"So what info did you get?" Lathain's voice boomed through the headphones

"Not so loud, and I didn't get anything"

"What?!" I relayed the events of the afternoon to the elf who didn't sound at all pleased. "That's not good, but at least now we know she wasn't involved"

"Not that it'll help Manalow" I snapped at him "Poor price to pay for your information"

"Alright, alright; I didn't mean any harm by it" he backed down a little. "We're not having much luck on this side either, we've pegged the brother, but given the circumstances he's locked down like a brick, but to me there's something funny about all this, Miss Manalow was supposedly the only other person in the building when Meta-man disappeared, hence the investigation, but Wizbit found evidence a door had been jammed open at the back. A fire exit so it's not linked to the main system for entry. He also took a look at the vents, covers are loose, but they seem to be in bad repair throughout, so we're thinking likely point of entry"

"Want me to nip down and take a look?" I asked, Lathain shook his head.

"Not a good idea, we had a whole lotta trouble just getting in to survey the suite he owned" images popped up on the screen, fuzzy on the old comm. with upturned tables, broken glass and a whole lotta scan point markers from the crime scene unit flashed up "CSU didn't find anything to suggest who it might have been, all they know is that the only other person in the building was Miss Manalow, there's door records which put her own suite opening, elevator up to Arkut's floor, and his door opening, perfect timing and there's video footage from the elevator of a woman matching Manalow's description."

"Interesting, so we're to believe that a five foot four blonde is capable of taking down and dragging out the body of a six foot three muscle builder, all without marking her fresh manicure?" I snorted "I thought she was supposed to be a suspect?"

"She is, we're to believe she let in the people who did it since she's got one of Arkut's key cards for his suite" he shot me a grin "besides, you could take him out easily I bet"

I shook my head "take him out yes, carry him out, no chance" I thought a moment "She had a key card?" I asked, great to know these things from the beginning, then the answer became clear "They were lovers" I guessed

"Not according to the bedroom, but then no-one has yet been to Miss Manalow's except for a cursory glance" Lathain's face disappeared for a moment then returned "Wizbit says there's a lot of magic energy in the room, but there's no record to suggest Arkut or anyone associated with him was a mage"

"Well I might have some info on that for him, I'll ask Batty and Bucket to send the video images from the cell over to Wizbit's coms, I'm gonna do some astral tracking, see if I can't find the guy responsible for taking out Miss Manalow, I'm also gonna check out the watch owner with Bucket later."

"Bucket?"

"Don't ask, and if you ever meet her, don't you dare laugh" Lathain gave me assurances that he wouldn't, he and Wizbit were going to check out the vents for evidence, then take a good look around Miss Manalow's apartment suite.

"You're sure a strange investigator" Agnes noted as I walked the exterior of the building, I gave a none committal grunt as I counted my paces until I was directly outside Manalow's room. "You don't use a comm. device, which I take means you're a mage, but even weak mage's use them so I doubt they affect your magic in any adverse way" Agnes kept on watching me as my eyes shifted to the silver glow which indicated astral sight. "And your credentials aren't exactly for investigatory purposes, but your S.I.M is intact so you're not an imposter, or if you are, you're a damn good one" Agnes peered up at me through her squinted eyes.

"Why Bucket?" I asked, changing the conversation, my eyes were picking up a lot of activity on the wall all over the building, that would be the counter spell measures which enabled mage's to be held without the use of their magic. The wards were old and had been topped up and re-enforced dozens of times and so were pretty strong. I had to look carefully to see if there was anything out of the ordinary.

"Just my size" Agnes said "Only my team get away with calling me Bucket though" she warned me, I smiled at her and pointed to a small area of wall.

"This part here looks a little worn, kind of like a coat of paint where you're a bit streaky" I tried to explain "This is probably where he punched through" I took a deep breath and pulled out of my sight. I rolled up my sleeve ignoring the pointed stares of the officer as she took in my scars "Do me a favour" I told Agnes "if my hand comes off take me to Claremont surgery" A gamble that the officer wouldn't twig me as a runner, but I figured at this point there was only one way to check the defences of the wall. I channelled all my magical energy into a steady flow over my arm, my forehead broke out in a fine sheen of sweat from the effort of it, slowly I pushed my hand into the resisting barrier of the wall, inch by slow excruciating inch my fingers delved deeper into the wall, after a few seconds I withdrew quickly, dropping the spell and panting heavily.

"How did you do that?" Agnes asked, mouth open, I took a moment to compose myself

"With a shit load of magic" I told her "Your hit man is a heck of a powerful mage, which means he's for hire" I sat unceremoniously on the grass where I sat feeling a slight wave of nausea.

"Which means there's a money trail to follow" Agnes said smiling "Well done kid, I'm actually impressed"

"Wow, thanks Agnes" I said sarcastically, holding up a hand "Help me off my ass?"

"Certainly" the old pint size hauled me up with surprising ease "and call me Bucket" I couldn't help but smile.