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Case 1: Fragment 1

Another... successful night. Well as successful as one could hope for. I gathered so much information that I do not even know where to continue from. I was sitting on my balcony smoking a cigarette and reviewing my notes on my laptop when my phone put off that distinct *beep beep* sound of a text message. I flicked the ashes to the ground as I tapped on my phone's screen to unlock it. The screen glowed bright with the text Weiss: 1 Text Message. I groaned as I had gotten use to the idea of going to bed soon. I tapped confirm on the message and the screen changed to read

New subject acquired. Rendezvous at usual location.

I sighed as I sent my reply-

Affirmative, ETA 20.

I put out the little remains of my cigarette in the ashtray and brought my laptop inside my living room, closing and locking the balcony door behind me. Begrudgingly, I strapped the shoulder holster to my body and secured it and my pistol in place. After grabbing my trench, and putting it on, I left my apartment and locked the door.

As I briskly walked down the hall I noticed the neighbor girl sitting out in the hall. She had her hood up from her jacket and was listening to some music as I passed to go down the stairs. She waved and I nodded as I continued down out of her line of sight before exiting the building. I looked at the sky as I crossed the building's parking lot. There was no moon visible; the clouds had a slight glow about them from the city's lights.

Sky's going to fall out soon... I thought to myself as I got in my car. I lit a new cigarette as the ignition turned over. I flipped on my lights and proceeded to drive to the meeting point.

While driving I tapped on my mp3 player and cycled it through my library and settled on a God Module song. I lightly nodded my head along with the rhythm of the music driving down the road. As I neared the location, rain started to lightly tap the windshield. I finished off my cigarette and flicked it out the window before closing it. As reached the point, exactly on time, my phone beeped with another message. I parked and turned off the car killing the lights. I stepped out of the car and made certain it locked. Reading the text-

On time as usual. The door is unlocked.

Just come in I approached the back door to the warehouse the rain picked up.

It's open, mein Liebe, just come on in.

A hazy smoke spilled from the room and fluttered past me as the door drifted closed. The glint of silver from her hair stood out as she smiled at me flicking her ashes into the ashtray.

"Good to see you're punctual as usual," she said with a heavy Saxonian accent as she adjusted the way she sat.

"As always Weiss. Who's the new subject?"

She gestured at the chair in front of her desk and I looked at it then her in her golden eyes. "I insist. Mein Herr." She punctuated the statement with a coy smirk. Pushing my hair back off my face I sat down in front of her as she offered me a cigarette, filter-forward. She gave a playful pout, which irritated me to no end. She knew. I reached out and lifted it to my lips. She struck a match and brought the flame forward. I inhaled deeply to clear the sulphur smell from my nose. As I released a plume of smoke Weiss held out an unmarked folder to me.

Within, I found a few observatory notes with a picture of what looked like a girl in her late teens, or early 20s. Apart from her basic height and age, the file was pretty light on personal information. The notes stated the girl was second in command for one of the Syndikat bosses we had been scoping out for the past few months. However, due to Weiss's surveillance, it appeared her allegiance could be easily swayed.

"So what do you think?" Weiss asked in her melodious accent.

I looked up at her and said, "I think you need to practice your English more. How long have you been in this country?" She chuckled and stood up. She walked around the desk as I kept reading the document to commit it to memory.

I felt a warm softness press against my back as she leaned down and whispered in my ear. "She's in the interrogation room. Do me this favor and I will..." she ran her hand inside my coat then down my chest to my waist, "...be able to help you much more, mein Herr."

I felt a sharp pain in my temple which caused me to blink hard as I spoke back to her, "You're a little close there Fräulein." I stood up and looked her in the eye before she straightened her posture. Her giant stature put my eyes at level with her collar bone. She smirked. "No need for flattery," I said to her pushing my falling hair behind my ear. She returned to her chair and gestured at the door on the opposite side of the room from where I entered.

"Go and do the," she paused for a second, "interview. Perhaps your magnanimous presence will prove more fortunate than my attempts."

I thought about declining, as I always considered, however I mulled over the fact that she was the major source of income and information pertaining to my case. So the assistance was reciprocal, at least as much as it could be. I walked through the door and stepped into a dim hallway.

About halfway down the hall there was light being cast through a window. As I approached I saw a thin redheaded woman sitting in a chair with her head held forward to her chest. Her hands were cuffed behind her around the chair and her feet to the stationary table that was bolted down in front of her. Continuing past the window, I opened the door to the bright room. I slightly squinted as the door behind me locked shut. Steadily I took my seat across from her and locked my eyes on the mess of red hair hanging over her face. She lifted her head a little and spoke in a soft voice.

"So how long am I going to be here? I have previous engagements to attend to," came in in a heavy Irish accent. I crossed my leg over my knee and continued to stare where her eyes would be. She was shivering and letting out pained breaths. Her head sideways slightly and she tapped her nails on her chair's back softly. "Are you going to talk, or are you just going to stare at me?" I reached in my pocket and pulled out my silvered tin and offered her one. "I don't smoke," she said shifting her weight. I put one in my mouth gingerly and flicked my lighter with a flourish lighting it and taking in a deep inhale. I leaned my head back slightly and blew out into the air. She sat there shivering as I studied her. She was wearing cargo styled pants and boots - lower half of a set of fatigues most likely. She had a black tight fitting tank-top on as well as a cropped jacket with a frilled collar. I raised my eyes to her neck and noticed a very thick leather collar that had what looked like sensors for a scanner built into the clasp. She was clearly becoming more uneased each second I didn't speak.

"Are you..." she started before I cut her off suddenly.

"Lloyd Strand," I let roll from my throat. She cocked her head to the side the opposite way in that slight movement as before.

"What?" She asked as her hair fell revealing her left eye. It was a very bright, almost mossy. "My name?" She got quiet for a minute before saying, "I don't think it's necessary." I flicked the ashes onto the floor as I looked into her eyes through her hair. "Well without introductions," I inhaled deeply and blew out a large haze, "no questions for either of us can be answered."

I blew another wisp of smoke upward as she mumbled something nigh inaudible, "Voss." I rested my free hand on the table, "Just Voss?" She flipped her hair back flinging water around showing her face. I lightly wiped the water drops from my face and inspected her pale face. She had a jagged scar running from both corners of her mouth to her ears. I felt a stinging in my temple again as the voices surfaced.

Maybe her praenomen is Chelsea?! the voices laughed as I commanded it to silence itself in the confines of my skull.

She closed her eyes and spoke calmly. "That is all you may call me. Only one name is needed Mr. Strand." She was still shivering and breathing hard. I nodded to her. "So how is this going to work?" she asked me with a pained expression in her eyes. I put the cigarette out on the desk and it let out a stronger smell of burnt cloves.

"I ask questions; you answer them."

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes leaning her head back. The way the light lit her from her face was ethereal with the deeply shadowed smile that was permanently carved in it. "I understand," she said as she returned her head back to level looking at me with those pain filled eyes. I slowly looked down from her eyes to her collar and back up to them.

"So Voss, why are you so disheveled?" I crossed my right leg back over my left knee as she shifted in her chair.

"Your boss had her own interview process that she administered herself," she spat. I rested my knuckles against my chin.

"Boss?" I said as I started flicking my lighter open and closed in a steady pattern. Her eyes focused on the lighter as she said.

"Tall woman, white hair, well endowed..."

Click. Click. Click.

I continued flicking it watching her eyes narrow either from pain from the sound or a growing frustration of it. "Ah, that... woman. She's an acquaintance; I'm just doing her a favor."

Click. Click. Click.

She closed her eyes but I could see the tension in her face as she sat back in the chair and continued. "She gave me some... enhanced interrogation."

Click. Click. Click.

I clicked my lighter closed very hard as I stowed it back in my coat and her eyes opened from the sudden loud sound.

What's this?

I ran my fingers over a small key in my pocket. I gestured for her to stand up and she did carefully trying to avoid falling over from the shackles around her ankles. I unlocked her feet and motioned for her to move away from the table. "Stand up straight," I said as I rose to my feet to stand in front of her. She did as commanded and looked straight ahead. I began to circle around her about my arm's length from her - looking from down at her boots up to her face. Her boots were covered in a viscous substance that was grey and dark red mixed together. There was a visible spatter moving away, up her legs, from her boots. "So Voss, where did *this* come from?" She stayed looking straight ahead as her body continued to heave up and down from her ragged breathing.

"Your *acquaintance* put a bullet through the head of my escort," Voss said as she was becoming more visibly pained.

"Yes, a 28 gauge shell is rather messy."

Satisfied with what little information I acquired, I brought the key to her wrist and unlocked her hands then I walked back around to her and looked in her eyes. "Clearly, you're going through withdrawals right now. What is it?" I asked her as put my weight to one side.

She looked at me and muttered, "Diazepam."

I nodded and rested my hand on my hip. "Well if you continue to be this compliant. I will make sure to get you a refill. For now, stay focused and continue answering the questions. Understand?" She nodded her response to me. "Good, only a few more questions. Now then, you work for a very powerful... man. You're his second in command. I'm going to be up front with you. We need information - and access to him. What does your job entail?" She was quiet with her eyes closed for a few minutes and spoke without opening them.

"I am his head enforcer. I am his hand when he couldn't actually pull the trigger himself." I just stared at her while she continued with a shiver and slight pause, "I was also his doll. His toy." She opened her eyes and brought her hand to the collar. I had brought up a touchy subject, it appeared. "All the scars I wear are from him." I looked at her mouth watching it form the word _scars_feeling a sharp pain in my temple again. She raised her hands to her face and rubbed the marks on her face. "He gave me these... in a fit of rage after I had botched a hit." I looked in her eyes feeling synchronization as she recalled the events in her head. I could see it as if I was spectating from the same room. I lit up a cigarette, inhaled and released a haze.

"You don't need to go on about it. There's no need to justify anything to me." Her eyes had gotten red during her recollection or more likely from the smoke. She hadn't started crying but was damn near close to it. I took in the information and mulled it over.

Well_I thought to myself, _she survived. She was shaking badly now and started to sway before falling to her knees.

"Are we finished?" she asked looking up at me with her pitiful eyes. I looked down at her. "I have one more question for you. Stand back up. I know you can," I said as I held out my hand. She took it and struggled to her feet.

"Yes, Mr. Strand?" I looked down at her small frame and into her eyes.

"What would you say to helping us take down your boss?"

She shook her head, "He'd just be released on bail and..."

I gestured with my hand, "You misunderstood me. Poor word choice I suppose. How about helping us assist in his forced retirement?" She was quiet thinking about it for a bit of time.

"What if I agree?" she asked returning back to her more collected demeanor.

"Then you are free. If you agree to help I'm sure Weiss would be willing to compensate." The mention of the name gave a movement to her eyes of pure rage.

"I'll help you take down that cunt," she spat. Her eyes widened as she saw the first change in my face. I couldn't help but smirk at the remark. I led her to the door that I had come in and pressed the intercom button next to it.

"Fräulein, we've reached an agreement." I released it and after a few seconds there were a lot of mechanical clicking sounds as the door unlocked and opened for us. I flicked the still burning butt into the room as the door closed behind us. I led Voss down the hall to the door to Weiss's small office and knocked on the door frame and Weiss called out, "It's open."

Weiss turned in her chair to look at us and then gestured at the two chairs across from hers. I walked up to the table and waited for Voss to sit before me. After a moment of quiet I turned and noticed Voss had an uneasy look on her face. Weiss raised her eyebrow as she watched the silent exchange before her. I looked in Voss's eyes then at the chair and back again. "Sit," I ordered her. She bowed her head and did as told. I sat next to her as Weiss tapped the table with a slight smirk before speaking.

"So, we've reached a point of negotiation Fräu, pardon me, Miss...?" The redhead was quiet for a minute before answering.

"Voss," Weiss nodded as she handed her a paper and a pen.

"Weiss Kirchner. I apologize for my methods earlier. Past professional expertise, if you will. That paper is so that you can write down any information pertaining to the company."

Voss took the pen then looked up, "Write it down? Are you going to copy it?" Weiss shook her head as she started tapping on the keyboard set in front of her.

"Paper can be easily be destroyed. I am just making adjustments to my payroll for another contracted worker." Voss continued writing the notes as I sat silent watching their hands move at incredible speeds. I reached into my pants' pocket and pulled my cellphone out. I tapped the screen and it lit up.

0207

I stared into space stroking the hair on my chin. Absentmindedly I tapped my phone and the screen lit up with

0229

Voss set the pen down and handed Weiss the paper. Weiss's eyes lit up and smiled and lightly pursed her thick lips. "Ms. Voss, this is one of the most detailed reports I've ever been given on a subject. I may just hire you permanently before the job is done." She winked at Voss and continued reading it. Voss looked at me with eyes that looked like she was expecting something I just turned and looked at Weiss. "

So when will the plan be written up and ready to execute?" I asked her. Weiss looked at Voss then me.

She spoke while typing, "Well I'll have to analyze the maps and cross reference them to the notes...." She continued typing and after a few minutes spoke up again. "With this level of information... I'd say two days." Voss was quiet sitting in the chair with her eyes closed. I pulled out my tin and pulled the lighter out with a flourish before lighting a cigarette. I set the tin on the desk and gestured my head towards Weiss.

"That's a narrow time frame, even for your usual plans," I said with doubt. She let out a small chuckle and leaned over her desk.

"Thanks to Miss-"

Voss interrupted, "Just Voss, no titles."

Weiss nodded, "Thanks to Voss, we may have a massive amount of intel; however, more information means I cannot process it quickly." I nodded agreeing with her explanation. Weiss gestured at Voss. "We need to decide on where she's going to stay. It'd be very suspicious for her to just walk back in the next day after being going missing suddenly." She paused for a moment, "I think it's best if she stays with one of us for the foreseeable." I looked at Voss and my eyes settled back down on a collar I noticed during my interrogation. Voss looked at me.

"W-what?" she had a look of agitation, then fear on her face. I started to put my cigarette out as Weiss rested her hand on mine and took what was left and put it to her lips inhaling. Voss shook her head, "I can't remove it, the lock on it is matched to his biometrics. Believe me I've tried. The way it's set up, if I try to remove it, I am shocked. If someone else attempts to open the clasp and it doesn't recognize the person it will inject them with an extremely dangerous toxin." Weiss tapped the desk as she exhaled a plume of smoke.

"Well... this is something that may cause a delay," Weiss said as she finished off my cigarette and opened my tin to light another. "I will have to reach out to the Twins to break into his network or we can just ignore this and keep going to see if he acts based on her being missing." She inhaled and sat back in her chair. She tilted her head back and looked up at the ceiling in thought as she took a long drag from the cigarette. "Well now... I say we just leave it be, we can worry about disengaging it when we get there. What do you say, mein Herr?" I crossed my right leg over my other knee mulling it over.

I nodded my answer as I started to stand. "I think it's probably the best course of action for now. As for the living situation for Voss, I'll take her in for the next few days until the job is complete. We can find a permanent place for her after."

Weiss smirked and said, "Well that's all well and good but won't your kleines Mädchenget a bit jealous?" I looked at Voss and crossed my arms over my chest. I had thought about that but hearing it out loud made it have quite a bit more weight to it. Voss stood up and looked at me with pleading eyes to take her anyway. She was a lot like a dog that recently lost its owner. Weiss rose from her chair and walked up behind Voss and placed her hands on Voss's shoulders. "I'll take care of her. I have plenty of room at my house. What do you say Voss?" She towered over the small redhead. Voss tilted her head back so she was looking straight up and said. "Okay, that works," they locked eyes for a moment with a strange silence. I turned abruptly and began heading to the door.

"Well don't try to break her in or anything Weiss. I think she's had enough for tonight." I waved behind me as I exited. Weiss chuckled as the door closed behind me.

I opened the door to a torrent of rain falling off the roof. I clicked my lock to my door and then briskly walked through the downpour to my car. As I got in, I noticed the door opening in my rear-view - followed by an umbrella. Weiss stepped out under it and was holding Voss close to her side as they waved at me and walked off to Weiss's car in the next parking lot. I started up my car as they disappeared into grey distance. I looked at the time on the dashboard; 0300 was its reading. I sighed to myself, I will never be able to fix my sleep with this, I pulled out of the driveway and continued mumbling, then again the insomnia was there before this job...

I spent about 45 minutes getting back to my apartment building. I parked my car and walked under the overhang to the entrance. The door let out a beep after pressing in my code. Stepping inside, I looked to the side at the night shift manager and gave a slight nod as I stepped down the hall too tired to even note which person was there. I walked up the stairs shaking the water off my coat leaving a droplet trail behind me. As I stepped onto my floor, I noticed neighbor girl had gone inside. Which was good - no kid should be sitting out that late. I walked over to my door and unlocked it. Slowly I opened it trying to keep it as quiet as possible. After moving into the dim room, I took my coat off and hung it on the rack before closing and locking the door.

I walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, it was pretty bare, just a half empty bottle of Jägermeister, a packet of luncheon meat, and some mustard sat there. I wouldn't get paid until Friday at earliest. Weiss would probably be cooking me dinner for the next couple of nights.

Sometimes I feel she purposefully withholds my money so that she has a guy friend to spend time with, I thought to myself. I decided to make a sandwich so I pulled out the pack of turkey breast and set it on the counter. Reaching on top of the fridge I fumbled for the loaf of bread. I finished up the luncheon meat and discarded the plastic in the trash. Grumbling about how late it was I ate my sandwich in the quiet kitchen. I poured a glass of water then walked to the kitchen window. Sipping from the glass, I watched the downpour still going on outside.

Finished, I set it on the counter. I stretched my arms and back before deciding to go back to the living room for the night. Letting out a sigh of relief, I sat down in my arm chair and propped my feet up on the ottoman as the soft cool leather wrapped around me. I leaned to my right and picked up my laptop off the side table and turned it on. I signed in to my messengers and checked my mail. I had no offline messages and most of my email was spam or just updates from my memberships to sites.

I left my "kleines Mädchen" a message saying that I had gotten back okay from my job and that I was heading to sleep so she could talk to me later today. After tidying my mail and listlessly adjusting my wallpaper a couple time, I decided it was best to try to get some sleep since my eyes were heavy. I closed the laptop and set it back at its place on the table. I lie back in the chair and let the quiet heaviness come over me.

I awoke to a blinding light. Shielding my eyes, I sat up and stretched my back making it give a clearly audible crack. After sitting for a moment trying to cope with my morning ritual migraine, I grabbed my cellphone to check it. There were no missed messages and the time read 0800. I stood up and rubbed my eyes. I placed the phone on the kitchen counter as I made my way to the master bathroom. Groggily I eyed my room along the way. My bed was a mess from the morning before; I had neglected to make it as always. Stiffness ached in my shoulder and I remembered the gun at my side. I undid the harness and dropped it on my bed.

Shuffling in a pulsating haze, I walked to my closet and laid out a pair of pants. I gathered the remainder of my clothes and before sitting down on the edge of the bed. I should do laundry today, I thought to myself unlacing and kicking off my boots and socks. Getting up, I grabbed a towel and stumbled to the bathroom. I stared at the shower as I lay the towel on the top of the toilet set. Carefully I stepped in, minding the haze that clouded my mind.

The water felt extremely relaxing as it helped me fully wake up from my morning haziness. The migraine was still there though which was rather unusual. I lathered up my shampoo and worked it into my hair thinking about the night before. "That Voss girl seems interesting. It's a shame. When Weiss messaged, I was hoping that it was for my personal case. Not Syndikat related. Oh well," I muttered out loud to myself. As, I lathered the bar of soap across my body I continued mumbling to myself. Focusing on my body piercings, I muttered, "I wonder how those two are doing. Weiss can be quite...persuasive. I hope she didn't break her new toy yet." Shrugging, I lifted my face under the shower head, making sure to avoid my hair as I rinsed.After we take care of that bastard maybe my case will pick up, I thought to myself.Saving my hair for last I closed my eyes and tried to focus on reducing the throbbing in my temples. "Stronger than usual..." I mumbled to myself as I turned off the shower.

Grabbing the towel I began drying my body. My vision was becoming blurry as I finished. Stepping out of the tub and I walked up to the mirror. I struggled to focus and as I continued my normal routine. My head felt like I had just been smashed into a wall. I grabbed my toothbrush with a shaky hand and cautiously applied the paste to it. As I brushed my teeth I started hearing the sound of murmurs that I had grown accustomed to.

My migraine started to fade as I shook my head. A cold sweat had rolled over me and I was shaking. Holding the sink fixture, I looked down at the drain trying to focus. As my vision finally settled on one point, I let out a sigh. Forcing the air out of my lungs helped settle my shuddering a bit. Reaching up, I wiped sweat from my brow. I groaned my displeasure; I hated sweating after having just showered.

I brought my hand down and puzzled at a dark red. I moved my fingers around staring at the substance. I looked up at the mirror and saw my face there was blood seeping from my forehead. I turned a knob, staining it red. I began rinsing my hands off quickly and the mixture stained the marble. I marveled that the blood wasn't washing off it just seemed seep from my hands. I began scrubbing frantically trying to clean it. No progress was being made so I turned off the faucet and grabbed the towel I had on the counter. The moment I touched it, the towel began to soak with the red fluid. I looked down at the sink and noticed the blood on the knobs was starting to flow down the counter top. It began puddling near the wall. My eyes widened. In my periphery I could that the blood began flowing up the wall.

"Not possible..." I muttered to myself as I noticed the now fully saturated towel was dripping on the floor. I dropped it and placed my hand against the wall. The blood continued flowing and turning the wall into a rippling cascade. I staggered out of the bathroom onto the carpeted bedroom leaving foot prints as I held my head in pain as the migraine returned. I made my way to my nightstand and struggled with a bottle of aspirin. The blood was flowing across the carpet at an alarming rate. After taking a couple tablets, I felt the murmuring getting louder. Lurching towards the hall, I remembered that I set my phone on the kitchen counter. I needed help, badly. Through the voices I heard a click.

"Mein Liebe, I've come with some more..." Weiss stopped suddenly seeing me clutch the phone in my left hand. I was leaning against the kitchen counter trying to hold myself up. Hastily, she closed the door without taking her eyes off me and said, "If I would have known you were going having problems I would have been here sooner!" She glided towards me taking off her coat and setting it on the counter with groceries. I looked up at her trying to focus my sight on her. She placed her manicured nails on my shoulders. All I could make out was the shape of her figure as I saw the blood creeping across the room. I mumbled as, I fell to my knees limply, "So much...kill the sound..."

"It's okay, mein Herr, I'm here..." She wiped the sweat from my brow and shook her head as she helped me to my feet. "You're burning up! Have you been taking your medicine?" My eyes wandered around the room as she led me to my bed and helped me on it.

"So much blood," I said to her. She nodded knowingly and looked in my eyes and spoke as she helped me put on my pants.

"You need to take it more often if it's bothering you this much," she said as she patted my chest before adjusting the way I hung and zipping them. She moved my holster to the side and sat next to me and bringing her fingers to my wrist.

"You know I can't afford to use it that often. I have to ration it," I said as she wiped my sweat from my face.

She relaxed a bit and had a coy smirk, "You know I can always fill it up for you." She shook her head amused at her own quip. "However, you'll just have to believe me, whatever you're seeing, feeling, is just in your head, ja?" she looked at me and rubbed circles on my right temple. Hearing that made my head ache feel slightly better but the blood had now covered the whole room, save for the ceiling. I closed my eyes and focused on those words.

"It's just in your head..." I mumbled to myself and felt my body became less tensed. I opened my eyes and my focus had started to sharpen from the haze before. A sharp sound rang in my ears momentarily. After, I did a quick once-over of the room. Everything was as it should be, not a trace of blood anywhere. Letting out a sigh of relief, I sat up onto the edge of the bed next to Weiss. She pulled me close and cradled me against her chest.

"You worry me if you don't take your medicine, mein Liebe," she said. I pulled away abruptly and shakily rose to my feet. The dizziness was gone but I felt like I had sea legs. Avoiding Weiss's eyes I slowly stumbled out to the living room area working my legs back into shape. I walked over to the sink and turned on the tap and leaned under the faucet. After taking a large gulp of water, I lifted my face up and slicked my hair back turning it off.

"So, you were saying something when you walked in?" I called to her as I slid my phone into my pocket. She nodded and stood up. Her heels clicked as she walked to her lab coat and reached in the pocket.

"I was able to get a little bit more information out of Voss before she passed out," Weiss said as she sat down on the couch in the living room.

"And?" I said brushing past her to my room. I pulled my shirt over my head and tucked it into my pants.

"Apparently her escort was holding documents on his computer at his apartment." I put on a belt and walked in the living room fastening the buckle. She looked me over and nodded her approval of the clothes and returned attention to her phone.

The tapping of her fingers on the screen came steadily as I sat down in front of her in my chair. "So we need to... acquire them," I said as I cracked my neck and looked out the window at the grey overcast sky. I shook my head at the sight and thought, _It's a shame that the weather is so fucked up lately... needing to wear a coat in Louisiana, in the middle of the summer no less._I looked down across the apartment complex. Many of the parking spaces were empty since it was now a Tuesday. I noticed that Weiss had not come in her vehicle as I lifted myself up and turned to face her. She nodded an affirmation to the thoughts.

"Ja, it's been very cold since that plant problem a couple years ago," she said as she crossed her legs opposite from what they After a few brief taps, she turned off the phone's screen returning her attention to me. She adjusted her eyeglasses and gestured at the door. "We should meet back at my office, mein Herr." Making her way to it, "Voss is waiting back at my house for when we are done."

I rose from my slouching and feel my knees crackle as I stood up. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" I said as I walked back to my room to grab my socks. She chuckled and adjusted her glasses again as she put on her coat. She walked up to the door of my room and leaned against the frame as she watched me lacing up my boots.

Her eyes met mine as I stood up and she said, "She will be fine there. Even if she decides to go looking around, there is nothing to find. All my notes are either encrypted or kept in my head." She smiled as she helped me put on my shoulder holster's straps. "Not using the lower back one then?" I leaded her to the front door, ignoring the question, while putting on my coat. I opened the door motioning for her to step outside.

After walking out the door I slammed it behind me and locked both sets of locks. Weiss shook her head and looked at me saying, "Do you have to be so rough with it?" I shrugged and interlocked my arm with hers and began leading her down the hall and stairs.

The receptionist at the office waved at me and said, "Have a good day Mr. Strand." I nodded at her as we left the building but didn't try to commit her face to memory. I think it was the older woman who actually owned the building. I lead Weiss to my car and clicked the unlock button on my key ring twice so I could let her in the passenger side. She shook her head as I closed the door behind her and moved to my side. I

"Mein Liebe, why don't you ever let me drive anymore?" she asked as I adjusted my mp3 player in its cradle and the rear-view mirror.

As I put on my sunglasses, I looked at her from the corner of my eye and said "Don't you remember a couple years ago?" She started laughing as I put the car in drive and pulled out of the complex's parking lot. "You haven't shown any difference in your driving," I said going down the road.

She messed with the mp3 player cycling through songs as she replied, "How would you know? You won't let me drive." I looked at her as I turned to look behind to switch lanes as I got onto the interstate highway.

"Well how about next time we go somewhere in your car I let you drive. Besides, you know I don't like being a passenger." She nodded as she settled on the song. I recognized the song without reading it softly nodded my head to the song's bass as we continued past one of the city's malls going towards downtown. I spoke as I switched lanes, "Why do you always choose this song while we are driving around?"

She adjusted her eyeglasses as she typed on her phone and spoke with a smirk, "I'm surprised you haven't figured it out, mein Herr." I sighed as we continued down the highway through the morning traffic. I looked up at the interstate sign and switched lanes. As our car went down the ramp I noticed flashing lights for a car stalled around the curve. I quickly swerved to avoid hitting the open driver's door. Weiss let out a deep breath as I looked up in the rear-view watching what I assumed was the driver trying to move their car. I slowed to the side of the road and came to a stop.

Weiss looked at me as I opened my door and climbed out. "Stay here," I told her as I closed my door. I jogged up to the flashing car and saw a man trying desperately to push the car. I walked up and yelled out, "Hey get in the car!"

The guy looked at me, and said, "What?" I shook my head and walked up next to him.

I placed my hand on the bumper and said, "I'll give you a push to flat ground." The guy nodded and when I felt the car jolt from the gears shifting I gave a hard push. It started coasting down the turn ramp and he parked on the shoulder I nodded as I walked back down towards him. I pulled out my phone and called road assistance and gave the woman a short description of the car and the location. The dispatcher said that a tow truck was on the way. The guy walked up as I was climbing back into my car and offered to pay me for the help. I shook my head and said, "Just wait for the truck." He shook his head.

"I insist son," he nodded forcing a couple twenty notes into my hand and went back to his car and sat inside, frustrated at the steam coming from the hood.

Weiss adjusted her glasses again and looked at me saying, "That was awfully nice of you." I shrugged as I stowed the cash in my pocket. Putting my car back in gear and we got back onto our route. "Why'd you stop and help him?" she asked as I followed the road going into downtown. I shrugged because I didn't really have an answer to it.

"I suppose because I need all the good karma I can get," I said as I switched lanes going towards one of the most expensive complexes in town.

Weiss nodded as she looked out the window. "I suppose you do, mein Herr," she said with a smirk. As we turned onto a street I found a parking lot with no rent charge. After locking the doors, we started walking down the sidewalk to his street. There were some kids skateboarding around the stairs to one of the buildings we passed by, a couple stopped and stared at Weiss slack-jawed. She moved closer to me and wrapped her arm around mine. My expression did not change.

"Looks like you have some fans Fräulein," I said as we continued around the corner to the apartment building.

She chuckled, "Mein Liebe, they're far too young."

I scoffed and said, "That hasn't stopped you from robbing a cradle in your time."

She's laughed, "Well that's true but not today. I have some clients that I need to visit later on that aren't quite that green." I slightly shook my head as we walked up to the building. Weiss stopped me and gestured at the door. "This is the place." I looked around slightly and noticed a security camera in the top right corner of the door and walked up with Weiss in tow and stepped aside as she opened the door.

The interior of the building was a pleasant surprise. It had a lobby that looked like it belonged into a three or maybe a four-star hotel. There was a receptionist sitting down typing at a computer. Weiss led me by my arm up to her and we stood there. The woman tapped at the keyboard and had not looked up since the door had opened. Weiss whispered in my ear, "The name of the man is Christopher Richard." I nodded and waited for the woman to look up. I was becoming slightly irritated at either her ignoring us or her horrible perception.

I spoke up, "Excuse me Miss." She looked up wide-eyed and startled.

She shook her head, "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. Most people that come in don't even stop at the desk so I..."

I shook my head interrupting her, "It's fine, but I need to know which apartment one of our friends are staying in, he just moved here recently from across town." She nodded and typed on the keyboard. "What was his name?" she asked me as she looked at the screen.

There's no way it's this easy.

Weiss spoke up, "Chris Richard, not very specific for around here."

The girl smiled as she looked though the tenant director. "Well we only have two people here by that name," she said to both of us. "One lives in 352 and the other lives up on 1014." I nodded and she asked, "Do you need anything else?"

Weiss cut me off before I could say anything, "No we'll be good, thank you Miss." The receptionist nodded and went back to her computer. We started towards the elevator and pressed the up button. The door beeped and we stepped in after the double doors slid closed with a thud. Weiss stood at the back as I hit floor 10 on the pad figuring that a man that was that high in the Syndikat would have a more distant apartment. Weiss nodded as the doors closed and handed me a key from her pocket.

"This is the key that Voss gave to me last night. She was not aware if they had posted anyone there so we need to be cautious," she said as I stowed it in my pocket. I adjusted my pistol in its holster, unclasping the guard. If all else failed, I'd be emptying a magazine in however many... men were behind that door. The elevator jolted up before stopping completely and the doors slid open with a ding.

I stepped out of the elevator and quietly walked down the hall making sure to walk heel to toe on carpeted floor to avoid creaks. Weiss followed close behind treading just as light as she could in her heels. I pulled the key out and opened my coat up reaching in the wrapped kit that was inside the second pocket. After drawing a peephole spyglass, I gestured for Weiss to stand to the right of me to take advantage of her handedness. Putting the glass up to the peephole quietly, I looked through and saw there were two men sitting down smoking, and drinking.

I held up the first three fingers of my hand, starting with the thumb, to Weiss as I saw another man pacing around talking to them with a shotgun in his hand. She nodded as I made a cocking motion and held up my thumb and made the sign for a hand gun then did hand signs for two and three. She nodded again and reached into her coat pulling out her pistol. I opened my coat to her so she could take mine as well. She took it and switched hands; I figured it was because my gun had more recoil. I knelt down below the peep holes sight as I gestured for her to take target two and three. She leaned to the left of the frame as I inserted the key and started to turn it. I heard the men shuffle about a bit and I heard safeties being released. Looking up at her, I looked at the door knob and back. She nodded as I turned the key the rest of the way letting it click.

After waiting a few seconds I heard footsteps approaching and heard the sound of something lightly press against the door near my head. Of course it wouldn't be this easy I said to myself mentally, Lady_, don't fail me now_. I adjusted my footing and Weiss tightened her grip on the pistols. I leaned back. Throwing my weight into the door with a massive force, I reached out to grab the nearest object. My reflexes proved true as I grabbed the shotgun and tilted it up towards the stunned man's jaw as Weiss jumped in and took aim at the other two. In unison with I pulled the trigger to the shotgun causing a rain of blood and viscera as Weiss squeezed off a quick burst of fire into the two men. I watched through the hail of gore as they both collapsed to a bloody heap on the floor. I swung the shotgun into aiming position while ripping it from the body's hand as Weiss and I took a few steps further in.

Surprisingly, very little of the gore got on either of us. There was a small bit of grey matter on my coat, but nothing a little cold water and dish detergent couldn't clean. Weiss and I scanned the room and found no other men. I closed the door and locked it back as Weiss moved to the closed bedroom door and gestured for me to have my shotgun ready as she put up her guns. She threw open the door and I stood overwatch. There was not a soul present in the room except for us. Weiss went to inspect the bathroom as I moved a couch in front of the front door. After sitting on the couch I brushed the brain fragments off the shoulder and arm of my coat. I shook my head to bring myself into focus; the shotgun going off had addled my senses. Weiss came out of the bedroom and looked at me and shook her head and smirked. "I see your training is still good for something, mein Herr" she said as she approached.

I shrugged and replied, "Clearly luck favored me today." She smiled and handed me my pistol.

As I put it away she commented, "The Devil's own luck, ja?" I stood up and surveyed the room. I looked at the gore of what was left of the three guards. I gestured around the room to his desk and book case.

"Get the information we need, I'm going to see if they have anything interesting," I said moving towards the further corpses. Weiss nodded and walked over to the desk and sat down and her fingers began rhythmically tapping at ludicrous speeds as I rummaged through the coats of the men. I started with the last one killed and knelt near the slowly spreading pool of blood. I pried the pistol from his hand and stowed it in my coat's pocket and did the same with the man next to him. I began rummaging through the first man's pockets and found a wallet. I briefly glanced at the name and shrugged because I wouldn't remember it. There was some cash in it so I pocketed that. I moved to the next body and began sifting through his person. I didn't really find anything except for some cigarettes.

"Gross," I mumbled as I put them back in his pocket.

Weiss spoke up, "What? Too much of a mess for you to handle?" I chuckled as I stood up and looked at her.

"No he just smokes a disgusting brand," I said and she let out a light chuckle as she continued searching on the computer. I walked over to what was left of the first man. There was a giant pool of blood pouring from the stump where his head used to be. I checked his jacket pockets and found a set of keys that weren't for a car or a house so I pocketed them. Interesting. I found some money in his wallet and took it as well. The smell of the blood was getting to me; I was starting to get a dissociative feeling. That voice spoke up,

Such a pleasant aroma, isn't it? You can't resist it much longer can you?

I watched as the blood slowly began to trickle across the floorboards to my fingertips. Weiss's voice rang out, anchoring my sense back into my body, "I found what we were looking for, mein Liebe." I sighed and wiped the sweat from my brow with my free hand as rose to full height causing the trail to stop abruptly. I stood up and moved behind the desk and leaned over her shoulder as she pointed at the screen. "Look," Weiss said trailing her nail on the screen, "they have a location near the port. There's also a notation that police were there..."

Glancing at the screen, I shook my head speaking up, "That's where the first body was found." Weiss nodded as I kept reading. I leaned back and scratched my jaw and thought to myself, What do these tools have to do with my case?

Weiss spoke up as if she read my mind. Knowing her, she probably did. "Maybe the killer has ties to the organization, but not directly affiliated with them?" she said as she pulled out a thumb drive that she used quite regularly. As the PC recognized it, the program opened locking out all outside interference as well as modifying the computers systems. She copied the files to the thumb drive and looked up at me through her glasses. "The Twins did really well with this rootkit, don't you think?" she asked. I nodded as the file finished saving. She withdrew it and we made our way to the couch.

"Strange," I muttered to no one in particular. Weiss walked across the room avoiding the blood and stood next to me. "

"What?" she asked as I moved the couch to the side so that it looked like it was set there originally. I gestured around the room.

"Don't you find it odd that we haven't had anyone banging on the door?" I asked as I stowed the shotgun under my coat.

She looked down in thought and nodded replying back, "That is rather peculiar." I shrugged and grabbed the knob with my coat sleeve and opened it. After stepping out with Weiss, I closed the door and locked it back wiping the knob in the process. Carefully, I cleaned the key before kicking it underneath the door into the apartment. I looked to my left and noticed a woman in a red pea coat with long black hair down the hall. Her hair was obscuring most of her features from that distance. I had tensed up my muscles in my arms instinctively and felt a soft caress of nails on my wrist. "What is it, mein Herr?" Weiss said looking down at me. I glanced back towards the woman and didn't see any semblance of another person in the hall.

"It's nothing Fräulein," I said to Weiss as I hurried her to the elevator. I pressed the floor key and noticed a glint of metal down the hall as the doors slid closed. We left the way we came and waved to the girl at reception.

She smiled and asked, "Did find the right one?" Weiss nodded and replied back, "Yes we did, he happened to have been the first one."

The girl smiled and waved, "Well, have a good day." I tilted my head to acknowledge her and Weiss waved as we left. Weiss sighed as we wandered down the side walk as she held her hand in the pocket with the flash drive.

"That was a bit messy," she said as she stayed near my side. I nodded and pulled out a pair of my cigarettes and lit them at the same time.

Puffing a couple times I handed one to her as I said, "It could have been worse, they all could have had shotguns." She laughed as we kept down the street. The kids playing earlier had left and I noticed that the sky had gotten darker. I led her to the car letting her in. I slid the shot gun and extra pistols into an empty guitar case stowed in the trunk. After situating myself and plugging my mp3 player back into the radio, we started heading back to Weiss's apartment.

As we turned the block we noticed cops pulling up to the building we had left. I nodded and mumbled, "How fortuitous." Weiss hummed along to Robert Smith's voice as she pulled phone out. I heard the quick but light tapping ensue as we got onto the interstate and continued towards her home. Flicking the ashes out the window I looked at her as I switched lanes. "So, anything useful in those files you took?" I asked as I maneuvered around cars to get into the middle lane of the interstate. She shook her head and let out a small haze of smoke from her mouth.

"There is a lot to go over. I will need some extra hands if we're going to continue along our projected time frame," she said as she flicked the ashes out her window. I shrugged and felt my phone go off in my pocket; the vibrations making me twitch slightly. I decided it'd be best to wait until we were at least off the highway. I wasn't too comfortable messaging during a storm, speeding down the highway with Weiss in tow. I switched lanes again as Weiss threw the butt out of her window before lighting up another of her own. "Remind me when we get home, I can refill your tin," she said as we took the exit ramp. I nodded feeling a migraine coming on. Back when I had a regular job I had a reasonable sleep schedule but all this overnight work was still messing with my head.

After a going down the road for a while we came to one of the newer sub-divisions in town. I flipped down my vanity mirror and used the access card on the gate. The keypad flashed green and we drove down the lane as I inspected the area. It was very nice, one of the few gated communities I had been in that was actually very secure. We continued down the back to the larger apartments, which in reality were just houses for rent. Weiss had put some resources to use and had actually purchased one of them outright from the owners. She had her methods and they worked well enough that we could have a nice location to stay unnoticed. Other tenants just assumed she was one of the high end tenants and she had a good rapport with them. I pulled up into her garage next to her Vanquish.

She got out and unlocked her house as I pulled my phone out and saw the screen read Anise: 1 Text_Message I clicked enter on it to read her usual, _Hey daddy. I nodded to myself as I typed back I am in the middle of working a case, I will be online later tonight. Weiss and I just got back to her house. After a few seconds the phone buzzed back with her response, _Okay._Closing the garage door, I stepped into the house locking it behind me. Weiss was taking off her coat and hanging it as I stepped through the frame. She gestured at the rack and I hung mine up too as I made my way to the dining room. She walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator and pulled out some iced tea.

"Thirsty?" she asked as she poured herself a glass. I shook my head and she nodded as she took her glass and walked through the living room to her ground floor office. She sat down at her desk and plugged the flash drive in. I held my head and felt it swimming as I leaned against the wall. She tapped on the monitor hard to get my attention. "Look," she said running her nail on it, "here's some more reports pertaining to your case." I pushed myself up feeling woozy as I walked heavily towards her. Supporting myself on the desk I leaned in and started reading about the different deaths that had occurred as well as the states of the bodies. All of them had the same gashes across their face that Voss has. Weiss pulled up another document. "Look here, mein Liebe. The report says that police are following these murders as if it's a serial killer. What do you think?" she said as she looked up at me. I felt a massive migraine start to come on.

I looked down at her with a grimace on my face, "These murders don't make sense for a serial killer. Unless the killer is MO is than the police think. So far it's been mostly criminals and street trash, but there have also been students from the local colleges. More than enough to not be outliers. The only link would be their age. And that doesn't even make much sense as to why they are choosing these specific people." She nodded and crossed her arms.

"There have even been a few children killed this way. So, I don't think it's a copycat either. See the way these scars are show it's done with a something smooth, not jagged," she said.

I shrugged, "Doesn't necessarily disprove copycats either." I paced slightly and said, "Tell the Twins to cross reference all the murders and get me any information on the way the scars were made. Weiss nodded and typed them a message into an instant messenger.

It let out a ding and it popped up,

Chimera: We are researching right now, give us a few hours and we'll have it all marked up with notations for you and Blood to go over White Queen.

Weiss nodded and pointed at it and I nodded in return.

White Queen: Very well then

She set her status to away and looked up at me. "Are you okay, mein Herr? You're looking pale, well paler than usual," she said as she crossed her right leg over the other.

I looked at her through my hair, "Feeling kind of dizzy right now and I have a horrible migraine. The usual." She looked at the clock on the wall and I followed her gaze. It read 3:00pm.

She shook her head and looked at me, "You haven't eaten at all since last night have you?" I used the desk as leverage and pushed myself back up straight shook my head. Weiss let out a sigh and stood up. "Here, I can at least make you a something to tide you over until I make dinner," she said as she walked towards the kitchen. I followed her and sat down in the dining area. She was humming a song that I recognized but the name of it escaped me as I fought off the throbbing sensation in my temples. I heard a faucet turn on amid the screeching in my skull. Shortly afterward the sound of water stopped and I was left with that horrible high-pitched sound.

Weiss set a plate down in front of me while I was massaging my right temple and forehead. It was a large sandwich. I lifted it up as she sat down across from me, setting a glass in front of me and then her. Taking a bite from it I felt my stomach easing. I hadn't realized how hungry I was. I chewed slowly savoring the simple ham sandwich. She smiled as she drank from her glass of water. "Looking better already, mein Liebe," she said setting it down and pulling out a cigarette from the tin in her white coat. She lit up the cigarette and the scent of vanilla filled the room as I finished my sandwich.

"You know," I said between long sips from my water, "if you would pay me on a regular basis, I wouldn't have to go hungry like this." She nodded as she blew a plume of smoke to the side.

"True, but it's likely I wouldn't have the pleasure of seeing you except for work," she said with a wink. I finished my glass and stood up and felt the migraine quieting at least to a dull headache. I filled my glass up again from the tap and leaned back against the counter. She turned the chair around and said, "Well tonight I'll transfer you some money, it should be there in the morning. You should go out with Voss and see if she can give you information." She blew another cloud of smoke at me and adjusted her glasses. "She mentioned something about how she felt at ease around you, even with your intense gaze," she stated as she flicked the ashes into the ashtray on the table.

I shrugged and took a drink from the glass before saying, "Speaking of the ginger, where is she?" Weiss raised her eyes to the ceiling.

"I assume she's still in one of the guest rooms. She said she hadn't slept in a bed like that in a while," Weiss said finishing the cigarette and putting the butt in the tray.

"She's been asleep for a long time then," I said looking at Weiss. She nodded and gestured for me to sit down I shook my head and rested my head against the wall. She stood up and rubbed my forehead looking at my face intently.

"You're getting bags under your eyes again; you should take a nap, mein Liebe," she said as she rubbed the patch of hair hanging from my chin. I pulled away and she smirked as she saw the fatigue behind my movements. "Go upstairs, you can use my room since the other guest room is a bit of a mess right now," Weiss said as she took the dishes and set them in the sink. I sighed with a nod and slowly walked up the stairs trying to be as quiet as possible.

I passed by the two guest rooms and heard some snoring through one of them. I stopped in front of the door and quietly opened it and looked in. Voss was wrapped up in a comforter facing the door letting out rhythmic snores. I closed the door lightly and head down the hall to Weiss's bedroom. I shook my head as I saw the engravings around her door. Lilith. I noticed for the first time that she had carvings of succubi set at the corners of the ceiling. I shook my head to keep my focus and stepped inside. It was full of a deep rich purple, much more than I remembered from last time. I took off my boots and set them next to the door frame as I climbed up onto the bed. I didn't even bother covering myself up as I lay down on my side and held my head.

I felt a throbbing in my head as I felt my eyelids getting heavy. I blinked them open slightly as I noticed movement and as I felt my eyes closing a small figure moved up leveled with my face. It looked like a young girl with long black hair and umber eyes. She slightly smiled exposing a far larger grin than humanly possible and I tried to open my eyes to check but I was just so tired that I felt myself falling into a haze of grey before everything turned black.