Charlotte followed O'Conner out of her shoppe and to a nearby carriage. She hesitated before seeing the Bureau's insignia on the door as well. It was strange to see an officer with a carriage, though. They usually walked or rode on their horses everywhere. 

"The Bureau is rather far away," O'Conner informed as he opened the door for her. She stepped in and sat on one of the benches. She glanced out the window, seeing the sun starting to peak through the buildings.

"How far away is it?" she asked before the officer sat down and closed the door.

"About a twenty minute ride. We should be there pretty soon," O'Conner explained as the coach moved. "You'll be back before you know it."

"I hope so. I hate to leave my two students on their own for too long."

"Are they not as competent as they look?"

"What? No, they're extremely competent. I just feel guilty for leaving them with the shoppe on such short notice," Charlotte informed in a scolding tone. O'Conner frowned and leaned back in his seat. "Who is your supervisor, anyway? I've been working with the Bureau for a while, and I would like to know who he is."

"Her name is Officer Susan Barker, she's in charge of the homicide division," O'Conner corrected.

"I've never met her, but I think I've helped some of her subordinates with truth serums and such. I'm surprised that she called you to retrieve me, though. I'm not sure how much help I'm going to be," Charlotte sighed. It was strange to be called on by someone that she had never met. Although, she didn't find herself nervous or uncomfortable.

The rest of the carriage ride was in mostly silence. Charlotte would remark on sites and businesses as they passed, making a mental note to get out of her shoppe more often. It had been a while since she had explored the streets of Strathmore, and thought that she should indulge herself once in a while.

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Bureau of Security Office building. O'Conner hopped out first and offered his hand toward Charlotte, who ignored it. The coach pulled away once she had stepped off, and they were left in the street. O'Conner led the way inside and to the right department.

The building was a lot bigger than Charlotte would have guessed. There were also a lot people milling around, carrying memos and important documents. It was strange for Charlotte to see so many people rushing everywhere without using magic. She didn't really spend extensive amounts of time with the non witches of Strathmore. She didn't avoid them, but there weren't very many near her house or her shoppe.

O'Conner showed her the way to the homicide division and knocked on a large wooden door. A tall woman answered the door. Her nearly black eyes were intimidating with her light brown hair tied into a ponytail on the back of her head. Charlotte swallowed before the woman smiled.

"Well done, O'Conner. I wasn't sure you would be able to convince her," she informed, patting him on the shoulder. Susan looked over Charlotte, a little skeptical. "My name is Officer Susan Barker. I assume that you're Madame Dragyn?"

"That would correct. It's a pleasure to meet you," Charlotte replied, bowing her head in greeting. Susan nodded, and smiled just the same.

"My pleasure as well. Come on in, we have some things to discuss." Susan motioned for both of them to enter her office before she sat down at her desk. Charlotte took one of the chairs across from her as O'Conner stood by the door.

"Officer O'Conner informed me that you need me for a murder investigation," Charlotte began, frowning. Susan took a deep breath and nodded.

"Unfortunately, we do. It has come to my attention that you might familiar with the murderer, and I was hoping that you could give us some insight," she informed solemnly.

"As I told Officer O'Conner, I'm not sure how much help I can be. I was fourteen when my parents were murdered, and I can't remember what was going on in their lives," Charlotte quickly explained. Susan grabbed a notepad from her desk and started to write.

"Would you be willing to answer a few questions? Maybe something will help," Susan wondered. Charlotte thought for a moment before giving in. "Do you remember what you were doing on that day?"

"On the day they died, you mean? Well, I was studying for my entrance exam to get into the Rinsine School of Magics. I was in the backroom of my mother's shoppe while she worked," Charlotte replied over the scribbling.

"And where did she work?"

"Well, I inherited the shoppe, so the same place I work now."

"And was her name also Madame Dragyn?"

"It was, but I don't see why that's relevant," Charlotte informed quickly. Susan apologized, crossing out something.

"What did your father do?"

"He was her assistant under the name Lord Dragyn. They were happy in that shoppe, and everyone in the community loved them." Charlotte found herself getting defensive of her parents, who had done nothing wrong. Susan took a deep breath.

"I understand, and I am sorry that this happened to them," the officer replied, realizing that she was going a bit fast. Charlotte nodded, relaxing a bit. "Did you realize anything odd that happened that evening?"

"I remember that they were going out for a little bit, and that I should head home. I remember that they wanted to have an evening to themselves, and my sister was already at home as well."

"Is your sister a witch as well?"

"Not exactly. She was born with the power, but decided not to study and rely on it. She wanted to have a different direction in life."

"And did you see her when you got home that night?"

"I did. We hung out in our room together the entire time. It was the next morning when we found out that our parents had been murdered," Charlotte answered. Susan continued to write notes as O'Conner shifted uncomfortably.

"Was there any outbursts during when the shoppe was open? Any strange occurrences?"

"Not that I remember."

"Were you present at the crime scene after you found out that your parents had passed?"

"Yes, I was brought to the murder scene with my sister, and we saw our parents mutilated with a message of hate written on the wall in their blood," Charlotte informed harshly, growing angry. She didn't want to remember her parents that way. She wanted to remember them as they were. As they were supposed to be.

Susan didn't say anything as her pencil went across the paper. Charlotte stood from her seat, surprising both the officers.

"Do you remember what was written on that wall? Was that ever reported in your endless papers and folders?" Charlotte whispered. Susan stared, hardly intimidated by the Madame. "Cast them in water, burn them down, witches will be killed and buried in hallowed ground. Now, I don't know about you, but that is something that I've never forgotten about. It was the most frightening thing I have seen in my life. And, if you don't mind, I would like to see the crime scene."

"You want to see the crime scene?" Susan asked curiously. 

"Yes, because if this is the bastard that did indeed kill my parents, then they will have left a message. I will be damned before I let them walk the streets a free person," Charlotte replied sternly. Susan stared a moment before smirking, placing her notebook in the desk drawer.

"As you wish," the officer answered, standing from her chair with a slip of paper in her hand. She handed it her subordinate as he walked across the room. "O'Conner, show Madame Dragyn the scene, and make sure that she has access to everything she needs. We will catch the bastard yet."

"We better," Charlotte agreed before walking out of the room.