Monster Manual (CCDPD)

[Marisol]

”Detective Guerro,” Captain Dolohov’s voice grabbed Marisol’s attention. She entered his office as he gestured for her to do so. ”Get the files together for the case you’ve been working on. The dead man - pale with the burnt eyes. Domovoi is taking it over.”

Marisol sighed in frustration. ”Sir, I’ve been..”

The Captain raised his hand to silence her. ”I know, detective, but you know the regulations. Someone from Domovoi will be here to get the file and evidence. And get ready for a long night. Weather isn’t letting up, we might be stuck here for awhile.”

Marisol was dismissed and she left feeling the frustration deep in her bones. It was a frustration all detectives had at one point or another. You do the work and as things are coming together and then another unit steps in and says they’re taking over. She had worked hard on this case. It had started with a welfare check call. Someone called because their friend had been acting strange - reporting increasing paranoia that he was being stalked. When the friend had lost contact, he’d called for a welfare check. The fire department showed up and had found a corpse. 

Marisol had come to the scene. The body had been pale. Almost like it had been drained of blood. The eyes were burnt, but it looked like it had come from the inside. There were other burn marks too, incompatible with the eye burns. There were burn marks around the room in the apartment as well as water stains. Papers were swept around like a wind had blown through it. The smoke detector hadn’t gone off - it had appeared damaged. Marisol had found journals there. The victim had written them. They gave credence to the witness’s story. There were repeated entries that stated the victim had multiple times seen something out of the corner of his eye, but when he looked there was nothing there. 

Marisol’s reports had been meticulous. Other detectives gave her a hard time for it sometimes, but DAs loved it. Her cases never got thrown out of court for something as mundane as the evidence was mislabeled. She documented everything: pictures, witness statements, the journals, and the toxicology and coroner’s reports. Some had thought maybe drugs - but the toxicology report was clean. The coroner had been stumped as well, labeling the cause of death as “inconclusive”. Everything was there. The more she dug into the case, the more she felt that the victim hadn’t been paranoid. Something had been following him. Her report didn’t state that yet. It was a gut feeling at this point. 

Marisol took the paperwork to the evidence lock up to collect it for the Domovoi people. She’d get everything together for them and have it in order. Some cops didn’t organize it. A small little jab that they were pissed that their case was being taken. Marisol was a team player, and even if she was frustrated, she wasn’t angry. She understood it. She had been a minute away from calling them herself. But even if she wasn’t angry, she couldn’t keep the frustration out of her posture as unbuttoned her suit coat to take a seat and begin to make sure she had everything in order. [/b]

[Dorian]

Dorian had been asked to go to another precinct in the winter crap to go start a new strange case. They had reached the end of a line. They couldn't get much further without weird. Dorian was good at weird but finding monsters wasn't really his thing. He covered things up and Domovoi seemed to forget that just because he was Atharim didn't mean he knew all the ropes, that was why Nox was there. But he was off to do the work. He brought Ivan along.

It would be good to have someone else, but they were just picking up the evidence and reports.

"I'm looking for the detective in charge of this case number." Dorian pushed a piece of paper to the receptionist at the front desk. He hadn't bothered remembering the number it was on the paper with the rest of the request.

[Marisol]

The receptionist at the desk, a young man, looked up and checked over the paperwork. Everything was in order. He typed the case number into the computer and found the detective assigned (previously) to the case.

”Detective Guerro,” he said, handing the forms back to Detective Vega. ”I can take you to her desk. I believe the captain informed her to get the files of the case ready for you. Please follow me detectives.”

He led the men into the bullpen. Detectives worked at various desks on whatever cases they had been assigned. Guerro’s desk faced away from the entrance, so her back was facing the men as they entered. Beneath the dark suit, it was easy to see her shoulders were tense. Her hair was tied in a pony tail.

”Detective Guerro, the detectives from Domovoi are here,” he said.

Marisol turned around in her chair and stood, seeing the two men. She thanked the receptionist who dismissed himself to go back to his desk. Marisol looked over the two men. One she recognized. She had met Dorian Vega when they had both responded to a death outside of a movie theater. It was then Marisol had learned of humanoid creatures that could manipulate emotions. Poor Rachel Shale. Marisol hoped she was healing okay. The other detective was a tall man - a good head taller than Marisol herself and younger than Dorian was. Marisol wondered why the two of them had come here to pick up the file. Perhaps they just hadn’t wanted to come alone.

Marisol gave them a smile - a genuine one. She was, after all, a team player. The case was in their purview even if she was frustrated that it was being taken away. Perhaps it was moreso the case was a puzzle she couldn’t solve that irked her so much. Marisol had always wanted to prove herself in a world that still seemed more dominated by men.

”Detective Vega,” she said, offering her hand to the older detective. ”It is good to see you again.” she then turned to the younger man, offering a hand to him in turn. ”Marisol Guerro,” she introduced herself and allowed him to do the same.

She gathered herself before continuing on, speaking to both men. ”I have everything here: photographs, witness statements, the toxicology and coroner’s reports, as well as physical evidence. You should find everything in order.” she hadn’t taken the vindictive nature of just throwing everything into a box for them to sort out. Everything was well organized.

[Dorian]

Dorian shook her hand. "Dorian is fine. This is Ivan Sarkozy." But he'd let Ivan add any more to it. As he took the paperwork from her and set it down on the table wondering what sort of mess he'd find. But he didn't find what he expected. Most people didn't like things being taken from him, not that he had any intention of doing that. She seemed to understand a little bit about the world they were working. Maybe it would be good to give her a trial. "Tell me what you think might be going on? I like to hear what the lead detective has to say before taking anything. You often seen more than you think."

[Ivan Sarkozy]

The last few months had been busy. Ok that was an understatement. For real. He had a family, now. He and Danya had found a bigger apartment, one that had plenty of room for them and for Zara- and the mountain of toys mom and pops had rained upon her. First grandkid and all that.

His brother had joined in the fun, and, Ivan privately suspected, also gotten revenge on him for some thing or other he had done when they were younger. The damn stuffed bear was as big as he was. Maybe bigger. Moving it out of the way was not easy. And it was always in the way.

Yeah, definitely revenge.

So now Ivan wasn't the bachelor anymore. Suddenly, he had a girlfriend and a a child. And while he was excited, it wasn't easy. Habits dont change just like that. Some were easy. The drinking every night. The desire to go out to the bar. Stuff you did as a single guy to occupy the time, flirt and have fun. That was never gonna be a permanent part of life.

But some of the others were harder. The routines were new. The parent teacher conferences, the homework checks. And the clothes. It seemed like they were forever doing laundry, folding it and putting it away. Jesus....just never ending. 

Anyway, life was now very different. And how he did his work was different. He was always aware he had a family to be there for. He still did his job, even when it was dangerous. Lots of people had families while putting their lives on the line. But neither was he as cavalier as he used to be.

Today it was to take over a case of death by mysterious circumstances. He'd seen the preliminary report, of course. Definitely Domovoi case. But the cases were as unique as they were the same. The morning was slightly warmer than normal. Or rather, the air felt still. The clouds he could see were black and gray. He couldnt tell if it was gonna get warmer or colder. 

Once at the precinct and through the front, they were introduced to Detective Guerro. Dorian made the introductions and Ivan shook her hand. "Ivan is fine." Dorian was the lead so Ivan didnt say more. 

But her work was good. None of the jurisdiction pettiness you might expect. He knew how she must feel. There was a Major Case guy who they called "The Vulture" because he always swooped in and grabbed cases that were 90% complete. Taking that last 10% is the hardest part he'd brag to those who would listen. Definitely an asshole. 

So he appreciated what Dorian was doing.

[Marisol]

The two Domovoi detectives were rather laid back.m, both asking to be called by their first names. Marisol relaxed at that. But Marisol had been pleasantly surprised when Dorian had asked for her take on the case. That wasn’t a normal response. Most walked in, grabbed the files, and left.

She blinked in surprise at that, but relaxed quickly, leaning back lean on her desk as she began with a quick summary. ”Okay,” she said collecting herself. ”Quick summary - welfare check was called on the victim by a friend who had become concerned after what he described as increasing paranoia he was being stalked. After the victim quit responding to message, EMS was called for a welfare check and found a corpse. Corpse was pale - as if drained of blood - coroner report refutes that particular method of death. He had lost little. . Eyes were burned - but almost as if from the inside. There were exterior burns on the victim incompatible with the eyes. The apartment was in disarray - burn and water marks were on the walls - papers were thrown about. The smoke detector was out of commission - damaged. Victims journals confirm that he was worried about being followed. Multiple times it stated that he saw something out of the corner of his eye, but when he looked, nothing was there. Toxicology report is clean. Coroner’s report inconclusive.”

Marisol took a breath, shifting gears. ”But you wanted my take on it, so this is what I think happened. I think the victim was a channeler and I think that maybe he was actually being stalked. The burn marks, water, and general mess of the room was caused by his channeling his magical powers. Pure luck kept the place from burning down. It’s also how he died. How - I’m not sure, but I don’t know what a lot of these channelers can do except for what I’ve seen on the news and various viral videos. As for why he magicked himself to death, well,” she rubbed the back of her neck nervously. ”The more I go over everything, the more I think he wasn’t as paranoid as his friend thought. I think he was being stalked. And I think whatever was tracking him forced him to do it.”

It wasn’t often Marisol gave her opinion like that, but he had asked. ”That’s not in my report. It’s speculation. The next thread I had planned to follow. I have no evidence or lack the knowledge to put all the pieces together, but my intuition says that’s the route to look down. But I guess that’s why you guys are here.” Marisol gave a resigned sigh. She wasn’t angry, but it was the first time she had shown that she was disappointed her case was being reassigned.

[Dorian]

Dorian listened. And he nodded along to let her know he understood. He picked up the case file while she was talking and flipped through the photos of the victim. This really wan't his game -- before Domovoi he'd investigate it, hand it off to Atharim hunters who wouldn't draw suspicion, follow up on the mundane side of things and walk through it like any other case and then when the Atharim killed said monster he'd cover their tracks in whatever way was necessary. Now, monsters were real. They took care of them. Dorian understood the rules and the laws, but he too was learning like everyone else. Without Nox's hand to guide them they'd all be lost.

Though she was right, it looked like a channeler mishap. Though Dorian had never actually seen one. Nox always cautioned Cruz not to draw too much it'll kill you -- burn you alive. This certainly looked like that. "Other than gut, Detective Guerror, why do you think it's a channeler gone awry? Have you seen something like this before? Heard rumors? I'm not discounting your findings -- I would agree that it looks like what I might say is over-channeling burning out from the inside seems to be on par for the stories I've been told and by a person who has felt such things. And you are right to think something could have made him do it." Dorian remembered the story Nox told after the gala he'd gone to with Cruz -- where the Ijiraq had feed on him. Nox had nightmares about it still -- it hurt when he channeled afterwards for a while. Not that Nox told that to Dorian -- but he confided in Christian who trusted Dorian even if the boy didn't. He didn't blame him -- not really. That was a lot of shit taht went down and Nox held a goddamned grudge well.

[Ivan Sarkozy]

Ivan listened carefully, tryjng to fit the pieces together. Perhaps the Detective was right. Perhaps this man had been stalked or was some how justifiably paranoid. However, Ivan knew that being a channeler didn't mean you couldn't be mentally ill. That Mordvinov guy, Volodin, in the market had been paranoid and it resulted in multiple injuries- and his own death. There had been other cases too.

As for the how if that was the case, well, he had some ideas. Heat didn't always mean combustion. Fire was a chemical reaction that required oxygen. Absent that- or at last at a distributed and low concentration, a body could simply cook from the inside out. That's how microwaves worked, after. Heating up especially water molecules im a substance. Rarely did fires or smoke occured unless there was metal of sufficiemt size.

Ivan wasn't claiming that was what happened here. The burns around the eyes were troublesome. The other burn marks scattered around the room. The water marks. But nothing should be discounted. Hunches could be right. And maybe it was. But he didn't like ignoring other possible causes until they were ruled out.

He'd wait until the Detective answered Vega before he asked his own questions.

[Marisol]

Marisol understood why Dorian was asking. Going by your gut was a dangerous precedent. It also meant you tried to find things to suit your theories rather than the actual facts. An open mind was important for a detective. You had to keep your mind open to other possibilities, she listened carefully, making sure she took in everything before answering. It was still weird to her that he was doing this. Dorian was a whole different game from the Vulture.

"Marisol is fine," she said, allowing them to be familiar too. Dorian was higher rank than she was. She wasn't sure about Ivan, but that wouldn't be a bad assumption. If they were okay with first names, so was she. "It's mostly gut, and I know how dangerous it is to go off of that, but it is a default when you're not sure which path to take. It could be I'm missing something or its just something I don't know. I don't know much about what channelers can do. I'm sure it's not the only option, but I do have reasons why I think this may be the case."

She stood and gestured to the file. "May I?" she asked Dorain and when he handed her the file, she flipped through to the pictures of the apartment, making sure they could both see them. "Look at the burns on the walls. They're too straight and measured to have been natural - that's what leads me to believe that this was done was someone - the victim, maybe. Burns on the victim are consistent with the walls - coroner found no evidence of a chemical or accelerant used on the body. " she handed the file back. "It's not much, but I don't know where else to go. I'm missing something. I've collaborated with the other detectives in my precinct, my sergeant, and my captain. We're all stumped on this. My plan was today to check the channeling registry to see, continue reading in the journals to see what I could find - I've only read enough so far to corroborate the paranoia story. Checking medical records to determine mental health status - his friend and neighbors said he was fine until the paranoia at least. That doesn't mean something wasn't wrong, however. I was also going to contact you guys, because - well - when things get weird, you're the guys to call, right?"

She moved back to her desk and hopped to sit on top of it, facing the other detectives. "I won't lie - it's frustrating that I have to transfer my case, but I get it. It's even more frustrating that I'm stuck and not sure which direction to go."