Eris yawned still walking up the rest of the way, while trotting alongside her master. The night air was cooler then the day but still held plenty of heat. Enough for her tongue to hang out her mouth and pant softly for a second. She pulled her tongue back into her mouth only keeping it in her maw for a second. It hung out once again trying to cool herself down. She looked up at her master and could see the sweat on his forehead and knew he was warm as well. Expect there was more sweat their then the heat warranted. His eyes were wide and darted around trying to watch everything at once. She didn't need to notice these subtle signs for she could actually sense his fear. This concerned her greatly. She had felt him when he took fire when he was part of the road block. Also when he raided the building used to illegally house Pokémon. He had been scared then as well but not like this.
Grimm was too lost in thought to notice Eris staring at him while they walked. He was of course thinking about that warehouse. About what a homicide could have to possible do with him. That and the events of that night flashed into his mind. "A reward from each of us." He quickly shook his head as if doing so would force the memory from his mind. He had to get sharp, to regain his focus. If he didn't he could miss things, make mistakes and he couldn't avoid to make mistakes now. He let the cooler night air alert him again as he focused on the blue and red flashing lights in the distance.
The alley that lead to the warehouse side door was blocked off by two squad cars red and blue lights flashing casting harsh shadows. Grimm paused on the sidewalk across the street staring at the alley. "Where's your trainer?' 'I made him angry when I lost. I had to get away before he-' 'He hurt you again?'" Grimm shook his head again. He clenched his teeth debating if maybe he should just turn around. He'd just tell Walker her fell back to sleep and that he was sorry. He'd probably get shity details for a week but he'd take that. An officer standing beside the roadblock spotted him and waved him over.
'Fuck,' Grimm thought. With a quick wave back he started forward towards the barrier. Eris trotting along at his side close enough that her side was pressed against his leg. He walked as slowly as he could across the deserted street but not too slow as to draw attention. One of the officers guarding the alley called out to him.
"You Grimm?" He shouted just loud enough to be heard.
"Yeah!" He called back nearing the yellow police tape. The cop that had called out to him lifted up the tape so Grimm could pass under without ducking more than just his head. He nodded his thanks as he passed through. Once on the other side of the tape there were no more officers expect all the way down at the other end of the alley to keep people from entering from the other side as well. He flicked his eyes to the right seeing a knocked over trash can with a red tipped tail sticking out of it! He stopped right hand touching his pistol grip but he blinked and the tail was gone. He slowly lowered his hand this was bad if he was seeing things.
Gently pulling on Eris's leash he moved forward to that alley door, the one that changed his life forever and not for the better. Grimm could feel sweat trickling down his back and soaking his shirt. He used the back of his hand to wipe what had collected on his brow away. He had to look collected and in control or they would pull him from activate duty and make him see a shrink. Maybe he did need to see one? No! He was fine, he was in control. Eris made sure to keep as close to him as possible, her flank pressed against his leg to offer as much comfort as she could and as much as he was willing to accept.
The pair reached the door, the door that had led to a warehouse but he'd been shown a living room that night. There in the doorway, baring the way, was another uniformed officer. He didn't say anything just moved out of the way and pointed behind him to a pair of men. One was Captain Walker in uniform the other was a stout man wearing a suit. Lieutenant Santino lead homicide detective.
"Thanks," Grimm said though quiet enough that the other officer might not have heard. As he entered the warehouse he took it in the scene. A bright flash of light followed closely by a low pitched whine drew his attention to his right. There was a male body lying on the concrete floor, he couldn't tell the age but the amount of blood pooled around it Grimm knew he was dead. There was a strip of blood near the body's feet just before the pool of blood. Clearly a drag mark the body had been moved after being injured. The Medical Examiner had just repositioned and was about to take another photo of the body. Grimm looked around the body and saw small, yellow, numbered placards marking evidence. Lab techs were hard at work photographing those as uniform officers searched for the next possible piece of evidence marking it with a placard when they found it. Grimm made his way over to the two superior officers catching the end of a conversation. The two of them having their backs to Grimm and Eris.
"Nine millimeter is one of the most common calibers of handgun," Walker told Santino.
"Agreed but casings and preliminary ballistics suggest a nine millimeter hard tipped hollow point. That's standard issued police rounds," Santino said sagely.
"But still able to be bought at any gun or sporting goods store," Walker said.
"Correct again but a very specialized and expense load for a pistol. Not something you typically buy but would use if it's what you already have. To say nothing of where the victim was shot you don't have to be a veteran detective to know this was personal." Santino said pointing towards the body.
"You're not seriously suggesting that-" Walker began. Eris knew that her master would not interrupt his 'alphas' but she also knew that his uncomfortably with his place will only grow even if she didn't understand the cause of it. So she forced herself to sneeze and sneeze loudly causing both Walker and Santino to turn around.
"Grimm," Walker greeted his face stoic.
"I'll have the report on your desk before lunch," Santino said walking off to go speak with Medical Examiner.
"Let's talk over here," Walker said placing a hand on Grimm's shoulder and leading him between shelving that was stacked high with various cardboard boxes. Once they were alone, only Eris could hear them, did he speak again. "I know this place has some bad memories for you and I wouldn't ask you to come here if it wasn't important. I need you to try and remember that night. Was they anyone else in the warehouse other than the Pokémon that attacked you?"
"No," Grimm said without hesitation. However he thought about it a little more. "Not that I saw. With the noise that was made if there was anyone else around they would have heard what was happening."
"Are you completely positive?" Walker asked again his eyes locking on Grimm's searching for something. "Three Pokémon of such different species in a pack together without a trainer is highly unusual."
"They all had a trainer before," Grimm said without really thinking. "Maybe not all the same one but they differently had one." Walker looked shocked at this statement and it was then that Grimm realized he had never put that in his report of the incident. In fact as far as the department was concerned Grimm had investigate the alley was lured to the door by the sounds of a struggle and used that to legally gain entry. Finding out too late that it was an illusion and was attacked by the three Pokémon. They didn't really ask anymore and he didn't say anymore. Motive behind the attack had been a big point that had gone unspoken.
"How did you know this?" Walker asked relief, not suspicion entering his voice much to Grimm's surprise. 'They told me.' Grimm thought.
"The scares they had were clearly from battle more than just scuffs in the wild, they coordinated their attacks as if they were used to working as a team. As you said a pack like that forming in the wild is highly unlikely," Grimm explained using hindsight. Though it only made him feel more like an idiot then he already did about the entire thing. "They had training."
"You didn't see a trainer but it could be possible that there was one there and they master minded the entire thing?" Walker asked the relief now clear. 'No.' Grimm thought plainly. 'They'd never have a trainer again not ever.'
"It's possible," Grimm said thoughtfully. "Sir what is this all about? Other than the location what does this have to do with me and what's with the trainer angle?" Walker sighed but smiled a tired smile. It was only then that Grimm saw the deep bags under his eyes showing just how exhausted Walker was.
"In your report you said they disarmed you and you never recovered your weapon?" Walker asked. Grimm nodded he had put that in the report assuming that the Blazekin had taken his pistol and dumped it. "Well we combed the area and we never did recover it." That was true Grimm had been issued another pistol after filing the report he lost it as protocol demanded. "Well the victim here was killed by a nine millimeter pistol and right now it looks like it was a cop's."
Grimm's blood turned to ice and his mouth went dry while his back broke out into a sweat. It couldn't be? She had taken his pistol and not only kept it but was using it? He moved his tongue around the inside of his mouth trying in vain to wet it enough to speak. His heart was hammering so loud that was all he could hear even as Walker kept talking. He looked away from Walker his eyes darting around looking for something, anything but he didn't know what he was looking for. It was when then landed on Eris that he suddenly knew.
She was looking up at him a cold stoic look that could only be described as 'determined'. A look that told him she had his back that she was there by his side and wasn't going to go anywhere. He could have sworn that she even nodded at him as if to confirm his thoughts. It was only then he started to calm down to think logically. Even if she did take his pistol she probably did chuck it and it could have been found and be in the hands of a gang-banger or some drug addict. It didn't mean that she had it and that meant it was just as likely she wasn't here, none of them where here.
"…so we're going to start canvassing the area, knocking on doors," Walker explained unknowing Grimm had been reeling. He focused back on the captain. "See if they heard anything. I want you to take a look around see if the surroundings bring up anything. If you remember something, anything you let me know so we can nail the bastard that had those Pokémon attack you."
"Will do sir," Grimm said with a forced smile.
"Good man," Walker slapped Grimm on the shoulder and walked back to speak with Santino. Grimm knew he was right to leave out the fact that the Pokémon had been able to speak English, had admitted to killing their former trainers and were acting of their own free will. If anyone did believe him it'd be shameful for him as being the cop that had been beaten and….raped by Pokémon. Not that he doubted people couldn't believe Pokémon were capable of doing what was done to him but they didn't want to believe that Pokémon, acting on their own had the ability to commit such a heinous act. Not sweet, cute innocent Pokémon. The worst part for him was that those Pokémon had been pushed down that path because of their former masters.
There was no time to dwell on that anymore, not tonight anyway. He'd take Walker's advice, more of an order really. Tell him he couldn't remember anything and then leave so he could get the hell out of here. He walked out for the shelving and made his way towards the body. The M.E. must have been done with it for the moment for it had been covered by a white sheet. He made sure to give any of the evidence placards a wide breath epically with Eris trotting alongside him. He stopped well enough away from the body but next to a lab tech that was filling out the field report. Grimm knew him in the sense that he'd seen him around the station but he didn't even know his name.
"C.O.D.?" Grimm asked using the short hand language hoping to score some points in the tech's favor.
"Single G.S.W. to the head," The tech said without looking up from his report. 'Single Gunshot to the head? Execution.' Grimm thought remember the drag mark in the blood he saw earlier. 'Why would they have moved the body if they weren't going to hide it?'
"How far was the body dragged?" Grimm asked looking at the sheet covered victim.
"He dragged himself," The tech explained. "The C.O.D. was a shot to the head but he had his dick shot off before that. They let the poor bastard wither and drag himself in pain before they finally popped him. He must have pissed off someone good or the murder was just a sick fuck. That's not my department though." Grimm grunted upon hearing this new bit of information. Shooting a male in the groin like that meant the victim knew their murder that this was personal and probably sexual based. Just like what happened to those Pokémon before they-
He shook his head and left the body going deeper into the warehouse. He left the main floor where all the activity was focused at the moment. Once they had all the evidence they could find collected around the crime scene they'd spread out and check the entire warehouse. When he left the floor he was in a smaller section of the building but it was still spacious, where the packing machines were kept along with pallets of cardboard to be made into boxes. Unlike the room he'd just left this area wasn't lit by overly bright overhead lights, this section's lights remained off.
Grimm took out his flashlight and directed its beam off the machinery and barrels of chemicals. It casted harsh and strange shadows on the smooth barren floor. He swung the light around pretending to look to kill time before it was acceptable to leave. He wasn't too worried because they'd sweep this place over later. He walked further into the room his footsteps echoing off the walls and high ceiling. Eris went along with him but not pressed right up to his side like she had been. She was busy sniffing at the air for there was something strange on it.
While in the other room where all she could really smell was blood and humans in this room she could smell dust, harsh strong smells she knew meant chemicals, her master but something else. Something that didn't belong. It was another living creature but not human. The smell was faint, very much so, meaning it was just a leftover trace of their presence. Her master was walking the wrong way though as it got stronger the closer she went towards the center of the room. She moved in that direction her leash going taunt. Grimm felt the tug on the leash and jerked his head to see Eris moving towards the center of the room. Her nose pressed to the ground and sniffing rapidly clearly she had a scent.
"Got something girl?" He asked following her lead and allowing her to move forward. He'd been a dog handle long enough to know dogs get hunches as well and you can learn a lot by following them. She was leading him towards the center of the floor and he used the beam of his flashlight to point the way. It wasn't until she was almost on top of it before he saw it. It was small and looked like a small stick covered in fluffy string or something. One half of it was white and the other red. Once they were standing right over it did he realize what it was: a feather? Grimm frowned how could a feather get in here and then just lay here undisturbed when a gentle breeze would send it flying away?
He didn't have long to think about it because Eris was moving once again heading towards the far wall now, where a shelf that held rolls of plastic wrapping was in front of. There was another feather the same kind and further away from the first pair was yet another one. It was a God damn trail leading them towards the wall. Grimm's throat felt dry again and something knotted his stomach. He could see that the shelf wasn't pressed against the wall, that there was a gap between it and the wall. Where someone or something could hide out of sight and that's where the feathers where going.
He wanted to draw his pistol but one hand held his light the other Eris's leash. There wasn't time to readjust he had to keep following the trail of feathers. Eris was walking faster whatever she was following was getting stronger. She was at the end of her leash the entire five foot length drawn taunt. This made him feel just a little better because she was going to get there first. She was going to be able to react better than he was if there was anything that wished either of them ill will behind the shelf. She reached the wall and walked behind the shelf out of Grimm's sight.
He waited as he walked. Waited for the bark, the growl, the whimper anything to tell him that Eris had found something but she was completely quiet. As he neared the shelf he could see the leash starting to droop meaning slack was going back into it. Eris had stopped moving he realized. He rounded the shelf looking down the flashlight illuminating Eris sniffing a small pile of the feathers that had lead both of them here. He breathed a sigh of relief yet his stomach did not unknot. The cone of light from his flashlight showed something red and dried on the white washed concrete wall. He shifted to look at the wall more clearly the light showing him exactly what it was.
Even as he saw what it was it took him a moment to understand it and several more to make sure he had it right. Once he did for there was no mistaking what he saw no matter how much he wanted it to be. He turned and bolted from behind the shelf jerking the leash so hard it yanked on Eris's neck causing her to yelp out of surprise. He made it 10 steps to a stretch of rollers the kind for sending packages down a line. He leaned heavily on it and then vomited all over the floor.
Grimm sat on a wooden pallet a blanket over his shoulders placed there by a paramedic. Eris sat in front of him between his legs like a sentry watching anyone that came close to her master. The lights had been turned on in the packing area everything bathed in harsh white light the buzz of the high above lights annoying. Uniformed cops were searching the area while lab tech placed the placards next to each feather and took a photo. There was a cluster of detectives and techs behind the shelf studying and photographing what Grimm had found. Trying to figure out 'what it meant'. Grimm knew exactly what it meant which is why he nearly had a panic attack. Luckily they took it as shock from finding such a grisly discovery.
"I'm sorry you had to be the one to find that officer," A voice in front of Grimm said. He had been staring at the ground his head between his knees at the medic's advice. It had helped his head from swimming but his stomach was still turning and felt much too tight. Grimm looked up into the frowning face of Captain Walker and stoic Lieutenant Santino. Grimm forced a half smile in an attempt to convince them that he felt better then he actually did.
"I just wasn't expecting it," Grimm said. "Just took me by surprise is all." Both Walker and Santino nodded seeming satisfied with the answer.
"Why don't you go home officer," Walker said leaning in to place a hand on Grimm's shoulder only to get a leer from Eris. The Captain seemed to think better of his action and pulled his hand back.
"But-" Grimm started.
"We can take it from here," Santino said. "You can write the official report of its discovery tomorrow."
"Yes," Walker agreed. "Take the rest of the night off. You're not on the clock as it is. I'll see you get overtime for this."
"Thank you sir," Grimm said standing the blanket falling from his shoulders. He was silent a moment willing himself to stand without either shaking or wobbling. Then because he already knew the answer but had to ask for appearances sake. "What's it mean?" He didn't have to explain what 'it' was.
"Leave that for the profilers," Santino said with a dismissive wave. "It's clear we were meant to find it and that it's some kind of message for us." Grimm nodded curtly to both men.
"Have a good night," He told them both. He left the warehouse the night air hitting him like a slap in the face. Yet it was not enough to draw his attention. His mind and heart were racing and he walked in a daze. He didn't even think about where he was going his feet guiding him on their own. He was too busy thinking about what was on that wall. Lieutenant Santino had been right it had been a message but not to the police department but to him. For written in blood on that wall were the words: Hello, our little hypocrite. There was no doubt now they were back and in this city again, his city!
He somehow found himself in front of his apartment door. His keys were in his hand even as he had no memory of grabbing them. He inserted them into the lock. "Cum for me my little hypocrite." The words suddenly echoed in his head and he took a step back as if physically struck. He gasped sharply and grabbed his keys opening his lock and entering his home slamming the door behind him and locking it once again. He stopped just long enough to unhook Eris's leash and then he marched to his bedroom Eris moving quickly after him.
When she entered the bedroom he was in his closet and when he came back out he held a shotgun. She watched as he pulled a chair to face the bedroom door. He sat down shotgun across his lap looking out into the living room and the front door. Eris took a spot right next to him eyes locked on the door as well. It was clear then he was afraid of something and it seemed to be the creature that left those feathers. She knew he would not sleep willingly but his exhaustion would get to him. She however would stay up with him and if he dozed off she would remain alert. He was her master and it was her duty to protect him even with her life.