The auction house it turned out was actually a night club, deep into the city past the desolation of the outskirts it was still a hovel of a place with moonlighter women, bulk bouncers and blaring music. It didn't exactly scream the high class joint that you would expect a grand auction to be taking place, but then I reasoned that the auction was meant for evil doers, low lives and criminals to get their hands on a weapon so I suppose when you factor that into the equation it meant the bar was the right place.
K.C had met up with Bob, both they, Geraldine and Hacker and had spent the last two hours going over the area, looking up places to shoot from, or escape route, several were planned out. I tried without much success to gauge the magical warding on the building, with Lathain checking the comm. link availability. Even Wizbit on his return found it too difficult to crack
"How did it go?" I asked
"Well she seems nice" Wizbit said "I've got a big budget to play with" he looked about looking for Whisperer, to learn he was to stay with Napper's people until the auction. "Spook apparently cannot enter the club, she's not exactly forthcoming as to why, but I figure it might have something to do with the warding"
"I tried to sense the warding earlier" I told him "I couldn't do it" I paused a moment thinking "Why would the warding prevent her from coming in?" I asked
"I think she's a shifter" Wizbit said "Some types of wards will play around with a shifter's ability, prevent them from bringing out their claws, they'd be stuck in one form alone once they walked in"
"A shifter? You mean like a were wolf, or like cakador?" I asked, suddenly remembering the huge jaguar
"Maybe" Wizbit said "If she is a cat shifter it might make a bit more sense as to why she wants the device, one of her people was put through hell to make it"
We walked the perimeter one last time, spotting Lathain we wandered over to get his views
"Well you know what they say" Lathain said sideling up to me "location, location, location", it was dark and people were starting to arrive, the night walkers were gearing up for their evening work, trussing their hair and applying their lipstick.
Lathain tapped my arm and motioned to the entrance where Whisperer was seen escorting a heavily decorated Japanese woman into the bar. This must be his contact that he talked about. The woman was in her early forties at least and she was stunning, dark hair, dark eyes in a cream kimono that seemed to shine out in the darkness of the night. Unlike Whisperer who had to undergo a full body frisk on entry she was simply let in behind the frayed silk rope.
"So how do we get in?" I asked Lathain "Are we sticking with the multiple people idea? The more of us on the panel the better our chances"
"Well Wizbit is going in as our speaker for Spook, I was thinking I could go in as a buyer myself" he said, his eyes fixed on the door
"You as a buyer?" I asked
"Sure" he shrugged "I actually have a lot of Nuyen, we could legitimately buy the bloody thing, rather than the espionage and subterfuge" he looked down at me and my confused face "what?"
I smiled "I must be getting old" I told him "my hearing isn't so good; I thought you just insinuated that you were going to go in as a legitimate buyer, with no fights"
"That's because I did" he said "Convoy might have had the right idea"
"And you have that kind of money?" I was shocked, I'd run a few jobs with Lathain, and sure he always seemed to be well paid, but I never figured he would actually have saved all the money he got . . .
Lathain settled for a simple smile and looked about "If I'm going in I should have an escort, and a better shirt" he glanced at his comm. unit "We've about an hour before the auction begins, we should try and find a store" Behind him the faint breath of shuffling feet told me Bob was behind us.
"One did notice a clothing outlet just a block away sir" the ghoul muttered "One believes you may find something suitable?" I grinned at the ghoul who gave a toothy smile back. I liked Bob, he was actually alright, for a skin eating monster.
Lathain and I investigated the outlet store, whilst it didn't sell particularly high class clothing there was a decent selection of basic clothes which were at the very least clean.
I pulled out a black blouse and fresh jeans, Lathain shook his head, instead holding up a cream and black dress, I thought about slapping him, but he might actually have a point. A pair of basic black flat shoes went with the outfit and I pinned back my hair to suit, the shorter strands at the front refused to stay pinned back, so I left them out to frame my face. I cleared up using some disposable wipes and bought an atomizer of perfume which didn't smell too strongly. I went without make up. My belongings were thrown into my back pack and given to KC who looked at me a moment as if I were a stranger
"Not bad" she said. I shrugged, the dress was cheap, the cream top made of a lycra material which stretched, the skirt full and made of cotton hung to my knees, the black pumps had laces up my legs and didn't match the black of the skirt, but I hoped that the lighting inside the club would be as dreary as the outside hiding the cheap material.
"What do you think?" Lathain stepped out of the changing room and I had to admit I liked what I saw. Dark trousers and smart suit shoes accompanied by a soft blue shirt open at the collar with no tie. They brought out the faint blue flecks in his otherwise green eyes, he looked smart, but casual enough to be a small player, he threw on a black jacket to hide the gun holster.
"Sexy" KC flirted "just pray the lighting is bad though, it's a tacky material" she said
"Itchy too" Lathain admitted, he looked to me and noted the dress "Is it a good idea to advertise your scars?" I shrugged, the dress had been his idea after all
"Some people find them sexy" I told him, my mind briefly flashing to Whisperer and our conversation in the freezer
"Oh I'm sure they do, but they might also find them intimidating" he said, I shrugged again
"I don't think that's a bad idea if I'm honest" I told him, KC nodded
"It shows you're a real player" she added, Lathain pondered it a moment then agreed.
We hurried back to the club, fifteen minutes left until the start of the auction Lathain presented himself as a bidder, the bouncer eyed me warily as he noted the lightning tattoos across my shoulders and legs, Lathain joked that a female body guard would always be better than a man, the bouncer did not share the sentiment. Lathain transferred the funds for entry and I flashed the ten of clubs card that I had picked up in the corridor, Wizbit had already gone inside with the seven of hearts, Spook's calling mark. No-one seemed to care that our card wasn't red; in fact no one seemed to care too much about a card anyway making me wonder really on its relevance. Lathain dumped his pistols at the door and we went inside.
We followed one of the lady in waiting's to a large smoking room on the top floor of the club, passing a mage barrier my ears popped a moment as the noise reducer swept past us, the thumping of the club could no longer be heard, though the vibrations still thrummed my feet.
The upper room was dimly lit, but surprisingly elegant, I couldn't tell if the elaborate décor was in place specifically for the auction or if this was the norm. It took a moment to find Wizbit, he had full authority of Spook to attend and hadn't bothered to change from his runners gear, others in the room had noticed and were giving him a wide berth. Almost all besides Wizbit were elegantly dressed holding petite glasses of bright cocktails, a waiter approached with a tray of champagne, Lathain took two glasses holding one for me, I took it but didn't drink, not really trusting the drinks here.
Lathain motioned for me to mingle and left me to speak with Wizbit, I didn't have to go anywhere as a second later I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"You scrub up nice, you know that?" Whisperer appeared beside me, he smiled and took my hand in mock introduction, bowing at the waist he kissed the back of my hand. I felt my face heat instantly, grateful that the dim light would hide my embarrassment, he laughed softly "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, though I do prefer this kind of introduction" he wore a dark suit, complete with tie and the glint of what looked like cufflinks "fewer broken noses" he joked
"You don't scrub up too bad either" I told him, he grimaced
"Whilst ordinarily I would prefer to wear a smarter attire I fear the Madame Kitsuou insisted I wear this, not exactly my best wear for the nights activities" he told me, he nodded to where the Japanese woman stood at the bar, her cream kimono beautifully made, making my cheap dress seem all the more like rags.
"Are you her escort or the other way around?" I asked him, he looked uncomfortable for a second, and apologised, moving away to see to the Ms Kitsuou who now waved him over from the bar, I rolled my question in my head but could find no reason why he would take offence to it, maybe he felt uncomfortable being around me.
I walked around the bar; a number of the men watched me as I went, wary perhaps of the scars that depicted me as a mage.
"Can I offer you a drink dear lady?" A soft thin voice said, I smiled graciously at an elderly gentleman who had approached me "the champagne is not all that appetising is it?"
"I'm afraid I wouldn't know" I told him honestly "I don't drink" I passed the still full glass to a passing waiter, the old man smiled
"I think you do, but if I were in your shoes I would want a keen head too" he laughed and held out a hand, I took it upon where he turned my hand over in his and planted a light kiss on the back of it as Whisperer had done. "My dear I hope you don't find me too rude for asking this, but what is a young, powerful and beautiful mage such as yourself doing in a place like this?"
"Work" I replied simply "I'm here with a client" I nodded to where Wizbit and Lathain were busy talking
"I see" the man said "Might I offer you some advice dear?" I looked at him surprised, what kind of advice would he have for me? The old man dropped his voice and leaned in to whisper. "I would avoid associations with the Storm" he said "His family are on to him, it is only a matter of time before they catch up" he leaned back, smiled then with a soft short bow he moved on, leaving me somewhat surprised.
Lathain wandered over "what was that all about? Did he say something to you?" before I could answer a soft gong filled the room and an attendant told us to take our seats.