The World Needs More Grimm

Chapter 1

Reunited

It is 10:06pm on Thursday, February 13th 2020. A video conference between Trubel and the leader of Hadrian's Wall in New York City, John Sanders, opens this story.

Trubels' Computer at Hadrian's Wall in Portland Oregon is ringing like a phone call. She immediately notices where John Sanders is located as well as the time. She accepts by pressing a key on her keyboard.

"It's 1 am there. You guys must not sleep much." Trubel says, half-joking.

John Sanders gets right to the point. "We don't. I was hoping to speak with Theresa Rubel."

"That would be me. Call me Trubel."

The play on her name goes completely over his head. "Rubel this is leader Sanders at NYC. I wanted to ask you specifically about your past case: Luison Oscar Torres."

"Alright. When was this?" She asks, curious.

"October 2018. I understand you were the Grimm that killed him. His hideout in Portland Oregon was setup with explosives on a timer that were detonated." He replies, factually.

She ponders. "Oh yes, I remember that. I barely got out of there alive. What else do you want to know?"

Sanders' face turns dark. "You're not going to believe this, but one of my guys picked up DNA and caught some fresh prints of Torres in Upstate New York at a home where 2 Grimms were murdered."

Trubel is stunned. "Sanders-that's impossible."

He sticks to what he knows. "I read your report. Your team couldn't recover his body to scan his fingerprints or collect DNA because of the explosives."

"Yes, that's true." She ponders again. "But I can assure you, Torres WAS dead. I killed him myself."

"Well then, that's quite a mystery we have here. We're uncertain what should be our next move." His voice changes. "But we MUST catch him before he does something else. Or kills again."

Due to his reaction, she thinks Sanders is somehow involved in this personally. "I agree. So, what do you have in mind?" She asks.

He hesitates while he ponders. "How much do you know about this Wesen?"

In an instant, she remembers everything she can about Oscar Torres. "Enough. I've watched him since he appeared on the West Coast in late 2017."

His relief at what Trubel just said is obvious. "I was hoping you'd say that, because we could really use your help on this. I'd like you to work here with my team as soon as possible. I hope you're not in the middle of something else."

"Fortunately not." She replies. "I just wrapped up my most recent case today."

"Great." Interestingly, he doesn't smile. "I'm updating Torres file in the database with this new information for your review before you arrive."

Trubel is already thinking ahead. "Alright. We'll be there tomorrow—I mean, today since it's already 1 am there." She stifles a nervous laugh.

"Yes. I'll inform my team that you're coming. See you then." Sanders ends the video conference.

In 2016 it was revealed that one of the core strengths of Hadrian's Wall, better known as HW, is the full use of technology. In the field, fingerprints are vital for identification. DNA is being used here in 2020.

Trubel takes a few minutes on her computer to review the new information on Oscar Torres. Curious, she reads details on Robert & Jessica Daniels, the Grimms who were murdered 3 days earlier. She also reviews information on their 6-year old daughter, Chloe, who is now in foster care.

She shuts her computer down. The screen goes blank. So does her face.

Trubel FLASHBACKS to October 10th 2018 and the moment she entered the building in Portland that was Oscar Torres hideout. After exiting the stairwell on the 4th floor, a man appears 10 feet in front of her:

Trubel approaches the man, machete in her hand as he approaches her. "Tell me now where Oscar Torres is, and maybe I'll let you live."

"I am Oscar Torres. And you are—a Grimm." He responds smugly.

She slowly, methodically moves in closer to him. "Yes, I am."

Trubel takes 2 seconds and sizes up Oscar Torres. He's clearly Hispanic as he spoke with a thick South-American accent. Average build, approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall, black hair, and very distinguishing brown eyes.

Oscar Torres woges into a Luison and makes the first move by lunging at Trubel. They fight for a while, but Trubel gains control in the fight as Oscar Torres is cornered. He looks around as if he's waiting for someone to back him up. He attempts to retreat into the stairwell, but Trubel is too fast for him. It's all over in a matter of seconds. His facial expression shows he's stunned the machete is slicing into his body. He tries to talk but no words come out.

She removes her machete. "That's for murdering the Westerfelds." She says as his body slumps onto the concrete floor.

She hears a team member in her headset with urgency in his voice. "Trubel this entire building is rigged with explosives! It's gonna go off in 46 seconds!" He then starts yelling. "Get the hell outta there!"

She takes one more look at Oscar Torres. His Luison face retracts into his human face seconds before she turns and runs for her life.

The Flashback ends.

It is 7:15am, sunrise in Portland. The date is Friday, February 14th, 2020. Valentine's Day.

Trubel is boarding the plane from Portland that they use for long distances along with 2 others which comprises her team. After they are seated and belted in, they engage in small talk.

"I can't remember the last time I've been to the East Coast." Nancy Snyder says. "It seems like forever."

Trubel has a wistful look in her eye that lasts only for a moment. "2015 is the last time I was there."

"2010 or 2011 for me." Ken Davis tells them. "It was before Hurricane Sandy."

Nancy Snyder is human. Slender build, 5 feet, 6 inches tall. Age 42, she is Caucasian from her dad, Filipino and Chinese from her mother. She has had extensive martial-arts training since she was a little girl, and is very agile. She has no problem taking care of herself in a Wesen fight situation.

Ken Davis is Wesen. He's a Taureus-Armenta, one of the most noble of all Wesen because they are very brave and volunteer for even the most dismal of assignments. Age 30, Caucasian, stocky build, full-facial hair, 5 feet, 9 inches tall.

At approximately 5:45pm EST, they land and are immediately taken to HW NYC.

They are escorted into the main area of HW NYC Compound. It looks similar to HW Portland but this is much larger. Their command center has several chairs all around the huge computer monitor they use every day that include combo desk/table areas with smaller computers for individual research.

A group of 8 people have assembled in the command center, including the leader of HW NYC, John Sanders.

Trubel enters the command center first, followed by Nancy Snyder and Ken Davis.

Sanders announces their arrival to everyone assembled. "They are here. This is Theresa Rubel and her team from HW Portland."

Trubel approaches John Sanders. She sizes him up. Age 59, Caucasian, 5 feet, 7 inches tall. Stocky. She gets the immediate impression of Military attitude with Military looks.

She thinks it wise to be honest and direct with him. "Hello. You must be Sanders."

Sanders is anxious to start their meeting. "Yes. There will be time to introduce everyone later. We have more information since you left Portland." He gestures to the rear of the command center for someone to come forward. "This is Porter. He discovered Torres DNA and fingerprints at the scene. He's taken the lead on this case."

Josh Porter steps forward with a smile on his face. "Hello Trubel. It's great to finally see you again."

It's Josh. THE Josh from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Son of Grimm, Rolek Porter, who owned one of the 7 keys passed down through the centuries from the original Grimm Crusaders.

Josh has changed completely. So has his demeanor. He's Cool, Calm, and Collected.

He looks even better than he did in 2014, in spite of being more than 5 years older.

His smile widens. He has been reunited with Trubel. He is fully enjoying the moment.

Trubels' facial expression changes to complete shock. "Josh? What are you doing here?" She asks.

Josh responds matter-of-factly. "It happened in 2017. I became a Grimm." He explains.

Now it's John Sanders turn to be surprised. "You know each other?" He asks.

Trubel's' shock fades. A tiny smile forms on her face. "Yes, we do."

Josh knows Sanders will want more details. "Trubel and I met in Portland Oregon in 2014 when my dad passed away."

Sanders ponders a moment, satisfied with Josh's explanation. "I see. Well Porter, I leave you completely in charge to update and work with Rubel and her team. Go where you need to, use whatever resources necessary to find this Wesen. In the meantime, I'll be leaving for Atlanta with the rest of the team, so keep me updated on further developments." Sanders walks out with his associates.

Now, only 6 people are left in the command center: Josh, Trubel, Ken Davis, Nancy Snyder, Lance Irving & Alisha Matthews, the latter 2 on Josh's' team.

Josh shouts out quickly before John Sanders is out of earshot: "Thanks Boss." He then confidently walks towards the huge monitor. He looks at the small group. "Luison Oscar Torres." He speaks with authority.

He uses the remote to pull up information on the huge monitor for all to see. It's clear he wants to get straight to business.

"Age 34. Not much is known about his early life. His immigration record stated business expansion opportunities and once his visa was approved, he moved from Chile to Los Angeles in late 2017." He pushes a few more buttons on his remote. "Shortly after, he opened a shop called OT Tech Solutions, with Oscar Torres as President and CEO, specializing in a wide-variety of Business Technology Services."

The initial shock of finding out Josh is now a Grimm has worn off. Trubel realizes she suddenly has great respect for Josh because of it, but she doesn't want this positive impression of him to get in the way of the case. It's best she test him out-his leadership skills must be strong, otherwise Sanders wouldn't have put him in charge she thinks to herself. Suddenly, she realizes what she has to do. While they work on the case together, there's going to be a competition between them—friendly, of course.

So she jumps right in. "In August 2018, I monitored his move from Los Angeles to Portland. He opened another shop, also OT Tech Solutions."

Josh keeps up the pace. "Yes. He began soliciting investors at that time for major equipment purchases when his loan fell through. He hired a group of local High School students to do a lot of 'cold-calling' which was successful."

Trubel remembers this case from 2018 very well. "A High-Society couple in Portland, The Westerfelds', invested in his business. We concluded it was over $100,000. It was rumored that their relatives referred them to Oscar Torres."

"Yes." Josh agrees. "That's why no red flags were raised initially with Ronald Westerfeld."

"It was only when their Financial Advisor investigated Oscar Torres company that Ronald Westerfeld smelled a rat." Trubel smiles slightly. "Or should I say, a wolf."

The small group stifles a laugh at the humorous innuendo.

"According to Mrs. Reyes, the housekeeper, she heard numerous daily conversations that eventually became heated between Oscar Torres and Ronald Westerfeld." Josh says as he reads details from his small computer screen.

Trubel jumps right back in. "It's unfortunate he didn't voice his concerns with anyone else, other than his Financial Advisor."

"Yes. 5 days later, The Westerfelds' disappeared." Josh says, somberly.

Trubel turns, facing everyone. "It was all over the news in Portland. High Society couple becomes a high-profile case."

Josh's' voice changes. "Sadly, their bodies were found 3 days later."

Ken Davis now speaks up from the far side of the command center. "And contrary to the story circulating in the media, this was not a copy-cat murder."

Trubel shakes her head in agreement. "Yes Davis. The other murder that occurred a week prior, Socialite & Millionaire Lucy Vanderhorn was later solved. It wasn't Wesen related."

Josh continues on. "Oscar Torres was one of many people interviewed after the Westerfelds disappearance. His alibi apparently satisfied investigators."

"At the time. Once the Westerfelds' bodies were found, the investigation shifted when they interviewed their relatives and it was revealed they had NOT referred Oscar Torres to them." Trubel wants everyone in the room to understand this.

"Oscar Torres continued soliciting investors into September 2018. But because he felt the heat from the Westerfelds' investigation, things started falling apart for him." Josh pushes buttons on his remote, and more pictures of Oscar Torres appear on screen.

"Yes, that is correct." She realizes it's time to tell her version of events from 2018. "Due to the news coverage of the Westerfelds' disappearance and murder, many other investors had come forward with various schemes of Oscar Torres they had funded. Torres was no longer making himself available to investigators, and soon after they couldn't find him. At the request of Portland Police, I began a search for Oscar Torres and found where he was hiding. On October 10th 2018 we converged on the building, and I caught up to a man woged as a Lusion who claimed to be Oscar Torres. We fought, and I killed him. At the same time, one of my other team members discovered the entire building was rigged with explosives on a timer and the countdown to detonation had already begun. We evacuated immediately. I was unable to verify through Fingerprints or DNA if that Luison I killed was, in fact Oscar Torres. The building was completely destroyed."

Josh walks to the other side of the room and presses more buttons on his remote. "So after this, Oscar Torres goes into HW archives as deceased. His status remained deceased until 2 days ago when his fingerprints and DNA were found at the home in Albany, New York of 2 Grimms; Robert & Jessica Daniels."

Trubel now faces Josh. "I read in the report that their daughter Chloe identified two of the men in their home that night as Reapers. Were there any other prints or DNA found at the scene?"

Josh returns the look. "Unfortunately none."

Trubel ponders a moment. "I also read there is nothing that links Oscar Torres to the Daniels, correct?"

"Yes." Josh pauses a moment, then looks at Trubel. "Now, when you arrived, Sanders mentioned we have new information since you left Portland."

"Yes. What is it?" She asks.

"We pulled up surveillance footage from the night of February 10th at gas stations, stores & a diner within a 2-mile radius of the Daniels' home. And—we noticed-something. We'd like you to take a look." Josh uses the remote to pull up the video on the huge monitor.

Trubel walks over and stands right next to Josh. They lock eyes for a brief second. Josh turns his gaze back to the huge monitor and the video on continuous loop. "Here is the diner closest to the Daniels' home. Nothing out of the ordinary we could see."

Trubel acknowledges what Josh just said. "Alright. Anything else?"

Josh presses more buttons on his remote and a new video appears on screen. "This supermarket had a power failure at 10:19pm and closed for business early. Again, aside from the power failure, nothing unusual here either."

Trubel analyzes the video. "Just a few people hoping to shop."

Josh, with the remote in hand clicks to full screen. "Now, this is surveillance footage of the gas station closest to the Daniels' street. At 11:12 pm, this vehicle slowly approaches and then speeds away."

Trubel doesn't miss a detail. "Looks like a Toyota Camry. Are there any other camera angles we can view?"

Josh uses his remote to play video from another source. "Yes, right here. This one is closer. Since the license plate is clearly visible, we were able to identify the registered owner of the vehicle. One of Oscar Torres' known Wesen associates: Alan Hodges. Also, a Luison."

Trubel watches the video footage intently. "Ok! Go back please."

Josh clicks the remote to go back 30 seconds. "Should I go back another 30 seconds?" He asks.

Trubel continues looking intently. "No, that's good." She focuses in on the driver. "There is no one else in this car, except the driver. And I can assure you—that is NOT Oscar Torres. He moves different." She pauses, then faces Josh. "At least this is not the man woged as a Luison that I killed on October 10th 2018."

Josh is surprised she came to that conclusion so fast. "Really? Well, we can get Matthews to work on cleaning up this video and run it through facial-recognition software." He looks and nods at Alisha Matthews.

Alisha Matthews comes forward and sits at the computer next to the huge monitor. "Alright. I'm on it, Porter."

Trubel now gets a close-up look at Josh's' team member Alisha Matthews. She's African-American, human, pretty in her own way she thinks. Alisha Matthews is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, average build, not overly slender. Trubel recalls reading specifics about her. At age 25, she is the youngest person on either team and she is highly Computer Tech savvy. She has had training in EVERYTHING electronic, as well as in the field for hacking into buildings, computers, electronic safes, you name it. Trubel can't help but use the word Brainiac to describe her.

Trubel jumps to her next task. "Josh do you have a list of Oscar Torres' known associates?" She lets out a huge sigh, instantly realizing her mistake. "Sorry Porter. I'm not used to calling you by your last name."

Josh smiles again. "I know." He hesitates for a moment. "Yes, I do have a list, but it's incomplete since he was listed as 'deceased' for so long. I was hoping you could help."

Trubel looks at Davis & Snyder. "Alright team. Let's work together on this."

They all take seats at individual computers for about 2 hours to do their research.

Trubel looks at the computer screen with Nancy Snyder. "This is a good start I can work with. Please continue checking." Now she approaches Josh. "So Porter, I'm going to start with this list and check who might have had contact with Oscar Torres during October 2018 through February 2020."

Josh is curious. "Alright. Can Irving & I help in anyway? What are you looking for, specifically?"

Trubel smiles slightly. "Who. What. Where. When. Why. How."

Josh stifles a laugh. "Ok. I'm following you."

Trubel looks right at him. "You know-this is going to take a while.

Josh smiles. "Yes."

They all continue at the computers for the rest of the night.

What they are doing is checking every known associate of Oscar Torres and: Who they were with, what they were doing, where they went, why they did what they did, and how—financial means to do so. Trubel is especially paying attention to video surveillance footage of these associates.

Alisha Matthews jumps up from her computer, excited. "GOT IT! Alright guys, the facial recognition software has a 99.879 percent probability that the man behind the wheel of the Toyota Camry is OSCAR TORRES." She turns and looks at all of them, smiling.

Trubel is stunned—again. "I'm REALLY surprised he's still alive."

Josh lets out a sigh. "Well, fingerprints and DNA don't lie."

Trubel ponders. "So the biggest question is, who did I kill on October 10th 2018?" She asks.

Josh turns in his chair back to the computer. "Let's keep looking."

They continue for another 30 minutes.

Josh now spins around in his chair and faces Trubel. "Rubel—I think I got something."

Trubel looks away from her computer. "Sure. What have you got?"

"Alan Hodges." Josh says matter-of-factly.

Trubel ponders. "The Wesen the Toyota Camry is registered to?"

Josh sighs. "Yes. Very strange how he appears to have simply-vanished. Into thin air. I can't find recent surveillance footage, credit or debit card transactions, employment records—nothing."

Trubel looks right at him. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She asks.

Josh now turns & looks at all the information on his computer. "Last known address, 29 Ponder Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Rental agreement terminated due to non-payment of rent. Utilities, all disconnected due to non-payment. Credit cards charged off to bad debts and bank accounts with negative balances then closed & sent to collections—the list goes on and on." He turns and smiles at her. "And guess when this all began?"

Trubel can't hide her excitement. "Probably December 2018!"

Josh smiles wide. "Jackpot!"

Trubel jumps up and walks over to Josh. "OMG! Alan Hodges must be the Luison I killed on October 10th 2018! Did you pull up pictures of him?"

"Right here." Josh then stands up and pushes a button on his remote and multiple pictures of Alan Hodges appear on the huge monitor.

Trubel looks at all of the pictures intently. "Yes. This is the man I fought that day. I'm glad I saw his human face after he died." She looks at Josh. "But why—why would he claim to be Oscar Torres?"

Josh returns the look. "I don't know. But it appears that Alan Hodges was set up by Oscar Torres."

Trubel considers what he just said. "Yeah, but for what purpose?"

"Well—obviously Oscar Torres wanted to be considered 'deceased'." Josh says matter-of-factly.

Trubel picks up where Josh is going. "Alright. But so-he could do—what?" She asks.

"That's what we need to find out. His agenda. But it appears that he wanted to be considered deceased, so nobody would be monitoring his movements." Josh points to his computer screen. "Interesting how the vehicle registration for the Toyota Camry was paid in full, in cash in July 2019 without a notice of transfer so it remained in Alan Hodges name, as well as basic liability insurance. It was paid at renewal in September 2019 with a money order—and kept in Alan Hodges name. Yet nothing for all his other bills."

"Oscar Torres probably didn't want to attract attention to himself by driving a vehicle with expired tags. Let's compare pictures of both Oscar Torres and Alan Hodges. DMV records first Jo-Porter." Trubel laughs again. "I'm having a hard time with that."

Josh smiles. "Yeah, me too." He looks at Alisha Matthews. "Matthews, can we get DMV records on screen for both Oscar Torres and Alan Hodges? Specifically, photographs with physical description statistics?"

Matthews doesn't skip a beat. "Yep. Sure. Give me just a minute."

One minute later Matthews is done. "Alright Porter, coming on screen—NOW."

Side-by-side, the DMV records of both Oscar Torres and Alan Hodges appear on screen.

It's easy to see that they not only look very much alike, their height, weight, eye color, skin color is either identical or close enough they could be brothers, almost twins.

Trubel looks intently, then breathes a sigh of relief. "Well, it's obvious now. Alan Hodges WAS Oscar Torres' body-double, so he could fake his own death."

Josh ponders. "Yes. He must've known he was being watched, especially after the Westerfelds' bodies were found."

Trubel then paces while pondering. "So—he goes 'under the radar' for almost a year and a half, until his DNA & fingerprints appear at Robert & Jessica Daniels Home." She looks at Josh. "You know, I think it's time to go look."

Josh returns the look again. "Alright. Meaning, you want to look at the crime scene?"

"Yes Josh." Trubel smiles widely. "And I AM so over that."

Josh smiles back. "Me too. First name basis then?"

"We knew each other BEFORE we both worked for HW, so the answer is YES." She nods her head in agreement.

"Alright Trubel." He pauses a moment. "The SUV can only seat 4 or 5 people, so I will pick Irving to come with us. Who would you like to bring from your team?"

Trubel doesn't hesitate. "Davis".

Josh looks at the time. "Sunrise is in 25 minutes, so why don't we all eat a quick breakfast together first?" He asks.

Trubel can't help but smile at him. "Sure."

Ken Davis purposely sits next to Trubel & Nancy Snyder in order to be away from Josh. Due to his Wesen nature being a Taureus-Armenta, he's still untrusting of a Grimm he just met.

They eat in the communal breakroom and make small talk together.

Josh can't help it, his fascination with Ken Davis being a Taureus-Armenta gets the best of him. After everyone notices Josh is staring at him, Josh feels the need to come clean.

"I've never met a Taureus-Armenta before." Josh says to everyone, respectfully.

Davis apprehensively woges, then retracts. "That's a first."

Trubel tries to put him at ease. "Davis, I was a Grimm before Josh was."

"That explains it." Davis says with relief.

Snyder wants to change the subject. "Isn't that typical of Grimms anyway? Women become aware before men?"

Trubel responds. "Yes, that's true."

Josh sighs. "Unfortunately."

Trubel feels she needs to lighten the mood. "Unfortunately for you Josh." She jokes.

Josh sighs again but doesn't say anything this time.

"Well, all of this sure took me awhile to get used to." Alisha Matthews speaks up.

"Yeah, but you're so good at what you do Matthews." Josh replies.

"I'm just glad I get to stay home, safe behind the computer." Matthews says, smugly.

Irving speaks up, matter-of-factly. "MOST of the time."

Trubel now gets a closeup look at Lance Irving, Josh's' right-hand-man. He's Pflichttreue, Age 36, Caucasian, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and very built—ripped with a lot of muscles. Since he's a team member involved in this case, Trubel recently read details about him. Lance Irving was recruited by HW NYC almost 10 years ago. She wonders if he was involved in the war with Black Claw in 2016.

"Well, next time you guys need my help backing you up, PLEASE let me know so I can prepare in advance." Matthews looks at Irving.

Irving returns the look, smiling. "That'll NEVER happen Matthews."

Josh is still very curious about Ken Davis. "So Davis-how was it-I mean how is it working with Trubel?" He asks.

Davis looks at her. "Sketchy at first. But she's proven herself. To me personally."

Trubel returns with a confident look. "Yep. I'll never forget Tokyo in January 2018 when I saved your ass."

At that moment, an alarm beeps on Josh's' phone. "Alright guys. It's sunrise. Let's get ready to go."

Once again they are in HW NYCs command center.

Josh is deeply pondering. He approaches Trubel. "You know Trubel, I've been thinking."

"Yes Josh?" She replies.

"We should have Matthews & Snyder dig deeper into Oscar Torres known associates and find those Reapers." He says with conviction.

Trubel realizes right where he is going. "The Reapers who killed the Daniels?" She asks.

Josh nods in agreement.

Trubel ponders for 1 second. "You know, it was probably a murder-for-hire."

"Yes—but because of his DNA & fingerprints, we know he was there." His face lights up as he has another thought. He walks over and approaches Matthews & Snyder, who are sitting at adjacent computers. "We need your help to find those Reapers that Chloe Daniels identified the night her parents were murdered."

"Alright Porter. You still want us looking for Oscar Torres and connections through known associates?" Matthews asks.

"Yes. Start by looking for that Toyota Camry. Trubel & I think it's possible the Reapers were hired by Oscar Torres." He ponders again. "That might make the transaction hard to trace, but he would've had to meet with someone to pay them, in cash, probably in advance."

Snyder now speaks up. "Porter I think video surveillance is best to go back to. Maybe start a month before the Daniels' murder and go forward from there. Hopefully, we don't find Oscar Torres taking a trip and meeting those Reapers somewhere overseas."

Josh is impressed. "Good point. Check all airlines for any trips taken 1 to 3 months ago under the name of Alan Hodges." He pauses a moment. "Alright, we are taking off now. Matthews, call me if you get ANYTHING."

"I will Porter." Matthews says, confidently.

They now enter the parking garage. They approach the SUV that they take for in-state trips. Josh enters the drivers' seat, and Irving gets in the front while Trubel & Davis get in the back. Josh drives them out and away from HW NYC.

END OF CHAPTER 1