[PRP] a meeting with ... (renard & jeremiah)

[azuredreams]

It was a long time overdue, if he were honest about it, and before he realized it Jeremiah was writing up a brief email to talk to the man who just might be behind everything.

shibrogane

to: renard leroux (xxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.com)
from: jpmercer@ashdownpd.gov

Mister Leroux,

I was wondering if you could find the time in your schedule to discuss a few matters? I can easily move my schedule around to fit whatever time would be best for you.

Jeremiah Mercer
Chief of Police
Ashdown, Massachusetts

 

[shibrogane]

to: jpmercer@ashdownpd.gov
from: renard.leroux@shoresociety.org
subject: Meeting

I'm free for lunch on Monday the 17th. Shall we say 11am at the PEM?

Renard Leroux, PhD
Director, Shore Estate & Historical Society  

[azuredreams]

shibrogane

to: renard.leroux@shoresociety.org
from: jpmercer@ashdownpd.gov
subject: Meeting

Perfectly. I'll meet you there.

Jeremiah Mercer
Chief of Police
Ashdown, Massachusetts

Jeremiah would be there, a handful of minutes early, his phone in hand and being put on silent and slipped into his pocket. There was no way he could not have it, not with his job as it were, but he certainly was not going to have it interrupt a meeting with Renard.

As close as Salem was, Jeremiah was not in it as often as he could be, and it had been years since he had been to the Peabody Essex Museum. The area was given a quick glance around, making sure he had not somehow missed the man, before he was pulling open the glass door and stepping inside.  

[shibrogane]

Renard was already inside the museum, chatting with the receptionist. The young woman was enraptured by him, smiling, and when he turned to look at Jeremiah she scowled--but Renard, evidently unbothered, crossed the atrium to Jeremiah. "I've made reservations at the restaurant," he said, "But shall we take a turn through the exhibits first?"

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Jeremiah was not even going to acknowledge that scowl. Not a chance.

His head inclined towards Renard in pleasant greeting, a small smile given. "Not at all." Jeremiah gestured for him to lead the way. "Was there a particular exhibit you were wanting to look at?"

shibrogane

 

[shibrogane]

"No," said Renard, "not particularly. I enjoy seeing what's rotated out since my last visit." He took the lead, hands in his pockets as he sauntered down the halls like he owned them. "What are these matters you wish to discuss?"

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Jeremiah slipped easily into step next to Renard. "I honestly cannot remember exactly when I came here last. Probably when I brought Zac-"

That had him pausing a moment and he shook his head.

"Ah, part of it is related to the changes to Ashdown. The disappearance of the Shore mansion, the chasm in the forest. If you've any knowledge about anything else that may happen, I would appreciate it." His gaze flicked from Renard to the exhibit. "That isn't everything but it is part of it."

Since he was Chief of Police and there was a town to look after- Anything he could find out that would make sure people would be a touch safer? He would do it.

It certainly did not help that it had been revealed that people were living in the forest.

shibrogane

 

[shibrogane]

"It's never happened before," said Renard. "So I'm afraid I'm as in the dark as you are. But I should also like to note that this is not entirely unexpected. Real things do not belong in an unreal world, and vice versa."

He paused.

"But that you call the tear in the forest a "chasm" is interesting to me. I thought it was more of a rift, myself."

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

"I was, admittedly, worried that you would say that." Jeremiah had thought that perhaps it was the case, that things had not spiralled quite like this before in any other cycle. Hearing it from Renard continued it.

His head tilted, blue-green eyes blinking and pausing in his steps. "I say chasm because I've not actually been out there myself to see it and that's what it's been reported to me as." Not with work and other ashdown keeping him busy, Jeremiah had not been there. "You say tear and rift as if-" Jeremiah paused himself, thoughts whirling. "As if something or someone caused it."

Yet hadn't they?

"If it's a rift, then what is it a rift to?"

shibroswol

 

[shibrogane]

"I don't know," said Renard. "I'd speculate that a powerful binding has been broken, and that there's a murder committed by one of your own that you're ignoring."

He paused for a moment in his rambling steps.

"I highly doubt such a rift goes anywhere."

azuredreams

 

[azuredreams]

Jeremiah came to a halt as well, not quite sure what Renard meant at all. Not that the rift went nowhere or that it was part of a binding that was broken; that he could understand and the details could be looked into.

"You don't mean Heliodora, do you?" Though that was murder, despite the circumstances, it was known about. What had he missed? Wasn't this all part of the cage breaking? Or was it part of something else. "You're in the dark about some of this as much as we are."

word count: 594

shibroswol