"We're going to have to resort to plan B my lad," Erik Von Kugelstadt said, sipping at a rather nice port in the smoking room at Flach House.
Neville was not so much getting cold feet as they were turning to ice. "I'm not so sure we…"
He talked over his son, "We can only assume that the vampire I sent was unsuccessful in her mission, being as she's not returned. But, what's better than sending a vampire to kill an inconvenient relative?"
Neville didn't know.
"Sending three vampires!"
###
At Pseudopolis Yard a game plan was being put together and a rather diverse team had been assembled for the task; almost every species Ankh-Morpork had to offer in fact, including the first female Gnome officer of the Watch, Constable Lumwinkle. She was tiny but capable of surprising strength. The criminal fraternity would need to watch their ankles in future.
"Mr Stibbons, would you mind running through your proposed method of detection for us? Keep it simple for the more linear minded of us," he glanced at Nobby momentarily.
"We have created an early warning system using a combination of our cat scan," he gestured toward Doreen in her cage, "and the Pictsie Mark 2. In order to locate where the 'Colour of Magick' will strike next, we're going to take pictures of Doreen. In theory we hope to see her at the future indigo crime scene. With a wide enough shot we should be able to identify the location. We will then go to that location and take further pictures to determine when the crime will occur."
"How will you know when though?" Captain Carrot asked.
"By fitting a clock with a calendar display in a suitable place so that it will not be moved. Then as long as the clock is in shot when the picture is taken, we can determine when the future crime takes place."
It was quite ingenious, but whether it would work was quite another thing. Commander Vimes stepped in, "Sergeant Angua informs me that our new Colour Killer is an Orc by the name of Mr Dulling," He handed out a picture of 'Team Pictsie' that had been printed in the Times and it did the rounds. "Although our witness didn't see much, he did say that Dulling saved his life."
"Obviously never ate one of 'is sausages then," Nobby piped up. There was some nervous laughter but Vimes stopped it dead.
"He saved his life by shouting 'Run!'which gives us reason to believe he is attempting to fight what is essentially a possession. Nonetheless we take no chances and we will have to use whatever force necessary to take Dulling and the book down."
Ponder continued. "Once the location is found, we'll need to close off the area and be set up nearby to release the chromodemons at the right moment. My team from the University will then be able to contain the book with this."
Two of his students nervously pulled a cloth off of a nasty looking Octiron bear-trap. "Whilst we Wizards are somewhat immune, we have one more method of protection lest any of you look into the light." He took off his round-rimmed glasses and replaced them with a cool pair of mirrored shades. "We should have enough ready for you all in the next two hours."
"Alright then," Vimes concluded, addressing the officers, "you lot over here and get your duties assigned while the men in pointy hats weave their magic."