I believe you are confused about something. Red Smith is to be questioned about the whereabouts and identities of anarchist operatives that he associated with. Any evidence he provides us with or without legal counsel is spectral at best but affords the Triad the opportunity to track down and investigate a potential thread to the city's security. As he is already convicted of crimes in Mechanus and serving his sentence, the Red Death does not feel the need to pursue any further action against him. If the Fraternity does, then they can question him further themselves after the five days have passed.
If Red Smith requests legal counsel, he will be granted it. Until then, I do not see why you are adamant about having a private meeting with him. I can give you up to six hours, but that is all.
Regards, Factor Charae Mercykillers
Another letter follows to Garen
wrote: Bureau Chief Garen,
Thank you for your assistance in allowing us the opportunity to speak to Red Smith. I see that you have given us five days to speak with him, however your administrator insists that she takes one of those days for her own and that we do not begin questioning until after she's had her time. which is a detail that did not fall under the arrangement. I have expressed my concern about it as the window in which we have him is limited.
I ask that you inform your administrator that she will have to work with the amount of time I counter-offered her or you will have to send another representative. I can't afford to spend further time discussing this.
A letter is returned to Charae with a copy going to Caterina
wrote:Factor Charae
I have placed Administrator Arnders in charge of this situation involving the Prisoner Red Smith. She is the person you must deal with in this regard. Should you require more than the allotted five days, you may reapply to this office at that time for an extension and I will offer a ruling.
Please offer Miss Arnders the same cooperation you would offer me and permit her to do her job for this office as best she can. Let us make this go as easilly and as smoothly as possible.
As an aside, Red Smith is already a prisoner and not under investigation. He cannot request or deny council. It is at our request that he currently recieves it. Miss Arnders is not there to interfere in your investigation, she is there to ensure the Fraternity is represented properly in this matter and the matters of our prisoner.
Again there is a reply a copy of the correspondence is sent to Garen.
wrote: Factor
I am aware of the involvement of the Revolutionary League. Sometime ago yoy may recall that a cross Triad task force was established by Mover Cass of The Harmonium. As part of it I remain committed to snuffing out the League in Sigil. I have read your Faction's case against Smith it is a strong one. He will be better inclined to talk to a friendly counsel than he will to a mercykiller. The more time I have with him the more chance I have of getting him to make a plea bargin as part of which he will yield the information you want. I had hoped for your cooperation.
Caterina Arnders Administrator A1 Bureau of Interfactional Affairs.
Charae forwarded a copy of Caterina's recent letter to Garen and wrote her reply.
wrote: Chief Garen,
If this is the way your administrator is going to act in times of discussion when she does not immediately get her way, I have no interest in working with her. Send another representative.
A short reply is sent and a copy forwarded to Caterina
wrote:I have already sent you an Adminstrator. You will work with her, as I've already assigned, or I will have to revoke the permissions granted in access to the prisoner until this is resolved.
I will again make the offer. Six hours is the amount of time I will give. Anything more I consider unreasonable. If you wish to revoke the permissions and delay things further, then feel free to do so. All it will do is waste more time.
The last letter from Charae is forwarded to Caterina. It is not replied to by Garen. The note attached to it (for Cat) is:
wrote:Miss Arnders.
Please tend to this matter as you have been. Should the Factor refuse to cooperate with the Fraternity's terms (as you have laid them out), please have the Bailiffs return the prisoner to the courthouse until the matter is resolved.
Caterina reads the letter utters a silent pray of thanks to Wee Jas and writes a letter to the prison.
wrote: Factor
My offer of an eighteen hour period of preparation stands. Should you be willing to accept it we shall be able to begin, should you decide to refuse it I will make arrangements to have Red Smith returned to the courts. I await your decision.
Caterina Arnders Administrator A1 Bureau of Interfactional Affairs.
A note is sent while the Factols decided what to do
wrote:Charae
How about a compromise? You give Caterina unfettered access... and twelve hours of preparation... and I'll reverse the judgement. If you want to show the Fraternity that you're serious about cooperation... you must give a little. We are giving you someone you need. Give us what some of what our people require in return.
I am not bothered by your judgment, as the deal was made and we will hold you to it regardless of what threats you make to try to alter it. That you had gone back on your word only proves to me the true nature of 'cooperation' between our two factions. Cooperation from the Mercykillers is not blind obedience or adherence to demands you or your administrator make on us without having our say in the matter.
I will grant your request for 12 hours of preparation, but your representative will not have unfettered access. She will only have access to the prisoner Red Smith and she will not be permitted to be alone with him. Furthermore, their conversation will be recorded by a scribe of our own.
Any further attempts to alter our previous agreement will be met with the Fraternity being barred entry to the Prison until the hearing has passed. As you saw fit to contact Factol Alisohn, I have also saw fit to contact your Factol and file a complaint. Should you refuse to accept this final offer, then it will be in their hands to decide what is to be done, whatever that may be.
