May 14th: Well, this is different...

[Narrator]

The big tree in the center of the quad, the meeting place for so many people, was a little different.

The trunk now twisted in a 90 degree angle.

[John Hino]

Walking by, John noticed the tree and went in for a closer look.

"O...kay..."

[Lei Heng]

Lei walks around the tree, giving it a wary look.

[Narrator]

There had been magic here--and recently, too. The damn thing stank of it.

[Lei Heng]

Taking a carton of salt out of her pocket, Lei continues circling the tree while spreading salt on the ground around it.

[Eric Osgood]

Eric looks on from a distance, curious with what Lei was doing.

[Narrator]

The salt circle in place, the sense of magic OUTside the circle suddenly vanished.

[Lei Heng]

Lei took a cigarette out of her pocket and lit it, taking a drag.

[Eric Osgood]

"So, salt fixes crooked trees now? This is a magic thing, then?"

[Lei Heng]

"Salt doesn't fix a damn thing," Lei says, "It purifies."

"I'm not a gardener. Let someone else fix the damn tree. Hopefully soon. It's snarling the campus' qi."

[Eric Osgood]

Eric cocked his head, turning it sideways like Bobby Goren.

"Well, it's easier to climb now at least."

[Lei Heng]

"I'm seriously starting to get the feeling that someone's just fucking with us," Lei grumbles.

[Eric Osgood]

"Well, let's be proactive then, and go kick his ass."

[Lei Heng]

"Yeah, because I can totally figure out who's doing this from a bent tree," Lei says, sounding annoyed.

[Eric Osgood]

"Well, It's a start. We investigate, right? find out what else weird has happened recently? Find a link? I might not know magic, but I've watched crime shows on RTE."