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Post by Situation on Sept 14, 2008 17:17:05 GMT -5
"Constable!" A scrawny little figure of a man in a police uniform calls to another, more plump individual in a finely pressed police uniform. He waves to get his attention over a crowd of onlookers standing in front of a police tape. He ushers the constable through the crowd and beyond the tape, towards the alley between two brick apartment buildings. "She was found last night by a streetwalker, no witnesses thus far. I should warn you sir, it's not pretty." "I've seen my fair share of murder victims in my time sargent-" "But this is different... it looks like the culprit dissected her." The two come upon the bloody scene, the victim, a female Burmecian has been left sprawled open, her blouse bloody and ripped and long skirt cut away. Her neck is inflamed, showing signs of strangulation. Her lower abdomen has a large gash in it, cut with surgical precision and appears that something internal was removed. The constable takes out a handkerchief and covers his face with it. "Oh my..." (( www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m13rH66UlE ))
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Post by Situation on Sept 14, 2008 22:01:01 GMT -5
"Hey!" The constable yells, his voice echoing loudly as it ricochets between the brick walls of the alley, trying to speak over the sound of the music from the phonograph emitting from a nearby window above them. "Quiet that ratchet up there, the music is bothering the detectives."
"Oye!" Yells an elderly woman's voice, moment later a wrinkled woman's head appears out of a window. "Constable! Sorry ya see, hearing isn't what it use to be you know. What we got down there?"
"Never you mind that, poor lass ran afoul of someone sick. Nothing too worry about, we're investigating." He yells back to her.
"Ah the poor dear, people these days are sick I tell you. Sick the whole..." Voice trails off as she ducks her head back inside.
The constable shakes his head as he turns back to one of his detectives. "Whats the word, any clues as to her identity?"
A detective nods. "That we have constable, she's Emily Tipp, a seamstress. Her son, Oliver has had a few run ins with us for petty crimes before."
The constable appears shocked. "Oliver's mom? That boy can't catch a break can he. Send someone to their flat and have them speak to the poor lad. He must be sick with worry by now, if he's not there. Check with the gang he runs with. Maybe he'll know something about who might of done this."
The detective nods. "Will do, sir. Send one of the officers over there right away. It's just a few blocks down, isn't it?" "That it is, near the theater district, the Crest." "Ahhh, yes yes. Right away."
The detective walks off while the constable kneels down beside the body, looking her over, shaking his head with disgust and pity.
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Post by Situation on Sept 15, 2008 23:56:59 GMT -5
"Has he said anything yet?" asks the constable of his associate who shakes his head.
"No. Did you really expect him to? We're not exactly his favorite people in the world."
The constable strokes his chin thoughtfully. "But we need to get him to cooperate soon. Every minute is time wasted that that sick freak could use to target someone else."
"Don't worry. We'll have some results very soon. She's on her way."
"She? Oh, you mean that sorceress you called for."
"I know what you're thinking, but I know this woman pretty well. She's completely trustworthy. I sent my boy to her school. Always have had trouble with him since we lost his mum, God rest her soul. She's been successful at turning the most troubled punks around. She's perfect in this type of situation."
The constable stares at the other officer with a blank look on his face. "You might want to watch your boy. I've heard the young men who go to that so called Garden usually come out bonded to one of its witches. Or worse, married. So when does she get here?"
(('Kay Nat, jump in whenever you're ready))
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Post by Lillith on Sept 16, 2008 0:11:54 GMT -5
(OOC: Got your message. Did any of the others say when they were going to start?)
She's here now.
::The two officers look up to see a black clad woman with dark hair and strange green eyes, like that of a cat. Her expression is annoyed, and it becomes apparent that she may have heard their conversation. The raven perched on her shoulder eyes them both with irritation as well::
Is this important? I have a school to run, and I don't enjoy being away from my kids. It makes me antsy. Your boy's doing fine by the way, and is dating a pretty young sorceress from Deling City. Did he forget to mention that in his letter?
::She grins smugly::
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Post by Situation on Sept 16, 2008 0:28:50 GMT -5
((OOC: Not yet, sadly))
"No, no, he hasn't. Oh the misses will be taken back by that one. But anyway, onto why I called you here." The constable motions for Lillith to accompany him off the street and into the nearby alley. "A strange case has popped up over night and I was hoping you could help us out with questioning a certain young lad. He has been unwilling to cooperate with us and we're hoping he would be more forth coming with an outside 'contractor'. I know you are good with these types of children, but first..."
They come upon the scene, the woman's body only now being prepped by the coroner for removal. "If you could provide some insight onto this, we've never seen any sort of attack like this before. Warn you, it isn't pretty." The constable rips away the blood stained white sheet from the body, revealing a horrific mess of a woman. "She was found last night, appears to be almost ritualistic. Take a look here." He moves away the blouse from her left breast, revealing three symmetrical stab wounds. "Straight to the main arteries, killed her instantly, but it gets more... interesting." One of the detectives moves away the skirt to reveal the open cavity in the woman's lower abdominal region. "The murderer then removed her... well I believe it doesn't need to be said. It's the most appalling thing we could of ever imagined. Any idea, in your travels and studies of something like this before? Not another cult like The Order you think?"
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Post by Lillith on Sept 16, 2008 0:39:51 GMT -5
::Lillith covers her nose and mouth::
It's alright. This isn't the first time I've... Okay that is grotesque. I'm afraid I didn't know much about the Order, but this does sound similar. But I have it on good authority that none of the cultists survived the collapse of the Sanctuary. Then again, it wouldn't surprise me if that turned out to be wrong.
::She looks away from the corpse and back at the officers, unable to keep her eyes on the horrified frozen dead face of the victim::
I'm afraid I have little to offer in the way of a magical assist. My powers deal little in the way of premonition. But let me see what I can do about the boy.
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Post by Situation on Sept 16, 2008 1:03:54 GMT -5
"That's fine, I was just hoping for a little more insight. We're currently at a loss for words. We'll know more after the autopsy, hopefully. Sargent!" The constable throws the sheet back over the deceased woman.
A scrawny young man quickly scurries up behind the Constable. "Sir!" "Take the madam here to the son, I want you to stay outside as to not startle the poor boy. He's been through enough as it is, let Lillith ask the questions." "Understood sir. Ma'am, if you'll follow me." The sargent offers Lillith to follow him out of the dingy alley and back on the street. "It's only a few blocks away, follow me."
The sargent leads Lillith down the street, towards the theater district. On the way, he continiously comments on the horrific nature of the murder and explains a little about Oliver, a boy who has had his fair run ins with law enforcement. After five minutes or so, they arrive at the Crest. A low income tenement street, filled with refugees, foreigners, and the poorest of the city's poor. He guides her through the mesh of people and stalls to the stoop of a grungy building and through the buildings doors. Inside Lillith is met with the stink of filth of poor sanitation and decay, the hallways are littered with torn wallpaper, felled plaster and dim lighting. Up the rickety stairs to the second floor, he stops outside a door. "The boy is in here still, I hope. I'll wait here as the constable ordered. Good luck."
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Post by Lillith on Sept 16, 2008 1:12:29 GMT -5
::Lillith sighs::
That's comforting.
::This whole scene is rather depressing for her. Growing up, her family had never been particularly wealthy, but they had managed far better than this. Even when she had set out on her own, she had never had trouble telling stories to earn enough coin to get into a decent inn. She brushes these thoughts aside and enters to speak with the boy. She doesn't hesitate to familiarize herself with him::
Hi... Oliver I believe is your name? My name's Lillith. I'm here to talk to you.
::She doesn't exactly expect him to trust her right away, so she decides to be completely upfront::
Look, I'm not going to lie to you. The police did send me here to probe your brain a little, but in all honesty I'm a little more concerned about you. How much of what's going on do you know about?
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Post by Oliver on Sept 16, 2008 1:22:41 GMT -5
"Hay!" Yells a young voice from another room. "Wudda now think? Can ust barg in her without giving a knock."
Appearing in the hallway is a raggedy kid, no more then eleven or so. A Burmecian like his mother, the way his platinum-blue eyes pierce the dimly lit hallway towards Lillith is resonating and striking. Draped over his arms is some clothes, obviously his mothers, he walks closer to Lillith then turns and stop, letting the clothes fall into a dirty, stained box.
"Told ya, dunt want to talk to ya oinkers no more." He says, sounding obviously annoyed and disgruntled. "Jus loss me mum and now ya wanto bother me?" But then, his eyes give Lillith a long look, up and down. "Even if ya as pretty as ya ar, tired of talkin. Leave me alon." He just stares coldly at her, motionless. "Well, ya goin or do I has ta show you out?"
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Post by Lillith on Sept 16, 2008 1:39:17 GMT -5
::Lillith reminds herself that no matter how rude she may find the boy's attitude, she can't use her magic or force to deal with him. He's still a child::
It's alright. You don't have to be so abrasive. I'm not with the police. I'm just here to see how you're doing. How about we have a seat.
::She makes a beckoning motion with her fingers, and a rickety old wooden chair that's been leaning against the wall of the corridor scoots itself under his legs, forcing him into its seat. She pulls a stool from nearby and seats herself casually across from him. She crosses her legs::
I wouldn't be so quick to toss out people who are just trying to help you.
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Post by Oliver on Sept 16, 2008 2:14:05 GMT -5
Oliver looks in shock at the magic Lillith has just performed, which forced him into the chair. "Whoa..." His eyes dart up at her, eyebrows raised and questioning. "So ya definitely ain't with the oinkiers, thas fosure." He then awkwardly sits back and crosses his arms.
"I dun need help, been jus fin on me own. Ill make do, jus as me mum had dun. She tuat me to be tugh." His eyes start to swell up but he fights it back. "I can be stron, dun need no help." He quickly stands up and flings his arms, as if it would shoo Lillith away. "Go, get outa here. I need to do sumthings. Go bac ta tha oinkers and leave me be." He quickly turns around and folds his arms, as to not let Lillith see the tears now forming in his eyes. He sniffles a few times and rubs his dingy sleeve over his eyes. "Get out!" He says in a tearful cry.
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Post by Lillith on Sept 16, 2008 2:24:33 GMT -5
(OOC: If you don't like this choice of music, I'll change it, but I thought this situation called for it ^_^) www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhPiTQ9v_z8::Oliver doesn't count on Lillith's persistence in the matter. She reaches for him and takes him gently, but firmly by the wrist. She holds his hand palm out in front of her:: Sorry, it's just that I saw something on your hand just now. A gypsy friend of mine named Adrian taught me this. ::She studies his palm thoughtfully:: Hmm... this line here says you're gutsy, and street smart, which leads right into this long healthy life line. This one says you have issues with authority, and this one says you like to be the center of attention, which causes you to act out at times. This one says you're pretty good with the ladies. ::grins mischievously. Then her eyes turn serious:: But this one is special. Right now it stands out above the rest. It says that you're very important right now, and without your help, a lot of people could be badly hurt. It probably has something to do with what happened to... your mom. You could be the key to stopping that from happening again. ::Thankfully her talent for storytelling makes her an excellent liar, because no matter how many times Adrian showed her, she had always been useless at reading palms::
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Post by Oliver on Sept 16, 2008 12:59:20 GMT -5
Oliver breaks his hand away from Lillith, still teary eyed. "I told ya, dunt kno nuthing! Leave me alon..." Breaking away from Lillith's side, Oliver quickly hurries to a doorway in the hall and slams it behind him.
Lillith, now alone in the hall can see clearly the mess of clothes and other articles strung about in a room directly across from her. It looks to be the mother's tiny bedroom. Up the hall is the dingy kitchen of the flat with a few dirty plates left on a rickety wooden table in the center. From behind the door Oliver ran through, there permeates the soft sounds of crying from beyond.
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Post by Lillith on Sept 16, 2008 15:17:23 GMT -5
::Lillith treads lightly through the door and averts her eyes from where Oliver is slumped over in tears. She'd hoped to take him back to the Garden with her in order to keep him out of trouble. But now she sees that it's not the best idea. Despite the declining state of where he's living, this place is still his home, and tearing him away from it against his will would be stupid and selfish of her. But she can't bring herself to leave him without something to fall back on. She takes a small round mirror out of her pocket and places it on the bed next to him::
If you're ever in any sort of trouble, don't hesitate to call me. If you need me, you can find me at Leah Garden.
::She leaves without another word. She closes the door gently behind her and rounds on the officer who was eavesdropping as soon as she's in the hall::
He's telling the truth. He doesn't know anything. So you and your team can move on to the next step of your investigation. I don't want to hear anything about you coming to bother him again. I'm placing him in my custody. You'll find that as headmistress of a Garden, I have the authority to do so. He'll remain here, but any affairs regarding his well being and involvement in this case goes through me first. Am I clear?
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Post by Situation on Sept 16, 2008 16:58:05 GMT -5
The sargent nods in understanding. "Better you worry about him then the city." He looks at the door. "Hopefully, he won't end up like the other orphans. So, do you wish to return to the precinct? The autopsy report should be nearly finished by now. I'm sure the constable would be most appreciative of any assistance you could provide. We're stretched thin enough as it is." He then cockily smiles. "And knowing him, he wouldn't hesitate telling the king about your invaluable assistance leading to a sizable donation from the city to your school."
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Post by Lillith on Sept 16, 2008 17:01:28 GMT -5
::Lillith gives him a sly smile::
Well aren't we shrewd. Go ahead. I'll follow you.
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Post by Situation on Sept 16, 2008 21:06:12 GMT -5
With a cocky smile, the sargent nods. "This way."
-Half hour later-
At the police precinct, Lillith lead to the Constable's office. On his desk is some papers from the autopsy, he invites her to take a seat. "I'm delighted to hear you are staying on for the time being and as such, I am making you an official police consultant on this case. I take it you didn't get much from the boy?" He shakes is hand, motioning that its no matter. "We didn't believe he had any information, just covering our bases, so here's the run down from the coroner." He slides the papers over the desk to Lillith. "You cannot speak with the papers or anyone else about this matter, no names, nothing at this time. I'm in contact with the king, if this happens again, which we believe it will, then we'll make a statement. Until then, we're keeping this hush hush, don't want to start a panic."
The papers go through a detailed analysis of the body, a lot of medical jargon and figures but the offical statement from the coroner says the victim was first strangled from behind by a 1cm smooth garrote till the victim went unconscious, placing the murder around 2 meters tall, likely male by the strength required to make the marks. The three stab wounds were the fatal blow, severing the aorta, pulmonary arteries, and the vena cava. Death was instant. The blade was mostly likely a plain edge, two sided dagger between 6 and 10ins longs. The same weapon was used in the removal of the subjects uterus - reason unknown. It is noted that the organ's removal was surgical and professional in nature, suggesting the murder has knowledge of surgery. No other information is provided.
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Post by Lillith on Sept 17, 2008 1:18:42 GMT -5
::Lillith's eyebrows knit together as she studies the statements made from the autopsy. There aren't many people she knows of that could fit this profile. On the top of her head, she could only think of two and they were both worlds away. On top of that, she'd never dream that either of them were capable of this kind of atrocity::
So I take it there weren't any witnesses?
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Post by Situation on Sept 17, 2008 1:34:06 GMT -5
Constable shakes his head no. "Not even a sound, suppose that is the purpose behind the strangulation. We place the murder between 2300 when the victim left her work and 2315. She only worked about twenty-five minutes from the flat. The body wasn't discovered until 0045 by a street walker. Gave the murderer plenty of time to do his work and be gone."
The Constable stands up and walks to the window of his office, opening the blinds and letting the light of the outside world fill in the smokey room. "I've tried to profile possible suspects but none that aren't already incarcerated could be capable of such a inhuman act. I fear we may have to wait till they strike again..." He lightly but frustratedly bangs the glass with the side of his fist. "Its inconceivable that there was no evidence left behind, a fingerprint, shoe print... something! As if he just appeared and vanished." Let's out a frustrated sigh and turns back to Lillith. "Twenty years in the force and never, never has that happened."
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Post by Lillith on Sept 17, 2008 1:39:18 GMT -5
::Lillith takes the explanation in stride::
Someone who's associated with the Order is the most likely suspect at the moment. Each member of The Coven has either been cleared, or decimated, and most of the sorceresses that followed them are either at my school, or vanished back to their homes altogether. And as you've said, there is some sort of ritualistic meaning to the murder, so it's most likely tied to a secret society. Do you know of any others besides the Order that could be seeking to make a comeback?
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