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Sampson had called Dale down to watch over Aliya, before he followed Jess.
In the room, Chase was sitting on a bed, his eyes still on his tablet. Jane and the police officer were talking quietly off to the side. Everyone looked up when Sampson walked in. He ignored them in favour of the witch.
“Your witch said there's magic residue?” Jane asked. Jess just looked at Sampson, who looked right back, before she rolled her eyes.
“Yes, there is magic residue here,” she said. “I wish I could show you what I was talking about, but it's, faint.” Jess Shrugged.
“Old?” Chase asked.
“No, I don't think so. the imprint seems fresh enough. At least according to my focus,” Jess said, talking about the implement that helped to refine and amplify a practitioner’s magic. “It's just weak, and sloppy.”
“A new practitioner then?” Sampson asked.
“That or someone unpracticed. Could be a hedgewitch, or a rogue, or some power slut just coming into their magic.” Jess shrugged.
“Nah,” Chase said. “Timeline for the killer's victims says otherwise.”
“Our killer could be a copycat?” Sampson said. “It's not impossible if we consider the differences between the fake tattoos.”
“Yeah, but all of them have been heart attacks. There aren't very many magical ways to do that, and most of them would have shown a major magical imprint. Their deaths would not have been brushed over,” Chase said.
“I never said that the magic caused the heart attack?” Jess interjected.
Sampson rubbed the bridge of his nose with a knuckle.
“Did the magic caused the heart attack?”
“No idea,” Jess said. “But based on the amount of it, either Sandra had a very weak heart, or it would have required magic that would have left a much stronger imprint.”
Sampson turned to Jane. “So what you're really saying to me is, that this magic may not even be related to the crime. Which we still haven't concluded the murder, and we have just been talking in circles for no reason?” Sampson asked.
“Due diligence, captain Gale,” Jane said.
“Yes, of course, and as long as we’re here we will work this as if the case has already been marked as an official SID serial. Have you requisitioned her medical records?” Sampson asked. “Histories?”
“Yes, but we haven't exactly had the time to go through them yet. She only died yesterday, we're working with less than a skeleton here,” Jane said.
“Okay, well it should at least be easy enough to rule out a weak heart in any case.” Sampson turned to the room, seeming to inflate with determination. “Chase I want you on the medical records, Jess I need you looking into any magic that could cause such a physiological effect, detective Jane, I'm assuming will be re-convening in your department headquarters, let's say tomorrow morning? We should have the autopsy report by then, yes?” Sampson said.
“That's the plan,” Jane replied.
“Alright, I think we've done all we can here, the only thing left is for us to-” Sampson was cut off by the sound of pounding footsteps.
“Sir, she's awake.” Dale burst through the doorway with little grace. Sampson's eyes flashed.
“Is she now. And where is she?” Sampson asked.
“Sir?” Dale's brow furrowed in confusion.
“My mate.” Sampson annunciated. “Surely, you didn't leave her alone, and disoriented in a highly-populated area when we don't even know what triggered her collapse in the first place. Surely, you would not leave your alpha's mate unguarded. Surely you had more sense than that.” Sampson's words weren't a question.
“Uh, Sir… I.”
“You…” Sampson raised a brow. The entire room was silent as they watched the exchange.
“I'll be right back, Alpha,” Dale said before dashing back out of the room. Sampson sighed deeply. He’d done more of that in the past 24hrs than he had in a long while. He hoped this case would be over quickly.
For a long beat, Sampson was caught between amusement, exasperation. Then he made a conscious decision, and chose restraint. He cleared his throat.
“Show me what you were talking about,” Sampson said to Jess as they refocused their attention on the case. For once, Jess immediately did exactly as she was asked.
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