OTA

[dr_spencer_reid]

"Honestly, it all happened very fast," Valentine said, his brow creased in concern as he spoke to the agent. "I didn't even recognize him until you showed me his photograph just now- But yes, it was him, that actor. He was having a cigarette and talking to a man in a dark hooded sweatshirt. I couldn't see his face, but I saw his hands- They were pale. Whiter than you or I."

"Could you tell me anything else about him?" Spencer pressed gently.

"He was much taller than the other man- The actor, he was a very petite man, but the other man was taller- Nearly my height, I think, but heavier. Not overweight, but not trim, and not muscular," Val replied, hating that he couldn't be more help. "Surely there's CCTV footage of where they went next..."

Spencer just smiled, unable to share anything more. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Collingwood. Please, don't hesitate to get in touch if you remember anything else."

Valentine nodded, still looking a bit pale and startled as he stood on the pavement, looking over to where he'd seen a young man stabbed and hauled away. There was still blood on the ground, the wolf inside could smell it. ...He only wished the wolf could do something more.

Spencer returned to the small group of officers, waiting to interview the next person, and watching as the press slowly started to gather. That was the problem with celebrity abductions and attacks. You couldn't keep them quiet. Not now that everyone seemed to document every moment of their days...

He could hear one of the officers speaking to the press, and he frowned. This wasn't how they did things back home- It was too soon to be making statements.

At seven thirty this morning, Finley Alexander Flynn was attacked and abducted by an unknown man. We're asking that anyone with any information on this man, or Mr. Flynn's whereabouts, come forward to aid our investigation...

(OTA Tag Spencer or Valentine! Also check the OOC com shortly for more information on Fin's abduction.)

Comments

[alcuin]

As he passed, Alcuin cast a look at the unfamiliar man he'd just seen speaking to Dr. Reid, wondering if he was okay. But he didn't pause to ask, not right now.

"Dr. Reid?" he offered, looking up at him and glad for the familiar face. He wasn't sure that what he had to offer was helpful in the least, but when he'd heard the officer giving the statement to the press, he realized that he might have seen something relevant.

[dr_spencer_reid]

"Mr. Delaunay, hi- Um, just give me a moment and I'll take your statement," Spencer replied, shuffling through his papers, then gesturing for Alcuin to follow him to a quieter area.

"Are you alright?" he asked to start. "I understand what you witnessed could be quite traumatic."

[alcuin]

Alcuin shook his head, then said, "I mean, yes, I'm fine. I didn't actually see the abduction, Dr. Reid, just - someone matching that description beforehand." He realized it probably seemed silly that he might have taken that much notice of a random person in the crowd, but Alcuin paid attention to the people around him; he remembered.

"He came around that corner." Alcuin pointed. "Looking ahead as if he knew precisely where he was going but was perhaps looking for someone. I can tell you more precisely what he was wearing, but... I'm sorry, this isn't really useful at all, is it."

[dr_spencer_reid]

"Every detail helps," Spencer assured him. "Just tell me what you remember,"

[alcuin]

"He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt," said Alcuin. "Dark red, with a tshirt peaking out underneath. There was an outline of a pack of cigarettes in one pocket and um." Pause. "Did he use a knife?"

Honestly that was what had gotten Alcuin's attention in the first place, the outline of what looked like a knife hilt. Which was silly, because a lot of people carried pocket knives. He hadn't expected it to actually matter.

[phouka]

THe Phouka had been dispatched to fetch breakfast and when he came back with the bag of bacon sarnies and a tomato egg puff he looked at the chaos and his heart sank. He was accustomed to dealing with the police but in the moment he lost his cool and began to push forward.

"Where is Finlay?" he demanded, two officers holding him back. "I just left him! Where is he? I demand answers!"

If there weren't so many people around he would have faded to dog form and used his nose.

[hollow_moon]

Val was still startled by it all, but he felt for the man who was clearly looking for his lost friend, and he caught his arm gently, pulling him back.

"You didn't see? He was taken, your friend, I mean. Someone took him, right off the street," Val said gently. "They're going to want to ask you questions."

[phouka]

His parcels fell to the ground and Phouka's dark skin turned vaguely grey.

"Oh, no," he said. "Oh...oh no. I have failed. The prince will have my head," he muttered.

[hollow_moon]

"...The prince?" Val asked. "I'd no idea the actor was a friend of the royals..."

Bending low, he gathered the man's things.

"You'e in shock. Here, come, I'll buy you a cup of tea."

[jageskro]

Jag was just walking by on his way back home, but he slowed down when he saw the crowd. Clearly not the right crowd for a show, but it was the perfect crowd to pick a pocket or two, given the way people were focused on... something. Might be best to learn what that thing was - or, all right, not best, but Jag was curious, wasn't he.

He palmed a cigarette and lit it, mimicking using a lighter although he didn't bother, then looked over at the crowd to decide who to ask. There, an upset-looking bloke just being let go by the coppers. He might know more than the onlookers, and Jag managed to intercept him right before the press did.

"Oi, mate, all right?" he asked as if they were long time friends, clapping a hand on his back and then giving a look to the journalist who had been making a move. "Sorry, but like they say - no comment, yeah?" He looked back at the bloke - and he was even more handsome from up close - and asked him, sotto voce, "Unless you wanna?"

No point helping him out of a fix he wanted to be in, if he was the attention-hungry sort.

[hollow_moon]

Val looked startled, then shook his head. "No- No, I'd rather not talk with the press," he admitted. "I just want a strong cup of tea."

[jageskro]

Right, then, the plan was back on track - or possibly slightly derailed, since now Jag was planning on getting the man his tea, rather than getting the quick and dirty on what was going on and then grabbing whatever wallets happened to pass by him. He nodded at the bloke, then turned back to the journalist and told him, very eloquently, "Piss off."

Leaving the flustered press behind, he steered his new friend down the street, unwilling to risk picking a place too close to whatever was going on, for fear the press would intrude. "You looked like you could use a helping hand," he stated once they were clear of the crowd, dropping his hand from the bloke's back. "I'm Jag."

[hollow_moon]

"I"m alright, really- It was just a bit shocking is all. Were you there? Did you see what happened?" he asked. "Did you see that man get abducted- Stabbed, then just snatched, right off the pavement? I've never witnessed anything like that before."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal had never told his patient what to do. Never said 'run off and abduct Finlay Flynn - the object of your desire'. But he had suggested, he had nudged carefully. And in terms of therapy, Hannibal stood for his methods. His patient came from a dark place of rage and desire. With the help of his therapist, he had focussed all those negative feelings on one perfect object. Then, all that was left, was to remove that object. It was effective - if somewhat unorthodox - therapy.

The news was on Twitter minutes after the attack, and a press statement was out not long after.

Hannibal hadn't had the chance to witness the abduction - his therapy was such that he didn't know when an abduction would take place, but, as his practice was not far from here, he was called onto the scene by a police officer who thought he might be able to help.

He saw Dr. Reid and nodded as a hello. "I was called here to assess the situation, but I see much abler hands are dealing with the case."

[dr_spencer_reid]

Spencer offered a faint smile, then shook his head.

"Honestly, I don't think I've seen a case like this before. Stalkers are usually more consistent in their harassment and their build up. This man was- He went from extremely aggressive, to distanced, then aggressive again. That almost never happens. It's as if he felt remose for the first attack, and was then triggered again somehow. ...I think we need all the help and perspective we can get. This is a unique case."

[anamusebouche]

"Perhaps he felt the need to revise his strategy after Mr. Finlay's initial attack. If it's the same man, of course," Hannibal assessed.

[dr_spencer_reid]

"There's no evidence to suggest the victim had any other stalkers. It seems to be the same man," Spencer replied. "But maybe- Maybe he wasn't expecting a fight the first time."

[real_gun_hand]

Hotch came through the crowd after interviewing onlookers and met up with Reid.

"The story seems to be stable. Young white man, slight build talking to older balding heavier man. Some verify the stabbing, others say he slumped, all agree the larger man carried him to a waiting vehicle and left with him."

[dr_spencer_reid]

"The police have an ID on the victim, Finlay Alexander Flynn. He's an actor, blind, twenty three years old. Apparently he was attacked last year by someone who's been stalking him for several months now. I'm having them send over the case files and the letters to our office," Spencer said, tucking his hair behind his ears as he spoke. "It seems likely that's our unsub."

[real_gun_hand]

"Finlay Flynn?" Hotch repeated in surprise. "I know who he is. I mean, beyond acting. I've met him. Nice guy," he said. Then he cleared his throat, deciding in a split second if this was a conflict of interest or not. He leaned toward 'not'.

"Let's get to work, then. We'll need to read the letters, put together a profile quickly. I'll do victimology. Do you know if he lives with anyone?"

[dr_spencer_reid]

"There's no spouse or family on record," Spencer replied, shaking his head. "Where do you suggest we start?"

[harrowgate]

It was blasted early for Felix to be out of the Mirador House and in public, but he had been scheduled for an obscenely early appointment which was promptly canceled. In frustration, he struck off to the nearest café, partly in search of coffee, partly in search of someone he could snap at without consequences.

The clump of law enforcement and on-lookers near the café slowed him down and ratcheted up his annoyance even higher, until he caught sight of a very unexpected dark-eyed, rakish-looking man in the gathering. "Valentine?" Felix asked, threading his way toward the man. "What in the world is all of this? Did something happen?" To you, he meant, but it didn't come out exactly compassionately.

((OOC- Am I too late? let me know if so!))

[hollow_moon]

Val was looking a bit dazed, but he seemed to snap out of it at the sight of Felix.

"Hmm? Oh, there was- This man, he was just attacked and abducted. Right off the pavement, in broad daylight," he said, sounding a touch shocked still. "Some actor, a blind man. ...I saw it with my own eyes."

[harrowgate]

A blind actor. It couldn't... but of course it was. Felix recalled his conversation not long ago with Phouka with alarming alacrity. His thoughts were leaping ahead of the moment far too quickly. Felix attempted to herd Valentine away from the tangle of people milling about and attempting to get through.

"Don't topple over on me," he instructed with a grim cast to his features. "Is there any trouble if we go inside? You could use a seat." And I could use some details.

[hollow_moon]

"I'm fine, really- I'm fine. ...Wouldn't say no to a cup of tea though," he said, forcing an awkward laugh, and nodding towards a nearby cafe.