Disclaimer:
All DBZ characters belong to Akira Toriyama.
The other ones belong to me :p

YELL
" Someone has taken the idea of revenge a little bit too far "

Chapitre SIX: "Crying Little Demon

Saturday, 13h11, Central Police Station.

Perched on a pivoting chair ledge, Jenny Lee, Hayden's partner, leant forward and looked at the screen of the monitor placed on the shelving unit. They were watching the recording for the third time, in attempt to discover a clue they'd have missed. Hayden stretched his arm out to increase the volume.

« So, if I understand well… At the very moment you were phoning Goten, Pan, Gohan's daughter received a call from you, threatening her ? Admit that the coincidence is a little bit too big. », Hayden's voice was telling, slightly snickering. He wasn't visible on the screen, but on aside the camera.

On the screen, Trunks, hands attached is his back by handcuffs, didn't seem to find that really funny. He covered the Hayden of the tape with a dark look full of defiance.

« You told you made a phone call to Goten », Hayden's voice went on. « How then is it possible that Goten never received any phone call ? ». Hayden was using for the filmed archive a polite use of the formal vous and no more the almost scornful use of the familiar tu, he was using during more « unofficial » interrogation.

« I got no answer ! », Trunks lost his temper.

« Ah… », Hayden told with a dubious tone.

« Listen… I dunno what I've done to you, but since the beginning if this affair, you're personally angry with me», Trunks told with a steady voice.

« You rave ! », the Hayden of the tape retorted, anxious not to have an harassment report pinned on him.

Hayden paused the tape-reading, he didn't want to hear more… Jenny Lee got a slight smile. It was a useless precaution as she had already heard twice what was following. She made her chair pivoting to face Hayden : « I think this kid is innocent ».

« AH, you 'think' he is innocent ? But, look at him ! », he pointed the screen where the still picture of a distrustful Trunks was still on. « He changes the conversation to redirect the accusation on ME while passing for a martyr ! ! »

« You know what I mean », Lee told with a calm voice. « He's right on this point : since the beginning of the investigation, you are only after him, even at the very beginning, when he was only a witness. »

'So… He managed to persuade with his little angel look that he is as pure as the driven snow ? », Hayden retorted. « But LOOK AT HIM !!», he almost yelled. « He's an actor ! He's been paid 20 million $ to perform a victim unfairly accused of theft in « Titanic ». Be sure he knows how to perform a martyr ! ».

« It's a feeling I have. I don't think this kid is a murderer. He's someone without any problem. A good family, a stable student-- »

« He slept with half of the girls of the Satan City University », Hayden interrupted her, « So, don't use the word « stable » speaking about this guy ! »

Lee turned to him a cold and measured look : « Even if those rumors are true, is he then a murderer ? Don Juan and Jack the Ripper, were two different persons, no ? »

« As you use the great Classics, what do you think of « Dr Jeckhill & Mister Hyde » ? »

Lee returned to the investigation topic by raising a report : « Goten told he had unplugged the phone during the night, to prevent a joker or a journalist to wake up his mother. »

« Sure he did ! ! », Hayden shouted, « and he plugs it back only 10 minits after Trunks's « phone call » ?!? Do those young boys think we're retarded ? I tell you this : either Goten protects Trunks because he's his best friend, either he's his accomplice ! »

He breathed, and before Lee could have told something, he went on : "I'll ask to dismiss Goten's deposition, until we'll have traced Trunks's phone calls !"

« You're completely nuts, Peter ! », Lee told, shaking her head.

The door opened suddenly and the Police Chief Edward Davis Traxler appeared, the concerned and strict look. Tall, in his forties, monolithic, he was carefully holding a hot polystyrene-made cup between the fingers of his right hand, and was firmly holding the door handle in his left fist. Hayden noticed the paradox and suspected bad news : Traxler was showing his cool side for the people outside the office, but his firm and decided side for those inside the office… It was stinking !

"You two", he began, "come into my office !".

"That, it's more than an order, believe me", Lee told with an half-smile to Hayden while taking her coat and preceding Hayden outside. She didn't really feel herself into problems, but suspected that her partner's blood pressure had brutally increased.

Hayden stopped the video tape and followed her outside. He flattened himself against the right wall, just dodging a shouting defendant who was driven, handcuffs around his wrists to a interrogation room. He followed absentmindedly the prisoner with his eyes.

"Hey, Hayden !", he heard someone shouting not far of him. He brought back his look in front of him and saw Trunks who was given back his belongings, while throwing to him a challenge and hatred gaze. Not far from him, his mother was receiving the coroner's dossier. Lee was surprised, but turned quickly her look to her partner.

Hayden almost choked : "What's the... ?"

"HAYDEN !!", Traxler yelled, "Come here for a minit !!"

Hayden didn't need much persuading and ran into his chief's office. "What the hell is this ?", he yelled to the black chief, sat behind his desk, in front of a dossier in a brown cheap cardboard folder. Lee was standing a little bit away, waiting in silence for explanation.

Hayden went on without a break : "My god ! How many murders will you need before realize that the guy you're about to free is a mental sick ? We have a witness, here !! Shit ! What the hell are you doing ?!!"

Traxler puckered the corner of his mouth, hearing the rude tone, but used a cold tone to give explanations : "Your witness... is a 4 years old girl who recognizes here", he told, taping with the tip of his finger the brown cardboard, "... that she used the name of "Trunks" on the phone by bluff. She's not sure it was really Trunks. She could have used any other names... She says she just called the guy "Trunks" so that he would betray himself by justifying his true name. "

"Like Trunks told he did for Goten when he got the first call, right ?", Lee asked.

"Exact", Hayden answered before Traxler. "Don't you find that surprising ? Twice the same reaction in that group in less than 12 hours ?"

Traxler gazed again the dossier : "Goten Son declares also that if Trunks had tried to join him, it was normal he didn't get any communication, as he had removed the phone-plug so that no journalist would disturb his mother..."

"Yes, I know that !", Hayden almost shout. "But aren't we supposed to removed that testimony, according to the fact that Trunks is his best friend ? Honestly, this removing-plug story doesn't sound real..."

Traxler closed the dossier and crossed his hands over, as to protect it : "Listen to me, Peter. I want the things to be clear : I have here Lee's report. It seems you pursue a little bit too much this youth."

Hayden threw a dark gaze in Lee's direction. Traxler went on : "if you wanna stay on the affair, you begin by making your job seriously, and by considering Trunks Connor a little bit more as a victim, and a little bit less as an assassin."

Hayden had to keep himself from yelling : "What's wrong, heh ? Is it the money or the power of the Brief-Connor family that scares you so much ?!!?!".

He went out, smashing the door. Traxler, going after him, turned to Lee : "Watch him, so that he won't spread any shits."

Hayden walked to Trunks and stopped at a few meter from his target to turn his chief : "Look at him carefully", he shouted at Traxler, showing Trunks with a gesture of his hand, "question him, and you'll recognize in him a psychopath ! And his next victim will be without any doubt the little Pan Son !".

Trunks was gazing at Hayden with an ice-like look while Bulma was walking to him. Traxler tempted to intervene between the two men : "Mister Connor, I --"

Trunks interrupted him, the firing look, gazing Hayden : "If your subordinate is searching for something to fill his work-days, Keep him busy ! Make him read again the dossier 'bout Kennedy's assassination !"

"I understand you well --", Traxler began to reply, before being interrupted by Goten, bursting on Trunks's side and pointing a threatening finger at Hayden : "Listen to me, if this fucking bullshit still make my buddy apprehended, we will sue you !!!"

Traxler was trying both to calm the situation and not to lose face. The events were embittering, and the diplomatic tone was requested : "Okay--"

Goten didn't seem to calm down and went on : "We should have already sued you the day of the murder when he threw that veiled accusation against Trunks !

Traxler wished everything to be soon over : the young people back home and the calmness back : "You're right --"

Trunks interrupted him, exasperated : "OKAY ! CAN I LEAVE THIS PLACE ?!!"

"I apologize tota – eer... yeah...", almost mumbled Traxler.

Trunks felt in the hesitating tone of the Chief, that he had won a mark. Apparently, his innocence was at last considered seriously. He answer with an harsh tone : "Thank you !"

He turned his back with a 'tsk' of scorn directed to Hayden. Perhaps exhilarated by his first victory on the investigator, he added for him : "Son of a bitch !"

Hayden had forced himself to remain silent, faced to his chief's decision, but there, he emerged rapidly with a threatening tone : "What did you just say ?"

Trunks felt his heart heavy. Hayden was perhaps diminished, he was still fearsome, and especially, representing the Law. He perhaps committed a mistake by insulting him openly. Goten didn't seem to mind and answered : "You heard it well, fucking bullshit !"

Trunks almost admired the courage - or the utter thoughtlessness - of his friend. Goten didn't seem to fear anything in order to defend him, and, surprising thing, even with his brother's death and all the evidences against Trunks, he was still defending his buddy.

Hayden knew that he was ordered - at least, temporary - not to blame those two young people. He wanted to put a "insult to Law-representing during his service" report on them, but he perfectly knew that his report would almost disappear. He contented himself with answering, raging : "Really ?! Don't act too silly with me, boys !"

Goten murmured to Trunks's ear : "You jump, I jump, right ?"

Trunks couldn't prevent a poor smile on his face. Not a single day without the Titanic on his way…

Goten, Trunks and Bulma disappeared in the turnstile leading to the outside of the police station. Hayden realized the childish side of his retort. It had been a long time since the last time he had lost his self-control like that. Lee was watching him calmly, discovering a Hayden far different from the classical Emotionless-Hayden. Hayden thought she was making fun of him and turned to her : "And you... What's your problem, heh ?". He needed to show his authority again on someone after all the previous events. Lee guffawed faced to this mean attempt and went away, back to her office.

Trunks narrowed his eyes, blinded by the sun. He saw that the Son family, Katrina and Bra were there and were waiting for him. He didn't notice any hostility on their face, and knew they weren't suspecting him anymore to be Gohan's murderer. He looked around for his father and didn't find him. He slightly frowned, then noticed that Videl was standing a little bit away from the other ones, and was avoiding his look. Katrina came to him and took his hand : "How do you feel ?"

"Like someone who's just been accused of his best friend's brother's murder", he answered a little bit coldly. He saw then that Pan was crying. Not far from her, Bra looked a little bit irritated.

"I'm sorry", Pan told, sobbing, "I didn't mean... I didn't want you to have problems because of me...". She hid her face in her hands, as to hide she was crying. Bra crossed her arms in a Vegeta-ish way and grumbled in her direction : "You Baka ! No one ever told you to think twice before to talk ?". That doubled Pan's cries.

Trunks walked to her and kneeled down near her, holding her in his arms, and trying to calm her : "Everything's fine now", and then he got the sudden thought : * no, everything is not fine, and you know it ! It's just a beginning...*. He went on nevertheless : "And you know, I acted the same way when I got this man on the phone. I called him "Goten" so that he would say his real name...".

"It is soooooooo charming", Goten told with a slightly amused tone.

Trunks smiled slightly, and reported his focus on Pan, wiping the tears on her cheeks : "so, you see ? You don't have to feel responsible... So now, my little demon, you're going to dry those tears, and make me a big smile, ok ?" he added with a warm smile.

Pan smiled slightly, while trying to swallow her sobs.

Trunks heard steps screeching in the gravel behind him, and felt a threat on him. He turned and saw Hayden in his back. This one was seeming to calculate him, to judge his state and attitude. For a moment, the two enemies faced each other in a heavy silence.

Finally, Hayden broke the silence : "My boy, you pull through for this time, but remember well that until further notice, you're still suspect number 1 for me." He turned back and went away to the police station with a determined pace.

* it seems*, Trunks thought, *that he only wants ONE think : to open me up with his nails and to strangle me with my intestines...*

Bulma walked to Trunks as he was standing up again. They both saw Videl approaching slowly them, not very at ease. She was still looking on aside and mumbled : "I'm sorry... I should have questioned Pan more deeply...". Then, she gazed them with her fierce blue look : "Understand my reaction : when those I loved are attacked, I act first, I think afterwards... !"

Bulma seemed to need some seconds to swallow her resentment, but understood quickly that it would lead to nothing to maintain war among the team. Trunks had been freed and Videl had apologized, there were no need to look daggers at each other : "I understand, Videl..." - those words seemed to cost her enormously, but she went on - "In a situation like the one we're living now, we need to remain close and to stick together..."

To be continued...


*****************************

Okie, I know there are a lot of references to the movie TITANIC in which Trunks acted, since the beginning of this story, but be sure it's gonna have its importance later on in the story ;-)

Sorry for the delay in posting the next chapter.... ^^; Too much work.... ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;