Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-933831-20160627220231/@comment-5426254-20170128025853

Doyle listened and looked at the officer during the interrogation. Since he was confident that the Enforcers were nearby to receive and relay any intel, he could prioritize on getting out of the situation. And he was doubly sure, because all they were accusing of was that he was the killer. All he needed to do was to explain his defence in a convincing way. Too angry, and they'll suspect he snapped. Too cold and cryptic, they'll suspect he was hiding something. Too knowledgeable, and they'll think that he knows exactly how to do the deed. Too mocking, and they believe he had a plan up his sleeve against the officers themselves.

"Lemme get this straight, officer," Doyle snarkily began, "you mean to tell me that I'm the bastard who did that? Are you daft!?"

After a moment of silence, he clarified.

"Anyone with an ounce of common sense will know that any killer will never return to the scene of the crime - it's too obvious and suicidal a move. Had that been the case, the bloke would be in jail, and we wouldn't be having this conversation. Besides, he's already gone by now! And by the way, my pistol couldn't do a tenth of whatever bloody happened in that shop. Look, I heard about the fact that this is the sixth one yet, and I can tell that you must be this bloody desperate to catch the guy. But finding an inconsistency like mine and trying to go after me does nothing - it's just a red herring!"

They were sure to ask why he was in St. Selene, in order to try to get more information out of him. So, all he needed was to calm down a little more and tell them the truth.

"And if you're wondering what I was doing in this town in the bloody first place, it's because ... I was treasure hunting all over Remnant for my client. He wants an artifact or some kind of statue and whatnot to keep as a paperweight. Bloke's a loon, but he does pay well. I was in the town for a little stroll for the past few days when I heard about the killings. And before I knew it, lo and behold, in comes tonight's murder! God, all that blood and guts in that shop... the only reason why I did what I did was because I couldn't bloody think straight! Who could, really, when they could only see that!? If it wasn't for my training, I'd be as mad as that poor lass over there. After all, tonight was my first time - it's not every day that people see something like that. You, on the other hand ... I'm sure you're used to it by now, because you already saw all of this bollocks in person five times over. Shit..."

-

Queenston Arms Facility, Location Unknown

With everything in order, Jasper decided to pour two glasses of brandy with ice.

"Want some?"

"Why not?" Doyle replied.

"I'm a little surprised, really," Jasper continued, "that Atlas, who prioritizes the elimination of internal and external threats, that prides itself on showing off their armed forces all over Remnant, hasn't already publicized your name on the news."

"It's all because they want to avoid the Grimm," the ex-agent responded. "God forbid that the media blows it out of proportion and brings all the soulless buggers across the lands. Or be accused of fabricating the story in the first place for 'fake news' and fearmongering. That, or the military refuses to make a huge racket so that all their dirty secrets will be safe. I'm still sure the top brass are out for my head, though - they'd just do it quietly."

As the two took a sip, they pondered about what to do next.

"Jasper, I want to ask you something. Have you ever thought that we're not the only ones looking for the weapons?"

"What do you mean? Of course we're not the only ones looking for them! We know this for a fact that there would be other people looking for these things too!"

"No, I mean, assuming that all of this is true," Doyle began, earning him a glare from Jasper, "wouldn't there be some sort of secret society trying to find these things before we do? What if they're already looking us up and would try to remove us and everyone else from the hunt as part of the competition? Ever thought about that?"

"I guess not," Jasper mused.

"I mean, what if they already know what we're doing? Then we'd be fucked three ways to Sunday! Ever thought of being a little prepared?"

"Well, since you really don't believe in all of this, it's only my concern, not yours. Don't worry, being prepared is part of what I'm used to. After all, I'm an arms merchant that sells to all kinds of clients, and a rival of the Schnees. People are already out for my head. I should have something for them by the time they come knocking on my doors."

A brief moment of silence ensued before Jasper continued.

"Say, what do you plan to do, Doyle? Once we have enough data to incriminate your bosses, how do you plan on taking them on?"

Doyle thought long and hard about this. He could slowly leak all of the data onto the Atlesian public, but it would do more harm than good by causing widespread panic. He could try and hack or intimidate the Atlesian armies, but they could try and trace it all back to him. A disguise was a little risky. But he still had time and obscurity at his side. He decided to change the subject.

"On another note, that weapon - The Frigid, it sure is something, isn't it?"

"Yeah - able to cause blizzards with no known drawbacks, correct? Maybe if I can crack the code on how it works, I can use it as a power source to create an endless supply of ice ammo for my ice-powered guns. Heh - police forces would be happy with this gear - they'd have an easier time subduing criminals non-lethally while not making a ruckus with all kinds of shootings - everyone always rails on them for shooting someone, regardless whether or not it was justified - and that's not even counting on whether the suspect was a Faunus or not."

"Yeah," Doyle agreed, "but there are so many other uses for the thing. Like generating a means for unlimited energy. Ever thought of selling this idea to one of those alternative energy companies? Together, you could get rich off the patents, monopolize this new alternative energy market, and get a little payback on the Schnees - they'll be crying once their market abandons their non-renewable Dust markets for your new monopoly! They'll be broke, and before you know it, they'll be humiliated, standing in the shadow of the new 'Schnees' - you! That's right, they'll know what it feels like when someone corners the entire market and drives them out of business! A perfect way to financially bludgeon them before putting them down for good!"

"Heh. That's actually a pretty good idea," Jasper agreed. I know a few friends of mine in some high places. I'm sure we can pull a few strings. Once after we get the thing, we'll develop the weapons first, and then immediately tell them of this once they're done, so that we can start working on the thing together!"''

"Wouldn't you like to know..."

---

"... we could waste time right now, chasing false leads as the bugger kills more people, or I can prove that I didn't do it by helping you catch the bloke. You certainly need the help, considering that you failed to catch 'im six times. I'm very good at tracking and catching things, you know - after all, that's why I have a license. What do you say?"

The interrogation continued, as Doyle slowly but surely deconstructed their claims with nothing more than logical thinking and common sense. He then changed his format into making a case into helping them - to reinforce the fact that he did not commit the crimes. They were bound to be tempted by this proposal - after all, an outmatched police force didn't stand the slightest chance of confronting this killer. Maybe it would lead him to the artifact as well.

"Oh, and speaking of licenses, the reason why I carry two at the time is because that not only were they recently changed, but I look back on it for the sentiment - to who I was. The data should be updated any moment now."

All he had to do was to wait for the officer's response, and for George to fix the problem with the registration...

-

"George, what's going on!?"

"Doyle's signal gone off! I don't understand why the records aren't showing the new registration - they already should by now! This has gotta be one fucking fluke! I swear, if it has something to do with the databases -"

Jasper hurriedly looked at the map, and saw the blip that represented Doyle's location. "Son of a bitch," he muttered.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm heading to the airport ASAP! I'll take the private jet!"

"Where are you going, boss?"

Jasper looked back at his employee, who was already hard at work making sure the registration stuck on the systems.

"St. Selene."