Remembering Lucian's advice should things get too bad, Dalton briefly considers bolting, but thinks better of it for the time being.
Morgrym waits for the phone as well and puts in a call to his sire also.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
James has to take a bit of a walk but he finds another pay phone,
Kevin gets on the phone, "WHAT THE F~#+ ARE YOU DOING IN CHICAGO James!?"
Morgrym heada round the block entirely in search of his phone,
Dalton watches the others depart, presumably to seek out assistance from those that they may know here in the city, the question is, will anyone help a Coterie of strangers and Neonates?
First to his sire: "Sir. Long story but the head of our local sent me with some other apprentices to Chicago to carry a message to the shop steward up here. Only the steward is nowhere to be seen, and the local executive board has filed a major grievance against our group. We're framed for the old bastard missing work and set up to take the fall for it. If we can't figure out where he ended up, we're set to be forcefully removed from the Union in two days."
Second to the ghouls. "Good to hear from you, boys. Had to go on an unexpected work retreat. I need you two to bring the car over to the Sear's Tower. Make sure the trunk has plenty of, uh, party supplies, yeah?
Victoria makes a show of tapping her foot impatiently at the phone.
"So far, we have no idea who perpetrated the attack--that's what we're trying to investigate now. Either Prince Lodin is genuinely dead, or he's putting on quite the elaborate disappearing act. I'm not certain the Sheriff would be so eager to make us into scapegoats otherwise..."
"...unless perhaps he hopes to seize power for himself."
Then she starts talking into the dead phone.
"Hi, honey. It's me. Sorry, had to work really late again. How's Jamie doing?"
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
"Damn, we all the way back in Gary, weren't sure what else to do when that chopper showed up. No problem, plenty of party people around here, soonest we can get there is an hour thirty, that all right?"
A Neonate claiming to be from Gary is visiting with Dr. Mortius as we speak. Do you know anything about this?"
As the calls come to and end and the van containing sustenance pulls away, the Coterie is left out in the cold across from the Sears Tower the time ticking ever faster it seems...
At that moment, a motorcycle, an Indian vintage model, screeches up next to the Tower and the rider pulls off a helmet. The helmet comes off and long blonde locks are revealed. The woman wears a leather jacket and turns about looking for someone, her eyes pierce the gloom in the alley where you all stand. She throws out the kickstand and heads in your direction.
Rick waves to her.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
She walks over to the Coterie wearing am impish grin, "Oh you are new around here to be sure. Coming out an waving, what if I was here to kill you?
I'm not, I'm Kate and I'm here to help you. So where are we headed to?"
"Who among us are you looking for?"
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
"I'm here looking for you scruffy, you're Rick North. I'm Kate, I'm who you need, a mutual friend asked me to assist and here I am. Shall we? The night is young and I don't want to waste any more of it than I need to".
Victoria looks up from the pay phone at the newcomer. "...I'll have to call you back, honey. Tell Jamie I hope she gets better soon." With that, she hangs up--then pushes the button on the side of the booth to retrieve her quarter.
"Don't know anything about who's visiting Mortius right now, sire. Been busy with the job you gave me--"
"--hold on. Got a newcomer here. Says she's here to help one of the coterie out. Says her name's Kate."
"Will you be able to stay on the line or are there other matters that need your attention?"
"Perfect. Since you know me, what else do you know about what we are trying to do? I don't want to waste any time, nor do we have time to waste."
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
Kate comes closer, "Our mutual friend did not give me any details. All I know is that I am supposed to use my gift of the sight to aid you in an investigation. What exactly that investigation is was vague. Discussion on the phone are not wise at least not in detail, never know who is listening in.
Are we here to go up in the Sears Tower or somewhere else nearby?"
Rick waves her over to the largest gathering of the group to fill her in on what has happened, leaving nothing out except who he called just prior to Kate's arrival.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
"Holy S!!!! The Prince is missing. That's... that's something else. I mean I know that Kindred can die but someone as powerful as the Prince disappearing and they believe a bunch of Neonates did it?!"
She shakes her head, "You are clearly the patsies here, five Oswald's. Well, let's see if we can find out who really did it".
She crosses the street into the lobby and you all tag along after all, the time is growing shorter not longer. There is the lobby to greet the group is Balthazar, "the Sheriff".
"Took damn long enough, I thought you'd all run out of town by now was gettin' ready ta call Ballard and tell him just that.
Wait, whatchoo doin here?" he glares at Kate.
"I am here to help".
Sheriff shakes his head, "No way, its their job ta' look into things no way you should be here going to where we're going to!"
"She's helping." Rick says in a convincing tone. "It was your idea, remember? You said you didn't want us making things worse."
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
The Sheriff pauses at Rick's contention, "Uh, riiight. My idea, well I don't know that I woulda' chosen this one to help but so be it. Let's head up".
He leads the Coterie and Kate through the lobby to an area in the back of the building where a set of uniform police officers reside. "We're heading up to the Penthouse".
The two officers ask for ID which Balthazar provides and they let the whole group through though they certainly shake their heads at the assortment of characters that get onto the elevator.
The ride is rather quick and smooth and a few minutes later the doors open to yet another set of uniformed police, this time three in number. Once more Balthazar provides ID and once more they allow the group to pass through a set of heavy oaken double doors.
The doors open to an opulent entranceway with several beautiful wood carved benches with gold trim. On the wall are three separate gorgeous oil paintings and a single statue in the corner.
To the north and the west are two more sets of doors. The one to the north is open and the other is closed. Through the open door steps a woman she appears to be in her mid-thirties and her eyes are puffy, as if she has been crying.
"Sheriff, I've been waiting for someone to arrive already I did not expect you. Who are these Kindred?"
Shriff responds, "I'm not here to explain myself to you Natasha. These folks are here to investigate by order of the Primogen and Ballard. Cooperate with them and we'll see about what to do with you after".
Her face goes pale at the statement.
Rick stands back, letting Sheriff do the talking and Kate do the seeing. He will wait for a moment to get Natasha alone.
Victoria glances at the paintings and statue, and being a product of the American school system, has no idea whatsoever what they are.
They look like something you'd stick in your office to convince yourself that you're more 'cultured' than you actually are and that they weren't a waste of several thousand dollars.
Morgrym stares at the paintings and the statue for a long moment and entertains sliding one out of here before he leaves and then he starts working his eyes across the room observing for anything looking out of the ordinary.
Looking at the paintings, Dalton could appreciate them for what they were, but otherwise thought little of, and knew even less about them.
His attention quickly diverts from the painting toward the conversation between Natasha and the Sheriff.
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Examining the Art:
James is impressed. Under his breath he says, "No freaking way..." After a few moments of awe he quips, "Quite a step up from Modius's Scooby Doo mystery mansion."
He turns his gaze to the newcomer and his voice becomes empathetic, "I wish we could meet under better circumstances, Natasha, but could you tell us what you do here?"
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
Natasha looks at the Sheriff and then back to James, "I am or perhaps was... one of the Prince's Ghouls. Security detail".
Victoria nods in understanding. Distraught and decidedly unhappy with the Sheriff's presence. Not exactly a rare expression to find in a courtroom.
"Natasha, how long ago was the Prince assassinated? Where were you when it happened?" She asks, keeping her voice level and direct.
Dalton silently listens to the line of questioning and Natasha's response, drawing upon his previous life's experience while doing so.
Rick just watches the scene unaware of Natasha's feelings, stands around and waits for Kate to get her read of the place.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
Natasha cocks her head, "What makes you think he was assassinated?
Where I was, well I was here the entire time so I just don't remember. It's all so cloudy... at some point I realized that Curt was dead but I didn't hear a gunshot so I, I just don't know".
Kate watches Natasha and the Sheriff as the questioning unfolds.
Victoria purses her lips. "Natasha, I think your memory may have been tampered with."
I should know. I have that power.
,
James tries to be gentle, but has a lot of questions, "Is there any evidence that the anyone else has been attacked? And who is Curt and how did he die? Any chance there is some surveillance of at least part of the building?"
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
Natasha has tears well up when James mentions Curt, "No one else has been attacked, it was just Curt, the Prince and myself here that night. The rest of the security detail was setting up his next Haven.
Curt is...was the head of the Prince's security team, the eldest among us. He was... ah.. he was... he was shot.
I checked the tapes but did not see anything you can look if you want".
Sheriff snorts at Victoria, "No doubt you altered her memory it's why you know!"
Natasha's affect changes, "What... what do you mean Sheriff?"
"Sheriff, come now. You know we got here after all of this happened. Surely no one could alter your memory, as powerful as you are. Unless you are saying that someone could do so, which is why you could possibly think we did something so far above our pay grade."
Morgrym steps past the little party further into the Haven looking for anything more out of the ordinary.
I am sorry for your loss. The Sheriff seems to believe that the prince has come to harm. The primogen want answers and we are here to try to find those answers. Natasha if anything can be remembered let us know.. Morgrym continues to look as he walks.
"Any idea what Curt was shot with? It seems unlikely that a prince could be taken with simple firearms." James joins Morgrym to investigate the open (northern) door and the room beyond.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
Natasha is a bit confused at the back and forth as Sheriff replies, "Ya' got here just when it happened and then managed ta' pretend like ya' didn't!"
Natasha blinks, "Wait, if you think they are the killers why are they here?" She turns a bit as Morgrym and James move past her through the northern doors.
Sheriff shrugs, "The Primogen picked 'em to do the investigatin'".
Natasha scowls and clams up, Kate sighs and turns to Rick whispering, "Well, Sheriff f+@+ed that up didn't he? Shall me move ahead so I can put myself to better use?"
Sheriff calls after Morgrym and James, "Don't go running too far ahead, I don't want you all tamperin' with evidence any more than ya'll already did!"
---
Morgrym and James enter the norther door and find a fully furnished game room. A gorgeous billiards table, several pinball and even arcade games line the walls. A large screen television sits on the eastern wall. To the west is a window with a metal security shade down and locked in place.
Along the walls are posters of exotic travel destinations mainly in Europe.
To the North is another door slightly ajar.
---
Rick responds to Kate, "Yeah, he's f$#&ing useless. Just some fat f##& they let act like he is in charge for some reason. Let's get to the real bottom of this."
Morgrym knows what they need is to indeed get ahead of the sheriff and fast so he motions to James to the next room with military hand signals in front of his chest where only James can see indicating moving forward and Morgrym will move through the game room looking for any clues as he goes to the next room hoping his friends to the back will cause distraction to give he and James time.
While James doesn't know much about sign language, he gets Morgrym's point. He moves to that northern door.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
Victoria loiters near the entrance as Rick and Kate head to the next room with the Sheriff close behind. Natasha stares at Victoria with a scowl.
Rick you find a fully furnished game room. A gorgeous billiards table, several pinball and even arcade games line the walls. A large screen television sits on the eastern wall. To the west is a window with a metal security shade down and locked in place.
Along the walls are posters of exotic travel destinations mainly in Europe.
To the North is another door slightly ajar.
Sheriff complains, "I told those two to wait up!"
Kate turns to him, "Sheriff, I believe there is some blood over behind that pinball machine, did you see that?"
Sheriff pauses and turns to her, "What, who cares?"
"What if its Cainite blood and we can match samples with the latest technology, that could prove who did this no?"
Sheriff gives her a blank stare, "Huh?"
---
James and Morgrym have already moved through the door left ajar before Rick, Kate and Sheriff even enter the Game Room.
The smell of blood is potent here, that is because a dead body is still seated at the table a hole in the back of his head.
To the west is a door shut tight.
To the north is a wall full of VHS tapes, likely security video from who knows how long a period of time.
On the east wall is a massive bank of connected monitors that takes up damn near the entire wall. Cameras are rolling in this Haven and you can see Sheriff, Rick, and Kate enter the room you just left. Victoria is still with Natasha in the foyer. In the hallway the police still wander about a bit agitated it seems. Several monitors show other rooms you presume in the Haven, none of these rooms show anyone else present. There are smaller monitors along the bottom row that flicker with images of the rest of the hotel, likely on some sort of pre-programmed loop. A computer sits on the table a bloody mess that probably control this set up.
As Kate distracts the sheriff, Dalton heads off to see what sort of trouble James is getting into.
BAPTISM OF FIRE - Saturday - January 3, 1993 -
Being careful not to contaminate the scene by touching anything, Dalton scans the room for anything - other than the dead body of course - of note.
Morgrym will sit down and try to quickly pull up the security footage for the last two days.
"Sheriff, certainly a man of your astute intellect knows exactly what that blood means. If you have it examined and it turns out to be ours, then you could have us killed right on the spot. If you really don't want that, why not just take a load off on a couch somewhere? You don't need to bother yourself."
Being careful not to get any blood on this Italian loafers, James examines the remains of Curt and checks the ground for any shell casings or other evidence of his murder.