The Holiday Killer ✔️

Ch. 10 More Questions Than Answers

"Red eyes like when Sunstreaker is furious and the same shade as the cons optics," Arcee tells Aaron and Mirage, "and I saw he has blonde hair even with the hood covering his head."
Sunstreaker. Mirage concludes. I should have known. How is his aft not in the brig yet? 
The problem is Mirage hasn't been asked to help Prowl and the police find the killer, so he can't confront Optimus with this information.
"So, now what?" Aaron asks.
"I'll have to do a little spying. You need to focus on your recovery."

"It's been four days since the holiday killer killed, or three if you want to count how Trinity died from her injures," Prowl reminds Prime, "he's plotting something big."
"All while Sunstreaker is out," Ratchet adds.
"Enough!" Optimus scolds, "until you have proof that Sunstreaker killed them, aside from his history, I don't want to hear another word!"
Optimus walks away as Mirage finishes recording the conversation.
This is going to be harder than I thought. Mirage realizes.

Aaron has no luck finding anything that seems unusual and would suggest someone is plotting something that'll kill many people. 
"Arcee said the killer used a knife on her and Clint," Aaron reminds Mirage, "he's using tools that aren't illegal and wouldn't have people questioning the purchase. Even if he is using a handgun, that's not illegal in the city."
Whomever this guy is, he knows what he's doing to avoid getting discovered. Even has ways out of his hideout to avoid capture by Arcee and Ratchet. Mirage concludes.

Aaron and Mirage feel as if they've hit a roadblock with their investigation as the week goes by. They know Prowl won't tell them anything, but how would hearing if the killer added more victims to his list help the two? Mirage still walks around the base, invisible, hoping to find something.
".... it's like he just disappeared from existence," he overhears Prowl talking to Prime.
"He's planning something big or hoping to change his plans, so we're not interfering even if it's been unintentional."
"Until now, hopefully, any Autobot on patrol encounters him and stops him!"
They're certain it's not Sunstreaker; how strange.

Mirage sees Sunstreaker with Lily, Jamie, and her guardians. Neither mech appear pissed at Sunstreaker as he takes the two girls to the lounge room.
Surely they are informed about the holiday killer. Mirage guesses, uncertain if he should talk to the two mechs.
Sunstreaker knows Ironhide, Ratchet and Prowl still have him as a suspect, and there's nothing he can do until we arrest the real killer.
I could try to find him, but they'll think I'm meeting up with the fragger. Sunstreaker believes.
All he can do is act like nothing is bothering him for the two femmes. Though he suspects Lily knows about the killer, considering how her nightmares are back. He's happy she hasn't gotten to where she's terrified to be near him again. He suspects Mirage is trying to prove he's the killer, hoping he'll find the real killer.
This guy is a coward for disappearing. Sunstreaker believes. That's proof enough that I'm not the killer. 

Aaron asks to go with Mirage on his patrol. Immediately, the two are lectured not to find the killer, as it's uncertain if Aaron is still in danger.  
The hour-long drive turns into a foot patrol, and Aaron argues he needs to stretch his legs.
"You better tell me when you need to go back to my alt mode," Mirage instructs as he helps Aaron out of his alt mode and gives him the crutch he needs to use. He's amazed at how well the two scientists' invention worked, even if Aaron doesn't have his full strength.
Mirage is ready to protect Aaron as the two walk down an alleyway close to where Arcee said she saw the killer kidnap Clint.

They cross paths with the man who matches the person Arcee describes. Mirage feels as if he's looking at Sunstreaker.
"Sunstreaker?" Mirage asks.
"Never heard of him," the killer replies.
"Wait, I recognize that voice," Aaron comments, "Austin Knight?"
"Took you long enough, but I guess it's understandable since you were in a coma for two months," the killer comments, "I can easily make sure you're dead right now."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Mirage comments, taking out his gun, "why are you attacking humans?"
"None of your business!" Austin yells and uses a smoke bomb to escape.
"I don't think I'm in danger, Mirage," Aaron guesses, "but even if I'm still a target, I know four other people who are definitely in danger."
The question is how to inform Optimus and Prowl without getting into trouble? They can warn the people that Aaron believes are in danger, but that is not enough to keep them safe.
"Good news is two of them are soldiers here, so you can secretly protect them," Aaron informs Mirage.
"Sure, but I dislike I'll have to let two people become Austin's next victims. We need to tell Optimus and Prowl."
This situation is going to get worse before it gets better. Aaron regrets. Why must I play the bad guy to keep people safe?

"Wait a minute, that last name sounds familiar," Mirage realizes as the two walk out of the hanger, "yes, we have twin siblings with the same last name working here. We have insiders helping that aft!"