2021-06-30 Dude, Where's my car?
Dude, Where's My Car?
Participants: Mariella Benito Ghost Anthony
Storyteller: Saoirse
Location: Yucca Corridor
Date and Time: June 30, 2021 3:14 am
Summary: A coterie of vampires go track down the BMW that was seen fleeing from the USC campus the night a man assaulted an Asian woman. They uncover a mess of a situation, which only gets worse as the night progresses.
There's something 'stuffy' about the evening. While the wind blows in from the ocean, it seems to carry with it a foul scent. Or hey, it could just be the next alleyway over that's being used as a urinal by some homeless person. In the Yucca Corridor, it's certainly not the glitziest of places. Still, sometimes even the rich have to go slumming in order to get their fix. Or there are some darker secrets that can be found in these old, abandoned buildings.
Through various contacts, the BMW with the license plate matching that of the car from the other evening was seen in these parts. For others, they have their own trail to follow that takes them to the same area. Because of the various methods, the group finds themselves a little further down from some of the more active locations are - like Bar Sinister. No, this is a 'darker' part of the area if that's even possible. It's more like the abandoned buildings simply don't give off light, and the street lights are dimmed or flickering to the point of being almost out of order.
But still, it takes you to an abandoned building that has become a mural of sorts in regards to graffiti. Not gang signs. Not political offerings done with the street cred artwork. But at the same time, there's graffiti just the same. One building in particular is surrounded by dumpsters and has a rickety fire escape ladder. It would normally give that dreary forgotten look, but there's this spectacular graffiti artwork done in bright yellows and neon greens. If the symbols or writing makes any kind of sense, it would be only in the mind of whoever drew it. And for Benito, your particular method leads in that general vacinity (though NOT the final destination) as there is no one else around.
The motorcycle is parked out of sight somewhere nearby. While old, the security is fairly modern and connected to his SN smartphone, so he'll be alerted if something happened. Nonetheless, Anthony keeps his jacket, motorcycle helmet and other gear on as he steps into public, checking his knife holsters all the while.
Tonight, his interest is in tracking down the druggie from earlier, and so as he converges on the BMW, his eyes are alert for anyone suspicious outside those Anthony had pinged here.
As Anthony looks around for anyone suspicious, that may be a bit difficult. "Suspicious" is common for around here. It's the slums. Shady people everywhere. Either that, or people who look like they're clubbers or rich folk trying to score a quick hit before moving on to some place more posh. But there is something 'out of place'. There's a man with a suit, ear piece, and he looks VERY annoyed. He seems to be lost or is looking for something, or someone. He has his hand pressed to his ear. There's grumbling as he appears to be wandering aimlessly.
Little chance Ghost goes anywhere without his crew these nights still. Even less chance, somewhere in Hollywood. So that small crew of individuals are roar up on their bikes, and Ghost is the first to get off. In fact, he's the only one. This is an interesting part of town, he's been here before, but there's plenty of Cainites here that he doesn't seem to think he needs the crew. Instead, they guard and wait, keeping a look out on the street for any danger, as the rest head down the alley. He's clearly armed, there's little hiding that and he's not trying to, either. He follows Anthony and the rest down the alley without question. He's not concerned about the danger or the smell. This is basically Southside's every alley. Welcome to poor. He takes a perusal past the car, just to see if anything is in it, or anything noteworthy can be seen through the windows, before moving down these dark alleyways. Eyes go left and right scanning, though he doesn't seem terribly worried about trouble, instead he's looking for any kind of sign or clue of recent passing. His gaze lifting to the others if they have any clues. Ghost isn't all the proficient at tracking people.
Another pair of motorcycles pull up near Anthony's bike to reveal LaMuerta and her ghoul Benito. When getting off the bike the keys are removed and pocketed in her knee-length coat that was very form-fitting so as to not limit her mobility. On her face were a pair of stylish shades that blocked out the light and made it impossible to see her eyes, at night it is a bit conspicuous for certain but they were just here to check out the address they'd been provided and it appeared, at first glance, pretty empty. With a quick check she tugs on her gloves, checks the silenced pistol she has with her and thumbs off the safety before re-holstering it. "Benito, mi amor, what are your recommendations for this particular scenario?" Empowered as the ghoul was to speak for himself and think for himself she was not asking rhetorically.
The BMW's windows are heavily tinted, though you're certain it's the car in question. The license plate 'holder' showcases the Alpha Phi Alpha name and greet letters. While the windows are tinted, there's also that steady but slow flashing red light as if the car's security is turned on. But you also notice that parked 'relatively' close to it is a Black SUV with government license plates near by.
Dressed in clothing made for night work, Benito hops off the motorcycle when they come to a stop, a gaiter face covering pulled up over the bridge of his nose and hood low over his head to leave just a bit open to see from. His gaze wanders, over the area, seeing where the tracks lead. He inspects the dumpsters and the graffiti, but he looks closer. He is checking for anything that might be disturbed; dust displaced, grass moved, branches broken...anything that would indicate somebody was through recently.
As Benito is following his blood trail in hopes of finding his prey, the red path leads him towards that graffiti on the abandoned building. It's evident not just from the ritual, but one of the dumpsters have been shoved to make room for someone of 'normal size' to get past them and closer to the building. Though, it's after a few glances here and there that your trail flickers and then fades away.
Anthony can overhear the man in suit talking into the cufflink com, "I lost the fucker. I don't know where that little shit went. I hope he catches some fucking disease and his cock falls off." All of this frustration is said as he continues to look around.'.
In a moment, Anthony seems to center his gaze in a particular person, "Check out the BMW and the building if you all feel up for it. Gonna eavesdrop and see what's going on with him." Anthony requests in his usual bass voice as he moves off out of sight... and disappears with Unseen Presence.
For the observant, before Anthony fades from view, you catch sight of a man in a suit. Not someone who'd go clubbing in these parts, or not someone who'd be pimping out his girls. There's a man in a suit who looks lost and frustrated. One hand is pressing something in his ear, the other is held up to his mouth. Very annoyed and frustrated.
Ghost hmms to himself as he passes the BMW, trying to look somewhat conspicuous, but this is the Yucca Corridor, he's not terribly worried. Even if he was eyeing up the car, almost no one would care he assumes. But he doesn?t touch it, or anything. Instead as he passes, he pauses on the SUV parked in front of it. He ponders for a bit longer before rejoining the group. "He's either got a bodyguard with him this time, or someone even more important, I think." He looks up and around at the buildings, giving Anthony a slight raise of his brow with what he says. But then turns back to Benito and Mariella pointing to the SUV. Tough that might answer the question of Anthony too, his line of sight catching the bodyguard. "And I think we've found them."
Once Anthony slips off she gives Ghost a glance and a smirk before eyeing him up and down. "Well, if you're capable of infiltration then we could move on the building from different access points, eventually we'll converge on the man we're looking for." With a sidelong glance to Benito she makes a gesture towards the direction Anthony went,"Nos can take care of themselves and if there is information to be had from the very annoyed looking gentleman...pan comido. Si?" Mariella waits for Benito's assessment but will begin to set off towards the building, also disappearing with Unseen Presence after conferring with Benito about their approach so they can move in tandem rather than stepping on one another's toes.
After a few moments, Anthony reappears with the group as they're about to move onto the building, "Just a tail. I'll look into that later. Anyone check the BMW yet?" Anthony asks of Ghost.
Ghost doesn't have much time to address Mariella and Benito, though he smirks her way too. "More ways than one, though I think his little retinue is looking for him, not with him. So we're probably on the right fuckin' track, but they look frustrated and lost." But he lets her disappear all the same, if she wants with a wink. Then he nods to Anthony. "Yeah. One sec." And with that Ghost approaches another occupant of the alley. Very cautiously and very carefully. More to show them he's no harm. Money, a lot of it, that being a few twenties appear in his hand right away, and he'll use Presence if he has to. He offers the man money for whatever, just asking a very simple question. He describes the man they are looking for and asks if he has seen them. Regardless of the answer, the hobo gets the prize.
The bum who still hasn't zipped up his pants, though it's just his shirt sticking out the 'zipper hole'. "Uh..." He then gives that stoner laugh that would make any Beavis and Butthead enthusiast proud. "Yea..." He points in the general direction of the BMW, "Got out of his car and then..." He squints, "... I think he was looking for her." No, he doesn't point to 'her'. Just 'her' as if that's her name. "Asian chick. Dragon tattoo." He shakes his head, "But he's wasting his time. She hasn't been this way in over a month."
As Ghost heads over to the bum, Anthony just grumbles under his breath, "Ask a simple question and he goes off to bribe homeless..." As he looks inside, the familiar red light is noticed, and Anthony grimaces under the helmet. "Of course it has to be the Avital type stuff..." He mutters yet again as he lowers to the ground, takes out his mobile toolkit, and stealthily starts his work disabling the security on the car.
More money than brains, typical combination on mortal druggies.
As Mariella moves closer to the building all stealthy like, she notices that the graffiti painted here - while it's very chaotic in nature, there's a small 'square' ... that's out of place. The lines of the graffiti doesn't match up right. From a distance, it's easily missed but as one gets closer, one can make out a 'door' or something. No hinges. At least, not on the outside.
Not the answer Ghost was expecting, no it's far better than that. He nods, offering a smile, it's a little painted on, but Ghost seems to appreciate it. "I see. Can ya tell me more about her? Anything that would help? Also, when she was here, where did she stay? Who is she? A dealer?" If he's hesitant, Ghost will flash more money too, to entice the man. It seems irrelevant to him, how much. Ghost certainly doesn't look like a cop, in fact, he has the appearance of street, he looks like someone the police would arrest on sight, so he has that going for him. But snitches get stitches, he knows that, so he's making it worth the man's time. He doesn't worry himself about the others for now, they are all capable.
>>> Obfuscated: When Benito slips off she follows the sounds of his footsteps until he is beyond her perceptions. Trusting him enough to do his job at watching her back, Mariella did not mind at all. Now that she has performed a cursory look around she notes something in front of the graffiti before pulling her phone from her pocket, snapping a picture, and titling the caption <Found Something> to the group text with Anthony, Ghost and Benito. Before she entered, Mari would wait for the others to join her there so they can all move in together. Just in case there were any surprises that rested on the other side.
The bum replies and shrugs, "She was quite the looker." He shakes his head, "But not a whore. No, she was like... celebrity hot." He laughs again at his description of the girl. He then gestures to the building with the graffiti, "I think there was some kind of rave going on." He spits, scratching his unkempt beard beneath his chin, "The fuckers wouldn't let me in. They had a fucking dress code or something. For the rich." He laughs again, "But she came here a lot with many different guys, but he clung onto her the most."
Those getting the text... you see what would appear to be an upclose pic of the graffiti. But there's something off about it. Some of the lines in the artwork don't match up. The graffiti is so chaotic, it's hard to tell. But there's a 'square' where the 'tile' is upside down. It's like someone wasn't mindful of keeping the artwork perfect and replaced the 'tile' or the 'square' haphazardly. There are no hinges on this side of the building. And it's more of a rectangle - like door shaped.
"Interesting." Ghost nods to the man about it all, taking it all in. "'Preciate the info." He pulls put his phone and looks at it, looks where the bum pointed and replies: 'I'd say you're right. BRT.'. Then turns back to the bum, "Anything else 'bout her? Even the smallest thing. And if you want a peek, I'm going in, you can come. I have a way with words." He chuckles looking at the money he just gave the man. Then starts heading for the door where Mariella is, presumably.
The bum thinks for a little bit and then says, "She's a man eater. Don't know how this dude is still hanging on. One of the other dudes that hung out with her..." He upnods towards the fire escape ladder, "... took a dive off the building about a couple of weeks ago." He laughs that stoner laugh once more, "Like he was fucking addicted to her."
He then adds, holding up his hands, "No way, man. I bet that place is haunted now. All these guys getting fucked up over her. I want to no part of that, comprehende amigo?" Poor attempt at Spanish. Sounding almost like Crush the sea turtle at this point.
"No shit?" Ghost's eyes climb to that escape ladder. "Now that is interesting." His eyes stay on the ladder for a moment and then come back to the man with a smirk. "Guess I better not get fuckin' addicted to her, then." He takes out a couple more bills and shoves them into the man's hand before patting him on the shoulder. "'Preciate the help man, go buy yourself something nice." All in all, Ghost probably gave the man a couple hundred dollars. When he leaves and approaches the door he looks around, if Mariella is still obfuscated, he texts: "I think we're talkin' fuckin' V. I've got another route, try knocking." He chuckles a bit at no one, since he can't see her or Benito, and then heads for the ladder.
Once she gets the message from Ghost, there's a look around to see if Anthony is coming but there's a moment where she realizes that if he was coming she probably wouldn't know. With her pistol drawn she will begin to feel around for a catch or mechanism to open this hidden door. If all else fails she will use brute strength because that's just how Brujah do. Of course she keeps her shades on and peers around to make sure no one is looking first. It takes a solid almost minute for Anthony to finish up with the car... and by the time he's done with it, it looks like nothing happened...
Taking out his smartphone, Anthony texts the group chat, <<done with outside, coming in.>>
Activating Unseen Presence, Anthony starts to walk in the main entry, checking out the building proper.
Ok, so trying a three prong approach to getting into the building. We'll start with the front. That door is boarded up, tighter than anything. There's even a city ordinance posted to the boarded up door indicating that the building is condemned. Chains and all that sort of thing to prevent people from getting in. Not saying it can't be done, but it's a good strong deterrent.
The ladder man! That ladder can barely hold his weight, but Ghost seems to be agile enough to make sure that he doesn't leave his weight on one rung for too long. He manages to shimmy up the ladder to the roof top. You can hear in the distance, "Whoa, killer dude!"
And then the secret door action, it falls in relatively easily. If there were locks or anything to keep it in place, they have since been removed. It falls over with a resounding crash."
Now that the door has fallen in and alerted the whole neighborhood to her approach she feels excited. Mariella continues inside with the expert patience of a seasoned soldier. She checks her corners before moving in and will begin to make her way through with her weapon at the ready.
With the main entry boarded up, Anthony grimaces and starts to head for where Mareilla is instead.
Then a gigantic bang is heard... and Anthony stops in his tracks as he watches for anyone paying attention to Mariella's entry.
Ghost jumps and grabs the first rung, and then after that it's like the biker has done parkour. He scrambles up the ladder as if this sort of playground was the one he grew up on, and it very well might have been. No doubt one life he spent running away from cops this way. And his strength is so good that there's no risk of a hand slip. It's just like a spider, almost. Once at the top, he peers inside a dark door, and then, maybe someone can hear him from there as he calls into the darkness, a bit too confidently. "Honey, I'm home!" Okay, he's not going the stealth approach, he's doing the Brujah one, including a knife that suddenly appear in his hand. A big one.
Oh yes, that door drop is like going to the club and waiting for the beat drop. You don't know when it's coming, but when it does... BAM, it gets everyone's attention. Or at least, one person's attention. For those looking out for him, like Anthony and his Acute Hearing... the bodyguard says into her cufflink com, "I heard a crash coming from that building. I'm going in." Though, he is a bit of a distance from the group. Since he's hurrying 'with caution', it may take him a few to get there.
On the inside, one returns to being invisible. The other is thinking he's Ricky Ricardo. Their search into the building will find a rather gruesome scene, though. In the heart of the building, where the dance floor for the rave probably was... our dear friend Malcolm is hanging from the rafters. There is a note that must have fallen from his hand as it lies beneath his swinging feet.
The note reads: You promised me that I would become a REAL Pharaoh. That I would have everything that I desired. You opened my eyes to a world like no other, but I could only see it through you. But now you're gone. And so I am as well.
Even though there might've been signs everywhere, Mariella does not have the kind of expertise to spot them. That is not her forte, instead she leaves such matters to Benito, Ghost and Anthony. Unless someone says something to her she will climb leave everything as is. No prints. No disturbing the crime scene, just looking around to make sure there are no suspicious items or details that could be considered a possible Masquerade breach. Once she has gone around the dance floor and checked the rafters she will wait there, leaning against the railing to take a bird's eye view of the scene. If Mariella could sigh, she would.
Ghost will come over the body and check the pockets quickly, for anything the boy might be carrying at this time. The scene doesn't even seem to phase the Brujah, as if he's been to such a million times before. Worse even. Then he kneels down to read the note, quickly. Before glancing back the way Mariella came in for the dude. He then takes a look around too, he'll probably leave the way he came in, the roof, but he's looking for any clues to this woman as he can, though he notes to Mariella. "Girl he was visiting here was Asian, so was the chick at the Unviersity. And I'm pretty sure we're dealin' with one of us."
"Lures them in, gets them hooked on Vee, and then just abandons them when she's bored. Sounds familiar..." Mariella responds to Ghost sadly.
As the tail steps just into Mariella's view, she and Ghost will witness Anthony coming out of nowhere, a stun prod in his hands as he renders the mortal useless.
As he stands there, Anthony stares at the man, "Makes it look like a robbery." He halfd notes to himself, before checking the pockets... then taking out his crime scene kit from his backpack and going over the area.
For prosperity sake, the room here probably was decorated for a flash rave party at one point in time. Though, it seems to have been a frequent spot as there are mounts to where one could hang lights or speakers. There's another area where they probably had the DJ set up. Crates and other 'natural' things that one might find in a warehouse are pushed towards the perimeter of the room, perhaps to provide seating arrangements if it called for that. Though, mind you, it looks as if this place hasn't been touched for a month. Obviously, a few footsteps here and there. After all, that one dude jumped off the roof. And now this guy hung himself on some of the lighting cable.
"Or worse, she's trying to purposely break the masquerade, but subtly for some reason." Ghost looks back around after slipping some keys into his pocket and then kneels down and takes the note too. Fuck the crime scene. Ghost has never cared. He then stands and continues look around, giving an upnod to Anthony at the assist.
Looking over the ID, Anthony grunts, "City secret service. It was that, or bodyguard."
"No. This woman deals in vice and these people are just the casualties of her own dark pleasures. With the recent developments in Los Angeles, I would consider this man and perhaps the other a loose end. Something to be dealt with, verdad? Then again maybe she was being hunted and needed to go to ground which would make all this just more fallout from her engineered disappearance." Mariella watches as Anthony begins to do what he does best. At the announcement there's a curious 'hmmm' that comes from the Latina before she hops down from the rafters to land nimbly like a cat on the ground near Ghost.
"His mother's on City Council." Ghost flicks his head towards Malcolm. "I did some goggling." He then turns to Mariella and shrugs. "It's just a suicide, and the police aren't that capable. It might be best to just leave him here. There ain't a lot of clues, but either way, whatever ya want to do." He taps his pocket to the jingle of keys. "I think I'm going to go visit Alpha Phi Alpha and see if anyone has seen my girlfriend." He smirks. "And maybe he's got some shit there."
As Anthony finishes his crime scene work, he frowns, "Too much interference in this shithole, I can't really determine too much. Evidence points to suicide, but with others in the picture..." Anthony frowns at the hanging body, "leave him for the agent to find." Anthony agrees, moving down to put the id and wallet back, wiping his prints as he does so. "I need a sketch of the girl." Anthony tells the other two.
"As long as nothing left behind risks a Masquerade breach then we will not disturb it," Mariella says while staring at the unconscious figure on the floor. With a practicioned motion she sinks her fangs into his neck and drinks from him. Not deep enough to end his life but enough that she could satisfy her needs. Once she is done the wounds are licked closed and Mari adjusts his collar again, which had been held aside to ensure she left ~no~ evidence behind of her feeding. "...and I will check out my hunch with a few of my own contacts to see if this shakes anything loose. Let's keep in touch about this, gather some blackmail," she says while snapping a few photographs of the scene with the unconscious bodyguard, the corpse and the scene.
"As long as nothing left behind risks a Masquerade breach then we will not disturb it," Mariella says while staring at the unconscious figure on the floor. With a practicioned motion she sinks her fangs into his neck and drinks from him. Not deep enough to end his life but enough that she could satisfy her needs. Once she is done the wounds are licked closed and Mari adjusts his collar again, which had been held aside to ensure she left ~no~ evidence behind of her feeding. "...and I will check out my hunch with a few of my own contacts to see if this shakes anything loose. Let's keep in touch about this, gather some blackmail," she says while snapping a few photographs of the scene with the unconscious bodyguard, the corpse and the scene,"make an anonymous call, and continue about our business away from here."
After the photographs have been taken, Mariella will walk to the corpse and take his hand with her gloves on so she can slide his sleeve up. He still felt warm and so she presses her lips to his wrist and will take a taste for some greater purpose. Once it hits her tongue her eyes will open wide and she immediately looks like she regrets it. "What the fuck..." Those three words are hardly more than a whisper but she lets the limb go in disgust, perhaps, and makes for the exit.
Ghost takes a little look around, at the scene before they go. He then settles on the guard Mariella drank from. "How much did ya take? That might not be a clue we want to leave. He was healthy and on the comms like two minutes ago." He shrugs a little then, starts heading for the exit Mariella blew through. "Either way, time tog et going, don't think there's shit else here, and someone's going to find this shit eventually."
When Ghost speaks at her with his impeccable logic she stops at the door and turns around with eyes wide open like she'd done a couple rails of coke. She sniffs and runs her hand across her nose before nodding profusely. "Right, right right. Gimme a moment." She paces back and forth before snapping her fingers together. "Orale. I'll make a phone call to Fedrico and he'll get a van out, we'll black bag him and I'll make sure mis hija, Veronica, can take a look at him at a discreet clinic in East LA. Si?" Before he responds Mari's fingers fly over her keys so she can make some calls to a few friends. Once it was all handled she comes back to the other two,"Mi compadres will be here shortly. He's my responsibility now so I'll get any information we can out of him and make sure he's useful in the future."
