"..."
Vanessa did not know how to reply to that. However, as someone who had known the instructor for a long time, she was inclined to defend him.
"Instructor Kennedy is not like that," the woman firmly declared. "Yes, he has his flaws when instructing the kid, but it was done out of goodwill!"
Kael was not interested in the instructor's flaws. He might be cynical, but he knew that those who truly wished to do someone harm were the silent ones. As intended, the woman shifted the narrative in the direction he wanted.
"If anything, it would be those servants who directly served the children as their helpers," Vanessa added, her anxious state nowhere to be seen. "Some of those kids weren't saints, Mr. Detective. You should see how they mistreated some of us simply because they were special."
The workers at the facility would definitely look up to the person who stood up for them the most, and that was the lead instructor and director. They had already been instructed not to hold anything back. However, with Kael shifting the blame to Kennedy, the woman felt obliged to defend his honour.
Moreover, Kael knew the kids were not saints; most of the chosen heroes —past and present—were the same. Who wouldn't be drunk on power when they had it more than anyone else?
"So you harboured ill feelings for the chosen heroes, huh?" Kael's question caught the woman off guard. "Don't be startled, Ma'am. We already know this."
Colour drained from the woman's face when Kael pointed that out. For a moment, she thought Kael was trying to imply she had something to do with the murder. She was but a simple cleaner.
What would she do if they decided to pin the killings on people like her? People were anxious and wanted answers. Suddenly, Vanessa became self-conscious, her anxiety returning in full. She had said too much and might even implicate herself if she continued talking.
"Need I remind you that you are compelled by law to answer my questions?" Kael muttered in a cold tone, the sudden change once again taking the woman aback.
"Also, you are only considered suspects who could have been coerced into helping the killer(s) without knowing it. So you don't need to worry about it." Kael could deduce what the woman was thinking by the expression on her face.
"..."
The woman gulped, not sure what to believe. But Kael was right; she had to answer his questions or she might find herself in a much bigger problem. She took a lot of time to regain her composure, time Kael was willing to give.
"You mentioned the personal servants of the chosens being unfairly treated," Kael continued after the woman looked him in the eye. "Please, tell me more."
Knowing there was nothing she could do but narrate what she knew, the woman took a deep breath to calm her nerves before she started. Most of what she had to say was the standard mistreatment spoiled brats dished out to those they deemed below them.
Kael was not too surprised to hear what the woman had to say. From time to time, he would ask the woman to point out the people mentioned on his tablet. It aligned with their own selections, confirming what they needed to know.
"Please point out the chosen heroes who exhibited behaviours you found mistreating," Kael pushed the tablet towards the woman once again.
Vanessa nodded and looked at the thirteen profiles. Seeing the faces of the children and knowing she won't be seeing them again made her feel a bit conflicted. They looked as they were born to be — heroic.
Unfortunately, their nature was anything but. With a sigh, the woman went ahead and tapped on nine of the thirteen profiles. Once again, it was in line with what ARISA had already gathered, allowing Kael to confirm that the woman was at least being truthful to an extent.
Aiden Carrigan was among the list of those who had nasty personalities. Of course, these behaviours never came to light when they went home. Perhaps there was, but families tended to look out for each other, more so now that the children were dead.
"As someone tasked with cleaning the private spaces of the children, did you notice anything odd about their usual behaviour?" Kael asked once the woman finished her selection. "Things like phone calls, hidden notes and..."
Reaching this point, Kael narrowed his eyes, not liking what he was about to say. "budding romantic relations with some of the personnel?"
Romance among the kids was not a problem. However, for the instructors and workers here, that was a different case. They were all adults living in the same space with future heroes.
It was almost inevitable. Some people often created situations like these to establish a rapport with the heroes. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. The only thing was that people knew how to keep it quiet.
To the question asked, Vanessa remained silent as she thought back to anything she might have seen. However, she shook her head after a while.
"I-I don't think so, Mr. Detective. Perhaps only those closest to them would see something like that." Vanessa explained nervously. "As for the personal belongings of the children, your people already confiscated everything."
"Mm." Kael nodded, aware of this.
"Then my last question... During your breaks from the facility, when you returned to the city, has anyone or a group approached you, seeking to learn about the children in any way?"
"I-I don't think so, Mr. Detective." Vanessa got nervous again.
"Then let me rephrase my question." The reassuring smile on his face disappeared, replaced with a stern one. He leaned forward, making the woman swallow the lump in her throat.
"Have you ever talked about your dealings with the future chosen heroes? It's natural to want to vent after dealing with annoying pricks. Perhaps you vented to your family members, your friends, your neighbours or anyone lending a listening ear."
Although the personnel in the training facility were subject to a Non-Disclosure Agreement, that agreement was not airtight, especially when it came to family matters.
A moment of weakness, forgetfulness, a desire to be heard, or a desire to vent could lead one to share what they shouldn't. It might be the simplest, non-essential things, but the mastermind could use anything to build a profile of the kids.
Perhaps the mastermind already had unrestricted access, but that remains to be proven. For now, however, Kael needed a lead.
"..."
Vanessa lowered her head in shame, knowing she was guilty of the claims. She had unwittingly implicated her own people because she couldn't keep certain things to herself.
Her eyes turned misty as tears threatened to fall.
Unfortunately for her, Kael was not moved by her tears. He simply continued with his interrogation. "I'm going to need you to give the names of those with whom you shared anything."