***Sunday, Day 29, night***
Navy looks up at the middle-class abode of our witness. Of course, “middle-class” for Canterlot is a relative term judging by the gate and hedges of our target’s residence that would be seen only in the wealthiest areas of Ponyville.
“So explain to me how both this mare and I tell stories for a living, yet she lives here while I live in a tiny apartment.”
The DJ, true to her profession, responds without missing a beat, “Probably because she’s a lot sexier than you.”
Navy puts on a look of hurt, “Hey I’m plenty sexy, right Atom?” He turns to the black pegasus only to slump as he sees Atom just coming back from looking around the building and thus had no way of hearing what he said.
The white mare smirks at the author, “Swing and a miss.”
Navy sighs and shrugs, “Gotta hit the mark eventually.”
I barely register their conversation as we all head in, Atom, Hydro, and Volt going in the back while the rest of us use the front door. Vinyl tests the door handle, finding that it’s locked. She chuckles quietly as her horn lights up slightly brighter and a small click comes from the door. A small test twist and we’re in.
As we tread lightly checking the first floor rooms, I walk up to the music pony and whisper, “So why’s a DJ know a lock-picking spell?”
She opens a door to find a broom closet as she answers, “Got tired of sleeping outside when I lost my keys.”
I smile at the mare’s response as we find ourselves and the rest of the group at the bottom of the stairs, all of us shaking our heads at the others showing our disappointing results. Some silent debates later find Navy and Vinyl making their way up the stairs as the rest of us kept our ears open for any signs of trouble. We all look at each other and smile as we hear a slight scuffle upstairs.
***
*click*
A single light flicks on illuminating an earth pony mare with silver coat, light blue mane, and ice blue eyes. The mare blinks for a moment before realizing she is tied to a chair in front of a table. She squints as two shapes walk into the light, the first a red earth pony, and the second a sea foam green unicorn.
“Silver Tongue?”
The mare shakes her head a moment before looking up defiantly at the two stallions, “Who are you two, and why are you in my house?!”
Hydro remains where he is, speaking plainly, “It doesn’t matter who we are, we know what you did.”
Volt glares at the mare, pointing a hoof at her, “You’re in hot water and on thin ice right now. And I hate ponies that break the laws of physics."
“What are you two talking about?”
Volt smiles at her, pulling out a plate with a slice of pie on it, “Where are my manners? Would you like a pastry? A delicious flaky pastry with warm filling?”
Those of us watching through a glass door covered by a thin curtain in an adjacent room stare on in confusion.
Blue whispers, “Where did he get that pie?”
Atom whispers back, “I think he raided the fridge.”
Vinyl shushes them both, “Quiet! This is gonna get good.”
Back in the interrogation/living room, the mare shakes her head to Volt’s offer.
His smile flips to a frown in an instant as he smashes the plate on the ground, looking back angrily at the confused mare, “The only thing I hate more than silent ponies are connoisseurs! I could arrest you for that right now!”
Hydro remains where he is, still speaking calmly, “We know you were paid to testify against the stallion named Atomic Vortex.”
The silver pony narrows her eyes before sticking her nose up and turning away, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Volt looks at the shattered plate on the ground before turning back to the mare, “You know what? I made a mess, let me clean this up for you.” He grabs a broom and heads back to the mess before turning and suddenly brandishing the broom towards the mare, “That’s what you are! A mess! After I clean up you’re act, you won’t know what to think!”
The mare seems to be slowly shifting from confusion to fear, though from whether Volt’s lines are actually working or she legitimately thinks he is insane is anypony’s guess.
Hydro continues, “You were paid to say Atom tried to break into the treasury.”
“I-“
Volt levitates a glass of milk in front of her, “Would you like a glass of milk?” He slams the milk down on the table, “After I milk you for answers, you will need the calcium!” He gets right in her face with a small smile, “Dairy I say things will get intense.”
“Ok! Yes! I was paid to speak against him! Is that what you wanted to hear?!”
The red stallion continues to simply stand, watching her, “No, I said we already knew that.”
“Then what do you want?!”
“We want to know who paid you.”
The mare coughs a moment causing Volt to adopt a look of concern, “I’m sorry are you sick? Here, have a cough drop.” The mare accepts the cough drop and sticks it inside one cheek as Volt rounds back onto her, “Now drop the deats!”
The icy eyed pony simply looks at Volt before spitting the cough drop into his face.
Volt wipes the spit off his face before turning to the other stallion, “Leave the room for a second.”
Hydro nods before going out the door and walking back around to where the rest of us are watching.
Navy seems to be getting a little agitated, “What’s going on in there? Is he crazy? We haven’t gotten any information that we didn’t already know!”
I look back at Volt, “Well, it’s keeping her off balance at least… maybe he’ll say exactly what he needs to so she’ll talk.”
Volt gestures in the direction Hydro left from, “You see my friend who just left the room?”
The silver mare seems to be getting used to Volt’s actions as she simply asks, “What about him?”
“He is a vampony. And you don't want to see him entertain himself. He will suck the info right out of you. He just didn’t mention it because he’s shy.”
I facehoof at his statement, “Ok, maybe he really has gone crazy.”
The female earth pony simply looks at Volt before smirking, “Yeah right, I’m so scared,” she says sarcastically.
Volt seems to not notice her tone, only her words, “Afraid I will blow up again? I am a loose cannon!” He gestures once again to the door, “And my vampony friend there?” He slams his hoof down on the table, “BITCH HE EATS PONIES!”
Silver busts out laughing at his yell.
I sigh to myself, “Okay, this isn’t working.”
Vinyl grinds her teeth, “After all she’s done she has the gall to laugh?”
Hmm, idea.
I turn to the DJ, “Vinyl I have an idea, come with me. The rest of you, go take a water break real quick alright?”
The three pegasi and one earth stallion all shrug and head towards the kitchen as Vinyl and I walk into the room with the probably crazy unicorn and the still laughing Silver Tongue.
I tap Volt on the shoulder before motioning over mine, “Go get a drink, we’ll watch her.”
Silver is still chuckling as she looks us over, “What, time for your turn? Going to tell me stories of how all the various monsters from zombies to ghosts are part of your group and want me to talk? Hah! You’re all jokes! You really think I would tell you anything? Fools, you’ll all be sorry. Just like all those guards I helped put away!”
I see Vinyl’s eye twitch at that last sentence, “You know what? I think I’m a bit thirsty too. Watch her for a moment will you?” I smile at the purple shades wearing pony as I leave the room and from the corner of my eye I see the silver pony’s laugh die quickly as the other mare looks at her.
I join the others in the kitchen and magically grab myself a glass of water to sip on.
Volt looks at me, “I thought you and Vinyl were going to keep an eye on our lead?”
I smile at him, “So I see you didn’t go completely crazy.”
He shrugs, “Meh, read an instruction book and good cop bad cop routines once, never could decide between the two… but you still didn’t answer my question.”
I keep smiling, “Oh, I figure maybe our DJ will help our little liar open up a bit more, maybe actually talk with us. It seems to me, Ms. Scratch certainly wanted to talk with her.”
Realization slowly dawns on the others faces in the form of knowing smiles as we drink our water for another few minutes before heading back to the room where Silver is being held.
We enter the room to find a much shaken looking Silver Tongue and a relaxed Vinyl Scratch leaning lightly against the wall watching the door with Silver between her and it.
The DJ’s smirk seemed a little darker than normal even if her voice was sweet, “Silver here said she’s like to speak with us now.”
And speak she does, Silver tells us about how she was contacted by an anonymous letter to meet in an alley one night. She tells us of the money offered to simply say she saw things, and that this wasn’t the first time she did something like this. To her this was simply another job, one that she gladly reaped the benefits of. Unfortunately she also told us how she never actually knew who hired her as she is paid in advance and exposed if she doesn’t hold up her end, such was her business.
“I honestly don’t know who it was that wanted Vortex out of the way, I swear!”
Vinyl walks up closer to the liar causing her to flinch as she speaks, “Is that really all you know?”
“I-I-… they always have somepony watching me to make sure I do my part!”
Blue’s voice by the window draws our attention, “Guys…”
All of us rush over to the window in time to see an equine figure move off the roof across the street and run away from us, its actions suggesting it had been watching us and had bolted when we saw it.
Navy bolts to the door remarking, “Come on, we can’t let him get away!”
I look back at Vinyl before following the others, she waves me off saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things here, you guys get to the bottom of this.”
I nod before chasing after the others and our newest target.