The declaration of Gary as an assassin was surprising, but Alexus quickly realised it had nothing to do with him anyway. 'I'm sure your reasoning and deduction holds great credibility, it's good you've gotten a foothold on the investigation already.' He stood up and dusted himself.
'I thank you for your consideration, but I'll have to cut our discussion short and get going to see things through on my own end.' Doran smirked and didn't take offence to his indifference, he should have known that mentioning something that the younger man didn't need to be involved with would be glossed over.
Alexus got back into the carriage and headed for the laboratory branch of the Citizen Bureau.
The laboratory was stationed to the far west of the city, a twenty minute ride from the Count's location. The building dwarfed any other structure close by, once a castle built for a long gone era. When the Queen had come into power it had been renovated to become a research laboratory dedicated to her cause, it was after her death that it came into possession of the Bureau.
Alex got down from the carriage and as he always did when he visited, admired the edifice and appreciated it's architectural brilliance. The lab was one of the few things that captivated him and was interesting enough to stay so for so long. He looked around for a familiar face once inside and found it immediately, she must have been waiting for his arrival.
He walked up to her meaningfully and tapped her lightly on her cheek, her eyes widened in surprise but gave a smile immediately after turning to face him. 'Lex you're finally here.'
Nero Lofts.
A distant relative of the Silths. Quite youthful in age and appearance but she was sharp and raised proper befitting her last name. Alexus had met her after a month of his stay in the manor and it's been ten years since then. It was a surprise when he was told she had begun an apprenticeship at the laboratory but it was also a significant advantage because Nero made a reliable informant. He wondered what she aimed to do with her fast developing intellect.
She brought out a jotter and handed it to him. 'Todays entries.' Then she led him deeper into the building also making small talk along the way.
'Its been a while, how've you been doing?' Alexus hissed. 'Back breaking. I have to supervise our assets, his assets, I have to work pilled up and at the same time trying to find him, every time he gets cornered he just slips away, that snake.' Nero chuckled, then an odd silence fell between them. What he said did anything but explain why he had been ignoring her for the past weeks and he wasn't too eager to approach the topic now or ever.
They walked into a room that was buzzing with forensic staffs and immediately caught the attention of one of them. He rushed over to their side. 'Detective Smith! You're here at last!' The man grasped his hand and shook vigorously, he had quite a look, with straight shoulder length hair with a receding hairline, his skin looked oily and his cheeks where rippened red, the oddest factor was his large nose not belonging on his face.
'Yes, at last.' The count did not share in the greying man's pleasantries. 'Mr Graham, your reports on the body please.'
'Of course!' Graham was a boisterous person.
He led them to the body laid out and dissected on a surgical table. 'The body by appearance was delivered scantily clothed. When we checked the body for injuries or markings, there were scars but have long healed, a tattoo under the rib typical to a native from the outskirt village and missing a left big toe, when the bone under was checked, the top had been rough, suggesting the amputation was from an uneven blade.
The skin, is heavily dehydrated, pneuma had been sucked out of every single cell, the blackness is stain remains of the attacker drawing out his pneuma.'
'So solid reminants from the offender?' Alexus cut into the scientists recap.
Graham blinked. 'Well, yes.'
'I'd like a small sample of his tissue, it'll aid I'm my personal inqury.' Alexus politely demanded. The professor thought it over before he reached for his coat and brought out a tiny vial with the victims skin sample inside. He handed it over to the young count with a smile playing on his face. 'This is all you get.' Alexus scrutinised the sample he was given, trying to sense magical residue.
Nero stepped forward, 'Proffesor Graham, I think it'd be wise to show Le- Count Alexus, the second body that was retrieved this morning.'
Graham exclaimed. 'Ah, yes, yes, yes! Right this way young'uns.' He shuffled hurriedly out of the room.
The count pulled the apprentice close, and put a few steps behind Graham. 'I was already informed about the second case, she was murdered by Gary.'
Nero frowned, 'Pardon?'
'I heard of it from Doran, and he made on point deduction and reasoning from the two cases, Gary had murdered her. The case is good as closed.' He whispered sharply in her ear. She pressed against him to reply.
'True, the murder might have been solved but what happened after she was murdered is a riddle you'd want to be informed about.' The young apprentice smirked. He frowned and flipped through the jotter she handed him. ''rigid'' and "bleached white" stood out to him and then he was genuinely surprised.
'Here we are.' The professor called out in front of another room. There were less attendants in the room than the previous one, this body wasn't as fascinating for them.
The body had also been stripped, it was so white, it reflected the overhead lights blindingly. Squinting his eyes and coming closer, Alexus finally made out the features of the woman, she had been young and was beautiful even in cold passing. From the tip of her hair to her toes was canvas white and that was the real beauty that Alexus admired.
'Forceful pneuma penetration.' The count breathlessly whispered.
Nero stepped forward and explained. 'Yes it's confirmed that's exactly what it is but I'm sure even you haven't seen one to this scale.' Alexus shook his head in response.
'Proffesor Graham and I are sure it could have been done by Gary's murderer, although the results aren't out yet. But think of it, someone capable of absorbing a grown mans pneuma completely, it's not impossible that they can inject that amount into another body.'
The count stood speechless for a moment before recovering. 'She was already dead? Why-' '-would someone inject pneuma into a dead body?' Nero finished his thoughts, then she smiled mischievously.
'I think that's for you to find out Detective Smith.'
Alexus was already escorted outside when he passed Nero her jotter, she shook her head and pushed it back towards him. 'I wrote her whereabouts and address inside. It's double trouble but I think taking along her case would speed up the investigation.' He felt inside of him crack.
'Thank you Nero, I hope I can get this case blown over as possible.' He paused and stared into her eyes. 'The bakery near the manor have upgraded their menu. I'll get you something next time.'
She seemed to consider it before smiling. 'Something sour sweet.' 'Of course.' He quickly reassured.
In the carriage, Alexus stared at the address written in the jotter trying to think but his mind oftentimes drifted to what he just left behind.