-God damn it!!!, Paul let his thought be heard, How am I supposed to find this kidnapper? I don't even know where to start from.
He was walking fast towards the crime scene, hoping that he could find some clues there.
Suddenly his mobile phone rang. There was neither the name nor the caller's number.
-Yes? He almost whispered.
-Are you Mr. Anageropoulos? He heard a strange, almost growling voice.
-I am yes, and you are?
-My name is Jason, I am new to the city and I was informed to contact you.
-Me? By whom?
-I am not quite sure I can tell such things over the phone, it's better we met somewhere, somewhere near Aristotelous square since you are already there?
-How can you even know where I am? Are you spying on me?
-Mr. Anag...can I call you Paul already? I hate these formalities.
-You can call me ''sheriff'' already...
-Okay, sheriff, I am not spying on you but it is not that hard to find someone using a mobile phone.
-Listen Mr. Jason, I have a very important task at the moment. Can't we meet another time?
-Of course we can but I am quite sure Sir Nick said something about helping you with your important task.
-Sir Nick? He told you to contact me?
-Yes but if you don't want, it's fine by me...
-No, no, lets meet, lets say in 15 minutes near the statue on the upper square?
-I will be there sheriff. Goodbye.
-Wait, how will I recognize you ?
-Don't worry, I will !
Paul did a quick scan of the crime scene and headed for the upper square still wondering about this Jason and why Sir Nick had sent him to help him.
He stood in front of the statue that depicted a Greek prime minister and General and pretended to play with his phone trying to look normal. Since it was early enough people were passing by or just standing, waiting for someone just as he did.
Soon a tall man dressed in heavy clothing, wearing a hat and a pair of sunglasses and gloves aproached him.
-Hello sheriff, he said in low voice.
-Are you Jason ?
-No, I am Santa Claus, have you been a good sheriff this year ?
-Very funny, you know that for tunneler you draw too much attention dressed like that this time of the year?
-Trust me, I would draw a lot more if I weren't dressed like that.
Paul understood what the man was saying. Roxanne had told him about the curse that tunnelers had inherited from their progenitors.
-Okay, lets get somewhere quiter and talk then.
-Of course. By the way here is my number, said the man and passed him a business card.
-Jason Vorhes, private investigator, Paul read out loud.
-Yep, that's me.
-Ok Jason, nice to meet you. I am Paul Anageropoulos but you knew that already.
They reached a small and quiet cafe and sat in a shadowy corner .
Only a bored waitress and one -by the looks of it drunk- man were there.
They ordered a couple of beers to look normal and waited until she had brought them before they would start talking.
-So what is this task I am supposed to help you with?
-How did you become involved in the first place?
-As I already told you I am new to the city. Only a few nights have passed since I presented myself to Prince James and got his permission to stay and tonight I got a phone call from Sir Nick who informed me that in order to please the Prince for his approval I had to contact you and help you with something.
-Your lucky day, huh?
-It's not bad making contacts in a new place...
-Well, I don't know if you've heard already but tonight a crime was committed and Prince James ordered me to find the one responsible for it and bring him to justice . He believes that a kindred is responsible so it endangers the ''masquerade'' .
-Well I was sure it was not going to be easy, said Jason almost laughing.
-So I think we need to go take a look at the ... Paul had to stop to answer his phone that had just rang again this time with an unknown number appearing on the screen.
-Yes?
-Excuse me, are you Mr. Anageropoulos? Paul heard a young male voice with a weird accent.
-I am and you are ?
-Mr. Paul Anageropoulos?
-I told you I am he already, who are you?
-Ah, very nice, my name is Asterios.
''What the fuck? Who are all these people?'' Paul thought.
-Okay Mr. Asterios what can I do you for?
-I believe that I am the one that can do something for you.
-What do you mean?
-I was told to contact you to arrange a meeting.
-By whom?
-My teacher, Amadeus. Me and my colleague Darius are supposed to meet with you and help you with something.
-You must be kidding me.
-No Mr. Anageropoulos, I am very serious.
-You said Amadeus right?
-Yes! Do you know him?
-No but I know what he is. Okay Mr. Asterios I am currently at a bar called ''Aristotelous'', can you get here?
-I am afraid both me and Mr. Darius are new in this beautiful town and we are not that familiar with its places. Can we meet near an arch called ''Kamara''?
-...Okay, what time?
-Lets say in an hour, is that good for you too?
-Fine, fine. See you in an hour at ''Kamara'' said Paul and hung up.
-I am sorry Mr. Jason it seems Prince James is forming a team for me.
-I can imagine, we are to meet two more?
-Yes, in an hour.
-Well sometimes the more the merrier. Why do you look so worried?
-Well I am a bit worried with those two, it's not the best thing to work with a warlock and now we have to work with two of them, if you know what I mean.
-Two warlocks? Prince James must be really anxious to find that kidnapper.
Jason of course had already heard stories about warlocks from Sir Nick and the mistrust that followed them but he was not going to share his fears especially with the sheriff.
-Okay lets focus on our real problem, Paul said, where shall we start our investigation?
-That's easy. For starters we can take a look at the crime scene, then we can take a look at what the police have found and then we can plan our next steps.
-Easy to say that but how are we going to take a look at police findings?
-I may be only a few days in your country but I am pretty sure your police protection systems are not that good, said Jason with a grin on his face.
-So, Sir Nick sent me an investigator with hacking abilities?
-Wasn't that obvious already?
-Okay Mr. Jason, enough talking. Lets start doing our job. We have approximately 45 minutes before the meeting with the warlocks, lets put this time to good use.
He was walking fast towards the crime scene, hoping that he could find some clues there.
Suddenly his mobile phone rang. There was neither the name nor the caller's number.
-Yes? He almost whispered.
-Are you Mr. Anageropoulos? He heard a strange, almost growling voice.
-I am yes, and you are?
-My name is Jason, I am new to the city and I was informed to contact you.
-Me? By whom?
-I am not quite sure I can tell such things over the phone, it's better we met somewhere, somewhere near Aristotelous square since you are already there?
-How can you even know where I am? Are you spying on me?
-Mr. Anag...can I call you Paul already? I hate these formalities.
-You can call me ''sheriff'' already...
-Okay, sheriff, I am not spying on you but it is not that hard to find someone using a mobile phone.
-Listen Mr. Jason, I have a very important task at the moment. Can't we meet another time?
-Of course we can but I am quite sure Sir Nick said something about helping you with your important task.
-Sir Nick? He told you to contact me?
-Yes but if you don't want, it's fine by me...
-No, no, lets meet, lets say in 15 minutes near the statue on the upper square?
-I will be there sheriff. Goodbye.
-Wait, how will I recognize you ?
-Don't worry, I will !
Paul did a quick scan of the crime scene and headed for the upper square still wondering about this Jason and why Sir Nick had sent him to help him.
He stood in front of the statue that depicted a Greek prime minister and General and pretended to play with his phone trying to look normal. Since it was early enough people were passing by or just standing, waiting for someone just as he did.
Soon a tall man dressed in heavy clothing, wearing a hat and a pair of sunglasses and gloves aproached him.
-Hello sheriff, he said in low voice.
-Are you Jason ?
-No, I am Santa Claus, have you been a good sheriff this year ?
-Very funny, you know that for tunneler you draw too much attention dressed like that this time of the year?
-Trust me, I would draw a lot more if I weren't dressed like that.
Paul understood what the man was saying. Roxanne had told him about the curse that tunnelers had inherited from their progenitors.
-Okay, lets get somewhere quiter and talk then.
-Of course. By the way here is my number, said the man and passed him a business card.
-Jason Vorhes, private investigator, Paul read out loud.
-Yep, that's me.
-Ok Jason, nice to meet you. I am Paul Anageropoulos but you knew that already.
They reached a small and quiet cafe and sat in a shadowy corner .
Only a bored waitress and one -by the looks of it drunk- man were there.
They ordered a couple of beers to look normal and waited until she had brought them before they would start talking.
-So what is this task I am supposed to help you with?
-How did you become involved in the first place?
-As I already told you I am new to the city. Only a few nights have passed since I presented myself to Prince James and got his permission to stay and tonight I got a phone call from Sir Nick who informed me that in order to please the Prince for his approval I had to contact you and help you with something.
-Your lucky day, huh?
-It's not bad making contacts in a new place...
-Well, I don't know if you've heard already but tonight a crime was committed and Prince James ordered me to find the one responsible for it and bring him to justice . He believes that a kindred is responsible so it endangers the ''masquerade'' .
-Well I was sure it was not going to be easy, said Jason almost laughing.
-So I think we need to go take a look at the ... Paul had to stop to answer his phone that had just rang again this time with an unknown number appearing on the screen.
-Yes?
-Excuse me, are you Mr. Anageropoulos? Paul heard a young male voice with a weird accent.
-I am and you are ?
-Mr. Paul Anageropoulos?
-I told you I am he already, who are you?
-Ah, very nice, my name is Asterios.
''What the fuck? Who are all these people?'' Paul thought.
-Okay Mr. Asterios what can I do you for?
-I believe that I am the one that can do something for you.
-What do you mean?
-I was told to contact you to arrange a meeting.
-By whom?
-My teacher, Amadeus. Me and my colleague Darius are supposed to meet with you and help you with something.
-You must be kidding me.
-No Mr. Anageropoulos, I am very serious.
-You said Amadeus right?
-Yes! Do you know him?
-No but I know what he is. Okay Mr. Asterios I am currently at a bar called ''Aristotelous'', can you get here?
-I am afraid both me and Mr. Darius are new in this beautiful town and we are not that familiar with its places. Can we meet near an arch called ''Kamara''?
-...Okay, what time?
-Lets say in an hour, is that good for you too?
-Fine, fine. See you in an hour at ''Kamara'' said Paul and hung up.
-I am sorry Mr. Jason it seems Prince James is forming a team for me.
-I can imagine, we are to meet two more?
-Yes, in an hour.
-Well sometimes the more the merrier. Why do you look so worried?
-Well I am a bit worried with those two, it's not the best thing to work with a warlock and now we have to work with two of them, if you know what I mean.
-Two warlocks? Prince James must be really anxious to find that kidnapper.
Jason of course had already heard stories about warlocks from Sir Nick and the mistrust that followed them but he was not going to share his fears especially with the sheriff.
-Okay lets focus on our real problem, Paul said, where shall we start our investigation?
-That's easy. For starters we can take a look at the crime scene, then we can take a look at what the police have found and then we can plan our next steps.
-Easy to say that but how are we going to take a look at police findings?
-I may be only a few days in your country but I am pretty sure your police protection systems are not that good, said Jason with a grin on his face.
-So, Sir Nick sent me an investigator with hacking abilities?
-Wasn't that obvious already?
-Okay Mr. Jason, enough talking. Lets start doing our job. We have approximately 45 minutes before the meeting with the warlocks, lets put this time to good use.
