SHELLEY
Shelley's latest sixteen hours had been about as a wild ride, a ship on a raging storm, and she *didn't* like that.
There was still the mess of the breach in the Academy to sort out, the sudden change in leadership from the once Sheriff Kiramman to Warden-Marshall Ferros, the paperwork nightmare, as it was alwaysb related to the mass mobilization south, into the Undercity, as the Warden-Marshall mandated, having to handle the Warden-Marshall's schedule, especially concerning attending the Merchant nobles who put her there, as well as press conferences...
And now there was apparently a *monster* - or serial killer with quite a penchant for brutality - on the loose. One that started after a call, one of a lone victim of attempted robbery and sexual abuse, whose attacker was killed by some sort of 'monster'. The trauma from the girl seemed enough to dismiss it, though the autopsy report of the brutal slashing and impaling did give some small credit. And then another, from a deal that apparently went awry, a pair of criminals having been found killed, in the same manner.
But then came another call, to handle a large case of manslaughter in the Fissures came in, a brutality to make Noxians shudder. But then, given most of the members were apparently gangers, as well as some gangsters belonging to one of the Chem-Barons, it seemed like a score-settling that spiraled out of control. But that was something to not turn an eye from.
But now, it's been an hour since the corpses of the doomed-to-fail Ironhand group, including it's 'glorious' leader, Lieutenant Conrad Ternnus, had just arrived from what the men on the scene claimed to have been a well-developed criminal hideout just exposed, and the death methods for all of them was about the same, if not more violent - Ternnus was literally *torn* in half and even an Ironhand, identified as Colleen Halver, was divided between her torso and her waist and legs. Even the enforcers admitted that, while the criminal group, the 'Firelights', were indeed involved in the fight as were Kiramman and her pink-haired trencher colleague, the amount of strength *required* or even the wounds' patterns didn't match any of the assorted weapons the Firelights surrendered.
About three investigators were already on this, but couldn't find much, as well. Some, in the undercity, according to informants, had even given a name to who (or rather, what) would be out there - the 'Beast of Warwick Drive', based on the gangers slaughtered at the scene. That wasn't good, at all. This was quickly entering the grounds of urban legend, and the Warden-Marshall wouldn't like that, not with a 'war' going on, right now.
Shelley knew all that work, just piling up and up without much backup, almost undid her. Hence why she walked past the corridors in some hurry, in the Central Precinct, and thus entered the marble-tiled woman's restroom, to take a breath. After all, everyone needed their safe space, to recollect and reprieve, however short it'd be. The restroom had it's long sink, for attending multiple officers, as well as the wall-spanning mirror and the toilet boxes in rows. Some bars of soap stood above the sinks within soap holders as well.
As Shelley leaned into the sink to take a breath, the door suddenly opened, hard boots walking in. Shelley looked at the arriving figures, a couple of enforcers, apparently male, though the attires seemed to be off. "Tell her I'll be in a minute, please.", she shook her head.
"Don't worry, you'll be in thirty.", one of the enforcers answered, the tone totally female, whom suddenly charged at her as the other one went to lock the door.
The first enforcer pushed Shelly to the wall at the far end of the restroom, using a hand to grab her throat. "You know the game, any noise's your last.", she warned, before she then removed the helmet, letting it fall to the marble floor, revealing her disheveled pink hair, blue eyes and the 'VI' tatoo on her face. She noticed Shelley's shellshock. "Missed us?"
The enforcer behind Vi removed her helmet too, revealing the long hair and face Shelley knew answered to, not a couple of days back.
"Evening, Shelley.", Caitlyn said, feigning cordiality, but the tones of 'I'd strangle you myself, but she beat me to it' poured through the cracks.
"You weren't supposed, how'd you-", Shelley started asking.
"You really think we'll answer that?", Vi shrugged, staring at Shelley.
"We'd like to ask you something.", Caitlyn started, a second later. "Just some information, please."
"Why would I?", Shelley asked, eyes darting between both her captors.
"Call it a hunch, but I'd say Camille kept you where you were, after things changed here.", Vi answered. "Not a big mystery really: place changes owners, you lay off the old staff. Get new, loyal ones."
"But that wouldn't be practical for her, not this time.", Caitlyn followed. "The new one would be lost on the amount of crap to handle, with everything happening now. She'd need someone already on point. You're it."
"Good point.", Shelley shrugged, nodding. "But still...", she then stared at Vi, the mood changing. Not a rattled assistant, but someone composed, in control and itching for trouble. "Why would I?"
"Oh, that's the *real* Shelley there?", Vi nodded, smirking. "Fancy meeting you. You sounded supportive, back then. *Too* supportive, if you ask me...", her smirk faded.
"Just doing my job. Doesn't mean I have to like it.", Shelley retorted, glancing at Caitlyn. "I told you many around here aren't used with you in charge."
"You included, it seems...", Caitlyn said. "But which job you were doing, I wonder?"
"Oh please, princess, *all* this time in the force, you didn't grasp how things go around here, yet?", Shelley asked.
"She does, and so do I!", Vi's eyes deadlocked Shelley's, a tense moment filling the air. "We're just not filth enthusiasts. And to answer your question, why would you? Because that's what you do best - anything to keep your ass clear. Even if someone oughta become dog food for it.", she approached Shelley. "Only thing we're asking? Just do it again."
As Vi backed a bit off, Shelley's eyes darted to Caitlyn, whom shrugged back. "You wouldn't make it very far, anyway.", Shelley stared back at Vi.
"Live a little...", Vi said, in a threatening tone.
Shelley's eyes darted between both enforcer women. "What is it?", she asked.
"Medarda.", Caitlyn answered. "Where?"
Shelley's expression became one on alert, glancing at Caitlyn. "No. No, you know Ferros will know-", Shelley started, before Vi covered her mouth, forcing her head against the wall.
"Vi!", Caitlyn censored.
"Ain't seeing miss scissorlegs around here. Are you?", Vi growled, Shelley staring back angrily. "And didn't we just ask you to just do what you do best? Anything to keep your ass clear?"
Shelley's eyes, a couple of seconds later, darted aside, before Vi got the hand off her mouth. "You know I'll remember that...", she said.
"Oh, we want you to.", Vi nodded. "Would suck, you being forgetful."
"Vi.", Caitlyn called. "Shelley, please, I don't want any more of this, it gets me down. Doesn't mean we're not gonna, though, if we have to."
"I'd get a stomach, and fast, princess.", Shelley commented, a couple of seconds later, facing both. "Sidereal Precinct."
"Sidereal.", Vi nodded, eyes darting a bit to her left. "It's where the whole Ironhand mess started right?"
"And those left alive were all acquitted by the new Warden-Marshall.", Shelley shrugged. "Progress."
"Of course...", Vi said, disgusted. "Can you now raise your chin, please?"
"Raise the chin?", Shelley asked, staring at Vi, as she then caught the message. "Really?"
"I'd better, if I were you.", Vi nodded.
Shelley's heart raced a bit at that as she beheld Vi's willing expression and subtle nods. A couple of seconds later, Shelley raised her chin as instructed and nodded. "Between us both...", she eyeballed Caitlyn, as Vi flexed her left hand for the blow. "*You* should've been the Sheriff, trencher."
Vi didn't waste any time in delivering the punch, the necessary amount of strength required. Shelley collapsed to the floor, as was planned.
And, as planned, Shelley would be in Camille's office in thirty. More or less.