F³ Chilling Proof 09

            The driver, not one of Nikki’s regulars, opened the door for us. Nikki exited gracefully, me less so. I pulled on the black fedora Nikki had provided, and offered her my arm. Unlike Hollywood or other prestigious places, the Fairhaven Club wanted privacy as well as ostentation, so we were in a drop-off area well-protected from prying eyes despite being the middle of Fairhaven’s crowded streets.

            Nikki pulled an ID card from her purse, pressing it to a plate to trigger the doors. My own Fairhaven ID was useless in my wallet since I refused to cough up the ransom to keep it activated. Max Auron had provided a membership to me solely to conduct business, which thankfully had lapsed.

            “Aren’t these people going to recognize me?” I whispered. “Know what I’m doing here?”

            “They will recognize you, but they think I keep you for pleasure, not practicality.”

            “So I really am your boy-toy?”

            “Quite so, Dumpling. Hopefully, though, our ruse will not require proofs of our relationship.”

            “Like kissing in public?”

            “Like drinking your blood.”

            My stomach churned as my blood ran cold.

F³ The Goal 08

“Wait,” I said, still looking at the carpet, but I squinted, trying to focus on something from my memory. “Are we talking about Max Auron? That was his thing, brokering in objects of power.”

“I have not heard mention of Maximilian in some time. He usually never made a secret of his comings and goings, rather, he broadcast them for all to hear. And I would think that he might view the Club’s doings as competition rather than something he involved himself in.”

“But you don’t know for sure.”

Nikki shook her head.

“Okay, so where am I going to find this evidence?”

“Several rooms hold filing cabinets and computers have records. I believe, together, we can access them.”

It was a thought. But it also didn’t sit right with me. Records were likely to be in secure areas, and computers were password protected. I wasn’t a hacker, and I certainly wasn’t going to involve Ira in this. Even the filing cabinets could be problematic depending on what kind of scheme they used, and what they were hiding it behind. Wasn’t like I was going to find a file folder labeled ‘Artifact Smuggling.’

            “We’re here,” Nikki announced.

            So much for coming up with a good plan.

F³ The Other Shoe 07

            “Matthew?” Nikki put a hand on my knee.

            “Hmm?” I stared at the limo’s floor. It was an old habit to refocus my thoughts. I could let my mind roam freely, staring off into nothing like that.

            “What are your thoughts?”

            “I think this is bad on a lot of levels. I think that I’m getting roped into something dangerous without the benefit of an innocent client that needs help. And I think I have to go along with whatever your plan is. What is your plan, anyway? I’m no good in a fight against these people. I bet you could take them all if you wanted.”

            “Perhaps. If I employed a number of agents on my behalf. I do have such, but so do they.”

            “So what am I doing here? What do you need me for?”

            “As I said, I need a detective.”

            “For what? What am I detecting?”

            “Evidence. I believe this shadowy council is using the Club’s resources and influence for smuggling. The theft of artifacts from other cultures is nothing new, particularly among the socially elite, but I believe that some of these artifacts may hold power.”

            My head snapped up. “Powerful artifacts, like charms, medallions, and other objects?”

“I believe so.”

I went back to staring at the carpet, my thoughts whirling.

Oh, Hell.