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Act XXXII: The Secret Origin of Infinity Vale

Doing this job required that I step away from being a member of Chess and step back into my previously chosen occupation... that of a private investigator. They say that at times you come full circle and it seemed to be very true.

My first stop was my old San Francisco digs, the flat stone that was owned by my old friend, Detective Gideon Langston. Strange how after all this time I still call this place my home.

When I walked in the door, I got an unexpected surprise, for standing just inside the door was Gideon and just beyond him was someone who looked a lot like how I looked several years ago. At first, I wasn't sure if I had stepped back in time or had walked in on a similar situation from a time past.

"Gideon? What are you doing here?"

Gideon turned to look at me suddenly and actually smiled.

"Ah, just the man I was warning you about... Sandy Kenley, meet Jansen Tanner. He's the detective who operated out of this very building many years ago. I am sure the two of you will get along very well."

At that point, Gideon made to walk past where I stood, and as he got within whispering range, Gideon whispered something to me.

"Go easy on him, Jansen. It's funny... he went to college where you did. And he's about as much trouble as you are. Notice I said 'about'..."

Then, Gideon headed on out the door, leaving me to deal with this aspiring private detective. I turned back to look across the room at Sandy.

"Just call me Jansen."

I then proceeded about my business as if Sandy wasn't even there. This must have surprised him, because he got up from the desk that I almost never sat at and followed me into the kitchen.

"Gideon tells me that you got your start here, Jansen. He didn't mention why you return here periodically. What brings you back this time?"

I had been bent over in the refrigerator when he asked that question. I was smiling because this kid reminded me so much of myself. I pulled some sandwich meat, a loaf of bread, and some mayonnaise out and began to make a sandwich.

"First of all, Sandy... the things I do now is not what you want to be involved in by accident. I am on a case right now, but the subject matter isn't something the normal detective would handle. Nor would he want to."

I turned to look at Sandy. He was about the height I had been many years ago. His hair color and eye color was the same as mine, yet he dressed slightly different from how I'd dressed in those days. Plus, he wore a silver cross around his neck. That made me smile. The kid wasn't as stupid as I had been.

"I am investigating the past of a werewolf hunter."

That made Sandy's eyes pop open and made him move back a step.

"A werewolf hunter. Gideon did say you investigated some strange stuff, just not what. Um, do you need some help?"

I dropped my smile, as I began to make the second sandwich.

"I wish you hadn't asked for that. We'll be meeting some werewolves. For that reason alone, I don't think you want to come with me. I cannot promise your safety."

Sandy sighed.

"I'd just be in your way, you mean..."

I stopped and turned my gaze to the kid.

"Sandy... in a way, I really wish Gideon had warned you better about me. I'm the current Chess Master of the Chess organization. Chess stands for the Central Headquarters for Ethereal and Supernatural Studies. I didn't just join the organization; I got involved in something that was reportedly far beyond my capabilities to handle. Somehow, I got lucky. You don't encounter evil vampires every day and live to tell the tale."

Sandy had his hand on his silver cross and his complexion paled greatly.

"Please... in God's name, let me help you this once."

I was still looking at the kid. He was pleading to be allowed to help me. That had to hurt a lot. I didn't remember my ever begging to help another detective. His past with Gideon must been very different. I refrained from asking what had happened. I finished making the pack of sandwiches and placed them all into a lunch pail.

"You really want to help out, don't you?"

Sandy slowly stepped forward.

"Yes."

Gideon must've put the kid in his place one time too often. I'd never seen such a timid private investigator. It was almost cute. But it was also sad, in a way. I just had to know.

"What did Gideon do to you?"

Sandy's gaze slowly drifted down at his own feet, as he took a very slow breath.

"My friends and I were junior sleuths. Every time we were involved in something that we thought was harmless, Gideon would show up... and he'd get mad. Really mad. He was often saying, 'Another Jansen Tanner I don't need.' During the last sleuthing outing we were on, we encountered Gideon again, only... we didn't know it was him... and... he accidentally shot me..."

That shocked me a lot. Gideon was usually the most cautious detective in the west. If he shot Sandy, the circumstances must have been outstanding. Sandy then continued.

"...I woke up in the hospital. The doctors said that I almost didn't make it. When I was released, Gideon was there to greet me. I ran from him. He caught me and put me in the car, kicking and screaming. I was scared to death of him. He... he..."

I placed a hand on Sandy's shoulder.

"That's enough, Sandy. It's in the past. Let it go. Where I'll be going, there is no room for fear. If you want to come along, you can. But you must do exactly as I say. I want to hear you promise as if you mean it. Because if you're scared or you don't do as I say, you could get hurt. So, what will it be?"

Sandy lifted his gaze to me.

"I promise to do as you say."

I smiled.

"Good, now let's get moving. Though I am not sure if the Clan will meet with me if you're around, so... you have to let me warn them before we meet them. They have their reasons."

I led Sandy out of the flat stone building, where we got into my Chess issue sports car. I then picked up the videophone and pressed the buttons for Danath Gaul.

"Danath? What do you have on an U.S. Citizen named Sandy Kenley?"

Moments later, Danath replied back.

"Sandy Kenley you said?"

I arched an eye.

"That's what I said. What's going on, Danath?"

Danath was hesitant to reply.

"Is he sitting there beside you?"

I glanced aside at Sandy.

"Of course. He was in my San Francisco digs."

Danath spoke very quietly.

"Jansen... Sandy Kenley... is dead... He died in Phoenix, Arizona, from an accidental shooting. Either the kid next to you is an imposter... or a ghost. He had been attending the University of Phoenix at the time. The shooter was Gideon Langston."

I almost dropped the phone. Almost.

"Thank you, Danath. I'll be in touch."

I turned off the phone and looked at Sandy.

"Why didn't you tell Gideon that you were a ghost? Or were you even aware that you'd died?"

Sandy sighed.

"Please don't rob me of one good detective mission. I beg of you, in God's name..."

I sighed, then I turned to Sandy and smiled.

"A ghost detective. That's certainly different. Perhaps it doesn't have to be just one mission, Sandy. But you're going to have to accept the fact that you're already dead. You can't die twice. One good mission, you said. Okay, you've got yourself a mission. Danath thinks I am crazy any way, so this shouldn't be any different. Let's get this trip moving."

Sandy smiled, as he fastened his seat belt.

"You won't regret this, Jansen. I promise."

I then got the trip moving. Our first stop was the entrance to the Undercity, which was located inside of a cloak shop in San Francisco's Chinatown district. And not just anyone could enter the back room without some definitive clout. Fortunately, I was one of those people who had that kind of clout. When Sandy and I entered the cloak shop, the owner, a scruffy brown haired slender man, glanced our way. His eyes slowly widened when he saw my Chess uniform.

"I've done nothing wrong, Chessman! I swear it!"

I smiled.

"Calm down, Fran. It's me, Jansen Tanner."

The scruffy man, Fran, stepped out of the shadows to get a better look at me. That's when Sandy saw what Fran was... I was sort of glad to be able to know a were-dolphin, though Fran was deftly afraid of Chess and I couldn't blame him. Fran looked me over then smiled slowly.

"It is you, Jansen. Thank Poseidon... What can I do for you today?"

I smiled and told Fran why I was even in San Francisco in the first place. He placed a flipper to his chin and thought for a moment, then he gave me directions to the Slade residence just east of Fremont, California. I thanked Fran and updated him on recent news from the Mediterranean, including the fall of Skam, then Sandy and I were on our way. We were soon in the sports car once again, heading for the Slade residence in the northern part of the Diablo Range.

As we were driving under an overpass, something heavy landed with a thud in the backseat of the sports car. Good thing I had the top down or the backseat wouldn't have been an easy target. Fortunately, when the voice spoke, I was relieved.

"I'm coming with you, Jansen. The Clan decided to lend you our support in this. Besides... it was my brother."

I grinned.

"Glad to have you along, Jael. And you're right... this is for Xim. This whole mission is to learn the truth on Xim's behalf. By the way, meet Sandy Kenley, a ghost detective."

Jael sniffed Sandy, then smiled, as he shook Sandy's hand.

"Glad to meet you, Sandy. I'm a werewolf, of course. You don't have a scent, like Jansen does, so I know that you're a ghost."

Sandy shook the furry hand, then turned to me.

"What do you think our reception at the Slade residence will be like?"

I hummed.

"Hopefully, they don't come out shooting. I mean, their son is currently a chipmunk on Circe's hidden island, so they may not be glad to see a Chess agent."

The rest of our drive was quiet, fortunately. Well, not exactly quiet. I just don't care to repeat the words of the traveling song that Jael kept singing. It was pretty disturbing.

When we turned the sports car into the driveway, Jael's nose immediately turned into a quiet snarl. And I soon saw why... planted all around the entire yard was a four foot wide patch of wolvesbane. Let me explain the significance of wolvesbane to werewolves. Contrary to popular belief, scratching yourself with wolvesbane under the light of a full moon won't change you into a werewolf. You'll just get a nasty rash and an uncontrollable itching sensation. The stuff can be poisonous to humans. To a werewolf, however, it will not kill them, nor will it drive them away. Instead, the stuff has an odor that causes a werewolf to respond very violently. And I had a werewolf in the backseat of my sports car. Not a fun thought.

I quickly dabbed some baby powder into a handkerchief and helped to tie that over Jael's nose. The snarl faded almost immediately. Thank goodness. Then, the three of us got out of the car and approached the house. Well, we started to...

"That's far enough! Just get back in your car and get out of here!"

Of course, I didn't move. My badge was in hand immediately, as I struck my pose.

"Jansen Tanner. Chess Master. I'm here to speak to the parents of Hogun Slade."

The man who came around the corner of the house had not lowered his rifle. Have I mentioned how much I dislike guns? The man was looking the three of us over from where he stood.

"Chess Master, huh? And what of those two?"

I replied.

"Sandy Kenley, ghost detective. And Jael of Clan Goldengate. They're with me. We're investigating Hogun Slade's past."

At that moment, Sandy stepped toward the house and the man swung his rifle at Sandy. That was the break I needed, as Jael and I tackled the man and disarmed him of the rifle. As Jael held the man securely from behind, I and Sandy stood in front of the man.

"I wanted to do this the non violent way but you forced my hand. Now, I want you to tell me all about Hogun Slade. And don't lie to me... Jael can detect a lie very easily and he's not too happy about the wolvesbane planted around here. As you can see, it's not keeping him away."

The man was quickly realizing what I meant, as he also realized what Jael had to be.

"Oh- okay... Hogun Slade is one of my two sons."

I arched an eye.

"Two sons? I only knew of Hogun. Who is your other son?"

Mr. Slade replied quietly.

"Blake. He's the younger one who is currently in a recovery center in Las Vegas."

I was starting to get the whole picture.

"You better come clean and tell me everything. Especially if you ever want Hogun to come home again. What you tell me will help me get Hogun back here."

Mr. Slade sighed.

"Several years ago, the three of us were hunting game in the Diablo Range. We were after small game, as that was safer than going after big game. We're all very good with a rifle. Hogun and I were dressed in camouflage, while Blake was wearing normal clothing and a necklace made out of the wolvesbane flowers. At that time, we didn't have this stuff all around the house like this. We had been pretty successful on the outing... we had bagged several squirrels and a few rabbits. We were about to head back. Blake told me he was going to use the restroom and I told him to go ahead. How I wish I wouldn't have suggested he do that... I should have asked him to hold it in until we got home... anyway... he was just barely out of sight when suddenly, there was a scream and a horrible snarling roar. Hogun and I thought that Blake had encountered a bear. We ran to see what was there and we saw the hairy wolf man with a lightning bolt mark burned into one side of his head. Hogun fired a warning shot, then the wolf man bolted and was gone. Blake hadn't been injured, that time, but all three of us were ready to head back to the house. Then... that night... Hogun awoke to some sort of scuffling sound. He awoke me silently and we grabbed our rifles and followed the sound. And then, we saw them..."

Jael then snarled a little.

"...Lightning bolt mark... keep talking..."

Mr. Slade nodded and continued.

"There were four of them being directed by a larger one and they had Blake by each of his arms and legs. There was a full moon that night and it was very clear what we were looking at. I'd seen werewolves in the movies, but this went way beyond that. The larger one then raked a claw down Blake's chest and Blake screamed. Then all hell broke loose, as Hogun and I open fired on the werewolves. The smaller ones dropped Blake on the ground and darted away, but the larger one leaped at us. But he didn't get far, as my wife, well, ex-wife, fired the family crossbow out of the backdoor and sent the big guy rolling across the lawn. You see, the crossbow had been loaded with a blessed silver crossbow bolt. That seemed to do the trick, as the big guy got up and shouted, 'I will return for what is mine,' and then, he was gone into the darkness. We didn't know what he meant until the next evening, when Blake started screaming for no reason. That's when we saw the fur growing out of his body. He was begging and pleading for help, but we were powerless to stop it. We managed to trap him in the game freezer until sunrise, then... I started calling doctors, seeking help. We were in over our heads..."

Sandy came over and patted the man's shoulder.

"And that's when you found out that none of the doctors could, or would, help you. Right?"

Mr. Slade nodded his head.

"They talked down on me, saying that I was crazy. That I was making the whole thing up. Then, during one of the days that Blake was himself, he was reading a magazine that we'd given him and he found an advertisement for a place called The Sanctuary Recovery Center. And there was a phone number. He pointed it out to me and we called the number. It was our last hope, Mr. Tanner. We were desperate. The person I spoke to, a Mr. Sterling Hawk, told me that cases like ours happened all the time. And he said he could help us. A few days later, he arrived with a padded security van and we loaded Blake up and that's the last we ever seen or heard from him."

I hummed. A trip to Las Vegas was in order. And yes, Joe, you owe your wife a dollar!

---

Joe handed over the dollar gracefully with a grin.

---

Mr. Slade then continued.

"A few days after that, Hogun showed up with a whole bunch of crazy hunting equipment. He swore by all that was holy that every werewolf in the world was going to pay for killing Blake. I tried to tell him that Blake was still alive but he wouldn't listen to me. It was like he had gone over the edge. And then, he left... and we never saw him again. A few days after that, I started planting the wolvesbane, not to keep werewolves away, but because when they flower... Blake loved the flowers... sob..."

Jael released Mr. Slade at that point, as the man slowly sank to the ground, sitting there sobbing. Jael looked to me with a sigh.

"I know what this man is going through, Jansen. I planted flowers all over Xim's grave site, too. They were Xim's favorites. We have to bring the Thunder Wolf Clan to justice, old friend. This time, they've gone too far. We have to make sure the right werewolf pays for this injustice. Just give the word and it's done."

I shook my head.

"We are not going to institute a lynching, Jael. That isn't justice at all. What we're going to do is contact Baron Grimm Gott'schlecht and we'll do this right. If you lynch them, you'll be no better than they are. Comprende'?"

---

She grinned as she put the dollar into her purse.

"I told you he'd end up going there. And I wonder if Falcone will be glad to see him when he gets there? All he wants to do is romp around with Jansen..."

Joe arched an eye.

"Who is Falcone?"

She grinned, as she sat back down and sipped on her cola.

"Falcone Robynson is a cute were-hawk that Jansen met in the Sanctuary the last time he was in Sin City. The poor guy is in heat all the time."

Joe laughed, as he and his wife resumed reading Jansen's agent history.

---