The rain was coming down hard when Arthur had arrived at the scene, the water already beginning to pool into large muddy patches across the area. Plenty of trees in this part of Wisconsin, but the investigation was looking at this clearing, where yet another brutalized body has turned up. Report says some campers came across it, a father and his young son. What the report didn't say was what a mess it would be.
Arthur knelt down beside the body, observing every nick and cut on the skin, every bruise, every puncture. It'd be a wonder if there was a drop of blood left in this guy. And then of course there were the teeth marks, and the strange hoof prints that had been left out of the report.
"Beautiful night ain't it Arthur?" The voice that had called out came from a man standing off to the side, who'd spent a fair amount of time silently observing things for himself. "Almost makes you wish we hadn't been dragged into the middle of nowhere to see nothing new."
"Good to see you too Peter." Arthur mumbled in response. "What's the story on the prints and other strange marks? It's looking like some kind of cervine was involved in this? That's... New I guess."
Peter shook his head hearing this, the feelings of annoyance starting to throb in his mind like a headache. "Yeah, well maybe we're dealing with gene manipulating deer, I dunno and I don't personally care. You think we'll be able to figure out who this guy is?"
Arthur nodded from side to side, signaling there was a good chance. "Well he's still got his face, and if we look a bit closer... Yep, looks like he's got teeth still. If this guy is anyone we should know, we will know soon enough." Arthur stood back up, looking around the area. "You know why they called us out here Peter? I mean, a murder is a murder you know. Yet they decide we're needed all the way out in Wisconsin-"
"Shut it Arthur." Peter monotonously snapped at his partner. "I don't want to hear any more about this being that 'cult' or 'gang's' doing. I'm getting sick of hearing about them, really and truly." Peter produced a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one up, and began puffing away at it. "I'm not saying any of that to be rude Arthur, but honestly, it's a bunch of sensationalism. A couple crimes are committed, someone produces some 'evidence' linking a creepy looking group to it, and suddenly you've got an online joke that's become a real life conspiracy. I mean the crimes don't even ever fit together, some of the evidence contradicts each other, and this? A deer?"
Arthur stood back up, looking around at the ground, the body, and the trees on the outskirts of the clearing, shaking his head slowly. "Honestly Peter, I have no clue. I'm as lost about this as you, and neither of us even know why we're out here..." He sighed, before looking at the body once more. "Well at least one thing seems certain at this point.
Peter cocked an eyebrow hearing this, pulling the cigarette away from his mouth a moment. "And what's that partner?"
With a look back at his partner, Arthur smirked. "Some of the people doing this are the same." He pointed to the body. "Some of the cuts and teeth marks... I can already tell I've seen them at other scenes before." Arthur looked back to Peter now, his gaze a bit more serious. "We're hunting these people down. That's the job we've been given. To somehow find Commedia dell'arte, or whoever it is that's responsible for this."
There was a slight eye roll as Peter walked over to Arthur. "Look, I'm not trying to insult you over this stuff. You and me have been through a lot together Arthur, we both know that. I just don't want you getting caught up in some wild goose chase, especially if any of this ends up being legit and gets targets on our backs." He smirked slightly as he put a hand on Arthur's shoulder and leaned in closer to him. "Look, we've done all we can here for tonight. The evidence has already been pretty well taken care of, we're not doing much good beyond that now. There's a plane that's heading back to NYC in 3 hours. I think we can make it there in time, if we hustle now. So come on, let's head back home."
Arthur shrugged mildly in agreement. "I guess that's as good an idea as any." His eyes lingered over the body, and the clearing once more, his mind trying to recreate a horror he would rather wish to not see. "Can't be any worse than this place..." His words trailed off as his eyes watched the strange hoof prints on the ground, seeing them fade as he and Peter began to make their way back to NYC.