“Him.”

“That drunk?”

The two men looked over at their target. They were sitting in the darkest corner of the nameless disco, nursing their drinks and watching everyone else enjoy themselves. Times had been hard lately, and money was tight. Hence their current activity, which was the selection of the next source of income.

Dan, Dark Darn as he liked to call himself, fidgeted, wishing he’d had more to drink. He was always nervous before a hit, and the alcohol helped to suppress that. Still, ‘Little Mick’ would strike true. He fingered the blade hidden in the secret pocket of his trousers and nodded at his companion.

Frank returned the gesture. He was a big man, fat more than muscular, but it worked out the same in the end. He had an innate strength that no amount of time in the gym could replicate. His face, scarred through many fights, was ugly, with a misshapen nose and small piggy eyes. Probably the reason he always wore a hat pulled low over his face, as he had now.

To be sure, Dan wasn’t exactly Casanova material, with a scrawny build, slightly shorter than normal, thinning blond hair and a nervous twitch. Hardly the sort of person that you’d picture when thinking of a stone killer, one reason that he’d had so many fall to his hand. They simply weren’t expecting him to be a stark raving lunatic with a hidden blade. Several hidden blades in more desperate times.

“No, he’s not going to have enough on him. He’s had his drink longer than we have.” Dan scanned the disco once more, eyes sliding off the babes that never even so much as glanced at him, over the jocks that they danced with, drunk and stoned and sure of their reward at the end of the night. Dressed in their Friday night best, never touching the harsh realities of life in their fancy offices. God how he hated them.

“Him.”

Frank interrupted his sneering with a nudge that nearly knocked him off the chair.

Looking across, Dan squinted through the gloom for a moment, and then nodded in agreement. The mark was perfect. Obviously worse for drink, but also obviously not short of a bob or two, not in those clothes. Armani or something, he wasn’t sure of the label, but the black suit reeked of wealth, even in the flickering light of the nightclub. He was sitting in the corner, brooding over a table clogged with empty bottles.

As Dan looked on, a drunk blonde, barely dressed in some golden semi-bikini outfit lurched up to the man and whispered in his ear.

She got short shrift. The object of her affections pushed her away without even raising his head, and she stumbled off cursing unheard oaths.

As if the woman had roused him from his lethargy, the man stood up and looked around, a little unsteadily. Dan was impressed despite himself. He was a pretty good judge of the human animal, and there weren’t many like this one. Self confident, he thought, massively self confident. Probably Old money out slumming it.

The target was tall and well built. Dark hair hung low over a brooding, but handsome face. The suit was immaculate. Black with a white shirt and, oh my god! A cloak! He had a ****ing cloak! Hanging behind him like some lord would have years ago.

“What a wanker,” Frank said.

“A wanker that’s going to pay our wages,” Dan replied. “Come on, keep him in sight.”

Frank downed his drink quickly and the pair set off after the target, which moved through the crowds like smoke through air.

“Jesus, he’s a slippery bugger,” Dan said as they stopped for a moment, having lost sight of the mark in the mass of humanity.

“Over there, near the exit.” Franks’ larger frame gave him a better view. “Quick, he’s nearly out.”

They shoved their way through the dance floor, eliciting several loud complaints, which they left behind in their wake.

“There!”

Dan followed Frank as they barged through a crowd of drunken college guys and towards the way out, which seemed happen very suddenly.

One moment they were in the smoke filled, dimly lit, warm interior, and the next they were outside, in the cold, harsh world.

He glanced about. Two large bouncers glared at him, and he moved quickly off, chasing his friend who was single mindedly following their target. That was Frank for you. Not big on thinking Frank, but once something caught his attention, he was like a Rottweiler with his teeth in someone’s leg.

Hurrying along, he pursued his friends’ broad back as they moved off down the street. It had been raining, still was very slightly, and the road was all but deserted, the streetlamps glaring harshly down onto cars abandoned by their owners for the night.

“I can’t believe it,” Frank muttered, slowing down so Dan could catch up. “He’s going into an alleyway! Talk about luck! Probably wants a piss or something. Come on, get your blade ready.”

Feeling for Little Mick, Dan nodded and started moving with more stealth.

With a backwards glance and a final nod, Frank slipped around the corner of the alleyway. Dan heard him start his usual speech.

“Now then, this can go easy or it can…urg!”

There was a wet crunching sound, and Dan turned the corner to be met by a shower of blood in the face.

“What the!” He staggered backwards a pace, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. He was grabbed by his collar and thrown across the alleyway like a rag doll, hitting the wall with a thump that knocked the breath out of him. Little Mick went flying from his grasp, to land with a metallic clinking sound of the hard floor. Dan slid down after it, coughing and moaning with pain and shock.

Someone stepped on his thigh, hard, giving him more to complain about.

“Pathetic. Total amateurs.” The voice was rich and dark, full of confidence and distain.

“I’m sorry,” Dan choked. “If you let me have my knife back, we’ll give it another go.”

“Ha! A sense of humor. Unusual for your kind.”

“What can I say?” Dan replied, still wiping his eyes. He blinked and looked up to see his target turned attacker standing over him, sneering. He moved his hand nearer his backup blade, keeping the movement slow and casual.

“If you touch that knife, you’ll end up like your friend.” The man gestured towards the other side of the alley. Dan squinted and went pale.

The remains were lying on the floor, slowly cooling in the light drizzle. Blood oozed away, tinting the little rivers of rainwater red as they flowed to the nearby drain. Frank’s head was on the ground, some small distance from the rest of him, staring with shock directly at Dan, whose eyes widened at the sight.

“Jesus H. Christ! What the **** did you do to him?”

“It was a swift and painless death.”

“You’re a bleeding psycho! He never did anything to you!”

“But he was planning violence. I have a nose for this sort of thing.” The man tapped the side of his nose to emphasize the point.

“He was only going to lighten your wallet some, maybe rough you up a bit. He never did anyone any harm old Frank. Well, any serious harm. Unless they resisted of course. Or he was having a bad day.” Dan shook his head sadly.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t be concerned about Frank.”

Dan looked up. “Now, come on. You’ve bested us fair and square. No need to rub it in now… Hey, what you doing? Let me go!”

His assailant had reached down and picked him up by the shoulders, raising him off the ground with no visible effort, drawing the luckless thief up so they were face to face.

“This is your lucky day,” the man said, and Dan couldn’t help but notice something odd around the mouth area as he spoke.

“Have I won the lottery then?” He tried to kick, but was thrust back hard against the wall, which knocked the breath, and fight, out of him.

“Much better than that. You’re going to live forever.” The man opened his mouth wide and lunged forward.

Dan managed one scream before everything went black.


---

This is one I'm writing as an Interactive story on TomeCity. com Thought I'd post it here as well why not already.

~ ~ ~

“Wakey wakey!”

A shower of liquid woke Dan abruptly. He shook his head and opened his eyes, to see his former attacker standing over him, breeches undone, relieving himself on his face.

“****! You sick *******…ah! Shit!” Dan rolled aside, spitting out the piss.

“Lesson number one,” said the man, shaking himself off and returning his parts to within his pants. “Don’t shout when someone is pissing on your head.” Chuckling at his own joke, he turned away and moved off.

“Christ. What is it with you and disgusting liquid in my face?” Dan wiped himself off with a blood-soaked sleeve, sat up and looked around.

He was in a windowless room, at least part wine cellar by the looks of the bottles lining the wall opposite. Wherever it was, it was a fairly large place, and furnished well, if a little unusually. His tormentor was now in a kind of kitchen area, busy mixing something in a large bowl on a counter. Nearby was a comfortable looking living room setup, with a long brown sofa and several armchairs, worn, but comfortable looking. They were placed around a low wooden table, which sported a bowl of fruit in the center. Bookshelves lined the walls, crammed full of reading material.

Further away two plain wooden doors led to places unknown.

“What’s going on then?” Dan stood up and patted himself down. To his surprise his knives where all present, including Little Mick, which he’d dropped earlier. “Where am I and who are you?”

“My name,” the man turned around and put the bowl in a microwave. “My name is Vladimir Dmitri Michelle La’Rudac.”

“Ha! Michelle’s a girls name,” Dan smirked.

Vladimir Dmitri Michelle La’Rudac sighed and shook his head, taking two slices of toast that had just popped out of a toaster and transferring them to a plate. “You may call me Dmitri, it’s the name I usually go by.”

“So, you some kind of pervert or something then? Want me to bend over and play bum, is that it?” Dan rubbed at his sleeve and totally failed to get the blood out of it.

“Whilst I do have certain unhealthy… fetishes, your behind isn’t one of them,” Dmitri said, buttering the toast. He gestured at the counter, which was lined with tall stools. “Please, take a seat. How do you like your coffee?”

“Black, one sugar.” Seeing no better option, at least faced with someone who could tear heads off, he walked over and settled himself down, accepting the coffee graciously. He took a sip and his eyebrows rose. “Nice.”

“It’s a very rare blend,” Dmitri said. “Scrambled eggs on toast?” He removed the bowl from the microwave and deposited a yellowish mass onto the toast before sliding it in front of Dan.

“Okay, I give up,” Dan said, picking up a knife and fork that were nearby and tucking in. “You are either the weirdest pervert I’ve ever known, and I’ve known some, trust me, or you’re…” he faded out, not being able to think of an alternative.

“A vampire.” The man smiled and sat down opposite Dan, picking at some scrambled egg remaining in the bowl.

“I… see.” He took a bit of breakfast and chewed. It was really good.

“I can see you have doubts.”

“Oh, no, no of course not,” Dan said, wondering where the exit was. “I never ‘dis a man in his own home. So over there where you keep the coffin then?” He nodded at the doorway.

“That’s the cellar,” said Dmitri.

“Oh.”

“The coffins are somewhere else.”

“Of course they are.” Dan swallowed and then sat up. “Well, it’s been lovely having this chat, thanks for the food and all that, but I think I’d better be off.”

“I don’t think you want to do that just yet.”

“I don’t?”

“No.” Dmitri stood up, making Dan flinch. “You see, I decided I want some help, and you happened along at just the right time.”

“How lucky for me,” Dan replied dryly, taking another sip of coffee.

“Actually, you are. You see, I’ve infected you with Vampirism. You should be feeling the effects soon.” He tapped the table.

Putting the cup back down, Dan took a deep breath. “I see. So, it’s out all night swooping on young girls, is that it? Because it won’t be much of a lifestyle change if so.”

“Pah, forget all the nonsense you’ve seen on TV. It’s true we drink blood, but it’s not an exclusive diet. I wouldn’t have this kitchen if so, would I? No, there are many advantages to being… us. Super strength, you never catch a cold or get ill with the common diseases, and immortality of course, don’t forget that. You can even go out in daylight eventually, to a limited extent anyway. I’d recommend avoiding sunbathing on a sunny beach though.”

“Sounds super. So it’s all milk and honey then is it?”

“It could be, it could be. If it wasn’t for those who are trying to kill us.”

“There’s always someone,” said Dan, finishing off his drink.

“They are a secret government organization, Pan-Global, who are dedicated to either exterminating us, or recruiting us. Those that are ‘turned’ are kept under strict lock and key though. Not fun if you’re immortal. If you don’t agree to serve them, you’re dealt with.”

“Wooden stakes through the heart time is it? Damn. Bloody government.”

“Another falsehood. We can be killed just like the next man. It doesn’t take any more than a well placed, normal, bullet, though we heal very quickly.”

“So what do you want with me?”

“In return for my ‘gift’ to you, I need you to find a woman for me.”

“Hey, I’m no dating service!”

“This woman,” Dmitri slid a picture over the counter. Dan picked it up and examined it. It showed a large woman in a black skirt suit. She had dark, short cropped hair and was speaking on a phone.

“Not such a stunner,” he said.

“She is the head of the local chapter of PG. I want her taken out, but, thanks to some unfortunate blunders in times past, she knows me. I need someone to do my dirty work. Someone new.”

“And I’m the patsy, that’s it is it?” Dan said.

“Got it in one. So what do you say? Do I have the right person for the job, or is it time to remove another head?”

Dan examined his cup, swirling the dregs about for a moment. “Any chance of another coffee?” he asked.

Very well then, as you asked so nicely...

~ ~ ~

“What do you think?” Dmitri asked again. “It’s a simple task really.”

Sighing, Dan stood up. “Fine. But once the deed is done, you leave me the **** alone. I’ve enough problems without the fashion-retarded harassing me all hours.”

“Believe me, you aren’t my idea of a good time either. I was somebody back when, you know?”

“I really don’t give a shit. Where do I find her?”

“Stone street, off Main.”

“Fine. I’ll not see you soon then.” Dan stood up and looked around for the door.

“That one,” said Dmitri, pointing.

“I thought you said it was the closet?”

“I lied.”

With only a grunt as a response, Dan made his way over to the exit. The handle turned when he twisted it, and the door opened to reveal a narrow flight of stairs going up. He paused a moment and looked back at the so-called vampire’s pad.

Dmitri raised his eyebrows in a questioning fashion.

“Mmm.” Running one hand through his thinning hair, Dan turned around and left.

~

“Beer.”

“Show me the money.”

“Oh come on Vanessa, it’s not like I’m not a local or something!”

The owner of ‘Business’ shook her head and folded her arms across an expansive chest. “I’m not a charity you know.”

“Jesus, everyone’s against me today.” Dan fished around inside his coat, finally producing a crumpled note, his last, which he threw onto the bar.

Vanessa nodded and scooped the money up efficiently.

“You look like shit,” she said, selecting a glass and moving over to the tap.

“Thanks, it’s been a bugger of a night to be sure.” Dan hesitated. “And day I guess.”

He watched as the bartender pulled his drink. Upon exiting Dmitris’ place, which emerged in a fairly run down area of town in a dark alley, he’d discovered he’d lost a day. Not that that mattered. It wasn’t as if he’d a cozy office job to run off to.

“Here you go.” The drink was slammed down in front of him.

“Have I done something to offend you Vanessa?” he asked, picking the glass up and taking a small sip.

“**** off,” was all he had in way of reply. The short brunette stalked off to serve another customer with no further explanation.

Heaving a melodramatic sigh, Dan stared forlornly at the drink lined wall behind the counter.

“Here’s to you Frank.” He raised his glass and took a deep draft. Not that he’d liked the bully, but having a very large, violence prone fellow at his side had made life somewhat easier in the circles of thuggery.

“So, what have we here then?” A sudden voice next to his ear jerked him out of his revere and re-enforced the loss of his colleague.

“Hello Snake,” he said without looking round.

A thin man sat down on the bar stool beside him and raised a finger at Vanessa. He was dressed in faded blue jeans, a white shirt and worn black leather jacket.

“I hear your friend suffered a mishap earlier,” he said.

“It’s a mild scrape, I’m expecting him here any minute,” Dan replied as casually as he could.

“I’d like to see that.” Snake smiled as he received a beer, throwing down a hundred as payment. Vanessa took it stonily and stalked off to get his change.

“Yes, well, you know old Frank, heals fast he does.” Dan purposely prolonged the topic as he surreptitiously squinted at the mirror behind the bar, trying to see how many goons Snake had brought with him, and how likely escape was.

“I hope you’re not thinking of running away,” the loan shark said, as if reading his mind.

“You know me Snake…” Dan began. He stopped short as the wiry man grabbed him by his throat and pushed him sidewise, making him slide off his stool and bump into a large gentleman that had suddenly appeared from somewhere.

“I’ll get your money,” Dan choked out.

“You said that last time.” Snake’s teeth were stained brown from years of heavy smoking. “And now you’ve lost your chum too. Not your day is it?”

“Here’s your change.” Vanessa’s voice interrupted their little chat. “And take the violence outside.” Dan would have been more pleased if the order had had a little emotion to it, instead of the flat, uninterested tone.

Scowling, Snake released his hand and re-took his seat, allowing Dan to do the same, rubbing his throat all the while.

“I’ll give you a day, and I’m being kind here to show respect for your lost buddy, and because we were once friends.

“Mmm.” Dan made a non-committal sound and picked up his beer again.

“So, who did it then?”

“What?”

“I said, who did it?” Snake repeated. “Killed Frank I mean. Must have been a ****er to take the big boy out.”

“Don’t know.”

Snake snarled at him, but didn’t press the issue further. The temperature dropped a few more degrees between them, and Dan finished his beer as fast as possible, whilst not wanting to look like he was rushing. Showing weakness could be fatal with these people.

Finally he drained the glass and replaced it on the counter. “Well, I’m off then,” he said to the world in general.

“See you tomorrow,” was all Snake said.

Nodding in way of reply, Dan walked to the exit. Outwardly he was cool, but inside he was shaking. How the **** was he going to get two grand by tomorrow?

The door slammed shut behind him, and he stalked off into the night.

~ ~ ~

Want to help guide our heroes actions? Go to TomeCity .com and help the writer make decisions!

Maybe it was the whole ****ed-up thing with Frank and that Dmitri. Maybe it was the two thousand he had to find in one day, or maybe he just wasn’t thinking straight, but the first time he realized what he’d done was when two large figures detached themselves from the wall and sailed smoothly towards him. A dull flash of metal indicated they were armed.

“****!” Dan came to an abrupt halt, suddenly aware he’d been walking blindly, self absorbed in all his problems. Unfortunately, he’d wandered right into gang territory.

“Won’t do that again anyway,” he muttered to himself, feeling for Little Mick with the hand in his pocket, and slowly sliding a throwing blade from its hidden slot in his sleeve.

“You in da wrong place.” One of his new friends spoke.

The two black men were large. Very large, and dressed in the stupid red leather jackets that proclaimed them to be members of the ‘Bloods’.

Dan had always thought it was a really unoriginal name, but that wasn’t something he really wanted to tell them face to face. Not without a large amount of armed men backing him up anyway. The Bloods had a serious lack of humor.

“Listen, I don’t have any cash…” he started, stepping backwards a pace. A noise from behind him made him stop. They had him surrounded.

“Man, who said we be wanting cash? Maybe we just be wanting some fun.” The first man grinned a gold-tooth filled smile and waved a large knife about.

“Yeah, you wanna bend over now?” The second one pulled out his own weapon. This was no dagger, but a dull black pistol.

Dan took a deep breath, tried to steady his nerves, and let his throwing knife slip into his palm.

The gang members stepped closer…

~

“Mother ****er!”

Dan sat bolt upright, gasping for breath and sweating like he’d just run a marathon.* Then he leaned over and puked his guts up on the floor.

“Oh my ****… shit. ****!” He coughed and spit, grabbing the side of the bed, his bed he realized, and tried to breathe.

“What the hell!?” He slowly calmed down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. It came away covered in vomit and red. “Shit!”

Looking around, he saw he was back in his small, grotty apartment. “How the hell…?” Dan had no memory of how he’d got here.

He sat back down and swung his legs over the side, stepping in his own puke.

“Oh great.”

Limping over to his small bathroom, he staggered in front of the wash-basin and turned on the water. Then he saw his face in the mirror.

His face looked like something out of a horror movie. The white of his eyes a startling contrast against the dried blood covering his skin.

He looked down at his naked, scrawny body. There was maroon all over him. He was covered in the stuff.

“Jesus wept! What the hell?” Shaking his head, he wobbled over to the shower and turned it on, not even waiting until it warmed up before plunging into the cold stream.

The icy water jerked him awake as no amount of coffee could have ever done. Gasping for breath, he scrubbed frantically at his body, a red torrent of liquid swirling off him and down the inefficient drain, which failed to keep up with the influx, so he was soon standing in a pool of diluted blood.

Finally he managed to get most of it off him, and he leaned his head against the wall, trying to calm down as he stood in the by-now warm jets of water.

An image screamed through his mind, like a picture illuminated for a moment by a bolt of lightning. A black face, eyes and mouth open wide, a look of absolute terror etched onto it.

Then it was gone.

“Oh god, what was that? What… how?”

Turning the water off and grabbing a towel, he emerged from the shower, slowly drying himself as he tried to remember the events that had led up to his sudden and shocking awakening.

It was no good; his mind remained silent on the subject.

The small room he lurked in when not out looking for opportunity was a mess. Even more so than usual even. His blood soaked clothes were scattered over the floor, and it looked like someone had rampaged through his meager belongings, scattering them madly about in an insane frenzy.

Being careful to avoid the puddle of vomit, which stank, Dan sat down on the bed hard, and then promptly stood up again, retrieving the thing he’d sat on with one hand before resuming the position.

It was the photo of the fat ***** that crazy guy had given him. He looked at it in distaste. He’d planned on walking out on Dmitri and never looking back. Now he fondled the photo, which had bloody fingerprints all over it, more thoughtfully. Dmitri had said this woman was the head of some organization, and she was his enemy. Maybe she’d pay for information about him? Or maybe he’d stick her with Little Mick and then demand money from Dmitri for her body.

Screw what happened last night for now, that could come later. His first priority was money, and fast, or Snake would be sending his collectors around. There was an opportunity here, if he could only figure out a way to exploit it.

Dan pondered his options.

3. Meeting.


If this woman was head of some company, it followed she had access to money. He could just go out and stick up some random punk of course, but that course of action hadn’t been too successful so far and it was unlikely he’d be able to pull in two grand that quickly. Maybe it was time to think bigger. Fat ***** bigger. If she was looking for Dmitri, then maybe she’d pay for information on his whereabouts.

Making his mind up, Dan took a deep breath, regretted it as he inhaled the stink of his upchuck, and stood up, full of purpose.

“It’s time to kick ass and take names… or something,” he said to the room, which didn’t reply.

Even though he’d made his decision, it still took a good hour before he was ready to embark on his newfound quest for funding. He’d decided it was better to tidy his room up a little first, or he’d have to come back to it later, and that would be worse.

Once that was done he had to find some clothes that didn’t make him look like he was a tramp. If the woman was in an office, he’d have to look the part. Unfortunately his ‘best’ clothes were covered in blood and dirt, and splattered with vomit.

Eventually he was ready, dressed in his second best jacket, an out of fashion black thing with mostly matching pants, which looked okay but were too short. Sighing, he scowled into the mirror. It would have to do.

The sun was low on the horizon when he stepped out, and he felt a twinge of nausea as he turned to face it. He hadn’t eaten in… how long? Yet he didn’t really feel like eating. Well, all to the good, as he had no money anyway.

He set out, walking up the street, which showed signs of recent rain. Dimitri had said the woman’s offices were on Stone Street. He knew the place and was mildly puzzled when now he thought about it a little more. Stone Street wasn’t in the business district. It was on the edge of Blackstone Park if he remembered correctly, in an up market residential district.

Of course, by the time he’d get there it would probably be closed for business for the day, but that was okay, it might serve him better to scout the place out, maybe break in and look around first. He could avoid Snake long enough to give him time to shake the fat woman down.

The Traffic increased as he plodded steadily onwards, rush hour was upon him. Smartly dressed men and women hurried past, not sparing a glace at those around them, intent on getting back to the warmth of their nice comfortable homes no doubt. Dan felt a sudden stab of envy, at a lifestyle denied to him. ****ers! One day he’d have his payback, and then they’d see who was The Man.

The traffic eased off a little as he turned down towards Blackstone Park, which was away from the main routes, down a network of old, narrow streets.

Navigating by lamplight, he finally arrived at his destination and stopped. Of course, he didn’t know the exact address! He peered left and right, down a long street, inhabited only by a parked cars. At least there was only one row of houses, as across the road was the park, an unseen area of fairly nice gardens now masked by the night.

“Eeny meeny miny mo,” he chanted, pointing left and right as he recited the old rhyme. “Left it is then.”

He turned and was about to set off, when he was suddenly assailed by an overwhelming doubt. The feeling was so strong it made him stagger.

“Bugger, too long without food,” he muttered to himself. Still, he didn’t carry on left, but instead turned about and set off right. The feeling, whatever it was, subsided.

“Use the Force Luke,” Dan said to himself, standing on tip toes to peer over a hedge at the nearest building.

Examining the houses wasn’t easy. They were old structures, built in a time when people had servants and thus needed one floor for the Help to live in. Constructed from solid red brick, they loomed up into the dark, usually with little to no external lighting, which served to make any identification of offices difficult, to say the least.

“****, this could take longer than I thought,” he muttered to himself as he peered through a wooden gate at the next house along.

In the end, it turned out to be easier than he thought. About five residences later was a pair of large wrought iron gates. Next to them was a plaque pronouncing the premises to be the local branch of Pan-Global. ‘Serving the Interests of the Community,’ read the tag line, under the logo, which was styled as a simple blue ball on a white background.

“What a load of bollocks,” muttered Dan to himself as he read it. “Serving themselves more like. For once I’d just like a company to be honest.”

Still, one of the gates was still open, and the large building standing beyond the large open area of gravel had lights on. He could just about make out a desk with someone behind it through the modern metallic door that had obviously replaced the original one.

“Well, may as well try the direct approach first,” sighed Dan, and, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he set off up the yard.

His feet scrunched on the gravel as he stalked steadily up towards the house. There were several large expensive looking black cars parked off to one side. Their silver grills seemed resemble mouths, snarling at him like high class watchdogs.

“Steady now,” Dan mumbled to himself. “Don’t go losing your nerve this late in the day.”

He arrived at the door, which slid open as he approached. A waft of ‘office’ smell blew gently into his face, and he stepped inside, onto a plush blue carpet, feeling more than a little out of place.

The reception area was fitted out in plush corporate style, with quality fixtures and fittings that made him feel even shabbier by comparison. The pastel painted walls were adorned with various works of modern art, adding a splash of color to the surroundings, and a luxurious light gray sofa sprawled in one corner, behind a low wooden table sporting a single bowl of fruit.

“Welcome to Pan-Global, how may we help you today?”

“Whu?” Dan gave off gawping at the furnishings and concentrated on the receptionist, who was smiling brightly at him from behind the metallic desk. She wore a navy suit over a pristine blouse and was smiling like it was going out of fashion. She was certainly a looker, with blond hair pulled back revealing a thin but pretty face with startling green eyes,

“Are you here to see someone?” she prompted.

“Er, ah, yes,” Dan managed to get out. He shook himself mentally and pulled himself together. “I wish to see, er, your boss. Is she in?”

“Ms. Rudac is in a meeting at the moment, but she’ll be out soon I’m sure. Do you have an appointment?”

“No, sorry,” Dan replied, tugging at his jacket and feeling like a little boy sent to see the principal.

The bright smile seemed to fade a fraction for a split second, but recovered to its former glory quickly enough. “Well, I’m sure she’ll see you. Please take a seat, I’ll let her know you are here, Mr…?”

“Denver, Dan Denver,” Dan said, trying not to feel like James Bond.

“Fine, please take a seat Mr. Denver.” She picked up a phone and dialed a few numbers as he made his way over to the sofa and allowed himself to sink into its soft cushions.

“She’ll see you shortly,” said the receptionist.

Dan nodded in way of reply, and tried to look nonchalant.

The office lapsed into silence, the only sound a clock on the wall behind the reception desk ticking away the seconds. The woman sat still and waited, barely moving, looking ahead at the door with a blank expression.

Strange, thought Dan. Like a robot or something.

Time passed, marked only by the ticking of the clock. After a few moments, Dan reached forward and plucked a banana from the bowl, only to discover it was plastic.

“Typical,” he muttered, replacing the fake fruit.

“Ms. Rudac will see you now,” announced the secretary, suddenly animating, and making him jump.

Dan wondered how she knew, as there hadn’t been any phone calls or anything, but shrugged to himself and stood up.

“Down the corridor, the door at the end.”

He nodded at the woman, and followed her directions, attempting to look as professional as he could.

The hallway was decorated in the same style as the reception area, with six or seven plain wooden doors to either side. At the end was a large door in the same style. The only difference was a simple plaque half way up sporting the information: ‘Rebecca Rudac, Chief of Operations.’

Bracing himself mentally, Dan raised his hand to knock.

“Enter Mr. Denver,” came a strong female voice from the other side.

Fist still in the air, Dan jumped. Shaking his head, he turned the knob and went in.

Beyond was another office. Although decorated in the same basic color scheme, this one seemed even more luxurious than outside. Several large plants were placed around the edge, giving it a comfortable atmosphere. However, the eye was dragged towards the desk placed in the center of the room.

The thing was a monster. It must have weighed a ton, and was made as it was of what appeared to be solid mahogany. Several trees must have given their lives for the thing.

Behind it was the woman from the photograph. She looked more intimidating in the flesh, and though she was certainly large, she didn’t seem to be fat but simply ‘big boned’. A mass of black hair was restrained in a tight bun, though it seemed only barely under control to Dan. She wore a plain black dress with the only adornment a heavy silver necklace. Her face was round, and strangely forgettable, with the exception of two intensely dark eyes that were examining her visitor keenly.

“I see,” she said, apparently to herself. Then, louder: “Please, take a seat.” She gestured to a comfortable looking office chair on Dan’s side of the huge desk.

“Thank-you,” he replied, somewhat nervously. The woman scared him.

“So, what do you have for me?” she said, leaning forward.

“How do you know I have anything for you?” Dan replied, trying to put on an air of mystery.

She smiled. “You’d be surprised what I know about you already.”

“Really?” Dan raised an eyebrow and leaned back, attempting to be nonchalant and cool, though he was shaking inside.

“Really. Now, are you going to sit there shivering, or are we going to do business?”

Scowling, Dan sat up. “Alright then. I have information for you, but I need cash and some information from you in return.”

She didn’t move. “Go on.”

“What do you know about someone called Dmitri?”

The corners of her mouth twitched. “He’s a person of… interest to me.”

Dan raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner. “And?”

The woman tapped her desk for a moment and looked thoughtful, then she seemed to make her mind up about something.

“I tell you what Daniel. I’ll make you a deal. Tell me where he is, and I’ll let you go. I know what you are becoming, and usually my organization would deal with you. One way or another. However, if you help me with this, I’ll leave you alone; maybe throw you a bone here and there. We can be allies. I’ll even tell you some things that you might find useful. How does that sound?”

She smiled, an expression that didn’t suit her.

“What do you say?”