The Supernatural World of Vladimir and Viktor, Chapter 64
In Montana, Vladimir and Viktor discovered Dorothy's computer room.
"I can't believe how good the online reception is on the computer," Dorothy told the boys.
"Yeah, daddy runs all the power, water and downlinks to all of the barns from his home in Indiana. The lines run through the magic tunnels just fine. There's a backup power source but he's never had to use it."
"Well, look here," Dorothy powered up the computer and called up a camera forest view.
"Where's that?" asked Viktor.
"It's the far side of this property. Eddie bought me two drones and they're stationed in different places. I can move them around if I want to. If we have time I can call them in and we can clean and recharge them. Here's the other one. It monitors the site where Eddie sealed up a crevice in the mountainside."
"Do you see the bigfoots?" asked Viktor.
"Not on these two. But I do on the cameras on the barn." Dorothy switched to a view of the side yard. "When I see them here, I go outside to let them know I'm around. Here are come captured images to browse through."
She let the boys sit and look through pictures and left to do some kitchen cleaning.
Evening came and Sam and Jill entered the Brass Hall dining section of Belladonna's hotel. After seeing her room at the building under construction, they knew she would not be eating at any place less elaborate.
In preparation Jill made Sam go to a tux rental. It was a tie, no jeans place. She left Sam at a booksellers while she shopped and visited a salon. His eyes bugged out when she entered the store wearing a long black off-the-shoulder gown and her hair piled up. Her pearl jewelry made her attire so simple it stood out in its elegance. He reached up to touch the ornate hair stick and got his hand slapped.
"Don't," said Jill. "The whole thing will come undone. Let's go."
As they waited to be seated in the Brass Hall, Sam could not help glancing Jill's direction. Her normal confident demeanor showed it its extreme right then. And was she ignoring him on purpose?
She lifted an arm as the maitre d' approached them and Sam took it automatically and they paraded boldly to their table.
"Don't look anyone in their eyes," Sam warned Jill. "Vampires in the staff and vampires at some of the tables. I was watching as we waited and noticed the long pause whenever a waiter made eye contact with some of the clientele. All gray-eyes, they must be wearing contacts to cover the gray color."
Jill nodded before seating herself. "Remember, elbows off of the table."
Sam blushed because he knew that was exactly what he would have done. He glanced about into the other cubbies that lined the walls of the great hall.
"We need to do this again," he said. "I need to get cufflinks and a tie clasp. And I wish I thought to get you a corsage or broach or something."
They were handed the menus and Sam froze, but not in response to the prices – there were none. It was in French.
Jill smiled at his dilemma and when the waiter asked what wine the couple would like, she snatched the menu out of Sam's hands and declared, "Lady's choice tonight."
She ordered champagne and assured Sam he would like what she ordered for him.
It was not long before Belladonna arrived with her entourage and were led to a long table at the far end of the hall.
"My cue to go powder my nose," Jill said. "Be back soon."
Sam wondered if this was some special FBI training, or did Jill have some prior experience he would be impressed with. But, sure enough, before the others even got settled in their chairs, Belladonna excused herself to visit the same ladies room. The theme from "Mission: Impossible" ran through his head.
Being careful not to make eye contact, Sam watched the entourage. They just sat there stiffly as the waiters placed bowls of soup in front of them. The maitre d stood solemnly away from the action. The entourage remained quiet and frozen in place after the staff finished and wheeled their serving carts back towards the kitchen.
Two waiters with a cart followed the matre d to Sam's table. The bowls of soup were placed in their places on the table and his water refreshed.
"Is there anything you might request?" asked the maitre d. Sam shook his head, no. He was afraid to speak for fear of appearing foolish.
The three bowed low and left and as they did, the maitre d flicked the ear of one of the assistants and spoke to him in a low stern voice. The assistant had apparently made a mistake. Sam had no clue as to when or even at which table it was made.
Belladonna entered the room and strode aggressively to her table and plopped unceremoniously into her chair. Then she nodded and the group came to life. She regained her dignity for those around them who were ignoring them anyway.
Finally Jill returned to the table and Sam relaxed a bit. She seem nonplused in this atmosphere.
"You could have started on you own," she told him.
"Are you sure?" Sam said.
"Protocol here is that nobody notices you and only the wait staff are fools."
Sam began spooning soup.
"How do you know your way around all this?" he asked.
"The FBI owns the business. I've been trained."
"Oh. So did you learn anything?"
"We had a nice chat. Her full name is Belladonna Palanca Manueira. She has an estate in northern Angola in Africa. She is royalty, but not THE royalty. Still, she appears to have been pampered enough to make a fairly competent sweep of her hand over her should to know the lounge lady would be there to hand over a towel.
"Oh, yeah. Sammy, when you go to the men's lounge, the assistant there has the toilet paper. And don't speak too rudely about the government. Every table is bugged."
Then she leaned towards the vase of flowers and drawled with a smile, "Hellooo Gary."
Dean and Andros sat at the bar and looked around noting the Cubs and Bears banners and some promotional signs from factories in the area. And the somewhat middle aged clientele.
"A bit rough, but I think we can get you laid," Dean told Andros.
"I was a monk. I'm celibate," retorted Andros.
"And how long ago was that?"
"Three hundred years..."
"Then it's time you got laid before Little Andy drops off from lack of attention."
"Hmmmf! Sam says you couldn't get Castiel laid. You won't get me laid. Just take care of yourself. I'll be fine."
"Well, can you drink? Did monks drink alcohol? Can I buy you a beer?"
"It wasn't safe to drink the water back then. So, yes, I can drink alcohol. I'll have a Bud, thank you."
It was not long until Cheryl and Renee introduced themselves to the boys.
