Page 25 of So Twisted

“Why not?”

“Because you advocate violence.”

“Exactly my point. We don’t advocate violence, but the media has successfully made it look like we do. So you don’t support our cause because you associate it with violence. I didn’t kill Alison Chen and Marcus Reeves because… well, frankly because I didn’t think I’d get away with it, but also because I knew it would just make more people who don’t give a shit about animals and think we should protect people who treat them like shit.”

“Beautiful speech,” Faith said. “But there’s one little catch. The media didn’t do shit.Youdid.Youthreatened them. That’s what makes it look like you’re violent.”

Alex sighed. "Please do more research. I will admit that I harassed them. I'll even go to jail for that if I have to. It's like, what? Six months?"

“Depends. Not very long.”

“Okay, so fine. If I have to do that, I will. I’d prefer not to, but I will. But please look deeper into those essays and into what the Knights of Nature actually stand for. Yes, we say shocking things, but we do that to get people to think. Just like my example of someone beating Turk to death. It got you to think about the animals instead of just yourself. If you check us out,reallycheck us out, you’ll find that we’ve never been violent, ever. We’ve performed peaceful demonstrations. We’ve never even resisted arrest.”

“You resisted today.”

“Ievadedarrest. I didn’t resist. I didn’t fight you.”

“You were going to,” Faith said. “You charged me. What were you going to do if Turk wasn’t there to protect me.”

He lowered his head again. “Just please look into us more deeply. I’m not a murderer.”

“Tell me why you ran,” Faith insisted, “and I’ll look into your club more.”

He slumped. “I… I knew that I had said some stuff that was inflammatory. I thought the cops would come talk to me, but when I saw the FBI uniforms, I freaked out. I thought… I don’t know. I’ve heard stories about people who come with you guys and disappear for good.”

“Don’t believe everything you read,” Michael replied.

“Same to you,” Alex fired back.

Michael smiled slightly. “Fair enough. Sit tight, kid.”

The three agents left the room. When they were on the other side of the two-way mirror, Cuthbert was scowling. “He’s lying. Kid’s lying through his teeth.”

“You’re sure?” Faith asked. Uncertainty flickered across Cuthbert’s face, and that was enough for her. “Dig a little deeper into his claims. And look at the real history of the Knights of Nature. Let’s see if there’s any substance to what he’s saying.”

Cuthbert reddened further, but he controlled himself. "All right. I suppose we should be sure before we throw the book at him." He glared through the mirror. "Christ, I wish we could just arrest the prick on principle." Before Faith could say anything, he said, "I know, I know. Work with your brain, not your emotions. We'll do a more thorough investigation. In the meantime, though, I suggest letting him sweat. Worst-case scenario, that'll teach him not to be such a dick when he's released."

“I’m in favor of that,” Michael seconded.

“Fine with me,” Faith agreed.

Cuthbert left to get that started. When the door closed behind him, Michael turned to Faith. “I’m twisting your arm. Is he the killer, yes or no?”

She sighed. “No. I don’t think so.”

“I figured you would say that. Do you believe him?”

“I believe that he didn’t murder Alison Chen and Marcus Reeves. I also believe that he didn’t actually perpetrate any violence or get his group to perpetrate violence.”

“And your reason for that is?”

“He’s a coward.”

“Cowards kill people all the time.”

“Yes, but he’s specifically afraid of arrest.”

“He specifically said he would go to jail for six months,” Michael reminded her.

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