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Mahendra had said he would go looking for the Curator, and about to make his way out of the Archives to find him, when Neema went through the door before him. And while he didn't want to appear unwilling to get going himself, he still was unsure of the layout of the whole museum. What if he got lost while the others found Mr. Kohn before him, or he too ended up getting crushed by another inanimate object? And who knew, perhaps he could be found at Vera's office by sheer luck? As Mahendra decided to follow the rest of the group after all, his eyes did dart around the room, still feeling a sense of dread.

If the open door of the office didn't catch Mahendra's attention, the fact that Neema pulled a weapon did. But with what had just happened with their Norwegian aquaintance, perhaps it wasn't so uncalled for? Mahendra looked from the open door, to Neema and then to Lauren. He was having a bad, bad feeling about this. "I may not know the Curator very well, but he did not strike me as a person to leave a door open. Especially an office."

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Josephine was thankful to be away from the scene. As best she could, she tried holding herself together. Thankful she had the Lord Major to lean on as she made her way upstairs. Once seating was offered, she walked over and sat down. "Thank you all. If I could get something to drink, please?" Normally Josephine would probably have demanded something, but as the circumstances went, now was not the time to be a diva.

Her thoughts raced through her. Something was off in the museum. What happened in the basement? Was it an accident? Either way, it pointed to there being more going on than any of them realized. She wanted nothing more than to go back home at this point. But she couldn't. Wouldn't. Not when she needed answers.

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Nora nodded, accepting Vera's decision on the matter - especially given that it had been in line with her own thinking. There was no reason to fret over two able bodied men in Cairo. Especially given that the pair seemed to be decorated veterans, any trouble that accosted them would likely regret that course of action. And while the lack of a male escort was frowned upon in British society, Nora was well accustomed to walking by herself in Cairo. It was one bit of British customs that she regularly ignored. Case in point, she had gotten into this entire mess due to taking a stroll by herself along the Nile the previous evening.

"I must say, that raises an interesting question. Are these strange events truly hokum? Or are they simply phenomena for which we have yet to comprehend an explanation?" Nora mused. She lived her life dictated by logic and scientific principles, yet the simplest explanation usually was the correct one. What mental hoops would they have to jump through to explain these happenings in a manner other than gods and magic, as was suggested by Neema? "I must confess, I cannot think of any apparatus by which the previous evening's events could have occurred," Nora admitted. She was careful not to describe the events themselves, just in case anyone else in the streets of Cairo had turned a ear towards her conversation with Lady Munn.

"I do not wish to entertain the fantastical as an explanation for these occurrences, and yet...Once the impossible has been eliminated, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be true."

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Reginald had felt this before. It was tension. Nerves. The raw, unrefined proprioception of people put into a position where something was horribly wrong. While it was possible that the ambient anxiety came from the undeniable fact that one of their number was dead by extreme misadventure. Though it did seem a bit fishy, a heavy crate falling from a sturdy shelf. Too any coincidences happening all around them, too many portents of doom, and the dreams... How could one forget? In the hustle and bustle of the occasion, he had completely forgotten that he had been tied somehow to an ancient death god, complete with heart removal, as he witnessed the rise of an inhuman army or two. Thinking about it from that perspective, a crate to the cranium seemed perfectly normal. Even preferable, for some. Not so the Lord Major, granted; he would have preferred glorious combat or horrific plane crash. Oh! Or both! Glorious combat against a superior opponent, resulting in a horrific plane crash! Yes, so much better. Sadly, he never did meet his equal in aerial combat. These days, people didn't even remember his callsign.

But that was worry about a bygone time, and/or events that had yet to happen. This was the present. And in the present, people were running about and drawing weapons. Instincts of an old soldier or not, that got his attention. The moment that Josephine found a place to sit, he passed along his flask of very fine whiskey to her and filled his filled his hands with personal weapons; one hand drew his Webley revolver, his other settled onto the hilt of his officers' saber, still sheathed at his side. "Save a bit for me, Miss Clarke. I'll be back in a moment."

The door to the office was ajar and Neema was the first to draw steel and prepare for the push. It would be unforgivable for her to enter first while Reginald stayed behind. Simply unforgivable. "If you would allow, madame?" he whispered to Neema, "Now is not an occasion for Ladies First. I insist." He drew his saber and stepped forward, intent upon entering Vera's office alone.

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Museum: "No, he's too anal for that," Neema said quietly as she made sure her khopesh was clear of the folds of her skirt. She had known the man since they were about the age of the very woman she was speaking too, perhaps even younger. He didn't leave doors open, hell he didn't like leaving a cabinet open when he was in it.

Looking over at Mosi Akhmed nodded before going over to the curator and letting him know what was going on. "Someone, came bursting out of the museum after the doors were locked and we did our final sweep. Only guests should be those that came in to help Lady Munn." He went on to explain a bit more and the curator quirked a brow.

Neema took a step back. "Of course, gentlemen first," she said and gestured towards the door. She wasn't going to deny the major his request as it were. She doubted there was anything in there at this point.

"I see, well let us go and do the rounds," the curator said as he looked between the two of them. "I will check the administration area, you check the main exhibits to start. We will meet at the archives," the Curator stated before heading back towards his office. Akhmed nodded and motioned for Mosi to follow him.

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"It must be. There has to be a logical explanation for all of this. A science perhaps that is yet to be explored. The Egyptians were dealing with mathematics, sciences, and more that we have only started to understand as a species once again." Vera kept walking as she spoke. It was good that the people around her were more observant to what was going on around them because Vera wasn't paying any attention. She was lost in the conversation and the ideas going through her head. It hadn't even crossed her mind that they sill hadn't seen any sign of Peter or George since they were dropped off at the Permit office nearly an our ago.

"It must be something. I refuse to believe there is any hokum involved. Spirits, gods, psshaw. These are just words for the uneducated to stamp on things they either cannot explain or refuse to accept a reasonable answer for. It was not that long ago that people believed the world was flat and the Earth was the center of the universe." So many in the past had chalked up various things to the gods or magic or anything else just because they couldn't explain it for themselves. Vera refused to believe in anything she could not see or touch or explain reasonably using science.

Crossing the street, it was a miracle that she had not been hit by something or run into someone at this point. She would trip every so often but the woman was rather good at catching herself. She wasn't as clumsy as she was when she was around Mr. Drake that was for sure but it was obvious by the scuffed up condition of her shoes that stumbling was a common thing for the woman.

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While Akhmed was dealing with the curator, explaining things to him, at first Mosi was still thinking about Rosheen, before she snapped out of it and quickly focused on the task at hand, looking about the place, before hopping to follow after him right away.” Right, after you.” She smiled as Akhmed gestured to her to follow him towards the museum exhibits.” I've never thought about it, but at the end of the day, when it's empty and light is waning, museums do indeed look like a completely different places after all.” She mused to herself

While they moved, she took the moment to look about the place. Focusing on details she saw earlier on her visit, she didn't find anything out of the ordinary, out of place or anything missing quite yet. So far so good, though what they passed by for now was a tiny fraction of the whole museum and it would take a good while to check everything, but so far on the move nothing seemed different.

“Nothing unusual so far...” She mentioned to her current companion.” Had anything like this happen before, Akhmed?” Mosi asked, wondering if he had other break ins in the past. She wouldn't be overly surprised actually. All these ancient artifacts were prime material for the black markets, she suspected, given the metaphorical explosion in interest about ancient Egypt.

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Lauren looked towards Reginald for a moment and gave him a slight nod and smile, letting the older man go on ahead and scout Vera's office for any danger. Lauren then went over and sat down next to Josephine on the bench, she didn't know the starlet all that well aside from the movies that she could see. "It's gonna be alright." Lauren said in a comforting tone, remembering all the various times when she worked in her father's bar she'd deal with depressed customers or anyone who was willing to talk about the stresses of their day. Lauren sighed slightly she still couldn't believe that someone was now actually dead.

Lauren's attention the turned over towards Neema eyeing the elderly woman when she mentioned that it would have been highly irregular for him to leave the door open. A part of Lauren wondered if it had something to do with Haakon dying if that was even an accident or not, which Lauren started to wonder if it was someone trying to kill them. "You have to teach me how to use that thing." Lauren said towards Neema eyeing the weapon with a bit of interest. Her father did show her how to use a handgun as well as some knives to in case she did need to defend herself.

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Mahendra had to give it to the Honourable Lord Major, taking the lead in a proverbial charge into the unknown. He was a true officer, loyal to his cause, responsible in front of his men (and women) and brave in face of danger! Whether or not there was any danger in Vera's office was another question all together, but still, Mahendra saw in him quintessential features of being a British gentleman. As Reginald walked into the office Mahendra turned to Neema, still impressed by her grip on the kopesh.

"I trust you to learn quickly and defend yourself, for I intend to follow the Lord Major. Be careful." Mahendra said, looking from the ladies and over in the direction Vera's office. As he began to follow in the steps of the Lord Major, Mahendra clenched his fist, hoping he wouldn't have to use it. He was not proficient with his bare hands in a fight, not compared with a saber. With that he could fight his way through many a Turk, cutting down left, right and center defending his fellow soldiers. Oh what he wouldn't give for a saber right then.

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It seemed all was not well at the museum. Unaware of such things as her thoughts raced, she found herself on a bench outside of Lady Munn's office. Thankful to be able to sit down and process it all, it took her a minute to realize what was going on. Nerves were running and the tension was so thick you could cut it. The Lord Major gave her his flask and she helped herself to a shot from it, feeling the warmth of the liquor burn her throat. She needed that.

Still, she watched as the Lord Major and Neema step outside the office, weapons drawn on the both of them. She felt powerless without her own weapon on her person and she would damn well make sure when she returned that she have it on her at all times. She looked at the blonde woman as she tried to comfort her. She couldn't be bothered with frivolities. She didn't need comforting, she needed answers!

"What the hell is going on? Are we in danger? I'm unarmed myself."

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Vera's assertion that a new science could explain the events occurring gave Nora pause. She had been assuming there would be some explanation of the strange events in a science that was already known to them - or perhaps through the logic of mathematics. But was there some new science that would explain brandings and ominous dreams? She could not imagine what such a science would be called - yet Lady Munn was correct. They were at a moment in time where there was still much left to be discovered, much that they simply did not yet understand.

She couldn't help but wonder if it would not be worthwhile for them to consult a physicist or a chemist - perhaps an astronomer? Science would hold the answer - and science itself was rarely ever understood in a vacuum. Lady Munn provided expertise on Egyptology to the group, while Nora could handle any mathematics. Yet what if viewing the problem through the mind of someone experienced in a different scholarly field would help to contextualize these matters? "Perhaps we would do well to consult a physicist - they may be able to offer some explanation to these phenomena. Do you know of any that you would place your confidence in, Lady Munn, in Cairo?"

Nora did notice the lack of either Peter or George - she would have expected to catch a glimpse of them by now. Yet perhaps they had already arrived at the museum and were awaiting them there. She was not familiar with either of them and had no knowledge as to their timeliness when it came to keeping engagements. If Peter and George did not rejoin them within the hour, then it would be a cause for alarm Nora decided.

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Reginald gave what would have been a very dashing smile in his younger years to Neema, and moved to enter Vera's office. He gave quick listen to both the concerns of Josephine and the intent of Mahendra to follow, but for the meantime paid neither of them much heed. While he understood that the starlet was without conventional means to defend herself, the area outside the office appeared to be in the clear. As for Mahendra, well, he didn't know the newcomer all that well. At least not well enough to get into a discussion about what plans they may or may not do concerning the potential dangers in Vera's office. It was best to just deal with the present issue and look back upon any mistakes as a learning experience. Even a man of his advancing years had the possibility of learning from one's mistakes. The expression about Old Dogs and New Tricks was probably invented by a lazy canine that didn't want to be bothered with learning how to roll over, in the Lord Major's estimation.

He did indeed enter the office a second later, and was immediately surprised at what he found. The light was left on, revealing a room that, while apparently devoid of direct danger or intruders, looked like it had been tossed about in an effort to locate something specific. Reginald slid his sword back into its scabbard, freeing a hand for more practical purpose in the cluttered room, but kept his Webley revolver at the ready. Briefly, he recalled that this was not too dissimilar to the way he entered this office just the previous day, though it was with a touch more in the way of volumed drama. He had to stop doing that. People might begin to talk.

The Lord Major took a quick circuit of the room before calling back to those outside of the office door, "It appears perfectly canny, if a bit out of sorts. Do feel free to enter, but if you would, please do not disturb anything until either Lady Munn or a representative of the constabulary arrives and gives an affirmative, yes?"

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Museum: Akhmed looked over to Mosi and nodded a bit. "Yes, we have had breaks in before. Thieves are everywhere and when they cannot get into the digs themselves or security is too tight in certain places they will resort to the museum itself. Yet it has been several months since we have had an incident. Not to mention it usually isn't this obvious," he said as he continued to look around.

Neema smiled lightly to Lauren. "Yes of course. Would be happy to pass down the knowledge," she said before entering the room after the two gentlemen that insisted on going before her. It looked as if things had been moved around. The flowers that had been delivered for the Lady Munn were ruined on the floor, both vases. Books were tossed off of the desk. Drawers were opened, empties and pulled out fully. Yet there didn't appear to be anyone in the room other than those in the group that had entered. "No one is here, you should be perfectly safe," Neema said as she called back to Josephine but kept looking around. Nodding in agreement that no one should touch anything.

"What in the name of the Pharaohs happened here?" the curator asked as he came up to Veras office and notice Josephine sitting on the bench and others in the room. The place was a mess.

"They're gone..." Neema said as she pointed to the table where they had left the tablets before heading to the archives earlier.

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Vera pushed her curls off her brow as she walked, the sun nearly gone but the heat that came with the day was not. It was one thing about Egypt, the heat never fully left until the last possible second and then the cold set in. People were granted roughly thirty second of good wonderful weather a day when it came enjoying their surroundings in Egypt. Now was not that time. The hat had proved helpful earlier when the sun was still up but now it just made her head feel like it could possibly sweat away. The Lady Munn was having none of it as she pulled the hat off her head. It wasn't exactly scandalous to be out without a cover but it wasn't exactly looked on as a good thing either. Yet after her victory at the permit office she wasn't about to suffer for a hat. Not this one.

Glancing over to Nora she slowed her walk and started to run through names in her mind. Yet after a bit she shook her head no. "I cannot think of one sadly. There were a few that I know of by reputation alone but their views on working with women are on the Neanderthalic side. Far behind even the main stream of society today. Perhaps when Peter catches up with us we might be able to persuade him to speak to one on our behalf," she said as they approached the museum. She had to wonder at this time where he and George were, yet with his leg injury and how quickly they had moved back to the museum it could be a while. She wasn't going to worry just yet.

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Lauren sat on the bench for a little bit longer while Mahendra and Reginald entered Vera's office, looking up towards Neema and gave her a friendly smile and nodded. She'd be more then happy to learn something new, at least to defend herself with in case something did happen when the all clear was finally given by the Lord Major. Lauren slowly stood up and made her way into Vera's office, when she got to enter the room Lauren froze as she saw the once neat and tidy room was now utterly trashed. Lauren was careful to not walk or step on anything as she looked around.

Then Neema gestured towards the table, the tablets that were there just a few minutes ago were now gone, she had seen break ins before seeing whole places completely trashed. Lauren would let out a soft sigh as she ran a hand through her hair, as she looked towards Neema and the others as well. "We still have the crate I found earlier at least." Lauren said softly, as she turned her head towards the door and saw the curator there, it wasn't her place to say anything as Lauren moved towards the side to let the man in. A part of her started to wonder if that crate falling on Haakon was related to the trashing of Vera's office.

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Regardless of the truth of the Lord Major's words, Josephine couldn't help but feel powerless in this situation. It was not often she felt she didn't have the upper hand. "Be that as it may, I would feel better if I had it nearby in case...something did happen." The words left her lips and her mind raced back to Haakon. She would fight for her possessions to be brought back to her when they were safely back in the compound. Until then, she would have to rely on other means.

It seemed that something had been taken. Something was gone. So someone came into the museum and stole something? Lauren mentioned the crate she found earlier and Jo's thoughts went crazy. Was Haakon's death more than just an accident? Were they all in danger? This curse or whatever seemed to bind them all together, was it now picking them all apart? Now more than ever she desired protection. "I don't believe I know what you are all referring to and I do not enjoy being left in the dark. What has been taken exactly?"

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“You never know, I've seen thefts even more obvious get by unaccounted unless someone hindered them, but I do suppose you are right on this.” Mosi agreed with a smile as she followed after Akhmed. This was a mighty weird situation they found themselves in. She was looking forward the smithing event, but it didn't seem like it was a priority or even on the main course anymore. It appeared that it would have to be left for another time. That mentioned, she did find a mystery a great replacement event too.

“Anything weird happening lately in the museum?” Priscilla then asked, throwing looks about the place, still not seeing anything out the ordinary that would raise any kind of flags. Maybe some of the displays, but those just made her enjoy ancient arts and crafts, it wasn't causing her any possible out of normal vibes.” Maybe someone weird who was coming around a few times? Since it was a quick job it seems, they knew what they wanted and where to find it more likely?” She suggested, wondering if the mystery infiltrator may have hanged around for research.

Still while she was thinking about the current mystery, she couldn't help, but have random distractions thinking about other people and places too.

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Mahendra followed the honourable Lord Major inside the office, keeping a little distance between himself and the Englishman. Though he himself was not as perceptive to the apparent changes made to the interiour of Vera's office as the older gentleman, Mahendra tried to be prepared for anything unexpected. The problem was though, what could he prepare for if it couldn't be expected? He had no idea what he was going to find inside the office that required preparation. Nothing except George and his....half face. Mahendra shuddered at the thought, and let the Lord Major go in front.

As the Curator himself - finally - made an apperance questioning what was the current commotion, Neeme declared that the tablets were gone. Missing. Stolen? Mahendra looked from Lauren as she said they still had the crates down at the archive, saying to her "And the one I found, unless the thieves have taken this as an oppertunity to take those as well, which I hope not." before turning to the Curator and taking a step towards him. Mahendra was now an official employee of the establishment, and had to act like one. "Mr. Kohn, Sir, there has been more than a bulgrary. I'm afraid you have to call the local police; there's been a deadly accident in the Archives, involving one of Lady Munn's aquaintances." Mahendra said with a forced-on confidence. Something was very, very wrong.

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Nora could not pretend to be surprised. Hardly anyone these days were willing to overlook the matter of gender when it came to intellectual matters - yet Peter did appear to be a rare exception. It made it all the more saddening, the strange situation that had developed between Vera and Peter. On paper, they appeared to be a smart match - and he clearly did care for her. Yet Nora supposed that the heart was a fickle thing and not overly prone to the use of logic. Emotions could not be constrained to formulae any more than a bird could be restrained to the ground.

"That is quite unfortunate," Nora said, as the museum came into view and they had just about returned from their outing. She couldn't help but wonder how long it would take Peter to travel back to the museum with his leg. It would be an interesting exercise in arithmetic, that much was certain. Then another thought occurred to her - perhaps they took a longer route, one that would allow George to avoid the public eye as much as possible. George struck her as a bit shy - the sort that would attempt to cling to the shadows if possible. If they were to make use of backroads, especially being newcomers to Cairo who did not know the quickest route, it would be logical for their arrival at the museum to be quite late.

"I imagine the gentlemen are taking the roads less traveled and less direct, for George's sake," Nora then explained, sharing her thought process to Lady Munn - just in case Vera was worried about them. "Now...What is next on our agenda for the preparation of this expedition?"

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"Common thieves and the like, traipsing in like that own the place. Filthy little buggers haven't the general charisma the good Lord gave trouser lice. Perhaps I should speak to the War Office about requesting additional men, you know, to attend the safety of the Museum and its people." Reginald tucked away his Webley revolver, shaking his head. "Ah, with the permission of the local government and the Museum's management, naturally." he added cautiously. Cairo wasn't the same place it was years ago, back when it was a protectorate of Great Britain. Certain hoops had to be jumped through. Reginald might even survive to see the entirety of British influence relegated to an embassy and a couple of bases allowed to remain for diplomatic reasons purely. How very uncivilized.

The words of the Starlet rung true with him. It was not considered a proper thing for a woman to learn how to handle a pistol, but it being the 20's he had to admit that times were changing. "Indeed, although the carrying of firearms while within the Base is highly discouraged by means of riflepoint negotiation, perhaps I could arrange for a strongbox for certain guests of the Empire to be set in the guard station near the main entrance..." Reginald appeared half lost in thought, getting certain mental ducks in rows.

"Great merciful heavens!" suddenly exclaimed the Lord Major, finally putting 2 and √4 together. "I do believe that the fatal incident in the Archives might not have been a coincidence, either!"

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Neema glanced over towards Lauren and nodded. "Yes, yes we do. We need that crate up here post haste. Before it too disappears," she said as she glanced around the room. "I will go procure it," she said as she eyed the curator.

"Yes, go, retrieve them Neema. I will contact the authorities," the curator said as he looked around the room. "I will return shortly, please stay here." Turning he walked out of the room with Neema, only to stop when she did as she pulled out a small pistol from her robes. "How many weapons did you bring with you this time?"

"Never enough," she said as she slipped it over to Josephine and then continued on her way with the Curator.

The curator looked over towards the Lord Major. "Perhaps, will have to see what the locals say. Please, remain here and keep guard against anything else if you would Lord Major." He gave the man a node before looking back over at Neema and then heading off. They split paths at the end of the hallway as he went back towards his office and she turned to head back down to the archives.

Akhmed walked and glanced around, shaking his head slightly. "Nothing more than usual. Don't get me wrong. It has been odd here ever since the Tutankhamen find, many more coming to the museum. Yet over the past weeks it has not been more out of the ordinary than what has become the norm," he said as they made their way back towards the front of the museum on the main floor. They would still need to check up stairs and then weave down to the archives but he wanted to make sure to make a full loop before moving on.

Vera nodded slightly towards Nora as they entered the museum. "I had not even considered such. You are probably right. A path less traveled to save George the stares of passerby's would be a very good reason to explain their absence right now. Peter does seem to take Georges feelings into thought with everything he does around here. As far as what we shall be completing next, I would hope that the lord Major has been able to start on the procurement of travel necessities. I will have to start with the museum organizing what we will need that we do not already have and is not currently being use on other digs," she said as she started to head back towards her office only to be waved down by Akhmed as he came into sight with another.

"I wonder what he is doing here, he was supposed to leave an hour ago," she said in passing as she checked her watch.

"Lady Munn, are you okay?" he asked quickly as he jogged over to her. Her brow quirking slightly.

"Why yes, of course. We have the permit, everything went swimmingly." Pulling out the permit she held it out.

"You had no issues while you were out? Nothing has gone wrong?" he asked as he stood there and looked her over.

"Other than a vile man not wanting to issue the permit at first, no. Why?" she asked.

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Lauren looked towards Josephine. "The tablet that Vera and Nora were looking at last night was stolen off of the desk." She answered her as she walked over towards the door and stood next to it. Figuring that it would be best to stand there and out of the way of everything else, she ran a hand through her hair letting out a little sigh. Vera was most likely not going to be happy about finding her very own office completely trashed. Lauren looked towards the curator and Reginald, as they spoke about getting the authorities involved, she was still a little bit nervous about that, and having to answer questions.

She then watched as Neema started to head out of the office, and made her way back towards the archives she was tempted to go with her but she was told to stay put. And Lauren had a feeling that Neema would certainly be able to hold her own against whoever is there, looking over towards the Lord Major. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Lauren asked him.