Wrongfully Accused
Chapter Twenty Two
"How did he die?" Squall asked as he threw his jacket on over his shoulders. Selphie half ran down the hall to keep up with the young commanders fast pace.
"He was hanged. The officials are saying suicide."
"Why am I not surprised." Squall stopped suddenly and knocked sharply on a door. A groggy Zell slowly answered the door.
"What?" He grumbled
"Get every one up and tell them to meet me in Quistis' room in an hour." Squall ran off without waiting for a reply, Selphie hot on his heels. "Where did you find out about this."
"Danny, he tried to call Quistis this morning but couldn't get through to her, so he called me."
"Did he tell you anything else?"
"No, his superiors were just around the corner, he couldn't talk for long."
"Call him back, get every little detail you can." Squall paused as he stepped into the elevator. "Make sure the line isn't tapped. Use the secure line set up in my room if you have to. We can't let anyone know that we know about his death, make sure Danny knows that to."
"What about the press?" Selphie asked as she followed him out into the lobby. "The whole of Deling is going to know about it within 24 hours, the whole of Galbadia with 76."
"Somehow I don't think that's going to happen."
"How do you know."
"Instinct."
"Where are you going anyway?"
"To see an old acquaintance. If I'm not back within the hour, start the meeting without me, but don't tell them anything you haven't told me."
Selphie stopped at the door and watched as he ran down towards the bus stop. 'Why wouldn't he want me to tell them anything without his approval. He's never been mistrustful towards us before..... what's going on?'
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Squall stormed up to the entrance of Benson & Son's. He walked past the receptionist and headed for the elevator. The receptionist said nothing, smug in the knowledge that she knew that he would not get above the 8th floor. What she didn't know was that Squall had swiped the key card for the elevator right from under her nose. Squall grinned as the elevator doors closed behind him.
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"Mr Leonhart, it is a pleasure to see you again. May I ask the reason for this unexpected visit."
"Enough with the pleasantries Samuel, you and I both know I'm the last person you wanted to see."
"Then why show up."
"Where's your father?"
"He's in a meeting....... Why do you need to speak with him? Can I not help you?" He said with a conceited smirk on his face.
"Because I want to speak to the head of this company, not some overeducated, overpaid yuppie who leaches off his fathers money and power to get ahead in life." Squall yelled as he slammed his hand down on the desk in front of him. Samuel stared up at him in shock.
"How dare you......" He was cut off as Squall grabbed his neck tie and pulled his face up close to his own.
"No more bullshit, tell me where your father is or I swear I'm gonna jam this letter opener up your pisshole!!"
Chant started to shake as he frantically reached for the distress alarm under his desk. Squall pulled on the tie again and dragged Samuel across the desk. He pulled him up on his feet before pushing him down onto the floor.
"Where is he?"
Samuel said nothing as he began to crawl towards the door. Squall grabbed the before mentioned letter opener and stabbed it into the ground, pinning the lawyer to floor by his tie.
"Tell me where he is, or next time I won't be so careful with my aim."
Beads of sweat started to trickle down his forehead as he stared at the sharp instrument, barely centimeters from his nose. "N-Next floor up. You'll need to use the executive elevator, the key to open it is in the top draw." Squall walked over to the desk. "It's locked, you'll need to get the key for it out of......" Squall found the drawer and ripped it out of the desk, wood shards fell to the floor and embedded themselves into the carpet. "Shit, that desk cost me twelve thousand dollars you arsehole."
"You were overcharged." Squall said absently as he searched for the key, ignoring the broken pieces of wood that threatened to pierce the skin of his hand if he wasn't careful. He found the key and calmly walked towards the office door, stepping over the petrified man on the floor.
"H-Hey, you can't just leave me here."
Squall said nothing as he walked out of the room.
Stepping out of the elevator onto the top floor, he walked quickly to the room at the end of the hall. Voices from within could be heard but were simply inaudible whispers to the SeeD's keen ears. He slowly opened the door and walked inside.
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"You could've ruined the whole mission you idiot. What the hell were you thinking!?" Benson snr ran a shaky hand through his thinning hair as he continued to stare at the man opposite him.
"Relax old man, I got the job done didn't I?"
"What the hell do you mean. Seifer is still alive, the police still haven't dropped the nightclub case and now we have a dead loan shark on our hands. Tell me, is there anything you haven't fucked up these last few weeks?"
"Watch your mouth old man or I'll..........."
"You'll what? Kill me. Go ahead, I'm a dead man anyway. When the police arrest you all this will be linked back to me. The murders, Seifer, everything, I'll be lucky to get life."
"I was ordered to kill that mother fucker..........."
"You were ordered to kill Seifer to. There was no point in killing Chant if Seifer is still out there."
"I told you, my men are out there looking..."
"Oh bullshit. I know about what happened at the nightclub that night. It was no accident, you let him go. Now we're all dead, and for what? So you could get your petty revenge. Well I hope your happy Seta, the one thing that could stop us is currently running free around Galbadia. Hyne, I dread to think of what he knows."
"Don't have a heart attack old man, I know Almasy, better than he knows himself. He won't have gotten far. He'll be dead before the end of the week. You have my word on that."
"You word? My god you are deluded. You actually think your word is worth anything to me?"
"Maybe not, but what choice do you have old man. Would you rather I let him run off."
"Fine, do what you have to do, but keep a low profile, from now on I want us to stay out of the media. I've had enough bad attention for one year."
"Hey old man, when do I get paid?"
"When Bareta wins this election. That is why we're doing this after all."
"Fuck, all this just so some crooked Polly can win some stupid election."
"What do you care? You're just a hired mercenary."
"Yea, but I still like to know what's going on and who's in charge."
"So you'll know who to rat out when you get caught?" Benson raised his eyebrow as he lifted an unlit cigar to his mouth.
"Something like that."
"Well Bareta's the only man I've had to answer to."
"So he's the head of all this?"
"I doubt a man of his limited intelligence even comprehends the situation."
"So who's his boss?"
"I don't know, and frankly I don't care. All I know is that the money I got from Chant came from somewhere, and as long as it's origin is kept hidden from the authorities, I'm perfectly happy to stay in the dark about it."
"Didn't think a man like you would be happy leaving so many loose ends."
"That is none of your concern. And keep your mouth shut about this, we can't let anyone know that Bareta is involved......." Benson's voice trailed of as he stared at the office entrance.
"What is it old man?" Seta turned around to see what had distracted him.
"What are you doing here?!"
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"Didn't think a man like you would be happy leaving so many loose ends."
"That is none of your concern. And keep your mouth shut about this, we can't let anyone know that Bareta is involved." Squall stopped in the doorway as he heard the end of the conversation. 'Bareta?!'
"What are you doing here?!" Benson said, his face turning pale.
Squall stared at the old man "You're a hard man to get a hold of Mr Benson."
"Seta, I believe it is about time you left." The other man rose from his chair and slowly walked towards the door, but not before eyeing Squall for some time. Squall returned the gaze with equal intensity. 'Seta? Where have I heard that name before.'
"Have a seat Mr Leonhart." The sound of his shaky voice broke Squall's attention. "May I ask what you are doing up here in my office. This area is off limits to all persons unless the have my permission."
"I'm sure you're aware of the recent.... Passing of Mr Chant."
"Yes, I am aware. Although not saddened, the world will be better off with one less of his kind in the world."
"Chant was seen many times with a woman, a woman you were seen with the night of the banquet."
"Tasmin? She is simply hired by my company through Advert Inc. I cannot control who she spends her time with."
"What do you know about Chant."
"That he was simply a drain on society. Now tell me, why would a SeeD like you be so concerned with such matters. Are you not here for other reasons."
"I think it's quite clear why we're here. It's been clear from the start."
"True that may be, but that does not explain why you are here in my office now."
"How are you connected to Chant?"
Benson leant back in his chair and placed his hands across his stomach, entwining his fingers. "My dear boy, you will find no answers here. I had little to no control over Jacob Chants actions."
"But you admit that you know what he was up to."
"Squall, he was a mere pawn in this game, as are you."
"What?!"
"I believe you've spent enough time here. It is time for you to leave."
Squall knew he could've forced the old man to tell him more, but instinct told him to leave it at that. "Fine." He stood up and walked towards the exit, but stopped just before the door. "But you might want to send someone to check on your son."
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"Wait, I'm confused." Zell said as he scratched his head.
"There's a surprise." Irvine sneered.
"No I'm kinda confused to." Rinoa said.
"Don't even think about it Irvine." Squall snapped, stopping the cowboy just as he opened his mouth.
"Oh sure, defend your girlfriend." Zell mumbled.
"Ok, let's recap what's happened so far." Selphie said. "Squall?"
"Fine. So far we now know that the murders and the slaughter at the Nightclub are connected. Somehow Benson, Bareta, Chant and Tasmin are all apart of this."
'And Seifer' Quistis thought.
"It's obvious why Benson is in this. His company wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Chant..... Or whoever it was that gave him the money."
"Who want's to bet that Bareta got the financing for his campaign from the same source?" Irvine added.
"Right." Squall agreed. "Benson also mentioned that Chant was just a pawn in this."
"He was framed." Quistis said.
"How do you know that?" Selphie asked.
"It's obvious. Why do you think it was so easy to link Chant back to the murders.
"Benson and Bareta were using him to cover their tracks." Selphie squealed.
"Exactly." Quistis stated. 'But how does Seifer fit into all this?'
"But what was the point in all the murders? How would that help with the senators campaign?" Rinoa asked.
"There's a lot the people don't know about Bareta." Zell stated. "His past is an extremely well kept secret, maybe he was getting rid of old friends from his past." Everyone blinked in surprise as Zell stood there with a confused look on his face. "What? Hanging out with a reporter for a couple of days had to teach me something."
"That reminds me, did you call her?" Quistis asked.
"What, Leanne? Yea, but I haven't been able to contact her. I heard she'd left town." He said, a sad look forming on his face.
"Forget about that stupid reporter, what do we do about Benson and Bareta? And what about Tasmin?" Irvine asked.
Squall sighed as he stood up from his seat. There was a reason he hadn't bothered with hiding his intentions, or the fact that he knew of Chant's death when he went to see Benson. There was no need. "Nothing."
"Say what?" Zell jumped up.
"Officially this is out of our hands. We were required to find the man in charge of the murders and we did that......"
"But it wasn't him!!" Selphie squealed.
"The police are convinced that it was him, and we don't have any hard proof to convince them otherwise." Quistis stated, understanding what Squall was trying to say.
"But what about Bareta?!" Rinoa cried, trying restrain herself screaming out.
"That is none of our business." Squall walked over to the door. "Garden has ordered that we return home within 20hours. We will obey this order without question. Understand!?" Squall snapped at them
"How can you just leave this as it is?"
"Look Rinoa, I don't have time to explain Garden policy to you. I'm going back to my room to finish packing. We'll leave early tomorrow morning." Squall stormed back to his room and slammed the door. "Damn!" 'I finally get a chance to understand what's going on and Cid has to order us back.' He walked over to the window and stared out at the city. 'Something big is going on out there, but what more can I do, and order is an order.'
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Bet you all wondered what happened to me. There are many reasons why I haven't updated for so long.... The main reason is laziness, but the fact that I started uni this year also had something to do with it. So if you hate me for this, tell me in a review :P.
Some good news, I've actually started to work out the finer details of this story, so even though I can't make promises on updates, the chapters should start moving a bit faster. I really am sorry that I haven't updated for so long, but I'm not going to make a promise as to when the next chapter will be up because honestly, I just don't know.