Toni looks back at the other, older alumni of Professor Stampf's courses, then boards the bus with the younger ones. During the bus ride, she will engage in small talk with the women, trying to overcome their initial bad reaction.
When she has a chance, she will introduce herself to the spokesman of the group, the one who ran out of the funeral. "Hi, I'm Toni Morena. I took Professor Stampf's courses several years ago. Why did his death cause so much excitement? There was nothing to indicate anything other than a natural death, was there?" The last said with her eyes going wide and a worried expression on her face.
One of the other males responds to Toni's inquiry. "Nah... the official report is a heart attack or some s$%*. But we know better. Stampf was into some dark s&!~, lady. Evil s$&#. We thought it was cool and all but..." he trails off shaking his head.
The first youth, the one Toni had spoken with outside the funeral home, chimes in. "Stampf ran an occult studies group after hours. Attendance was pretty light... hell, you're looking at most of the attendees right here. At first we thought it was cool, talking about spirits from beyond and s%+@ like that. Then we started getting into the rituals... and sacrifices... never people, though. Nothing crazy like that. Cats and birds and stuff. And some of us started having these weird dreams. It scared some people off, but we wanted to know more... and Stampf did too. Eventually... we think he summoned up some kind of spirit that killed him."
One of the other males responds to Toni's inquiry. "Nah... the official report is a heart attack or some s~$*. But we know better. Stampf was into some dark s@%!, lady. Evil s*&*. We thought it was cool and all but..." he trails off shaking his head.
The first youth, the one Toni had spoken with outside the funeral home, chimes in. "Stampf ran an occult studies group after hours. Attendance was pretty light... hell, you're looking at most of the attendees right here. At first we thought it was cool, talking about spirits from beyond and s!$# like that. Then we started getting into the rituals... and sacrifices... never people, though. Nothing crazy like that. Cats and birds and stuff. And some of us started having these weird dreams. It scared some people off, but we wanted to know more... and Stampf did too. Eventually... we think he summoned up some kind of spirit that killed him."
"Spirit? You mean all that occult stuff that Lucas was always talking about is real? I thought it was just mythology and folklore. What makes you think a spirit killed him?" asks Toni. She crosses herself and holds her rosary.
Doc thanks the attorney, and looks round to check whether Garrett has any further questions. With Alex talking to the last notable attendee, it's starting to feel like time to go for a coffee and and talk things over. Or maybe a beer.
"Spirit? You mean all that occult stuff that Lucas was always talking about is real? I thought it was just mythology and folklore. What makes you think a spirit killed him?" asks Toni. She crosses herself and holds her rosary.
The youths exchange glances, finally culminating in a round of shrugs. "Weird stuff started happening the night before he died. Lights going out, electronics malfunctioning. It happened to all of us, and Michelle said she could hear voices," he indicates the heavily-pierced female, who looks down at the floor when mentioned.
"We found out about the death the next day."
Salvatore keeps following the bus that Toni boarded with the kids at a normal distance. Hopefully when she gets off he can offer her a ride back, and find out what she learned.
Alex leaves the grieving woman to her tears and rejoins with 'Doc', "I think we won't get much further until we hear from Toni." I sure hope she's learning something useful or at least those students are more talkative with her.
"So who's up for a coffee? I know a cool little place not too far away where we can get our heads together and work out what comes next."
Doc looks around, "I think we're done here, anyway."
Alex nods in agreement with 'Doc', "Sound like a plan, though we may not have much to discuss. At least until we hear back from Toni."
"So, what are you going to do now? If you think the professor was murdered, shouldn't we go to the police or someone? Or maybe we should talk to Archbishop George. If a devil is involved, he could arrange an exorcism." Toni doesn't really believe in the occultism Lucas talked about after class, but she is trying find out what the group believes.
"So, what are you going to do now? If you think the professor was murdered, shouldn't we go to the police or someone? Or maybe we should talk to Archbishop George. If a devil is involved, he could arrange an exorcism." Toni doesn't really believe in the occultism Lucas talked about after class, but she is trying find out what the group believes.
The young male student Toni has been speaking with scoffs, exchanging glances between his companions before turning back to her. "The police? And what would we tell them exactly? That we think an evil spirit has murdered our professor? Even if it didn't sound totally insane, what proof would we be able to give them? No way, we're not getting the police involved. And the church? Pfft. These spirits are older than their religion. They'd probably just as soon write us off as lunatics. Especially since we aren't exactly the tithing type."
He smirks slightly at this last statement. "Naw... the thing to do is to bury this thing and never go back to it. Ever."
The young male student Toni has been speaking with scoffs, exchanging glances between his companions before turning back to her. "The police? And what would we tell them exactly? That we think an evil spirit has murdered our professor? Even if it didn't sound totally insane, what proof would we be able to give them? No way, we're not getting the police involved. And the church? Pfft. These spirits are older than their religion. They'd probably just as soon write us off as lunatics. Especially since we aren't exactly the tithing type."
He smirks slightly at this last statement. "Naw... the thing to do is to bury this thing and never go back to it. Ever."
"Good luck, then. If you think of anything else or if you need me, just give me a call." Toni takes out one of her business cards, writes her cell number on the back and gives it to the student. Then she stands up and pulls the stop cord, getting off at the next stop. She's planning on catching a taxi back to the funeral parlor.
Salvatore sees Toni get off the bus, and honks his horn at her, rolling down his window.
"Hey Toni"! "Need a lift"?
Doc suggests to Riven and Garrett that they head to a nearby diner that serves good coffee and organic burgers. They text the location to Salvatore and Toni, and settle in to discuss the morning's events.
"So what do we know? And what do we do now? Does anyone have any contacts who might shed any light on the situation?"
"This all is very odd." Alex pours some sugar and creamer into this coffee and begins stirring, "From the attendants to the kids being spooked. There hasn't been anything brewing indicating new cult activities; though this homicide could be the start of that. I can do some digging, but its not going to be very fruitfull without anything more specific to go on." He drinks and turns to Garrett, "Perhaps if you can autopsy the body? Perhaps find a difinitive means of death, something to start with?"
"Mmm. Good idea Alex - at least Garret here might be able to get access to records of whatever examination was performed."
Doc sips his coffee, eyes half closed in thought, then says, "I don't suppose you can just check whether the FBI have a file on Stampf, or whether the CPD investigated or anything?"
As a final thought he says doubtfully, "I suppose I can ask around in a couple of the jazz and blues clubs that the Prof liked. See if anyone talked to him recently? Could turn up something?"
Alex sets down his coffee, "I had planned to check into those things. Honestly i'm more concerned if there is some new cult forming." He drinks from his cup, "Certainly more so if they are willing to commit murder so easily."