Half an hour later, Renard called Nick and Hancock into his office and handed them several faxed pages. "These are the case files from the Phoenix Police Department."
Nick glanced at the crime scene photos taken at the time. As expected, they showed a "mummified corpse." Beside him, Hancock read out the victim's identity.
"The murder took place five years ago. George Dixon, twenty-five, was a groomsman last seen at a bachelor party. No suspect was found, only these fingerprints. The groom's engagement ring, worth ten thousand dollars, was missing from the scene."
"What do you think? Could this be a serial killer?" Renard seemed to be asking both of them, but his eyes remained fixed on Nick.
Nick opened his phone and set it directly on Renard's desk. On the screen was the illustration from the scroll he had photographed earlier. "I suspect the killer could be this."
Renard glanced at Hancock in surprise. He said nothing, but his eyes held a question.
"Hank learned about Wesen during the Goat Wesen case. I told him I was a Grimm."
Nick then said to Hancock, "The Police Inspector is on our side too. He's willing to help us handle Wesen affairs and keep everything from disturbing the public."
He deliberately described Renard as being on their side in front of both men. Hancock naturally caught his meaning and nodded. "Honestly, when I first learned there were so many 'monsters' hiding among us, it really scared the hell out of me."
Renard forced the corners of his mouth upward, seemingly indicating that he felt the same. He felt an indescribable awkwardness inside.
"So what kind of... uh, monster is this?" He leaned closer to the phone to study the illustration. "Some kind of spider?"
"An onmyoji from Japan called her a