[Citadel Noir, Tayseri Ward] Paradise

"OK, the two that just came in." Damvid had chosen a tough one. Haseri stirred his soup with a tentacle, pretending to enjoy it.

"A pair of lovers on the run from the law."

"Has, you'll have to elaborate. And stop saying a pair of lovers. Every couple in the room is a pair of lovers on the run from the law. What happened to perfectly platonic friends?" He took another sip of copy before looking back to the asari behind the counter. "Sure you're not the one who is lovesick?"

"Very humourous. The male is the son of a rich CEO, as evidenced by the curtness with the waitress. He and his lover, no ring, had a party several days ago, which resulted in the death of a party member."

"Why wouldn't we have heard about it?"

"The CEO parent is covering it up, but with the condition that the son goes into a self-imposed exile for a few years. They are waiting for their ship to leave to one of the company's holdings in the Terminus."

Another, long sip as the drell considered this. "B for effort, D for originality." He was a tough judge, and not always fair. "And, why would they go to Tayseri? Docks are closed for investigation."

"Not all of them."

"True, but why not go to Bachjeret? More humans, easier to blend in."

"Or more people to recognise them."

"Your turn."

"That matriarch across the street."

"OK, so when she was a maiden..." Already a point off originality.

Maiha was in the midst of a Very Important Debate when she was interrupted. Quite literally pausing mid-sentence, she swiveled to face the somewhat familar woman approaching her. They'd met once or twice. Right, yes, my job.

"Good morning," Was it morning? The Citadel was confusing sometimes, "Michelle." Please let that be her name. "How can I help you?"

Officer T'Jurali came to Maiha's side, putting on her very best PR smile.

Aww, she remembered my name!

"Yes, good morning! Sorry, I don't have pastries this time", said Michelle with a smirk that quickly turned to seriousness. "Yeah, so, as you may remember I work with local duct rats, in Lower Tayseri? Well a vast group of them is fleeing the local maintenance tunnels. Apparently a homeless man was murdered in there, in a gruesome way, and the kids are expecting more bad things to come...
I know that duct rats are not number 1 in credibility for most people. But please believe that anything that dislodge dozens of otherwise fiercely territorial kids is worthy of consideration..."

Pushing himself to a stand, Detective Judah Wescott drew his datapad and papers together neatly into a pile, then stepped away with them to his superior.
"Tried to rob a store in which I was present, sir. Early morning coffee run, suspect popped in with a hornet SMG and I managed to hit him with an Overload."
He activated his omnitoolx playing back the crime footage.

"Contraband keeps slipping in, sir. Need to find the leak and cork it up. LTE is bringing them in somehow."

As the turian entered the alleyway, it seemed that the world faded away. The sound of traffic and crowds became muted, distorted by twists and turn, replaced by blank metal, fluttering light and underneath it all, the low hum of whatever strange machinery the Citadel contained.

At first it seemed nothing was amiss-the turian had perhaps taken this route before and it was always dark. Presumably the Keepers had bigger problems than a few flickering lights.

Then he smelt it: a metallic tang to the air, easily picked up by a turian's predatory senses. And then streaks of dried purple on the floor, leading deeper into the corridor.

+++

For those eating at the cafe or conducting business, it seemed a rather normal day.

The Matriarch however, was set upon by a canvasser who was clearly blind, oblivious, stupid or all three, "Lady Matriarch, can I interest you in supporting our Very Important Cause."The capitals were audible. "As a matriarch you must surely be aware of...."

That was when a fuss began, disrupting the fabric of a normal day in the Cross, centred around the entrance to the corridor.

+++

The department head was clearly happy to get this off her plate (no pun intended). "I understand. Would it be acceptable to you if we assigned an asari officer to accompany you?"

Hopefully that would make all parties happy-her superiors didn't have to worry about a diplomatic incident and Celeste wouldn't be burdened with cultural clashes.

She had just the officer in mind.

The homicide lieutenant's boss sighed, "I'll take it to customs and gangs. We're just the ones who have to keep cleaning up after them."

+++

Farlon rushed after the bloodied figure, dragging along one unfortunate salarian in his wake. The path the person of indeterminate gender and/or species (all you could really determine was that it was most likely a human, turian or asari) led to a steely hatch leading into the maintainence tunnels.

+++

"Oh no, this isn't a bad time," The CSec officer replied, smile fading at the mention of a murder into brisk, business-like efficiency, "I see." She glanced at a for once sombre T'Julani, "Do you have a general idea of what area the murder took place in? I'm assuming this is the first time you've notified CSec?"

Beside her, T'Julani muttered, "Body's probably gone by now."

Maiha's immediate thoughts of, ew, ew, really didn't want to think about that, luckily didn't show on her face.

The singing died away, stilling in the turian's throat. Sniff. Sniff sniffff.

Shit.

And just like that his good day was over.

He stood there for a moment, weighing his options, his choices. A part of him (the part that liked to call itself the smart one but he had his doubts sometimes) was whispering, nudging, he knew how this went down. The blood was dry, pools of sticky, tacky purple tar. Too much lost too long ago, medigel wouldn't do much but bind the wounds (too little too late) and he didn't have his trauma kit on him. Do what any civilian would do. Do the responsible thing. Call C-Sec and then go just far enough to confirm the body.

But someone could be hurt.

Well obviously.

No, I mean like they could still be alive and I could at least do something to stabilize them.

Oh come on, you know better than that.

Maybe, but if there's a chance-

You know better than that.

Apparently not.

...Dhulnan suck out your soul Kio you idiot. Look can you at least-

On it, I'm on it.

Coat settled back about his shoulders with a snap and a shrug. The blade flicked into his hand, settling into his palm with the warm, comforting weight of familiarity. A sawtoothed feather laid flat against the arm in a practiced grip. Kio advanced, a steady, cautious tread. Carefully, delicately, avoiding the cracked, indigo blotches that led the way. A bit of a macabre guide all things considered.

But it was nothing compared to her.

The Maiden; wreathed in gutter-stink, that charnel house scent. Sitting slumped against the wall, one hand hanging limply in her lap where she'd tried to staunch flow from the great, jagged gash across her stomach. She was cold. Still. Blank glassy eyes staring at the wall 'cross from her. Her last sight one of cold iron gridwork and flat jigsaw panels. Her omnitool was-

Wait.

A pause. A moment. A heartbeat to listen to the voice in his head telling him that this was a Bad Idea. That he was interfering with a crime scene and nobody liked it when he did that. That he should just turn around now, call C-Sec, and after they were finished taking his statement he might even have enough time left over to get some ice-cream before the shop closed. And

Shush.

It shushed.

He tucked his knife back in it's hidden sheathe and waved her talons over the woman's wrist in a mnemonic; panes orange light flickered into being by way of response. Intact. Unbroken. The only blood on her sleeves and arms from the tearing, rent (overkill) in her gut.

Her throat was stiff with wounded, bruised tissue, deepening to an ugly shade of violent purple. A bar of discoloration across her neck.

The sinking in his stomach intensified. A round, smooth boulder swelling, distending; a pit, gnawing and chewing. Not fear, oh no not fear, not quite. More...apprehension.

So many people worry about being wrong. Not nearly enough worry about being right.

He crouched there, settled on his haunches. Mandibles clicking steadily. Rhythmically. And then clawed hands settled on her shoulder and pulled the Maiden away from the wall.

Broken purple-wax seals. A shower of violet flakes.

Her back was a clot. A dozen choked river mouths, a delta of salty, coppery life's blood. Clustered about her midriff. Below the ribs. Above the spine.

Click-clack.

The pieces snap into place and oh such a pretty picture does it make.

Back at the alley mouth, others now noticing the smell, the streaks, he waved them away as he called C-Sec. Some ignored him, pressed on. Their cries filtered back just as the operator answered.

"My name's Kio Requiatem. I'm at the Cross, by the alley between the Bivoloso Emporium and the South Food Court. I'd like to report a body. I...yeah I'll stay on the line."

On slitted ear filled with tight, choreographed dialogue (practice does make perfect). The other the steadily growing chords of panic, hysteria, the sickly acidic notes of vomit and breathless descriptions as curiosity turned to fear.

Talons to the wrist, picking out a message.

Send.

Inside the precinct an omnitool ignited. Data born from haptic embers. Beat. Beat. Heartbeat. A reply, gruff, unamused, but acquiescing. She would come.

Leaning against the wall, watching the crowd and watched in turn, Kio waited for the police to arrive.

Celeste slowly arched a brow, making the old burn scar above it stretch and twist.

"The consideration is appreciated but I... I really could not care less what species your officer is. So long as I'm not pulling them away from something important, I'm happy."

A battle-scarred asari, only recently turned matriarch. Just a well-used and decidedly un-trendy leather jacket, fatigue-style pants, a black turtleneck sweater and combat boots. She didn't paint a very elegant picture, and yet C-Sec was falling over itself trying to please her. It would've been funny if it didn't piss her off so much that it was necessary.

"Anything else?"

"The general area yes, it's in the maintenance tunnels." answered Michelle. "For more details we need one of them to guide us... They're pretty wary of C-Sec, but I think I can convince one of them to show us where is it. Would that be agreeable?"

If looks could kill, this newest canvasser would be meeting his maker right about now.
"I am currently aware of little more than a salarian imposing his presence upon someone who would much prefer that she be left--"
Mirala trailed off, her attention drawn by the people gathering around what looked like the entrance to an alleyway. What was going on over there?

"If you'll excuse me."
Without waiting for an answer, the matriarch got to her feet and went to join the growing crowd.
The area stank of blood - asari blood, to Mirala's nose - and she jostled with others for position as everyone tried to get a look at what happened.

...and then, Mirala saw the victim's face. Bright blue eyes, once so often given to anxiously flitting around - now still, staring yet unseeing. An odd cross-shaped marking under each eye, each extending to join with its twin under her mouth.
"Terena...."
Her attendant's visage was unmistakable. Mirala made her way toward the front of the group of onlookers, many granting her passage as soon as they beheld her expression; soon enough, the matriarch was beside what remained of her... servant? Disciple? Handmaiden?
Whatever she was, she was none of those now - even as her old mistress cradled her face between her hands.
Oh, Terena, my poor girl. I'm so sorry.

Maiha nodded slowly, "Yes, that would be great. look, I'm not sure how much the higher ups will want to put into this, things being what they are." Namely, being horribly stretched thin, being beseiged by both crime and the disapproval of those on the Presidium. Let it never be said that she took the easy path in life, "But I can promise you that I-"

"We," T'Jurali interjected.

"We will look into it personally, if you can arrange it with one of the children. Thank you for bringing this to our-"

She was cut off by the shrill beeping of an incoming transmission on her CSec com. Without pause or finishing her sentence, she accepted it and heard, "Patrol 2-1-0, this is dispatch."

"Dispatch, Patrol 2-1-0 copies."

"2-1-0, cease patrol. We've gotten a call about a body off South Cross, marking it on your omnitool map. Proceed to the marked location and set up a perimeter, lock down the site. Homicide is on their way."

"Copy, dispatch, we're on our way." T'Jurali replied.

Homicide. Maiha gave Michelle a more sombre smile, "I promise you we'll look into this matter, but we have to go."

In fact, the asari police officers practically sprinted off, wishing they'd brought a patrol car. They reached the crowd soon enough and they parted for the CSec officers in near science.

Maiha's mind started cataloguing facts, even as the part of her that still cared despite everything shied away from the scene in horror. But the Maiha in charge was the officer who had seen this sort of thing before. The body was a maiden asari, distinctive markings. Cause of death appeared to be stab wounds. The crowd was a problem, needed to be controlled. Particularly the older asari touching the body. How forensics would howl.

"Lady Matriarch," Maiha said, coming to stand behind the asari, "I have to ask you to step away from the body. This is a crime scene." The words felt callous in her mouth due to the grief clear in the matriarch's movements, but they were necessary.

A turian was standing near by. The one who'd called it in?

Behind her, T'Jurali was trying to establish a perimeter, set up the holo-tape, remove the onlookers from the scene. What luck she was having was yet to be seen.

This was not the Apricity.

Taleeze had gotten soft or so she felt. She was by now used to have a three and a half comet restaurant inside the facility, a kitchen to cater the staff and dancers. Reality check at the Blue Line. the only edible things were the fruits that decorated the cocktails and the barkeep gave her a raised eyebrow when she asked.

Dancing and rehearsing had made her hungry and one of the girls had pointed her to a burger joint a bit down the alley. Taleeze could have asked a bouncer to get her something but a short was was appreciated, so she changed into her street boots and donned her jacket, a comfortable dark purple hoodie with a zipper that was mid thigh length. Underneeth she still wore her skimpy silver stage items but that was not of any concern to her, it would be a quick trip and back again.

So she left the club and headed for the intersection, she could already see the commotion there. Now, Taleeze wasn't the very nosy type but something drew her to the scene... Murder was in the air and the police tried to figure out how to draw the perimeter to not close off the whole intersection it seemed. She stepped closer... hearing an asari weep, being handled by an officer. A Matriarch! The officer tried not to touch her but Taleeze could feel the urge of the asari C-sec.

And then she saw the face.

"Terena....?"

It had been been only a few months since she had met up with her fellow student from back on Lusia. Without thinking she stepped closer.

"Terena....!"

"...I am not certain of the merits of accepting the role offer of voice-acting a My Little Moxie 'villain', either, come to think of it. From what I have heard of the show, it does not really have much room in its story for main villains, and those minor ones that do crop up are little more than whiny loners."

"Maybe they're planning to take the show in a new direction with the coming season?"

"The possibility exists, but the basic formula has been working for them for years on end. And if there is one safe stereotype about turians, and media networks, it is that they will not change something that has been working for them for any respectable-"

Jacob was cut off by the sound of alarmed people outside as they gathered at the entrance of a nearby alley, so he resumed eating as the commotion nearby grew louder and started to include the sirens of emergency vehicles. He did not want to get involved with whatever it was that was going on. To that end, he was doing his best to ignore Aya's clearly piqued and growing curiosity about the matter.

"I wonder what's going on over there?"

"Something terrible, and which we are best served not getting involved with."

"Don't you at least what to see what it's all about?"

"No. Judging by the reactions of those present in that area, it is either a fire, collision, or a murder. I don't smell smoke, I have neither heard a large impact nor an explosion, nor felt the shockwave from the latter, so it is probably a murder. WE do not work for C-Sec. Therefore, our presence would not- Where are you going?"

"To go see if you're right." Aya said as she paused on her way to the door, stopping next to a table occupied by a turian and a hanar, whom she had previously had the inkling were watching her when she came in. "Are you coming?"

"No. We do NOT need to get involved."

"Come on."

"No!"

"Then I'll just go without you." she huffed, then proceeded to suit action to word.

"...damnit." Jacob glowered, then waved down the waitress who had previously mistaken him for a woman. As she approached, he stood and grabbed his suit coat, which was previously haphazardly thrown in the booth next to him before taking a seat. 'Ruffled' was 'in' this season, anyway. He swept it on as he addressed her. "I'll add 20 credits to your tip if you leave this table as is and let us have it back when we return."

Rather than wait for her response, he rushed out the door after his fiance, who had just made it into the outermost layer of the growing throng of rubberneckers who had taken it upon themselves to try to do the same thing she was trying to do, despite having no reason supporting the action and every reason against it. He grabbed the nearest one, a turian about twice his size, and spun him so they were face-to-face. The turian in question was torn between offended at the action and surprised it was even physically possible for the little human.

"Hey, jackass! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"My line. What is going on here, and why are you involved?"

"Wait, what? Oh. Word is some asari maiden got herself gutted like a fresh catch." he replied, still confused by the unmistakable assertiveness from a person by all accounts his physical inferior in every visible way.

"That answers my first question. Now, why are you here, trying to see a dead asari? This kind of thing get you off?"

"Um, no. I just..." the turian paled and started to leave as he realized he had no real justification for his presence, but then realization dawned on him and he stopped and turned back. "Wait. Why are YOU here?"

"Because I have a nosy girlfriend, initially. But now I think I have a new reason." Jacob responded, worming his way through a crowd which was far less amenable to him than it was for a matriarch or a cop.

Not that it mattered, he wasn't heading toward the body. Instead, he stopped near one of the C-Sec cruisers which, as he'd expected, had left its lateral windows open. Quickly reaching inside, he snatched out the megaphone they all are expected to come with, and proceeded to turn it on. Then he took a deep breath and proceeded to bellow into it.

"ALL RIGHT LISTEN UP, FOLKS. IF YOU DO NOT WORK FOR C-SEC AND ARE NOT PERSONALLY ACQUAINTED WITH THE VICTIM, YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE AREA, IMMEDIATELY! SHOO! SCRAM! YOUR PRESENCE HERE IS NOT HELPING THEM WORK. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT! WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY HINDERING THE INVESTIGATION WITH YOUR PRESENCE HERE! SURELY YOU MUST HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOUR TIME THAN TRY TO STARE AT SOMEBODY'S REMAINS! IF YOU ARE ANY KIND OF DECENT, THEN ANYTHING WOULD FIT THAT BILL!"

Jacob was trying to think of something else to say when the megaphone was snatched from him by a scowling constable.

"Sorry." he said meekly. "Little pet peeve of mine."

Was this Matriarch her mother? Taleeze tried to remember if she had ever met Terena's mum. She didn't remember but was fairly sure she never had.

Goddess what had happened to her? This didn't look like an accident! Traffic accident had been her first idea. On the Citadel there were so many reckless drivers in those narrow lanes! It should be illegal to deactivate autopilot.

Great, now the police was trying to clear the place by megaphone announcements. Taleeze realized that she was acquainted with the victim and therefore had been asked to stay.

The view of her dead friend - lose but still - had ended her hunger abruptly anyway. She felt a bit cold all of a sudden and her eyes became wet so she hugged herself into the hoodie jacket as she approached the officer at the perimeter.
Taleeze wiped tears from the corners of her eyes, leaving two smears of her excessive club mascara.

"I do know the person... the victim, Ma'am." The detective happened to be T'Jurali.

"See, that gentleman just told us to move on. We really should be getting back."

"Who's wearing a uniform here, him or us?" Damvid had, once again, failed to talk to the asari behind the counter, so was in a bit of a mood walking back to the transit point. It was then both of them saw the commotion. Being naturally curious sapients, they waited around, but at a fair distance, just in case.

"Well this one is not wearing anything. And Office of Doctrine uniform is not exactly a recognised authority amongst the Citadel populace."

"Come on Has, this is a chance to do some good! Isn't that why you signed up?"

"Not particularly, no. Can we please just go back? In the unlikely event we would be needed back here, we would be better reached at the office."

Damvid stepped towards the crime scene. "Well, I'm staying to ensure that a member of the Primacy, which is always a possibility, was not harmed in the Enkindler's Greatest Creation. As you are not my handler, I do not have to listen to you, and I can't imagine what your excuse will be when you return alone." His smile suggested that he had just ingested fecal matter. Haseri relinquished.

"Fine, we will stay until we know more about the situation. But we will stay here."

The very same! One who called it in that is. And who also maaaaaaay have been regretting it slightly. Well no, not regretting making the call, that was pretty objectively the right thing to do in that situation. He'd done the song and dance before, he know the parts and players. Stick around. Give the statement "Oh I saw her here at X time, in Y position, on my way to Z" the obligatory "oh why yes officer I will call you if I think of anything else." Promise to not jump on a one way shuttle to Omega. He didn't mind it, no really he didn't. It was a bit of paperwork that he didn't even have to do and usually the officers were perfectly amiable.

Not taking the avenue and continuing his day in blissful ignorance? Maaaaaaybe (okay a little). Not listening to that voice and averting his eyes? Probably (no). But, you know, these kinds of things happened.

...Well not like "find a dead body in an alley", but, you know, the unexpected. The whole "well what would you do" thing. And Kio was, for one, the kind of person who would like to say that "if I hypothetically found a dead Maiden in the alleyway I would do my best to help".

...Okay where was that officer, she looked like she was about to talk to him and-

Oh there she was, dealing with the Matriarch (oh Saints that was hard to watch) and her partner was...oh she dealing with the other asari.

Hrm.

Should he interject? I mean it would help smooth things over so the uniform would know who to deal with next but...okay let's face it there was no easy way to do this.

"Hi ah, I'm the one who-"

And cue dumbass on the megaphone.

Wow.

Just...

Wow.

Silence spread in the wake of the man's impromptu announcement.

"...soooo my name's Kio and-"

"Xiaofan Jiang. Special Response. Hi." And there was his friend! Right there at the edge of the cordon, with the most singularly unamused expression on her face (but nevermind that), a pair of dataslates tucked under her arm and ooooooh was that a pint of ice cream?

Why yes. Yes it was.

Right next to the flipped up iconograph that oh so clearly read: Lieutenant.

"Yes... yes, of course. I apologise."
The officer's voice returned the matriarch to her senses, such as they were. Mirala got to her feet and retreated from the maiden's body, stopping just at the entrance to the alley.
"I'll stay here until you require my statement."

Leaning against the wall, she drifted into the whirl of thought spinning just below her mind's surface.
What was she doing here?
Why would someone want her dead?
...What am I going to tell Kyne?

Mahia and her partner were gone before Michelle could react. Before she could tell them that this probably wasn't a coincidence...

Her omni-tool lit up. Laykalar was signaling her that he and Shaart had met up with the kids and were organizing the walk to the docks. Michelle asked him to put him in communication with Blitzy.

"What's up?" asked the kid on the holographic display.
"Blitzy, I'm going to need your help. There has been another killing, and I think your intel could help C-Sec."
The young asari's face blemished.
"No fucking way ma'am. Sorry but I'm not going anywhere near that kind of heat! I don't need a psychopath catching my scent, or C-Sec busting me for made up reasons."
Michelle couldn't decently pressure a teenager (and not by asari standards either, an actual asari teenager!) into helping her. But she couldn't just ignore this either...
"Ok I have an idea. Laykalar loan you this omni-tool and you stay close to it, so if I manage to get C-Sec's attention you can help us remotely. Is that agreeable? The sooner the killer is caught, the sooner you guys get your territory back", she added as the kid was hesitating. Because pressuring is bad, but manipulation is a-ok.
Blitzy nodded, and Michelle went after Mahia. When she arrived at the scene she could see the holographic police barrier around the scene, hear people talk about what happened and, strangely, about a crazy human with a megaphone.
She scanned the crowd, blinking at flashes from various cameras. She saw a little of the murder victim, and and found Mahia. She didn't dare cross the orange line so she just waved her hand and called to her.

"Officer T'Jurali? Hello! Officer! Wait is that... Taleeze??"

Things began to happen in quick succession.

First a man managed to get the loudspeaker out of the patrol 'car of some more recently arrived CSec officers, making an impromptu speech. He soon found himself confronted by the officer whose car it was, who was not amused by the look on his face. The turian clamped his hands around Jacob's forearms and practically marched him back to the crowd, saying, "Sir, please do not touch CSec equipment." He released him, went back to the megaphone and announced, "Please disregard the previous announcement. Please follow instructions of CSec officers. If you're here to gawk please move on," Well, no one did like voyeurism over something like a body, "Otherwise remain, as we may need to ask you questions. Thank you."

Second, T'Jurali was approached by Taleeze. The officer's sympathy was not feigned, "I understand. We'll need to ask you a few questions, perhaps-"

She was cut off by Michelle's arrival. She looked between Taleeze and Michelle, blinking, "You two know each other? Ma'am, is there something further than what we discussed previously? I'm sure you can appreciate that this is our first priority."

Meanwhile Maiha was trying to deal with Kio and Mirala. "Thank you for your patience, sir," She told Kio, "Homicide will be here soon to begin the investigation." To Mirala she said, "I understand you know the victim? What relationship do you have with her?"

That was when Kio's friend arrived. The uniformed officers stared for a bit. What in the name of the goddess, was Special Response doing here? T'Jurali waved her through anyway.

...

Elsewhere, the department head said to Celeste, "The officer I have in mind has been called out to a crime scene. If you wish, you can accompany the officers headed there now."

Pulling a jacket on over his C-SEC service uniform, Wescott honed his bionic eye into the tinted reflection of his vehicle's windshield and saw a liar look back. His nose burned from this morning and his head was cloudy. He washed his face with his hands briefly and took a deep breath, psyching himself up before opening the gullwing door of the aircar.

Stepping outside into sea of light and sound, he hid his feelings, despite how overwhelmed he was, by stowing his hands into his pockets and approaching the crime scene to meet up with the first responders alongside his partner. The Batarian was new, very new, just new enough that Wescott was having trouble remembering his name.

He approached the police line set up by the Asari, walking through the holographic barricade with the sweep of an omnitool. "Hello, Officer. My name is Wescott, this is Balan." He spoke to Maiha, flashing a flat id-card like badge briefly. "Zakera Ward Homicide. Good job setting up the crowd control, we'll take the investigation from here."

"It's officer Banek. They're sending a few other from the division. Word is that this is just a single victim? Where is the body?" His tone was flat and professional, his seen-it-all ambliviance causing Wescott to purse his lips briefly. "Who called this in? Has the body been identified?"

Mirala nodded.
"Her name is Terena R'lonsi. She is... was one of my attendants. I couldn't tell you what she was doing here, nor do I know of any who would wish her harm."
She glanced once more over in Terena's direction, and instantly wished she hadn't.
"As far as I'm aware, her next of kin would be her cousin, Kyne, who also assists me."
Kyne would blame herself, poor girl. She'd always been one to take blame for anything she could.