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Post by starrzchylde on Jan 14, 2007 13:53:45 GMT -5
Rhia laughs, clasping her hands together behind Michael's neck as he picks her up and dances her toward the bedroom. She grins at him, raising an eyebrow, opening her mouth to respond when the doorbell rings.
She giggles as Michael rolls his eyes. "Well, that's what you get for getting all riled up during business hours," she says teasingly. "I'm not expecting anyone, and there haven't been any messages that clients were coming by. It might be a new client, so kindly put me down so we can handle this professionally. "
Rhia nods, still grinning.
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Post by FrankTheTank on Jan 14, 2007 14:03:31 GMT -5
Michael groaned as he settled Rhia back on her own two feet and gave her a quick once over to make sure she looked presentable. Working for themselves certainly had its advantages, this however wasn’t one of them.
“Just make me a promise,” Smiled Michael as he pulled the creases he’d made in Rhia’s top out. “If it’s a Jehovah’s Witness I get to curse him into the next century.”
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Post by starrzchylde on Jan 14, 2007 14:15:51 GMT -5
"Deal," Rhia says with a laugh as Michael pulls gently at her shirt. She reaches out to smooth his shirt as well, then turns to open the door.
Abby turns, moving to step away from the door, thinking that no one is here, when she hears footsteps. She turns back to the door, just as it opens. She lifts her sunglasses, pushing them up into her hair and taking in the woman standing in the doorway in front of her.
The witch, she thinks to herself as she quickly scents the air. She nods politely at her, then does the same to the cinnamon human standing just behind her.
"Hello, I'm Abigail Green. Is this Enchanted Investigations?" Abby asks.
Rhia nods, smiling. "Yes, Ms. Green, it is. Please come in." Rhia says, gesturing for the obvious vamp to come into the living room. "I'm Rhiannon Marinello, and this is Michael Draven. What can we do for you today?"
Abby makes her way inside. "Well, I'm not really sure where to start. A few weeks ago, my shadows started getting sick. I wasn't sure how it happened, but no matter what anyone did they just seemed to get worse. I think it has something to do with this."
Abby pulls out a small vile of Brimstone. "It smells different, like something is wrong with it. When I stopped them from taking it, they started getting better. Sarah, though," Abby pauses, gathering herself. "She didn't make it."
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Post by FrankTheTank on Jan 14, 2007 14:57:34 GMT -5
“Please, have a seat.” Said Michael as he guided Ms. Green over to the kitchen. The desks and chairs weren’t due to be delivered until next week so they would have to make do until then. The hold-up with the furniture had been caused when the company laying the silver for the new circles they had ordered, had developed a problem with one of their machines.
“Sorry about the state of the place, we’re currently redecorating.” Michael says, pulling a seat out and gesturing for the vampire to sit. “So how is it that you think we can assist Ms. Green?”
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Post by starrzchylde on Jan 14, 2007 15:13:03 GMT -5
Abby sits, still holding on to the small vial. "Well, I obviously can't go to the I.S. with this, because of the Brimstone. I want to know where this came from and what in the Turn is in it. I have spoken with my father and there are quite a few people at his estate that have taken ill as well, and all seemed to have gotten better since they have ceased taking the Brimstone. The really strange part is that he told me of a few vampires that were taking it that died, but didn't come back as undead. If they were lowbloods, then that wouldn't be so strange. But, these were living highbloods, guaranteed to come back as undead no matter what the situation."
Rhia nods, listening intently. She glances over in Michael's direction, wondering what he's thinking.
Abby watches the pair of them. "I know that this is a dangerous run, and I am willing to pay you accordingly." That said, Abby reaches into her bag and pulls out a manilla envelope. "There is $10K in here," she says, laying the envelope on the table. "Downpayment with twice that amount to follow if I am provided with names of the people responsible. "
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Post by FrankTheTank on Jan 14, 2007 16:20:58 GMT -5
“So let me get this straight, all you want are names and nothing more.” Asked Michael as he glanced at the thick envelope on the desk, then back up at Ms Green. 30k for a couple of names seemed an awful lot of money at first, until you considered who might just be involved in a plot to poison vampires.
This sounded very much like one of the cases Michael didn’t want Rhia involved in at this time, but if he turned the job down before properly assessing it’s merits, Rhia was likely to kick his ass. Michael was still unsure of the reasons behind the vampire choosing their little known firm to investigate a possible murder inquiry. He’d been involved with vampire politics for way to long to simply take their words as gospel. For all he knew, this Ms Green could be involved and she was simply looking for someone to lay the blame on. Of course he might be just a little paranoid due to the fact only a little while ago a vampire had been trying to kill him.
“Excuse me for being blunt Ms Green, but why are you so interested in finding those responsible for the death of a shadow. Your father is well aware of the situation, wont he be carrying out his own investigation.”
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Post by starrzchylde on Jan 14, 2007 16:29:51 GMT -5
Abby, used to people thinking her strange for the way she treats her shadows, isn't suprised by Mr. Draven's question.
"I don't really expect you to understand, Mr. Draven. I don't think of my shadows as willing snacks, but family. I loved Sarah, more than myself," she says quietly. A single tear slips down her face. Sadly, she wipes it away.
"My father thinks differently, never mourning for a shadow and thinks the vampires that died simply were too weak to come back. He's undead and doesn't care. "
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Post by FrankTheTank on Jan 14, 2007 16:50:57 GMT -5
Michael watched Ms. Green in silence for a moment before standing up and leaving the room. He returned moments later carrying a box of tissues, placing them in front of the grieving vampire. “I’m very sorry for your loss.” He said sincerely as he sat back down.
He returned to contemplating the vampire in silence once again tapping his finger on the counter, which was fast becoming the sign that he was thinking deeply. “We’ll need to know everything Ms. Green. Which dealer sold you the brimstone? Was it your usual supplier? Anything that you think might assist us with our investigation.”
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Post by starrzchylde on Jan 14, 2007 17:06:09 GMT -5
Rhia reaches forward, tentatively laying a hand on top of the vampires on the table as Michael leaves the room. "I'm so sorry," she says softly.
Abby nods. "Thank you," she whispers, looking up as Michael reenters. She thanks him, taking a tissue and wiping at her eyes.
Rhia grabs a notepad and pen, pulling it close to her. "Yes, Ms. Green. Even if you think it isn't important. We'll need to know everything."
"I buy from a man named Marcus. He works for an undead boss by the name of Lawrence. Lawrence Williams, I believe. Marcus delivers directly to my penthouse at the Guardian Arms. Erik, one of my shadows, said that the last delivery was made by someone else. He didn't get a name, but he said the delivery person told him that Marcus was otherwise engaged in something for the Boss Lawrence. Erik is human, so I doubt he would know if the deliver person was another vamp or not." Abby crumples the tissue up in her hand, just to have something to do.
Rhia looks back and forth between Ms. Green and her notepad, jotting down everything. "We're going to need that small bit of brimstone. I'd like to run a few spells on it and see if I can come up with anything."
Abby nods, placing the small vial in Rhia's hands.
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Post by FrankTheTank on Jan 15, 2007 10:06:45 GMT -5
Michael watched the exchange between Rhia and Ms. Green intently, every so often nodding his approval at Rhia’s line of questioning. When Rhia had said that she would run a few spells on the Brimstone, Michael had been quietly impressed.
The most obvious way Michael could think of that would allow someone to tamper with brimstone in this manner would require the use of earth magic. If Rhia were able to determine if the drug had been altered using leyline magic that would be a hell of an achievement.
Of course if Rhia meant that she would be able to determine if a spell had been used, then reverse engineer it to find out how it had been done, Michael would have to take his hat off and simply worship the woman. That kind of earth magic required a level of ability few witches in the world could claim to have, including Michael whose skill in this area would be described as sketchy at best.
Michael pulled his attention away from Rhia and focused on the matter at hand. “Ms. Green, in the unlikely situation that a spell was not used to alter the brimstone a chemical analysis may be required. For that we to happen we would probably require the assistance from a lab. I would personally opt for assistance from the FIB who excel in this area. Would you have any objections?”
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Post by starrzchylde on Jan 15, 2007 10:19:59 GMT -5
Abby looks at Michael. “As long as my name is left out of any conversations with the FIB or the IS, then I wouldn’t have a problem with it. So far in my life, I have had no need to have my records hidden or sealed, and would prefer to keep it that way.”
“I don’t see why that would be a problem, Ms. Green,” Rhia says with a nod, jotting down a few more notes. “Well, I think that is all we need to get started. Unless there is anything else,” Rhia says, glancing up at Michael.
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Post by FrankTheTank on Jan 15, 2007 10:32:18 GMT -5
“Just a few more things.” Said Michael with a quick nod of thanks to Rhia. He felt sorry for the vampire, know only to well the raw emotions she must be feeling from the sudden loss. “I’m sorry to ask Ms. Green, but it would be helpful if we could examine Sarah’s body. I would also like to speak to this Erik and anyone else that was effected.”
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Post by starrzchylde on Jan 15, 2007 10:43:16 GMT -5
Abby stiffens at the mention of examining Sarah’s body. “I am sorry, but Sarah has been cremated and her ashes buried as she wished. I would prefer that she be left to rest in peace.” Another tear sneaks it way down Abby’s face. She wipes at it, then continues.
“Erik and Melissa are still recovering and very weak. I can have them call to answer any of your questions, or I can bring them by in a few days when they are feeling better.”
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Post by FrankTheTank on Jan 15, 2007 11:28:59 GMT -5
“Thank you.” Michael smiled weakly, embarrassed at having made the vampire cry again. “If it is any help, we could arrange to visit them at your home so they wont have to move. We’ll only need to ask a few questions and take a blood sample. Also, do you think your father will allow us access to the vampires who were affected? I’d like to know if they use the same supplier as you and if the brimstone effects humans and vampires differently.”
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Post by starrzchylde on Jan 15, 2007 11:52:49 GMT -5
“I’ll have to speak with my father to see if they have disposed of the bodies. I know that my father’s scion uses the same supplier as I do, but I don’t know if there was a change in the drop-off man as there was in my case. As far as Erik and Melissa, I don’t see why you coming by to see them would be a problem. Let me get home and see how they are doing and I’ll give you a call.” Abby says.
“I should be going now. I want to check on my shadows. This is the first time that I have left them since they have taken ill, and I must admit that I’m nervous about it.”
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