{{Although I personally think the holidays have gotten too commercial, the closer we get to Christmas, the more my retail based job is kicking my @$$! But, on with the story...}}
He was processed and booked on suspicion to commit murder and attempted murder, among other charges, but the second henchman of Dieter Wilhelm was unaware why he was now led into an interrogation room instead of getting to make his one phone call, let alone be placed in a holding cell until whatever lawyer his employer arranged arrived in Moon Lake.
He had no idea that he had been under surveillance since his arrival in town, and that Tachibana Security/the Skulk had worked things out in advance with the local police department concerning the meeting that was about to occur.
He was shocked to see two men wearing all black suits in the room waiting for him, so his first thought was: “What are Feds doing here?”
“Sit down Mister Jackson,” began Daisuke Tachibana, not bothering to introduce himself for fear of letting something slip that might give the charade away. “You’re in plenty of legal trouble already by crossing multiple state lines with criminal malice and forethought just because Dieter Wilhelm doesn’t understand than when a woman says no, she MEANS no.”
Yamato Tachibana, sitting next to his brother, simply nodded affirmatively. They were being watched through the interrogation room's two way glass and speaker system by Police Chief O'Hara and the assistant District Attorney.
Cops lied to suspects all the time to gather much needed information.
However, you could only go so far, and there were lines you couldn't cross, so the Skulk had to tread carefully.
“But we still need to determine just how much trouble you’re actually in,” continued Daisuke.
“I don’t have to say anything to you without my lawyer present,” Jackson reminded them.
“True, but there’s no law against you listening to what I have to say,” pointed out Daisuke. “In the end, it may even help your situation,” he added, before pulling a photo out of the folder that was sitting between the brothers Tachibana on the table and showing it to the suspect. “Do you know this man?”
Jackson instantly realized the man in the image was his friend, who had been dispatched to Moon Lake before him. But what really worried him was, “Why does he appear dead?”
“Because he is. Killed while we were making arrangements to question him further,” replied Daisuke, which was technically true, although he didn’t bother to explain that the first henchman committed ‘Suicide by Cop’ rather than betray his boss.
“We’re running ballistic tests on all the weapons confiscated between your crashed car and your motel room now. If any of them are a match to the murder weapon...” said Yamato, letting his voice trail off to leave the threat of further charges against the suspect implied.
“They won’t,” swore Jackson. “Or at least, they shouldn’t.”
“Then is there a third killer in Moon Lake?” wondered Daisuke.
“How the hell should I know? I didn’t even know this place existed until...” and then Jackson shut up, realizing he was about to say more than he should.
“You know, you’re friend never actually talked to us. He was killed before the opportunity fully presented itself,” began Daisuke, which was also technically true. “I guess Dieter Wilhelm doesn’t like loose ends.”
Jackson had to stop and think about that. Wilhelm would already be mad at him for shooting someone other than the intended target, and definitely unhappy that the rival upstart messing with his boss' girl was still alive. With everything he knew about the man, would Dieter actually have him killed too instead of risk being arrested himself?
The Tachibanas waited. The moment was almost upon them. Then Daisuke moved the folder to reveal a yellow legal pad and a pen underneath. “If you want to cooperate and save yourself, you know what to do,” he said, sliding the objects toward Jackson.
The second henchman gave this some serious thought.
Do I dare swear out a statement and rat Dieter out? Then again, he had Freddie killed, and he didn't even talk. They only have me for attempted murder, since somehow I targeted the wrong man, and he's apparently going to live. Otherwise they'd have booked me for murder. Maybe I can finagle a plea deal out of this.
Thankfully, the question of If there is another one of Dieter's men here, why didn't he just kill Harry Jenkins already? never crossed his mind.
In the end, self preservation won out over loyalty, but just as Jackson started to reach for the legal pad and pen, the distinctive ring tone of the theme from The Dukes of Hazard began to fill the interrogation room.
Yamato pulled a sealed evidence bag out of his jacket pocket, because he intended to fully examine the suspect's phone later with Chief O'Hara and the Assistant D.A. present as witnesses; and saw the cellphone display show it was Dieter Wilhelm himself calling.
The brothers Tachibana looked at each other, wondering what to do next.