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Post by August Heally on Jul 27, 2009 14:35:33 GMT -5
"Fair enough," August told Daniel, though his eyes were still roaming the scene. He almost rolled his eyes at the woman when she approached him, and he held up his hands. Reporters really got such a bad wrap. Why did they have rules about when they could do their jobs, but no one else did?
"No problem at all, ma'am." Luckily, he didn't need to say much else as the coroner arrive, and August pointed his thumb at the man. "Looks like I'll be able to pick up where I left off in just a couple of minutes."
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Post by Sean Leviner on Jul 27, 2009 14:40:51 GMT -5
Since the other two were dealing with the photographer, Sean got to his feet, if even a bit unsteadily, and headed towards the coroner.
"Hi, I'm Sean Leviner with the MLE. We have an apparent murder, female, I would guess 16 to 25." He chose the word apparent because he couldn't very well give away that he simply knew it was a murder. Those conversations never, never ended well. Besides, it was best to let these guys do their thing and give their professional opinion.
He sighed and stepped back. "If you could just let us know when you're finished..."
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Jul 27, 2009 14:58:45 GMT -5
Kate's job was to protect the public, to find this murderer and to stop him. Press got in the way, press caused problems. There was no way Kate was going to let this man snap pictures of the deceased.
She'd keep the shield up, and then she'd break that damned camera. The dead deserved respect, and she needed the investigation to run quietly, too much panic took away from the investigation, caused problems, made the killer superior in his own mind and in the minds of others.
She was glad the coroner arrived and that Sean was handling it. Though she came on scene with reservations about the two MLE officers on site, now battling against the press had made them allies.
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Post by Dexter Cavus on Jul 27, 2009 15:04:10 GMT -5
Dexter listened as the man told him what seemed to be going on and he lead him over to the body. Dexter took in the scene quickly glancing around. "Yeah sure thing," he said in response to the man asking him to tell them when he was done. Good peace and quiet he thought to himself.
He took the bag off from around his shoulder and put on some gloves and got out his camera quickly taking a picture of the body before he started his investigation. He usually ended up using these photos as a reference later on. He put the camera back in his bad and took a deep breath. He looked at the body and was amazed, finally he thought someone who knows how to play. He moved the plastic covering aside, obviously she was moved here he thought, hmm but why this location he wondered to himself.
He looked at the set up her hands bound behind her and her feet tied. Obviously he was afraid she would fight back, hmm coward he thought. He looked at every cut seeing how they went from clean and precise to rough and obscured. Aww first kill he thought as he saw the handy work ranging from that of a professional to that of a first year student. Damn he was clean though he thought as he scanned the area for any hint of what who might have left this behind.
He took out his wand, muttered a spell and a bluish light came out the end of his wand. He moved it over the body looking for anything. The only fingerprints he found were on her face very odd he thought but he committed it to memory.
He had done a good overview of the body and called the man he had been talking to back over. "Did anyone touch the body," he asked "because the only prints I found were on the face which is extremely unusual."
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Post by Sean Leviner on Jul 29, 2009 13:12:46 GMT -5
Sean hung back, letting the coroner do his thing. He wouldn't get in the way, though he would be ready to jump in as soon as either his brother or Dexter needed him. He was replaying the bits he had seen in his head, trying to piece them together as best he could. When he saw things, it always seemed to be in fragments, and not always in chronological order. They were in an order, but usually one specific to the person, and Sean could never figure them out.
He was drawn out of his thoughts by the coroner's voice, and without hesitation, he nodded. "I did, rather by accident," he lied. "You can take my prints to match them if you like."
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 14, 2009 0:21:37 GMT -5
It was early, but Paige had been working over time on the Ferrera story and didn't get the tip right away. As soon as she received the tip, however, she rushed to the scene. She arrived shortly after the coroner, and locked eyes with August, with whom she had worked a few times before.
"Good Godric... what happened to her?" she whispered, feeling nauseous at the sight of the woman's mangled body. The tip had said there was a murder, but she was not used to murders being so... bloody. Wizards usually killed with a killing curse, not... whatever this was.
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Aug 14, 2009 4:45:25 GMT -5
Kate was getting more than annoyed. She had dealt with press before in the states, well her way of dealing with press was to more or less break their cameras and later impound their brooms just to piss them off. Her superiors while understanding, were less than supportive. She had taken a few anger management classes but all of that turned to smoke as the other woman came up with the "press" look all over her.
Growling in the back of her throat she spread her arms outward trying to back them up, "This area is a crime scene, it is imperitive to the investigation, to say nothing of the respect for the deceased, that you hand over any pictures you may have already taken." She wasn't really asking seeing as how her teeth were clenched and she was speaking in a low tone. But honestly couldn't these people find something else to put in their paper? Especially given the obscene way the woman was displayed, did the paper have no decency? Would they really give the murderer the satisfaction of plastering his or her handiwork all over news, and break the poor girl's family's heart even more by turning the girl into some "juicy tidbit"?
Perhaps a big reason cops and reporters didn't get along, at least in Kate's experience, was that reporters got in the way. They impeded the investigation with no regard for the victim and the person responsible.
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 20, 2009 18:42:41 GMT -5
Paige was getting pretty good at handling Ministry employees by now. Kate was new, and she didn't know her as well, but she new Sean, which was a definite advantage. She stepped forward slightly, focusing her full attention on the new auror, and not on the victim's bloody corpse.
"OK, look," she began. "We understand that you have a job to do, but so do we. We don't want to hinder your investigation in anyway. Clearly, whomever could do.... this... to another person is someone who needs to be caught. We'll just stand back for now, until you're ready to give us a statement, OK?"
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Aug 20, 2009 19:24:19 GMT -5
She nodded pleasently but was far from backing down, then in the same tone she rounded on Paige, "Okay now you look. I understand that you have a job to do, so do I. Perhaps you don't understand that posting obscene pictures of the victim in your paper and pestering investigators by standing to the side while you take all your little notes and describe the scene *does* hinder the investigation. I understand that for whatever reason you feel it's necessary to inform the public of this crime, and to be honest I agree, people should be aware of the crimes that occur if only it means they're more cautious when they leave. But that's not what your little snapshots are going to do. Instead you'll be glorifying the criminal's handiwork. The person who did this is sick enough, they don't need their ego stroked."
Kate was really more or less angry with the man taking photographs. Did they seriously think that acceptable? "And in case you didn't notice, you're citizens, having a press badge doesn't get you clearance to get snapshots of the victim, and certainly doesn't entitle you to press on a crime scene. Once again this area is sectioned off, you're more than welcome to stand around the corner away from the investigation, but if you persist here, and if I see one more flash of that camera I'll take you both in for obstruction. Clearly, whomever could do this to another person is someone who needs to be caught. That's my job, and that's your statement. Now...will you give me the film or do I have to confiscate your very nice camera?"
Kate's anger toward press was deeper than any of them knew. Because of the press' interference she had lost two twin girls in a crime investigation back in the states, she vowed never to let that happen again.
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 23, 2009 22:19:09 GMT -5
Paige's eyes hardened. She had tried to be nice, and this woman wasn't having any of it. So be it, then.
"You have no authority to demand our film or confiscate our camera," she said in an airy tone. "We have a right to be here. But I assure you, we will not publish any photos that will in anyway compromise your investigation or the dignity of the victim. And if you're real nice, maybe we'll even turn the pictures we don't use over to you. But we don't respond well to threats. I've already agreed that we'll stand back and wait until an appropriate time; you're the one who is prolonging this. If you're so worried about your investigation, you should be ignoring us and focusing on the crime scene, shouldn't you?"
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Post by August Heally on Aug 23, 2009 23:22:58 GMT -5
August just raised an eyebrow, slowly and almost unaffectedly. He wasn't going to take her bait and argue back. August was really too laid back to argue, but if it came down to it, he was sure as hell not going to hand over his camera or his film.
"Sweetie," he said, his tone a touch on the condescending side as he put a hand on Paige's arm, his other around his camera as he cast a silent charm to keep everything in place and in tact, in case she tried to accio it or destroy it. "There are people who are hired specifically to take pictures of crime scenes. You're protecting the public... maybe they should be scared. Anyway, none of that's up to you. Ms. Owen is right... you should probably be over there investigating your crime."
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Aug 24, 2009 4:00:35 GMT -5
They were breaking the law, and they didn't see it. "What part of, this is a crime scene, did either of you not understand?" she asked calmly, as calm as she could be in anycase. " Or perhaps it was the part where this being a crime scene means that you do not have the right to be here, and this badge gives me the "authority" as you put it to remove you. If you did not want to leave quietly and of your own free will I can and will exercise my right as a police officer to arrest you." It would really be Kate's pleasure. "It's not a one two job, we don't come over here take our pictures and write our notes so you can do it right after us."
"Freedom of the press..." she began used to dealing with photographers from the US, "Does not mean unfettered access. If the public is not allowed to view the body or take pictures of it when a crime has been reported then neither are you... and you already have. Now you are refusing to hand over said photographs. " then she looked at the woman in obvious mockery, " And you really think it's possible to have taken any photographs that don't compromise the dignity of the victim?" given the victim's state any photograph would be considered obscene.
She would of course rather be over where the victim was, analyzing the scene, but no one else was protesting the press being there and Merlin knew what that could lead to.
"And leave you two over here on your own, in a *restricted* area? I'm doing my job, you're impeding it. I believe that's called obstruction."
She turned her eyes on the photographer, "You are not that person. For even more obvious reasons if you think that publishing any photo of this crime in a newspaper or magazine is the right thing to do. And yes, I should be over there investigating the crime, unfortunately that would leave you both here alone and taking more illegal photographs. And which by the way I cannot leave until you hand over the photos you have already taken. You have evidence in that camera, and right now you're with holding it. Again, that's a crime, and taking you both in, which I'm three seconds from doing, is not a threat, it's a promise."
She came back, with eyes harder than steel, a thread of determination caught in her voice, the same determination she used when persuing criminals, the same determination that she used in nearly every aspect of her life. Ever since Kate was a little girl she knew that the only way of getting what you wanted was not taking no for an answer.
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 25, 2009 0:51:43 GMT -5
There was no way Paige was backing down now. Everything this woman said only managed to make her more angry and determined to stand her ground. She narrowed her eyes, then turned to look at August, silently letting him know that she was about to tear into the auror, and he might want to stand back.
"No," she said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. "We're not budging. We offered to stand back, and to wait until you were finished your preliminary investigation. You were not content with that, and instead of just following the standard press protocol and going about your own business, you are not only not doing your own job, but you are impeding US from doing OUR job. I dare you to bring us in, you don't have the grounds to hold us, and we can just as easily turn it right around on you and provide evidence of how you have violated our rights as members of the press. You think you can just waltz in here and fire orders around like the bloody queen? I'm sorry, your highness, but it doesn't work that way, and I know it's not how you did things in America. Or if it is, then it's no wonder you were exiled!"
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Aug 25, 2009 1:24:06 GMT -5
Kate didn't say anything in response. How this woman knew her history was beyond Kate, although it wasn't that surprising given the fact that reporters seemed to know everything. Instead she did just as she said she would, removing the cuffs from the back of her pocket and turning Paige around, taking her arms and pulling them back then cinching the cuffs over the reporter's wrists. She wasn't excessively rough at all, but she had no time to deal with this any further.
Perhaps things wouldn't have gone this far, if *anyone* else was doing something, but no one was being remotely helpful. Perhaps it was a small matter of pride as well, Kate knew she would have problems with the reporter forever more including the fact that she would have thought Kate a pushover. Apparently the reporter had all the cops wrapped around her finger if she assumed that it was alright to take pictures of the crime scene, within the boundaries of the crime scene itself. Merlin was the press even worse here than in the states?
Really Kate didn't even have issue with the reporter. She accepted that the reporter would later want questions, that wasn't her problem, it was the photos already taken, and that the man had crossed over into a crime scene where he was not allowed to be, took photos illegally, and when told to leave would not, and when told to hand over evidence, refused again. The reporter simply made the situation annoying.
She wasn't going to go with the girl to the station, at this point other officers were arriving (mod?), and she turned Paige over to one of them. Then she turned her gaze on the man once more, " The film?"
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Post by August Heally on Aug 25, 2009 2:06:55 GMT -5
(Sean and Dan ARE the cops, ha ha, and Sean's not doing anything cuz he's talking to Dexter)
Actually, Paige was very much in the right, and it wasn't any kind of loyalty to the press that made August think this. He wanted to be a travel photographer, for Merlin's sake. If she thought they weren't allowed here, she must have never picked up a newspaper in her life. "You know, the last picture I took was quite a few minutes ago, and was of your officer over there touching that crime scene. I think you have your notions about whose impeding what a little mixed up."
He met Paige's gaze, and one corner of his lips turned up in a smirk. He knew what was coming, and he hoped Paige really let the woman have it. He very discretely snapped a shot of Kate cuffing Paige (and really? It was so barbaric and muggle of her. Where did this woman come from?)
Knowing the safety charms on both his camera and the film inside were in place and both wouldn't leave his person or be damaged, he just smiled more and set the flash off in her face. "Sorry, sweetheart. Can't do that." His eyebrows went up and he held his hands out to her, silently telling her to go ahead and cuff him.
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Aug 25, 2009 3:05:31 GMT -5
(Lol, it would have been nice to have someone else play a bit of bad cop too...as for the other that's my fault I don't know how they arrest people in the wizarding community)
Kate didn't even bother with August, she simply motioned to another officer to take him, and ordered the guy to get the camera not knowing that he wouldn't be able to.
This was not how she wanted her first investigation to go. Seemingly she was running into the very same problems she had back home. If she wasn't one of the best in the field she knew that they would have no problem sacking her, and if putting criminals behind bars wasn't something Kate felt she needed to do, she might have let them a long time ago.
But she held firm. Perhaps she was overly harsh, though in her opinion she hadn't been, if he was wondering if she had ever picked up a paper the answer was not anymore.
Kate had an extremely bad reputation with the press in the states. Oh she brought in more criminals than most of the department put together, but all it took was one bought off reporter to bring about a string of impossible circumstances. When one reporter thought they had a scoop the rest followed. Kate's name was dragged through the mud, enough so that she had moved to London, her superior officers thinking she'd fare better there. Apparently not.
Already feeling exhausted she returned to where the body was at, almost unprepared for what she saw. Now that she was seeing it again, she wanted to go back and argue with the reporters, something Kate never thought she'd feel. Tears formed behind her eyes but she refused to let them fall, so much of her she had steeled away and it astounded her that cruelty could still make her feel so deeply.
She glanced up at Sean, wanting to tear into him over touching the body but after her ordeal with the press she didn't have the energy, so quietly after he was finished talking she said tiredly, " You contaminated the crime scene...was there a reason for it?"
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Post by Paige Owen on Aug 30, 2009 17:37:56 GMT -5
Paige was not content to go quietly. Being cuffed was bad enough, but the way the officer manhandled her as he dragged her off was insulting and degrading. Couldn't this woman see that she had just made her own problem? She saw "press" and immediately snapped without trying to work with her at all. Paige was not an idiot, she fully understood that, at a crime scene, the press should stand back and let the investigators do their work. And she had fully intended to do just that. After all, Sean was on the case, and Paige knew that she could talk to him later for more details. And she had never released any detail that Sean had given her without his permission.
But Kate had insisted on having the pictures, which she had no right to. Of course Paige had no intention of publishing any photos of the body. She figured a subtle shot of the blood on the pavement or something would have been enough. But that wasn't the point. They had a right to be there.
"You can't hold us!" Paige shouted, struggling against the officer. "We'll be out on bail in no time. And when we do, I promise I'll be back..."
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Post by August Heally on Sept 7, 2009 12:58:02 GMT -5
August, on the other hand, was much calmer about the ordeal. He knew they couldn't take his camera or the film inside (Merlin knew it had happened so many times that he had the right spell down pat now).
"Relax, Paige. We'll call Noelle. She's used to this."
This actually wasn't the first time August had ended up in jail just for being on the crime scene. Half the time, it was when the authorities were angry that August made it there first. It looked bad when the press was more punctual than the proper authorities.
"I think we both got what we needed for a good story or two, anyway." Besides, although August didn't know it, Paige had an inside source on the scene as well, even if he was facing his own problems at the moment.
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Post by Sean Leviner on Sept 7, 2009 18:50:29 GMT -5
As Kate approached him, Sean looked at his brother. He was looking for back up or some kind of help or anything, but he knew that he screwed up, letting anyone see him touch the body, and it was his mess to fix.
He sighed and returned his gaze to Kate. "It was accidental," he lied. Later, he would discuss what he had seen with Daniel, and they would figure out what clues they could from that. But right now... right now, he just didn't have the time to deal with it. "And it's hardly contaminated," he added.
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Post by Kate Donaghy on Sept 7, 2009 18:57:27 GMT -5
If she knew that he had evidence in that mind of his and he wasn't sharing it with her she would have once again been the inferno that had just passed. She gave him a tired look, "An accident?"
Did they not train employees the same way here as they did in the states? Touching the body was always an extreme no. "Hopefully not a reoccurring one. " she said shaking her head, " Did you find anything useful?" she asked although her attention was more on the body her ears were open to what he would tell her.
Having just gone off on the press she didn't have the energy to tell him that he had screwed up. That someone had gotten a picture of what he had done, and that it was going to be hell for the office to clean up...she figured in a way she had made enough enemies that day.
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