ESPRIT DE CORPS:Lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi pulls his motor carriage over to the side of the road across from the precinct. He rubs his face and looks at his watch. Midnight. He takes out his notebook once more and traces his finger down the list of crossed-out locations. He's been thorough. But maybe he should go around a second time? He unhooks the radio mouthpiece to check in with Communications Officer Pidieu, when someone knocks on the window of his Kineema.
Outside, a man stands, dishevelled, clearly injured. He has a wound somewhere on the side of his head. The side of his neck is crusted with dried blood. From the way he's standing, Kitsuragi suspects broken ribs. He's favoring his right leg.
"Officer, can you help me?" the man says. "Is that precinct 41?"
Kitsuragi opens the door. "It is," he says, stepping down. The man seems unsteady on his feet - Kitsuragi puts a hand under his elbow to support him. "Do you need medical attention, sir?"
The man sighs with relief. "I hoped it was. I'm a little turned around. My wife works there, you see. I think I got mugged, or I hit my head, anyway, and I've been trying to get home, but I'm having trouble remembering the way."
Kitsuragi eyes the man. Injuries all on one side. Strange for a mugging. More likely from a fall, but–
His wife works at the 41st?
"Wait," says Kitsuragi. He pulls out his notebook again, flipping to the quick sketch he'd done based on the photo Judit had given Pidieu. He compares the sketch to the man in front of him. "Is your name Bastien Minot?"
"That's me," replies the man.
Kitsuragi stares at the man, his mouth slightly open for a moment, then shakes his head, replacing the notebook in his pocket .
"Why don't we get you upstairs to the lazareth?" he says. "We'll let your wife know where you are."