*-*-*-*-*-*-*- MagnusBane:PsychicDetective*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Chapter 9-

A Little Twist (Can Turn On A Dime)

The group finds more information… And more confusion…

Notes:

Okay so this is random, but the table in the cold case room is like a kinda tall drawing table where you can stand around it, kay?

Okay…

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Magnus-Magnus-Magnus-Magnus-Magnus *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

"O-okay…well…there's no reports of break-in's or anything from last night…so, no one's looking for you guys" Kevin offered hopefully, giving them a somewhat nervous smile

"So…t-that's something…"

After Izzy's flash they'd headed over to the precinct to check if any reports had been filed that matched her memory.

There hadn't…

So, either the guy who had stolen the crossbow hadn't reported the break in (as he was in possession of stolen goods)…

Or he was still in the basement and unconscious/dead/really pissed off.

In any case to figure out who he was and where to look for him they had to follow their trail from the night before.

They'd gone to the precinct after their shopping spree…they swung by the shop, retrieving Raphael's card. It was a man working the counter today, who knew nothing about the other evening, save for being extremely jealous of the woman's commission.

Apparently he'd been supposed to work but called her at the last moment to fill in so he could go on a date.

They'd retrieved Raphael's card, leaving quickly as they could, extricating themselves from the chatty sales clerk, they had their own problems to deal with.

Like the fact that while hopped up on some weird herb concoction they'd apparently broken into someone's house, stolen an (already stolen) crossbow, knocked out and subsequently locked the home owner/apparent crossbow thief, in the basement.

There were enough photos between the one of Alec gawking at a shirtless Magnus and the Precinct floor for them to piece together their route.

They'd backtracked to the apartment, dropping off their bags, then headed back out, making their way to the precinct. It looked like someone called a car, it was light blue and driven by a woman with a blonde pixie cut, several tattoos, an eyebrow ring, and a bright smile (they had numerous photos with her).

From there it got a bit murky…the pictures becoming more infrequent.

There was a few at the station around midnight…some outside at random, indecipherable places, a few of the moon, a picture of a weird topiary kinda thing that looked like some kind of bird or fish or something, then some outside and around the club- Apparently that's where he took the photo that is now Alec's background (Which he's caught Alexander staring at no less than five times)

That reminded him… he needed to text Dot and have her forward him the video of them dancing.

The memory had slipped back…thankfully when the others were distracted by Clary's terrifying of Jace…

He was incredibly grateful for having a decent poker face…

Oh my god

The video did NOT do it justice…

Speaking of Alexander

"You find anything?" he asked curiously, leaning over his shoulder, fitting perfectly against him, hand resting casually at Magnus's waist.

Mmmm…

He wasn't sure what was going on, but something had changed…

Maybe it was them dancing, or the picture, or Alexander had another memory that he'd yet to share … whatever it was, Magnus was extremely appreciative of it…

And if it was a memory, he couldn't wait till he got it back, too…

Alexander was different…he was close, even more so than usual, he was playful…bordering on flirty

It was sexy as hell…

Also, distracting as hell…but he couldn't really bring himself to care much about that.

He glanced over the file from the '08 case Magnus currently had spread out on the table.

The others were going through the rest of the box. Photos of the symbols and the items taken, a footprint from the scene, a few fibers, and other miscellaneous things…It was nothing really, but it was all they had.

He shook his head, leaning back against Alexander slightly,

"No, nothing yet…I really do not know how we came to connect the two…how this even came up. It's from over a decade ago." He shrugged

Alec nodded, leaning closer, kind of hooking his chin over Magnus's shoulder to see, reading through the notes, his cheek brushing lightly against Magnus's.

He grasped the table a bit tighter, trying to keep his balance, legs suddenly feeling like rubber. He leaned back further into Alexander, just barely managing to keep in a sigh (or moan).

He was REALLY wishing the others were somewhere else…

Anywhere else…

At least out of earshot…

Damn helpful friends…And Jace

Especially Jace

Damn Jace

Jace…Jace…Jace…Jace

Okay, that was enough of a turn off…

He could probably focus now.

He sighed faintly, shaking his head

"I really just don't get it…" he huffed slightly

"Hmm…what about what was taken? Anything there?"

"Not really. Three daggers, a shield, and a sword…and of course our crossbow…"

"They're all weapons…well, except for the shield…though it is used with weapons, and I guess in a pinch it could work for offence as well…but-"

"That is not the only connection" Raphael interrupted, drifting over towards them, glancing over the info, laying the photos of the stolen objects on the table as well. The other's drifted over as well, circling the table.

Magnus tilted his head

"What do you mean?"

"Well they're all instruments of war, but more to that, they are ancient ones…the bow is from the 1500's, the others are from similar time periods, maybe that's something?"

A few of the others nodded consideringly

"Well…the ones that were taken, they were in a traveling exhibit…you said Mrs. Lawary was going to have it in one…" Kevin offered, shyly

Magnus nodded consideringly

"That very well might be darling, thank you"

He beamed, excitedly

Magnus tried to make a point of complimenting the guy, he was just so sweet and so eager to help…

Plus it was adorable how thrilled he was when one of them complimented him.

"So, they were being exhibited…maybe that was why they were taken, or it could have been when they were most vulnerable…"

"Well, the notes at the scenes said they were cultural heritage, that they would be returned to their rightful homes." Clary supplied

"Yes…it did…so, whoever took them saw those items as already stolen, a few of them, two of the daggers and the shield, were owned by private collectors who had bought them at auction…

Heaven only knows how they ended up there

The others were donated to the exhibit…anonymously, which is a huge red flag in and of itself.

It would seem the person who did this truly felt they were doing the right thing."

Clary gasped, eyes widening slightly

"The markings on them…all of them, none of them were just standard weapons. They had details, markings, family crests. These weren't just weapons; they were made for specific families.

The ones you showed me on the bow show the same thing!"

"So the items should have belonged to specific families, not just the government or army or whatever. They didn't mean they'd be returned to the people, they'd be returned to the individual families!" Alec said chuckling slightly, hugging Magnus faintly

"That's why they were never recovered, they weren't given to 'the people' they were returned to the family they belonged to in the first place…" Simon said, excitedly, bouncing, he leaned over, kissing Raphaels cheek happily

"So…maybe the same person took the crossbow from the Lawery's… returning it to the rightful owner" Kevin suggests

Simon shook his head faintly

"Well…no…that won't really work. The crossbow was a family heirloom, it was made for them. Edmund Lawery boasted about it constantly, Astrid said it was his pride and joy, passed down from his father. It WAS in its right home…"

Magnus gave a sudden bright laugh, startling the others

He laughed again, moving over between the two, slipping his arm around Simon and the other around Kevin, leaning over and quickly kissing both them on the cheek,

Simon chuckled, knowing what that meant, Kevin stammered, blushing brilliantly,

"W-wha-um-huh-"

Simon shook his head leaning around Magnus, shrugging at Kevin

"That means he solved it"

"Oh" Kevin nodded, still blushing,

Magnus laughed again, shaking his head

Yes he did…

Well…at least part of it…

But really, if he could solve the crime from a decade ago, the one from earlier this week should be a piece of cake…

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- Alec-Alec-Alec-Alec-Alec

He couldn't stop a slight laugh at Magnus's enthusiasm. He loved this part, when he figured it out, everything falling into place. He would get so animated, so excited. It was impossibly endearing.

He was just SO happy…

Something they could hopefully talk about on their first date…

He tries to tramp down the giddiness that thought causes

Okay, you need to cool it.

Don't get ahead of yourself…you haven't even asked him out yet. And you don't even know if he'd want to date you, or if he really seriously dates in general.

He might not want an actual relationship. He might just like casual. And that is okay.

Don't push too much and scare him off…

You don't want to put too much pressure on this… take it one step at a time.

Solve the case…

Ask him out…

Keep it casual, low key…don't go too serious too fast.

Be Cool…

Alec shook his head faintly, tilting his head.

"Okay so…don't keep us in suspense, who did it?" he asked with a faint chuckle, slipping closer.

Magnus beamed, eyes bright

"Edmund Lawery"

Huh?

"Uhh…Magnus, he's dead…please tell me you're not saying it was a ghost or something" he asked; only partly teasing.

Magnus rolled his eyes faintly, shaking his head

"No, he didn't take the crossbow…." He finished, smirking

"What?" Jace asked

"Umm…much as I hate to admit it, I'm kinda with him on this one" Kevin said, gesturing towards Jace.

He glanced around the group but they seemed just as perplexed

He turned to Simon

"Darling, you said it yourself; the crossbow was a family heirloom. Edmund's pride and joy. Everyone we talked to said how important it was to him. How it was like part of his family, a link to his past"

"Well…yeah, we knew that, but wh-"

"It was a tangible link to his past, invaluable in his eyes. He couldn't imagine someone taking it away from the family…like the other items were." Raphael supplied, raising his eyebrow

Alec gasped slightly

"He was behind the thefts from '08. He took them to return them to the rightful families, as he would want someone to do with the bow should it ever fall out of their hands."

Magnus beamed, turning to Alec, grabbing him and tugging him down into a quick, happy kiss,

Alec couldn't help a slightly giddy smile at that, or from tightening his arm around Magnus.

Easy…don't get too carried away…

You don't want to blow it…

"Exactly!"

"Edmund was on the board of numerous historical societies and museums…including the Santa Barbra Heritage Museum, where the exhibit was being held.

He would have gotten a preview of it. He saw the items, the crests, unique markings, and realized that they weren't just random objects; they were part of these families histories, which had been taken away."

Raphael nodded, leaning forward

"Also, He was in tech, he knew security systems in and out. I thought his name sounded familiar, his company RevolutionTech designed a lot of the security systems at the labs on my route. He'd of known them like the back of his hand, including how to get around them.

He designed cutting edge security systems…getting past an outdated system at an old museum with lax funding would be nothing."

Magnus shook his head, deflating slightly

"The only thing is, there's no real link…how would w-"

Hmm…there had to be something, some kind of-

Wait…

"Hey, wait" Alec said, leaning forward...

Magnus tilted his head, glancing back at him

"What is it darling?"

He reached over, pointing at one of the documents

"After the break in the entire security system was upgraded…it was a donation, from-"

"RevolutionTech" Magnus finished excitedly,

He reached over, grabbing Alec and pulling him down into another, not quite as quick, kiss

He tugged Magnus a bit closer, lingering

Hmmm…

Wait…don't get carried away…

You're casual…relaxed…not pushing for anything…

Also, there are six other people here, including you sister…

Cool it…

He pulls back slightly, breaking the kiss, still keeping close,

"You are amazing!" Magnus exclaimed

"So are you" Alec murmured, locking eyes with him

Easy…Casual…don't go too serious too fast…

Magnus blushed slightly, leaning back in

Alec's hand at his waist tightened a bit, pulling him a bit closer

"Umm…" Jace starts awkwardly

Alec sighs,

This was the last time he brought his brother along on a case

Or an excuse to flirt with/be close to/kiss Magnus

Whatever

Cool it…

Remember…

Too much too fast would be bad…

Or really, really good…

No…Stop…

People…sister…annoying brother…

Focus…

Mood officially broken, he turns to Jace, raising an eyebrow

He looks thoroughly confused

"How does this lead to the stolen crossbow?"

He was even more annoying when he actually stumbled onto relevant questions…

"That…I don't know" Alec admitted

Magnus nodded,

"I am rather unsure on that myself. Perhaps it is time we talk to our client."

He pulls out his phone, clicking on her number, hitting the speaker button

"Hello?"

"Good afternoon Mrs. Lawery, this is Magnus, good news, we have recovered the crossbow, we will return it soon, though we still need it for the investigation a bit longer, no worries though, we will have it cracked in no time. We actually had a few questions about the case…"

There was silence for a moment

"Umm…Magnus…are you quite alright? I called you yesterday, there isn't a case, it was returned…"

Huh?

They all exchanged confused looks, before glancing as one over to where said crossbow was setting unassumingly on the table.

Oookay…maybe they weren't quite as close to solving this as it seemed

That was okay…

He'd waited this long…he could wait a bit longer

Maybe…

No…

Cool it…

Remember…Casual…relaxed…no pressure…

"It was returned?" Magnus inquired, quirking his eyebrow

It was really cute

Casual

"Yes… anonymously to the house with an apology note…said it was a mistake, they regret it and they are sorry."

"You are sure it is the crossbow?"

"Yes…I am looking at it right now"

Magnus sighed

"So am I"

Yeah…this was gonna be a bit longer…but he could wait. Could take it slow...be casual…No pressure…

Flashback:

The lights are out, it's cool and quiet and wonderfully peaceful. He is stretched out comfortably, Magnus tucked securely against his side. He sighs contentedly, snuggling in more, head resting on Alec's chest, hand lazily sliding over his side. Alecs arm is around him, hand rubbing over his back in slow, soothing, circles.

Magnus gives a soft contented hum, nestling in more. His hand on Alec's side stills, his breathing evens out, becoming deeper, rhythmic, lulling Alec to sleep himself.

Sighing softly, he tugs Magnus a bit closer. He leans down, nuzzling against his hair, pressing a soft, gentle kiss.

"I love you" he whispers softly, barely a breath, just as he drifts off, knowing no dream he has could even began to compare to this...

Alec gasps softly, blinking, shaking his head, coming back to himself

"Damnit…" he whispers

_End Of Chapter Notes_

I love Magnus thinking of Jace to calm down…

I know the case is a bit odd, but just go with it…

I love the end…

Poor Alec is in SO far over his head.

What do you think

O22O

*-*-*-*-*-*-*- MagnusBane:PsychicDetective*-*-*-*-*-*-*-