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Of a Death by a Common Knife

Casefile PS082610

Location: Church of the Builder, Babbage Canals, New Babbage

Synopsis: On 26 August the lifeless body of Mr. Pip Steamer was found face down in a holding cell in the basement of the Church of the Builder. The Church denies responsibility for the death but has agreed to cooperate fully. Town morale is greatly affected, threat of rioting is elevated.

Personal Notes:
Talk about poor timing. First the symbols in front of City Hall, then Pip’s rather conspicuous apprehension, now this… If New Babbage can hold itself together over the next few days I will be pleasantly surprised. This. Is. Not. Good.

While on patrol I made my way to the Canals where I heard quite a commotion coming from the direction of the Church of the Builder. After crossing a couple of bridges I walked into the Church, only to see Father Pizarrio, Brother Rudyard, Professor Lionheart and Doc Miggins examining a very still Pip who was sprawled out on a pew. Immediately it was clear that Pip had “passed on,” otherwise the coroner, Doc Miggins, would not have been there. I was invited to participate in the investigation, which I accepted and was therefore led through the rest of Doc Miggins’ examination as well as explanations from the others present.

The first piece of evidence that was found was the weapon that had laid beside the body in the cell, a Ordo Mucro shin dagger. While the Ordo Mucro is an ancient, more radical branch of the Church, others could also have access to such a weapon from the notes that have been left about the city in the past. In the words of Brother Lapis, with whom I spoke briefly that same evening, “Those are little more than letter openers” and I would venture to add that they are nearly as common. Therefore, the Church is not necessarily implicated in this matter, it could have been anyone.

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The second piece of evidence was three strands of red hair found on the knife. Once that was found, Doc Miggins asked if he could compare the hair’s color to that of my own. As I had nothing to hide I allowed the comparison, which failed based on differing shade. It was quickly noted that nearly half of Babbage’s populace has such fiery locks and therefore jumping to conclusions about whom the owner is proves rather useless.

The third and final piece of evidence was the dark fluid that was found in the cell near where the body had laid. It appeared to be dark, highly viscous oil. At first glance the presence of oil seemed non-sensical, yet after some time it has been brought to my attention that the collar that had been used on Pip, which included a reality enforcement device, could have easily spilt that amount of machine oil. That is something to consider.

Once Doc Miggins had completed the examination, his official verdict was as follows: “Wrongful Death by Persons Unknown.” After the others had left I had a short, private conversation with Brother Rudyard, during which he said, “It is very unfortunate, I know anyone you ask about it will say the same, but please be assured, Miss Netizen, no one in my church has had anything to do with this.” I had already thought as much…it was too obvious, too simple and the Church stood nothing to gain from such attention.

Before leaving, I also spoke with Brother Lapis who explained that they were now in cloister, “That’s church for protective confinement.” That is most likely for the best, as the attitude of many in town has severely turned against the Church as they have jumped to the conclusion that those within the walls of the Church committed the murder.

After taking leave from the Church I found Miss Grace Toussaint, a solicitor in town, standing nearby the City Hall. We were quickly joined by Lead Investigator Jed Dagger and Miss Gabriell Anatra. I quickly summed up the evidence I had been given and we discussed a few possible explanations as well as the general feeling of unrest in town against the Church. Shortly thereafter Lead Investigator Dagger and I left to take the samples of hair and oil from the scene into the lab for detailed analysis.

[img=640×480]http://cityofnewbabbage.online/reader/image/view/488/_original[/img]

We remain in discussion concerning the lab results and how exactly to proceed. Once we come to a conclusion as to the next step I will discuss implications of the situation with Miss Toussaint to get her a advice on the law. Word will also be sent to Doc Muggins that he may take the body for safe keeping and further examination.

A follow-up report will be filed. The investigation is ongoing.

Miss S. Netizen, Investigator
Terranova Investigative Services
Aether Salon, 2nd Floor
#24 Academy Downs
Babbage Palisades, New Babbage

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24 Comments

  1. MichaelD Mannonen MichaelD Mannonen August 27, 2010

    ((Excellent! Very well written!))

     

    My question(s), Who would benefit from Pip’s death? or Who would benefit from the situation (in the city) Pip’s murder has created?

  2. Sheryl Skytower Sheryl Skytower August 27, 2010

    *flaps arms helplessly*

    oh, my!

    oh, my!

    *begins nibbling cookies nervously*

    murder most foul!

    *begins to dig emergency hiding place in coal pile*

  3. Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon August 27, 2010

    Oh dear, this is not good! I always knew those spikies were a bad idea, and now look what has happened!

  4. Mr Underby Mr Underby August 27, 2010

    I am utterly shattered by this shocking news.

  5. Melonie Menges Melonie Menges August 27, 2010

    Shocking news, even though I did not know Pip personally, this type of news shakes the spirit.

     

     

  6. Blackberry Harvey Blackberry Harvey August 27, 2010

    How horrible!  My condolences on the loss of your friend, Mr. Underby.

  7. Grace Toussaint Grace Toussaint August 27, 2010

    Thank you for your work Miss Netizen.  I am sure all of Babbage wishes to see true justice served.

  8. Gilhooly Skute Gilhooly Skute August 27, 2010

    Ordo? the chappies wot stick knives in doors?

    …..uh oh.

  9. Heliotrope Lionheart Heliotrope Lionheart August 27, 2010

    If it helps at all, Ms Netizen, just that night I did see a short fellow with a rodentine profile sneaking about in that neighborhood and brandishing a knife.

    • Sky Netizen Sky Netizen August 27, 2010

      Yes, I saw him as well, Professor. What a nice lad.

    • Sky Netizen Sky Netizen August 27, 2010

      ((Possible issue…do we have the ability to delete rather than edit a repeat post?))

  10. Zaida Gearbox Zaida Gearbox August 27, 2010

    *huggles Lo*  Imma so sorry about your daaa—Mr. Pip, Lo.

  11. Victor1st Mornington Victor1st Mornington August 27, 2010

    …Pip had a shady past, what goes around, comes around…*looks at Mr Underby*

    • Mr Underby Mr Underby August 27, 2010

      He who speaks ill of the dead gives much information to others about the depth of his character.

      • Gabriell Anatra Gabriell Anatra August 27, 2010

        Indeed, it most certainly does . .

        . . and in this case it says “I’m not a fool.”

        • Mr Underby Mr Underby August 27, 2010

          *narrows his eyes at Miss Anatra*

          I suppose YOUR past is spotless?

  12. Tepic Harlequin Tepic Harlequin August 27, 2010

    the Builders took Mr Pip fer their own reasons, and were keeping him captive, so how come he ends up dead in their custody?  don’t matter if it were them or not, specially if they had something on him to stop him defending himself………

    /Tepic makes sure he has a pocket full of round stones, just in case someone tries to kidnap him….

  13. Zaida Gearbox Zaida Gearbox August 27, 2010

    Ah think dem priests are shady.  Who dey think dey is to jes’ take Mr. Pip laike dat?  Dey not de garda!  If dey can do dat to Mr. Pip den dey can do it to you too!

  14. Jedburgh30 Dagger Jedburgh30 Dagger August 27, 2010

    Let’s all jump to conclusions, and cause more trouble.

    I’m not saying that there isn’t a degree of culpability on the church for letting this happen, but it would take a real simpleton to think that the church would kill someone in it’s care like this.  It appears to me that the church’s critics are acting very much in the same manner that they are accusing the church of doing.

    AT this point, an eye for an eye will make Babbage blind.

    • Zaida Gearbox Zaida Gearbox August 27, 2010

      Ah didn’t say dey killed Mr. Pip.  Ah said dey didn’t haff no right to take him to start wid.  Dey not de garda, an’ dere no law against being different.  If dere was dis whole town would be in jail.

      Ah think dem priests Shady because of dem soup tables too.  Dey put dere scraps out for people to eat laike dey stray cats and dogs instead of people.  “Here haff some nasty watery soup, an’ make sure you be stayin’ inside because we too good to associate wid de laikes of you.”  Dat what dey sayin’ wid dem soup tables.

  15. Obediah Balfour Obediah Balfour August 31, 2010
    Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

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