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No Barnes About It
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Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

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.”

Replies

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

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."

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

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."

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Dec-3-2009 18:42

Heimlich felt a pang in his chest. "How are you getting on?" he asked, "How is Valerie doing?"

Just then the waitress interrupted. "Are you all ready to order?" she asked.

"I'll have a cheeseburger and another glass of water." Albert replied.

"Same for me." Heimlich answered.

When the waitress had left, Albert answered, "It's hard Henry. I've had to be home much more. Cecilia's relatives aren't as accommodating as when she first passed. Valerie has been a handful. She's only eleven, but she's already getting to be a handful. Would you like to see a photo?" He reached into his pocket and produced a small photo of a smiling young girl standing in front of a house.

"She has her mother's eyes," Heimlich said with a smile, "which means she's going to get her father's personality."

Albert shook his head with a smile, "Lord I hope not. The last thing we need is more female attorneys in this world."

Heimlich pointed to the photo again. "Long hair, just like her mother." he said.

"Strawberry blonde," Albert said proudly, "just like her mother. She used to love to take her everywhere."

"When she could." Heimlich responded coldly, remembering his contempt for Albert.

Albert shot daggers at Heimlich. "And what, pray tell, do you mean by that?"

"When she wasn't too embarrassed to go out in public because of the bruises on her arm, or the black eye, or if she was even able to walk after you were through with her!" Heimlich snapped at him.

"That was a long time ago!" Albert retorted, "I had an addiction and wasn't myself! Do you really mean to tell me that you fault me for that which is no longer a part of me?"

Heimlich cast him a cold stare, "You put her in the hospital more times than I can count. You were in danger of being disbarred. Do you really expect me to forget all of that because she's cold in the ground now?"

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Dec-3-2009 18:58

"I was sick," Albert admitted, "and I needed help, which I got. Cecilia stood by me the whole time, which is more than I can say for you! My own brother tried to talk my wife into leaving me!"

"It wasn't just her!" Heimlich hissed at him, "You have a daughter! I had to wonder how long it would be before you put her into the hospital. How long before you would wake up from a night with the bottle to find their blood on your hands. You weren't yourself, and anyone could see that."

"I had problems," he growled, "but your interest had nothing to do with their well being. I should have known better, and when I finally kicked the bottle for good, I realized that you were in love with her! Everyone thought it was going to be Heimlich and Cecilia, even me! Then she dumped you and went straight for me! You never got over it, and when you saw me stumbling, you saw an opportunity. Face it Heimlich, she loved me, not you, and that's how it always was."

Heimlich finished off his water and stared at his brother, rage burning in his head and chest. "Cecilia and I were never meant to be," he said as calmly as he could, "but that didn't mean I was going to let you treat her like a punching bag!"

Albert let out a sigh. "Look at us," he said, "arguing like a couple of children. Henry, I'm sorry. I can't change the past, but I can be better in the future. Valerie is back at the hotel, and I don't know what to do with her. I brought her along to be a better dad, and all I've done is prep for this case. I don't know what to do with her. Do you know of anyone that might be able to watch her while I'm here in New York?"

"I doubt it," Heimlich responded, "but I'll ask. Speaking of the case, have you had a chance to talk to Graham Barnes?"

Albert nodded. "Yes," he replied, "and I do believe the man to be guilty. He tried to pawn off an association with you to help him out, but I told him I did not know you."

Heimlich VonVictor
Heimlich VonVictor
Vigilante

Dec-3-2009 19:11

Heimlich chuckled. "That's exactly what I told him." he said. Just then, the waitress brought their food. The two brothers began to eat in silence. "Albert," he said, "I do believe Captain Barnes to be innocent, and I have the intention to investigate this case. I would ask that you hold off prosecution until I've had time to do a thorough investigation."

Albert shook his head. "I can't do it," he said defiantly, "it's a career maker for me. This could be my shot at district attorney, and I can't pass that up. It would mean less time in the court room, and more time with my daughter. Henry, can't you understand that?"

Heimlich nodded. "Indeed I can," he replied knowingly, "and I'm sure you must understand that I will take this case, and I will prove Captain Barnes not guilty."

Albert smiled. "The brothers VonVictor, fighting for opposite causes. Both believing theirs to be the course of righteousness." he said jokingly.

"Not much has changed, has it Albert?" Heimlich said, "In truth we'll always fall on opposite ends of the same argument. Cecilia, Barnes, Mom and Dad's inheritance, it's all the same carrot to us."

Albert nodded with a smile, "If it's the only way I can have a relationship with my brother, I'll be proud to prove you wrong." He put the last bit of his burger into his mouth and swallowed. "Although," he continued, "I would like for Valerie to have an uncle when this is all over. I'd like for her to know my family as well. She needs that now."

Heimlich smiled genuinely towards his brother. "She already has one Albert." he replied.

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Dec-4-2009 06:19

When Zeo returned to the bureau headquarter, his partners Stein and Greenberg were already being lectured by Hoover. The bureau director barked insults on the two detectives, saying how they could've let the thief get away. "And you, Pinhead," Hoover stared at the incoming Zeo, "You're a disgrace to the Bureau! Being shot at AND knocked over!! I would've transfer you to clean toilets if I didn't know that you'd make a sh*t mess out of that as well!!"

Greenberg tried to defend Zeo, but the big guy knew it would only make Hoover scold at them even more. Zeo swallowed the diatribe and tried to move forward with the investigation, pointing out what he saw last night could possibly be the precious gem 'Eye of God' stolen from the museum few days ago.

"Well it's your word against… NOTHING! Isn't it? Unless we find their trail again, we're shooting at thin air!" Hoover bellowed. "And thanks for killing that first thieve Zeo, bravo! Now we need a Medium to get a confession out of him!"

Zeo clenched his fist tight under the table. The imbecile just didn't realize what the situation was like last night; all he ever saw was the glass half-empty, or worst, that the water was poisoned. Zeo wanted to hurl obscenity at Hoover, but instead he said, "Did we find out anything about the dead man? Who was he with?"

"The man was identified as Milton Kinsella, with affiliation with the Order of Socrates." Stein replied as he spread out photographs of the deceased man on the table.

"Great! The Order has a full list of all our agents, mug shot and all, thanks to their connection with the mayor." Hoover exhaled, "We cannot do any investigation without them knowing that we're onto them."

"Zeo can probably get someone to snoop for us. He knows a whole barrel of private eyes." Greenberg suggested.

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Dec-4-2009 06:20

"Well, we need someone discreet, but can get the job done. We need names, people connected to the artifacts thief operation, and hard proofs if possible. You think you can handle that Pinhead?" Hoover inquired condescendingly.

"Leave it to me" was all that Zeo said. As soon as Hoover dismissed the unit, Zeo dashed out of the building, cigarette already clenched between his teeth. He didn't know how much longer he could take Hoover before he explodes.

'Just concentrate on the case. Just concentrate on the case.' Zeo repeated to himself. He walked south, knowing exactly who he was looking for.

Molly Maltese
Molly Maltese
Old Shoe

Dec-5-2009 12:29

"Lord have mercy, Pierce. I don't think that little mole is going to help us one bit." Molly said as they strolled along the street. "I imagine we shall have to find another method."

Pierce nodded once, his black eyes still scanning the street and Molly shook her head in resignation.

"Are you always going to be the strong, silent type?" Molly inquired gloomily. "You do make it so very hard to carry on a conversation, you know."

Pierce looked at her, humor glinting in his eyes, and just nodded once. Molly gave a deep sigh, her eyes returning to the sidewalk in front of them.

"Oh lord." Molly hissed. "Quick, Pierce, its that detective-type I was telling you about. Cross the street or something, I don't want to speak to him. He rubs me the wrong way--"

But Pierce had already looked up and called out a greeting to Joseph Zeo, a friend of Marc's they had seen here and there. Molly narrowed her eyes and trailed resentfully along after Pierce. She had made up her mind to not like this Joseph Zeo the moment she laid eyes on him!

"Hello, Mr. Zeo, isn't it?" she inquired stiffly, reaching out a pale hand to mechanically shake his. "Well, you look like you're in a hurry, so we probably should--"

Pierce grabbed her elbow and held her in place without skipping a beat. She gave a deep sigh and glowered at him before becoming immensely fascinated with a loose thread on the sleeve of her coat.

M. Lacrimosa
M. Lacrimosa
Thespian

Dec-5-2009 13:32

**Previously in the day**

Marc was sitting in his office going over some paper work. He hated doing it but it was necessary. It was still early in the morning and he had a lot to do that day. He knew deep down inside was going to be a long day. Marc was back in New York. England hadn't been much fun. Well, not as fun as he hoped. So he and his secretary Grace came back.

About an hour after he opened his office for the morning, he heard his office phone ring and Grace answer it on the third ring. "Thank you for calling the office of Marc Lacrimosa, Private Eye this is Grace, how can I help you?" She said when she answered it.

A slight pause and then, "Yes, sir hold on one second and let me get him for you. A moment later there was a knock on Marc's door. Grace entered and told him there was a phone call for him. "Thankyou, Grace." Marc said.

He picked up the phone. "This is Marc," he said.

"Marc, it's Joseph Zeo" a voice said.

"Joseph! How are you?"

"Not too bad. Hey, I'm busy right now and I have to keep this brief. I need your help with a case I'm on. Are you working on one right now?"

"No, I'm not. I'm actually working on some paper work. I have some..business to take care of with a few peope." Marc said.

"Can you meet me tonight?" Joseph asked.

"I can. How about at Sammy's Greek Restaurant? On me." Marc said.

"Sounds great," Joseph replied, "I'll see you then!" And he hung up.

"I wonder what kind of case he's on," Marc wondered to him self. And then he went back to work on his paper work.

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Dec-5-2009 16:09

*Previous Evening at Sammi's*

"For your information, we're just two old friends meeting up for dinner tonight." Zeo stated right after their orders were taken. He looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

"What's with all the secrecy?" Lacrimosa inquired.

"I need you to help 'my company' do some research on foot." Zeo said quietly while smiling, as if they were just carrying an old-timers' conversation. "Find out what you can on an Order-ly named Milton Kinsella.". Marc knew enough to decipher the reference to the Bureau of Investigation and a member of the Order of Socrates.

"Sure my friend, I get the gist. So, tell me more about this guy, who is he?" Lacrimosa replied.

"Was. I shot him dead last night." Zeo stated nonchalantly. He then went on to explain in codes the artifacts thief operation and its possible link to the Order of Socrates. Zeo told his friend that the Bureau needed names and solid evidence if possible. "Most importantly, this should be kept discreet. Our company cannot afford getting on the wrong side of the 'Mare'."

Lacrimosa nodded. Zeo hoped that when he said 'discreet', Marc understood to keep his interrogation methods under control... They had worked together before, and Zeo knew how 'convincing' his friend could become. He just hoped that he had chosen the right person, but then Zeo knew Marc could get the job done swiftly. "We don't have much time. The trail is getting cold as we speak." Joseph added, and just then their food arrived.

The two friends enjoyed their meals together, with Marc asking questions for Zeo to fill in the gaps. By the end of dinner, Lacrimosa had every piece of information Zeo could provide for him. They had agreed on a price for the job, as the bureau could afford to pay sumptuously. "Good luck, let's meet again at the butchers tomorrow around sunset. That's as far away from the Orderly ears as I can think of." Zeo concluded, and thanked his friend before they parted company.

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