Analysis 02 - Introductions Should Make Sense

--- Trace and Toxicology - before Eireann's Stream ---

Fionnuala Mc Glytch, single mother of Isabelle Mc Glytch, had a new day of random substances ahead of her. Weird mixtures to figure out. Powders in all colours to classify. Liquids to test.

Unlike before, she didn't have to forward certain findings any more.

Code Purple was not a single case or substance class, she knew that now. No, it was the classification for the supernatural, the substances that belonged to the Otherside.

She had already reviewed the drunk footage, luckily almost everyone was a safe drunk, though watching that busty woman quarrel with the doorman was funny. The cat on the lamp was funny too. That the serious sister was like her older weird one was a surprise, then again they were a set of perverted sisters that were all over her own sister.

Now, she just had to ignore how funny the cats were, she was a dog person.

A ding announced a result from the liquid chromatograph.

The white powder was cocaine with glass dust. A bad stretch.

She forwarded the results.

Now she had black viscous substances one and two to analyze.

She was almost sure that one of them was tar due to the smell, the other one she wasn't sure yet, it was slippery instead of sticky. Both came from the same body, too.

She found the two substances easy to separate due to their very different behaviour.

It made her even more sure that one of them was tar, she seemed to run into tar more than usual lately.

An analysis later, the second black substance was revealed to be motor oil, while the first one was tar as expected. Street construction grade tar and heavy motor oil, for a truck, to be exact. She was still testing to figure out the exact brand.

"Fi?"

"Don't call me Fi."

"Suspected poisoning, we got a full assortment of bottles to get tested."

Fionnuala gave the 'full assortment' a critical look, "not a single scotch or bottle that isn't hopelessly overpriced. Ouzo? Who the hell drinks liquid toothpaste?"

The lab tech delivering the bottles snorted, "remember, they are to be tested, not drunk."

"My sister's girlfriend has far better stuff and gave me free use of her penthouse, and I know someone who has access to even better stuff." Fionnuala decided to ask Zaria to get some of the real stuff, the ones that only small old distilleries made. She had the feeling that the floof would have no trouble getting those.

"A penthouse? Wait? The owner of the black jaguar and the coffee bringer?"

"Coffee bringer?"

"Personal deliveries by her or her little sister."

"They do deliveries now?" Fionnuala frowned, why didn't they tell her? "They make some of the best coffee I know."

She pulled out her phone.

"Hello Dorea, are you doing coffee deliveries now?"

"No, just for family?"

"Yes, I would love some, that Black Cat Special you made was wonderful."

"I think Eri is out in the field, give me a moment, I'll see if I can call her on the internal."

Unfortunately, it did not connect.

To the lab assistant, the half she heard sounded a bit weird.

"No, she is out, probably, actually you can always call her yourself."

"I'll ask around, might have to ask the Chief."

"Sure, if the Chief approves, we have a questionnaire for what coffee types everyone likes."

"Sure, I'll tell security to let the girl through, wait, is it the nervous one?"

"Oh good, she seems to be a scared little bunny."

"Wait, she is?"

"Okay, remember to send the bill."

"Dorea!"

"I insist."

"See you soon."

The tech stared at the scientist. "Did you just bully your sister's girlfriend into sending you coffee and having you pay for it too?"

"And she offered a deal for the station. If the Chief allows, we might get regular good coffee, not that black water from the break room."

"I'll tell the others."

"Ask them what types of coffee they like, she will try to mix something that stores for a while," now Fionnuala turned to the bottles.

Overpriced, bad taste, and not worth it for the most part. It was time for some creative chemistry, so she decided to start with the liquid toothpaste.

Her strong Black Cat coffee was delivered soon after by an amused waitress.

---

Oddly enough, everything came back clean. That meant that the poison came from somewhere else.

That was not her problem, however, she wrote the report, and forwarded it.

Since it was time for her lunch break, she stopped her work, saved everything, and locked her laboratory. She had not packed a lunch, so she walked off to the canteen, where the food did not appeal to her. Maybe she should go bother Dorea again. It sounded like a good idea, and the lasagna from last time had been delicious.

She even felt ready to try the fish.

So the red-headed scientist fetched her jacket and purse, and went for a walk.

---

Unknown to her, a group of suits were standing before her laboratory.

"If you are looking for Fionnuala, she is out for lunch," a lab technician walking by informed them.

The suits shared looks.

--- Black Cat Café ---

"Welcome back, my Lady."

"Thank you, I am here for a quick lunch," Fionnuala nodded at the goth waitress.

"Please follow me, do you have any wishes? We have pasta napolitana today."

"Actually, I am good with fish today."

"My sister will be happy, any preferences? We received a really nice salmon today."

"That sounds wonderful, actually."

"Please sit here, what do you wish to drink?"

"I am not sure, any recommendations?"

"The homemade lemon soda is refreshing, we have freshly pressed orange juice as well."

"Lemon soda please."

"I will be back with your drink in a moment."

Fionnuala decided to study the menu this time around, if she was going to come more often, it would be good to know what they offered.

The first thing she found out was that the menu was small, considering it was primarily a café, it made sense. The fish seemed to be a common item, might be something due to the mermaid cook. They had a weekly menu, however. Today was pasta napolitana or crêpes with egg and bacon.

She checked again.

It took her a moment to remember that the French actually ate crêpes with all sorts of things, not just sweet ones.

It made sense, oddly enough. Especially since Cécille and Dorea seemed to be friends even before they bonded, or sort of married her sister. Maybe she should ask them if they wanted to marry properly? Dorea and Yvonna would look great in white gowns, the contrast with their skin would be incredible. Though the oldest one would look weird in a wedding gown.

She decided to stop that train of thought. Maybe asking Zaria how that worked for supernaturals was a good idea.

Her soda arrived. And it was delicious and refreshing.

The salmon was perfect, when it was served.

She returned to the office satisfied, maybe there was something about mermaids making fish dishes. She would have to invite her daughter, to introduce her and to show her off.

Fionnuala made sure to take some coffee to go. She received the thermos cleaned and refilled.

--- In Front of Trace and Toxicology ---

Fionnuala found a situation that she had expected four days ago.

Serious looking suits were waiting for her, it was probably time to learn what the Code Purple and Code White clearances meant for her.

"Hello, I am guessing this discussion will take place in a conference room?"

"Yes, it has been cleared with your Chief as well," one of them replied.

"Very well," she looked around, "do you want me to lead the way? If so, which conference room is it?"

"Conference room two, please go ahead."

She was glad she had taken the coffee, she had the feeling she was going to need it.

The group entered and seated themselves.

"Dr. Fionnuala Mc Glytch, Doctorate in Analytical Chemistry, mother of Isabelle Mc Glytch, sister to Eireann Mc Glytch, who is a detective working here. Is that correct?"

"Yes, and you are?"

"Prof. Greg Meyers, Centers for Disease Control," a CDC scientist.

"Dr. Christine Brooks, National Institutes of Health," this one was probably a real NIH doctor.

"Dr. Ralph Stabbins, Drug Enforcement Agency," a DEA member.

"Agent Thomas Hartley, Federal Bureau of Investigation," it was an FBI spook.

"Agent Emily Riley, Department of Homeland Security," the second spook was from the DHS.

"Jason Kay, I am an engineer from the Department of Energy," the DOE engineer was a surprise.

Fionnuala assessed the group, "I am not sure why the DOE sent someone, but I can understand the CDC and NIH officials. FBI and DHS make sense as well, but no CIA?"

"The CIA wants to test everything in their own laboratories," Dr. Brooks explained.

Prof. Meyers nodded, "the reason we came is that we are more from the scientific side of the contacts to the Otherside."

"From what I saw, most of it can be explained as 'It's magic' and that seems to be the common explanation they use as well. Or 'It's Zaria' seems to work as well when things get really weird," Fionnuala shared her experiences.

"The DOE runs into weird things regularly, we experience old forests, weird lakes, and many other things. We need people that can analyze and explain what we are facing," Mr. Kay introduced his role. "In this case, your familiarity with Code White is the reason I was sent."

"I wouldn't say I am familiar with her, she is my daughter's classmate," the mother corrected.

"You have an in with her, it would be really helpful at times, knowing why all machines break down, workers disappear, or superiors die in accidents," Mr. Kay lamented their situation.

"Wait, Code White is a schoolgirl?" Agent Hartley asked quickly.

Fionnuala gave the FBI agent the traditional 'you are rude' look, "Yes, that is how my daughter met her, according to my sister it was a Code Purple Case. Then during the best steak dinner I ever had, she introduced me." She hesitated for a moment. "Is it normal for powerful beings to be really weird in some way? Like being small, random, or tending to twist reality?"

"Considering the legends of powerful beings? Yes, all of them have their quirks," Emily nodded, confirming the mother's suspicion. "Crazy, powerful, random, possessive, murderous, lustful, or any other vice or character trait. I actually have a doctorate in history, with a focus on legends. My encounter with the Otherside in my youth left an impression."

"Mainly, we don't have enough information on the things on the Otherside, and having someone who can analyze things without having to go to third party alchemists would be useful." Agent Riley expanded.

Prof. Meyers confirmed this, "it doesn't help that viruses, poisons, venoms, and medicine from the Otherside react very differently compared to their mundane counterparts."

"Their drugs are really special as well, much more complex and effective than most of what we face usually. Effect and composition often don't match. We received a report on your glasses, those would really help us," Dr. Stabbins seemed frustrated.

"You want me to help you across institutions?" Fionnuala leaned back and pondered it for a few moments. "I admit I am interested in alchemy, it does sound fascinating."

"It seems to be a complex topic, most can't figure it out, those that do? They switch to jobs on the Otherside and lock themselves up in their laboratories to do research," Ralph complained.

Fionnuala wondered if they only taught nerds, "Then simply train more people, not all of them will be research freaks."

Emily elaborated on the issue of training, "It isn't that simple, we don't know how, most of what we know is from ancient texts. Getting the right ingredients is difficult as well. Then those with talent figure out how it works and use that knowledge to leave. Alchemists are really rare and there are no teachers."

"That contradicts what I have heard," the red haired toxicologist denied. "Why don't you ask for training? Or buy items that do the work for you?"

"Like your glasses? Items are expensive and have limited uses," Jason pointed out the limitations.

"I doubt they cost more than a chromatograph or spectrometer, besides there are enchantments that are not of limited use. My glasses have three uses per day, and recharge one charge every eight hours." Fionnuala looked down and found her glasses hanging off her lab coat. She knew she had left them in her laboratory.

"Are those the enchanted glasses?" Jason leaned forward, clearly curious.

"It is better not to touch them, they are enchanted heavily with security spells."

The FBI agent snorted, amused, "A CIA agent infiltrated us, and tried to seize the glasses. He got cursed, and managed to cover himself in a new Cannabis strain that is far more potent than any other known variants. To add insult to injury, the agent is actually allergic."

"The Green Goblin Case!" Dr. Stabbins thought that it sounded familiar. "You are the one to identify and name the strain!"

"No, that one was already named, my glasses told me the name." Fionnuala corrected.

"Fascinating," the doctor pulled out a notepad and took notes.

"Just ask for training, or help," Fionnuala tried to get back on topic.

"Alchemists are expensive, and there are security concerns," Emily pointed out the issue with secrecy and legality.

The redhead pulled her phone out, "Give me a moment, I want to ask about this since our information is completely different."

She called Zaria, school was already over for the day, and the girls should be on the way back home. If Zaria did not pick up, she could always text Yuki.

"Hello Zaria, how was school?"

Everyone listened closely, even if they only heard half of the discussion, it was bound to be informative.

"That sounds annoying, I am getting my briefing on the official stance on the Otherside right now. There is one thing that is confusing however, according to the briefing alchemists are rare, and it is difficult to learn?"

"You are coming to explain?"

"Wait, you are coming right now?"

Fionnuala stared at her phone as the call disconnected, she saw everyone tense, and the FBI and DHS agents reached for their phones.

Then Zaria was there, dressed in normal clothes that any teenager would wear. "Hello Fionnuala, I thought it would be better to explain in person, and now is as good a time as any. Besides, the information is not secret or anything. They just don't know where and whom to ask, or manage to annoy and drive off anyone they manage to contact," the albino not-floof-at-the-moment turned towards the assorted members of three letter organizations. "Greetings, I am Zaria, to you better known as Code White, that means from now on you are probably all cleared on me as a topic. Some of my actual titles are: Shrine Maiden of Tamamo no Mae; Magistra Alchemia; Magistra Arcanae; Druid of the Elder Woods; Elder Spirit; Unbound Fey of Chaos; Divine Cook; and Supreme Healer."

There were several more notebooks out now.

"Magistra Alchemia is the alchemist title?" Fionnuala asked.

"It defines me as a Master Alchemist by the Alchemist Guild. It is easier to keep titles on the Otherside than it is on the mundane side. I am pretty sure my chemist degree and pharmacy doctorate are not valid any more," the not-floof pointed out.

"How long ago did you do them?" Prof. Meyers asked with morbid curiosity.

"Some seventy years ago?" Zaria pondered for a moment, "maybe more, maybe less?"

"You say that alchemy is easy, we barely have anyone that can help us identify items and substances related to the Otherside," Dr. Stabbins complained.

"Jason Kay, an engineer for the DOE," Jason introduced himself.

"The what?" Zaria asked.

"I am an engineer for the Department of Energy."

"That explains why you have more common sense than they do," Zaria waved at the other five officials. "So, what can I do for you?"

Jason pulled out his notebook, "What can you tell me about the area around Hammond Mountain?"

"Where is that?"

Jason pulled out his phone and pulled out a special map app, "This here, we had accidents and deaths that involved work in that area."

"Bad idea, that area is under control of Old Gods and Elder Spirits, you know the type that the ancient tribes worshipped, with the lack of worship they are weakened, but also far easier to annoy," Zaria pulled out a notebook from nowhere, frowned, then stuffed the notebook back into nothingness and pulled out a book instead. "Here, not all rituals are original, but the meaning conveys well enough if you mean it. So the rituals for forgiveness should work if you find people that actually mean it."

"This book looks old," The engineer looked for the print date. "1932, are you sure it is fine to borrow it?"

"Sure, make copies, I think it is a banned book, actually."

"So normal books can have valid information?" Fionnuala peered at the book as well.

"Sure, now you have questions about alchemy? I wanted to take you and Eireann shopping and introduce you to the alchemy store, but it slipped my mind with the drinking and all."

"That is fine," Fionnuala forgave easily, "Eireann needs it more than I do, with the glasses, I am pretty safe now, and she is the one who gets shot at. They are telling me learning alchemy is difficult due to lack of teachers, learning materials, and because it is expensive."

"Well, as with chemistry, alchemy has several areas. Actually, most old universities are offering alchemy courses for their chemistry students in the know. Then as alchemy is magical, an appraiser is usually enough, which is a magical job. A real alchemist is a chemist with knowledge in the fields of biology, geology, mysticism, and legends. Wood burnt by lightning reacts differently from wood from a forest fire, and even that reacts differently from wood burnt in an oven or a fireplace."

Zaria walked to the whiteboard and started writing notes and drawing diagrams.

Everyone else was taking notes.

"Dr. Ralph Stabbins, DEA, that is Drug Enforcement Agency. You enchanted Dr. Mc Glytch's glasses with an identify spell, how does that work?"

"In her case, I made a rechargeable enchantment that draws on her knowledge. Names are easy, but components and effects are more difficult. When I popped in last time, we had some plutonium and weed, she knows a lot about both, so the information was probably very complete?" Zaria looked towards the red-head.

"Yes, it even named the strain as 'Green Goblin'."

"A name and title is simple, it defines an object. Especially when it is unique. It gets more complex with things that get called a lot of different names. 'Potion of Healing', 'Healing Potion', 'Minor Healing Potion', 'Elixir', 'Wound Closer', 'Recovery Potion', and many more names are available, different people name it different things at different times, also the recipes vary. So even if it is all various healing potions, the recipes, the effects, and the names are often different," Zaria scribbled it down on the whiteboard. "Once you learn of alchemical ingredients, recipes, effects, and synthesis, the identity for those will improve. Same with magic."

"Prof. Greg Meyers, CDC, Centers for Disease Control, what about magical and supernatural illnesses?"

"There are three main types, magical diseases, curses that act like diseases, and those that are both. Additionally, there are infectious and safe types." The floof smirked, "the zombie virus is of the infectious curse type. A simple virus reanimating the dead and allowing them to act? Not even on the Otherside."

"I am from the National Institutes of Health, NIH for short. My name is Dr. Christine Brooks. How would one go about hiring someone with knowledge of magical medicine and such?"

"Go ask the church, hire a healer, summon an angel or a succubus, make a pact with a dryad."

"Ask you," Fionnuala added.

"And ask me, so if you need someone, I know a few people."

"So, how difficult would it be to learn alchemy?" Fionnuala asked the main topic.

"You are familiar with chemistry, analysis, and know magic exists. Next would be a primer on basic alchemy, an introduction to ingredients, and for you the Extended Encyclopedia Alchemica abridged. No full recipes, but descriptions and ingredients. Then maybe a month of study to get your information and simple identification is possible. Naturally, the more dangerous things are restricted by the Guild of Alchemy. Someone like Fionnuala here, a toxicologist and member of the police vouched for by me, has no trouble accessing material. At least she won't have any once I show her where to find them."

"Actually, can you take a look at something?" Dr. Stabbins asked.

"Sure~"

He pulled up his briefcase and took out a vial with some grey powder that he gently placed on the table. "This is-"

"Shh, this is perfect to show the limitations of the glasses. Fionnuala, please identify it."

Fionnuala put on her glasses and focussed on it. "Zombie Powder, made from dead bodies, relaxes and places the subject into a mindless state."

"You probably know drugs with similar effects, and instead of dead bodies, it is actually zombies. It is a drug made by necromantic alchemy, it makes the user mindless like a zombie, too much of it raises aggression, proper doses put the subjects into a pleasant empty minded state," Zaria explained. "Basically, not really a legal drug. It has some useful uses, but if you have it, then I doubt it is a legal incident."

Fionnuala was busy checking her calendar. She was going off-topic, but she was eager to learn more. "Shopping this Friday? Both Eri and I have the day off."

"Sure, let’s take your girls, her cats and Céce along."

"Going to take your cat along?"

"She is not my cat, and she finally moved back home. It was oddly nice to have someone so normal around," Zaria allowed herself a soft smile. The young catgirl staying over had been fun.

"She seemed like a nice girl."

"Are you implying something?" Zaria eyed the mother sharply.

"No, nothing."

"Why is it so hard to make contact with the Otherside for us if it is that simple?" The FBI agent wanted to know.

"You people tend to try to tie down people with those non-disclosure agreements, rigid rulesets, various certificates, attendance of conferences and workshops, require a clean personal history, and so on, most of which simply doesn't apply to most things on the Otherside, like magic.
"For some reason, the government doesn't want to recognize any paperwork from the Otherside as legal, and continues to do so no matter what we tell them. Then, there are things like the fact that long-lived ones like me need new identities regularly. The separation makes it difficult for people like healers to declare their earnings, taxes, and receipts from non-mundane medicine, and a lot of them lack official accreditation and the time spent training in hospitals and such. Their jobs are not recognized officially and there is no protection for them.
"Additionally, the IRS and Chamber of Commerce are really mule-headed about things being traceable, and file lawsuits for everything that looks illegal or suspicious. It is hard to use public currencies when you are not bound by borders, because of this, we still use gold and silver coins over there.
"Finally, a lot of us don't want to be tracked or can't be tracked. A lot of us want privacy, we don't care about laws the way you do, the official government tries to hide our existence, which makes it harder for those from the Otherside to live legally, residency registration is impossible for many. The government doesn't accept that the Otherside has its own rules and borders. Plus, it's hard to take anyone seriously who regularly breaks their own laws. As well, laws change, and I am older than all the countries on the planet, as are many others. So, a lot live there full time with barely any contact to this side since it is easier that way. Take me for example, it is not like you can enforce anything I don't want on me. My sphere of influence is worldwide on the Otherside, but only this city in the mundane world."

There was awkward silence after the rant.

"Wait, you use gold and silver coins? How am I supposed to buy everything, then?" Fionnuala remembered the few gold coins she had in a safe. Were those valid coins? And how expensive were things on the Otherside?

"Exchange at the bank? Or ask me? Cécile and Dorea can help as well. Actually, give me a moment." Zaria pulled a scroll and a pen out and started writing, "I am writing your certificate, I am simply giving you a license to check out the informative materials but not the ingredients until you know enough to not blow yourself up," watching the floof write in old lettering and some she couldn't recognize was interesting, then there was the fact that is seemed to be real parchment, and she used sealing wax and a personal seal made it feel more important than something written in a minute or two should be.

"You can exchange them at the bank? Agent Emily Riley, from the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS."

"Yes, the Ground Bank is run by dwarves, the Bank of Gold is of draconic origin, and the National Bank should have an exchange as well."

That seemed to surprise most of the people.

"Could you take a look at this as well?" The Professor pulled out a suitcase, one that Fionnuala recognized instantly.

While it looked like a suitcase, it was actually a camouflaged transport case for dangerous substances.

Inside was a glass case with something black inside.

Zaria frowned, then she stuck her hand through the glass, and poked the black item. "That is mummy rot, it is a cursed disease. If you have people infected, you need to cure the disease and curse at the same time. Wrapping them up in bandages slows it down. Actually, the girlfriend of the curator of the National Museum is a Mummy Queen. She can remove it as well."

Fionnuala remembered something, "Do you mean the cursed item exhibit place Isabelle told me about?"

"No, she lives in the Ancient Egypt Section."

"That makes sense, for a mummy," the normal woman admitted.

"Is there a way to get a regular supply of alchemical medicine?" Dr. Brooks asked.

"There are plenty of alchemists who wouldn't mind more funding for their research. It is probably for the best to do it through the Guild of Alchemists, who did I dump the leader position on this time?" Zaria tried, and failed, to remember.

Everyone else understood that it implied that she had been the leader of the guild more than once.

"I guess I need to do some actual organizing again, got a business card I can hand over?"

"Is it safe for Dr. Mac Glytch to learn alchemy?" Agent Hartley asked suddenly.

"Yes, why shouldn't it be?"

"He is talking about the risk of me running off and locking myself up to do research," Fionnuala explained sternly.

"You don't seem the type to do that, you are far too social for that, and you seem to be more the analysis type than from the synthesis side of alchemy."

"That is true, are we done, actually? I have a suspicious blue slime waiting for me."

"Blue slime?" Zaria asked before she could think better of it.

"Yes, exactly, it was found at the home of a suspected missing person. It has an odd cohesion that makes it stay in one piece. Then there is that weird glitter that seems to have weird effects."

"I think I should tag along."

"May I join?" Dr. Stabbins requested.

"I am interested as well." Professor Meyers rose and pulled out his wallet. "My business card, please give it to someone specializing in diseases."

That caused a flurry of business cards landing in Zaria's hands.

--- Trace and Toxicology ---

Fionnuala managed to clear the visitors with the Chief, he was clearly of the opinion that the sooner they satisfied their curiosity, the sooner they were going to leave.

She had them sign the paperwork anyway, it was good to make sure things were legal and to cover all the bases.

Zaria peered at the large container filled with blue slime while Fionnuala checked the information on the case that was forwarded.

"Use the glasses."

"Why?"

"Because they are the only way you will figure out what is going on, and they are non-invasive."

Fionnuala used them, and what she saw was weird, "Bob Kay, blue organic slime, single organism. Wait, that is the supposed victim."

"He changed to a slime, that other substance? That is a hint on the cause of the change."

Fionnuala peered at the weird glitter. "Pixie Dust, dust from the wings of pixie, active with fey shapeshifting magic."

"I guess he got either pranked, or pissed a pixie off, who is the victim anyway?"

"Aren't you going to change him back?" Agent Hartley asked Zaria.

"No, he might have deserved it."

"Then he should be tried," the FBI Agent wasn't about to give up.

"Are we seriously doing this? Omniscience!" Zaria peered at the slime. "He knowingly destroyed nature, poisoned a stream, killed protected species, and caused plenty of damage and death on the Otherside. Thanks to his action and events he partook in, probably 50 people will die of cancer due to poisoning, twenty will never have kids, and three deformities in the unborn. I'd say he deserves to live life as something that he caused harm to, in a normal court, at most he'd get a few years while what he destroyed took over a century to grow. You could ask a magician or priest to try, but those that can reverse fey magic are usually high ranking. The priest will see the evil in him, and the magician might want to experiment on him first. I say it is karma."

Everyone looked at the blue slime that managed to quiver.

"Actions have consequences, actually he caused some human deaths too, but indirectly so he'd never get convicted. Now, see you Friday Fionnuala~"

The albino not-floof disappeared.

The toxicologist wondered what to do with the slime, then she turned to the FBI agent, "since he seems to be involved in plenty of illegal things. Are you able to take care of him?"

The Agent looked at the group watching him, then turned towards the slime, "Mr. Bob Kay, you are under arrest for suspected poisoning, arson, and illegal hunting. Once we figure out how to communicate, you are permitted a lawyer."

---

It took a little longer, but Finnuala was finally alone in her laboratory. She could now get back to work.

It was a pink powder.

She dissolved some in distilled water and ran a gas chromatograph analysis while testing it for various chemical reactions.

It was Angel Dust, simple, and oddly ironic considering she had just gotten rid of Pixie Dust.

The rather normal and regular findings were nice, relaxing, and soothing even.

Next were various substances from a home, another missing person’s case, but this time with plenty of blood, so it was a suspected murder.

The grey particles were asphalt.

The fibres on the bed were from polyethylene terephthalate, the thinness, additives, and colouring indicated that they were from a carpet.

The dark stains were dried Pepsi, sugar-free.

The weird brown smears were mud, the exact mineral composition was still being tested.

The coffee was non-caffeinated.

The sandwich was cheap toast with cheap ham and margarine. Probably left outside the fridge for at least five hours.

Stains on the bed sheets were all organic from an active sex life, and were sent off to DNA.

Actually, it was all pretty normal and nothing suspicious was in what she analyzed.

The next one was not as nice. Mass poisoning in a disco. She had samples from everything, including the toilets.

Fionnuala tied her mask tighter, and sent her daughter a message that she was going to be late. After a moment, she wrote Isabelle to go to the Black Cat Café and wait there for her, but not to wait with dinner, or to go visit Samantha's place. It was going to be overtime, since a flood of fresh evidence had arrived.

Normally she'd leave things to the late shift, but today had too many samples in risk of deterioration. She cleared it with the Chief too, it would allow her to leave earlier the next day too.

Isabelle sent a confirmation back, she was invited over by Samantha and was going to spend the night there.

The mother felt glad that her daughter was a proper dog person when given the choice.

She also got her first request for testing an Otherside item. A butt plug foxtail that was seemingly dripping random liquids. Some of those were easy, like the lava, others were more difficult to recognize. She sent a reply that it would have to wait for the next day, since her glasses needed to recharge.