This part of her field was often not where she ended up, but here she was, pondering over prison logs and paperwork, with Alanna over one shoulder helping her sort through what was of importance, and another overseer of the guard standing behind her other. Green gaze traversing down the understandably barren guest log, she hums, “We’re sure nobody was in to see Inglewood before this happened?”
“Actually...” The guard behind her speaks up, clearing his throat. “A woman came to see him the night before, but she was checked over and found clean, and accompanied by one of the men up front--”
Kyara visibly bristled. “And you didn’t think to mention that when we found him? I want you to find out her name, and who exactly accompanied her, if you can. He may be able to tell us what they were conversing about.”
The guardsman nods, beginning to turn away, but Alanna made a gesture for him to stay a moment. “In addition...While moving his body, we found a straight pin on him. The kind typically used upon women’s clothing.”
“Meaning,” Kyara interjects. “That it was on him beforehand, or handed off by this woman, and your men were either incompetent or paid off.”
“Grey...” Alanna softly chastises, considering their company. She’d figured out over the course of their workings here just why Kyara was best in the field rather than dealing with people away from it, though in truth, it amused her all the same. Especially after watching the guard glare at the rogue from behind, then promptly turn and stalk off.
“Sorry.” Kyara offers once he was gone. She didn’t really mean it, as she was furiously pondering over the papers in front of her still, looking for anything on this mystery woman. She pauses once Alanna taps her on the shoulder.
“Let’s take a break from this, we’re already in the process of investigating the guards who were posted that night. In the meantime...” She trails, prompting Kyara to look up to her. “I didn’t forget about what you asked of me. Obviously we don’t have Inglewood to question any more, but the men who worked in port under him are the next best thing.”
The man she makes out in the celled interrogation room was no more than a boy, really -- she wouldn’t have known better if he didn’t bear the mark of the admiralty. He looked much like the young cadets she’d encountered before, clenching her fists at the thought that he may have known, or had something to do with, her mugging or Cherry’s capture.
I know a Kyara who is leagues above such men. Kyara slowly pushes out a breath past her lips at the memory; it had haunted her since Cherry had uttered those words. Silently, she wondered if the version of herself her old lover remembered still existed. If not, she could at least pretend to be her, for now.
Her demeanor was calm as she entered the room. Looking up to her, the boy sinks into his chair a bit, uttering quickly, “Don’ know nothin’ bout how he died, ma’am, we was far from here...”
“I’m not here for that...” She reads his nametag mid-sentence. “Mr. Fletcher. In fact, what I have to ask of you has nothing to do with General Inglewood’s sentencing, only the work you did under him. Is that alright with you?”
He swallows hard, straightening himself in his chair a bit, some tension leaving the line of his shoulders. Slowly, he nods. Kyara realized he was scared, and young, and forced herself to find some sympathy in it.
“You often worked in the ports, yes? I understand Inglewood oversaw what came in and out, at least within his jurisdiction.”
The boy seemed to take a moment to process her words. “...Right. I ran his word to the docksmaster and back, sometimes.”
Kyara’s brows lift, for a moment. “Good. What have you heard of the Crawfords?”
The boy looked outright surprised at her question, chuffing in disbelief, even amusement. “Them pirates out of the strand? They was before my time...Heard they worked for the Ashvane, then broke off after some drama, became their own thing. Yea, now that ye say it, we thought it was mostly stories till one of em showed up here...”
Kyara’s jaw clenches. “And you held her for a while, yes, I know. Did Inglewood ever say anything that suggested it wasn’t just a story?”
“Welll...” The boy shrugs up his shoulders. “If the rumors are true, the Crawfords ran off from the Company and the admiralty into the one place they wouldn’t be sailed after. Far side of Drustvar, in that free port, yea? Bunch of traitors mingling with the Horde. Can ye see why we held her?”
“No.” Her voice and expression were deadly, monotone. She stands up from her seat, nodding to Alanna outside to signal she was finished, but not before she adds lowly to him, “I want you to advise what’s left of your men to forget about the Crawfords, and the woman you held. Take her off your record, and I may forget about returning the favor for the stunt they pulled. Did anyone from your group wander back recently, badly beaten and confused?”
The boy blinks wide-eyed, dumbfounded, as Kyara takes her silent leave from the office. The look remains upon his face as Alanna appears in the doorway, gesturing that it was time to go.
[ @blackbay-wra ] mentions/relevant: @patiencekindnesscourage, @alanna-macleod, @quai-mason, @brian-wellson, @juniper-rose-blower, @malodarstarstrike, @mycoronervinny
