Inspector Javert

[The entire announcement is filtered from Alice Liddell. The initial part of this video broadcast is made via official channels, with the caller ID exhibited simply as SCPD.]

Young women from their teenaged years to their middle twenties are cautioned to keep out of the dark. You have all heard the news by now unless you are blind to the papers. Or unable to read.

Walk in pairs, or keep a sturdy man close at hand. There will be no official curfew yet, but it is not wise to be out alone past dusk.

The Somarium Police Department is also accepting any worthy scraps of information concerning the recent murders. A reward of up to ten thousand credits will be paid to the most valuable spies. The identity of the murderer is top importance. All information concerning this ugly matter shall be sent to Chief Inspector Javert at the Government District Police Headquarters.

[This second message is made in the same backdrop as the first - a clean wall behind a massive, looming, dark and authoritative figure, files stacked beside him on what appears to be a desk. Chief Inspector Javert's jaw twitches subtly, the furrows between his brows lowering a millimeter or two. He is very tired and a touch melancholic, but calm and in remarkable control.]

There is a girl in need of a competent new caretaker. She is well-groomed, Christian, and under ten years of age.

Don't call me about it unless you have time and serious interest. I am not a pawnbroker for children; I will expect a faithful and fair commitment to the girl.

[The video opens to a blank white with a dim shadow at the left corners. It is a moving shadow. There is a faint, muffled rustling sound, and a black, fluid shape - a bedsheet - flutters. Now the indecipherable, severe mutterings of a man's voice can be heard.

The video feed jerks sharply. A bare, hairy foot kicks at the screen, gnarled toes grasping. There is an odd scraping, clanging sound in the background.]

Wretched bitch will pay for this, I swear it!

[The speaker, whose face and body is not visible beyond that reaching foot, does not seem to be aware of any voyeurs this morning.]

[Javert was never very good at public addresses. He was not one to play politics. He was respectful to his superiors, but he was always in the habit of saying things as he saw them. He was never particularly good at holding his tongue.

Therefore, when he made his first video announcement over the DreamBerry network, it may come as a surprise to some to hear that he would not beat around the bush. An exceedingly calm, cold voice matched with an equally stern, deeply lined face pierces fiercely through the transmission, the gleam of authority in his eye.]

Now, how may of you out there had an acquaintance or friend spirit away?

The police service is but five pairs of eyes. Rather than idle about in your cafés and wait for them to spirit their way back, I suggest the public to submit missing persons reports in a quick and timely manner. We will track them and investigate their connection. This organizes society, a feature this country apparently lacks.

[There was a certain dryness and pomposity of tone that, to the observant, would have indicated agitation in the good Inspector. And it was for more reasons than a simple neglect to report a specific disappearance. He has experienced a rude shock upon an old acquaintance's reappearance, one that he knew would view this very transmission in time.

Let the old man see it, then.]

If you have need of these or any other services of the police, you will call or send here. An agent will be assigned to the case.