"Can I help you?" I asked without a smile.
"Are you Kate Collins?" the Alpha replied.
"Who's asking?"
"Horace Urban. We're following up on some recent criminal activity in New York City and we'd like to ask some questions." Ooh, this ought to be good.
"Where are you from?"
"My team and I are the Vigilant Sons from the Special Interest branch at the Sept of the Green."
I was not on very good terms with the Sept of the Green, or, they were not on good terms with me. I frowned, and wondered if they knew what I was about to say to them.
"Mr Urban, every time the Sept of the Green ask for my help, it turns out they are trying to get me killed. Even if I do wind up trying to help them, they thank me by doing me the favour of letting me leave with my life. I have to tell you this, so please listen carefully: You are not welcome here," I warned. "Your superiors mustn't like you very much," I added as an afterthought.
"We're not here to kill you, Dragon. We're not interested in your past encounters with the Sept. We are just looking for information. Do you know anything about the Sun Dragon?"
Urban's arrogant demeanour was getting on my nerves, but not enough for me to do anything drastic yet. "What do you mean? The Sun Dragon?" The Sun Dragon? A Sun Dragon? A Son Dragon? "You're going to have to be a little more specific."
"Three weeks ago some business associates of ours went in to a transaction with The Sun Dragon," Urban recited in a blase tone as if filling me in on details was a waste of his time. "It was a private, somewhat delicate affair with discretion being key. Three nights ago they were supposed to meet to finalize arrangements, and instead of sealing the deal they were attacked. With fire. This unexpected, unprovoked move killed all of the negotiating party."
"I don't introduce myself as 'Dragon', or conduct business as 'Dragon'" I pointed out. "What has this got to do with me? Is this actually a Dragon we are talking about...?" I wasn't aware of any other Mokole in the city, but it was a big city.
"As far as we can tell, the Sun Dragon is some kind of Chinese agent," Urban replied. "He claims to have ties to a well-respected family with business in Detroit. He runs a-" the Garou inclined his head at Theodorus "-trucking company, which we have recently confirmed is a front for an army of ninjas. And the party he wiped out were Clan Giovanni."
I waited for him to elaborate. "Vampires," he supplied.
"Ah," I reflected. "You are chasing a trucking sun Dragon who wantonly wipes out vampires. Now I see why you're here, at least. Well, this is the first I've heard of him, I don't know anything about it, except for that based on what you've told me I think I like the guy."
Urban turned to his Beta, who nodded. I'd seen Truth of Gaia at work before. "But, by all means, don't take me for my word, it's a well known fact Dragons are liars," I baited sourly. "Is there anything else you want?"
"We're not here to reprimand you, and we're not here to chitchat-"
"That's a really nice car," I said, cracking a smile for the first time as I walked over to a stack of crushed cars that towered over my head. I leaned on one arm against the pile of wrecks. "Did you know I don't actually have a working car crusher here?" I beamed at him. "Get off my property."
Threatening Garou is always a gamble. I suspected Urban and his 'team' were totally prepared to tackle me in a fight if it had come down to that, and I'd be a fool to think that I could beat four prepared Garou. I also suspected that like most Glass Walkers, Urban would be a vain, materialistic over-compensating car lover. His pack could defend themselves, but his precious shiny Audi against a dragon trained and practised in wrecking vehicles? It was a bet that paid off. Urban gave me a very unamused look as the group got back in the car and left the yard. I watched them leave, then rolled my head on my neck. Yeowch. That was more stress than I needed in a day. I sighed, rolled my shoulders to release some tension, and went back to work.