Jack took a drag of his cigar and yawned as his elevator ascended to the top floor, he did not have much sleap, the sound of rain kept him up for most of the night.
He had not been to his hometown of London for quit a few years, three to be exact, and there were things he had grown to forget, such as the rain, ofcourse, there were things that he was glad to rediscover, such as the warm beer, meet pie and Chelsey Soccer Club.
As he felt the pace of the elevator slowing down he adjusted the rain hat, sunglasses and trench caot that he had borrowed from Otto.
He stepped out of the elevator and walked down the corridor in search of suite 619.
Even though he was sleepy and was still feeling the effects of Rum and Cognac he had drank the night before, he was cofident that he would be able to do it.
"There it is." he mumbled to himself as he reached the suite, he put out the cigar and tossed it into a bin.
With a glance at the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the knob, Jack knocked firmly on the door.
"Go Away!" came an angry voice from the other side.
"Sir Jason, please do open the door." pleaded Jack in a middle class accent.
"Come back later." yelled Sir Jason.
Jack banged with his fist violently, he then hastely burried his cross-pendant into his blue shirt as he heared foot-steps approaching.
"What do you want?" asked Sir Jason sharply as he slung the door open, he was a good looking man of 40, with longish black hair and long narow sideburns, clad in a white silk robe.
Jack tilted his head slightly and calmly replied in an official tone, which he modeled after that of Mr Merrick's, asking,
"Sir Jason Curtis1"
"I am." he answered Sharply.
"I'm Inspector Jerome Kidney, of Scotlandyard." said Jack as he raised his wallet that contained a Scotlandyard ID card, a forgery to be more precise, one that he had picked up on the way from an partner in crime.
"Oh." said Sir Jason, taken offguard, "Come on in." he follwed in a more respectful maner.
"I am sorry to disturb you in such a maner," said Jack, who then took off his hat as he entered the suite, which was to say, a very plesent means of temporar dwelling.
"Please, Don't be, May I offer you some tea?" asked Sir Jason as he gestured at a small pot of brewed tea.
"No, thank you," answered Jack, "I understand this is your first time in london in quit some time"
"Yes it is, I spend the bulk of my time in the United States and Japan"
"I also understand you'r recently married"
"True"
"Congrts"
"Thank you," said Sir Jason as he sat down on a arm-chair, "Inspector Kidney, I don't mean to be rude, but what is this visit about?"
All the better for Jack, he was very much ready to leave and catch himself some shut eye, good thing that Sir was wanting to get this over with as much. Jack had formulated an opion of Sir Jason, he figured which angle to play.
"To tell you the truth sir, I don't care for small talk myself," said Jack sharply, "But before I say anything, let me tell you I'm aware of your Habbits."
Jack then payed an enormous amount of attention to each of Sir Jason's slightest gestures, to see if he had hit the spot, he was at the crucial point of any con-job, the moment where the mark turns out to be just as he expected or not.
"Excuse me, Habbits?" asked Sir Jason.
"I don't want to elaborate any further since that is not why I'm here, but I hope to reach an understanding"
"I-I do't folow."
A slight stammer and a faint finger drumming on the armchair. With a new found assurance Jack went on,
"Let's just say that we know that you have not been behaving very maritual since your marriage"
"Oh God!" exclaimed Sir Jason.
'Euorika!' echoed threw the head of Jack as Sir Jason turned pale and shrinked in his seat, he had caught it. 15 minutes ago Jack knew of Sir Jason Curtis by name only, now he had him in his pocket.
"So you know!" said Sir Jaso, almost in a whimper.
"We do sir, however, luckily for you that is not what I'm here for"
"What do you mean?"
Jack looked around the suite and then approached Sir Jason.
"Is the Mrs here"
"She left an hour ago"
"Good," said Jack who then sat on an adjacent armchair.
"For a few months there has been these extortion artists that have been targeting members of the house of lords, such as yourself, we have reason to beleave that your their next target"
"They're going to threaten to uncover my activities"
"Precisely," said Jack, "Don't be so frightened my sir, we intend to catch them, but for that we need your help"
"What can I do"
"You and your Mrs are to attend the seminar tommorow night at Biocytre, correct"
"Indeed"
"That is where they are likely to approach you, we need you to not show up, and seing as how you have not been in the country forsome time, two of our agents, closely semilar to yourself and the Mrs will be able to replace your wife"
"But I hold many stock in the corporation, I have to attend"
"I'm afraid that if you do, they might slip away"
"I see, agreed"
"Excellent, I shall need the invetations."
Sir Jason hastely handed him the invetations.
"Thank you, it would be wise of you not to leave your suite for a couple of days, that goes for Mrs Curtis as well"
"Fine, just catch those cretins"
"By the way, does your wife.... know?" asked Jack, just as a way to maintain the illusion.
"Don't be rediculous, would you tell your wife sometihng like that"
"I don't beleave I would, have a nice day."
As Jach headed to the door, a devious notion flashed in his mind, one that was too tempting to ignoire, he turned around and spoke to Sir Jason, who was still pale and slumped on the chair.
"I commend your bravery, Sir." he said.
"What bravery?" asked Sir Jason.
"Well, In cases such as this, it would be likely for the event end in the newspapers"
"WHAT?" yelled SirHason.
"I would't say likely, but those tablouid voltures tend to get lucky, it would be tricky keeping it under wraps, but no worry, wel'll go out of our way to prevent that"
"My name can not be asociated with the issue!" said Sir Jason as he hoped off the chair.
"I'll try my best not to implicate you, I'll talk to your superiors. Good day"
"Wait!", yelled Sir Jason, "Inspector Kidney, maby this will help."
Sir Jason then produced a bundell of cash from an envelop, and offered it to Jack.
"Sir Jason!" gasped Jack, in almost exagerated appaulment.
"I apologize if I ofended you, but I cannot afford to ruin my reoputation. My name shal NOT be in relation with the issue"
"I said, I'll try my best..." said Jack as he pretended to attempt to wave off the monety.
"This will help you try harder, here, it is a gift, for you and your superior, divide it as you see fit." said Sir Jason as he re-offered the money.
Jack pretended to hesitate for a few seconds but then acepted it, pretending to be slightly guilty.
"I'l have to say, this stands against all I beleave in, but I'll accept your gift," said Jack, obscenly lying to the point of the grotesque.
"Thank you." said Sir Jason gratefuly as he accompanied Jack to the door.
"You'd be surprised to know how little a Scotalndyard Inspetor makes." commented Jack as he counted the money, which amounted to Five Thousand Pounds.
"I'll talk to some of my friends and see if I can help you." said Sir Jason as he opened the door.
"I'd appreciate that, and I assure you, the bastards will be caught and this will never come back to haunt you"
"I hope It dosn't, I'm eternally grateful." said Sir Jason genuinly as he placed a hand halfway on Jack's chest ad shoulder.
"It's my patriotic duty." said Jack with a smirk as he pocketed the Money and Invetations.
"Just, how did you find out?" asked Sir Jason.
"About what?" asked Jack.
"The relationships I've had, all those Men."
'All those Men?' thaught Jack, 'Oh, Bugger!'
"We have an Informer."
'It appears thast I have made a slight miscalculation, but it is adultury much the same.' thaught Jack, who all the sudden was very uncomfortable with the hand placed on his chest.
"I see, well, I'm won't keep you from your duties. Goodbye." said Sir Jason.
"Goodbye." said Jack abruptly and then horried off as the door closed, he headed to the elevator as he pulled the trench coat closer to himself and put on his hat.
Meanwhile.....
Newyork 0549 Hours
It was early in the morning at the secret coference hall in the UN Headquarters, the representatives were still arguing, though the anemosity have tuned down noticably.
"You speak of finding an Antidote as if we even know what the hell this thing is! We must pay the ransom." barked the French representative.
"It is not us who can't figure it out." said the German, glancing at the american counterpart.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" yelled the American.
Once again Dame Kate stood up and left, Ninety miutes later the sesion was adjorned, and outside the hall Mr. Anan met up again with Dame Kate and the two walked togeather.
"They'll brake at any time soon, I can feel it in my bones." said Dame Kate.
"That's a given," said Anan, "Just tell me one thing; Do we stand a chance? Who are those you've assigned?"
Dame Kate stopped next to her office and said, "My Sir, I assure you that the world is in safe hands. And I assure you that you would not want to know who's hands it is.."
London 1130 Hours
Mina woke up from her uncomfortabel sleep, she rolled around a bit and grunted, she had slept for almost 15 Hours yet she felt as tired as ever.
As she looked to her right she saw the undrapped window and the golden rays of sunlight flowing in and on to her, weakening her and causing a sligh nausia.
She got up and got out of the sunlight, she stood in the dark part of her room momentarely and rubed her eyes. She knew why she was't well rested, it was the hunger, she hadn't had a decent feeding in a while, save for that young fellow in Canada, who's blood was only partially consumed before Dame Kate showed up and it was spiked with lechor and drugs anyway.
She went into the small bathroom and splashed some water onto her face and then exited, her room was just like all the other five that occupied the first floor of the house, it was quit spacious, with a low bed, a nightstand, a cupboard, a desk and a mirror screwed to the wall.
She wrapped her robe around her body and left her room.
"You don't look so good." said John who stood next to the rail of the staircase as spoted her.
"I don't feel so good," she mumbled, "Where is evrybody"
"There all down stair, Having a bite."
Once she heared the word 'bite', her hunger doubled, and her scenses intensified, she heared, she saw, she smelt the blood rushing threw John's throbing vein at the side of his neck. Luckily, it was daytime, her powers were dormant, should it have been night time, she would have definitly bit him.
"Are you looking at my neck?" asked john carefully.
"Umm," she mumbled, "...as I said, I don't feel so good." she answered awkwardly.
John just turned around and walked down the stairs, she followed as well.
John and Minsa entered the kitchen where Marcie and Jack sat at the island having pancakes, Marcie wore a bath robe she wore, a slight dampness sorounded her, making her slightly visible.
"Anyone for seconds?" came an elegant voice.
"Me." said Marcie as she swollowed the last of he pacakes.
"Who's that?" asked Mina, who didn't recogize the Butler's voice.
"Our Butler." answered Jack.
"We have a butler?"
"We have a butler." confirmed Jack casually.
A few seconds later, a black man came threw a consealed side of the kitchen, sixty years of age, and with a white hair and beard, carying a plate of pancakes.
"Oh, hello." he greeted with a smile.
"Hello." she replied cautiosly.
"You must be Miss Murray, you're just as charming as Dame Kate said you were"
"Thank you, Mr"
"Geoffrey Butler2, I work for Kate, she asked me to look after you while she's in Newyork"
"I see"
"Can I make you anythig?" he asked as put the plate of pancakes before Marcie.
"I don't think so."
As Butler left, Mina headed for the fridge to pour herself a drink.
"Would you look at that," she said as she looked at the content of the fridge, "A pack of frozen human blood! It's even O Negatine, My Favourite!!".
Mina then took out the pack and put it into the microwave oven to thaw it.
"Got the Invetations?" she asked as she sat down next to Marcie, both Marcie and Jack noded yes.
"How did you pull it off?" she asked Jack.
"I do't want to talk about it." he said with a shudder.
2000 Hours
In Marcies , Mina sat in front of Macie Mirror, wearing her blue evening dress, the same one she wore when she was to caprure Marcie in chicago, while Marcie leaned over, wearing only her dress and duster with no makeup, applying Make-up to Mina's complexion.
"How long was it since you last wore makeup?" asked Marcie, emerced in her task.
"Let's see, I bleave it was Nineteen-Seventy--" answered Mina, pondering which year of the decade it was.
"Nuff said." interupted Marcie.
"Are you sure you know what you are doing?" asked Mina woridly.
"Honey, I've been applying makeup about five times a day for the past seven years, I know what I'm doing, besides, you can't just walk into this shin-dig looking... well, dead!"
Mina simply obliged, and sat still and silent for a minute.
"I wonder how are the others doing?" asked Mina.
"MI5 dropped over a specially fashioned suit for Otto, it makes him look Seventy pounds fatter, but It hides his tentacles." replied Marcie.
"It's not Dr Octavious I'm concerned about"
"John and Jack left a few hours ago to get suits, which should be good for a few laughs."
A few moments later.
"Done." said Marcie as she finished, making Mina gain a mild tan.
"Not bad!" said Mina, "Now do yourself."
Marcie then sat down and applied her own makeup for a few minutes, then put on her wig and finally the optical prostetics provided by Q.
"How do I look?" asked Marcie as she turned around to look at Mina, who for the first time saw her with blue eyes.
"Unextraordinary." was all that Mina said.
With that, the women got up and left the room, then descended down the stairs where they saw Otto in a wheel chair, wearing a dark grey suit that made him look bulkyer than he was, but consealed his tentacles.
Otto was chatting with John, who wore a black suit that made him look not so much diffrent, as it wasn't all that diffrent from his usuall manner of dressing, he also wore a pair of glasses that distanced him from his Hitman self.
"Gentlemen, don't you look decent." complemented Marcie.
"You don't look bad yourself." said someone in an upper class british accent, with a familiar voice, the four looked around to see who it was.
It was Jack, who came in from the study as he put on a black trenchcoat, he had tranformed himself from his uncempt Jack-the-lad apperance into that of an upper class gentleman.
Jack had died his hair black, trimmed it's edges, shaved his beard leaving a pair of long narrow sideburns, and he had applied some sort of produsct to his hair that made it neately firm. He wore a blue three piece suit with a white shirt and no tie.
"What? Why are you looking at me like I have three heads?" asked Jack nervously in his cockney accent as he was bothered by all the piercing looks.
"Mr Skinner," started Otto, "You almost look respectable"
"The name is actually Sir Jason Curtis," said Jack proudly in the upper class accent, "You fatass yank!"
If anybody had met Sir Jason Curtis, he'd say that Jack looked extramly similar in to him in a maner of apperance, manerisims and with an Identical accent.
"How is my other half doing this evening?" asked Jack, mock-fondly as he put a hand on Mina's bare shoulder.
"Mr Skinner, try anything and you'll never be able to play billiards again." said Mina threatingly.
"Right!" said Jack as he pulled back his hand and stepped away from the Vampire.
"Let's go."
And so, the first wave of the league left for the partyseminar.
Author's Notes
1 There is no actuall source for Sir Jason Curtis, the name is based upon H. Rider Haggard's 'Sir Henry Curtis' of 'King Solomon's Mines.
2 Geoffrey Butler is from the 90s sitcom, 'The Fresh Price of Bel Air', a afro-english butler that enjoys taking cracks at his wealthy masters who live in Bel Air.
Tune in the next time for aother Chapter of the The S.H.O.A.L., when we get the show on the road. R&R.