The Catacombs (For me and Carossa Fan)

[TickTock]

It was the middle of the afternoon and lights were flashing into the abyss of the sky, blue was no longer a colour one would see in Las Vegas, much less the night sky nor even the sun, unless you were lucky and yet smoke was raising up from the large city into the sky, steadily, dark, grey clouds already formed loomed over the giant city, waiting to drench it but not yet for down below there was a problem.

A somewhat large building was black, covered in burns as flames still sat atop across the building as firemen and woman continued to try and quell the fire. That was still spreading across the building in a fast pace'd manner, burning away as water sprung at it in an attack, it was horrifying to everyone yet beautiful, oh so beautiful.

The fight of water and fire, hitting one another, smoke, mist, screeching loudly at each other would of been enough to make anyone shake in fear or wither in pleasure.

The damaged building looked so beautiful almost as if it was alive with the amount of screaming coming from inside and outside from it. It was alive, living and yet after half hour the flames settled, dying just like the life that was inside the building, trapped.

It was poetic and yet so tragic as the water spilled from the building almost as if the building was crying, crying in pain and in lost. In lost of itself. This no one could understand the beauty fire was and the tragic that water brought to the fire.

For her, fire and water were part of each other yet complete opposites in every-way. The fire itself was that of a trapped bird, singing to get free but it could only move never run from what's behind it and soon whatever that was, it would eventually capture the flames but not without some damage along the way, fire would always win in the end, for her.

Fire even through the death of water had left its mark while water would just disappear, never to be seen again, never to be recognize. This was her victory, the scar that planted the building. The people, everyone involved would have a memory of this.

A scar in long forgotten memories of today of this time of this place and of this death, not of water but of fire, fire would always live in the minds of people and of the death and destruction it has caused this day.

This day.

Her mother's birthday.

How she despised her parents.

Standing still she looked at the building, sunglasses covering her face as she stared, not moving, not at all as she just watched, her arms folded tightly as she stood still, still as stone, breathing lightly and taken in the scent of the air. The hot, flamed air that burnt all around this area.

It was beautiful as she watched everything, near the building as she stared at people trying to help. The police, firemen/woman and even the media to an extent as well as some civilians.

It was chaos and she loved it that way.

[Carossa Fan]

"Christ!" A young Federal Bureau of Investigation consultant groaned into his phone at eleven in the morning. The phone had just shrieked out 'Headstrong' by Trapt, as the ringtone for the lead agent he consults with, called him and woke him up. He had just finished a case last night and was hoping to get his first proper six hours of sleep in three weeks but he only got four when his 'boss' called.

"What do you want? It's too freakin' early in the morning." The young man, nineteen as of five days ago, groaned into his cellphone. "You better have something important to say at this time of day, and yes i'm being pissy. In the last three weeks I have probably gotten forty-two hours of sleep. Do you know how many I should have gotten? One hundred and twenty six! That is eighty four hours of sleep I have missed out on. That's four hundred and twenty hours I have devoted to you, do you realize that? So unless you have a case I am going to take my gun and shoot you." The young man said both angrily and groggily.

He could hear his 'boss', one Donald 'Don' Crews, grin from his office in Vegas. "Well you're certainly not a morning person, my young consultant friend." The grin vanished from his voice and it became somber. "Yea, it's a case. It's a bad one, a building was burned to a crisp-lots of people are dead. It's also a new guy, we have no record of an mo like this. Or at least we can't find one as of yet. Their still putting out the fire. I don't have to tell you but get the hell down here. Now." Don said authoritatively without a hint of kindness-a very serious case indeed if he didn't have some kindness. Crews was a very kind person and he recognized how valuable his consultant could be. He didn't have to accept his friend's help but he did and with that command the young consultant got out of bed fully alert.

"Alright." He said in response to his boss, his griping completely ceased. He hung up and threw his phone on his bed. He rushed to his bathroom for a shower. He stripped his clothes off and threw them in a small hamper near the sink. He took a towel out from under the sink and placed it on the toilet seat. He turned the shower on and got in before it was hot. He spent two minutes getting himself cleaned and hopped out. He turned the shower off and quickly dried up. He threw the towel over the shower curtain rod to dry and hurried to his former bedroom now closet. He grabbed a generic suit and quickly put it on. In his rush he messed up the buttons and groaned. He fixed them and (grabbing his simple Panasonic FOMA P900iV phone, Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS keys, and Sig Sauer p229 9mm) rushed out of his apartment hardly remembering to lock it.

He jogged to his bike and, again because of his rush, he messed up starting it. He swore at it again and got it to start on the third try. "Piece of crap." He muttered as he raced to the city with his begrudgingly given lights flashing and siren shrieking. As he was driving there he remembered he hadn't asked where the building was but when he seen the smoke he realized where he had to go to. He parked his bike and looked at his phone-he arrived at the scene about twenty five minutes after Crews called him with the news. He greeted a friend of his, a uniform named Sam, who let him through the tape and he jogged to Crews brushing his dark hair out of his blue/green eyes. "Hey. So, what do we have? Anything yet?" He asked, wrinkling his noise from the horrible smell.

Don looked at him and smirked somewhat though everyone had done the same thing or something similar. "Yea, it's bad. Prelim says five confirmed dead, more for sure though. Wanna help with interviewing this crowd? I could use it Mr.Eddie Hunter." He said, needing to lighten the mood.

'Eddie' glared up at him. "It's Edmund and you know I hate that you six foot oaf." He said, huffing slightly temporarily forgetting the gravity of the situation in his irritation-exactly what Crews wanted. He walked over to the large crowd of what seemed to be at least fifty people. "Ok, can about ten of you come with me please?" He said, less of a question and more of a command as he gestured to the closest ten people to follow him. He stepped under the tape and gathered the people over to him about thirty feet from the tape. The group was mostly all guys with two girls. "Ok, this is a police investigation and you may call me Mr. Hunter, I am a consultant with the FBI so I need you all to be completely honest. First off, how many of you had seen or heard something prior to gathering here? If you haven't you may all go back over to the crowd and others will take care of you." Edmund said to weed out any one useless. It left only three people-two guys and a girl. The guys were somewhat fidgety but the girl was totally still. He thought he should keep an eye on her, something about her was off putting. First off was the somewhat eerie stillness, second was the military sunglasses which he found odd for someone like her (though what she was like he did not know) to be wearing, lastly she just had an air about her that put him on alert.

"Alright then. I need your name and address please." Edmund said to the first male as he took out (to jot what they said and to add gravity to the situation) his notepad, pencil, and pressed start on a high quality digital voice recorder he left in his pocket in case he missed anything that may have been important.

[TickTock]

Looking up at the police officer, Janet grinned, largely almost cat like in appearance as her eyes gleamed brightly-fully in glee underneath her army styled sunglasses covering her eyes, blocking out a very important if not very vital means of communication in her own opinion. The most weakest element of anybody or of any person is the eyes or at least that's what Janet believed as she stood still, her lips in a straight line as she gazed at the officer before almost glaring, not that he could of seen but the tension would or should be there at the very least or at least she hope'd and as she stared some more, she realized something.

She did not like him.

Something was off, just slightly about him but it was nothing more then a feeling and a feeling in any kind was worthless and at most should be punished for one's emotions cannot be involved in this sort of game especially when life itself was on the line, her's and others. Then again, did she have a life to live at all? The answer would be no for her, she had lost her life a long time ago and the only question that remained in Janet's mind was one simple yet crucial answer or was it a question? Was she scared? Did she want something? What purpose did she have to stay alive, why? Was it to survive? But that seemed to simple to accept, survival meant many things but was that it? That she wanted and still wants to survive this, everything? Why survive? What is the purpose to survive? She didn't know and she couldn't ask the question much less answer it, after all such things were meaningless, weren't they?

Janet watched as the male shook slightly, scared, he was a snitch and if he knew any better, he wouldn't say anything bar lies, after all she knew him. The bastard and the only few people left behind from the previous killing she had made a year or so back, Jack, that poor boy, he was only four years old and that bastard, Kenneth John was one of the culprits that she couldn't find after the event due to his body missing but now, that little fact had changed as she smirked slightly as he walked forward, limping, looking over at Janet.

He knew her! But it couldn't be? Could it? Kenneth was shaking, his injury wasn't good but it wasn't bad either yet he was scared, scared for his life as he looked at the police officer, his dark chocolate brown eyes moving back and forth wildly almost like an animal that was about to be killed, "I'm...Ken...Kenneth...J..John." said Ken, stuttering, out of breath as the air turned into mist in front of his very eyes, "I.." could he even say where he lived? No...That psycho would find him and kill him or at least torture him, then kill him, he hoped. Then again...He didn't know what to do.....The cops or Janet? Which one....he felt ill as he stared at the officer, "My address is, 42, Avenue Road." said Kenneth, his voice low as he waited for the officer. His entire mind shattering at that moment as questions, doubts filled his mind as denial slowly took place inside his head.

Kenneth John was hoping for a miracle.

Obviously Janet had heard him not that he knew or at least she thought he didn't and even if he did. It didn't matter, not one bit. After all she would get him sooner or later, one week at the earliest or a month at the latest. If he was smart he would run far away from here and far away from the Santiago mafia family bases that swept across the American boarder and parts of Italy, France and Sweden, not that anyone was truly safe from the family for however small they were, nationally and together they huge enough to take charge of certain areas that the police wouldn't or couldn't go into.

So Janet stood still watching in a amused manner, pitying the man before her. The other man she did not know nor did she really care for, he was of no importance to her but? Could he be a danger? No, unlikely, thought Janet in a swift, brass movement and yet, she was nervous but why?

She could not tell.

[Carossa Fan]

Edmund waited in silence as he noticed a tension fill the immediate area. It came so quickly he gave a small shiver. He could also feel the cockiness just ooze from the women in front of him. He bristled slightly at it, it was just weird. Why did she just start go from being still to being cocky? Yet her position hadn't changed at all. 'Disturbing.' He thought and jotted it down along with a slight description of her. He waited to see if the air would clear of both the tension and the cockiness but nether subsided. In fact, they both grew more intense.

As his unease grew from thinking about the women in front of him he wished he had asked her for her name and address first. She seemed like she would have more information then the two men standing near her. One of them started to get very nervous and moved a bit closer. Edmund followed suit and moved closer to him as well, standing as tall as he could bar getting on his toes. The nervousness exuding off the man turned to fear as he glanced wildly around-his brown eyes darting to and fro. He was about to ask him if he wanted to step aside so they could talk privately when he decided to speak on his own. "I'm...Ken...Kenneth...J..John." said the man, stuttering, out of breath as the air turned into mist in front of his very eyes "I.." Kenneth trailed off for a second or two and after looking around some more continued "My address is, 42, Avenue Road." said Kenneth, his voice low and fearful.

"Kenneth John you said Kenneth as in K-E-N-N-E-T-H?" Edmund asked jotting his name and address down. He heard the man clearly but he wanted to make sure it was true. It helped to poke holes in what someone said, if they were lying (and he thought everyone was), if they heard what they said repeated a few times. "And your address is 42 avenue road? Are you sure that's it?" That didn't sound like a legit address and the guy seemed way too scared to be of normal mental health unless he witnessed the arson happen or someone die. "So sir, what exactly did you see or hear earlier today? Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you, about this building may be of some importance." Edmund said, carefully enunciating his words so the man would easily understand him if he were on some type of drug.

As he waited for the man to answer he surveyed the rest of the area, looking out for anything that looked remotely suspicious. His gaze kept returning to this women in front of him. He wasn't attracted to her, though she was pretty in a way, she was different from the crowd gathered around the tape. Everyone there was just gawking, crying at their presumed loss, looking on fearfully hoping their loved ones were not among the dead, or some combination of the three. She was doing none of them. She just stood their looking down at everyone which in itself would just be annoying but the rest of her demeanor, and those annoying shades, made him weary of this unknown women. He yearned to tell her to take those stupid things off but he didn't want to interrupt Mr.John from finally speaking. He stood in front of him, aggravatingly a bit shorter then the man, and looked impatiently at him wishing he would finally speak. With his luck he wouldn't have very much to say anyway. Which would really be a waste of his time. But there was always a chance he may have something very important to say. Hell, he may even know the perp and give them up. Which he greatly doubted would happen.

Time seemed to stretch on and it was starting to get somewhat uncomfortable. 'If this guy doesn't say something useful in the next two minutes I swear to god I am going to shoot him' Edmund thought frustratingly as he felt his irritation start showing through. When he did he quickly got it back under control and replaced his professional stoic mask. He was itching to talk to this off putting women. He shook his head slightly, he needed to stop focusing on her. Yes she was weird and he would talk to her soon but he might miss something if he focused only one her and her weird attributes. After all, she could just be weird. But then again, cops don't believe in coincidences and her just being weird would definitely be a coincidence.

[TickTock]

Janet could feel his lingering stare. It was annoying yet humorous at the same time but she also found it boring, very boring. After all standing around was no fun at all but for now at least, she would stay, stay still almost frozen like a statue and yet laughing, laughing from the inside at it all, how truly idiotic, thought Janet tilting her head to the side slightly almost pretending to doze off as if to mock the police officer in front of her as she yawned loudly, possibly a bit to loudly? As she breathed in deeply, calm, very calm and unseemly worried. After all, he couldn't get her no one could and as she listened to the repetition of the name and address, Janet smiled, slightly almost unnerving aiming the smile at no one in particular bar herself. It wasn't a good or rather a nice smile. It was cold and yet almost shaken by a thought, perhaps? But she rarely thought nor did she like to think. It tended to cause trouble thinking and thinking and over-playing these things could easily cost one a life or worst yet, begging for death.

Janet shivered at the small thought of begging for death. It was a cruel weapon some people used on others to gain information and she had never used it. It wasn't right to torture someone to the point that they, themselves are begging for death. It was disgusting and if inferior to her skill and work or maybe it was just kindness? Tortured to the point of begging to die or tortured to the point where you could still live normally if not scar'd in someways? Janet knew a few people who would torture others till they begged and still then it would not stop and normally in the end those that were being tortured would try and kill themselves, hanging or biting their tongues.

It was a awful way to go and in someways Janet viewed herself as a person of mercy and kindness, after all even she wouldn't go that far, would she? Janet could only yawn again this time, for real as she looked upwards at the sky. After all she did have a lack of patience for these types of things and as Kenneth continued to stutter out, babbling and barley making any sense, Janet raised her hand and walked forward as she put her hand on Kenneth's back, rubbing his back, soothingly almost gentle, "Sorry officer," spoke Janet softly her voice raw almost injured, "but I have to go very soon," said Janet pausing taken in the officer's appearance, "I have a meeting I must attend which is of severe importance, Richard Leroy the casino owner from down town had made a request." added Janet, softly and yet with a smirk on her face she couldn't help but add on a little more detail, "And I can't exactly say no to the mayor's nephew, after all we all have our own jobs to keep." said Janet swiftly, smoothly and in a rather slick manner as she pulled out a small card, "This has all my information on it but if you must see me for an interview you can catch me later 9pm tonight at the club, Bolts, I hope you can understand." said Janet, smiling almost in a way that one would throw up and gag at the very grin that possessed this woman's smile as she held her card outwards, waiting for the officer to take it.

All her details were on there bar for her first, middle and last name which was swapped with Lily, Lily Lawrence Jones. Otherwise everything was correct except for her job title which was noted join as 'Manager' of TNT - A well known advertising company which just happened to be her next job or.....fire, hopefully she hope'd that after this fire he would catch on. After all she had been bored for a very long time and quite lonely but as she stood still, holding her card out she couldn't help but frown slightly as a strange thought occurred, one that she couldn't keep to herself, "You remind me of someone that I used to know." uttered Janet, softly almost human for the first time, maybe she shouldn't of said anything but it felt almost as if she had to but it didn't mean anything, nothing at all.

Its all just coincidences, after all but even as she looked at him, nothing not even a memory nor a emotion came to her. It was almost as if she didn't even speak or said what she just said, maybe she was just going crazy or maybe it was something she had forgotten a long time ago. A certain memory she couldn't remember or would allow herself to remember and at that moment for whatever she had done the cracks begun to show. Yet later on, she would have to thank her glasses for hiding her eyes, her eyes which flickered with a mixture of light and darkness as different emotions conflicted one another, emotions she had lost throughout time, throughout denying, throughout pain were slowly unfolding and yet still, she refused to take them in and let them out, Janet chose'd denial.

It would be later on tonight, late at midnight where she would take out the pain, the hurt on herself and once again wake up with no memory of the night before except for the underline'd scar's on her back and between her legs which always seemed to glisten with dried blood, cracked, sticky and most of all open, unlike herself.

[Carossa Fan]

Edmund was caught off guard by the women's yawn-it wasn't really loud but it was unexpected coming from this women who had been so stoic and still. Her smile almost made him recoil in fear-it was pretty yet grotesque. Grotesque in some way other then the physical appearance, it seemed also more then the meaning behind the smile. In fact, there seemed to be no meaning behind it and that made the mysterious, grotesque, smile become sinister instead of 'just' repulsive ugliness. 'Horribly disturbing...Hell, I need this women's name! She's involved in this case, I know it!' Edmund thought, aggregated by his mistake of calling upon one of the males rather then her. 'Ugh, this man needs to start speaking up! I have more important people to check on.'

The young FBI consultant tuned out his distaste, definitely nowhere near fear, for the women and his impatience for the man as he again, with a more discreet manner, surveyed the area. This time he went slowly from the far left to the far right scanning for anything or anyone who jumped out at him either in the same way the women did or in some other fashion. He observed the scorched building with various types of law enforcement agents, firefighters, and EMTs swarming to and fro. The only people he didn't see running around almost aimlessly was Crews, the others on his team, and himself. Like he was, they were all involved with interviewing various amounts of people with many of them going back to the crowd being interviewed by a group of uniforms.

He couldn't really decipher anything important out of all the noise in the area, which was to be expected of course, but he rightly assumed that they had gone through the same process he had to weed out anyone who wasn't a witness to something. He sighed, this was taking way, way too long and he was starting to get visibly irritated at his lack of progress. He liked to really jump into a case and this was not at all helping. Next time he would remember to examine the witnesses and pick the one that seemed to be most useful. 'Finally! Progress!' Edmund thought, hoping that things could get moving as the women raised her hand and stepped closer to the stuttering man known as Kenneth John. She rubbed his back and he hoped they knew each other, besides a connection which may prove useful it would also be weird if they didn't know each other and she was rubbing his back. 'Son of a—' Edmund thought angrily at the first seven words she spoke. 'W-w-wait, is she a freakin' hooker?!' He thought stunned as she mentioned the mayor's nephew and not being able to refuse him.

She held out a card and he snatched it from her hand. 'Oh.' He said almost dumbfounded. 'She's in advertising...so she must know that she made herself sound like a prostitute.' He read her name (he always read the business then the person's name) and was almost as equally dumbfounded as he was a second ago. 'Lily Lawrence Jones does not suit the women in front of me. Especially the name Lily, more like a Blue Larkspur.' He thought sardonically. "O-ok then. Yes, we'll be interviewing everyone here so expect someone to show up." He said, cursing himself for the untimely stutter. He was just completely caught off guard but it seemed, to him, to ruin his professional demeanor.

'What did she mean by understand? It's some club, so what?' He thought, shivering at her disturbing smile as she whispered something. "Oh, uh, is that a compliment or an insult?" He joked slightly as that song by Gotye flitted through his head and he could feel it get stuck there. He cursed in his head. He didn't hate the song but he didn't like when any song got stuck in his head, it was very annoying. Though he couldn't see her eyes, he could feel her stare at him and so in response he stared back looking straight at where her eyes would be. After about a second he diverted his eyes and looked back to notice that the third witness had left, apparently he didn't want to waste his time. 'What the hell! I didn't even see him leave!' Edmund thought perplexed, angry, and a little embarrassed at the fact. He turned his attention to Kenneth John and wished he would speak up on his own. He really didn't have time for this.

"Sir? Kenneth? I'm sorry to sound so rude but I am running a police investigation and I do need for you to hurry up if you were a witness to something." Edmund said, much harsher then he had expected to. Though the harshness was more of an undercurrent then the respectfulness he tried to put into his sentence. After all, he wanted the guy to speak with him but he was only a consultant so the man was under no obligation to actually do so. But he don't seem like the type of guy to know that. At all.

[TickTock]

As she stared at the officer Janet grinned, slightly almost playfully, picking up on the stutter. It was obvious what a stutter was or at least she had heard it, not that he would know then again with her grin, he might have some idea, not that its of any importance to her yet, thought Janet, "Yes," said Janet, quietly, smoothly, "officer, I would at least expect that otherwise I would have serious doubts if the police didn't," added Janet, smirking lightly as she rolled her shoulders back, relaxing herself almost as if she was talking to any or even someone below herself.

Janet could only smile in a sick manner, "Consider it to be a coincidence rather then a compliment or insult," said Janet, frowning now, "then again," mumbled Janet, tugging on a strand of hair, twisting and twirling it in a manner that could of been considered flirting but instead it was normally one of the signs that she was thinking, "sometimes compliments and insults are better then that of a coincidence." stated Janet, softly, cold yet unnerved by such things and as she stared at him one last time, she looked at him, stoic, "I must go now, officer," said Janet turning her head side-wards to look at the building once more before leaving as a ounce of pity fumbled away at her for the officer. He was young, maybe to young and maybe she was feeling a little more generous today and with a sigh, she chuckled slightly as she walked past the officer, stopping to stand side by side of him, "Officer, I can tell your a consultant," whispered Janet softly, "take my advice," mumbled Janet, "don't trust the people you work with..." said Janet, "some of them will kill you if they are giving the chance." added Janet walking away from the officer towards a near by motorcycle, red and silver in color which she hopped onto, twisting the key as the engine coughed loudly, smoke and fumes erupting from it as she drove'd off into the road going down town leaving the officer with Kenneth.

Janet knew about Kenneth quite well, well enough to know that if he was giving the chance he would try and charm his way into the police as a copper which wouldn't be that hard for him, after all a few people from the police already had criminal backgrounds. The easiest information one could find was going to Xavier - no one knew which side he played but he was a good, tidy bloke if not a bit unfortunate with his family at the moment. Some idiots from the 'underworld' decided to kidnap his only child and that made her feel sick, sick to her stomach as she thought of the man who had problems with health and yet worry for him grew in the pit of her stomach; He was hunted from both sides and yet friends with both, it wasn't fair. He only wanted to be helpful to people and his daughter.....she reminded Janet so much of her sister and now she felt like puking.

She wanted so bad to help but she couldn't, she didn't know where to start and that hurt her. It reminded her of the past something she didn't want to think or remember but everytime she thought of him and his daughter.....it made her remember...remember the time that was not important but it was close, close to her heart or what heart she did have left....

There was yelling.

Something broke.

There was a small girl crying.

And there was a belt.

She didn't do anything at first. She was stood frozen as she watched and as the first whip came down upon the small child, her sister a gash upon her cheek now opened....She remembered tackling if not almost pushing her father away onto the floor, hatred for him increasing.

Janet could only close her eyes as she turned the gas off. Thanking her sunglasses almost for keeping her eyes out of sight as she sat still on the seat of the motorbike as she sighed lightly, tired almost of everything. She normally didn't think this much, she much preferred orders then anything else. Those were easier but she was no longer within the mafia family, she was working for herself and had to be cunning but as each moved on the chess board came to play, Janet found herself walking a even more finer line between life and death. What should she do? Should she go after Kenneth? The people who captured Rosie, Xavier's daughter? Or should she go after that cop? Or should she start planning her next burn down after the meeting? Yet she already knew what she had to do; find Rosie and yet as quick as she thought of it.....The quicker it went out of her mind; The Heart Cannot Be Involved. Invaded her thoughts such things could get one killed but maybe? Just this once, she'd break the rule, maybe.

Kenneth was jumpy, more then jumpy as he looked about frantic almost cowardly like a rat as he watched Janet leave, "Officer, you gotta help me, please!" shouted Kenneth dropping down onto his knees, begging almost as he took a grip of Edmund's ankles as he shook, scared obviously in fear, "Take me away, now please!" begged Kenneth, not caring about the level of harshness that was displayed to him. If anything Kenneth would of looked disgusting to Janet at that moment if she was there. That was the only way to describe him, pitiful, disgusting just like a rat.

[Carossa Fan]

Edmund felt his face grow somewhat hotter than normal but tried to stop his embarrassment show when Lily smiled at him-it was mocking him about his slight stutter. Which was utterly ridiculous and stupid as it ruined his authoritative presentation. 'What the hell.' He growled internally, he was having a terrible day so far. Woken up early, driving to a crime scene filled with smoke and dead bodies burnt to a crisp, he wasn't even gonna ask if it could get worse because it most likely would. He chuckled somewhat about her comment and replied. "Yes, it would be rather unprofessional of us to not interview a witness." He bristled though when her stance changed. It went from being very still and relaxed to upright and dominant. He wondered why she suddenly shifted her demeanor.

"A coincidence huh? Well I don't believe in coincidences so I think i'll just leave it as an ambiguous comment if you don't mind Mrs. Jones." Edmund said, slightly perturbed as she twisted a lock of hair-he wasn't sure if she was flirting or thinking but she looked to be thinking more then flirting. He hoped she was thinking. It would be horribly unnerving if she was flirting for some reason. He ignored her ambiguous comment about compliments and insults being better then coincidences.

"Alright then Mrs. Jones, someone will meet you later this evening." The young FBI consultant said, deciding not to add 'at the club' as it would sound much too informal for a police investigation. 'She must have not heard me when I announced myself as a consultant.' Edmund thought rather amused as his mood shifted to the chilling comment. He of course didn't trust his colleagues but he didn't think any of them were-well yes they were all capable of killing someone but he didn't think any of them would kill him. Sure some people resented him but the FBI and, the regular police even, diligently screened any type of employee. No crazy guy looking for a badge and gun could get it and they had periodic mental evaluations so if anyone was going crazy then they would be able to tell and deal with the problem.

He noticed her bike and was about to jot down its plate but she drove away to fast for him to catch it. The fumes from the bike irritating his eyes certainly didn't help much anyway. 'Damn, maybe someone else thought to take it down. I don't trust that women, not a bit. She has type of thing around her that really puts me on edge. I need to find out what it is. My day is really going t suck-I can tell...crap.' Edmund thought to himself, aggravated at his lack of progress on the case.

He didn't care that he had been on the scene for less then half an hour, he wanted progress and he wanted it now! Besides his intelligence he is also known for his tenacity...and his cynicism...and his young age...and his insomnia...and a bunch of stuff really. It bothered him somewhat, how if someone at the FBI was asked to name ten traits about him they would be able to name twice the amount with all the rumors and such about him. He wasn't some type of celebrity nor did he have much positive attention. No, on the contrary many people didn't like him. One agent, Patrick Reeves, unfortunately on Crews' team, loved to give him a hard time. Yes he did have ten years less experience and yes he was twenty years his junior, but the man didn't have to be so in his face about it. If it was occasional snide comments then he would be ok with it. If it was frequent comments behind his back then he would be ok with it. If Reeves spread rumors about him and they got people looking at him and whispering he could deal with it. But the man was so obnoxious, constantly in his face. Yes the guy could be alright at times and he would have his back if there was ever a firefight but those were the few redeeming qualities he had. Otherwise the guy was too annoying to get along with.

'Speak of the devil.' Edmund thought as he noticed Reeves' partner, Shawn Burke, give him a condescending smile. 'Creep.' He thought as they both went back to their respective witness'. He was about to demand Kenneth start talking when he finally decided to speak. What he said surprised the young consultant.

"Officer, you gotta help me, please!" shouted Kenneth dropping down onto his knees, begging almost as he took a grip of Edmund's ankles as he shook, scared, obviously in fear. "Take me away, now please!" begged the pitiful man. That was the only way to describe him, pitiful and rather disgusting. Edmund recoiled slightly as his ankle was grabbed.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on. What is it sir? Do you need an EMT? You ask for my help but want to be taken to jail? Why, is someone after you? I need you to speak to me? Did you see something you weren't supposed to?" Edmund asked, frantically. He grimaced as he helped the man up-he really needed a shower...and lots of deodorant. Thankfully a friend of his, and an agent, seen his plight and ran up to help him-Terri Benson. Benson had been on Crews' squad for about three years after being a cop for five. She also looks wonderful for almost forty years. Medium, wavy, brown hair, sparkling brown eyes, slim figure, well endowed. Rather attractive actually. But she obviously had a thing for Don, and vice versa though neither acknowledge it.

"I gotcha Eddie." She said as she ran over to him and he frowned at her for the nickname. Everyone's on the squad knew he hated them shortening his name. And yet they all did it anyway. She lifted the man away from her friend and held him as far away as possible without letting go of the creep. "Now sir, please answer the nice man's questions." Though she said it sweetly, her voice was ice cold and nicely threatening.

[TickTock]

Looking straight ahead at the building in front of her Janet stretched lightly, it wasn't even that classy or at least didn't seem to be like the last few, normally the mayor's nephew would try and show off at whatever chance he got. That included trying to charm her, Janet. Yet it never worked, in fact Janet hated that good for nothing whiny rich boy, what a brat, thought Janet getting off her bike as she looked across the road at the car park - spotting his 'royal' highness's sports car, Richard Leroy the stereotypical playboy of the city, bad-ass, charming, know it all and God's gift to females or at least that's what Janet had seen of him.

In truth for Janet at least he was none of what he proclaimed to be; For her, he was a brat. A brat - A crybaby - A narcissistic little loser - The level of arrogance that Richard Leroy had even surpassed her own which wasn't that big to begin with but being able to act did help with the following especially trying not to vomit while he would try and pull certain moves. If anything, she would kill him if she could but she couldn't, his father was a very well known man around the 'Underworld' and with his brother as the Mayor - The Leroy clan could get away with anything and could easily get anyone they wanted; be it killed or for sexual activity and 'Richy' had, had his eyes on Janet for quite sometime now much to her disgust and worry; After all she couldn't say no or it would be death, maybe dying wouldn't be so bad compared to Richard's pig like charm? And if she could kill him before she could get arrested or killed by anyone else, she might be able to live. Then again day dreaming doesn't accomplish anything and with a quick sigh Janet walked forward into the building and through the double doors that were similar to old western type of films.

She actually liked old western films, they were fun to watch and if anything else; She could easily imagine herself of being a cowboy or would be that a cowgirl? Looking around the entrance, Janet sighs as she notices some form of security and of course he would be here waiting for her just outside the office room with a grin on his face, "Hello Janet," said Richard almost strolling down to meet her, his hips swinging back and forth with a type of swagger that one would likely laugh at if it weren't for the fact he was the mayor's nephew, "I see you look more lovely then ever." said Richard, simple yet charming and it was sometimes like these that Janet didn't mind him, he wasn't being a pig but someone more lovely then he actually was; it was odd but it soon didn't last as Richard pulled her in; arm over the waist and his hand going into her trousers touching her bottom, squeezing it, "So cute," mumbled Richard into Janet's ear as a shudder of disgust run up her body which Richard believed to be a shiver of delight, sexual delight, "I can tell that you want me, your just scared, aren't you?" whispered Richard seductively into her ear, lightly as he moved his hand down causing to Janet to jump slightly.

She knew that she had to play along or possibly get killed, "Richard, please," whispered Janet, putting her hands on his chest as he grinned, "I'm not ready for anything yet." said Janet in a weak, submissive manner with head bowed down looking at the floor as Richard let a small 'aww' at this action, "Okay sweetie," said Richard, playing with her hair, "we won't go rough, okay, we'll just go soft for you, your just so inexperience, aren't you?" said Richard almost coo'ing at Janet as she tried to stop herself from throwing up almost at this, "But its okay, Richy will teach you some tricks, that's a good girl." added Richard letting go of his hold on Janet as she glared, harshly at him trying her best to keep her mouth shut, "Now just follow me, two steps behind Janet after all that's where a pretty woman like you belong, behind me or at my feet, kneeling." said Richard grinning as Janet followed behind him, anger surging all over her body as she entered the office room; trying her best to regain her mentality over Richard Leroy; feeling a little bit of relief that 'The Bolts' nightclub was just next door where she could blow off some steam later, hopefully.

Kenneth could only stare at the female and at the officer, Eddie? Why did that name sound familiar? And why did Janet and him stare? Unless, possibly? Now, Kenneth wasn't smart but when he could see a connection and a chance at anything, he would grab at it and he let out a laugh, shocking even himself slightly, "Eddie?" asked Kenneth almost excited, "Tell me do you know anything about a boy called Jack?" asked Kenneth, not caring at all for the questions Eddie had giving him before; After all if he said yes; this meant one thing and one clear thing that he, Kenneth would have over on Janet and the cops. He could almost feel himself laughing once more at it; it was so obvious...and yet it was so funny; couldn't they even tell? Kenneth knew Janet and he had a small feeling he knew Eddie after all he did snitch on the Santiago family and he was there when Janet came apart of the Mafia and he had seen the pictures; ripped in places, wet, dirty but he had seen them and he knew; he knew and it was so obvious.

Then again; The obvious always seemed to blind those who could not see the basics and what was right in front of them; this normally caused death in the later run; Kenneth wasn't a thinker, he wasn't smart but he knew the basics and the obvious and that's all you really need in this game because if you over complicate things; The Devil was bound to get you.

[Carossa Fan]

As they waited for the aggravating witness to get some type of meaningful sentence together they conversed about the case and what amount of pertinent information, if any, someone had gathered. According to Benson, some was.

"Obviously we haven't got much. We do know five are dead for sure. Only reason we know that though is because we found five charred vics in the lobby, which is the first room in the building if you ever go in. Of course there are more people dead, I don't know how many exactly but i'm guessing around fifty or so. Maybe more, maybe less. Really can't be sure yet. Do know it smells worse then anything i've ever smelled before. On that note, how you holding up kid? Is your first arson I imagine, right?" Terri asked Edmund as she released his witness, feeling uncomfortable holding the man for longer then necessary.

"Yea, I figured out that much Benson. Do we know of any obvious motive yet or no? Do we know what type of accelerant was used, if any that is? Crews said the MO was new and that most likely suggests a newbie though of course we don't know that for sure. I assume there wasn't a glaringly obvious suspect nor a person of interest? Did the perp leave any conveniently placed calling cards, hotel room cards, address, signed confession, etcetera? I realize we haven't been able to do actually conduct an investigation yet but what has the prelim uncovered, anything?" Edmund asked, in a rapid fire manner.

Terri just gave him a blank stare and answered him with a sarcastic smirk. "One its Terri not Benson. Two-I get your point and third-yes, we have a motive, a small list of likely suspects, gasoline, hotel room card and confession, and we just found out who the perp was. All within the three hour time span of the building initially being burned. The prelim has shown only a little more then a few minutes ago. We now know how many guests there were, how many staff members there were, and who had access to any private entrances-which would be all the staff. Anymore obvious questions we wouldn't have an answer to as of yet Sir Edmund Hunter?"

Edmund chuckled somewhat. "Nope, not anymore Special Agent Terri Benson. Thank you for your sarcastic evaluation of the situation at present. I appreciate your help with the witness but it might be best if you were to get back to the boss. We have loads of crap to do-it might be better if you could help the uniforms get rid of the crowd. We do have an actual job to do and they aren't witness' so they'll just get in the way."

Terri smiled at him. "Do those sound like orders? They sound suspiciously like orders mister consultant. But they couldn't possibly be orders now could they? Because last time I checked neither of us can give the other orders. Though if they're just suggestions then I might just do so." Se was prevented from saying more as she was called over by Don Crews. She gave Edmund a small wave goodbye as she jogged back over to Crews.

Edmund sighed and gave a small smirk in her direction though her back was turned and it went unnoticed. He turned back to the witness just as he started to speak. 'Finally.' Edmund thought exasperated at the time it took for him to say something-even though it wasn't a very long wait at all.

"Eddie?" asked Kenneth almost excited, "Tell me do you know anything about a boy called Jack?" asked Kenneth, not seeming to care at all for the questions Edmund had just given the man.

Edmund frowned. "Sir, my name is Edmund though I would prefer it if you would address me as Mr. Hunter. We do not know each other so a first name basis is highly unprofessional. Also, I hate the name 'Eddie'. And no, I am completely unaware of a boy named Jack. Why, does this boy have something to do with the arson?" Edmund asked, perplexed at the question but also impatient for an answer.