Chapter 3:

Back at the precinct, Nick stared at the crime scene photo. The longer he stared, the more frustrated he looked. He finally threw the photos down on his desk in disgust.

Hank said, "The answers are not in the photos. Don't get so worked up over it. We'll find something."

Nick rubbed his face and sighed, "I can't help it. I feel like I'm missing something. It's pissing me off. When did you become Pollyanna?"

Hank answered, "That would be never. I'm trying to convince myself."

Nick asked, "Is it working?"

Hank shook his head, "Not particularly, no."

Sgt. Wu walked up with a file and handed it to Nick. He said, "Your official autopsy report and lab results, which tell you diddly and a whole lot of squat. The Captain is chomping at the bit on this one just to give you a heads up. So….what did you boys think of Rosaleen?"

Hanks answered, "Ummm don't think I'll ever be able to enjoy 'Sleeping Beauty' again. You got some weird friends Wu."

Sgt. Wu laughed, "I warned you that she knew some odd shit. Why were you talking about 'Sleeping Beauty'?"

Nick said, "That's because our victim is a sleeping beauty. The Norse version according to her."

He smiled, "See. I told you that she'd know. She's cute too. Thought about asking her out, but then I remembered that I feel like a moron around her. So, does any of this help you?"

Hank answered, "Maybe. We now know what the killer was trying to set up. Still don't know the answer to the million dollar question."

Wu frowned, "What's that?"

Nick said, "Why he did it. That is the question. If we can figure that out, we have better chance of catching this guy. Until then it's just a guessing game."

Sgt. Wu nodded, "I can see that. Hopefully you guys can get some kind of break. So….did Rosaleen mention me?"

Hank laughed, "You're kidding. You just finished telling us that you didn't ask her out because you felt stupid around her."

Sgt. Wu shrugged, "Yeah…well, if she was interested, it would be different."

Nick grinned, "Not really, except that you think of her as bizarre. But if you want, the next time we're in class I can pass her a note for you?"

Sgt. Wu frowned, "Ha, ha guys. You've seen her. She can be very intimidating even for someone so small. Just forget I said anything."

As Wu left, Hank asked, "Maybe we should lay off of him?"

Nick shook his head, "No way. He'd do the same thing, if it was us. We should get some enjoyment from this."

Hank grinned, "Good point. And we're going to need all the entertainment we can get. Got some more bad news. Unless by some miracle there is a stamp on the silver, it's impossible to trace. Also it seems Belladonna is more popular than we thought. There are a lot of insomniacs that are going the natural route."

Nick asked, "Insomniacs?"

Hank mocked, "Only the best and most natural way to help a person fall asleep. A wonderful and misunderstood herb that survived a blackened and tarnished reputation. I could go on?"

Nick frowned, "No. I believe you. Okay then. So, we hit a dead end with the Belladonna and the silver. Do we have an ID?"

Hank sighed, "Nope. Another dead end. It seems they can't find anything on her. We can add that to the "Things We Can't Figure Out" pile. I hate to say it, but unless we get a break, we're just waiting for another body."

Nick said, "Don't think like that. We have to just get inside this guy's head. I'm going to check out another angle. See you tomorrow?"

Hank asked, "Sure. Why not? If you get a clue, please tell me, because I would love to know."

When he heard the knocking, Monroe opened the door. When he saw who it was, he slammed it closed again.

Nick shouted, "Oh come on, Monroe. I need your help."

Monroe answered, "NO! Every time I help you, I end up in the oddest situations. I'm not in the mood to have a gun pointed at me, dealing with a pissed off Bauerschwein looking to avenge his piggy brothers, or bees attacking today. Try tomorrow."

Nick said, "We're not going to be doing any of that today. I promise. I just need your opinion on something…. and maybe sniff out a crime scene."

Monroe jerked open the door, "You really should get a dog or something."

Nick smiled, "Why? I have you."

Monroe glared, "Fine. Come in. What does the great Grimm need help with now?"

Nick entered asking, "Have you seen the news about the recent murder at the Amphitheater?"

Monroe frowned, "Yeah. That's not something you see every day. Why?"

Nick said, "Talked to a folklorist. She told me that the set up was some kind of Norse sleeping beauty. Thought you might know something that could help."

Monroe answered, "Seriously, you need to study more. I'm not your fairytale encyclopedia that you can access at a moment's notice. I don't even know about 'Sleeping Beauty' except what I've seen from Disney. There's a Norse version? Really? Huh. Well, learned something new."

Nick sighed, "I figured it wasn't going to be that easy. Yeah, Rosaleen said that stories changed and altered over the centuries. So, you don't know anything that would kill with Belladonna?"

Monroe raised his eyebrows, "Belladonna? Wow, someone likes the classics. That little tidbit isn't going to help you narrow it down. There isn't a creature, human or not, who hasn't used that to kill at some point in time."

Nick grinned, "Funny. Rosaleen said almost the same thing."

Monroe said, "Sounds like this Rosaleen is a smart woman."

Nick said, "You'd think so. Her favorite version of 'Red Riding Hood' is from Politically Correct Fairytales."

Monroe smiled, "Ah yes. The one where the girl and the wolf live together after scaring the crap out of the woodsman. Good story. I wonder why she would like it? Most women like the one where she ends up in a castle with a prince."

Nick smirked, "She has a soft spot for wolves."

Monroe paused and then shrugged, "Probably because she's never met one. People always claim to have a soft spot for something, until the come face to face with it. Then it's usually running, screaming, and rock salt in your ass."

Nick just blinked until Monroe said, "First girlfriend. Didn't go over so well. So what now? Got some kind of bad ass Grimm plan?"

Nick asked, "Can you come with me to the Amphitheater? You can at least tell me if I'm dealing with a human or not."

Monroe frowned, "What did you do before you met me? I mean really. Did you just stumble onto clues or something?"

Nick smiled, "I did just fine. Think of it this way. If you help me find out if the killer is human, I don't have to worry about the Grimm stuff."

Monroe nodded, "And if the killer isn't?"

Nick sighed, "Either way, I'll have a starting point. This guy isn't finished, and I need all the help I can get."

Monroe said, "Fair enough. You know I never wanted to be a hero. I'm more the "duck and cover your ass" kind of guy. I'm not sure I like this."

Nick answered, "You're not giving yourself enough credit. Real heroes rarely ever start out wanting to be one. Thanks. Let's get going before it gets too late. If you want we can stop to get something to eat."

Monroe shook his head, "Nah. I just ate. And knowing you, we'd stop at some burger joint. My arteries are clogging just thinking about it. How can you stand that stuff?"

Nick raised an eyebrow, "Seriously? This from a man, who had a raw rabbit for a midnight date snack."

Monroe frowned, "Don't judge. It was a slip that happened in the heat of the moment."

Nick asked, "So…have you heard…?"

Monroe sighed, "Only to tell me that I betrayed my kind, and the memory of her brothers. Can we not dwell on this, please?"

Nick nodded, "Yeah. Sorry."

Monroe sighed, "Not your fault. Let's go and see if this wackjob is human or not."