07.13.2014: Dangerous Liaisons
- Name = Dangerous Liaisons
- Cast= Alex, Emily and Castle as ST.
- Summary= Alex meets Josie Black to make the exchange, and things don’t go as planned.
- Icdate= July 13, 2014
- Ictime= 7:45 P.M.
- Location= Alleyway behind Mo’s Internet Cafe, Detroit MI
- Prptp= The Book
- Spheres= World of Darkness: Mortal World of Darkness: Mortal+
Its Sunday July 13th 7:45 P.M. The alleyway behind Mo's Internet Cafe, isn't the darkest in the city, however it's a necessary evil to make the exchange. Josie Black wasn't planning to sit idle in a building that didn't boast a whole host of exits, and Alex isn't the type to clandestine meetings on the edge of the city unless it absolutely had to happen. After a flurry of exchanged text messaging this is the happy medium that was reached.
Still, the Detroit evening hangs ominously in the backdrop, encroaching ever closer with each tic of the clock's second hand. For each young woman the arrival is different. Alex is focused, eyes narrowed and steering wheel gripped tightly as she drives. In her wake a literal 'blackout' of surveillance equipment. Just another job. However, Josie is on high alert. She just can't shake this nagging feeling that something isn't right. This job has turned into more than she bargained for.
The second hand continues to tic...
It's meet up time. This book has been the bane of her existence from the beginning. When she goes to take it with her for the meeting, she gets a real uneasy feeling. Yeah. She's asking double the price she was paid. Just because of the difficulty in obtaining it, as well that ominous feeling she gets now. Everything she wears is black. A neck-to-toe jumpsuit, made from a thin material. It's form fitting, allowing for ease of movement. Black hair matches the outfit, which is mostly hidden by the helmet she wears. For this meeting, she's decided to take the crotch rocket: An MV Agusta F41000. It's stylish, and it has perks. The whole ride to the alleyway is uncomfortable. She can't shake the feeling something is off. Way off.
Alexandria is driving up as she looks up toward the sky, squinting slightly as she does. So far so good. She's got her PDA in her left hand, SD card reader hooked into the side. When a red light comes up Alex takes the moment to swap the SD card in her reader for one from her pocket. Then she hits a button on the PDA. Another section of cameras gone. A deep breath is taken and then Alex nods just once. The cafe is right up ahead. She'll just park right in front of the place and get out, adjusting her jacket. A dark frown. A deep breath. Then Alex moves to open the door and walk into the alley.
The alley is clean by comparison to others in Detroit. Mo tends to keep is clear of trash and derbies. It’s easily large enough for Josie’s bike to drive in. It’s only real deficiency comes in lighting. The lights at the entrance are busted, so it’s extremely dark until one rounds the corner to the back. It’s a L-shaped box with no outlets others than the back doors of three buildings besides Mo’s.
While Josie Black rounds the corner of the alleyway, she takes stock. An unseen frown creases her features behind the helmet, while she turns off the engine to her crotch rocket. The book is in a saddlebag, while she looks for the young courier assigned for the pickup. Or so she reasons. Her sights are set on the young woman that enters the alleyway. She remains on the bike, for now, visor still down.
"Josie?" Alex calls out as if Josie is a familiar person. It's less unnatural that way. The girl lifts a gloved hand in order to make herself more visible, despite the fact that she has obviously been seen. Her steps are quick but deliberate, no hostility in evidence . As if she expects the person with whom she is making the exchange to be somewhat jumpy.
The Alley goes from North to East down the side of Mo’s, and then behind the same two story building. To the West there is a Bakery, closed now but also two floors tall. To the North and East behind Mo’s is an apartment complex which block the view of the moon with its six floors. The back is well lit for an alley, with several over head lights coming off the apartment building and Mo’s Cafe. Mo's car, a blue Prius is the only other thing in the alley. It's parked behind the Cafe.
Josie takes note of her surroundings, almost as if she is judging other possible exits other than the one she came in from. When the courier announces herself, she rests on the bike, moving to take off her helmet. The dark hair of her ponytail spills down her back before offering a nod to Alex. "Yeah. That's me. I need you to get on your phone, and renegotiate this deal. If they want this package? It's going to cost them more."
"Well, I'll call the man and you can do your negotiating, if that's okay? I have no clue what's going on, on your end, honestly." Alex withdraws a small, disposable cell phone from her pocket and starts to make the call. She'll hold it out to Emily while it is ringing, her expression a faint frown. The pony tail is noted and categorize, as well as any other features that are visible.
Emily nods in agreement, moving gracefully off her crotch rocket to get the phone. She offers the courier a smile while she brings it to her ear, hearing the ring. She waits, patiently, blue eyes scanning the alleyway.
The disposable rings several times before a series and clicks occur and a feminine voice answers. “Hold a moment for Herr Kaufmann,” she says – giving Josie ample time to switch on the phone’s speaker feature. After which a male voice says, “Zes, zis iz Kaufmann. Do you ave’ ze book yet?” Obviously he’s under the impression he’s speaking to the courier.
Alex watches this and slowly shakes her head. She's scowling a bit, keeping her eye on the alley for now while she listens to what is going on. A deep breath is taken and then slowly exhaled. "Hello? Herr Kaufmann?" Alex's voice is distinct enough in this situation. "Ms. Black wanted to speak to you, so I have her on the phone with me."
Josie switches the phone to speaker, a matter of politeness to the courier. She's part of this too now. Once Alex is finished speaking, she holds the phone centered between the both of them. "Herr Kaufmann. I have the book in my possession, as we speak. However, due to unreliable Intel, and the fact that someone else sent amateurs for the same book? My price is doubled. I have the account handy for you to transfer the funds."
There is silence for several beats before Kaufmann replies. “Zoubled? Zis iz preposterous! Vee had an agreement, I expect zoo to honor it Frauline Black.” … “Our intelligenze vas not off. Vee could no forzee zee other parties actionz. However, vee can now. Make zee exchange vith Frauline Lewis for zee agreed upon price, and I vill give zoo important information, zes?”
Josie smiles, wryly. "Herr Kaufmann. I can assure you, the Intel was not as you said. This happens sometimes. It took a /lot/ more than what I was paid to do in order to retrieve this book. So. The price is now doubled. If you do not wish to pay? Then I guess I have a book to add to my collection, on a bookshelf, that gathers dust." She pauses, letting that sink in, blue eyes gazing up to the courier for a moment. "Important information is nice, Herr Kaufmann. However, it does not pay the bills. Do we have an agreement or not?"
Alex listens to all of this silently out of respect for the burglar. Though perhaps she is just uncertain what to say next. So she takes a deep breath and waits patiently for the conversation to continue.
“Vine! Zouble,” Kaufmann agrees reluctantly. “Zee courier haz ze necezzary account numberz. Make zee exchange, and ven I vill forward zee payment. You may zen connect to confirm you money.” The voice quiet, then speaks again, “Frauline Lewis, only after you have zee book do zoo give Frauline Black the number, zes?”
"Of course, Herr Kaufmann. That's the only way to do business." Alex acknowledges this immediately and then she gives a firm nod for Emily to see. "Sorry to trouble you, sir. This should be over momentarily." Then she glances between Emily's face and the phone before shrugging. She'll wait for the call to end before continuing to speak.
"No." Josie Black intervenes. "Money in account first. Then she gets the book. This is how I do business, Herr Kaufmann. Just like always. Only difference is you're adding double the amount than before. It's not hard, I assure you."
Alex quickly interjects with, "I will make damn sure we get the book, Herr Kaufmann. You have my word. Can we move this along? If she had as much trouble as he said we might all lose the book in just a moment if we keep arguing."
“I thought az much,” there is a heavy sigh before he says, “Zis iz acceptable. However, I vish for Frauline Lewis to confirm zoo have zee book before zee transfer happenz. If she doez, zen you vill have your account numberz first. Afterwhich I vill need to zpeak vith Frauline Lewis privately vor a moment ven, to confirm my delivery instructionz,” Kaufmann states.
"That is acceptable, Herr Kaufmann." Josie says as she moves to her bike, reaching in the saddlebag to proffer the book, holding it up into the air. The phone is given then to the courier, but the book remains in her hands until the money transferred. Blue eyes are on Alex now, solely.
"Alright. Let's see the book. Mmmhmm... Alright. Perfect. Looks good, Mr. Kaufmann. Just as you described it to me, sir." Alex will even relate basic defining details of he manuscript to the man in order to ensure that this is clearly understood. The phone is taken, the speaker phone taken off and then she is listening. "Just a moment, I am giving her the account numbers and then we'll talk. Just as you said." Alex is preparing to relate the numbers- and will do so unless Kaufmann interjects.
Emily will wait, politely, for the money to be transferred. She has a burner phone of her own, you see, which she brings out. A few pressing of buttons brings up the account. She holds the book in her other hand still, waiting, eyes flicking between the phone's screen and the courier.
<<DICE>> Alex rolls perception+alertness, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 1 successes (1 2 5 6 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Emily rolls perception+alertness, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 5 successes (1 3 6 7 7 8 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: Yes) [POOL] Emily spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success
<<DICE>> Castle rolls 5 dice, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 3 successes (3 4 6 8 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
While Josie is waiting for the transaction to take place, hairs stand up on end at the base of her neck. Blue eyes survey the area, and for the moment? She forgets the transaction. She moves, quickly, away from the bike, further down the alley. Book is still in hand.
The groan of metal forcefully bending, and glass breaking steals through the quiet alleyway like wildfire. The entire roof of the Prius caves in, and all the windows shatter in and explosion of glass in all directions. The small car bounces slightly as the shocks squeak from the sudden and violent impact. Amidst the wrinkled and folded steel crouches a singular, masculine form. He crouches in the crater of the totaled automobile, head bowed, shoulder length black hair obscuring his face. He should be dead, but doesn’t appear even slightly phased by the fall. In fact it almost seems intentional as impossible as they may be. Metal creaks as the form rises. Combat boots, dark colored jeans, and a white wife-beater over alabaster colored skin, corded here and there with muscle. Though he is thin, the definition of his musculature shows clearly in his flexing arms. From behind the oily strands of black hair a man’s face takes form. With a fluid movement he lunges from the wreckage to the pavement, landing in a wide stance, fingers curved like claws, fang-filled mouth open and hissing savagely.
That. Whatever just happened? It's more than enough for Josie to start booking it. Fuck the bike. Fuck the book. Fuck the money. Well, maybe not the book. That she still keeps with her, while she's huffing it at an impressively quick pace down the alley. She didn't sign up for this shit. She doesn't need to get in the middle of some drug hazed hallucination gone wrong. She's looking for an exit.
"Holy motherfucking Nazi Jesus Christ," Alex is staring now. She has good instincts- when Josie starts to scramble away Alex is following, so she is not right next to the creature when it drops from the... Sky? She looks up then over at the car, then back down the alley. She's running after Emily at this point. Fuck the money or not? Get away from the gigantic creature thing. Kaufmann can probably hear the crash of metal and pounding footsteps. She isn't talking to him, though.
<< Initiative>> Emily 16
<< Initiative>> Vampire 15
<< Initiative>> Alex 14
<<DICE>> Emily rolls dexterity+brawl, difficulty 7 <<DICE>> 3 successes (4 6 6 8 8, Specialty: No, Willpower: Yes) [POOL] Emily spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success
[POOL] Alex spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Throwing a motorcycle at something. Sorry, Emily! <<DICE>> Alex rolls Manipulation+Computer+3, difficulty 7 <<DICE>> 5 successes (1 1 7 7 8 8 10 10 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
[POOL] Vampire spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Abort to block <<DICE>> Castle rolls 6+2, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 5 successes (1 4 6 7 7 7 9 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
Emily kicks at the door, but she nearly bounces off of it. It doesn't budge. "Sonofabitch. " She curses under her breath.
Alex is reaching into her pocket, squeezing at something. She's still running, though the gesture does slow her slightly. She looks back over her shoulder then, wide eyes taking in the figure for a moment. Then the lights on Emily's motorcycle flash on. There's the purr of an ignition kicking into action and then it starts down the alley at breakneck speed, tires squealing as they accelerate too quickly on uneven ground. It crashes right into the creature who just dropped into the alley way. It crashes into him with the scream of steel and fiber glass hitting a solid object. He doesn't crumple or get knocked away. She continues to run. "You might want to get out of here now!" To Emily, who is fighting with a door.
The man flings his long black hair back, bares his fangs and darts after Emily, moving fast. Something however causes him to stop a brace himself, turning to his side and crouching lower in a wide stance as the crotch rocket barrels headlong into him without a drive. Impossibly, the man catches the speeding bike, though the impact does drive him back several steps as the combat boots slide on the pavement. He grunts, but bares it and starts pushing back while the rear wheel of the bike spins, screaming loudly as the rubber burns and black smoke wafts up all around him.
Josie hears her crotch rocket roar into life. Pauses just long enough to watch the machine, on its own, run right into the ....whatever it is, with no avail. "What...the...fuck??" She breaths under her breath. To hell with doors. She starts out in a run. Attempting to tumble and do a somersault to get more ground. She looks for a place up higher that she can swing herself onto, or up to.
"My car's right out here, just keep going and I'll give you a lift! Come on!" Alex is continuing to run as she speaks. She almost slips, but then she speeds up. Down the alley way she goes, her momentum increased by the lack of friction beneath her feet.
<<DICE>> Emily rolls dexterity + athletics, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 4 successes (3 3 4 5 6 8 8 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
"Get to the car, drive around the block. I'll catch up to you." Josei yells to the courier. She sets sight on a crate. Perfect. A few somersaults offers her more ground, landing perfectly on the grate. Like she was born to do it. This make the fire escape within easy reach. Nimble finger curl around iron bars, puling herself up effortlessly. Another twist and spin, and she is on the roof.
"Right, right. Okay! Big black BMW. You'll know it when you see it!" Alex is kind enough to shout that out as she sprints around the corner. The car is only meters away now. Puffing heavily from the exertion Alex troughs even more energy into fleeing.
[POOL] Vampire spends 2 points of Blood. Reason: Strength [POOL] Vampire spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Auto success <<DICE>> Castle rolls 6 dice, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 2 successes (2 2 4 5 6 6, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
The man, or whatever he is rises up in his stance, lifting the front wheel of the motorcycle as the back wheel continues to burn rubber. He hisses angrily, dark eyes narrowed as he strains to keep from being ran over. His nearly black eyes narrow even more as he watches both Emily, and Alex escaping him. He snarls like a feral animal, suddenly pulling back and lifting the entire bike off the ground, silencing the squealing tire at the same time he begins to swing it in a large circle. After two full arcs, he lets it fly pausing to watch it explode against the brick wall of the bakery. The resulting concussion from the explosion assists both women towards their destinations, though it doesn’t seems to phase the man closest to it.
Emily doesn't stay long enough to watch the man, but she hears the explosion. Her bike! That was a fine piece of machinery there. It's enough to keep Josie on her toes, darting over the roof, looking for that distinct black BMW. Yeah. She's asking for triple after this shit.
Alex is hit by the explosion and thrown to the ground. She tumbles and rolls with it, coming to her feet without looking worse for the wear. At the same time the BMW roars to life. The horn honks loudly and it comes cruising toward the diminutive brunette. She is looking toward the rooftops for Emily as she climbs in. The doors unlock as well. Handy, isn't it? Key must be in her pocket, since that's where she is reaching. She climbs right into her car, shuts the door and- pauses. She's still looking for Emily.
[POOL] Vampire spends 2 points of Blood. Reason: Celerity <<DICE>> Castle rolls 9 dice, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 1 successes (1 1 1 3 3 6 6 9 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
The man’s form blurs in the alleyway. He’s where is was, and then suddenly he’s twenty feet away under the fire escape. He launches himself directly up, impossibly high. High enough to grab the underside of the second landing. Alex can see that much from the car. At this rate there is no way Josie can outrun him. It’s like he isn’t even human. He drops to the first landing then blurs again heading upward in pursuit of the dark haired burglar.
Josie just happens to look over her shoulder. How in the /hell/ did he gain that much ground, so fast. He's gaining on her, closer than he ever should. She skirts the ledge of the building, watching for that BMW to pop into view. If she could just....bounce onto the hood, she'd be golden.
Alex stays in her car, idling not too far from the building. She is watching for Emily- and the man. Right now she waits for the black haired burglar to come down from the roof. Her hands are a little shaky where they rest on the steering wheel, but she doesn't look away.
<<DICE>> Alex rolls perception+awareness, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 0 successes (1 1 3 5 7, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Emily rolls perception+alertness, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 2 successes (1 5 5 5 6 7 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Emily rolls dexterity+athletics, difficulty 7 <<DICE>> 3 successes (1 1 2 5 5 8 9 10, Specialty: Yes, Willpower: Yes) [POOL] Emily spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success
<<DICE>> Emily rolls dexterity+athletics, difficulty 7 <<DICE>> 7 successes (3 4 4 6 7 10 10 10, Specialty: Yes, Willpower: No)
There's a flagpole. Perfect. She runs faster. Grips her fingers against the flagpole and twirls. It's poetry, really. She twirls, unabated, one...two..three. The BMW is down below. She hurls herself in a half arch to the ledge, balancing. The Monster closes ground, but not quick enough. Just as he closes in, she does another half triple somersault off the roof. The soar through the air is effortless. Downright perfection, landing on the roof to the black car without a minute to spare. Feet plant themselves firmly, her balance flawlessly honed.
The man’s hand swipe at the air in the wake of the burglar’s impressive exit. For a split second he’s confused, believing she’s vanished into nothingness. Only after a moment do his keen senses direct him downward, to where she lands. He gives another hiss, flashing his fangs before hefting himself over the ledge to make the two story drop. Unlike Josie, there is no flare. The man falls like a rock and lands in a crouch to absorb some of the impact, outside the Bakery entrance. He isn’t quite done yet.
<<DICE>> Alex rolls Manipulation+Computer+-2, difficulty 7 <<DICE>> 3 successes (6 6 10 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: Yes) [POOL] Alex spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success
<<DICE>> Alex rolls 3 dice, difficulty 7 <<DICE>> 1 successes (1 7 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
"Come on, get in!" Alex is yelling to be sure she's heard. She pops the passenger side door open, trusting the acrobat to be able to get inside. Then she hits the gas. Why? There's a monster directly behind them. Meanwhile, there's the sound of a vehicle starting nearby. With Alex taking off along the road.
The other vehicle is a large deep blue minivan. It starts up a little sluggishly. These things aren't made for acceleration. It gains speed quickly. There's the pop of tires skipping a curb. The squeal of tires. The van careens directly at the pursuing 'meth head'. Alex doesn't look back at the cacophony behind her. She just keeps driving.
Emily easily swings herself inside the passenger seat, closing the door behind her. (Or window, however the space is open). She settles easily into the seat, looking to the back window of the car. "Put your foot to the floor." She states, simply. Like Alex doesn't know that already. She doesn't bother with the seatbelt. She's more concerned with getting the hell out of here.
[POOL] Vampire spends 2 points of Blood. Reason: Celerity
<<DICE>> Castle rolls 5 dice, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 4 successes (4 6 9 9 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Castle rolls 5 dice, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 1 successes (1 3 3 6 7, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
The man begins to run, Emily can see it since she’s turned around. Alex catches it in the rearview mirror. He blurs again, closing half the distance in the blink of an eye. The other half separating them falls behind him just as fast. So fast that in a blink he’s swiping his arms at the rear windshield, snarling with elongated fangs showing clearly. It’s then that the minivan careens into him from the side, smacking him out of the street and plummeting with him as a hood ornament into the building the BMW is quickly passing. The sound of the impact is loud and violent.
"Okay, so. Are you okay?" Alex is quickly taking stock of the two of them. Van and meth head are left behind as she is racing through the city. "I am just going to- put some distance between us and him. Go in circles a bit, hopefully not get caught right away. Do you know what the fuck that book is all about, by the way?" She's speaking almost a mile a minute. No wonder, given the amount of adrenaline in her blood right now.
While Alex drives, Josie watches the whole scene unfold. She notices something on the creature, whatever the fuck it is, that she noticed on the ones that tried to get the book. "No. I don't. But I'm going to find out. "Turn left here." she says, taking note of where they are in the city.
<<DICE>> Alex rolls Perception+Alertness, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 3 successes (2 3 6 10 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Emily rolls perception+alertness, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 2 successes (1 4 4 5 7 8 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
The minivan bursts into flames something beneath it igniting a ruptured fuel line. The flames start off slow but are easily visible through the rear windshield of the speeding BMW. What is even more interesting than the sudden flames is the fact the van grinds against the concrete and pavement as it’s pushed back a few feet and the man’s form pulls out of the bricks and rubble. He looks angry. He looks vengeful. This time however, no chase follows them. Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Alex continues to drive. She reaches for the prepaid phone and checks to see if it somehow still connected. She doesn't call again right away if it isn't. It's time to continue driving for now. She'll go right where Emily directs her toward.
"There is no fucking way..." Josie breathes, watching the action from the rear view window, seeing that the...monster, doesn't pursue. She looks to the book then after turning around, thumb fingering over the indented glyphs. She's seen them before. Tonight, as well as in the past. "Turn left here." She speaks up when she notices the next intersection. It's about six blocks from home. Wherever that is. She'll track back a few times, watching traffic, before she eventually goes home. Blue eye glance to Alex. "You got paid already, yes?"
"Nope, I have a reputation to maintain. I get paid when I show up with the goods." Alex responds rather seriously, looking over to Josie. "You'll have to turn it over to me or put up with some company for awhile." No, she doesn't appear to be joking.
"That is...too bad. I'm a private person you see. So, you coming with me? Not an option. Sorry." Josie says simply.
The Phone begins to ring.
"Look, we just about both died when some kind of super freak who throws fucking motorcycles at people just leapt off a building after us. This isn't the time to be fighting. Why the fuck would you want to hold on to that thing anyway...?" Alex answers the phone when it rings. "Herr Kaufmann?" She sounds breathless, but unharmed. Sounds can be misleading, of course.
With the speaker feature still engaged, Kaufmann’s voice comes over the line. “Zoo you ave’ zee book?”
Tell you what." Josie says while she answers the phone. "I'll put you up in a suite of your choice. Cash paid." … "Herr Kaufmann. I have the book. But the price...well, let's say you can't afford it." Josie just smiles.
"Herr Kaufmann, I will have to get back to you in just a moment. I'm afraid you can hear approximately why..." The phone is shut off with a click. Then Alex is glaring at the girl in the car beside her. "No, no. Not quite that simple, 'Josie'. You're going to tell me what the fuck is going on first. Give me the clear rundown and we can negotiate. I don't make a habit of double crossing people and by my count I not only saved your life but also sat around and risked him squashing me like he did that Prius to make sure. So you can at least walk me through that."
The remote child safety locks all engage with a *click* sound.
The phone begins buzzing again.
Emily's eyes dart to the phone, then to Alex. "Seems like the both of us are caught up in something....we would prefer not to be." She darts her gaze to the locks when she hears them click. "I'm not your enemy. We are both in this together. But do you /really/ think I should give this book up? After all we just went through?" A pause. "I don't make a habit of double-crossing people either. But Herr Kaufmann..." She points to the phone, "Knew this shit would happen. He played us /both/. Think about it."
"Fair enough, I'm not disputing that. I just want to know what the hell you are up to. Yeah? And asking for a discrete courier when you know that shit will go down isn't really playing you, it's being an asshole." Alex grimaces faintly at this before shaking her head. "I'm not going to hurt anyone, but I do think Kaufmann will hurt *us* if we don't hand it over. As long as we actually get paid... What do you plan to do with the book if you keep it?" She'll let the phone ring for now. Under the circumstances...
The phone continues buzzing insistently.
Alex finally answers the phone again. "I apologize for the delay there," she is stating immediately as she flips it open. "It was a pretty huge mess..."
"What I'm up to, is getting paid. But that doesn't look like it's going to happen. Not now..." Josie breathes, fingering that old, locked book. "I didn't plan for any of this to happen. Just a simple job, right? Then....monsters on steroids come out of the woodwork. All for this stupid book." She closes her eyes. "If it comes down to the brass tax, I'll give up the book. But! I'll expect my cut, as previously discussed. And if I keep the book? Well, I plan on finding out what the fuck everyone is in an uproar about.”
From the phone, “Zoe I ave’ eard’ Frauline Lewis.” The older man chuckles softly. “I ave’ alzo been informed zat zee book iz being scry…tracked through meanz I cannot explain. Best zat zoo keep it avay from open air areaz. Zoo Frauline Black are in grave danger, az are you Frauline Lewis. Zay ave’ zeen you both. Vee no longer vant zee book without zee key.” Kaufmann pauses a moment. “We ave’ information zat zee key vill be auctioned off at zee next Polizeman’z ball ere’ in Detroit. Once you ave’ zee book and zee key vee vill be villing to take pozzezzion. Prize is no longer an izzue. Zoo vill vant uz to take zee book. Zoo vill give it too uz. Ven either of zoo ave’ both book and key, contact uz at zis number.” Click – the line goes dead.
Any attempt at a call back ends in: This number has temporarily been disconnected. If you feel you have reached this message in error please try calling the number again. Pulse uno para espanol!
