“Four break-ins in a single week. That is hardly anything new in this neighborhood,” the blue-eyed Seventen said simply, leaning back into his chair as he looked up at her.
“All with the exact same modus operandi and the fact that nothing valuable was taken? Surely even you must admit there is something off about that, Inspector Leverenz,” Evandria said with deadly calm. The look she was giving him had succeeded in making countless men and women shrivel but it did not work on him.
He smirked. Gods, she wanted to punch that handsome face of his. It was fortunate that a wooden desk was standing between them. The man certainly hadn’t changed since the time they trained together. “Sergeant Sericks, I understand that you have only been stationed here very briefly. Break-ins might be a big deal in the sleepy, midde-of-nowhere town you just had been, but here… We do not have time for that.”
“You are an erse, Emric.”
“I certainly have missed you calling me that. But all jokes aside, I really cannot afford spending resources on thieves who break-and-enter then takes nothing at all. You do know that we just had a murder a few blocks away from here.”
The young woman rolled her eyes. “And we both know that the secret mistress was the killer. You do not need to spend your resources to figure that out.”
“Even if I want to, I can’t. You are more than welcome to do deal with it yourself though.”
It seemed like a small crowd had gathered during the brief time she had left to find Emric. Not that it was a surprise. The whole Dive would have found out in less than a day considering how the daughter had screamed hysterically and while also feinting dizziness to catch one of the recruits’ attention. Her second, Constable Girardi, was still questioning her, although from his expression she could tell the girl didn’t have much information to offer.
Her squad had managed to keep everyone a safe distance away from the house. Their chrovens presence probably played a big role in keeping them at bay. With every break-in, the people’s interest regarding its perpetrator had significantly increased and that did not make her job any easier. Fortunately, she was in the Dives. Less likely to offend a member of some important family or a politician’s uncle when she did her job. “This is a crime scene, everyone,” the sergeant announced coldly as the crowd parted to let her reach the house. “I am asking you all to kindly return to your homes and let us do our job.”
Unsurprisingly, murmurs of a protest started to rise. Someone said they had the right to know what is happening. Another claims that her squad was incompetent for letting this happen. Evandria sighed. She hated this part. She was never a great public speaker to begin with. “I understand all of your concerns, but in order to address I would need to know what happened. Unfortunately I cannot do that when I have a mob of people trampling on my evidence. So, for the last time, I am going to say please leave the premises.” The young woman hoped the sharpness of her words would be enough to infer that there would be unpleasantness should they decided to test her.
As they grumbled and began to disperse, Evandria smiled. “Thank you for your cooperation.” Crude as it was, she got the civilians to leave. Well most of them, anyway. A stubborn straggler seemed determined to stay. A man in his thirties, with brown hair and weary eyes.