Eastree Choaene - Adventurer Society Lawyer - Oghqoa Guard Headquarters.

I have just finished talking with my latest client, the OutWolder known as Michael Hayes. Somewhat normal for an OutWolder, I would have thought he was a normal guy if not for the recording I saw of him going through the Shakes.

As I move up the Hoist and into the main complex I head toward Master Naff’s office, getting a look from Capitan Adoazze as I pass her team's desk. I had worked on some minor cases with them and Master Naff in the past but nothing this large and damming in scale.

Master Naff is a Just individual, that's his character, Justice. If this is indeed some scheme from the Institute to get their latest OutWolder specimen then there is no way that Naff would be going along with it, and neither would Adoazze or her team. I hope not anyway.

That my secretaries have only been able to confirm that the victim was an actual person shows just how little evidence there is or how much is being covered up. If that’s the case we need to find them.

As I cross the complex I look up to Master Naff’s office and opposite it sits Capitan Lincastle’s office. He was the arresting officer and office rumour is that he might be dirty, but the same could be said for the majority of the city servants in any city. If I can word this deal to Master Naff in just the right way to get some of the subtext across then I can’t see Master Naff deny it.

But then again, almost all of the conversations that take place in that room are recorded, leaving out a conversation is normally not a fuss but a conversation between an accused Murderer/OutWolders lawyer and the head of the Guard being unrecorded could get messy.

I need to make sure that Master Naff understands that if Michael is innocent then he will most likely find corrupt Guards or if he’s guilty they just need to catch him in one lie to confirm it. Let him dig his own grave. Despite asking him if he was guilty it’s only a way to make them feel like I am on their side, so if a bad deal comes along but it’s their best option then I can get them to take it.

I walk up the stairs and into Master Naff’s office, an idea for our deal forming as I enter.

As I enter, Master Naff looks up from his desk taking a hand off a communication crystal, as I stand and close the door behind me he asks, “Eastree, talked to the OutWolder?”

“Yes, and I think we both know that this entire situation is nothing more than a bunch of messily made up shit.”

“Oh? How do you figure?” he says, leaning back and gesturing to me to take a seat. As I sit on the small and uncomfortable chair I reply,

“Oh come on Falldwell it's not that difficult, the only thing you may have had on him was the scan from the City Gates showing that he’s possibly an OutWolder, I’ve been having my legal secretaries look around and they can find no real evidence as to why the Guard figured it was him for this murder, and to top it all off there are five Guard buildings throughout the city. Protocol states that if arrested that person would go to the nearest Guard building, not walked past two of them to here.”

“He is an OutWolder, everything to do with them is a grey area. And we might have evidence that you don’t know about.”

“Sure, but that won’t matter if the Guard is found to be in the Institute's pocket.” Or if someone is.

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“Is that a threat?”

“It’s an insinuation, as soon as I walk out that door I’ll be starting corruption and malicious prosecution charges against the Guard and Institute, and a subpoena to get any of the “evidence” you might have.”

“It’s an OutWolder situation, what makes you think a judge is even going to give you these to begin with?”

“As you said, it's a grey area. But, there is a way to get around all this right now.”

Master Naff thinks of this for a moment before gesturing to me to continue. “Please.”

“I can tell you’re a reasonable man, and from what I know of you, you favour justice above most things. You want to make sure that whatever body is in the morgue downstairs is tied firmly to the one who killed it.”

“So, why should I care? Justice can come about in many different ways.”

“Yes, but what if I told you that Michael want’s to make a deal?”

“A deal? Why would he want to make a deal if he’s innocent?”

“Oh gee I don’t know, maybe his fear of getting autopsied by the Institute. After all, if even a handful of people told him about some of the Institute horror stories that have happened in history then that might instil some fear.”

“Alright, if he’s not guilty of this what does he want?”

“He figures, and I agree, that if the real murderer is found then this whole thing can get swept under rug.” And hopefully any evidence of corruption is quietly dealt with.

“And what makes you think he’s not the real murderer? What makes him think that we aren’t already looking for the real murderer either?”

“He has no way of knowing that, so he suggested this; Allow Michael and the Adventurer Society to join in the investigation.”

“And add even more of the Society in the mix? It’s already a tense enough situation as it is, tabloids are running all sorts of stories, rumours are spreading. Sogh!, I just got off talking to the Governor's office asking what is going on. Why should I allow it?”

“Well, if he’s innocent then you get an ally of a brand new OutWolder and whatever knowledge that comes with, and if guilty then you get to be the one who takes down a rogue OutWolder before he does too much damage. But I’ll tell you what you better think fast cause this deal is going to go quick.”

Come on Falldwell, I need to play it up a bit here and I hope you understand that!

“Deal? This sounds like just more work on my plate?”

“Work that might just be worth it, come on Falldwell, if he’s guilty then all you need to do is catch him in one lie and you’ll get confirmation. It’s a lot better than waiting gods know how long if this gets to trial, which by the way I will win.”

And you’ll also get confirmation if anyone is corrupted in the Guard.

Master Naff pauses for a few moments in thought, brushing his furry chin with his hands, “Fine, he is able to join. However, on the following conditions.”

“One, he will have the Suppression Jacket on at all times unless counter-ordered from Capitan Adoazze or myself.”

“Two, he can only bring two extra people from the Society into this mess and they must sign a Non-Disclosure agreement prior to joining that will ensure any details of this investigation do not make it outside of it.”

“Three, he will be covered in a disguise Power if for any reason he leaves the building.”

“Four, He will follow any and all orders given to him by any member of Adoazze’s team or me.”

“Five, Any breaches of this or tricks and he goes into solitary till trial and then handed over to the Institute.”

“Understood, I’ll give him the good news. When I return I’d like it in writing, just to make it official.”

After a nod of reply I stand from the uncomfortable chair and exit the room, walking outside for a moment to communicate with my Office before I talk with Michael again. As I head outside I see Adoazze walk up toward Master Naffs office. Hopefully this all works out and Master Carson didn’t just call in a favour to defend a murderer.