Wrongfully Accused

Chapter Thirteen

Quistis awoke with a start to the sound of the phone. She looked over at the alarm clock on her bedside table. 11:15pm. "What the?" Angrily she picked up the receiver and held it to her ear. "Trepe."

"Shit, I didn't get you up did I?"

"Danny? No. Well yes, but I haven't been asleep that long. What is it?"

"I got something here you might want to see."

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you over the phone. My supervisors would kill me if they found out."

"Found out what?"

"Can you come down to the station?"

"Now?"

"Yeah, I'm the only one in this area of the building at the moment, aside from the normal security guards."

"Damn, this better be worth it."

"It is, believe me it is."

____________________

Quistis rubbed her hands together, trying to warm them as she walked briskly down the alleyway. She didn't like walking around this part of town, especially at this time of night, but it was far more discreet than walking down the main street. 'I gotta be crazy, getting out of bed to walk through the back streets of Deling at midnight. I swear, if this is just another one of Danny's pranks I'll pummel his face until daybreak.' Daniel Lait had once been a friend of hers from garden. He'd since dropped out and had joined the police force like his father had wanted. Unfortunately he'd been stuck with menial jobs such as assisting in the evidence room for the past year, with no hint of a promotion. Quistis had called him a couple of days ago asking him to keep an eye out for anything relating to the mission. Even though she considered him a friend, she wasn't too keen on relying on him for such things. He was well known around the garden as a prankster who never hesitated to cross the line.

Reaching the police station she walked around to the side entrance where Danny was waiting for her.

"Took you long enough."

"Danny, after getting me to come down here in the freezing cold you are in no position to ..." Quistis glared at him angrily as he began to laugh. "What?"

"Oh nothing. I just remembered that I'm on my break and could have picked you up." He smirked at her annoyed expression.

"You little shit. You made me walk all the way down here for nothing!"

"Shhh, keep your voice down Quistis. It was just a little joke."

"Little?! I'm freezing my ass off here!"

"Well if you stop talking we can go inside." He laughed.

"I can't believe you'd pull a prank at a time like this... I see that Danny!" Quistis snapped at him as she caught him mimicking her behind her back."

"Lighten up Quistis." He closed the door behind them. "Come on, evidence room is this way."

He led them down the hall, then a flight of stairs before unlocking a door at, what Quistis assumed was the back of the station. Inside, the back of the room was sealed off by a glass wall.

"Where's the guard?" Quistis asked.

"I am the guard."

"But I thought you said you were on a break."

"Yeah, I am. But nobody else knows that."

Quistis rolled her eyes. "You haven't changed a bit. You're going to get caught, just like you did when you skipped class back at garden."

"Eh, what are they gonna do? Arrest me?" He smiled at his own joke before entering the back part of the room.

"Is this it? You keep all the evidence here?" Quistis asked in disbelief.

"Nah, this is where we keep the stuff we steal from the bums that get locked up for the night."

"Not funny."

"Sure it is, you're just cranky."

"Danny!!"

"Through here." He unlocked another door and led them into smaller room. The walls of this room were filled with items concealed in plastic bags or clear boxes. Towards the back was something that looked like an oversized safe.

"This is where we keep the items of real importance." Danny said, unlocking the 'safe'. He leaned in and pulled out a long object concealed in a metal box. He placed it carefully on the table in the center of the room.

"What is this?" Quistis asked.

"They found it in a back room at the nightclub."

"Daniel I've already gone over the evidence for that case, there's nothing I can use...."

"You haven't seen this, it's been kept out of the reports. I shouldn't even know about it. Sorta came across it by accident, then did a little researching to find out what it was from." Quistis walked over and began to open the lid, but Danny reached over and grabbed her wrist.

"Wha..." Quistis looked up at him in surprise.

"They say this belonged to the main suspect. The one that seems to have disappeared off the face of the planet."

".........."

"Just warning you."

"... fine." Quistis opened the casing revealing the concealed item. Her hand flew to her mouth as she stared down at the object. "Hyperion." She continued to stare at the object in disbelief.

"Quistis?"

"It's not possible, it's not him."

"Quistis....."

"He's been living in FH for almost a year. He..." She looked up at Danny as he placed a file down on the table. "What is this?"

"Details of the train run between Timber and Deling." He picked up the file and placed it in her hands. "It states the name and details of all passengers who traveled to Deling 24hrs before the Nightclub fiasco. Unfortunately Seifer's name is amongst them. He arrived at the station approximately two hours before the police arrived at the nightclub and there's no record of him making a return trip."

"Why didn't I know about this?"

"Like I said, it was left out of the report. Anything to do with Almasy wasn't included."

"But how is that possible, it's illegal to omit details from...."

"It's not as difficult as you think. As long as you have enough money and power....... the police are nothing but puppets."

"But who would want this left out?"

"Not entirely sure, but I do know that whoever altered the report doesn't have anything to do with the people who took him..."

"Took him? What are you talking about."

"I'm not even sure I know myself. It was known that the suspect was being held in the military ward of the hospital...."

"Yes, I know all that. Who took him, and where?"

"Don't know. The press know more than we do."

Quistis rubbed the back of her neck. Now she knew what BJ had meant when he'd said a friend of hers was caught in the crossfire. "What makes you think that the reports and Seifer's disappearance are unrelated?"

"Not unrelated, just carried out by different people."

"What do you base this on?"

"Whoever wanted Seifer out of the hospital was no civilian, he was collected by Galbadian officers, high ranking ones at that, and no one's been able to track 'em. However, whoever took him was not concerned with keeping his identity secret. If they were, you can bet the clothes on your back that no one would find out about it."

"But you where able to find out about the gunblade and get a hold of the train timetable details."

"Exactly, and just the fact that a low ranking officer like myself could stumble over something like this proves that whoever took care of this, didn't really know what they were doing."

"So the person who wanted to keep Seifer's name out of this, did not have enough money or societal power to influence one of your bosses... So they turned to someone with a lower rank."

"Which is why the job wasn't done correctly and these things where so easily found."

Quistis began to rub the back of her neck again. It was something she'd begun to do more frequently lately. "This is bad. The press will undoubtedly find out about this, and when they do Seifer will be linked back to us. Our cover will be blown."

"You don't know that..."

"Then you don't know the media. Even if he has nothing to do with our mission, the press will make it seem otherwise."

"Anything to get a front page story."

"Exactly. I've got to find out what's going on here, and I think I know someone who could help. I'll pay him a visit before I go back to the hotel."

"A little late to be making house calls isn't it?"

"Time is an advantage we don't have."

"Who's this person you're gonna go visit anyway?"

"Just a friend of Seifer's. I think he still lives here."

"Ok, and while you do that I can fax these details to Squall. He can..."

"NO!!!"

"What?"

"Don't tell Squall. We can't let any of them know."

"Why?"

"Don't you see, if the commander finds out he'll do everything in his power to keep our mission a secret, regardless of how he has to do it."

"For the love of Hyne!! Quistis, don't tell me you think that Squall would kill him."

"No, he wouldn't do that, but from Squall's point of view, keeping our intentions secret is more important than proving Seifer's innocence."

".............."

"What?" Quistis looked at Danny curiously.

"What makes you think he's innocent. We all know what Seifer is capable of."

Quistis opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again. 'Why did I say that? There is no reason for me to believe that Seifer's innocent.' "He's innocent until proven guilty. I just want to make sure he has a fair chance. The people don't look too kindly upon those who had sided with the sorceress so readily."

"Uh huh. Sure. Whatever you say."

"What does that mean?!"

"Nothing. We'd better get out of here, there are security camera's just outside this door. We'll arise too much suspicion if we stay in here much longer."

_________________

"Fuck this." Seifer had finally given up trying to sleep. It had been nearly an hour since he'd returned from the nightclub and he was still on a adrenaline high. He got to his feet and began pacing the room. 'I've done too much tonight. How can I possibly sleep now?' He walked back over to the couch but spun around when a sound from outside caught his attention. 'Shit, someone's out the front.' Quickly he walked to Raijin's door and lightly hit it once, then moved to the window to the left of the front door. He pressed his back against the wall and moved the curtain slightly with his hand. He could just make out a tall figure walking towards the door. Seifer's breath caught in his throat as the figure walked out of the tree shadow's, allowing the moonlight to show her face. 'Quistis. This isn't good.' Raijin walked into the room with a confused look on his face, Seifer pointed to the front door then motioned for him to be quiet. Raijin nodded and moved closer to the door. Seifer hid himself on the other side of the door where he could hear everything, but still stay out of sight. His body stiffened as he heard her knock on the door. 'Why do I have a feeling that I've been busted.' He cringed at the thought of five or more trained SeeD's bursting in to arrest him the moment Raijin opened the door.

Raijin waited a few moments then opened the door.

"Instructor, what brings you to this part of town, and at this time?" Raijin asked, his voice clearly showing his irritation at being woken up. Seifer quietly laughed. Raijin hated to be woken up before midday and tended to act violently towards those who forgot that fact, Quistis had no idea what she was in for.

"I apologise for waking you up Raijin, but I have a few questions to ask you."

"What could you possibly want to ask me instructor?"

"It's Quistis."

"Whatever"

"I want to ask you a few questions about Seifer." Seifer tensed up again and prepared himself for a fight. If she was here to take him in he wouldn't go quietly.

"What do you want to know."

"When did you last see him?"

"Ten months ago, at FH. You know that Quistis."

"What do you know about the attack at Guardian Nightclub?"

"What's that got to do with Seifer?"

"I don't know yet, that's where I hope you can help me."

"I only know what I read in the newspapers, and there's been no mention of Seifer. He hasn't set a foot in Deling City, believe me, I would know."

"Raijin, Seifer's gunblade was found at the nightclub, along with a lot of very dead people. Now, do you want to change you answer?"

".........."

"Look, I don't want to get him into trouble. I want to help him. So if you know anything please tell me." Raijin didn't speak for a long time. He was waiting for Seifer to say something, anything. Unfortunately it would seem that Quistis had noticed the long pause. "Can I come in?" She asked.

"NO!!! Argh I mean, sure. Uh, just give me a minute to turn the lights on and.... er." Quickly he turned to Seifer as if to day 'what do you wanna do?' 'What are you doing Raijin? You're going to get us both in trouble.' Seifer glared at Raijin before silently running into the bedroom. There was no way in hell he was going to accept help from the ex-instructor. "Umm, come on in instru... Quistis." With Raijin's bedroom door slightly open Seifer could watch her every move.

___________________

"Have a seat." Raijin offered. Quistis walked over to the couch but didn't sit down.

"Housing a guest?"

"What?"

"Is someone staying here?" Quistis asked, referring to the blanket and pillow that were lying near the couch.

"No, I've been sleeping out here lately. T.V's out here."

"Oh."

"Drink."

"No thanks."

"I wasn't offering." Raijin filled a glass with a clear liquid and sculled it down.

'That's a big shot glass. What's he got to be nervous about?' Quistis thought. She took her time to look around the small house. It was like an apartment, with a lounge room and kitchen separated by a small bench, barely enough room to move, and then a small hallway opposite the end of the bench with three rooms with all their doors closed. Except one. She stepped closer to see if she could catch a glimpse of what was in the nearest room. Nothing but darkness, but then...

"What do you want to know?" Raijin asked walking over to a seat opposite the couch. Quistis jumped at the sound of his voice. 'There's something in that room.' She sat down and looked Raijin in the eye. "I want to know the truth. When was the last time you saw Seifer?"

"I told you, ten months ago."

"Well then what do you know?"

"Nothing."

"Bullshit! You wouldn't have let me in if you didn't have something to say."

"I let you in because I'm worried about Seifer. I want to know what you know about him."

'Hmph, Raijin's not as dumb as he looks. This isn't going to be as easy as I thought.' "You're hiding something."

"So what if I am. Your not being completely open yourself."

Quistis sighed. He had her where he wanted her. If she wanted to get any information from him she would have to be completely honest. 'Well, not completely honest.' "All right, I'll make you a deal. I'll tell you what I know, then....."

"Then I'll tell you what I know. I know how this works ya know."

"Do I have your word."

"Yes."

"Seifer's gunblade was found at the nightclub after the attack. I don't know exactly why but because of that he's is know one of the main suspects. However, someone has been bending over backwards to make sure the local authorities don't find out about this. They've even gone as far as to hide the evidence and doctor the formal reports."

"So that's why he wasn't mentioned in the papers. Someone's looking out for him?"

"I doubt it. Whoever is doing this is probably more worried about themselves than Seifer. Perhaps they are worried that they could be identified through him."

"So you're certain that Seifer didn't just pay someone do this for him."

"Raijin, you know him better than I do. Do you really think he would do something like that."

"I know he wouldn't, I'm just making sure you do as well."

"Anyway, it's impossible for Seifer to have anything to do with that, he's been locked up this entire time." She looked over at Raijin as he looked around him, obviously uncomfortable with the situation. 'What are you hiding?' "All right, I've told you all I know."

Raijin sighed. "Ok, here goes. Seifer's gunblade wasn't the only thing found at the Guardian Nightclub."

".........?"

"Apparently Seifer was found knocked unconscious on the floor in one of the nightclubs private room. That's why he's one of the main suspects."

Quistis looked at him in disbelief. ".......... Seifer....... He was there? So the authorities weren't jumping to conclusions. How do you know this?"

"Someone told me."

"No shit. Who?"

Raijin inhaled sharply before replying. "Can't tell you."

"You gave me your word..."

"I gave them my word too ya know. You've put me in a bit of a situation instructor."

"I'm sorry, but I have to know. This situation is getting dangerous."

"You think I don't know that! Look, I've told you all I can."

"Raijin, if I find out your lying to me......"

"Quistis if I knew anymore than that do you really think I'd be sitting here talking to you. Hell no! I'd be out doing what I could to help Seifer!"

"All right I believe you, but here, at least take this." Quistis stood up and handed him a small piece of paper. "It's the number to my mobile. Call me if you find out anything."

"Riiight, I'm sure Squall and his buddies would just love to here from me."

"No, this is my personal number. Squall and the others don't even know I'm here. This is just between you and me."

"You gone AWOL instructor?"

Quistis laughed at his question. "No, just trying to find my own answers."

"Is this why you're all here? For Seifer?"

"No, we came to Deling for a different reason."

"What for?"

"Publicity. What else?" She said with a sad smile. Raijin simply smirked.

"What a pathetic excuse. You're losing your touch instructor."

"Just call me if you find out anything."

"Yeah Yeah, I will."

Quistis walked towards the door but turned around at the last minute. "By the way, have you ever heard of a couple of men called Garrison and BJ?"

"No. Why?"

"Nothing. Just wondering" She opened the door and stepped outside.

"Hey Quistis." Quistis turned around to face Raijin. "You'll tell me if you find out anything else about Seifer wont ya?"

She smiled at him before turning back around. "Of course I will." She said as she closed the door. She walked down the pathway then started to make her way back into town.

'There was somebody in that room and I have a feeling I know who it is.'

____________________

As soon as she left Seifer came running back into the room. "What were those names?!" He asked in a panic.

Raijin yawned then walked back into the kitchen. "That was close. Thought she'd busted us for a second there." He poured himself another drink and sat down on the couch.

"Raijin! The names!"

"Oh, ummm.... Garrison and BJ.... Hey!! Where are you going?" Raijin asked as Seifer began putting on his coat and shoes.

"I've gotta follow her."

"What?! We just got rid of her."

"BJ is an old..." Seifer paused for a moment to think of the right word to use. "..acquaintance of mine."

"So? Shit! You're not thinkin of confronting her about it are ya?"

"Get fucked. I'm gonna see if anyone's following her. If BJ's contacted Quistis in some way than chances are he won't have left her alone. He'll have someone tailing her for sure." Seifer picked up the handgun and placed it inside his jacket then hung the army knife back on his belt.

"What do you care?" Raijin asked.

"Because BJ might be the only person who can get me out of this mess!" Seifer half yelled as he ran out the front door. He jumped over the fence then continued to run in the direction Quistis had gone, making sure to keep himself as hidden as possible. When he could just make out Quistis' figure he slowed his pace to a walk. The area around him was quiet with the exception of her footsteps. She continued to walk out of the suburb area's and into the main part of town. So far Seifer hadn't noticed a single person, other than himself, following her. 'Shit maybe I was wrong. I should probably turn back.' He sighed in annoyance before coming to a stop, but before he turned around he noticed Quistis walking into a small side street, followed by three other men. 'This can't be good.' Seifer thought, as he continued to follow in Quistis' direction.

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Ok this one's a bit longer than my other chapters. I hope this one's better than my last chapter. I really didn't like the way that turned out.

I also want to say thanks to frost for the suggestion. I'll try to use it in later chapters.