Morix: Web of Mistrust

Turnabout Deception, Part 1

Cotoli got to his feet, and I followed his example. I didn't exactly want to get up, still overwhelmed by the action-packed events of the day before, but I knew that I didn't have any other options if we wanted to find the truth behind the attack. I trailed after Cotoli as we approached the newcomer, and I clasped my hands together tightly in front of my chest, messing with the black fingerless gloves I always wore. It was a nervous habit for me, and not a good one, but I knew well I wasn't going to be able to break it while we were standing around the defendant lobby. I was too stressed to bother thinking about it with the trial about to start.

"You must be Collack Strann," Cotoli said, reaching out one hand with a small smile. "It's nice to meet you. My name is Cotoli Morix, and this is my younger sister, Chrysalis Starr. We'll be defending you in court today."

The man, Mr. Strann, it seemed, reached out one hand to return the handshake. "I am Collack Strann," he said simply. He examined Cotoli before turning his attention to me, looking over us carefully. I kept my gaze as neutral as possible, hiding my nerves to ensure he didn't rattle me. One thing I had learned as the leader of the Oracle project was that I couldn't let anyone get to me. I had to keep up a mask as often as I could to make sure nobody caught onto me. 

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, keeping my voice deadpan as I stared up at him. There was something akin to a glare in my eyes, but I didn't really care if I was making a poor first impression. I didn't need to be friends with him. I was trying to figure out the truth behind the case that had hurt Polly, not get along with our client. He gave me a bad feeling, if I was being perfectly honest. 

"Nothing," Mr. Strann said after a brief pause that felt like it stretched on for a thousand years. He shook his head before looking to us once again, his eyes locking with Cotoli's when he spoke next. "I have to ask... You said your surname was Morix, yes? Do you happen to work at Morix Law Offices?"

"I do, as a matter of fact," Cotoli replied. "What about it?"

"I have always been curious about your agency," Mr. Strann answered. "You were involved with the Interpol kidnapping case that nearly exposed the truth behind the Oracle of the Law, bringing Occisor to light in the process. You revealed a lost agent of the Emsthorpe crime ring, a feat that has not been pulled off in quite a long time. I must say that I'm rather impressed with you and your agency. I've been observing your group for quite some time, and I didn't expect to meet with you when you were defending me from assault charges of all things."

"I'm honored to hear that we have gained such a reputation," Cotoli said with a small smile and a light chuckle. "I didn't realize that we had such a large impact on the rest of the city. I suppose we have been lucky, or perhaps unlucky, enough to be involved with most of the significant cases as of late... That would earn us quite a bit of renown, for better or for worse."

I looked up at him with a small frown, not understanding how he was willing to be so forthcoming with information. I suppose that he was better at hiding his distaste for humanity than I was. He could maintain a casual conversation with someone he didn't know well, but I wound up just avoiding anybody who asked me about things outside my comfort zone. 

"I would love to learn more about what cases your agency has been involved with where Oracle is concerned. I understand that most of that information has gone public due to the general fascination with the spy, but I want to look into it myself," Mr. Strann remarked. 

I frowned heavily, unable to keep myself from glaring at him. He was being far too friendly and open on the matter. I looked up to Cotoli, hoping that he would cast me a brief glance to see that I was so uncertain. 

"Perhaps we can save that conversation for after the trial," Cotoli suggested, looking over to the doors to the courtroom. "We have to ensure that you are cleared of these false charges before starting up any other chats. Speaking of, perhaps we should enter the courtroom sooner rather than later. We have a lot of preparing to do before everything gets started, after all."