The camera footage from the grocery store didn't match what the Lightwood-Greymarks statements recorded to sheriff Jia Penhallow's office. They had entered the building and the fact it didn't look like they had bought anything along with their torn clothing indicated that something was amiss. Maryse and Luke were caught cleaning up things; or so that it appeared on the screen. She wished the footage was better, she would have Aleric analyze it more for her at later time. The sheriff would question them again. Something didn't add up and she would not have it happening in her town.
Sheriff Jia Penhollow searched the area around the Lightwood Manor, there was suspicious activity around the property. She had spoken to Maryse and Luke and while they seemed genuine, she knew something wasn't exactly right. They seemed to be able again to make their earlier statements legitimate but Jia knew better, something wasn't right. Neither Maryse or Luke objected to her and deputies looking around. They were unaware of what waited for the sheriff in the woods. Maryse and Luke didn't have the time to check their surveillance with their current situation with Alec.
The sheriff was searching the wooded area of the manor when she came across a few dead bodies and a couple of dead wolves, she called for backup. Maia and Alaric were at her side quickly, they were canvasing other areas of the Lightwood property but they knew not to split up too widely. They passed the dead bodies littering the ground before they heard a hiss and growl. As they got closer they could see a man lying on the ground panting. Jia raised her rifle ready to shoot the being who was in pain when she heard a low coughed statement "wait. I can help you."
Jia hesitated, "what?" Her fellow deputies surrounded the being at a healthy distance with all weapons drawn. "You don't look like you are in a position to help anyone." Jia looked at the mess and wondered if he was attacked by the wolves. "Were you attacked by these wolves?"
"No, the wolves weren't feral, they roam the area." Bat understood he looked bad, but he knew he would heal. It would just take some time. "Trust me, I'll be fine, but the asshole who took out my …" he paused, he didn't want to say pack so he opted for the words, "team mates is still out there and I don't think they are done and I need to bring them in." He looked at his wolf friends, and sighed feeling glad they didn't revert to human in-front of the Sheriff.
Bat knew the Praetor Lupus would be the best option at apprehending and dealing with the threat to the small town and the remaining wolves. He hadn't counted on the Clave or Circle representatives to be so well armed. If it wasn't for Dorothea's spell of protection for him, he would be dead too. They didn't even bother checking on him to know if he was dead or not.
The sheriff and deputies helped Bat stand up and offered to take him to the clinic for health reasons but he declined. They went to the sheriff's office and made an alliance to take care of the menace that was plaguing the town. He kept his answers vague but promised to help them and that whatever was in the small community wasn't good. Bat has his own agenda, he may be a young wolf but he knew things were horrible. Jos and Dot taught him well and he'd fight for whatever family he had left. A little revenge for his pack was a bonus. He assured the sheriff, that he would take care of the dead wolves after she suggested calling a vet or animal control.
Jia didn't understand his meaning and though he knew it was a risk but several of his pack was gone. He needed help and to get the shadowhunters back to where they should be, the risk would be worth it. Bat and Jia went to an area outside of the department and a long way from the building. Jia kept her weapon at the ready. Once Bat felt he had all the necessary privacy; he showed her his wolf self to make her aware that what was in the town was supernatural and that his help to keep the community safe was key to the community. He assured her, he wasn't the enemy but there were many out there who were and he'd do whatever needed to keep the town safe.
To say that Jia was shocked was an understatement. Sheriff Penhallow was perplexed but due to the honesty of Bartholomew 'Bat' Velasquez and his comments adding to the strange occurrences around her town, she was willing to make a partnership to solve the oddness surrounding her community.
He exposed his wolf shelf to show her as a way that proved to Jia that beings other than human existed. Bat explained as much as he could and that they were in danger, he had things he needed to fix in the downworld. Jia understood him and felt a bond to protect as he did and she was now open to what needed to be done. He took the time to explain that the dead wolves were part of his pack and he knew of an organization that will take care of the wolves. Jia nodded to agreement for letting Bat handle that aspect. She had to trust him if she was ever going to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Jia had always known there was something different in her community, it made more sense now. She knew by instinct the Lightwoods would be at the center but Bat assured her they weren't the enemy, they were the target. Sometimes you needed a leap of faith and right now the only person she could count on besides her deputies was Bat.
##
Dorothea Rollins was in a word, upset. She was tired and felt weak. She couldn't believe that she was in a cell at the Clave and having a conversations with Valentine. He drugged her and kept her in that state while grilling her for information.
Duncan had captured her while she was loading her vehicle with warlock supplies, she couldn't believe she was caught off guard after all the years of staying hidden. Raj made sure to alter any footage of the abduction from any cameras in the area, she felt some despair knowing that there was no way anyone would know what happened to her. Her hands were bound keeping her from using her own magic and the drugs being administered also hindered her abilities. There was no way for her to free herself.
One specific drug forced her magic to deplete quickly and that allowed the other drugs to kick in. She lost her ability to fight off the onslaught to her mind and body. She kept her defiance for as long as she could but in the end she felt so sick and she answered all of Valentine's questions about Jocelyn, Clary, the Lightwoods, hidden shadowhunters and the werewolves in the area. She couldn't think anymore, all she wanted to do was die but she knew that wasn't going to happen.
Valentine and Victor were pleased with their interrogation, the newly developed medication working as intended. They decided to keep her alive and run more experiments on her, after she told them everything they wanted to know, they moved her to a cell for future use. They instructed a fellow technician to keep her drugged. The tech person was to feed her and keep hydrated but she was not allowed to recover her faculties in anyway. She would be easier to control in this environment.
Hours later, the Clave and the Circle drove into the small Upstate New York town. The 'representatives' made it clear at the Sheriff's office that the dead bodies found in the forest was in their jurisdiction and they would be taking over. They were the FBI and CIA or so they stated. They needed the sheriff's office to back off, and not interfere with what they had planned. Deputies Maia and Aleric were suspicious but waited for their boss Jia before doing anything.
Raj and Duncan's reports were enough for Valentine and Victor to secure the area. They didn't flash any identification or badges when entering the Sheriff's office. The group informed them they were a special task force of established agencies and while they seemed to be dressed for the part, the amount of fire power was daunting. Aldertree informed the sheriff's office that they were to stay out of the way, Maia looked surprised at the behavior, they had never had anyone take over their cases. Aleric was also curious and once the 'agents' left, Aleric placed a call to Jia to let her know that weird stuff was going on.
Jia was in the building not long after the call from her deputies. Bat was in tow and after a lengthy conversation, it was decided that whomever was in the town was not as honest about themselves or what they were doing in the municipality.