OF DUTY.
They watched him pass them silently and keel down beside the dying cat, there was a flash of blue and the cat breathed no more.
I TOLD HIM THAT HE ONLY HAD ONE LIFE LEFT, BUT HE NEVER LISTENED, the figure said with a hint of annoyance, TYPICAL. NEVER WAS GOOD AT LOOKING WHERE HE WAS GOING.
The children stared in amazement.
"Um… excuse me?" Elsa managed "Who are you?"
It turned and said WHO DO I LOOK LIKE?
They mulled this over for a while and Rex said "Death?"
WELL DONE…REX IRONFOUNDERSSON, YOU ALWAYS WAS AS SHARP AS YOUR DAD, PITY REALLY CONSIDERING… OH, SHOULDN'T HAVE TOLD YOU THAT… SORRY.
"It's okay," said Rex, "we were just wondering… do you know someone called Susan? Susan Sto Helit?"
Death thought for a moment and said YES, WHY DO YOU ASK?
"She said that you could help us with our enquiries," said Rex, sounding oddly familiar to Death.
AH YES, SHE TOLD ME TO EXPECT YOU, YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE MURDER OF MR D'mitre, aM i RIGHT?
"Yes, do you have anything that may help us?"
Death pondered for a brief moment and said I MIGHT DO, BUT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD TELL YOU, IT WON'T GO DOWN TO WELL.
"Why not?"
WELL… IT JUST… WOULDN'T… LOOK I'M VERY BUSY AT THE MOMENT… WELL ALWAYS BUSY, BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT-
"It will not take too long, you just have to answer a few questions and you can go about your business."
Death pondered for a bit and finally said VERY WELL, BUT I HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY. IF THE NATURE OF CAUSALITY GETS MESSED I'LL KNOW WHO TO BLAME.
"Thank you, ok, first thing can I ask you about the night of the murder of one Mr D'mitre?" Rex produced a notebook from his back pocket and a small pencil.
Death leaned on his scythe WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHO THE MURDERER WAS, I OBVIOUSLY DEAL WITH THE AFTER RATHER THAN CASUES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS; IT WASN'T A WEREWOLF THAT KILLED HIM.
Rex nodded "Can you give us a theory at least as to what did?"
A LARGE WILD ANIMAL IS THE BEST I CAN DO, SORRY.
"Hmm, thank you, can you tell me what makes you think it wasn't a werewolf?"
FOR A START, A WEREWOLF WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STAND UP LET ALONE TEAR A FULLY GROWN MAN TO PIECES IN THAT MIST OF SILVER DIOXIDE THAT WAS WAFTING ABOUT.
"Oh Gods!" Elsa gasped.
YOUR MOTHER WAS EXCEPTIONALLY LUCKY I WOULD HAVE TO SAY YOUNG ELSA, TOO LUCKY IF I WAS HONEST. ANY WAY, YOUR MOTHER WAS LONG UNCOSCIOUS WHEN I GOT THERE, AND IT WASN'T D'MITRE'S BLOOD ON HER HANDS EITHER.
"Whose was it then?"
NO IDEA, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER ATTACKERS. OR HER'S. IS THAT ALL? I HAVE SAID A LOT ALREADY.
"Just a few more things if you please," Rex turned a page on his note book, "Where did the burn mark on Sgt. Angua's stomach come from?"
Death pondered this for a while, THAT WAS D'MITRE'S KNIFE I ASSUME, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO ATTACK HER BEFORE WHATEVER GOT HER, GOT HIM. BUT WHAT SURPRISES ME IS THAT WHY THE ATTACKER KILLED D'MITRE AND NOT ANGUA.
"That is puzzling."
YES. CAN I GO?
"Yes, just one more thing," Rex shut the book and looked up at Death, straight into his skull, his deep blue eyes not moving from the blue dots that occupied Death's limitless black sockets "Why did my mother survive the attack? Only just I'll admit, but she survived, though I am grateful for this I want to know why and how."
Death looked back at the boy and shrugged BEATS ME KID; PERHAPS THE ATTACKER WANTED ANGUA TO SURVIVE?
"Ah, yes that would make sense I suppose, why it does will need further investigation I think."
NOW CAN I GO? I HAVE A LOT OF APPOINTMENTS YOU KNOW, BOOKED UP FROM HERE TO ETERNITY WHAT WITH A PLAGUE IN GENUA AND A SHIP WRECK IN THE CIRCLE SEA.
"I understand and I am very grateful for your helpful assistance Mr Death, you may go."
YOU'RE WELCOME, GOOD LUCK BY THE WAY, AND TELL SUSAN NOT TO MAKE A HABIT OF SENDING KIDS TO ASK ME QUESTIONS.
"I will and thanks again."
With that, Death was gone.
"Rex!" Said Sam in amazement, "You just questioned Death!"
The boy nodded brightly "That was most helpful, what a nice… err… anthropomorphic personification!"
Elsa, even in the midst of rising hope met Sam's astounded stare "If you weren't related to him you wouldn't believe it."
The atmosphere at the Watch house was tense, Vimes sat at his desk staring at the two day old copy of the Ankh Morpork Times, well at least the irritating little bastard knew when to keep his mouth shut, he thought, but that's because he's found a way of not lying without telling the truth. That will only get you so far, soon you're going to have questions you can't dance around. I'm going to be answerable to them.
"What a mess," he muttered, "what a bloody mess."
He thought about Carrot, he definitely looked worse for wear, but as usual he was getting on with things. What the bloody hell was wrong with him?! His wife, his gods damned WIFE, was slipping in and out of a barely stable state, his daughter could be taken away from him and on top of everything else he could be blamed for some of it! He knew that a werewolf was in the Watch and had known for some time, but not only had he not cared he had married her! And they'd had kids! What about the whole-
Ye Gods, the King business; it always came down to that in the end didn't it? Carrot's the King, it's as plain as the nose on your face but he has been so happy all of this time being a watchman. What those royalist bastards suddenly found out about Rex and Elsa? Rex, he could easily be a new heir to the throne, he probably had that birthmark for all he knew, but he not only had a twin sister who was a werewolf, but he must have werewolf blood as well. A king with werewolf blood? That was going to upset things. The royalist will be up in arms, "We can't have werewolves on the throne and we can't allow him to get away with tainting the royal blood line!"
Maybe this was far fetched, it sounded like it! No one was that stupid or that crazy… Vimes' hand went up to his eye, or rather the patch where his eye had been, and he winced. There were people who were that crazy. He should know. Crazy enough to murder innocent people and, with the fresh blood still on their hands, still claim that they were innocent.
Crazy enough to kill two young children and their mother for the good of Ankh Morpork's state security. Vimes felt like screaming, Gods how he would like to just get a crossbow and line them up and-
His hand was on the drawer before he realised it, no, that was a stupid thing to do. I haven't had a drink for over ten years and I'm not going to start now. He was going to… do something. Get on with it.
Try not to think about it and get on with it. That was his job. No amount of royalist nutcases and bloodthirsty murderers was going to stop him.
He leant back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. For the first time in his life he was beginning to see what Carrot was doing, he was doing what Vimes wanted to do; only he was very good at it. He could get on with his job because, as per usual, personal wasn't the same as important.
But when it concerned your family? Who knows?
Vimes' chair thumped back down to the floor when he heard a sound of a door slamming open and a commotion. He could watchmen shouting and yelling and the sound of a woman, full of her own importance coupled by grief, calling to see the commander of the Watch to see her this instant.
He got up and walked quickly out to the commotion. When he got there he was confronted by possibly the worst thing next down from an angry mob.
"Ah, Mrs D'mitre I assume."
Mrs D'mitre, the fifth one Vimes remember, or possibly the sixth, was very young. Or at least looked it, she wore the heights of Ankh Morpork fashion, thick gold jewellery and a plaster of make up. He found her irritating most of the time, she also seemed to be in a constant state of pregnancy, Vimes could swear that he hadn't seen her not pregnant for quite sometime. She wasn't this time however. She looked a positive state of misery, complete with running mascara and pouting lip. (I hope non-Brits don't find this insulting. I am basing her on just about every British TV celebrity ever in existence. Because they monumentally piss me off. It's nothing personal! Well, perhaps it is.)
"Mr Vimes!" She shouted loud enough for everyone to hear "My husband is dead! I want the… thing… what killed him! I want justice!"
Vimes resisted the urge to say 'I think justice was served ma'am, if I ever found out who killed that bastard I'll pat them on the back before punching their lights out for what they did to Sgt Angua.'
"We are working on it, but we won't find out who did it over night so if you'll just-"
"You have the killer right under your nose, she's down in the cells right now and your treating her! We ought to string her up right now!"
Vimes' face said nothing.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You heard," spat Mrs D'mitre nastily, "that Sgt Angua's a bloody werewolf! We all know it and she killed my husband!"
Vimes still remained blank "I'm sorry, but I am going to have to ask you to leave."
"You're treating her special cause she's an officer! That's not justice!"
Vimes took a deep breath "When we find the killer we will take him, or her, to a court of law and try them fairly."
"They don't deserve no fair trail! They ought to be strung up-"
"Excuse me ma'am," a voice purred from behind her, "Mr Vimes, we wish to speak to you on the trial of Sgt Angua."
Vimes' momentary confusion was answered by the face connected to the voice. It was a very tall woman (almost as tall as Carrot!), strongly built with heavy, sandy bronzed skin and deep green eyes. He breathed in a wave of over-powering flowery perfume.
"My name is Zara Modagambi; I am representing her as a legal advisor in the trial of her husband's murderer."
Vimes stared up her and his eyes narrowed; a bloody lawyer! That's all he needed.
"Guild member?" He asked.
"Yes Mr Vimes," she said, her voice was deep and alluring "I hope we can settle this peacefully, but as you can imagine, my client is very upset."
"Listen, I'll admit that there is a huge amount of circumstantial evidence against the Sergeant, but that's no reason for-"
"Which is why my client and I want a fair trial," Zara opened a bag full of papers "My client wants to see her husband's killer tried justly and legally. Is that not fair Mr Vimes? Or is it Sir Samuel?"
"Mr Vimes," said Vimes dismissively, "Listen, Angua is not well, she has had a bad attack and-"
"Mr Vimes, I want to have fair trial."
Vimes turned, Angua was limping up the stairs, she wore a loose fitting white shirt, her face was sullen and her hair hung from her like rat's tails. She looked such a state that he almost wanted to cry. He ran forward to help her up, but she limped away and confronted Mrs D'mitre.
"I'm sorry for you're husband, but I did not kill him," she said, quietly, harshly, "please believe me."
Mrs D'mitre's face screwed up in fury and, pulling her hand back, slapped Angua plain across the cheek.
The whole place fell silent, no one spoke, no a sound not even a breath was drawn in the ringing silence that followed. Angua's face remained turned; a red, raw mark glowed on her cheek. Vimes swallowed. Oh Gods, Oh Gods, He thought, Angua's going to-
No one wanted to expect it, but everyone knew what was coming.
Angua turned in a flurry of mattered hair both hands clutched at Mrs D'mitre's throat before anyone could stop her.
"How dare you!" Angua rasped "I spent my life trying not to turn into a raging beast, not to kill people like you with my bare hands, and I could! Make no mistake I could tear you apart! But Gods, I'm not going to! But I sometimes wonder why I even bother!"
Vimes grabbed Angua around the shoulders and pulled her away, even in her fragile state she was terribly strong, angry tears ran from her eyes and down her cheeks. Other watchmen tried to restrain her.
Gods I wish Carrot was here! Where the hell is he?! Vimes' thoughts were whirled away in a flurry of angry arms as Angua struggled to get free. He tried calling her name several times "Angua! Angua! STOP!"
Then, she stopped.
Angua's face, streaked with tears, looked up into Vimes' face. Vimes felt that pang again, he had never seen such a pitiful sight, she looked three days away from Hell and now she had nearly, nearly killed someone! Horror stretched over Angua's face, she shook herself free and ran downstairs.
"Oh Gods," he muttered.
Mrs D'mitre coughed and coughed, struggling to her feet and she pointed a finger at Vimes "How could you even breath the same air as that… that… monster! She nearly killed me! She's a Gods-damned werewolf and you know it!"
Vimes breathed rapidly "You'll have your trial! I hope you're happy Mrs D'mitre, I do! Because what you're about to do is break up a family just so that your husband's bigoted opinions can live on!"
"Now now Commander," said Zara calmly, "let's not get irrational, we shall schedule the trial for… oh… next week? Should give you enough time to find the sergeant some legal representation and gather a… ha… case? I will speak to you another time. Come Mrs D'mitre."
Before the two women swept out of the room Mrs D'mitre spun round and spat "I hope she hangs!"
The door slammed behind them.
"I'm sorry Captain," Vimes leaned against his desk "Gods you don't know how sorry I am."
Rex and Elsa had been told to wait outside, but Elsa could hear everything anyway. Sam patted her sympathetically on the back as Rex hugged her tightly.
"A trial?" Said Carrot eventually, "It's only fair, we will do it properly. Legally."
"Captain, call me insensitive, but how can you be so damned calm?!" Vimes' sudden outburst made the children jump "How are you going to help by being legal? We have to do something drastic otherwise you lose your child! And your wife!"
"No sir, if I gamble Elsa and Angua on breaking the law then they undermine my case and take them away without hearing another word. I could never forgive myself sir; I love them to much for that."
"How are you going to get them out of this? You're going to have to be dishonest, you have to lie about Angua, if those courts find out she's a werewolf then we're bloody done for!"
"It doesn't have to come to that sir, I'll find a way."
"Captain I know this has been stressful for you, but please think about this-"
"I am, I will, I'll need some time, but I know the laws sir and I'll construct a case some how."
There was a painful silence, Vimes sighed "All right Captain, I'd better give you time off, you'll need all the help you can get."
"That won't be necessary sir, I can manage."
"Captain no one's expecting you to work shifts round the clock and try and construct a legal case," said Vimes desperately.
"I will work better if I'm still on the Watch sir, I need to keep going."
"Oh all right, fin, but if you need help-"
"Thanks sir, it's much appreciated."
Carrot opened the door to the office and saw his children, "Go to bed you two, please," Carrot said.
They did with no arguments.
Carrot went out on patrol the next day and every day after that, what else could he do? He couldn't sleep, the best thing he could do is something useful so he went out to the Unseen University library to research. Vimes let him, what good would it do to try and stop him? Besides, Carrot was good at finding out things, perhaps he'd recover something. Anything would do.
Candle in hand Carrot searched the shelves of the library for anything, the legal section was lacking in anything that could help, but Carrot's copy of The Laws and Audiences of the Cities of Ankh Morpork reappeared and he thumbed through it looking, ticking off, making notes. He looked in the zoology section and he spread iconographs of the body (parts) of Mr D'mitre (all seventeen of them) on the table. He stared at the photographs and then at the books, he shut them and looked further.
Three hours later the Librarian was snoring in his heap, dreaming of bananas and red balloons (read The Last Hero, it will make sense), and Carrot was browsing the species section of the library. He finally came to an old, battered book that looked suitably untouched. He opened it.
He smiled to himself.
It would be a fair trial alright. Justice was going to be spooned out in every painful, indigestible mouthful.
To Be Continued…..
*** I must apologise for the lack of updates, the length and the lack of mercy on my favourite characters, but it needs to be done! ***
