The Strip / A Hunt (Attn. Alex) / Ambrose 18 years ago
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A Hunt (Attn. Alex)

On the surface this was deceptively simple, but when the Elder said she'd test him Ambrose was certain that meant more than a simple run and fetch. But, he wasn't going to jump to conclusions and go in guns blazing, nor was he going to go in unarmed either. A shoulder holster was neatly hidden under his sports coat. He wasn't terribly fond of them, but he could try being subtle.

Settling into his truck he studied the name and the address again. Not a lot to be learned there so he spent a few long silent moments studying his partner/supervisor. Far too flash, just the sort he wouldn't trust. On the other hand Mai had enough faith in him to send him on this mission, which counted for a great deal. That and it wouldn't due to have them suspicious of each other so let's do this, he decided and waited some what impatiently for him to get in so they could get rolling.

"When ever you're ready."Â?

'Pretty boy' he added silently to himself. See he kept his mouth shut, he could be civil. It was a little harder than usual, it had been a long time since Ambrose had a job like this and it brought back a lot of memories and it made him feel rather... intent. Once they were moving, had a plan, he'd feel better. He always had in the past.

Stranger 18 years ago
Jessica sighed; apparently the Mr West in her dreams was particularly dense and felt the need to repeat the question she just answered in a slightly altered form. What did he think this was an interrogation?

"Yeah, I do all the booking, talking, and schmoozing. You name it and I'm the lucky person in charge of it."Â?

Then it became totally obvious that the dream man was completely whacked in the head. Who hired her to cater the Mayor's Ball?!

"Cornucopia Catering doesn't work the Mayor's events. Putting on the Ritz Catering does."Â?

She snorted dryly at that.

'Though if you ask me they've been putting on the shits from what I hear lately."Â?

The company used to have an excellent reputation but the last few reviews had been completely sub-standard. She had hoped that the Mayor's staff would cease using the company and look around for something else.

"Can't be anything out of the ordinary about a client I didn't have."Â?

Her dreams was totally messed up; if she were supposed to be figuring out who might have been responsible for the terrorist attack on the former Mayor then why was her dream wasting time with questions that she already knew the answer to? Maybe it was a line of reasoning or something an established base for reference. Whatever the case, Jessica sighed in a bored fashion, she wished it would get on with something more exciting than this.


((OOC: Pardon her opinion there but her view point of reality is a bit skewed. My apologies to Putting on the Ritz Catering for besmirching their good name ))
Pakpao 18 years ago
“Son of a bitch.”

Ambrose muttered under his breath. This wasn’t going to be a dead end, not if he had anything to say about it.

Think, why would any one put them on Jessica’s track if they didn’t do the mayor’s gigs. There was something here and he was going to find it. He began to pace, his standard awkward gate, but Ambrose still made good time when he wanted to.

“You lose any one to Putting on the Ritz lately? Or have a gig the same night the mayor decided to have his blow out?”
Ambrose 18 years ago
“Son of a bitch.”

Ambrose muttered under his breath. This wasn’t going to be a dead end, not if he had anything to say about it.

Think, why would any one put them on Jessica’s track if they didn’t do the mayor’s gigs. There was something here and he was going to find it. He began to pace, his standard awkward gate, but Ambrose still made good time when he wanted to.

“You lose any one to Putting on the Ritz lately? Or have a gig the same night the mayor decided to have his blow out? And who's been saying they're slacking off? Might be good for your business if they did too.”
Alex West 18 years ago
Alexander scribbled down a few notes as he listened to Jessica's responses to the questioning.

Ambrose's little outburst was crude, but echoed what Alexander privately thought.

Something didn't quite add up. There was always the possibility that Jessica had already been pre-programmed with a certain set of reponses, but that would mean someone - most likely a vampire - with a great ability of Command that either Ambrose or Alexander. Or other abilities that could interfere with a person's thinking.

Alexander waited to see if Ambrose's line of questioning bore any fruit.
Stranger 18 years ago
Jessica hid a smile at Mr Townsend's remark. Now this dream portion somehow seemed more likely. She considered his question with a thoughtful frown. Her arm itched though and it was starting to bug her. Really her subconscious had a serious problem if it thought this was the best way to help her remember this stuff.


"Think we could lose these?"Â?


She rattled the handcuffs.


"My arm itches and they are freaking cold."Â?


Going back to contemplating her employees, Jessica thought about it.


"Several employees have gone over to Putting on the Ritz. They are the bigger catering company so one might consider it moving up in the world. I'm not sure what that has to do with anything though... "


Jessica looked up at Mr West.


"Why did you ask if I was involved with the Mayor's dinner?"Â?

There were other questions to answer but her arm was really starting to bother her, Jessica squirmed in her seat to get to it but failed.

((OOC: Sorry didn't see that the thread had been replied to))
Alex West 18 years ago
Alexander nodded to Ambrose. "Remove the handcuffs please."

He looked at Jessica thoughtfully. Something about this lead wasn't adding up and Alexander couldn't put his finger on it.

"Confidential source Miss Patterson. Just answer this question. Are you involved in any way with the bombing that place that night?"
Ambrose 18 years ago
Good, he was going to do it whether Alex had liked the idea or not, but it was better that they be in agreement. He simply hadn’t understood why they were necessary, she was in a secure location and between the two of them not likely to just ‘get away’ but what ever.

Ambrose found the key and took both cuffs off, giving her a look that was half warning half dare. While it wasn’t likely she’d get away he had no desire to chase after her and once she got the bit in her teeth she might be able to keep running.

Finally, the kid gloves were off just ask the damned questions. That was a relief as well, but perhaps too direct. Not that he had a better question. Next time he took a test, maybe he’d get lucky and just be able to shoot someone.
Stranger 18 years ago
Jessica sighed in relief when the first handcuff was undone. She immediately went to scratch her arm and then sat staring at her wrists for a moment. Her subconscious was being quite the pain in the ass; she was answering questions the least it could do was return the favor, especially since it wanted to go through this whole rigmarole.


She blinked at Mr West's questions. Am I involved in any way with the bombing? Did she look like it sitting here in this chair? Brilliant mastermind at work...making cakes and getting caught! She hoped she'd do a better job if she were actually taking up terrorism. She certainly wouldn't use her own business as a front for it. Perhaps it was a former employee somehow that was responsible and that was the reason for those questions. Maybe her subconscious was trying to grill her about it so she'd know later that she had no idea who she was letting loose into the work force when their name popped up on the evening news for terrorist activities.


“No.”

Jessica looked up at Mr Townsend to see if he had anything he'd like to add. If not then surely the dream would be over soon. She put in a fervent wish for something nicer next time, a tropical beach or a mountain chalet....something other than an interrogation room with an extra from the Matrix.
Alex West 18 years ago
Alexander swore silently. This was getting complicated.

So Miss Patterson had no involvement with the bombing, or genuinely believed she didn't.

A rival catering firm had provided services at the Mayor's function.

And several employee's of Miss Patterson's catering firm had gone over to Putting on the Ritz.

That still didn't alter the fact that there had been an explosion and that it had orginated in or near the kitchen area.

Alexander picked up a piece of paper and pen, walked around the side of the table and placed them before Jessica.

"Can you please write down the names, and if possible addresses of the employees who left your firm for Putting on the Ritz."

Alexander paused as he looked at Jessica. "Did you actually attend the Mayor's Ball at all that evening Miss Patterson?"
Ambrose 18 years ago
Screw this, they were going to come back empty handed. Was this supposed to be a lesson in knowing when to give up? When you’d failed? If so this was a problem as he’d never taken failure particularly well.

Were they looking at this wrong? Being too specific or did the outright have the wrong person, had the source that led them to Jessica here been mistaken? If it was them, how else could they look at this?

He slouched up against a wall, frustrated and pissed off rubbing his eyes with one hand as if he had a headache. Right now, he wished he had a headache, that would at least be physical evidence of this mess.

“Once you’re done with that,” His voice was low and he spoke slowly clear evidence of his frustration, “Why don’t you tell us every thing you know about the ball and about any discussions you might have had regarding it or the catering of it including any connections you might have with Putting on the Ritz.”

There, that ought to be broad enough to cover half her professional life and if they had to stay here all night to listen to it to find the one relevant part than so be it.
Stranger 18 years ago
Jessica took the piece of paper and wrote down three names before sliding it back to Mr West. She looked at him in confusion at his question. Caterers that were not performing such events generally weren't on the A list of people to invite.


"No, I did not attend the dinner."Â?


Mr Townsend looked as tired as she felt. Jessica wondered if she were going to need a nap after her dream because she was starting to feel more than a little exhausted. She listened to his questions with a weary sort of resolve. Had they not been through this? Why was her subconscious asking her questions that it should already have very obvious answers to?


"I don't know much about an event that is not a part of my catering plan. It is done by Putting on the Ritz despite their lack of good performance of late. I have heard no news that the Mayor's staff called a new catering company to take their place. Though I imagine after this fiasco they will."Â?

She paused to think of anything else of use.


"Miriam Beecham is the woman who runs that catering company. We have met at events and shows over the years. She's a bit on the distant side of polite and I always get the impression that she's looking down her nose at me. I haven't had any discussions regarding the dinner aside from wondering with my employees whether or not they would get another caterer and this one that I'm having with you but I don't suppose that one counts. I didn't cater the event so I haven't any discussions about that. As for connections to that business there is just the former employees and conversations in passing with Miriam and that's it."Â?


Jessica looked from one to the other and waited to see if there was anything else.

((OOC: Eh, she thinks her subconscious should know the answers to these questions already and is a bit baffled by them))
Alex West 18 years ago
Alexander picked up the piece of paper, glanced over the names and addresses, and then folded it carefully and placed it inside his trouser pocket.

Names. They were getting plenty of names, which meant plenty of more checking. And now another name. Miriam Beecham. Could be something, could be nothing. All Alexander could see was more work for Ambrose and him.

Jessica Patterson seemed to be a non-entity in the scheme of things. She hadn't catered the Mayor's little soiree. Hell, she hadn't even attended the event. The explosion came from near the kitchen. And of course it was a different catering company, Putting on the Ritz, that had been hired for the event.

Eight potential leads. Starting with Miriam Beecham was probably the most likely course of action.

"Thank you, Miss Patterson." said Alexander as he poured three glasses of water from the Pitcher.

He took three, handed one to Ambrose, and placed one in front of Jessica. Alexander took a sip from his glass to show her that nothing was wrong with the contents. Maybe time for a different tack. It was a longshot but it was worth a try.

"Do the names Anantya, Evenhet or Tacharan mean anything to you, Jessica. Anything at all?"
Ambrose 18 years ago
Fish or cut bait right? Ambrose was ready to cut bait and let Jessica go. They were obviously getting nowhere and that disgusted him, but it wasn’t her fault. It must be his, at least in part, why couldn’t he find the right question. Screw it. They’d have to run down the other names and god help them if they were just as futile, he’d go mad.

The water really didn’t interest him in the slightest, it wasn’t at all appealing but he held on to it. More out of reflex than anything. He almost dropped it, however, when Alex rattled off the clan names. What in hell’s name was this guy thinking?

Ambrose shot Alex a cold raised eyebrow look (nearly a glare) wanting to know where he planed on going with this. No matter what the plan he’d like to know now, he wasn’t comfortable with a mortal having any kind of information about them, no matter how little or seemingly innocent.
Stranger 18 years ago
Jessica thought about the words that Mr West had rattled off. Were they important people in all this? Should they mean something, how did her dream mind know about names she didn't? So wouldn't that mean that they -did- mean something to her somehow? Still she made no useful connection to them.


"Uhm...no.. Should they?"Â?


She figured she should ask just in case there was something she was missing. Obviously in this dream there was A LOT she was missing but she wasn't going to find out by not asking. Not that either had been very cooperative in answering -her- questions. She should add another to the list though while she was at it.

"Are we done? I could certainly find more pleasant things to do."

[Crossing her arms, Jessica frowned first at one and then the other of the two men. She had answered enough questions and she was starting to feel hungry now along with tired.
Alex West 18 years ago
Alexander sighed inwardly. Not even a longshot question like that had failed to produce usuable information from Miss Patterson.

"No, Miss Patterson. You will forget you ever heard them."

Alexander finished his glass of water, and stared at the tape slowly winding around inside the recorder. All this trouble for a bunch of names and no solid leads. There was always torture, but it wasn't always entirely reliable.

He looked over at Ambrose.

"Any more questions for Miss Patterson, Mr. Townsend?"

((ooc - sorry taking so long - one sick person))
Ambrose 18 years ago
Still a bit irritated with Alex mentioning the clan names Ambrose just shook his head. He was out of ideas. They’d tried everything and only been given new ideas, not even a solid lead just possibilities.

Setting his water down, untouched, he tried one more time to come up with a better path of questioning.

“Would you like us to drop you off any where specific?”

Undoubtedly one of the two of them would be making sure Jessica forgot about this encounter or thought it was a dream. But that would wait a bit. He’d rather not have to carry her back to the truck.
Stranger 18 years ago
Jessica looked up at Mr Townsend and blinked non plussed for a moment. They were done, really done, and she didn't just wake up or go on to another dream. Hmm, maybe they weren't done or maybe this was just a entrance to something else. Next she might be flying over the Amazon with Mr West and her youngest nephew.


Shaking off that mental image, Jessica gave Townsend a faint smile and said.


"It has been a long day. I think home is about all the excitement that I am capable of right now."Â?


She stood and pressed down her skirt and then looked at the two men.


"This has been..uh...interesting. I will try not to let it influence our business relationship."Â?


Jessica shrugged and waited for one of them to open the door and lead the way. She was not sure why she felt the need to tell the images of her subconscious about her future attempts at impartiality but it seemed only polite. This dream was in some way meant for her benefit and there was no reason for her flight of fancy to cast these two men as strange villains just to tell her some dubious fact that she still hadn't understood.

((OOC: If you are wanting to end it in the next few posts then either of you have the ability to out Jessica. If you want to go to a different thread then send me a pm to let me know where to look. Sorry for the delay...tis the season of madness. ))
Alex West 18 years ago
Alexander feigned a smile as he put his pistol away and slipped his jacket and overcoat back on. Too many questions, and not enough answers. Stoicism could wait for later.

The tape recorder clicked off, and Alexander removed the tape. At least this could be analysed later to see if anything had been missed. And whether or not his performance was comendable or condemning was not his to decide.

Alexander walked over to Jessica and stood by her side as he quietly spoke to her.

"Go to sleep, Miss Patterson."

He readied himself to catch her in his arms.

"This is a dream. You will remember nothing of this."

The least Alexander could do would be to escort Jessica home, and work a plausible story into her head as he explored her body and tasted her blood...

((ooc - will PM exactly what Alex has in mind if that pans out))
Stranger 18 years ago
Jessica frowned slightly in confusion at Mr West.


"Of course I would like to sleep but I need to get home first."Â?


However she was already asleep, wasn't she? Perhaps this was actually the end of the dream and once she closed her eyes another dream would start or she would...wake up. How odd for him to say 'get some sleep' in order to wake her up.


She sat back down in the chair and looked at them both for a moment before drifting off again.


((OOC: I am kicking everyone out. I will assume that you take her home. Whatever you do with her there is your business but I'm not going to roleplay that with an NPC ))