Log:Sweating the Perp

2021/01/18 	 Carpenter August Grimm Evan

1

36 hours after speaking to Hiram Henderson at Cheadle's pawn shop, you all haven't had any luck in getting more access to his client list. While his boss, Helen Grizetti, does confirm his alibi for the day he called in sick, she's adamant about not giving access to his client list.

This morning, August emails Detective Carpenter with a tentative (well, I'm certain in any case, August says) ID on the teenager in the grey hoodie. The drawing he made with the sketch artist at the precinct matches one 'Evander McMasters', age 16, who's street address on his Virginia issued ID is an long term hotel in Nicholston. Upon checking, August found out he hasn't live there for over 6 months.

August did some follow up checking and found an online news artical about an 'Evan McMasters' who matches the image. Evan is apparently a gymnast specializing in rings and floor exercise at Bayside Academy.

As a side note, Carpenter remembers meeting the kid briefly at Past Times coffeeshop. He's a sketch artist himself and was invitied to sit at a table with varioius metas, some of whom claimed to be immortals. The kid himself wes quiet and polite.

Carpenter shows the information to Grimm. "Probably staying at the Academy?"

Grimm reviews the information, her eyebrows rising up. "A frickin' kid? We've been run around by a kid?" She lets out a breath. "Could be. That fancy place has dorms so rich parents can drop off their kids and globetrot."

Carpenter says, "This is assuming he's working alone. There might be other people working with him."

Carpenter nods. "Let's head over there to ask a few questions. August said the kid just disappeared, so keep your...senses peeled."

Grimm nods. "I'll keep track of stuff around us just in case. Maybe he's just working for someone else." She zips up her leather jacket. "You want me to give us the shortcut, or did you want to take your car?" she smiles.

Carpenter nods. "Alright, let's head over there to ask around. You can take us via the shortcut. Just...outside the gates."

And you all soon find yourselves outside the gates to the Bayside Acadeny campus. It's like stepping into small Ivy League campus. Money and power seem built into the buildings along with the white marble and carvings.

Classes ended almost an hour ago for the day, but there are still a lot of students on the campus. After school activities you imagine, all well as their own private Coffeebucks might be reasons why.

Grimm smiles innocently. "I wouldn't dream of breaking and entering," she says sweetly before teleporting them both to the Bayside gates. She looks around as they arrive. "Man, this place is even more fancy than I expected."

Carpenter nods and heads through the gates (Assuming they're open) to go look for some kind of administration folks to help them out. "Yeah. Ritzy place."

Near the gate is a guard post manned by an older man. He comes out of the buildking upon spotting the two you, his uniform neat and presses and his back unbowed despite his obvious 60+ years.

You think it unlikely he spotted your arrival, but as he approaches, nods to the two of you. "Welcome to Bayside Academy? May I ask your business

Carpenter shows his badge to the guard, "Hello, sir. I'm Detective Carpenter, CBPD. And this is my assistant, Miss Grimm. We'd like to speak to one of your students, an Evan McMasters."

Grimm tries to hide a smile at being introduced as Jack's assistant. It beats floozy. She gives a nod of greeting when she's introduced.

"Ah, with young Mr. McMasters, is it? Well, I can certainly direct you to the Headmaster's office. He or the dean of students will have to take you to Mr. McMasters. He's one of our boarders," says the gate guard. His nameplate of highly polished brass reads 'R. Corman'

Carpenter nods and smiles. "I appreciate that. Thank you, Mr. Corman."

Grimm offers a polite smile. Looks like Jack was right about him staying here.

Evan nods to Carpetner as he takes out his PDA. With a one button push, he says into it, "Nancy? Rob at the main gate. I have Detective Carpenter and his assistant here to talk to his nibs. Is he in? They want to talk to Evan McMasters?"

Over the PDA, you hear a garbled response (unless a Hearing PER roll is made)

Then Corman responds, "Will send them to you, Nancy."

Corman nods to you, "Just follow the signs to the Admininstration building, detective. OR, hmm," He turns and calls to the guard shack. "Roger, takind guests to Admin. Back in a bit."

Grimm's ears aren't as sharp as Jack and she misses it.

Carpenter nods again, waiting patiently for the guard to lead them where they're headed.

Mr. Corman guides you over to a hover golf cart and offers you seats. "It's a bit of walk, so might as well save shoe leather. Did enough marching when I was active duty." He pulls out a bit quickly and keeps the cart at a good clip. "Hmm, don't know if I should say this, but, well, Evan's a good kid. Well, self-centered and a bit arrogant, but he's a teen. Scholarship boy here. I hope he's not in any trouble."

Carpenter nods. "We're unsure currently. We just need to ask him a few questions. He might be caught up in something he doesnt' realize yet."

Corman starts to say something then closes his mouth as he avoids a group of rich skaters.

Grimm's eyes widen a bit at the hover gold cart. She climbs in and sits back. "So he has good grades?"

Evan nods. "Top of his classes which, pardon me, chaps the @sses of some of the teachers, given he never seems to pay attention. Or so rumor goes. Haven't seen it myslef. Probably shouldn't gossip." He seems to frown at himself.

Grimm chuckles. "Wish I could ace my classes without paying attention." She'd have graduated by now.

Carpenter nods to himself. That would match the Toymaker as well. "Reminds me of a couple of kids I knew in school. Ran into some trouble when they got to college."

"Yes, I wish I had that ability. Would;ve been an officer and not had to work then," Corman says with an answering grin to Grimm.

"Yes, I can see that happening with Evan as well." Corman sighs. "Honestly, I see him mostly when I'm taking accident reports. He's prone to them. Falls down a lot...usually around older male students and their friends." He seems resigned for some reasoin.

Grimm looks to Carpenter, curious about his school life. She looks confused at the reports of Evan's accident reports. "Accident reports? He gets injured a lot?"

Carpenter nods slowly. "Bullied, more likely. If I were to hazard a guess?"

Evan looks straight ahead as he drives as he says, "I've been informed Evan is simply accident prone. And he's never stated otherwise to me. He's in counseling about with one of our in-house coucnelors...or so I've heard." His lips are a bit tight but then he sighs, "Ah, here we come to the Admin building. The...lady there is Ms. Henry, dean of students."

The dean of students is rather severely dressed in a dark grey business pants suit and is looking at her PDA as you all approach. Everything about her body language says, "I'm busy. And have no time.'

Grimm steps off the hover golf cart and lets Jack do the introductions.

Carpenter nods to the guard, "Thank you again for your help." He climbs out as well, and shows his badge to the dean. "I'm Detective Carpenter, CBPD. And this is my assistant, Miss Grimm. We're looking to speak to Evan McMasters."

Ms. Henry takes a long moment to look over Detective Carpenter's credentials then nods. "I see" she says in a clipped tone. "And may I ask what you wish to speak to Evan about? If it's something to do with drugs or violence, we'll need to know."

Carpenter nods. "It's in regards to a series of fraud cases. He's a person of interest in them. No violence or drugs involved in the cases. We would like to ask him some questions."

Grimm starts to feel very out of place on this fancy campus. She watches to see what Ms. Henry has to say.

Carpenter nods. "It's in regards to a series of fraud cases. He's a person of interest in them. No violence or drugs involved in the cases. We would like to ask him some questions."

Evan takes a deep breath. "Alright. I can understand the police's interest then." She consults her PDA. "Well, his classes are over for the day, no counseling today, and no detentions, so, hmm, he should be at gymnastic's practice. The athletic's building is over that way. I can meet you there in a few minutes. I have to rearrange a meeting." Her tone is brusque.

Carpenter nods. "Thank you again for your help." He then leads the way over toward the athletic building.

Grimm follows along, her shadow sight sweeping ahead of them toward the athletics building to make sure Evan doesn't get notified and try to make a break for it.

It's an uneventful trip over to the athletcis building or rather buildings. This complex would not be out of place at a dedicated sports college. It takes a few minutes to get directions from a helpful staff member, but he tells you that the boy's gymnastics team is just finished up in gym #4.

And indeed, once you get to gym #4, a few young guys comes bustling out of the gym, talking excitedly about getting out early as you hear a man with a Slavic accent saying, "You, McMister, do another rep. I be back to tell you what you do wrong after," and a distant door closing.

When you all enter the gym, you spot the only person remaining in the gym: Evan McMasters, who is just leaping up to the rings and starting a routing it seems.

Carpenter looks over in that direction...and goes to wait by the side until the routine is finished.

Grimm sticks to Jack's side, leaning over to whisper in his ear. "Bingo. That kid has a strong mystical aura. And here's the kicker: He's not native to our dimension."

Grimm thinks a moment. "I've seen this dimensional signature before," she murmurs.

Carpenter nods and whispers to her, "Where did you see it previously?"

"Two meta teens. I think they got by Kid Tengu and Felix? They got a whole social media presence," Grimm mentions.

Carpenter nods. "Probably associates, then."

Evan goes through a short routine that concentrates on slow, strength moves. He's fairly muscular in a lean wiry way for a teen his age. In any case, there is little trembling, but he's definitely feeling the strain. His gaze does come to rest on the two of you, then after he dismounts with a spinning twist and a nailed landing, he turns his attention fully to the two of you. "Hey," he says in a NorCal accent as he heads towards a bench and grabs a towel. A necklace is under the towel which he slips over his neck before dryong off some sweat. "So, waiting for coach or me?" he says looking between the two of you.

Grimm notes that the necklace he slipped on is magically empowered. Not strongly, just a touch. Transmutation magicks.

Carpenter smiles, "You, Mr. McMasters." He shows his badge, "Detective Carpenter, CBPD. This is my assistant, Miss Grimm. We need to ask you some questions."

And we begin our scene already in progress: Evan stands in his slightly sweat stained gymnsatics workout gear toweling his face, Detective Carpenter and Grimm stand ready to speak with him, and August is just about to enter the otherwsise deserted gym.

The red headed teen, Evan McMasters (which is also the name the Toymaker used as a grad student at the University of Edinburgh), looks between the two nups present and then at the otherwise empty gym. "Hmm, well." He smiles tentatively. "How can I help you, detective?" he says in his Northern California (NorCal) accent.

Carpenter nods, "We need to speak to you about your suspected connection to a series of attempts to defraud local pawn shops, using nanites to mess with older security systems."

August is late! He's late! The Spyder rushes out of the meeting, grabbing is bag and jets straight for the door. He sends the file loadout to Doctor Vi as he hits the street beyond the old-style revolving door. From there he uses his PDA to pull up a MagLev schedule to see what the best route to Bayside is.

He's aghast when he discovers there is no such line.

He narrows his eyes at the obvious classism, though his inner-Daemon recognizes the security benefits of such a policy.

He stops dead in his tracks and turns around the otherway, realizing he can swing 60% of the way and make up half of the time lost to the meetings discussion on 'interlocking commonalities between serial stalkers & digital intruders'.

After getting suited up he's slinging across the city. From there its a rooftop run and another change back into his civies. Then he orders an autocar for the last leg of the journey so he can cover-up his (relatively) speedy arrival. He should have just called Grimm.

Finally the car arrives and he's back underway! It isn't long before the young digital forensic expert slides into the gymnasium.

Evan blinks at the question then his tentative smile turns into a lopsided one. "Wow. Wasn't expecting you to drop right into that. Not one for beatring around the bush, are you, Detective Carpenter?"

He then glances over as August slips into the gymnasium. "Huh," he murmurs then nods before he turns his attention back to Carpenter and Grimm. "Alright, go ahead and ask, detective."

Carpenter shrugs, "We know you're involved. Why should I beat around the bush? What we want to know is why. You walked past the nanites and activated them. If you weren't involved, you wouldn't have even known they were there. We have additional evidence that links you to the case as well. Prints found at the scene."

Evan nods as he listens to Detective Carpenter lay things out. "Well, which why? Why did I destroy the nanites? Or why do I steal from thieves?" murmurs the teen as he takes a seat on a bench.

Carpenter smiles slightly. He hadn't mentioned the nanites being destroyed. Only that they were activated. Evan confirmed their suspicions. "Both."

August is suitably surprised at the teen's candor. Clearly he's missed a lot if Carpenter has already coaxed the kid to admit his guilt.

He smirks when the teen recognizes him. Its a strange feeling when he spent so much of his previous life hiding his face from everyone. He moves to join Carpenter and Grimm- though only as a silent observer, though his language translation abiliies will certainly help him paint a picture. .

"Well, I decided given the police activity at the DEMON church next door that robbing the pawn shop was an unneccesary risk. And it's always best to clean up after oneself. Only good manners, right?" He looks at Grimm for a moment then over at August before back to Carpenter."

"As to why rob thieves? Well, they're less likely to go to the police after all. Or, well, that's been my experience," murmurs the teen. "Appreantly CB thieves are different."

Carpenter watches Evan for a moment. "Or you didn't vet your targets well enough and hit one that wasn't a thief."

Evan seems to think for a moment then shakes his head "Every single target takes in stolen goods except for one drug dealer." He seems quite certain in his tone.

August's eyebrows rise but he still squeezes his lips to hold back a smirk. The kid has some serious testicular fortitude to be so calm with Carpenter biting at his heels. He wonders if Evan slipped up or if he really was cutting loose ends due to the business next door but can't think of a good way to vet the statement- though Evan's candor doe a bit of that.

He clears his htroat hoping to get Grimm's attention so she can somehow pass on tthe fact that to his honed senses, Evan McMasters is telling the truth about his targets.

Grimm was busy admiring Carpenter setting up the verbal trap for the kid. Then she gets lost in worry about how hard it'll be to use little white lies to Jack in their personal life. . o O ( How am I ever going to get away with a surprise present when he can probably deduce it?) She sideglances at August, then looks back to Evan after establishing a mind link with August. << What's up?>>

As Evan stretchs his neck, it causes the gym's lights to pick out the faint bruise on his neck.

<> August relays to Grimm.

Evan looks over at August. "I've got some sore throat suckers it you need one," he offers.

Carpenter takes a deep breath. "I'm afraid...however noble your intentions, I need to arrest you for this, Mr. McMasters." He pulls out a pair of handcuffs. He then starts to go through Evan's Miranda Rights.

<< That's just...eerie. This kid isn't from this dimension >> Grimm responds. She feels a bit bad when Carpenter plans to arrest the kid. Conflicted, even.

"I think you have more pressing problems, kid." August replies solemnly to Evan. He's pretty powerless here- even if he doesn't exactly disagree with anything the kid's presented himself.

<> He replies to Grimm, sharing his own sense of conflict within.

Evan says as Carpenter starts to speak, "You may want to wait until the Dean arrives. After all, nothing I've said to you is admissible right now. You need my parent or someone acting in loco parentis present for my words to be held against me in a court of law." He pauses for a moment. "Or are you going to try to beat it out of me later?"

Grimm gasps. "He'd never do that," she says quickly at the accusation.

<> August adds as he continues watching Evan closely.

Evan looks over at Grimm then shakes his head. "Seems to be standard from my experience, miss," disagrees Evan with a shrug.

Carpenter raises a brow. He doesn't get angry though, "Kid...you clearly claim to do your research. But you know absolutely nothing about me. Nothing. Which is interesting...because since I'm the detective who gets all of the meta cases...I deal with your sort all the time. And if you do as much research as you claim...you SHOULD know more than you do."

Carpenter says, "So, either you suck at your research...or you're just tryhing to get a rise from me. I don't care with of the two it is."

Carpenter says, "So, either you suck at your research...or you're just trying to get a rise from me. I don't care which of the two it is."

Evan looks at Carpenter for a lmong moment. "I don't break into security service databases as a rule. It's not worth the repercussions. And yes, I know what anyone who researches would know from public records. But, those are /public/ records and easily manipilated."

Carpenter smiles. "There are other methods of doing research. I remember seeing you at the coffee shop now that I see you in person. Artist, right?"

Grimm takes a breath and studies Evan. "You seem to honestly believe they were all thieves. Why even confess if you think your admissions won't stick?"

<> August replies silently to Grimm.

He cocks an eyebrow as if to punctuate her question nonetheless.

Carpenter shakes his head, "We can arrest him anyway. We have enough evidence to do so. The confession might be out. But it certainly solidified my decision to do so." He shrugs, "He can lawyer up. Maybe get out of it. That's in the area of 'not my problem'. I'll have done my job by that point."

The red headed teen nods. "Yes, I am, drawing is my chosen form."

He then looks over at Grimm. "To satisfy your curiosity, primarily. Since once I'm fully Mirandized, miranda-ded?, I will cease to speak the truth. I don't get to most of the time with nups and it's kinda refreshing."

Carpenter nods to Evan, "My only super power is the ability to pay attention to details. Works out well for the job."

Evan looks at Carpenter. "So, do you hvae to arrest me? Or are there other options? Law isn't one of my strong points, I'll admit. Just what I could scan on Juris Publica," Evan admits.

August pulls up the page in his personal HUD and flip through it, wondering how accurate this resource is.

Grimm had wanted to join law enforcement to help people. Find lost or missing kids. She idealized the job and ignored the part that she might have to arrest a troubled kid. She looks to Jack, clearly troubled and conflicted. She looks back to Evan. "Look, I know you're not from around -here-," she emphasizes as she locks eyes with him. "Maybe that could mean some leniency. But robbing from crooks isn't how you deal with them. Though...there've been metas who've done that and gotten special consideration."

Carpenter takes a deep breath. "I technically don't have to. I should, mind you."

<> AUgust says, as his mind starts putitng things together. <> He almsot implies that's a Grimm thing. Couldn't be.

Carpenter folds his arms, "Did you know that your targets...at least one of them...uses magic similar to what you've been using?"

Evan looks at Carpenter. "Would it sway your decision if I promise to stop defrauding people? It's getting harder to not trip over things here in CB." He then blurts out. "And how can you all let DEMON be around? I mean, it shuold be gone!"

That statement comes out at the same time Carpenter speaks.

And then Evan looks dumbstruck for a moment by Carpetner's question. "

"Like I use?" he states after a moment. "Which one?"

Carpenter blinks. "DEMON is a secretive cult that his hiding in society. 'How can we let them be around?' How do you expect we find them? Being a cop means being reactive." He looks to Grimm, "You said Celtic, right?"

<> August exclaims mentally to Grimm. << If your boyfriend arrests him I'm breaking him out before the Sun sets jsut to get a look at his gear.>>

<< Yeah, there's a lot of questions. What's he doing here? I can guess magic got him here. He's young...is he really alone? And...wait, mind wipe who?>> Grimm communicates direct to August's mind. She looks to Evan. "So...you really know some things about DEMON? What's your deal with them? And why are you -here-, kid?" She looks to Carpenter and nods. "Yeah, Celtic, but on the dark side of things."

Carpenter nods to Grimm, and looks back to Evan, waiting to see if he has an answer.

The red headed teen seems to think. "Well, yeah, I use some Celtic symbology and influences. I'm Scots heritage after all. Tend more to Faerie though. More flexible in meaning." He shakes his head. "But, no one I hit used magick. I would've avoided them like I did that shop out in University District."

Carpenter nods. "Well...you'd be wrong. At least the shop we spotted you near...uses it."

Evan seems off balance for the first time since the questioning began. "But, I...I must have missed it somehow." He runs a hand through his hair, messing it up a bit as he gently pulls at it. "Well...good thing w...good thing didn't go through with it."

Grimm speaks up, "They don't use the faerie aspect. More like the human sacrificing side of celtic magic."

Evan blinks again. "Oh, nope, nope, nope...Don't touch the black magick side of things. Down that way lies madness and cackling."

Carpenter nods. "You were about to say 'we'. You have an accomplice. Or more than one. And that isn't actually surprising, either."

"That sounds grizzly." August says, finally breaking the silence though more for his own purposes than anything.

<> August says directly to Grimm. <>

Evan draws in a breath through his nose then slowly lets it out. "I never said I dinn't, detective. I'm good at what I do, I'm just not a polymath at fraud. But, when I say 'I', I speak for myself and the trees. So if

...So if I say no more robbing fences, it sticks."

Carpenter nods slowly. "You didnt' say you didn't, that's true. I'm saying you do. Because every time you think you're being clever...you're not as clever as you think you are."

<> Gabrielle's confused a moment. She looks to Jack and says quietly, "Hey, can I speak to you a moment?"

Carpenter nods to Grimm, "Sure."

Evan looks at Carpenter then nods. "I agree. Hopefully I'll get old enought to be clever."

Grimm steps aside with Carpenter, preparing to use her literal powers of persuasion with him. She leans in to whisper, "So you remember how those prints had a scar on the right index finger? My shadow sight shows he doesn't have the same scar."

"So you're a quick one, huh?" August says to Evan, making small talk with Evan. "They sure didn't teach those moves when I did gymnastics as kid. If I could pull those moves off I would have gotten away with a whole lot moe B&Es than I did." He chuckles. "

Carpenter furrows his brow and whispers to Grimm, "Are you sure?"

Evan looks at August for a long moment then fiddle with the necklace around his neck. "I was running. For all I knew, you were private security looking to disappear me."

"Or someone with DEMON. Same difference."

Grimm nods softly to Jack. "I'm just sure it's not there."

Grimm adds, "Have him show us his hands."

Carpenter takes a deep breath and whispers to Grimm, "There are two things about that, if you're right. First...we can't likely arrest him, if the print isn't his. Second, he mgiht be working with another dimensional version of himself." He nods, and heads back over to where Evan and August are still speaking.

"Nothing wrong with a healthy case of paranoia. At least that's what I always say." August says before Carpenter and Grimm arrive.

Grimm nods softly to Jack. "We should check for sure then," she whispers. "Dimensional alters can sometimes have the same prints, I think."

Carpenter looks to Evan curiously. "Do you mind if we can see your hands, Evan? Liek this." He holds up his hands, palm out, fingers spread.

Evan blinks then holds up his hands, his fingers spread in the way Carpenter demonstrates. "Looking for something, detective?"

And, indeed, the scar is not present on his right index finger. No sign of there ever being one.

Carpenter nods. "I was, yes. And it's not there." He furrows his brow. "I won't be arresting you. At least...today." Not enough evidence to make it stick.

August looks as pleased as he is surprised. If one didn't know him, you might even think he was relieved.

Grimm frowns a bit. "True...you can't arrest him. But...we know he's special. And he's said some things. Maybe we can still have someone in the hero community to try and straigthen him out." It's so ironic to hear herself talk responsibly.

Carpenter nods slowly, and says to Grimm, "Have someone in mind?"

Evan blinks again then rallies. "I have contact with someone who was a hero back in the day if that is waht you want. Someone to watch over me?"

August thinks that's a great idea! He can think of at least one Spyder who will be checking in on the youngster- if only to see what kind of tech he brought with him from whereever he's from.

e jams his hands in his pockets inconspicuously.

Carpenter looks to Evan, "Clearly whoever it is didnt' keep you out of trouble this time."

The teen than adds, "Well, two of them actually. Only one was a hero of record. The other was a mage." The teen smiles lopsidedly. "Neither are aware of my, ah, extracairuclar activites."

Grimm thinks on Carpenter's request for a recommendation. "Well. Someone we could trust would be on the straight and narrow. There's too few ros who wouldn't bend the rules. Hmm..."

August can't disagree with that as much as he'd like.

Evan murmurs, "One of then is the Bloodhound."

Carpenter looks skeptical. "The Bloodhound would be over a hundred years old. I don't think he had any superpowers to speak of. Just an esoteric martial art."

"Well, um, no, he's not over a hundred years old. Well, technically, yes, he is. But, uh, he's a ghost now. Has been since his death," says Evan.

Grimm blinks. "Guess that's why I never heard of him." She sighs and looks to Carpenter. "I'm not exactly sure who I'd recommend to...I dunno, mentor him on what's right. Most metas I know would overlook this or encourage it."

Evan murmurs, "I can state I will never rob a fence again...well, unless someone's life in is danger."

Carpenter nods slowly, and looks to Grimm, "How about you?"

August shrugs unhelpfully. He's just tech support... and he'd proabbly fluctuate between encouraging, ignoring & feeling guilty about the other last two hours of ignoring & encouraging the behavior.

Grimm laughs, then stops. "What, are you serious? I'm a terrible role model."

Carpenter nods. "I'm serious. And you're not a terrible role model."

August backs away slowly. Quietly. He's not getting involved in /that/.

Grimm is totally surprised by this. "I'm...flattered. I guess I never saw myself as that."

Carpenter smiles. "It's just a thought. I understand if you dont' want to. Or can't with what you have going on. But...we should come up with someone. I can guarantee that I'm too busy to do it." He takes a deep breath again...and says to Evan, "I'll be in touch after I do a little research to find a suitable mentor. Or Grimm here will let you know."

August purses his lips as he has an internal struggle between his Inner-Daemon & Inner-Slinger as his personality matrix parameters conflict.

Evan watches the three of you then puts in, "If I can put in? I, we, came to CB because of nups. To get away from them. Trust, well, it's not something that's easy. Just saying."

August can't help but appreciate that perspective.

Carpenter raises a brow. "You're right. Trust is earned. And you haven't earned mine yet."

Carpenter says, "In fact, I think you exhibit some of the worst aspects I've seen of metas in this town. For example: the self-rigtheous attitude that you can just...ignore the right way to do things."

<> August says to Grimm over their link.

Grimm grins faintly at Carpenter. "Well...that also describes most teens there."

Grimm thinks back to August << You know 100% that he's thinking exactly about Daemon.>>

Evan looks at Carpenter then shakes his head, his tone dry and older than his physical age. "And right back at you, detective, about trust. I protect the family I have. I know crime is wrong. I learned that at my mom's side. It's also the only way to stay out of the hands of nups, well meaning and otherwise, for us right now." He stands up and cracks his neck. " I'm sure you'll keep an eye on me. Contact me when you decide on a keeper."

Carpenter sighs, "Yes. The others who came with your from the same dimension. Keep your nose clean in the meantime, McMasters. I don't want to have to arrest you. But I will if I get enough evidence to do so."

<> August replies with an ironic smirk. << But maybe Loverboy is right. These kids should have a better rolemodel than me.>> He gives the kid a salute as he turns to leave.

Evan sharugs as he picks up his gym bag. "The problem is, I do like you and I understand where you are coming from. All of you. But we were born among monsters so that's what we see." He heads towards the lcoker room door.

As he does, the Dean shows up, finally, at the door to the gymnasium. "Ah, I see you're donw with Mr. McMasters?"

Grimm thinks on things a bit as Evan goes. "Hmm. I might have some ideas of possible mentors. But I'd have to talk to them. They have enough on their plates."

Something about what the kid says breaks August's heart a bit. He really hates how soft this personality matrix mix-up has made him- but he still can't find a way to seperate his personality matrix. Worse, his brain is beginning to secrete the crystalline memory fibers meaning his 'self' is digging in and 'taking root' so to speak.

Carpenter nods to the Dean, "I think so, yes. Thank you. No issues with Mr. McMasters for the time being, but he was...still helpful in the investigation."

"Well, I was afraid that he may be in something over his head. He's overly aware of how smart he is and doesn't take into account that's he's still a child," says the Dean Hardesty. "I wish he'd stay here more often in the dorms, but his guardian's given him permission to stay off campus with a friend. We could keep a better eye on him if he'd stay put."

Carpenter nods. "Can you give me the contact information for his guardian? I think that would help."

August recognizes all those emotions, even if he doubts that Evan McMasters can himself. He sees a lot of himself in those emotions too- and so he pauses, watching the interactions thoughtfully.

"Certainly. Just a moment," Dean Hardesty says as she consults her PDA. "Shall I send it to your number on your card?"

Carpenter nods. "That would work well, thank you."

The Dean scroll through some records. "Hmm, ah, here it is. Just have a PDA number and name. Well, and the paperwork naming him guardian signed by Evan's mother."

Grimm watches where Evan went, thinking deeply on what she observed. She formulates some theories in her mind, but keeps them to herself while the Dean is there.

Carpenter nods. "Hmm. You have a name to go with it, I hope?"

The info flashes to Carpenter's PDA. The number is the local area code and the name is Chalmers Hornbeck.

Carpenter nods. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

"Of the guardian or the mother? Evan's mother is Kathryn McMasters. I've never met her, well, briefly, when she dropped him off. Very tall woman. I see where he gets his height," says the Dean.

Carpenter nods. "I had thought they were one and the same. Sorry for my confusion."

"Oh, no, Ms. McMasters put Evan in our care when she dropped him off nine months ago. Mr. Hornbeck became Evan's guardian of record, oh, a little over one month ago," answerts Dean Hardesty.

"Huh..." is all Gabrielle comments, distracted in her analysis of Evan's mental state.

Carpenter nods. "Hmm. Thank you."

August is of course lost in the depths of his own existential nightmare, so he remains quiet.