Ch. 6: Master and Servants
Here we go.
Rick walked next to Chief Beatcom as they approached the large double doors of the new hotel, which had been dubbed "The Palace." It really was a sight; erected from white and gold marble with huge stone lions flanking the door, it reminded him a little of Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, only with a bit more class to it. Whoever Dr. Furtur was, he was obviously quite rich.
"Where's the manager?" Chief Beatcom asked Rick.
"He and all the other staff are on leave until Dr. Furter and his guests depart on August 17th. The manager, one Jack Hesser, remembered Kayla because he had been here to greet the group before leaving."
"Alright. Let's just be careful." Chief Beatcom signaled to the other three officers and then turned and pound on the large oaken doors. For a while, there was only the typical city sounds of beeping horns, people yelling, and general activity. Then, the doors creaked open to reveal a hunchbacked man with long stringy blond hair and deep-set piercing eyes. He was dressed in a ragged tailcoat and dirty white shirt with what everyone hoped were red paint stains. He tapped his grimy fingers on the door.
"Hello," he greeted in an accented and wary voice.
"Yes. We're looking for Dr. Frank Furter. Is he in?"
"Yes." The man continued to drum his fingers on the door, his expression neutral. "What is your business with him?" He paused, the added, "Officers?"
"Just who are you?" Chief Beatcom asked, obviously annoyed.
"I am Riff Raff. A handyman." The man seemed to smirk before standing aside and holding out his arm. "Do come in. I have a feeling that whatever your business with the master is, it would be best done inside."
The five policemen stepped into the huge lobby, which was done in various shades of gold. Behind the doors slammed shut and Rick felt his heart begin to pound as he heard the unmistakable click of a lock. From down the hall, he could hear music and laughter. He frowned; had he and his fellow officers made a mistake here?
"Look, uh, Riff Raff," Chief Beatcom was saying as the servant approached them again. "We have reason to believe that Dr. Furter is involved in the kidnapping of this girl." Beatcom held up the flier and Riff took it.
"Kayla Dalson?"
"So she is here?" one of the officers asked.
"That's what the flier says," Riff answered, pointing at the name on the piece of paper. Smirking, he handed it back to the Chief, who frowned at him.
"We'd like to speak to Dr. Furter now please. We also have a warrant to search the premises."
"That will not be necessary. I shall fetch the Master for you." Riff headed down the hall and vanished through another set of doors. The five officers watched him with expressions of slight disbelief.
"Just what the hell is going on here?" one of them wondered, lightly laying a hand on his service pistol.
"Hmmm? Who are you?" All five policemen whirled around to see a woman with frizzy auburn hair and a heavily made-up face approach them. She was dressed in a rather revealing maid outfit, but didn't seem the least bit ashamed or nervous.
"We're here to see-"
"They are here to see me!" a different voice- a man's, despite it being rather high- interrupted. Riff had returned, now walking behind another taller man, who could only be Dr. Furtur. He was dressed in a green surgical gown and a white lab coat with pink rubber gloves sticking out of the pocket. His shoes were hidden, but clacked on the marble floor, as though he were wearing high heels. His hair was very curly and black as ravens' feathers. His face seemed to be gleaming, as though he had hastily scrubbed something off his face. However, he smiled widely, displaying healthy white teeth. "Gentlemen, I am Dr. Frank Futer." He held out a hand to Chief Beatcom, who shook it.
"Sorry to disturb you, Dr. Futur, but we have a serious matter to discuss."
"Ah, yes, Riff told me. You want to talk about Kayla, yes?"
"So she is here?"
"Oh yes. But I can assure you officers that I did not kidnap her. She is free to leave anytime she wishes. She does not wish to and I would never kick her out."
"Uh-huh." Chief Beatcom frowned; he didn't believe himself stupid enough to fall for such a pathetic story.
"I can see the disbelief on your face, Chief, ahhhh-"
"Chief Michael Beatcom. And no, I don't believe you. I've handled several kidnapping cases before and quite a few of the perps said the same thing and they all turned out to be liars."
"Is that so? Well, I can assure you that when it comes to Kayla, I would never lie."
"I still don't believe you."
"Well, then, perhaps you ought to talk to Kayla. I'm sure you'd like to hear it from her own lips. Magenta!" The maid approached the group. "Fetch Kayla and allow Chief Beatcom and his men here to speak with her."
"Alone, Master?"
"Oh, come now. These men are sworn to uphold the law. I'm sure we can trust them." Frank smiled, his hazel eyes glittering. Magenta frowned at the assembled men before breezing out of the room.
"Once you've finished talking to Kayla, I ask that you meet with me again, in case you should have questions."
"Oh, I intend to," Chief Beatcom replied.
Frank merely continued to smile.