Case File MO70

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Matilda: Come on, connect, connect.

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Matilda: It’s Matilda, 2-4-5-9-7, damnit, 2-4-5-9-1-2-1-5-8-8. Are you there?

Marshal: I’m [yawn] It’s Marshal 24 reporting. What is it? Wizard attack?

Matilda: I need some instructions.

Marshal: Matilda, you know Marshals still have to sleep, right? It’s four in the morning. Can this wait for-

Matilda: Marshal, do you think I’m a good person?

[silence]

Marshal: Pardon, Special Assistant?

Matilda: Do you think I’m a good person? No frills, just a yes or no.

Marshal: I don’t make a habit of hiring fiendish ne’er do wells.

Matilda: Yes. Or no.

[silence]

Marshal: Matilda, while tracking down Williamson, one of my team - our team - ran into an organ harvesting scheme run by the Redeemers in Arkansas. They were trying to use haruspicy to pull government secrets from the minds of politicians several states away, at the risk of popping their brains open like a grape. That’s what a bad person looks like. You have a mischievous streak. There’s a difference.

Matilda: Fine, I’ll accept that. Apologies, I haven’t slept a wink.

Marshal: Apology accepted. Do you want to elaborate what led to this or should I let you get some rest? You seem unwell.

Matilda: I’m the one who called out of schedule. Least I can do is update you. Freestone extracted something out of a corpse.

Marshal: What?! You saw him mutilating a-

Matilda: I didn’t see him and I can’t prove it. I’m working off of what I can glean legally. The minute I break the law, Freestone’s going to try and hit me with a lawsuit the size of Russia and there goes my new career, so I’ve had to play by his rules. I waited for him to go to the graveyard again and pulled him into a friendly, unofficial nighttime chat.

Marshal: That…was very dangerous, Matilda.

Matilda: I know, I don’t intend on bending the rules every five minutes once I’m official, but here I-

Marshal: Freestone went against two wizards and two homunculi with his bare hands and survived. Did you think of what he could do to you at night with no witnesses? Him of all people?

Matilda: I was safe. If I’m good at one thing, it’s reading people. He wouldn’t hit first; everything about him is built around self-defense. And he wouldn’t dare get caught with his hands on a white woman in the open, even at night. I wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t sure.

Marshal: [sigh] Fine, don’t do it again. Any results from the ‘chat’?

Matilda: I caught him by surprise and pushed him on everything. What he was doing that night, where he came from, what he’s doing with Geraldine. I was hoping he’d break under the pressure or slip and give me something I can use, like brute-forcing a lock. Didn’t get much on the grave business; he can lie through his teeth and I didn’t have enough evidence to contradict him. I caught a glimpse at some odd contraption he was hauling to the graveyard, something with tubes and Catholicism, about the size of a pumpkin?

Marshal: Catholicism?

Matilda: Again, working from what I can glean. I know a lot more about what Geraldine means to him. I also think Campbell’s Prince Remus theory checks out, but if they were working together, they’re not on good terms anymore - he got very upset about the idea of ‘natural-born tricksters’. Did he ever go by the name ‘Doctor O’, by any chance?

Marshal: No, none of his aliases were doctors. Maybe one of Dr. Birch’s associates?

Matilda: Maybe, maybe. Worth checking out - if we have the leeway to check that out.

Marshal: We can’t, but if Macy wants to hire another private investigator, he can.

[silence]

Matilda: Not to ruin the momentum, but…I’ve also had some doubts.

Marshal: Meaning?

Matilda: Whether we should be doing this. He raised some points last night.

Marshal: And you…sympathize with him?

Matilda: I do not sympathize with him. I don’t empathize with him, I don’t commisserate with him, and I sure as hell don’t pity him. Judgmental prick, almost as bad as talking with Rosalee. I sympathize with you and I think focusing too hard on him is a distraction from Marshal business - never mind that he’ll try and sue us if we can’t back up our interest in him. You said it yourself: the real bad guys are out popping people’s brains open by cutting out livers. Freestone did something odd to a corpse and hurt some wizards in self-defense. Is that our business or something we should be leaving to the existing authorities?

[silence]

Marshal: I put you there for a reason. We don’t know how he can do the things he does or why he’s hiding them, and he’s well-placed to abuse the entire town if he wanted to. It would be irresponsible to not keep an eye on him. But…I recognize your point.

Matilda: I still think we should keep an eye on him! Just…I know what I said earlier. He’s too afraid of being seen as a threat. If I read between the lines right last night, I think he’s giving up on the graveyard rather than risk being caught again. He’s not big enough to be our problem. I want to do right by the New Marshal Initiative, and I don’t want to start with a bum case. If we start jumping through hoops to justify our actions just because he’s an uppity Negro, we’re less Robert Peel and more Robert E. Lee.

[silence]

Marshal: Well-spoken.

Matilda: Just because I’ve been rowing with Freestone and enticing Macy doesn’t mean I’m not studying. Do you have any idea how much I’ve had to read about Robert Peel?

Marshal: They make us read those manuals too. “A Marshal not beholden to the public is a tyrant in waiting”. I accept your lead on this for now, Special Assistant. If he does anything slightly suspicious or if anybody raises the slightest complaint, look into it…but until he does, I think you can focus on your training for the time being. He’s the Mayor and the Reverend’s creature; the Mayor trusts him and the Reverend fears him; let them take the lead on handling him for now.

Matilda: And Geraldine? I’d like to bring her into my confidence; she’s already shown aptitude for the machinery you’ve given me. I couldn’t do that before because we needed her against Freestone, but now?

Marshal: Well, given your lack of experience, I’d have to have one of the more experienced assistants check her out before we try to recruit her. But she is bright, and you have mentioned her interest in further education. You can share some information with her, but focus on your own studies. Assistant Saulnier will let you know when you’ll be assessed.

Matilda: Thanks, Marshal. I’ll let you get back to sleep. Sorry again.

Marshal: Matilda, I know that you didn’t join my team under typical circumstances, and you don’t come from a typical background. But I wouldn’t have chosen you if I didn’t see potential, and a desire to do good. You may have some work to do before you can harness that desire, but I see it shining through you. I’m not sure what Freestone said that got you so rattled, but as long as you’re under my command, you’re my creature, and I support you.

Matilda: Y-yeah. Good morning, Marshal.

[silence]

Matilda: Never said I don’t believe in fair play, you Negro prick. Let’s see how you sit on that high horse now.

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