She bent down to retrieve one, her mouth hanging open in shock.
The images were crystal clear…
Thraex standing over Etienne Rouillard’s mangled body.
She felt sick, her stomach retching.
Thraex looked down at the photos for an instant, then back at Oz. “That ain’t me.”
The 90s man made an annoyed sound. “Shit, I hate episodes where one character knows what’s going to happen and we know what’s going to happen, but the entire episode is spent showing all of the other characters saying, ‘No, that would never happen.’” He shook his head. “Lazy writing.”
Sasha’s face crinkled in confusion. “…Huh?”
“Ignore him.” The Kilroy masked Cape advised her. “Cory’s just crazy ‘cause he’s now a fictional character from a bad teen sitcom he used to star in.”
“…Huh?” Sasha repeated.
“I seen that show. ‘Klose but No Cigar.’” Kurtz stood up and stamped out his cigarette, looking like he was preparing to fight them all if it came down to that. He met the 90s man’s eyes. “I believe the last review was: ‘a colossal waste of time’.” He informed him, his voice challenging.
“Uncool, man.” The 90s man looked genuinely hurt by that. “You don’t gotta make it personal like that, I’m just doing my job here.”
“One of the shit-est shows ever made.” Kurtz continued. “And now? You’re just a fugitive from a bad 90s teenage sitcom, that no one liked!”
The 90s man started forward, looking furious.
Thraex moved to stop him, pushing Kurtz out of the way, while Oz and the Kilroy Cape moved to arrest him.
“Stop!” Sasha yelled, wanting to end this before it got out of hand. She tossed the photos back at the Capes. “That’s not Thraex.”
“There’s video too.” Oz assured her. “I’m willing to listen to theories or explanations on why it isn’t Thraex… but I’m not willing to listen to them here. There are too many innocent people at this festival.”
“I ain’t gonna swing for this, Oz.” Thraex assured him coldly. “I see a lot of men take the rap for things the Freedom Squad said they done that they never done.”
“I am not the Freedom Squad.” Oz reminded him.
“You’re the Consortium of Chaos now.” Thraex crossed his arms over his chest. “You folks are just as bad, after all you done.”
The 90s man made a dismissive face. “I don’t think that’s even canon anymore.” He complained.
“How can it not be canon?!?” Kurtz threw his arms out in exasperation. “We all remember it actually happening! We’re standing right here, moron!”
Sasha wasn’t sure what was going on… but she was reasonably sure that she didn’t want to watch her family get in another fight with Capes.
She put her arm on Thraex’s shoulder. “You can’t hurt them.”
“Hell I can’t.” Thraex snorted at that. “I’ve crossed so many moral lines my soul looks like a fuckin’ Spirograph, Darlin’.” He cracked his knuckles. “One more ain’t no nevermind.”
The Cape in the Kilroy mask moved to stand in front of Oz and spun two daggers around in his/her hand, preparing to fight.
Sasha put her hand flat against Thraex’s chest. “I’m asking you to please just go with your friend and explain to them what is happening.”
“I got no damn idea what’s happenin’!” Thraex shot back. “I’m just out here at a carnival, when all of a sudden I’m accused of another murder!”
“Happens to me all the fucking time.” The Cape in the Kilroy masked shared.
Oz nodded seriously. “True story.”
Thraex met Sasha’s eyes, then swore softly. “Westgates always were gonna be the death of me. Might as well be today, I ‘spose.” He started forward towards the Capes. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”
Oz nodded at her in thanks. “You made the right call.”
“If you hurt him…” She warned, eyes narrowing.
“Do you want Zoe to act as your lawyer, Thraex?” Colby called after them, holding up her pet. “She’s an incredible litigator.”
Zoe the giraffe gave no indication or display which would lead a reasonable person to believe that she possessed any kind of legal prowess.
Chapter 17
“Doris Westgate. Died 1974. Killed by a shark. While she was in the front seat of her car. Stuck in traffic on the damn BQE. The shark remains at large.”
– Thraex, Damn Fool Ways Westgates Ended Up Graveyard Dead: Vol. 1
Thraex slouched down in his chair at the police station, feeling like he’d once again found himself trapped in one of the Westgate’s crazy plans.
He could tell already that this was going to end with him getting’ railroaded for a series of crimes he had nothing to do with.
But Reichelt Park liked to blame him every time one of their idiot residents stubbed their damn toe. It was like they always looked around and counted up fancy degrees, and decided the fella with the fewest number of them must be the one responsible for all of their troubles.
Across from him, the Cape wearing the Kilroy etched mask flopped down into a chair. “Christ, we should put you away forever just for making me go to Reichelt Park.” The Cape leaned back, putting his/her feet up on the table. “I hate that place. It’s both creepy and avaricious. Every step through Reichelt Park these days seems like a grizzled old man should be warning teenage campers about the death curse on the lake, then trying to sell them $10 expresso.”
Thraex didn’t bother replying to that, he simply stared at the person. “Didn’t you blow up the Thanksgiving parade not too long ago?” He asked calmly.
“Just parts of it.” The masked individual flipped a dismissive hand, like it was no big deal. “Santa lived. We lost some elves, but fuck’em. That’s why there are a bunch of them and they’re not named in the carols, right?”
Oz cleared his throat, opening up his folder and looking across the table at Thraex. “Now then, I think we’re most interested in hearing what you have to say about this.”
Thraex shrugged. “I’ve said and I’ll continue to say that I got no damn clue what’s goin’ on.”
Oz nodded. “You’ve been consistent on that point, yes. There are, however, more corpses than I’d like to see. Corpses of men you’re known to have had disagreements with.”
“Just ‘cause I don’t agree with a fella, that don’t mean that the fella has got to die.” Thraex retorted.
“Emily was right.” The masked individual snorted in disgust at Thraex, apparently unhappy with that statement. “Pussy.”
“You’re telling me that you are in no way related to any of these crimes?” Oz pressed, ignoring his partner. “That this is somehow one big misunderstanding?”
“Oh, he’s lying!” The masked person insisted passionately. “He’s lying! Let me alone with him and I’ll get you your confession, Oz! By the time I’m done with him, he’ll confess to ruining the last season of Game of Thrones, if that’s what you want! Come on!”
“That’s a very kind offer, but I’m going to have to pass.” Oz gestured towards the door. “Why don’t you please go check on the rest of the team and make sure they don’t need help.”
The masked Cape reluctantly trudged from the room, muttering about working with boy scouts.
Oz refocused on his paperwork. “Perhaps it would help matters if I told you what I know,” he volunteered. “I know that you were hired by The Farm to install equipment at one of their warehouses…”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Thraex shrugged, taking on a baffled tone.
“I know that the warehouse then exploded…”
“I seem to recall something like that too.” Thraex agreed.
“And I know that ten minutes before it exploded, you were seen entering that warehouse in the company of Councilman Pericles Merridew.”
Thraex was suddenly paying complete attention to this interview, and he recognized that there was
a problem.
Oz wasn’t bluffing.
He had never been especially close with the man, only seeing him every now and then while they both worked for the Freedom Squad, but he knew the man wasn’t given to lies.
If he said he had proof, then he had it.
Thraex straightened in his chair. “I don’t suppose it would do any good to deny it.”
Oz slid papers across the table. “I’ve got three witnesses. But if you can give me a reason why they’re mistaken, I’m willing to listen.”
Thraex looked down at the transcripts, then back at Oz. “I was in the office with Sasha Westgate, then I went out into the parking lot to help Colby and Kurtz.” He reminded him. “If someone says I was anywhere else, they’re liars.”
Oz nodded. “And the doorman at Etienne Rouillard’s condo? He’s lying too.” Oz added another transcript to the pile. “Magnolia Lafayette-Dupree, who saw you threaten Beaumont Doucet? And Clayton Dare, who saw you with Beaumont moments before his death…”
“I walked out into the street to talk to the lil’ weasel and the bomb nearly killed us both!” Thraex snapped. “It’s not like…”
“I should add that Clayton is currently in the hospital, after History’s Giftshop was robbed by a super-powered assailant.”
Thraex’s eyebrows soared. “Somebody beat up Clayton? Why?”
“Perhaps it has something to do with the wire stolen from police lockup. Wire which you were also involved in.” Oz steepled his fingers on the table. “Are you seeing my difficulty here, Thraex?”
Thraex looked down at the stack of witness statements against him, reaching out to flip one over. On the back was a surveillance photograph of Etienne Rouillard’s murder, where the man’s killer was clearly visible.
He stared at it for one timeless moment, horror building.
“I’m leaving.” He announced, getting to his feet. “If you really want to stop me, we’re gonna throw down right here and see which of us is a killer.”
Oz didn’t even bother to stand up, because his powers would work either way. And they were pretty damn effective, when the man chose to use them. He watched Thraex expressionlessly for a beat, then gestured to the door. “Have a nice night.” He pressed a button on the table and the interview room door was opened by a policewoman. “Officer Vasquez, he’s free to go.”
Thraex all but ran from the room, recognizing that something awful was about to happen in Reichelt Park…
“Thraex?” Oz called after him. “If you try to hurt anyone, the Consortium of Chaos will stop you.”
But Thraex was already gone.
He stalked through the halls of the police station, trying not to run because it would look suspicious. When he reached the lobby, he could hear Kurtz yelling at someone.
“Listen, lady, you’ve got my fucking step-brother in there without his attorney…”
Colby helpfully held up Zoe, as if to present her as Thraex’s legal counsel.
Zoe the giraffe invoked her right to remain silent, and simply stared at the officer with her typical expression of confused apprehension.
Kurtz shifted so that he hid Thraex’s crack legal team from the officer’s view. “…and if you don’t have him out here in the next two minutes, I’m going to…” He trailed off when he saw Thraex appear. “Never mind.”
Thraex stormed through the lobby, headed for the door.
“You okay?” Kurtz asked. “You don’t look so…”
“Go to the Westgate Foundation building and wait there.” He snapped. “Do not leave.”
Kurtz’s eyebrows rose. “Huh? Why?”
“Do it.” Thraex slammed through the doors and started running as soon as he hit the sidewalk. “Reichelt Park is about to have another science related disaster.”
****
Sasha sprinted through the park, heading back to the Westgate Foundation building. She didn’t want to be in the park, she wanted to be at the police station with Thraex. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been allowed to go with him and she decided that looking over the evidence the Capes had provided was probably a better idea than getting in the cab with Colby and Kurtz. Unfortunately, all of her photo analysis equipment was back home.
So, she was still in the park, while Capes were doing god knew what to Thraex without her there.
If they thought it was that easy to get rid of a Westgate, they were very much mistaken.
Around her, the festival was still in full swing, the lights and sounds of happy residents drowning out the sound of her own panicked breathing.
It wasn’t that she thought Thraex could be guilty of these crimes, she knew there had to be some kind of mistake, it was just that… people in this town weren’t likely to give him a chance. All they had ever seen him as was a monster the Westgates had brought home.
But he wasn’t…
She wasn’t looking where she was going and she slammed into one of the other festival-goers. She stumbled, unable to keep her balance and she fell down.
She started to swear to herself and then apologize to the woman she’d run into, but her thoughts trailed off as she looked up from the ground.
The woman reached down to help her to her feet, but Sasha didn’t even see her.
Her full attention was focused on the decorations strung up overhead. Garlands and shiny things and Christmas lights.
…Christmas lights strung together with a very distinctive wire.
She was on her feet in a second, now moving in a new direction. She kept her eyes overhead, following the Periallian wire and the blinking lights which disguised it.
She had no idea why anyone would want to use enchanted wire for such a purpose or why, but she was certain that it must be very, very bad.
The wire eventually led her out of the park and down the street a little ways, until it disappeared into Reichelt Park’s old courthouse. Built in 1820 in the Second Empire style, the courthouse had closed in the 1980s, to make way for a more modern courthouse outside of the Park. It had robbed the area of one of the central points of civic life, and the historic building was currently shuttered and decaying.
Shuttered, that is, except for the now bare wire which entered through one of the third floor windows.
Sasha crept up the front stairs, then used the screwdriver she kept in her purse to pry off the rotted boards which were nailed over the doors.
The interior of the building was dark and silent, smelling of mold and mildew. But it was obvious that someone had cleaned it up recently. The hallway was cleared of debris and there were air fresheners hanging from some of the doorways.
At this point, Sasha recognized that she should probably wait until someone else was here with her before proceeding any farther, but she wasn’t that kind of person. None of the Westgates were.
They didn’t back down from a challenge.
She found the interior stairs and made her way up, towards the room on the third floor which faced the park.
When she came to the third floor landing, she spotted an oversized crowbar in the corner which someone had apparently used to make their way into this area of the building in the first place. She quickly hefted it up, planning on using it as a weapon despite the fact that it was huge and weighed far too much to swing effectively.
She pushed open the door to the room with her toe…
The space beyond was decorated in fairly modern furnishings. Far nicer than you’d expect to find in an abandoned building, anyway.
The only occupant was standing by the window, staring out on the rides and games below.
Expecting to find the mysterious red alien woman or someone far more sinister, Sasha was shocked to discover Magnolia Lafayette-Dupree.
The old woman didn’t bother to turn around. “I’m dying.” She said simply in a weak voice, like she wasn’t even talking to Sasha. “Cancer.”
Sasha lowered her weapon. “I’m… I’m sorry to hear that.” She told the woman honestly, not knowing what else to say.
She shrugged. “It doesn’t even matter.” She wiped at her nose and the tissue came away bloody. “I used to run this town, you know that?”
Sasha nodded. “Still do, to most people.”
Magnolia laughed humorlessly. “No, I’ve been pushed aside. I got old, you see. They made me obsolete. Decided that I’d just mess up and make them look bad, so they no longer let me do anything.” She sank down into the large-backed chair positioned in front of the window. “I contracted my particular form of cancer while working on a project with your parents.” She shook her head. “And all those fine scientists and researchers in this town… they were all too busy inventing robots and flying cars to help me cure a simple disease.”
Sasha moved closer, keeping to the edge of the room. “That’s not really fair, they…”
But Magnolia talked right over her, not even listening. “I told them, of course. I tried to get them to focus on what really mattered.” She nodded to herself. “And they almost did. They almost did…” She turned to look at her. “But then Thraex killed me.”
Sasha wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Well… I mean, you look great for a dead person.” She tried, recognizing that it was inane but not knowing what this conversation was even about now.
Magnolia leaned back in her chair, seeming tired. “Sit down, girl, and I will tell you about ‘the God Machine…”
Chapter 18
“Conway Westgate. Died 1968. Lost in The Dimension of the Giants, presumed stepped on.”
– Thraex, Damn Fool Ways Westgates Ended Up Graveyard Dead: Vol. 1
Years Ago
Thraex knelt down to check on Richard Westgate and ensure he was still secured in who his wheelchair. “You okay?”
His step-father didn’t reply, he simply stared into the nothingness.
That damn poison the man was taking was going to be the death of him yet. Thraex kept trying to hide it all and destroy it, but the man always managed to get more of it. He was determined to regain his status, even if it killed him.
Damn Westgate pride.
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