The sound of the late sirens filled the air as they arrived at the scene of the convenience store. Normally police squad cars with their sirens on was a normal thing in this part of town, but outside the convenience store was two squad cars and 3 separate ambulances. Whatever happened in the store, it was big and several ponies were hurt. As the squad car pulled up to the curb, out stepped Crimson dressed in her normal work wear, a blue blazer jacket that contrasted highly with her dark red fur, and a bulletproof vest underneath. She walked over to the front of the store and ducked underneath the yellow tape laid down across the entrance. She scanned the inside then shot a look over at the officer to her immediate right.
“I have just one question. What in the hay happened to make three ambulance crews to come down here?” Crimson asked, doing her best to keep calm.
“Well all we know is that there must have been some sort of weapons deal going on in the back and someone just barged in and shot the place up.” The officer said.
“Great. How many dead.” Crimson asked unwillingly, waiting to measure the massive amount of paperwork about to head her way.
“None ma’am.” The officer said as Crimson looked at him with the most confused expression on her face.
“Excuse me? None dead?” She asked as both cops made their way to the back room of the convenience store. They entered the room where the weapon deal took place before the mysterious shooter interfered and stole the two most valuable weapons in the pile.
“Yes ma’am. Whoever shot up the place was using a standard firearm, 9mm caliber. There were only eight shots fired, seven of them hitting all the victims in the leg and one we found in the ceiling.” The officer explained as Crimson circled the table, her eyes quickly darting over to a corner where two officers were interrogating Shooter.
“We were just in the middle of getting some new guns when this one mare came in and..” Shooter was about to continue until Crimson put up her hoof and separated the two officers.
“Wait wait...did you say mare?” Crimson asked.
“Yes I said it was a mare, I’ve said it like a million times to you guys.” Shooter blurted out as Crimson raised a brow in suspicion.
“Let me guess. Black and grey mane? Tan fur? Looked to be in her thirties?” Crimson rifled off each accurate descriptor of the assailant at hand as Shooter stood there shocked. All he could do was nod at each descriptor.
“Detective, you know who did this?” The officer behind her asked.
“It’s this one mare who started a fight with these thugs in the subway a few days ago, military training, some special case. It’s been giving me a headache for the past few days.” Crimson said at the officer before turning back to Shooter. “Look you’re free to go, just don’t let us catch you dealing weapons again ok?” Shooter let out a very quick nod and ran out of the store. Crimson let out a sigh of discontent as she made her way out to her squad car.
“Uh Detective should we put out a search for her?” The officer asked as Crimson walked to her squad car.
“While I would love to I got too much paperwork to deal with some ex marine going around kicking the crap out of every crooked crime pony in Manehattan. Just tell any officer who happens to see this kind of activity again to tell me directly, I’ll deal with it from there.” Crimson instructed the officer as she got into her squad car, turned the ignition key with her magic, and drove off back to her precinct.
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Daring looked around to make sure nopony spotted her on the fire escape stairs. While ponies living in the apartment do go up and down them for shortcuts all the time, Daring didn’t want anyone to notice her purpose for being up on the apartment. Over in the building across from her, Daring was aligning a small camera towards a particular window, securing the camera on the brick with a special adhesive. Daring took a break from setting up the camera to curl a pair of binoculars in her hoof, holding them up to her face and looking over at the window she was targeting. Sure enough, sitting at a nearby table reading the newspaper, was Twilight Sparkle. Daring put away her binoculars and readjusted the camera to point at her apartment window, keeping it level with the ground. Once the camera was perfect, she pressed a small button at its base, causing a small green light on the top of the camera to turn on. She backed away and checked the wiring she used from the small lamp above the apartment window she was currently in front of to see if it was supplying ample power for the device. She checked and double checked again before backing away and clicking on the small earpiece in her left ear.
“Fancy, the camera’s all set up. Are you getting the feed?” Daring asked looking around to make sure nopony was looking as she grabbed her saddle bags and made her way down the fire escape. Back at Fancy’s apartment, he quickly brought up the monitor to supply the wireless feed from the camera. Before long, it popped up on screen.
“Yes Ms. Daring, the feed is coming in nicely. Your eye into Ms. Sparkle’s home life is now open.” Fancy said as Daring jumped off the rest of the floors, flaring her wings to slow her down, resting her hooves against the concrete ground with a soft clop.
“Good. Let me know if there is any movement. I need that apartment empty if I’m gonna get the info on her I need.” Daring stated as she walked down the street, spreading her wings ready to fly before hearing Fancy chime back in on her earpiece.
“Well if that is the case Ms. Daring you might be in luck. Ms. Sparkle is leaving her apartment right now.” Fancy said, the monitor he was viewing showed the lavender mare exiting her apartment.
“I guess it’s my lucky day then.” Daring said as she looked back up at the building and lifted up into the air using her wings. She slowly elevated herself onto the level of the window of Twilight’s apartment, resting her hooves on the window sill and pushing up gently. To her surprise, the window gradually lifted open and she snuck into the unicorn’s apartment.
Inside Twilight’s apartment was humble enough, nice furnishings, royal Canterlot colors everywhere, and the occasional family portrait on display in every room. Daring cautiously walked across the floor, as if something was going to jump out at her, as she went from room to room searching for any sort of physical paper information on her assignment. When she stumbled across Twilight’s home office in her bedroom, Daring couldn’t help but smirk at the large number of file cabinets and folders neatly arranged on the small desk. She quickly went up to the cabinets and began searching, looking for anything and everything that reveals more information about Twilight. Thankfully the search was fairly easy as everything, as Daring has mentally noted while following her, was very neat and organized. She took the folders containing the information she needed, leaving the rest behind, as she casually stuffed the folders into her saddle bags, walked over to the window, and flew off. As she flew off, she stopped in the air to look at one form from the folder. On the form in the upper right corner was an address, the address to the District Attorney’s office. If anything, Twilight was probably at that office right now. Daring put away the form and flew off towards the inner city as fast as her wings could take her.
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Twilight stepped off the elevator and casually strolled over to her office near the corner of the building. She hummed a gentle tune to herself as she set her bag next to her chair, removing the contents inside and organizing them on the desk in front of her. She sat at her desk and started to go through the several case files laid out in front of her as a gentle tap on the open office door draws her attention away. At the door was her brother, Shining Armor.
“Morning sis!” Shining Armor said in an upbeat matter.
“Oh, morning brother.” Twilight said, stifling a yawn as she greets her brother.
“Stay up late again?” Shining walked into her office, taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of her desk.
“It was only a few hours past my normal bedtime, I’ll be fine.”
“Really? I believe those were the exact same words you said before you started showing up late while working on the last case.”
Twilight chuckled nervously, doing her best to shrug off the sad but true remark. After so many cases, everyone but Twilight seemed to notice a pattern involving her and high profile cases.
“Look sis, I know you are working hard and I know you want to move to bigger things but it takes time and effort.” Shining said as Twilight took her attention from her work, looking at her brother with a slightly peeved look.
“So when I did get hired to be your assistant DA, you tell me to give it all I got. Now you are telling me to put less effort into my work?” Twilight said, raising her voice a little.
“Well, that isn’t exactly what I...” Shining was interrupted as his sister got out of her chair a little, clearly more agitated.
“What you what, wanted to tell me? Wanted to say to me to make me feel better about being stuck in this assistant’s job always working under you? Or maybe you are saying that because you are scared I might take your job!” With that last comment, Shining was taken aback. He sat up in his chair and stared her sister down.
“Twilight you know I love you, but sometimes you can be so short sighted. I’m not worried about anyone taking my job, I’m worried about the people under me doing their job right.” Shining firmly said, his tone staying even at a contained anger. Twilight slowly sat back down in her seat.
“It has nothing to do with you Twi. I am doing the best work I can do, and if the people under me can’t assist me then you know what happens.” Twilight nodded at the last remark.
“And I suppose siblings aren’t safe from the chopping block?” Twilight asked, doing her best to bring the situation down a little. Shining sighed and got out of his chair.
“I wish that were the case. If this were some sort of accounting firm maybe, but this is much more important Twi. We serve as big a part of the justice system as any normal police officer. The safety of several ponies lies in our hooves Twi. Maybe you should keep that in your mind as you continue the case.” Shining said as he started to walk out the door. He gently closed it with his magic, allowing Twilight to slump back to work.
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Unknown to either Shining or Twilight, Daring sat on the roof of a building next to Twilight’s office. She held a pair of binoculars in one of her hooves, observing the activity of the purple unicorn’s work day. Without taking her eyes off her target, Daring reached for a small thermos and poured a brown liquid into the little cap, intent on saving it for later. Her deep train of thought was interrupted by Fancy talking into her earpiece.
“Ms. Daring I thought you said you were going to stay sober for this new line of work.” Fancy said, Daring rolling her eyes.
“Relax Fancy, it’s soup. Cider bisque. How did you even know I was-” Daring retorted before she was interrupted again.
“There is a surveillance camera behind you.”
Daring quickly glanced behind her, seeing the white suspended structure with a camera pointing directly at her.
“Honestly, I’m not surprised.” Daring said, turning her attention back to the offices.
“Any update on our subject?” Fancy asked.
Daring kept watching Twilight work through her binoculars. Nothing too exciting, just Twilight filling out paperwork and going through case files.
“Well her work life is rather ordinary. Did you manage to get anything from the files I lifted from the apartment?”
“I did. It turns out Ms. Sparkle is quite the up-and-comer in the DA’s law offices. Turns out she has the highest conviction rate in her district.” Fancy stated.
“Well she did study law privately under Princess Celestia herself.” Daring muttered.
“Indeed. The case she is working on right now is pretty high value.” Fancy said, bringing a copy of the file onto his screen.
“High value?”
“Yes. A drug ring bust. Very big. It turns out she is the spearhead of the DA’s attempt to put a Mr. Jet Pope behind bars. Apparently Mr. Pope has been involved with a nasty drug bust gone wrong. Five murdered and over half a million bits of drug money missing.” Fancy noted.
“So a possible murderer about to be sent away for life. A grudge like that must be a nasty can of worms to open.” Daring said as she saw Shining walk into Twilight’s office.
“Indeed. If anything, I would put Mr. Pope at the top of our list.” As Fancy said that, Daring watched the argument between Twilight and her brother unfold.
“I would wait on that assumption Fancy.”
“Oh? You found another?”
“Yeah a white unicorn. Stallion. Blue mane. Just walked into her office, the two of them got into an argument.”
Fancy went to work, going through the several databases on his computer until he pulled up a security feed inside of the building. Using the feed, he identified Shining, having most of his information pop up in a window off to the side.
“Ms. Daring, that unicorn is her brother.” Fancy said to much of Daring’s surprise.
“That puts him as likely. In most instances of homicide the perp is often someone close to the victim.” Daring stated.
“I got a name. Shining Armor. Former head of the royal guard.”
“Former?”
“Yes, he was at the head for 6 years before deciding to retire from his job. Studied law at Hayle, got his masters, and worked his way up to District Attorney.” Fancy continued as he kept going through Shining’s files until he came across one that sparked his attention.
“Oh and he has a possible motive now.” Fancy said, his interest piqued.
“Care to share it with the class Fancy?” Daring muttered, keeping her attention on the offices in front of her.
“He is currently going through a divorce with one Miamore Cadenza.” As Fancy said that, Daring slumped off of the building’s ledge and packed her binoculars into her saddlebag.
“And let me guess, he thinks that little sis is to blame?” Daring asked.
“It would be safe to assume so. There is also a child involved, a little colt named Dawnstar.”
“Oh man that’s just rough. Divorce AND a custody battle?”
“Yes but the custody hearings won’t start until the divorce is finalized. Those factored in, it’s safe to assume that he is a possible suspect.” Fancy closed the files, saving them on his computer.
“Fancy give me an address for Shining, I’m going to drop by and investigate after I head to the courthouse, I need to dig up some more stuff on Ms. Sparkle before we make any sudden moves.” Daring sat back up on the ledge.
“Well shouldn’t you get going now Ms. Daring?” Fancy asked. As he asked, Daring turned around at the security cam, gave a wave, and held up her thermos. Fancy gave a little chuckle as he backed away from the computer.
“I guess a lunch break is in order.” Fancy chuckled to himself as he levitated a small cup of tea to his snout, taking a petit sip before setting it down and heading back to work on his monitor.
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Fancy sat at his computer, working away and watching the separate video feeds that Daring set up earlier that day. The unicorn kept his focus on the screen, almost as if he had become one with the computer, pulling various files and dropping in on several conversations throughout Manehattan. Fancy briefly broke this line of concentration and pulled up one security camera feed. This one, however, was not within the main island of Manehattan or any of the surrounding boroughs. This was somewhere in Canterlot, the camera pointing at a lone house near the city wall. Out in the front was a garden, occupied by one sole pony. A lone mare with a white coat and a blue mane, the same shade of blue as Fancy’s. Fancy zoomed in on the mare working, her hooves slightly muddy from the work yet her face bright and radiant as she tilled and tended to the flowers and shrubs in the evening air. Fancy found a gentle relaxed smile creep onto his face, a feeling of content washed over him. As Fancy gradually got lost in the memories and nightmares he shared alongside her, Daring came in the apartment and stood behind him. She gently brought a hoof up to her mouth, clearing her throat and snapping Fancy out of his state.
“Ah Ms. Daring, you’re back.” Fancy said as he closed the feed.
“Who was that? Another pony on the list?” Daring asked as she took a place next to Fancy.
“No she’s....nevermind.” Fancy dismissed, causing Daring to raise an eyebrow in suspicion.
“Uh huh. Look I know you like privacy Fancy, and I don’t mean to intrude, but I would have a better time working with you if I knew something was bothering you.” Daring stated, leaning one hoof on the table waiting for a response from the white stallion.
“I suppose that is true. After all we have more in common than you think.” As Fancy said that, Daring tilted her head.
“What do you mean?”
“Well they both think we are dead and we both have lost someone.” Fancy turned away from the monitor to look at Daring. “The only difference is my someone is still living.”
“Oh....I’m sorry...” Daring solemnly said, looking down at the ground.
“Don’t be, just be glad she is safe.”
“So is she your wife?”
“Sister. The only family I had. I knew it would be trouble dragging her into this secret life so I left her behind. It’s better that way.” Fancy said this with a tint of sadness in his voice. The silence between the two lasted for what seemed like hours, the two of them lost in their own memories of love and loss.
“Anyway...the courthouse got me some more info, Pope’s grudge might be growing.” Daring stated, breaking the silence between the two.
“And how so Ms. Daring?” Fancy asked, levitating a cup of tea in front of him.
“Pope was on trial today. One of the detectives present at the scene took the stand and gave a testimony that is sure to put him behind bars. If that happens, Pope’s gang might target her for reprisal.” Daring said as she went over to a coffee maker sitting on top of one of the many filing cabinets littered around the apartment, putting a filter in followed with some ground coffee and water. Once the coffee was on, Daring pulled her phone from her jacket and set it next to Fancy, pressing a button on the front starting a recording taken from the phone.
“Detective, why did you not tell me about that conversation between you and Pope? It could have cleared his name if you didn’t say that.”
“Hey ease off, it doesn’t matter anyway. We got the guy, so what if I go off script?”
“It does matter Gilda! It matters because my job is to make absolutely sure that the wrong people are not going to jail remember?”
“Well excuse me, I thought we were on the same team.”
Daring went back over and clicked the button again, stopping the recording.
“Well it looks like something went wrong with her case.” Fancy said as he took another sip of tea, studying the phone. “But Ms. Daring, how did you-”
“Get the recording? I paired my phone with hers. I got access to her microphone so I can hear everything she says, even when she isn’t using it. As long as it’s on and has a signal, I can also use the GPS to track her every move.” Daring proudly said as she got some coffee from the coffee maker.
“Very impressive Ms. Daring. What about Shining Armor, anything on him?” Fancy asked.
“Nothing we can use.” As Daring was going to continue, Fancy pulled up the GPS locator of Twilight.
“Ms. Daring, she’s on the move.” Fancy exclaimed as Daring turned on her earpiece.
“Where is she headed?”
“She’s heading for county lockup, she scheduled a meeting with Pope. Alone.” Fancy stated as Daring picked up the phone and put it back in her coat pocket. She opened the window and flew out into the night, Fancy ready at his monitor tracking both Daring and Twilight.
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The Manehattan County Correctional Facility, for the most part, was quiet at night. The vast assortment of criminals and alleged innocents alike were mostly asleep around this hour of the night, nothing to do but sit in their cells and contemplate their life choices. One cell, however, was a slightly different sight. Inside was Twilight pacing back and forth in the cell. In front of her sat a tan earth pony with a dirty dark brown mane, hooves in cuffs and clad in a standard orange jumpsuit issued to all prisoners. Pope tracked Twilight as she paced, her magic holding up one file in the air. Outside, Daring was pacing outside the county lockup, listening in on their conversation, waiting to intervene if anything happens.
“Shouldn’t my lawyer be here for this?” Pope asked in an annoyed tone of voice.
“Well I can call him if you want but that’s not why I’m here.” Twilight affirmed.
“Then why ARE you here?” Pope was getting increasingly annoyed by both Twilight’s presence and her pacing.
“I don’t think you killed those people. I think somepony else was in that house when the call to 911 was made. Somepony who told you what was said, which means that you weren’t there. Am I right?” Twilight rifled off accusation after accusation as Pope stayed silent looking at the ground. Before long, Twilight let out a frustrated sigh.
“Ok why are you hiding things from me, I’m trying to help you. Is it someone you are trying to protect?” Twilight asked as Pope looked at her inquisitively.
“So what, you’re helping me now?”
“Well somepony you care about must have known what happened that night. Maybe your little brother Fanner?” Twilight opened the folder and showed him a picture of a teenage colt, almost the same appearance as Pope. As she said that, Daring put her hoof back up to her earpiece, contacting Fancy.
“Fancy, Pope has a brother. Look in his case file.” Daring instructed hastily.
“Got it. One Fanner Pope.” Fancy stated, pulling the picture out of the file next to his computer. Daring switched channels back to the conversation between Twilight and Pope.
“So tell me. Did he see the real killer?” Twilight asked, Pope’s eyes showing signs of fear. Not fear of her, but fear of something else.
“You better let this one slide lady. I can do the time, but these other ponies...they’re evil. They kill who they want and they protect the real truth from getting out, that means they will kill me and my brother and probably you too if you keep asking questions.” Pope said as he stared down Twilight.
“Look I don’t care who these ponies are, you can trust me. We will take care of you and your brother but I need to know the truth.” As Twilight pleaded with him, Pope broke eye contact and shook his head defiantly.
“No...” Twilight let out another huff at his refusal, now taking a hostile stance and staring daggers at Pope.
“If the killer or killers are out there, I’m going to find them whether you help me or not. It’s my job. Now why don’t you-” Twilight was interrupted as Pope sprang out of the bed he was seated in, pinning her against the cell doors. She let out a yelp as she felt Pope’s hooves press down on her neck, constricting her airwaves.
“You need to shut your mouth before you get us BOTH killed!” Pope shouted at the purple unicorn. Twilight’s fearsome gaze suddenly reversed, turning into fear and panic as she stared down the enraged pony fitting to choke her out inside the cell. Outside, Daring was on her way in, pulling a collapsible baton from her jacket and extending it. She placed it in her teeth and prepared to scale the fence to get into the compound before she heard something on the other end. Two guards were near the cell when Pope lashed out at Twilight. They quickly opened the door, pulled him off of her, and subdued him. One of the guards looked back at Twilight, slowly regaining her composure from the sudden attack.
“Ms. Daring?” Fancy chimed in.
“It’s ok, she’s fine for now.” Daring sheathed her baton and started flying back towards the apartment.
“It seems you were right about Pope Ms. Daring.” Fancy stated.
“That means whoever framed Pope will be coming after her, and only Pope’s brother knows who they are.” Daring said.
“So what now Ms. Daring?”
“Things get interesting Fancy. Very interesting.”