[identity profile] jla-extras.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] jla_watchtower
Detective Cole Branden has seen some weird things in his day -- aliens, supervillains, the laws of physics bent beyond the telling. But nothing he's done has made him as nervous as this.

It took almost an hour to get a direct line. The Feds don't like to tell local authorities how to get ahold of the men on the moon. But eventually, they caved. It would have been easier if he could just have told them what was up, but he couldn't ... not yet. He owed the man that much.

"Hell," he says under his breath as the number dials. "I owe the man way more than that."

He takes a sip of his coffee, and dials the number.

Idly, he wonders how much it costs to call the moon.

Date: 2006-11-24 03:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oracle-watching.livejournal.com
A synthesized voice answers. "You've reached the Justice League. How may we help you, Detective Branden?"

Date: 2006-11-24 03:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oracle-watching.livejournal.com
"Human, animal, or alien?"

Date: 2006-11-24 03:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oracle-watching.livejournal.com
"One moment, please."

In her shock, she wonders what size the body is. Then she sends a notification to Wonder Woman as chair, with copies to others who need to know.

"A representative will be contacting you shortly."

Date: 2006-11-24 04:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oracle-watching.livejournal.com
"Understood. The Justice League is happy to render all assistance." The formalities steady her. "Is there any other information at this time?"

Date: 2006-11-24 04:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oracle-watching.livejournal.com
"Noted." Again, the formalities help her stay anchored. Bad enough that the Atom could be dead, but by his own hand?

It can happen. She remembers the nights when her father would come home because a brother officer had decided to eat his gun, and how those nights were different from the ones where one of his people had died in the line of duty.

"Please stand by."

Date: 2006-11-24 05:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
It's not often that she gets these calls, but they're starting to happen more often than she likes. Just can't seem to stay out of things when you come back, Bea. Just face it. Easier that way and less frustrating.

It's with that thought in her head that she lands all green and flamey next to the Detective she was asked to help out.

"Cumprimentos, Detective Branden. Oracle sent me. People call me Fire."

Date: 2006-11-24 05:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
She deflames with a tight smile and a nod. She would have preferred to have seen the body where they found it, but realizes they can't hold a crime scene for all too long.

"You have the League's thanks, Detective."

She will withold any questions or comments until she sees Ray.

Date: 2006-11-24 05:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
She paces forward to the tray, her eyes solidly on Ray, her expression tight and controlled. She gathers in what the detective is saying, running it through her mind as she walks around the tray, observing this from different angles.

trashed furniture...smell...hmm...

"Do you have an estimated time of death?"

Date: 2006-11-24 06:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
Save the questions about the scene for at the scene, Bea.

She stops pacing around the tray by Ray's head. For a moment, her eyes give away her personal feelings, a flicker of sadness and then she's back in control.

She crouches down to get a better look at his neck.

"I'm no medical examiner or a doctor, but it seems to me that it takes a lot of force to do this to the neck of a fully grown man in good physical condition."

She's not buying this suicide thing though it's hard to tell whether that's a personal or professional thing.

Date: 2006-11-24 06:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
Her eyes lift finally to the detective then she stands.

"So what makes you so sure it was suicide?"

Date: 2006-11-24 06:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
"Meaning no disrespect to you or your men, detective. You understand that. But the League has some very clever enemies."

She walks closer to Branden, not really looking at anything as she thinks, then glances back to Ray's body.

"Anyone find a note?"

Date: 2006-11-24 07:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
"The League will want to examine the body in their own labs. It would be preferable if they didn't have to have sloppy seconds, if you get my drift."

Ok, her choice of words maybe wasn't very politic, but she's beyond being careful right now. She just wants an understanding.

Date: 2006-11-24 07:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
She grins at Branden but it holds nothing of amusement in it.

"Let's save the paperwork and transport until after I see the scene. Might be some evidence they'd want as well."

Date: 2006-11-24 07:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
She casts one last look back to Ray's body, sighing softly then follows Branden.

"Sure" She thought about offering to fly him there, if only to see the look on his face between the actual flight and how close she would have had to hold him.

Date: 2006-11-24 07:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
She's used to be looked at...nay stared at...and is able to just ignore it.

Her eyes scan the windows, doors and other possible entrances first from the well groomed lawn.

"Am I gonna get shot at if I walk the perimeter?" Asked as she pulls out what seems to be a small digital camera. She's already arranged for the images she captures to be trasmitted directly to Oracle.

Date: 2006-11-24 07:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
She glances at him with a bit of a smirk. "So no bullets but maybe a whistle to three, huh."

She chuckles, just as mirthlessly as she approaches the house. She goes for the obvious entries first to check for signs of forced entry, marks, anything...taking photos the everything. By the windows, she's careful not to step directly in front of them, in case there are footprints in the dirt, etc.

Date: 2006-11-24 07:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] itsastretch.livejournal.com
Ralph is second on the call, despite being in a wheelchair. His swiss cheese legs, undergoing some kind of Coluan mutagenic treament or somesuch, are bound up in odd casts... but like hell he'd not be here.

He got what he could over comms, and teleported down to meet Bea here, his expression grim, focusing everything he can on the mystery. Its the only way he can avoid breaking into tears.

And after the last little while here, he's not sure how many of those he has left.

Date: 2006-11-24 07:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] itsastretch.livejournal.com
He nods and extends a hand, extending it as much as necessary to shake a bit before he gets there. "Thank you Detective. I'm sorry if we're stepping on your toes. We'll try and wear light boots on this one. I'm sure your people are doing a fine job."

Date: 2006-11-24 08:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] itsastretch.livejournal.com
He nods appreciatively. Usually the cops don't much like it when the League turns up on crime scenes, or else they want autographs. He can appreciate a professional. And he's never had a problem with his fans.

"Ok, do you have a case file written up yet? If not, please fill me in on the details. I don't want to go wheeling through a crime scene any more than necessary. Still getting used to this thing." he offers apologetically.

Date: 2006-11-24 07:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
Oracle suddenly has a photo of Ralph as he appears in her line of sight.

She blinks lowering the camera to take in his appearance. "Hi. You really ought to start ignoring those dares."

Date: 2006-11-24 07:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] itsastretch.livejournal.com
He doesn't smile. Maybe he's forgotten how. But he does give her a nod. "Hello Fire, good to see you again." Not hard to be sincere, he is glad to see an old friend again, and can be pretty sure all has been handled well so far.

Date: 2006-11-24 08:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
She places a companionable hand on Ralph's shoulder before turning back to what she was doing on the outside of the house.

She'll talk to him later. Let him get caught up with the detective while she documents the perimeter.

Date: 2006-11-24 08:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] itsastretch.livejournal.com
Ralph nods, reading the file up and down. He was hoping to not have to try and maneuver this stupid wheelchair through a crime scene, especially such a critical one - but there's some things just not adding up here already. Unfortunately, nothing he can put to words enough to prove anything, or point any fingers.
Details only close friends would know about size-changing and Ray's psychology around it. The chaos in the room, as compared to Ray's usual means of evincing frustration and anger even in the most extreme of cases.

And the choice of hanging... that sounds disturbingly familiar, as applied to Ray and his life.

Date: 2006-11-24 08:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flame-of-green.livejournal.com
She follows Ralph and keeps quiet for the most part. He's the professional in this situation with way more insight than herself. She's just a jumped up P.I. who likes to bust mob bosses' sons when not working the webcam site. And the flame thing. Can't forget that.

Dozens of photos are snapped of the disarray of the furniture.

Date: 2006-11-24 10:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] itsastretch.livejournal.com
Ralph considers all of this carefulloy, casting an eye over everything. "Dust for fingerprints, but keep the number of people going in and out to a minimum. Detective, I'd like you to keep this open as a murder investigation. His psychological profile is classified, though I'll do my best to cooperate with your department's needs... but the methodology of death doesn't fit. Also, several cues here don't fit suicidal patterns... the couch is new, he hasn't given anything away, or made arrangements. He knew he had an appointment coming up, and didn't cancel. And there's signs that suggest an interruption. I can't prove it, and I can't say the evidence will bear me out... but I don't believe Ray Palmer committed suicide."

Date: 2006-11-24 10:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] itsastretch.livejournal.com
Ralph nods, looking the detective right in the eyss. "I appreciate that detective. Ray and I were old friends, and between you and me, I'm about this far..." he holds up a thumb and forefinger, only a bit apart, "from falling apart... but I know the best thing I can do for my friend is handle this right. Right now, get your best forensic team in here and as few other people as possible. Minimal footprints, minimal disturbance... and make sure they do not close this file as a suicide. When you get past scratching the surface, this just does not fit every suicide pattern out there."

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