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Oct-24-2009 18:47

October 24, 1938- Heimlich VonVIctor felt a chill run down his spine. Autumn always had that effect on him. He looked up at the multitude of colors adorning the trees and placed his hands in his coat pockets. The pungent aroma in the air told him that, somewhere, leaves were being burnt. He took a deep breath and looked down, to the place he had visited as many times as he could in the past two years. The cold hard stone hadn’t changed a bit, and never would. It would always be a testament to the man resting under it.

RICHARD CAMBRIDGE
FEBRUARY 10, 1892-
JUNE 15, 1936
“Justice for all. Above all else.”

He took a deep sigh. He never left anything behind, nor did he suspect that Richard would want anything left for him. He leaned down and placed his hand on the stone, “I’m doing alright Richard. Eric and I started up another agency. We’re doing it right this time, and Sergei is getting better at English every day. He’s even solving cases now; you wouldn’t believe how well he’s doing.”

“Excuse me, detective VonVictor?” a voice called behind him

Heim whirled around to find himself face to face with a young uniformed officer, “What do you want?” he demanded, “Can’t you see I’m in a cemetery?”

“Yes sir,” he responded, “and I’m terribly sorry to disturb you, but I’ve been asked to fetch you right away, it’s a matter of life and death!”

Heimlich let out a sigh, and leaned down to touch the stone again, “It never ends Richard, it never ends. I have to go now, but I’ll be back real soon.”

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Nov-29-2009 05:00

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Nov-29-2009 05:03

^ deleted by poster's request.

Nov-29-2009 18:03

It was supposed to be a fun day out, but with life, it never turns out the way you planned it. Zeo should know better, being someone who investigated crime and murder all day long.

After Zeo and Anais finally got little Josèe off the topic of thief operation, they headed for the Battery Boardwalk. The autumn air was crisp and the sun was warming the skin just enough. Josèe held tight onto mommy with her right hand and daddy with her left. Just like a happy family, Zeo thought, except Anais was not his wife and he hardly knew his daughter.

"You know, these carnival tickets are not easy to come by, and I only got three. Of course one of it is for Heimlich..." Anais remarked.

"Don't worry, I'll find my own ticket." Zeo replied, and he did. ((anyone who really got into the carnival within the game please PM me; i'm dying to know :P ))

Heimlich arrived soon after Zeo got his ticket, and the three old friends greeted each other warmly; it seemed that time never past. In no time they were chatting as if they just met yesterday. Only then did Zeo realize that Heimlich and Anais had known each other for years. Heimlich was very fond of Josèe as well. The way Josèe hugged and played with uncle Heimlich made Zeo a tinge jealous.

Zeo was wise enough by now to mention about the thief operation only when Josèe was way out of ear shot. Looking at his little girl who threw her head back laughing on the merry-go-around, Zeo wondered what else did he miss.

"Joseph, are you still with me?" Heimlich tapped Zeo on his shoulder.

"Uh, yes, sorry. As I was saying, I didn't get to see the face of the person who knocked me out, but that gemstone... one look at it you will never forget."

"Glowing blue in the dark, you said?" Heimlich asked, stoking his chin. Zeo nodded. Heimlich then said quietly, more to himself, "Then maybe Barnes wasn't lying after all..."

Nov-29-2009 18:15

"Barnes? You mean Graham Barnes? So he called you up as well?" Zeo was surprised. What did the crooked cop have to do with his current case?

Heimlich then gave the account of Barnes calling him to the jail cell. "Anyhow, I refused to help him in any way."

"But why did he call for you, Heimlich Von Victor, of all people in the first place?" Zeo queried. Heimlich seemed enigmatic on the topic, so Zeo just let it be. Heimlich told Zeo about the Eye of God, that it was possible that what Zeo saw was exactly that gem stolen from the museum few days ago.

The bureau detective thanked Heimlich for the information. "I know I've asked the right person, Mister-walking-encyclopedia!" Both men smiled. "I must report back to the bureau now." Zeo said, eyeing both Josèe and Anais, missing them already. He tore himself away from the boardwalk, not daring say goodbye to them.

Nov-29-2009 21:33

Anais helped Josèe off the pretty white horse with the golden mane when the merry-go-around came to a halt, brushing her off before walking down the plank to rejoin the men. She had known that Joseph was eager to discuss the thief operation with Heimlich, and had felt it prudent to take her little girl off for awhile.

It had felt so strange earlier... Joseph, Josèe, and herself strolling hand in hand together. A real family. A proper family. But they weren't. Would never be. Anais had seen the hurt, the incredulity, and the accusations in Joseph's eyes when she presented Josèe to him. He would never admit it of course, but... however close they had once been, she had destroyed in protecting his child. "Not mine," she whispered under her breath as she looked for him and Heim, her hand blocking the late afternoon sunlight so it would not enter her eyes, "Not really mine at all."

Just then Josèe tugged out of her grip, running over to a man crouched down with his arms open wide.

"Uncle Heime! Did ya see me?" Josèe squealed as Heimlich spun her around once.

"Yes, I did! You were very pretty astride that horse, young lady," he replied.

Anais reached the pair, gazing all around, looking for Joseph. "Where-"

Heim leaned over and whispered in her ear, "He said he had to get back to the bureau."

Disappointment showed briefly on the woman's face before she masked it behind a falsely cheerful smile.

"Uncle Heime? Where did Daddy go? He was supposed to take me with him to catch some thieves!"Josèe asked plaintively.

Anais groaned.

Dec-3-2009 18:00

Heimlich arrived home after the exhausting day. As much as he loved seeing Anais and Josèe again, they had worn him out. 57 years old and he felt nearly 100 as he walked up his front step. He smiled as he opened his front door and thought how nice it was to be exhausted. Suddenly something caught his eye. He glanced to the ground and saw a note that had broken free of the door frame as he opened it. He quickly bent down, picked it up and opened it:

"Henry,

We need to talk. You can reach me at the Hotel Pennsylvania- PE6-5000. It's been too long.

All my love,

Albie"

"All his love?" Heimlich scoffed as he crumpled up the note, "What is he trying to pull?" He stepped inside, walked straight for the liquor cabinet, and poured himself a glass of brandy. He pulled on his velvet smoking jacket, turned the radio on, and sat down in his favorite chair.

"What do you think?" he asked to the figure across from him, "Do you think I should speak to him?"

Richard took a sip of his glass, "Well let me ask you something. Would you be doing it for you or Graham Barnes? Do you think he's innocent."

"Psh!" Heimlich laughed, "Graham Barnes is far from innocent. He's as crooked as they come. He's slipped past the justice system more times than some of the dirtbags serving a life sentence."

"Yes indeed," Richard said knowingly, "but do you think he did this? He wouldn't have had time to sell it in that night."

Heimlich shook his head. "He could have had a buyer meet him there!" he argued.

Richard laughed and flashed a smile at Heimlich. "Do you really believe that Graham Barnes is smart enough to orchestrate something like that? Or dumb enough to steal it when he was guarding it?"

Heimlich shook his head, "No. I guess I don't. "

Richard nodded and motioned to the phone. "Pick it up," he said, "and call Albert. He obviously wants to see you, and it could help the case."

Dec-3-2009 18:21

Heimlich nodded and walked towards the phone. He paused and looked at Richard. "Richard," he asked, "how come you never told me that you had a son?"

He smiled sadly. "Now you know I can't answer that Heimlich." he responded.

"Why not?" Heimlich asked, though truthfully he knew the answer.

"Because Heimlich," Richard said softly, "you don't know."

Heimlich nodded in sad resignation. "Richard, I just want you to know that I miss you." he said.

Richard smiled, "I know Heimlich, I know." With that he was gone, and Heimlich was alone again.

He picked up the phone and dialed the number he still held in his clenched hand. "Hello," he said into the receiver, "Do you have an Albert VonVictor staying there? Yes, please tell him that I will meet him at Sami's in two hours. Who am I? Tell him it's his brother."

******

One hour and forty-five minutes later, Heimlich was seated in a booth staring at a half empty glass of water, or was it half full? He was contemplating this thought, when a figure sat opposite him. He was slightly startled and studied the man across from him. He had jet black hair, brown eyes, and could have been mistaken for Heimlich in his younger days. At eleven years his junior, Albert certainly produced the appearance of the younger more virile of the VonVictor brothers.

"Henry," Albert said with a smile, "it's been entirely too long. How long has it been?"

"Four years," Heimlich responded, "Mom's funeral was the last time we saw each other. Short enough for you to know that my name hasn't been Henry for some time now."

Albert shook his head. "Same old Henry," he said, "and no matter how many times you say it, I'm never going to accept it."

Heimlich sighed and nodded. It was pointless to argue with Albert. He was stubborn as he'd ever been.

"It would have been a shorter time," Albert continued, "if you had come to Cecilia's funeral. She thought the world of you, you know. I wish you had been there."