You know there are plenty of reasons why you should trust public servants. They help keep our streets clean and safe. They are willing to risk themselves to save and protect us. All those good old fashion warm fuzzy feelings you hear during an after school special. And then you get those public servants who are out for your blood and no one sees it coming. Namely twisted doctors, though such things are making a comeback these days in recent horror movie installments.

The reason for that small side thought is because the information Paleon managed to dig up. Through the Nethernet he was able to pull up several bits of information, and true to his word they really are opening the case to new paths, and some of those paths I’ll be needing to travel to very soon.

The first card he gave me glowed in a pale green light, upon touching the center it revealed the symbol of the Butcher Demon. However the symbol changed into words, bits of detail. According to Paleon the demonic magic signature belong to a Butcher Demon known as Kaelas the Carver. So titled due to the fact he worked in a butcher store where he carved meat. Oddly enough though he’s clean as a whistle, no former warrants for investigation or arrest, no signs of blood lust or outburst, in fact he has a rather spotless track. Couldn’t imagine why he would go kidnapping young Thomas.

The second card held the Butcher symbol again, and upon contact it revealed even more information. Turns out he’s missing as well. Three days ago at a local station a friend of his put in a missing person report. Last seen was Tuesday of last week heading out for an appointment, and never came back. Reports include uncharacteristic behavior for Kaelas, supposedly he never misses a bowling night or go for long without contacting. Odd if he’s missing… why was his magical presence at the Moore house?

The final card was the missing piece though. According to this card he was last seen heading out for an appointment at St. Cooper’s Clinic down at the corner of Ma’ati Drive and 13th St. That clinic is well known for being one of the more… progressive clinics around, if bit specialized. As I recall their slogan is that they have a doctor trained for each kind… that would narrow down the search considerably, but raises so many questions.

I nodded at Paleon. “Thank you Paleon, you’ve been very helpful. However I feel I’m going to need your help again soon, so for the time being please stay out. If anything comes up I’ll notify you, I got a bad feeling about this.” Paleon just nodded folding his arms.

“You telling me boss. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense what’s happening, but then again that ain’t my job to figure it. That’s your job, so go get them boss. Ferro, Ferro, he’s our man if he can’t do it then nah man.” he said in a soft tone shaking his hands side to side rolling his eyes. “I’ll be on standby… in the meantime though~” he gave a wide grin before running off to the other room, hopping to the radio player and changing the knob. With seconds some kind of pop music began playing out, and with that I took it as my cue to let him to his songs till needed.

I never could understand Paleon’s love of pop, was always more of a jazz man myself. However he has free time to listen to that and catch on his reading, and I have a case to crack. And it all leads to one place, St. Cooper’s. It’s one of the most iconic places of Rantoul, if nothing else for their policy of having open doors to all beings, being founded by some great mage of the same name over forty years ago. Considered a landmark in terms of progressiveness for employing doctors that each specialized in different beings biology. As in there’s one doctor there working only on demons, while another works on angels only, so on. More so since it’s one of the go to clinics for anyone in need of medical help.

I have no way to know if Kaelas is in fact the kidnapper, or where he is now since he’s missing. But if he was last seen at St. Cooper’s, that's where I’ll have to scope out next. Thankfully when I did got there some time later it wasn’t particularly busy looking save for the odd fae in a cast or human in a wheelchair. Good, less people the better. I went up to the girl at the reception desk, a rather slightly cute looking angel girl. But pleasantries are for later.

“Excuse me?” I began to which the angel looked up. “Yes? Do you have appointment with someone?” she asked her voice softly singsongy. I shook my head taking out my badge, a picture of a shield emblazoned with a crescent moon. The symbol of a Blackcoat of the Grand Council. Her eyes widen a bit, perhaps out of shock and worry, or perhaps because it might’ve been unexpected.

“I’m here because one of my cases has pointed at this clinic as a scene of possible criminal activity. I trust I’ll have your full cooperation on this matter? I would hate for the legacy of this clinic to be tarnished.” I spoke weaving subtle magic into my words.

The angel paused looking slightly apprehensive at this, but nodded her head. “Just don’t make a scene ok? Whom do you need?” she asked dropping her voice in a whisper.

“Only to talk to the doctor that handles demon patients. Is that one in?” I asked to which she shook her head. “Dr. Anderson? He hasn’t been in for the past few days, vacation and all.” Interesting… a doctor off on vacation isn’t anything worth noting itself, but the time length seems suspicious giving that Kaelas is missing as well. “Then take me to his office, I promise I’ll only be there for a few minutes and come back at a later day to talk to him.”

She seemed to be relecutant, but thankfully she nodded getting up and grabbing the key. Sometimes suggestions do wonders. She lead me to a room just near the far back opening it. “Please just take like five minutes? I can’t lose my job over this.” she said before walking away as if she didn’t want to be anywhere closer to the case. I don’t blame her myself.

The room itself was nothing out of the average, some test equipment on a shelf, posters of various demon bodies and anatomy hanging on the walls, the faint smell of disinfectant and an examination table. Perfectly average… though the longer I stood a strange sense of dizziness began to form. As if something was gnawing at my sense of balance. I glanced around ready to cast a spell just in case when I caught a glint of glowing metal just above me. Turning my head I can see it more clearly. It was a large circle with intricate spiraling designs hanging somewhat low, almost like a chandelier with three intertwining circles in the middle radiating a strange magic and glow.

I reached into my coat and pulled out Paleon’s rod pressing my hand firmly on the head. ‘Paleon this is me, I found something of note. I need you to do research on this, post haste.’ I thought, feeling Paleon receiving my mental message before holding up the rod upward so the rod’s eyes could see it.

‘Got it boss, give me a few moments’ Paleon’s thoughts echoed through the rod into my mind. The rod glowed slightly reddish violet as it absorb the sight of the odd chandelier. I began feeling weak and a bit woozy, having to brace myself against the door for a few moment. I don’t know why I was feeling like this when Paleon’s voice echoed in my head. ‘Boss we got a big problem, get out of there. That’s a Demicatcher, a device used by old mortal mages to drain magical energy, this one tuned for demon magic! More so the traces of none demon magic has the signature of… well them.’ Somehow I knew what he was going to think of next, and that thought sent chills down my spine. ‘It’s the Consortium.’