Unlike Kael, Dave began his interrogation with the lead instructor. Kennedy had the most contact with the fallen chosen heroes and was likely to know more about the children than anyone else.
However, the lead instructor proved to be a hard nut to crack. He refused to say more than necessary, making Dave's job very difficult. While the law compelled him to narrate what he knew, it didn't say to what extent.
"Hah, Mr. Jones, you're making my job very difficult." Dave sighed as he leaned back in his chair, his left hand over his face. "You should tell me everything so we can go our separate ways."
"I've told you everything I know about the kids."
Kennedy grinned victoriously, glad he was getting to Dave. With both hands crossed over his broad chest, Kennedy made his stance clear. "Yes, some of the kids were a nuisance to deal with. However, they were exceptional students no less. It's only right that their instructors discipline them when they go astray."
"So none of the other instructors held any grudges against the kids?" Dave asked for the umptieth time.
"And as I've told you several times, everyone had good relations with the children." Kennedy stood by his word.
"Very well." Dave had had enough.
"Then I'll tell you what you know." His words made the instructor raise his brows sceptically, unsure of what Dave meant.
"You, Mr. Kennedy Jones, knew about the nasty behaviour of the kids and punished them for it, leading many of them to hold a grudge against you. You would sometimes arrange extreme training schedules that pushed the kids over the edge."
The more Dave spoke, the more Kennedy appeared to look confused. Dave was basically going over what he had already narrated. If this was his attempt to get him to correct something in his narrative, then Dave thought wrong.
"Where are you going with this?" Kennedy raised his brows.
"I'm getting there."
Dave smirked slightly, irking the instructor a bit. Sitting back in a relaxed manner, he continued. "Although you knew they would most likely get back at you in the future, you still went ahead to push your little vengeful acts."
"Watch your tone, boy," Kennedy growled, already seeing where Dave was going with his narration. "You speak of matters you have no clue about."
"Am I?"
Dave shot back, leaning forward, the grin on his face widening. "Am I getting out of line, or are you covering for what your men did? You were aware of some of the actions of your people, yet you turned a blind eye to them."
The young detective's grin widened, knowing he was getting to the instructor. Kennedy's expression shifting from a knowing smirk to a fuming rhino spoke even more volumes about the effects his words had on the man.
"Everyone in the know is aware of how unpleasant the heroes can be, yet you watched as the very people you claim to protect try schemes that would land them in trouble."
Dave knew all he needed to know to push the buttons of someone as explosive as the lead instructor. "Maybe you knew something like this was going to happen, and that's why you turned a blind —"
"How dare you?!"
The instructor cut Dave off abruptly, having had enough of Dave's insulting words. With a defiant roar, Kennedy rose to his feet and yanked the table out of the way, his intention clear.
However, before he could make a move, the doors to the interrogation room burst open as three members of the suppression team rushed in and swiftly incapacitated the instructor.
BANG...!
"Ugh!"
Kennedy did not even realise how it had happened. One moment, he was about to attack Dave when he was grabbed by the arms and flung against the wall. As soon as his feet touched the floor, he was forcefully grabbed and slammed to the floor with his hands bound behind him.
"Any more moves and we'll be forced to employ lethal means."
One of the men warned in a cold tone, pressing down on Kennedy's neck. The instructor could only struggle in vain, staring daggers at the men who neutralised him before he could do a thing.
Through all this, Dave remained calm and composed. He made no attempts to get out of his seat when Kennedy snapped. He was the leader of the team and knew how capable they were.
Even if they had failed to respond in time, Dave was no pushover either. He could have taken down the instructor with little to no effort, despite the instructor's considerable build. This was true for the assistant in the corner, who sat and did her job without even blinking.
Slowly, Dave rose to his feet and approached the incapacitated instructor, looking down on him coldly. "Kennedy Jones, I know you probably have nothing to do with this; however, your pointless resistance will take you nowhere.
"If anything, you're interfering with the success of our investigations and might lead you to further trouble."
"You won't get away with this." Kennedy managed to say through the pressure on his neck.
"Is that a threat?" Dave wasn't impressed.
"..."
No response came after that. The instructor breathed heavily, his torso rising and falling in tandem. The suppression team did not relent on their hold either. Until Dave gave the word, they wouldn't let the man go.
"My last question..." Dave continued after a moment of silence. "Has anyone approached you to learn about the children in any way?"
The young detective asked the same question as Kael. This was a standard question they would ask everyone they interviewed. Although the personnel had already had their lives looked into, this was protocol to determine whether they were hiding anything.
"..."
"Mr. Jones, you need not make things difficult for yourself," Dave reminded coldly, already getting fed up with the stuck-up attitude of the instructor. "Point me in the right direction and I'll be out of your hair."
"I have nothing to say," Kennedy scowled.
"Very well."
Dave had no intention of forcing anything out of the man. He already knew what he needed to know. He gestured for his men to take out the lead instructor.
The men nodded and swiftly got Kennedy to his feet, dragging him out of the interrogation room under Dave's uncaring gaze.
"Call in one of the guardians of Aiden Carrigan." Dave turned to the assistant and instructed, moving towards the spot where the table lay.
With an effortless gesture, Dave crouched and picked up the table with his left hand and moved to place it back in its spot. He did the same for the chair that was knocked over, sitting down just in time for the next personnel to be brought in.
"Please, have a seat." Dave turned to the man who had just been brought in, gesturing at the seat opposite him.
The man walked with confident strides after looking around, coming to a stop before his chair. He looked at Dave for a moment before sitting down and crossing his arms over his chest.
Like the leading instructor, the guardian had a well-built frame. However, unlike Kennedy, the guardian appeared younger, with sharp features. He had hazel eyes, a clean-shaven face, and an authoritative aura about him.
"Mr. Terrance Grain... Would you be so kind as to tell me your impression of Aiden Carrigan?" Dave asked with a warm smile, ignoring the glare in the man's eyes.