FSE

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Something I didn't consider when deciding to become a private investigator, was how boring it could be at time. When i was a cop, there was always something to do, if I wasn't chasing down a lead, or a criminal, I was filling the paperwork. Now, I could go weeks at a time between cases. I really had no idea how those PI who needed the job to pay the bills managed it.

To pass the time, I'd tried a few things, I'd borrowed my brother's guitar, and tried to learn to play it. Tim had even offered to reach me, he was pretty good, but I hadn't seen the point and given it back to him. I tried to teach myself to cook, I knew how to cook, I made a mean salad, as well as scrambled eggs. I could cook a steak, and roast vegetables. You know the basics to feed myself. Preparing something like a beef stroganov? that was way too complicated. I even tried to play online games. What a waste of time.

Sure, there was the old stand by, my personal hobby, sex, but I was suppose to be working. I didn't want my office to become a place where I had sex regularly. I was bound to forget to lock the door one day and have a prospective client walk in on a show they had no interest on seeing.

So, partially out of desperation, and because I knew nothing about the families within the Society, I asked Frank to sent me what ever he could for me to read up on them. Frank was a lion from Kenya. I'd met and his brother, Fred, during the Spring, as part of Martin's group of friends. Fred was an encyclopedia of our powers, while Frank knew everything about the families.

Two weeks after I'd ask Frank, I hadn't received anything. I wasn't impatient, or anything, I figured he had to assemble everything on a memory, then courier that to me.

What I got instead was six boxes filled with books. Books! Who in this day and age uses paper? Even Law enforcement didn't use paper anymore. Okay, I knew the Society did to a point, there was the filing cabinets in Max's basement. But I wasn't expected books. That was why I'd bought the shelves, and I'd just finished placed the books in them.

The titles baffled me; American History, 1900 to 1999, The rise and fall of the Roman Empire, or the World of the Aztec. I'd flipped through the front of a few books and it all looked like historical stuff.

I called Frank and he told me to jump to page one hundred twenty-nine. And there I had the name of a family. Everything after that was Society information.

They were serious about camouflage.

I was currently reading a book with the cover of 'History of the united State of America from 1800 to 1899. This one was about a family called Saracen, who were still based in Israel. The current section dealt with the Crusades, which the church had invented as a way to kick them out of Jerusalem. The family had become too powerful for the church's liking.

Of course that didn't sound like anything I remembered from history class, although I freely admit I wasn't really paying attention to what the teacher said, I was usually looked at Charlie Boulder's ass.

The page I was reading, when the chimes over the door rang, documented the beheading of a chieftain whose tribe had stolen a goat from a Saracen herder. They were a vicious bunch, i could see why the church felt the need to intervene.

I closed the book and laid it on my desk, watching a well dressed rat. He looked familiar, but it wasn't until he spoke I recognized him. Another visit from someone who wasn't going to be a client.

"Denton Stenton, It's a pleasure to see you again."

I stood and shook the hand he offered. "It's a pleasure to see you too, Mister Lewiston, but it's Brislow, like the sign on the door says."

"Please, call me Raphael. You know you don't need to hide anymore, you can use your name."

"Brislow is my name, sir. It's the name of my folks."

Raphael frowned. "You're a Stenton, you should take pride in that."

"Did you really come here just to complain about which name

I use?"

"No, I apologize. I should have come sooner, but I've been busy rebuilding the security around my family."

"How is you family doing?"

He sat down and sighed. "We lost too many, but we're rebuilding. We expect the first births in a few months."

"I'm glad they're recovering."

"It's thanks to you we're still around."

I shrugged. "I had a solid stake in it. Damian wanted me dead too."

"Still, I'm grateful. which is why I'm here. As a way to show my gratitude, I'd like to extend my family's protection to you."

"I wasn't aware I needed protection."

"You have enemies, Denton."

"I rolled my eyes. "I can deal with Cooper and Reilly."

"They aren't who I meant. As Maximilian explain that your family had accumulated a lot of dirt on all the other families?"

"He mentioned they liked hoarding secrets, yeah."

"Many of the other families disliked them for that. I'm afraid that you will almost certainly inherit that animosity."

"Why? I have nothing to do with that. Hell, if I knew where any of those secrets were I'd happily hand them over to you." "They'll worry that you'll take up your family's hobby."

"Raphael, my current hobies are fucking and--" I tapped the book, "--reading. I'm... I was a cop. I despise secret. They always end up making things worse."

The rat gave me a wry smile. "And yet, you've now made yourself a private investigator. A profession known for harboring other's secrets."

"No, you're thinking of lawyers. I might not be happy about this job, but I have to work."

"You have ample money, work isn't something you have to do."

"Unlike you, I don't enjoy sitting on my ass while I wait to have sex. I like to keep busy."

"If that's your only preoccupation, I could certainly use someone with your qualifications within my security force."

"No thanks. I'm perfectly happy working for myself.

"Denton, I don't think you understand what I am offering."

"Raph, you're not listening. I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. This is starting to sound like something other than gratitude."

"Of course not. I am simply worried about what might happen to you."

"Are you saying one of the other families might try to kill me?"

He shook his head. "no one would dare do that when your family line is almost gone. That said, there is animosity. They could try to make your life difficult."

I snorted. "I can manage difficult. I worked alongside an arrogant german sheppard for five years, and he hated my guts. I'm not worried about what one of the families might throw at me."

For the hell of it, I tried to sense his ability. It wasn't something I always managed if I didn't know what I was searching for. It was a lot easier to do if it was being used. It felt like there was something there, but I couldn't grasp it.

I looked up. "Sorry, I got distracted. What did you say?"

His brown eyes darkened. "If what I have to say matters so little you don't feel the need to pay attention, I don't see a point in repeating myself."

I shrugged. "Sure. Out of curiosity, what's your ability?"

"Why?" he asked, suspicious.

"Just curious. Everyone has an ability. I wondered what you're was."

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Invisibility." That explained it. I was grasping nothing, but that nothing was how my mind interpreted it.

"That's pretty useful." I thought about tapping it, just so see how it worked. But as far as I knew, Raphael wasn't aware I could do that. It didn't do to advertise.

"It is." He stood. "Are you certain I can't convince you to accept my protection?"

"Yes."

He wasn't pleased. He picked up the book and read the spine. "Are you a fan of history, Denton?"

"Not really, but reading passes the time."

"Then be sure to learn from it. It wouldn't do for you to make the mistake this country made." He put the book down and left. I watched him until he was out of the building.

What had that been about? Did he think I was reading about US history? or was he referring to something in the history of the Saracen?

Could it be that each family camouflage their books differently? I'd have to ask Max next time I.... No, not him. Martin, or better yet, I should ask Frank. I hadn't talked to him since asking him to send the books.