Gone

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack was called to investigate a possible break in in Trail Oaks. Initially, he thought it was just a nosy neighbor wondering why someone fell asleep with the screen door locked all night. But when he reached the small little cottage in an affordable area of Trail Oaks, he saw that the scene was indeed strange. Jack got out of the car, instructing Officer Summers to do the same, and they made their way to the little old lady sitting nervously in the porch swing. Jack still hadn't been assigned a partner, but the captain had sent Summers with him in case there really was trouble. Jack stepped up onto the porch and extended his hand to the little old woman.

"Hello, ma'am. My name's Detective Jack Roccograndi and this is my back up, Officer Dan Summers. Can you tell me why you called?" Jack introduced. The little old lady smiled at him wearily before her face fell into worry again. "Well, this morning I came out to get the paper and I saw Maxine's door wide open. I thought maybe she was just in the yard somewhere and I couldn't see, so I didn't think much of it. But I came out again not too long ago, and I saw the door was still open, the same it was this morning. I got worried, since she's a pretty young woman and I wasn't sure if something bad had happened to her, so I came over. I called into the house, but I didn't get an answer. That's her truck, there, but she may be out with that gentleman caller of hers," she said fretfully. "Do you know his name?" Jack asked, making sure Summers was writing this down. "No, but he only comes in the evenings and I know he stays late. He drives a Bentley, if that helps," she replied. That helped a little. There couldn't be too many people in Scriptor Bay who owned Bentleys. He would have to find this "gentleman caller," but in the meantime they needed to search the house.

Jack motioned to Summers and said in a low voice, "I'll check downstairs, you check upstairs." Summers nodded and together they pulled their weapons from their holsters and made their way around the house. "Maxine!" Jack called as he edged down the hallways, hesitantly checking closets and the half bathroom. He came to a tidy kitchen and living area, but there was something off. No one answered, but there was a cell phone on the floor, abandoned, and her purse was still on the table. The only thing taken from the purse it seemed was the phone. He moved to the phone and covered his hand with his sleeve as he flipped it over. The screen was cracked, but still on, meaning it couldn't have been sitting on the floor for long. He carefully put it back, getting a bad feeling about this. Summers came into the kitchen, reporting no one upstairs or signs of a struggle. Jack nodded and moved to the door: no signs of forced entry. "But why did she leave her purse and phone?" he asked almost to himself.

He walked back out to the car and grabbed the radio. "Rocco to dispatch, I need CSI and back up at this address," he said flatly and firmly. He gave the address clearly and waited for the operator's response. This was troubling him. It looked like there was another disappearance in Scriptor Bay's hands.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca wasn't much a fan of sitting in her squad car waiting for people to speed or do something illegal. It was boring and tedious, and she kept hoping someone would call her away from her post for something more important, but it was just one of those days.

She had already spent part of the day cruising around, looking for trouble and had even wrote a few tickets, but it didn't make the day pass any faster. She sat in the car in a little side street off Walnut, playing on her phone. It was nice having a phone that had games on it. Helped her pass the day away without having to let her mind wander to things she didn't care to think about at the moment; things that would bring her down like her family or the Montgomery case.

"Rocco to dispatch," There was chatter on the radio all day, but something about the new familiar voice caught Rebecca's attention. She turned away from the phone and towards the radio as Rocco requested CSI and back up to an address that sounded very, very familiar to Rebecca.

It didn't register right away, but when it did the girl paled in her seat. "Maxi.." She all but whispered, sitting there dumbfounded. In a moment her lights were flashing and she was speeding towards her friends home at breakneck speed.

She pulled up to the house, first one there beside Rocco and got out rushing towards her best friends house, her heart pounding. What was she going to find when she got inside? It was tough to switch into cop mode instead of crazy, bat-shit-crazy-oh-my-god-what-happened-to-Maxi mode.

"What's going on, Jack?" She all but demanded when she came across her colleague, doing a miserable job at hiding the sheer horror in her voice. Her eyes were wide, her skin pale. "What happened?"

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

"What's going on, Jack?" He turned and found Rebecca Taylor rushing up to him on the porch. Jack had been inspecting the door when she called him from his thoughts. He was glad to see her, knowing her work from the Montgomery case, and knowing she was a good cop. But where his first instinct was to smile, his brows grew heavy as he looked at Taylor's face. She was pale and her eyes were wide as if she were afraid. It made Jack frown worriedly. Why was she so affected by this? "What happened?" He turned to face her straight on, taking a step towards her. His first instinct was to reach out and try to calm her, but he refrained from doing so, knowing she wasn't the kind of person that liked to be touched.

"Are you okay, Taylor?" he asked. That wasn't what she wanted to hear, he quickly realized. She was panicked and wanted details immediately. He had a horrible feeling about her being there, but he motioned for her to follow him in. "I think the owner's been abducted," he said simply. "There's no signs of forced entry, but the neighbor says the door was open most of the day. She just came over to see if the owner was home, but there was nobody here. And then I found this." He had made his way into the kitchen, Taylor following him, and he gestured to the purse and the cracked phone on the floor.

"It looks like if there was a struggle, it happened here. The phone was cracked when I found it and laying face down on the floor, like it had been thrown or knocked out of someone's hand maybe. And her purse is still here, along with her car. If she went out of her own accord, I don't think she'd leave all this stuff behind. And there's cash in her wallet, so it wasn't a burglary. It's like she just vanished. Her name is Maxine, but I'm not sure of the last name." His brow furrowed more. "Do you know her?" he asked. Taylor looked like she was going to faint. Maybe she didn't like to be touched, but he reached out and grabbed her shoulders lightly. "Hey, have a seat. You look like you're going to fall. Breathe," he said very gently, reaching for a chair at the table. There were no other officers in the room at the time, Summers being upstairs looking for any other signs of a struggle. He pulled the chair out for her in case she wanted to sit, afraid the pale woman was going to collapse at any moment.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

"Are you okay, Taylor?" She glared at him, her nostrils flaring. She asked him a question! Her look had been answer enough and he went into details about what he believed had happened. Owner abducted...no signs of forced entry...door left open...broken phone and daily essentials left behind.

She stopped breathing.

"Her name is Maxine, but I'm not sure of the last name. Do you know her?" he asked and her vacant eyes moved to his. She was frozen, struck with horror. Her whole world began to collapse around her. Maxi was gone. Her best friend, her confidant, the only person who truly knew her was gone. Rebecca felt faint.

Everything seemed to be running in slow motion. She saw Jack pull out the chair, his voice distant as he told her to take a seat and breathe. She stared at him, dizzy and confused. Something happened to Maxine. Where was she? What happened?

Witt.

She had told Maxine he sounded like he was trouble! The son of a bitch! Without warning Rebecca grabbed the chair and flung it across the room in an animalistic fit of rage. She stared at it, panting, glad it didn't break or break anything in the house. Her lips parted as she stared at what she'd done, bringing her back to reality before looking at Jack.

How the fuck was she going to explain that!?

Her hand came to her face and she covered the bottom half with one single hand, shaking her head and looking away. Her eyes slid shut and she tried to get her erratic breathing under control. "McManus." She finally said, her voice soft and shaky. "Her name's Maxine McManus. She was dating a guy...he sounded shady. His name's August Witt." Bile was starting to come up and she shook her head. "I'm sorry.." She whispered, turning and leaving the house in a hurry. She couldn't be in there. She couldn't deal with this!

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack thought for a moment Taylor might actually sit, which he was relieved for. She needed to. She seemed to be swaying a little, and he was tempted to call Summers to get a medic. Before he could open his mouth, though, she grabbed the chair and flung it across the room. He instinctively jumped out of the way, the resounding crash echoing in his ears as it landed between the living room and the kitchen. What the hell?! For a second he was angry, but one look at her face said she wasn't angry at him. His gaze immediately softened to one of disturbed worry. Why was she throwing chairs around a crime scene?

One of her hands came to her face, covering her mouth, and for the first time, Jack felt a pang in his chest. It was strange and he couldn't explain it right away. There was just something about the way Taylor's face contorted into a look of horror and disbelief as her eyes slid shut. It made him want to reach out and comfort her. How could he do that though? Not only were Summers and a couple CSI members coming into the kitchen, surprised by the commotion, but he didn't know what was wrong with Taylor. He was about to motion for them to leave when Taylor's shaky voice caught his attention again. "McManus." His bewildered gaze came back to her face. "Her name's Maxine McManus. She was dating a guy...he sounded shady. His name's August Witt." How did she know all this? "I'm sorry..."

Taylor fled from the house, right past the men and woman standing at the doorway to the kitchen and living area. He nearly ran over one of them as he rushed after her. "Taylor!" he shouted to no avail. He jumped down the porch steps, but she didn't go far. It looked like she was getting sick, though, and he came up behind her. Nothing fazed him anymore when it came to bodily functions, so her getting sick on the lawn didn't bother him. His hand rested on her back comfortingly, not even thinking it might bother her. He was just too used to playing the roll of caretaker when someone was upset or sick. The moment he got wind that his mother was sick, he would make his way to her house as soon as possible to bring her soup or whatever else she needed. This was no different. It was also like speaking to victims' families. "Do you need some water or anything?" he asked quietly, shaking his head at another pair of cops walking up the driveway who looked like they might come over and see what was wrong. The last thing Taylor needed was an audience.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

It felt like her family all over again; pulling up to the house, knowing something was wrong... why did the people she love have to be taken from her? Rebecca could barely breath. She never even heard Jack call after her and when she got outside she made it as far as her car before gripping onto it firmly and heaving into the street.

The feeling of someones hand on her back brought her back into the moment and she yelped "Don't!" to let them know not to touch her. She didn't want to be touched. She didn't like to be touched, even if it was only a comforting hand. Rebecca had practically raised herself. She didn't need anyone babying her when she was at her most vulnerable. Especially a colleague.

When she had regained some amount of composure she righted herself up and wiped her mouth on her sleeve, offering Jack a wary look. "Do you need some water or anything?" he asked quietly, and she knew by his tone that he was walking on eggshells. She'd thrown a huge fit in there, and she herself probably would have been alarmed to see someone act that way at a crime scene. Had she ruined anything? She doubted it. Jack wouldn't say anything to the captain, but she also knew she wouldn't be on this case. No one in their right mind would let her work on this case. But she had every intention of being there when Witt got interrogated.

"I'm fine." She lied hoarsely, her throat stinging from being sick. Her eyes moved to the house and she realized she was bad luck. She should have never come back. She'd jinxed Maxi! It wasn't rational thinking and she had to fight the tears, refusing to let them spill in front of the huge man beside her. She looked up into his eyes, hating that look of pity that she saw in them. That look that he wanted her to be okay and he wanted to be the one to make her okay. "Don't look at me that way, Jack." She snapped. "Don't look at me like I need help." It was her only form of defense and a deep part of her felt bad for being cruel to someone who just wanted to help, but she firmly believed she didn't need anyone when it was so crystal clear she did.

She pulled her eyes away from him and glowered at the ground. "She's an old friend." She admitted softly. "I just saw her the other night. She was talking about this guy she was with, a guy who was clearly using her for sex and wasn't interested in anything more. She was crazy about him, though. She mentioned she didn't think he had friends which sent up a red flag. I don't know where he lives, but I can't imagine there are many August Witt's in the city." She had paid careful attention to Maxi's words, the man having made her feel uncomfortable when Maxi had told her about him. She was going to bring that mother fucker down!

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack had his hands in his pockets now, avoiding touching her. He wasn't much for being touched when he was upset either, it was just a habit of his to comfort people. Still, he watched her with worry, ready to get her anything she needed, if she asked for it. Instead she said quietly, "I'm fine." Her lunch was in a puddle on the street and her skin was the color of paper. She wasn't fine, but he wouldn't insist. She was upset enough as it was. "Okay," he conceded quietly, leaning against her car. He looked down at his feet for a moment, and then at her again. The poor woman looked like this was the worst moment of her life. He felt sorry for her, but not in a condescending way; she was a peer going through something really tough, and she couldn't even talk about it. He liked Taylor as a cop, too, which made this harder to watch from the sidelines.

She didn't like him though; not right now at least. "Don't look at me that way, Jack. Don't look at me like I need help." His eyebrows grew heavier, initially angry, but he let that slip away. Instead he sighed, frustrated he couldn't do anything in this case, not for Taylor, and he looked away. He was annoyed, but not necessarily with Taylor. It was the whole situation. There was no clear sign that Maxine wasn't going to come back, and there wasn't even a hint of where she was, or where she could be. Now there was nothing he could do for his colleague either. It was enough to make him feel a burning desire to go to the gym and take his frustrations out on a punching bag. He wasn't looking at Taylor when she spoke again.

"She's an old friend." Finally, she told him what Maxine meant to her, and his eyes were brought back down to her, stern with concentration. She mentioned a man that Maxine had talked about, a man named August Witt. Taylor admitted she was suspicious of the man when Maxine had originally brought him up. From the look in her eyes, she was already convinced Witt was guilty, but it was probably a conclusion she shouldn't have been jumping to. It sounded like she hadn't even met the man, but he didn't want to burst her bubble with too much reason right now. "I'll call into the station and see if they can't track down his address. I'll go interview him tonight myself," he assured. "I can't until another detective gets here, though, to supervise. In the meantime, can you tell me about Maxine? We can go sit on the porch."

Jack led the way back to the porch, calling over to the precinct as he did so, and requesting any information they could find on Witt. They assured they would call back soon, and he thanked them before climbing the steps of the porch. Sitting on the porch swing and turning to her, he waited for Taylor to take a seat. "What's Maxine like? Would anybody have a reason to harm her?" he asked. This would be a good way to get Taylor to calm down, and it would be a good way for him to get information he needed. He needed to know Maxine's background if he had any hope of finding her. Any information Taylor could provide would be useful. He was particularly grateful for the lead on August, but he knew there wasn't much he could do at this point except wait for the researchers at the precinct to get back to him.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

"I'll call into the station and see if they can't track down his address. I'll go interview him tonight myself. I can't until another detective gets here, though, to supervise. In the meantime, can you tell me about Maxine? We can go sit on the porch."

Rebecca was grateful that she was being taken seriously. Jack wasn't fighting her or kicking her off the scene for freaking out. She was grateful for that. He had the ability to; he could easily radio in that she needed to get the hell out of there, and as much as Rebecca wanted to, she didn't at the same time. She was hoping it was a huge misunderstanding but everything, at least in Becca's book, was pointing towards foul play. It wasn't like Maxi to up and go, leave her phone and keys and door wide open. No, Maxi was careful. She was smart and thought ahead. Something was wrong, and Becca was certain it wasn't just her own misplaced paranoia.

The thought of sitting on Maxi's porch without Maxi bothered her a bit. It was Maxi's porch.. She shouldn't be sitting on it with a colleague, telling him all about her and what clues could lead them to her whereabouts. But she needed to sit. She felt weak, dizzy, terrified and on the verge of being sick again. Reluctantly she followed Jack to the porch.

Her eyes were downcast as Jack sat on the swing, and for a moment she stood there, unsure how to sit. Everything seemed so out of place, especially herself. "What's Maxine like? Would anybody have a reason to harm her?"

She shook her head, begging the tears to stay at bay. For now they listened. She took a deep breath and sat on the swing, but just barely. She was on the edge, ready to jump up at a moments notice. "You could search all your life and never find a reason to want to harm her." She said softly, not looking at Jack. How pitiful did she sound right now? "She is single handedly the kindest person you will ever meet. Beautiful, smart, funny... she cares for everyone and everything. She's a perfect candidate for being taken advantage of, though. She's a teacher, so she has a semi firm hand, but mostly I would think she's a pushover." Her voice was weak, feeling so small and helpless there on the porch. It was difficult to be patient, knowing every second that ticked by was a second that they were wasting trying to find her. It killed her. "We need to go find that Witt guy. Now." Her tone was still small and anxious, but her eyes were wide and serious as they looked to Jack, furrowing her brow slightly.

[brettdawson]

"I need CSI and back up at this address"

Maxi.

Brett's first reaction was to bee line to August Witt's house. Clearly, to Brett, he was the culprit. His lights immediately flashed on, his car wildly swerving through stopped or pulled over cars. He was in a fit of rage, teeth grinding, head pounding. What did he do? What on earth could that bastard Gargoyle have done. He should have known this was coming. Sadly for him he was on the other side of town when he got the message. Brett had a kid pulled over for speeding, and but when he heard the radio he let him go with a stern warning. He probably scared the kid into never speeding again. His expression was pure fury. He cursed himself over and over again. He knew he shouldn't have allowed that freak to see her. He was not for her. In any way. She was so stupid how could she fall for him!

By the time he entered the neighborhood he was cursing out loud to himself. It was not the usual calm, stoic poise he had normally held on the job. He turned the corner, squealing the tires as he did so and parked behind Rebecca's car. He got out and only by instinct, locked his cruiser. He walked quickly, stiff and alert. Looking at all the details of the house, the one that stuck out like a sore thumb was the open door. She wasn't here... Two cops stood at the porch. Unless another officer was inside, Maxi was gone. Brett didn't exactly know what he meant by gone. She could be dead inside, dead somewhere else or simply... taken. His mind reeled and he was sick with worry. He would have doubled over if he knew it was his duty to figure out what was happening.

He jumped up onto the porch, hands on his hips and clearly stressed, "Officer Dawson. What happened here, where is Miss McManus?" He didn't even realize Rebecca was there even though he stared at both of them. "Was there... a murder?" He could barely say it. His voice was quiet. His arms crossed over his chest as he awaited a response, his fists clenching and unclenching constantly. He wasn't even sure if he wanted an answer. He just wanted her safe.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

Jack hadn't made himself comfortable on the swing, but Taylor made herself even less comfortable. She sat perched nervously on the edge, looking like she might just jump away at any moment. "You could search all your life and never find a reason to want to harm her." Jack watched her as she spoke, noting how soft her voice was. It sounded like she was on the verge of tears. "She is single handedly the kindest person you will ever meet. Beautiful, smart, funny... she cares for everyone and everything." She sounded perfect; then again, Taylor was biased if they were friends. Was Maxine involved in something Taylor didn't know about? "She's a perfect candidate for being taken advantage of, though. She's a teacher, so she has a semi firm hand, but mostly I would think she's a pushover." Perhaps someone had taken advantage of the pretty, kind teacher. It was certainly a possibility, especially if she had a shady boyfriend. Then again, Taylor might just be overprotective.

"We need to go find that Witt guy. Now." He felt a sigh inflating in his chest, but it paused when she looked at him. The way she looked at him, panicked and stern...it was intense. For a moment he got caught up the fire she saw burning in her blue-green eyes. Determination. That's what he saw. It threw him off guard to see her so dead set on finding her friend. She hadn't been like this on the Montgomery case they had worked together. This was personal, and that fierce need to protect that he had so often felt with his mother and sisters, that's exactly what he saw there in Taylor's eyes. It was kindred to the wolf at the very core of his being, and he was captivated by it. He had never seen that look in a woman's eyes before, and he was suddenly reminded that she was a woman. All of this occurred to him in the span of fifteen seconds, when the sound of another car pulling up to the house caught his attention. He finally breathed, finding he had stopped as he looked at Taylor.

The man that came strolling up to the house was young and Jack vaguely recognized him from the precinct. Dawson, was it? He made the connection that it might be the same Dawson Taylor was partnered with. The man took long strides, his face stressed, and he hopped onto the porch. "Officer Dawson. What happened here, where is Miss McManus?" He had been right; it was Dawson, and apparently he knew McManus as well. From look on his face, he was as disturbed by the radio call as Taylor was, though he wasn't showing it the same way she had. Did this woman hang around the precinct to make friends with cops? "Was there...a murder?" He struggled to say it and Jack could tell Maxine McManus meant something to him. Jack shook his head, standing once more.

"Not that we're aware of. She just disappeared. Jack Roccograndi," he said, holding his hand out to Dawson and giving him a brief but firm shake. "Call me Rocco." He took his hand back and gestured to the elderly woman's house across the street. "Miss McManus' neighbor noticed the door open this morning and it was in the same position this evening when she checked again. That's when she called the precinct and I got sent out here to check the scene. No signs of forced entry, but Miss McManus seems to have disappeared. Her cell phone and purse are still in the kitchen. The only sign of a struggle is her cell phone screen is cracked and it's on the floor, but she might have just dropped it. It's hard to say whether it's an abduction or not. I'm waiting for the precinct to give me her boyfriend's address." Jack shifted a little on his feet, glancing to Taylor. "How did you know Miss McManus?" he asked. "Were you close?" The more people who knew this woman, the more likely he was to get an idea of who she was and what or who she may have been involved with.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

Rebecca was both relieved and disturbed by Brett's sudden presence. She didn't want her partner to see her like this, or so was her initial reaction, but she was reminded quickly that Dawson was friends with Maxi as well and he would certainly help to get this show on the road. They'd spoken about it even. He'd told her about the fight they'd had in her home and the things Witt had said to Maxi. She was his, like a dog. That's how Dawson had described it. She belonged to him like some piece of meat. She didn't like the sound of any of it. Nothing about Witt sounded okay to her, and this all but confirmed her suspicions. She knew he was behind all this, and the moment they got him to the station and grilled him, it would all be over.

"Officer Dawson. What happened here, where is Miss McManus? Was there... a murder?"

Becca stood, taking a half step closer to Brett, while staying closer to Jack. There was something comforting about him that she needed in that moment. Maybe it was his size or kind disposition, either way she didn't mind him so much. She didn't trust him quite yet, but she didn't distrust him either.

"Not that we're aware of. She just disappeared." She listened to the greetings and Jacks question, but she shook her head. They were wasting time! "He's friends with her, too." She snapped towards Jack before turning her pleading eyes to her partner. "I think Witt has something to do with this. He's the most likely candidate. I mean, you said yourself he didn't even see her as anything other than an object. Maybe she wised up and he did something to her, I don't know... but he's got to be the top suspect. What else could explain her just going? It's not like her to leave her purse and phone if she's gone out, or her door open. Something's wrong, Brett." It was rare she used her partners first name, but she needed him to hear her. This was serious!

[brettdawson]

"Not that we're aware of. She just disappeared. Jack Roccograndi,"

He shook Rocco's hand firmly and quickly. Relieved no blood was spilled, he allowed himself to relax a bit. His hands were still clenched though, and every ounce of his being was put into memorizing his words. He had to if he wanted to crack this case and save his friend. He got even more anxious, though, as he described the scene. He was worried beyond belief, but attempted holding in his emotions. If anything he looked empty right now, which was better than looking frightened. Which he was. He was scared for her. His best friend, in turmoil. Brett had to resist the urge to bolt right then and there. He wanted to drive to August's immediately and demand her back. With force if needed. FUCK. It was then he realized it was day. The sun was out so that meant August wasn't. Hopefully he froze in his place and not on top of some fucking skyscraper. He ran his hands through his hair, messing it up greatly.

Brett was about to answer Rocco's question when Becca jumped in. Becca! Thank god. He was never happier to see her ever before. She knew exactly what he was going through. Maxi was close to both of them. "She's right." he said boldly. It was one of the few times he admitted this but he didn't realize. The situation at hand was more important. "This guy is a freak. I'm one of Maxi's best friends, I had a small brawl with the guy and he is dangerous. His mind is not right." The more he talked the more he worried. His hand went up to his face, holding it in a way he did when he thought. "One second Rocco, I need to have a word with Taylor." He grabbed her arm forcefully but not too hard, it was clear he needed to speak to her privately.

As soon as they were out of hearing reach he hit her with the news. "August's a Gargoyle." He let that sink in, to see if she caught any recognition. "They are frozen in a stone state during the day but able to walk free, like a human at night." He left out the extra strength and other details simply because he was in a hurry to get this out. "He's going to be hard to catch right now, either he's frozen in his house or perched on top of some building. I don't know, but with Jack here things will get sticky." Brett trusted her with this information. They may get into their fair share of fights and petty arguments but he knew Becca was trustworthy. Plus he knew she cared about Maxi, and any leak of the legend could put her, and him, in danger.

[JACK ROCCOGRANDI]

"He's friends with her, too." The way Taylor said it irked Jack. He wasn't being nosy, but he needed this information if they were going to get Maxine McManus home safe. He shot her a peeved look, letting her know he didn't like the tone, but she turned to her partner and began rambling. "I think Witt has something to do with this. He's the most likely candidate. I mean, you said yourself he didn't even see her as anything other than an object. Maybe she wised up and he did something to her, I don't know... but he's got to be the top suspect. What else could explain her just going? It's not like her to leave her purse and phone if she's gone out, or her door open. Something's wrong, Brett." Jack took in a breath, wanting to calm the situation and calm Taylor, but before he could get a word out, Dawson was talking, and Jack's eyes went to him. "She's right. This guy is a freak. I'm one of Maxi's best friends, I had a small brawl with the guy and he is dangerous. His mind is not right." Great, now they were feeding off each other's panic. He gave a wary look to Dawson, taking another breath to start talking, but again he was interrupted.

"One second Rocco, I need to have a word with Taylor." Jack cleared his throat, frustrated, but nodded his head. Being a wolf Therian had its perks, and heightened hearing was one of them. His eyes stayed on the pair as they walked away, not letting them out of his sight. They were both too close to this case. If he let them go off half-cocked to Witt's place, he wouldn't get a proper interview with the man. These two would ruin any chance he had of that, especially with the history between Dawson and Witt. He tuned out everything he could from inside so he could hear what Dawson was saying. "August's a Gargoyle." Jack's eyes narrowed. "They are frozen in a stone state during the day but able to walk free, like a human at night. He's going to be hard to catch right now, either he's frozen in his house or perched on top of some building. I don't know, but with Jack here things will get sticky." Jack clenched his jaw, letting out a grunt of irritation. Really? This was how they were going to play it?

"Don't you think that's information I should know?" he called out to the pair. He let their eyes come to him as he made his way down the steps, walking over to him with long strides. Being 6'6", he was next to them in no time. His voice dropped down, making sure there was no one around before he looked at them. "I don't mean to freak you out, but I'm a Therianthrope. I shift into a wolf. That's how I overheard," he explained in a low voice. "I have somebody looking up Witt's address at the precinct and they're going to text it to me. I will make my way over there and talk to Witt once the sun sets in an hour. I don't think you two should be there, though. This case is too personal for the two of you and we don't need any reasons for the captain to suspend the both of you from your duties. I understand Witt is a great suspect, but you two are already talking like he's guilty. We don't have proof of that, and by law, he's innocent until proven guilty. If the guy's a scumbag like you guys say, I'll bring him in for more questioning, but you two can't be objective. I'm sorry, but I'm taking lead on this case. I appreciate any help you can give me, but I can't let you speak to Witt until we have more information or you guys can distance yourselves from your personal opinions on the guy." He looked between the two of them, well aware he wasn't their favorite person right now, but hoping they would understand his reasoning. There was too much at stake for the two of them, and he didn't want to see them get in trouble over this or jeopardize the case.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

"One second Rocco, I need to have a word with Taylor."

Rebecca allowed Brett to guide her away, standing close to him as he explained about Witt being a Gargoyle. "They are frozen in a stone state during the day but able to walk free, like a human at night." Her eyes widened, not because she had never heard of Gargoyles, but because she had no idea he was one. "I know what they are." She grumbled. She might not be a Guardian, but Maxi had made it a point to give her the rundown on what they were when she had been a kid. "I don't know, but with Jack here things will get sticky."

"Don't you think that's information I should know?"

Rebecca turned and looked at Jack as he made his way over. How did he hear them? She soon found out as he answered her unspoken question. "Jesus, am I the only human cop in the force?" She asked, folding her arms a little annoyed that Jack was one of those therians, too. She knew Dawson was. Who else?

"I will make my way over there and talk to Witt once the sun sets in an hour. I don't think you two should be there, though. This case is too personal for the two of you and we don't need any reasons for the captain to suspend the both of you from your duties." Rebecca was glad that Jack was going to be going there and not she and Dawson. They would easily rip August a new asshole. It would definitely be in the cases best interest to have an unbiased party go there, but dammit she wanted Maxi back now!

As pissed as he was making her she knew he was right. They were too close to this case. She glowered at the man. They were both so damn tall! Maybe that was a side effect of being what they were; tallness. She didn't know any therians to compare this theory on, though.

"Fine, take the lead." She grumbled, "But I'm not giving up on working on this case. We have valid information. We know the victim and our knowledge can be key to finding her." She looked at Dawson, wondering how he was going to take the news. She knew her partner didn't like to be bossed around, but maybe if she agreed he would, too. No one could fight with the mans logic, even if there was a huge part of her that wanted to. "I'm watching the interrogation behind the glass, though."

[brettdawson]

Already on edge he snapped his head in Jack's direction when he registered the voice. He knew what he was before he said it. Unless he was Superman, this guy was a Therian. His jaw clenched, but nodded as he confirmed his suspicions. His fists clenched and he was rigid as he listened to the man talk. He was growing more pissed by the minute. What did he mean he was leaving them out of it!? Outrageous! No... he was right. Brett hated this man. Hated his logic. Hated himself for knowing that he was right. His teeth ground together painfully as he forced himself not to interrupt. Brett personally wanted to watch as August hung limp from his powerful grip around the bastard's throat. Those mental images were not helping him calm down in the least. He closed his eyes as well, breathing hard. Slow, deep breaths were finally allowing himself to relax a bit. Enough to where he wasn't going to explode on Rocco.

"Fine, take the lead."

A revelation swept over him at his partner's voice. He couldn't be anywhere near August. He sagged with defeat, knowing he would have to put as much distance as possible between him and the Freak. He didn't want anything more than to rip him to shreds. (Well, maybe he wanted Gina more, but that was on a totally different level.) He met Becca's gaze, and waited until she was finished, before speaking, "I'm staying out of this." He announced, now staring at the ground with pure hatred. "I'll put as many hours as I can on working off-site, but I cannot be near that monster." He shook his head in embarrassment. It was true, he couldn't do it. He'd be on August, beating the living shit out of him, before someone could stop him.

"I'd like updates though, constantly, if you wouldn't mind." He mentioned when finally looking up to Rocco. "Please find her." He said desperately, the emotion in his eyes were clear. Maxi was his best friend and he wasn't about to lose her to some asshole. He hated this whole situation, but most of all he hated being helpless. He wished he could just fix everything in a heartbeat. He just hoped she was unharmed.