Clearing His Name Category: Stories
Current mood:
contemplative
Disclaimer : This is a modern piece that takes place in the Modern Mortal Waking Realm. Hence, Solas has finished his confrontations in Trespasser and has moved on in search of the Idol (*Red Lyrium object from DA2) as well as what little magic he can cling to, in this new world. The struggle for a mage who pulls his elements from unknown sources --and still learning of those limits-- can be a challenging one. In a short summary to this, he is being interrogated at the local police station. He is briefly considered a suspect for a possible murder investigation that hangs by the thread of one individual.
The room that he sat in was cold and unpleasant. To his left was a false mirror, where he could feel the eyes of other people watching him. He was surrounded by stone, concrete and emptiness. Solas could feel the emotions of many different individuals who had once been here before. The high tension, the sweat and anger from souls both guilty and innocent have sat and collected in the same chair that he was sitting in now.
The sound of the door opening caught his attention and he looked up to see another human walking in through the door. The man wasn’t either of the two officers that brought him here. He looked rather disheveled and stressed from the same case that had been hanging over Solas’ head. His business suit hung over him like a loose curtain. It would have been easily imagined that his shoes were too big for him too. The detective walked in, sifting through loose papers that he was carrying on a clipboard and blindly reached the table that kept him spaces away from Solas.
“Solas….Fadestrider…” He spoke slowly and his nose scrunched a bit in disapproval. “Is that supposed to be some kind of actor’s name?”
“It is mine.” Solas answered quickly; watching him as the man stepped closer. “I took the name for myself.”
“And...you went through the proper channels to have your name changed?” The detective asked him.
“Yes.” Solas answered again. “Although I find this irrelevant to the questioning.”
“We’re trying to determine if your citizenship papers are legitimate.” The detective said and moved towards sitting down.
“My citizenship papers are legitimate, detective. They were cleared as of last year.” Solas frowned at the turn of the conversation that was being steered. His eyes turned slightly more towards the loose papers were being shuffled like loose leaflets. “My immigration probation officer had assured me of his final visit last year.”
“Except there’s no record of your birth or previous home address. Two basic requirements on the immigration forms to fill out, you left them blank.” The detective explained and finally placed the papers down on the cold table with a loud ‘slap’ to the surface.
“...You know my name, Detective. What’s yous?” Solas asked, looking up from the papers.
“Detective Reed.” He answered.
“Mr.Reed, it is no secret that I was not born in the United States. The home I came from was war-torn. Any records of my birth or previous residence was destroyed by fire and hatred. I managed to escape, and I find it insulting that after two years of relative peace on the matter, this specific issue is even being brought into question.” Solas explained and pressed his hands to the table.
“Are you trying to say you’re one of the French refugees who recieved the presidential pardon last year?”
“I’m saying that if this has stemmed from anything involved with Mr.Eisenhosfer, then it is an insult to his death and it is waste of everyone’s time. I was told this interview was only to clarify the insurance claims to Biotech Industries. If it is anything less than that, then I have nothing more to say.”
“And that’s where you’re wrong.” Reed corrected him and pointed down at the loose papers on the desk. He tapped the surface patiently then, catching Solas’ attention towards it briefly from his actions. “If its discovered that you’re hiding here illegally, then you are not protected by our government's laws at all. We will be forced to send you back where you came from and have that government question you instead. Either way, we will be getting answers out of you.”
Solas tried not to laugh at the given threat. He tried not to smile, so he covered his mouth and looked away; doing his best to appear more in contemplation. After all, here he was trying to save this sad world from its a highly infectious and deadly disaster and he was suddenly held captive essentially by one old woman who was bitter with him. She was forcing the hands of the police to have Solas detained here -- at least for a time -- but this was going to spiral out of control if he didn’t cooperate, and Mr.Reed was making that abundantly clear.
“...I was trying to protect their reputations…” Solas finally mumbled from under his mouth’s cover and stared more towards the opposite corner in the room.
“Who’s?”
“Everyone involved…” Solas sighed and rubbed his head; lowering it to stretch his flat palm across his smoothed skin. “As you wish… I will answer to the best of my ability, on the condition that the question of my origins does not continue to be an issue. I find that an utter waste of time and an insult to all parties involved as well.”
“Why?”
“Because I have the papers already proving my citizenship. Because it was Mr.Eisenhosfer; who took me in when I needed a home. Because I would be nothing without the Eisenhosfers, and I would not wish to do any damage to the company that treated me like family. Because law enforcement and border control would certainly have more pressing matters to tend to than to check records that have already been cleared… Pick any answer…”
Mr.Reed must have decided that it was any good of an answer as that he could recieve on the matter, and assumed then that Solas had been prepared to cooperate. His eyes looked back to the papers as he showed his good faith by stacking the papers more neatly together and returning them back to the clipboard.
“We’ll consider the matter closed in an agreement for your testimony today.” He offered then and scooted the clipboard to one side. “Now… Where were you on the night of Mr.Eisenhosfer’s death?”
“I had went to see Mr.Eisenhosfer that night, in his study. We got into an argument, and afterwards I left. I’m certain that Mrs.Eisenhosfer would be eager to verify my alibi.” Solas responded and looked back up towards him then.
“You left after a heated argument?” Mr.Reed questioned him in a sarcastic tone.
Solas tilted his head at him and raised a slight eyebrow to him. “Yes. I left. Were the cameras in the room not working? Mr.Eisenhosfer kept all of his properties heavily surveillanced. There’s cameras in his home, cameras at work, cameras at my home… For two years, I’ve been watched through a lens. I would have expected the police to check those tapes before immediately questioning my records.”
“Let’s start at the beginning.” Mr.Reed said pulled out a tape recorder from his pocket. He placed it into full view, setting it on the table and pushed the record button. As he looked back towards Solas, he found him sinking further into the chair. “Mr.Fadestrider, were you aware of Mr.Eisenhosfer’s heart condition?”
“I was.”
“Were you aware of the medications that he was taking?”
“Yes.”
“What were the medications and medical conditions that you knew?”
“Betaxolol, Isosorbide dinitrate, Pradaxa, two breathing treatments with a vaping machine--let me think for a minute--Albuterol Sulfate--that’s it, Omega 3 supplements--which was common fish oil in a pill, daily vitamin supplements, and viagra. He was diagnosed with mild allergies, angina, high blood pressure, and has experienced two strokes within the last six months of his life.” Solas paused for a moment and glanced down briefly. “...I believe... the viagra may have been the cause to some of his heart conditions but Mr.Eisenhosfer had been taking viagra for nearly over a year since before his first stroke. He was never one to listen when it came to his own limitations.”
“You’re suggesting that he combined viagra and heart medicine together for a year?”
“No.” Solas shook his head quickly. “He was taking viagra long before he started showing any signs of heart problems. When it became apparent that he needed to end a personal intimate chapter in his life, Mr.Eisenhosfer refused to heed the warning signs. At that point, he simply added his heart medications on top of taking viagra. I’m certain, from his medical records, you will find that he had a tendency to lie about his condition rather often, and he visited a new doctor almost every time he needed a refill of something.”
“So, he never once took your experimental drug?”
“My ‘experimental drug,’ Tsyresenol, has passed the FDA,and it’s not meant for heart problems. It’s for alzheimer's’ disease.” Solas straightened in his chair then. “While it’s true that Mr.Eisenhosfer was showing symptoms, he is--was--a prideful man. He would never have taken Tsyresenol.”
“But he would take viagra?”
“As I said, he was a prideful man. He took viagra to prove to himself, and maybe his wife, that he still had the passions he once had years ago. If he was to take Tsyresenol, that would be an admittance to himself that he could not remember his wife’s birthday or their anniversary. It would be a self-reflection and acknowledge that there was a grave chance that he could not remember of what he had done in the past week. He might not even remember that he was married...” Solas paused and tilted his head.
“...It becomes a fine line between intentional behavior and incompetence, Mr.Reed, and there are a lot of us who are… merely chasing after our youths. I believe that was what Mr.Eisenhosfer had been doing long before he even met me. So, no. He would not even consider Tsyresenol.”
“Uh-huh…” Mr.Reed concluded and glanced back at the tape recorder briefly and rested his hands on the table. “Is that what you two were fighting about that thursday? Your drug?”
“It is a medicine… And no. We were arguing about something else.”
“Really? Because this is what I believe that happened.” Mr.Reed began and leaned forward. “You were having troubles in the market for your drug. The patent was falling through, you needed money, and Mr.Eisenhosfer wasn’t going to give you anymore funding. So, you got angry.”
Solas stared back down at his hands and his frown slightly increased. “Tsyresenol was not even mentioned in our argument. It’s actually doing very well in the market, too, considering that the medicine is still fairly new.”
“So what was the fight about?”
“...It would probably be in your better interests to ask Ms.Winters.”
“No.” Mr.Reed glared at him impatiently then. “I am asking you. There was nobody else aside from Mrs.Eisenhosfer who was with him that night--”
“Check the cameras or the autopsy report. We argued and I left.” Solas interrupted with a slight raise in his voice and then slowly took in a breath. He looked towards the mirror then and peered through it to find Mrs.Eisenhosfer standing on the other side. Despite the glass mirror being in the way, their eyes had met. “I handled a discussion poorly and I regret our last words being bitter, but I am not the cause.”
“Solas, look back at me.” Mr.Reed redirected him with a wave of his hand.
“Mr.Fadestrider, if you please.” Solas corrected him but followed the requested direction.
“Fine… Mr.Fadestrider…” Mr.Reed sighed. “I’ll ask one last time. What was the argument you had with Mr.Eisenhosfer?”
Solas glanced back towards Mrs.Eisenhosfer from the other side of the glass; almost as if to have given her one last chance to have the interview stopped before he had given his answer. It was true, he knew far more than what Mrs.Eisenhosfer wanted to ever have revealed to the public. If he did talk, it would ruin her. Deep down, he didn’t want that -- though it wasn’t only because for her sake, but also for Ashley Winters. Such dirty laundry had no business being aired out where it didn’t need to be. Though, with given no answer, except for a cold stare in return, Solas paused once more, sighed heavily and looked back to the tape recorder.
“Alright…” He said and lowered his head. “Mr.Eisenhosfer was--”
The door opened and the Chief of Police walked into the room. He looked towards Mr.Reed and marched to the table. “Stop the tape.”
“What?” Mr.Reed asked and bolted from his seat.
Before Mr.Reed could even react, the Chief of Police snatched the tape recorder and ejected the tape from the recording machine. He then handed the tape out towards Solas who only looked back at him quizzically. Unsure if this was yet another kind of ploy, he was cautious about taking the tape into his hands.
“This case has been officially closed.” The Chief of Police explained with a frown and clenched teeth. “Mr.Eisenhosfer died from a heart attack. Natural causes and self-neglect. That’s what’s in the autopsy report.”
“I see…” Solas concluded and finally accepted the tape into his hands.
“But there is another matter. The insurance for Biotech Industries.” The Chief of Police reminded him with a stiff nod. Clearly enough, he didn’t want the investigation to have stopped, but had little choice--for some unspoken reason…
“Of course.” Solas agreed with a nod, and tucked the tape into his coat pocket. “As I have said before, her lawyer can speak with mine and we will have a final settlement pulled up before the end of the month.”
“What just happened?” Mr.Reed seethed towards the Chief of Police. “I was close to something--!”
“Close to unleashing three lawsuits on us and five more across the city.” The Chief of Police responded back in a grumble. “Mrs.Eisenhosfer is dropping the investigation, and with the autopsy filed as it is, there’s no real cause to continue.”
“Damn it, but--” Mr.Reed hissed.
“Trust me. Let it go.” The Chief of Police glared back towards the detective and handed the tape recorder back to him.
“Mrs.Eisenhosfer?” Solas asked from the other side of the glass. He stepped towards it pressed one hand to the side of it as he spoke to her. “Your husband was a close friend of mine. I still consider us all ...close friends...in a way, and I truly am sorry for your loss.”
He didn’t receive an answer. Solas didn’t really expect to. Despite the glass that separated them, he could still see her form trembling from bitterness and regret. She was still in mourning, and probably would remain that way for the remaining years of her life. Though, it was better this way. Better to look for any happiness ahead, if it could be found. Better than to dig in a continued hole that only uncover self-shame to her or the family name.
contemplative
