July 17th, 2009
Miami, FL
As he stepped out of the driver’s side door of his Charger, Jon Simon noted that the parking garage on Flagler St. was unusually full tonight. Signs posted up the road and the billboard at the intersection of 1st Ave. suggested some kind of event was going on at the Historical Museum just across the street. Even from the 4th floor of the concrete structure, he could hear all the people talking and could see the telltale flashes of numerous cameras below. Descending to the street level, he was treated to 45 seconds of the obnoxious Latin instrumental that passed for elevator music in this district. The garage really was packed to capacity, as evidenced by the security guard putting up the “Garage Full” barricade just in front of him as he stepped out of the elevator doors. The guard, a young Cuban man, simply nodded to him as he passed on his way to the sidewalk. Simon wasn’t here for the media buzz, though. He was here on business.
That “business” was in the form of young Hank Monroe, an ex-ganger with ties to the old Cortez family. He sat in the darkest corner of the poorly air-conditioned Caciques Corner Café, listening to some Spanish-speaking news program and idly munching on a taco while he waited for the “professional” to arrive. Hank had never met Jon before, but the dealers and gun-runners he had roughed up on the way out of Overtown all suggested that, if he had beef with Cortez, Jon was the man to see… and Hank most certainly had beef with Cortez. As Hank took another sip of his Coke, the door to the establishment chimed its entry bell and admitted the man he’d been waiting for. As the door opened, Hank could hear the media din outside, the flashes of cameras readily apparent through the shop’s massive picture windows, even with the blinds pulled down as they were. Must be a big night at the museum…
Another Friday night, another domestic abuse call. Officer Garabina Vasquez thought to herself as she wheeled the squad car down 1st St. towards 1st Ave. She pulled into the gated parking lot that surrounded the Mendoza Arms Estates, a run-down apartment complex from the 1920s that should’ve gotten bulldozed when the area re-zoned for commercial but somehow went beneath notice. Stepping out of the car, she could already hear the frantic Spanish argument. The man, standing at the bottom of the staircase, was yelling up at the woman standing on the balcony, accusing her of never taking the car in to get registered. Both of them were obviously furious with the other, but the items that really caught Garabina’s attention were the 5-year-old boy clutching the woman’s leg… and the .45 caliber handgun in the woman’s right hand. Neighbors were peeking out from behind windows and leaning out onto balconies to get a better look. Vasquez hoped that no one would have to see anything they didn’t want to tonight.
Adrian Birch heard the commotion as well, and had given a cursory glance out of his second-story window to see what the fuss was all about. Just another couple of immigrants with their dysfunctional relationships, nothing new. He quickly closed the blinds when the police car appeared around the corner, however, but couldn’t help but hazard another glance out of morbid curiosity. A female officer emerged, looking especially tense. Her hand was hovering over the holster on her hip. Another glance towards the arguing couple told Aido all he needed to know what was about to go down. The furious woman clutched her young son to her on one side… and a loaded firearm on the other. At the entrance to the complex, he spied a familiar face with a dark sweatband across his forehead…
Gabriel Kuroki, on his way to the bookstore up the road, couldn’t help but stop as he passed the Mendoza Arms Estates on his nightly job this night. He saw the police car pull in and listened to the rapid-fire Spanish being exchanged by the angry couple. Normally, he would just keep jogging, but this was Adrian’s complex and he’d been considering chatting with him about the latest occult titles for awhile. Perhaps, once things had cooled off a bit, they could chat. Meanwhile, he stepped off to the side of the walkway and peered out at the proceedings from a position of relative safety. The female officer emerged from her squad car, looking especially tense. Gabriel couldn’t quite make out what was happening through the bushes and darkness, but whatever it was clearly had the officer on edge.
Anu had seen the billboards. He saw the camera flashes from his makeshift shelter beneath the Metro tramway. He knew that something big was going down at the Historical Museum tonight. He and the other vagabonds he had joined up with for the night all sat around in relative silence. One of them, an older man named Joe, produced a candy bar from his jacket and offered bits of it to the others. The night seemed usually cold, particularly for July in Miami, but Anu paid no mind to it. Instead, he watched with interest at the gathering of museum-goers, all waiting for the doors to be opened. There were several local celebrities present, including Angelo Bassati, the owner of the new Miami Beach club, Hurricane. Anu had seen his photo on flyers down by the boardwalk to Miami Beach last weekend. He was much more captivating in the flesh, though. With all these rich people standing around just waiting for something to happen, maybe he could capitalize on the opportunity. Anu quickly dusted himself off and gave consideration to his attire. While he certainly wouldn’t be welcome at a black tie event, he was confident that he at least didn’t look like a hobo. Thus did he make his way across the street, passing a tall, stern looking gentleman in a black duster entering the Caciques Corner Café on the way…
Hank casually pushes the chair across from him out with his foot for Jon to sit on all the while continuing to eat.
Seeing the police officer, the woman immediately calms down noticably, setting the pistol down on the stucco railing that surrounded her balcony.
As Garabina nears the male on the ground level, she notices he is sweating rather profusely and seems to be short of breath. There are a few noticable mild injuries evident on his face and arms, but nothing that would warrant medical attention or anything of the sort.
"¡Hazle entender a este hijo de puta que si quiere andar cogiendo por ahí, puede irse a la chingada a dormir!"* The woman on the balcony yells. The man simply flips her the middle finger and looks askance at the nearby police officer.
Hank casually pushes the chair across from him out with his foot for Jon to sit on all the while continuing to eat.
Gazing over the rest of the patrons in the restaurant for any signs of hostility or taking an interest in either himself or the person he assumes is Hank, walk over and slide into the chair. "Hello, Hank is it?" Cross my arms in front of me, so my right hand is within easy reach of my pistol.
Anu eyes the crowd of the iskvli okla and their hangers-on and grins. There are definitely going to be some gullible and charitable people amongst them. Anu looks for a good spot to set up near the crowd, shuffling his cards in one hand. While he's at it, Anu tries to make out if there are any signs for this Museum function.
Hank nods slightly to Jon.
"Yessir. I got some info which could help the both of us. But first, have a taco or two."
Pushes a couple tacos in front of Jon.
Hank nods slightly to Jon.
"Yessir. I got some info which could help the both of us. But first, have a taco or two."
Pushes a couple tacos in front of Jon.
Jon eyes Hank, then the tacos, and back to Hank. "Uh no thanks, what information do you have?" slides the tacos back towards Hank.
Hank shrugs at Jon's refusal of the two tacos and begins eating them as they're the last two at the table.
"Cortez. I used to work for him."
Hank shrugs at Jon's refusal of the two tacos and begins eating them as they're the last two at the table.
"Cortez. I used to work for him."
"Ok, so what would it take for me to find out everything else you know about Cortez? As you know, I have some unfinished business with him." Lets the last half of that hang in the air for effect before continuing.
"I believe we can help each other if your information can be verified as accurate."Tilts his head to one side slightly, to listen to his environs for anything suspicious, while keeping his eyes on Hank.
Also, are there any regularly dressed folks near the crowd? If so, how close? Give me a bit more info, please.
"Ok, so what would it take for me to find out everything else you know about Cortez? As you know, I have some unfinished business with him." Lets the last half of that hang in the air for effect before continuing.
"I believe we can help each other if your information can be verified as accurate."
Tilts his head to one side slightly, to listen to his environs for anything suspicious, while keeping his eyes on Hank.
"I know the location and layout of two of his storehouses, one residence, and which docks are owned openly, and secretly, by them. Now, what do I want for this info? Even though he was a major prick, I want to know what happened to my brother. Also, I wouldn't mind a better job than I have now."
The Hispanic man that Garabina addressed simply nodded, grasping at the wallet in the back pocket of his pants. "Si," he said, and that was all. He cast another baleful glance up at the woman on the balcony, who replied with a few mumbled epithets before turning to tell the child to go back indoors. The young boy nodded and turned to head back into the apartment behind the woman.
Anu quirks an eyebrow at the woman's look, flashing her a roguish grin as he nears the other side of the street. He moves across the sidewalk to the wall of the building and leans against it, gazing toward the Museum front and the woman, while lighting a smoke. All the while trying to determine if he's ever seen her before or just what she might be 'looking' for.
The woman lifts the corner of her lip ever-so-slightly as a sort of half-hearted smile in response to Anu's grin and follows him with her eyes for only a second more before turning her attention away from him and back to the media buzz. She shifts herself closer to the throng of people as she does so, turning her shoulder to face him. Anu racks his memory for any instance in which he may have seen the woman before but absolutely fails to come up with anything.
A few moments pass in relative silence before Anu spots a limo rounding the corner. It pulls up in front of the gathering, igniting a frenzy of camera flashes as the chauffer moves to open the passenger door to reveal the man of the hour, Julio Ferrano. A middle-aged man of Mediterranean descent, Julio was the spitting image of the American upper crust. Dressed head to toe in the finest business formal wear, his hair meticulously groomed, he emerged with a perfect smile, waving to the applauding crowd as he emerged from his vehicle.
Anu had never actually seen the man before. It was not often that he got the opportunity to rub elbows with Miami's rich and famous. The moment that he emerged, however, Anu could feel his hackles rise. It was the sensation not unlike the raising of hairs on the back of one's neck before being struck by lightning. Anu had felt the sensation before. He knew it meant something, perhaps the means by which the spirit world called his attention... but all his training had not bestowed him with the knowledge of what it meant. Whatever it meant, Anu knew that Julio had attracted the attention of the spirits... for good or for ill.
Anu's casual, laid back attitude immediate shifts to a terse stance. His brows knit together in irritation and puzzlement.
"Why now of all damn times..."
Anu shakes his head briefly as he watches Ferrano emerge from the limousine. Sinking suspicions flitting through his mind, Anu glances back over at the woman, trying to see what she's about.
"If nothing...then maybe we'll see about a drink." Anu says under his breath.
The woman's attention had turned back to the crowd, smiling and waving towards Ferrano who responded in kind. Based on the body language, Anu could tell that they likely knew each other personally. Whether the relationship was strictly business or not was unclear.
"Mr. Poole, Ms. Evans, very nice to see you both. Ah, Donald! How have you been!" Julio Ferrano moved through the press of bodies, shaking hands and patting shoulders. He exuded a very personable demeanor and seemed genuine enough in his salutations.
The din of voices and chatter of local media personalities made hearing every word difficult, but he did happen to catch a snippet of Julio's approach to the woman in black. "Dahlia, how good of you to attend. I trust you won't buy out everything this evening?" With that, he gave her a wink and she responded with a smirk and some retort that Anu couldn't quite make out.
As Julio made his way to the doors of the museum's atrium, he turned at the top of the steps to face the gathered crowd, several cameras turned towards him. "Ladies, gentlemen, please... come in."
With that, he swiped a card through the reader at the door and held it open, motioning for the assembled crowd to enter. And enter they did, media moguls and all. Anu noticed that, despite the seemingly open invitation, none of the other locals seemed to be eager to enter, merely staring in open-mouthed awe or shaking their heads and walking away.
Anu flicks down his cigarette, scuffing it out with his boot, considering going over to that Caciques place.
"I wonder if they have beer?" Anu says rhetorically.
"Museum security would probably stop me if I tried anyway." Anu says as he glances over at the Museum entry and the galleries beyond. He slowly walks to the base of the stairs leading up to the entryway, trying for a better view, perhaps to see what the exhibitions are supposed to be.
The entryway of the museum is mostly glass and as such, the displays just inside and surrounding the reception desk (and attending security guard) are clearly visible. Several large sections of coquina are visible, along with several displays dedicated so large collections of tarnished jewelry and what appears to be crude weapons of some kind. Photos surrounding the displays depict scenes of boats excavating all sorts of things (many of which are shown in the displays) from the ocean. There are also plaques and posters that presumably discuss the relevance of these items, but they are too far away from Anu to read from his outside position.
After the crowd has entered, Julio holds the door open for just a few seconds longer, looking around as if he expected someone else to come through as well, then heads inside and closes the door behind him.
Shrugging and saying "What can it hurt...", Anu mounts the steps and heads up to the doors of the Museum and opens the door. Stepping in out of the heat, Anu smiles broadly at the guard station and heads over.
"Sorry to intrude, I'm not sure if tonight's showing is open to the public or not. With the circus outside though, I just had to ask. What is the big exhibit thats drawing so much attention?"
The guard, a rather brawny African-American raises an eyebrow at Anu's entrance, seeming to size him up for a moment before answering.
"Yeah, it's a public event. Mr. Ferrano acquired a bunch of stuff they found on an excavation off Miami Beach a couple weeks back. Old jewelry and weapons and stuff from some ruins they found underwater. He's auctioning off some of the extra stuff to raise money for the museum before putting up the actual exhibit in the Fall. You can take a seat in there if you want, I just need you to sign the register."
The man indicates a clipboard on the reception desk already littered with names. The door behind Anu opens and admits another one of the outside locals, likely motivated by Anu's boldness. He is greeted tersely by the security guard. "Sign in if you want to enter."
Off to the right, Anu could see the double doors that led into the exhibition hall. Inside he could hear the din of people socializing. The museum itself, for all it's high-dollar company this evening, was a fairly modest affair. It appeared to be at least twenty years old and, though it was in good repair, it was only as fancy as one would expect any non-profit public establishment to be.
Anu smiles happily at the guard.
"Thanks for your help. It sure sounds interesting...maybe Mr. Ferrano discovered Atlantean ruins or something...history could be being made."
Taking a pen, Anu proceeds to sign the register in a scrawl..signing the name John Whitefeather. With a final nod to the security guard, Anu heads over to the doors leading into the auction hall and ducks in, looking for an available seat at the back.
Anu has little difficulty locating a seat. Most everyone present is sitting towards the front (likely to get a better look at the items they're going to be spending thousands of dollars on) and the back rows of seats are virtually empty... save for the woman in black. The one he'd heard called 'Dahlia.'
Dahlia sat at the far end of the rearmost row of seating, her posture in the fairly narrow stadium-style seat seemed relaxed and casual. She noticed Anu as he entered, giving him the same half-smile she had outside. No one else really seemed to even acknowledge his existance.
Anu smirks, shrugs and makes his way over to near where she is in the rearmost row. He takes a seat a few down from hers (like 2-3).
Once seated, Anu listens to the auction a moment to hear whats being auctioned off at the moment, then turns to 'Dahlia'.
"This whole auction certainly seems to be an interesting find...I just wonder how long someone before someone shouting 'Atlantis' shows up."
"I know the location and layout of two of his storehouses, one residence, and which docks are owned openly, and secretly, by them. Now, what do I want for this info? Even though he was a major prick, I want to know what happened to my brother. Also, I wouldn't mind a better job than I have now."
"What is the story about your brother? He was involved with Cortez?"
The woman turns to him, her left eyebrow rising and her expression very non-plussed. "Um... well, actually, the ruins appear to be less than a thousand years old. The minerals and stones used in the jewelry is contemporary with the Spanish Conquistadores. The ruins are believed to belong to some kind of temple or something of the sort that was built on a sandbar. The geological records indicate some kind of seismic activity in the area, possibly the eruption of an unknown undersea volcano, that sank it into the ocean. The legends of Atlantis suggest that it would have existed thousands of years before then, so I doubt that's what we're looking at."
She gave Anu a very even stare for a moment, letting her half-smile widen slightly.
Anu smiles at her a bit more broadly.
"I wasn't going to be the one to suggest Atlantean...but from around the time of Spanish..that is interesting. Any ties to known cultures in the area or is this some kind of new find?"
Extending his hand, "My name is Anuskasha Whitefeather...though I'd prefer you call me Anu. And you are..? Aside from being ohoyo aiukli anuka."
"I know the location and layout of two of his storehouses, one residence, and which docks are owned openly, and secretly, by them. Now, what do I want for this info? Even though he was a major prick, I want to know what happened to my brother. Also, I wouldn't mind a better job than I have now.""What is the story about your brother? He was involved with Cortez?"
Hank gives Jon a condensed version of what his life has been like up to this point.
"Do you require details?"
Hank gives Jon a condensed version of what his life has been like up to this point."Do you require details?"
"Not really, but how does your brother work into this, what happened to him?"
"Not really, but how does your brother work into this, what happened to him?"
"Cortez sent him on a run. Robbie didn't come back. I figure he's dead and figure Cortez is at fault. I have no evidence, and no way of finding any on my own.
So, you get me a job, we take down Cortez, eventually, I find out what happened to my brother."
As Garabina escorts the man towards the squad car, she glances up at the woman to keep an eye on her... and is surprised when the man, who had seemingly been compliant, whips around and takes her by the wrist, twisting her body around to face away from him with her hand pinned to the small of her back... and away from her gun.
Garabina bucks, shoving the man's back into the squad car, but the man is larger and stronger than she is, barely grunting at the officer's attempts to break free. He twists her arm further, hooking his left arm under hers and grasping her right hand in the crook of his elbow.
The woman on the balcony immediately calls out for help and takes up the pistol again, aiming it towards the grappling pair. Garabina knew that there was a very good chance the woman would hit her instead of the man if she fired.
"Cortez sent him on a run. Robbie didn't come back. I figure he's dead and figure Cortez is at fault. I have no evidence, and no way of finding any on my own.So, you get me a job, we take down Cortez, eventually, I find out what happened to my brother."
"I can make sure you get paid if your information is valid, are you ready to go yet? I think we have some people to find."
StoryTeller:
Gabriel sprints into the fray, his rapid footsteps quickly drawing the attention of both Garabina and her assailant...
** spoiler omitted **
Extending his hand, "My name is Anuskasha Whitefeather...though I'd prefer you call me Anu. And you are..? Aside from being ohoyo aiukli anuka."
The woman raises an eyebrow again, taking his hand gingerly. "Dahlia," she said flatly. It was clear from her demeanor that she hadn't understood the complement. "I'm not terribly informed on the details of the find. Perhaps you'd be better off speaking to Dr. Montello."
She indicated a portly, balding gentleman in the front row dressed in a polo shirt and dress slacks, presently laughing with some elderly woman to his left about some unknown joke. He sat directly next to Julio Ferrano, who maintained his jovial demeanor and seemed perhaps to be the butt of the joke in question.
The feeling that had struck Anu when Julio emerged had not dissipated since he first saw the man.
The jogger runs directly up to the entwined pair and delivers a quick hook to the assailant's ribs. He draws a grunt of exhaled breath but fails to otherwise break the attacker's hold.
The assailant grabs for Garabina's sidearm, still pinning her with his left arm. She thrashes violently, however, fouling his grip on the weapon.
Anu nods at her comment concerning the find.
"Well, thank you. I won't pretend to really know much about this stuff. Being Indian I just can't help but be curious about civilizations from around here."
While gesturing down at himself..."Notice my lack of compliance with the apparent dress-code. A trip to a Museum auction wasn't in my itinerary for the day. I just couldn't help but come in and take a look though."