Kimi dressed and gathered a few things to take with her, placing them in her small flat purse.  She opened her door, moved outside of it, and then closed it, locking it.  Then she moved into the hallway, and went looking for Mr. Brook (Westbrook).

In reply to Artemis (msg # 10):

John frowned as the woman insulted him but said nothing. He'd seen too much, lost too much, to let a petty Indian woman under his skin. "Tha explains it. Ah ken handle a low profile had ta all the time in tha rangers." He looked around the building they were standing in. "So do Ah get to meet this employer o yers"

Colin narrowed his eyes to fight off the rain induced vision restrictions. If he was going to find whatever monster was on the prowl, he would need to be on his toes. The rain was trying its damnedest to stop him. It would lose. He would not stop hunting. Not now, not ever. He dug for a couple of pennies or maybe a nickel. Even the littlest could help. He held up the money. "Penny for your thoughts,mate. Two if you saw anything." He proffered the two coins. He made sure the nickel he had also made an appearance. If the man thought he might get more, he might say more.

Kimi: You head down the familiar hallways, nodding politely to people as they pass. The chapter had grown so large that you didn't quite know everyone's names, but you weren't far from it. By now you are sure he is finishing up with the new recruits, but as you head to look in the usual places, you find he is not there. Irritated that he has altered his habits after so many years, you start to widen your search. Suddenly you slip on something wet and almost fall. You look down and are startled to see it is blood. A lot of blood. It seems to be coming from some loose bricks in the wall.

Colin: The man does not respond. He is either in a very deep sleep or perhaps he is sleeping off his drink. Attempting to wake him does nothing and you are stunned when his coat suddenly falls open and you see the reason he is so unresponsive. Most of the flesh on and in his torso are gone, apparently torn and bitten for there are signs of teethmarks. His innards seem to be missing as well and from the looks of it, this was a recent occurrence. His body is still warm.

The woman continues to lead you and nods at the question. Soon. Very soon. He is with the others right now and he hates to be interrupted. I will go and see if he is almost done. He's certainly had enough time by now he should be close. If anyone asks you, we are recruiting more hunters to try and help with the disappearances of late. Nothing more. She instructs firmly. You find that she has started to calm down a bit, no doubt because you are ignoring her anger. It gives you the opportunity to fully notice her. She is a beauty, albeit a hard one. Her hair is long, black and glossy. Her eyes are a deep green and her cheekbones are perfectly formed. Her nose is a bit on the strong side, but her full lips help to balance it. Many men would find her quite appealing, but she seems not to be aware of it. By now she has led you to a sitting room of sorts. It is well furnished with books, a desk, and a few tables that look to be used for study. She indicates a canter of brandy. Have some if you like. Warm yourself up. I will go and see what I can discover. She says it almost kindly, but her scowl returns a moment later, though it is not directed at you. She tromps off leaving you alone. All is quiet for a while until you see something across the room pooling on the floor. It is red and appears to be coming from the wall.

Colin let out a curse in Gaelic, then in Latin just to be sure someone higher up heard it. He hated this. Finding the innocent like this was the worst part if Hunting. He had traveled up and down the Eastern Seaboard, but every time he stopped, people seemed to die. He needed to end this monster's blood lust and fast. He placed a nickel in the dead man's hand. Maybe it would prevent him from getting a pauper's treatment. He took a step back and looked back and forth. He would likely never find the thing while chasing it. The poor man was still warm. That meant the monster was close. Colin walked into the street and extended his hand. He crossed himself while saying a prayer. The prayer continued as he twirled his knife and sliced his hand so that it drew blood in a steady stream.

Squeezing his hand, he let the blood flow free and pool around him. He turned, letting the blood circle him. If this thing was hungry and looking for food, a 'wounded' prey would look appealing. He removed a rag from his pocket and wrapped the wound. Let the bastard come, Colin thought. The blood should have some effect. It drew vampires in like moths, werewolves went into fits and demons just liked to try and exploit a weakness. Whether for hunger or bloodlust, the thing was bound to show. If he was close. If the rain didn't spoil it's senses. If Colin wasn't wrong.

In reply to Lily (msg # 18):

John nods at the woman's instructions as he followed her into the room carefully looking around as she talked. The brandy immediately caught his attention. John and Liquor were old friends, Mary had had to drag him upstairs to bed oon more than one occasion when a case went bad. But now the two of them were even closer, it was good at keeping the ghosts away. As she left he sat down and immediately pured himself a glass downing it in one gulp. As he sat there he tried to fight off the images, the memories that kept coming. It was always worse when he was unoccupied. He poured himself another glass and drained it in similar fashion. He shook his head as he tried to push away the images of his old life. He was about to pour a third drink when he noticed the odd pool gathering on the floor. He stood with a little difficulty and slowly walked over to the pool crouching beside it.

Kimi knelt gracefully to check out the liquid.  Once it was determined it was blood, she looked this way and that to see if anyone was nearby.  Standing, she looked at where the blood seemed to be seeping from.

Staying where she was, called out for help.  She did not scream or yell, but called out to see if anyone else was nearby.

John: You see it is blood, and a lot of it. Suddenly you hear someone on the other side of the wall yelling for help. It sounds like a woman, though she does not sound desperate, just in need of someone to assist her.

Colin: For a long time there is nothing. Then, down the muddy road, under a streetlight you see a figure approaching. It looks to be a policeman in uniform. He has his baton out and is headed for you quite warily.

Kimi: pm

In reply to Artemis (msg # 22):

John frowned as he looked down at the pool. Definitely blood. But what was causing it to come out he wall? The men of letters reputation didn't strike him as the type to have people in their walls, but that same reputation didn't suggest  them to be sloppy enough for spirits to slip into their bases. The ex-ranger looked up as he heard the cry and immediately stood a hand reaching into his coat as he headed into the hallway.

John, you follow the sounds of the woman's voice to the hallway and see a lovely Asian woman standing in the hallway. A pool of blood is at her feet. Most likely the same that you saw on your side.

Kimi: In answer to your call you see a strange man emerge down the hallway. He looks to be a bit scruffy and in a wet coat, clearly he's been in the rain recently. You are surprised not to recognize him. You know at least everyone by face. One of Westbrook's perhaps?

ooc: Alright, henceforth you two shall be in the same posts for now. Hooray! :D

Advancing, then bowing slightly, Kimi stands to the side. "I am sorry to disturb you Sir.  It seems there is a stain of blood upon the floor there.  I am hoping that you will help me investigate it?"

The man lifted one hand to his hat tilting it towards the woman. "Seems ta be getherin on tha other side as well ma'am." She could smell the alcohol on his breath but it was clear he hadn't had much. He moved over to the pool of blood and knelt down checking the area for any clues.

<orange>ooc: rolled a 7 total on the search check, the dice gods are not smiling on me.

Kimi wandered back with him.  The smell of alcohol had wafted from him, but she gave no indication she'd smelled it.  She shuffled forward on her geta, and then bent at the knee to crouch. "From the wall there is seepage." She indicated but did not touch it.  "I am thinking to remove the bricks, and dislodge what is trapped behind."  She looked at him to see what his thoughts were.  The hat he wore obscured her view of his face.

Colin sneered at the police officer. They always showed at the worst times. He supposed he looked rather suspicious but not enough to warrant a second look. Colin put the knife away with a quick motion. He held his good hand up and made a lazy wave to the man in uniform. "Evenin' officer. I can't say I'm not happy to see you. Madman on the loose here. Got me," he said lifting his hand. "...and gutted that poor bastard there."

His hand with the bandage pointed to the dead transient while his other hand slipped down to the knife he had just put into his pocket. No sense in not being prepared. He was not going to be manacled by this copper.

John and Kimi: By now the blood has taken on a rather putrid smell. You also see there are some discoloration in it, indicating perhaps it will be a very messy thing you see upon digging it out of the wall. The bricks look loose enough it shouldn't be hard to do.

Colin:

The policeman looks at you with calculating eyes. You are surprised at how cold they are. You had heard though that the police in New York could be quite corrupted at times, which did not exactly ease your mind right now. I see. Well, if you wouldn't mind coming with me to the precinct to tell me what you saw? It would be much appreciated. He has not released his tight grip on the baton and his body seems stiff and ready to move quickly. There is no kindness in his voice.

Colin may have just been paranoid. Maybe it was finally time for him to commit himself to a sanitarium. He knew they would lock him up until the end of days if he told people about what he saw in his everyday life. Maybe it he was sane enough to notice the copper not taking a huge interest in a dead body no greater than ten meters away. That would have sen most people running to help or trying to beat the first person they suspected to death. This 'police officer' was doing neither. He just seemed very intent on doing wrong to Colin. Colin was not keen on fulfilling his wish.

He put down the bloody hand and stared the copper down. "Sorry, copper, but I can't oblige ya. Too much else troublin' dees streets. I'd be worried more 'bout dat body than me. Mind telling me your name and precinct. I'll come be later ta talk with ya."
He slipped the knife from his pocket, not extended, but ready to go.

In reply to Kimi-Yuka Noriko (msg # 27):

The man nodded as he surveyed the wall. "Sounds as good a plan as any." He reached over seeing if he could grip the bricks, if not he'd draw a knife. Before he removed anything however he turned to the oriental woman. "Thes maight be messy ma'am might wanna loook tha other way."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:21, Sat 02 Nov 2013.

Kimi did not move, her curiosity piqued.  "It is good most respected Sir.  I will remain." She did not reach out to touch the bricks, but stayed right where she was.  Her eyes passed from him to his hands to the bricks.  She positioned herself for a strike, in case something should sprout from the wall.

Colin: The cop gives you an amused grin, but there is no friendliness in it. Do you really think I should trust a suspicious man next to a body to come back and have a chat later? I assure you man, I do notice the body and I also notice your proximity. The man won't be any less dead if I wait to examine him. You, however, may slip away and right now you are my only lead. Surely you realize how I should prefer you to come with me for the time being? Or perhaps you would rather chat here? In which case, I suggest you put your knife away. He finishes flatly. You are unsure what to make of him. He seems threatening to be sure, but whether it is because you are suspicious to him or something more nefarious you cannot be certain.

John and Kimi:

It is not too hard to remove the bricks with the knife and once you do an alarming amount of blood and other elements surge out. The smell is so overwhelming it is difficult not to be sick. After the initial liquid has passed, you see the remains of what looks to be a man. He is badly decomposed, but he wears a blue velvet suit and a small cross around his neck. Kimi, you recognize him as Jason Netts, one of the more advanced Men of Letters. He was supposed to have been away on a case, but clearly this is not so. You also note with a sinking heart that he and Ian have long been rivals. Whether or not the man is guilty of the suspicions against him, this will not look well for him. Especially since he's the one who told everyone that Netts had gone.

Kimi stands up, covering her mouth.  It is unseemly to be ill, and with strength of will she is not.

She looks to the man with her.  "This is most suspicious gentle sir.  I know this man, and he was to be away, upon the bidding of Mr. Brook.  It is clear he is not."  She looks puzzled.

In reply to Kimi-Yuka Noriko (msg # 34):

John lifted a sleeve up to his face to help filter the smell. He'd seen his fair share of dead bodies, it held no shock for him anymore, though it did smell something fierce. "That don't sound comforting ma'am. Not comfortin at all. Makes me wonder what Ah'm signin up fer."

Kimi continued to look at the dead man, then switched her dark eyes to John. "Do you know where it is I might find Mr. Brook?  There much we must discuss."

Before he can answer, you hear approaching footsteps and the voice of a woman grumbling to herself. She rounds the corner and you see it is Lily, though John does not know her name as yet. Kimi, you know Lily very well. The native woman had a fierce temper and could be a bit grumpy, but she was extremely loyal to the cause and she was also a good friend of yours. She looks surprised to see you both, but her expression quickly recovers. There you are! I've been looking for John all over-Uh....what is that? Is that a body?! What happened?! She demands sharply.

Kimi composed herself. "It is the body of Mr. Netts, he is not away upon our cause but has been here for some time." Kimi indicated the mess with her extended arm. "Do you know where Mr. Brook is that I may discuss this situation with him?"