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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.”

Jan-1-2010 20:59

"How much to bail the VonVictors out?" a woman snapped out at the clerk.

"Excuse me?" the clerk drew her glasses down her nose until she was looking over the rims at the woman. Anxious, the clerk thought with a hint of impatience. Weren't they all?

"Heimlich and Albert VonVictor. I am here to bail them out. Immediately. It is, in all certainty, a matter of life and death. How much?" something in the woman's ice cold tone and ridged set of her back made the clerk sit up straighter.

"Follow me, madam. The booking officer is this way."


~Fifteen minutes later~

"VonVictor! You're out!" the guard yelled.

"Which one?" Albert, Heimlich, and Joseph yelled together.

Anais strode in. "Both of you. What the heck are you doing here, Joseph? You said you were out looking for the girls. I don't see them here, do you? No? No."

Joseph's eyes flashed. "Ana-"

"Don't Ana me," Anais' eyes flashed as the guard cautiously slipped around her to unlock the cell.

"Heimlich, did you tell him? Mr. VonVictor, I am glad you don't smell quite like a distillery now. But you still stink," Anais shook her head in disgust.

"Anais? Why aren't you with Katia?" Joseph's eyes flashed.

"Why don't we all discuss this on the way?" Heimlich cut in smoothly as he gently pushed Anais and Joseph ahead of him. Albert stumbled behind.

"You still haven't answered my question, Heimlich," Anais switched her berating from Joseph.

"I'll tell the appropriate people when the time is right, Anais, and not before,” Heimlich responded crisply, and when Anais opened her mouth to protest, he cut her off. “Anais, I know you want to help, but let me do it my own way.”

“Fine. You have an idea of where the girls are?” Anais growled.

“No. We're going back to my place first,” Heimlich replied.

Jan-1-2010 21:08

When Molly told Marc what happened, froze. Everything inside him stopped. It was as though time itself, had stopped. "Who could have done something like that?" Marc thought to himself. Then he knew. It was one of the mayor's henchmen. And he would pay another visit to Hollis again. Sometime soon. Marc opened his mouth to say something when Vulkie spoke up.


Vulkie ordered Marc to call Joseph and he complied. Marc dialed Joseph's office number first. But it kept ringing. Marc hung up and tried again and this time someone else answered.

"I need to speak with Joseph Zeo! It's important," Marc said.

"Zeo? He's not here. He just left his office." The man said

"GREAT!" Marc said as he slamed the phone down.

He called Josephs' house phone and there was still know answer.

No sooner as he hung up the phone, the front door opend and in walked Heimlich, Anais, Joseph, and another man.

Jan-1-2010 22:03

-Earlier-

"He's dead," Eric said, his voice shaking, "he's been dead for..."

"I know," Abby whispered, "and I thought the same until I joined the Order. Long ago, two gems, known as The Eye of Zeus and The Eye of Hades respectively, were stolen from a magistrate in Athens. The Eye of Zeus, which he bore close to his heart during his execution, allowed his body to die, but retain the being inside. I don't know how, but in combination with The Eye of Hades, they were able to revive him. They've done it several times since, and hidden the Eye every time after. Unfortunately in the past hundred years the parts were discovered and placed in separate museums. That's where I came in."

Eric looked in horror at the face that had been revealed. Dark sunken eyes stared out as loose skin hung from a skeletal face. A long white beard protruded from his face punctucated by a fiendish yellow grin. Although the 2,300 years of regenerations and agings had clearly taken their toll on his body, there was no doubt as to the identity of the man before them. Anyone would recognize him from the statues they had seen. The Order was bowing before the great Greek philosopher Socrates.

"Haaaaavvvve theeeeeee chhhhhiiiillllldrrrrreeeennnn beeeeennnnn brrrroooouuughttttt?" Socrates hissed at the figure before him.

"My Lord yes," the hooded figure responded, "the two girls here. They belong to the man prosecuting Graham Barnes and a government investigator. We also have the scapegoat as requested. He is a foreigner and friend of the investigator, and suspicion will fall on him."

"What does he need the girls for?" Eric demanded.

"I don't know!" Abby insisted, "I'm as surprised as you are to see them here. I wasn't told about this!"

"Giiiiirrrrlllllsssssss?" Socrates hissed, as a scowl grew on his face, "Iiiiiiidddiottttt! Thhheeee Eeeeyeeeee wiiillllll nnnnoooootttt wwwoooorrrrk!"

Jan-1-2010 22:59

The hooded figure kneeling jumped back in surprise. "Erm..." he began, then turning to the crowd called out, "Master Eisle!" A hunched over hooded figure made its way to the front of the crowd. Its hands were shriveled and bony, and it held a long gnarled walking stick in one.

"You called, Master Thomas?" Eisle responded in a shaky voice.

"Have female children ever been used as the sacrifice in the ritual before?" Thomas asked nervously.

Eisle reached under his robes and produced a worn tome. He began searching through the pages, running one bony finger along the pages. He flipped what felt like countless pages before stopping. "Four hundred years ago, a young Italian girl was used. The gem did not respond until we spilt the blood of her father on it." he read out.

"Apprentice Marsh!" Thomas called out and another hooded figure came forward, "Get the blood of Albert VonVictor and Joseph Zeo. I don't care how you do it. Just do it!" The figure nodded and departed the room.

As he departed, another hooded figure entered the room in a hurry and approached. He faced Thomas, who acknowledged him and returned to the outer circle. The new figure kneeled down before Socrates.

"My Lord," he said, "the woman delivered the information to me, but searching three of these locations, they were found to be fraudulent. I believe we have been tricked."

"Iiiiii hhhhaaaaavvvve nnnnooottt beeeeeennnn trrrrriiiiccckked, Phhhhhhillosopher Maaaarssssshall Hhhhollllllissssss!" Socrates hissed angrily.

"Of course not my Lord!" Hollis said quickly, "I apologize. How do you wish to procede?"

"Hhhhaaaavvveee hhhhheeeeeerrrrr killllleeeddd!" Socrates rasped out while slamming his fist against the throne, "Weeeeee wiiilllll nnnoooott rrreeeppplllacce theeee Eeeeyeeee wwwiiiiithhh aaaa faaaallllssssee geeeemmmm."

Jan-1-2010 23:08

"Yes my Lord!" Hollis said and beckoned two hooded figures towards the door, "We shall depart for the Temple of the Sun in Mesopotamia immediately. Bring the prisoners!"

Three hooded figures came forward, one to each other girls and one to Sergei. "Philosopher Marshall Hollis!" one cried out, "This one has cut his wrist!"

"Clean him up then!" Hollis snapped, "We need him alive!"

Within minutes the room was empty. Within minutes there was no evidence of a meeting having been there. The inner circle of the Order of Socrates along with Abby, Eric, Sergei, and the girls was on a boat that would leave just as soon as two blood collections arrived on board. What they didn't know was that on the ground a clue had been left behind. A clue left in blood by a man who had listened to every word that had been said. A picture of the sun, and a single word, written in blood on the floor, "IRAQ".

Jan-1-2010 23:34

"And the boy was turned to dust! Don't you see? The Eye of God must be one of a set of two. One that gives life and the other that takes it. The Order of Socrates plans to use the Eyes to murder your children and sustain the life of Socrates!" Heimlich said.

"Oh my God!" Anais shouted. She looked to Joseph for a reassuring hand, but found none. There wasn't a stable hand between the four of them.

"Why would they do this to me?" Albert said, "This doesn't make any sense! I'm the one who was prosecuting the man they framed for the crime. Why would they want to hurt my daughter?"

"It has nothing to do with that," Heimlich responded, "it's that you're in the public eye. The children of a district attorney and an FBI agent go missing, it will get press. More press means more questions. More questions means social unrest. Social unrest means a state of perfect harmony for The Order of Socrates."

"Argh!" Albert screamed. The other detectives whirled around to find a brown hooded man holding a syringe in Albert's neck, drawing blood from him. Heimlich drew out his sword cane and charged the figure. The figure reached under his robes with his other hand, pulled out a small vial and threw it in Heimlich's face. Heimlich felt his eyes burn as the liquid exploded across his face. He was blinded!

The hooded figure threw Albert to the ground and pocked the syringe. Anais charged him and tackled him to the ground. Overcome with rage, she reached to pull back the hood, but felt a sharp sting in her arm. She felt her body go rigid and she hit the ground. She was completely paralyzed!

Joseph drew his gun. "Federal Agent!" he shouted, "Put your hands where I can see them!"

Jan-1-2010 23:38

The figure put his hands into the air, and then opened one fist, allowing a gold pocketwatch to hang loose. "Veni vidi vici." he said in a deep voice, and Joseph felt himself overcome by calm. He dropped his gun and stared off into space. He didn't even wince when the needle was stuck into his neck. It was only minutes later, long after the figure had departed, that he regained his consciousness of his surroundings.

He saw Heimlich sitting up and rubbing his reddened eyes, Anais regaining her movement and sitting up, and Albert sitting against the wall of the nearest building breathing heavily.

"What now?" he asked to no one in particular.

Jan-2-2010 02:09

Molly spun, biting back a cry as the movement tugged at her injured rib as the front door opened. She aimed a glance at Marc that clearly said, "hold up your end of the deal; keep the secret."

Casually she placed her bandaged hand in her heavy coat's pocket and moved towards the others.

"You all look like hell." She said, the usual cheerfulness in her tone falling flat in light of the peculiar irony of her saying that. Gingerly, she went and had a seat, keeping her coat secured with one hand as she aimed a smile at the others. She had begun to tremble with the exertion of holding her posture normally; however she was fairly certain the coat concealed the light shaking.

"Good to see you out, jailbird." she nodded at Heimlich, and then squinted her eyes at JZ uncharacteristically. Usually she tried not to look directly at him unless conversation demanded it. Out of sight, out of existence and what-not.

"Mr. Zeo, is that a needle-mark in your neck?" she asked, noting the flesh was slightly red. "What on earth happened to you lot? Any new developments on the Eye of God?"

Jan-11-2010 17:47

Do you believe in God? No, but I believe in Satan. How can you say that? He has carefully planned every moment of my life.

This was an exchange between myself and my best friend Sergei Kobetz. I never understood it. If you believed in the existence of an evil being, there must be something to go against it. There must be something there to fight against the evil. We spent hours back and forth with neither conceding a single point.

Now I know he was right. Now I know that if there ever was a God, that he has abandoned us. Our lives are forever entwined. Sergei, me, Abby, you. They're twisted together, binding us together for a few moments where we're tricked into believing that we have hope for tomorrow. For all that binds us is that which seeks to destroy us. That which breeds evil within the hearts of man. That which if allowed to exist negates the possibility of any all saving being.

For when something so revered, so powerful, so sage embodies the emptiness in the being of all, there can be no saving grace. When this embodiment has voided all that binds it to humanity and died so many times over that its very soul ripped from itself to perpetuate the unnatural cycle, the questions turn into answers.

The Order didn't believe in God. They had killed the existence of any God in my mind. But Satan, oh Satan I could believe in, for he was seated before me, and I felt the very being of myself die with every passing moment.

Jan-11-2010 18:14

"There's no time for that!" Heimlich said, "We need to find a member of the Order of Socrates and now!"

"Anderson's!" Marc shouted, "Joe Davis hangs out at Anderson's. We can go there and find him. The detectives jumped up and quickly scrambled out the door.

*****

"What are we doing here?" Riza demanded.

"I want to talk to Thomas Lee." Heimlich responded, "He'll be able to tell us if Davis is actually there or if the mayor gave Marc bad information."

"There's no time for that!" Anais snapped, "We need to find the children and now! Heimlich!"

"If we walk into an ambush we're not doing anyone any good." Heimlich calmly responded as he entered the tent alone. He walked up to Thomas' table, placed $20 down, and took a seat.

"What do you seek?" Thomas asked with a sly smile.

"I need to know if a man named Joseph Davis is at a bar called Anderson's." Heimlich said, "Not the hardest thing in the world, but I'll pay your regular rate anyway."

"Hmmmm," Thomas responded as he gazed into the ball, "no I don't see any Mr. Anderson in your future."

"Davis!" Heimlich barked, "Not Anderson! Davis! Joe Davis! He's at a bar called Anderson's!"

"No he isn't." Thomas responded with a grin, "Have a nice day Mr. VonVictor."

Heimlich stood up, cast an annoyed glance at Thomas, and turned to leave.

"Henry!" another voice called out. Heimlich whirled around to see Thomas' pupils had dilated and the voice was coming from him! "Henry you seek your child!"

"Yes!" Heimlich said as he rushed back to the table, "Where is she? Where have they taken her?"

"Heed my words Henry VonVictor," the voice said coldly, "family will be your downfall. Continue to seek your child and you will ruin all those around you. You are cursed. You poison all that come close to you. Those closest to you will come to peril at your hand. Atone for your sins Henry VonVictor, for your hour of judgment is close at hand." The voice let out a long hiss and Thomas' eyes returned to normal.