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"No BS, eh?" Qui says. "I think I could get to like you, Mekuztli. It's refreshing to not have to dance around the point a dozen times to get to the meat of the matter. I recognize that it's been many years since you've been in the field and you may be unaccustomed to making quick decisions. If something similar happens again, make sure to do something about the bodies. Luckily, I had the situation tightly locked down and under control. In different circumstances, we could get the wrong people asking questions, and that's not something I want to be dealing with considering everything else on my plate at the moment." He sighs. "Which brings me to the events of last night when Ward attacked me on my own turf. I'm sure you've heard by now that the Gangrel prisoner we took during the hunt was freed—though from what little I was able to squeeze out of him in the short time we had together, it seems like he was more afraid of Ward than he was of me. I need to find the ones responsible for this, Mekuztli. I don't care if the perpetrators are licks or mortals. I'll catch them eventually."

You keep your face neutral while acknowledging him with a nod.

"Members of my elite squad claim to have seen you exiting the same alleyway as the prisoner and Robert Ward. Why were you there? Did you speak to either of them before they escaped?"

"Interesting," Qui says. "So he didn't try to put you down? No damage, no gunfire? He has some special designs for you. I'm sure of it now."

"It wasn't like that," you stammer. "I didn't even know it was Ward at first. I thought it was one of your officers running up behind the prisoner. By the time I knew it was Ward, it was too late for me to stop him."

The Sheriff stays silent for a moment and looks you square in the eyes, clenching his jaw for several uncomfortable seconds before he finally speaks. "I believe you. But you'd best be careful what you say to anyone else who asks. I like to think that I'm a good judge of character, but others might not have as keen an insight into the motivations of their fellow Kindred." Qui leans forward. "What did you notice about the Feral's demeanor? Obviously he was running for his un-life, but who was he running from? Me or Ward?"