InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I know what the plan is! You'r"

Marie Song (ancientsongs) wrote in darkdividerpg,
@ 2014-09-01 14:56:00

Entry tags:

character: jason richards, character: marie song, date: 08.13.14

I'm dying again, I'm going under.
Who: Jason and Marie
What: Roland Ferguson's autopsy report
Where: Jason's office
When: August 13th, mid morning
Rating: Discussions of death

Marie had almost always been a creature of immense patience, but her time here in Chicago, among all the centuries of her life, this was a month that was beginning to grate on her nerves. Another one with a faded blue hand as a calling card, and barely anything new to add to a virtually empty bucket of ideas. In Marie's long memory, very little was connecting, and coming up empty was nearly maddening.

And this one had died right under their noses, practically in their own lair. With the werewolf's autopsy report in her hand, Marie's stride into Richards' office was slightly more purposeful and irritated than usual. She set his copy on the side of his desk, and lowered herself into the chair across from him.

"I'm beginning to truly loathe your city," she muttered.

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_littlelionman_
2014-09-02 12:13 am UTC (link)

Jason was trying to stay awake as he muddled through the paperwork. He had put the Ferguson case on the backburner so he could get Jo set on dissuading the DA from pressing charges against the McCreary twins. Hopefully, the autopsy would back their stories. That would help.

He looked up as Marie came into his office. Her comment was met with a soft snort. "Now you know how I feel most days," he said. "The weather sucks, the crime rate is ridiculous, and the system is so corrupt it's about to rot apart. But it's home. Go figure."

Jason picked up the file and started flipping through it. "Wait, he choked out and drowned? But he was seven feet off the floor. His head was less than a foot from the ceiling. How in the hell?"

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ancientsongs
2014-09-02 12:43 am UTC (link)

"Explains the wet clothes and bed," Marie sighed, leaning back in the chair and crossing her legs so the top one bounced. "-and nothing else." That part was more bitten out of the air and irritation.

Marie let one hand prop her head by thin, spindly fingers. The other held the autopsy photos and the report they were attached to. She'd read it several times, and still nothing.

"Couple things we know. It's immaterial- fire doesn't burn it, it can go through locked doors without disturbing them, and leaves absolutely no physical trace of itself. It attacks in the mind, and it can manifest matter. The water in Ferguson's cell, for example."

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_littlelionman_
2014-09-02 03:39 am UTC (link)

Jason tossed the file down on his desk with a frustrated growl. Pushing to his feet, he moved into the bullpen where the map and the rest of the information they had about their killer was located. He picked up a pin and started putting locations in. "First victim, Trevor McDaniels," he said. "Freelance journalist. Known fire elemental. Beaten to death and had his throat cut, hanging in a deserted warehouse in the wee hours of the morning of July 13th." He tacked McDaniels' place of residence.

"Second victim, Amanda Carter," he continued, marking the point where she was attacked. "Completely normal human. Firefighter, who was on the scene of the McDaniels' fire. Beaten and choked superficially, but left alive in Lincoln Park late on the evening of July 26th." He drew a question mark there. Because that didn't make sense. He marked the apartment she shared with her brother.

"Victim number three, Roland Ferguson," he marked the third location, which was the fucking county jail. That pissed him off as much as anything. The fact whatever was attacking people could get into the damn jail and kill someone without anyone noticing. "Werewolf. Also a firefighter on the scene the night of the McDaniels' fire. Hanged and drowned in his cell while awaiting trial between six pm when his tray was left for him to sunset on August 11th, which was also the full moon." They knew it had to be before sunset, Ferguson was still fully dressed. If he'd changed, he wouldn't have been wearing clothes because they wouldn't have fit. He marked the location of Ferguson's residence, then his and Amanda's different firehouses and stepped back.

"We have the McDaniel's fire and the blue handprint that connects them," he said. "But that's it. Different MOs, no obvious motive, no idea why McDaniels was attacked in the first place, and no reason why Amanda wasn't killed when the other two were. Except the fact she's human and female. But that doesn't make sense. If that stopped it from killing her, why attack in the first place?" Jason let out a growl.

"Did the firefighters see something? Is that why it attacked them?" That would be the only thing that made sense to him. He looked over at Marie. "Maybe we need to reinterview Amanda Carter when her brother's recovered. I hate to put her through it again, but she's the only living witness we have." He let out another growl. "I hate this case so much."

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ancientsongs
2014-09-02 03:55 am UTC (link)

Marie watched him map out the victims and their scenes, letting her mind wander over possible patterns now that her eyes were actually looking at them as a whole, but still couldn't come up with any significant realization.

Did the fire fighters see something... Why didn't the thing kill the girl...

"I have a feeling this thing is more dangerous than we've considered," she finally said, her small shoulders rolling back. "Carter was found in the open, where there's plenty risk for interruption- the other two were locked away in relative privacy. It's already been brought up that the killer might've been interrupted. So- in that case, why don't we have witnesses who've seen the suspect?"

Marie locked eyes with him, pointedly touching her head.

"Because the attacker is in the victim's mind, but unfortunately not imaginary. If it can produce water from nothing, it certainly can manifest forces that cause wounds- without leaving trace. Maybe that's how it's picking victims, too. It finds the next one in the psyche of the first."

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_littlelionman_
2014-09-02 04:28 am UTC (link)

"More good news," Jason growled. Marie outlined even more of the issues. No witnesses, no nothing. It was maddening. Especially when she proposed that theory. "Oh great, that means anyone who's ever come into close contact with any of them is a possible potential victim." He wanted smash something right now. So badly.

Jason paced back and forth, forcing himself to think through the frustration. "We need to find out why this thing targeted McDaniels in the first place," he said. "Because it started with him. You want to come with me to toss his home and office tomorrow?" She was probably the best person to find what they were looking for. "Maybe he found out something he shouldn't have. Journalists do that." Nosy bastards.

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ancientsongs
2014-09-02 04:46 am UTC (link)

"There has to be something more than that. I feel like a creature this methodical doesn't do random." Marie sighed. "The problem is finding out what the connection is without rooting through our one live victim's mind."

Uncrossing her legs in order to sit up straighter in the chair, she eyed him mildly. Then notched up a brow in soft expectation. "Why not now?" Then she added. "Unless you're drowning in werewolf paperwork. I can always go myself."

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_littlelionman_
2014-09-02 04:55 am UTC (link)

"Yeah, I'm hoping we can find it at McDaniel's place," he admitted. Jason sighed. "Not paperwork. Transport. I'm helping Jack McCreary move AJ Carter out to the packlands. The hospital wanted to send him to the county infirmary, but apparently her brother's coven and her pack have a better idea. I don't care how big and crazy he is, I'm stronger than any wolf." There were very few werecreatures who could rival the raw physical power of a male werelion. "That's gonna take most of today though. Especially with all the paperwork I have to field. It isn't like our evidence is going anywhere and right now his pattern has about two weeks between attacks." He gave her a look. "I'm going with you. It's my case." It wasn't that he didn't trust Marie. He was just possessive and territorial. She should be used to it by now.

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ancientsongs
2014-09-02 05:03 am UTC (link)

She was used to it, which was why she was poking at it. In the most subtle and least invasive way possible. "That's right- it's your case. Which means none of us have worked on it at all unless we're in your glorious presence," she teased again in dry sarcasm, but moved on.

"Stronger than him or not, just so you know- I'd prefer if you not find yourself as a chew-toy." Marie smiled at him in the way only Marie did- a not-smile that was almost as tricky as the play of dragon scales on her skin. "I don't want you bleeding on me."

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_littlelionman_
2014-09-02 05:22 am UTC (link)

Jason rolled his eyes at her. "You know what I meant," he pointed out. "It can wait." He left the pins up and started back towards his hole in the wall office where said paperwork was waiting.

"Considering the condition he was in the last time I saw him?" he said. "If he shifts, the only person who's going to be bleeding is him." It'd been a long time since a female who wasn't a blood relative had expressed concern for his safety. Even in a backhanded way. "I'll be careful. I wouldn't dream of ruining your expensive clothes."

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ancientsongs
2014-09-02 05:44 am UTC (link)

Marie gave him a look that may as well have said Good boy, and offered him a treat, but that look itself was a manifestation of their usual sarcastic bantering. It melted away quickly enough for more substantial things.

"Well, since you're otherwise occupied by dangerous and somewhat illegal patient transfers for the day, what is it you would like me to work on? Unless you'd like company in the back of a tin-can on wheels with a very wounded, very large animal. Might be fun to see you throw your weight around." That was a half-truth. The fact that she could keep the new werewolf as still as a statue with barely any effort at all- as Jason had been personal witness to- did not come up.

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_littlelionman_
2014-09-02 05:50 am UTC (link)

"Because you don't watch me throw my weight around every day?" he pointed out with a bit of a smirk. Then he sobered a bit more. "Actually, if you'd come along to help out, it'd be great. I'd rather he not wake up at all. Maybe you can keep him under in case the sedatives start to wear off?" He didn't doubt she was capable of it. "It sucks he has to be moved so soon, but the hospital is absolutely paranoid he's going to wake up and go on a rampage."

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ancientsongs
2014-09-02 05:58 am UTC (link)

"I meant in a more literal fashion. Though I may have to bring my lint brush."

Then she nodded, accepting his invitation to ensure the new wolf stayed blissfully unaware of how incredibly volatile his new life was going to be- at least until they planted him in a supposedly safer habitat. "Won't be a problem."

Marie neglected to add that she could essentially heal the man of his injuries in a matter of minutes and a good, strong curry powder under her nose. Jason had seen enough of her power for now, and the pup with the broken nose, she knew would keep her secret. If that particular talent got out, her personal mission here would be utterly ruined. Likely by swarm.

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_littlelionman_
2014-09-02 06:52 am UTC (link)

"Thanks," Jason said. "Until the transfer is ready, if you want to help with the recommendation for the DA about the McCreary mess, that'd be great." He slumped back down in his chair. "Their statements are all basically the same. Deacon McCreary laid in wait and ambushed the Carters in the parking lot. He attacked Aaron first, which makes sense to me at least. Big male, average size female. You take out the stronger target first. He mauls the brother, then pounces on Amanda." Poor girl, as if she hadn't been through enough shit this month.

"That when the McCreary twins say they showed up. Jack tackled Deacon off of Amanda, slamming him into the side of the building. I saw the crack in the wall where they hit myself. I'll be very surprised if he doesn't have a very cracked vertebrae on the autopsy from that." Anyway... "Jack grabbed him by his throat when he tried to lunge at her and threw him on the ground, taking a chunk out in the process. Her brother says Deacon was crawling towards the Carters, so he snapped his neck."

Jason growled. "They've got more than enough proof that lethal force was required in this situation," he said. "But I'm worried that the level of violence will have the DA wanting to 'put a stop to vigilante justice' or some stupid shit like that. With all the press showing nothing but violence from that pack lately, I can understand why condoning it even when it's justifiable might seem like a bad idea." That didn't mean he wanted it to happen. The McCreary twins didn't deserve any more shit after what their father had done. They had enough to deal with.

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ancientsongs
2014-09-03 03:21 am UTC (link)

"Obviously then, it's best for everyone if it all stays buried-" Marie said with a breath in her voice. Mostly because she knew how impossible that was already. "The story is already out about Carter surviving. Personally I'm a little surprised there hasn't been a media frenzy outside the hospital waiting for exclusives."

Maybe that would come later. Actually, Marie bet on it.

"The only thing that will pass this over is time with nothing for the media to salivate over, or something bigger. And that, of course, won't be helpful." She sat back in the chair, folding her arms lightly. "I'll do what I can. Without being the something bigger, of course."

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_littlelionman_
2014-09-03 08:10 pm UTC (link)

"Fuck, they got a hold of his name?" Jason groaned. "I fucking hate reporters. Like the guy isn't dealing with enough shit without those vultures circling him trying to poke him into a rage. I'm glad he'll be in the pack's territory soon. Then they can't get to him."

Jason sighed. "I'll talk to Cameron Louis," he said. "I don't want to say anything about it, but with them spinning paranoia, maybe at least one article not screaming doomsday will slow down the chaos."

His head thumped onto his folded arms. Jason was exhausted from dealing with the two case alone, let alone to new stack that landed on his desk every morning. "We have something bigger," he pointed out. "But any of the details would send the city into a different kind of panic."

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