To catch the beast!

‘The beast,’ said Redmond, ‘has to be stopped.’
‘Who, or what,’ replied Riolta, ‘is the beast?’
‘That’s exactly what I’m trying to find out. In the court at the moment a terrible rash of murders have begun. We’ve just about kept them quiet for now. But they have been appalling. Bodies torn apart, ripped open. Horrible sadism. I’ve seen them. There have been two victims so far. Lady Verdina Blackhope and Lady Permiscuta. Beautiful young women of great noble families. Their lives have met with foul play of the most odious kind. It's strange. As if their bodies have been torn apart by a wild beast. Like a wolf, a bear or demon.’
'Are there many wolves running about the court at the moment?'
'We know there's a least one beast. It could be that our assailant changes shape.'
‘Interesting. A shape changing murderer in the court?'
'I hardly need to impress upon you the importance of confidentiality.'

What’s your part in this?’
‘I’m a Captain of the City Watch.’

Riolta laughed. ‘What are you going to do, officer? Put me on the payroll?’
‘Well that’s the thing. We don’t have jurisdiction over the court. There is no jurisdiction over the court. There are no investigative procedures there. They’re self-policing. Except when something like this happens, and then they come running to the city watch, expecting to be protected.’ At this, Redmond sighed, as if deflating. ‘I’ve been appointed to catch the beast.’

‘Lucky you. So where do I fit in to this?’
‘Well,’ said Redmond. ‘It’s like this. I’m a working man. They’re nobles. I haven’t got any status. If I go to the court and get in the faces of nobles asking if they’re a psychopathic **** who rips his victims apart, they’re going to shut me out fast. And the murders will continue. We can’t have that.’
‘So?’
‘But if you come with me as my partner, we can get into the court together. They’ll accept you. You’re successful and your exploits are known to them. They’ll be more receptive to you. You have, I understand, been courted by the young Duke Leo von Schwechlen, have you not?’

Riolta remembered the young Duke. His huge cock was something that she hadn’t been able to forget recently.

‘You think he might be of use to us?’
‘I think he might be the beast.’
Riolta was appalled. ‘He’s a suspect?’
‘He is a suspect, yes. One of four suspects in the court at this time.’
‘You think the murderer is a noble?’
‘It has to be. Both murders took place after balls in the court. No-one else has access.’

‘What do I care if a load of noble tarts get themselves chopped up by some dandy lunatic?’
‘I guess you wouldn’t have to care about that. I wouldn’t care. But knowing you as I do – and I’ve been following your work – I have a fancy that you’d dig getting up the arses of some of these nobles.’

Riolta sipped her wine demurely. The thought did excite her.

‘Ok,’ she said. ‘Give me a badge. I’m in.’