White | Silver | Black
Zechs leaned against the wall, watching in numb relief as the forensics team was relocated to the storm cellar. Sally put a quick field dressing on his arm, where one of the bullets had left a painful cut; promising to do a more thorough job once more medical backup arrived and she didn't have to see to keeping the suspects alive for questioning on her own. He had just nodded. To his relief, Duo had managed to stay relatively unharmed during the firefight, coming through with only bruises.
Once the suspects had been secured, Duo had opened the hidden entrance to the wine cellar; though so far Lady Une had not been able to pry out of him how he'd known where it was. He'd just smiled and muttered something about trade secrets.
Despite the lights and cleaner air from both doors, the storm cellar air still carried the taste and smell of blood. Finally escaping Une's questions, the younger man had gingerly sat down on the stairs next to him.
"You okay?" Zechs stirred himself to ask.
"Yeah." Duo looked like he wanted to say something else for a moment, then frowned. "You mind if... we go outside...?"
"Why would I mind?" Zechs glanced at him sharply. "What's wrong?"
"I... this place... I touched a few too many of the boxes down here, rolling around in the dark. It's giving me a headache, that's all." He muttered finally.
"I imagine it is going to take a little bit for them to get around to us," Zechs shrugged, wincing a little. "And I could use a break from the smell of blood too."
"Thanks, man."
Dorothy joined them outside, as they found a seat on the back stairs of the house. The three sat in a companionable silence, content to leave the investigation to the rest of the Preventer's for the moment.
"They found her body," Dorothy broke the silence finally. "In another crate. She still had the bear with her."
"Rover" Zechs sighed sadly.
"Maybe she'll rest now that she's not lost in the dark anymore," Dorothy muttered.
"I hope so..." Zechs glanced around, but didn't see any of the ghosts at the moment.
"What are we going to tell them?" Dorothy finally asked, voicing the thought that all of them had been wondering.
"What did you tell Sally to get the warrant?"
"That we had an anonymous tip that the little girl had been murdered, not kidnapped."
"Probably best to stick to that then." Zechs sighed. "Let them assume that someone involved with the Senator's security staff got cold feet, and tipped us off."
"Yeah."
"So this is where you three vanished too." Sally's voice reached them from the doorway behind them. "Let me take another look at that arm, Zechs."
He just nodded.
"What's happening inside?" Duo finally asked Sally as she unwrapped the bandage from Zechs' arm. "With the Senator and his wife?"
"I sedated Mrs. Jameson. She was hysterical when they found the body."
"And the Senator?" Duo pressed, and Zechs knew he was remembering the man's ring.
"He's... in the middle of confessing to quite a few things he shouldn't have done." She eyed them all for a moment. "But somehow, I think you three already knew he was involved."
"It was his house," Duo muttered. "No way Morrison could have hidden that much illegal weaponry in his basement without him knowing about it."
"Plus, he was the one that supposedly sealed off the back portion of the basement, and the storm cellar," Dorothy added.
"He knew about it," Une said grimly, and they turned to look at her. "Though it was apparently Skerritt Morrison that was behind most of what happened."
"Uncle Scary..." Zechs muttered softly.
"What did happen?" Duo asked before Une could question Zechs' comment.
"I would have thought you all knew that already, given how far ahead of everyone else you were on this investigation."
"We had a few tips and hunches that turned out to be right," Dorothy shrugged. "So how was the Senator involved?"
"He was being blackmailed by Morrison. Apparently, just before Seely was born, the Jamesons' had a falling out. Morrison found out about the Senator's indiscretions somehow. When Seely was born, though, the Senator adored her, and he and his wife reconciled. He was terrified that if she found out about his affairs, she would take Seely away from him. When White Fang kicked Morrison out, he vowed revenge, and started stockpiling weapons to start his own army. Jameson let him hide things in the basement, though he refused to have anything to do with starting an army. Then the war ended, for everyone but Morrison. He forced Jameson to let him continue to put things in the hidden room. Apparently, he also would stay down there sometimes; we found a cot and some rations in that back part of the cellar.
"Jameson was, by then, a leading proponent of Pacifism. I think he had the misguided idea that Morrison would get disgusted, or give up. When Morrison brought the mobile doll parts, Jameson didn't believe him. So they went down to look at the stash. He said Seely must have followed them, though he doesn't know why, since she was forbidden to go down in the basement. They had left the door into the storm cellar open, so that Hendricks and Brenner could move the crate. But Seely surprised them, and one of them panicked and shot her. Jameson wasn't sure which one, and Hendricks is still unconscious. Morrison convinced the Senator that he would be equally guilty of causing his own daughter's death, and it would cost him everything- his wife, his political career... everything. Jameson caved, and agreed to go along with the kidnapping scheme until the body could be moved."
Une sighed, looking away from them into the trees. "I think he secretly wanted to get caught, but he was too frightened to tell anyone what had happened. The members of his security staff loyal to Morrison were near him at all times, so he didn't dare say anything."
"Lowell?" Dorothy asked quietly.
"Was innocent. He had taken over the position as Head of Security only after the war. He was suspicious because he couldn't figure out how Seely had been taken from under their noses, but didn't have any idea that Morrison had been there that night. He knew where the old storm cellar had been, built parallel to the wine cellar, but not that there was still an entrance into it from either the basement or the garage."
"What about the window in the pantry?" Duo asked suddenly. "Does it have anything to do with this at all?"
"It was apparently broken by Hendricks, to make the kidnapping claim more feasible." Une shrugged. "The video surveillance records saved automatically in the mainframe were... most enlightening." Dorothy smiled faintly, and Zechs wondered what Une would do if she knew that Epyon had restored the images deleted from the record.
"So, that's it?" Duo asked finally, when Une didn't add anything else.
"That's it. I expect a report on my desk first thing tomorrow detailing how you knew where to look, and what you knew of this," She smiled suddenly, surprising all of them momentarily. "And I expect you all out of your offices by noon tomorrow. I have another new recruit who needs a desk."
Duo blinked, and looked nervous. "You're firing all of us?"
"No. I'm approving your transfer requests. The homicide division is going to be setting up on the third floor."
They all just stared at her. "But... Preventers doesn't have a homicide division."
"It does now." She frowned at them. "I read those reports you put on my desk, Maxwell. I think you three would be the best suited for setting up the new division."
"You're putting me back in the field?"
"Yes." She smiled again, at the stunned look on his face. "I didn't take you out of the field because I thought you were unable to do the job, Maxwell. I have a great respect for your ability as an investigator. All of you. And while none of you seem to work well with others, you do work very well with each other." She shook her head in bemusement as she turned away. "Don't make me regret this."
"We won't..." Duo watched as she walked away again, followed by Dr Po. "Waitaminute... what reports?" Zechs tried to look innocent, but had the feeling he'd failed when both of his partners turned to stare pointedly at him.
"What?" He asked casually. "Well, I had to give her some reason to let us have the third floor to ourselves. I didn't think just being antisocial was going to cut it. And we are rather uniquely suited for investigating homicides...."
Treize glanced up to see Sister Helen watching him gravely. Seely was standing with Solo a short distance away, frowning in distress as she showed him the stain on Rover.
'Solo seemed to think you wanted to ask me questions.' She said quietly, moving over to sit next to him. 'Though I'm not sure I'll be able to answer what you want to know.'
He stared at her, a million questions jumbling through his mind. It was almost as much a surprise to him when one finally emerged. 'Now what happens?'
She smiled, apparently understanding the meaning behind his question. 'Does something have to happen now? The puzzle is solved, and life, for the living, goes on.'
'And for the dead?' He sighed. 'Is this...it?'
'You were expecting something more?' She threw him a serious look, then smiled. 'I was not aware that you believed in Heaven or Hell, General. And I cannot truly say what you will find when you finally cross the last barrier. It is not for me to judge the sins on your soul.'
'But you didn't pass on...surely it was not because of some sin on your part.' He looked at her. 'One would think that a Nun who had given so much of herself to help children would go to Heaven if there was one.'
To his consternation, she merely laughed. 'Ah, so it was not your own state of existence that caused you to doubt the existence of God but mine?' She shook her head. 'Some souls are given a choice, to stay and wait for those we love, or to go on. Once we make that choice, we are bound to it as long as we are tied to the living.' Her head turned to where Duo and Dorothy were sitting with Zechs, watching in concern as Sally bandaged the raw stripe across the older man's bicep. 'I chose to stay behind, to continue watching over the last of my children. And so I cannot answer your question.'
'What of Seely?' He asked softly. "Surely she would not choose to wait, especially for someone who caused her death in the first place.'
'Some, such as Seely, are simply too young to be offered the choice. When she finally understands what has happened, she will find her own truth. Such is the case with all the children Solo has brought to me over the years. And there have been so very many.'
'Solo...' Treize shook his head. 'I... understood he died before Duo came to Maxwell Church. How is it that he brings the children to you?'
'How is it that you know him?' She countered softly. 'He was there, watching over Duo, when I died. The fact that I loved Duo as well... makes him trust me as much as he has ever trusted any adult.' She smiled softly at the young ghost, studiously helping the small child clean the blood off the bear. 'It is good that he finally has someone to speak to. He has been alone for so very long.'
'And what we are doing, helping the living. Is that against the rules?'
'I'm not sure there are any rules.' She shrugged, as the child came running back to her, to show her the bear. 'Perhaps this is your chance to make amends, perhaps it is just a chance to make the wait for those you love more bearable. What is, simply is.' Standing up, she lifted Seely into her arms. 'You will have to find some of the answers on your own, General. But I will give you one answer, though it may not be anything you want to hear.'
'And that is...?'
'We are dead. We cannot hold onto the living. You have to let him go, just as Solo is finding he must let Duo go.'
'I let him go long ago, Sister, while I was still living. It might have been a mistake then, but it is true nonetheless.'
She eyed him for a moment, then merely nodded. 'In that case, I wish you well.' Then she was simply gone, taking the child with her.
'So'd she tell you what y'wanted to know?' Solo asked, sounding almost curious.
'Perhaps.' Treize turned to look at him thoughtfully. 'Perhaps she did.'
'Huh...' Solo shook his head sadly. 'Nuns. They see ev'rythin' in black and white.'
Zechs glanced around the small lounge as he listened to Dorothy and Duo making measurements in the conference room. They had decided to flip the two rooms, turning the outer lounge into the office, and leaving the former conference room to double as living quarters on the nights they didn't make it back to his apartment. None of them had liked the idea of sleeping in the outer office. Duo and Dorothy were already trying to figure out how to sneak bedding past Une and the accounting grinches. She gave us free rein to set this up the way we want it, but I think that asking for a bed will be too much for her to accept all at once. Maybe we'll ease her into the barracks idea slowly....
'Are you sure you shouldn't give her a little more credit than that? She probably already knows you three won't be going home most nights.'
A faint movement caught his eye, and he turned to see Sister Helen sitting down on one of the other couches.
"Sister...." He blinked. "What can I do to thank you for your help?"
'I need no thanks.' She smiled. 'Seeing Duo happy again is quite enough for me. Though perhaps you could do me one small favor?'
"Anything."
'Duo... convince him that he doesn't have to be afraid to love anyone. He's lost everyone that he's ever loved, even if we've never really left him.'
"I'll try," Zechs frowned, not sure exactly how she meant for him to convince Duo of that.
'And don't be afraid to reach out yourself,' She added a moment later, as she stood up again. 'You were in love with a good man. But he's dead now. You can't stay loyal to a ghost forever. He wouldn't want you too either. Though I suppose you could always ask him that yourself.' And then she was gone again.
"Does she always do that?" He asked thin air, not sure if he expected an answer this time or not. "Solo?"
'Yes.' Solo muttered, wandering around the room curiously. He eyed Zechs a little uncertainly, as if not sure whether he was welcome or not.
"Solo..." Zechs frowned, and the ghost looked even more wary. "I... sit down? You're making me dizzy wandering like that."
'You want me ta leave? Right?'
"No." Zechs blinked. "I want to apologize. I should have listened to you earlier. And I wanted to thank you... for your help today."
Solo just shrugged uncomfortably. 'Didn't want Duo to get hurt. And Seely...' He hitched one thin shoulder beneath the ragged t-shirt he wore.
"Thank you," Zechs smiled faintly, then sighed soberly. "I... Duo made me promise to ask you... something."
Solo cocked his head to the side, then smirked. 'I know. An'... the answer's no. He did all he could, and he saved a buncha kids' lives by stealin' that vaccine.' The ghost sighed. 'He did good... I knew he would.'
"Thank you..." Zechs smiled. "I'll tell him you said that."
'Nah... he'll get a swelled head.' Solo bounced up and started pacing restlessly. 'Cain't have that...' He paused, then looked back at Zechs measuringly. 'You like him, right?'
"He's my friend..."
'Good...' Solo shrugged. 'Duo wasn't ever meant to b' lonely. He likes you too. An' that chick wit' the funky eyebrows.'
"Dorothy?"
'Yeah,' Solo grinned then, looking almost smug. 'Sometimes Nun's are right to look at things in black'n white.' With that last cryptic comment, Solo vanished again.
"What the hell did he mean by that?" This time, silence was his only answer.
End