Summary: after being seen Nick decided that it time that he asks the local Royal for some help, but he wasn't ready to meet him face to face.
Island of dreams
Back at the Portland south precinct Captain Sean Renard was sat back in his chair, the picture of the unknow visitor in hand and his mind was racing. The events of earlier in the day still fresh in his thoughts. As a police Captain he knew he needed to mention the stranger in the alleyway, but as the Cantons ruler he knew he needed to find out who the stranger was before he spoke up. A knocking at his door caused him to jump slightly as Sgt Wu entered his office. Renard directed him to allow his visitor into his office before dismissing his desk Sgt with a smile, his spymaster sat down in the seat before him and waited for him to speak.
"I believe I may have encountered our visitor" Renard spoke to no one in particular as he stared at the picture once again.
"Were Sire, did you find out his intentions?" asked Sam concernedly for his prince, while being both cautious and intrigued.
"We did not speak; he was at a location we had on two suspects involved with a murder my detectives are working on. I don't believe this is a coincidence, I believe we are hunting the same men but for different reasons, something about the Sam Bertram case has brought a Grimm to my Canton. I want to know why?" said Renard as he looked at his spymaster who was already on his feet and with a bow he was gone.
Renard slumped slightly in his chair with a sigh, opening up the normally locked drawn within his desk he pulled out a police issue pad, on its lined pages was a perfect rendering of Nick's face in pencil.
"Who are you?" he asked himself before placing the pad away and locking the draw.
Freddy was sat in silence, a cup of tea sat before him long gone cold when a loud knocking on his door made him jump. Getting up nervously he approached his door and at seeing who it was let out a sigh of relief as he open it up and let Nick in. The Grimm walked calmly into the shop and took the seat offered to him by Freddy before he disappeared into the backroom returning a little later with a tray of coffee and a note pad. Sitting down beside Nick Freddy began talking.
"J's all gone not a speck remains. Were good with that. As for your problem I made some calls, I got two names Clint Vickers and Joshua Hall…"
"That tracks with my investigations too" added Nick as he was impressed with the Fuchsbau's initiative, after all for a wesen to look at him let alone humour and aid him was a big step for him, but he seemed almost invested in helping Nick with his mission.
"Oh, I heard a rumour as I was asking around, is it true Portland's a Protectorate?" asked Nick as Freddy froze.
For a moment Nick watched the Fuchsbau nervously fidget with his hand, his beard, stand up, walk round and then finally sit down.
"It's complicated, is there a royal? Yes, have we ever seen them? No. they rule from the shadows. You see evidence of them, the royal has agents in all walks of life, human and wesen. Most Hexenbiests serve them. Theres a law firm over by the south precinct that's rumoured to be controlled by them. For the most part we are left to our own devices, it's a more relaxed state then many I've heard of around the world. We pay out tribute, which is a fair one and so far, they've kept the other royals out and the crime rates not so bad" shrugged Freddy as he drank his coffee and watched Nick cautiously.
"If you want my opinion, you'd be best to make yourself know to one of their agents, let them know you're not here to cause trouble. Who knows the royal may even be able to help you" offered Freddy optimistically.
"I have a feeling I'm going to have to anyway, but first I need to find these two, it might go in my favour if I present them to their agent and on that note…." Nick picked up his pack and began placing items from within on the table.
"is that a…" questions Freddy as he picked up the horn and examined it.
"A Saugendampf? Yeah" answered Nick as he continued on emptying, Freddy was somewhat impressed with the Grimm thinking by taking the junkies stash.
"They'll be looking for a local Trauminsel if you have their gear" Freddy both stated and questioned as Nick nodded then stopped and looked at him confusedly.
"An island of dreams? Really? Theres a royal ruling over this Canton and someone is getting away with setting one of those up" Nick questioned as he sat down.
"As I said, the royal rules fairly not naively. Allowing a few Trauminsels keeps the drugs trade down and the dealer and junkies in a place they can monitor and control. Rumour has it that a Lowen game was set up to keep the violent cons and more predatory Wesen appeased and under controlled. They are kept out of sight and most of us, go on as if we didn't know they exist" sighed Freddy as Nick understood both Freddys explanation and the royal's reasoning.
He may not have liked it, but he understood the need for it, for a few moments they both fell into an easy silence while they finished their drinks. Nick mulled over the information he'd been told while looking over his collected information.
"You'll need this" Freddy said quietly as he slipped a small black and red card stamped with a cloud with a face on it over the table.
Nick smiled and nodded as he slipped the card into his jacket and stood up followed by Freddy, he offered his hand to Freddy.
"Goodbye Mr Calvert, thank you for all your help" Nick spoke politely and was shocked when Freddy pulled him into a hug.
"I never thought I'd say this to a Grimm but take care Nick this world needs more like you. Now do me one favour, take these assholes off the streets. I've almost lost a sister to these scumbags no one else should go through that" Nick was taken back by the firmness in his voice but suddenly the pieces fell into place and Nick felt his resolve strengthen.
"That my friend I can promise" and with that Nick slipped out of the shop and into the dulling streets.
Sam Damerov was proud of his wesen heritage, he was proud to be a Skalenzahne. He was also proud to be spymaster to the prince of Portland, it was an honoured position to have. He stood idly against a wall outside the Copper Kettle, lighting up and taking a drag his senses picked up someone powerful approaching. Looking up he caught sight of movement within the shadows and let out a hearty chuckle.
"I was wondering when I'd see you, what can I do for you Grimm" he hissed as Nick came out of the shadows and stood before him, his posture was calm and passive.
"I'm not here to cause a problem, I have a mission to complete and once it's done I'll be gone" Nick spoke his facial expression was natural as he watched the other man.
"what is it that brings you to me?" asked Sam as he looked the Grimm up and down.
"Part of my mission has crossed over with one of the local Pd, I can hand them the men they are searching for in return I need something on them returning to me. It's of great importance that no one touches anything on them with bare skin" said Nick as the seriousness of his words peeked Sam's curiosity.
"And what is your mission Grimm, speak up, if it's so important to bring you here to Portland, not to mention before one of the Prince's agents, then it must be in the interest of this Canton you find it quickly" Sam spoke harshly but inside he was being cautious.
After all this man was still a Grimm and very much capable of divorcing Sam's head from his shoulders with ease. He knew that he was pushing his luck at the moment, but he was actually worried about what would get a Grimm worried enough to come before an agent of a royal willingly.
Nick looked around as Sam watched him weighing up whether he trusted them enough to speak up or risk staying quiet. After a second Nick let out a frustrated sigh and after rubbing his forehead he spoke up
"Have you ever heard of the Coins of Zakynthos" as soon as he said the words Sam hissed and involuntary woged.
"I'll take that as a yes, Sam Bertram contacted me weeks ago. He told me that he'd come into possession of a box after the passing of his Grandfather, he said he'd been told many times over the years about these cursed coins that his Grandfather had stolen off Hittler during WW2. No one believed the old man until he died, and Sam found the coins among his things, then he remembered his grandfather's words about how only a Grimm can resist the coins temptations." Explained Nick as Sam became more and more agitated with each word, three cigarettes later and he was calm enough to answer Nick.
"So, he called you here and those two-knuckle head stole the dam cursed death bringers, what do you need from me. Forget etiquette there is no way the Prince wants them anywhere near his Canton" answered Sam as he pulled himself together.
"I need a location for a Trauminsel, I know the Prince regulates one and I stole these guys stash so they will be tweaking soon. I can go in and spook the assholes out, then your guy swoop in pick them up, you get the arrest and I get the coins. After that I will be out of everyone's hair within a day or so after I secure a safe passage to an acceptable place to destroy them. Do we have a deal?" said Nick as he extended his hand to Sam?
"Deal, here's the address once you go in, I will call in a tip and the Pd will do the rest" agreed Sam as he took Nick's hand and shook on it before passing Nick a card with the address on it.
Nick slowly approached the bouncer stood outside the warehouse, he looked out of place and yet no one questioned his reasoning. Nick never knew if it was the air he gave off or if wesen had a 6th sense for it but as he got closer the mans head whipped round to face him.
"Id?" he asked gruffly as Nick just stood there and chuckled.
"How bout you woge and check my Id" Nick answered cockily as he held up the black card, with a growl of annoyance the bouncer woged into a large black fur Jägerbar and instantly changed back but his whole demeanour had changed too.
"One of the Prince's agents had filled us in, head inside 3rd row in last tent, its only two of them and there already off their heads. Our people have been watching them since we were contacted. This way is covered by us but there an emergency exit out on to the street, it's just my opinion but that the best way to herd them. We won't interfere but we will make sure if a panic breaks out that we cover the other fleeing out this way. Good luck in there" and with that he open the door and locked it again behind Nick.
Looking down the deserted path Nick had come from the bouncer counted to 100 before calling in the sighting to the south precent.
Captain Renard was finishing up his report for the evening, before heading home for the night when a knock came to his office door. Looking up he was surprised to see three men in his doorway, detectives Griffin, Pogue and Meacham were stood with a purpose.
"We've just received an anonymous call in, we have an address on our perps were heading out with uniforms as soon as you clear it Captain" Hank said enthusiastically as he held up the paper containing the address.
"You've got a green light; I'm coming with you all" answered Renard as he stood up and grabbed for his coat before following Hank and the others out the precinct.
It only took a few moments for Nick to adjust to the darkness as he pulled up his hood and stalked through the shadows, he dam near gave a poor waitress a heart attack as she came across his path but quickly pointed out Nick's prey to him before scurrying off. The bouncer had been right as he arrived at the tent and pulling open the curtain, he entered it. The two men were flat out on their backs staring up at the entrance.
"Hey dude fuck off this is our tent" growls one of the men.
"yeah. Hey, don't we know you?" asked the other as he sat up as Nick pulled down his hood?
"Yeah, you do, and you have something of mine" answered Nick as suddenly through the clouded mind the penny dropped in one of the men as he woge.
"GRIMM" yelled one of them as he stumbled to his feet grabbing at his friend as they raced out the tent.
Pulling his hood back up Nick followed with a smile on his face, he worked his way through the panicking crowd. His attention didn't leave the two men as he led them towards the exit, he kept a few steps behind them, as he watched them burst out the door and right into the arms of the waiting Pd. Making sure he wasn't seen as he slipped round the arresting crowd and headed into the shadow where he spotted Sam stood waiting.
"Nice work seems they were stupid enough to be caught with the murder weapons on them. Now for my side follow me" he added as he indicates to Nick to join him in the car, he arrived in.
Nick was confused as they pulled up outside of a rather large and elegant hotel, he was grateful as they headed round the back away from the public eye. Nick kept his hood up as they passed through the kitchen and head to the service elevator, he watched Sam take out a key and use it to access the penthouse.
"The Prince is very cautious about who he lets meet him in person, but you've fanned his curiosity especially after I explained to him why you were here. He wanted to personally hand you back your property, he meets all new agents and assets here on neutral ground" Sam explained as they reached the floor.
The door chimed as they opened and they got off, the room was opulent and over the top, just as he expected from a royal. What he wasn't expecting was to see the man he'd seen a few days earlier at the apartment, this time he was dressed in black dress pants and a royal purple shirt. Nick steeled his features so not to give anything away as he pulled down his hood before he stood before the man.
"So, you're the Grimm I've been hearing many things about. Sam told me of your reasoning for being in my Canton and he was right to make the deal he did with you…" answered Renard as he turned round to face another in the room.
A small petite woman with long brown hair stood forward, opening a briefcase he watched as Renard took out a sealed plastic bag containing a dark wooden box within before handing it to him.
"So, I believe these are yours, please deal with them before they poison my Canton, or it brings us unwanted attention" added Renard as Nick laughed and nodded.
"Believe me your highness you're not the only one that wants these gone asap" acknowledged Nick as he put them in a small bag he was wearing under his hoodie.
"Now with that business delt with I have a request to ask of you" said Renard as he motioned for Nick to sit down with him.
"I'm listening" said Nick as he joined Renard his interest was piqued.
"Over the last month, 6 bodies have turned up. All varying in age, hight, race, sex and skin colour, my detectives are at a stand still but there is a common factor that they all share" said Renard as he passed Nick a file.
"They all were wearing red" Renard added as he watched Nick drop the file and look him dead in the eyes.
"You have a rogue Blutbad in your Canton, and you can't legitimately deal with them because you can't find just cause?" asked Nick as Renard nodded.
"What not written here, that caused you to bring this to me?" asked Nick as Renard let out a chuckle before looking at him seriously.
"at 12.27pm this afternoon a report came in of a missing little girl, she was last seem in a red hoodie" Nick looked up at Renard and got to his feet.
"You have a deal; I'll find your girl and deal with your Blutbad just keep your men away. The fewer people who have seen my face the better" with that Nick pulled on his hood and takes off in a hurry missing the smile on Renard's face.
"Watch over him" ordered Renard as he drank his whisky and went to make some calls.