Giles and Van Helsing got in the back of Beatrice's silver VW bug. She
pulled out of the Inn's parking lot at full speed and headed for the Drum
and Whistle. Giles was silent during the ride, looking out as the London
scenery went by. It had been some time since he had been home and he was
curious what differences there might be in this city on another world. Van
Helsing was sitting behind Beatrice and chose to speak to her rather then
to sit in silence.
"So how long have you been with Scotland Yard?" he leaned toward her ear to talk over the wind coming from her open window.
"A year and a half. I got horribly tired of working in the dark, so I applied for a transfer from Underground security. My record was quite good, so I got it, but since m director superior is a bit of a prat, I haven't been allowed to work on very many interesting cases," Beatrice turned to look at him.
"Please keep your eyes on the road," said Giles.
"Sorry, I forget that other people can't read the minds of the other drivers. It's hard enough for me to block thoughts out when I'm not driving," she smiled at him and turned her eyes back to driving.
"You're that powerful?" Van Helsing asked. "Myself I have to be quite close to someone to even sense the edge of their emotions."
"I am quite a bit more powerful than is healthy really. Sometimes I wish I could rid myself of my power. I have to concentrate all the time on blocking other minds," said Beatrice.
"It must be quite an advantage for a police officer."
"Not at all, anything I found out with telepathy would not be admissible in
court. How could I explain where I got the information? Ah, we're about a block from the Pub, be on the look out for a parking space."
They found one around the corner from the place. Beatrice managed to pull in between a motorcycle and a small blue car. Van Helsing and Giles were both grateful to get out of the rather small back seat. They followed Beatrice to the Drum and Whistle.
"Exactly what is it that we expect to learn from this visit. I assume that all the participants in the disturbance last night have gone home a long time ago," said Giles.
"Certainly, but the bartender lives above the pub in a small apartment. He saw the whole thing without participating. The moment the fight started he ducked behind the bar and called the Yard," Beatrice led the way through the large oak door.
There was a bobby standing on the other side. Beatrice flashed her identification and he nodded them in. The main room was littered with broken chairs and glassware. They headed towards the back to where a stair way led to the apartment above. Beatrice knocked and a young man with dark hair and a goatee opened the door. She showed him her identification in and he gestured them in. He had bags under his eyes, obviously hadn't got much sleep the night before.
"Please take a seat," he indicated the couch and chairs in the small living room.
Beatrice took one of the chairs and Giles and Van Helsing sat on the couch. The bar tender took the other chair and looked at Beatrice expectantly. Beatrice looked at the men to ask them to let her do the talking. They both inclined their heads to show they understood.
"I'm Officer White, and these gentleman are Dr. Van Helsing and Mr. Giles. Dr. Van Helsing helps the authorities investigate unknown phenomena."
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Michael Scott, the bar tender here," he looked at Van Helsing for a moment. "Your name sounds familiar Doctor, wasn't Van Helsing the man from "Dracula?"
"That's beside the point," Beatrice sounded cold. "We've come to ask you about what happened last night."
"I've told the story so often last night and this morning, that I don't know what to say anymore. What do you want to know?"
"Tell me about the couple that came in and attacked the band."
Michael paled and blinked for a moment, "They were very odd. The man was blonde with blue eyes and very pale skin. He ordered a Guinness and a glass of red wine and then went to join his lady. From what I saw of her, she was quite lovely. Also pale, but with long brown hair. I didn't really notice her until she stood up and started dancing to the music. The band's called Irish Rose, they play traditional Celtic, and she seemed fascinated by the lead singer, Heather O'Neil. The woman followed the band to the back room when they took their break and the guy followed her. When they came back out Heather was by herself and she started to sing. There was something odd about the way she stood and the song had now words. I've never heard anything like it. For a moment the audience watched her all to a man and then everyone went mad. I felt it too, I felt angry for no reason, but when
I saw the first fists fly I dove under the bar and used my cell phone to
call the coppers. The bar downstairs is mahogany and quite thick, I
couldn't really hear the music once I got behind it. By the time the
coppers got there, the couple and Heather were gone and the Pub was absolutely trashed."
"You've got quite a mind for detail," Beatrice sounded impressed.
"I'll never forget last night, it was one of the most horrible things I've ever experienced."
"I've never heard of anything like it," said Giles, shaking his head.
Van Helsing looked thoughtful, "It is an odd story."
"Any explanation you might have, Doctor, would be greatly appreciated," Michael sounded desperate.
"I'm afraid you might find my theories rather unlikely. I've heard that music soothes the savage beast, it seems in some cases, it can bring out the beast as well."
"You think that Heather's singing caused all the madness?"
"It sounds impossible, but I have seen quite a few strange things in my time."
"Thanks for your help, Michael. Do you know which way the strange couple went?" Beatrice asked.
"They couldn't have gone out the front door, the coppers were already there. There is a back way out which leads into an alley, they must have taken her that way."
"Mind if we take a look?"
"Of course not, Irish Rose didn't deserve what they got from those people. They're all good sorts in the band, and none of them will make music again. Heather was more then that, she was my fiancée, that's why they agreed to play here. If you could find her, I would be grateful forever."
Beatrice reached out to pat his hand. She could feel the sorrow radiating from him and heard his memories of Heather. Van Helsing also felt his horrible sadness. Michael was hiding it amazingly well, but his emotions were close to overwhelming him. Giles might not be an empath or a telepath, but he could understand the pain Michael felt. His own love, Jenny, had been stolen from him not so very long ago. He also knew that even if they found Heather, she might be in a state that meant they would have to destro her.
"I am sure the police will do their best to find your fiancé, Mr. Scott," Giles blurted out, "but you must be prepared for the worst."
"Can you ever be prepared for the worst, Mr. Giles? I know that it isn't likely she's still alive, but I will continue to hope. I can't stand it otherwise."
"Thank you again," Beatrice stood up to go.
Giles and Van Helsing followed and Michael saw them all out the door. They hurried down the stairs and out the back way. The alley behind the pub was shadowed even in the morning. A few boxes of empty wine bottles and beer kegs were sitting to one side of the doorstep. They split up and looked around. After a few moments Van Helsing stopped and picked something up off the ground. He studied it for a moment and waved the other two over.
"What have you found?" Beatrice asked.
"It appears to be a Roman coin," said Van Helsing.
"What?" asked Giles. "What on earth would a Roman coin be doing in this alley?"
"That's an excellent question, but I have no idea."
Beatrice held out her hand and Van Helsing handed her the coin. She looked at it and then shook her head.
"I'm no expert, but it appears to be real. Looks like a coin from the time of the Roman invasion, in amazingly good condition," she handed it off to Giles.
"I've seen Roman coins before, and you're right. It's not something Spike or Drusilla would have on them, and I doubt a Celtic singer would have such a coin either," he said.
"I doubt we'll find anything else here, why don't we go back to the hotel and you and Mr. Giles can do some research," Beatrice said.
"A library would be better, can you drop us off there?"
"Why drop you off, when I can do research as well as either of you?"
"I was thinking that perhaps you would go and see if you can catch up with Buffy and Katherine."
"I very much doubt it. By now they've probably found the bloody vampires. I don't want to interrupt that. Let's be off for the library."
When they got back to the car Van Helsing stopped Giles before he could get in, "What's this sudden obsession with doing research at the library? If you want to discover if the coin in genuine, it would be more useful to visit a coin shop."
"I was wishing that I had my own books handy. I was just thinking about the fact that if there are any local vampires here in London, what Spike and Drusilla did last night might attract them. There's no way that Spike or Drusilla would have gotten hold of such a coin, but perhaps another vampire might. Especially since you said that any vampires still around would be quite ancient. In my experience older vampires are likely to collect items that are very valuable and very portable."
"And you think we'll be able to find information about such a person in the library?" Beatrice asked with a snort.
"You'd be surprised. Even the most careful of vampires leaves some traces, some myths or legends in their wake. If you know where to look for them, you can find them. You will both learn how to do just that."
"That would be bloody useful. Let's be off."
Van Helsing got out of Giles' way and went around to the other side with Giles on his heels. He started to climb into the back seat when Giles put a hand out to stop him.
"You've looked horribly uncomfortable every time we've gotten into this car. Why don't you sit in front?" he asked.
"I doubt that will help much. I'm about to the point of renting a car so we won't have to ride with Beatrice driving," but Van Helsing let Giles slip into the back and sat in the passenger seat.
"So how long have you been with Scotland Yard?" he leaned toward her ear to talk over the wind coming from her open window.
"A year and a half. I got horribly tired of working in the dark, so I applied for a transfer from Underground security. My record was quite good, so I got it, but since m director superior is a bit of a prat, I haven't been allowed to work on very many interesting cases," Beatrice turned to look at him.
"Please keep your eyes on the road," said Giles.
"Sorry, I forget that other people can't read the minds of the other drivers. It's hard enough for me to block thoughts out when I'm not driving," she smiled at him and turned her eyes back to driving.
"You're that powerful?" Van Helsing asked. "Myself I have to be quite close to someone to even sense the edge of their emotions."
"I am quite a bit more powerful than is healthy really. Sometimes I wish I could rid myself of my power. I have to concentrate all the time on blocking other minds," said Beatrice.
"It must be quite an advantage for a police officer."
"Not at all, anything I found out with telepathy would not be admissible in
court. How could I explain where I got the information? Ah, we're about a block from the Pub, be on the look out for a parking space."
They found one around the corner from the place. Beatrice managed to pull in between a motorcycle and a small blue car. Van Helsing and Giles were both grateful to get out of the rather small back seat. They followed Beatrice to the Drum and Whistle.
"Exactly what is it that we expect to learn from this visit. I assume that all the participants in the disturbance last night have gone home a long time ago," said Giles.
"Certainly, but the bartender lives above the pub in a small apartment. He saw the whole thing without participating. The moment the fight started he ducked behind the bar and called the Yard," Beatrice led the way through the large oak door.
There was a bobby standing on the other side. Beatrice flashed her identification and he nodded them in. The main room was littered with broken chairs and glassware. They headed towards the back to where a stair way led to the apartment above. Beatrice knocked and a young man with dark hair and a goatee opened the door. She showed him her identification in and he gestured them in. He had bags under his eyes, obviously hadn't got much sleep the night before.
"Please take a seat," he indicated the couch and chairs in the small living room.
Beatrice took one of the chairs and Giles and Van Helsing sat on the couch. The bar tender took the other chair and looked at Beatrice expectantly. Beatrice looked at the men to ask them to let her do the talking. They both inclined their heads to show they understood.
"I'm Officer White, and these gentleman are Dr. Van Helsing and Mr. Giles. Dr. Van Helsing helps the authorities investigate unknown phenomena."
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Michael Scott, the bar tender here," he looked at Van Helsing for a moment. "Your name sounds familiar Doctor, wasn't Van Helsing the man from "Dracula?"
"That's beside the point," Beatrice sounded cold. "We've come to ask you about what happened last night."
"I've told the story so often last night and this morning, that I don't know what to say anymore. What do you want to know?"
"Tell me about the couple that came in and attacked the band."
Michael paled and blinked for a moment, "They were very odd. The man was blonde with blue eyes and very pale skin. He ordered a Guinness and a glass of red wine and then went to join his lady. From what I saw of her, she was quite lovely. Also pale, but with long brown hair. I didn't really notice her until she stood up and started dancing to the music. The band's called Irish Rose, they play traditional Celtic, and she seemed fascinated by the lead singer, Heather O'Neil. The woman followed the band to the back room when they took their break and the guy followed her. When they came back out Heather was by herself and she started to sing. There was something odd about the way she stood and the song had now words. I've never heard anything like it. For a moment the audience watched her all to a man and then everyone went mad. I felt it too, I felt angry for no reason, but when
I saw the first fists fly I dove under the bar and used my cell phone to
call the coppers. The bar downstairs is mahogany and quite thick, I
couldn't really hear the music once I got behind it. By the time the
coppers got there, the couple and Heather were gone and the Pub was absolutely trashed."
"You've got quite a mind for detail," Beatrice sounded impressed.
"I'll never forget last night, it was one of the most horrible things I've ever experienced."
"I've never heard of anything like it," said Giles, shaking his head.
Van Helsing looked thoughtful, "It is an odd story."
"Any explanation you might have, Doctor, would be greatly appreciated," Michael sounded desperate.
"I'm afraid you might find my theories rather unlikely. I've heard that music soothes the savage beast, it seems in some cases, it can bring out the beast as well."
"You think that Heather's singing caused all the madness?"
"It sounds impossible, but I have seen quite a few strange things in my time."
"Thanks for your help, Michael. Do you know which way the strange couple went?" Beatrice asked.
"They couldn't have gone out the front door, the coppers were already there. There is a back way out which leads into an alley, they must have taken her that way."
"Mind if we take a look?"
"Of course not, Irish Rose didn't deserve what they got from those people. They're all good sorts in the band, and none of them will make music again. Heather was more then that, she was my fiancée, that's why they agreed to play here. If you could find her, I would be grateful forever."
Beatrice reached out to pat his hand. She could feel the sorrow radiating from him and heard his memories of Heather. Van Helsing also felt his horrible sadness. Michael was hiding it amazingly well, but his emotions were close to overwhelming him. Giles might not be an empath or a telepath, but he could understand the pain Michael felt. His own love, Jenny, had been stolen from him not so very long ago. He also knew that even if they found Heather, she might be in a state that meant they would have to destro her.
"I am sure the police will do their best to find your fiancé, Mr. Scott," Giles blurted out, "but you must be prepared for the worst."
"Can you ever be prepared for the worst, Mr. Giles? I know that it isn't likely she's still alive, but I will continue to hope. I can't stand it otherwise."
"Thank you again," Beatrice stood up to go.
Giles and Van Helsing followed and Michael saw them all out the door. They hurried down the stairs and out the back way. The alley behind the pub was shadowed even in the morning. A few boxes of empty wine bottles and beer kegs were sitting to one side of the doorstep. They split up and looked around. After a few moments Van Helsing stopped and picked something up off the ground. He studied it for a moment and waved the other two over.
"What have you found?" Beatrice asked.
"It appears to be a Roman coin," said Van Helsing.
"What?" asked Giles. "What on earth would a Roman coin be doing in this alley?"
"That's an excellent question, but I have no idea."
Beatrice held out her hand and Van Helsing handed her the coin. She looked at it and then shook her head.
"I'm no expert, but it appears to be real. Looks like a coin from the time of the Roman invasion, in amazingly good condition," she handed it off to Giles.
"I've seen Roman coins before, and you're right. It's not something Spike or Drusilla would have on them, and I doubt a Celtic singer would have such a coin either," he said.
"I doubt we'll find anything else here, why don't we go back to the hotel and you and Mr. Giles can do some research," Beatrice said.
"A library would be better, can you drop us off there?"
"Why drop you off, when I can do research as well as either of you?"
"I was thinking that perhaps you would go and see if you can catch up with Buffy and Katherine."
"I very much doubt it. By now they've probably found the bloody vampires. I don't want to interrupt that. Let's be off for the library."
When they got back to the car Van Helsing stopped Giles before he could get in, "What's this sudden obsession with doing research at the library? If you want to discover if the coin in genuine, it would be more useful to visit a coin shop."
"I was wishing that I had my own books handy. I was just thinking about the fact that if there are any local vampires here in London, what Spike and Drusilla did last night might attract them. There's no way that Spike or Drusilla would have gotten hold of such a coin, but perhaps another vampire might. Especially since you said that any vampires still around would be quite ancient. In my experience older vampires are likely to collect items that are very valuable and very portable."
"And you think we'll be able to find information about such a person in the library?" Beatrice asked with a snort.
"You'd be surprised. Even the most careful of vampires leaves some traces, some myths or legends in their wake. If you know where to look for them, you can find them. You will both learn how to do just that."
"That would be bloody useful. Let's be off."
Van Helsing got out of Giles' way and went around to the other side with Giles on his heels. He started to climb into the back seat when Giles put a hand out to stop him.
"You've looked horribly uncomfortable every time we've gotten into this car. Why don't you sit in front?" he asked.
"I doubt that will help much. I'm about to the point of renting a car so we won't have to ride with Beatrice driving," but Van Helsing let Giles slip into the back and sat in the passenger seat.