The first thing Caitlyn sees after stepping out of the car is a bloody mess of a body splattered on the paving. Not quite enough damaged for the fall to have been a very high one. Four floors at the most, the man's skull is caved in but not the mush that one sees on most of high fall cases. Extensive hemorrhage, oh but naturally. Lying on broken glass. Fell after breaking windows. Explosives.

The woman throws her gun's strap over her shoulder and puts on her hat. Her dispassionate eyes glance up and briefly inspect the damage done to the apartment windows three floors high with the help of a magnifying glass of her headgear.

Definitely explosives. She should send Vi to hospital for an internal damage check... No. To the main department's infirmary. The initial report mentioned her suffering a gun wound, if she managed to fight after the room was blown up then she shouldn't have suffered anything worse than some superficial damage to the inner ear. Hopefully. Should medics discover something posing serious danger to her Enforcer's health then she will indeed be staying in hospital. Again. Maybe she should tease Vi with such a possibility as it is sure to get a rise out of her. No, too inappropriate given the situation, she will reserve joking until everyone's burials. Twenty officers, seven civilians and eight (that she knows of at least) more bodies of the trash responsible for the disaster this night has become. A communal grave is all they shall have.

Were the Sheriff a lesser person, she would simply dispose of those bodies in a dumpster somewhere, for rats and worms to feast on them. Actually...

Come to think of it, she can sneak a corpse or two away and plant them in places where she knows that gang activity occurs yet she simply has too little evidence to warrant a full crackdown. A sufficiently mangled body might come to be handy in finding such evidence.

Come tomorrow she will have to speak with the coroner.

Among great many other things she will have to do. Like announcing her leave of absence in two weeks time. It's annoying but necessary for her to maintain her position without instigating a conflict between herself and the administration. Possibly the military and statesmen too. No, it's better to allow an investigation in regards to her competence, they will find nothing, there is nothing to be found after all. Her men won't speak out against her, tonight's deaths could not be prevented with the intel she had at disposal and Jinx herself had always slipped through the PCPD's fingers like water.

Some might object to allowing Jayce and Ezreal to participate in the action, as they are technically civilians. But the Prodigal Explorer won't be in Piltover for more than a week at most. Thus, he won't be able to give his testimony, that particular charge will have to wait long enough for the investigation to go on without it. And Jayce?

Frankly, it isn't even the most blatant vigilante act he has ever done. And that one is on Vi's head anyway, not that she won't help her subordinate defend herself, should the need arise. In all honesty though, it shouldn't be necessary here. She has finally caught Jinx, whoever tries to move against her now will undoubtedly have to do so against the entirety of the city's populace. The control won't go against her under such circumstances, media pressure can crack anyone.

Caitlyn herself has always either tried not to be in its crossfire or be the one that has media support. Not that hard, usually. Bar Jinx- she never was unsuccessful in capturing a criminal and it isn't a difficult thing at all to make it seem like those criticising her, do so out of spite or their own self-interest. Not quite so in reality but the fact that everything she does, she does for Piltover remains true all the same.

The brunette's eyes scan the entire area in search of the Enforcer, but it's her voice that captures the woman's attention. She sharply turn on her heel and marches toward the medical truck where she suspects the curse has came from. All in all a good sign. One showing that Vi has enough strength left to curse so loudly. She catches the sight of Jayce stepping out of another truck in the corner of her eye and tilts her head in direction she's heading to.

She had wanted him to leave already but he has refused to do so, insisting that there is no way he's leaving before seeing Vi and that he's not leaving her alone to deal with this mess either. She didn't argue the point as she knows he would just come on his own. He's a good friend, if nosy and a bother to deal with at times. Like when he takes over her home and all but forces her to go to sleep when all she really wants to do is work the night. There are always things to be done and she's only a little bit tired. One of the benefits of sleeping through days. It will be nice to have someone to talk with though, when the guilt for tonight's deaths will hit her. Probably in the morning, hm. Does she have enough food in the fridge to make him a proper breakfast or will she have to treat him to a cafe?

Though when she thinks about it, it's much more likely he'll end up paying for everything if they do go somewhere, and they probably will. She doesn't keep much more than tea, rusks and jam unless she's expecting guests. Oh well. She hadn't had the time to relax like that in a long time, and Jayce's company isn't unpleasant. It might be a good idea actually, to have her mind uncoil before having to deal with everything the day shall bring. Now, which place to choose, somewhere remote, preferably so that rags don't catch the wind of it. There will be enough press to deal with without adding her rumoured (and non-existent) love life to that list.

A thought for another time. She knows the city's layout by heart and she can plan this after returning home. The Defender of Tomorrow falls half a step behind her as they round the corner to see Vi, sitting on the floor of the ambulance's back. Indeed looking rather haggard and messy but seemingly not in a particularly bad shape. Her left foerarm bandaged and her right one in a sling that is just being finished up by an attending medic.

The scowl on her face is immediately replaced by a wide smile when she sees them approaching, it never fails to remind Caitlyn of a dog seeing its pack, neither is she ever sure if the comparison is insulting or not. The pinkette makes to stand up but is firmly pressed back down by the bulky man dressing her sling. Mathias, Caitlyn's memory supplies the name to his face. He's the one that Vi is most often given to after she inevitably gets wounded in action again. The only one that isn't in the least bit hesitant to personally strap her to a stretcher when she starts acting up, insisting that "She's fine." The Enforcer shoots him a dirty look but doesn't say a thing, for his part, the man simply looks to the Sheriff, nods in greeting and rolls eyes in mock exasperation at her deputy's actions.

"Hey Cupcake!" Calls Vi, obviously trying to sound chipper but only managing to expose the fact that she's tired instead because her scratchy voice. "And hey Jayce, one crazy night eh?"

"That's one way to call it," he grunts out and turns to Mathias. "How is she holding up?"

"Doc here says I'm good and ready for-" she abruptly chokes on her words as the medic in question ties the last knot with way too much force than strictly required.

"She-" he begins, addressing his now cursing patient before turning eyes to Caitlyn "Will let her medic speak for her. Nothing major, a bullet bit into her arm through that glove-"

"Gauntlet!"

"-of hers. No lasting damage. Same with her left arm, the bite will leave an ugly scar though. I recommend a week off, then a check-up to see if she hasn't contracted anything and to decide when can she return to active duty. Though I do suppose she's already on a leave anyway so, if you would please make sure she stays down? Now, excuse me but I need to go." He steps down from the truck and says his goodbyes before walking off. "Take care Vi, good night to you Sheriff, Defender."

"Yeah sure, whatever." grumbles the pinkette before leaning back and sighing. "My ass will wilt if I sit on it so long."

"Are you volunteering for paperwork?" The older of the two women smirks as a panicked expression crosses her officer's face. "I'm sure I can arrange for-"

"No no no! No. I'm fine, perfect, forget I said anything." Jayce chuckles and leans on a car beside them. Apparently content to listen, now that he's made sure his friend is mostly alright.

"Don't worry I'll get you something light, showing children around the office maybe." She wipes the smirk off her face, replaced by the more familiar, neutral expression. "But that's in a week, I've already heard the gist of it on my way here but I want you specifically, to tell me what happened here."

Vi scowls and scratches the tattoo on her neck, gearing up her tired memory.

"Fuck, I don't know. Mercs- they got a contract to bring Jinx's head to someone in Zaun. I mean literally." A vague wish to sigh tickles at the back of Caitlyn's mind, reminding her how Vi has performed a field interrogation without permission again. It's annoying when the younger woman does that and doubly so now since it's the reason why they have not taken even one mercenary prisoner. "They killed our guys at the campus and cornered her here. Would've taken her out too. You been inside yet?"

"Not yet, no."

"Yeah well they forgot to bring a tank." She pauses for a moment before snorting. Of course she'd find it funny. "Fourth of the building's screwed, they weren't holding out. Uh, Herrings and... damn I don't remember right now-" Wonders of a field interrogation, no written testimony. Technically, she's allowed to perform it under extraordinary circumstances but it's still a rotten deal every time, Caitlyn will have to prep the body if Vi's methods were too obvious. "-whatever- it wasn't a shootout, it was a fucking battle in there. Kinda surprised I got out with just this." She nods to her wounded forearm.

The Sheriff's eyes widen slightly at those words. If Vi thinks it was serious then the whole incident is something more than she had initially assumed. She has to see the damage by herself before deciding on anything but her instinct has yet to lead her astray. And it tells her that there is something more to know about these mercenaries. She'll have to ask Vi for details. Oh it's just bound to go over well should she report it. Evidence based on a confession from a dead man, wonderful.

"And Jinx?" She decides on changing the topic. Although Caitlyn doesn't truly feel anything right now, she knows full well how frustrated she really is beneath her calm facade. Best not stir the source of it.

"She's a mess. I think she's sick, uh, more than-" She groans in titanic struggle to find the right word. "-usual... You know. I mean I got her no problem, didn't even notice me, I think she's got her hearing blown sometime, or is just delusional- I don't know. Our guys took her to that med truck over there." She points to another ambulance a dozen or so meters away. "Prepping for convoy I guess?"

"Yes. I sent the order on the way here. They're just waiting for my go ahead now." She turns towards the pointed truck to asses its security before looking back to Vi. "Are you alright?" Her stony expression clashes horribly with the concern in her voice.

An easy smile spreads across the Enforcer's face at the question, a prelude to bragging about her endurance no doubt.

"Eh, had worse. Tired, yeah. But take that sling off and I can still beat people up." Not without permanently damaging it, the older woman can bet. Ah well, at least she won't have to stay in hospital again. Caitlyn herself is a very collected person and still she finds staying in such place dreary. For someone like the pinkette, it has to be absolutely unbearable.

"Good. Now, you will come to my office at... six PM, we will write your report down for forwarding." Vi's eyes squint in confusion at her phrasing. Her boss nods in confirmation.

"Oh." And that is all they need to say.

It isn't the first time they have to go over a report to make sure they will get necessary results after handing it in. Sometimes it's as innocent as putting the blame for some of Vi's property damage onto the dead criminals, sometimes it's about the way said dead winded up in their state. The results of an interrogation, threat assessment, things of similar nature. Unpleasant cases where it's a bad idea to have any dissonance between their reports or where some things are simply best omitted.

Like how comes Vi had interrogated someone and said person is now dead. Once the administration got a wind of it she'd be suspended from her duties and possibly charged with operational misconduct. And what for? It's enough that Caitlyn knows the truth and acts accordingly, nobody else needs to know where she gets her information from, and by the time the case is done she will have enough evidence to plant a false trail that supposedly led her to it in the first place. The end result differing in that her assets, Vi in this case, are not rotting away in prison. How pointless would that be.

Well, there is also Jayce but he's not any less implicated than either of his friends. To be completely honest, Caitlyn finds it quite humorous how the three of them skirt at the edges of the law, often outright breaking it, so that it may function. Even so, all the years after she helped establish said law, the ravenhead has yet to find a better way.

"Also, I want you to stay the day at the headquarters' infirmary- yes, I know you don't need to, but we haven't gotten all the mercenaries and tell me, do you want to deal with the reporters again?" The pinkette closes her already open mouth, at once seeing the merit of complying. "And I would personally appreciate it if you would."

She doesn't technically have to agree. Technically.

A tortured groan escapes the younger woman's lips as she leans away and throws her head back, looking at the semi darkness of the city's illuminated sky.

"Ygh, alright Cait you got me. Just- I gotta fix my babies, and as soon as possible okay?" Because of course that's the most important thing on her list. The Sheriff can't say she's surprised.

"So I've figured, I didn't say you have to stay in bed all the time. Just at the department, by all means, use the workshop if you so please." Caitlyn turns her head to the side. "Jayce."

"Yeah?" He pushes himself away from the car and walks over to her side.

"Do please keep Vi company, I need to see the site and give some green lights. Also, I don't suppose you want to be seen by an inspector so soon?" If one arrives before she's finished in any case. She has already planned the shakedown of his laboratory for the next week but he doesn't need to know that. She just wants to see the area alone and just telling him so would be quite crude.

And besides. She enjoys watching him flustered.

"Ah, I uh-" He hems, clearly at odds with leaving her alone and at the same time not wanting to go against her clear wish of being left to her own devices for the time being or risking a meeting with an administration inspector. "If you say so. Wouldn't want to step on your toes while you work right?"He flashes her a dashing smile, one that could perhaps fool her had she not known him as she does.

Quite like her own really, but her years of dealing with the officials as the sheriff of Piltover has taught her how to bury her personal opinion whenever she wills it. It wouldn't do to show contempt to the people who already make her life more difficult than it needs to be. Especially when she is the one that suggested the administration's creation in the first place. A necessary hindrance to keep the city in balance. She hadn't set out to create a police state all those years ago. She would have now, ashamed though she is to admit.

Without another word, she nods to both her companions and turns toward the truck where Jinx is supposedly being treated. She wants to see her before anything else, as if it's supposed to make a difference, it's silly really. But she still doesn't feel like all of tonight is completely palpable, seeing the terrorist in custody might just make it feel real. Or less dreamlike at least.

An entire Quick Response Group squad stands guard of the ambulance, every each one in full gear and on high alert. The Sheriff feels oddly proud at the sight, they're not doing anything really spectacular right now, true, but if she were to compare them to something when they're in action, it would have be a scalpel. QRG is a young force, barely two years old and yet it's already proven its worth on multiple occasions. Mostly at securing hostages and guarding assets, something she believed should be handed to a force created with these specific purposes in mind. She can allow herself to feel a sort of parental pride, after all, it is she who fought with teeth and nails for its creation and knowing the effects of the force's work, she can confidently say she was right in doing so.

None of the officers reacts to her other than with a quick glance to check her identity. Beside medics, she is the only person with permission to remain with Jinx at this very moment. She doesn't need anything going awry, she knows not what could, but it's better being safe than sorry. People can snap for seemingly no reason at most inopportune moments.

She quietly steps into the truck, careful not to disturb the work going on inside. The three medics' attention sways her way for just a moment before they return to their task, removing glass from the unconscious girl's... everywhere. Palms, forearms, knees, shins, and there is a lot, likely more than she can see as the layer of blood and grime that is coating the usually pale skin is surely concealing the smaller shards. There isn't an inch of her that's not coloured by filth or bruises. She's stripped of her boots and while one foot is heavily blistered, the other is somewhat ripped around ankle. The sight of her alone is repulsive but it's the smell that nearly makes Caitlyn gag, to put it in simple terms, she reeks. The smell of vomit, blood, sweat and sickness easily distinguishable from the sterile air of the ambulance.

She notes with a degree of annoyance that the criminal is not in any way restrained, not that there is much point to it when it comes to her posing a danger, as Jinx is not in state to do anything but roll over and fall off the stretcher, but it's still a violation of protocol. The one concerning the captive's health if not the medics' own. It would be very unfortunate indeed if she were to snap her neck due to falling to the ground. There were two such cases in Caitlyn's career, the first she thought a freak accident. The second made her curious about the injuries sustained during transport to hospitals.

The subsequent directive, forcing ambulance crews to indiscriminately restrain the injured during transportation, that was issued by the statesmen, might, or might not be the result of this research.

Yet she doesn't interrupt the crew in its work just to remedy that. They haven't yet moved out and in criminal cases it's the police forces' responsibility to make sure the subject is properly secured. Besides, writing a ticket won't speed things up and an update on their patient's state is due.

The woman takes off her hat and begins turning it around by the rim while her thoughts go back to the civilian casualties, nobody's fault really, well, except for Jinx that is. It's convenient that it's she who has killed them, in a twisted sense, if it were the mercenaries there would be a lot more trouble as a result as some of them escaped. For officers to die in action, while a tragedy, is not shocking. Since it is the Loose Cannon who's responsible, and since they have finally caught her. The fallout will be much smaller than what it could be.

She wonders briefly about just how many people has Jinx killed off the charts, before quickly pushing the pointless though out of her mind. Wasting time for the sake of shallow curiosity is something she can indulge in on her days off. And even then she prefers being productive. She recognises the value of letting her mind wander though, it's relaxing, and nothing more than that. Something to do while taking a bath, not while she's waiting to hear of her case's health. She can go over her speech for press conference again, the one that she's began preparing in her mind the moment she heard of Jinx's capture.

It's another minute before two of the medics lean away from their patient, one putting away the tray with glass shards and the other, tools with which he was pulling them out. The third one still fussing over her patient with a breathing bag.

"How may I help you Sheriff?" asks the one who's put his tools away. Thin build, greying hair, tired, probably overworked because of the chaos caused by the very patient in his current care. But calm, relieved by the belief that it's finally over most likely.

"I need an update on my subject's health. Is she good for transport?"

"Ah. She's not in immediate danger. I wouldn't say stable but if she's restrained from moving for some time and is flushed with antibiotics then she'll be fine enough in two weeks time." He looks back to the bluenette for a moment before sighing and motioning outside the ambulance. Caitlyn doesn't argue, she has seen what she wanted to. It's just a matter of forwarding the package now.

They pass the QRG detail and stop in a relatively non-crowded space before he speaks up again.

"I would also refrain from hands-on interrogation during that time, her ribs might give out and puncture her lungs. She's also malnourished and has a high fever, heavy internal hemorrhage. No doubt infection from what I think is a dog bite, so I'd watch out for that. Some other life-long conditions too apparently, but I would need to take her to the hospital for a diagnosis first." He finishes in a questioning tone, already suspecting what is about to follow.

Caitlyn will not risk sending a high profile criminal to a hospital and therefore endangering everyone in there, tonight has shown her that it can't be done. Even if she puts a heavy security detail there, what would it be supposed to do should the surviving mercenaries decide on attempting to finish their job? Civilian casualties would be unavoidable in such a place. Dealing with hostages is always sketchy and there is no guarantee that the potential attackers would even try taking them. Crossfire, death, slaughter.

Again.

"We're moving her to the prison infirmary for now. We've got our own equipment there."

"I assume I'm supposed to have a patient card ready for sending by the midday?" A note of irritation creeps its way into his words. The Sheriff can sympathise, she doesn't like it when her captives have to be transferred from under her custody either.

"You assume correctly. I will have someone pick it up in person, we need all the files as quickly as we can manage." She lapses into a momentarily silence before abruptly putting her hat back on and nodding to the man. "Thank you for your cooperation. I will give a signal for the convoy to move out in some two minutes."

He merely nods in understanding and moves back to his truck. Her dispassionate eyes follow his back for a moment before turning away in order of looking for the convoy's chief inspector.

No point in delaying this, if an attack is to happen then every minute they spend waiting is another that the potential enemy is gaining on them in terms of men, arms and location. Maybe she should have the convoy take a scenic route through the cleaned districts. Cutting it straight through gang infested territory is normally a bad idea. But this is Jinx, although the Force did not extend its hand to the criminals and vice versa, it goes as a sort of mutual understanding that neither side disrupts the other when the crazed terrorist is concerned. As useful to their goals the chaos Jinx has caused is, the bluenette acts like wildfire in that she has no specific targets. Mafias' property and men have been hit by her too and they probably won't mourn her capture nor passing. They might send flowers to her office even. They do that sometimes when she eliminates a mutual threat, cheeky bastards.

It is very much in their motto to take while they can and never look back. The maniac took a great part in the Piltovian crime resurgence over the last weeks, but now that she's caught? There is little point in breaking her out because while she would surely continue her rampage, who is to say it won't begin with their own illicit activities? Not to mention the crackdown that would be commenced against whomever was stupid enough to help the terrorist.

But a small chance is still one too large for Caitlyn to ignore- especially with the new players on board. While she doesn't believe anything will occur if the convoy goes through gang territory it might still happen regardless. The chance of an incident if they give the beaten mercs enough time to regroup and realise they yet have the chance to complete their objective however, is infinitely higher. Three percent (plus minus one) by her estimation after the loses they took, but she will only settle for a zero after the tonight's massacre.

And for the unlikely situation of coming under attack, she can always simply order one of her officers to put a bullet through the maniac's head. Legally too. The girl is a high value package that can't be let to fall into criminal hands, even at the cost of only giving her a post mortem trial. It wouldn't be the first one the Sheriff would have to go through. An archaic remnant of the past in her opinion but truthfully, it's not worth the trouble of changing the constitution's clause speaking of everyone's right to a fair trial just to add three words- excluding the dead. Truth be told, she thinks it morbidly amusing to see a judge addressing an urn and then sentencing it to endtime's imprisonment in a grave.

Oh how the press would love it.

Still, her job is to deliver Jinx to the supermax, safely if possible. As such, however much she wishes to simply have the terrorist killed right away, she'll give her the treatment she provides for every contained criminal. There is enough evidence to condemn her thrice over, so the woman doesn't have to worry about finding any more nor about prompting inmate violence. Which... might happen anyway. Best put the girl in a solitary for good measure. After her wounds are treated that is, which means assigning a guard detail to her while she's staying at the infirmary.

So much trouble to go through for the sake of a murderer fated to die.

But ah, there is the man she's looking for. Chief inspector Karl Stuntz. Recently appointed to his current position and apparently, still learning his ropes.

"Sheriff." He snaps a curt salute when he notices her approach.

"Chief inspector." She promptly returns the greeting although without clicking her boots. "I trust everything is in order?"

"We're only waiting for the green light Sheriff. Ready to go in one." He's certainly not in a rush. But a minute is still within acceptable time.

"Good. You're taking the convoy to the Lockbox. Straight away to the infirmary, no processing, she needs medical attention and full diagnosis. If bureaucrats try to slow you then tell them you're acting on my authority, a form if you please." He immediately takes out his booklet and hands it to Caitlyn, her own pen already in hand. "Also, why is the package not cuffed?" He winces, the sort of wince that people make when asked about something they know they've done wrong.

"Meds had to remove glass from her arms, said it could tear veins if disturbed."

"Then cuff her by the foot. The criminal is a B class threat, don't assume those harmless even with their teeth pulled out. Your lapse in judgement is notified, make sure not to make it twice because I won't be so lenient again." She pauses for a moment to let her words sink in. "You're moving through the most efficient route, if anything goes awry, terminate the package. Now carry on," she handles him the booklet with her orders. "your convoy has a go."

His face is set in a forced, neutral expression, one barely hiding the relief the man is feeling, he salutes her again before practically running off to follow her orders. By the book, she should have punished him for an operational misconduct but Caitlyn believes that a reprimand such like this will have the same effect without the burden of additional stress clouding his mind during the operation. On top of that, the PCPD is not at all overstaffed at the moment so having an officer in headlights for something like this is really not necessary.

The Sheriff turns to the ruined building complex, forcing her hands to keep themselves by her sides and not fiddle with the strap of her gun. She doesn't wait for the convoy to move out, her orders will be followed through to the letter, there is no need to watch it happen. Instead, she approaches the officers stationed by the entrance of the building. There is one thing she has to do here before beginning the real work, by no coercion other than that she forces upon herself. There are others that can deal with it but the day she stops will be the day she's either too old or fragile to serve, or the day she fails Piltover, her people and herself.

The ravenhead comes to a stop before her subordinates and a curt exchange of salutes later, in voice void of any emotion, she addresses one of them.

"Show me the live collateral."

And so the second arc begins with an interlude. I must admit, for a long time I thought that people blaming the university for the pace of their writing were bullshitting us.

They aren't.