Two hours had passed since the Event Quest notification had changed the entire dynamic of our investigation. I found myself acutely aware of the time pressure as Anthony and I made our way out of the maintenance closet, carefully closing the door behind us to preserve the crime scene while ensuring that Damon's body remained undisturbed until we could properly report our findings.

The hallway felt different now that we understood the true scope of the threat we were facing. Four confirmed assassins, with at least one of them skilled enough to maintain perfect cover while participating in a conspiracy that had already claimed the life of a highly trained federal operative.

"Should we still visit the principal's office?" I asked as we walked back toward the main corridor. "The personnel files could still help us identify patterns or connections that might point to the fourth assassin."

Anthony considered this suggestion, weighing the potential intelligence value against the operational risks that had grown significantly more complex since discovering Damon's body. "It's risky. Ms. Patterson saw us near that closet, and while she probably believes we didn't notice anything significant, she's likely more alert to suspicious behavior than she was before. She could have warn the others to be on guard."

I understood his caution. Our cover as legitimate investigators would only protect us as long as the assassins believed their conspiracy remained undetected. Any action that suggested we had uncovered crucial evidence about their operation could provoke them into making desperate moves that would endanger both our mission and the federal agents conducting their own investigation.

"Besides," Anthony continued, "we don't necessarily need access to the personnel files now that we know all the assassins are carrying knife wounds from their fight with Damon. Simply checking for injuries would be a more direct way of identifying the fourth one."

The logic was sound, but it raised its own tactical challenges. "How are we going to check for injuries on faculty members without looking suspicious?" I asked. "We can't just walk around asking people to show us their arms and torso."

Anthony paused in his stride, clearly working through the same problem that had occurred to me. The physical evidence was extremely valuable, but only if we could find a way to observe it without alerting the assassins to how much we had learned from Damon's final message.

"That's a good point," he admitted. "We need a cover story or a situation that would give us a legitimate reason to notice people's physical condition."

We stood in the hallway for a moment, both of us trying to think of an approach that would allow us to systematically check the remaining faculty members for knife wounds without compromising our investigation or putting ourselves in additional danger.

"Wait," Anthony said, his expression shifting as a new possibility occurred to him. "What if we don't try to examine the faculty directly? What if we interrogate Derek instead?"

I looked at him with curiosity, not immediately seeing how the framed student could help us identify injured assassins.

"Derek was arrested and charged with the assassination attempt," Anthony explained. "But we know he's innocent, which means he might have seen something that could help us. Maybe he noticed someone with injuries, or he observed suspicious behavior that seemed unimportant at the time but would make sense now that we understand the larger conspiracy."

The idea had merit. Derek had been in the school during the critical time period when the assassination plot was being finalized and likely when Damon was murdered a couple days ago. As someone who already had a reputation for causing trouble and observing authority figures with skeptical attention, he might have noticed details that other students or faculty members would have overlooked.

"And since he's been framed for the crime, he has every reason to cooperate with us," I added, seeing the tactical advantages of this approach. "He knows he's innocent, and helping us identify the real culprits is his best chance of clearing his name."

We made our way back toward the parking lot where the various law enforcement agencies had established their temporary command centers. The organized chaos of the federal investigation was still in full swing, with agents moving between the school building and their mobile command units with the focused efficiency of people working under significant time pressure.

I could see Derek sitting in the back of a police car near the edge of the investigative perimeter. He looked uncomfortable and frustrated, occasionally gesturing emphatically while talking to the officer who was apparently assigned to monitor him. The fact that he hadn't been transported to a more secure holding facility suggested that the Event Quest had somehow affected the normal procedures for handling arrested suspects.

Anthony approached the officer in charge of Derek's custody with the professional authority that came from his high-level security clearance. After a brief conversation and some credential verification, we were given permission to conduct our own interview with the detained student.

Derek was brought out of the police car and escorted to a more private area where we could talk without being overheard by other investigators or faculty members who might be within listening range. His expression was a mixture of relief and wariness as he realized he was being given an opportunity to tell his side of the story.

"I hope you don't think I actually tried to kill you," Derek said as soon as we were alone, his voice carrying a desperate sincerity.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the directness of his approach. "I'm not that dense, Derek. It's clear that you were framed. The timing was too convenient, and the evidence against you was too perfectly positioned to be the result of an actual assassination attempt."

The relief that crossed Derek's face was immediate and obvious. He had probably been wondering whether anyone would believe his protests of innocence, especially given his reputation for pranks and his known antagonism toward high-ranking System users.

"But we need your help," Anthony said, taking charge of the questioning with the systematic approach of someone trained in extracting useful intelligence from witnesses. "We're trying to understand exactly what happened when you were arrested, and we think you might have seen something that could help us identify the real culprits."

Derek nodded eagerly, clearly motivated to provide any information that might help clear his name and catch the people who had set him up. The best part was that I didn't need to use Interrogation since he was fully cooperating:

"What do you remember about the moments leading up to your arrest?" I asked, encouraging him to think carefully about the sequence of events.

Derek's expression became more focused as he worked to recall the details of what had been a confusing and frightening experience. "I was walking down the hallway near the administrative offices when Frank – one of the security guards – suddenly appeared and grabbed me. He said I was under arrest for attempting to poison a visiting dignitary."

"Was Frank alone when he arrested you?" Anthony asked.

"No, Principal Whitfield and Ms. Patterson were right behind him. They were the ones who explained that I was being charged with trying to kill Mr. Vale." Derek gestured toward me with a mixture of respect and residual disbelief that he had been accused of attempting to assassinate someone he barely knew.

"What did they say about the evidence against you?" I continued, looking for details that might reveal how the frame-up had been constructed.

"They said they found hydrochloric acid in my locker, along with some kind of device for opening and resealing bottles without leaving obvious tampering marks," Derek replied. "They claimed I had been planning the attack for days and that I had the means and opportunity to contaminate the water supply."

The sophistication of the planted evidence was impressive and disturbing. Someone had taken the time to construct a comprehensive case against Derek that would be convincing to investigators who didn't know about the larger conspiracy.

"Did you notice anything unusual about any of these people before your arrest?" Anthony asked. "Any injuries, changes in behavior, or conversations that seemed suspicious?"

Derek thought for a moment, clearly trying to recall details that would have seemed unimportant at the time but might be significant in retrospect.

"Actually, now that you mention it, Frank seemed different that day. Usually he's pretty laid-back, but he was moving more carefully than normal, like he was favoring one side of his body. And when he grabbed me, I noticed he winced like it hurt him to use his left arm."

Anthony and I exchanged a meaningful look. Frank's behavior was exactly what we would expect from someone who had been injured in a knife fight two or three days earlier.

"What about the others?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral despite the growing excitement of potentially identifying our fourth assassin.

"Principal Whitfield seemed normal, but Ms. Patterson had a newly applied bandage on her hand that she kept trying to hide. She said she had cut herself cooking, but it's up to you to believe her."

The pieces were beginning to fit together. We already knew that Ms. Patterson was one of the three assassins we had identified through their overheard conversation. Regardless of if she did actually cut herself cooking didn't matter.

But the most significant revelation was Derek's description of Frank's suspicious behavior and apparent injury. The security guard had been in the perfect position to coordinate the frame-up, plant evidence in Derek's locker, and ensure that the arrest happened at exactly the right moment to support the assassins' cover story.

"Boss," Anthony said, his voice carrying the intensity of someone who had just realized the significance of a crucial piece of evidence, "do you think that security guard... Frank, was it? Do you think he's the fourth assassin?"