The Hunt

[Detective Hastings]

Hastings was hooked. Despite his negative feelings towards Azrael, he found himself very intruiged beyond the five prostitutes' deaths. The money was good...but now Detective Hastings was finding himself sinking deeper and deeper as he followed the vague trails.

Igor Kroughten
Vincent Marloon
William Ebert
Scott Castrell

All the same person, there was no denying it just by looking at the photographs. Probably a mutant of some sort. Definitely an underdog to a more powerful player.

And Hastings was finding himself wanting to know who the fuck that power player was.

As Azrael had told Draven to find his friend and run some searches, Hastings was already jumping on that bandwagon. He called in a few favors to some top notch politicians he knew, and through some of their men over the next few days began to track and trace. Hastings wasn't letting a single thing go untouced nor was he taking even a damn misspelling for granted.

After the third day, he sat back in his chair in the office, and looked down to his cellphone as it went off. His wife..again. And again he would sweet talk and coo to calm her temper and fears. Of course, his wife knew how he was when he got addicted to a case..it was just how he was.

He looked down to the many papers strewn across his desk, then lifted his gaze to the board holding even more papers and pictures. He picked up the small recorder and hit the record button, bringing it up near his lips as he began to speak quietly into it.

"Well, kiddies..it's been an interesting ride, that's for sure...

A few weeks ago, the first of the prostitutes were found, followed by five others. Each one had the same M.O. No outward appearance of violence, no outward appearance for cause of death. Autopsies have come back the same. No chemicals in the girls, no signs of trauma. Cause of death has been undetermined and yet is not being ruled as natural. The mutants have pulled their support behind us in finding out who, claiming they have never seen the like before either."[/i]

Hastings paused the recorder, leaning over to shift some papers, then lifted his coffee cup to sip from, before leaning back again and resuming the recording.

"After the fifth death, the local news station received an...annoymous tip about Elijah. NCIS shows no sign of said person...no picture, no information..nothing. Not even a damn driver's license.

Further information was given me by apparently the same annoymous person, a description of a man. He appears in his late twenties, early thirties. Possibly six foot one ...brown hair, hazel eyes, hooked nose and prominent brow.

Results of search turned up four people.

Igor Kroughten, Vincent Marloon, William Ebert, Scott Castrell.

Further notes show that each one have prior convictions. Kroughten and Marloon are classfied with a DoD. Ebert and Castrell are classified as run aways and have yet to be found.

All four are identical in looks and appearance.

It is presumed that all four are the same person. I have made a call to Bonn, Germany and Queens, New York..both requesting an exhumation on the graves of Kroughten and Marloon. Both requests are still pending. "[/i]

Here Hastings would pause again, shifting through more papers, and another sip to his coffee, before resuming once more.

"Other news kiddies, or perhaps the same...it seems our crime power players are having a fiasco. This Elijah seems to be making quite a stir with messing with their contrabands. A job we should be thanking them for..or should we? Do we really need a more powerful hard hitter out there? I, for one, feel not.

My annoymous tipper gave me a plate to run through recently, and I've found more connections. A red plymouth Neon sport...tag number Alpha Seven Four Alpha Alpha Eight Two in Maryland...registered to a Vincent Marloon, persumably deceased.. The address is traced back to Twenty Three McKinnley Road in Aberdeen, Maryland two one double zero seven.

Property in Aberdeen, Maryland belongs to an Igor Kroughten, presumably deceased.

I've gone ahead and done some research, and have turned up another property owned by Kroughten.

I have also went ahead and traced any properties owning to All four.. Kroughten, Marloon, Ebert, and Castrell.

Ebert is a no go on any property owned. One property found owning to Castrell, co-signed by a Trevor Blake.

At this point in time, Castrell is suspected of being 'Elijah's' right hand man, and is presumably in Maryland. Proper precautions are being taken, and the authorities as well as the FBI have been informed and as of now are in the process of obtaining warrants for search and seizure in the property in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Further inquiries have been looked into this Trevor Blake as well. No apparent record is on this guy either. Not even a parking ticket. "[/i]

Hastings shut off the recorder, frowning a bit as he lifted his eyes, looking towards the door. It was a slight scratching sound going on right outside, and no one should be around just yet. He slid the recorder into his pocket, coming to his feet as he moved his hand to his holster, pulling out the standard issue. "Hello?"

He called out. The scratching stopped. Frowning a bit more, he moved carefully from around his desk, moving to the side of the door. Carefully pulling it open, he peeked out, not seeing anyone, and then pushed the door open more, waiting before twisting around and lifting the gun.

No one.

He sighed a bit, lowering the gun. This job was making him antsy and paranoid. He took another glance around, before seeing a small mouse scrambling across the floor. He lauged softly. Yup, definitely paranoid. He turned, shutting the door behind him, completely missing the fading red rune scratched at the top of his door.

[Xavier]

::Well it had been meant to be a semi short vacation. he had taken a trip to do some diving and expand his business further south, andwhat better place to start then the laid back thought process of Florida, mainly the lower half where drugs were everyones business and after a week in Miami and another in the keys he had been taken to Scotland to catch up with an old friend and scout out some business with the underground drug ring there. But it was texts from Sora that made him catch his sons flight home and figure out who or what had the balls to mess with his business. he was generally a kettle waiting to go off but now he was steamingand every step he made closer to home made it harder not to kill someone. He had been driven by Shroom, his driver in the Gladiator he owned to the tall sky scraper that was his. One he never went to. Well one he never went to unless shit had gone down and it was now time for heads to roll. So when his approachwas noted everyone seemed to hit the decks of thier offices and try to stay out of the line of sight. Hitting a button on his phone his first call was to a loyal friend and one of the few government types he trusted.::

Byers... I need you to do me a favor. I have had product go missing which for my business is a bad thing. Find out who is behind it, or what company is behind it and let me know. yeah you can call him if i am unavailable. yes...make sure you find out quick too.

::The call was ended as his finger tips pressed to the glass and his eyes glared out over the sunrise on the city. he growled with a horrid anger that the people outside slowly began to ease their chairs away from his door. Hitting another button on the phone his eyes would look towards the papers of the inventory missing and narrow as the dollar amounts were checked over on the loss catagory::

Az, you getting hit too? because right now I have 4 million dollars on one shipment gone and 13 million on the other..... Call me back brother, Tempers are short lit fuses and someone must burn for this...

::He hit the end button and took a seat his eyes glaring to the calculated losses and his bellow was heard 2 flights down::

SARAH!!!!!!! HERE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::his poor secratary, most envied her she took calls feilded meetings and went places, usually without ever seeing her boss, simply hearing from him. but as her name was bellowed she inwardly cringed and instantly wanted to die...Moving towards his door she stepped within and took a deep breath.::

Yes Mr. Grey? Did you need something?

You think? :;sarcasim oozing of his sharp tongue, the glint of slightly elongated wolven fangs teasing his words as he spoke::

I want every dossier of those working for me. Then i want them brought here one by one to my office. I only need those involved with shipping, handling and monitoring shipments.
::The girl nodded and looked tot he door as a cup was produced by another woman, she grabbed it and moved it towards him, setting the cup on his desk and moving to get started. he looked to the tea cup and the bag hanging out of it. Earl grey was the tea he drank and it was wise she got it without being asked...his mood was most murderous at the moment and no one was safe::

[Royce]

And of course, leave it to poor Royce to not know a damn thing going on in the business world. Right now, her main concern was both sets of twins and her mate. She wanted so badly to help Mika, but she was being locked in the house with a very tempermental Kenji refusing to let her go outside even if it was to the grocery store.

Naturally, Royce was restless.

Finally she could stand no more, and after laying the newborns down after their morning feeding, she picked up the business phone that Xavier had given her so long ago. She gave a soft sigh, and hit the first speeddial, and waited for Xavier to pick up.

If she couldn't go out, damnit, she was gonna find out what she could do at home. She needed something to do.. ANYTHING at the moment.

[Xavier]

Grey!
:;came his gruff and aggrivated response. He didnt hearing the specific ringtone or look at the caller id, he just knew the sound was going off and answered it::

Oh Royce, hey congrades on the twins, sorry i couldnt be there, but you know business is business. They doing ok?

::his voice softened but only ever so mildly and the first set of papers were placed on his desk, thats why Sarah still had a job, she was quick efficent, easy on the eyes and knew exactly how to make sure her death wasnt the first in a long line when her tempermental boss began to grumble.::

[Royce]

Brow rose a bit as she sat back on her couch, her feet up on the edge of the cushions.

"Err..hey Teach. Yea..they're fine, an' it's alright. I understand. From what I was told...th' babies had a healthy birth.."

Well that was an odd thing for any mother to say eh? But she had been in a coma, and she still hated the fact there was a whole week in which she lost.

"What's goin' on, Teach? Who crawled up yer arse an' took a squat?"

Unlike a lot of others, Royce never really did cower when Xavier got his temper up in a snit. Usually she had been there to meet him head on.

[Xavier]

::he grumbled a bit as he looked over files::

I'm missing about 20 million dollars in product...and no one seems to know where it went. When are you coming back god damnit?!I need someone out there, Sora is working her ass to the bone, which in her present condition isnt the greatest idea. I grow impaitent with incompitence you know this Royce

::he growled every word as he awaited the response, he took a sip of that tea. he had heard what had happend to Royce and was glad she was doing better, but his main people where working their asses off and he needed his 3rd in command back to work sooner then he expected.::

Tell that wolf you will report for work, and if he doesnt like it he can find me...I need to fuck up someones day and if he is gonna volunteer then game on...

[Royce]

"Woah.. twenty million!? What th' fuck?" She gave a bit of a growl..then sighed, her hand coming up to pinch the bridge of her nose as those green rimmed pupils slid shut. Any other time, she would've smirked with amusement about the jab on Kenji, but as it were...things were just too damn stressfully delicate.

"Christ, Xavier.. twenty million. Look...can ya get someone to run any reports or whatever th' hell ya got goin' on by? I...can't leave th' house. It's complicated..in fact tha's why I was callin'..ta see if ya had somethin' for me ta do while I'm stuck in this fuckin' four walled prision. "

[Xavier]

::A growl would have sufficed but he was fired up, and he roared into the phone then silence and his aggrivated tone returned::

I dont care how fucking complicated it is.....

::he glared towards teh door as it opened again and his eyes fell upon Sarah, he pointed her over and wrote down instructions then handed her files upon files, then looking back to a dossier he narrowed his eyes and growled::

Fine...get it resolved Royce, he is trying the patience I dont have.... you have files coming your way I want a report in 4 hours. I dont get it you dont want me at your doorstep.

::It was an empty threat he had ever confidence in here and presently an entire workstation of numbers and files were being sent to her along with whatever electronics she would need::

he doesnt work for me, but you do. I expect perfection, and i expect preformance. he is interferring with both....

::she would know who he was referring to and his patience with the man was growing paper thin::

[Royce]

Electronics was good, considering she was procrastinating in getting any sort of computer and internet and all of that. She smirked a bit, stretching her legs out before getting up and starting to pace. "Look at who yer talkin' to Teach. And maybe ya should show up at m'doorstep...so you can meet yer godchildren."

She glanced about the house, checking in on the newborns to ensure they were still asleep, then finding Kenji playing with the other set of twins. She moved back down to the kitchen. "No worries..yanno I'll get th' job done. Jus' send me what ya got and I'll see what I can dig up."

[Xavier]

I'll be there when I can, but make sure he is gone he is to high up on my want to kill list.

::His annoyance with her mate was at an all time high, though he was sure the present situation with his missing goods was part of the problem::

I trust you to get it done, call me in four hours, I dont hear from you I send out a hunting party.

[Royce]

"Heh..he's up high on e'ryone's ta kill list. Doesn't phase him..." She muttered, opening the fridge and peering in. "Can't promise he won't be here..but he'll behave...he does always in front o' th' kids.. no worries. I really can't get into th' story, an' from the sounds of it the last thing ya need is another worry on yer plate..but yeah..I'm ramblin' now. I'll be in touch in four hours.."

With that, she said her goodbyes and flipped the phone closed, and waited for the information to start pouring in.

[Xavier]

::Only moments after that phone was hung up did a door get knocked on, and in front of that door was DHL with brand new laptops 3 to be exact, an internet connections tech and 3 dollies of file boxes for her. a hand scribbled quick note from Xav::

4 hours....be safe and get back to fucking work-Love X.

::the men brought in the things and placed them where they were told before another woman entered::

I'm Dana..I was told you would need help. I'm your secratary for when you return to work, your office is set up whenever you need it at the head quarters building Ma'am

[Royce]

"Err...right."

Royce stared at this Dana person, and shook her head. "Erm...hey..be careful you...an' be quiet. M'kids are sleepin'.." she growled a bit, glaring at the men carrying in the stuff, and began to direct them. She was just waiting for Kenji to come in and start snarling, and she tried to quickly push these guys to set up and get out as quick as possible.

Finally when the others had left, she looked to Dana, shaking her head. "Well give me a quick briefin' on what all this shit is..an' then ya can go. I work alone..."

Not to mention..Royce was being just as Territorial as Kenji usually was. But then..Royce always worked alone..she hated having people watch over her shoulder. She really was going to be pissed when she found out about the men Azrael had watching over her.

[Kenji]

Kenji didnt give two shits what she did as long as it was inside the house. As for Xaiver, yea he didnt care how pissed the man was as far as he was concerned he was protecting his family. Watching as the help entered his den he snarled and kept the children away from the strangers. He sat at the door way of Yumi and Niko's room his feet pressed up against the wall as he watched everysingle person who came in, if any of them made one wrong move towards Royce or towards either set of the twins rooms they wouldnt be living when they left the house.

[Azrael]

olPicking up his phone he would dial Xavier as he and Mika sat in his office. Apparently Xavier was on the other line so he left a voice mail.
“I am sending you an picture on our primary suspect his name is Elijah. That’s all I have on him. I am also faxing over four aliases on his right hand man. I’ve got Draven and my man in the department running down that particular lead. Draven is running down the paper trail and burning it in his wake. If we can’t find our boy he’ll be wanting to find us before long.”

Handing up the phone it would begin to ring as he placed it onto the table. Answering it he would hear an explosion and then the voice of his second in command.

"Abernathy is clear.”

Tossing the phone back onto the table he would look to Mika.

“Now we wait on those credit histories. And bank records.”