[Arthur, Ned, Cersei]
It was only the first of the year and the IPD already had a violent death on their hands. Nothing more than a boy, too, stabbed to death by a young girl. Vimes knew that the traditions of Westeros branded them both adults already, but he still couldn't think of them as anything but kids.
So much for happy new year.
It was self-defense, pretty damn clear and simple. A mother protecting her child. The boy had attacked, the girl had lashed out in only way she had been able to. They were still going through the evidence, still conducting interviews, but Vimes was sure nothing more complicated would come to light. Maybe it didn't make it all right, but it made it understandable - and sometimes that was enough. But it didn't make what he now had to do any easier.
Lord Stark had insisted on being there, and Vimes had asked Arthur to stay in hopes that it might prevent blood from being spilled in the IPD office. And the Lannister woman was on her way.
The room was deathly quiet. Vimes was at the desk, carefully flipping through paperwork, face dark and set. It was going to be a long day.
So much for happy new year.
It was self-defense, pretty damn clear and simple. A mother protecting her child. The boy had attacked, the girl had lashed out in only way she had been able to. They were still going through the evidence, still conducting interviews, but Vimes was sure nothing more complicated would come to light. Maybe it didn't make it all right, but it made it understandable - and sometimes that was enough. But it didn't make what he now had to do any easier.
Lord Stark had insisted on being there, and Vimes had asked Arthur to stay in hopes that it might prevent blood from being spilled in the IPD office. And the Lannister woman was on her way.
The room was deathly quiet. Vimes was at the desk, carefully flipping through paperwork, face dark and set. It was going to be a long day.