(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

 

Xan: *just snuggled in Zili's arms, happy for everyone*

Zili: *little grin* Darnell? Will you take Xan too? *snuggling the doll*

Darnell: If I take him, who will protect /you/?

Zili: */pleading/ look* Please? At least for a while? Please? *please, she doesn't want to find out you've been ripped or whatever in half...*

Darnell: ...all right. For a while. Then I'll make sure he makes it back to you. Deal?

HB: In the meantime, she'll be safe with the BPRD. *gives her a grin* We take of our own.

Zili: *looks at HB* Xander too?

HB: Yep. We don't separate family.

Zili: *smiles and nods* Thank you. *looks at Darnell* See? We'll be fine. You could use his help right now. Take care of him for me, okay? *snuggles Xan and kisses his head* Will you protect him for me? I don't want him to be hurt or killed. Connor or Ari either.

Xan: I'll do my very best! *hugs her, or as much as he can*

Zili: Thank you, Xan. *kisses his head again and will hold him up to Darnell*

Comments

[cyberlifeslastchance]

*Darnell will accept Xan who assures him it's okay to tuck him into a pocket or the satchel or whatever if he wants when others are around. HB will make some phone calls, and the group will sit and quietly chat. Eventually, the CPS worker will arrive, but so will a BPRD agent who's able to say the right things and show the right documents to be able to take custody of the children from Darnell, who readily signs them over. Zili especially will get hugs and a kiss and an admonishment to be good for HB and her brother.*

[socrowdedinhere]

*Xander wakes while everyone is chatting. He can always tell when Zili has had a vision so he’ll ask her a out it. She’ll share with him without hesitation. Grimacing he’ll warn Darnell that her vision warn of a possibility coming within the next three months... he’s never been able to pin them down more than that. Could happen tomorrow, could be three months from now, but won’t be past that. Just be careful and take all precautions he can and he should be fine. If he gets and update from Zili, or something with more detail, he’ll make sure to update Darnell immediately.*
*When the CPS agent arrives she’s reluctant to hand over the kids, but between Xander being only a month shy of being able to be Xili’s legal guardian himself, and the BPRD agent having everything in order, she’ll eventually relent, telling Zili to call if she ever needs anything.*

[cyberlifeslastchance]

*The BPRD agent will stay with the kids until Xander is released from the hospital. The rest go their separate ways, everyone promising to keep in contact.*

[socrowdedinhere]

((Case 7 XD))
+++

((Started 2019-06-19))
*Darnell and Connor have become rather close over the last two and a half months. The cases have been the more mundane types, and while working Connor proves to be a great asset. While at home he proves to be a great companion and friend. Xan has been a big help on cases too, often pointing them in the right direction so Darnell and Connor can find the clues. Today they’re headed off to the countryside where reports have come in of animal and human disappearances, often there’s only blood left at the scene, and not enough of it to really follow anywhere. And so the detective and his two helpers are off to check things out.*

[cyberlifeslastchance]

*Three helpers, assuming Ari has been sticking close since Zili's vision. Though no one'ssaid anything, they all are quite aware that if her vision is going to have even a chance of coming true, it's now or never, so they're all on high alert as they arrive at the destination.*

[socrowdedinhere]

*Yes, three. Ari is stuck to Darnell like /glue/ and has been for the last two and a half months. They’ll reach the place, farming land and meet with a man who just seems haggard.*
Jerry: *Jerry Haskins, he’s the one who’s been “harassing” the police to keep looking into this. He’s doing some mechanical work on a tractor. He’ll step back, wiping grease from his hands with a cloth and sweat from his brown with his sleeve.* You the detective I was told was comin’?

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Darnell: *steps up, pulling his badge with one hand and offer out the other* Yes, sir. Jerry Haskins? Special Agent Darnell Barrett from Mystery Case Files, at your service. This is my partner, Connor.
Connor: *small nod of greeting*

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: *nods confirmation of his name* Yessir. Y’all’ll wanna see the latest then, I recon? *he’s already turning to lead them away, glancing back to make sure they’re following.*

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Darnell: Yes, please. *readily follows, Connor on his heels*

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: *gets out to a field and gestures at a splash of blood.* Took another cow last night. Just over far enough my cameras didn’t catch it. *he pulls a deep breath and lets it out in a shaky breath, clearly fighting tears all of a sudden.* Took my boy two days ago. He was up early t’milk the cows. Never heard a sound, but when I came to check on him he was gone, bucket dropped between the house and the barn and blood all over the place. Police are still doin’ tests t’confirm.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Darnell: I'm /so/ sorry, Mr. Haskins. Will you take us around and show us all the sites of incident. I'd like to do my own investigation regarding any clues and other data.

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: *nods, not able to look at them, though Darnell and/or Connor may catch a moment of his chin trembling before he swallows and turns away. He sniffs and wipes at his nose with a wrist before heading off.* This way.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

*The two exchange looks but neither will call attention to the man's grief as he's clearly trying to hide that "weakness." They just nod and follow.*

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: *motions at a patch of dirt covered in dried blood.* My... my boy was taken here. ........Three other cows and a goat have been taken so far too.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Darnell: All from this area or different parts of the farm?
Connor: *crouches on a knee, shifted a bit so what he's doing is quietly hidden behind his shoulder. He'll pick up a pinch of the bloody dirt, feeling it between his fingers before dabbing it on his tongue for analysis. He's looking to confirm the blood as human (and specifically, the boy's) as well as any traces of other animals present – molecules of hoof, fur, body oil, mucus or saliva, etc*

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: Seems whatever it is likely comes from the woods out that way. *points across the pasture* The first spot I showed y’all was the farthest from the woods of any of ‘em.
*Connor will be able to confirm the blood belongs to Jerry’s son... there’s enough of it here it’s /highly/ unlikely the boy is alive. He’ll also pick up traces of some unidentifiable substance... some kind of mucus maybe?*

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: Detective…
Darnell: Find something?
Connor: Maybe. The blood does indeed belong to Mr. Haskins's son. There are also traces of something I can't identify. Mucus from some kind of animal, maybe.
Darnell: *glances at Jerry – if the man gives him a questioning look, he'll explain* Connor has a number of onboard forensic capabilities.

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: *frowns, expression pained.* ...Y’can tell? For sure? *please say no, he and his wife have been hoping against hope...*

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *pushes back up to his feet to face the man* I am very sorry, Mr. Haskins.

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: *jaw clenched, chin trembles and he looks away. He huffs a soft sob and covers his face with one hand then wipes it down his face and recovers a bit of his composure.* ...Thank you for confirming.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Darnell: *grips the man's shoulder in a gesture of support and comfort* We'll do everything we can to put a stop to these attacks once and for all.

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: *nods* I know by boy isn’t the only one to go missin’. Neighbor lost his wife. He’s been out there tryin’ t’hunt down whatever took her since it happened. Haven’t seen ‘im in a few days...

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Darnell: *frowns, fearing he knows why* Which neighbor, Mr. Haskins? *looking at the lands around them, noting houses and other buildings, and which ones are closest to the part of the woods Jerry indicated*
Connor: *also scanning*

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: *fears he does too. He motions at the house to his left.* Bill Adams. Good man. I’ve a key to his place, been lookin’ after his animals since he left. Try t’talk him out of it, but he’s not hear it. Can’t say I blame ‘im; only reason I’m not out there with him is because my wife is scared and... has already accepted what you just confirmed.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Darnell: We'll look for Mr. and Mrs. Adams too. *studies him a moment, then softly* Go to your wife, Mr. Haskins. She needs you now, and you her. Connor and I will take things from here.

[socrowdedinhere]

Jerry: *nods and clears his throat.* Y’all know where t’find me if y’all need anything else. Just don’t go into that pasture there, don’t want the bull tryin’ t’gore y’all. *gestures and then turns to head into his house.*

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Darnell: *rueful grin* Let's hope Connor and I don't need to search that area. Take care, sir. *turns to Connor* All right, let's get to work. *will pull Xan out of his satchel and settle the doll against his chest, held in place by the strap of the satchel*
Connor: *nods and begins scanning more of the area*
Xan: If we do need to go into the bull's pasture, I should be able to hold him at bay if needed.
Darnell: *nods* Let's hope it's not.

[socrowdedinhere]

Ari: That poor man. *heart breaking* Let’s see what we can find.
*Xan will be able to intuit that whatever has done this... was hungry, and big. Connor will start seeing signs of...it’s hard to say if they’re tracks or not, it’s almost like a giant spider has come through the area.*