[IC] 🦄 Darker Than Black - Merged With T.S.

[FantasyChic]

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Priya Khurana

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Location: Tim's Patrol Car -> Crash Site
Skills: N/A

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Priya questioned whether or not dealing with crazed people meant you could handle a gun, but the girl was alive. What really shook Priya was the amount of..crazy that seemed to stem in this town. She was sure New York was crazy, but from the stories she heard thus far, she maybe would give it to Grimm, Indiana. I mean, the fact that there was death by enema in the mix, it was almost unfair.

"Outside police opinion, I would feel better if Riley had something to protect herself with, in case you or I are not around to help. I have a feeling we will all be going crazy in a bit." Soon, they pulled up and Priya saw firsthand the chaos spreading. She got out and stood, stunned for a bit. "Damn, this is bad."

However, police instincts kicked in. After all, she was part of the brave men and women who ran towards danger, not away. She stepped forward towards the mess. "Deputy Priya Khurana, here to help. What needs to be done?"

[Sigil]

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Keystone & Caesar

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Location: Past the Rockies, Flight MSS-1
Skills: N/A
Skills: N/A

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Twenty minutes before Chicago. Caesar hadn't been to Chicago in a while, but he remembered a little about the airport. Enough to navigate over to baggage claim and back out again, at any rate. Alicia was really the one who should have been on this assignment, the irony being that Caesar wouldn't have bothered coming to the Windy City except for the circumstances around her death. At least they would be on the ground soon and could get started, just as soon as they got their bearings. And got a suitable vehicle.

The message alert on the old man's phone was getting a workout today. Business, always business. That's what you got when you were a man toward the end of a career soaked in blood - that of your allies and loved ones as well as your enemies. Probably the closest thing to a friend he had anymore was the gigantic Cockney fellow in the plane with him, and he bareknuckle struck the man just that morning. Caesar shook his head and thumbed on his satellite phone, both curious and apprehensive about what fresh hell awaited him therein.

"Keystone." he said with a smile showing the barest sliver of ivory, "We have a local MSS liaison meeting us on the ground. I've sent you the employee file." Looking over the file for himself, he wasn't sure whether the big man would get along with her swimmingly or they would hate each other on sight.

"Yeah? Right then, on it..." muttered Keystone, pulling out his own device. The experienced East Ender was interested to find out that this was a young lady with a background not amazing dissimilar to his. MMA fighter, underground circuit, and in India no less. It made sense that they wouldn't have heard of one another during their travels, especially if she stayed on the subcontinent while he operated primarily in mainland China. He found it quite impressive. Then he got to her bio. "Claire Bloody MacManus, Irish family from Boston?" He said it as if something was wrong. "I'm knowin' that this's 'Murica an' all, but y'get some punch-jolly mick hearin' London Underclass colorin' my speech, problems might crop up. Get me?"

"Los Ingleses won, right? What's the problem?" Caesar asked, leaving Keystone to wonder whether or not he was being sarcastic.

"Them stuffed-shirt bronzecocks what did that, and generations back, are the same sort o' powered wig Aristocraps what liked puttin' the boot to my folk, too. Ain't a thing my people had to do with it, on the specific. ...well, not as I'm aware, anyhow." Keystone shrugged. He knew that there was a touch of shame associated with the circumstances of his birth. Or to put it bluntly: Keystone was a bastard. Literally a bastard. Technically so was his own son, but that was a different matter. Part of his unknown bloodline could possibly involve the horrors visited upon his Celtic neighbors. But it wasn't as if he'd done anything to the Irish, a notably proud and occasionally pugilistic people. He had heard stories about the Irish who were forced to move to the Americas, raising their families to despise and attack the British on pure principle.

As it turned out, Caesar was aware of this, too. "Some points: The war is over. You are in Los Estados Unidos. You both work for a Mexican. Be professional, or you won't have to worry about the pretty girl beating you up - I'll handle it myself." Switching topics, he continued, "Did you see the section on past employers?"

"Yeah, I got that. You think it's that Miss Adkins? I got questions..."

Caesar was sure that he did. With a satisfied smile, he settled back into his seat and growled out a casual, "Just get ready for landing. As soon as we get to our vehicle, gear up. Standard protocol."

"Yeah, Boss."

[Lady Absinthia]

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Date: Monday May 23rd, 2017

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Flight UA 2199: "Don't be being sure of that," he said as he reached down and pulled out his pack. The plane had landed and was taxiing down the runway to the gate. Pulling out a file he handed it over to Cecily. "Meet Natasha Brinne," he said. Inside the file it showed that Natasha moved a lot. From Chicago, to San Fran, to Justice, to San Fran, to India, to Justice - all in a very short amount of time. It showed three men she had been involved with over the years and a forth that kept trying to get her attention. "Girl had been runnin' from one thang or anutter since she graduated high school. Never knows what she be runnin' from when she wents with ya," he added as he stood up, the door of the plane finally opening as the people started to disembark.

Grinning he waited for Cecily to exit since she was in the isle seat before making his way down the make-shift tunnel so they could walk through the gate and into the airport proper. Leaning against one of the pillars by the gate was Roy looking rather worried as he looked from person to person searching for Cecily. "Rogue!" he called out as he spotted her and waved his hand.

Gavin looked over to the man, not knowing that the man calling out the word rogue was speaking to Cecily but his walk slowed as Roy started towards them and Roy grinned towards Cecily. "Was getting worried, you alright?" Roy asked as grabbed Cecily and gave her a brotherly like hug. Gavin pushed the curls out of his face and looked at the two.

"Take it you know this fella?" Gavin said as his hand slipped behind his jacket.

Flight MSS 1: The private jet landed and the door opened, the stairs folding out and landing easily on the ground. In the hanger the plane was in, was a dark SUV and leaned against it was a woman of average height and weight, one couldn't tell her build under her clothing which while professional was a bit on the punkettish side. "¡Oye! ¡Jefe! Soy Claire McManus, su enlace aquí en Chicago. El carro está gaseado y listo para ir, armas en la parte de atrás," she said in a thick Boston accent. She headed towards the men and looked Keystone over.

"Hey, I'm Claire McManus, welcome to the Windy City," she said to him in English. She didn't know if he spoke Spanish or not. She had a few bruises that were fading on her cheek and cracked her neck as she turned off the music on her phone and wrapped her ear buds over her shoulders. Looking back at Caesar she stopped chewing her gum. "I'm really sorry to hear about Alicia, she had a nasty right hook, hell of a woman," she added but didn't linger on it as she walked to the back of the SUV and opened it up.

"I have what your preferred weapons are here cased Boss, I wasn't sure what you would want," she said as she looked over to Keystone. "So I just grabbed a variety, protective gear is there," she added pointing to a duffel bag. "Hope that covers it for starters, anything else you need?"

Translation

Hey! Boss! I'm Claire McManus, your liaison here in Chicago. Car is gassed and ready to go, weapons in the back.

Grimm, Indiana: "Well shit, okay," Tim said before handing over a county issues pistol and writing down some notes in his weapons log so it was on record. "I'll take your word for it but will get your license and such when I get back to the office," he added. He didn't doubt Riley, he had known her pretty much his whole life off and on. Growing up in a small town was like that. Looking at her he nodded and sighed. "Unfortunately you're right, all too damn common for my tastes. Small towns are supposed to be fucking peaceful."

Watching Priya step the plate a fireman, older with a shaved head and beard looked over to her and then Tim. "She and Riley been deputized, shes good," he called out. The old man was Fire Marshal Sumter. Had been the towns fire marshal for the last thirty years, everyone who had grown up there knew him and his family. He had three sons in the fire department and even a grandson as well.

"Right, afternoon ma'am. Fire Marshal Sumter, you can call me Bill. We got a hell of a crash here. One dead pilot on the inside, looks like crash done him in. Over here is where we need you," he said motioning towards Priya and leading the way off into the words. There he pointed to the remains of Iris and Ross, their bodies were burned badly but it was clear, this was no cause of the plane wreck. Over in one of the trees was an orange balloon caught in the limbs. It was burst but it was bright and hard to miss against all the blackened forest. The smoke made it harder to breath than normal.

[Nallore]

Riley Ridgeway

Location: Grimm, Indiana, Crash Site
Skills: N/A

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Riley looked towards Piyra for a moment, she didn't think that she would actually be one to agree with her and gave her a slight smile even though she knew Tim for pretty much her entire life she was glad he agreed to as well. When Tim handed her the gun Riley looked down at it for a moment as she took it from him. She shivered a little bit when she remembered the last time during the reunion, at the haunted house Riley remembered very clearly what had happened. Chloe had gone over to try and talk to him, and then Marc heading inside it as well, she had gone in shortly after that as well.

Then she remembered Marc getting shot, she had picked up the gun as she took the first few shots that killed Chris, Riley let out a slight sigh and shook her head. Riley got out of Tim's car once he opened it up for her and followed shortly behind Pyira and gave Bill Sumter a friendly smile. "It's great to see you again Bill." Riley said as she tucked the gun under her shirt and followed towards the scene. When they got to the scene Riley started to cover her mouth a bit, both from the smoke in the air and the sight of both Iris and Ross.

Riley then looked up at the balloon that was stuck in a few tree branches which was deflated just like the scene back at the funeral home, then she started to actually worry about Ryan and his kids as well. "So, it's Bertha again right?" Riley asked looking over towards Tim, she looked at the bodies and shuddered at the sight of it, her eyes watering a little bit as well from the smoke.

[FantasyChic]

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Priya Khurana

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Location: Crash Site
Skills: Investigation, Criminology

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Priya nodded her greeting at the Fire Marshal. She looked over at the crash. What was it about plane crashes? How they were not likely? You would sooner die in a car crash than a plane? She thought she read that somewhere. She was sure those on the plane wished that were the case. Priya shook this thought. She had to go into investigator mode now. Especially if the two that were away from the crash were not killed from it.

Priya walked over to the scene and began examining. She took in as much detail as she could without getting her hands dirty. She wasn't prepped for that anyway. At once, it was pretty clear that the two bodies on the ground did not die from the crash, though their injuries from it did not help matters. What made Priya, even more, unnerved was the balloon tied to the tree. It was the second time she had seen a balloon that day and she was not looking forward to seeing anymore.

"Well, you are right, these two did not die in the crash. Their bodies are too far away. Plus, it seemed the woman was...impaled. First, the man. I'm not a medical examiner, but I believe the cause of death is the wound in the back of his head. He also appears to be stomped on, most likely after death. The woman isn't better. Having been impaled by the tree, whoever was here with them seems to have pulled her. It would take someone considerably strong to do so. I'd say it was a man, but judging by the broken balloon and the fact that I've just heard of her, I feel Bertha may be the culprit. I am so looking forward to meeting her." Priya added with heavy notes of sarcasm. Truthfully, her run-in with serial killers did not have the best track record.

[Morose]

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Cecily Ashworth

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Location: Flight UA 2199 (Seat 2B) --> the Gate
Skills: N/A

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Cecily paused, looking at the files. While Gavin was more of using it to show her that Natasha's behavior didn't match up with the image Cecily had created of her, she couldn't help but notice the pattern as well. She was struck by the fact that Natasha had lived in Justice before. She didn't remember Natasha mentioning that, but she could have been wrong. Maybe these men could have helped her to figure out more about Natasha. Maybe there was something there that could explain things. Or maybe it was just something inexplicable.

As soon as she heard Roy call out her nickname, Cecily practically ran over to him and returned his hug. Roy was one of the very few people left in the world that she knew, without a doubt, she could trust. He was her partner after all. And cop partners basically had a sort of marriage/familial bond. "Yes...He's my partner," Cecily told Gavin. "Roy, this is Gavin...A Texas Ranger." She figured that there was no possible way Roy would know who her flight companion had been. However, there was still the matter of Lincoln. She had told him she'd go and talk with him here in Chicago.

[Sigil]

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Keystone & Caesar

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Location: Chicago Airport, Private Hangar
Skills: N/A
Skills: N/A

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"Encantada de conocerte."₁ rasped out Caesar, giving Miss McManus a look over. It was fairly smart of the Chicago branch to send someone who spoke his native language fluently, though the fact that the liaison was female gave him the initial impulse to search her for branding. "English, please. El Señor Keystone no habla Español."₂ Caesar couldn't help but notice the way that she was eyeing the big Brit, much the same way that the elder Mexican was looking her over. Sizing him up, maybe? In a straight fistfight, he'd lean toward putting his money on Keystone, owing to his raw power and experience. But MSS didn't hire slouches for Special Projects, and from the look of her file, this was likely a Special Projects lady. She might just surprise him.

There was a grunt of affirmation from Caesar after condolences were expressed about his daughter. She said it, he heard it, he acknowledged afterward. That was really as far as he was willing to take the conversation. Much as it was good manners to extend some mention in a polite manner, Caesar just didn't want to deal with it. Instead, he took to looking into the back of the SUV. It was a granted that the individual regional offices of MSS would be aware of his preferences as it came to working tools, so it came as no surprise to see equipment remarkably like the stuff he ordinarily kept in his residence. As he geared fully back up, he looked to his partner in this little adventure and gruffly said, "Got the address?"

Keystone was also in the middle of gearing up, starting with a ballistic coat common within the company for discreet work. As the company did not commonly carry his preferred brand of .50 hand cannon, he had to resort to a less commonly marketed variety. Not his favorite, but it would suffice. He wasn't really known for being a gunfighter, anyway, despite adequate proficiency. When Caesar spoke, the large man raised an eyebrow in his direction. He was going to have to speak sometime. May as well get it out of the way now. "Yeah, Boss." he responded, the London Underclass strong with him. "Miss McManus, 'fore we move on to Grimm, there's a bookstore what needs a stopover." He gave over the address, continuing, "Curiosity o'course, but are you with us for the long end of it, or is this a ah, whacha call it... Courtesy Visit? To get us movin' in the proper direction, if you take my meanin'."

He was pleased to note that his baggage from the plane had arrived intact. It wasn't much, as neither of the two men had a lot of time to pack, but some of his personal goodies were tucked away inside. With a small smile, he slipped his custom knuckle dusters into their appropriate pockets. He liked those things, even if he rarely found appropriate use for them very often. Thinking on it, he returned to the previous bag that contained the protective gear and handed Caesar over a somewhat smaller ballistic long coat, like the one he was wearing. The older man accepted it quietly and slipped it on.

Caesar regarded a standard issue shotgun, debating the wisdom of carrying something so obvious in the streets of Chicago. "Remember, the weapon laws are different here." He was speaking to Keystone. "Leave the hardware in the car until we get across the state line. Close weapons only. Okay?"

"No worry, Boss. Hope we're uneventful."

"Me, too." Then back to Claire, "Gracias, Miss McManus." He moved his eyes over her half-healed facial contusions, remarking flatly, "We must keep you busy here. But no, I think we're good for now. I would rather we get started."

"One thing ma'am, if I might?" spoke up Keystone, suddenly the pragmatist of the pair, "Anything we ought know about Grimm as you're aware, a'fore we jump in the middle of it?" The query did not stop either man from entering the vehicle.

Translations

1 - Nice to meet you.
2 - Mr. Keystone does not speak Spanish.

[Lady Absinthia]

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Date: Monday May 23rd, 2017

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Flight UA 2199 Gate: Roy took note of the Cowboy and the fact his hand was coming out from behind his jacket. Gavin extended the now empty hand towards the man and the two shook slightly. "Well ain't that just a barrel of biscuits, nice to meet ya," Gavin said.

Roy looked at him oddly and then down at Cecily. "What in the fuck did he just say?" Roy asked and Gavin chuckled.

"Means I be surprised is all. Anywho, we gots a body a claim," Gavin said as he placed his hat back on his head and adjusted his pack. Not too far from them was a man looking rather upset, holding a small sign up that read Cecily Ashworth. He looked like he hadn't slept or had a chance to shave in the last day or two. Wearing jeans, boots, and a t-shirt.

"You know that one?" Roy asked as Gavin tugged on the cops sleeve and pointed him out. Roy gave the man a hard stare and then looked down towards Cecily. The man looked like a roughed up version of the image Natasha had had on her phone for her fiance Lincoln Roberts.

Flight MSS 1 Hanger: "Aww hell, okay boss," Claire said as she was instructed to speak in English sine Keystone didn't speak the language. "Might want to pick it up," she added with a bit of a chuckle when she looked over towards Keystone. It was true. The man was working for a man that spoke Spanish, hired a lot of kin, and had a heavy amount of people speaking the language. Not to mention it was spoken through out the US. Spanish was a language to know if you were on US turf.

"With ya as long as you'll be having me. Was told by office to do whatever the boss asks. I can get you to a book store if you want," she added. Waiting for them to get in the vehicle before pulling up the information on the book store and then starting out of the hanger. Claire drove.... wildly to put it nicely. It wasn't as out there as some drove but the woman knew how to handle city traffic that was for sure a she drove.

"Don't know nothing about no Grimm but this book shop I do be knowing. It was in the news last month," she started before informing the men she was escorting around, for lack of a better term, that a book had been supposedly stolen from the store and there was a lot of investigating going on about it. A lot of people were doubting the book even existed and if the owner could prove that it did, it would mean the insurance company would have to pay out millions for its loss.

Grimm, Indiana - Forest: Tim nodded. "I think so," he said as he took his hat off and rubbed the sweat from his brow. The fire might have been out at this point but it was still hot and steamy because of it and would continue to be probably until late in the night. "I wonder who they were," he added.

Being a small town had its advantages. It also had its draw backs. One of the main ones was that it hadn't exactly caught up with the Twenty-First Century technology wise. Sure people had cell phones and computer access but the local governments were still running most things off pencil and paper. In other words there was no quick way to identify the bodies. To find out why the plane was there, or anything else. That would take time.

Bill walked over as he sighed. "I contacted Fisher Funeral Home, they will come collect the bodies and transport them for us. David is out local coroner now that his father passed away last month. Man is fickle, doesn't want to work in the county coroner office to study bodies but I can't say I blame him. His place is more advanced than the counties," Bill said as the firemen kept working to take care of the remains of the fire and make sure things stayed under control.

The one that had smiled towards Priya off the back of the truck was there. Coming over with a large chainsaw. "Might wanna take a step back," he said before putting the earplugs in his ears and motioning towards the tree which had pinned down one half of the woman's body. It would have to be cut away for them to get her the rest of the way out.

[Nallore]

Riley Ridgeway

Location: Grimm, Indiana, Crash Site
Skills: N/A

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Riley kneeled down for a moment as the others started to talk around her, getting a better look at the man's body she squinted a little bit to get a better look at anything on the body. Riley could make out a tattoo that was on his back, which was a very large skull, there was something else above the tattoo itself but Riley couldn't really see it. But then Riley quickly recognized who owned the same exact tattoo before standing up. "I think the guy's named Ross, he does some exercise ads on TV I've seen them on TV before." Riley said remember seeing an ad or two on the TV, but she just guessed for now.

Riley looked at the fireman with the chainsaw and took a few steps away from him, just so that she was further out of the way from the chainsaw and any saw dust or other debris that would fly out from it. "We just came from there actually." Riley said crossing her arms over her chest, she didn't really want to go back to the funeral home just yet really. Riley coughed a little bit from the smoke, and wiped a little bit of sweat off of her forehead.

[FantasyChic]

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Priya Khurana

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Location: Crash Site
Skills:Profiling

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Priya was thankful that the man was now identified, though that still meant it may be a while before the woman is. Priya couldn't do much apart from sigh. Small town shenanigans at work. Though this was not your average small town, it seems. They had serial killers, high school murders, and a fricken plane crash with two murder victims on the flight.

Before Priya could step away, the man from before walked up holding a chainsaw. He seemed to want to cut the tree down, but Priya felt her skin prickle looking at him and every neuron in her brain was sending a signal that said "Watch out!". She couldn't put her finger on why, but this man irked her.

She nodded her understanding but kept an eye on him as she made her way back towards Tim. Once she was close, she leaned in to whisper, "Tim, the man cutting the tree. Do you know him? I'm getting weird vibes from him and I don't like when that happens."

[Morose]

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Cecily Ashworth

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Location: Flight UA 2199 Gate
Skills: N/A

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"...He's from Texas, they talk a bit differently," Cecily told Roy with a slight smile. It was the closest she had come to joking since Natasha died - and while it truly wasn't a long time, it emotionally felt like it had been. She still felt guilty and blamed herself for Natasha's death, but seeing Roy again was a good distraction and helped her to take her mind off of it. Yet she took another breath, nodding as Gavin said they needed to go claim the body. Every flight she had been on recently involved some transportation of a corpse.

Her eyes then drifted slightly and she spotted who she assumed to be Lincoln. He looked the part of a grieving fiancé and he vaguely matched the picture she had seen on Natasha's phone. "Yes, that's N-Natasha's fiancé," Cecily explained, the words catching in her throat slightly. Her knees felt a bit like jelly as she walked over to Lincoln, not sure whether or wave or smile or grimace or what. "H-Hi....I'm C-Cecily...Cecily Ashworth, w-we spoke on the phone..."

[Sigil]

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Keystone & Caesar

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Location: Chicago Streets, inside of an SUV
Skills: N/A
Skills: N/A

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Caesar found the comment that Claire slipped to Keystone about learning the Spanish language mildly humorous. He didn't so much crack a smile as change his expression and give a quiet, "Hmm." She wasn't wrong, though. Learning the language would be useful to him, though his thoughts weren't with business in that moment more than they were about family. Keystone was the father of a bouncing baby Mexican now. Technically with three nationalities; Mexican, American, and British. But the vast majority of his family and damn near all of his support network were Spanish speakers. The business end of it was valid as well, almost as much.

Keystone found the observation slightly annoying. He was probably going into it with some preconceived notions anyway, but the big guy had the occasion to be stubborn every now and again. "London Offices. Not a lot of blokes speak it where they pulled me from, an' that pullin' was bloody recent." He settled into the vehicle as Claire began her own personal foray into Mario Kart: Chicago, all the while he tried not to reach for the grip handle above the window. Yes, the woman's driving concerned him. If the situation called for a speedy exit or tailing, then sure. If this was how she drove in a non-emergency situation, he'd hate to see what she did in one.

Meanwhile, Caesar didn't seem to care. From the look of him, he could probably nap through it. Being a passenger in any of Alicia's cars had sort of numbed him to it all; as long as brakes weren't slammed and tires didn't screech too loudly, all was well with the world. "We didn't get the news about the shop. What book is worth millions?" He wouldn't mind learning a little more about the person he was going to meet, nor the type of business that she ran. A little something about their curio was an excellent start.

"Yeah an' then, begging the Boss's pardon, I'd 'preciate if you could fill me in on that job of yours from a little back." Keystone did not want to tip his hand entirely about his fandom for a certain vocalist - a lady from his more downtrodden part of the city, but he really was interested in knowing more about it. "Word has it you usedta work for Miss Adele Bloody Adkins. What's all that about?" He glanced back to Caesar, who was busy staring at him with a tired expression that seemed to relate a feeling that the discussion could probably wait until business was concluded and they were on the road into Grimm. Keystone shifted his gaze back to their maniac driver, following up with, "Oh, at your own time, o'course. Curious on the personal, is all."

[Lady Absinthia]

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Date: Monday May 23rd, 2017

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Flight UA 2199 Gate: "Well dog my cats I ain't be talkin' no differently than y'all. It be English ya know," Gavin said with a chuckle but Roy wasn't buying it.

"Riiight," he muttered before turning his attention to Cecily. A brow went up and he nodded a bit. The men walking behind Cecily as she went over to Lincoln and introduced herself.

Lincoln took a shaky breath and held his hand out to her. "I'm... Lincoln Roberts," he said in a British accent. Gavin reached over and shook the mans hand.

"Texas Ranger Comfort sir. Real sorry about yer loss, anythang I can do to help please let mes know," Gavin said in his thick accent as he tipped his hat to the man.

Roy shook his head a bit. "Detective Gregory, Miss Ashworths partner," Roy added but he just stood there. Lincoln looked confused.

"Um... why so many cops?" he asked. "What happened?" he added a bit more frantically.

Roads Of Chicago: "Some ancient text apparently," Claire said as she weaved through traffic. She was chewing a piece of gum and popped a bubble between sentences. "Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus." Swerving around a corner she dodged a car that hit its breaks and then gunned it. "Apparently it is a three volume set but the 3rd book was supposedly lost centuries ago according to reports but this woman claims to have had it in her possession for the last five years. What the fuck is in it is anyones guess," Claire added as she took another turn well faster than what needed to be done.

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! These roads are worse than fucking India!" she exclaimed and she wasn't totally wrong. They were crowded and over packed that was for sure but the woman was driving like she was in downtown LA. "Oh well, least Dr. Ice ain't fucking driving, we'd be dead," she chuckled to herself as she kept going. "Should be there shortly," she said and she wasn't wrong. It was about another five minutes before they pulled up to a row of buildings on the corner of a street. "Here we are."

Grimaldi Books: "No, I don't have a copy of that particular text but..." a woman started to say into the phone. It was obvious that she had been cut off as she drummed her fingers on the counter that was half covered with old texts. Her eyes narrowed a bit before she started spouting off in a language other than English.

"Non mi interessa se il Papa stesso ha chiesto di prendere in prestito il libro. Non ce l'ho e anche se lo facessi avrei solo permesso di vedere il testo qui nella mia posizione privata. Ora ho i volumi 1 e 2, ma attualmente 3 sono stati rubati. No, non so chi l'ha preso ma se ne hai. Questo è quello che pensavo. Buona giornata monsenior," she said before clicking the phone off and pushing her hair out of her face. "I miss the days when I could slam a phone down on someone," she muttered under her breath before taking a book and slamming the cover shut.

Gathering up a pile of book she went around the counter and started to reshelve them. "Sorry about that Robert," she said to the older man in the store with her. "Vatican again," she explained before pushing the last book back onto the shelf. "Is there anything I can get you while you go over all that paperwork?" she asked as she walked over to the small table he was at and looked at him. "Coffee perhaps?"

Grimm, Indiana - Forest: Tim nodded a bit and looked over towards Riley and then to Priya. "Yeah, he is Mason Malony," he said before casting a glance towards Riley. That last name was well known in Grimm. It was the name of the family where Chris Malony came from, the serial killer Riley had shot dead just last fall during her graduating classes ten year reunion and the man finally found guilty of killing Simone Carter now nearly 11 years ago.

"Cousin of the family, he moved into town about six months ago," Tim added as Mason got to work on sawing the tree away so it could be cleared and they could recover one half of the body that was stuck beneath it.

The fire marshal came over and over heard what was being said. "Yeah, he is a rookie but he is doing pretty good. Granted this is the biggest thing that has happened fire wise in a while," he said before walking off and going to help some of the fire fighters over at the plane to get the rest of the smaller fires put out.

[Nallore]

Riley Ridgeway

Location: Grimm, Indiana, Crash Site
Skills: N/A

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Riley looked over towards Pyria and walked over towards her and Tim for a moment she did get a weird vibe from him as well, and made sure to stay away from him for the time being. At least she wasn't the only one who was getting weird vibes from him, and when Tim said who he was she paled quiet a bit. Riley eyed Mason once more as he went to work on sawing the dead tree off of the woman's body, coming back to Grimm was a really bad idea to her at least. Just hearing the last name made Riley just want to turn and run away, she wasn't sure what Chris' family's thoughts on her killing their son.

"Can we uhm, you know go now we ID'd one of the bodies at least so we are good to go right?" Riley asked Tim looking over at him, now knowing that Chris' cousin was right in front of her she wanted to go somewhere else. And him appearing in Grimm just after everything that had happened last fall was suspicious to her, then Riley looked back at Tim and Pyira. "Just knowing he's Chris' cousin makes me uneasy." Riley said quietly, the bodies will be taken and transported away soon, and the fire was being taken care of one of them have been ID'd Riley had a feeling that they were good to go now.

[FantasyChic]

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Priya Khurana

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Location: Crash Site
Skills:N/A

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Priya felt it in her gut, but the man was trouble. Tim all but verified it and even Riley was uncomfortable. She wouldn't push the issue until they were safely away (though she had to admit her curiosity at digging deeper into this city's past). She stared at the man as he worked the tree to let the bodies go.

"I saw him on the fire truck as it was going past the funeral home. He just...smiled at me. Not like a friendly smile either. It was creepy and unnerving. I'm keeping an eye on him, if anything else. I don't trust him." She took another glance at the scene. It was truly horrific. The loss of life. It was never easy.

"Anything more to do here? I'm getting antsy just standing around. I wouldn't mind following up on these bodies with the coroner once he's done."

[Morose]

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Cecily Ashworth

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Location: Flight UA 2199 Gate
Skills: N/A

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Cecily glanced at Gavin, not sure if she should laugh or not. While he was speaking English - that was true - he was using different turns of phrases and expressions - an entirely new dialect. It would be like arguing that Gavin was speaking the same thing as the Queen's English - and Cecily doubted that if Gavin were to encounter an upper crust Brit (her thoughts flickered to her cousin) that they would be able to understand each other properly.

And as luck would have it, as Lincoln opened his mouth a British accent came out. Cecily shook his hand, her grip fairly decent despite her nerves. "...I'm a coroner from Justice, cops kind of just tend to flock to me..." Cecily explained. "...Roy's kinda like a big brother to me, he was in the area already when I told him I was flying in...And I think Gavin just is acting on Texan manners." She didn't want to reveal that Gavin was there as a favor to a friend. She didn't know how much Lincoln could be trusted. She wanted to trust him - but she was scared.

"...Is there somewhere private we can talk? A restaurant maybe?" Private but not too private.

[Sigil]

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Caesar & Keystone

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Location: Chicago (Grimaldi Books)
Skills: General Observation
Skills: General Observation

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Keystone looked to Caesar as the trio of MSS agents approached the building. The larger man made sure to do as his employer requested and left his firearm back in the SUV; it was a smarter call than to engage in a private investigation where things could get heated, and in a state that didn't recognize his specific credentials to carry. Just until he was back in the vehicle and/or crossed the state line into Indiana. For the meantime, staying alert to his surroundings was paramount. A decent backfist wouldn't hurt matters either, if the occasion warranted it.

He couldn't help but notice that the architecture looked fairly similar to the apartment buildings in Boston Heights back in Justice, California. Coincidence, probably. Styles of buildings in urban areas tended to follow one another, often across the continent, from one decade to another. Well, coincidence or not, it seemed that every angle was covered with security cameras. Were Keystone to invert his training and bend Security Procedures to more nefarious ends, he would be hard pressed to enact an approach the bookstore that was out of recorded view. He quietly cleared his throat to get Caesar's attention and discretely pointed the electronics setup to him. More obvious was the fairly recent work that had been done to the building, as if something was remodeled or rebuilt after some mishap had taken place.

Caesar gave his younger companion an equally discrete nod. If the cameras were new, it was obviously done in response to something distinct. The theft of that priceless book he had just learned about came to his mind first. Status of the building and its security points aside, Caesar was more interested in the woman who owned the business they were entering. She was on the phone and speaking, though to whom was anyone's guess. The more curious part was when she hung up the phone, yet continued speaking. From Caesar's vantage point at their approach, he could not see another person inside of the building with the proprietress, though the continued speech suggested otherwise. Or she was bitching about the outcome of her phone call, to herself. Caesar was going err on the side of additional company inside.

As they neared the doors, Keystone opened the door and stepped to one side to allow Caesar first entry to the bookstore. The older man arched his eyebrow at the action, but then understood his action. They had been fairly buddy-buddy for the most part, that is to say, semi-formal at best. At this point, they were in an unfamiliar city in the middle of what amounted to a full investigation, though of what precisely was still up for debate. Keystone was playing his role, hoping to show a professional, organized, united front. The briefest of pauses later, Caesar entered the shop with Keystone in tow, the mammoth Brit silent and keeping to his rear flank.

"Ms. Grimaldi?" he began in his low pitched, gravelly voice. To his credit, he did try to soften it considerably. "Ms. Adelaide Grimaldi? I am Caesar Gonzalez, of Machete Security Solutions. We are investigating a series of murders on the west coast, including a Master Gunnery Sergeant David Lawson, among others. The trail is leading us to your hometown. May we speak?" It was more rigid and proper of tone than he was really comfortable, but attempting to intimidate felt inappropriate at the moment.

[ONL]

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Robert Adler

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Location: Chicago (Grimaldi Books)
Skills: Research, Law

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Robert had been working with these kinds of cases before for a very long time. According to himself it had been for far too long, but whether he liked it or not he had seen a lot of what that line of work had to offer. Which in itself didn't mean helicopter chases, snooping backstage the next reunion of Genesis or anything like that. No, he had just investigated cases in many different shades of grey. Be either car-insurance, life-insurenace or just insurance for that one Ming-vase that really was made in Taiwan, they all had the same motives and all that jazz; either they were after they were after the money, or their loss was geniune. His employer was of the latter, but that's where the similarities stopped.

First of she was his landlord, and second he was working against the insurance companies. But it still involved paperwork. Loads of it.

The papers and photograps strewn on the small table in the antique book store were of all types and contents, though not unknown to him. Proofs of ownership, reciepts and purchases, papers probably written in ink twice his age and much more. The photograps of the supposed book, followed by the passionate and angry spouting in what had to be Italian drove several nails into the proverbial coffin of one of his theories, for now at least. The book that the insurance companies were getting their pencil-pushers excited for, had really been stolen. Now he just had to prove it.

"No it's fine. Having shouting in the background really makes the little grey ones work." Robert said back to Adelaide after she apologized for her rant with the Vatican, not looking up at her as he continued to read through a bundle of paper concerning several other purchases she had made earlier. They looked legit too, so he put them down as she came over. He wasn't being sarcastic in annoyance or anger, he just was like that. And it was monday. "Coffee? Yeah, that would be good. Thanks Adelaide." He shot her a brief smile as he looked up at her, before looking back at the table and the papers. "I'm not done yet, but these all look good. The companies won't get much on their case from these..."

Robert was interrupted by the door opening. Since this was the type of shop you don't pop in just before the Hawks vs. Red Wings game started for a quick bag of chips, he instintively looked up from the paperwork and at the door. Two large, tough-looking guys walked in asking Adelaide about murders and if they could talk. Robert wasn't sure what to take from scene, except that it was odd. Perhaps a bit intimidating even? He wouldn't leave her just yet though, who knew what was going to happen.

[Lady Absinthia]

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Date: Monday May 23rd, 2017

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Flight UA 2199 Gate: "Um, yeah, there is a lounge near baggage claim, would that work?" Lincoln asked as he folded up the sign and tucked it under his arm.

"Well now, why don'ts me and West Coast here go on and takes care of luggage and thangs fer ya Miss Ma'am whiles y'alls talk. We's catch up with ya in a little bit," Gavin said with a tip of his hat.

"I don't.." Roy started to say but Gavin caught the mans foot with the heel of his boot. He kept from yelling but got the clue and nodded. "think we will be that long, you got my number if anything goes wrong," he said to Cecily before giving her a kiss on the head and moving out with Gavin towards baggage claim, there would be a few things they would need to do to claim the body.

Lincoln looked at them oddly before turning his attention back to Cecily. "Um, yeah, I could use a drink," he said as he turned quietly and headed for the escalator that would lead down from the gate to the main floor of the airport. He really didn't say anything, just keeping his head down with his hands in his pockets as he walked.

Once they got to the lounge he asked for a quiet place and they were shown a small booth. It was a private but one could still be easily seen from the front entrance. Sliding into the booth he rested his hands on the table, his fingers running over a ring he wore on his left ring finger. "I... keep thinking this is another nightmare and I am going to wake up and she will be asleep next to me..."

Grimaldi Books: Claire hopped out of the car and glanced around. "Gonna grab food, be back in a few," she said before turning and heading down the sidewalk. Didn't seem like she was going to try to get in the way for this and Claire was always fucking hungry. "Will grab you both something," she said without looking back and gave a small wave of her hand as she kept walking.

Inside Adelaide looked over towards Robert and nodded. "That's good. I would rather have the book back but if not I want my investment back," she said before turning to go get the man a cup of coffee. She was cut short as the door opened. Her brow quirking a bit as she looked at the two men.

"Yeah, give me some ID first and let me run a check on you two before anything else," she said frankly before she stepped behind serving counter and started fixing a coffee for Robert. "You two want a cup?" she asked in passing as she took the cup she had prepared back over to Robert and set it down in front of him.

Turning she crossed her arms over her chest and blew her hair out of her face. "And just why are you looking into my ex-husbands death?" she added before moving back to the coffee maker. "Cream, sugar or just black?" she asked before stopping and eying Keystone a bit more. "Or would you prefer tea?"

Grimm, Indiana - Forest: Tim nodded a bit. "Yeah, he is a bit different, like the rest of that family," he added before motioning back to the car.

David showed up with Nate, their van pulling up to the scene and being let into the crime scene area. David stopped and nodded slightly at the two women. "Surprised to see you this soon," he said in passing before stopping as he reached the bodies. Nate crinkled his face.

"Well this is a shit storm," Nate said under his breath as he zipped up his overall protective gear. "Any idea who they are?" he asked Tim and Tim shook his head.

"An idea on one but not the rest, can you see what you can do about getting me dental imprints and anything else? If you could get your sister to bring them over to the station that would be good, I can send them through to Indianapolis for identification. Gonna get the girls out of here, let me know," Tim said before moving over to the car.

"Sure thing," was all David said before he went to work with his brother and a few firemen to get the bodies all together. There were 4 parts that put together 3 people.

"Okay, let's get you two to the hotel and see what we can do about getting you a rental to drive around town," Tim said. He nearly mentioned that if Riley wanted she might be able to borrow her parents car since they were in town but he knew she was trying to avoid them so didn't mention it.

[Nallore]

Riley Ridgeway

Location: Grimm, Indiana, Crash Site
Skills: N/A

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Riley looked up to see a car driving up, and it as David and Nate, she gave the two men a slight wave and nod. "Hopefully it wont be the last time, or turning up in some body bag." Riley said towards them as they walked off to tend to the bodies, she looked away as they went to do their thing. Riley rubbed her arm a bit as Pyira mentioned that Mason made her feel uncomfortable which made her relax a little bit, at least she wasn't the only one who was feeling that way. "That makes two of us." Riley said as she started to make her way back over towards Tim's car. Riley turned to look at the Fire Marshal and gave him a slight nod towards him, it was good to see him again as well. "I'll see you around town." Riley said to him.

Riley thought a bit, she could go to her parent's place and borrow one of their cars, but they might end up getting her arrested or something like that. And Riley did not want to see them at all either, she took one stop and looked at the scene once more as something ended up catching her eye. Riley noticed a bit of torn fabric that was on the ground, when she knelt down in front of it Riley ran a hand over the red silk fabric. Surprisingly it wasn't burnt at all, and then looked over at Tim and Pyira, and waved them over towards her. "This isn't burnt, maybe someone else came through after the crash. Before the fire department came?" Riley asked looking at them.