"A MISDEMENOR"
"Please keep a calmer tone, Mr. Farris, these walls are clear and very thin."
Arthur had no interest in being told how to behave, even by Walter Tin, who he paid to do exactly that in court. No, too much had happened for him to be quiet when sitting in his office. Most of the work was handled at his estate, but any opportunity to look more impressive while handling financials for Tondal Security was always welcome. This image of success meant everything. So, waking up in his personal safe room, robbed of the one thing Tondal ensured in his care, destroyed all sense of success. But worse, his lawyer now explained how all three men who broke in were being charged with petty misdemeanor, free to go on bail. They were released an hour ago.
"They were in my home, broke my safe, and are getting left off with trespassing during a party!" Arthur couldn't even look up from his desk at his lawyer, who stood there while he fumed with a paper under one arm. "How in the world did they get a lawyer skilled enough to work that deal?"
"One was provided for them, by an unknown benefactor. I'm actually familiar with the firm, they are quite good at getting their clients off, hiring the best."
"How would you know?"
"I worked for them, before you, Mr. Farris," Walter looked at the newspaper. "She always has had a talent for thinking through all kinds of problems. It seems you got off lucky."
He showed Arthur the newspaper. The businessman nearly fell out of his chair looking at it. Reading more closely, there was no denying that face, even though catching just a glimpse of her eye.
"How is She still out in the open?"
"Not for long, Mr. Farris," the lawyer looked down at the paper with pity. "With such a headline, there isn't a place on Earth she'll be safe."
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"Are you sad for the psycho?"
The lawyer gave him a sharp look that almost seemed worthy of being fired.
"It has been a time since we spoke," he said while rolling the paper up. "But the woman I met… was kind."
Walter left on that strange note. With little to no idea what else could be done, Arthur decided on doing some work for once. Tondal Security had all kinds of business to keep track of. The mental task of arranging finances helped ease some of his frustrations, but nothing helped break the image of knowing such a troublesome woman had outplayed him.
An elevator dinged, three figures stepped out, dressed in black suits. With every step they seemed to distort the light, nearby computer screens shimmered but when the users stood up one quick look made them all immediately duck their heads and pray to any Deity that would prevent these shadow men from coming closer.
One more left the elevator, their cane appeared first. It stabbed the floor and everything electric stopped. Lights didn't simply shut down, everything bright almost ceased to exist. A sunny overlooking the Thames, Eye, and London's financial district vanished into oblivion. Panicked screams were taken by the darkness. Employees who tried to make any sound or stand… left.
Light returned with another tap of the cane. All the machines started functioning again. The sun's radiance returned. But thirty who had been working in their cubicles, of seventy, were gone. Whole rows of cubicles emptied without any sign of struggle. Unfinished 999 calls from office phones hung limply off the receiver, along with cellphones which the shadow men walked over and collected, now triple their original number without any sing of how they arrived.
Arthur peeked over his desk at the chaos. He watched in numbed shock while everyone sat down with eyes facing forward, their expressions abruptly blank.
There was someone seated in front of him.
Their pale skin was beyond chalk in lack of color. No hair anywhere, not even eyebrows and especially beneath their white fedora. Arthur's panic was reflected from thin-lensed glasses too small to hide the wearer's eyes but no hint of them was shown. Their turtleneck had a shade of blood red with the cane resting on both knees of grey slacks. Even while sitting stiffly, the strange man's face turned with every small panicked shuffle of Arthur's stumbling backwards. He thought it resembled some kind of snake, but birds also studied their prey. The crest on his sudden guest's shoulder resembled a raven.
"What happened to my treasure, Arthur?"
The man's voice carried a razor's sharp edge. Without even moving, the stranger's words made him imagine some sharp against his throat. Fingers hovered over their cane.
"I-I was robbed." Arthur coughed while trying to explain. "How did you k—"
"You were careless," the stranger said, louder, several employees squirmed at the voice.
Tilting his head side to side, neck creaking at insane angles, the man's words turned colder.
"Tondal is meant to be security incarnate, Arthur. The company promised you riches and an advanced safe, so long as you protected my interests until they were requested. All of my limited capacity for trust, given to you. Now I come back from holiday to hear my trust in you was misplaced. Some woman in blue walked right in and picked up my treasure like the last dessert from a meal they clearly weren't being billed for."
Fingers curled around the cane.
"Was her beauty so fair to dare risk my wrath?"
His gripped the cane tightly and stood with an of a guillotine prepared to drop.
"W-Wait!" Arthur screamed.
The man stopped, somehow Arthur understood he had been seconds from…
Nothing in this stranger's face implied the pause would last much longer.
"S-She's a fugitive, have you seen the paper?" Desperation filled every word when he noticed the cane getting closer to striking down. "W-We just need to wait for the police to close their net and we'll easily get your treasure back, Sir."
The Stranger stepped closer, not caring when Arthur tried backing away. An aura of death promised his desk would not stop retaliation.
"I am Mr. Raven, Arthur," the cane pressed against the businessman's throat without being able to blink fast to detect. His neck felt a cruel chill, making him choke but not daring to step away. "Do I strike you as someone who wants Authorities near my possessions?"
Arthur somehow knew, if Mr. Raven turned the cane further right… everything below his neck would no longer need to be worried about. The cane left and warmth finally returned.
"You actually brought up an interesting point though," Mr. Raven said while turned away from the businessman. "Ms. Mary is in a tight spot. From what I gather, this situation feels connected to my treasure. It would be Her game to make someone dance for their lives. With little to no opportunities left, I think the options for a buyer will be limited. I'll learn more about their destination by nightfall."
Mr. Raven walked away, life started to fill the office with every step away from Arthur. He had no idea what prompted a new thought buzzing through his head, but it surfaced no matter any fear of certain death.
"How do you know they're still in town?"
The way Mr. Raven stopped made Arthur think those would be last words. Instead, his intrusive looked back over his shoulder. A small gap allowed to get the smallest glimpse behind Mr. Raven's glasses. His whole world turned blank.
What remained of Arthur Farris lay limp behind the desk.
"Simple enough, Mr. Farris," the Raven said, out of curtesy more than necessity.
"I have an eye on them."