Integral: Vampire - Mage - Warden

Frank.

Episode 2: The Not Very Safe House

So, you don’t know why a Wrecker sits around watching your room? Matthias questioned as the three sat around a small circular table.

Maybe a coincidence? she speculated.

The rider saw Frank, and when he saw it was you we were visiting, he took off, Matthias countered. He was watching you. Now he’s probably reporting.

Frank rubbed his chin. Let’s get to it. Lance Burton was a client of yours, wasn’t he?

Doesn’t sound familiar, she shrugged. But my clients don’t always give their real name, if they even feel inclined to give me a name.

Matthias pulled out his com and pointed the lens at the table, projecting the victim’s face for her to see.

The sheriff, she said quietly.

Frank chortled. He made you call him that?

I could call him whatever I wanted, she refuted. But that’s all he called himself around me.

What a freak.

When’d you see him last? asked Matthias.

I think maybe two days ago, she answered.

Two days ago, began Matthias. He was found dead.

You killed him, accused Frank casually.

No, I did not, she replied calmly. Fuck, she muttered, looking down at her lap. It’s not like he was found here dead.

Matthias shifted in his seat. Where were you late Saturday?

I was here, just like it says in my logbook.

Thursday evening, one a.m., Matthias announced, reading from a projected file. Had a client who called himself Jimbo. Two a.m., had a client named Perla.

Not very detailed, noted Frank.

It goes on like this until at least three a.m. most days of the week, Matthias said, shepherding them toward implication. Then on Saturday, a day when you are almost always busy until four, you see Burton at midnight and no one else until the next night.

Lucy took a drink from a shallow tumbler, her hand visibly shaking.

No, she denied with a slight whimper. No. No. No.

She looked at Frank, then to Matthias, then back to Frank.

I was busy the rest of that night. She pulled out her com, thumbing through her entries. After a few moments, she set the com down.

They’re gone. My logs from the rest of that night are gone.

Come on, Frank said with a quick wink. He was a fucking asshole, good riddance. Just tell us so we can wrap this up.

Matthias glanced at Frank curiously.

Later that night there were two men and a woman that came in, Lucy claimed.

What do you mean? asked Matthias. Clients?

Ya.

Walk-ins or what?

Everything is automated, she said. I don’t know when, but they signed up in advance. I don’t always check my schedule until people knock.

Alright, he said. Got any names?

I don’t remember. Hadn’t seen any of them before, she said, shaking her head. "Wait. The woman was Ricki. I remember her."

What’s that mean? asked Frank, his curiosity piqued.

She was… rough. Really rough.

Rough?

With the toys, and with her augment, she replied, staring into Frank’s eyes. If I weren’t nocturnal, I’d still have the bruises.

Frank leaned back, swallowing. Oh, you’re good.

Fuck you. Piece of shit, she hissed.

Matthias looked at his partner, then at Lucy as they glowered at each other.

Do you remember anything else about them or anything strange that night? asked Matthias.

Yes. The first man talked to the second on the balcony. They knew each other. After Ricki… was done, I went to the shower, but I heard the sound of a bike leave. Lucy slammed her fist onto the table, her face contorting in anger. The drinks wobbled and booze sloshed out of the glasses. I didn’t kill him, she said with a high-pitched growl.

Everything points at you, Matthias said. I’m sorry—

Frank plonked his .45 onto the table, the sound cutting Matthias off. The barrel pointed his direction.

I’m sorry I’m a callous prick, Lucy, said Frank. Matthias here comes from a big city where if there is a problem, they dispose of it quickly and cleanly. He glanced toward him then back at Lucy, resting the tips of his fingers gingerly on the pistol’s grip. I need to convince him that there’s more to this than a vampire hooker turned murderer. It’s too easy, and it’s no fun.

What— Matthias tried to interject, but Frank spoke over him.

We came here to close this case. Someone has to take the fall. The council wants to appease Cargill, try to maintain perception of order. I despise this shit, but my partner—

I’m not your partner.

Matty here, probably just despises having to leave his cushy office chair. Frank could feel Matthias’s gaze upon him. I’m sure he understands now that things aren’t always that simple. Frank sighed. Let’s say we figure out what is really going on.

You motherfucker, muttered Matthias.

You think you deserve to live more than her?

Lucy had started chewing on a fingernail, her eyes starting to glisten.

Get to the bottom? said Matthias, incredulous. The council is going to kill all of us if we start tossing accusations at corporate buddies, you idiot.

So fucking arrogant. Frank shook his head. Pay attention. We have suspects from that night. Probably biker scum. One of them can take the fall.

What connects them to this? asked Matthias. His voice was calm at first, but the volume rose with each statement. The council is going to want a vampire.

Unless a vampire didn’t do it?

What if that’s the only story they’ll buy, the only story Cargill buys? What if this woman is simply marked for death? Matthias fired back.

Then one of those bikers will just have to be a vampire.

Jesus, Matthias remarked. You’ll follow this no matter how convoluted it gets!

Frank stood, pushing the chair out from underneath him. This is my town! I’m not letting some shitbag corp use me to murder an inconvenient hooker, he yelled, then closed his eyes and inhaled.

The sink behind the table dripped, adding a tempo to the silence.

Call Victor, demanded Matthias.

What for?

He missed something. Tell him we know a vampire didn’t do it. Either the punctures are fake, or manipulated, or he died of another cause. Convince him his reputation and his job are on the line.

He’ll be asleep, protested Frank.

Matthias glared.

I’ll wake him up.

He has until tomorrow night. Matthias stood. Let’s go.

Uh, where?

I want to see this Wrecker fort.

Lucy stood. You can’t leave me here alone. Please don’t leave me alone. I’ll come with you.

Stay here with her, said Matthias. I don’t need someone like you watching my back.

I wasn’t going to kill you. Come on.

Keys.

Frank thumbed his com, transferring permission to drive to Matthias.

* * *

Matthias followed directions to the fort, turning off his lights as soon as he left town, and continuing south down dirt roads until he was a kilometer out. From there he could see the lights of the historic structure. He pulled the car over to a side road and parked it out of the way.

Getting out, he looked around. While his vision was perfect in low light, he was not used to the darkness of the rural countryside. The stars above were innumerable and fantastically bright compared to the view buried within the city. The absence of background noises was unsettling, and the ringing in his ears seemed to grow louder the longer he stood in place.

He stepped forward, crunching gravel under his boots. The sound quieted his deprivation anxiety, though he knew he would soon have to be absolutely undetectable. It was after two a.m., and he could not afford to get stranded or captured a few hours before sunrise.

The vampire moved quickly through the dirt and grass toward the limestone campus. There were three buildings that formed a U-shape. Each one had lamps along the outside, but only the center building had visible light coming from the inside.

The silence allowed Matthias to hear the breathing and shifting of weight of two men standing outside. Matthias crouched low, keeping his distance from the lights. He stopped and considered what he wanted to accomplish. Firstly, he wanted to know their numbers. Next, he wanted an assessment of their gear and tech. He wanted to identify the leader among them. Finally, he hoped he could follow one of them to see what else they were up to.

Weaving in between beams of light, the nocturnal moved quickly in the shadows and pressed himself against the cold limestone exterior of the side of the building. He pushed his fingertips in between the bricks, grasping them with enhanced strength. He lifted himself up the wall with relative ease. At the top, he peeked over the edge. One man paced along the rampart, glancing down into the courtyard below. Matthias lowered himself out of sight, hugged the wall and climbed to the right, turning the corner. Every few meters he stopped and listened, counting the distinct voices.

Once near the next corner, he stopped. Eighteen men, he concluded. Matthias could feel his grip start to loosen. He would need a new place to eavesdrop soon. Before he found a suitable spot, he heard a distinctive metallic voice.

What hapt? it said in a monotone.

Some guy showed, a man replied, his voice nasally and uneven. Flashed his com and went inside.

What else?

That’s it, Leperd. Didn’t look like johns. Thought that was what you were waiting for.

He looked like a cop?

Maybe. Like undercover. He was carrying.

For a few seconds, no one spoke.

Noose, fucking call next time, a third voice