Ivy Town PD contacts the Justice League

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

Branden nods. "Like I told your associate," he says, "We've stayed hands-off and only eyeballed the scene."

He hands Ralph a file that basically recounts what he told Fire -- the condition of the body and the theory that Palmer used size-changing to more-effectively hang himself, thedisturbance in the living room which looks more like one person breaking things than a struggle.

"We don't have any solid forensics yet."

[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.

[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.

[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.

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

The living room is a mess. The sofa's toppled over, and there's a solid tear in the fabric -- and it's a fairly new couch. Ray had even mentioned buying it a few weeks ago. (The old one had just gotten too ratty for even his taste. Most everything else is a bit dated.)

A couple chairs look like they've been thrown across the room, and acouple pictures have fallen from the wall. One of Jean and Ray at their wedding, the other of their groomsmen and bridesmaids. To Ralph, all the faces are well-known.

The television is actually on, but it appears the chord was tugged out, as though someone had tripped over it.

There's a message on the voicemail -- Ryan Choi, telling him he needs the subspace notes and that a grad student's going to stop by in the morning to pick it up if he can. That would be the person who called the police.

There's a hallway between the bedroom and the living room, and pictures adorning the wall all the way between them -- Ray always kept his library and a guest room upstairs, so guests wouldn't be disturbed by his odd comings and goings. None of the pictures nor the carpet seem disturbed between the two rooms.

A police officer asks if they should dust for fingerprints or fiber samples, or if the JLA wants to handle that on their own, too.

[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."

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

The detective nods, and a glance to th eother police officers confirms that they understand, also.

"We'll have the results sent up to, uhm, the moon as soon as we have them," he says. Then he hardens a little.

"Mr. Dibny, I know he was your friend and teammate, but he was one of ours, too. Anything you need from us, you just ask."

[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."

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

The detective nods, then turns to the other police.

"You heard the man! Let's get to work."

The Ivy Town PD may not be top flight FBI investigators, but they're competent. They move smoothly and efficiently into action.

Detective Bransen nods again, and goes about his job.