Chapter Thirteen

Maron and Sasoli came to a dead stop in front of the jailhouse. The entire building was surrounded by media, cops, and random protestors with signs that said, 'Free Trunks,' 'Clone him before you give him the chair,' and 'I want to have his baby!'

The two android hybrids glanced at each other nervously as they continued their way only to be mobbed by reporters.

"We're live at West City with the accused's next victim and his lawyer-"

Sasoli's eyes widened with horror as she realized her image was being broadcasted to millions of people all over the world.

Immediately she sent out a low energy pulse which imitates an electric magnetic pulse perfectly and took out every camera in the vicinity.

But it was too late.

"I found her!"

A man danced with glee making his loose, grungy clothes flap about obscenely. He ran a hand through his greasy hair and grinned maliciously with surprisingly white teeth.

"You won't escape me this time."

He ran a hand almost lovingly on the screen. His grin widened as an expression of fear crossed her lovely face almost as if she knew.

Suddenly, the image disappeared and was replaced by snow.

"No," disbelief made his voice rough and low, "NO!"

He screamed and put his fist through the glass.

"Um. . ." the camera man interrupted the reporter guiltily, "The camera's not working."

"What?" The reporter snapped sharply.

"It just went black," the camera shrugged helplessly, "I checked it before we left and it was working perfectly, practically brand-new . . ."

The reporter was steamed but forced a shrug, "At least we still have audio. Now, where were we Ms. Briefs and Ms. . . where'd they go?"

Sasoli had pulled Maron past all the bewildered news people, invisible in the crisis. They also managed to slip by the protestors undetected but were finally stopped by the police at the door.

"I'm sorry but no civilians in the building at this time," a cop stated as he took Maron by the arm and started guiding her away.

Sasoli took a firm hold of Maron's other arm and glared at the policeman.

"We're not civilians. I am Sasoli Briefs-"

"No family either," the cop pulled a little harder on Maron's arm.

"-and Trunks Briefs lawyer. I have the right to speak to my client when-"

"Lawyer," the cop interrupted and let go of Maron, who sighed and rubbed her arm gratefully. He eyed Sasoli from the tips of her toes to her spiky hair.

"You don't look like a lawyer."

Sasoli smiled thinly.

"Because I'm a woman?"

"Well, no." The cop flushed.

"I'm dressed professionally so that can't be it. Unless, of course, you think that women are only secretaries or part of an escort service?"

"I didn't say that-"

"You think that just because I'm a woman you can look me up and down like a piece of meat?" Sasoli's voice had gained momentum and strength.

"No, I didn't mean-"

"Oh," Sasoli had backed the officer into the building, "Then what did you mean?"

"I just- You're pretty-"

"Oh so pretty faces are just empty headed females put on this earth for you to ogle?"

"No, I-"

"Can you say sexual discrimination? How about obstruction of justice?"

"What!" The cop paled and sweat beaded on his upper lip.

"Trunks has the right as stated in-"

"Go," the panicked officer waved them through hurriedly.

Sasoli narrowed her eyes just a bit more before smiling pleasantly and nodded, "Come on, Maron."

"Wait, who's. . ." the cop protested weakly but stopped when Sasoli shot him a steely look. "I mean . . . um . . . never mind."

Sasoli became sweetness and light once more and linked arms with Maron.

"So Trunks is in his cell?"

"No . . . he's . . . in the interrogation room," the cop cringed as her eyes hardened once more.

"Why?"

"He . . ." the cop swallowed, he didn't get paid enough to deal with this shit. "He tried to escape from jail."

"WHAT?"

The cop jumped and hastily repeated himself.

Sasoli's lip curled into a snarl so fierce she went from an elegant women to dangerous predator.

"Take me to him now . . .!"

It was like a bad cop movie, Trunks and Goten had been separated into identical adjoining rooms, complete with one sided mirrors.

"I think Goten was the mastermind of the whole thing. He was the one who plotted the murders and then your escape, wasn't he?"

Trunks lifted a brow, barely containing his amusement. Goten a mastermind? Murderer?

"He already confessed to everything!" Detective Himbon was practically foaming at the mouth. "Just confess your involvement and we'll give you a light sentence!"

Trunks sighed as his thoughts turned sad. They had confiscated his ring. How was he going to propose to Maron if they had it?

"Goten was the mastermind, wasn't he! WASN'T HE!"

Trunks was brought back to the present when the detective slammed his fists against the table.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't listening. What were you saying?"

Himbon's face turned a rather revolting shade of red.

Trunks was wondering if he should be concerned about whether the fellow was going to have a heart attack or not when the door burst open.

Sasoli took in the situation in with a glance and eyed Himbon sternly, "Trunks Briefs will not be answering any more questions unless these questions are under my supervision."

Himbon glared at Sasoli with murder in his eyes. He had been at the police station against his will, since he was unable to interview the female secretaries and had long since finished the males. So it was mere coincidence he was there at the same time as Trunks' attempted jail break.

He was going to milk this opportunity for all it was worth.

Besides, it would hurt Sasoli.

Himbon didn't know what it was about her but he had hated her on sight. Apparently, his first instinct had been right since he now had very valid reasons to loathe her very existence.

"You have no rights to demand-"

"I have every right," Sasoli interrupted, "I'm his lawyer."

Himbon's mouth opened and closed silently, shocked. His hatred surged forward in his mind renewed.

"Sasoli," relief was clear on Trunks' face, "They think Goten is involved."

Sasoli nodded her understanding and turned to the blonde behind her.

"Maron call Bra, get her over here now."

Maron nodded and turned to dash away when Sasoli's next words halted her.

"Preferably with Uub."

Beasely eyed the youth in front of him with mild confusion. He had been called in immediately to question a dangerous man who tried to break out a alleged murderer. However, there was a problem: Son Goten didn't match any criminal profile known to man. Hell, Goten couldn't even hide his emotions, his face was an open book.

"Why were you trying to break Trunks Briefs out of jail?"

Goten's eyes flashed with surprise then confusion, "I wasn't trying to free Trunks."

"Then why did you break the glass?"

"I didn't."

Honesty shone from his honest-to-goodness black eyes like a beacon in the dark.

"Trunks did then?"

Goten winced, "It was an accident."

"It was an accident he broke the glass or it was an accident he got caught breaking the glass?"

Goten frowned but his eyes remained honest.

"Trunks wasn't trying to break the glass. He just . . ."

"He just what?" Beasely leaned forward, finally something interesting.

"He just wanted to see the ring better," Goten finished guiltily.

"Ah, yes, the ring," Beasely acknowledged. "What's the story behind that?"

"It's a secret," Goten smiled then, absolutely pleased to be on the inside for once.

Beasely eyed him shrewdly, "Does this secret involve the murders?"

"Murders?" Goten blinked at him, "What . . . oh, no, Trunks would never. . ."

He trailed off abruptly when the door burst open.

"Sasoli," Beasely was on his feet, surprise written all over his face. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm his lawyer," Sasoli informed him lightly.

"Lawyer?" Beasely frowned, completely thrown off track. "But how can you be his lawyer if you're head of security?"

She gave him a straight face.

"I multitask."

"Wait, Sasoli-"

"My job is to protect the family company," Sasoli sat next to Goten, "as well as the employees important to it."

Beasely reluctantly retook his seat and just stared at her. He was completely at a loss at what to do.

"What is he being charged with?" Sasoli broke the silence.

"Attempted jail break," Beasely answered.

Sasoli opened her mouth to defend against the charge and then reluctantly shut it when Beasely held up a hand for silence.

"However, due to the answers I've already received-"

Sasoli shot a worried look at Goten.

"-I've come to the conclusion that it happened just as Mr. Son said . . . It was an accident."

Both Sasoli and Goten sighed with relief and then beamed at the detective.

"Thank you, Detective Beasely," Sasoli stood and held out her hand.

Beasely reciprocated and shook her hand.

"Well, it's not like he did anything wrong."

"Is that a fact?"

All three turned to find a man in a suit who stood in the doorway of the interrogation room.

"Chief Dumass?" Beasely inquired confused about his presence.

"What the chief means, Beasely," Himbon appeared, "is that Son Goten has the right to remain silent . . ."

Uub was crouched precariously behind a garbage can but what he didn't know was that one could see the tips of his Mohawk over the garbage receptacle. He cursed under his breath as he peeked around again to see one woman roaming about. He didn't trust it, one could easily become ten, as he had discovered.

Where the hell is Sasoli? He wondered part desperate and part angry that she was right. It was harder to investigate without her. The women in this building were like one of the ten plagues of Egypt. Unstoppable, relentless, and with one goal in mind, marry a Capsule Corp. man.

Uub snorted, like hell he'd ever work here . . . for real anyway.

"Ahem," a feminine voice sounded behind him.

Uub jumped about ten feet in the air and spun around, already half in stance to either attack or defend.

Bra lifted an amused brow as she eyed his stance.

"Is that a challenge?"

Remembering his current position, Uub flushed and relaxed his posture while he willed his heart to stop it's terrified pounding.

"Forgive me, I didn't see you there."

Bra passed him with an amused smirk.

"Follow me," she ordered absently, "Sasoli called. She needs us at the jail."

"What?" Uub literally appeared at her side. "Why?"

"Some kind of emergency," Bra shrugged lazily.

Bra didn't even have time to squeak in surprise as she was suddenly in Uub's arms being flown through the air at great speed.

"On what charges!" Sasoli demanded, her lips pressed together tightly as she tried to keep from exploding.

"I would have thought the answer was obvious," Chief Dumass dusted imaginary lint from his suit.

"He is an accomplish," Himbon declared gleefully.

"There no substantial evidence," Beasely went to stand with Sasoli, "We can't just-"

"That is enough, Detective Beasely," Dumass' eye's narrowed, "After all, we can't just give them 'get out of jail free' cards just because they're rich, can we?"

"Goten's not rich," Sasoli pointed out glibly.

The chief's eyes lit upon her.

"And who is this?"

Sasoli narrowed her eyes at the condescending tone. She was getting really tired of all these sexiest males.

"Sasoli Briefs, lawyer," Himbon sneered at her, "and head of security at Capsule Corp."

"So a rent-a-cop and a snake in the grass. Why am I not surprised?" A sardonic twist of lips, "Guess you can't all be geniuses."

Sasoli lowered her chin and allowed her mouth to soften until she was almost pouting as he glanced at him from under her lashes.

"True," she shrugged with one shoulder and tilted her head a little. "But we can't all just be a pretty faces either."

All three law enforcers were visibly surprised and intrigued, although in Himbon's case reluctantly while Goten just sighed as he recognized Sasoli's behavior.

Seductive Enforcer 101. Males will always be more receptive to a seemingly helpless but incredibly attractive woman with pouty lips than an angry, sneering feminist.

Goten hid his grin as he remembered his spy training, though of course this particular lesson wasn't useful to him in the slightest.

"Chief," Sasoli's voice had suddenly acquired a breathless quality to it. Her eyes lowered as if shy as she peeked at him from under her lashes.

"I need to speak with you. . . in your office, " she glanced worriedly at Himbon and then Beasely, " . . .alone. . ."

The chief of police automatically took her arm, "Of course, my dear."

He led her out of the interrogation room prompting the detectives to follow.

Himbon was fuming while Beasely was confused, he'd never seen Sasoli act like this before.

Sasoli smiled shyly when distress filled her features and stopped walking.

"What's wrong?" He was the embodiment of concern.

"I can't leave, Goten," she glanced at the interrogation door, "Not like this. . ."

The chief stared at her blankly, at a loss of what to do. He didn't want to release Goten and he really wanted to see what she wanted to talk about but he had to do the first to get the second.

"Is this a bad time?"

Everyone glanced up in surprise at the sound of Trunks' voice. He was leaning against the door frame of his interrogation room watching with interest.

"He's trying to escape!" Himbon backed away slightly.

Trunks snorted, "Hardly. You left the door open. I was wondering when to go back to my cell."

Beasely and the chief glared at Himbon while Sasoli swallowed her laughter.

With a sigh, Beasely made his way to Trunks. "Come with me then, Mr. Briefs."

Trunks shrugged and straightened from the doorway only to sway dangerously.

"Trunks?"

"Mr. Briefs?"

"I'm fine," Trunks shrugged off Sasoli and Beasely's concern and determinedly took a step forward.

Then, to the surprise of everyone in the hallway, Trunks collapsed onto Beasely. His body completely limp and unresponsive.

"Trunks?" Sasoli gasped and lifted her cousin just enough to free the fallen detective.

He didn't respond.

End Chapter