Title: Vials by DSM4 (WiP) Author: Lavenci Pastebin link: http://pastebin.com/Hnx7CBbp First Edit: Thursday 21st of June 2012 10:05:45 PM CDT Last Edit: Thursday 21st of June 2012 10:05:45 PM CDT Vials by DSM4   The thin glass vial shook slightly, perturbing the liquid within as the detective carefully replaced it into its cubby, one of many arranged in a grid along the back of the refrigerator. He pawed the door with his hoof, only turning to his work after he heard the soft hiss of the hermetic seal.   He closed his eyes and shook his head sadly as he trotted over to the cluttered countertop ringing the expansive laboratory- the finest in Canterlot, and probably all of Equestria. The princess spared no expense in its construction, and certainly wasn't about to limit his budget now with a case striking so close to home. He shoved aside a microscope and a yellowed set of material safety manuals to reveal a small black object. Roughly the size of a wallet, and rectangular, the device was festooned with a number of buttons and knobs. He stepped back to his desk and, after carefully inserting a roll of smoky tape into a central compartment, depressed the top button. He began to speak.   He rattled off the usual formalities- the date, the time, his name and the name of his department within the greater framework of Equestria's finest. The process wasn't overly long, but he rushed through it nonetheless. The princess had instructed him to report all findings directly to her, immediately, and he wasn't about to ignore an order like that. Still, procedure was procedure, and he knew better than most how critical it could be to solving the crime.     He let his hoof rise from the recorder and clicked a second button, spinning the tape forward to leave a section blank for revisions and addendums. Protocol. He tapped the buttons in reverse, and began to record data. "Three pieces of evidence. Sample A, small envelope, paper, composition and grain suggests mill in Manehattan. Listed name believed to be a reference to the draconequis attack early last year. Return address corresponds to a seasonal fairground in north-central Ponyville. Investigation there still ongoing. The destination address itself is listed to Sweet Apple Acres, an orchard likewise in Ponyville. Three-bit Equestria stamp, bearing the crest of the two princesses, released within the last year. Suggests recent purchase."   The detective ceased his recording, taking a moment to glance at the two plastic sandwich bags lying on the cleared medical table, bright overhead lamps illuminating every detail on the crumpled paper in each. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. The lamps put off a lot of heat. That had to be it. He gulped, and clicked the button, continuing.   "Top of envelope torn roughly from one end to the other, reportedly by family member who recovered the sample. Envelope contained both samples B and C. Light dusting of exterior revealed no hoofprints aside from those of aforementioned family member. Suggests perpetrator is a unicorn." He paced around the floodlit table as he talked, making certain that no detail was missed. "Microscopic analysis of dust grains and fungal spores on envelope suggests long period of storage before delivery, likely corresponds to set of envelopes purchased in bulk. Envelope sealed with glue, not saliva, rendering spittle analysis useless."     Click. He sighed, then resumed his work. "Sample B. sheaf of paper, grain analysis again suggests..." he paused the recording to put an eye to one of the many microscopes scattered haphazardly about the lab. He nodded in confirmation, moving on. "...Again suggests Manehatten mill. Two sets of hoofwriting. First is well-practiced, though ink splotches suggest an uncertain hold on the pen during writing, likely..." he stopped the recording, setting down the device and holding his hoof to his face as a shiver worked its way down his spine. He flared his nostrils. Come on, she's depending on you. Don't mess this up. He picked up the recorder and resumed, a look of determination chiseled into his face. "Likely a result of fear or stress of the writer. Text reads, simply, "help me."   "The second is far cruder, likely out of haste or... excitement. Contents as follows: 'Mine now.' Below is a crude illustration depicting..." his voice faltered, "depicting various cutlery and household tools, in red ink. Several are marked over with ink and re-drawn as many as three times to the writer's satisfaction."   He again halted the recording, this time depressing the third button arranged in linear fashion along the device. He gave the table a once-over as his playback garbled past his ear, making certain no detail was missed. He glanced over to the refrigerator.     "Sample C. Small glass phial, cylindrical, one centimeter in diameter by ten centimeters tall. Glass stopper. Cut strip of red hairbow fabric tied around neck of vial, identified as belonging to the victim. Phial contains, contains ten milliliters of blood. Blood samples from family members returned positive match. It's the victim's."   He squeezed his eyes shut as his mouth spoke seemingly of its own accord, mechanically reciting the evidence with neither emotion nor reservation. "Victim went missing over two weeks prior to recovery of samples by family members and subsequent retrieval by authorities. Bacterial cultures developing in the blood suggest that it cooled below body temperature within the last twelve hours or so." The detective's eyes watered. "She's still alive."   "Or was twelve hours ago."