Summary: AC 202, Duo disappears. AC 204, a new artist called Violet Vendetta emerges onto the art scene. Will a newly identified threat reveal the connection between Duo's disappearance and Violet Vendetta's art?

Disclaimer: I don't own it. The end.

Violet Vendetta
CaramelAriana
Chapter 4

Duo grinned as he hung up the phone. Tony had called with an apology that his "Shooting Stars" had never made it to the public. Apparently the Preventers had taken such an interest in the paintings that they bought them straight from the warehouse. It had worked out just as he'd planned. And since they didn't confiscate the paintings, it meant they were paying attention but he was not yet deemed a threat. That was very good.

It was time to put the next stage of his plan into action. This next part would require some help though. He grabbed the package he had wrapped last night and pulled on his cap. After double checking to see that the cat was fed, he got into his truck and drove into town.

A bell rang as he opened the door and walked into the grocery store. It was a slow day. "Hey Jim!" he called, walking up to the counter.

"Hey there," Jim said as he turned from restocking the shelves. "It's been awhile. How've you been?"

Duo shrugged. "Can't complain. How's business?"

"Same as always," Jim responded. He noted the large package under Duo's arm. "Whatcha got there?"

Duo grinned. "This here is kind of why I came. I need a favor from you." Jim raised his eyebrows but motioned for Duo to continue. "Well, this package is rather fragile so I need special accommodations. I know your son handles the deliveries, and I was wondering if he could drop this at a mail center on one of his runs. The postage is all taken care of."

Jim nodded. It was no secret that the town's post office had a hard time keeping anything fragile in tact. "You're in luck. He's got to make a pick up this afternoon. I'll give it to him." Duo handed the package over. Jim looked over it and noticed something missing. "No return address?" he questioned.

"I don't have a mailbox," Duo answered.

"What if it gets lost in the mail?"

"Then I'll have to give it up as lost. But that's why I'm sending it from out of town. I've heard too many horror stories about the post office here."

Jim chuckled. "Ain't that the truth though? Alright, this will go in the mail this afternoon. They should get it within a couple of days." He checked the address. "What's HOP anyway?"

"House of Porcelain," Duo said with a straight face.

Jim laughed. "Okay, I get the hint." His eyes lit up as he remembered something. "I just got something your cat might like! Wait here."

"Aw Jim, you spoil her!" said Duo, laughing.

The storeowner came back with a package of fake mice. "Here you are."

Duo glanced at the package. "Catnip mice? As if she wasn't crazy enough as it is."

Jim shook his head. "When are you actually going to give her a name?"

"When she stops attacking me," he muttered. "Well, I should really get going. Thank your son for me."

"Not a problem," said Jim. "There's not many people in this town that have a sense of humor. I enjoy your visits. Hey, you should come to dinner some time!"

Duo thought about it. "Maybe I will. Oh, and I might have another delivery like this to make."

"Just bring it in."

Duo waved goodbye and left the store.

-o-

Heero Yuy was not in a good mood. He had come back from vacation this morning to find his partner had decided to decorate their office with five of Violet Vendetta's paintings. Upon closer inspection he understood just why there were five of the cryptic paintings in the office. He then realized no one had called to inform him about the paintings. Now he was in Une's office, glaring at another of the artist's work.

This new painting was much more vague than the first five and had been sent directly to Une under the title HOP. That in itself was cause for alarm. HOP stood for Head of Preventers and was used when the sender did not want anyone knowing where the package was going. Only those who had worked with the Preventers would know that. The painting itself was of a glittering rock against a red backdrop. In white were the words: "True warnings gleam not red."

Une sighed. "I can't figure this out. Chang, what can you tell me?"

Wufei looked up from his inspection. "The rock is ore. When melted and crafted it can be useful in making tools and weapons. I think the sentence is very clear: this is a warning of some kind."

Une looked thoughtful. With a silent groan she went to her computer. Heero studied her carefully as she looked for something on the desktop. "I was afraid of this," she mumbled.

Heero glanced at Wufei, who cleared his throat. "Commander?"

Startled, Une looked up. Seeing the questioning looks on her agents' faces she sighed. "A couple of days ago we picked up some minor transactions concerning ore. It wasn't enough to cause alarm, but we've been keeping tabs just in case. It turns out that since then there have been several of these minor transactions. All the recipients are different, but the sender is the same."

"Where?" Heero asked.

Une frowned and turned back to the screen. "It's all done over the internet. There's no physical address."

"What about this painting?" he tried, already knowing the answer.

"This is Violet Vendetta," she said with a grim smile. "There was no return address."

"The postal code?"

Une's eyes lit up and she quickly grabbed the packaging. She smirked. "Chang, Yuy, how would you like to visit Colorado?"

-o-

Heero and Wufei arrived in Pagosa Springs later that week. A rental car was waiting for them outside the airport. After a silent battle over who was driving, which Heero won, the agents took off for the major post office. It wasn't too long of a drive and they soon found themselves in front of a large building.

After spending a few minutes to observe the environment, they entered the post office. Bypassing the long line, Wufei flashed his badge at one of the tellers. "I'm Agent Chang and this is my partner Agent Yuy. Is your manager in?"

The teller nodded and nervously motioned for them to follow him. He opened the gate to let them behind the counter and led them to the back. "Steve," he called. "There's some Preventers here."

A burly man with bright red hair emerged from a stack of boxes. "Preventers you say?" He noticed Heero and Wufei. "Thanks Michael, I'll take it from here." The teller nodded and left. "What can I do for you?"

Wufei looked at Heero. With a quiet sigh he turned back to the manager. Why did he always have to do the talking? "We're Agents Chang and Yuy. Our office received an unmarked package from this post office. It contained a painting. Do you know anything about that?"

"Sure do," said the man. "I took that package myself. Some kid brought it in."

"Did he have a name?"

"Well, I'm sure he did, but I didn't take it. It was just a normal drop off. The postage was correct so we didn't need anything from him. He just told us it was fragile."

"Is he from this town?"

The man shrugged. "Could be. Might not be. There's a lot of little towns around here and just over the border in Utah that don't trust the local post office to take care of important mail. Since we're a larger branch we're a lot more reliable. He could've been from any of those places."

"Physical description?" Heero asked.

"Eh," said the man, scratching his beard. "Looked about sixteen, maybe seventeen. Around you're height. He had broad shoulders and large arms, like he does a lot of lifting. Probably a delivery boy or something. Tanned skin. His hair was dirty blonde, and kinda messy. His eyes…well, they could've been brown, could've been hazel."

"Was he wearing a uniform?" asked Wufei as he took down notes.

"Nope, just some blue jeans and a white shirt."

Wufei nodded and finished writing. "Thank you for your help."

He grinned. "No problem. It's a pleasure to be able to help you guys out. I always tell my wife we're much better off now you guys are around. Just wish I could give you more information."

He escorted them out of the building and told them where they could find some cool drinks. "The heat can be unbearable if you're not used to it."

Just as they got into the car Heero's phone rang. After a brief conversation Heero hung up and turned to his partner. "Une just got another painting in the mail, this one from a post office in Salt Lake City."

"So we go back to the office. Or are we heading to Utah?"

Heero started the car. "We'll drive out to Salt Lake City. Une will meet us there."

-o-

A/N: (scratches head) I have a feeling this chapter moved really quickly. Oh well, I hope it worked out anyway.

I've never been to Utah or Colorado, so I probably have a few things wrong (like I have no idea exactly how far Pagosa Springs is from the Utah border). So if I offend anyone it's completely unintentional.

And of course, as always, please review!