August 4th, 1920
It had been a week since the two newbies joined the agency and they had been busy training alongside Thomas. So that they could hone their skills that they will need in order to do their job and be able to complete any case that they might get. They had been in particular training with firearms so that they could properly engage in a gunfight. Since it is something that they will face and will sadly be a common part of their job.
Though as luck was to have it, they would soon, their newly refined skills will be put to the test. As when they were about to go over the daily briefing as well as to discuss possible names for the P.I agency. The receptionist came into the room followed by a middle aged man in a police uniform, the man was middle aged and seemed rather used to wearing the uniform, making it painfully obvious that the man had been working for the police for a long while.
Which was no surprise as the man was Mathew Grey, the police Chief of the city as well as the arch nemesis of the Mayor. As he was the chief's number one target when it came to people he wanted to bust for their crimes. Something which the mayor was quite guilty of. The crimes that the mayor was suspected of doing included; giving jobs to family members and supporters, blackmail, abuse of power and the biggest one of all being the fact that the mayor regularly accepted bribes in exchange for favors. One such person was Lucia, who had in the past several years given the mayor around 10,000 dollars in bribes (1920s money, equivalent to around 130,000 dollars in 2021) in order to get the mayor to support her unquestionably.
Though that is something that no one but the Mayor and Lucia know about, not even Thomas knows about that. Though that didn’t mean that the police didn’t suspect such interactions between the two. It was quite the opposite, they were sure that Lucia had bribed the Mayor. They just lacked evidence to back it up and on top of that, it was all done in a way that made it nigh near impossible to prosecute as it was done though legal loopholes. The reason that Thomas was not an area of such interactions, is that he has a certain moral compass that Lucia lacks, in which Thomas always tries to follow the law to the fullest while Lucia is willing to ignore or skate around the law in order to accomplish her goals. It is also due to the fact that Thomas has somewhat naive faith in the government. Most likely due to his upbringing being so privileged that the government seems trustworthy for him. Though that is only Lucia’s speculation.
Back to the present, the Receptionist had no need to introduce the person who had entered so after saying the fairly obvious, she left the room quickly.
Chief Matthew looked around the room to see everyone staring at him, until Lucia got up to greet him. To which he ignored her because he had no respect for someone like Lucia due to him perceiving her as an immoral person who was even worse than the mayor, as he believed that she was the one pulling the strings of the mayor. As well as the fact that he disagreed with the amount of influence that Lucia has been building up in the areas over the past couple years. Which is why, even though he had to come to her for help, he wouldn’t interact with her and instead go through her best friend. Someone who the mayor respected quite deeply for his moral values and wished would have better friends. Though he would never say that to anyone and kept it to himself. So as he walked past Lucia’s extended hand, she flinched and shut her eyes but kept her mouth shut.
Why did I not expect that he hates my guts but I guess that means that whatever he has come to us for must have been extremely important for him to swallow his pride and come to some one that he probably views as something akin to the scorgage of this town. As he has not taken kindly to me increasing my presence in this town and especially my interactions with the mayor. Though that's enough of analyzing our obvious relation, I should see why he has come here.
Meanwhile the 3 other employees of the Pi firm, including Thomas though to a lesser extent were shocked by the display of disrespect. Though the Chief didn’t care at all and he strolled up to Thomas and happily greeted him.
“Hello Thomas it’s good to see you, have you come up with a name for your business yet?” Chief Matthew asked in a friendly manner that deeply contrasts the scowl that Lucia had earned from him.
“No, not we haven’t gotten around to that yet.” Thomas paused while he organized his thoughts, as to why the Chief blatantly ignored Lucia. “Though, I am unsure why you ignored Lucia and came to me since she handles most of the business and negotiations? Do you know each other from somewhere, though it seems that you two already know each other?”
The mayor then paused before responding in a diplomatic manner as he didn’t want to say too much in front of Lucia. As he may have feared that saying too much might hasten whatever plans she has to oust him from office and replace it with a loyalist to her and the mayor. Something that he would never let happen.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
After coming up with a response he finally responded. “Let’s just say that me and Ms. Belladras do not see eye to eye on most things and I personally do not approve of how she conducts her business as well as her dea . . alleged business dealings with the mayor. I hope you can understand why I do not wish to interact with her, though I don’t want to impact your relationship.”
Thomas took in what he said and realized what he was talking about since Thomas knew that the police chief was someone that strove to uphold the law and that he hated people who used their influence to exploit loopholes to commit what would otherwise be criminal acts. So because of Thomas’s knowledge not only of the police chief's personality, but Lucia’s as well. He was able to connect the dots and after he did he shot a glare over Lucia which, if put into words, was something along the lines of “ We will talk about this later.” To which didn’t cause any change in her current expression, but it did cause her to flinch a tiny bit in anxiety. Though Thomas could have sworn he saw a sheepish smirk appear, for several seconds before it disappeared. Which was enough to prove Thomas’s hypothesis. Though now wasn’t the time for that, it was to find out why the Police chief has come.
So Thomas cleared his throat and returned his attention back to the police chief.
“Sorry, let's all sit, so you can explain why you came over.
“Sure thing, though I am afraid that we are a bit lacking on time so let me make this as short as possible.”: The police chief said as he was already sitting down in the chair.
After the Chief Matthiew sat down he cleared his throat before beginning. “Well this is a rather strange request but I have come to ask for some assistance in the arrest of Salvador Jonson. Who, if you don’t know, is the leader of a Cult called, the Brotherhood of Salvador Johnson. As you may know this building was the former headquarters of the cult before a police raid drove them from the building, three years ago. We thought that was the last of them, though that does not appear to be the case. As tell tale signs of them have started in the past few months including the ones that the mayor had you handle. Indicate that Salvador is most likely still alive and has rebuilt the cult to possibly be even larger than before.”
Chief Mathiew takes a break from speaking to let it sink in that the cult is still active before continuing. “ So once their new headquarters was found around a week ago, a raid has been in the works to bring in Salvador Johnson and his followers once and all. I have been advised by a certain sergeant that you may bring unique skills that may make the raid easier to happen so I have reluctantly decided to come and offer you a job to help cooperate with the authorities.”
After he was finished Lucia nodded while mulling over the information,
So I guess that all but confirms that Salvador or one of his followers was responsible for the summoned beings. Though it does worry me that the police think that it is advisable to bring us in. Which means that we have a fight on our hands or that the police want us to do most of the work to make it easier for them to sweep it under the rug. With the Chiefs opinion of me both seem viable.i
Thomas unlike Lucia wasn’t concerned with being paid in such a situation since he views it as him doing his honorable duty to help protect the community and that it didn’t need to hesitate. So when he told him yes without consulting others, all three of them gave him dark stairs, and Lucia especially when the fact that they would do it for free. Caused her to give him an especially scary look. Something that caused him to have a cold sweat form on his back as he thought of the discussion that they will have tonight over the 2 issues that popped up in this encounter. Though that will have to wait until after the case.
Though after a few seconds Lucia responded. “Ok we are in, so what do we need to know?”
Chief Matthews then slightly nods before taking out some information in an envelope. Before he let himself out of the building without any verbal farewell.
As now all of them were busy arming themselves with the best weapons that they have. They then went to the car in the parking lot and made their way to the place that the police agents were using as a staging ground.
Weapons info.
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Lucia
Auto 5 Shotgun
M1911 Colt
Thomas:
M1917 Enfield
M1911 Colt
Jerry
M1 Bar
Colt model 1917
William
M1917 Enfield
M1911 Colt