Of Lights and Shadows (Book 4)

39) Plausible Evidence

Once again in the next room, Dastardious rewound the recording taken of their conversation before the point where he had zoned out and watched carefully. Nothing different seemed to be happening; he was sitting in his spot like he remembered with Alice sitting across from him doing exactly what he remembered. They talked on, Alice's voice coming clearly through the speakers,

'-Alas, though, I cannot tell you. If I did, which I can't, I would be admitting to this accusation you push against me.'

The video carried on, showing Dastardious sitting back and then shortly he saw his back stiffened quickly before relaxing as Alice spoke once more.

'You realise that you've arrested the wrong person, you apologised profusely for making a mistake, and that I am free to go.'

'Pardon?' It was his voice speaking as Alice rose from her seat. Dastardious paused the video.

She had hypnotised him. It was kind of a shock to his system; it was almost unbelievable that he would fall for something like that. It was very clever, but very stupid of her to try it while she was being recorded. It would explain how she was able to pass everybody with no one remembering her, a distant fuzz of memory every time they tried to remember what they weren't allowed to. Would they all remember her if he showed them a picture, called them forth and pointed her out? It was slightly risk, what if the image was entirely blotted from their minds? How would it make him look if he brought the victim's parents up to testify and they couldn't confirm it? A fool, no doubt. No, it was better that he didn't bring them into it.

He rose from the chair he had sat down in and watched Alice through the glass. Either she knew he was in there or simply guessed, or hoped he was there, she waved. For a second he thought of waving back, but resisted the urge.

Looking back at the frozen image on the screen, he wondered how that would hold up as evidence. In reflection of it he decided that it wouldn't really work. She had admitted nothing, denied nothing, and he had overcome the hypnosis before it could have proven anything. At least they still had the cherry of the cake safe back in his apartment.

It was some four hours before Dastardious was free to head home and view the evidence, there had been a lot to do. First, seeing as Alice hadn't requested a lawyer they had had to find one to assign her. Then they had all had to sit down together and have another talk about what she was being charged with. The conversation had gone relatively smoothly, with Dastardious biting down each threat to the lawyer that rose to his tongue, but it would have gone smoother if Alice had cooperated.

Commissioner Gallapolo was present for that interview, watching everything behind the glass, and after it was finished he requested to speak to Dastardious alone. He couldn't make up his mind about Alice Aforethought, her behaviour was certainly suspicious, he agreed, but they needed solid evidence to link her to the crimes. If she confessed then he would go along with it, but until she did they needed to see the tape. Gallapolo put a lot of pressure on needing to see the tape, even Alice's lawyer, a man named Falkner, demanded to see it. Deep down, Dastardious knew he should have brought it over, but the truth was that he simply did not trust anyone at the Plaza.

After that they took her to have her photo and prints taken, then foot size matched to the print they had taken. Her foot was slightly smaller than the print, but considering the fact that shoes were often larger than the person's foot to accommodate it they didn't dismiss it and a search was put underway of her house.

Finally, in the end, he had forms to fill out along with various other pieces of paperwork. This he handled up in his office with the door firmly locked. That was mainly so that he couldn't be bothered by questions he didn't want to answer.

Alone in his office, he was able to finish the last of the paper work. Pushing it aside he stretched. Through the glass he could hear the sounds of conversation and could just make out the topic for each and every one of them. With so many other cases closing and coming in it was hard to believe that everyone would just focus on his.

It was early morning by the clock on his computer, so early he still called it Monday night. It would remain Monday night until he saw the sun rise, but even then he would refuse to believe it until breakfast was served. His stomach gave a rumble at the thought of food and, glancing down, he stretched again before rising.

Slowly and stiffly, he made his way out of his office to the kitchenette just down from him to grab another cup of coffee. Each floor had their own kitchenette so staff could make their own meals when working late. The room was currently empty as he strolled in and set about preparing the pot. As he filled it his ever functioning mind turned to thoughts of Mulligan. What was the man up to? He hadn't heard a thing about him since the conversation with Dutch earlier.

Had Mulligan returned to the building yet after returning from wherever he had gone to? Dastardious suspected he had most likely headed to Alice's house, but what he had done after finding it empty he had no idea. Did Mulligan know he had lost? It was presumptuous for Dastardious to think that, neither of them had won or lost until the subject of promotion was broached. While debating whether to hunt the man out or not, Dastardious finished pouring his coffee and strolled back to his office. Arriving back there he decided not to bother finding his rival, instead he grabbed the paperwork he had finished and headed downstairs to hand it in.

As he headed further down the building, it became emptier and emptier as people started to head home for the night. Offices were empty and locked, desks tidy for the next morning, and the janitors, who were released from their broom closet, were busy sweeping and mopping. People were so intent on leaving that they paid no attention to the people around them. If a killer were to walk in with a gun, no one would notice. It would be a different matter, however, for the killer to leave afterwards. Finishing his coffee, he dumped the cup and large folder of paper onto the desk of a very unhappy man who would have to go through it all before leaving.

The lights were off in his apartment building as he entered and walked to the elevator. After stumbling in the dark trying to get his key into the lock, he was at last able to open the door and enter. Seeing nothing, he walked cautiously forwards, peeling off his coat, tie, and shoes along the way before finally collapsing on his sofa.

There was quiet movement across from him as a tall figure stirred on the couch before muttering. Ah, yes, he had forgotten that Silence and Dutch were waiting for him. Yawning, he climbed back to his feet and switched the main light on.

Dutch lay sprawled on his back with one arm under his head, the other over his chest. At precisely the same moment the light had turned on, he had opened his eyes. With a cry of pain, he shut them and sat up. From the bedroom came the sounds of another body stirring. Presently a bedraggled Silence joined them, blinking in the sharp light.

'First things first,' Dastardious said as soon as he knew both men were listening. 'I need to see the video.'

Still rubbing his eyes, Dutch leaned over the arm of the couch and picked up a CD case. He handed it to Dastardious. All three men watched quietly as a black figure appeared on the TV screen, carrying a body that she placed into a boat which was sitting by the side of the Lake. After pushing it off into the water, she turned and faced the camera. The light was dark, but they could all see Alice's face clearly staring back at them. The time on the bottom of the screen also checked out with her absence where she had no alibi.

Turning off the TV Dastardious turned to his associates who were stifling yawns and waiting expectantly for a sum up of the evening. Suddenly he felt too tired to explain everything that had happened. None of them said anything for a few minutes, and then, after finishing yawning, Dastardious bade them both goodnight before walking into his room and shutting the door.