Chapter 16 – Going to the Elizabeth Dane
September 29, 2004 = Wednesday
"You covered my ass," Mercurio said, as I stepped out the door into the alley. The old ghoul didn't have a scratch on him, at least not that I could see, and looked like he'd been living the good life not getting the piss beat out of him.
"If I didn't know any better," I said, smiling at the one person who had the information I needed, "I'd say you just got off vacation, not getting off your deathbed."
"I'm telling you, that blood you got is a wonderful thing. Since I'm feeling well enough, I've been sent to get you out to the Dane. Boats down by the beach."
"Great," I said, motioning for him to lead. "Could have used you a few days ago. Got a wayward ghoul."
"She'll come home. Even now, I can feel my master back in Lacroix Tower. They'll come to you, wherever you might be, looking for their fix. That first taste really does seal our fate."
We walked down the street, and I couldn't think that with Mercurio working with me this mission to the Dane would be a piece of cake. Once we were down on the beach, Mercurio led me to the small, rubber motorboat he had tied off on the nearby boardwalk. The boat was barely beached, so I walked straight from dry ground onto the boat to sit in the middle. Mercurio shucked his shoes and socks off, dumping them in the front and rolled up his pants. Untying the boat, he shoved us off the beach, then climbed in behind me. Starting the motor we sped into the night.
The ride out to the Dane was silent. It wasn't hard to spot, though, as she was lit with lights enough to show the entire length of the ship. It actually had me nervous. What if they caught me? Bullets do hurt, and how was I supposed to explain the blood drinking and the sleeping all day in the dark. That I was sick with a rare disease?
We arrived at the rear of the ship where a rope ladder hung. Mercurio shut off the engine, and we bumped lightly against the ship. I looked up the ladder, then stood up. I put my foot on the rung, and got ready to climb.
"I'll be here waiting," Mercurio said, readying a cigarette. "If they start shooting, I'm going to slide this out in the darkness and wait. Try to come off on the shore side, I'll be watching for you there." I nodded, then climbed the ladder. At the top, I peaked over the deck to see if anyone was nearby, finding myself staring at the glossy shined shoe of an officer.
"For Chrissakes. Tell Jacobson if he plans to make editor-in-chief, he's gotta start work with me. I can't keep getting him these scoops if he's gonna send high school journalists who don't know enough to wear something that would blend in."
"Jacobson called me from a rave I was covering that was supposed to feature Nerf Herder," I explained, trying to think of a local band that was still only local but popular. Had to love that theme song, though I'd have to run if I met any actual slayers. "Apparently the guy who was supposed to be here got sent to the hospital. Crashed."
"Alright, look. I got you a copy of the initial report," he said, handing me a stapled stack of pages, "and I can get you in to the cabin to see the feed, but you gotta make yourself real scarce after that. Anybody catches you, I don't know you. And no goddamn flash photography, brainchild."
I looked around, unsure of where the 'cabin' was supposed to be. "Where do I go?"
"Hold up a sec," he said, grabbing the mike off his shoulder. "Heinz to Marsh, Heinz to Marsh. Marsh, they need you in the bridge, over." He let go the mic and looked at me. "The security room will be clear. Just head over, wait in the shadows, and I'll call Anderson off the gangplank. Take it to the first door on your right, head up the stairs to to the security room. The password for the computer is 'lighthouse,' one word. You getting all that?"
I nodded, and he continued. "Don't forget to stay out of sight. If anyone sees you, you're on your own. Now get a move on, and don't forget to tell Jacobson I get double my usual fee for this one."
I smiled, glad this dumbnut had given me the report so I didn't have to hunt one down. I didn't know what was in the security room, but it had to be connected to a camera system. Maybe they had a camera on the sarcophagus?
I ducked into the shadows, hiding behind a large piece of machinery. The officer nodded, then called Anderson over to the rail to see a baleen whale. That let me slip past him, without even using my shadow powers. Kind of a let down, really. I hadn't made it far before I saw another officer lighting a cigarette at the end of the gangplank.
Glad I was at the door, I opened it and went through. The stairs were apparent, so I went up, then silently opened that door. Finding no one inside, I went in. There was a TV monitor on the desk, but it wasn't displaying any video. What the officer said about needing a computer password had me tap a button and look at the menu choices. Control seemed the most likely, so I typed in the access command for it. When prompted, I entered the given password and it was accepted. So anti-climatic. The next menu options made it clear why I needed the password, and I typed in the command, 'deck cams on.' The monitor then displayed the video feeds, and I cycled through the available options, finding one of a container ripped open.
I looked at the monitor closely, finally figuring out what I was seeing. The container containing the sarcophagus was in pieces. The grainy video showed hand prints and blood streaks. One hand print near the center caught my attention. It looked half formed, as if it were made from moving the lid from inside. Scary thought. What kind of vampire sleeps long enough to need a permanent bed?
Shaking my head, I stood and thought about where to go to find the last thing I was sent for, the cargo manifest. I looked around the computer, but luck was not with me. If it wasn't here, I was going to have to do a room by room check until I found it, working my way to the bridge, unless I found a records room.
Which I found as soon as I got to the bottom of the stairs.
I slowly opened the door, checking to see if anyone was inside. A single bulb lit the room, but nothing was inside. I went in, finding a book on the desk in the center. The cover said cargo manifests, and inside was a bunch of paperwork pertaining to containers. Hoping it was the right thing I picked up the large and heavy book and put it in my bag. I did a quick mental check, and finding that was the last thing I needed, decided to slip back to the boat.
Knowing that the officer that had been called off from guarding the gangway was probably back at his post, I took the other door out. It led into a hallway, and following the doors rearward came out on on the gangway I came in on. I slipped through the shadows, with the officer who gave me the report not even noticing my exit. I slipped down the ladder, where Mercurio was waiting for me. I sat in the front, and Mercurio started the motor.
In silence, we headed back to the beach which gave me time to wonder. What kind of kindred sleeps millenia away?