Northern Downpour

Part 14

Your hopes for a quick trial were quickly dashed upon entering the Witching Well Chamber. Snow had gathered a small group of Fables--Gren, Holly, Bluebeard, Beauty, Beast, Greenleaf and Johann. As soon as they saw you and Bigby with the Crooked Man, they all began to shout for his death.

"Everyone, can I have your attention?" Snow cut in. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. I know normally we'd schedule a formal heading, but given the circumstances I thought it best not to wait. The Crooked Man is charged with the murders of Faith and Li--"

"As I already informed your sheriff and his partner," the Crooked Man interrupted. "It was Mr. Georgie Porgie who killed those women, not me."

"Georgie may have killed them, but you made the call," Bigby said.

"Do I have to explain the situation to you again?" the Crooked Man sighed.

"Wait, so Georgie's the motherfucker who killed my sister?" Holly asked. "Where is he?"

"Justice has already been dispatched," the Crooked Man replied. "Bigby executed him."

"Wrong," you said sharply. "Georgie attacked me, forcing me to kill him in self-defense."

You caught Holly's gaze. You got a feeling she knew you were partially lying, but neither of you cared.

"So you see the culprit has been dealt with," the Crooked Man said. "There is no need for this--"

"That doesn't change anything," Snow cut him off. "We'll deal with it later, but right now you're the one I'm concerned with."

"Georgie made it clear as day that you were the one who called the shots," you said.

"In which case you still have a lot to answer for. And I'd--"

"I was told I would be allowed to speak," the Crooked Man interrupted.

"We have to read the rest of the charges--"

"What charges?"

"Why don't you shut up and you'll find out," you said sweetly. The look in your eyes left no room for argument.

"You are charged with the murder of Faith and Lily, which Georgie carried out on your order," Snow said. "Inciting violence against various members of the Fabletown community, including the attempted murder of Sheriff Bigby Wolf and Blue."

"Twice," you and Bigby said at the same time.

"A misunderstanding," the Crooked Man insisted.

You wondered how attempted murder could be a misunderstanding.

"Aiding and providing monetary support for the forced prostitution at the Pudding N Pie," Snow continued, ignoring him. "Additionally, you are charged with multiple counts of fraud, extortion, racketeering and the illegal possession and sale of magical artifacts. Now, is there anything you would like to say?"

"First of all, I had nothing to do with Faith and Lily, so you can strike that one from your little record book," the Crooked Man said. "Second--"

"Bullshit!" Gren shouted. "Like hell you didn't!"

"Stop the charade," Bluebeard ordered. "We know you're involved."

"It's obvious!" Beauty agreed.

"And there's all the other shit he's done!" Holly added.

"Everyone just shut up for a minute!" Bigby snapped. He turned to the Crooked Man. "You wanted a chance to talk, here it is."

"We all know he's guilty!" Gren argued. "What the fuck does he need to speak for?"