Book 3: Chapter 27 - Good Enough for Government Work (Patreon)

Didn’t ask.—Ivan, Panacea Blue

“Look, Lyle. I know you are used to being the brilliant detective. The man who solves the crimes police can't solve. It's your entire identity, and I don't think that's even a bad thing. This is the biggest case either of us has ever worked, and I know it must be hard to accept that someone solved it before you. But I did. It's time to get past your pride and help me bring this girl to justice.” 

John Knight was apparently incapable of considering any motivations other than his own. But the solve didn't feel right to Lyle, and it was just good detective work to ask questions until they'd all been answered.

“I'm not saying you didn't,” Lyle repeated. “But I'm not going to stop investigating until we know for sure. And some things still aren't adding up. That's all I'm trying to do.”

The two sat in their temporary office on campus now, arguing over details on the case. At least until Caleb Shepard arrived to answer their questions. They could have called the therapist into the station, but they knew how slow that would be. Even after arriving on campus, getting any level of cooperation from the staff seemed impossible. Otherwise, they'd have uncovered this suspect a week ago. 

They'd supposedly caught a lucky break when someone shipped the train records to John. Otherwise, even Demetri's testimony wouldn't have been enough on its own.

“You don't think what I have tells a pretty damn clear story?” John asked. “Look at these dates and times! Look at the murders! It's like she signed her name!”

Lyle shook his head. This man was so frustrating. He’d agreed with John's evidence and hadn't dismissed it once. Only one person on campus had traveled near every single crime scene on the right days or at the right times. One person. Everyone else had been in the wrong district entirely during at least one murder. 

That alone was damning, but the student photo next to the composite sketch? The rare hair color described by both Demetri and Foreman? The piercing blue eyes both men remembered so clearly? Even her hairstyle in the photo exactly matched the witness testimony. And finally, the therapy notes on the suspect. A redacted diagnosis and family history. The notes themselves had a high opinion of the girl. But they contradicted themselves at times and left an incomplete picture. And, as silly as it might’ve seemed, she was the only girl he'd seen on campus with a professionally tailored uniform. Which also matched witness testimony.

All the evidence clearly indicated that Koral Kiln was the Cruel Ivy Killer. She probably was. But it wasn't enough. It wasn't the whole story. And Chase's claim couldn't be dismissed just yet.

“You have good evidence here. I completely agree. It makes sense that it would all fall into place now as well. We've known for months that the evidence we needed was on this campus, being hidden from us. Of course we make major progress when we finally have it. It would be stupid to dismiss all of this, and I have no intention of doing so,” Lyle answered.

“Then why are you giving me such a hard time?” John complained. He rubbed his temple with one hand, the smug expression long absent in favor of frustration.

“I'm genuinely not trying to. But there is plenty of evidence for other culprits as well,” Lyle replied. He gestured at the open folder on his desk where Chase Cook's statement was spread out. A few other files and reports sat to their side, along with a dozen sticky notes Lyle had been using to keep track of them.

John leaned back in his chair and waved dismissively at the file. “That statement is a decent story, I guess. Lots of personal details. But I've already been looking into Chase Cook. Everyone who transferred in with him, actually. Aubrey Clarke has a dismissed manslaughter charge, and Kiera Mulberry is tied to one of the early victims. And they arrived in Prism just before the earliest known murder. I'm not an idiot, Lyle. They've been considered persons of interest all week. You know what I've learned?”

“That Aubrey Clarke is almost definitely not responsible for the death on her record?” Lyle asked.

John paused. “What? No. Why would you say that? Every witness on the train says she caused the death with a misuse of her talent,” he answered.

“I've been doing my job, too, John. She was a mid-range red, and her supposed victim was a yellow. If you check the performance metrics of her Scream talent, it's nearly impossible that it could have killed any yellow lancer. Even an injured one. Then the victim crystallized in under a day? That's even less likely. There is something we're missing about that story,” Lyle explained.

John frowned. “Fine. I'll give you that. And we should look further into it when we get the chance,” he conceded. “But it doesn't change the facts about this case, or about your witness’s testimony. Chase Cook hates Violet Asher. There are countless reports of him spreading rumors and publicly degrading her. Meanwhile, he is actually involved in the murder of my friend. Forgive me if I don't want to take his word at face value. Not when he hates the girl he is accusing. The same girl who was on campus for almost every murder.”

“Have you seen her picture?” Lyle tried. It was almost involuntary. He didn’t know why he was arguing this point with John. The other man had all but done exactly what Lyle was planning to. He’d found a reason to dismiss the allegations against an Asher. A good reason, too. Maybe that was what bothered Lyle about it. If John Knight was eager to dismiss the claim, it almost always deserved a second look. That was petty, but it was a response his partner had earned.

John rolled his eyes. “She looks similar to Koral, I know. But only around the eyes and chin. Her hair is the wrong color, and her build is a bit too slim for the girl our real witnesses saw. That and a witness who wants her dead and works with the real killer is hardly proof she was involved. Meanwhile, I have camera footage of Miss Kiln at the post office. Dropping off the very letter Mr. Cook showed us as evidence,” he lectured.

Lyle bit his lip and looked down at his folder again. “No. You're right. I just... Isn't that weird to you?” he asked.

“That I'm right? No. I think that happens more than you realize,” John joked.

Lyle shook his head. “No, not that. The letter. Chase freeing Demetri. These are explained in his statement. Miss Asher is on a mission, apparently, so she needed someone to feed her captive. There are problems with that explanation, of course. The fact that we know Koral sent the letter being the most significant. But at least there is a motive. But if Koral is the killer... why trust Chase at all? Why send a letter instead of instructing him in person? Why did Chase turn on someone he was helping only a week before? It doesn't make sense,” Lyle persisted.

John frowned. The letter in question was waiting on the table alongside the detailed story Chase had written. He examined it and tapped his lip with one finger. Lyle was glad to see John actually considering the issue. It was... strange, to say the least. The boy did have an explanation for his change of heart. But if Koral was the actual culprit, it didn't make sense.

“I'll answer your question with a question,” John finally responded. “If Mr. Cook has known his friend was a killer this entire time, why is he only coming forward now? Why wait?” It was a decent question. Lyle had a few answers. But they didn't matter. Ultimately, Violet wasn't actually a great suspect. Not... yet, anyway. Not with the current evidence. But Koral was. 

“I'm not sure,” Lyle admitted.

“I am,” John answered with a triumphant smirk. “Because the answer is easy. Chase hates Violet, and he blames her for his best friend's death. I don't know why he was working with Koral. But why did he let her prisoner go? The same reason he turned himself in and gave your Violet’s name. The witness left it out of his statement, but you're not the only person Mr. Cook offered that name to. Our witness was supposed to offer the same accusation. Chase Cook did this specifically to sic us on the girl he hated. It's an attack, and nothing more.”

Lyle supposed that made sense. At least as much as Chase's excuse did. But he still had unanswered questions. “You're probably right. These are kids, not criminal masterminds,” he allowed. Based on how sloppy Koral had been, it seemed like the killer should have been caught almost immediately. If not for Bouvier. “But there is still a massive missing piece, and I am determined to find it. Chase can't be her only accomplice.”

“Please don't hit me with the conspiracy shit again,” John groaned.

“It's not a conspiracy theory. It's basic investigation,” Lyle countered. “Koral is a red ‘Surgeon.’ She has one talent for reading physical symptoms and one for emotional symptoms. Nothing related to ivy that could leave these marks. How is she killing these people all the way up to green or cyan? Why? She convinced a cop to open fire on his boss with that alone? How did she get Bouvier to protect her? I need answers to these questions. That's all. And I'm fairly certain the answer is simple. At least one other person is involved. And you know what? All of this evidence is circumstantial. Finding these answers might lead me to the proof we need for an arrest.”

John shrugged. “Fine. You win. Investigate to your heart's content. But I'm fairly certain I'm going to solve both issues within the next couple of days,” he said.

“How is that?” Lyle asked, resting his head on one hand as he offered the obligatory question.

“For evidence? I have Demetri tucked away in a safe house. He has four officers protecting him, and security the Ashers themselves couldn't bypass. He's safer than the immortal toad in there. And when whatever drugs the infirmary gave him wear off and he's cleared a psych evaluation, I'll officially arrest Koral Kiln and have him pick her out of a lineup,” John gloated. 

That wouldn't be enough evidence on its own, and they both knew it. But Lyle didn't bother pointing that out just yet. “And all of the questions?” he asked instead.

“I suspect Caleb Shepard will help us answer most of those,” John replied. “Especially since all of this was enough for a warrant. We'll have Miss Kiln's unredacted file within the hour.”

“The warrant already came through?” Lyle asked.

“Yes,” John confirmed. “Because this is practically a slam dunk case! Everyone but you is on board!”

“Oh, I’m on board,” Lyle corrected. “I’m just not going to stop investigating until my questions are answered. I think you’ve done a phenomenal job here. I just think you found one of the Cruel Ivy Killers, as opposed to all of them.” Lyle was overselling John’s work a bit. He’d had extremely clear evidence hand-delivered to him, and he still hadn’t put the pieces together right away. There was a lot to go through, of course, but that didn’t change the facts. It had been luck at best. And at worst... “Actually. Do you still have the flash drive that was delivered to you?”

John frowned. It was a harmless connection, but it was obvious the man was worried about his promotion. To the point that even without understanding why Lyle was asking, it might have been tempting to hide the answer. Just in case. Lyle was worried that was exactly where the conversation was going. Thankfully, his partner’s better judgement seemed to win out. “It’s logged in evidence. Why do you ask?”

Lyle shrugged. “I just want to check something, that’s all,” he answered. 

John narrowed his eyes at him, but a knock on the door prevented further questioning. “Ah. That’ll be an officer informing us of Mr. Shepard’s arrival. Would you care to help me get more concrete evidence against this killer?”

“Let’s put her behind bars,” Lyle agreed.