XXI. Silent Witness
A knock at the door, polite but insistent, woke Vicious from dreamless slumber. He reached for Julia, but she was already out of bed, pulling on her clothing from the day before. He nodded for her to open the door as he drew the blankets up around his waist.
Lin stood in the hallway in formal Red Dragon regalia. He entered without a word when Julia stepped aside, waiting for her to close the door and lock it.
"The hearing will begin in half an hour," he said. "Whatever evidence they've uncovered from communications or finance has not been revealed to any of us. But I was there earlier this morning when Shin woke up, and he was able to fill us in on what Marcus said to him during the interrogation."
Julia put a hand on his arm. "How is he?" Though she'd never met Shin, it was clear from Lin's drawn countenance and tone that he worried despite their estrangement.
"He will recover, as Mao said. I hope he will be able to testify before the Van this morning, but the physicians weren't positive."
"What did Shin tell you?" Vicious asked, reaching for his slacks. "I would like to know as much as I can before the hearing starts."
Lin smiled for the first time. "That Marcus told him he would live only if he claimed the assailants were White Tigers. And that Marcus questioned him extensively about whether they had mentioned his name."
"Marcus' name?" Julia's eyes widened. "He admitted to knowing them?"
"Not directly, but by the nature of his questions, yes." Lin turned to Vicious. "I have no doubt you saved my brother's life last night. We are both in your debt."
Julia felt a pang at the word, looking to her lover for his reaction.
"The debt is repaid by his testimony," Vicious replied, but his face was grim. "We will see you, and him, I hope, in the chamber."
Lin bowed slightly. "Thank you, again," he said, and nodded formally to Julia before he left.
When he was gone, Vicious went on dressing, speaking to Julia without looking at her. "As much as I want this to be finished, it is too simple. It may have been for the best that we could not reach Spike last night."
She sighed. "I hate thinking he's out there somewhere, not knowing what we've found out so far, at least."
"Will you do the honors?" he asked, his tone warmer. She turned to see him holding out his tie, and smiled. As she took it, he put a hand on her waist and drew her into a firm embrace. "Spike can fend for himself. If he chooses to be out of contact, as I think he has done, we can only wait for him to return and do our best to make it safe for him to do so."
She couldn't help feeling he reassured himself as well.
***
"Bring the accused." Ping Long's voice boomed, more forceful than usual, from the mezzanine. In response, the faint clink of shackles and a shuffling step came from the rear of the chamber, and Marcus appeared out of the shadow, flanked on either side by two of the stoic Vanguard, their black suits with gold braid a marked contrast to his bloodstained and rumpled clothing.
Also by contrast, someone had brought new clothing for Shin, who stood with his brother and another Vanguard closest to Sou Long's box. He looked uncomfortable in the fine-gauge gray suit, but his resemblance to his brother was striking – they could have been mistaken for twins, except that his face bore the yellow and purple blotches of deep bruising, one eye blacked, a large bandage running the length of the left side of his jaw. Julia made eye contact with him and smiled, hoping it conveyed encouragement.
Ping Long leaned forward and looked down at Marcus for several seconds after he came to a stop. Finally, he drew a breath and began, in the tone of a scolding parent. "Marcus Britt, your actions as proven by the evidence we will present today illustrate a reckless disregard for the safety of the most venerable members of the Red Dragon's public guard, and an exaggerated sense of your own capacity and importance.
"Communication records show you made an outbound transmission to a bar in the warehouse district immediately after Vicious and Mao Yenrai left our facility to recover Spike Spiegel from a location you knew. That bar's proprietor confirms the men Spike Spiegel killed when they attempted to eliminate him were frequent patrons."
Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but Sou Long overran his mumbling. "Financial records show your last activity in the computer system before transferring to your assignment as an ambassador was an unscheduled change in the pattern of data backup. Records from the following nine hours are corrupt. This time frame matches the time during which Dragon funds were transferred to Spike Spiegel."
Marcus said nothing.
"Your culpability in these two instances is not in question, and you will be punished for your transgressions," Sou went on. "In addition, Shin Makito is present, and can provide details regarding your attempts to subvert his testimony when he came willingly to the Red Dragon, offering assistance. You may choose to disclose your actions fully of your own volition, if you would prefer to avoid his testimony now."
Vicious scowled, and Mao put a hand on his arm to stop him from speaking, shaking his head slightly.
Marcus raised his head, looking from one member of the Van to the next, and then turned to face Vicious, speaking directly to him. "The Red Eye agreement would never have succeeded, and it made a mockery of our power and position as the superior Syndicate. I did nothing but hasten the inevitable failure of the agreement, in a way I believed would please the man I had been assigned to serve." His expression was haughty, but his voice carried the undertone of a plea.
"You have already amply demonstrated your disregard for our authority," Wang Long said. "In our chamber, you will address us and no one else. I should not have to remind you of that, nor should I have to remind you that you were assigned to serve the Red Dragon, and no other master."
Marcus turned back to the raised platform. "We could not hope to control the continued traffic between the White Tiger and independent suppliers, especially as nothing more than a parade detail of favorite sons. I knew how it would end, and I knew that in the end, Spike Spiegel would be a liability, unwilling to take the actions necessary to shut down our rival before we discovered them sleeping in our homes and raiding our cupboards."
Unable to control himself any longer, Vicious stepped forward, looking up to the three old men for permission to speak. Wang Long held up a hand, though. "Spike Spiegel was no liability to the Syndicate," he declared. "When you assumed, for a temporary period of time, his position as the partner of Vicious, it seems you developed an affinity for that position. But we, and Vicious, can see through the bright plumage of a sycophant to the dull and easily corrupted heart beneath."
"Do what you want with me, then," Marcus replied with a sneer. "I know there is no other way out of this life of servitude for me. Dying by the hand of the Van, or by the hand of a White Tiger allowed to roam freely in our midst – either one is the same to me. And one of them is inevitable, for all of us who stand here in this room."
"Your admittance of guilt secures your punishment," Sou Long declared, "but the Vanguard is not finished with your interrogation." He nodded to the black-clad men on either side of Marcus. "Take him back to his cell."
Vicious watched the trio walk the long carpet, the slow burn of fury in his chest. He'd wanted to hear Shin speak, see Marcus' face at his testimony, and say his own piece as well. Instead, they'd all been brought in to witness the Van's already-made decision.
"Where is Spike Spiegel now?" Wang Long turned to Mao.
"We left him in Alva City," Mao replied, "and honored his request to keep his location secret by not asking his destination."
"Despite the events of the past few days, Spiegel must be accounted for. He is no more permitted to walk away from the Red Dragon than any other in his position." Wang sat back again.
"I am confident he will return," Mao said, his tone respectful, "and if contact is absolutely necessary, I believe I know where to find him."
Vicious raised his eyebrows and looked sharply over at Mao, who avoided his gaze. The Van seemed satisfied by the answer, at least, and he wondered whether Mao really knew anything, or whether he was covering for his own breach of Syndicate protocol.
"We have other pressing matters to address in the wake of this unfortunate series of events," Sou Long said. "This meeting is adjourned, but Vicious, Lin Makito, Mato Yenrai, Lao Long and Mao Yenrai will return this afternoon. We will have further instructions at that time regarding the Red Eye distribution agreement and your conduct in the future. Trapping a mongoose can do nothing to bring back the eggs it has already eaten." Vicious fought the urge to roll his eyes at Sou's penchant for allegory. "Yenrai-san, we request that you attempt to reach Spike Spiegel and inform him of the Van's request for him to return."
Mao bowed low. "With all due respect, should we not wait to recall him until the interrogation of Marcus Britt is complete?"
Sou considered. "It would be satisfactory for you to ensure you have a way to contact him. We require his assurance he will return to Tharsis City."
"As I have said, I do not believe it is in question," Mao repeated, a little impatient now.
"The Vanguard will locate him if you do not," Sou Long warned, and all three sat back, finished with their audience.
A knock at the door, polite but insistent, woke Vicious from dreamless slumber. He reached for Julia, but she was already out of bed, pulling on her clothing from the day before. He nodded for her to open the door as he drew the blankets up around his waist.
Lin stood in the hallway in formal Red Dragon regalia. He entered without a word when Julia stepped aside, waiting for her to close the door and lock it.
"The hearing will begin in half an hour," he said. "Whatever evidence they've uncovered from communications or finance has not been revealed to any of us. But I was there earlier this morning when Shin woke up, and he was able to fill us in on what Marcus said to him during the interrogation."
Julia put a hand on his arm. "How is he?" Though she'd never met Shin, it was clear from Lin's drawn countenance and tone that he worried despite their estrangement.
"He will recover, as Mao said. I hope he will be able to testify before the Van this morning, but the physicians weren't positive."
"What did Shin tell you?" Vicious asked, reaching for his slacks. "I would like to know as much as I can before the hearing starts."
Lin smiled for the first time. "That Marcus told him he would live only if he claimed the assailants were White Tigers. And that Marcus questioned him extensively about whether they had mentioned his name."
"Marcus' name?" Julia's eyes widened. "He admitted to knowing them?"
"Not directly, but by the nature of his questions, yes." Lin turned to Vicious. "I have no doubt you saved my brother's life last night. We are both in your debt."
Julia felt a pang at the word, looking to her lover for his reaction.
"The debt is repaid by his testimony," Vicious replied, but his face was grim. "We will see you, and him, I hope, in the chamber."
Lin bowed slightly. "Thank you, again," he said, and nodded formally to Julia before he left.
When he was gone, Vicious went on dressing, speaking to Julia without looking at her. "As much as I want this to be finished, it is too simple. It may have been for the best that we could not reach Spike last night."
She sighed. "I hate thinking he's out there somewhere, not knowing what we've found out so far, at least."
"Will you do the honors?" he asked, his tone warmer. She turned to see him holding out his tie, and smiled. As she took it, he put a hand on her waist and drew her into a firm embrace. "Spike can fend for himself. If he chooses to be out of contact, as I think he has done, we can only wait for him to return and do our best to make it safe for him to do so."
She couldn't help feeling he reassured himself as well.
***
"Bring the accused." Ping Long's voice boomed, more forceful than usual, from the mezzanine. In response, the faint clink of shackles and a shuffling step came from the rear of the chamber, and Marcus appeared out of the shadow, flanked on either side by two of the stoic Vanguard, their black suits with gold braid a marked contrast to his bloodstained and rumpled clothing.
Also by contrast, someone had brought new clothing for Shin, who stood with his brother and another Vanguard closest to Sou Long's box. He looked uncomfortable in the fine-gauge gray suit, but his resemblance to his brother was striking – they could have been mistaken for twins, except that his face bore the yellow and purple blotches of deep bruising, one eye blacked, a large bandage running the length of the left side of his jaw. Julia made eye contact with him and smiled, hoping it conveyed encouragement.
Ping Long leaned forward and looked down at Marcus for several seconds after he came to a stop. Finally, he drew a breath and began, in the tone of a scolding parent. "Marcus Britt, your actions as proven by the evidence we will present today illustrate a reckless disregard for the safety of the most venerable members of the Red Dragon's public guard, and an exaggerated sense of your own capacity and importance.
"Communication records show you made an outbound transmission to a bar in the warehouse district immediately after Vicious and Mao Yenrai left our facility to recover Spike Spiegel from a location you knew. That bar's proprietor confirms the men Spike Spiegel killed when they attempted to eliminate him were frequent patrons."
Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but Sou Long overran his mumbling. "Financial records show your last activity in the computer system before transferring to your assignment as an ambassador was an unscheduled change in the pattern of data backup. Records from the following nine hours are corrupt. This time frame matches the time during which Dragon funds were transferred to Spike Spiegel."
Marcus said nothing.
"Your culpability in these two instances is not in question, and you will be punished for your transgressions," Sou went on. "In addition, Shin Makito is present, and can provide details regarding your attempts to subvert his testimony when he came willingly to the Red Dragon, offering assistance. You may choose to disclose your actions fully of your own volition, if you would prefer to avoid his testimony now."
Vicious scowled, and Mao put a hand on his arm to stop him from speaking, shaking his head slightly.
Marcus raised his head, looking from one member of the Van to the next, and then turned to face Vicious, speaking directly to him. "The Red Eye agreement would never have succeeded, and it made a mockery of our power and position as the superior Syndicate. I did nothing but hasten the inevitable failure of the agreement, in a way I believed would please the man I had been assigned to serve." His expression was haughty, but his voice carried the undertone of a plea.
"You have already amply demonstrated your disregard for our authority," Wang Long said. "In our chamber, you will address us and no one else. I should not have to remind you of that, nor should I have to remind you that you were assigned to serve the Red Dragon, and no other master."
Marcus turned back to the raised platform. "We could not hope to control the continued traffic between the White Tiger and independent suppliers, especially as nothing more than a parade detail of favorite sons. I knew how it would end, and I knew that in the end, Spike Spiegel would be a liability, unwilling to take the actions necessary to shut down our rival before we discovered them sleeping in our homes and raiding our cupboards."
Unable to control himself any longer, Vicious stepped forward, looking up to the three old men for permission to speak. Wang Long held up a hand, though. "Spike Spiegel was no liability to the Syndicate," he declared. "When you assumed, for a temporary period of time, his position as the partner of Vicious, it seems you developed an affinity for that position. But we, and Vicious, can see through the bright plumage of a sycophant to the dull and easily corrupted heart beneath."
"Do what you want with me, then," Marcus replied with a sneer. "I know there is no other way out of this life of servitude for me. Dying by the hand of the Van, or by the hand of a White Tiger allowed to roam freely in our midst – either one is the same to me. And one of them is inevitable, for all of us who stand here in this room."
"Your admittance of guilt secures your punishment," Sou Long declared, "but the Vanguard is not finished with your interrogation." He nodded to the black-clad men on either side of Marcus. "Take him back to his cell."
Vicious watched the trio walk the long carpet, the slow burn of fury in his chest. He'd wanted to hear Shin speak, see Marcus' face at his testimony, and say his own piece as well. Instead, they'd all been brought in to witness the Van's already-made decision.
"Where is Spike Spiegel now?" Wang Long turned to Mao.
"We left him in Alva City," Mao replied, "and honored his request to keep his location secret by not asking his destination."
"Despite the events of the past few days, Spiegel must be accounted for. He is no more permitted to walk away from the Red Dragon than any other in his position." Wang sat back again.
"I am confident he will return," Mao said, his tone respectful, "and if contact is absolutely necessary, I believe I know where to find him."
Vicious raised his eyebrows and looked sharply over at Mao, who avoided his gaze. The Van seemed satisfied by the answer, at least, and he wondered whether Mao really knew anything, or whether he was covering for his own breach of Syndicate protocol.
"We have other pressing matters to address in the wake of this unfortunate series of events," Sou Long said. "This meeting is adjourned, but Vicious, Lin Makito, Mato Yenrai, Lao Long and Mao Yenrai will return this afternoon. We will have further instructions at that time regarding the Red Eye distribution agreement and your conduct in the future. Trapping a mongoose can do nothing to bring back the eggs it has already eaten." Vicious fought the urge to roll his eyes at Sou's penchant for allegory. "Yenrai-san, we request that you attempt to reach Spike Spiegel and inform him of the Van's request for him to return."
Mao bowed low. "With all due respect, should we not wait to recall him until the interrogation of Marcus Britt is complete?"
Sou considered. "It would be satisfactory for you to ensure you have a way to contact him. We require his assurance he will return to Tharsis City."
"As I have said, I do not believe it is in question," Mao repeated, a little impatient now.
"The Vanguard will locate him if you do not," Sou Long warned, and all three sat back, finished with their audience.