Quoted By:
--- CHARLOTTE'S PARLOR ---
"We can't!" said Andersen.
"We have to." insisted Jun.
Yan and Solomon sat patiently across from Charlotte Webber and the Andersens at in quiet contemplation as the three parsed and processed the information the two brothers have given them about Carter's current status to varying reactions. They expected a reaction from the people involved in the event, but for the Manager and the Matron to engage in a full blown argument is something else entirely.
"Andersen, Trust me. We'll be in good hands."
"And then what?" asked the Oni. "Let ourselves be hung while Carter is denied his peace? What if she decides to have all of us hang?"
"Andersen..."
"I say we cooperate."
Eyes turned to Charlotte having spoken up for the first time. The Parlor owner's hands were preoccupied with the weaving of her own silk, the gestures doing a fair bit of work on distracting the parlor owner from the emotional weight of the news.
"If we don't cooperate with them, Carter will have no effective defense, even if he were able to argue for the Judge to hand down a verdict declaring his innocence."
"Andersen..." The Matron's voice drew the oni's gaze towards his wife who pulled his arm close into a comforting hug as she rested her head against his shoulder.
"He helped us when no one else bothered to. Shouldn't we pay him back the same kindness?"
"Please. He's alone. If it weren't for him...then we wouldn't have gotten together again. If not for him, do it for me."
The monstrous oni flicked gazes between his pleading wife and the impassive gazes of Enforcers across the table...before his gaze sharpened to level Solomon and Andersen with a hard calculating look.
"I only have one question to ask: Will we be tried for criminal charges just like him if we come forward to defend him as witnesses?"
Solomon and Yan glanced at each other in silent contemplation before answering.
"Personal opinions aside, it's best that we'll leave that verdict up to the Judge. The current case and subsequent trial is to determine the truth behind the what that happened in this settlement, and to ascertain the validity of those accusations leveled on Mr. Franklin. All that we ask is that you be upfront about the information related to the case and the incident in Cradleton. The more information you divulge, the more sound her judgement. Anything less will incur her wrath."
The silence was palpable as Andersen digested the answer...before letting out a slow sigh of reluctance.
"Alright." he said. "Tell us what you need."
(to be continued...)
