Other than main characters, I don't see any reason not to freely use all the side characters freely between us. I don't like "Taking dibs" but rather, if it is going to be a reoccurring character, or it develops into one, having us talk that person out until we agree on their major points, so that both of us can use it comfortably. It's the best way I've found to work with side characters. Any one I make, feel free to use, and I hope you do not mind if I use any of the sides you make :P
Hmmmm. . . . .If you wanna time skip, feel free. I don't see anything major happening until we "Get a break in the case" as it were, or even perhaps something happening in the church itself. Do you have any idea of what you wanna skip to, or do you wanna figure that out now?