RVA: Shadow of Doubt, Investigation
Nov. 19th, 2015 06:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhalCount and Countess Darktail’s office was bit claustrophobic with the crowd of people in it currently, Ali reflected. The two nobles sat at their desks, with Salli occupying a seat near her father. On the other side of the room Zaker stood, Ali stuck beside her, having inserted herself into the proceedings by the virtue of being Salli’s bodyguard while she was on the manor’s grounds. In the center facing the two desks was a Civil Protection investigator, Lt. Lightfoot, delivering his report, a uniformed forensics sergeant beside him.
“I’m afraid we don’t have many leads to go on,” the investigator told the two nobles. “The ink on the skimmer’s door was a commercially available chemical compound, designed to be written invisibly and then appear after an extended drying period. It’s the sort of thing you find in junior chemistry sets or play kits for cubs who want to pretend they’re spies. Could have been bought anywhere from a retail store.”
“Are there any leads on the point of application?” Countess Darktail asked.
The investigator shook his head. “That was our next thought. The security cameras in the medical center’s parking garage saw nothing. The time from application of the ink to it appearing is approximately three hours, depending on how heavily it was applied. I’m told that there are no security cameras in the manor’s garage, correct?”
“That’s correct,” the Count told him. “Security is maintained with a keypad lock, but it’s not considered a deep secret. I think there about twenty people who work at the manor who know it, mostly the techs who maintain the vehicles, plus housekeeping.”
If there were twenty who were known to have access, then there was likely twice that many who would also have it, Ali thought cynically.”
“We'll have to question all of them. I'd like you to provide a list of the servants who would most likely be found in there normally, and then we'll work our way down.”
“I'll get that to you shortly,” the Count said.
“Thank you.” Lightfoot turned to Salli. “Lady Darktail, can you offer any suggestions as to who might want to deface your skimmer like this?”
Salli spoke, her voice a staccato of barely controlled anger, matching the quietly furious expression she'd been wearing since she and Zaker had returned to the manor. “No,” she replied. “All of our servants,” she spared a glance towards Zaker, “most of our servants rather, have been with us for years. They stayed loyal through all the threats and intimidation our old countess threw at us. I can't imagine any of them engaging in such a ridiculous act.”
The lieutenant's gaze focused on Ali briefly. “Do you know of anyone in your household who has expressed, forgive me, reservations about the alleged relationship between yourself and Ms. Blacksailor?”
“Not alleged,” Salli growled. “I love Ali. I neither deny this nor am ashamed of it. If anyone else has a problem with it that is their problem.”
“That doesn't answer my question, Milady,” Lt. Lightfoot persisted.
Salli looked away from Lightfoot, her eyes focusing on Ali's, her expression pained. “I have been informed that some of the servants fear Alinadar, due to her criminal past. I do not have any specific names.”
“Thank you, Lady Darktail.” Light turned his attention to Ali. “And what about you?”
“What about me?” Ali asked in surprise. “I certainly didn't scribble that message on the door!”
“But has anyone in the household made remarks to you about your relationship with Lady Darktail? Anyone whom you might find threatening?”
Ali nearly crossed her eyes at the thought. “Who could threaten me in this house?” She gestured to Zaker. “Well her, maybe, she's got combat training. Everyone else here is a civilian.”
Lt. Lightfoot cleared his throat, an amused look crossing his face briefly. “I meant verbal threats.”
“Er, no.” Honesty then compelled her to add. “I mean the Countess doesn't like me being here, but if she wanted me gone, I would have been bounced out on my tail already.” Ali guessed that hadn't been the most politic thing to say just then, because the Countess looked furious, the Count just winced, and Salli actually facepawed briefly, covering her good eye with her palm.
“Right then.” Lt. Lightfoot glanced at the Countess with interest, then made a note in his palm comp. “I think that's all for now. With your permission Countess Darktail, I'd like to make a forensics sweep of the manor's garage. With all the foot traffic there the chance of finding something useful is low, but I want to be thorough.”
“Very well,” the Countess agreed, her temper under control now. “Zaker, show the Lieutenant the way.”
“Yes, Milady,” Zaker stood and bowed briefly, then left with Lt. Lightfoot and his aide in tow.
“I'll be in my rooms,” Salli said to her mother. “Ali, attend me.”
Ali stood up and followed Salli out the door, heading towards the stairs. “Sorry about that,” she said.
“You were being honest.” Salli's smiled somewhat wryly. “Mind you, sometimes being honest at the wrong times can be, er, unhelpful.”
“Yeah.” Ali rubbed the back of her head, remembering more than one blow landing there courtesy of Bloody Margo or old Sgt. Jack.
“So what are your security recommendations, Alinadar?” Salli asked, as the came to the door of her suite.
Ali frowned in thought. “The threat is too vague for any response beyond 'more guards.' Either they're going to go after you out of outrage for you shacking up with me, or they'll just stick with vague treats to make you uncomfortable. If they go after you directly then, well...” She grinned briefly showing her fangs. “They'll have to get through me first.”
Salli cocked her head, ears pricking up. “You look like you'd actually welcome an attack.”
She shrugged. “Beats all this padding around we've been doing. I could use a straight up fight for once.”
“Well, you're a straightforward person, Ali,” Salli allowed. “Don't change that just for me.”
Ali smiled slightly. “I won't. Promise.”
“I’m afraid we don’t have many leads to go on,” the investigator told the two nobles. “The ink on the skimmer’s door was a commercially available chemical compound, designed to be written invisibly and then appear after an extended drying period. It’s the sort of thing you find in junior chemistry sets or play kits for cubs who want to pretend they’re spies. Could have been bought anywhere from a retail store.”
“Are there any leads on the point of application?” Countess Darktail asked.
The investigator shook his head. “That was our next thought. The security cameras in the medical center’s parking garage saw nothing. The time from application of the ink to it appearing is approximately three hours, depending on how heavily it was applied. I’m told that there are no security cameras in the manor’s garage, correct?”
“That’s correct,” the Count told him. “Security is maintained with a keypad lock, but it’s not considered a deep secret. I think there about twenty people who work at the manor who know it, mostly the techs who maintain the vehicles, plus housekeeping.”
If there were twenty who were known to have access, then there was likely twice that many who would also have it, Ali thought cynically.”
“We'll have to question all of them. I'd like you to provide a list of the servants who would most likely be found in there normally, and then we'll work our way down.”
“I'll get that to you shortly,” the Count said.
“Thank you.” Lightfoot turned to Salli. “Lady Darktail, can you offer any suggestions as to who might want to deface your skimmer like this?”
Salli spoke, her voice a staccato of barely controlled anger, matching the quietly furious expression she'd been wearing since she and Zaker had returned to the manor. “No,” she replied. “All of our servants,” she spared a glance towards Zaker, “most of our servants rather, have been with us for years. They stayed loyal through all the threats and intimidation our old countess threw at us. I can't imagine any of them engaging in such a ridiculous act.”
The lieutenant's gaze focused on Ali briefly. “Do you know of anyone in your household who has expressed, forgive me, reservations about the alleged relationship between yourself and Ms. Blacksailor?”
“Not alleged,” Salli growled. “I love Ali. I neither deny this nor am ashamed of it. If anyone else has a problem with it that is their problem.”
“That doesn't answer my question, Milady,” Lt. Lightfoot persisted.
Salli looked away from Lightfoot, her eyes focusing on Ali's, her expression pained. “I have been informed that some of the servants fear Alinadar, due to her criminal past. I do not have any specific names.”
“Thank you, Lady Darktail.” Light turned his attention to Ali. “And what about you?”
“What about me?” Ali asked in surprise. “I certainly didn't scribble that message on the door!”
“But has anyone in the household made remarks to you about your relationship with Lady Darktail? Anyone whom you might find threatening?”
Ali nearly crossed her eyes at the thought. “Who could threaten me in this house?” She gestured to Zaker. “Well her, maybe, she's got combat training. Everyone else here is a civilian.”
Lt. Lightfoot cleared his throat, an amused look crossing his face briefly. “I meant verbal threats.”
“Er, no.” Honesty then compelled her to add. “I mean the Countess doesn't like me being here, but if she wanted me gone, I would have been bounced out on my tail already.” Ali guessed that hadn't been the most politic thing to say just then, because the Countess looked furious, the Count just winced, and Salli actually facepawed briefly, covering her good eye with her palm.
“Right then.” Lt. Lightfoot glanced at the Countess with interest, then made a note in his palm comp. “I think that's all for now. With your permission Countess Darktail, I'd like to make a forensics sweep of the manor's garage. With all the foot traffic there the chance of finding something useful is low, but I want to be thorough.”
“Very well,” the Countess agreed, her temper under control now. “Zaker, show the Lieutenant the way.”
“Yes, Milady,” Zaker stood and bowed briefly, then left with Lt. Lightfoot and his aide in tow.
“I'll be in my rooms,” Salli said to her mother. “Ali, attend me.”
Ali stood up and followed Salli out the door, heading towards the stairs. “Sorry about that,” she said.
“You were being honest.” Salli's smiled somewhat wryly. “Mind you, sometimes being honest at the wrong times can be, er, unhelpful.”
“Yeah.” Ali rubbed the back of her head, remembering more than one blow landing there courtesy of Bloody Margo or old Sgt. Jack.
“So what are your security recommendations, Alinadar?” Salli asked, as the came to the door of her suite.
Ali frowned in thought. “The threat is too vague for any response beyond 'more guards.' Either they're going to go after you out of outrage for you shacking up with me, or they'll just stick with vague treats to make you uncomfortable. If they go after you directly then, well...” She grinned briefly showing her fangs. “They'll have to get through me first.”
Salli cocked her head, ears pricking up. “You look like you'd actually welcome an attack.”
She shrugged. “Beats all this padding around we've been doing. I could use a straight up fight for once.”
“Well, you're a straightforward person, Ali,” Salli allowed. “Don't change that just for me.”
Ali smiled slightly. “I won't. Promise.”
