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 Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 9:48 am
Delilah stood in the center what had been her living room, gazing around at the mess. It was just after 7pm at night and she had come home to her door forced opened. The bold had been slammed into and the door frame damaged. And that was just the welcoming party... Her apartment had been ransacked. Everything had been torn apart, opened and thrown about. Her TV was gone, much of her sewing equipment had been taken, jewelry was missing...heck, they even took dishes! Compared to the frantic woman she had been 10 minutes ago when she had walked in on this, Delilah was surprisingly...calm. In her arms, as she stood there, she held onto a single sketch book with her life. The fact it was still there eased her mind just a bit but it also worried her. Had it been taken... "Lord..." She sighed, looking around as she waited for the police. "Happy Holidays Delilah..."
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 7:22 pm
Jeremy didn't know much about the situation except that there was a robbery and he was the closest in the area so he was being sent over. He and his partner had been in this neighborhood once before, this week--for the same reason. They decided on the ride over that Jeremy would go talk to the victim while his partner talked to the neighbors before it got too late.
They parked the car in front of the house and parted ways; Jeremy had the equivalent of a briefcase with paperwork and supplies and approached the door.
He eyed it, trying to see if there was any indication that they had come to the front door.
but knocked heavily and announced, "Police."
The last thing he wanted her to think was that he was the burglar, coming back for seconds, so when he knocked on the door he also announced, "Police."
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 8:17 pm
There was no telling if it was the knock or the voice that made her jump more. Honestly, Delilah felt like the jump our of her skin might have rivaled her ability to jump as a senshi. Luckly, she had not jumped out of her skin or through the roof... But she did make a very high pitch meeping noise before she could cover her mouth. Turning towards the door, Delilah felt her eyes grow large again. "Officer Fischer?" Surprise showed on her face as she caught his form in the opened front door. "I...I..." Seeing him, she couldn't hold it anymore. A small trail of tears ran down her face. "Shoot. I swear I'm not like this...just..." She glanced back towards the broken glass on the coffee table. "Where to start..."
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 7:46 am
Though Jeremy had seen a number of responses to things like this, it was just the fact that it was Delilah--someone he recognized--that caught him off guard. "Hey," he tried to reassure. "It's okay, this type of thing happens, and it's rough on everyone. Burglars are scary, I know it."
He gestured around the mess. "This? This is your home. I know what it's like to have someone in your house, someone messing up your safe space. Don't try to hold in emotions, you don't have to pretend like this is okay. My partner's already talking to the neighbors, we're seeing if anyone saw anything. There have been a few other robberies in the neighborhood, so there might be a few more security cameras. Maybe they caught a face, a car."
He wanted to reach out and put a hand on her shoulder or try to reassure her someway, but she was shaken enough and he didn't want to accidentally add to that.
"We'll do our best to get back what was taken--we'll try to catch the guy, but getting your home back the way it was and keeping you safe is the most important thing, all right? I won't leave here until I know you're okay and we've done all we can to make this right."
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 7:25 am
The words seem to bring a sort of...half smile to Delilah's face. It was forced through the look of wishing to cry so honestly, it just made her face look like a bloody mess. "I know you will." A hand released the book she was holding and came up to her face, brushing away the tears fighting to run down her cheeks. It was strange. She wasn't scared. Maybe facing someone who is able to kill you on a nightly based and watching people die around you made it so it took alot more to scare you? Nope, thought of spiders still made her shiver. But he was right. It was the thought of invasion that upset her. The idea that her home...her haven had been violated. Closing her eyes, she lifted her head up and faced the ceiling. "Thank you Officer Fischer...may I call you Jeremy? I'm sorry I know it's not correct but your title is too wordy..." A long breath and she finally opened her eyes again. Anyone could see she was putting up her battle armor. This wasn't new but she needed to do it. Needed to be...her. No one needed to see her break. Others needed her to be strong so why stop now? "You know, it's silly...." Delilah spoke, finally setting the book she was holding down on the TV stand...well....stand since it didn't have a TV on it anymore. "Of all my jewelry, they took only a handful of things. Almost like they reached into my jewelry box, took a handful and moved on. But there was one piece not in the box. I had it tucked away because I hadn't decided what to do with it yet...ironically, it seems they decided for me." There came the sound of a half chuckle form her. "A pearl necklace. My ex gave it to me after we broke up. I think it was his way of trying to make peace. Frankly I just saw it as another over the top gift to add to the on going list of over the top gifts...some men think they can buy women..."
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Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 11:32 pm
Jeremy just nodded. "You only have to call me Officer Fischer if you're on my s**t list, and I think it's safe to say that after all that fudge, you'd have to work pretty hard to get there."
He was watching her carefully; he wasn't as interested in her keeping up her battle armor, he was just worried about her. He wanted to make sure he got the job done, but he didn't want her to feel like he didn't care; he wasn't going to rush things, and sometimes conversation was a good way to ground someone after something traumatizing.
"A pearl necklace is a pretty expensive gift. I take it he found out he couldn't buy you?" he asked, glancing around the house. "...What'd he do after you didn't swoon and beg him to take you back?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 6:15 am
The snort that came out of Delilah's nose might have been one of the most unlady like sounds she could make. "Ha! He wishes..." Glancing over at him, Delilah just slowly shook her head. "Personally could I afford it? No. I didn't even ask for it or want it. He even had one of my friends give it to me because he couldn't face me. Only reason I ended up taking it was because my friend and my ex ended up in a fist fight...." Her hand came up to her face and she dragged it down again. "Never thought first...just did..." "Anyway, for all I care that necklace can stay missing. Saves me from the trouble of pawning it." Delilah finally shrugged. That was the break she needed to see things in a different light. Now as she glanced around the room, she was mumbling "Where to start cleaning..." "I guess when you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, things look different to you. I may come from a well off family but hell," Her eyes glanced over at him. "Things don't make the person. It's the character of that person that defines them. Not how much they own and how they throw around their money..."
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:36 pm
"No cleaning yet, unfortunately," Jeremy sighed. "I'm going to have to take a walk around the house, try and see where they came in. I'll be honest with you--I'll look for fingerprints and see if there's anything I can take, but more often than not, there's not a lot we can get from the house. Criminals aren't smart, but houses are dusty, have all sorts of different surfaces, and see a lot of traffic. I've never gotten a print that helped solve a crime, and more often than not, it's a waste of time. But, I like you, so I'm going to spend that little extra time and see if we get lucky. In the meantime," he gestured to the couch.
"You take a seat, take it easy. I'm gonna need you to fill out some paperwork."
He produced these from under his arm and handed them to her; he still had a clipboard with some papers on it for himself.
"I'm going to need you to make a list of things you know were taken--and describe them as best you can. We'll be able to look for them in pawn shops and hopefully trace them back to whoever broke in. I'm also going to need you to write down how long you were gone, when you got here, who might have dropped by--basically, just trying to figure out a timeline. It means I'm gonna leave you alone for a little bit, but if you need anything, you call and I'll be here in a second. This is gonna take a little bit of time, especially if we're gonna do it right. You're going ot have to call your insurance company after all of this is done--so if they didn't take the coffee pot, might be a good idea to hook yourself up."
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 12:36 pm
Taking the stack of papers from in, Delilah felt her heart sink. Yep, back to business and that meant lists of items that were taken, damaged. What was missing anyway? When he said coffee pot though, that was the first time it dawned on Delilah to glance into her kitchen. "Why did you say such a thing?" She sighed, going around the corner and stepping over pots and pans that were over the floor. What had they been hoping to find in there? A false bottom. "You jynxed it." She groaned, coming back around and writing on the paper he gave her. "One Keruig maker and cup holder. One set of Stainless steel cooking knives and one toaster...." When she said the last part, she looked at him and shrugged. "Do they normally take toasters?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 10:23 pm
Jeremy cleared his throat and poked his head back into the room. "...I can't say they're usually high on the list of stolen goods, but. I mean. I guess if you had a good one..."
Either that, or they were incredibly stupid thieves. Why waste the time making a trip to take a toaster? Unless they were truly desperate, but...
"...You know, how about, after we finish this up, you and me take a quick drive and pick up some coffee? I know a good place. Killer donuts, too. And, the best apple pie, you will ever have."
It wasn't much--but he wanted to give her something else to think about. Getting out of the house always helped, even if just for a few moments. It was good to see that life kept going on; this wasn't the end. It was going to suck for a while, but the world was going to keep spinning.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 9:34 pm
"It was one I got from Target because I had a craving for..." She stopped, holding off on admitting the truth for a moment. Saying 'bagels' would have seemed so fitting for her and she knew it. But the truth as a bit more...sweet. With a roll of her eyes, she admitted. "Toaster Strudel...though I ended up mostly eating the icing." Shoot her. She was a woman and hormones had weird cravings. One month she wanted Toaster Strudel icing. Delilah was moving back to the couch to lean against the arm rest as she scanned each corner of the room. Slowly she added the TV, parts of her sewing collection and fabric, knick-nacks she had collected over the years. "Hm?" She finally dawned on her that he had continued to speak. Gazing up from her growing list, Delilah looked like a deer in the head lights. Then she blinked and smiled. "Apple pie hm? If it won't get you in too much trouble, I would really like that. I think I need some real world time before making the call to my family.."
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2017 9:55 pm
Jeremy didn't seem to have any room to judge her for her icing; a little smile twitched on his face and she shook his head. He was still taking notes . "I hear icing's the best part. Myles puts it on his cereal. Wish they'd just sell the icing in bulk, it'd make my life a lot easier. I have to buy extra boxes and pull out the icing for him."
Mostly it meant that he had to eat the toaster strudels without icing, but.
Sometimes you had to make sacrifices.
It was nothing apple pie couldn't make up for.
He flashed Delilah another grin. "Hey, I'm human. I gotta eat. I get a lunch break." Sort of. But, provided there wasn't any major disaster, he figured a snack and to go over protocol would be fine. A fine enough excuse, at least. "Besides, I won't get in trouble. My boss loves me," he winked.
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Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2017 11:05 am
"I think they would have to stop making the strudel if they just sold the icing." Delilah offered with a smile. "How old is your brother anyway? I sometimes can't tell if he's closer to me in age or twelve when you talk about him. Either way, sounds adorable." She had walked now back into the living room. It appeared that most of the things were still there just...broken if she gazed down at the glass. "Are you sure your boss loves you or just humors you to keep you out of trouble?" Delilah sighed, leaning down to pick up a small figurine she had bought ages ago at an antique store. The dove gazed back at her as she placed it on the self. That was when her eyes shot open. "Oh no..." "Excuse me." Delilah snapped, brushing past him and heading for her bedroom. Her eyes were large again as she dove for the bottom drawer of her dresser. The clothes had been thrown everywhere but she hadn't dug through them yet. "Please be here..." She whispered, grabbing the pile that was clearly made up of pants. Throwing them behind her, she stopped when she saw a black box. Hands shaking, she reached out to it and picked up the box. Her heart sank. "Damnit..." That broke her. With a thud, Delilah threw the box against the wall and dropped to her behind on the floor. Hands came up to cover her face and for the first time, she felt tears. "I never should have brought it with me." She mumbled. "I should have left it at home with the rest of my cameos." Her hands rand up into her hair and she gazed up at the ceiling trying to stop the tears. Her words though were clearly as if she had expected Jeremy to follow. "It was an anitque cameo from my Great Grandmother before she passed. But unlike the normal ones, this was made out of a gemstone. Nearly a relic itself..."
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:00 am
Jeremy followed Delilah with his eyes at first, and then made his way towards her bedroom when he heard a crash. When he entered the room, he seemed instinctively ready to strike, but a quick scan told him all he needed to know.
He made his way to Delilah and crouched.
"Okay," he said after a few seconds, "You're not going to like the way this sounds, but that could help us. That doesn't sound like any old toaster or coffee maker you can pawn off. That sounds like something that someone's going to recognize. Give me a good description and I'll make sure it gets out to every jeweler, pawn broker, whatever, in this town and the next few over. We'll keep our eye for online postings in the area. Nothing's going to be open tonight, but he'll probably try to liquidate things as soon as possible--they're going to bank on the fact that you're emotionally distressed, that the police and insurance are making you jump through hoops, that you don't know what you're doing. They're going to get rid of stuff, fast."
It probably wasn't extremely reassuring, but Jeremy had his heart set on seeing the positives.
"Thieves like this aren't smart, not usually. We've got a chance. You've just gotta help me--keep it together until we can get this under control. If we can get an ID on him, we can get an arrest and stop him from moving anything else. All right?"
He clasped her shoulder, trying to get her to focus. "If you've got a picture, pull it out. I'll make some calls and send out some texts, first thing in the morning. I'll do everything in my power to get that--and the rest of your stuff--back to you, all right? Don't give up."
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2017 8:01 pm
The edge was there and she so dearly wanted to jump over the small wall holding her back and fall into the pit she had been avoiding since coming home. She had been so close...so so close. "You're right." Her voice shook. Rage? Anger? Sadness? Did it matter? All of those were there as she repeated. "You are right." It was the hold on her shoulder though that made her glance into his face. A hand came up and brushed the loose hair and half running nose before she nodded. "I can get you a photo. If my parents are still up, I can get it pretty quickly. They have one of it when my grandmother gave it to me. Otherwise, I need to head back to their house to fish it out. I think..." She stopped and looked away, trying to remember. "I think I know where it is. The photo I mean." "If I get ahold of them now, I should have it by the time we are done with pie."
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