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"I shall only be gone a few months at most."
"You and Asogi will be in charge in my stead."
You loudly grouse about why you left all the prosecution to your husband and his recent apprentice, which further underscores the case you and Asogi are currently involved in. Digging your heels deep into the dirt of the ravine, you were climbing down to slow your descent. You join Gina Lestrade, the lead detective, and the young cop beside her in the deep pit to look at what's left of the bodies that were found earlier this morning.
"Looks like it's two different gents." Gina starts when she sees you slide down near them. The young man beside her holds his mouth, and you crouch down to take a closer look.
"They seem to be badly cut up." You look up to see that Kazuma has joined the three of you.
"Ya, the mutilation was pretty aggressive, ain't seem to be done by a professional." Gina takes out a notepad, writes down a note, and hands it to the other cop. "We'll know more 'nce 'Ria takes a look at 'em." A few others wrap the torsos back up in the cloth they were found in and carry them back out of the ravine for further investigation.
"What do we know so far?" You ask, standing back up.
"We ain't know the gender of em just yet, but they were found this morning, but some other local officers said that there were some ladies that recently went missin'." Gina pulled out a newspaper and handed it over to you and Kazuma to look at. The paper details that two women were reported missing from Lancaster as of last night. Kazuma folds the paper up and pockets it.
"There's a set of fingerprints on one of the torsos, so forensics will likely be able to identify them in a few hours." The young cop supplies you both as the four of you climb out of the pit to meet with the other investigators as they finish talking with the people who found the bodies, and finish questioning.
"Has Scotland Yard questioned the one who filed the report for the women?" Kazuma asked, and Gina shook her head.
"Kazuma and I will take an officer and question the person who made the report. You head back to the office and keep us updated on the fingerprints, Detective Lestrade." You inform the group and wave over one of the other officers, and hail a cab for Lancaster. During the cab ride over, the three of you reviewed your notes and went over the rest of the information you had. Arriving at the Lancaster police station, you enter and make your way to the interrogation.
"This woman says she's a friend of Ms. Rogerson; she was the one who filed the report last night." The detective explained before opening the door for you and Asogi to enter.
"Good morning, ma'am. My coworker and I have come to the understanding that you were a friend of Ms Rogerson?" You start calmly with her, noting how she was already distressed.
"Yes, I am, we were supposed to have gone out to the bar a fortnight ago. She said she had to return to her workplace to get her favorite coat, but she never came back. I went to talk to her employer, but he said she wasn't feeling well; a sudden case of brain fever, so she went home, he said." Kazuma took notes for both of you as the woman spoke, and you nodded along to keep her attentive.
"Who was her employer, if I might ask?"
"Dr. Buxton, it was."
"Thank you for your time." You and Kazuma stood and walked back out to talk with the detectives again, but your conversation was cut off before it started by the officer you had come with, who burst in about a telegram from Scotland Yard.
"The fingerprints came back as a match to a Dr. Buxton on file; they also found more body parts in the surrounding area of where the torso was found." The male shot out the info quickly.
"Have any officers been over to the doctor'ss residence?" Kazuma asked as the group of you walked out.
"A few of us went over this morning, but were told he wasn't home." You hailed another cab as the detective spoke.
"He's probably trying to make a run for it. We'll have to cut him off," you, Kazuma, and the detective climbed into the cab. "Inform the rest of the Lancaster police force to meet us there." You tell the officer before closing the door. Adjust your gloves as Kazuma prepares to grasp his sword. You come to a sudden stop, and the three of you jump out swiftly. Pressing your ear to the door, you move out of the way and kick it down with force. Entering the residence, you're hit with a pungent smell. Kazuma holds a hand to his face, and you step further into the foyer. The detective lets out a small gasp, and you look to see what's got him reacting; noting the stain on the carpet, you guess that's where the smell is coming from. Hearing a shuffling upstairs, the detective announced his presence and told the assailant to come down with his hands up. A group of officers rushed into the house as well and surrounded the doctor. It ends with him leaving in cuffs and you with the murder case you will be prosecuting tomorrow.
Riding back to the old bailey, Kazuma and you both trudge to the office for the paperwork awaiting you.
"I vote that you prosecute the case, dear Asogi." You shuffle through the folder while he holds open the door to Van Zieks (your temporary office), and he lets out a laugh as you glare deeply at the paper.
"I will be happy to assist you as I do his grace, but I shall pass on being the lead this time. It is much more enjoyable to watch you work." He jests in response.
"I see why Barok day drinks so often."
"I would like to think I don't do so as often." The voice of your husband makes you jump out of your skin. You lift your head from where you're standing by his desk, you set down the paperwork, and walk over to the man. You gently take the chalice out of his gloved hands and take a sip of the red liquid while holding his icy gaze. The corner of his lips twitches slightly.
"I'm glad to have you back, my lord. Though I will miss working with Lady Van Zieks in your stead, I must confess." Kazuma teases as he sits on the settee across from you both, a smirk lying on his face. Barok lets out a huff and takes the now-empty glass from your hands, setting it down.
"Mr. Asogi, avert your gaze, please." You command him quickly and watch as he puts his hands over his eyes. You hastily wrap your arms around Barok's neck and kiss his face in rapid succession before setting one last kiss on his lips. You giggle as he looks at you, flushed and lidded-eyed, and, pulling away, you grasp his shoulder in a tender squeeze.
"You're in the clear now, Asogi." You tell him as you walk back over to your borrowed desk, Kazuma shakes his head and hands over his half of the paperwork for Barok to peek at as you go over your own.
"What time did you-"
"Prosecutor Van Zieks!"
"Yes?" Both you and Barok answer in unison, leaving Gina shocked momentarily before she and Kazuma burst into a fit of laughter.
"Welcome back, your grace, but I'm here for Lady Van Zieks this time." Gina strides over to your desk, picks up a file, and places it down.
"This is the last of the forensic work you'll need Ms. By the way Kaz you wanna get som' lunch wit' me?" She walks behind his seat and claps him on the shoulder.
"Gladly! Enjoy yourselves, your graces." Kazuma jumps up and runs out, with Gina shutting the door politely behind both of them. Barok watches you in silence, and you look at the papers for a few minutes before throwing them down with a sigh, getting up, and walking over to him. You drop down into his lap and bury your face as deep as you can into his chest. He gives a low chuckle and rubs your back as he pets your hair.
"The bed was so cold without you, my love." You bite your lip slightly as you turn your head to face him.
"As was mine, my darling." He grasps your chin in a gloved hand and leans down for a chaste kiss. He palms your dark suit, shifting the pin in your red ascot, sliding his hand along the sleeves of your pink dress shirt. Tugging the sash that matches his own, he adjusts your own prosecutor badge. You press your chest closer to his palm, hoping to burn the feeling into your skin again.
"Pray, forgive the discourtesy, but my apprentice won't be out at lunch all day. So we will have to cut this short." You let out a slight whine at his discretion, but only huff and pout before settling back into him. He chuckles in response before giving another tender kiss.
"I will make it up to you later."
"You'd better, my lord."
*Extra
"You don't think they doin' nothin' weird in there are they."
"I hope to god not Gina, or else we'll be having a long lunch."
"HAh!"