Thriller you should see me in a CROWN

The Kingslayer Club, Downtown London



Albert saw them on the upper level and decided to watch to provide cover. Bumping into someone he apologized and then turned to look after the bald man in a black suit. Had he felt a sub there? Probably a scorpion hidden under the jacket?

Scott looked at Michael and then grinned. "Do I know you? I feel like I have seen that face before." Another two security appeared from the sides like velociraptors. The one you saw was never the one you had to be afraid of.

"Well, I guess you were a friend of Laura, too? All the better. I get you to my Boss." He grinned. "He would love to meet you."

The three security men left them nowhere to run. Classical silent coordination of ex-military men.

----

Above on the VIP level the mobile of both policemen vibrated. It was Mara Aspinal.

FOUND THE BUTCHER. 5/6.

The code referred to a homicide. She also sent the address and the note she was on the way there.

Abelard saw that below Scott seemed to get a woman and her boyfriend into custody. He recognized the girl. Laura had told him about Jane once. If what Laura had told him was true it was not likely that guy was her boyfriend.

Tag: @RachelTyrell, @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox, galactic-vagabond422






Headquarters of The Reds

Leonid waited until everyone was in the room and nodded. One of the Sergeys closed the door. Just before it shut someone pulled it open and Iosef entered. Leonid had made sure he was the only one with a gun in the room.

Boris jumped up right away. "Izmennik!" He shouted and looked around. All others stayed silent. Boris had never been the brightest. The rest of them had understood what the absence of Ivan meant.

"Sit down." Iosef simply said. Boris clenched his hands into fists. Iosef returned the gesture by drawing his silenced Glock. "Now!"

Leonid put his hand around his own gun and Boris gave him a desperate look. Then he sat down.

"Ivan is dead. He betrayed us. Not to someone else, but too greed. He fought for the highest bidder and the highest bidder is loosing the war. You would all have died at the harbor." Iosef walked to the seat of Ivan while talking and sat down. "I will make sure we fight for the winning side."

Boris clenched his teeth. "Who killed him?" He demanded to know.

"I did." Leonid said. "My apologies. Do you accept my apology?" He stared at Boris and the man looked at him with all the hatred he could muster. Ivan had been a father figure for him.

Iosef sighed and raised his gun. The others made room as he pulled the trigger three times. Two went into Boris heart and one into his head. His body collapsed.

"Anyone else got a problem with the change of management?" He asked. The others shook their heads. Iosef nodded and got a cigar out of the humidor on the table. He put the gun down and bit of the tip of it, getting matches and lighting it. That way he gave the others time to come to terms with the new reality.

"Good." He finally said. "Because we got work to do."

Tag: Nobody,



Vauxhall Inn, Room

Nicholas had just left and Robert was still sleeping. He had received no answer yet from "Jane" as he made his way out.

What he had received was another invitation he had requested. Madam Lao wanted to meet. Where they usually had met. Alone.

Tag: @DarkLordoftheFins

 

Michael Mcay
Inside the Kingslayer

"Well I must have one of those faces ya' know…" Michael said with a forced smile towards Scott, not waiting to give the game away. He quickly clocked two more thick bodies moving in and he grit his teeth. A string of curses came to his mind, but he kept them locked behind his clenched jaw. This wasn't good, now they were surrounded and outnumbered. His eyes glanced over to the black suited thugs guiding him and Jane up to the boss. As the jacket came open just a little under his shoulder the former soldier saw what looked like a grip for a pistol or SMG. Great now they are outgunned.

Things had gone very south very quickly for the pair, Michael's muscles tensed he could feel his mind start to work looking for exits gaps in the coverage some way to signal Crow for help, a distraction or something. There was a feeling in his gut that there wouldn't be any escape that he would just have to get through this. He looked to Jane with a forced smile. His heart was still beating steady though the adrenaline was sharpening his mind making time seem to move slower.

"Looks like we're getting the VIP treatment…" He bumped her with his elbow, the only physical contact he would dare with a woman he just met even if they were trying to keep the ruse of them being in a relationship. He kept his hand close to her for her to grab should she want but he wasn't going to force it. She was uncomfortable enough he didn't want to add to it.

For now they were going to face the boss with an armed escort.

TAG: @RachelTyrell, @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox, @Lawbreaker @SirakRomar

 

Jane Gray
Kingslayer

Jane felt relieved and guilty Michael showed up like this. She was not alone anymore, but he had also maneuvered himself into the same trap.

More security appeared from the sides. Like velociraptors in Jurassic Park it was pretty clear the one you saw was not the problem, but those who circled you.

"Yes, honey. This is Scott. He asked me to meet another friend of Laura." She gave the two cops in VIP a look. As long as they were around she was probably save. So was Michael. Albert was down there somewhere, too. So if they vanished it would not go unnoticed. So she considered her options and nodded with a smile. Onwards into the lions pit then.

"Lead the way Scott!" She said and picked up her drink. She gave Michael a look and then whispered: "We should really get you a gun."


Tag: @Lawbreaker, @galactic-vagabond422, @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

Robert Landau
Room at Vauxhall Inn, Vauxhall London

Robert opened his eyes as someone cleared his throat. It was morning. Early morning. He saw the dawn through his window. He sat up in bed, seeing a familiar face sitting in the chair Nicholas had used the night before.

Lyle was sitting there and smiled at Robert. "Robert?" He asked it as a greeting. "Got sloppy, I entered the room without you even waking up."

Robert yawned and looked at the door. "It is the medics. Still suffering from withdrawal." He got out of bed, still fully closed and walked over to his old friend. He hugged him and padded his shoulder.

"You got old." He smiled. "But so did I."

"Time devours us all, even Kings and Queens." Lyle smiled and sat down again. Robert sat opposite of him on the bed.

"Thought this is the best time to talk in private. Nicholas never was a morning person." Lyle explained and Robert nodded. "My condolences for your daughter." Lyle answered them. "I am truly sorry I could not help her."

Robert nodded. "I am sure you would have done anything within your power." He assured his old friend. "You got out, I heard? Out of the business? Advising politicians now? Ashcroft? How is he?"

Lyle smiled. "You know Ash. Always in trouble. Does not get boring. He is MP now."

"Heard that too. Does he know?" Robert asked and went over to the half empty bottle of water drinking.

"I would not be surprised." Lyle answered, knowing what Robert meant. He asked of Ashcroft knew about his return. The two had a history together from back in the days when Ashcroft was heading counter terrorism. "Probably gives him the creeps."

Robert laughed. "I am not here for him. Also his inactivity was kind of offensive when they took me." He looked at Kyle.

"Good. Nicholas says you are here to find who did it?" Lyle tended visibly.

"Yes. I am." Robert put down the glass of water.

"And then?" Lyle Sanderson asked, repositioning himself in the uncomfortable chair.

"That is all. I have my revenge. Then I leave. I take some of my money and vanish. If I make it out alive." Robert sighed.

"Nicholas might have other plans though. I don't think he let go of the past." Lyle said and stared at Robert.

"It was hard for him. But yes, you are right. I suspect he wants the crown back." Robert turned to Lyle. "This all is about the crown. Someone tries to claim it."

"Makes no sense. You being here makes it harder." Lyle answered and Robert looked at him. How much could he trust this man? Ten years were a long time. To survive he had made new allies and entered into new obligations. So how much could he trust Lyle? His former best friend? Only as far as necessary he decided.

"Makes perfect sense. Nobody will be truly king as long as the old king is still alive, right? Would feel like a steward waiting for my return. Whoever does this knows that." Robert sat down again. "Any idea who has such lofty ambitions?"

"Abelard Lindsay. He took over a lot of your old business. He also fashioned his own criminal Empire after yours." Lyle sighed. "With some help ..."

"Jessy, I know. How is she?" Robert asked and put his hands into his pockets.

"She is a shadow of her former self." Lyle answered. "Still enough left to be a pain though."

Robert nodded and decided against telling Lyle about his theory Abelard was a proxy.

"A shame. Miller is now Chief Intendant Inspector. Looks like everybody found new places to exist in my absence." Robert shrugged. "So Nicholas plans make you nervous." It was a statement, not a question. Lyle nodded anyway.

"The world changed. Nowadays hackers play a big part. Crime has been digitalized. Transactions are done in Bitcoin. Everyone worries about the security of their wallets. Darkweb now for black market stuff. All kind of Asians are around. Nigerians. Albanians. It is not the same playing field we used to play in. Russians are now more pimps than a proper OC. I think if Nicholas tries he will find out there is no simple path back to the top. There is no top anymore. Crime got decentralized."

Robert smiled. "Lindsay seems to think different." He said and folded his arms. "Don't worry. I am not here to regain my former glory. Without me he cannot do it."

Lyle smirked. "But you will play along, will you? Because you have to if you wanna lure out the murderer of Laura."

Robert shrugged. "For now."

"I met Ivan yesterday. Just heard he turned up dead in the Thames this morning." Lyle said and Robert sighed.

"Poor bastard. He was probably looking forward to meet Nicholas again." Robert laughed a sad laughter. "Someone was concerned the Red would still follow me. Or it is about this war between the Russians and Lindsay." Robert wondered how the first night of the war went by. One victim it had claimed. One old friend he lost.

"Guess so. Which makes me a little nervous, being your friend and all that." Lyle admitted. "My position and friends give me a certain amount of protection, but you know how this can vanish right quick." Lyle stood up. "I have unfrozen all your accounts. Just in case I become a target."

All the accounts. Robert did not even have a guess how much money that was. "Thanks. Maybe a good time to leave town for a while?"

Lyle handed him an envelope. "Those are the access codes to the bank accounts."

"I mean it. Maybe sit this one out." Robert insisted.

Lyle laughed at him. "I just take the bet you kill them before they kill me. I know how talented you are. Whoever it is got probably no idea what is coming."

Robert nodded. Probably the contender knew pretty well what he was capable of.

"Good seeing you Robert." Lyle finally said and Robert nodded to those words, too. He watched Lyle go and withdrew the gun from under the bedsheet. Lyle was not involved he assumed. He would not dare to face him if he was. Did not mean he would not be used against Robert. Truth was Lyle was right. Ivan dead. He was the logical next choice. Putting the envelope into his jacket he sighed and wondered if his opponent had expected his next move. The game was now about life and death. A game for the crown and the throne.

Nicholas had known that too. It was why he had contacted Lyle ... to get a reaction from the enemy. Provoking and then retribution had always been his tactics.

Robert nodded to himself and decided to wait for Nicholas to return. They had work to do.

Tag: @Lawbreaker (combined)

 

Abelard Lindsay
Kingslayer, VIP Lounge

Abelard was completely calm and his eyes wandered down to Scott who seemed to pick up a couple from the crowd. He wondered why. Later ...

“We’d like to have a look at the exterior footage,” Driscoll stated after a short pause, pressing ahead as if nothing was amiss. “Maybe we can get a trace on this ‘handsome fella’ you made reference to. Was he another regular? Or was this his first time?”

"Of course, I get them send over to your office right away." Abelard said and smiled.

Harry inclined his chin and flashed a small smirk. It appeared as if he was simply waiting for Lindsay to reply, but then he stepped forward with his brow furrowed in thought. “You know, I’m also curious about something…”

"About what?" Abelard asked and looked him straight into the eyes.

The phone of the cop vibrated that moment. Both cops got a message. It kept the staring contest from happening.

“You have a pretty contemporary setup here, right? Your club is innovative and trending heavily toward a younger crowd. Why did it take you so long to convert everything over to digital?” Driscoll shrugged and issued a slight scoff. “It seems a little strange for you to be progressive in everything else, but with your security, you fall behind the times.

“May I ask who’s doing the work?” Harry raised his brow, expressing genuine interest in the subject. “My son-in-law went to school for something related to computers, and he mentioned doing some ADC work on more than one occasion. I might have a few connections.”

"ABM Securities does the work. Clara Monroe is the project manager." He said and looked over the club once more.

"Why not earlier? Oh I think digital systems have their drawbacks. You need a lot of infrastructure and once you install it? Maintenance, firmware updates, hacks. I must say I regret this sales girl talked me into it in the first place. I mean, let us not be naive here, okay? You know who I am and so do they." He nodded down to the dancefloor. "Who would break my rules?"

Tag: @Lawbreaker, @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

IC: DS Adrian Montrose,
Location: Kingslayer Club, London

Abelard wasn't exactly playing ball but what did you expect from a kingpin of the criminal underworld?. But it was interesting when he revealed the fact that Laura was his stepdaughter. Would that mean he could be involved?. Or was he genuinely concerned?. Too many questions and not enough answers.

Criminals had their fingers in many pies, who was to say like the King that Lindsey was leading them on a merry chase as well?. Perhaps the CCTV images would help and was this handsome guy a suspect or just an innocent bystander?.

Harry meanwhile was looking back out towards the club, Adrian kept his eye fully fixed on Lindsey. Whatever was happening down there would not need both their attention, if they needed assistance no doubt a call would go out.

Plus he wanted to make sure Lindsey understood that he and Harry would not be divided….

He caught Harry's glance and then listened in as Harry continued regarding the CCTV. Both their phones got a message, so Harry looked at his, Adrian did not. No doubt Harry would update him or he would have a look in a moment. It was becoming clear he would need to enact his plan soon….

It also seemed Lindsey and Harry were having a staring contest, criminal vs cop. Adrian inwardly smiled that Lindsey was going against the toughest cop in the Met. Whereas Adrian had a bit more of an easy going style, Harry was as tough as nails. Mentioning his son in law was probably tough too as Adrian had been given all the gory details about that particular relationship.

Lindsey provided a name for the person who was the project manager, Adrian quickly pulled out his notebook and jotted it down for later. Lindsey was getting annoyed, Adrian was seeing that it was now time to move.

"Well Mr Lindsey" he said with a slight smile "It seems you have given us a bit to work with here and we appreciate that. No doubt you will want the killer of your stepdaughter brought to justice and we shall leave no stone left unturned to find whomever it is"

"Now if you don't mind this interview has made me rather thirsty. So if you don't mind I shall partake in a drink. Soft of course as I am duty" he winked at Lindsey ``I hope you don't mind but i'm just going to leave my partner here for a few minutes, unless you want one too Detective Sergeant '' he shot Harry a look. Hopefully he would latch on to Adrian's look and decipher his plan.

"Thank you once again" he said and moved towards the stairs. He saw a blonde haired woman and a man being surrounded by security staff. So that was what Harry was looking at. Whatever was happening he would try and keep an eye on from the floor. Hopefully Harry would still remain up there for now if he could. If they became in danger then it was Adrian's duty to assist.

Still though, he had to make sure he knew what REALLY happened here.

He passed the group shooting them a look and a smile that said "everything alright?" before moving over towards the bar.

Time to begin….

TAG: @Lawbreaker , @RachelTyrell , @HanSolo29 , @galactic-vagabond422 , @SirakRomar

 

Abelard Lindsay
Kingslayer, VIP Lounge

Abelard gave Adrian Montrose a nod.

"Drinks are on the house of course." He just said and watched Adrian walk away to question people without a doubt.

Turning to Driscoll he folded his arms and sighed. "The news say it was the Devil. Now that your partner is gone, just among you and me ... do you think so? If a serial killer had picked one of my clubs as his hunting grounds that would be bad for business I suppose. Also if that is true it would mean somewhere on these tapes from our entrance you would have his face." Abelard leaned over to Driscoll. "I got an interest in the murderer of poor Laura, I might be useful in these investigations." He gave Driscoll a vague smile. "Then again her Dad is hardly to be ruled out is he? Considering the timing of his return." Abelard sighed. "If that is true he might get away with it, as he always got away with everything." Abelard leaned back again. "Let me throw you a nugget here. Elena Sud. Olena Shawyshenko. Were those two among the victims of the Devil you found?" He gave Driscoll a smile. "If they were just give me a nod and I might be able to tell you how your Devil found his victims."

Tag: @Lawbreaker, @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

The Kingslayer Club, Downtown London

Scott and the three security guards lead Jane and Michael to the stairs and then escorted them upwards.

They entered a large bureau with a full multi-screen surveillance system on one wall and a window which was mirrored from the other side on the other. It overlooked the entire club. There was a bar, a couch with an expensive looking designer table and then there was a large Mahagoni desk with a single laptop on it. A safe was right behind it.

"Make yourself at home. Mr. Lindsay will be with you in a moment." Scott said and gestured to the couch. "Thomas here will be waiting just outside."

The security and Scott left them alone in the room.

----

Adrian had probably not been seen in the dark of the club by the girl and boy taken away, but it seemed to be a rather usual security incident.

At the bar the dark-colored Barkeeper gave him a broad smile. "What can I do for you, Sir?" He asked and was eyes Adrian. A cop needed only to see a witness to know if they knew they were a witness ... this man was aware of looking at a cop and he was aware that was no accident ... also it was.

Tag: @RachelTyrell, @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox (combo?), galactic-vagabond422








Vauxhall Inn, Room

While he was packing his things he felt the effect of withdrawal slowly vanishing. It was about eight when his telephone rang.

"Robert? This is Magnussen. Doctor Magnussen. You remember me do you?"

Tag: @LordTroepfchen (combo)



Tulip Garden, Holland Park

The garden was beautiful even at night with thousands of Tulips blossoming there. In the center was a small path and visible as a black shade was the shape of an old Asian woman. Ms. Lao was the head of the 16k, London's most powerful triad. The Chinese criminal Organisation had powerful roots in the capital and Ms. Lao was their Mountain Master, their leader and chief strategist. Once she had bowed her head to the King. Yet, even in his haydays she had shown him the respect he deserved, but never had allowed him the control he desired. The Triad only served the Great Dragon, their true Master who resided in Macau nowadays.

"Hail to the King." Ms. Lao greeted him and put both her hands on her walking stick. Her guards were certainly there, but remained respectfully at distance to the two. A gesture of great trust for a woman with so many enemies.

Tag: @DarkLordoftheFins (combo)

 

Michael Mcay
Inside the Kingslayer

"If you can get one in this city lass. You're as good as Crow thinks." Michael whispered in return to Jane as they were escorted. Looking around him having a gun wouldn't likely change much in their current situation. Outnumbered and outgunned but he was sure that it would make Jane, and himself, feel a lot safer. For now he kept his smile on though he was taking note of the cop that locked eyes with him and the hacker. Holding the older man's gaze for just a moment the former soldier shook his head, just a bit. Hopefully a sign that things weren't alright, and hopefully the guards didn't pick up on it.

As they were sat down on the couch Michael watched Scott and his goons walk out. Once they were gone he let out a breath watching the club go about in it's hussle and bussle.

"You got a plan for getting us out because I'm not seeing anything obvious." He checked the exits knowing that lovely Thomas would be waiting out one and the big boss man out the other. And three stories up wasn't too bad a fall, though that would likely create more trouble for the pair. "Unless you feel like taking a swan dive out the window…" He added with a somewhat grim smile.

TAG: @SirakRomar @Jerjerrod-Lennox @Lawbreaker

 

Jane Gray
Kingslayer, Bureau

Jane sat down on the couch and waited until everybody but her and Michael were out. Then she jumped out.

"Getting out? We are exactly where I wanted to be." She whispered.

"They made a big mistske." She grinned and got her 128 GB stick from her handback.

"Guard the door!" She told Michael and put the stick into the laptop. "I need five minutes. If they wanna come in distract them!"

They had seen a pretty girl nosing around, they had not known who she was. Nobody knew Jane Gray. One grymetr, the most vicious hacker of all of London.

The Laptop was encrypted and password secured, she was sure of that. She was not about to crack it though, she was bypassing all of this and went into the bios level and made an image of the whole hard drive. Looking at the door she grinned.

"Whatever these guys wanna hide, I bet it is on here." She said to Michael and winked. "My friend, Claire ... I bet they had their hand in both."

This was more than she had hoped for. This was the jackpot. It was also something they would kill her for if they caught her. She swallowed as she realized it.

"They won't kill us as long as the two policemen are around." She said then, unsure if this was to calm herself or Michael. "The old men with the Boss. Those are Montrose and Driscoll from the Metropolitan police. Good guys who won't be bribed."'

She did not mention Abelard had a reputation to have a 'get-out-of-jail' card.

Tag: @Lawbreaker, @galactic-vagabond422, @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

Michael Mcay
Inside the Kingslayer

Seeing her snap into action took Michael just a little by surprise. Only then did he remember Jane was a hacker and they left a computer unsupervised around her. At her order he moved to the door pressing his back against the wall, had he been armed he would already have his weapon drawn. Though he would just have to hope that he could keep the goons or this Mr. Lindsay distracted for long enough for Jane to work her magic. He listened closely trying to hear when someone was coming through the door though he was a little distracted when Jane mentioned his sister.

"This is getting worse all the time." He remarked gritting his teeth. The thought of Claire getting involved this deep, in god knows what. He would almost prefer that she was killed by the Devil. Though maybe if he was very, very lucky she was still alive and he could do something about it.

"So you have contacts in the met?" Asking while she did something, he had no earthly idea what, to the computer. "Or do you just know these coppers from...previous encounters?"

TAG: @Lawbreaker @SirakRomar @HanSolo29 @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

Jane Gray
Kingslayer, Bureau

Jane looked up as the image was uploaded. Problem was the extreme packing of the data not the copy.

"I hacked them, watched those guys all morning." She said in thoughts as if she did not confess to a crime. Biting her lip she looked around if there was anything that might help her. Anything. She saw nothing. She was probably too nervous.

"C'mon little guy get what mama needs." She hissed and blushed as she realized Michael might have heard that.

Tag: @Lawbreaker, @galactic-vagabond422, @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

Michael Mcay
Inside the Kingslayer

Michael checked the door again as Jane spoke again. He couldn't hear much though he wasn't about to let his guard down.

"Cause that's not creepy at all." the former soldier remarked looking around for something anything that could be used as a makeshift weapon. Other than bottles of rather expensive spirits he didn't see much else. In his search he heard Jane's...encouragement to her device. He furrowed his brow a little jaw just a little slack. "What am I getting myself mixed up in." He muttered as he pressed himself against the wall.

TAG: @SirakRomar @Lawbreaker @HanSolo29 @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

Jane Gray
Kingslayer, Bureau

Jane looked at Michael and understood exactly how he felt. This was a good level above her paygrade. Hunting a serial killer. Who was she now? Damned Benedict Cumberbatch? Yet she knew Serial Killers were found through data and she knew her way with data. If she was given enough she would find him.

"Just stay cool, we are gonna get out of this." She calmed again both herself and Michael. "We are gonna find your sister. I promise."

Tag: @Lawbreaker, @galactic-vagabond422, @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

Nicholas Anger
Tulip Garden, Holland Park

In his black coat he walked up the pathway to the leader of the 16k triad and gave her a grateful smile as she greeted him as King.

"Ni hat, Shunu." He replied and bowed his head. "Hǎojiǔle." Nicholas knew there were security guards watching him, but not close enough to save her if he tried to kill her. A token of great trust among old allies.

"Long time indeed." Ms. Lao said and it was another sign of appreciation she used his language. "The more it fills my heart with joy to see you save and alive. After your sudden disappearance I feared the worst."

Nicholas smiled and kept a respectful distance. "Something we both have in common. Many men await our death and we let them wait." He knew how her successors had lurked for decades for her to die of old age. She had survived most of them. She laughed and nodded and then she stepped to him and nodded.

"Will you assist an old woman to walk these beautiful fields once more? I am not as good on my feet as I was ten years ago." She said with a warm smile. One would not have expected she was one of the most deadly people in London. The murderer of hundreds probably.

"It would be my honor." He offered his arm which she gratefully took. "Let me start with an apology for what I did in that brothel of yours."

"Tztz." She raised her hand. "The moment I heard it was you I made it go away." She said and it was clear there was nothing more to discuss.

"Appreciated." He said and made sure to walk slowly.

"What brings you back, Nicholas?" She came straight to the point.

"Personal things. Someone killed someone I loved very dearly. I cannot let this go unpunished." He sighed. "You understand that. I remember what they did to your son."

"As I remember what you did for me that night. His screams I hear every night and wake up smiling." She said and smiled indeed. "Revenge is a valuable thing, our ultimate legacy. Yet, I fear not many will believe this is all you have on your mind. The city never was the same after you."

Nicholas nodded. "It is not all. This murderer was not anybody. It is linked to what happened today. I assume you are aware the Russians and a new guy called Lindsay are about to go to war."

"The war already began. Ivan is dead. The Reds are about to switch sides. Yes, I must say in my age it often becomes harder to see the purpose of young men waging war. So many egos and so little to gain." She nodded. "Will you pick a side? Is it the reason why we meet?"

"Something like that. What can you tell me about this Lindsay? Everybody paints him as the great villain of the piece. I know he has married my Ex-wife and took over a substantial part of my business. But what kind of man is he?"

Ms. Lao smiled. "He is a lion who wants to be a dragon. He is smart and calculating and incredibly ambitious. Many say he reminds them of you."

"Does he remind you of me?" Nicholas asked.

"I know your soul, Nicholas. Your hunger was unprecedented among all men I ever met. So was your ability to restrain it. It was always two sides of you and one never knew which one you were dealing with." Ms. Lao smiled. "He has hunger, but he has no restraint. Like so many of the young he expands mindlessly, never stop and never reflects on his path. He wants your crown, but there is something missing to sit on the throne."

"He lacks wisdom. That is my impression, too." Nicholas said and Ms. Lao nodded.

"This war will make him more powerful though and he is untouchable, like you were." She said and stopped for a moment. Nicholas complied to the silent wish and allowed her to have her break.

"I will tell you a secret, my old friend. I thought I was untouchable, but I was not. Nobody is. Power makes you impossible to defeat, but there are many ways to destroy a man. They almost destroyed me." He sighed.

"Yet here you are. Back to where you started and still hungry. There are many who fear this hunger of yours." Nicholas smiled at her words.

"Do you?" He asked. She gave him a light slap on his arm.

"Of course I am." She said and continued the walk. "Seeing you here is the first thing to scare me in many years." She was honest and that was disarming.

"You have nothing to fear of me." He said. Indeed she was the last person he held a grudge against. Her lack of loyalty had always been the most honest of all facades.

"I fear what your return means. Changes are hard to accept in my age and you will change everything. It is in your nature. You are a dragon, not a lion." Ms. Lao said and Nicholas nodded.

"Let us talk about the young fools waging war." He said finally. Ms. Lao nodded.

"The 16k cannot have an interest in anyone winning this war and I guess it is obvious who will win it." Nicholas paused. "The more power is centralized the more yours is diminished."

Ms. Lao nodded. "As you would know. Nevertheless this war was not declared against us."

"The next one might be." Nicholas added.

"We are well prepared. Our power has grown like our home country. I do not fear Lindsay." She mused, but he heard these voice were not as convinced as they should be.

"Then you should not wait to challenge him until you face him alone." Nicholas said.

"You suggest we Side with the Russians? There is little love between us and them." She shook her head.

"No. No they are a sorry excuse of what they once were. Fjodor is a manipulative snake but he also lacks wisdom." Nicholas laughed. "I advise you to take advantage of your rivals weakness and keep him from victory. Take what he is not guarding. Needles can be as deadly as swords. They just need to be aimed better." Nicholas smiled.

"An interesting thought, my old friend." Ms. Lao said. "A very interesting thought indeed."

Tag: @Lawbreaker (combined)

 

OOC: A combo with @Lawbreaker

IC: DS Adrian Montrose, The Barman
Location: Kingslayer Club, London

Leaving Harry alone carried a risk especially since after the interview with the King, Adrian had become slightly distrustful of his partner. But he had to trust that this time his partner would do the right thing.

The bloke’s look was concerning to him as well. His look told him things were not OK so if anything went wrong up there hopefully Harry would be in a position to call for backup.

Meanwhile heading towards the bar Adrian pulled out his phone. It was a text from Mara that she had found the Butcher and was heading to the address. Making sure he looked like he was smiling at the text she sent him he responded with the standard response that police gave after receiving either an instruction or information:

Received.

He popped his phone back in his jacket and stopped at the bar as the bartender asked him what he wanted.

Adrian smiled “A Pepsi, and no that cat’s piss Diet type. Full sugar. And apparently it’s on the house”

He probably stuck out like a sore thumb here as he was significantly older than most of the patrons here. He wasn't ‘down with the kids’ so to speak but hopefully he could get something here.

“I suppose you know about Laura” he said leaning casually against the bar “Tragic what happened to her. Especially to a regular here….”

"Yes, a real tragedy. She gave damned good tips and hell that girl knew how to have a party." The Bartender put a Pepsi in front of Montrose. "You guys really need to get that bastard." The man put his hands on the bar and smiled. "Sure you don't want a shot in it? I won't tell."

Adrian chuckled at that "If it was different circumstances then yes, but sadly not today" and he wasn't going to run the risk of having his drink spiked. He took a sip of his Pepsi "Thanks anyway"

"So you seem to know Laura quite well. Was there a particular crowd she hung around with? Because apparently she was with a handsome looking fella on the night she was killed. Was he part of the regular group?"

The Barkeeper looked at him. "Damian? Oh, not sure if he belonged to anyone's regular crowd. Damian Ashcroft is who you must mean. A rich and very handsome bachelor who is very desired by the ladies nowadays, but hard to get close to if you know what Imean. Laura had him I believe, before this other girl disturbed her."

Adrian took a swig of his Pepsi and quickly withdrew his notebook before noting it down. A thorough check would have to be made on him.

“So did this Damian follow Laura out of the club? Or did he stick around with his new lady friend?”

“Also, just to make sure we don’t miss anything, did you spot anyone suspicious looking hanging around Laura or following her out? You must know by looking and knowing all the regulars here is if something looked off…”

"You got that wrong. That other girl did not hit on Damian. She was after Laura." The Barkeeper laughed. "Laura was quite a liberal when it came to love."The Barkeeper shrugged. "But I got no idea when she left and if anybody followed her. She went for the dancefloor with that girl and never came back." He shrugged. "But nothing suspicious really ... well, guys look. She was a cutie. Anyway Damian left right after her descent into the maelstrom of bodies." The Barkeeper stopped for a second. "One guy asked about her. I remember now. I think I got a tip and told him her name. Young guy. Probably in his twenties. He hangs out with the Sunday crowd." The Barkeeper pointed at a bunch of people on the mid-level. They were all in their late twenties and early forties. Pretty old for the club.

Well this was another interesting tidbit. So Laura was actually with a woman, as well as this handsome fella. He wrote that down too. Unfortunately it meant they would probably have to trawl through the tapes for the woman and find out who she was to have a chat unless she was here right now. Same for the guy. Adrian was now on the hunt….

“I suppose you don’t know any of these people’s names, this guy who hangs around up there and the woman, they may be helpful to our enquiries. But if you don’t that’s fine, it sounds like me and my partner will have plenty to look at through the security tapes. Of course if they were here now it would really help also.”

Another gulp of Pepsi and he was nearly done “Before I finish is there anything else you think I should be aware of? Any information you provide will be held in the strictest confidence and I guarantee none of this will go back to your boss.” he smiled easily “I’m definitely one of the good guys”

The Barkeeper gave him a 'heard that before' smile."Seriously, no. I am a cocktail man, trying to stay out of their affairs. The guy who does all the talking and ordering? He is called Jackson. Jackson Fallon I believe." He pointed up at the group and smiled.

Jackson Fallon was an investigative journalist and a pretty good one. Working for the London Times. Adrian knew him and the man had one thing in common, he was impossible to be bribed and widely respected and feared for that fact.

TAG: @Lawbreaker , @HanSolo29 , @RachelTyrell , @SirakRomar , @galactic-vagabond422

 

Abelard Lindsay
Kingslayer, VIP Lounge

Abelard smiled at the dancefloor.

"I don't see an honest man. All I see is a liar. The worst kind of liar. The one believing to be the one honest guy. They believe we corrupt the system. We are the system, Driscoll. Who do you guys turn to when you can't make payments at the end of the months? Who do you guys turn to when you need a few bones broken? Who do you guys go to when your fine Gentlemen in the city need someone to go away?" Abelard folded his arms. "You coppers are traffic control. When they need someone for the truly dirty work, they always turn to someone with a more pragmatic mind. They always turn to us." Abelard finally turned to Driscoll who had turned away from him and then gave him a short almost threatening smile.

"You think you get the Devil by looking at security footage? Or interviewing barkeepers? This man has been around for a decade murdering girls and you stumbled over him only by accident. So do what you always do. Find a nice scapegoat and retire. Then when the bodies begin to stink you come to us and ask for the price for this problem to go away. It goes away silently and Montrose down there does not have to face the fact you loose the game because those above you rigged it long ago." Abelard smirked.

"Good hunting, Driscoll." He finally said and as the man had not taken his offer he was not giving him the nice bone he had brought.

"I assume that concludes our interview. I get you a drink and take care of business again." Abelard spit the words out. Tonight a dozen people would die and the metropolitan police were looking for a man who offed a hooker every few months ... because the press said so.

He needed to get to his office and find out what was so important Scott brought guests there.

"We are done." Abelard simply stated and made his way to the stairs.

Tag: @Lawbreaker, @HanSolo29, @SirakRomar, @galactic-vagabond422, @Jerjerrod-Lennox

 

Robert Landau
Room at Vauxhall Inn, Vauxhall London

Robert sighed. "Doctor. My memory is a bit hazy, but that is true for the entirety of my last ten years." He had expected them to have heard about their hospitalized colleague as of now.

"Robert, listen. I understand you are upset, but you have to understand that what we did was for your best." The Doctor said and tried to stay calm.

"Listen, Doctor. I was playing your game by your rules for ten years and what a rotten game that was. For the rest of this conversation I will set the rules, okay?" Robert sat down in his chair. The line was just long enough to allow that. He lighted a cigar and smiled. "I interpret your silence as a disturbed acceptance you hardly can escape my rules. Okay. I got only one. Lie to me again and Dr. Clement Laurent dies. I spared him, but I was still hazy from the drugs back then, not wanting to make any decisions I could not reverse. Now that I got a clear picture of what you did to me I must say I regret it a bit." Robert took a deep breath from his cigar and waited. "Understood?"

"Yes, Robert. Understood." He felt the man's clenched teeth. He was so used to be in absolute control in this hell he created in the beauty of Norway. "May I ask a question?"

"Sure." Robert said.

"Are you alone?" The Doctor asked. Robert smiled.

"At the moment I am." He said and leaned back. "Quit pro quo. My wife committed me, right?" Robert took the cigar between his teeth. "Don't forget the rules."

"Originally, yes." Magnussen sighed.

"Don't call her. Don't call the police. If you do I will arrange for a bunch of guys visiting you in your little retreat. I got the resources to do so and you know it." Robert felt a flash of pain in his forehead. It was as if the Doctor could remote control it.

"Robert, you need medical care and you know it." Magnussen said.

"Die a villain or stay alive as a potato. I think I am hardly tempted. Listen to me now. Listen closely. I want to find the murderer of my child. I am not here to to harm any innocent. I promise that. Also I do not expect to survive this." Robert sighed. "So I give you a choice. We can accept me as released from your care, or we can go to war. You are not experienced in this kind of war, Doc. You know who I am. I will find out everything about you. Who you love, who you care about. Then I would take them all away from you." Robert waited for a moment. "Do you understand this?"

"Robert I know you won't believe me. I care about you. What we did was not to keep you calm, but to keep you free from the life you tried to escape." Magnussen calmly declared.

"Really?" Robert smirked. "Was that lie?"

"Was it? How did you end up here? Did you try to fight it? A man of your power could have found a way. We both know." Magnussen sighed. "You wanted this."

"Maybe I was tired. I am not tired anymore." Robert clenched his fist.

"You sound tired. You try to be menacing, but I know you Robert. I can hear how hard it is for you to return to ... your familiar state of mind. Do you feel guilt for what you did?" Magnussen remained remarkable calm Robert thought.

"Yes." He admitted to his own surprise. "Yet, I know no drug will change that. Hell is other people, Doc. Camus said this."

"Hell is something we create for ourselves Robert." Magnussen replied.

"Then it is a classical case of better reigning in hell than serving in heaven." Robert replied.

"Why are we still talking then? You want me to help you, don't you?"'

Robert laughed. "You cannot help me. You know why? Because you are a coward. Those people in your so called clinic ... you drug us to the state where we can hardly think or feel anymore and then you let us rot, because you have convinced yourself it is ethical. The truth is you don't want us to die, so you feel righteous. But you erase us. A state so close to death as it can be. You never treated me, there was no therapy. Only drugs and a nurse changing my pants when I pissed myself again." Robert felt a spasm in his hand as he had closed his fist for to long.

Magnussen stayed silent for a long moment. "Would you have preferred us to execute you?"

"Maybe it would have been justice. A bullet to my head as I kneel." Robert sighed. "I will leave this hotel now and vanish. Come looking for me and I will kill you and everyone you love."

Robert killed the line and took another breath of his cigar. He took out his smartphone and went to the App Store. These things were meant to make music. He needed music.

Tag: @Lawbreaker (combined)

 

OOC:Another combo with @Lawbreaker

IC: DS Adrian Montrose, Jackson Fallon
Location: Kingslayer Club, London

After draining his Pepsi and thanking the barman, Adrian decided it was time to move on to his next interview, and this one would be as tough as interviewing Lindsey.

Journalists. The vultures of this world. They didn't care about people, they only thought about their stories and how many copies they would sell, or how many clicks they would get on the internet. Sometimes they were useful, but in Adrians opinion it was only sometimes.

And if it was a story about a dirty cop and criminals, even better.

Adrian moved through the mass of bodies towards the stairs that would lead him up to the middle level. Harry still had’nt appeared yet so he was going solo here. And if he was honest Harry’s “grumpy old man” style wouldn't fit in here. Adrian had a little bit more of a relaxed style, and with these journalists it might work as it was more of a chat than a formal interview. But he could turn on his hard case mode if he had to…

He may stick out like a sore thumb in this club but some of these lot looked practically out of place here. It was not a place where you would potentially take your dad to and no doubt some of these journos were married or had kids. Oh what fun I could give them he thought look what daddy or dearest has been doing…..

He looked around giving the group a smile as if he had just popped in for a nice little chit chat and spotted Jackson.

“Well well Jackson Fallon” he said with his Irish lilt turning cheery “This place is a bit too young for you. Having a good time? I would have thought with one of your journalist colleagues being murdered you wouldn't be in a place like this”

Fallon gave Montrose a broad grin. "Adrian Montrose. The police must really feel the heat from all the publicity to pay the hours for you to go clubbing. We are drinking for a fallen colleague and we prefer to do it under the eyes of the scum that she was after!" He saluted with his Gin & Tonic to the VIP floor."Actually is there any better place to be for those who are still interested in the truth?"

Adrian smirked at Jackson, cocky git "Well you know maybe I thought I would come down here, do some dad dancing. Show the youngsters how it's done"

He frowned "You and your journo mates could get in a lot of trouble here. You make one mistake and you could end up like your colleague. So do me a favour and leave the interviewing to the professionals"

He folded his arms "I have it on good authority that you asked for Laura's name downstairs. So tell me, why are you so interested in why Laura was here?"

"I thought that was a serial killer? Not? Seriously, I am leaving the interviews to the professionals. You think you guys would have all the resources without us making a big fuss about it? Hm? Laura would be just another dead girl in a town full of dead girls. So now it is my job to make sure you don't blame it on some scapegoat and let the true killer run free. Because that is the next instinct you guys got, right?" The man smiled. "Despite that, any story Laura might have been murdered for is a story worthy of my attention."

Adrian kept his arms folded and his face neutral, all journos loved to wind police officers up so they would say something and it would be all over the news.

"I'm sorry you must have me confused with someone else. Because you know what I used to be a part of…" Jackson was probably aware like most on the force that he was formerly Anti Corruption before he joined Major Crimes.

"And enquiries are still ongoing as you no doubt know as well" it was also a well known fact that journos also had sources within the force "The way I see it? Laura found out something, somebody didn't want it getting out and killed her. Now if you are interested in the truth you could help us out. So the big question is, what did Laura find out?. And why was she after the big boss upstairs?"

Fallon smiled. "Her step-dad? Oh no, she was not after him. I urged her to be a good journalist and use her inside view. She always refused. I think her interests were others. I know a source she used. Gonna meet him tonight. But ... did I get that right?" Fallon gave him a 'gotcha' grin. "You assume it was not the Devil? Someone killed her because she stumbled on something?" Fallon leaned forward. He was good at what he did. It was his reputation. "I know she looked into her own family history. Rumors say her dad is a colorful character. She also looked into a group of Estonians. My source might give me some insight there. You know the drill. I indeed know where you were before ... but we are on one side. You know they're gonna close this case quickly. Miller is under too much pressure." Fallon looked around."I could keep it open long enough for you to get the real killer." He shrugged. "Just give me something to keep the story alive. The other victims? You Identified any of them?"

There was no way he was going to give Jackson any info that Laura was the King’s daughter, the press would have a field day if they found out. When the time was right they would be informed. After working with a journalist on the King case he was used to the give and take nature of the game here. And it wasn't surprising that Jackson would want some information in exchange.

He quickly pulled his notebook out and wrote: journalist has source with info, Laura looking into group of Estonians, Miller?

Of course his boss would usually be above suspicion but being a former anti corruption officer meant you always were on the lookout for anything dodgy. And if Miller did try to close the case with a scapegoat and not the true killer then Adrian would be having words. He would probably get taken off the case for it and it would leave Harry in the lurch but he was an honest cop. And he will find the killer….

“If you can provide any information from your source it would be useful, and if it means helping catch the killer, well you know the game” he smirked at that.

He flipped over another page in his notebook and copied down the names he had learned from the beginning when those bodies were identified:

Ivanka Makarov, Elena Sud, Olena Shawyshenko, Maria Stein, Karina Osone

He ripped out the page and handed it to Jackson. “This is what we have so far, pulled from our missing persons files. We have already informed and next of kin or family if they lived here or through our international partners if they were not. So this shouldn't cause too much of a stink. But actually work for us for once. The rest we are still checking on, perhaps once they are identified and you keep your end of the deal then I will provide you with others. Quid pro quo”

“I had a source with the King case, unfortunately before it all got exposed my source ended up disappearing, just like others did. My hope is that you don’t suffer the same fate. Because your expertise would come in useful here”

Fallon nodded. "Oh you should ask Miller about those journalists back then." Fallon only shared. "He was quite heartbroken about them." Fallon smiled, a sarcastic grimace of a smile. "I will try not to vanish. Promise."

So it could possibly come down to a clash with the big boss. Harry would probably not like that at all, in fact he might be livid. Hopefully if Adrian explained to him though what was happening maybe, just maybe he could get his partner on board.

And put the REAL killer behind bars.

"I'll work on that" Adrian said "You just focus on your source, see if he comes up with anything juicy. And this source better help us, because if they don't I will have them arrested for wasting my time" he nodded and smiled to Jackson "Take care of yourself, i'm sure we will meet again soon…"

With that Adrian turned away and headed for the stairs.

Time to find Harry and compare notes.

TAG: @Lawbreaker , @HanSolo29 , @SirakRomar , @galactic-vagabond422 , @RachelTyrell

 

Nicholas Anger
Tulip Garden, Holland Park

Nicholas gave the elder Chinese lady a smile and offered his arm again. She took it and they continued their walk.

"There is more to all of this. Lindsay, Fjodor, the Cops ... I feel someone else is behind this, hiding from sight and pulling the strings from the shadows." He continued. "I need your advise. I feel I cannot even trust my allies anymore. Who could this shadow Master be?"

The old Lady nodded. "Are you so sure it is not me?" She asked.

"Not at all." Nicholas smiled.

"A wise man said once to keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Ms. Lao said. "He probably did not have the kind of enemies we have."

They both laughed. Ms. Lao thought about his question and then finally nodded.

"The difficult thing in a game of cat and mouse is knowing if you are the cat or actually the mouse." She said.

"I am the mouse. So how does a mouse win the game? Survival I guess. But if the game continues infinitely the cat will get the mouse at some point." Nicholas mused.

"The Mouse can either hide or it has to turn the table and lay a trap for the cat." She smiled. "But you are doing that already, are you? That is why you want me in the game. A bigger cat."

Nicholas smiled only as an answer.

"Lindsay is behind this, but who is behind Lindsay?" Ms. Lao asked the question. "None of us. This is someone else. Someone outside our circles. Someone who knows you."

Lyle.

He was the only suspect. Maybe Lord Ashcroft who was now his new employee? Nicholas felt he at least had to rule him out to ignore the possibility. He wished he could trust Robert on this. They were still divided.

"I think the only way to see who is at the center of the maze is going deeper into it." Nicholas said.

"Then I shall hope you do not get lost, my friend." Ms. Lao said and she stopped again. "Many years ago you gave me a gift and never asked for anything in return. Tonight I shall return the favor." She grabbed into her black tailor-made coat and drew a small plastic object from it.

"What is that?" Nicholas asked and took it from her.

"They call this an USB stick. You can watch the content on a computer. You might gain insight from this. Valuable insight." She handed it to Nicholas.

"Thank you." Nicholas said.

Ms. Lao withdrew from his arm. "An old Lady needs to sleep now. These nightly meetings are not for me anymore."

"I owe you. For your wisdom and that you shared it with me." Nicholas bowed and smiling the old Lady bowed back.

"Hail to my King." She just said and turned away, slowly walking to her waiting limousine.

Nicholas looked after her until she was driving away and then stared at this USB. He turned back to his own driver.

"Do you have a computer?" Nicholas asked as he entered the car.

"Not with me, Sir." The driver answered.

"I need one. Get me somewhere where I can access one." He just said. The driver seemed to look something up in his navigation system and then began to drive. The world was so terribly connected right now. Nicholas felt almost lost.

Tag: @Lawbreaker (combined)

 

The Butcher Shop, Croyden

Mara Aspinal could not wait to get her latex gloves of her hand as she made it out of the Butchers shop. She was allergic to these things. Also inside there had been pretty rough even by the standards of a former vice agent. The girl had been barely alive as she was hanging there like meat hung up to dry. Mara smiled into her direction, as she was brought to the ambulance on a stretcher.

Bruce Crane stepped next to her and lit his cigarette, watching the girl being driven away. "She was tough. So many cuts." Bruce sighed and got out a cigarette. He opened his paper notepad and put on the glasses.

"Roman Silinski. The Russians guy for dirt jobs turned out to be polish after all." He smirked.

"Eastern Europeans both. Is there such a big difference?" She asked and looked at the black body bag being brought out. Silinski was so heavy, two cops had to carry him.

"Big difference." Crane said and closed the pad. Being the oldest of their investigation group he was in the absence of Driscoll and Montrose de facto in charge . "What do you think?"

Mara raised her brow. "We literally found a young blonde hanging from his ceiling, naked after days of torture within a butcher shop! I'd say we got our man!"

Crane looked at her and smirked at her in amusement. "My money was on Bobby. But you are Millers lapdog." Mara shot him an angry look. He raised his hand. "Calm down, played the role myself. Good for the career, bad for the reputation. So we are gonna pin it on him?"

Mara stared at Crane. "What? You can rule out it was him?" Mara shrugged. "Victimology and profile fit perfectly!"

Crane shook his head. "No, he cuts superficially, dragging out the pain and torturing them to death. A real sadistic monster. We should thank whoever got rid of him he took care of the guy."

Mara smirked now. "You really wanna behave as if we do not know who killed him?"

Crane smiled back. "Point. Anyway, our Devil mutilates the victims. He kills them within one act of violence ending in them being cut apart. Silinski took days. Coroner found no trace of prolonged torture. Just cruel murder." Crane shrugged. "Isn't him. But yeah, you got a serial killer and without the look at the details he will probably do." Crane knew how these things went now. Mara had been first on site. It was her catch and exactly what Miller needed. The Devil would hide his victims and if nobody stumbled over them by chance again, he might never be found. Everything would be fine, except the minor detail a killer was going to continue murdering women.

"What are our options? Hm?" Mara pushed her hands into her pockets. "Driscoll and Montrose were fixated on Laura Landau the moment the King came into play." Mara shook her head. "She might not even be one of his ... so we start identifying victims, piecing together pieces? We need years to do that. We might never get another victim."

"Your career would get a boost if you solve the case and falls apart if you never solve the thing. Got it, Aspinall. So we cheat and be heros instead of getting beaten up by the press and Miller for not making progress." Crane looked at the patrol cops and the snorted out his cigarette smoke. "Mara, this is your first homicide. Is it?"

The young woman nodded.

"Your first serial killer anyway." Crane looked at her. "This despair is normal. I worked murders before. Five years in homicide. There are two kinds of murders. 90% you find the murderer sitting next to his victim and the other 10% are just damned complicated." Crane was now speaking with a surprised voice so he did not explain this with the other cops hearing it. "Then you need to do the work. Piece together everything. We have not even begun. We are looking into his potentially last victim. We get a picture of what it is he does. Then come movement profiles of months old victims. Hundreds of witnesses get interviewed. Thousands of questions asked. All of this we will do to get a lead to a man who kills girls. Why do we do this? We want him to be held accountable for the worst crime a human can do, ending the life of another human. It takes months. Years sometimes. Giving up after one day because the case is complicated? It does not work like that." Crane shrugged. "If you wanna boost your career by declaring this guy the prime suspect, go ahead. Would have done the same at your age. The price will be the lives of women the Devil will take. When you wake up alone at night hearing their screams ask yourself if a promotion was worth it." Crane shook his head. "Just saying. Been there, done that. You know when people say we regret the things we don't do? Guess those people never did anything truly bad."

Crane turned and left and Mara looked after him. "The King thinks it is him! He killed him!" Mara insisted. Crane knew she was trying to convince herself and not him, so he left her alone with this dialogue.

Outside the Club, Car

They had a lot to talk about. They would have time as the day was truly over by any official definition of working hours. Driscoll and Montrose received the message that Bobby got the Kingslayer CCTV from the outside camera.

Tag: @HanSolo29, @Jerjerrod-Lennox


Office at Kingslayer

The USB concluded the packaging of the data and jumped to 100% before concluding the image generation, an exact copy of all non-protected parts of the drive.

It was just in time as Michael and Jane heard steps approaching and Scott's surpressed voice telling Lindsay what to expect behind the door.

Tag: @SirakRomar, @galactic-vagabond422, @RachelTyrell


Vauxhall Inn, Lobby

The reception called to announce Roberts driver was there. Obviously Nicholas would not do the pick-up himself.

Check-out was a simple affair as the golden credit card was more than enough to cover any costs. As Robert stepped outside he recognized a black BMW waiting outside. Surveillance of police was still as obvious as always. Probably they even wanted to be seen. Had Nicholas provoked them in any way? This morning they seemed at least less subtle and much more honest in their approach.

Tag: @LordTroepfchen

@DarkLordoftheFins, we conclude our combined

 

Michael Mcay
Kingslayer, Office

Michael was calm and, mostly collected. His quick glances to Jane then back to the door not withstanding. The hacker's promise was did little to put what worries he did have at ease. They might be able to find his sister but would she be alive. He could feel sharks circling, there was something far more than just his sister going missing in the middle of a hunt for a serial killer. And he wanted no part of it. Giving one last look to Jane he worried he might have stepped fully into it. His ears heard muffled footsteps, and Scott's voice ringing out.

"They're coming back." He whispered. "You get everything?" He asked his voice level, not rushed but, it was not without urgency.

TAG: @SirakRomar @RachelTyrell @Lawbreaker

 

Ten years earlier ...

The House of Robert Landau, Mayfair

Jessica sat crying in her kitchen and held her equally crying child close to her chest as the police walked through her house. The eldest of them finally sat down at the kitchen table opposite of her.

"The little one okay?" Inspector Miller asked. Jessica nodded. Miller reached out and smiled. He gently stroked the child's head and it seemed to have an instant calming effect.

"A woman worthy of a king. So beautiful. At least when nobody beats the crap out of you." He withdrew his hand. "So where is he? Hm?"

Jessica wiped the tears from her eyes and stared at the Inspector. "What do you wanna do? Get him for domestic violence?" She laughed at him and that hurt her face. It was swollen at the eye and cheek.

"Why not?" He asked and leaned back. "A more simple question then ... where is Nicholas?" He gave her a smug grin. "Nicholas Anger." He repeated. "You know Nicholas, do you?"

Jessica touched her cheek. "Oh I know Nicholas. Sure. Do you?" She laughed at them. What did the policemen know? A young policewoman came in and handed him a folder.

"What is that?" Jessica demanded to know.

"You don't know?" Miller asked.

"We got it from his safe." The policewoman said. Miller looked at her and then opened the folder.

"You will never see him in an interrogation room or a court. Everybody is afraid of what he would say." Jessy pressed her child closer to her chest. "Your system is his whore." She said and her child cried.

Miller looked at the content of the folder. "You are probably right. Which is pretty bad for you as I expect him to beat you too death pretty soon. Especially when he hears you called us and we found this." Miller held up the file. "But what if we could get him locked away without a trial? Without interrogations?" He asked the question more to himself. Finally his eyes snapped up and Jessy looked at the folder.

"What is in it?" She asked. Her eyes nervously went back to the file with this blue paper back.

Miller grinned. "His weakness." He said calmly. "His weakness."

Tag: @Nobody



Present day ...


London Metropolitan Police HQ, Office of Chief Inspector Miller

He received the preliminary report from the Croyden crime scene and calling it promising was kind of an understatement. They seemed to have a solid suspect, dead and not causing any problems with denial statements.

It was less the devil he was interested in though. The Devil might destroy his career. The King probably would be much more aggressive in his destruction. His life and his family were in danger now the man had returned. It was a race now. The King would reestablish his power base to some extend. So Miller brought him down for good this time before he reclaimed his throne or he would never get him. He was sure of that.

He remembered ten years ago he had been sitting at an evening beer with Eduard Kaufmann, the Oberkomissar of the BKA, Germany's Federal Police. The man had told them how they had catched a notorious serial killer roaming the country side of Bavaria. When they had him, they found out an over-eager policeman had obtained all their evidence by such brutally illegal means they would never be able to use them in court. So they took the Norway option. That way courts stayed out of it. Miller had that night made Kaufmann very drunk and learned everything about the so called Norway option. He knew it was the solution to London's problem called The King. It had turned out to be a temporary fix. Picking up the phone he dialed the number of Bobby Shaw.

"Miller here. Hope you did not sleep yet? Good. I need to back-track a car that was today here. I need all locations after it left. Send you the license plate by mail. When? I need this yesterday. Thanks." He put the phone down and buried his face in his hands. He would need to deal with Driscoll and Montrose now. He expected Montrose to be trouble, but he knew how to push an honest cop. He had been pushed himself a lot when he was in his shoes.

Tag: @Nobody, @HanSolo29 and @Jerjerrod-Lennox indirectly