[For Druitt, Archie] Jan. 14: Every finger in the room is pointing at me

[girlsolo]

As soon as Kate ditches Auggie, she stops by the clothes box to swap out shorts for something with more coverage. She gets lucky or maybe the box knows she'll set fire to it or who the fuck knows but it coughs up a pair of cargos.

She thinks about stopping by the Psych Office to ask Will where he thinks Druitt would be right now, first day on the island as an island and all that profiler hoodoo Will's so good at. But it's a waste of time. She's the one who's been tracking him. So she's the one who knows his movements best. Chances are, he'll do like most of the new people. Come here to the Compound, get food, get oriented. If not, she'll get Declan and start a search.

It's amazing how fast she can find someone she's been avoiding since he got to the island when she puts her mind to it. It's not ten minutes before she finds him in the hall by the men's bathroom. Gaze narrowed and eyes flat mean, Kate stalks up to him. "We need to talk." The now is very much implied. So's the, and that's not a request.

Comments

[iliketodruitt]

John had found the transition back to the island slightly disorienting at first, even if he had suspected that it would happen eventually. Everyone assured him that Tabula Rasa was really a tropical island and not a recreation of Victorian London, but it was difficult to know exactly what to expect once it happened.

First things first, he had started examining the new Compound. While modern conveniences weren't a necessity for him, they were certainly nice to have. An exceedingly hot shower and a change of clothes had helped him feel very refreshed after the slight disorientation of finding him in a new place.

Of course, he couldn't enjoy himself overly long, that would have been too much of a good thing. Miss Freelander seemed to want a word with him.

"I have nothing present at the moment," he said, spreading his hands to indicate here and now was as good a place as any.

[girlsolo]

No such luck he'd disappear with the city and the snow, Kate lets herself think but keeps it off her face. She tells them both the lie that his being here doesn't upset her, just pisses her off, and she's still good enough at it that she makes herself (and probably him, since he's not Will to see right through her) believe it.

"Hey, that's swell. I'd hate to mess up a tea party or something," she says and she's kind of proud of herself for not skipping straight to where is she? with a fist. "Let's take a walk." Away from the middle of everything. Will made it clear that embarrassing Baldy wouldn't help anything, so she can make an effort at being discreet about kicking his ass.

[iliketodruitt]

"If you would like. Do you have any place in particular in mind?"

John could be polite as well. In fact, polite was his default. Victorian sensibilities did not disappear with the arrival of London anymore than they had over the last hundred years or so. If he could keep a raging, homicidal creature partially in check then he could manage to not get his ire up because of Kate Freelander.

She knew the island best and would like find a nice secluded spot to have a chat. He doubted she had come to him just to ask him to tea.

[girlsolo]

"If we're going on what I'd like, it wouldn't have anything to do with taking a walk with you." As bitchy as the comment is, it's still pretty much within normal tolerances for Sanctuary working relationships. She's way more of an asshole to Tesla and they're like friends now or something.

The ability to use force weighs against the possibility of getting in over her head and right now she's got nothing to go on that makes that a good or necessary strategy. Look at me, Magnus, learning to use my words first.

She just keeps walking until they get away from the highly trafficked areas toward a dead end of a hall, then stops and spins. "Want to tell me what you were doing from say six last night to six this morning? No. Scratch 'want to'. I don't care what you want. Tell me."

[iliketodruitt]

Druitt walked in silence, having no desire to make small talk with her other than he knew that it would annoy her. Since that would just be petty though, he could avoid doing that if necessary. He doubted that Kate would ever see him as anything but a monster, but there was no need to antagonize her.

"I was exploring London until the evening, then I went to bed. I woke up near six and have been exploring the island as it apparently meant to be since then."

[girlsolo]

"And, since the only person you want to sleep with is married to my best friend, I'm sure there's no one who can back that up." Oh yeah, this may be about Auggie's missing friend but it's never not going to be about the way he terrorized Magnus for years and doesn't have the decency to leave her alone to be happy with Will now. Never not going to be about the way he's making Will miserable, either.

"Lucky or unlucky for you, I know where you were until around five." When she saw them heading toward the cafe, though, she peeled off to do some other things. "Where did you and Joan go after the cafe?" She's watching him carefully, but Will's better at reading lies that she is. She's just one con looking at another. Watching his body movements and his tells.

[iliketodruitt]

"If I was with someone in that capacity, I wouldn't feel at liberty to tell you," John said. He didn't care how serious Kate was about this, she had no right to demand answers from him about that aspect of his personal life. She was also right though, that there was only one woman he wanted to be with.

"We went our separate ways if you must know. She did not share with me exactly what she planned to do next, though she did mention more sight seeing. Why do you ask?"

John crossed his arms, willing to stonewall her from now on for whatever answers she wanted. The motion pulled at the wound on his arm, his sleeves pulling back just enough to reveal the bandage.

[girlsolo]

"If you were with someone 'in that capacity', I wouldn't want to--"

Kate's gaze narrows, zeroing in on his arm. A bandage, on his forearm. One of the most common places for attackers to get defensive wounds. Yeah, she knows it. She's scored some hits like that herself. On both sides of it.

"What does that cover?" She's not fucking around. Whatever game of cat and mouse he thinks they're playing here, this just went from Q&A to show and tell.

[iliketodruitt]

"The bandage? Why I imagine it covers a wound," John said, feigning genuine surprise. If she was going to ask stupid questions, he was going to respond with stupid answers. He imagined that he had far more patience than she did.

"When Joan was entering the cafe she slipped on black ice and grabbed my arm. Her nails dug into me and caused several cuts."

[girlsolo]

He's a good liar. Smooth and cool. She'll give him that. Almost as good as she is. Maybe better. He does have more than a century of practice. But Kate's lips curl into a snarl when he mentions Joan.

"Convenient. I guess that'll be your explanation when your DNA turns up under her fingernails. If they can even test that shit here." Kate takes another step forward into his space and the threat in her tone is obvious when she growls, "Where is she?"

[iliketodruitt]

"I doubt that Joan is the type of woman to go long without cleaning her nails when she's scratched someone," John said, not at all bothered by her proximity. His height might not intimidate her, but it made it rather difficult for her to intimidate him.

"And I have no idea where she is. It's likely that she got lost when the island switched from London to this."

[girlsolo]

Without saying how she knows, Kate demurs. "She's not lost. She's missing and I think you know where she is." It's hard to be make a physical threat without a weapon at her height, but if it is possible, Kate's doing it. Her hand slips to the knife she is carrying and her head cocks, snarl turning nasty. "No, I know you know where she is. What happened, she remind you a little too much of Magnus all poised and polite like that? Or did she see you doing someone else? Where is she?"

Yeah, Kate knows. If Druitt knows where she is, Joan's dead. She can't let that affect her right now, or her sympathy for Auggie, or the guilt she'll feel when she tells him. The only thing she can do for Auggie and the island right now is find the body.

[iliketodruitt]

"You don't need to bother with the knife, Miss Freelander," John said, eyes locking with hers. He probably wouldn't have noticed the motion except for the fact that the blade was his preferred weapon of choice and he knew the signs to look for.

"And if you are so convinced that I am guilty, then let's go to the authorities. Preferably without delay. Because I have done nothing to Joan and if she is indeed missing, then it's best we not waste time on this crusade of yours to see me punished."

[girlsolo]

Never look away from a predator. It's one of the first things she learned on the streets, and it's a lesson she'll never forget. Ingrained, as deep as the instincts for when to run and when to fight. It only takes seconds to weigh it and press her lips together in as much of a nod as he's getting.

"The IPD office is that way," she says and gestures with the knife she's not surprised he saw her pulling. If she'd wanted to stab him, she would've stabbed him. Torture's bad for getting answers. If the IPD can't get any, she'll find Will and Declan and they'll figure out a better way. Or Will will use his profiler hoodoo and figure out where Joan's body is. If he killed her. "Don't be so shocked. I'd rather be wrong."

For Auggie's sake, and for Joan's obviously, Kate really hopes she's wrong.

[iliketodruitt]

"You are wrong," John said, heading in the direction that she indicated. Normally he wouldn't have trusted someone at his back with a knife, but oddly he trusted Kate. As angry as she was, she was not an irrational woman and he knew she wasn't going to stab him in the back.

"But the sooner my innocence is proven the sooner we can start looking for Joan."

[usethecompany]

For his part, Archie had had a much more unremarkable morning. The return of their climate and terrain to the tropics delighted him nearly as much as the loss of London wounded him. It was, in his estimation, a fair enough trade: just enough of a taste of home to satisfy him without making him long for a return.

He had celebrated by helping himself to pineapple for breakfast. A plate of chopped fruit in one hand, a cup of hot coffee in the other and Styles trailing obediently at his heels, he had settled down in the IPD office for some light morning paperwork. Between the two of them, Kennedy spoiled the dog a great deal more than Bush would even consider and was offering him a bit of pineapple -- which Styles sniffed at cautiously -- when he heard the sound of footsteps heading toward the office. Often times, those footsteps turned out to be someone about their business in the lab or clinic. But now he looked up to see a tall man being followed by Kate Freelander.

Lovely.

He sighed, too quietly for anyone else to hear, and let the bit of fruit drop to the floor behind his desk, out of sight, so Styles could decide what he wanted to do with it. Kennedy pushed his own plate away so as to fold his hands and lay them on the desk.

"And how may I help the two of you this morning?" he asked in a pleasant but not overly chipper tone.

[girlsolo]

About halfway to the IPD office, Kate had tucked the knife away. Druitt was being cooperative and there were too many people around. She hadn't wanted to cause a scene.

That doesn't change when they walk into the office, Druitt first. She and the Big Cheese haven't made much progress beyond her doing her time and then some. Kate's not looking to screw that up by pissing him off but she's also not going to let him ignore this, just cause it's her.

Problem is, she's not really sure what to say.

She tries for something that's calm. Like she might say to Magnus. "There's a woman missing. I saw him with her last night and no one's seen her since. He has scratches on his arm that he claims are from her falling not from an attack, but I know him from home." Hopefully he remembers the note she left him. "She's his type."

[usethecompany]

Kennedy's brow creased in a frown -- more thoughtful than perturbed or worried -- and he directed his gaze to the gentleman. At second glance, he recognized him better. Kate's note of warning had been ultimately useless, however Archie's interest had been piqued by the two unfamiliar names. A brief search of a modern encyclopedia had told him all he should want to know about Jack the Ripper and figuring out which face among the many island resident's belonged to one Druitt had been relatively just as simple.

Not that it meant a damn thing in this scenario. Not that most of what Kate said meant a damn thing. People disappeared from the island all the time, more often than not through the machinations of the island as opposed to the plots of men. Her evidence was weak and highly circumstantial, and any knowledge of Druitt's actions before coming to the island could not be held against him here.

But surely she knew this. Troublesome Miss Freelander was, but Archie had not pegged her as particularly slow witted.

"Miss Freelander makes a serious allegation against you, sir," he said, keeping his tone even. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

[iliketodruitt]

"While it is true that at one time I was a serial killer who preyed on attractive blondes, since coming to the island I am no longer inhabited by the creature who drove me to do those things," John said. The simplest defense was the best one and he didn't plan to plead his innocence too much. He knew that the evidence against him was circumstantial at best and what was more important was he had not harmed Joan.

"And I did have tea with her last night, it was in a public cafe where anyone could have seen us. The scratches on my arm are from when she slipped and grabbed my arm for support, nothing more. That evening after tea, we parted ways and I have not seen her since."

[usethecompany]

Kennedy's frown deepened somewhat, if only because they both seemed bound and determined to make it as difficult as possible for him to uphold the blank slate policy on a personal level. Kate's concern struck Archie as completely understandable, no matter how unusable her information was. But to so boldly state one's former crimes to an officer of the law (so to speak) struck Archie as stupidity or arrogance, neither of which being becoming traits in one suspected of committing a serious crime.

He did not like the sound of any creature inhabiting him, either. Kennedy forced himself not to ask, remembering that ultimately, it could not matter in any investigation.

"That must have been quite a slip for her nails to dig through your coat," Archie remarked. "Or had you for some reason rolled up your shirt sleeves?"

The clothes box had, as far as Kennedy was aware, been quite insistent in the style of clothing it produced while London towered around them. He had seen several residents make ingenious modifications to the clothing as well, the modern and young ladies especially. Or the man could have indeed rolled up his sleeves, however why he would have done so in the cold did not seem obvious to Archie. But he was curious to see what explanation Druitt would give and how he would deliver it.

[iliketodruitt]

"I had offered her my arm," John said, showing how his arm had been, raised and crooked. "So my cuff was pulled back. When she slipped, she was already holding on, so her nails dug through my shirt. It was indeed a nasty spill and she had a very strong grip."

It was a simple explanation and John hoped that the other man believed him, especially since it was the truth. Fortunately this man seemed far more rational than Kate.

[usethecompany]

Kennedy made a small show of considering the man's response, resting his chin in hand as he stared at him. Mostly, the silence that followed the explanation was intended to see if the other man would quibble over his explanation.

When no alteration in story seemed forthcoming, Archie carried on. "And after you parted ways with this woman, where did you go?"

[iliketodruitt]

"Home, or what had been my home before the island changed to this," he said, gesturing around him. He knew that for others this place was how the island was supposed to be, but it seemed odd to him.

"And no, there is no one who can corroborate that I was at home alone during that time."

[usethecompany]

No, of course not, as it was the man's private residence. Kennedy could have asked him for permission to search his premises, and in normal circumstances perhaps that would have been a reasonable effort. But the evidence was slim, built upon past crimes that would not hold weight according to the island society's judgment. What's more, the change in his residence likely would have erased any evidence against him -- blood stains, hidden compartments and the like.

Kennedy stared at the man for a long moment. He did not, frankly, like the situation or how his hands were tied in regards to pursuing action, but there were easier, more likely reasons why a woman would go missing on Tabula Rasa.

He shifted his attention wholly to Kate.

"Miss Freelander, do you have any further evidence against him or that might contradict his claims?"

[girlsolo]

Kate's been listening and paying attention, tense shoulders, crossed arms, leaning against the doorframe. Partly, she actually respects Archie and she doesn't have anything to add, and partly she's trying to do Will-voodoo and see what she can learn by watching.

Not fucking much, except that Druitt's still an arrogant ass and he's got like no practice talking to cops. Who tells the head of the IPD they're Jack the Ripper? It's not like he didn't know, but it's almost boasting. It totally scans like pride, and that's so not the kind of thing you put in a cop's face. Sloppy. Stupid. Turning it into a challenge.

On the other hand, she's not seeing anything or hearing anything that cuts either way. So when Archie asks her, she presses her lips together, frustrated, and starts to say, "No but--" But she finally sees something that Will would've picked up sooner. "Actually, yeah. There's something in his pocket. Right there. I think it's got blood on it." She points but doesn't touch. Chain of custody and all that crap.

[usethecompany]

Kate had the superior angle for determining the contents of Druitt's pockets, if anything existed there at all. Archie stood up, brows rising with restrained interest, and stepped forward to pluck the article from the man's pocket.

He frowned when he quickly determined that Kate was correct. His gaze lifted to Druitt's face, sharply inquisitive.

"That is blood."

[iliketodruitt]

John almost batted the man's hand away when he intruded on his personal space, grabbing something from his pocket. That was not the way to endear yourself to the police though, so John kept the action in check.

"It is. It is also an earring. I imagine it must have fallen out when she slipped."

[usethecompany]

"You imagine," Kennedy replied dryly. "It fell out and fell into your pocket, without your notice, I presume?"

[iliketodruitt]

"I couldn't imagine how it go there," John said with a shrug. Had he actually been guilty, he would have worried, but since he was innocent there would be no real evidence against him.

"These are not even the clothes that I had before last night, my wardrobe changed with the island."

[usethecompany]

However much Kennedy might have liked to build a case against the man, a timely sighting, a handkerchief and an earring of unknown origin still made a shaky foundation. Especially not when weighed against the more likely facts of the situation.

Archie released a soft sigh as he turned to Kate.

"This woman has not been missing that long. The much more likely answer is that she has become lost in the change of environment, or perhaps is simply wandering and has not thought to check in. How far have you searched, as of now?" If at all, he wondered idly.

[girlsolo]

Stifling an annoyed sigh, Kate shoves her hands back in her pockets. She knew Archie would never back her. She's not even sure why she bothered. It just. She tries now. She tries to play by their rules and be straight and good. It bugs her more than she's ever going to admit that he doesn't believe her.

But she just shrugs. "Not far. The Compound and what's close by. I was looking for him and then we agreed to come here."

[usethecompany]

"I believe a thorough search would be the wisest course of action at this stage," Kennedy said carefully. Though he could not read any sort of indicative emotion on her face, Archie rather thought that Kate would not be pleased with his response, but it was the more logical choice.

"I can have the IPD officers help, so you can cover more ground more quickly and hopefully discover the fate of your friend faster."

[girlsolo]

Kate glances along her shoulder at Druitt and then back at Archie. If nothing else, people searching means people keeping an eye on Druitt. She hopes that Archie not wanting to back her doesn't mean he's going to take stupid risks where Druitt's concerned. It also means Kate can keep an eye on Druitt without worrying no one's looking for Joan.

She nods. "That's good. Thanks. I'll let Auggie know." Another careful look Druitt's way and then back at Archie. Telling him how to do his job isn't going to earn any points. But she does have a legitimate concern. She bites her lip and then jerks her chin toward Druitt, deciding. "If you're letting him go, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

[usethecompany]

Kennedy considered Druitt, any misgiving in his expression in direct relation to the fact that he could not keep the man within his sight for the course of this investigation. He placed the handkerchief and earring on his desk, out of the other man's reach, and nodded.

"Mr. Druitt, you are free to go," he said. "However if we require your assistance again or should more evidence arise, I trust we can rely on your cooperation."