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Post by Emily Wyatt on Jan 5, 2011 14:32:55 GMT -8
Emily was brought out of her match making day dream by York's question. She thought about it for a moment. What sort of blunt instrument could remove a tongue and had to do with being a passionate man? Wait-
Was it bitten off?
Just the thought made he toes curl. Yuck! It was a logical conclusion and in a twisted way came back to York's passions query...
Emily frowned when George made no effort to give an answer. He was no mood to play York's game but Emily wasn't surprised. George was never one for fun an games especially during any sort of police work! But his refusal to answer might give York the impression that the Greenvale Sheriff Department wasn't up to the challenge. She wanted to show York that they weren't completely clueless so she hesitantly spoke up.
"Agent York-Er is it possible Anna's tongue was bitten off in the heat of during a passionate kiss? Teeth are blunt enough and the human jaw is certainly strong enough..."
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 5, 2011 20:03:25 GMT -8
"Emily, if this were a real game show, you'd be ahead of George by at least one point," York said without looking up. If he was pleased that Emily had undermined the Sheriff's authority in order to impress him, his expression didn't show it. Even as he spoke, his face wore nothing more than intense concentration.
"Oh, one other point of interest... The tear tracks on her cheeks. If I remember your written report correctly, she was killed while it was raining out... Dried tears means she must have been killed under a roof, then either taken to a vehicle or covered up somehow while the killer transported her body to the discovery site. But we can worry about those details later. Guillaume, any more comments?"
Dr. Coquebloque wiped his forehead with a white silken handkerchief that was apparently scented with lilac perfume, even though the smell disappeared completely when he tucked it back into his coat pocket. "Er, no. I believe I have zed all there izz to zay." He hesitated. "...May I ask what it izz you are doing, Agent York?"
"Have you ever played that game where you have to move a wand through a wire maze without touching the sides?" York replied, taking out a pocket flashlight and shining it into the dark cave of Anna's mouth. The forceps probed deeper as he spoke. "I was never very good at it as a kid, but I like to think it was practice well-spent for situations such as this... Aha!"
The forceps twisted gently in his hand, and there was an unpleasant squelching noise as York brought whatever it was he had found down Anna's throat out into the light. A bright red pod, about the length of a man's thumbnail, glistened at the end of the metallic instrument. York's eyes seemed unnaturally bright in the dim morgue as he gazed at it.
"Jackpot, Zach," he whispered softly. "And I was kind of looking forward to that paid vacation, too..."
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George Woodman
Junior Member
I won't rest until I've inspected every suspicious nook and cranny!
Posts: 94
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Post by George Woodman on Jan 5, 2011 20:22:41 GMT -8
George rolled his eyes at Emily's answer to Morgan's question. Not that she didn't have the right idea, but because she was encouraging the man's insanity. "Emily, you and I are going to have words about this in private afterwards." he thought, scowling.
He also didn't like where Morgan's conclusions were taking him. The dried tears signalled him to where the murder could have really taken place and that the Tree of Anna was a cover up. "I hope I won't have to...dispose of this man. The cover up would be too difficult." Despite his thoughts, his expression still didn't change. However, only when he smelt Coquebloque's handkerchief did he cough a little. It smelt distinctly of lilac, but seemed to have be doused in the stuff.
However, Morgan's digging around in Anna's mouth seems to have found something. He looked at what he was pulling out...something familiar looking...
A red seed.
"FUCK!" George's mind yelled.
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Post by Emily Wyatt on Jan 6, 2011 5:02:08 GMT -8
((uhoh George is going to have words with Emily later...I sense scary glaring))
Emily's eyes widened at the small red object Agent York extracted from Anna's mouth. What was that? A seed? Part of a new diet craze? It was well known the girl was constantly worried about her weight. York didn't seem surprised though, he actually looked resigned like he's encountered such a thing before.
Emily stepped forward and brushed past George to great a closer look but unfortunately it didn't aide much with her confusion. She turned and shot a confused glance at George and could tell he was just as taken aback as she was at this new discovery. What an odd thing to find...
"Agent York, what is that? Is that some sort of seed?"
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 6, 2011 12:58:29 GMT -8
York laid the forceps on the table. "It's much more than that, Emily, but for practical purposes, that's what we'll call it. If Guillaume had been able to complete his internal report, he would have found more of the same. And that's not even the most interesting part..."
With a dramatic flourish, York pulled out a small plastic evidence bag from his suit pocket and handed it to Coquebloque. "Hold this up for me, would you, doctor? Now, take a look at this..."
He picked up the forceps again and held it next to the bag. Inside lay three red seeds, identical to the one York was holding. After a satisfactorily long pause, York put the forceps down again and began pulling more bags out of his pocket, like a one-armed magician producing doves and colorful scarves from thin air. He tossed them one after another onto the table beside Anna's corpse, each of them containing three red seeds. When he was done, he looked up, snapped his fingers and said loudly:
"This case is now under the jurisdiction of the FBI. I'm assuming command, and I'll need you all to assist me in the investigation."
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George Woodman
Junior Member
I won't rest until I've inspected every suspicious nook and cranny!
Posts: 94
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Post by George Woodman on Jan 6, 2011 13:12:25 GMT -8
George was surprised. Not only was Morgan able to find the exact way that he subdued Anna, but seemed to recognize it immediately. "Just what I need, an Agent who's wise to this. I'll have to work quickly." he thought.
Dr. Coquebloque was confused by the Agent's request, but complied anyways. He seemed to study the seeds inside them, but didn't quite know what to make of him. In his entire career as a doctor, he'd never seen something like this before. He wanted to ask York about what he was holding, but allowed the man to continue.
Morgan was pulling more and more bags of the same red seeds out of his pocket. George was aware that other red seed murderers existed. However, was only leading up to his final revelation.
When he made the declaration, George was outraged. How could he, this outsider, assume control over law enforcement in Greenvale. This case was HIS and no one else's.
"What in the hell are you talking about, Agent Morgan!" George asked, accusingly. "I know I said I was passionate, but you can't think I did this!"
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Post by Emily Wyatt on Jan 6, 2011 14:08:11 GMT -8
Emily looked back and forth between George and York. What was going on? York thinks George killed Anna? That couldn't be possible! George was on the side of justice for one and two there was no way he would ever do something as sick as this! She frowned and grabbed York's arm to get his attention from the fuming George.
With a pleading look she said, "York! You are taking over the investigation? But why? I don't understand? George didn't do anything!"
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 6, 2011 15:44:58 GMT -8
Coquebloque looked around nervously. "Um... I'm azzuming you'll want to sign zee release forms eventually... I'll just go over here by zee desk and, uh, print them up for later, yes?"
The doctor scurried off into a corner of the room where the computer sat, wanting to avoid the inevitable showdown between Agent and Sheriff. But York just seemed politely confused.
"Why would I think George did it? He's helping to find the killer, isn't he? Besides, I'm going to need someone to fill out the paperwork." He gestured to the pile of seed-filled bags before him. "No, I'm assuming command because of these pesky little guys. I'm afraid I can't answer any questions about them, not just yet... But finding even one grants the Bureau immediate authority over local law enforcement. It's rare, generally speaking, but my particular specialty puts me in this situation pretty often."
He picked up the forceps again and turned it over in the low light, a look of wonder on his face. "Amazing, isn't it? That such power could be conferred through the most humble and innocuous of objects... a single seed. And I'm not just talking about who gets to be in charge of a homicide investigation, no... This is the power of life and death itself."
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George Woodman
Junior Member
I won't rest until I've inspected every suspicious nook and cranny!
Posts: 94
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Post by George Woodman on Jan 6, 2011 18:49:46 GMT -8
George sighed. Reduced to being a pencil pusher for Agent Morgan. He slightly caressed the badge on his jacket. It began to feel a bit meaningless to him now.
It was also a terrible irony for him. The very red seeds that gave him not only his own power, but also power over the other inhabitants of Greenvale, also caused him to lose any authority he had over Morgan.
At least for now...
"Let the foolish Agent think he's in control. It will be that much more interesting to break him. Too make him see that his leadership means nothing..." George thought.
However, outwardly, he put on the "bitter-that-I'm-no-longer-in-charge" persona and kept his sour expression. He turn to Dr. Coquebloque, "Do you have that release form printed out yet?" he asked.
"Umm...Oui, here et ez, Monsieur Woodman." The Doctor said as he handed the form to the Sheriff. George took a nearby pen and began filling this out. He turned his head to Emily and Morgan.
"This might take a while, so you two can go on ahead to the lobby." he said and then turned back to the paperwork.
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Post by Emily Wyatt on Jan 6, 2011 20:10:23 GMT -8
Emily sighed as George turned his back to peruse the paper work. She was relieved that York didn't believe George was some sort of psycho murderer but she had a feeling that York taking control over the case would do little to improve his working relationship with George.
Agent York seemed preoccupied with staring at the red seed he just removed and made no move to leave. Eager to leave the cold and sterile morgue herself, Emily quickly gathered his baggies of red seeds and started to push him towards the exit.
With a bright smile she said, "Come on Agent York you heard George, lets wait upstairs!" But when she tried to give him back his evidence baggies she saw he was still clutching the forceps with the curious red seed in his only good hand.
After placing the bags back on the table Emily whipped out an evidence baggie of her own. She carefully took the instrument from York's grasp and gently dropped the red seed inside. Once she returned the forceps to a side cart she handed York the new evidence bag and put the other ones back in the inside pocket of his jacket.
"Come on! Let's go, go, go!" Emily cheerfully chided and resumed pushing him towards the exit.
The sooner we leave the sooner I can breathe normally!
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 8, 2011 10:07:41 GMT -8
York placidly let Emily push him around as he and Zach conversed heatedly, silently, about the implications of what they had just found. The discovery of the seed confirmed the presence of the Shadows, but there were other questions to be raised as well... The mysterious man in the red shirt who had driven them off the road, for example, and the fact that Agent Henning had apparently met a similar fate that same evening. Not to mention the arrival of Charlotte Jacobs, daughter of a previous Red Seed victim, and the fact that two of Greenvale's recent arrivals- Atlas Lasseter and Tamika Weir- were aware of the Shadows.
<How many other townsfolk can see them as well, do you think?> the voice whispered. <Or maybe it's just those two...>
"Only one way to find out," York replied, as Emily propelled him into the lobby. Out loud, he said, "Well, George seemed to take that pretty well! I'm actually surprised he didn't put up more of a fuss about my taking over the case. But I suppose murder is an unusual occurrence for a small town like Greenvale; would that be an accurate statement, Emily? Or is the nightlife around here more interesting than it looks from an outsider's point of view?"
<Hopefully that wasn't too subtle.>
"Emily's an intelligent woman, Zach. I'm sure she'll figure it out."
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Post by Emily Wyatt on Jan 8, 2011 10:35:03 GMT -8
Emily let out a sigh when she and York made it back to the brightly lit lobby. Granted hospitals were not always considered a cheerful place but it was leagues better then that dark and cold morgue.
There he goes again about Greenvale nightlife, I think I'm missing something here
"York, this is the second time you've asked me about this so called Greenvale nightlife. I have to honest, I have no idea what you are referring to. I've been here for ten years now and I didn't realize this town even had one outside of getting plastered at SWERY65 or the Galaxy of Terror. Sure, those sometimes result in drunken fisticuffs but nothing close to murder. Did someone tell you differently last night?"
Emily plopped down on a waiting room chair, "As for George...well I think it was the shock. Your take over was quite sudden, even I'm still a bit thrown. I bet you he's none to happy right now and once it has time to sink in well..."
She gave York a pitying glance. "It's not going to be pretty. George is stubborn as a mule and very territorial, especially about Greenvale matters. He's the one that gives the orders, not take them. He isn't going to make this easy for you."
She shook her head and smiled, "I'll do my best to play mediator and I'm sure with enough time he'll come around." With a wink she added, "But! I can't make any promises."
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 8, 2011 15:36:29 GMT -8
"Thanks for the offer, Emily, but I'm afraid it's going to be a bit one-sided for you," York said, sitting next to her and awkwardly taking out a cigarette. "Zach and I usually handle most of the investigative stuff ourselves; it's hard for me to work with others when there's no way of letting them know about the big picture. Still, the police aren't entirely useless when it comes to these cases: The townsfolk probably know and trust you, and I'm going to need your help to make them feel comfortable around me while I question them. There will be cases when I'll want to talk to someone in private... It's just how I do things. But everyone has their own special part to play."
He stuck the cigarette in his mouth and held up his lighter, regarding it as if it held the secret to Life, the Universe and Everything. "In other news, apparently my arm isn't completely snapped in two; in fact it might have been muscular damage rather than bone. I wasn't really paying attention, but I'm hoping that means this sling won't be needed in the next couple of days. When I was a kid, I used to think rapid healing was a pretty uncool superpower compared to, say, being able to shoot lasers out of your eyes... Now I realize how wrong I was."
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Post by Emily Wyatt on Jan 8, 2011 16:14:03 GMT -8
Not getting rid of me that easily Agent York!
"Sure, sure." Emily waved her hand, "That may be how you do things but I don't think it will fly well with George, even if you are in charge now..."
She smiled and said, "I'm glad your arm is healing fast, I'm sure with full mobility you'll solve this case in no time."
Emily laughed a bit, "Sooo...How many cases have you and Zach handled together? This Zach fellow must be pretty sharp if he works with someone like you! How did you two meet again?"
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Post by Francis York Morgan on Jan 8, 2011 17:22:38 GMT -8
<I don't think she realizes how serious you are about not playing nice with others.>
"From the sounds of it, Zach, she's not the one we should be worried about," York said casually, about to light up. Then, out of nowhere, Emily starting asking the questions. He fumbled and dropped the lighter on the floor. It skidded across the lobby and ended up under a row of chairs. York jumped out of his seat to retrieve it.
"Well, that was clumsy of me," he said, heading away from Emily. Then he rounded the row of chairs from the other side and dropped down behind them as if using the plastic seats as a shield. His voice rose above them, slightly muffled.
"Just one more confirmation of the old adage that two arms are better than one... I think I can see it, but I can't reach it. Maybe if I lie on my stomach? The floor certainly looks clean enough... Not like that one incident when we got caught up in the Great Fresno Food Poisoning of '99. We could hardly see the waiting room floor. I recall wondering if everyone in Fresno had been eating tuna fish at the time..."
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