They had taken Charlotte Hayes to the back of the administration building, away from the destruction that now made up the front of the building. It was the best place for questioning, as all the patients were now avoiding the building like the plague, and the warden had told the orderlies still on duty to vacate the premises for now due to an 'unsafe working environment.'
Charlotte herself had been seated behind a table, her ankles bound to each chair leg, and her wrists bound in front of her where they lay resting on the table. Her face was fixed in a seemingly permanent scowl and loose strands of hair were flicking down over her eyes, causing her to look even more dangerous than she did usually.
Across from Charlotte sat Conner, leaning back casually in the chair, arms crossed in front of him. There was not a triumphant grin on his face but rather a soft expression as he studied her. For the others in the room – Jason standing at the corner of the table and Wasp guarding the door – for the first time Conner did not look like the man the Department of Supernatural Investigation had forced to work with them, but rather a completely different man altogether. His eyes were studious and intelligent, his body language loose. He looked relaxed. Comfortable.
The two had been silent for the better part of ten minutes. Jason, despite his inner reservations, had decided to allow Conner to head the interrogation, at least for the start. He would step in if necessary, but it had been Conner's plan that had finally allowed to both realise the truth behind the Hayes sisters as well as capture each of them in turn. Jason could easily admit that he was impressed at Conner's ability to predict what each sister would do, and to use each of their personalities against them. Every piece on the board Conner had used to an almost genius-like level. From the fake sins, to those others that had been influenced like the Warden, to Robyn, Ollie and Noah, and to Penelope and Charlotte Hayes herself. It was like nothing that Jason had ever seen before.
This intellect of Conner Shepherd's could have done the world such great service. It was shameful instead what Conner had chosen to do with his life.
"When I was a boy," Conner finally broke the silence as he spoke softly. "I used to listen to my dad and my uncle talk about cases together. I would never let them know I was listening, of course, because then they wouldn't talk about it. It was so interesting to me, the way all these puzzle pieces could be put together. My uncle was a smart man and even after my dad just couldn't cut it, uncle Freddy would still talk shop about the cases going on. He was trying to get my dad interested in it all again but that interest was drowned with drink. I never lost my interest. I loved watching my uncle solve crimes. I watched tv shows, I read books, I played games, I did everything I could to sharpen my mind.
"There was a particular case at the time, a prolific serial killer that the news called the 'Chicago Chopper' and my uncle Freddie had brought it up to my dad and for the first time in years my dad finally showed some kind of interest. I listened to them talk about the case and there was this one particular problem that my uncle, my intelligent uncle, just couldn't seem to piece together. I could. It was easy. Like solving the last square of a sudoku puzzle. I told my uncle and my dad what the answer clearly was. I thought my uncle would be happy. He wasn't. It was strange. When I brought up the case with him again he was avoiding the subject, didn't want me involved. He had never not wanted me involved in a case before. Something was strange. My dad didn't see it but I did because I believed in the phenonom known as a gut feeling.
"So I conducted my own little investigation. It was the greatest couple of weeks of my life as I gathered all those pieces and I put them together and I formed the puzzle. Yet the problem was once I had created this puzzle and looked at the wider picture, I solved the case of the Chicago Chopper. I found out the suspect. I couldn't believe it. I checked, and I double checked, and I triple checked all my facts. Looked for any loose threads that I may have solved incorrectly. But no, my investigation was sound, and there was only one solution: my uncle Freddy, who I admired moreso than my drunkard of a father, was the culprit himself. Frederick Tungston, Detective Inspector in the Chicago Police Department, was actually the serial killer known as the Chicago Chopper."
Conner grew quiet for a moment. He watched Charlotte but she only quietly stared back. There wasn't any particular reaction in her face.
"You see, the moral of that particular story is that people just aren't who you think they are and that realisation can change your perspective in a person."
"Whatever answers you want, I will not give," Charlotte said, speaking for the first time since her capture.
"Come on now, you and I both know what card I'm going to pull," Conner said. "Penelope Hayes. Your twin sister. Committed to Hearthome for her approach to life and death, and her suicidal tendencies. I had Jason here get me her file from when she entered Hearthome and that was the only mention of you I could find anywhere. Penelope was not committed to Hearthome by your mother or father. No, she was committed to Hearthome by you."
Charlotte's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Does she know this?" Conner asked. "Does Penelope know that you committed her here? I understand it as an act of love. You put your sister here for recovery. The question is does Penelope think that? Is she working with you willingly, or are you manipulating her to work with you?"
"I thought you had all the answers."
"I do. I know the answer to that question. I'm interested in what you are going to say. The simple fact of the matter is that if Penelope was… manipulated… then there is less to fault, correct? If she is in the same standing as the orderlies and the staff members you used, people like Derrick, David, Marcus, Rebecca, even the warden, if Penelope sits in the same fashion as them… well, things can be a little different. If manipulation was not a factor and Penelope was working with you under her own free will well then the two of you will share more than just looks. Do you understand what I am saying?"
Charlotte's scowl deepened.
"We know about the white-haired woman. We know about the power she holds," Conner finally said. "And I heavily expect she is the leader of your little group of Sins." Conner was satisfied at Charlotte's expression. When you hit a criminal with a big revelation that they weren't expecting, it loosens their lips, it makes them less confident in themselves. For if you know of the big thing, what point was there in hiding all else? This was the lynchpin that Conner had been waiting for, to use the white-haired woman against Charlotte Hayes.
When Conner heard the door open, he could only imagine the confusion that must have filled Robyn, Noah, and Ollie. The three of them stood at the entrance of the library, beckoned in by Berlin. Noah was looking worn out as was usual for the man in the last number of days, Ollie himself was looking a little bit more determined, and Robyn's face had grown slack. It was Robyn herself who took the first steps down into the library.
"Come, come, take a seat," Conner beckoned to the table he was sitting out. "Join us, all three of you."
Sitting opposite Conner was Penelope Hayes, not bound at all anymore. Her bandaged hands were clasped together though, and her face was uncertain, eyes darting about the library. Sitting directly next to Penelope was Professor Johann Schneider who despite being so recently imprisoned for nearly a week, had insisted to be here at the behest of the patients involved in this meeting. Conner could not fault the man's intentions and desire to help the patients of Hearthome involved in all this. Yet it was not the two of them that had caused the expression on the trio's faces.
It were the other five members in the room. Sitting on five chairs, all looking exhausted and unsure of themselves, were the orderlies Derek, Dave, and Marcus. Nurse Rebecca Cox sat timidly next to them. And sitting at the end of that little row of staff members was Theodore Hearthome himself, the warden of his namesake.
"Sit," Conner insisted. Robyn finally sat awkwardly next to Conner. Ollie followed suit. Only Noah remained standing, his one good eye casting a suspicious gaze over the room. Conner just shrugged and turned back to Penelope.
It had been hard to leave Charlotte with Jason for the time-being, but Conner specifically wanted this conversation with Penelope to happen first. There were a few loose ends he wanted to tie up, after all, most particularly relating to these fake sins and the warden himself. He was admittedly surprised that Jason had allowed him to do this but he supposed with Berlin in the room, Jason felt that Conner couldn't do any funny business. Not that Conner was planning on any funny business.
"I could sit here and explain myself away," Conner finally said once everyone had settled in their various states of bafflement and confusion. "But I'm not particularly interested in all that. Penelope, with Charlotte captured as well, this plan of yours, whatever it is, is done. It's over. Simple as that."
Penelope sighed quietly. "You played the game well, Shepherd. But why are you bringing these three here? Is it just to shame me? To show who I am to the people I befriended during my time here in Hearthome? Although I suspect Noah here doesn't particularly find me friendly any more. And what of the orderlies? Why are they here?"
"Each of the people in this room have a reason to be here. Penelope, unlike the conversation we will have with your sister, this is not an interrogation. You are a patient of Hearthome and as such this is just a conversation."
"Yet you are a patient of Hearthome as well, Shepherd. And you are taking a leading role, sitting at that table, acting like you are above everyone else. Why do you find yourself there, instead of watching?"
"Simply because I was asked to. I was asked by Jason Ryan to help capture the sin known as Pigritia, as well as find out the identities of the little group of Sins. Well, I succeeded in the first, and in a sense I suceeded in the second." Conner motioned towards the four orderlies sitting with their Warden. Rebecca and Derek both twitched and cowered slightly, while Marcus and David sat stone-faced, their eyes betraying their fear of Conner. "You see, I worked out all but one of the sins before I even knew they were fake. So when Jason asked me who they were, it was easy for me to list them off. David Chetton, Derrick Wright, Rebecca Cox, Marcus Morris, Paul Spinner, and Penelope Hayes. But of course something was strange. There was an attack arranged, on myself, Jason, and Noah here. This attack was perputrated not by skilled fighters, but by people who were acting only on some kind of order. They were defeated soundly and without hardship. And you, Penelope, it turned out that you were not Pigritia like I had initially thought. After all, there are no tattoos under those bandages. That was the mistake I made when I visited you. So it ended up that I had six sins and none of them were the true sins.
"So not too long ago I had a nice little conversation with four of those fake sins," Conner looked to the four sitting next to Warden Hearthome. "Because they weren't being very talkative to the Department of Human Protection, I allowed myself to question them with the intention of striking fear into them. Fear is a wonderful motivator. And I finally loosened their tongues." A small bit of shame seeped into Marcus, David, and Derrick's faces, while Rebecca simply looked pale and sickly. "And I discovered something rather interesting that they all shared. They were met with a woman who claimed to be a new kind of employee. A woman they could all describe with the same features. Bright blue eyes. Pallid skin. White hair. And as soon as they shook this woman's hand, they found themselves forgetting things. Being pushed to do things. And this mysterious woman was always by the side of one Theodore Hearthome."
Conner looked to Theodore. Unlike the rest of them, Theodore simply looked angry at being used the way he had. Conner did not need to scare Theodore to get answers as whatever control was on him had already started slipping when Conner had started to ask his questions.
"And it's interesting. There was something stopping Theodore from talking to me. Something made him struggle to answer me, despite the fact that he wanted to. Yet that effect slowly started to fade away. And he told me of the woman with white hair, with blue eyes, with pallid skin. He couldn't name me a name, but he could name me something much more interesting. A power to manipulate on simply a touch. To control. And then it became clear to me that this person, this woman, was likely a true member of the sins, perhaps something higher. She manipulated David, Derrick, Rebecca, Marcus, and Paulie all to become something they weren't. To become sins. She manipulated them to kill, even though it was something they would never have done before. She manipulated Theodore Hearthome so she had an in with Hearthome itself, so she had a finger on the pulse, so she knew what was going on."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Penelope asked.
"Because I am rather interested on whether you were manipulated by this woman with white hair. You see, if your sister, who is a true Sin, manipulated you, then that means the fault lies on her, and not of you. You can still receive the help you need as a patient of Hearthome."
"And if I wasn't manipulated this same way?"
"Then the DHP will treat you as an equal to your sister in terms of the crimes committed, of being part of a terrorist organisation. Then there will not be a conversation, but rather an interrogation."
Penelope scoffed. "I've got nothing to say to you. And my sister will say nothing to you either. All you've got is hearsay and strange theories."
"Maybe I have but I have a question for you Penelope. A little out of left field. Who put you into Hearthome as a patient?"
The question clearly took Penelope by surprise. "What? My father did, he tore me from all I knew."
"Interesting." Conner held out his hand and Theodore Hearthome stood up, slowly padded over, and handed Conner a file. Conner placed the file in front of Penelope and flipped it over. "This is the form that was filled in when you were first committed. As you can see, your father's name is not on here. But rather, you were put here by none other than Charlotte Hayes, your twin sister."
Penelope didn't quite show a visible reaction save for a slightly trembling in her fingers. Conner had to admire that. Penelope slowly closed the file. "I don't know what you are trying to achieve."
"People aren't always who they say they are, Penelope. You are a patient of Hearthome. You require help. And if you were manipulated by people you thought you could trust, then no fault lies on you. I just want you to tell us the whole story. Tell us what you know of your sister's plans. But hey, that doesn't have to be now." Conner stood up. "In fact, I'm actually going to come back later. It's time to speak to Charlotte anyway. Berlin, can you take away the staff for me?"
Berlin nodded and walked to where the orderlies and the warden were sat and quietly beckoned for them to follow. They followed without argument. Theodore Hearthome was the only one who walked with his head held high. The others all shuffled, husks of their selves, remnants of the fear that Conner had put into them when he resurrected the Ripper. It had been a necessary action, but no doubt it had been a scarring action. Berlin led them straight out of the library, leaving only himself, Penelope, Johann, Robyn, Ollie, and Noah in the room.
"I will be leaving as well but before I do, and this is the reason why you guys are here," He looked to the other three who had been sitting quietly, taking in all the information. "Robyn, can I see your camera?"
"…What?" Robyn blinked, confused.
"Your camera. You don't have to give it to me. Just put it on the table if you like."
Robyn hesitantly placed her camcorder, than she had been clutching in her hands, on the table.
"So I'm gonna go. Robyn, Noah, Ollie, please have a discussion with Penelope about that camera, okay? See what see says. Professor, there is a laptop at the back of the room as well as some cables to attach the camera to it. Please help them see what is on that camera."
"What? Conner!" Robyn stood up quickly. "Conner, I… you know that this camera is just… is just for me, to help me manage, it doesn't work. They made sure of that when I came in. It was the only way I could carry it with me, if it wasn't working." Robyn pressed her thumb on the power button. "Look, Conner, nothing. No light, no screen."
Conner smiled sadly. "No light and no screen doesn't mean something is not working, Robyn. Penelope knows this, don't you? Have a talk. Have a chat. Connect it to that laptop. See what you find. I need to go speak with your sister now, Penelope. Just remember that Charlotte put you into Hearthome. I wonder what else she may do. I'm certainly interested, are you?" With that, Conner gave a small wave and left the library and the rest of them alone.
"So here is the offer," Jason stepped forward from where he had been listening to Conner talk and placed his hands on the table, staring at Charlotte. "Here is the deal. If you tell us what we need to know about the group you are a part of, then you will receive not only the protection that the DHP can offer, put Penelope will be put down in the paperwork as manipulated, and can continue her recovery as is necessary. Not to mention that we will help you with your position on the List."
Charlotte shook her head slightly. "And what exactly would happen with me?"
"If you comply and give us any information we request, then we will allow you some essence of freedom. Perhaps reunite you with Penelope. Perhaps allow the two of you to lead your own lives." Jason said.
"You play me for a fool? You expect me to believe such a deal is true?"
Conner pointed to himself. "Any proof you need of what the DHP will give you is sitting right in front of you. I do not need to remind you of my past. I do not need to remind you or what I've done. Yet despite all that I have done, I was given this life of mine. I have been given certain freedoms. I proved useful to the DHP. If you prove yourself useful to them, then yes, the world is your oyster. After all Charlotte, the crimes you committed are much less than those I have."
Charlotte stared at Conner. She then looked to Jason. Finally she looked down at the table. "What time is it?"
"Excuse me?" The question seemed to take Jason a little off-guard.
"What is the time?" Charlotte repeated.
"About six o'clock. Why?" Jason asked.
Charlotte seemed deep in thought for a moment. Finally she looked up and connected eyes with Jason. "Do the things you've said hold true? For my sister and for myself?"
"They do," Jason said firmly.
"Then if you save my sister from the oncoming Purge, then I will tell you everything you want to know."
"The Purge?" Conner leaned forward. "What do you mean, the Purge?"
"You've met the real Irae, correct? It is what made you realise that the sins I worked with weren't the real ones, after all. Well, when a plan does not go the way it is supposed to, and too many people know of what has happened, then the group that I work for orders a Purge. A cleansing of knowledge. The List… yes, it got in the way of my plans. It put me on the defensive. It meant I couldn't do what needed to be done and that all lead to this… my capture. I can accept that defeat." Charlotte sighed. "I wouldn't care about a Purge. You all can be killed for all I care. Yet Penelope… she will be a part of it. They will want to kill her to. So save my sister, Jason Ryan, Conner Shepherd. Save my sister and I will give you what you want."