Eveline nods respectfully to Diego.
"Of course, Constable. Perhaps it is as you say, and the heat has indeed affected my better judgment."
"My apologies, M'seiur LeBrix; we simply need to be thorough," says Uxui more demurely.
Standing there in the alleyway, a thought suddenly occurs to Lyle. "Byron, my fine fellow. When you first approached the two of us you mentioned theft. Did this well-dressed man pilfer something from you during your journey to the House of Blue Birds?The cabbie nodded vigorously. "Yeah! We get to the hotel and he says to wait while he goes in to get his purse. That's not too out of the ordinary for folks with money, but a quarter hour goes by and I go in to ask about him at the front desk. Turns out he went upstairs, grabbed some things, then ducked out the back door without paying me!" Jack shook his head. "I try to get the hotel to pay on his account and they can't authorize payment without this thieving so-and-so's word! It's outrageous! They should pay me and bill him, with all the drunk businessmen I see safely back to their hotel."
Aziel, having scooped up what she could of the strange, coagulated blood into a vial and stoppered it, tucked that into her coat with the paper she had found. "Would you be kind enough to take us there, monsieur? Faster would be better. Constable Langston will see to it that you get that promised drink afterwards, I promise. In fact, maybe the RHC will pick up the bill for the doctor's ride as well, since you were kind enough to report it. I will do what I can."
Aziel took a closer look at the document she had fished out of the mud as the carriage jostled along the road. "It looks like a deed of ownership for a canal barge, marked with the seal of the Danoran consulate. What do you think, mon ami? Shall we pay the waterfront a visit, as well?"
"Why... that sounds like a capital idea, Constable Charbonneau." Lyle said with just enough enthusiasm to be suspicious. But as they began to move towards the carriage, he nodded his head towards the consulate. "But perhaps we should leave a message with one of the officers? We wouldn't want our fine companions to worry.
Aziel, having scooped up what she could of the strange, coagulated blood into a vial and stoppered it, tucked that into her coat with the paper she had found. "Would you be kind enough to take us there, monsieur? Faster would be better. Constable Langston will see to it that you get that promised drink afterwards, I promise. In fact, maybe the RHC will pick up the bill for the doctor's ride as well, since you were kind enough to report it. I will do what I can."
Byron nods excitedly. "Of course, constables! Right this way and you'll be ensconced in the finest cab in North Shore. I know all the shortcuts and best routes, have you there in a wink an' a shake." The cab was not far away, around the corner sitting at the curb. Byron's chestnut standardbred stood calmly munching on oats as he came up to let the constables up into the cab. The cabbie gallantly put out his hand to offer Aziel assistance in alighting. "We'll be off in a jiff, officers!"
"Why... that sounds like a capital idea, Constable Charbonneau." Lyle said with just enough enthusiasm to be suspicious. But as they began to move towards the carriage, he nodded his head towards the consulate. "But perhaps we should leave a message with one of the officers? We wouldn't want our fine companions to worry.
Byron looked back and forth between Lyle and Aziel. "I'll wait if you need to go back to the consulate, constables. Take me a moment to get Maggie ready to go, anyway. We'll be ready when you come back."
"Chief LeBrix, disculpame for the ... Forwardness of the RHC. While we are a group dedicated to justice, sometimes our zeal gets the better of us. If we could perhaps just arrive to the scene without further comment, we can get done what Risur asks of us and be out of your way with the tide."
LeBrix nodded, seemingly mollified with Diego's explanation. He watched closely as Uxui examined his weapon, looking at the half-orc once she was done. "Will you also perform your inspection now, constable? We have an armory with a workbench, if you wouldn't mind us moving out of the foyer." So maybe LeBrix hadn't completely moved on from the earlier unpleasantness, but at least his tone sounded less upset and more wry now.
Byron looked back and forth between Lyle and Aziel. "I'll wait if you need to go back to the consulate, constables. Take me a moment to get Maggie ready to go, anyway. We'll be ready when you come back."
Aziel nodded. "Oui, if you could do that, Constable Langston? I want to check the addresses the officer gave me in the interim. Please excuse me, monsieur Byron." She plucked out the notebook he had given her, and quickly skimmed through the information there again.
"Thank you, m'sieur LeBrix," said Uxui, handing back the pistol. She kept her face calm. Normally we'd be bringing all of the staff in for questioning and confiscating the weapons for full analysis. Oh, but no, in this land they're so -civilized-. Hijue pucha.
"Of course. I'll see if I can find Officer Bellastair." Lyle said with a toothy smile. "I'm sure he'll be happy to convey our message to the rest of the team, as well as the evidence we've collected so far."
With the look of a man out for a pleasant afternoon stroll, the former businessman walked out of the alley, moving in the direction of the Danoran Consulate. Looking out for the Flint Police Officer that the others had been talking to earlier, he quickly found the man and approached him.
"Good news, Officer Bellastair. We appear to have a... lead? Is that what you call it in law enforcement, a lead?" Momentarily losing his train of thought, Lyle took off his top hat, smoothing out the thinning black and grey hair that lay underneath as he considered his next words. "In any case, it is a matter that requires out immediate attention. If Constables Zerpina, Roldán, or Ashcroft emerge from the consulate, would you kindly tell them that we have gone to investigate the House of Blue Birds, over on the western edge of the North Shore? We have also collected some evidence, that I hope you can also bear to them."
Lyle Langston tried to put on his best smile as he spoke to the police officer, but admittedly lost some of his composure beneath the sweltering heat of the afternoon sun.
"Thank you, m'sieur LeBrix," said Uxui, handing back the pistol. She kept her face calm. Normally we'd be bringing all of the staff in for questioning and confiscating the weapons for full analysis. Oh, but no, in this land they're so -civilized-. Hijue pucha.
LeBrix took back his gun, quickly checked the breech and the setting of the cartridges, then re-holstered his pistol. "If we are done, please follow me this way."
Rather than taking them across the foyer and up the grand staircase, the security chief led the constables to a service stairway hidden behind a nearby door designed to blend into the wall. The stairs leading both up and and down were simple stone rather than marble and brass, and it was a quick trip up to the fourth floor.
They came out through another door designed to blend into the wall, and the scene was entirely different. There was ornate, beautiful carpet on the floor, running from one end of the long hallway to the other, dark wood paneling, paintings on the wall in heavy frames, and display cases holding works of art and artifice important to Danor to impress visitors.
LeBrix gestured to the closer end of the hallway, where the window was broken. "She went out there." He pointed at a closed door directly across the hallway from the stairs. "That's the service pantry where I found her. The door was open, that's what made me suspicious when I came up here."
He gestured at a small display table at the end of a T-intersection with another hallway whose display was empty. "That's where the egg is supposed to be."
"I'm happy to answer any questions, constables, and will stay out of your way."
"Good news, Officer Bellastair. We appear to have a... lead? Is that what you call it in law enforcement, a lead?" Momentarily losing his train of thought, Lyle took off his top hat, smoothing out the thinning black and grey hair that lay underneath as he considered his next words. "In any case, it is a matter that requires out immediate attention. If Constables Zerpina, Roldán, or Ashcroft emerge from the consulate, would you kindly tell them that we have gone to investigate the House of Blue Birds, over on the western edge of the North Shore? We have also collected some evidence, that I hope you can also bear to them."
Lyle Langston tried to put on his best smile as he spoke to the police officer, but admittedly lost some of his composure beneath the sweltering heat of the afternoon sun.
Bellastair looked annoyed but nodded. "Will do. What was your name again? I saw you go off with that lady constable but don't recall catching your name."
Lyle Langston extended his hand, speaking the command word for the magical gloves he was wearing. A business card suddenly appeared between his fingers, popping into existence in a burst of multicoloured sparks. The design was simplistic, listing only his name, job title, the words 'Royal Homeland Constabulary', and an address for the local office. The entrepreneur handed the business card to the Flint police officer with an almost apologetic smile.
"Oh! Of course, where are my manners? Lyle Langston is my name, sir. Everything you need to contact me is right there on that card. I really would love to chat, but as I stated earlier, time right now is at a premium, precluding extended discussion. So I will simply thank you for your assistance and be on my way."
With the conversation between the two of them now concluded, Lyle had but one more matter to attend to. Walking towards the R.H.C carriage that had transported them here, the former businessman whistled to Mr Beakins, who up until a few moments ago had been occupied with ripping small pieces of wood from the carriage roof and hurling them at people who ventured too close for the heron's liking.
"Come along bird. We have somewhere to be, and I'd rather you and I stick together. The last thing I need right now is you for you to wander off and eat some poor servant from the consulate."
Mr Beakins gave him a long hard look, examining the man with its now mismatched eyes. After a couple of seconds the bird gave a loud squawk and jumped down onto the cobblestone street. Loping towards him on its long slender legs, every second step the heron took was punctuated with a heavy clang, its mechanical limb releasing a burst of steam as the animal finally reached Lyle's side.
Giving the beast a friendly scratch just below the beak, the constable began leading the heron back towards the alleyway. Seeing Jack Byron, he waved. "I hope you don't mind one more passenger, Mr Bryon. I assure you that he is very well-trained, and friendly too. We may well need his services if we encounter this thief you spoke of."
If all is prepared, then let us be off!
The cabbie nodded at Lyle. "Not a problem, sir! He can sit right in the cab with you." Once the constables were situated, stepping up into the cab and closing the door behind them, Byron took off. The man was true to his word when it came to knowing all the ins and outs of the district.
Byron weaved around slow moving carts and chugging steam wagons, his horse apparently having been born for harness racing rather than cab-pulling. Once or twice they detoured down alleys wide enough for the cab, and the cabbie using his whip more often to harass would-be impediments to their direction of travel than to spur on his steed.
Less than 20 minutes later, they were pulling up to the House of Blue Birds, a large and well appointed but not ostentatious hotel close enough to Flint Bay to have a view of the water past the manor houses that actually owned the beaches. It was a decent hotel for a successful doctor, lawyer, or businessman to stay at during his time in Flint.
A footman opened the cab door for them and a doorman opened the hotel's door, beckoning them inside.
"Gracias, Chief - we shall endeavor to be swift," Diego spoke up, slowly moving across the floor. His eyes took in everything he possibly could, taking his tim to be thorough with the crime scene. It was not like him to rush in matters such as this, not when blood had ben spilled.
Not when someone had died.
He decided it would be bet to walk through the last few moments of the deceased's life, starting with the service pantry.
"How long did you say Hume had been in employ here, again? Had anyone made an attempt like this prior to her being hired? Or after, for that matter?" Diego asked of Le Brix as he opened the pantry door, poking his head in to see if perhaps anything had been left behind, anything that might have given more insight into the crime.
"A prize like a Jierre Egg - I find it hard to believe that Señorita Hume was the first to try something. Or at least, the first to think of it."
The Half-Orc stepped slowly to the glass case that had held the item of interest, taking a keen interest in the lock and perhaps any foot- or fingerprints about.
"Still. A beautiful bauble it may be, but hardly worth suicide - Would she have been executed for the theft, Chief? I am unfamiliar with what the proper Danoran punishment would have been in such circumstances."
Scratching idly at one of his tusks, Diego ran a hand through the smooth hair of his well-groomed beard while turning his attention at last to the shattered window. As he walked, he kept an eye out for signs of the gunfire Le Brix had admitted to - the slight hint of cordite in the air, the tell-tale signs of char or smoke clinging to fabric or walls. When he reached the window itself, he checked for blood splatter and the impact that had shattered the glass, seeing if Miss Hume had stumbled in any way, indications of the wounds she had sustained per the Chief's testimony.
Diego made a small, sad sound at the view below - it was a tragedy to see a life cut so short. And for golden forks? For some jeweled egg? Something seemed ... wrong, about that. Dockers were desperate folk but Dockers didn't drown themselves off the piers if the bobbies caught them with a few extra silver.
"I believe, uh ... Braden? You said it was? Would be good to have here as well, that we might question him while inspecting the area."
Aziel cursed under her breath when she saw that Lyle was bringing his bird-monstrosity. The thing had already plucked a cigarette out of her hand on the way to the consulate, and she thought it was mainly due to her quick reflexes that it hadn't taken a few fingers with it.
Her mood was thus not the best when they reached their destination, but she managed a courteous nod of thanks to the cabbie and the doormen. Going inside, she asked as discreetly as she could manage about the man Byron had described, keeping her eyes peeled just in case he was actually still somewhere on the premises.
"I would like to see his room, s'il vous plait."
"How long did you say Hume had been in employ here, again? Had anyone made an attempt like this prior to her being hired? Or after, for that matter?" Diego asked of Le Brix as he opened the pantry door, poking his head in to see if perhaps anything had been left behind, anything that might have given more insight into the crime.
LeBrix stayed out of the way like he had said he would, but he watched Diego canvas the scene like a hawk watching a mouse. He shook his head at the question. "She didn't work here, she was dating Braden. Staff are allowed to have visitors, so long as they are escorted, and she became friendly with most everyone here. She seemed like a nice girl."
"A prize like a Jierre Egg - I find it hard to believe that Señorita Hume was the first to try something. Or at least, the first to think of it."
The Half-Orc stepped slowly to the glass case that had held the item of interest, taking a keen interest in the lock and perhaps any foot- or fingerprints about.
Diego didn't find any fingerprints on the glass and the lock didn't look like it had been tampered with. Of course, LeBrix said he had stopped her while she was raiding the pantry so she probably hadn't gotten to it before he got to her.
Strangely, though, while he was crouching down to look at the corner of the display case Diego thought the lock of the nearby door- likely the consular's office, from the position and what LeBrix had told them about this floor- did look like someone had recently been at it with lock-breaking tools.
"Still. A beautiful bauble it may be, but hardly worth suicide - Would she have been executed for the theft, Chief? I am unfamiliar with what the proper Danoran punishment would have been in such circumstances."
"We do not execute mere thieves, constable. She would have faced a substantial amount of time in prison, though. Of course, since we are guests in your country we would have simply turned her over to you, had she allowed us to capture her."
"I believe, uh ... Braden? You said it was? Would be good to have here as well, that we might question him while inspecting the area."
LeBrix nodded. "I was going to make him available when we went back downstairs, but I can have a runner fetch him if you would prefer.
Diego caught the slowly fading smell of used gunpowder in the air. A pistol had been fired in this area, but not recently. This was in line with when the police report first came in and what LeBrix said had happened.
Near the broken window, Diego found that the rug was moved to cover blood on the floor.
"Risurian justice is not as harsh as Berian - she would most certainly have lived if turned over to us," Diego lamented, "Though you must be a fine shot, LeBrix, if the penalty is not death but you meant to waylay her with your pistol."
It was not a cutting remark, but one of admiration - the Half-Orc had no problem believing that the war veteran was a deadeye.
The rug caught his attention. It had been moved. Why had it been moved?
"Curious."
Diego knelt down to better inspect the splatter beneath the fabric, having worked enough violent crime scenes to not be squeamish concerning the sanguine. Something about it felt ... wrong, though. It was thin and sprayed, not a thick pool like a bullet hole would have made. And covered, too. Why covered.
The Danorans were trying to hide something.
Diego decided to be blunt about it.
"Was anyone else present for this altercation, Chief?" Diego asked, careful not to touch the blood, "Seems to me that Miss Hume sustained not a gunshot wound but a cut - perhaps from a knife or such. It doesn't look like she was struck with lead at all. I suppose the cleaners were in a bit of a rush for these to-arrive guests of yours, too - can't think of why else someone would cover this up with such a nice rug."
Massaging his beard with a hand, Diego rose back to his full height and flicked his yellow eyes towards the consular's office - or what he assumed was as such - Before regarding his two fellow agents.
"Lock on that door looks a tad scuffed and scratched," he observed aloud, "Like someone was having a time of opening it. Chief LeBrix, it was just you and Miss Hume up here, yes? No one else that might have been present?"
He pointed towards the door in question.
"Because while the girl was caught raiding the pantry, it looks like another room was the actual target."
Eveline cocks an eyebrow, thoroughly impressed by Diego's observations. It would seem his reputation as a detective was well-earned.
And at the mention of there being a third party at the crime scene, Eveline pays careful attention to LeBrix's posture and bearing. She was generally pretty good at spotting a liar.
"Risurian justice is not as harsh as Berian - she would most certainly have lived if turned over to us," Diego lamented, "Though you must be a fine shot, LeBrix, if the penalty is not death but you meant to waylay her with your pistol."
LeBrix shook his head. "Death by execution and killing a criminal in the commission of a crime are not the same thing, constable."
"Was anyone else present for this altercation, Chief?" Diego asked, careful not to touch the blood, "Seems to me that Miss Hume sustained not a gunshot wound but a cut - perhaps from a knife or such. It doesn't look like she was struck with lead at all. I suppose the cleaners were in a bit of a rush for these to-arrive guests of yours, too - can't think of why else someone would cover this up with such a nice rug."
LeBrix grunted. "I'll have to have a talk with the cleaning staff about that." The security chief shook his head. "Yes, just me. And yes, it was a pistol, not a knife."
It seemed to all the constables that LeBrix was telling the truth, regardless of how unlikely it seemed.
"Lock on that door looks a tad scuffed and scratched," he observed aloud, "Like someone was having a time of opening it. Chief LeBrix, it was just you and Miss Hume up here, yes? No one else that might have been present?"
He pointed towards the door in question.
"Because while the girl was caught raiding the pantry, it looks like another room was the actual target."
LeBrix glanced in the direction of the door. He didn't seem surprised by Diego's revelation. "Yes, well. The consul's daughter reads too many novels. She has dreams of becoming an adventurer. She goes all over the consulate trying her hand at picking locks."
Uxui murmured to Eveline, "He's lying through his teeth." Her comment just reinforced what Eveline had already thought about that idea- LeBrix was lying.
Lyle Langston remained entirely unaware of his coworker's aversion to his animal companion, being preoccupied with keeping the bird both still and quiet. That all being said, he wouldn't have cared a great deal even if he had noticed. After all –the former businessman thought with some humour– what could be more appropriate than bringing your blue-feathered heron to an establishment literally called the "House of Blue Birds"?
As they arrived at the hotel, Lyle followed Aziel inside, but not before stopping to speak with the cab driver for a few moments. "Thank you for transporting us so swiftly across the city, Mr Bryon. When it comes to navigating the streets of Flint you certainly know your onions." The constable said with a good-natured laugh. "If you are willing to wait outside, my colleague and I will enter the building and continue our investigation. I will also inquire about the payment owed to you. How much was this man's fare again?"
Once he had confirmed the exact amount, Lyle Langston also entered the building, Mr Beakins clanking alongside him.
Knowing that this was a well-respected business, Lyle did not allow the heron to cause any trouble as they stepped inside, keeping a wary eye on Mr Beakins at all times. If anyone stared, he simply said "Do not be alarmed. He is a Royal Homeland Constabulary Attack Animal. Very well-trained. Very well-mannered. Go about your business."
Stepping up behind Constable Charbonneau, for the moment Lyle remained silent, content to follow her lead.
LeBrix glanced in the direction of the door. He didn't seem surprised by Diego's revelation. "Yes, well. The consul's daughter reads too many novels. She has dreams of becoming an adventurer. She goes all over the consulate trying her hand at picking locks."
Uxui murmured to Eveline, "He's lying through his teeth." Her comment just reinforced what Eveline had already thought about that idea- LeBrix was lying.
"Indeed," Eveline quietly murmurs back to Uxui.
"And how is the Consul and his family? she asks LeBrix. "Any chance we could speak to them? It wouldn't be more than a few moments."
"M'sieur LeBrix, we'll need to look at that other room," said Uxui briskly. "And while it's quite clear you shot at her, someone slashed her with a knife."
She folded her arms.
"As some other entity was involved, I would appreciate a quick discussion with the staff in addition to the Consul's family. You may have had someone else on the inside who fought with this woman and could be commended for their valor."
"And how is the Consul and his family? she asks LeBrix. "Any chance we could speak to them? It wouldn't be more than a few moments."
LeBrix shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. As I said, we have visitors arriving soon. The consular is in meetings with his staff all morning." More than likely true, if the visitors were real. "I will be happy to arrange a short meeting with the consular tomorrow. It will be up to him whether he would like to make his family available to you."
"M'sieur LeBrix, we'll need to look at that other room," said Uxui briskly. "And while it's quite clear you shot at her, someone slashed her with a knife."
LeBrix looked scandalized. "The consular's office? Out of the question!" He gestured at the rug, the window, and the pantry. "The crime happened right here. She was stealing from us and I caught her red-handed. Open and shut! The consular's office has nothing to do with this!" Eveline, at least, could tell this was a performance. But for whose benefit?
Oddly, while making his protest, instead of looking down the hallway at the door to the consular's office the security chief involuntarily glanced at a corner of the hallway. There was nothing there but deep shadow.
"As some other entity was involved, I would appreciate a quick discussion with the staff in addition to the Consul's family. You may have had someone else on the inside who fought with this woman and could be commended for their valor."
LeBrix nodded curtly. "All staff not in consultation with the consular is available to you." He gestured back at the stairs. "We can go speak with them whenever you like. The girl's body is downstairs as well."
As they arrived at the hotel, Lyle followed Aziel inside, but not before stopping to speak with the cab driver for a few moments. "Thank you for transporting us so swiftly across the city, Mr Bryon. When it comes to navigating the streets of Flint you certainly know your onions." The constable said with a good-natured laugh. "If you are willing to wait outside, my colleague and I will enter the building and continue our investigation. I will also inquire about the payment owed to you. How much was this man's fare again?"
"Fare's five silver, but he promised me a whole note to get him here as fast as I could. And I did! Our gentleman thief got to his hotel just as quickly as I brought you here, constable."
Knowing that this was a well-respected business, Lyle did not allow the heron to cause any trouble as they stepped inside, keeping a wary eye on Mr Beakins at all times. If anyone stared, he simply said "Do not be alarmed. He is a Royal Homeland Constabulary Attack Animal. Very well-trained. Very well-mannered. Go about your business."
Stepping up behind Constable Charbonneau, for the moment Lyle remained silent, content to follow her lead.
Lyle got some disapproving looks from the few businessmen scattered about the lobby but no one said anything to him about his bird.
Her mood was thus not the best when they reached their destination, but she managed a courteous nod of thanks to the cabbie and the doormen. Going inside, she asked as discreetly as she could manage about the man Byron had described, keeping her eyes peeled just in case he was actually still somewhere on the premises.
"I would like to see his room, s'il vous plait."
The clerk nodded. "Of course, constable. Doctor von Recklinghausen. Who would have thought he would run off without paying his bill like that. Are you following up on Officer Porter's search of the room?"
"My apologies for the offense, M'sieur LeBrix--we simply wish to be thorough. If the woman were to have rifled through any items in the Consular Office, you'd want to know, wouldn't you? ...In any case, we understand. May we have a few more minutes in this hallway? And then yes, let's speak with the staff. Again, thank you for giving so much of your valuable time, and we do apologize again for the disturbance."
Uxui adds just a bit of viskkanya rum-and-butter coo at the end of her little speech.
LeBrix cleared his throat and nodded, seemingly mollified by Uxui's explanation. "Of course, constable. We're all just doing our jobs."
Aziel was immediately on high alert. "Officer Porter? We have not sent any officer here. Can you describe this 'officer Porter' to me, s'il vous plait? Or perhaps we will meet this false officer on the way to the room - which number was it? And tell me, how many ways are there out of this building?"
In an aside to Lyle, she murmured, "Let us catch this Porter. If there are only a few ways out, let us split and take the most likely routes, and hopefully meet at our original quarry's room."
Tail lashing in anticipation, she thanked the clerk, and nodded to him and Lyle (but not his bird). Let's go.
Lyle Langston's mustache twitched at the mention of another officer. Had they perhaps stumbled upon a second investigation? Or maybe this was a sign of foul play? Either way, it would be necessary for them to question the man.
"Let us not jump to conclusions." He said, raising his hands in a rather placating manner at the senior constable's accusations. "I am certain that there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for all this. And if there is not, then we shall board that steamboat when we come to it.
The entrepreneur allows Aziel to ask her questions, but also adds two more of his own. "If you don't mind answering a couple of additional questions, my good sir. Just when did Officer Porter arrive? And is he still present within the confines of this here building?"
Lyle refused to waste time dashing around a hotel for a man that might not even be here anymore.
Uxui nudges Eveline. "Could you scan this area?" she says quietly, indicating the hallway region that LeBrix glanced at furtively.
Uxui nudges Eveline. "Could you scan this area?" she says quietly, indicating the hallway region that LeBrix glanced at furtively.
"Of course, Constable."
Eveline quietly murmurs a word of power and begins to scan the hallway for magical signatures.
Eveline detected faint, fading traces of illusion magic from the heaviest area of shadow near the end of the hallway.
Aziel was immediately on high alert. "Officer Porter? We have not sent any officer here. Can you describe this 'officer Porter' to me, s'il vous plait? Or perhaps we will meet this false officer on the way to the room - which number was it? And tell me, how many ways are there out of this building?"
The clerk looked shocked at the idea Porter wasn't a real policeman. She took a second to think. "Ah... 3? No, four. The front doors, the back doors onto the outdoor patio, the bar has a door to the street, and there's a service door for the kitchens and maintenance."
"But you won't catch him. He was here about an hour ago. Left maybe 10 minutes after he came in." She nodded at Lyle and his relevant questions.
"He had a badge, different from yours. He said he was with the Flint police. Tall human, short blonde hair, little pencil mustache. Officer..." she looked down at the ledger on the counter for a second "Roger Porter, he said."
"Doctor von Recklinghausen was in 432, one of the corner rooms. He had a good letter of referral from a local doctor with an excellent reputation and was willing to pay for a view." She started to turn for the cubbies behind her. "I can have someone take you up if you want to see the room as well."
Eveline detected faint, fading traces of illusion magic from the heaviest area of shadow near the end of the hallway.
Eveline casts a light spell on the end of her wand. And moves toward the shadowed area.
Lyle Langston visibly relaxed upon hearing that the police officer had already left. He was no stranger to a bout of fisticuffs, but that did not mean he was the sort to intentionally seek out danger. Best to leave such bitter work to others. Namely anyone that wasn't him.
"Thank you, miss. An escort to the room in question would be most welcome." Lyle said as he tipped his top hat in the direction of the clerk. Planting his cane, the man then patiently waited for someone to come along and collect them.
"This is turning into quite the snipe hunt. Isn't it, constable?" He said, trying to make casual conversation with Aziel. "No, not for you." He clarified, as Mr Beakins prodded him with its mechanical foot. He supposed he should be grateful the bird wasn't tearing up the damn carpet instead.
Uxui, not the type to do forensics, does her best to distract LeBrix. She pulls out a notepad and stands between the consular representative and Eveline.
"May I have the names of the staff we will be speaking with? Oh, and their positions. It will help us choose whom to speak with first," she says.
The traces of magic were too faded for Eveline to determine what spell, exactly, had been used there. But her sharp eyes spotted a faint scuff mark on the wood floor off the thick carpet. Though it matched up with the direction of the blood spatter the mark made no sense. It was barely a body's width from the wall but was pointed toward the center of the hallway. Like someone had come lunging straight out of the solid wooden wall.
Uxui, not the type to do forensics, does her best to distract LeBrix. She pulls out a notepad and stands between the consular representative and Eveline.
"May I have the names of the staff we will be speaking with? Oh, and their positions. It will help us choose whom to speak with first," she says.
LeBrix nodded and gave Uxui a short list of names, the first of which was Braden Sarken, a clerk and Nilasa Hume's boyfriend. There was also Tia Jedeau, a secretary, and a list of other staffers. LeBrix didn't seem particularly concerned with what Eveline was doing as he spoke with the striking constable.
Lyle Langston visibly relaxed upon hearing that the police officer had already left. He was no stranger to a bout of fisticuffs, but that did not mean he was the sort to intentionally seek out danger. Best to leave such bitter work to others. Namely anyone that wasn't him.
"Thank you, miss. An escort to the room in question would be most welcome." Lyle said as he tipped his top hat in the direction of the clerk. Planting his cane, the man then patiently waited for someone to come along and collect them.
"This is turning into quite the snipe hunt. Isn't it, constable?" He said, trying to make casual conversation with Aziel. "No, not for you." He clarified, as Mr Beakins prodded him with its mechanical foot. He supposed he should be grateful the bird wasn't tearing up the damn carpet instead.
The desk clerk rang a bell and a moment later a bellhop appeared from behind the wall of cubbies behind the desk. The clerk murmured something to the young man and he ran off. "One moment, please. I'm having him bring Nedra- she escorted Officer Porter up to the room." She frowned. "I'm sorry, Mr. Porter? No, I suppose that's probably not his real name, either. I do hope you catch him, constables. I hope he didn't do anything to the doctor."
A minute or two later a woman in a maid's uniform came into the lobby and walked up to the desk. The clerk explained the situation and the maid turned to the constables, looking shocked. "My goodness! I hope I didn't do anything wrong, constables! I just let him into the room. I'll take you right up."
Nedra took the constables up the stairs to the doctor's room. When she opened the door it was clear someone had been here before them- the room was trashed. The bed was flipped over, all the drawers were on the floor, and every possible hiding place had been opened. The cleaning woman gasped. "My goodness!"
Lyle Langston visibly relaxed upon hearing that the police officer had already left. He was no stranger to a bout of fisticuffs, but that did not mean he was the sort to intentionally seek out danger. Best to leave such bitter work to others. Namely anyone that wasn't him.
"Thank you, miss. An escort to the room in question would be most welcome." Lyle said as he tipped his top hat in the direction of the clerk. Planting his cane, the man then patiently waited for someone to come along and collect them.
"This is turning into quite the snipe hunt. Isn't it, constable?" He said, trying to make casual conversation with Aziel. "No, not for you." He clarified, as Mr Beakins prodded him with its mechanical foot. He supposed he should be grateful the bird wasn't tearing up the damn carpet instead.
Aziel grinned. It was a predatory expression, wiping away the look of disappointment that had crossed her face before it.
"When the game is afoot, Agent Langston, that is when I feel the life flow through me. It is not the snipe hunt just yet. We could yet find something to track down our quarry, mon ami. And we may yet catch this "Officer Porter," once we have the good description."
The desk clerk rang a bell and a moment later a bellhop appeared from behind the wall of cubbies behind the desk. The clerk murmured something to the young man and he ran off. "One moment, please. I'm having him bring Nedra- she escorted Officer Porter up to the room." She frowned. "I'm sorry, Mr. Porter? No, I suppose that's probably not his real name, either. I do hope you catch him, constables. I hope he didn't do anything to the doctor."
A minute or two later a woman in a maid's uniform came into the lobby and walked up to the desk. The clerk explained the situation and the maid turned to the constables, looking shocked. "My goodness! I hope I didn't do anything wrong, constables! I just let him into the room. I'll take you right up."
Nedra took the constables up the stairs to the doctor's room. When she opened the door it was clear someone had been here before them- the room was trashed. The bed was flipped over, all the drawers were on the floor, and every possible hiding place had been opened. The cleaning woman gasped. "My goodness!"
"Merde," Aziel muttered under her breath, but she stepped into the scene of destruction without hesitation, careful not to step on anything that looked like evidence with her hooves. Squatting to poke and prod here and there, she tried to get a sense, from the mess, of what size thing had been searched for - and perhaps find some other clue.
Awwww yeah!
The room had been thoroughly looted, and Aziel didn't find much in the way of clues as to where the doctor might have fled. Thrown behind the dresser, she did find what looked like a handkerchief that had a thick black fluid on it.
Aziel rose and waved the cloth she had found at Lyle. "Alors, I have found something. What do you make of this?"
"To the staff, then." Uxui noted Eveline had seen something, out of the corner of her eye, but didn't make any noticeable reaction--she hoped. Vishkanya skin tended not to blush visibly.
Lyle carefully takes hold of the handkerchief. He touches it, sniffs it, and after a few seconds of thought even licks it. He then casts Detect Magic on the cloth, just to be sure. Finally he admits defeat.
"I am jargogled." He declares with a sorry shake of his head. "It is not a natural substance, of that much I am certain. But beyond that I can tell you very little, constable."
Perhaps one of the other members of the team could identify it?" He pointed out, trying to be helpful. "In the meantime it might serve us well to perform a sweep of the floor. We could also question some of the guests staying in the adjoining rooms. They might have seen or heard something that could assist us."
"That - or we can head for the docks ourselves. Perhaps we can find the boat the document referred to. Maybe even catch the "Doctor," or "Porter"," Aziel suggested, tip of her tail lashing in anticipation.
She eyed Lyle's mechanical bird with considerably less enthusiasm. "Can that thing track him, perhaps? Or maybe just sit on him, if we find him." This idea appeared to amuse her, and she brightened a bit, giving the bird a considering look. Judging how much it weighed, no doubt.
From the door, Nedra had been watching wide eyed as the constables performed their search. "I don't know much about the doctor- he kept to himself- but that policeman was nursing a wound of some sort. I saw it while we were walking to the room. He was wincing like he was hurt and had a big bandage on under his shirt."
When no one was looking, Eveline lightly brushed her hand against the wall from whence the bloody foot print came.