Cross Reference

Silver flipped through the old journal, news articles and images clipped to fit each sprawling page of haphazard notes and rough diagrams. "This is very interesting. While my research is more on the demonic influence itself, this could tie back to countless crimes that went previously unaccounted for." He adjusted the pivoted lamp to further examine one of the crime scene photos closer. 

Irvyll sorted through the stacks of journals, looking at each label before placing them into a greater stack in the filing cabinet beside his desk. "When you spend years hunting down cold cases and interviewing organized crime rings, you tend to pick up on many loose ends. I just never considered the concept of demons interfering in our society so thoroughly... But it isn't surprising." He clicked his tongue to his teeth, looking at the book Silver had brought with him. "I know you're busy figuring out things with father Oleander's passing. I am too in my own way. But I don't think we can come at this from the same angle. Perhaps I can contact some of my connections, although I don't like straining those relationships too thin in these weary times."

Silver shook his head, looking up from the scrapbook. "I think I have a solid lead. But I need to figure out where my point of infiltration will be. Do you think you could do something for me? I need you to stake out this general area for potential attacks." He uses a red marker to encircle an area of nearly six city blocks. All centered around slums inhabited by several hostile factions. "These disappearing Succubun are either found dead, or worse, coming back from the dead. So if you can catch any foul play, even just spotting something suspicious. Anything that can help the investigation, I would greatly appreciate your assistance."

Irvyll nodded, brushing a bit of hair out from his eyes as he leaned over the desk to examine what they've got so far. "So, do you think Sorrento's people could be suspect? If they are giving false information to frame their competition, perhaps it's to cover their own tracks." 

Silver lifted a hand to his temple, letting out a frustrated breath. "Honestly, I'm not too sure either of them are capable of doing this on such a wide scale. Not unless they are getting help from much more powerful sources. But I can't rule anything out just yet. I will have to keep them on my list for the time being."

Looking over the photos once more, a smudge in the ink stands out to Irvyll. He leans in closer, inspecting the black shape before pulling out a flashlight and placing it behind the paper. "This picture. In the wall behind the body. Do you see that outline? There is nothing in this shot that would cast the shadow that is on this wall." Silver looks too, lines forming over his forehead as he tries to make out exactly what he is looking at. "I think, and this might be overstepping my boundaries. I might know a little bit about demon capabilities from a source. This image occurred during the previous year's All Sinners Day. Welcoming demons to the burrows can be both mundane and uneventful or extremely meaningful. The why and how can be very important. But this shadow, this unexplained shadow. It could be the distortion of a demon. When traveling in the burrows, some demons take the form of ethereal shadows following along in the darkness. Stalking. They can distort technology like cameras to blur their presence. Especially if they don't want to be tracked." Irvyll pulled his phone from his pocket. Opening the chat he has with Arrie. Scrolling through the images, he finds one. A snapshot from that same All Sinner's Day. Jousah's costume party. The tall black shadow posed along with the buns in the image stuck out like a sore thumb. 

Silver stared at the image, nodding and humming. "This picture. These people knew they were in the presence of a demon?" He raised an eyebrow. Of course, most of the population has no problem with demons or their influence. Only children of Gremory would know what it's like to be raised by such a vile demon capable of causing pain to their children. But something about the group. "That one. It's standing behind them." He pointed at a gluttony bun dressed in a tattered suit. "What's the significance?"

Irvyll hesitated for a moment, eventually coming to terms with the apology he would have to come up with later if this came back to bite him. "This demon raised him. Apparently, it historically selects one spawn from the bunnery for each mating season. I'm not exactly sure what goes on in the time between, but any Succubun raised by that demon has come out with gluttony as their vice. I wish I could have come to the party myself to meet them, but as this year would also make sure to do, I am busy with more pressing matters. But I am sharing this information with you as a means to say, you may have a harder time than you would hope. It isn't all ancient rites and occult rituals anymore, these demons are very well established and know how to manipulate our kind's senses. Do not get caught up with entities stronger than yourself, it may come at a cost."

Silver gave a curt nod, closing up the journals and stacking them before standing and collecting his things. "I appreciate your help on this. I am reaching out to anyone I can for assistance, and your information is vital to the matter at hand." He dug into the bag on his shoulder, hefting a thick bound book adorned in metal. "You can hold onto this for a while. It's my own research. Please, feel free to take down your own notes from my findings and cross reference your work. I will be in touch." He moved hurriedly out of the apartment, leaving Irvyll staring at the tome in his arms. 

Irvyll sighed, setting the book down under the lamp. He returned to his phone, hitting the call button at the top of the chat. It rang twice before Arrie's 'Hello' crackled from the other end. "Hey. Uhm. I may need to talk to you soon. It's about your roommate."