Author's note: Others own the rights to the Kindred: the Embraced characters. All other characters are my creations. Please do not use them without my permission.

The Investigation – Part 4

By: Diane Maher

Julian went to his study, sat down and placed a call to Sonny. After he hung up, he felt restless; he stood and walked over to where a door had a picture of a wolf engraved in its window. He stared through its eyes as though he were seeing the world though a wolf's eyes. Julian wasn't angry; he was concerned with all the kindred violence that had taken hold of the city in the wake of Eddie Fiori's death. Half an hour later, Sonny came into the room.

Julian asked, "Sonny, what happened in L.A.?"

Sonny took Julian's hand in his and lightly kissed it before replying, "I spoke with Holly, our clan's Primogen there."

"What did she say?" Julian asked.

"Not much. She's been busy trying to increase our clan's size," Sonny replied.

"You think I should be doing the same here. What about Alan?" Julian asked.

"Alan went to see a contract lawyer there," Sonny replied. "He took Sharon St. James with him."

Julian frowned. "What's the connection between Holly and Alan? Why did he take Sharon?"

"The connection is that the contract lawyer Alan went to see is wrapped around Holly's finger," Sonny replied. "I think Sharon is helping him in his investigation."

"So it's possible that this lawyer is the one who would have any details regarding the hiring of the Assamite sent to kill me?" Julian asked. "And Alan went there to get that information from him?"

Sonny replied, "I believe so."

"What else have you learned?" Julian asked.

"I know that Alan obtained a CD with some information from a Nosferatu, but he suspected that there had been some tampering with it," Sonny replied.

"Did you see the contents of the CD?" Julian asked.

Sonny replied, "Not all of it. I saw a picture which showed Cyrus and the Assamite together."

"Where is Alan now?" Julian asked, his brow furrowing in anger.

"At his apartment, presumably with Sharon St. James," Sonny replied.

"Let's go visit him," Julian replied. "I want to know what else is on that CD."

Julian and Sonny left the room. When they arrived at the front door, Cash met them there with Julian's limousine.

"Cash, we're going to Alan Ash's apartment," Julian said.

"I know the address of the building," Cash replied.

When they arrived at the apartment building, Sonny got out of the car first. After looking around, he said, "No one's here."

Julian got out of the car and they headed into the building. Cash waited with the car. Sonny went into the elevator with Julian and they rode up to the seventh floor. When they got off and headed down the hall, it was silent. Halfway down, Sonny stopped and knocked on the door in front of him.

A moment later, Alan opened the door. Seeing who his guests were, he said, "Please come in."

"Are we alone?" Sonny asked.

"Yes. Sharon is out of the building for the moment," Alan replied, closing the door. He indicated for them to be seated.

"I'll get straight to the point," Julian began. "Sonny has told me that you have information regarding who hired the Assamite to kill me."

"Yes, I do," Alan replied coolly.

"Why didn't you come straight to me with the information?" Julian demanded.

Alan looked Julian in the eye and replied, "I believed that the information might have been corrupted. I wanted to confirm this first."

Julian's brow furrowed. "How can you do this?"

"I used magic to determine the authenticity of the data," Alan replied.

"I see. Did you still pay your contact for this information, even though it might be false?" Julian asked.

"I paid half, the other half was to be delivered upon my examination of the data," Alan replied.

Julian frowned. "I want to see the information before you did anything to it if possible and then what it looked like afterwards."

Alan stood. "Come."

Julian and Sonny followed him down the hall to an office. Alan sat to a desk that had a laptop sitting in its docking station. He opened it and activated a program. A minute later, an image appeared on the screen.

Julian's eyes narrowed. "Cyrus."

Sonny said, "That is the picture I saw on board the plane."

"That's the before picture," Alan said. He opened another image. "Here is the after picture."

"What? Cyrus and Eddie are both with the Assamite?" Julian asked.

"I saw the center image outlined on the screen while Alan worked in the plane, but the outline was in the same place and the same shape as Eddie," Sonny commented.

"So you believe this is the true image?" Julian asked.

"Yes, I do," Alan and Sonny replied in unison.

"I see. This means that all we have is speculation," Julian said. Alan nodded.

"Now what?" Sonny asked.

"Are these pictures the only information you have?" Julian asked.

Alan looked at the screen for a moment before replying, "No, but I haven't looked thoroughly through the rest of the information yet. I have been otherwise occupied since my return."

Julian pursed his lips for a moment and then said, "I want a summary and complete copy of the information you have."

"What will you do with it?" Alan asked.

"That is none of your concern. Bring it to me at my mansion in the hills," Julian said. "How long will it take?"

"I don't know. I have to be thorough so my report is accurate," Alan replied.

"I need to know as soon as possible," Julian said.

Alan inclined his head. Julian stood, turned to leave the apartment and Sonny followed. When the door was closed, Alan went to shut off his laptop. From the shadows came a sibilant chuckle.

"I understand what you told me regarding Julian," Alan commented.

"I have a different agenda than Julian. However, the same could be said of you, assassin," the man said.

Alan narrowed his eyes. "My purpose here is none of your business, Ventrue."

"I thought you would say as much." Archon stepped forward and whispered, "I'm sure that Julian would be interested in your other purpose for being in San Francisco. At the moment, however, I have need of your services. Price is no object."

"What do you need me to do?" Alan asked.

Archon opened his mouth to reply and the sound of keys rattling in the lock interrupted him. "Sharon is back. We'll talk later," Alan said.

Archon turned to leave the room. He paused, looked at Alan over his shoulder and said, "Meet me in the office above the Haven first thing tomorrow evening."

Alan nodded, turned off the computer, and followed him to the living room. The door opened then and Sharon entered the apartment. Archon left.

When the door was closed, Sharon asked, "A friend of yours?"

Alan glanced over at her and replied, "I think he's going to be my next client."

Sharon said, "I see. I finished printing those pictures you wanted. They're in the envelope on the table. There are also contact prints in there of the other negatives you gave me."

"Good," Alan replied. He picked up the envelope, pulled out the prints and examined them.

"Sorry if I interrupted your discussion with him," Sharon said.

"You didn't, really. But he and I will talk again tomorrow. He had some other business to attend to tonight," Alan said.

Sharon said, "I see."

Alan continued looking at the pictures and replied, "You have done well, Sharon. Thank you."

Sharon looked at Alan obliquely. "You have given me a room to sleep in, replaced a lot of what I lost when my apartment burned and paid me quite well for my work and I'm grateful. I would be foolish if I didn't give you what I promised."

"Do you mind helping me?" Alan asked. "Even after our problems in L.A.?"

Sharon came closer to him. "No."

"Would you still be willing to help me if the one I was investigating was Mario?" Alan asked.

Sharon paused. "Mario?" A cold shiver went down her spine. "I should ask Sonny if there's anything that can be done to get Mario off the street for good."

"Are you still scared of him?" Alan asked softly as he reached out and touched Sharon's cheek.

"Yes. I...I can't help it. You...saw what he did to me," Sharon whispered, averting her gaze.

Alan replied, "Yes. It was terrible."

"Mario is some kind of...of," Sharon paused as words failed her. She hugged Alan, closed her eyes and wept.

"I know. Mario must pay for what he did to you," Alan whispered as he stroked her back.

Alan knew that the danger to Sharon from Mario wouldn't end until either he was dead or she was embraced. He didn't want to tell her the former and he couldn't tell her the latter; at the moment, he would comfort her if that was what she wanted.

Alan decided to finish going through the data and complete his report tomorrow night. Then, he would speak to Julian about embracing Sharon. Alan knew the sun was rising and so when Sharon calmed down, he guided her to her room. When he turned to leave, Sharon said, "Don't leave me alone!"

"I can't stay in this room, it's not protected from the sun," Alan said.

"Take me to your room then," Sharon replied.

"You don't want to be alone," Alan said.

Sharon shook her head and they went into Alan's room.

Mario woke later that evening and went to the dock offices. He felt that the current strife within the Brujah clan in San Francisco was a good thing. With Eddie gone, he had a good chance of becoming Primogen. All he wanted was a woman at his side to share that with him. He wanted Sharon back so he could make her a Brujah.

There was a knock on the door, which interrupted his thoughts. "Come in," Mario said.

The door opened and Mario turned to find Jason standing there.

"So, are you still interested in eliminating me?" Mario asked.

Jason frowned and his brow furrowed. "What are you talking about? I never tried!"

"Really? Then that wasn't you who showed up at my girlfriend's apartment, killed one of my bodyguards and tried to kill me?" Mario asked.

"No, of course not!" Jason replied.

"It sure looked like you," Mario said.

"I wasn't there!" Jason protested.

"Where were you?" Mario asked, frowning.

"I was with Sasha and a few others as we held up a crooked poker game," Jason insisted.

"He's telling you the truth, even if you don't want to believe him," Sasha said from the door.

"I stabbed you in the shoulder, threw you against the wall and you have the gall to tell me that it wasn't you?" Mario demanded.

Jason's eyes narrowed. "Yes."

"Then who is walking around with your face?" Mario asked. It seems that someone has borrowed your identity."

Jason frowned. "This person had my face?"

Mario replied, "Your face, your body, and your voice."

"Who can imitate someone so thoroughly?" Jason asked.

Mario considered this before replying, "Assamites can! Like the one who tried to kill Julian, but failed. I remember a demonstration of her ability to get close to someone. She was able to change her appearance from a woman to a man."

"Who are these Assamites?" Sasha asked.

"They are the assassins of the kindred world," Mario replied.

Jason thought about what had happened the night the Eddie was killed. He had thought it was a Ventrue enforcer that had come in advance of Julian. Now he realized that it might well have been an Assamite.

"Is something wrong, Jason?" Mario asked, interrupting his tumbling thoughts.

Shaking his head, Jason muttered, "No. If you don't need me, I'm going out to feed."

"I do need you. I need you to help me find Sharon," Mario said.

"I thought she dumped you?" Jason asked.

Mario glared at Jason. "As far as I'm concerned, she's going to be one of us one way or another."

"Do you have any idea where she's living now?" Jason asked.

"No, but I think she visits the Haven with her new boyfriend," Mario said, his voice tinged with anger.

"What about him?" Jason asked.

Mario grinned, showing his fangs. "I'll teach him a lesson about taking what isn't his by making her Brujah in front of him and then have Sharon suck him dry. Sasha, go with Jason."

Jason nodded and left, with Sasha following. As they left the building, Sasha commented, "Mario is acting like he's Primogen already."

Jason started his bike. "I've noticed that too."

"Something is bothering you, isn't it?" Sasha asked as she started her bike.

"Yes," Jason admitted.

"Wanna tell me about it?" Sasha asked as they pulled away.

"Not really," Jason said. "Let's go to the Haven."

They arrived at the Haven soon afterwards, parked their motorcycles and went inside. As they got to the bottom of the steps, Sasha saw her uncle Julian with Caitlin and then her eyes panned across the room to where Cash stood with some of his Gangrel buddies.

"Are you still seeing Cash?" Jason asked.

"That's none of your business," Sasha replied, irritated.

"I'll take that as a yes," Jason commented. Before Sasha could send a scathing retort his way, he added, "There's Sharon. She's alone. I guess we'll have to wait until her boyfriend shows up."

"Then what? I'm not going to hang around that long!" Sasha protested.

"Fine. I'll find out where she lives now and report back to Mario," Jason replied as he took a seat a few tables away from Sharon.

Alan went to the office looking down on the floor of the Haven. It was fairly early, so they were the only ones up there. He watched as Sharon came in, sat at a table and ordered. He had been listening to Archon speak for several minutes and commented, "It sounds like you have a personal vendetta against the Brujah."

"I want you to make sure that none of Eddie's inner circle is chosen as the new Brujah Primogen," Archon responded. He handed Alan a piece of paper.

"These are the ones you don't want as Primogen?" Alan asked as he pocketed the list.

"Precisely," Archon replied. He placed a large, stuffed envelope on the table. "Here is half of your fee. You will get the other half upon completion."

"Good," Alan replied with a nod as he took the envelope, opened it and examined its contents. Satisfied, he pocketed the envelope, then turned and left the room.

Alan went below and sat at the table where Sharon sat. She had finished her meal and the plate had just been removed.

"So, did you get a new client?" Sharon asked.

"Yes, I did," Alan replied.

"Do you need my help?" Sharon asked.

"Yes, but only for some of the time. I will give you ample notice when I need your assistance," Alan replied.

"What will I do in the meantime?" Sharon asked.

"You can relax at the apartment and make sure your gear is ready," Alan replied.

"Perhaps we can both relax and get to know one another better?" Sharon whispered.

Alan grinned and whispered, "I think I can handle that for a little while. Shall we go home?"

Sharon nodded. They stood and left the Haven. Neither of them paid any attention to the youth that followed them out the door.

Jason watched as the couple got on to a Harley. He casually followed them through the streets until they arrived at their destination. He parked in the alley next to the building they had entered and quickly went into the lobby where he watched as the elevator slowly climbed upwards.

When it stopped, he made note of the floor number. He would confirm the apartment number when he could tail the woman when she was alone and then report back to Mario.

Jason shivered inwardly as he recalled his first encounter with the man. He didn't look forward to telling Mario that the woman's new boyfriend was most likely an Assamite.

For the moment, Jason considered what he should do. It was still early and he wasn't planning on doing anything. He decided to keep an eye on the building's entrance. That way, when the woman left alone and then returned, he could follow her and find out exactly what apartment they were in.

Or, he thought, I could go back to the Haven tomorrow and try and find out who the new kindred in town is. He wrote down the names of the occupants of that floor from the mailboxes in the lobby.

Jason returned to where his motorcycle was parked, climbed on, started the motor and headed to his haven for the day.

When Jason arrived at the Haven the next evening, he found Sasha sitting alone at a table and joined her.

"Well, did you find out where she lives?" Sasha asked coolly.

"I found the building and the floor, but not the exact apartment number," Jason replied. "I didn't want them to see me following too closely. Have you seen any new kindred in the city lately?"

Sasha didn't answer immediately. Her eyes were focused on the door. She stood without answering Jason and watched as the newcomer strode over to where she stood.

"Hello," Sasha said. "My name is Sasha."

The man returned her greeting. "My name is Alan Ash."

Sasha's eyes drank in his appearance. "Nice digs."

Alan shrugged and replied, "I like the casual look."

"Are you waiting for someone or can we have a drink?" Sasha asked.

"I am waiting for someone, but we can have a drink until she arrives," Alan replied.

After hearing the man's name, Jason stood and left. Once outside the Haven, he climbed aboard his bike, started the motor and headed back to the apartment building, which he had followed Alan and Sharon to the previous night. When he arrived, he parked out front and went inside the building to where the mailboxes were. He didn't know whether this man would be using an alias, so quickly scanned the names of the seventh floor occupants. He found a box with Alan's name on it and made note of the number. Jason left the building and headed to the Dock Worker's Union office where Mario spent a lot of his time these days.

Once inside, Jason walked upstairs into the office. "Mario," he began. "I have Sharon's address for you."

Mario looked up from something on the desk. "Good. We'll go there tomorrow night, you, Sasha and I."

"Why do you want Sasha there?" Jason asked.

"Because she needs to know that I'm in charge and she'll do as I say," Mario replied.

"Are you going to have Sasha embrace Sharon?" Jason asked.

"I'd rather do that myself, but that might not be a bad idea," Mario replied with a sadistic grin.

The table where they sat was in plain view of Julian's and Alan sat across from her. Sasha enjoyed the brief stare she got from her uncle.

"I haven't seen you around. You must be new in town," Sasha said.

"I am fairly new in town," Alan said. He looked over her shoulder. Sasha turned and followed his gaze. She saw a human woman enter. "Is that the person you were waiting for?"

"Yes, excuse me," Alan replied and then stood.

Jason came over and sat down across from her a few minutes after Alan left. "Did he say what clan he is?"

"No, but I didn't ask. He looks like one of us," Sasha replied. "He's good looking..."

"He's not one of you, Sasha. Stay away from him," Julian said quietly as he sat down next to her.

"Julian you're being overprotective of me," Sasha said. Her brow furrowed and she added, "Like you tried to be with Cash."

"I only did that because I wanted to protect you from us," Julian protested.

"You failed miserably in that. Now I'm a Brujah, and the Gangrel are our enemies," Sasha said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for things to happen as they did," Julian said.

"Then tell me why I shouldn't pursue Alan," Sasha said.

"In case you didn't notice, Alan already seems to be getting close to that woman," Julian said.

"So?" Sasha asked. "She's only human."

Julian frowned. "Only human? Are you jealous of her? I thought you were above those sorts of emotions."

"My blood burns with emotions you couldn't possibly begin to understand, uncle," Sasha replied sharply. "Emotions that probably wouldn't be there if you had let Cash embrace me."

Julian frowned at her constant reminder of how he had failed her. "I'll tell you why you should stay away from Alan. He's an assassin."

"If Alan's as bad as you make him out to be, then why is he still in the city?" Sasha asked.

"That is none of your concern," Julian replied, narrowing his eyes.

Sasha frowned. "In that case, my social life is none of your concern, uncle." She stood and left the Haven, with Jason following.

Cash came and stood next to him. "Does she have to keep opening old wounds?"

"I think it gives her a great deal of satisfaction to irritate me," Julian said. "How are you holding up?"

Cash looked at the table where Alan sat. "As far as Sasha, I'm coping. I wish you wouldn't allow that assassin to stay in the city. He makes me nervous."

"I understand your feelings, but he has not yet earned my enmity," Julian commented.

"You want to wait until he kills you?" Cash asked.

"I didn't say that. Alan is welcome in this city as long as he obeys my laws. Don't forget that," Julian replied.

Nodding, Cash asked, "What about that woman he's always with?"

"That's his business," Julian replied. "If that changes, I'll deal with it then."