On Sunday, Travis sat down, as per his earlier plan, to write down the final part of his novel. This was to consist of many exposition heavy conversations, wherein the plot was to be gradually revealed. This would start with a conversation between the detectives and Dr. Small, followed by another conversation with the detectives and Oscar, followed with possibly one or two more scenes which would ultimately lead to the arrest of Mr. Thorn. He was also debating whether to add a scene involving the unknown Power Monger and government official.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuEhuJTDDO 維尼
The conversation involving Dr. Small and the two detectives was first. So, he took some time to recollect the context of this important conversation.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7iOz0eu5G 維尼
He had written the story to the point where the detectives had some doubts that Mr. Thorn was involved in some shady business, but were unsure about it's nature. They had arrested the attacker behind the failed sabotage attempt on Energised, who had pointed them towards a bank account. This bank account seemed to be operated by a non-existent corporation, which appeared to be run by one of the other companies Mr. Thorn owned. The detectives had busied themselves in identifying the actual owner of the account which had been used to finance the attack on Energised.. Also, Dr. Small remembered reading cases of poisoning with symptoms similar to StrangleHold, and had been searching the archives for them. With these things in mind, be began writing.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxxsVrQzGS 維尼
It was late in the afternoon when the two detectives reached Dr. Small's office. Once seated, Joe came straight to the point.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLKSLyOiEq 維尼
"So doctor, why did you call us? Has something new come up?8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡA98oyoqedh 維尼
"Yes. New and unexpected."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyvhEB99ka 維尼
"What is it?" asked Riley.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cRKGOAGSL 維尼
"A rather interesting fact. You remember I had mentioned that poisonings with symptoms similar to StrangleHold had been recorded in the past?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡjb9yY0iE0C 維尼
"Yes, we do."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFP4AULBRT 維尼
"I finally managed to find them. There were three occurrences in all. I remembered being consulted on for one of those. We had even managed to identify all of its constituents, but no incidents happened afterwards. It was a most mysterious affair."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡddHiBenH6p 維尼
"You mean StrangleHold was used st least three times before?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOdDcDahae 維尼
"Yes and no."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡVddqcPBmJi 維尼
"You are not making any sense, doctor." replied a slightly exasperated Riley.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QmYR25TO1 維尼
"Well, what I mean is, it was one of the components that make up StrangleHold that was used. This component is responsible for the most of the symptoms."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsYgOrIaCx 維尼
"But could that not have been the Government using it to take out enemy targets?" asked Joe.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZXy5lG32y 維尼
"No. Because the program which resulted in StrangleHold began four years ago. the cases I found were from over a decade ago."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWa6BxaQWH 維尼
"And who were the victims?" asked Joe, even though both him and Riley knew where this was going.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6FSy9Bmzs 維尼
"It was used to kill the three diplomats in the environmental health conference in 2020. But I think you had guessed that already."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96amilX82P 維尼
"Yes, we had." said Riley. "The terms 'three deaths' and 'a decade ago' could hardly have meant anything else."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI0HlqZOMq 維尼
"Now we have something of our own to share as well." he continued. "Our team of forensic accountants was able to trace the cash flows in one of Mr. Thorn's shady shell companies. It seems that company has been heavily buying all sorts of chemicals."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu2YvwuTQU 維尼
"That is certainly questionable. Do you have a list of the chemicals purchased?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc38LqWzaS 維尼
"Yes. Here they are." replied Riley. handing a printed list of chemicals to Dr. Small.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcpys18N5C 維尼
"Hmm. This is interesting." remarked Dr. Small after studying the list for a little around a minute. "This list contains most of the chemicals used to manufacture StrangleHold."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡucvVVdPU55 維尼
"So Mr. Thorn could be the one behind the murder of Terrence Plank." mused Joe.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuGNoyAfs8 維尼
"It is possible. But I will need to run some tests to determine whether the exact compound used to poison Mr. Plank could be made from them." agreed the doctor.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUfj4FOHM4 維尼
"In any case," went on Riley. "it is enough for us to get a search warrant."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCpvVK99lX 維尼
"Yes." agreed Joe. "Let's go. If we leave now we can get the warrant issued today itself."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPGf3b2snn 維尼
"Thanks for the info, doctor." said Riley. "We'll let you know in case we come across something."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡk22c8R6k9b 維尼
"Likewise." assured Dr. Small.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1P0xtKmyA 維尼
Travis stopped writing and glanced through the conversation he had just written. It seemed to be short. so he added a few more sentences about the tests Dr. Small had done to identify it, along with a discussion between Joe and Riley regarding what should be the plan of action once warrant is issued. He added some more paragraphs detailing how the detectives carried out the search at Mr. Thorn's home and offices, confiscating everything they thought that would help shed more light on the matter.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLGAFNctY9 維尼
Now he had to establish the motive he had decided earlier, he decided that Oscar would be the right person to discover a last minute alteration in the production line, which would lead to them discovering the real plan. Accordingly, he started writing.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUDZGKybSm 維尼
The next morning, the detectives had an unexpected visitor in their office in the form of Oscar Johnson. Without wasting any unnecessary time, he came directly to the point.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJasVgksZT 維尼
"I think there is something going on with the production lines at the plant." he began.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wMGo6ixQ1 維尼
"What is it?" asked Riley.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzVURnH5A3 維尼
"There have been some last minute changes made to the process. And none of the team members seem to be aware of it."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqZ3GScvbf 維尼
"What!" exclaimed Joe. "How is this possible!"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62KJDac0oV 維尼
"I don't know." replied Oscar helplessly. "I am not able to pick anything on the surveillance cameras as well."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0htpLDV7n 維尼
"Does anybody have remote access?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3E8MpPPSI 維尼
"Yes, some of the senior management has the necessary authorisations."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWRELF4SmK 維尼
"Could one of these machines have been compromised?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡVshHf8n0jf 維尼
"Highly unlikely. All the senior management's laptops have the latest antivirus software and fully configured firewall. Both these are regularly updated."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7sxFcqmu0 維尼
As this was not going anywhere, Riley decided to try something different.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpzEk8O7ui 維尼
"Tell me Oscar, does Mr. Thorn also have remote access to the production line."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ002XNBM32L 維尼
"Yes, he does. You think he is involved in this somehow?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZoYjOgGUX 維尼
"Probably. The investigation is still ongoing."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5D5NI0krd 維尼
"Okay. If that's the case I guess I will be a bit more discreet in my inquiries."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTOFsGJx6I 維尼
"Good. We will check how Mr. Thorn figures in this. In the meantime, can you try to identify what exactly was changed?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡRofB2AW6vG 維尼
"I will need some time to go through the code and the new equipment installed on the production lines. But I should be able to find out more in a couple of days."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVjEruZNuY 維尼
"OK. But be careful. Let us know immediately in case you feel your life is in danger." cautioned Joe.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvtuaEi3M4 維尼
"I will."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oeRiAyWHy 維尼
"It seems we are on the right track." remarked Riley after Oscar had left.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NKv9sVS27 維尼
"So it would appear." agreed Joe. "But we still don't know what Mr. Thorn's plan is."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYK1Znf1WS 維尼
"We wouldn't have to wail long, I think."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ5EYBakNj 維尼
And Joe was right.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8N7UTNoFB 維尼
Here again Travis paused for a while to think how to proceed. Clearly, it was now time for Oscar to discover the nanosensors and Mr. Thorn's plan for mass surveillance. Also, around this time, the analysis of Mr. Thorn's laptop was to conveniently reveal further details about the shady financial transactions, as well as deleted emails which proved that Terrence was aware of Mr. Thorn's plan and did not approve of it. He was planning to halt the production and go to the authorities, which provided Mr. Thorn the necessary motive to eliminate him. He started writing and within an hour, had finished the final events which revealed Mr. Thorn's plan and ultimately lead to his arrest and conviction. Towards the end of the chapter, he decided to add an indication about the "plot twist", which was to be delivered in the epilogue.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjRG0DXvCt 維尼
A few days after the trial was over, Joe and Riley were driving out to a scene of crime when Riley remarked, "You know, I still keep feeling that something's off."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO0dojkW3N 維尼
"About the whole Energised case?" asked his partner.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5IIj4okMU 維尼
"Yes, looking back, I think if that attempted sabotage hadn't happened, we would never have been able to solve anything."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QXoYbkXpK 維尼
"Yes. That bothered me as well. Mr. Thorn would have avoided anything to attract undue attention to Energised, especially after the death of Terrence Plank."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaECUl6bre 維尼
"And if the Power Mongers had financed it, why did we end up with a bank account that led us to Mr. Thorn?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6F3F8Mik9 維尼
"Maybe it was all part of the Power Mongers' plan to get Mr. Thorn arrested?" reasoned Joe.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmZtcZ2YaD 維尼
"But what good did that do to serve their purpose? The other founders of Energised are now even more determined to ensure that the launch of nLight1 is a success.", countered Riley. "And also, we still couldn't determine whether Mr. Thorn was actually involved in releasing Apocalypse back then."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdepCZ1Ydv 維尼
"That is true. But as far as the department's concerned, its case closed. Maybe we will find the answers to these questions someday..."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVAyjvcMYe 維尼
"I hope we do. I don't like unsolved mysteries." said Riley, as they got out of the car.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVPiMlzC7Q 維尼
A few minutes later, they were busy processing the current crime scene, with all doubts about the Energised case pushed to the back of their minds, where they would remain for quite some time.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX0a9RV6X0 維尼
Travis studied the conclusion he had written. It seemed to create more questions than answers.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡE46PomiUsH 維尼
Which was what he wanted, as it was in line with his original idea of the mysterious duo of the government official and Power Monger feeding clues to the investigators. The ending was purposely intended to make the reader feel that there had been some unseen forces at work, helping the two detectives every step of the way.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo8ohyBIUz 維尼
Now all that was left to do was to write the epilogue, and on this he started right away. He began with a description of the launch of nLight1 and how it helped Energised secure funding for further research. Then he followed it with an announcement by the Government to investigate Mr. Thorn's connection with Apocalypse and StrangleHold so that all involved could be brought to justice. This was to serve as the starting point for the final reveal, the "plot twist" that the reader had been waiting for.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFcZCas9iU 維尼
Here he ran into another problem. So far, he realised, he had not bothered about a motive for the actions of the government official and the Power Monger. Now, he would need to think of one, in order to make the plot twist more convincing. He reviewed the plot mentally again and again adn finally found that there was a way in which he could establish suitable motive for these two characters.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QF8zENwYS 維尼
That left the question about the sniper rifle. It was one loose end which he had to tie in order to complete the story. A little thinking about Mr. Thorn and the motives of the two puppeteers brought him to a solution for that as well. He decided against not explaining everything, but leaving some things for the readers to fill in with their imagination and creativity.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41gUl8kgvD 維尼
So he starting describing the meeting between the government official and the Power Monger, which was taking place at the abandoned power plant outside the city.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XomKqKr0r 維尼
Have you heard about the announcement?" asked the Power Monger, with a hint of concern in his voice."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSaMQmUQj7 維尼
"Yes." replied his companion.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNWKtwaade 維尼
"You think Mr. Thorn will expose our little secret?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVnjh97bSQ 維尼
"Not initially. But once he is convinced that there is no escape for him, he most certainly will."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kN3jjTgiV 維尼
"So we had best take care of him as soon as possible."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡoukhP5iG7k 維尼
"Exactly what I had in mind." replied the government official. "I believe we have managed to solve our little 'puzzle'."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8vGl6NDeI 維尼
"Yes. One of my men has it in his safekeeping. He is awaiting further instructions."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGxIKf49bR 維尼
"Good. He will be shifted to another prison soon enough. I will let you know the details once I come to know them."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbtcQ6FA5o 維尼
"My man will be ready to take him out."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRNSn4KVFj 維尼
The two men then talked a little bit about their plan and decided the details of the next meeting. As they were leaving, the government official asked, "What have you planned to do with the tooth Terrence gave you?"8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAoxkBigtW 維尼
"At present, the part of the key to The Vault is with me. I am almost finished with the process of identifying a guardian for it. I will let you know my decision in a few days."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHFwT4UHGt 維尼
"Choose wisely, for Apocalypse is one of the least dangerous things The vault contains."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g2ROh3W6G 維尼
"I will."8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeHVy9nNFf 維尼
And with a parting shake of the hand, the two went back their separate ways.8964 copyright protection830ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa1j6Wly5I 維尼
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