I quickly grab ahold of the flash drive its easier to use my power if I am physically touching the object in question. I waste no time at all concentrating once I start the process the actual time I am seeing the vision in my head only lasts a second in reality, so there is no threat of interruption. I am once again thrust into the world of my chronoscopy. This time given the object is not a corpse I will view the scene from a 3rd person point of view. I aim to view the time directly after Fez was killed so I want to view the time of lets say 8:15 am. I feel my mind viewing a scene in the darkness the flash drive is plugged into a computer. That's weird I expected it would be in the polices possession at this point. That tells me already that the culprit must of first took the flash drive with them after the crime.
The place the flash drive is in is too dark to see anything, but a faint light of the laptop, and the rapid clicking sounds that come from the keys. Someone is writing something in a hurry, but I can't really make out who it is in the darkness, I can assume it is someone related to the crime though. The vision only lasts a few seconds this time, but in the short amount of time I was able to view it I can also conclude it is very likely the flash drive has been altered since Fez died. Once I come to my senses again Korn is already grabbing my hand the pain of both his grip, and my headache leaves me reeling. The pain is a 10 for sure my mind burns in agony and in my ear I hear Korn, "Drop the flash drive right now!" He dramatically exclaims his yell piercing my skull like a hot knife through butter.
I drop the flash drive mostly because I am in immense pain, and after a few seconds Korn's grip relaxes. Korn exclaims, "Right now this is Mr. Snickerdoodles evidence please don't interfere needlessly Mr. Gingerbread." Korn's eyes are deadly serious police serve many purposes to the families for one they act as the checks to the detectives. Each family has sworn an oath that they will never lie about what they learn from their abilities in cases. Not everyone is honor bound though, but the police do their best to make sure we are being truthful, and fair with our powers. They also act as an enforcer when it comes to evidence when a detective presents a piece of evidence the detective takes ownership in a sense of that evidence.
I understood what had made Korn so mad, but I also felt like he was overly on edge which felt a bit off. I should also point out that despite police being considered under detectives in hierarchy they did have real power when it came to checks and balances of members of the families. Once a detective reaches higher status they often have personal police guards that offer them personal protection. One of the many advantages of gaining prestige as a detective since they will give your protection the highest priority. I would hope that having a personal officer means that the officer would still remain fair when judging detectives, but I am not so naïve that I don't think that some personal police officers may turn a blind eye to certain rule-breaking. I back away, "Right my bad continue without me for a moment." I lean against the doorway as surges of pain rush through my head it feels as though my brain is trying to escape my skull.
In my waves of pain a man stands up from the table he seems to be one of Rena's goons a man with shades, brown hair with wild eyes wearing a black overcoat. He is the next to stand up he growls, "You best take your dogs, and get out of here you posh pricks couldn't even wait until we properly mourned Fez." Rena holds up her hand, "Marcus enough let me handle this." The headache is slowly coming down in intensity it still pulses, but I think the worst of it is almost over. Rena continues, "Alright blondie I will come quietly just promise me you won't target my boys here." Iskandar seems to ponder a moment, but then nods. "I have no business with the rest of these lackeys very well come along."
I fought through the dizzy spells it would seem I am still conscious I will myself forward I can't let this end yet not when the fun is just getting started. I speak up holding my head, "Wait. Hold on I do have one question as the other detective on this case at least grant me the authority of that." I approach Rena as confidently as a man reeling from a headache can be. Everyone in the room has their eyes on me Iskandar has a annoyed look on his face, but nonetheless I need to dig something out from her. I question her, "Who was the client who Fez was seeing. Please at least tell me this." I say a little desperate since this would be my last chance to ask. Rena's eyes suddenly change from calm to enraged it would seem this line of questioning was too direct. Rena immediately using her toned body pushes me into the desk it would seem her anger got the better of her. I collide with the table my back takes the blow directly, but I manage to stay on my feet albeit with the table as support. With the blow of my headache, and now my back I was in rough shape, but I gritted my teeth this was a critical point of the case.
Rena snarled, "Boy you have some nerve approaching me like that, you are either stupid, naïve, or you are too bold for your own good. I will never sell out my clients that would put a stain on the rising eagles reputation, not even if it cost me my life." I choked back anguish as I gave her a laugh, "Perhaps determined is a better word for me if you wont tell me that itself speaks volumes I applaud your loyalty." I look up to her deep green eyes that seem to radiate malice I have to ask one more question even at the risk of another blow from her. I dive deeper, "Loyalty that may of only worked one way I assume it would appear your client didn't share in your loyalty." I make a bold claim one that I assume held up some truth since her client the one I think is probably the killer isn't the one we are talking to right now.
Rena's mouth twitched it would seem she was about to give me another blow, but at the last moment seemed to ponder something. Her expression seemed like she was holding back her feelings she was trying to mask the betrayal on her face, but to discerning eyes I can detect a trace of uncertainty. Rena didn't respond to me it would seem she didn't trust her own words instead she said, "Take me away I am done with these stupid questions I am the killer get this over with," she grumbled. I interjected, "Stay where you are Korn I have a couple things to reveal before you take her away." I would need to evoke my authority here the only way to overturn something like this was to prove there was still things that needed looking into. One thing that can overturn evidence is new evidence, or a detectives ability.
The families abilities without a doubt were one of the greatest powers in these cases police literally couldn't act unless evidence was infallible, or an ability was used. In this way the culprit did have some protection against baseless accusations, or in this case surrendering ones self. I say, "I just used my sweet chronoscopy to confirm new information about the case something I think will turn this case on its head." Iskandar interrupts, "What's this are you challenging my iron wall deductions you are far too cocky for a newbie." Korn responds, "Very well I will hear this new evidence, but if it is not significant it will be ignored." The police also act as a sort of judge when their is a case they determine if an arrest can be made under the current evidence.
Rena looks at me a mix of scorn, but a tinge of something else I can't make out either way it is clear that the floor is mine. I speak up, "I used my chronoscopy on the flash drive for those that don't know I can see the history of an object. I saw the history of the flash drive shortly after the murder it was plugged into a laptop, a word document was opened, and the contents of the document have been edited." Everyone goes silent for a moment they begin to realize the implications of what this means. I continue, "This means that before the police got ahold of the flash drive the contents had been edited thus the flash drive is no longer concrete evidence. There is again no physical evidence of the deal that was made in the alleyway, and as a result we should not be able to arrest Rena for the murder of Fez." Korn beings to let that sink in for a moment he then responds, "Well said Sir. Gingerbread. Alright I will take this as significant enough evidence to overrule Sir. Snickerdoodle's claims." I smile knowing that I am just getting started, "Excellent let us then turn our attention to another glaring issue I have with the foundations of this case."