From: Teo Dangerous Knowledge pt 2 Riahanna's eyes widened in fear as she pushed away from me, managing to get the chair to fall over backwards while crawling over into the far corner, behind the filing cabinet. "Don't suh-say that!", she half-blubbed, half-hissed at me. "What?", by now I was totally confused by her behaviour. "Nuh-nuh-Nap.. That!!" "Napkin?", I wondered, mentally slapping myself when I saw the terror in her eyes. She shied away from me as I tried to comfort her and I was reduced to sitting by her side speaking softly to her, telling her it was allright and that I was sorry. It seemed to take for ever but finally she relaxed and slumped into my arms. Lovely as it was to hold her in my arms, she was a client and you should never get involved with a client. Riahanna moved a little and rested her head against my chest. Ah.. what the heck. I snuggled her closer to me and she stirred again. "Dex?", she looked up at me with halfglazed eyes, "Oh", she said apologetically, "I'm sorry. I lost myself for a while. I thought you were my boyfriend." I tried to tell myself I wasn't disappointed and being a good liar I was almost convinced. I disentangled myself from her embrace and helped her back into her chair. When I was finally sitting behind my desk, I picked up the envelope again, taking a closer look at the contents. Riahanna looked away while I took out the napkin for closer examination. "Did you know that there is something written on this?" "No.. I only looked at it for a second..", she flinched at the memory and I chastised myself for asking another pointless question. I'm a detective dammit I should be able to figure these things out for myself. "Well, there is.. but it's smudged..", squinting I brought the napkin closer, trying to make out the words. "Tell the.. lawyer?.. or is it foyer.. no that doesn't make any sense, still we could be dealing with a madman here. Tell the lawyer you don't want the old man's.. stiff?!!.. oh stuff.. i think.. Tell the lawyer you don't want the old mans stuff.", I put away the napkin and Riahanna looked back at me. "Any relatives of yours pass away recently?", tactfull Teo, really tactfull. Last night obviously had worn down on my common sense. Maybe alcohol does kill braincells after all. Luckily she didn't have another fit, she only looked puzzled. "No..? I don't understand. What old man?" "That's what I intend to find out if you hire me. I get fifty dollars per day plus expenses. Expenses include food and drink while I work and any bribes nescessary. Do we have a deal?", she nodded, "Good. Now.. have you been contacted by any lawyer recently?" "No.. though I guess someone could have called yesterday, I never checked the machine when I came home." "Can you check it from here? Every little bit helps.", I followed the cord connecting the answering-machine to the phone and put the latter in front of her on the desk. "Sure.", she said uneasily, picking up the phone. While she was busy checking her messages I took the opportunity to throw last workdays leftovers in a bag I had hanging on a doorhandle for just that purpose. When I was done she was still listening intently to the phone a small smile alleviating the darkness in her eyes, apparently *her* friends left messages other than asking for money. I raised a questioning eyebrow as she put down the receiver and she shook her head, no longer smiling. I leaned back in my chair and made an inarticulate thinking noise. "Do you have a family lawyer?", I asked, assuming that she had some money since she hadn't bothered to put a limit on my expense-account and she didn't look like the hardworking type so she probably hadn't earned it herself. Her clothes supported my theory. "Yes. Mr W, but he hasn't been in touch with me since great-uncle Omni disappeared a year ago...", her eyes widened again and for a short time I thought something had scared her, but her voice told only of excitement, "That's it!", she said, "My greatuncle Omnicynic. I'm in his will and he'll be declared dead soon! I had forgotten all about that." Catching my look she hastened to explain herself, "I didn't know him very well. He was just a darkly dressed figure in the background of my childhood up until the time he disappeared. I was taken by surprise when Mr. W told me I was in the will. I couldn't imagine that he would leave me anything much so I forgot all about it until now." "Your have no idea what he could be leaving you?" "No. The will won't be made public until after he has been declared dead, I suppose.", she looked at me with exitement, "Do you think this really could be it?" "It's a strong possibility.", I answered, "At the very least I should have a talk with your mr. W." I stood up and walked around the desk, "I'll get on your case right away." She let out a delighted whoop and jumped out of her chair, once more depriving me of oxygen, "Thank you so much!", she exclaimed, "You're a complete sweetheart!", with that she kissed me and bounded towards the door happily. I had to call her back for the lawyers adress and a number where I could reach her. When I was alone I called the lawyers office and set up an appointment for the next day, then I checked my watch. Half past ten, the local bar was open, which also meant that another business was open. Shrugging into my hat and coat I exited the office. Time to get some information. Time to find Handel. -- Teo MalkaviAnarch