14:45 - HARRIET GRAY - IN THE CAR

[Dr. Jar]

Harriet-

"I'm CSI, yes. I am hoping it will be enlightening in one way or another."

I studied the photos, stepping in carefully and jumping a little to get to the seat and settling myself in. I look at his sappy pictures and smile a little.

"Are these your kids?"

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Detective Rodriguez-
"Haha, oh yes. I usually don't have anyone riding shotgun.
Emma and Peter, he's the little one. Sure you don't need to know,
but I'm obligated."

Sleet splatted on the windshield, threatening to turn to hail. One of the guards

seemed to be readying the prisoner transport.

Detective Rodriguez-
"I talked to that guy's mom once. Ten years ago, same time as Colt was
talking to Mills. How could someone treat their kids like that..."

[Dr. Jar]

Harriet-

"I don't know. I don't have any kids but I have to wonder what sort of person would have them then treat them with cruelty. What did she say?"

I didn't expect any great insights from it, but I wondered about them as people. What sort of person could live that way? I wondered this about a lot of criminals. There were some crimes, crimes of passion, that I understood, but this was something else.

Both calculated and without reason. What was this man? Who were these people?

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Detective Rodriguez-
"Those two were like mirrors. They accused each other of the same crimes
in practically the same words. 'Brainwashing' isn't real, but sometimes I wonder.
Dad probably abused mom, mom abuses the son, the son abuses the sister,
on and on and on. Where did it start? Where would it stop?

...I guess it'll stop now."

He swallowed visibly. Seemed pretty soft for a detective.

"Sorry. This case has us all feeling out of sorts. I didn't really have a reason to be here,
I just wanted to be around if anyone needed help."

[Dr. Jar]

Harriet-

"You're a nice guy. I guess I don't really either, if there's no more evidence to be found. I'm not really someone who meets with a lot of perpetrators, and I'm not sure why I was invited either honestly, but I'll try to be helpful."

I reflect. Why am I here? Was it for me? Was it for Mr. Mills? His victim, who may still be alive out there? I don't know and I don't pretend to. I am simply here.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Detective Rodriguez-
"Well, I hate to say it but... he may lead us to a third crime scene. I pray that you won't have to be on hand to tag another body but... I'm not sure why else he's suddenly willing to talk to us. Probably the most realistic outcome is that he takes us to William Bedford's body. I guess we all have to be prepared for that."

[Dr. Jar]

Harriet-

I felt a grim note in my chest. I could not really call it optimism or pessimism but a part of me knew that the child could not have been still alive. It was simply statistically unlikely.

It was also unlikely that our perpetrator would do something as helpful as showing us where the third crime scene might be, but it was a best case scenario.

"I suppose in some ways, it would be a blessing."

The worst kind of blessing, honestly.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Detective Rodriguez-
"Do you think you'd be okay with-- Oh, heh, I shouldn't project
my own insecurities. You've probably worked in the field a lot, right?
 I guess I get to duck and cover my eyes while you guys have to get
face to face with the horrors."

[Dr. Jar]

Harriet-

"I investigate all kinds of crimes, including homicides, but something on this scale is... rare, I will say. I cannot say that I am used to it, but I suppose, more than most. Either way, don't do anything you aren't comfortable with."

I lean back in my seat and sigh.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Detective Rodriguez-
"Ha, yeah, people around here are pretty used to telling me when
it's safe to come out. Geez, poor Butcher. Bad enough to see the crimes
after the fact, but to be there when its happening? When you can't do
anything about it? He looked like he was going to faint earlier, hope he
decided to go home.

You ever have a case you had to back out of? I've had a few, for sure."

[Dr. Jar]

Harriet-

"I can't imagine the horror. I have never requested to back out of a case, but I think the day will come someday."

I wonder. What would it take for me to back out of a case? Probably evidence of corruption so deep I want to leave this job entirely. It had happened before, at least in strokes, but not broadly enough to make me stop.

But at this point, the work was my life. What would it mean for me?

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Detective Rodriguez-
"It might, it might not. You going to stick with forensics?
Or think you might go on to something else someday?
I was really eager to make detective but now I'm looking forward
to being a retired detective, you know? Ha ha ha, hoo..."

He laughed like a corny old dad.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

((Just realized I should probably put this all in its own thread, but we can keep posting here for now and I'll move it later.))

[Dr. Jar]

Harriet-

"I think I like where I'm at. It's very fact-based. I guess as much as any science can be anyways. You just find all the details and then put the puzzle together. It may seem strange, but I think that the more bias people bring to criminal law, the more likely they will make mistakes."

I can't imagine my life without my work, and certainly can't imagine retiring. I'm glad that age isn't a limitation in this field.

[◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊]

Detective Rodriguez-
"I can imagine that. I hope one of these days I can get more
behind a desk. You have to really love adventure to go out
in the field, and I think I'm liking it less now that I have a family.
What do you think about the whole 'thrilling' part of the job?
 Is it really more about the science side? I'm always curious what
gets people into our line of work."