Statement 1: The Folly

[jp1885]

“Ah, perhaps I have some explaining to do,” Nightingale interjects.

“DC’s Dansby and Cooper have been recruited to our merry band under the auspices of the Folly expansion programme and have been training as magical practitioners. Miss Orivo and Dr. Schneider: you have had your own brushes with the supernatural and have come to our attention as people whose skillsets could be of use.”

He pauses to adjust a cufflink.

“However, you lack experience and it is high time you took to the field. As it happens, something has just come up and my colleague DC Grant is required elsewhere. Unless you have any questions, I will start the briefing.”

[Trivun]

"Dad duty, by any chance?" Izzy asks, referring to Peter's recent fatherhood, his newborn set of twins, Taiwo and Kehinde. "And nope, no questions from me, if you're about to start anyway."

[Philulhu]

’Some dude older dan time itself, a couple of feds and some CSI doc? What de hell is dis?!’ thought Des to herself. She just shook her head…

[Mr. Handy]

Jordan smiles, thinking of his own children. "I'll save my questions for after the briefing," he says. "I'm sure I'll have more then."

[SaintMeerkat]

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Leo rolled his eyes but didn't say anything. He liked Grant and Bev well enough, although he was a little suspicious now that he actually knew about the effect that river goddesses have on humans. Before that night at Covent Garden, like many of his gay friends, he couldn't have been less interested in bringing a new life into the current world when they had even less to look forward to than his generation. However, the sense of wonder that awoke in him that night, and finding out there was magic -- real magic -- in the world had him believing that maybe this world wasn't so bad for kids after all.

This was the first he'd heard about Grant not being available, and suddenly the thought of being out there without training wheels sounded a little more intimidating.

"What have you got for us, governor?" he said. "Another haunted car?"

[jp1885]

"Nothing so challenging as haunted cars or paternal duties - I hope," Nightingale replies.

"Earlier, I received a telephone call from our colleagues at the Charing Cross Primary Crime Unit. There was an incident late last night at Stonewaters Bookshop on New Row that they believe will be of interest to us. One of the booksellers, a Mr Warwick Anderson, was assaulted at approximately 12:30 am while rearranging a display in the bookshop’s basement. Mr Anderson, though somewhat concussed, managed to telephone the emergency services. The call handler sent a response team to the bookshop, where they had to force an entry in order to render assistance."

“Our colleagues from Charing Cross carried out a search of the premises while Mr Anderson was being seen by the attending paramedics. They found no alarms tripped and no evidence of a break-in, nor of anything having been stolen. However, there were obvious signs of a disturbance in the basement matching the description given to them by the victim."

“I would like you to interview Mr Anderson to establish his recollection of events. He is awaiting you at the Cappuccino Lounge, also on New Row. Then, I would like you to visit the bookshop and carry out an inspection, including an Initial Vestigium Assessment, to determine whether this is, indeed, a Falcon case. Ms Saffron Jackson, the store’s manager, will be on hand to escort you. The bookshop usually opens at 11:00 am on a Sunday, and, by all accounts, Ms Jackson is keen to resume business at the earliest possible convenience."

“New Row is a twenty minute walk via Montague Street, Shaftsbury Avenue and Monmouth Street. Report back here to me once you have completed your initial inquiries. I await your findings with interest.”

[Trivun]

"Stonewaters? A little on the nose of the owners, don't you think?"

Still, Izzy isn't too concerned. It seems like an easy enough case to start out with, and she recalls the store well enough, having spent many an afternoon perusing the shelves of the same establishment building up her own little library at home.

"Can we take Toby with us? Oh... just an assault though... shame we don't get to visit Jennif... I mean, um, Dr Vaughan." She catches herself just in time, and only the most astute observer would notice a faint tinge of pink in Izzy's cheeks as she holds back from saying any more.

[jp1885]

"DC Grant has taken Toby with him on his case," Nightingale replies, arching an eyebrow. "Although we do have a contingency plan, should the need arise. Let us cross that bridge if we come to it"

He turns to the others.

"Toby is our dog here at the Folly. A rather small and noisy one, yet remarkably adept at detecting ghosts," he explains, before checking his watch rather pointedly.

[Mr. Handy]

Jordan presumes Dr. Jennifer Vaughan must be a medical examiner like himself, though he's just as glad nobody is dead. The name of the bookstore is obviously a take on Waterstone's, where he's spent a good deal of time. He's a bit surprised that a dog can sniff out ghosts, but he supposes nothing should surprise him any more after what he's seen. But one thing goes completely over his head. "What's an Initial Vestigium Assessment?" he asks.

[Philulhu]

’Ghosts? I can see ghosts,’ Des thought to herself. Then she processed the rest of Nightingale’s statement.

“Is I just ‘ere ‘cos you’ve given yer dog the day off?!” she snapped!

[SaintMeerkat]

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DC Dansby drew his PNB and black pen from his inner jacket pocket and began to take notes. Given that this was his first real case with the new team, he probably was a little more detailed than really necessary, but he didn't want to have any questions later when some detail may turn out to be important.

He leaned toward Jordan and spoke softly, "It's a first pass attempt at determining whether any magic was involved at the crime scene. All magic leaves little traces of what we call 'vestigia.' If it's there, then it's probably a Falcon case...rather, a case for us." He gestured around the table. "If there isn't, then the traditional police get the case."

Since beginning his training here at The Folly, Leo hadn't had time for pleasure reading, but he was familiar with the store and location. After he stopped scribbling, he grinned at Des. "If Toby is with Peter, he is definitely working. Not a day off."

[Philulhu]

“Don’ patronise me!” Des snapped at Dansby. “I see ghosts an’ Woodpecker got me here instead of his dog!”

[Trivun]

"I wouldn't call Toby Nightingale's dog, he's more kind of his own dog..." Izzy says, missing the point entirely.

[Mr. Handy]

"How long has this unit existed?" asks Jordan. "How did it get started?"

[jp1885]

“I can assure you, Miss Orivo, you are most certainly not a replacement for Toby,” says Nightingale, somewhat awkwardly. “As I said, we already have contingencies for that. Suffice to say, I saw your potential and thought this arrangement would be beneficial to both parties. The last thing I want to do is patronise you.”

He turns to Jordan. “Our organisation grew out of the Society of the Wise, which was founded in 1774. Of course, practitioners have existed since time immemorial.”

“Vestigia is indeed the trace left behind by strong magic. With some practice, it can be detected by anyone. That inexplicable smell you suddenly get? That snatch of song that pops into your head? That feeling that someone is watching you? That could be your mind playing tricks on you, or it could be vestigia.”

[Philulhu]

Des glowered at Nightingale, hardly mollified by his reassurances.

[Trivun]

Sensing the awkwardness, Izzy tries to move things along a little. "Maybe we should head out, let's not keep the victim waiting any longer. Unless anyone else has more questions for the boss?"

[SaintMeerkat]

DC Leo Dansby.jpg (16.73 KiB) Viewed 648 times

PC Dansby closed his PNB and slipped it back into his suit pocket. He recognized Nightingale's watch-tapping as meaning that he was ready to be rid of the team, so he nodded his agreement with Izzy. "No more questions for me, governor. Let's get cracking," he said perhaps a little too eagerly as he stood. He patted his pockets just to reassure himself that the phone and the battery were both present, stood, and headed for the door.

[Mr. Handy]

"The rest of my questions can wait," says Jordan, rising. "We'd better get to work. I'm sure I'll pick things up quickly. I've always been a fast learner."

[Philulhu]

Des merely pushed back her chair so the legs made a teeth-grinding noise as they scraped across the wooden floor and stood up. She looked at the others, waiting for one of them to make a move.