As Cold As Stone Part Three
Dante Ekan’s newest case is a twenty one year old murder. It’s witnesses have remained silent all this time. So Agent Ekans seeks to change that.
He pokes, he prods, he bluffs, he lies, and he digs too deep.
But maybe the witnesses were silent for a reason.
Ao3
Tagging: @mae-is-ace @ashensanity
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Part Three
Dee gave a sigh as he entered the room. “You’ve been in here for what, four days?”
Remus Prince gave him a wide smile (despite the large bruises on his face) from where he lay on the infirmary’s bed. “And they were boring as fuck!”
“So you decided to smash your dinner tray into another’s man face to cause a fight?”
“No stupid. I smashed my dinner tray with my dinner on it, into his face to start a fight.”
Dee gave a second sigh, “Did I not tell you that I was going to get you out to show me where the body was? I was just waiting on the paperwork.”
“That sounds more boring than this. And in here I get painkillers!”
“I could tell them not to give you anything.”
The man gave a pout, “Who pissed in your cereal?”
“He was killed here sorta, okay? Can I go back to jail now? It’s cold as balls out here!”
Dee paused overlooking the area. There was nothing horribly special about it. A ring of trees with a decaying stump in the center. As a whole the area was a good distance from where Thomas’ body has been found. There was no way those boys could’ve dragged it that far while still running for their lives.
The killer must have moved it themselves.
But why?
It couldn't have been to keep people away from this area, a clear blood trail was left behind. A message maybe?
“Is there something special about this place?” Dee asked. When he got no reply he turned to see Remus was looking up into the bare trees, “Hello?”
Remus gave a shrug as he looked back down to Dee, “We used to play over here. Over there. All throughout this place. Can we go now? I’m cold.”
Dee rolled his eyes, “Fine.”
~~~~
Dee gave a frown as he walked into his hotel room. It seemed in his eagerness to get going for the day he had forgotten to leave the door hanger out so the maid wouldn’t come.
He moved to the desk and picked up the pile his papers had been put in and began to go through them one by one. While but was not what he had been hoping for, perhaps being forced to put things back in order would give him a chance to reevaluate (and maybe he’d find that one blank sheet that kept popping up to leave a note for the maid with her tip).
After a half hour the room was restored to its former chaotic glory. Papers covering the floor around him spreading outward in a web that made sense only to him.
But the notepad in his hand proved it worked.
Because thanks to needing to go through all the files over again he had found an overlooked detail about Logan Ackroyd. Others in Dee’s position probably would have dismissed it entirely, but if one thing Dee was good at its twisting truth.
“Agent Ekans,” Logan greeted. His face was a blank mask, but his tone showed his annoyance.
“May I sit?” Dee asked motioning to the free chair.
“It is a public space... But may I ask why you are here?”
Dee raised an eyebrow as he sat down, “Because I’m investigating the murder of your childhood friend?”
Dee could already see his patience wearing thin. Good.
“I meant here in this cafe,” Logan clarified. “If you truly needed to speak with me could it not wait until my break was over?”
“I didn’t think you’d want to speak about it in front of your coworkers. So when they told me you’d be here, I came.”
The man gave a tired sigh, “What is it you’d like from me?”
“I was reading up on all of you, and I noticed you had interned at the FBI in college. I was kind of surprised.”
Logan’s attention was on his tea as he stirred it, “I was a forensic science and criminal justice double major. But what does that matter?”
“Well it’s just kind of crazy that of all the departments... you interned with cold case.”
“Given what happened to Thomas I could not help but be interested,” He shrugged before he took a long sip. “Also, I was interested in how past evidence that was preserved well enough could still undergo testing. Thus, that summer program seemed optimal as I wasn’t sure which of my two majors I wished to take the front career wise. And as you can see I ultimately chose forensics. But I fail to see how this is beneficial to you. I doubt you came to speak to me about how we nearly had the same job.”
Dee paused taking in that mask of a face watching him- taking in the face of the man who was analyzing him so critically yet calmly. Before he gave a sigh and rand a hand through his hair- playing into the role he had chosen, “You need to understand that what I am saying is for the case. I respect what you do, and quite frankly if you had chosen differently we would have worked together. But I have a case to work.”
“I understand.”
“Thomas’ body was moved,” Dee stated. “After he was killed. It was a fact never released to the public. And supposedly it was put in files with everything else. And yet despite having all the original documents, that detail is nowhere to be found. When I pieced together that it was moved and got confirmation from the policemen who had responded to the scene, it made me realize those details had been removed.” Dee forced a sigh. “So, given your precious stint at cold case and your involvement in the case I gave to ask... did you alter the files in anyway?”
Logan’s eyes narrowed, “You think I’d hide that?”
“I'm asking for the case.”
“Tell me, why would I do such a thing? That would be protecting the one who killed my fr- who killed Thomas.”
“Because you’re scared,” Dee replied softly to which Logan gave a scoff. “When I spoke to Patton he made it sound as if even to this day that someone is watching him. I got similar feelings from the others too. So if you did do it, then it’s off the record. I just want to help bring the murder in. Logan... if this so called ‘Mister Sir’ is still-”
“I think it’s time you take your leave,” Logan said suddenly. His tone was short, and his voice louder than Dee was sure he had intended. Logan took a breath trying to replace his mask as he spoke again. “I assure you Agent Ekans that I am fine. I can also assure you that I did not violate any policies or commit any crimes.”
“Logan-”
“I have nine minutes left before I must head back. I’d like to spend them in peace?”
Dee gave a sigh before a solemn nod, “Alright. Let me know if you want to talk.”
When Logan said nothing more Dee heads out of the cafe, and thankfully he made it that long without breaking out into a smile.
He was getting somewhere.
And hopefully speaking to Patton Hart again would clarify where that somewhere was.
~~~~
“Agent Ekans,” Patton said with a forced smile as he stepped out of his classroom to meet Dee in the hall. “What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to speak to you about the other witnesses,” Dee started. “Ackroyd specifically.”
Patton raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What about him?”
“You two kept in contact over the years, right?”
“Now and then...”
“Were you aware that in college he had interned for the FBI?”
“Yeah...”
“Good,” Dee nodded. “He was with cold case during that, and I am also aware that pieces of information were removed from the files on Thomas Sanders’ murder... And I was wondering if he ever disclosed anything to you?”
Patton’s mouth opened and closed in surprise, “Logan would never steal anything.”
“I simply need to consider every option,” Dee told him. “And I understand your allegiance to a friend, and your fear of Mister Sir. But I can’t help if you don’t let me.”
Patton’s face went white but he forced another smile on his face, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Dee nodded once and moved to leave, “If he does tell you something, or someone else does... I ask that you let me know.”
“Right...”
It was less than two hours later that the call he had been expecting came.
“You were right Ekans. Records show that Hart texted each of the other witnesses.”
Dee held back a smile, “Even Remus Prince?”
“Yeah, I’ve got his phone here. They're all in a group chat and are planning to meet. You want the time and place?”
“Please.”
~~~~
A few days later Dee arrived about a half hour early to the location.
The meeting was to take place at Logan’s apartment.
Dee sat in his car staring at the apartment building as he watched and waited for everyone to arrive.
“How long are we going to wait here?” Remus groaned.
Dee rolled his eyes. He had learned after picking Remus up from jail, that the man seemed to be more annoying off of drugs. He was quieter overall, but somehow he still managed to be annoying.
“Just turn on the radio,” Dee muttered as he kept his eyes to the door.
Almost fifty min had passed before everyone had arrived. And once they had, Dee waited longer before he pulled Remus along. He ignored the taller man’s grumbles and approached the building. He made sure to ring the landlord's buzzer, and after a quick conversation with the man he was allowed to head for the apartment.
He could hear shouting coming from within as he approached.
“Are you seriously that stupid!”
“What’s stupid is agreeing to come here in the first place!”
“Oooh, may I?” Remus asked.
Dee gave a shrug and stepped away from the door as Remus gave a few loud bangs on the door.
The shouting silenced and there was a pause before footsteps grew closer. When the door opened Dee gave a smile, “I hope I’m not too late.”
Logan’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing as he allowed Dee and Remus to enter his home. And when they did the other three looked their way.
Virgil was seated on a couch, and at the sight his gaze lowered to the floor. Patton who sat behind him looked surprised, and Roman who was standing threw up his hands in exasperation, “Of course!”
Dee gave a shrug, “I couldn’t help but see that Remus was invited. So I did my due diligence and brought him. Now, might ask for the truth?”
“There is no truth to share,” Virgil stated quietly. “You’re right. We’re being watched-”
“Virgil,” Logan warned but he continued.
“We’re being watched,” he said again. “And not even the FBI can help. Instead you’ve put all of us at risk and yourself. So believe it or not I rather not die, so if you’d take your leave now it would be fucking appreciated.”
“How do you know that I can’t help?” Dee asked him, but Virgil shook his head in reply.
“You can’t. Don’t you fucking listen?”
“He’s just trying to do his job,” Patton tried setting a hand on Virgil's shoulder, but Virgil stood from the couch.
“Do you think he cares?” He yelled back. “Do you think he gives a fucking shit about anyone other than himself? I don’t! What happened in the past is that past! And I want to keep it that way! I was the youngest!” He took a deep breath. “I was the youngest and yet I remember every single detail of how Thomas looked when he stopped fighting back... and I don’t want to watch it happen to anyone else. So I’m sorry Agent Ekans. I don’t care if you have to arrest me, the past is past.”
“So elegantly said,” Remus mocked.
Roman’s eyes narrowed, “You shut up. This is all your fault in the first place.”
Remus gave a casual shrug, as he moved to sit on the floor. “I didn’t tell him to open the case.”
“Why did you start looking into this anyway?” Patton asked him.
Dee raised an eyebrow, “Because I work cold case? I’m given old cases somewhat at random and try to solve them? Oh, and do be aware that currently all of you are guilty of obstruction of justice.”
“Add it to my tab,” Remus waved dismissively.
Dee gave a groan, “Look. I just want to know the truth. Tell me what it is and I’ll be on my way. Who is Mister Sir? And is he the one who killed Thomas?”
“Yes.”
Quite frankly Dee wasn’t sure which one of them had said it. But a pause had followed before all four were yelling at one another each shouting that whomever had spoken was going to get them all killed. Dee watched them silently taking in all the words he could, waiting for the slip up which would inevitably follow.
He had watched, he waited, he listened.
And for a moment his ears perked up at what sounded like a name, but it was lost to the yelling around him. Listening for it to come again, but instead the sound of a child-like voice brought the entire argument to a screeching halt.
“We promised not to tell.”
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Part Two - Part Three - Part Four