Re: The Judge's Ruling
"Well, thank you very much for your help," Ranger Cardosa said.
As you started to exit, Payan Kai spoke up: "My brother may not have had a brain in his head, but I did love him. Please find out who did this to him. I want to see them pay."
As you left the interrogation room, Payan Kai was escorted back to his adjacent cell by two guards.
"Well I think we've got enough to get started," Master Tabret commented. "You two started this line of investigation," she continued, indicating you and Traest. "Why don't you continue with it? Go talk to Payan Kai's two contacts. See if you can't get any information from them. We'll go and talk to the dead Chief Judge's staff, see if they know anything or could possibly be suspects. We'll meet back at the ship this evening. Sound good?"
"Sounds good," Jubali replied.
You first went to the home of Gadi Anton. When you called at the door, he opened, and looking startled at seeing a Human and a Bothan on his doorstep, said worriedly, "Can I help you?"
"We're here on behalf of your government," Jubali replied. "We're heading up the investigation into the murder of your Chief Judge."
"I see," he replied warily. "How can I help?"
"May we come in?" Jubali asked.
Gadi Anton hesitated for a moment, but then seemed to decide he could trust you. "I suppose," he replied, still a little nervous. He slowly opened the door, just wide enough for you to enter. As soon as you and Traest stepped through the door, he closed it.
"You seem a little nervous," Traest pointed out. "Is something the matter?"
"Yes, something's the matter," Gadi Anton replied, a little frustrated. "I've got a Human and a Bothan on my doorstep investigating the murder of the Chief Judge, when everyone knows I worked for Payan Kai during his campaign."
"Ah, yes, I see," Traest answered, a little embarrassed. "We're trying to corroborate some information we've just received," Traest started, "And we wanted to know where you were at the time the chief judge was killed."
"I was out with friends," Gadi Anton replied coyly.
"Out where?" Traest pressed.
"Why does this even matter?" Gadi Anton burst out. "I'm not a suspect, am I?"
"Others are and we're trying to determine their innocence or guilt," Jubali countered. "I understand your fear but there's no need for it. Unless you're guilty of course, then I suppose there is."
"Look, I had nothing to do with the Chief Judge's murder." Gadi Anton replied firmly. "But I can't tell you where I was or what I was doing. It would be something that would get me in trouble."
"Whom were you with?" Jubali asked. "We already know of the plot to overthrow the government so there is no need to hide that from us."
Gadi Anton's eyes went wide. "Please, please don't report me to the police," he pleaded.
"Don't worry," Traest assured him. "We're not interested in that. We're interested in finding the Chief Judge's murderer."
Gadi Anton sighed, with a mix of relief and resignation. "Very well. There were several of us meeting together to plot how we were going to remove the Chief Judge from his seat--but none of it had to do with violence," he was quick to point out. "Several of us were there, most of them new to our group. But Payan Kai was there with myself and Kish Kumen."
"Who brought the new people?" Jubali asked.
"Kish Kumen and myself. We were recruiting people we knew supported Payan Kai. Why? It couldn't have been any of them either," he said, though he didn't seem too sure.
"And Payan Kai was there the whole time? He never left your sight?" Traest prodded.
"Never. He was the main speaker, trying to rally people to our cause," came the certain reply.
"Where are Kish Kumen and the others now?" Jubali inquired.
"I'm afraid I'd rather not give away the others," he said firmly. "But Kish is probably at home with his family. If you're going to talk to him too, I would advise calling him away from the home to avoid involving his wife and kids," he cautioned.
"Is there anything you can tell us about Payan Kai?" Traest asked.
"That he would have made the better Chief Judge," he answered with a scoff. "I still can't believe Pahor An won. Even the political analysts said we should be winning, but everybody liked Pahor An."
"And what about Pakyu Meni?" Jubali forwarded.
"Pakyu Meni had no chance," Gadi Anton said derisively. "He was the lowest in the polls, though he couldn't understand why. Honestly, it was obvious. Pahor An was more popular, and Payan Kai was smarter. Brute strength doesn't win you everything." Gadi Anton chuckled at that. "I was surprised however that when the final votes were read, that Pakyu Meni went along with the voice of the people. I thought he would have been just as upset as Payan Kai."
"Interesting," Jubali replied, then left the questioning open to Traest.
"Thank you for your time," Traest simply said. "You've given us some useful information."
"Well, that went better than I thought it would," Traest commented as you left. "I think we've most likely confirmed Payan Kai didn't do it. The question now is, who did?"
"We'll have to follow the evidence, I guess," Jubali replied. "How much time do we have left on our breathers?"
Traest did some mental calculations, then said "Enough to make it back to the ship with about ten minutes to spare."
"Then let's go. We'll have to refill before checking out any more stories."
As you continued towards the ship and the sun was sinking below the horizon, a thick fog started to settle in. Suddenly, you heard some scuffling behind you. When you turned around you saw three shrouded figures approaching you menacingly. "This will teach you to meddle in the affairs of the future Chief Judge."
...