James remained quiet when Miss Donnaugh spoke, refraining from wasting his words on her. "I'll show respect when you earn mine," he muttered, acting rather petty before waving her off and turning back to the case. He silenced, feeling an ounce of guilt when she pointed out that he looked disgusted when shaking her hand. In a way, it was entirely true, but James had too much pride to apologize. Besides, he had enough looks now that he was working with her. While he had to admit, he didn't question that some of the others would have wished to be her partner, simply to take advantage of her. Luckily, James wasn't like that. His main focus was upon his job, not whom he worked with.

When she seemed to be frustrated, James threw a glance her way before releasing a, "tsk." Filing through papers, he placed his hands on the desk, leaning on it. "We know it's all tied together somehow. Whether it be the people, the jobs they had, or something else." James, when stuck, liked to list the things he knew, versus didn't. "We also know that this killer is leaving a signature upon their victims." He paused as Miss Donnaugh asked if the males had the same mark. Silently, he reached his hand and took the papers for the male victims, rifling through it as his gaze narrowed.

"Right here," he said, putting the papers on the table and pointing to a description and drawing of the symbol (there were no cameras invented yet, after all.) Picking the paper up, he began to read it: "The carving, most predominantly hatched upon one's stomach or chest, involves a circular shape with a crosshair-like symbol within it." Pausing, he looked at the woman. "It could be a symbol for a gang," he muttered, though James highly doubted it. "It's an option, but even if it was, I've never seen a gang with this type of symbol."

James raised his hand to scratch his head, his eyes fixated upon the case. However, being bumped into made him release a grumble. "Do you mind?" He huffed, casting her a glare before resuming his work. "So the killings were all tied together. The baker, the blacksmith, and paperboy were all tied together and killed around the same location. The female as well." He frowned, shaking his head. It didn't make any sense. "Why all in the same area? The same locations?"

Sighing, a scowl formed on his face before vanishing when Miss Donnaugh requested they do a walk around. "There is also the possibility that he doesn't stay close to home. It would be sloppy if he did and easier to trace him." It could work either way. "He could know what he's doing and refrain from making much of a mess and live halfway across the city." James tapped his fingers along the desk before randomly walking off and returning with his hat and coat. "We may as well do a walk around now before the day's over. Get your coat."

♥Caiti♥

Her fingers drummed against her chin as she listened to him speak. Her mind was still spinning when he returned with his hat and coat. "Are you sure you want to dress so formally?" She stood and began to walk towards the door, pausing only for a moment to gather the cape she had worn in. A gleam in her eye as she waited for him to catch up before stepping out the door into the cool air. The slight breeze caused a couple loose strands of her hair to dance about her face but she wasn't stationary for very long before she had walked over to a woman that was standing in a thinner looking coat with a small child hanging onto her dress.

If one looked closely they would notice that she offered the woman a few coins and then the pair switched the outer garmets. Caite closed the woman's hand around the coin urging her to keep the overpayment with a soft smile towards the child before turning and walking back over to where Mr. Burton was adjusting the coat about herself. "How in the world was she staying warm with this? Hopefully that little bit of extra payment can keep them warm and fed at least for a couple of days." Concern teased the edges of the words she spoke but she was soon heading down the street acting as if she had grown up there. She managed to swipe a gentleman's hat from a stand as she passed quickly setting it on her head.

"What if the killings are in that certain position due to what the weird symbol is? The killer is creating his signature on both flesh and on a larger scale." Her words just loud enough for the two of them as they walked. Her eyes scanning over the various buildings taking in the difference in people versus the areas. Her mind taking notes on anything that looked out of place. Granted she couldn't ignore the fact that she was getting a few stares from her attire and the fact that she was a woman wearing pants without leading a horse. She pulled the hat lower over her features and stuffed her hands into her pockets falling into a slow stride matching a couple of men that were walking in front of them.

Her gaze moved over to her companion and after a few more moments of loud silence, she let out a sigh. "We may have started off on the wrong foot. I am not sorry for how I acted in the station but I do apologize for being inconsiderate with my actions. Doing this profession as a woman is highly looked down upon. I wanted to show that I won't be scared away that easily. I came down here to experience something new." She stopped and leaned against a wall across the street from the bakery keeping her eyes on one male that seemed to be sifting through the items that had been set in the alley.

Of course she knew people scrounged for food but something about this other male's actions had set off a warning flag in the female's mind and she began to take a few steps closer just to see what he could be doing. Her eyes flashed towards James for a moment wondering if he had also seen the strange movements. Maybe this person could tell them something.

"It's proper attire for a man," he responded, waving off Miss Donnaugh's comment. What did she know about his clothing? She was the opposite gender. It was foolish to have wasted her breath with that sentence. However, as he walked by a mirror hung upon the beige wall, he paused. Turning towards it, he studied himself. "There's nothing wrong with my outfit," he muttered, brushing himself off before continuing. No, he did look a tad formal, but it was besides the point.

As he let the door behind him close, he turned to face the woman, who had already begun walking. Holding onto his hat, he hurried down the stairs with a grunt and advanced her way, only to slow his steps when he met the gaze of a woman with a child. "Oh, for Heaven's-" He watched, rather impatiently, as his new colleague offered money and proceeded to.. to switch clothing with the other woman. "That was rather foolish," he boldly stated when she approached, noting her new attire. "If she wasn't staying warm, you certainly won't either." With a grand sigh, he glared at her before shaking his head. .

PHe followed alongside of her, not speaking until minutes later. "May as well scrap the other coat when you're done," he mumbled, pausing when she swiped a hat. Shaking his head, he fixated himself onto the case at hand. "So, you're saying not only are the signature's a message, but the bodies as well?" Pausing, he rubbed his hand against his chin, feeling stubble beginning to grow. "How did it say that they were positioned once more?" While Miss Donnaugh was gazing around, James was looking at the ground before staring straight ahead and then onto the woman. "Is this a disguise?" He almost chuckled, that is, until she began to take longer strides. "Are you.. Are you meant to be a man?" The thought seemed rather amusing to him, so much so, that he turned away and cracked into a the smallest of smiles. How atrocious, and yet, James found it interesting.

His smile immediately vanished when she spoke once more, this time, apologizing. He stared at her, blinking slowly. "Well, I suppose I could have acted more professionally. If I'm being honest, I think many were taken by surprise. It's not common a woman walks in with the same job as highly trained men." James was prepared to say more, but his attention was upon the bakery. He watched it, transfixed with one man. It was as if he was searching for something. "Do you think he dropped something?" Amusement tickled his throat at the far-fetched thought. "Maybe he was there at the crime scene? He dropped something, and now fears that it may tie him to the scene?" Theories were beginning to form in James' head.

"He's working for the killer and sweeping the ground to ensure that it's clean? Perhaps he's tied to the victims?" Indeed, he had seen what Miss Donnaugh had seen. "I believe we should pay that fellow a little visit, what do you think, Miss Donnaugh?" Extended his arm to her, he waited until she took it before looking both ways and crossing the street. No, this man was looking for something specific.

(Nevermind, I posted today, lmao)

♥Caiti♥

Her arm seemed to fit perfectly with his as she slid it around his before they crossed the street. Her stride just slightly shorter than his but she kept pace with him. Her eyes scanning the area around the man that hadn't quite yet noticed their coming closer to him. "If I was supposed to be a man, then you just got many tongue wagging about which of the genders captures your heart." She voice was low but the small tease danced in the slight smile that was at the corner of her lips. It seemed that in the short instance the man looked up from his digging and looked towards the oncoming pair. It took a few seconds for a thought to flash in his features before he turned and took off running, ducking down a corner of a building.

Caiti didn't waste any time and released James' arm taking off after the male. "See if you find anything suspicious in where he was looking." Her voice came from over her shoulder before she also disappeared down the same alleyway. The wet sounds of their steps echoing off of the worn stone walls. Sadly her hat didn't hang on as tight as it could have and flew off of her head, landing in a puddle. I actually quite liked that hat....but things happen. She thought increasing her pace to try and catch the male.

He was a tall, narrowly built male with thin light brown hair. One of the many that had grown up on the streets and still lived there by the looks of his attire. He wasn't much shorter than James but at least a good two or three inches taller than Caiti, though it appeared the woman was gaining on closing the distance between the two. He had been looking for something specific, a little trinket that Baker Harrison was always seen hanging off of a chain around his neck. It was a simple token with the etching of Saint Peter on it. Strange thing is that it wasn't on the man's body when he had been found murdered. Either it had been left in that specific area for the now running suspect had been looking or the killer themselves had taken it.

Soon they were going to find out though as Caiti jumped towards the male, causing the two to come crashing into one of the various fruit carts that sometimes packed the city getting a mixture of tomato and pumpkin bits, juices, and pieces splattered on the pair and those around them.

"My CART!!!" An older man cried as Caiti stood quickly cuffing the man's hands behind his back as she hoisted him to his feet. "Sorry about that sir. I will pay for the damages, just send the bill to my home." It was quite the comical scene as she then gave the cart owner her mailing address and proceeded to take the male back to where she had left Mr. Burton. More strands of her dark hair were now plastered to her face from the various juices and there were bits of pumpkin now taking residence in the dark locks.

"You sir are going to have a lot of explaining to do. This was one of my favorite shirts and now it is quite possibly ruined." The male's dark hazel eyes took in her form, noting that her shirt was sticking a little tighter in places than it had been previously. "I don't think it ru'ned. It shows everything off quite neecly." His thick accented words earned him a tighter click on the cuffs making the metal contraptions even more unbearable as she tightened her grip on his arm.

"I wasn't asking your op'n'on." Her anger thickening her own accent as she fumed over his words. It wasn't much longer before they were back at the bakery and she pushed him down into a sitting position on the ground. Anger was dancing dangerously in her eyes as her arms folded protectively over her chest trying to hide the clinging fabric. "Th' blast'd mongrel can run. Hav ta pay for a cart that isn't mine."

♥Caiti♥

Caiti had pushed the man into sitting on the ground as she caught James’ coat. While she wasn’t swimming in the article of clothing, it was larger on her and infiltrated her senses with the cologne that he wore. It was a pleasing smell and the female wrapped the coat around her frame using the belt to cinch it around her waist. Her eyes caught the motion of him showing her the item he had found. The smile formed on her lips as she lifted her gaze before turning to the male. “Yes and now I won’t have at least a week’s worth of pay to cover that man’s cart.”

The captured male sat on the damp cobblestone and watched the way the pair interacted. “Well if ye ‘adn’t tackled me, ye wouldn’t ‘ave landed in ‘is cart.” He looked over at James before looking where he had been. “I lost me girl’s engagement ring. She is gonna kill me if I don’t return wit’ it. It ‘as got ‘er fav’rite jewels in the band.” Granted it was a lie that was plainly written in the male’s features as he looked expectantly at the man. Caite moved over to stand next to James and folded her arms over her chest raising an eyebrow. “I find it quite surprising you found someone to love your ugly mug.” Her deep green gaze moving from the suspect to settle on the man beside her. “Shouldn’t we-”

“Ye know not’ing ‘bout me girl. She ‘as more class t’an a woman in men’s clot’ing.” The male interjected earning a steeled gaze and a hand gripped firmly around his collar hoisting him up to meet her gaze. Anger flashing in her eyes before she spoke. “You don’t speak unless we ask you a question..ye ‘ear me? And last I checked, I wasn’t speakin’ to ye.” Her Irish accent thickened with each word before she released the male and took a deep breath. “Why don’t we take him back to the station? I wouldn’t mind talking to him away from prying eyes.” The sinister tone in her voice as she looked the man over once more before looking at James.

The man didn’t waste the opportunity to move inappropriately when she looked him over with a sick smile plastered on his face. “Like wha’ ye see? Or is that ye man next to ye? Can’t ‘ave ‘im jealous, can we?” Caite’s jaw tightened as the man spoke, causing a vein to appear on the left side of her jaw to become pronounced. The aura from the female darkened as she took a few steps away from the male trying to put more distance from the rude suspect. “I don’t need a man’s approval for my actions and you...don’t even come close to being considered more than just a lowly bug with your actions.” A deadly calm steadied her voice as she spoke, her eyes moving to take in their surroundings. She stepped forward and gripped the man’s arm pulling him towards the end of the alleyway. For a moment she forgot that James was standing there and stopped herself from walking any farther.

She turned her head to look back at James only to have her bubble invaded as the suspect leaned towards her and picked up a piece of tomato out of her hair with a deep breath. “Ye smell really nice. Even wit’ all the fruits on ye.” It took all the self control she had in order to not wrap her hand around the man’s throat after he spoke, instead taking a deep breath and pushed him towards James. The scent of garbage and body odor had assaulted her nostrils in conjuction with his physical intrusion. “You take ‘im. I’ll kill ‘im afore we even get back to the station.”

That earned a laugh from the suspect as he stumbled towards James. "Ye need some'un to break that wild spirit of ye's. It takes away from ye beauty wen ye speak."

♥Caiti♥

Her fingers closed around the ring after Mr. Burton handed it to her. The vein was still throbbing along her jawline as they walked. Her own thoughts spinning as her fingers ran over the smooth metal. It looked as though she wasn't listening as the trio walked through the short cuts. There were a couple of times though where she strayed a little farther behind the pair to pull out the ring to look at it. Something familiar was tugging at her about the ring but she pushed the thoughts away upon reaching the station.

She raised an eyebrow towards Mr. Burton when he asked her the question. "Yes. Maybe some time isolated will help loosen the information he holds." The eyes of the others landed on the pair, though it seemed as though a few lingered longer on Caite after she removed Mr. Burton's coat as she moved over to his desk. She set the coat on the back of his seat before moving over to her desk pulling the ring out once more.

Even though most of the liquid had dried, her shirt was now stuck to her frame from the sugar that was in the fruit juices. Her brows furrowed as she was inspecting the ring before a huff left her lips as she set it down on the wooden desk. She leaned back running her hand over her hair pulling out a few more leftovers out of the dark locks. Her eyes locked on Henry when it felt like his gaze was boring a hole through her.

"What are ya' looking at?" Her eyes darkened as a flash of anger flew into them before she stood snatching up the ring to place on Mr. Burton's desk. Her gaze moved from one man to where Mr. Burton was exiting the interrogation room. She walked over to his position and paused seeming to search for the right words. "I am going to change. The ring is on your desk." With that she disappeared through one door that was unlocked. She quickly scanned the little office making note that it looked to be a spare office. She opened what looked to be a trunk, pulling out a pale blue shirt that looked to be almost 3 sizes too big.

I am going to be swimming in that...She thought quickly undoing the buttons on the dark grey shirt she was wearing. Once the sticky clothing was free of her skin, she folded the fabric and set it down on the corner of the desk. She then set about undoing the black corset that was about her waist. She was going to have to wear it on the outside of the shirt so that it didn't fall off of her frame more than it already was going to. Once she was freed of that bondage, she took a deep breath thankful to be free if only for a moment before moving to grab the 'clean' shirt.

The sound of the door opening caught the woman's attention too late as the shirt fell from her hand at the same time as her arms moved to cover her exposed torso. Her already dark eyes turned black as shock, anger, and embarrassment filled them when her head turned to see the intruder. A squeak escaped her lips as she dove to grab the shirt and her corset before disappearing behind the desk.

Of all of the people to walk in, it had to be Mr. Burton...A deep crimson was filling her cheeks as she quickly tried to slip the shirt over her head in the cramped space. Her heart was pounding in her ears as she finished up lacing her corset over the shirt letting the neckline fall over her right shoulder exposing the top of the scar as she came out from behind the desk. All of her emotions playing in her features as she stared down the man.

"You there, see to it that this man is seated in the interrogation room." James, with the man still firmly gripped between his hands, shoved him towards a colleague, who had caught the man and nodded, leading him off. He released an irritated sigh before jumping when a hand suddenly clapped him on the back. "James!" Henry practically hollered, patting him on the back. "Is that him? That murderer the Chief was talking about?" James only released a chuckle. "Even you know I can't work that fast. It's a mere suspect. Caught him snooping around the scene." Henry crossed his arms, tipping his hat towards the direction of Miss Donnaugh. "She any help, or mere dead weight?" James only shrugged. "Not as bad as I thought it would be," he commented, causing Henry to look at him unconvincingly. "Yeah, sure. I bet she caused more problems for you." Before James could speak further, Henry began to walk off towards the Chief's room.

Following, James figured he may as well let him know that a suspect was in an the interrogation room. "Chief?" He spoke, knocking on the open door. The Chief was rifling through some cases, raising his hand to motion James in while his eyes never left the paper. "Sir, there's a suspect in interrogation room one. Mr. Abram sent him off there, I made sure of it. I Miss Donnaugh and I caught him at the scene, searching for a ring. He claimed it was for his fiancee, but even I know that isn't a sort of ring you give to your partner." Chief Matthews nodded, his gaze finally meeting James' own. "Very well. Good. He speaks?" James shook his head. "So far, he's hushed, but we'll get him to talk." The Chief nodded. "Good, see to it he releases all information he has." With a flick of his hand, he waved James out. "Mr. Burton," the Chief suddenly called, "take this to the spare office. I have no use for it." James nodded, taking the papers and heading off. However, he first took a small route to the interrogation room.

Peeking through the window, he saw the man sitting there. Content that he was properly put into the room, James began to walk back to his desk, only to run into Miss Donnaugh, who claimed she put the ring on his desk and is about to change. "Alright," he simply said, making it clear he had more important things to do. Even as Henry approached him, James hardly payed him any mind. He was too busy bagging the ring up and ensuring it was labeled. "Did you see Miss Donnaugh?" Henry whisteled, to which James responded to: "I saw her all day," clearly not picking up the context of his words. He was much too involved in his work to converse. "I have to put these papers in the office," he muttered, leaving Henry, who was still whistling like a fool.

He never did see which room Miss Donnaugh entered.

Skimming through the papers himself, James narrowed his eyes, reading a few words. One hand reached out for the knob, the other hand clutching the papers as he read them. He opened the door, entering and still reading, that is, until he saw a movement. Head raising, his eyes widened as they met Miss Donnaugh's and- "Oh! I-I'm terribly-" Staring, James slapped his spare hand over his eyes as he stood in the middle of the room, remembering not to gawk. "I didn't think- I didn't know, that is- You were in this room- I needed.. Papers!" Stumbling backwards with his eyes tightly shut, pieces of paper flew from his other hand as he walked backwards.

He could hear whistles being sounded and what felt like a crowd watching him. "I'm leaving! I'm leaving!" He walked, his back slamming against the wall as the remainder of the papers fell from his hands, creating a mess. "The papers I- I'll pick them up after when you're not- I truly didn't mean- I didn't know you were exposed!" One hand clamped over his eyes, the other waved around the air, trying to figure out where he was and how to get out.

Then, he tripped.

Arms flailing, James grabbed onto a coat hanger as he fell to the ground, hats and coats now tangled around him. "I don't know what's come over me!" He gasped, eyes still shut as heat rose to his face. Hollers could be heard and whistles increasing, and finally, finally, James managed to crawl backwards out of the room and slam it behind him.

♥Caiti♥

Even if the woman was glad that Mr. Burton had closed his eyes as a way to keep her modesty, Caite was frozen on the spot watching as the pieces of paper seemed to float gently to the ground in the wake of the chaos that had been created. Anger caused her hands to ball into fists as she heard the whistles and hollers that were coming from the others. “W’at t’e ‘ell are t’ey yellin’ about?” She muttered bending down to begin cleaning up the mess of papers ignoring the comment that Mr. Burton had made about cleaning them up later.

Might as well do them now. I am still in here. She thought making sure they were in a neat stack before moving to attempt to fix the jumbled mess of coats, hats, and pieces of the coat hanger. She gave up with an irritated huff throwing a small piece of the hanger across the room to cause a dull thud into a filing cabinet. It seemed that the noise outside was getting louder and in the back of her mind she knew that the longer she spent inside the room, the louder the cheers would be since even the immaculate Mr. Burton would be looking disheveled from his clumsy exit. After setting down the articles of clothing in her arms, she opened the door ready to face the room of obnoxious men.

There would be no reason for her to suspect that Mr. Burton would still be on the floor when she opened the door. Yet as their luck would appear to be, her foot caught the edge of his own shoe and she was soon falling onto the man. “I---Sorry...” Those were the first words to leave her lips as she moved to try and unentangle herself from Mr. Burton. She moved to where her legs were on either side of his and she pushed herself up from his chest feeling the color deepen even further on her cheeks as more hollers and whistles resounded in her ears.

“Oy’ Shut up!” She yelled as her gaze flew to the now forming group of men. “‘Fore I get t’e notion to do some castratin’.” A few snickers could be heard as her accent thickly coated her words causing the young woman’s temper to raise its ugly head once more. She looked down at Mr. Burton suddenly becoming very acutely aware of the position they were still in and she quickly removed herself from his lap and stood turning the heated gaze back to the others. Her whole face was a deep scarlet and it looked like she was going to either cry or explode from the anger that was causing a small tremor to move through her body.

Caite narrowed her eyes at the others before turning and gracefully tripping once more on Mr. Burton’s own feet but catching herself as she began heading down the hallway just wanting to get as far away as she could from the growing laughter and jeers. She slipped into a closet on the far end of the hallway and closed the door wrapping her arms around herself fighting back the tears that burned in the corner of her eyes. “Stupid imbeciles…” Her back was resting against the door as she tried to calm her body from its shaking. Caite closed her eyes as she leaned her head back against the door before sinking to the ground. She took a few shaky breaths enjoying the little bit of quiet. She finally stood and opened the door stepping out into the hallway. This time she carefully inspected the ground before continuing and moved back to her desk picking up a few papers to begin reading through them, trying her best to ignore the whispers and stares.