PART FOUR
Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, late evening, present day.
"…and in legal news… plans are still a go for the gala opening next week of the glittering new tower offices of Los Angeles' most powerful law firm, Wolfram and Hart. It's been almost two years since an unexplained structural failure caused the collapse of the previous building and firm spokesperson Miss Jones says the Senior Partners were delighted with the new building and are anxious to get back to business as usual. While no employees were injured in the accident, several members of the senior staff, including the L.A. CEO, were reported missing and are presumed to have been killed in the accident. Authorities believe they were caught in the final collapse while making sure the building was evacuated. Miss Jones calls their sacrifice a true loss to Wolf…"
She turned off the radio as the red convertible pulled up to the museum. The driver shook her head at the circus forming on the front steps. What was it about this city she wondered to herself? As was the norm news of an unusual homicide brought the usual crowd of morbid gawkers out in droves. Thankfully the news crews weren't here yet so maybe the uniforms would have time to disperse the crowd before it got out of hand.
As she got out of her car a TV news van pulled up beside her. "Or maybe not." She said to herself. Pushing her way through the crowd she finally reached the front door only to be stopped by a patrolman. She pulled out her badge. "Lochley, S.I."
After letting her pass, Kate Lochley stood near the door and did a quick survey of the area. Officers were milling about; the CSI team was wrapping up their initial walk trough of the crime scene and the police photographer was busily snapping pictures of everything. She stopped him, as he was about to leave and asked for copies of his pictures.
Two detectives at the other end of the room noticed her as she walked toward them. "Well if it isn't LA's own Detective Mulder." One of them said. "What's the matter Lochley run out of boogiemen to chase and finally decided to see what real cops do for a living?"
"Yeah. If you see any around let me know."
One of the detectives was about to say something but didn't get the chance. "Don't you gentlemen have reports that need filling out?" A voice from behind her said. "If not I'm sure crowd control wouldn't mind some extra help out front."
The two embarrassed detectives quickly left. "I'm sorry about that Kate." The older man said as he put a hand on her shoulder, light from the ceiling reflected off the 'L' signet ring on his left hand.
"Don't worry about Cap. That kind of talk really doesn't bother me anymore." She lied. "What's up?"
He escorted her back toward a row of display cases holding weapons of various types. "About two hours ago the alarm system on one of the display cases went off. A patrol unit responded and found this." He gestured toward the covered body on the floor. "Security guard dead and one of the exhibits missing."
"Which one?" She asked.
"Some kind of ceremonial dagger." He handed her a program on the exhibit. "That one." He pointed to a knife made from what appeared to be polished stone or bone. It was about twelve inches long overall with finely carved runes and symbols over its entire surface.
"Time from when the alarm was raised and the first unit arrived on the scene?" She asked still reading about the stolen artifact. What was so special about this knife? From appearances there were far more valuable pieces in the exhibit case so why take only this one?
"Four minutes." The Captain answered. "There was a patrol car right down the street, but two other security guards and a museum employee were in this room less than minute after the alarm sounded."
Kate looked up from the program. "Who was the first to find the body?"
"The museum's director of antiquities, Doctor Alyce Hunter, she's in charge of the exhibition."
"And she didn't see anyone exiting the room?"
"Nope and according to the guards there's only one way in or out of this room."
"How did the perp escape?"
"We're still trying to figure that one out." He then knelt down by the body. "There's something else." He uncovered the victim's head and turned it slightly to the left exposing two small puncture wounds on the neck. "Something you might be interested in."
"Captain…?"
He rose not giving her a chance to say anymore. "Doctor Hunter is waiting for you in her office. Get her statement and keep me informed on what you find." Kate didn't notice Captain O'Connell leaving as her attention was focused on the two small holes in the murdered man's neck.
He sat alone in his dingy hotel room silently cursing himself. His employer was going to be pissed. It was supposed to be a simple job. Slip in; slip out no one the wiser, but that damn guard had to pick tonight to show up for his rounds ten minutes early. There was gonna be hell to pay and he was lucky he'd be half way to Mexico before word reached the wrong people.
"It's me." He said into his cell phone.
"Did you get it?" A feminine voice on the other end asked.
"Yeah I got it. Meet me at Dooley's on the strip in two hours and bring the money."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible tonight."
"What do you mean? I got your bloody knife now I want my money."
"And you'll get it Spark, just not tonight."
Something was wrong he could feel it, but he'd dealt with others of her clan before and pushing them would be a mistake. "Fine. When?"
"Midnight tomorrow near the observatory. And don't forget to bring the knife."
"You just don't forget the money."
He tossed his cell phone on the bed and picked up the knife and studied it for a moment. As he held it in his hands he felt an involuntary chill run up his spine. He didn't know what it was but he could feel its power and he didn't care what that bitch wanted with it all he did know was he wanted to get rid of this thing as quickly as possible.
Elsewhere in the city Spark's employer was making a call of her own.
"I just wanted to inform you that item you requested will soon be in my possession." From where she was seated, she could see the eleven o'clock news starting. "Could you hold on for a moment?" She picked up the remote and raised the volume.
"Police are investigating an apparent robbery at the Museum of Natural History earlier this evening, there is no word on what was taken but sources within the Police Department have confirmed that a security guard was killed during the robbery. We now go to Tricia Yates who's live on scene…" She hit mute again and the television fell silent.
"I'm afraid there's been a problem… No it's nothing you need to be concerned about. No one knows of our connection and I shall make certain that no one discovers my connection to tonight's unfortunate incident."
Somewhere in England.
"My Lord?" His small voice echoed through the stone anti-chamber as he slowly approached the hunched over figure seated in an elegant high back chair at the far end. He stopped and touched his master's boot clad foot. "My Lord?"
"Speak." Came a raspy voice from the darkness.
"He has arrived my Lord."
"Then show him in you fool." The shape kicked the creature in the head.
The small elf scurried away and returned a few moments later followed by a tall man with long white hair and a flowing back cloak. He stopped before the chair and gave a melodramatic bow. "My Lord Voldemort."
"Spare me your fawning Malfoy."
Lucius Malfoy rose. "I have some good news for your Master. I have uncovered the location of two more fragments of the Methuselah Stone."
Voldemort stirred in his chair. "Only two? What of the others?"
"My Seer is divining their locations even as we speak. I promise you we shall have their locations soon Master."
"Soon? How long is soon?" The chamber rumbled as Voldemort's anger grew. "I didn't free you from Azkaban for an empty promise of soon. I need those fragments Malfoy without them the Stone is useless and without the Stone I will certainly die!"
Voldemort rose and stepped down to face Malfoy who was still shocked at his dark master's appearance. His hair was stringy and dull gray in color, his face was drawn and tight with deep-set wrinkles under his eyes. It had started shortly after his duel with Dumbledore in the Department of Mysteries. Upon returning to his lair his body became wracked with pain and it was only when it finally subsided some two hours later that he discovered what was happening.
Voldemort had indeed grown powerful over the last few years. He had amassed so much knowledge of the ancient powers and magiks that it was literally destroying his body, causing it to age at an accelerated rate. The more power he used the faster he would age and the sooner he would truly die. Not even the Sorcerer's Stone and its precious Elixir of Life would be of any help to him now. It would keep him alive, but in the state he's in now and that is not acceptable to him. He didn't scratch and claw his way out of the abyss to live an eternity as withered old man.
There is only one hope for him. If he can find its missing pieces it will do what the Elixir of Life cannot do, restore his youth and vitality and make his body immune to the effects of his own power. It will in fact grant him the greatest gift of them all; true immortality.
"Do not agitate yourself Master. We shall find them. We will make the Methuselah Stone whole."
"You said you had found two where are they?"
"My seer tracked the first piece to London. I've put my most trusted operatives in charge of retrieving it we shall have possession within twenty-four hours."
"And the other?"
"It has been placed in Toronto."
"Toronto?"
"Yes Master. It seems that my earlier suspicions have been proven correct. One of the fragments is in the possession of Aaron Grey."
Malfoy noticed his master's eyes narrow and his lips turn into a sneer at the mention of the name. "Grey."
more to come…