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The building that Sylvia approaches that afternoon presents a warm facade of red brick and turquoise-painted aluminum awnings, but it's just a facade, a nice face for passers-by.  The building's remaining walls feature nothing more decorative than square concrete blocks and windows with bleak views of the facing alleys, and Sylvia fights down an urge to turn away.  Last time she was here, the police wanted to talk to her about her part in Torrance Shipman's collapse, and while she's convinced she's one of the good guys, the very sight of the station makes her feel like one of the bad guys.

She's beginning to feel the absurdity of channeling all her requests for police help through Colin.  It's time for her to make nice with the po-po on her own terms.

She trots up the steps to the main entrance and waits until she can secure the attention of the tired uniform behind the desk.  "I'm here to see the PPD, please."

The desk sergeant doesn't bother to look up, he points towards the elevator.  "12th floor, follow the green line, door on the left."  and he goes back to scribbling away at his work.

The trip is not long.  the green line painted on the floor certainly leads the way and Sylvia finds the door easy enough.  The PCD office has only a few desks.  It's on the back side of the building so it's windows have a lovely view of the police parking lot below.  Their are a pait of men here, Sylvia recognizes one as Kevin Kiernan.  The other isn't someone she's seen before, he seems to be making an origami swan, or perhaps a frog, or perhaps he's not doing it right.

"Can we help you miss?"  Kiernan asks.

Sylvia struggles with herself.  She was counting on Colin's not-quite-dad being here to pave the way.  She steadies her voice and tries to present herself like a grown-up.  "I'm Colin Crow's friend Sylvia.  I came to talk to--"  Her gaze shifts to the origami-folding stranger, and she can't help but open the door toward retreat.  "Are you busy?  I could come back later when Chris is around."

"Chris is working a case.  And we're not busy.  What is it you needed?"

The origami man growls slightly and then tosses the mangled creation into a drawer, where a zoo or badly mutated origami live.

Sylvia clears the nervous tightness of her throat.  "Um, I was wondering if it'd be possible to get some information."  She projects the rest to Kevin.  --on a case.  The fire at the law offices of Gerald Tanner.  "I'm supposed to do a report for Career Day, and I thought it'd be cool to talk about the PPD.  I thought it'd be more exciting than this, though."  She gestures at the crumpled pigeons and cranes.

"It's therapy."  the origami zoo keeper says, "It helps me relax."  He rises and grabs his coat, "Going for a soda.  Want anything Kevin?"

Kiernan shakes his head and the other detective leaves.  "So, Sylvia.  You think the fire is connected to something at school, or just bored?"

Sylvia waits a moment and steps in close to speak more privately.  "It's hard to explain the connection.  The short story is that someone I know has a knack for picking things at random, so I asked her to pick an article out of a file full of clippings I've been keeping.  The Gerald Tanner story came up, and I decided that meant it needed investigating.

"Things aren't boring.  There's a teacher administering mutagen to cheerleaders.  But I can't look into that immediately, so I thought I'd try this."

"Muta..."  Kevin shakes his head.  "I don't want to know."  he gets up and goes to a file cabinet.  He carries a folder to the copy machine and begins to run off the pages.  "You can take this with you.  It's the case file.  We have it because the fire investigator is pretty sure it had to be a paranormal.  No chemicals, strange way the fire spread.  You get any insights feel free to call."  When he's finished he gives Sylvia the copies.  "Mutagen?"   He puts the original away.  "You get anything, on the fire or the mutagen, you call me.  Okay?"

Sylvia nods, glad finally to meet some adult who's willing to take charge.  But it's too late.  She's gotten used to handling her own business.  "I thought Colin already talked to you guys about the mutagen.  He said we needed more evidence before you could get involved.

"That's what we're trying to do," she confides.  "We're trying to find his stash, or his formula, or his equipment.  Something."

"He probably talked to Chris.  We generally don't share confidential informants, so I'll hear from Chris when we're going to get involved."  Kevin goes back to his desk.  "Anything else I can help you with?"

Sylvia nods, looking at the doorways to see if the origami man is around.  "Who's that guy?  The new guy?  I thought it was just you and Chris."

Kevin shakes his head, "He's not new.  He was on vacation back in England.  My partner before Chris.  Nigel York.  He and Blaire are partners now while I'm showing Chris the PCD thing."

"Does he know about us?" she asks.  "And by 'us' I mean Colin and company."

"In a manner of speaking, which is probably why he left.  He knows Chris has a CI at the school, and that CI has some amazing insights.  But we try to keep the details vague."

"Using initialisms to confuse the civilians is so lame," Sylvia complains.  "What's a CI?"

"Confidential Informant.  Sorry, sometimes I forget that most professions need a code book to follow."

"Is that the same as a fink?"

Kevin looks at Sylvia for a minute before answering.  "You watch too many bad crime drama's Sylvia.  But that is a term that gets used.  Mostly by old school thugs."

Colin is a fink.  Sylvia gets a little kick out of that.

"Thanks for the information."  She hefts the file Kevin gave her and tucks it in her tote bag.  "If we get any leads on this stuff, one of us will let you know."

"Be careful."  Kevin says.  "I don't want to have to go to someone's house to tell them their child has been killed while trying to be a hero."

Sylvia grimaces.  "Neither do I.

"But it's not like we go looking for trouble.  Trouble comes to us.  And I'm tired of waiting around for it to spoil my day."

Kevin just nods as Sylvia leaves.