Chapter 7: Undead Again IV
"Humanity is mind-controlled and only slightly more conscious than your average zombie."
David Icke
"This was far beyond the act of zombie mayhem, this was fiendishly deliberate," Charlie paced around the precinct as JJ was at his desk going over the evidence. "It was all meticulously planned!"
"By someone with a powerful motive..." JJ agreed.
"Who has access to those drugs." She added.
"Who was also on our zombie walk."
"But we interviewed those people, there was no way they even knew Aaron."
"Well he had to have gone there, there wouldn't be any other reason," JJ added. "Maybe we should work on the drug angle, it's the only thing that makes sense."
"Way ahead of you guys," Donoghue said, "I did some research on the scopolamine."
"Nice."
"Side effects include: drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, and death."
"Yeesh, quiet the list..." Charlie muttered.
"Is it still out there on the street?" JJ asked.
"It's not a common drug, but it's still out there on the market, and get this, users commonly referred to it as the zombie drug," Charlie's eyes lit up as she turned to JJ with a smirk.
"And I know just the zombie to tell us more."
"What the heck is all this? I answered all of your questions."
"When you were here last time kid, what were you on?" JJ asked. He gave them a shocked expression and tried to deny it.
"On? What are you-"
"When you were here last time, you under the influence, Scott."
"And may I add that you were under it heavily, I had to snap my fingers at you, kid," Charlie added, "Was it the scopolamine?"
"The what now?"
"Did you the zombie drug the night we brought you here?" JJ continued on with the interrogation. Scott merely crossed his arms and shrugged.
"I suppose...it's possible..."
"Do any of the others use it?" JJ pressed.
"Some, do, some don't, they say it enhances the zombie experience."
"Really...no...really?" Charlie inquired, although it was in a mocking manner.
"Where did you get?" JJ asked.
"A guy on the street sells them..."
"Who?"
"I don't know, I don't ask!"
"Well describe him, kid," Charlie said.
"Tall, dark hair, a little over 6 feet..." Scott sighed. JJ squinted his eyes at him and showed him a picture.
"Is this him?" The blonde detective asked.
"Yeah, that's him..." JJ pulled Charlie away and whispered in her ear.
"That's Tom Louis, he's engaged to Lisa, the girl Aaron was dating."
"Talk about an angry love rivalry gone wrong," Charlie muttered.
"Thank for coming in, Mr. Louis," Charlie said, taking a seat in the interrogation room as a man with dark hair sat in front of JJ and herself.
"Yeah, what's this about? I thought you already caught the guy?" Tom said, JJ sat across from the man as he watched him carefully.
"Oh, yeah you did, but-ah-there's just one problem with that, Tom," Charlie smiled, leaning towards him with her hands on the table and showed him a picture, "See this is our suspect Ron Harris."
"Yeah I saw."
"And you said that you've never met him right?" JJ continued.
"Would've been hard to miss the guy," Tom chuckled.
"Yeah funny thing about cause Ron said that he saw you at the zombie walk..." Charlie added, arms crossed, "Never told us that you were part of the zombie subculture."
"Detectives, I'm pre-law, I have not time for culture, let alone subculture," Tom replied.
"Oh, Tom you are too modest!" Charlie flashed him a sickening sweet smile, "A number of zombie sang appraises."
"Apparently you're the go to guy for the zombie experience with the-ah-what was it again?" JJ asked, Charlie as they smirked at Tom, "Oh, right! The scopolamine!"
"The what?"
"You're a kid from downtown! You don't even have a job!" JJ said, "And yet you managed to afford a really nice apartment and able to pay your tuition."
"I took student loans," Tom countered, "Look, I'm not a drug dealer."
"You were trying to get ahead, make a life with Lisa," Charlie started, "And then all of a sudden, she's stepping out with some Wall Street guy, who would just not let her go!"
"Aaron wanted to see Lisa the night he was killed, but she said no." JJ said.
"We canvased the area, we saw him sitting in his car outside of your apartment and when he left that night, you followed him on the zombie walk," Charlie added, "In fact, I'm willing to bet 10 bucks that he hold you he was gonna fight for Lisa, I mean let's face it, Tom, he's handsome, has money, and they've got a history. There was no way you could compete with all of that..."
"Yeah, especially if Aaron would've told Lisa that you're nothing but a low-life drug dealer," JJ said, "You had to of take matters into your own hands, or in this case specifically, Ron's hands," The blonde detective continued, "You came up with this brilliant plan, you dosed Ron with the scopolamine, told him to kill Aaron, thinking that no body will ever figure it out."
"Too bad that last part didn't go out so well now did it?" Charlie mused and JJ agreed. Silence was in the air as Tom shrugged it all off.
"Really? That's quite the story detectives, cause I have an alibi," He retorted, "And all you have are the words of a bunch of whacked out zombies and that's not even close to probable cause."
"Yeah, but that's kinda all we need to keep you hear for 24 hours and by then, we'll have our proof," JJ said.
"No you won't." With that the two detectives left the interrogation room.
"I hate to say it, but he's right, we have no substantial evidence...we've got nothing..." JJ sighed.
"Nothing's kinda of a strong word..." Charlie muttered.
"The only one who can link Tom of the murder is Ron and he doesn't remember anything..." He said, "And on top of that, the evidence shows that Ron along committed the murder..."
"Well...when you say it like that...yes it sounds a little bleak..." Charlie nodded.
"Maybe this is it..." JJ trailed off, "What every homicide cop fears..." Charlie turned to him, expectantly, "...The perfect murder."
"Oh, no" Charlie scoffed, "This is not the perfect murder, it can't be," She said.
"That's what happens."
"Not to me, not unless it's written in a book," The brunette disagreed, "We're just missing something, I just don't know what it is yet..."
"Well we need proof, without it we went against Tom head on and he didn't even blink..." JJ muttered, "We've got no other moves..." He huffed. They stared at the evidence laid out on the table when an idea popped into Charlie's mind.
"Not exactly...we've got one move left..." She stood up straight and faced JJ, "We went on him head on, who's to say we can't go at him sideways?" She questioned, "And I know just how to do it."
"Look, Lisa, I get that you're in love with Tom and you wanna see the best in him," JJ said as he tried to talk to the fiancé, "But you have too look at the facts-"
"What you're saying isn't true, none of it is!" She said.
"Well then take the money, how is he able to pay for an apartment in central Gotham?" JJ inquired, hoping that it would make her question it as well.
"Not by being a drug dealer I'll tell you that!" JJ pursed his lips and gazed down, noticing the engagement ring.
"Okay then, then what about that engagement ring?" He said as they both stared at said ring, "How can he afford that?"
"He said it was his grandmother's..."
"Lisa, you are my last chance, if you don't help me, an innocent man is going to go to prison. For life. For Aaron's murder." Lisa flickered her eyes from the ring then to the detective. She bit her bottom lip and stood up.
"No, you got your killer and it's not my fiancé." With that she left the precinct.
"Still waiting on that proof of yours, detectives," Tom said, smugly. Charlie and JJ sighed, "No? Nothing?" He clicked his tongue and stood up, "Well thank you for the hospitality," He said as he walked out of the holding cell.
"You're free to go." JJ said, sternly.
"Enjoy it while you can," Charlie said, giving him a fake smile as he walked passed her, "You'll need it..." She grumbled.
"Oh, Lisa told me about your conversation," Tom said, "That was your big play? To use my own fiancé against me?"
"She's gonna figure it out sooner of later, so what are you gonna do about it then?" JJ asked as he said this, Rossi walked up to them.
"Hey, so Ron Harris made bail, he's out now-"
"Wait, Ron is out?!" Tom freaked.
"His bail was set at a million dollars, how did he get the money?" JJ asked.
"Apparently his uncle's got some serious dough," Rossi answered.
"I'd stay clear of him if I were you, Tom," Charlie said.
"What kind of lies did you tell him?" Tom demanded.
"We didn't tell him anything, but Ron is a smart guy," JJ said, "He'll figure out the math," He said and was about to turn away.
"I want police protection."
"I thought you didn't do anything wrong..." Charlie quipped.
"I didn't, but thanks to you Ron thinks I did and now he's out there!" They all merely shrugged, "You're releasing me with knowledge and forethought that he could attack me? If he does, think about the lawsuit I'll file against the GCPD," They stood there staring at Tom, before JJ sighed.
"Detectives Monore, Rossi, please process Mr. Louis out to his apartment, make sure it's clear and then after that, you are on your own," He said, the last statement directed towards the taller man.
"Well this sucks, why did I have to be apart of this too?" Charlie mumbled as Rossi drove the car to Tom's apartment. The car entered the parking garage and came to a halt.
"I want a patrol car parked outside my building," Tom said.
"Oh that's cute, look Rossi, he's scared," Charlie taunted.
"Yeah it is, that's not gotta happen, we're cops not some-" Rossi was cut off mid-sentence when something hit the front window of the car, startling all of them. Immediately the two cops got out of the car to investigate, "Stay in the car!" Rossi said to Tom as he took his gun out at the zombie dressed figure, followed by Charlie, "GCDP! Don't move!" He said, "Alright show me your hands!" He said, but the zombie used the crow bar in his hands and knocked the male detective out cold.
"Rossi!" Charlie was about to shoot, but the zombie grabbed her and threw her to the ground, making her hit her head. With the two cops down, the zombie went to car where Tom was and pulled him out.
"I know what you did," It said in a deep, gravely voice.
"I didn't! I swear!" Tom said, raising his hands up to defend himself.
"You made me kill a man and now I'm do the same to you!"
"Oh no please! I'm very sorry!"
"You lied!"
"No-I didn't! I swear!" Tom said, "He was going to take Lisa away! I had to do something about it!" He said, it merely growled at at, "Look, I'm sorry, just please, don't hurt me." The zombie continued to growl and was about to hit Tom with the crow bar when Charlie stood back up.
"Ah! Okay! That's enough!" She said. The zombie released Tom and backed away. She went over to Rossi and pulled him up as she had her eyes trained on Tom, "Huh? So how was the show for you, Tom?" She asked, " Good acting, huh?"
"Tom Louis, you're under arrest for the murder of Aaron Locke," JJ said as he appeared, walking towards them.
"Wait, wait!" Tom said, "Ron-" The zombie , who Tom thought was Ron, took of the wig and some of the make up to reveal Donoghue.
"Sorry, Ron couldn't make it," The taller detective said, talking out a voice module an pressed, "But he sends his regards," As he pressed the button, his voice changed to the deep, gravely voice moments ago.
"Alright, turn around," Rossi said as he cuffed Tom, "Gotta tell you kid, "He said to Charlie, "Didn't think this plan of yours would work."
"I'm shocked that you would doubt me dear sir!" She feigned a hurtful expression, "But it was mostly thanks to Donoghue's acting.
"You know for a second there," Rossi said, turning towards Donoghue, "I almost believed that you were the real," He chuckled, Donoghue leaned close to Rossi and started growling again, "Stop it! Don't do that! You're creeping me out..."
Back at the precinct, Charlie and JJ were walking with a now free Ron Harris.
"You really nailed it, Ron, your costume was the one that sealed the deal on this bit," Charlie said.
"Yup, but helping us, you actually helped yourself," JJ agreed, "The DA's looking to dismiss those charges now that he has Tom's confession."
"Detectives, I don't know how to thank you..." Ron said.
"Ah, actually," Charlie interrupted, "Let me borrow the zombie outfit and we'll call it even."
"You know what, keep it, my zombie walking days are over, I just want all of this behind me," The two detectives nodded in understanding as this whole experience was something that one should not have had to gone through. They nodded their good byes as the two detectives watched the man leave.
"How can somebody put something like that behind him?" Charlie wondered, "He's going to need therapy..."
"Yeah, well, it helps," JJ said.
"You've done therapy before?" She asked.
"For a while, after my wife passed, I needed some help so I could look after my son, Kyle."
"I didn't know you have a son," She said, honestly shocked.
"That's because I like to keep my personal life personal."
"Hey, if it means anything to you, I'll tell you something from my personal life; I still live with my mother."
"You live with your mother?" He questioned as they were both preparing to retire for the night.
"Well technically it's my loft, she just refuses to move out...into another city," She noted, "Speaking of mother, I must go, don't want her to be too antsy when I return," She said heading out.
"See you tomorrow?"
"Until tomorrow!"
Upon arriving home, Charlie hung her coat on the rack and closed the door to her loft.
"Mother! I'm home!" She called out.
"Oh, darling! Welcome back!" Her mother said as she walked into the main room, there was something in her voice that made the older woman more livelier than usual.
"Something happened?" Charlie asked.
"Oh, I was just having a wonderful conversation with a friend of yours," Charlie raised a brow at her mother.
"'A friend'?" She asked, "Who?"
"Oh he's right here, in the kitchen darling!" The older woman said, taking her daughter's arm and pulled her into the kitchen, "Oh what was his name?" She pondered, "Oh right! Oswald! Yes!" Charlie stopped as her eyes widened.
"Wait, what?" She said, "Oswald? As in Oswald Cobblepot?" Charlie asked carefully. She remembered clearly of the new of Oswald Cobblepot's "death", Charlie assumed it was because he snitched got him...well, you know.
"Why yes, he right here in the kitchen-" Her mother didn't finish her sentence as Charlie rushed into the kitchen. There she saw sitting at her marble stone countertop, sipping a cup of tea, was the one and definitely alive Oswald Cobblepot.
"Hello, detective."
"Son of a-!"
So finally this arc is done! Sorry it took me a while life piled up on me, but yes! We've finally got Oswald back in the story and who's ready for season 2? I know I'm not! I don't think I can handle all of the things that's going on especially with that cinnamon bun of an Nygma! His scene in the finale really just hit me in the feels man! But anyways I am looking forward to season 2, I really want more Scarecrow in it cause we already know that Ed is gonna have a big role in it. And I see that this story is getting some faves and follows which is amazing! Not all I need is more reviews to tell me what my mistakes are, like am I doing alright, is everyone in character? Do I need to add or change some stuff? Those type of review that would help me (and also motivate me) would be very well appreciated!
Warning: Grammatical errors and mistakes!