Step Right Up To A World Of Mystery
Mabel stifled a yawn as she pushed her way through the front doors of the Salem Police Department. After staying out late, interviewing at the bar, she had proceeded to insist that she and Ray needed to be at the precinct first thing in the morning. He didn't look happy with the decision, but he seemed to understand the reasoning.
Argent Advic had finished the lab tests. Beckett Miller had finished the autopsy. And Mabel need to have words with the Deputy Chief.
For once, it seemed like the atmosphere of the station was quiet and airy. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows and illuminated motes of dust. The noise of paper shifting as officials flipped through reports was the only audible sound.
Finding the office from the day before with ease, Mabel knocked on the wooden door.
A soft "come in" answered from within.
Mabel took a deep breath and let herself in. She had asked Ray to remain outside, not sure how Charles Frederick would react to her accusations. However, the man in question didn't seem surprised to see her. He was seated behind his desk, a resigned look on his pale face.
"Detective Pines. What brings you here?"
"I think you already know." Mabel kept her voice crisp – not willing to let this slide.
The deputy chief sighed tiredly, "It was pointless to try and hide something from a brilliant detective like yourself."
She frowned, "I'm hardly 'brilliant.' There are a plethora of people more astute and qualified than I. Detective Werner for example. Why did you take him off the homicide case? Why did you want me? How did you even know about me?"
"You've done some pretty impressive work in Sacramento for one so young."
"Granted. But that doesn't explain why you would expend the effort to bring me here against the wishes of your police chief." Frederick winced, "Don't think I didn't notice Rudick's attitude. And when we first met, you called me by my first name, not my title. Yet you claim we haven't met."
"We haven't." Frederick confessed, "But I knew your great uncle."
That caused Mabel to pause. Stan hadn't been on very good terms with, well, anyone on the right side of the law. Taking her silence as a cue to continue, the Deputy Chief continued.
"It was a long time ago. I was an officer in Bend, but since Gravity Falls doesn't have much of a police force, we would often respond to extenuating circumstances there. The first time I was sent over it was because a rock slide had been triggered by some freak weather. When the Bend officers arrived, there was this grouchy man – I think was in his forties at the time – directing the locals that were helping dig people out. He only gave his name as Mr. Mystery, and he spent most of his time grumbling about magic storms."
Mabel felt every muscle in her body go stiff. Magic. Gnomes asking her to marry them. Time traveling to win Soos a birthday present. Her brother, pupils slitted and iris golden.
Frederick continued, "Ever since I was young, the weirdest things would make me sick. But I'd never vomited more in a twenty-four hour period than when I visited Gravity Falls. Long story short, I found out I was sensitive to magic. From that point on, whenever I ran into something strange while on duty that made me nauseous, I would give Stan a call. It got me further than the people who didn't believe in the paranormal. Starting some years ago, all he could talk about was 'his kids.'"
She could see it. Stan bragging about her and Dipper over the phone. Recruiting anyone and everyone for help in the search for Dipper. Feigning disappointment when Mabel decided to go into law enforcement. It made her throat constrict. She really missed him.
"This case," the deputy chief shook his head and Mabel finally pieced together his washed-out complexion, his pinched expression, and his mechanical movements, "it's worse than anything I've seen in a while. I can barely stay at the scenes for five minutes. I needed someone who could investigate with an open mind."
"So you requested me?"
"My condolences, Detective Pines. I know your family has suffered much on the whims of the supernatural. For that same reason, I didn't have very many options."
Mabel nodded. She understood the logic. "I better get back to work then."
Frederick smiled, "If there is anything you need. Anything at all. Just let me know. I want this investigation to go as smoothly as possible for you."
"Yessir!" she chirped, but it was forced.
So, I had to deal with an incident that kept me up till 4 am last night, and then I was super lazy all day. That's why I just got around to posting this. In other news: Happy Halloween! As usual, I have a post here from starfleetrambo that has some tie in's to the story: (starfleetrambo tumblr com/post/107994347468)
