just injected into his arm with the drugs was active.
Barry was inside his office adjusting his badge – this one with the Barry Arbitration logo – and looking in the mirror to make sure he was well put together. The reporters were waiting in the conference room, where cameras would broadcast Mr. Barry to the news stations, as was customary when high profile rulings came out of an arbitration agency. The reporters all wondered aloud to each other what the conference could possibly be about, since the murder ruling was not due out for another week or so. BA had been coy in getting the news to cover this announcement, promising a big story but giving few details. Molly watched from the receiving room at BER headquarters. Drake tuned in to the News of New England, which he owned a controlling stake in, to watch the conference.
Barry walked into the conference room, and took his place in front of the cameras at the podium. He cleared his throat.
"Thank you for your attention, I've called this conference to announce some troubling news uncovered in the course of arbitration between Atlas Protection and Coastal Security", Barry paused to take a drink of water, and wipe some sweat from his forehead. "In the murder case of Athena Sicily it was found that Atlas Protection manufactured evidence in order to frame Ted Lanta, having no other leads to go on, in the desire to appease the family of the deceased. Evidence suggests Ted was chosen to be framed due to Rand Atlas' investment in the Lanta family's brewing company, Illicit Liquors, with the intention of keeping Ted from taking control of the company."
"When will the evidence be released?" shouted one reporter, in a frantic tone of disbelief.
"Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation, and lack of cooperation from AP, the evidence of AP's wrongdoing will be withheld, pending further review. As of this moment proceedings against Ted Lanta are dropped, and he has been ordered released from Atlas Protection custody. Charges against Atlas Protection are pending. Thank you, all further questions should be submitted through my office." He walked away from the podium, ignoring the concerned uproar and questions being hurled at him by various reporters who were present.
Back at BER headquarters Molly was wide eyed with mouth agape, paralyzed by shock. She knew something was not right about this, and had herself just finished an audit of Atlas Protection's proceedings, which AP had been extremely open about. Suspecting the worst of Barry, she decided to get Kitt's side of the story.
Molly couldn't even get through on her two way screen to Atlas headquarters, waiting on hold for a half hour before deciding to go down to the office in person. The place was a zoo, with employees running from desk to desk, fielding calls on every available screen, and trying desperately to transfer the callers to the correct branch.
"No, no it’s not true, we are asking for patience as this is sorted out."
"There's no need to transfer, this is a just a mis- understanding."
"The evidence was not released because there is no evidence. We are working on straightening this out, but it is entirely and categorically false."
These lines and others could be heard throughout the office, like an echo that wouldn't go away. As usual Mr. Atlas' office door was open, and an unusually large volume of employees streamed in and out, with looks on their faces ranging from horror, to exasperation, to steady-handed concern.
Molly managed to squeeze her way in to see Atlas standing at his desk propping himself up with both hands on the surface talking to someone on his video screen.
"That's fine we can pay the extra cost, we just need it done as soon as possible. Thanks."
"Mr. Atlas, I know you must be busy, but I was hoping for a quick conversation."
"Molly, hi," Atlas greeted her, slightly distracted, though he still managed a smile, in a tired sort of way. He walked around his desk and sat on
Barry was inside his office adjusting his badge – this one with the Barry Arbitration logo – and looking in the mirror to make sure he was well put together. The reporters were waiting in the conference room, where cameras would broadcast Mr. Barry to the news stations, as was customary when high profile rulings came out of an arbitration agency. The reporters all wondered aloud to each other what the conference could possibly be about, since the murder ruling was not due out for another week or so. BA had been coy in getting the news to cover this announcement, promising a big story but giving few details. Molly watched from the receiving room at BER headquarters. Drake tuned in to the News of New England, which he owned a controlling stake in, to watch the conference.
Barry walked into the conference room, and took his place in front of the cameras at the podium. He cleared his throat.
"Thank you for your attention, I've called this conference to announce some troubling news uncovered in the course of arbitration between Atlas Protection and Coastal Security", Barry paused to take a drink of water, and wipe some sweat from his forehead. "In the murder case of Athena Sicily it was found that Atlas Protection manufactured evidence in order to frame Ted Lanta, having no other leads to go on, in the desire to appease the family of the deceased. Evidence suggests Ted was chosen to be framed due to Rand Atlas' investment in the Lanta family's brewing company, Illicit Liquors, with the intention of keeping Ted from taking control of the company."
"When will the evidence be released?" shouted one reporter, in a frantic tone of disbelief.
"Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation, and lack of cooperation from AP, the evidence of AP's wrongdoing will be withheld, pending further review. As of this moment proceedings against Ted Lanta are dropped, and he has been ordered released from Atlas Protection custody. Charges against Atlas Protection are pending. Thank you, all further questions should be submitted through my office." He walked away from the podium, ignoring the concerned uproar and questions being hurled at him by various reporters who were present.
Back at BER headquarters Molly was wide eyed with mouth agape, paralyzed by shock. She knew something was not right about this, and had herself just finished an audit of Atlas Protection's proceedings, which AP had been extremely open about. Suspecting the worst of Barry, she decided to get Kitt's side of the story.
Molly couldn't even get through on her two way screen to Atlas headquarters, waiting on hold for a half hour before deciding to go down to the office in person. The place was a zoo, with employees running from desk to desk, fielding calls on every available screen, and trying desperately to transfer the callers to the correct branch.
"No, no it’s not true, we are asking for patience as this is sorted out."
"There's no need to transfer, this is a just a mis- understanding."
"The evidence was not released because there is no evidence. We are working on straightening this out, but it is entirely and categorically false."
These lines and others could be heard throughout the office, like an echo that wouldn't go away. As usual Mr. Atlas' office door was open, and an unusually large volume of employees streamed in and out, with looks on their faces ranging from horror, to exasperation, to steady-handed concern.
Molly managed to squeeze her way in to see Atlas standing at his desk propping himself up with both hands on the surface talking to someone on his video screen.
"That's fine we can pay the extra cost, we just need it done as soon as possible. Thanks."
"Mr. Atlas, I know you must be busy, but I was hoping for a quick conversation."
"Molly, hi," Atlas greeted her, slightly distracted, though he still managed a smile, in a tired sort of way. He walked around his desk and sat on
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